Utopia Shaken

By Daniel Azong

Centuries ago, Earth teetered on the brink of destruction. To escape, May and her family embarked on a cosmic voyage as part of an ambitious mission to colonize a new world. However, instead of the promise of a new life, she crash-landed back on an Earth she no longer recognized.

Still holding onto hope that her family reached the new worl

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Utopia Publishing Company
• Release date: Nov 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781947197145

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Copyright © 2022 Daniel Azong

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of reprints and in the context of reviews.

The Utopia Publishing Company

Boulder, Colorado, USA

Library of Congress Cataloging Data Pending

Published November 2022

ISBN: 978-1-947197-13-8

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PROLOGUE

In the distant past, the affluent and privileged abandoned Earth, fleeing from the impending threat of an environmental disaster. Or was it a relentless pandemic? Or humanity's self-destruction through an unimaginable weapon? The specifics have faded into obscurity; the details no longer matter.

Those left behind — who dubbed themselves the Forgotten — were certain they'd been handed a death sentence. As society descended into anarchy, a Second Dark Age took hold. But after centuries of living under the shadow of an apocalypse that never transpired, the Forgotten embarked on a journey to rebuild civilization. They had to relearn how to live off the land and started anew, fueled by a newfound optimism for the future.

Snubbed by the governments of yesteryear that left them for dead, these emerging settlements resisted the temptation to establish States. Present-day civilization comprised small, local, autonomous communities. The Second Dark Age, which spanned over 300 years, eventually came to an end. Nevertheless, life continued to be arduous and harsh.

A New Renaissance dawned, significantly propelled by the rediscovery of technology and knowledge that had long been forgotten. This spurred a frenzy, akin to a gold rush, but focused on ancient technology. Driven by ambition, prospectors roamed the lands, not for valuable metals, but in the pursuit of knowledge to alleviate the hardships of daily life. Those fortunate enough to unearth and reintroduce lost technology were handsomely rewarded.

However, this prosperity soon attracted unwelcome attention. Marauders began to plunder the treasure hunters' spoils and ravage communities suspected of unearthing forgotten technology. To combat this menace and provide security, Protection Agencies were established.

These Protection Agencies are currently engaged to investigate crimes and safeguard property. However, certain agencies have begun to seize more authority than their contracts allow. This overreach alarms many, particularly those who haven't forgotten how the rulers of the past abandoned them...

PART I

THE GIRL FROM SPACE

Was the town under siege from the marauders? 

Cassie Harding woke abruptly, her dream—a terrifying scenario she couldn't quite remember—cut short by a booming, thunderous clap. Was the noise part of her dream or reality? She couldn't tell.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breath came in gasps. Focusing her efforts, she attempted to steady her breathing and slow her racing heart.

The thought of the town under attack was horrifying.

Climbing out of bed, Cassie felt the cold touch of the wooden floor against her bare feet. She moved towards the window. From her second-story room in the Harding farmhouse, she had a sweeping view of the family property. Everything looked peaceful—there were no signs of an attack.

Slowly and quietly, she approached the room of her adopted brother, Oliver. Pausing a few inches from the door, she hesitated. She raised her hand to knock, then dropped it. Was she overreacting? Before she could answer her own question, the door swung open. Oliver stood in the doorway, dressed only in his underwear.

Oliver looked different from Cassie. He had blonde hair and blue eyes, while she had dark brown hair and even darker brown eyes. Though most people didn't know he was adopted, Cassie thought it was pretty obvious if you looked at them.

Even though Oliver was slightly younger than seventeen-year-old Cassie, she looked up to him like an older brother. He was usually very calm, but he looked worried after hearing the loud noise—a fact that Cassie found unsettling.

Clearly, the sudden, loud noise had woken Oliver too. The dim moonlight highlighted his lean, muscular body, but his eyes, filled with fear, revealed his worry. His usual cool composure was gone.

You heard it too, Cassie said, her words flat and matter-of-fact. It's probably nothing, Oliver responded, doing his best to mask his anxiety about the noise. Maybe a car engine blew out or something.

