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“I would be honored to assist you in learning our history,” Alexandre offered. “I imagine it is vastly different from what you learned from your universal computer.”
“Thank you,” I offered.
Alex swept his hand outward. “Welcome to our Historical Museum of Pre-Invasion. A group of residents formed a Historical Society awhile back and came together to bring it to fruition. They felt it was important to remember where we came from. We here at the museum try to uphold their values. Many visitors come to our little village just to visit us. Some even bring items to add to it. I hope you find all the answers you’re looking for here. Let us begin with how the aliens managed to disarm an entire planet.”
We followed him to a wall covered in posters and newspaper clippings. “I guess the first thing you should know is that technology was available to most on the planet, not just to the Sloths. Most had access to electricity, running water, modern medicines.”
The wall showed a timeline of inventions from famous people in history and their contributions. Everything seemed so much larger in the past, so many designs and colors.
“While humanity was not perfect, we were trying to deal with our flaws. Poverty. Pollution. War, just to name a few. Yet, for all our shortcomings, we all lived mostly free. Free to design, invent, produce, and prosper.”
We walked a few steps to the next exhibit.
“The day the extraterrestrial came, they disarmed the planet by setting off a massive EMP weapon in our atmosphere that ruined 96% of all electronic technology on Earth. Many died. Planes fell from the sky. Crucial medical equipment like life support was turned off. Most communications across the world ceased, and many were left in the dark as to what was happening. Chaos reigned.”
I looked at the photos of a society in shambles.
“The aliens did reach out, claiming ignorance, that their technology was in conflict with our own, and agreed to rebuild our society utilizing their more advanced technology.”
Next.
“Though the visitors kept mostly to themselves, they sent their Artificial Intelligence to manage the rebuild.”
Next.
“And for a while, humans enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity under the guidance of the new universal computer. Many moved to the advanced rebuilt cities that vastly improved the quality of life for many.”
There were images of cities that looked very much like where I was from.
“However, occasionally, a whole population of people would disappear. And we could not seem to understand where they went. Here one minute, gone the next. No bodies. No calls of duress. Nothing.”
We moved over to a blank wall. Alex went to a weird contraption and lit a lamp inside a box. He then started inserting translucent photos in front of the light. An image projected on the wall.
“Finally, we learned the truth. When world leaders confronted the visitors, the aliens sent a global message that they had done nothing wrong in farming some of the creatures they took care of, that humans did so all the time with other animals on the planet like cows, pigs, and chickens.
“A planetary revolt ensued, which was quickly quelled by the advanced technology of the aliens, who then sabotaged any efforts made for advancement beyond their own cities. During those dark days, many humans yielded to the aliens—choosing to enjoy convenience and technology over freedom and hardship, even if it meant that their life might be randomly cut short. As the decades passed, many citizens in the cities forgot the truth, becoming reliant on the Ai and the bots. Those of us who chose to return to a simpler way of life keep the truth alive in our little villages, passing on the stories to our descendants.”
Alex turned off the light. I stared at the wall, stunned.
“I don’t understand why we don’t warn the cities.”
Alex smiled sadly. “We’ve tried. The Ai has domesticated the Sloths, purposely breeding them to go to their own doom peacefully. Those untamed or unevolved few who try to fight processing will be forced into it by their androids. Even when rescued, those who escaped that grim fate will often find our world too hard to live in and return to a city.”
I looked at Bo, horrified. “Will I have to go back? Will I not be able to survive as an Anachronist?”
He sighed. “I wouldn’t let you go back, even if you wanted.”
“Promise?”
He nodded.
I felt my eyes well again, that feeling of inadequacy rushing back. I felt sick to my stomach. Would I ever do anything but cry in this new world?
“Will you give up on me if I can’t conform?”
“Okay, that’s enough museum for today.” Bo gathered me to him. “Thank you, Alex. We’ll come visit again soon.”
He guided me out the door.
