Historical Holograms From A Runaway Punk

Hold it steady, Zi-Yen, face it towards us. Fine. Okay. Well, as you can see, our trip to Goat Island didn’t go as planned. While I was gone Zi-Yen found my holo-rec so he wanted to make this entry just in case I forgot. Ow! My head is still hurting, among other things.

Here’s what happened: The ride from the lighthouse to Goat Island didn’t take very long since Ivan gave us a ride almost all the way there, stopping on some hidden border. He said he couldn’t go any further, considering his trike’s noise. Zora and I moved onward by foot, hiking through trees and out of view from anyone.

It was dark when Zora stopped, listening to the air. I heard a strange murmur as if we were close to something, but I didn’t know what. A place buzzing with people, maybe? Zora climbed up a tree and looked above the tree line. Then she climbed back down and told me that we were getting close.

“Remember the art of camouflage. We must blend in. Do not trust anyone,” she said.

Like two careful tigers on the prowl, we inched our way closer to the glowing murmur of Goat Island.

“Now we wait,” she said.

Boom!

There was a loud explosion from behind the island, and I could see sparks of fire flying up into the night sky. Men were yelling and running all over, while more men jumped into electric water machines, moving quickly around the island from one side to the next. The explosion sent a slurry of waves which pushed a watercraft right towards us. Zora got into the water and grabbed it, pulling it into hiding while the island was still entangled in chaos.

“When they settle back down, we’ll dock over there. We’re going to meet with the Godfather for a truce. Maybe he might know where your mother is. Regardless of what happens, King, I need you to stay with me, always. You got that?” said Zora.

I nodded my head in agreement. I was getting excited, yet I wondered with amazement about what lay before us on Goat Island. I’ve never seen cruisers that moved in water before. In Tech City, only the Skypoes were allowed to have cruisers that moved fast.

We got into the water on Zora’s signal and glided across the sea, paddling our way towards the island. We reached the other side and were met by two Henchmen. They smiled with twisted smiles noticing that we were females. A third Henchman jumped between them to say that the Godfather was first, and escorted us, leading the way more inland.

The island gave me creepy vibes, and I felt disgusted, dirty men living like animals. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something shiny. It was an out-of-the-place object I knew didn’t belong there, a Skypoe cruiser from Tech City. I’m not sure if Zora saw it, but I sure did.

As we walked more inland, I noticed a strange-looking silvery dome-shaped building from Tech City. The main door was open, and I saw a woman moving around inside of it. It was my mom! Instinct grabbed my heart, and I raced right towards her, dodging every Henchman who tried to stop me.

I heard Zora cry out, “KING! No…”

But I ignored her and went straight to the woman who was my entire reason for leaving Tech City, my reason for living.

Through the dome entrance, I ran right up to my mother and gave her a big squeeze, excited that I finally got to be with her again. She was surprised when she turned around and recognized who I was.

“Clover, you’re here!” she said. I saw that the look on her face was not one of joy but of disappointment. She pushed me off her and asked, “How did you get here? You shouldn’t be here.”

Images of the dome flashed through my mind, like I had been there before but when I was very young with my mother.

“I know this place. You took me here once when I was young.”

“I did,” she said.

“I ran away from Tech City and came all this way to be with you, mom. Aren’t you happy?” I saw her shift a little and was about to say something when a Henchman ran through the door. She waved to him that it was okay. But he looked at me with anger and ran back out.

“Why did you get exiled from Tech City?” I asked her.

She got uncomfortable with me and fidgeted around the electric equipment that took up most of the room, surrounded by medical instruments and electronic machines from Tech City.

“Do you know how much I wanted to be with you again, mom? We came out all this way….”

“We?” She asked me. “Who else…. Okay, wait, look, I didn’t exactly get exiled.”

“It was a mistake? We can go back?”

“Uh, no, not yet exactly,” she said.

“Then let’s go somewhere else,” I suggested.

“Clover, I wanted to leave.”

I was stunned when I heard her say that, like I got shot in the heart.

“But… but… you’re my mother. Why did you leave me behind?”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not your mother.”

“What?! Why are you telling me this?” I could feel the tears building in my eyes.

“There isn’t much time to explain before he gets here. Look, you were created with a Neuralink Central Control Mind known as The Ark. The serum to activate your central brain chip has been stored here away from Mayor Sye.”

Not realizing what she was about to do, I watched her fill a syringe with the liquid, and then she jabbed me in the arm, injecting the liquid into my body.

I pulled my arm back after I felt the needle prick and said, “What are you doing? I am NOT going back to Tech City! My name is King now. Who are you? What is all this? Why are YOU here?” I was getting furious at that point.

Then it hit me; all the faces, voices, and minds from Tech City flooded into my mind, and I could not shut it off. I thought I was going crazy! I scream in horror, wanting it all to stop and go away. But it wasn’t.

The Godfather rushed inside and saw me screaming in the corner. All went black after that. I think I was knocked out by someone hitting me in the back of the head.

I remember an explosion and Zora picking me up in her arms. I could barely see what was happening, smelling smoke and hearing shots of gunfire. Then back here at our lighthouse village.

Nami wants me to rest and recuperate. So, these recordings are going on hold for now. Okay, thanks Zi; you can shut it off now.