Chapter 2: From Dust
It had been years since that horrid day. So much was destroyed and even more was lost. Yet out of the dust, ash, and decaying ruins the few remaining vestiges of mankind clung to life and began to rebuild. Humanity's tenacity once more saved itself from the brink of total annihilation. Clustered together in the remains of the once densely crowded center of Philadelphia a small community reestablished itself. After the cataclysm those who survived started to band together in the hopes of regaining what was lost and to live in peace once more. They set up a kind of village like system in which a council of intellectuals and skilled individuals held law and order. Rich was among these choice people, for it was he who first established the community as a haven for survivors. Rich's duties were that of overseer, archivist, medicine man, and priest. His responsibilities were great indeed yet he wasn't alone in the task of safeguarding the community. His closest friends and companions before Armageddon helped in this endeavor.
"Master Marino! Master Rich told me to bring this to you.", Nil said with a smile.
"Thank you Nil, I'll put it right into the system. Oh and don't call me that; remember you can call me Mikey.", he said to the small girl.
He patted her on the head and then proceeded to install the piece of piping into the community's irrigation system.
"Oh and Master Rich said he'll gather the village at the temple in an hour.", she said.
"Thank you Nil, I'll tell Jenn. Run along and tell the others.", he said as he wiped the sweat from his curly black hair.
Mikey was an averaged sized young man with a husky build. He wore a t-shirt with some tears in it and some jean shorts with rips in the legs. He also wore a pair of dark goggles, being that he was the village's engineer he'd occasionally have some welding to do.
"Was that Nil?", asked a feminine voice.
"Yeah, she just dropped off a pipe and said there will be a temple gathering in an hour.", he answered.
"Oh ok, I'll get your things ready then." said a young woman with glasses.
"Thanks Jenn.", Mikey replied as Jenn walked by giving a hug and kiss to her lover.
She stood about the same height as Mikey with strawberry shaded hair. Her clothes were made up of long jeans, a long sleeved shirt, and something like a smock or apron. She assisted Mikey with engineering but mostly by keeping record of what was needed and system status reports. She was also in charge of surveying the village's food supply and what little crop rotation they had. Meanwhile, Nil continued to skip about through the village until she happened upon a shinny piece of metal in the shape disc. As she bent down to pick it up someone cried, "Look out!"
She stood up after hearing a thud and what sounded like a sizzling noise. She winced as she noticed a red hot length of metal was inches from her head sticking out of a plank of wood.
"You should really watch where you walk Nil. Hasn't Rich told you that a hundred times by now?", said a sarcastic voice.
"Sorry Master Wells, I'll be more careful.", she said with a bow.
"It's ok Nil. At least you reaction timing has improved.", said a young man stepping out from a smoky workshop.
"Master Rich told me to tell you he'll be gathering the village at the temple in an hour.", the small girl reported.
"Alright then, thanks Nil. Oh and can I have that disc back? Its an uncut shuriken.", he said as he returned to work.
Nil placed the disc on his work table and continued on her way. Master Wells, or Sean as he is known to his friends, was a young man of tall stature with an average build. He had short brown hair and blue eyes as well as a small beard on his chin. He wore a dark green t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off and long light brown cargo pants with a few tears and worn out spots on the legs. Over that he wore a black ash covered apron and thick heat resistant gloves. Sean was the village blacksmith and metal worker in charge of crafting everything from weapons and armor to making plating for scouting cars in the community.
"I'm sorry Master Wells! The hammer slipped to the end and…",
"And nothing, you damn fool!", Sean interjected.
"Next time you slip up I'll slit you up the middle! Now get back to the forge!", Sean said to a subordinate with a hammer and tongs in his hands and a smirk of sarcasm on his face.
Nil made her way to a large group of tents with some crude armaments like shields and spear like poles lying about. She couldn't help but touch but touch the intriguing objects, as any child would, until they started to fall over from their piles. One by one, the weapons fell like dangerous dominos. The chain of falls reached the largest tent where it was stopped by a single hand.
"Let me guess Nil, it was so shinny you just had to touch it right?", inquired a voice with a sigh.
A figure stepped out of the tent virtually blanketed in black clothing. This man had long dark that reached to the middle of his back, black bands on his wrists, black long pants, and a plain black t-shirt along with a kind of dark duster cloak. On his face was a beard covering the underside of his jaw and chin. Beneath that was hanging from his neck that would only cover the mouth and nose. He looked at the little Nil with his Asian eyes as she tried to stand up some of the mess.
"Sorry Sensei King, it was just so shinny I…"
"Its ok Nil, I'm the same way.", he interrupted with a smirk.
