Earth Keepers

by Jorge Alejandro Lavera

The city was ready. It just needed people.

  And that needed to be resolved immediately. The people of Rho would be people who liked order and authority, having things resolved fairly for all.

  Tzedek left the panoramic floor, and went to the communications center on the lower floor. It was time to talk to the others. He sent a message from the computer to everyone to meet in ten minutes.

  Alpha, January 2, 2026. 12:50 p.m. (local time)

  Halius got the message and called Nikaia, Marsan, and Musa so they’d be ready for the meeting.

  He looked at the plan of the city on the wall of his command center. There was no nice panoramic point there like in Rho and Delta, because Tzedek commissioned him to make the city communal-anarchic and therefore there was no obvious element of central power or place above the others, but the immense flat screen with a satellite aerial image of the city in real time compensated for the lack. The city looked tangled and disorganized, with numerous alleys, uneven blocks, diagonals and terrains of all kinds and sizes. If he didn’t know about the underlying order, Halius would say it was complete chaos. He smiled to himself, satisfied with the work achieved. The weather and the location in the vicinity of South Africa helped improve his mood, despite the flatness of the city.

  The elements of comfort in the houses and the city were the latest in technology, the same as in Rho and Delta. The main difference was that the inhabitants would be identified mainly by their biometric characteristics, because they couldn’t be counted on to carry their papers and not lose them. The inhabitants of Alpha would be anarchists and rebels, artists and bohemians; valuable and productive people, but clueless and resistant to authority. That’s why they wouldn’t get along well in the other cities. They had to be guided without trying to change them.

  They had finished the construction almost four months before the six year deadline Tzedek had given them. Not bad. He remembered the time of the slaves, and thought that not even they could have finished it faster. Capitalism was a fantastic system of extortion.

  He couldn’t help but smile again.

  Delta, January 2, 2026. 7:50 p.m. (Local time)

  Ponteus, together with Apollo, Harmonia and Niobe, looked at the Delta city extension that was before them. The city, situated in a remote area of Australia, was distributed in several concentric circles of land, and streets ran through it like the spokes of a wheel.

  They were in the large meeting room when Ponteus received the message from Tzedek. He communicated it to them, and they went to the supervision center at the top of the monumental circular building.

  Delta would be for those who needed to feel like their vote counted. In fact, with the electronic media and biometric validation that was in the city, everything would be submitted to a vote, except the main commandments. Of course, Ponteus would have the last word, and he would also be in charge of vetoing any decision that went against the interests and objectives of the group, but no one needed to know that. In any case, most of the functions of the city would have the will of the majority. And being a direct voting system, there would be no politicians, so in this city, communicators would have great importance.

  They got ready to communicate, and at the exact minute, they all went into conference.

  PLANS

  Rho, January 2, 2026. 6:20 a.m.

  “First, let me congratulate you on your work. Well done.”

  “Thank you, Tzedek,” almost all of them answered.

  “We have to populate the cities,” he continued. We have the opportunity to choose with whom we want to begin our new civilization.”

  “What you’re doing is a discriminative dictatorship.”

  “You’ve become very fond of the humans, Althaea, you even think like them. Must I remind you why we’re here and what they are for us? Do you remember, or do you need a review?” he said, stroking his beard.

  “But Tzedek, they’re intelligent, they have feelings.”

  “So are dolphins, octopuses, elephants, and dogs. Even the other hominids are quite intelligent and have feelings, and these same humans kill them in cruel experiments, for fun, recklessness, and just out of negligence. But, I should add, not all humans are intelligent. In some cases, the only difference between them and other primates is just their hair. Here we have a clear case of disadvantageous natural selection. The most sensitive and studious recognize that the planet has problems, and restrict their reproduction. The most careless and unscrupulous, on the other hand, have more children than they can afford. And so, the average genome of this species is made of increasingly less intelligent, more careless and unscrupulous humans. The smartest ones self-extinguish.”

  “But they all should be given the same opportunities and that’s that. We’re creating a raffle, and those who win are selected by chance,” Nogah said.

  Tzedek looked at him like he’d stepped on something dirty.

  “Sometimes I wonder if you aren’t a bit of an idiot or something. What you’re saying is absurd. We aren’t going to waste an opportunity like this to be able to get the best elements of humanity to collaborate with us. A raffle, so that we bring in a rapist, a pedophile, or a sociopath in to make everything fail? We have billions from which to choose a few thousand, you’re going to be able to reach the best of the best, and you want to do a damned raffle?” Tzedek was shouting now. Nogah lowered his head in embarrassment and said nothing.

  “How do you know that you won’t choose one of those anyway?” Marsan asked, arms crossed.

  “If we leave it to chance, we can be sure that one of them would get in. If we choose them ourselves, at least if one of them gets in, it will be our own error. We have already made too many in the past to love or pity these creatures. We should learn from our mistakes.”

  “So? What are you proposing, exactly?” asked Halius.

