“As Earth's resources dwindle, technology is seized by those who kill best”
The narrative explores the cost of human negligence and greed that defines the reality of the Earth— now a barren planet. Rather than focus on conservation and sustenance, humanity chose to fixate on technology, power, and warfare. Thus, it leads to the downfall of humans but the descent does not stop as the powerful still manipulate the system. The manmade colony in space named CIEL is inhabited by a new species of humans that is controlled by an oligarchy. The structure of the old world has been destabilized as CIEL continues to drain Earth of its last resources through its new technology. Such a catastrophe barely ceases the human condition as the few with power aim to exert their vicious authority upon the survivors.
“When they own languages…we are terrorists. When we own them, we are revolutionaries.”
The new world has an authoritarian system that oppresses the last of humans and even the ‘devolved’ inhabitants of CIEL. The station is constantly under surveillance and has strict rules that ruthlessly punish even minor offenses. However, where there is oppression there never lacks resistance, a revolution is coming within the space station and down on Earth. Controlled by Jean de Men, the new administration is taking advantage of the situation by vilifying the survivors and rebels. The statement highlights the propaganda that is synonymous with totalitarianism, where the revolutionaries and branded as terrorists. Our protagonist embarks on a rebellious campaign to dismantle the tyrannical rule that is exhausting Earth’s resources. Other main characters such as Christine are imprisoned alongside the likes of Trinculo for conspiring against the government.
“The fastest way to drive living beings mad, then as today, is to confine them to a small, stimulus-less place and deprive them of any interaction with their species. We’ve taken the idea one more step. We can see one another. Hear one another. But we cannot reach one another, which creates a heightened longing impossible to name.”
The statement references the practice of scientists in the old world experimenting on lab animals for research purposes. This same phenomenon seems to have escalated and involves human beings and not for educational reasons but social control. Christine is directly referring to the fact the prisoners are caged within the vicinity of one another but without contact. It is a commentary on the reliance on technology to the point of foregoing human connection and interaction until it is too late. The new species of humans are regressing and lack any of the aptitudes that made humans social beings. The totalitarian rule utilizes this disconnect to foster their endeavors of depleting the resources and controlling the last survivors.