"What do you need?", he asked.
"Master Rich said there will be a gathering at the temple in an hour.", Nil answered.
"Will it be in the usual chamber or a different one this time Ian?", asked a feminine voice.
"Good day Mistress Nessa.", she greeted while bowing.
Nessa was a short young woman with a slender build and frame. She had long blonde hair and light green and fair skin. She wore the same kind of cloak Ian wore except her cloak was sand colored, a white tank top that showed of her slender midriff, and a pair of tattered jeans.
"Didn't say, just gathering in an hour.", Ian replied.
"Master Rich told me it would be in the Great Hall.", Nil said.
"Oh thank you Nil. Oh and why weren't you with the scouting team today?", said Nessa.
"I was out on an errand for Master Rich to look for an irrigation pipe.", answered the small girl.
"Oh ok Nil, is that all?", the woman inquired. Nil nodded in response before receiving a hug from Ness and a pat on the head from Ian before continuing on her message run.
"She really is a good girl, Rich takes good care of her.", Nessa said to Ian.
"Mmhmm.", he answered.
"Makes ya want one of your own doesn't it?", she asked with a playful tone.
Ian smiled and then said hell no. Nessa gave him a little punch on the arm and then a kiss before they both returned to their duties. Nessa was head of the community's resources scouts. They would go out into the desolate wastes of Philly's ruins in search of useful materials. Ian on the other hand was in charge of the militia and defense squad. Being a strategic thinker, he easily ran the group like a well oiled machine. When the community went to sleep him and his "stealth" group would patrol the town borders and walls like ninja guardians. Nil followed the crude path ways of cracked concrete and arrived at the remains of a small corner café. She entered the building and immediately was greeted with a big, almost crushing, ambush hug.
"Nil! So good to see you! How are you?", said a flamboyant busty woman.
As soon as she released her grip Nil replied, "Good day to you Madam Riley; I have a message for you from Master Rich."
"Oh? What is it?", Riley asked.
"He said there will be a gathering at the temple in an hour.", the little girl reported.
"Oh ok, thank you Nil. Is that all?", Riley asked as she wiped a chalk broad clean.
Nil nodded and the proceeded to leave but was stopped by Riley asking if she did her homework.
Nil paused for a minute while stuttering, "well…I…umm." She then ran out in the direction of Rich's place.
"That girl takes after Rich a little to much sometimes.", Riley said sarcastically smiling. Riley was a young woman of moderate height with a slightly large build. She had brown hair and eyes, in front of which wore a pair of glasses. She had on a long sleeve purple shirt, a pair of dark jeans with tears near the ankles, and a kind of open over sweater the back of which reached just above her ankles. Riley was, for lack of a better word, the community's teacher. Her duty was teaching the village youths basic scholastic fundamentals. She also watched after the young ones when their parents were out performing their various duties. Meanwhile back at Rich's place he pondered over some odd diagrams and papers.
"Perhaps the hydrogen amount was off, or maybe the oxygen and saltpeter wasn't balanced.", he said to himself.
"Bah! What is the problem?", he said frustratingly.
"Master Rich, I'm back!", Nil called out up the stairwell.
She entered Rich's room only to find him pacing near his work table.
"Master Rich are you ok?", the girl asked with concern.
"Yes Nil I'm fine just angry with this formula is all.", Rich said with a sigh and scratching his head.
"Maybe I help Master.", Nil stated.
"Alright Nil, I have taught you some of this. Come over to the table.", he replied.
"Sign Argus.", Rich said as the door to his chamber closed after those words.
"I still want to learn that spell.", Nil said with amazement.
"I'll teach you when you can properly use it.", Rich replied.
On top of his many skills, magic was Rich's strong suit. Since the Apocalypse altered the Earth some people had found that through intense thought and focus they could manipulate the natural forces and energies of the planet to perform what the ancients call magic or sorcery. Rich was one of the gifted few who to full comprehend it.
"So is it general magic's Master?", Nil asked while looking at the strange diagrams.
"Its actually a mixture of alchemy and summoning ritual magic.", he answered.
"Are the ingredients balanced? Or is the layout of the diagram off?.", Nil asked.
"No everything else is correct its just something seems to be missing from the formula.", Rich said.
Nil's attention was then brought to a ring with six circles surrounding a seventh in the center.
"Master Rich what about these circle? Each have a symbol for mana being in them.", she pointed out.
Then it hit Rich; he had the balance right but all that was missing were other people who could use magic.
"Of course Nil! It's so obvious, you're brilliant!", he yelled with joy while swinging her around.