  “A filter, to begin with. I just sent plans for this stage to your computers, take a look. First we’ll choose humans specifically with the capabilities that we need. Farmers, and farm hands, scientists, engineers, teachers, technicians, doctors, paramedics, nurses, a few judges and legislators, police, firemen. We can invite them and offer them a life that’s paid for...house, land, belongings, cutting-edge technology, food, a place with total security and a quiet life, all paid for in exchange for work. I’m sure that many will want to try it, and before inviting them, we’ll investigate to discard the problematic ones. None with criminal records or complaints, none with incurable genetic diseases with the current state of their technology, none with an IQ below 120, and any other criterion that occurs to you to adjust the number to the best of the best.”

  “People with those conditions are faint-hearted, Tzedek,” said Marsan.

  “Not necessarily, perhaps they’ve been softened up by civilization, although we can also take their physical state into account in the selection. If someone has specific knowledge that is irreplaceable, for example, a neurosurgeon, that may overcome other parameters of disqualification.”

  “And in a couple of centuries, are we going to have cities overflowing with humans again? Why go to so much trouble?” asked Ponteus.

  “That can be part of the selection, brother. People who aren’t dominated by their sexual urges, and we can also put contraceptives in their water and food, and only authorize births by merit. I like that last idea, only those who contribute most to the common good can have children.”

  “Eugenics. That is horrible and inhumane,” Althaea muttered.

  “Inhumane, ha. Or did you suddenly turn into a homo sapiens and I didn’t get the memo? If there’s one thing that’s ‘human,’ it’s reproducing like a virus without worrying about what to do with the children, ending up in aggression and war over insufficient resources, living spaces, food, whatever. ‘Inhumane’ is a compliment, Althaea. Besides, they themselves were fanatics of eugenics until it got out of control with Nazism. As far as horrible, a parent sometimes has to do nasty things to protect their children. If we can start with humans wh
o are already sympathetic to this kind of thinking and acting, so much the better. Those who are left outside will also have a chance. Oh, and I forgot, if any of the chosen ones have a family, someone who depends on him or her, they’ll be admitted as well, but only if the families pass the genetic and psychological tests.”

  “And if they don’t pass?” asked Althaea.

  “Well, unless it’s a critical element that’s unique, and I don’t think there would be many of those, we’ll tell them that they didn’t meet the requirements for selection. There’s no need to dismantle families and have resentful people in the new group,” Tzedek clarified. “Once we’ve got our indispensable candidates living here, we can look for the rest of the general population with a wider criteria. Of course, in creating a new society, we can discard all those who have defects. No extremist fanatics, or people with criminal backgrounds, no pastors or priests of any cult. A lot of professions related to survival will be necessary, while other professions will become useless.

  “Any demographic limitations?” Ponteus wanted to know.

  “Obviously, minors will be admitted if their parents are selected, but we can rule out this happening in all but a few cases of professionals of maximum abilities. Nor does it make sense to select someone who’s going to die in a few years, with the same exception—if we can’t cure it. And we must take into account the distribution of women and men, although we’ll take care that sex isn’t dominant in these candidates, nor do we want problems with jealousy, or crimes of passion for having sexually frustrated people. “

  “Would it be worth rescuing some works of art and having printed books? In case the world and infrastructure go to hell before we foresee it?” ventured Musa.

  “Hmm, I don’t see any problem with that. We’re acquiring electronic books for virtual libraries and remember that we’re going to have our network connected between the three cities. We’re copying all accessible content from the internet and also all paid content of great importance, for example the scientific articles from Nature or Lancet. Also the blueprints and manuals of all electronic or engineering works and the machines to build them. The idea is not to lose even a comma of what has been achieved and to be able to reconstruct anything that is destroyed.”

  “Suppose we achieve all of that and the people start to come here. What will happen if the rest of the world finds out what’s happening. And what will we do if people start coming to ‘bang at the doors,’ shall we say, to find out what’s happening or what the cities are like? What will happen to our little utopia then?”

  “The cities are private property. Nobody gets in without authorization, like in any closed community in the host countries. We can add a ‘non-disclosure’ clause for all of the citizens, for a limited time, which will be enough to transfer them so they’ll arrive safe.”

  “And what happens to the capable people who are isolated, who live in the mountains or they don’t have internet or whatever?” asked Ponteus.

  “In principle, it would be difficult for these people to cover our parameters, but we will do our best to reach the whole world. We’ll use direct contact first to find the inhabitants we know we need, either online or by mail, but for the general last-minute selection, we’ll use TV, newspapers, mail, and even messengers by foot if necessary.”

  “How long do we have?” Nogah asked.

  “A couple of years at the most. Enough time to find and choose the people, convince them to move, see how the cities work, and...prepare the rest of them.”

  “By ‘the rest of them’ you mean the virus and its distribution?”

  “Exactly. Proceed with discretion and don’t waste any time. I want to start filling the cities. And make sure everything is credible, I don’t want to lose people because they think that this is a pyramid scam.”

  A few days went by and Nogah informed Tzedek that they had the lists to get started. In turn, he showed him the system from which he could monitor progress. Tzedek gave him the authorization to start.

  He sent a message to millions of previously selected people. Most of them received it by internet, some by physical mail.

  Tzedek looked at the server. He could see the statistics on the screen. So far, zero on all the indicators.