Cassie gave him a skeptical look. She was about to make a sarcastic comment, but a strong, peculiar smell suddenly caught her attention. Oliver noticed it too, and they both spent a moment trying to identify the odor. Could it be an electrical fire? Oliver suggested.

Cassie’s eyes lit up and, just as quickly, her mood fell. You don’t suppose Dad’s home?

Both of them, still barely clothed, rushed down the stairs to the main level and towards the basement door. Cassie had mixed feelings—joy at the thought that her father might be home, but also fear that he might have caused an explosion in the basement.

Approaching the basement door, Oliver gently placed his hand on the knob. He gave it a slight twist. A jolt of electricity surged through his hand, making him recoil with a small yelp. Unfazed by this, Cassie started knocking on the basement door. Dad? Dad! Are you in there?

There was no response.

He wouldn't have his booby trap set if he was down there, messing around with his stuff, Oliver said, shaking the lingering pain out of his hand.

Evander Harding, their father, had an intense fascination. He would vanish for weeks, searching for relics of ancient technologies from before the Great Evacuation. Mostly, he returned with either non-functional junk or devices that he couldn't decipher. Consequently, the basement grew cluttered with useless items. As Cassie and Oliver matured, becoming more adept at managing the family farm, Evander's journeys stretched longer. At this point, he had been away for two weeks already.

The scent isn't coming from the basement, Oliver observed.

Cassie noticed something out of the corner of her eye. She strolled down a short corridor into the kitchen and peered out the window above the sink. Far away, nestled deep within the forested expanse behind their farmhouse, a subtle glow painted the sky.

Cassie and Oliver sprinted back upstairs to their rooms. Cassie retrieved a thick coat, boots, and two handheld flashlights from her closet. Oliver dressed quickly and fetched a coat. Before leaving his room, he retrieved a small lock box from under his bed. Inside the box was a handgun. Believing they were prepared for any surprises, they ventured into the woods.

The Harding family farm was nestled in the foothills of a magnificent mountain range. At least a century old, the farmhouse was just a tiny part of the property's vast two-thousand-acre expanse. A small fraction of this land was dedicated to crop cultivation. Evander had stumbled upon ancient technology that allowed him to significantly boost crop yield while reducing soil exhaustion. This discovery placed him at the center of controversy.

Believing he had the right to profit from the rediscovered technology, Evander decided to sell his product, dubbed Limitless Soil. This engineered soil accelerated crop growth and sustained fertility for decades longer than traditional soil. The product was a commercial success and yielded the Harding family a tidy fortune. This profit, in turn, allowed Evander to let go of his farm staff, relying on his children for labor and still maintaining profitability on a few acres.

The launch of Limitless Soil, however, sparked outrage among a section of Chiffon Ridge's populace. Like Evander, other farmers in the town started downsizing their workforce, leading to a surge in unemployment. Some argued that Evander should not be profiting from the technology because he did not invent it but had merely found it. He brushed aside these claims, stating that his time and risk invested in its discovery warranted his right to profit. He believed the criticisms were driven more by resentment and envy, particularly from those who were now jobless. Conversations often ventured into speculation about the unemployed joining the ranks of marauders, wandering bands notorious for looting towns. Yet, despite the rampant gossip, encounters with these marauders were rare.

Evander's proponents and critics alike speculated that he would expand his Limitless Soil business to neighboring towns, amassing a larger fortune. They envisioned him trading his farmer's hat for that of a traveling salesman, peddling Limitless Soil far and wide.

In an interview with the Chiffon Ridge Press, Evander had laughed off these assumptions. "Why would I do that? Limitless Soil gives my family some stability, but I don't want to live in dirt all my life! What other lost secrets might be out there?" he questioned.

True to their form, the Chiffon Ridge Press cast this statement in the most unfavorable light possible. Forgotten secrets? Has Mr. Harding forgotten that our past 'secrets' led to the Great Evacuation? We're looking forward, not back, Mr. Harding! Reporter Penelope Clarewell had penned in a critique.

