The Paradise Conflict

By Abhishek Ghosh

A QUESTION, WE ALL MUST THINK ABOUT:
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WORLD WE KNOW WHERE WATER IS SCARCE AND PUT UNDER CONTROL BY A POWERFUL REGIME?

From an unknown future, where the water resources are controlled by the Civil Imperial Regime.

The water bodies and rainforests which survived from the industrial wastes and exploitation are heavily guarded.

If there is any kind of unauthorized entry and consumption, the common people will be shot, imprisoned, or forced into labor camps.

But, there are rebels in the world who are fighting against the Imperial Regime. The surviving tribes rejected the Imperial Rule. The Rebels and the tribes have formed an alliance to topple the ruling regime. The rebels are fighting to restore the world so that the world is free from further exploitation of natural resources and uniting the world together to restore balance in nature and humanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ABHISHEK GHOSH
• Release date: Oct 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9789388758550

Book preview

ABHISHEK GHOSH

THE PARADISE CONFLICT

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE PARADISE CONFLICT

First edition. October 31, 2020.

Copyright © 2020 ABHISHEK GHOSH.

Written by ABHISHEK GHOSH.

Published by Novel Nuggets Publishers

Book Description

A QUESTION, WE ALL MUST THINK ABOUT: WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WORLD WE KNOW WHERE WATER IS SCARCE AND PUT UNDER CONTROL BY A POWERFUL REGIME? From an unknown future, where the water resources are controlled by the Civil Imperial Regime. The water bodies and rainforests which survived from the industrial wastes and exploitation are heavily guarded. If there is any unauthorised entry and consumption, the common people will be shot, imprisoned or forced into labour camps. But, there are rebels in the world who are fighting against the Imperial Regime. The surviving tribes rejected the Imperial Rule. The Rebels and the tribes have formed an alliance to topple the ruling regime. The rebels are fighting to restore the world, so that the world is free from further exploitation of natural resources and uniting the world together to restore balance in nature and humanity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABHISHEK GHOSH (b. 1990) was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Grew up in Kolkata and Siliguri. A PGDM Graduate and a working professional in the Banking and Finance Sector. His first book, Every Frame is a Painting published by Novel Nuggets. Second book self published through Juggernaut Publishers: Love, Realization and The World of Today - A collection of Poems.

Chapter 1

The Dry

A dark cloud loomed over the wasteland.

The toxic smog had mutilated the flora and fauna of the environment, once host to a myriad of living beings, colourful flowers, animals both wild and timid, and evergreen trees that stretched through the forests, for miles. Unfortunately, the circle of life for the forest beings was long lost in ‘The Great Fire’ or ‘The Great Smoke’. Most of the world’s water bodies and rainforests had become toxic clusters of waste. The surviving ones were heavily guarded, while a few remained unguarded because of conflicts between the ruling regime and the inhabitants.

Any unauthorised entry and they would be shot dead, imprisoned, or forced into labour camps. The only existing tribes in the world, the Shadow Tribes and The Islanders, who escaped the bureaucracy and survived the Civil Imperial Regime were termed savages for rejecting, the regime’s authority. The rebels were fighting to restore the unity of the world, while Mother Nature constantly had them in conflicts against the Imperial Regime. This unending conflict had united the rebels and tribes making them allies.

Slowly, the sun rises over the wasteland revealing a greenish shade, a normal occurrence nowadays, due to the presence of the toxic atmosphere. A vehicle roars from a distance; it is a four-wheeler, a solar powered interceptor, speeding at 80 kilometres an hour. The vehicle stops over the nearby cliff, blowing up fine grains of sand-dust into the air. A heavy gush of wind blows towards the eastern side, the cloud moves away, and the sun is now clearly visible from the cliff. A solitary visitor steps out from the car. He is close to 6 feet tall, well built, and muscular; he walks with a quick-paced stride, but has a slight limp caused by past injuries. A filter mask covers his face; his entire body is draped in shabby clothes, filled with sand and dust. A portion of his cloth catches on the rusty steel, which reveals his dusky sun tanned skin, but he covers it quickly, tightening the loose cloth around him.