  Once connected to the server, every person was identified by their data with more security than the electoral college. In the areas where there was no internet, they sent agents with computers and satellite telephones to receive the applications of those who had been contacted by mail. They communicated with park rangers, astronomers, explorers, and many people in remote areas.

  The first test was to decipher a personalized message, which would take them to a page where the real test would start. The message had a different encryption for each person, and once it had been deciphered, it no longer worked for anyone else.

  The statistic screen started to show numbers greater than zero. People all over the world were connecting, but only a few deciphered the message. And fewer still went through all the filters.

  Little by little, first dozens, then hundreds of people were arriving in the new cities.

  HEART

  Buenos Aires, November 6, 2027. 6:40 p.m.

  Sofía was working on a complex structure at her desk, at the same time modeling it on the computer. The model was made with a series of sticks attached with small balls of putty.

  “You’re obsessed with that project,” commented Juan Carlos.

  “I don’t know why, but I feel like I’ve almost got it.”

  “Are you sure this hasn’t already been invented?”

  “Very sure. Look, the individual filaments are very weak. However, the whole structure supports more than two hundred pounds of weight,” explained Sofía, supporting a pile of books on top of the frame, which did not move.

  Juan Carlos, surprised, rested his hand on the pile, and could see how the nodes of the structure yielded a little, but didn’t give.

  “Well, that’s impressive, considering how weak it looks. What is it that you’re not satisfied with?”

  “The redundancy. I think there must be a way for this not to happen.” She showed him, removing a single strand from one side. The whole structure came down suddenly, filaments and the balls that made the nodes flying to all sides.

  “It looks amazing, but what is it for?”

  “I’m not sure. Does it matter? It’s my project. If we made a bridge with this structure, if instead of metal beams, we used raft wood slats, it would have the same strength and capacity. Or if we applied the structure to a crystal, it would be practically indestructible. Can I go to Marisol’s to study?”

  Juan Carlos was glad that she had someone to socialize with, since several times she’d told him about the displeasure that her classmates caused her in general, although he didn’t particularly like Marisol that much.

  “Of course. I’ll see you at dinner. Be careful.”

  Marisol’s parents were separated. She lived with her mother, Daniela, who worked in a hospital, often on duty and left her alone for many hours at a time. This was one of those times when they had the house to themselves.

  Sofía and Marisol studied a little while, watched a movie, and then they did what they’d been doing for a few weeks now.

  “Are you going to tell your father?” Marisol asked, supporting an elbow on the bed and looking at Sofía.

  “He doesn’t need to know for now.”

  “He’s very close minded, do you think he’s going to make a fuss or something?”

  “He isn’t closed at all, what it is, is that even though I’m fourteen, he sees me as a baby. And Dad will probably find a way to get you in trouble.”

  “I understand. Well, if you say so, it’s better that way,” said Marisol. “Do you want a chocolate?”

  “Sure,” she answered. Marisol bit off a small piece and put it in Sofía’s mouth with hers.

  A little while later, Sofía started to pick up her things.

  “I have to go,
otherwise Dad will get mad.”

  Marisol sighed.

  “Mom comes home tomorrow and I don’t know when she’ll have duty in the afternoon again. Your dad never leaves you alone at your house?”

  “Dad works at home, you know that,” said Sofía, straightening out her hair in the mirror. The freckles on her face were more noticeable when she was more heated than usual, like now.

  “Um, that’s terrible, isn’t it?”

  “No, it’s not like that. He’s very good to me. Although I think he’d have an attack if he knew I was with you, but I’m only fourteen and you’re nineteen. If it weren’t for that, I think we could almost go to the house and it wouldn’t bother him.”

  “And you don’t you think you should tell him? Or at least hint at it?”

  “Did you tell your mom, or your dad?” Sofía replied.

  “Are you crazy? My dad would put me in a boarding school for nuns, after undergoing an exorcism and therapy. And I think my mom would cry for a couple of years—more than once she’s told me her dream of holding a grandson in her arms. Ugh, like that’s going to happen.”

  “That’s too bad,” Sofía said ruefully, as she finished putting her things in her backpack. “The truth is, I have no idea how my father would react, we never talk about those things. If it turns out Dad goes out during the day, I’ll let you know, okay?”

  “Great, okay.” Marisol gave her a hug and a long kiss. “I love you, you know? You’re more than a friend for me. You’re my heart.”

  “And you’re sweet,” said Sofía, laughing. “See you at school.”

  THE MESSAGE

  Buenos Aires, November 7, 2027. 6:40 a.m.

  From: Rho City Administration, Argentina

  To: Juan Carlos Navarro

  Dear Juan:

  We’re looking for some very special people. How would you like to live in a new, modern city, with all the luxuries and the latest scientific advances? With your own home for you and your family, power generation through solar panels in each house, individual and community gardens, only automatic driving cars, strict security, private and individual education adapted to each person, and health services included. You only need to do what you know how to do to apply for a free place in the new city. Spaces are limited and it is a generous offer, but only the best will have the chance. Will you be one of them? Everyone may try. You must sign up to attend the interviews and exams, and you will be paid for all your time if you are not selected.