Terranovus
Chapter IX - Welcome to

The night flew by quickly and before I knew it, Tommy and I were kissing goodbye and my family was whisked off to the military airport and shoved onto a jet plane. All that we carried was one small backpack each. Apparently, everything we would ever need was going to be provided for us free of charge in Terranovus - new clothes, new furniture ... everything.

My dad was in awe of the jet plane. He had spent years working as an engineer and developing designs for these aircrafts but had never stepped foot inside a finished working model. After we were buckled in and the air sergeant explained the flight was going to take approximately two hours, I watched my dad excitedly converse with the pilots and discuss flight paths. My mum, however, was taking everything in her stride and that was a trait of hers I deeply admired. She always placed other’s needs before hers and when she asked me if I was comfortable I knew she was just trying to distract herself from her fear of flying.

Since the Army stepped in and took control of the Sectors, all commercial and private aircrafts were banned as a population control method. Only the Army was allowed to fly so just stepping into this aircraft was a special once in a lifetime treat.

However, much to my dismay, I soon discovered I hated everything there was about flying. I hated the feeling of my intestines flipping backwards in my stomach upon take off and my ears popping in high altitude. Luckily the Officer who was escorting us to Terranovus noticed my grimacing and said if I sporadically swallowed saliva it would unpop my ears. Surprisingly the disgusting technique worked.

The only thing I loved throughout the entire plane ride was the view outside the small window I was seated next to. The view was incredible. I was able to see everything up there. At first saw the tops of skyscrapers, then the land border and sea filled with miles and miles of plastic and garbage. I hugged Tommy’s jumper he had gifted me and wished he was here to experience this journey with me. Quickly the plane flew straight into the pollution smog and for a moment all I could see was grey until we burst out into a dazzling blue sky. I gasped and turned to my parents excitedly.

“Look!” I told them. They look just as excited as I was and my mum had tears of happiness glistening in her eyes. This was the blue sky my grandmother used to talk about.

“Grandmother was right,” I whispered.

“She sure was,” replied mum. She clasped my hand and together we continued to gaze out of the window in wonderment. It was only an hour and a half later, I realised I could see something green in the distance.

“Terranovus,” I whispered to myself and pressed my nose up to the glass window.

It was even more beautiful thanas the holograms. Stunning and picturesque sitting upon the glimmering blue water that was now completely clear of all plastic, not a bottle in sight. Golden sands lined the outskirts of the land and trickled out to sea. Mountains and trees spread across the majority of land, and as began our descent I spotted the first and only city of Terranovus, Primus, twinkling in the sunlight and situated on the edge of the island. The glass and modern buildings, fitted with near invisible solar panels sparkled at me in a tease. Already I could feel myself at home here, it was my architecture dream!

The jet plane turned and as it did so I saw a side to the island that surprised me. A blackened, soot filled land that wreaked of darkness and misery.

“What’s that?” I asked the Officer sitting in front of me.

“That’s the other part of Terranovus we’ve not revived yet. Don’t worry, we have our best employees working their wonders on it just as they did with this land here,” he responded. I nodded and went to look at it again but found it had disappeared from view as the plane turned again. “Are you ready for landing?” grinned the Officer, “you’ll need to start swallowing your saliva again.”

I groaned.

Within the next thirty minutes the jet plane landed and my family and I were escorted off the tarmac. The smell of fresh air and nature instantly hit my nostrils and lungs. I had never felt so rejuvenated in my life. Looking up, I stared amazed at mountains and forests that surrounded Primus on the North, West and South. The view was breathtakingly beautiful, exactly like a fairytale story. And the air was warm, it warmed my skin whilst a soft breeze gently tickled the back of my neck.

We were directed towards a sleek modern building made of wood and glass, where again our identities were verified. Afterwards, our photos were taken, details were written and new ID cards were issued stating we were now citizens of Terranovus. I was growing excited at the thought of our new home until a doctor and nurse made their way over to us and announced compulsory health checks. They checked my shoulder and announced it seemed to be healing well and just as I thought everything was going great-

“The vaccines should not take more than a minute,” smiled the nurse

“You what?” I demanded.

“Tabitha!” warned Mum. I glared at the nurse, whose name badge read Valerie.

“It’s a requirement. This new land has bugs and viruses your body has not yet been exposed to. It’s in your best interest,” said Valerie. Despite the explanation, it didn’t prevent me from glaring at her as she inserted the long needle into the back of my neck.

Afterwards, an Officer escorted us back out of the building and to a driverless car. Modern, sleek and smooth, my dad couldn’t stop gushing over it as we all climbed inside.

“It entirely runs on solar,” explained the Officer. We were in a futuristic land alright, I thought.

The car drove us towards our new home, via the city centre which was tiny, perhaps the size of only one district. The military officer explained cars are only permitted for military officers and citizens upon special circumstances; instead, ordinary citizens must use the advanced high speed tram system. The streets themselves were wide with plenty of open space. Pretty colourful plants and flower pots lined the pedestrian pavements, which gave the modern white, silver and glass city a vibrant and state-of-the-art feel to it.