Nil giggled and smiled, she then left Rich to his work to go get ready for the temple gathering. The bells in the temple spire toned loudly for the whole community to hear. In the time before Armageddon this building was once the Grand Masonic Lodge of Pennsylvania. Now it only stands amidst the decaying rubble of Philadelphia's once grand skyscrapers. People filed into the building which held together surprisingly well through the Apocalypse. They entered through the main door way then proceeded to divide and go up two marble stair cases to the second floor and entered the largest room in the temple, Ionic Hall. Modeled in the ancient Greek style, the hall was decorated with mythological depictions and large columns. Everything was coated in a deep royal blue with gold edges. There were long rows of padded seat like church pews on the left and right hand sides of the room. Some large desks and chairs were at the end of the hall where the council members would sit. In the center of the room were three lamps that looked like torches around what looked like a small altar. The people filed into the room and sat where they could while some stood. Richard and the other masters entered and as they did all the villagers stood up in respect then sat once the masters were seated.
"Sign Argus.", Rich said while waving his hand slowly thus making the large doors shut.
He then sat in the largest, most ornate chair with Nil in smaller below him. The other masters sat in the fancy chairs a step below him. Rich banged a gavel once and brought the meeting to order.
"People, villagers, friends welcome back. It is yet another day in which we get to rise and greet life once more. I have called this gathering not just to discuss the status of the community or the state of our recovery, but to speak to you the people and meet on the level. I realize that there is still much to be done and many more issues to tackle, but I would just like the bring the needs of the few to the attention of the many and to boost general morale and fellowship.", Rich expounded.
"The council will open the floor to Master Engineer Marino.", announced Nil.
"Thank you Nil. My fellow community members, thanks to the diligent searching of young Nil and the assistance of my wife Jenn the irrigation system is repaired though you should still boil it before use.", Mikey announced as everyone cheered and clapped.
"Order.", Rich said as he banged the gavel.
"Lady Jennifer, Chief of Agriculture may now have the floor.", stated Nil. Jenn stood and then addressed the people.
"Our food supply will last us through the winter and thanks to the repairs made by my husband there will be enough to go around. Rations will still have to be small for sake of crop preservation but no one will go hungry this year.", she said.
The community cheered once before Rich called order again.
"Thank you Lady Jenn. Metal Master Wells may now have the floor.", said Nil.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and other leeches of society, lend me your ears.", he said as the people laughed at the well needed humor.
"My staff and I have completed making new panels for the scouting cars and your homes. They will be made available to you shortly.", continued Sean.
Everyone clapped and then order once more.
"Thank you Master Wells for your continuing expertise in metallurgy. The council will now hear from Mistress Nessa and Sensei King.", proclaimed Nil.
"The survey team and I have had some luck finding more resources to trade with neighboring settlements but still no clean water supply. Nevertheless we will still keep looking.", Nessa reported.
"The militia is still as vigilant as ever and the stealth force is still keeping watch at night. My fellow villagers, tonight you shall sleep safely." Ian closed.
The people clapped and once again came to order.
"Madam Riley, Chief of Education now has the floor.", said Nil.
"Thank you Nil. Although much knowledge and means of obtaining it were lost in 2012 we still continue to learn and to teach. I assure you I will continue to educate any who seek higher learning. To all of you whom I currently teach remember to do your homework for Wednesday.", Riley said with a smile.
The community clapped, except for the young children.
"The floor is now open to any who request to speak.", Nil said.
"Master Richard, have you produced anymore medicine for the radiation sickness?", asked a villager.
"Yes, I have and I will distribute them accordingly.", Rich answered.
The gathering continued on for an hour but was now winding down. Rich stood and prepared to close the meeting.
"Good people of the community t will now call this meeting to a close. Once again I am honored to be among you, some of the last vestiges of civilization. Together we stand at the vanguard of a new age. My closing statement will be that I'd like to meet with my fellow council members after this meeting.", Rich proclaimed.
He continued by asking all those present to stand for the recitation of a vow or prayer. They then filled the great hall with words as the spoke in unison.
"Great forces of nature and fate, today we make a solemn declaration. As we sleep at night and rise the morning we shall persevere. When in darkest times, we shall find the light. And though the world may try to destroy us, we shall rebuild. As one people, as one voice we proclaim our defiance in the face of oblivion. We will not go quietly into the night; we will parish without a fight. We're going to live on, we're going to survive. For we are humanity, this our home, and this is our way. So mote it be.", they all proclaimed
Rich banged the gavel one more time and declared the gathering over. The villagers left the temple in an orderly manner while the council member remained.
"My friends I have an idea.", said Rich.