He knows it is the only time to charge his vehicle, in these uncertain times, not knowing when he will get to charge his vehicle again. The stranger walks towards the front of his car and opens the bonnet; the solar panel reciprocates the command of the activation switch, turning above automatically to store energy for the vehicle.

As the process continues, he stands nearby on the cliff, and through the enhanced lenses of the mask, he surveys the broken structures of buildings, and bridges that are heavily guarded. The artificial stream ends at the point, where the city landscape ends. After that, it’s a long deserted path towards the dune and the neutral territory begins. He looks sadly at the structures, turning into dust day-by-day.

He then walks towards his vehicle, opens the door and steps inside. He removes the mask, he looks young but his face is full of dirt, does not removes the remaining cloth covering head and the neck, takes a quick short breath, checks on the analogue meter of the solar panel, which he had made from world scraps that reads thirty per cent. He brings out a very old copy of ‘Milton’s Paradise Lost’ from his backpack and a white envelope from the book. He puts the envelope into the backpack. He checks all the windows, covered with anti-ultra violet sheets.

He reaches for the bookmark and opens up the part, where Eve is surprised to see the serpent’s ability to speak like a human, who lures her into eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge…

Fawning and lick'd the ground, whereon she trod.

His gentle dumb expression turn’d at length,

The Eye of Eve to mark his play; he’s glad,

Of her attention gain’d, with Serpent Tongue,

Organic, or impulse of vocal Air,

His fraudulent temptation thus began…

As he continues to read, the analogue metre makes a beep sound and stops automatically. The power backup is complete. He carefully puts the book inside the backpack, wears the mask, and straps it firmly. He steps out of the vehicle, puts back the panel inside the bonnet, and shuts it, with a soft thud. He steps into the vehicle, closes the door, and turns the ignition key, starting the vehicle smoothly. He drives through dry steep slopes towards the Ghost City, as the locals or the residents call the city.

Long, long time ago, The Ghost City was once one of the greatest cities in the world thriving with commerce, culture, technologically advanced than any other city in the world. It was a megalopolis and had a different name which has now forgotten from the minds of the people or erased from the Imperial Data. The main resources of the city were the mining sectors which was a huge source of income as well as potential investors who put their money on it. The megalopolis had one major problem. Pollution. Pollution of all kinds which initiated the Great Fire ultimately led to the Great Smoke which covered the world, hampered the flora and fauna, destroyed the habitat and people started leaving, dying, and moved away for survival.

After the destructive events, the water crisis happened and strict laws were imposed to protect the remaining flora and fauna, natural habitats. Like the increase in water cleaning programs, making Imperial Outposts on all the water bodies like lakes, rivers, ponds, or any freshwater sources in the world by reducing consumption of the common people in the name of sacrifice to the New World Order. To protect the remaining habitats, a new power, the Civil Imperial Empire rose to control consumption. Freedom has been snatched away from common people. The water bodies are heavily guarded. The latest technology is pertaining only to the top officials for the Imperials and the people who are working for them. Common citizens are played by the regime and given rations. There living conditions are very poor except the ones who are loyal to the regime.

As Mitra nears the Ghost City, the four Imperial troopers of the regime, wearing black and white navy suits, check on the vehicle through the CCTV camera footage zooming in to identify it.

One of the troopers announces, Not from our parts.

Inform the Captain.

A trooper who is a medium built walks up the stairs and finds Captain Preston, wearing a black navy suit, talking to his family through the video communicator.

His eldest child is happy to see and hear him. His wife asks him about when he will return to the quarters to have family time.

He replies, By next fall, I am sure… he replies.

You never keep your promise...

This time, I will.

The Imperial trooper calls out, Captain Preston.

The Captain, who is a tall, slender, red-headed soldier wearing an official black suit, turns his head to see one of his fellow troopers standing behind him.

He stops the video communicator and tells his wife, Later, Dear.

Yes! What is it, Sam? he asks.

Sam informs him about the unknown vehicle.

Let’s go, replies Preston, as he takes out his service semi-automatic revolver.

The other three guards are busy in a conversation about the possible intruder into their usual life; I hope he is not a rebel, says one of them.