Ten minutes later, we turned into a suburb called Stirling explained the Officer, which was located north-east of the city. It was cute and dainty. Bungalow houses lined the streets and were enormous, the gardens even larger. The car turned into a street called Gardener’s Lane and the Officer announced we were home.

Automatically, the car door opened and I gawked at our new home. Painted a soft grey, the home had a small white wooden fence placed around the perimeter, whilst bulbous green bushes with pink, red and white flowers ran along the side of the house. There was a letterbox standing at the fence gate with the words “47 McKinley” elegantly made of gold coloured metal.

I turned to my parents who were holding hands with tears in their eyes. I was happy for them. I truly was. This was all too surreal to be true.

The Officer explained our fingerprints had been embedded into the security system and there was no need for keys. He then said everything we needed to settle in Terranovus was inside our home and bid us farewell.

“Shall we go in?” asked Dad.

“Yes!” I screamed excited. I followed my parents to the front door where a “welcome” mat sat cheerily at the entrance.

My dad pressed his hand against a screen located on the side of the front door and we watched amazed as the front door swung open. We stepped into a room perhaps triple the size of our entire apartment back at home and dropped our bags on the floor speechless. The kitchen, living and dining room was incredible. Lush white marble flooring, soft leather couches and technology that reacted to your every moment and command. A small white dome stuck to the roof in the centre of the room beeped and a hologram appeared of a friendly looking woman holding a clipboard

“Welcome to Terranovus family McKinley,” she smiled at us.

“Hello,” we all responded, not quite sure if the woman was interactive or pre-recorded.

“I’m Iris, your guide here in Terranovus,” she began. “Don’t worry, I’m not real. Instead, I am artificial intelligence designed by the Commander himself to ensure your transition to life here in Terranovus is as smooth as it can be. Firstly, as you have been shown, this is your new home. Feel free to decorate it to your taste. You are welcome to come and go whenever you like but please note there is an 11pm to 6am curfew that all citizens must adhere to.

“Secondly, the Commander acknowledges your skills and talents and that is why you Mr McKinley will resume your job as an engineer for the Army. You will start your new job tomorrow and a colleague will collect you from your home at 8am. Mrs McKinley, we have acknowledged your dedication for helping others which is why the Commander wants to upskill you to a qualified counsellor. Your training begins next Monday at the University of Primus. And Tabitha, the Commander has enrolled you into the local Primus Academy. You will begin tomorrow at 8.30am when the school bus will pick you up from your home. Your school uniform and school bag with your class timetable has already been prepared and waiting for you in your room.”

Immediately my mood dropped. School? The resistance had been misinformed. There was definitely already a school here.

“We ask that while you live in Terranovus you obey by the Commanders rules, which can be found section 72 of the Terranovus handbook located on your kitchen countertop. If you need any further assistance, please just call my name, Iris, and I will appear to answer any query you may have. Your kitchen has been stocked with all the food you need for the upcoming week and remember, if you need my assistance, just simply call my name. I wish you a lovely day!”

Iris flickered then disappeared from view. My family were all silent in shock and we turned to each other speechless.

“A counsellor?” dad exclaimed excitedly.

“I know! It’s great news, don’t you think?” mum asked.

“Of course,” I chipped in, “anyway, it’s not like they have any homeless here.”

I turned around and spotted a corridor which presumably led to our rooms. Leaving my parents to discuss things, I walked down the corridor and stopped at the first room which had to belong to my parents. It was enormous and overlooked the back garden which came complete with a barbeque and tables and chairs. I moved on and came across a smaller but still large room that overlooked the front garden. Fitted with a double bed and luxurious cushions, the room had an ensuite, walk in wardrobe and one of those funny Iris hologram thingies stuck to the ceiling. And true to Iris’s word, a tartan pleated skirt and wool blazer with several shirts hung from my wardrobe ready for school tomorrow. Frustration settled in since I had just finished the school year and my exams back home. I wasn’t meant to start school for another two months.

Keen to tell Tommy everything, I tapped my Ingo and screamed in horror as “No Signal” flashed on the screen. You had to be kidding me.

“Iris,” I called out and jumped in surprise as Iris appeared immediately in front of me.

“How can I help you Tabitha?” she asked sweetly.

“Why do I have no signal on my Ingo?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, although we are working hard to improve our services, our systems do not yet have the capability to contact residents from other countries.”

“When will the systems have the capability?” I demanded.

“Records indicate approximately two years.”

I cried out and fell to the ground in despair. Two years?! I slammed my fists against the carpet.

“No!” I yelled. “I need to talk to Tommy now!” Iris paused for a moment thinking.

“My records indicate there is no Tommy living in Terranovus, perhaps you mean Thomas? The traditional name for Tommy used by people in the 21st century?” she asked.

“No!” I screamed. “I meant Tommy, spelt T O M M Y who lives in Sector F18!”

“I’m sorry,” began Iris, “unfortunately, although we are working hard to improve our services, our systems do not yet-”

“Shut up!” I yelled. Iris smiled, bid farewell, then disappeared from view as I cried and sobbed loudly into the sleeves of Tommy’s jumper. Perhaps Terranovus wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience after all.