Crossing the cold, nutrient-rich expanse of Limitless Soil on a brisk mountain night, Cassie found her mind drawn to her father's reaction to the critical article. Evander had laughed off the criticisms, just as he always did. They claim to look forward, not back. But remember this, Cassie—we live in a time of remarkable innovation. That frightens some. Many would rather linger in the Dark Ages than embrace change. People are more comfortable with a known bad than an unknown possibility, he had said.

Despite missing him, Cassie found solace knowing her father was out doing what he loved—searching for the next Limitless Soil. Whenever he was home, he would seclude himself in the basement all day, puzzling over his recent finds, striving to understand and restore them. Cassie had a hunch that her father had named his product Limitless Soil not due to the seemingly inexhaustible nutrients in the soil, but because it had afforded him infinite time for exploration.

One thing was clear to her: she wished her father were with her now.

They passed the least favored spot on the Harding estate—a small, designated family graveyard. Beneath the earth rested her grandparents, her beloved childhood pet, and one unmarked grave. Evander maintained that the anonymous grave paid tribute to all the forgotten inventors and innovators who had left their treasures for him to discover, but Cassie remained skeptical.

Cass, we should probably contact Levaquin! Oliver called out from several yards behind her.

Taken aback by the suggestion, Cassie wheeled around, unintentionally blinding Oliver with her flashlight. Why? she demanded.

Dad does employ him for our security... Oliver began, trailing off under Cassie's challenging gaze.

He's paid to protect us from marauders, Cassie interjected.

We can't be sure this isn't an attack, Oliver countered. The townsfolk often harbored an ingrained fear of marauder raids, but Cassie found such an event highly unlikely.

Dad always said Levaquin takes his job too seriously—lets the authority go to his head, Cassie argued, yearning once again for her father's presence. She was certain that he would never alert the Protection Agency without assessing the situation first. Let's figure out what we're dealing with first.

As they delved deeper into the wilderness, time seemed to come to a standstill. The fiery smell amplified, and the smoke grew denser. Despite the obstructing smoke, their vision improved slightly due to the ambient light growing brighter as they approached the source.

Oliver gave a hacking cough, struggling with the thickening smoke. He refrained from complaining, knowing it would only earn him a scornful glare from Cassie.

They finally arrived at the epicenter of the fire, smoke, and reverberating noise—a crash site. The impact had forged a small clearing, toppling several trees and dislodging a considerable heap of soil. Nestled in a modest crater was a spacecraft of sorts—about twenty feet long and five feet high, bearing the shape of a bell. Its engines were ablaze, but the rest of the structure appeared surprisingly unscathed.

What is this? Cassie voiced her curiosity aloud.

I believe it's a spacecraft, Oliver ventured, pausing before he added, his voice charged with excitement, It could be an Evacuation Ark!

There haven't been any spacecraft for centuries, Cassie retorted dismissively, Not since the Great Evacuation.

Despite her skepticism, she edged closer to the craft.

Perhaps you should stay back, Oliver warned, his words falling on deaf ears.

Cassie, covering her mouth and nose, approached the craft's front window. She crouched down and peered inside. There's someone in there!

Are they alive? Oliver rushed forward as he asked.

I can't tell.

Struggling to suppress a cough, Cassie examined the front and sides of the craft. I can't see a way in, she managed to say, gasping for air.

Step back, Oliver commanded, drawing his handgun. Sensing his intent, Cassie quickly retreated.

Raising his weapon, Oliver took aim. Despite the windshield being already fractured from the impact, it required four gunshots to shatter the resilient glass. Taking a deep breath, he clambered into the craft.

As Cassie watched anxiously, it felt like an eternity had passed. But in reality, it was only a matter of seconds before Oliver emerged from the craft, cradling a young girl in his arms. The girl looked lifeless, with blood trickling from her head.

He carried her a safe distance away from the burning craft, gently laying her on the forest floor before being