If he is a rebel, he will not see the light of another day!

Two of them step outside from the security room, put on their masks, with their loaded weapons ready and pointed out. As the vehicle stops near the entry gate of the city, the two Imperial troopers, go forward, and knock on the glass.

The visitor lowers it.

Identifications, please, commands one of them.

He brings out a paper that is registered and sealed under the Civil Imperial Regime and gives it to them.

Mitra…heard about you… come inside… utters one of the troopers.

He steps down from the Interceptor, and walks towards the security room and the window glasses that are covered with anti-UV sheets. The Imperial guards point their guns at the visitor. The traveller takes off the glove from his right hand to reveal the bar code. Mitra removes the mask and the face cloth, reveals his long hair till neck. Sam uses the bar code scanner to verify the identification, and matches it with ID details.

Captain Preston, who is standing beside Sam, goes through the details and utters, Mitra, the bounty hunter of the Civil Imperial Regime. We have heard about you!

Mitra notices the name and the designation imprinted on his army shirt near the pocket.

Oh! Indeed, Captain.

What brings you here?

I’m here to meet Admiral Arjun.

Is this scheduled?

Yes.

I don’t see any records.

It was done on an urgent basis!

Why do you want to meet him? questions the captain.

Orders from the top. I cannot disclose it to you.

I see. We can’t let you in… unless you reveal everything to me! I am the Captain here!

Do I look as if I give a damn about your rank, Captain? retorts Mitra.

Who doesn’t?

You are wasting my time, Captain!

Funny thing, you mentioned. Isn’t it strange that you being a bounty hunter is cleaning up the wet jobs of the regime? said the Captain.

That’s my living, replies Mitra.

Or shall I say that you are here to kill the Admiral!

Even if I am here to kill the Admiral, you cannot stop me from the order of the Governor. Can you?

Are you? the captain challenges him.

No, Captain. You are just simply wasting my time.

He comes forward to Mitra, his foul breath hits Mitra’s nostrils, as he says, Let us check your vehicle and give you a full body search. After that, we take you to the Admiral. If he refuses, you will be detained.

I can assure you, Captain, it will be the opposite!

The Captain gives him a cold look and commands the other guards to start the search on Mitra. They strip him of each bit of clothing in full view of everyone to check for weapons or explosives, if hidden on this person. Mitra feels no humiliation, as he understands the protocol for a bounty hunter.

The interceptor is also being searched thoroughly, from one corner to the other. They scan every inch of the vehicle; open up some parts of it. They search for banned weapons and medicines. They find a standard issue semi-automatic revolver, issued by the Imperial Regime and scan the registration mark. They take out the bullets and keep them in their custody. They go through his backpack and find the book and some photos, inside the envelope.

After the search is complete, Mitra dresses up deliberately and slowly, wearing each bit of stripped off clothing, showing off his muscular physique. Now, the vehicle is ready to enter the city. Mitra wears his mask covering the disgruntled look on his face, as he watches the bullets being confiscated.

You will get it back, after the Admiral approves, says Preston, while he immediately orders Sam, You go with him!

Yes, Captain! he salutes, as he wears his mask quickly and picks up his service revolver.

They board the interceptor.

Sam sits beside Mitra; he points a gun at Mitra’s head and says, Sorry! Protocol!

Bloody hell, it is! Mitra replies coldly.

He switches on the ignition key and drives the vehicle inside the dusty, broken city. Vacant streets, dilapidated apartments with shut down windows and closed shops mark their path. They reach the Imperial Building of Ghost City, Mitra keeps the interceptor on the back of the building parking lot, both of them comes down, Mitra put his key back inside the chest pocket, zips it, and walk towards the building gate—to encounter two masked security personnel outside the gate—all their masks firmly on their faces.

Chapter 2

The Admiral

The Admiral who is tall, athletic in appearance, having white hair wearing his blue and black attire walks out from the meeting room, as the Imperial Building is completely air-conditioned and secured through special air filters from the outside air pollution, so a mask is unnecessary. The city officials stay in this building to look after the issues of the Water Confiscation Act, conflicts