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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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Last Son Of Earth – Part 4

When we last left our young hero, Alden, he was being interrogated by Lord Langley of CON (the Conclave of Nations). Today we conclude Chapter 2 and learn a bit more about the Separatist movement and what is expected of […]
Christopher Miller on May 21, 2013 · Series: Last Son of Earth
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When we last left our young hero, Alden, he was being interrogated by Lord Langley of CON (the Conclave of Nations). Today we conclude Chapter 2 and learn a bit more about the Separatist movement and what is expected of citizens of CON.

Prologue – The Parting

Chapter 1 – The Gulf

Chapter 2 – One of Them (Part 1)

And now…Chapter 2 – One of Them (Part 2)

Alden shifted uncomfortably under Lord Langley’s gaze. The last thing he wanted to do was incriminate himself, but it was likely too late for that now. Langley knew something, or else he wouldn’t have been here. The only question was how much did he know?

“We’ve been watching you, Alden. We have taken great interest in your, how should I put it…mechanical fascinations.” As he said this, Langley reached into his trench coat and removed a small, black, leather-bound book from his pocket. It was far too familiar for Alden’s liking. It was his Compendium, as he liked to call it, a collection of personal drawings detailing the inner workings of his own mechanical ideas. How Langley had come upon the journal was anyone’s guess. Alden knew CON had eyes everywhere, but he had thought he had been careful in keeping his ideas hidden from view. There were only a handful of people who even knew the book existed, let alone where he hid it.

Langley began flipping casually through the pages of the journal, all the while his gaze firmly fixed on Alden’s eyes – as if he were reading the boy alone and not the book itself. Alden was no longer worried, he was petrified.

“It seems you have quite the imagination, young man.” Langley continued. “Quite the imagination indeed.” Langley turned to a page wherein a sketch of the Rumbler and all its specifications lay open for both he and Alden to see.

“They’re just drawings,” Alden tried to explain, hoping that the notebook was all that had been discovered so far.

“Oh, come now, we both know it represents far more than that,” Langley pressed. “Drawings are an individual’s ideas. Ideas can be manifested and if not shared with the collective can corrupt the very heart of the one who imagined them. Need I remind you how dangerous ideas in the mechanical arts can be if not directed for the good of the Construct alone?”

“No sir,” Alden replied, his eyes turned to the floor, “I understand.”

“Tell me, Alden,” Langley pressed harder. “Why do you feel compelled to hide these documents from the Construct? Are you greedy? Is that it? Are you one of them? Are you…a Separatist?”

A Separatist? Why, the very word alone made Alden’s stomach turn with disgust. No matter how bad things were under the rule of CON, every level headed citizen still knew that the Separatists were far worse. Separatists were uncivilized, cave-dwelling, rebels who sought to overthrow the foundations of CON for the hope of their own religious ideals. Even Alden, who had his own doubts about CON, knew better than to side with those freaks. If change was to come to CON it would come from within the system, not by tearing it down. He had no sympathy for the Separatists.

“No,” Alden spat forcefully at the notion that he was one of them, “I would never side with a Separatist.”

“Then what is it, boy? Speak up! You can trust me you know. I am your Lord, but we are also brothers in this great collective.”

Langley’s words did not match his tone. Alden didn’t trust him any more than he did a snake. The only question was how much information should he divulge to keep Langley off his back.

“I just never thought my ideas were good enough to bother the Construct with, I guess.” Alden explained, feeling somewhat confident that this response might appease his Lord for awhile. Langley said nothing. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and examined the boy further.

Alden cleared his throat and added, “I won’t make the same mistake again.”

“I’m glad you see it that way,” Langley decided at last. “If I’m not mistaken your assignment is only two weeks away. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for placing you in a working class that was, shall we say, beneath your abilities. It would be a shame to see someone with your talent assigned to use his mechanical skills for the Department of Sanitation. The Construct can always use a brilliant mind like yours.” Langley offered Alden’s Compendium back to him, but kept a sharp grip on it when Alden took hold. “Do we have an understanding?”

Alden got the message loud and clear.

“Good,” said Langley, releasing the book and rising from his seat at the table. “I always knew you were one of us.”

————————————

Next week we’ll explore Alden’s home life and his relationship with Tin-Man a little further. In the meantime, I’d like to flesh out this chapter a bit more and make some edits here. Question: Was enough history accomplished or eluded to in this interaction? Can we elaborate on the Separatist movement a bit more? Should a more formal offer to join CON for a larger purpose be made by Langley at this point or is his veiled threat enough for now? Looking forward to your feedback. 

Christopher Miller
Story matters. As the balder half of the Miller Brothers writing duo, Christopher is convinced that his receding hairline is actually a solar panel for brilliant thought. While the science behind this phenomenon is sketchy (at best) one thing is undeniable – his mind is a veritable greenhouse of crazy story ideas. Oh, he's also the co-author of three award-winning youth fiction novels (The Miller Brothers) and newly released novel based on a video game and a pair of children's books. Their books are written for kids and adults who aren't afraid of adventure. His hobbies include dating his wife, raising three children and providing for his family through copywriting, web design and launching a free to read platform for novelists called BookJolt.com. One day, Chris and his brother hope to delve deeply into the realm of interactive fiction.
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  1. Christopher Miller says:
    May 21, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    Upon reading this section tonight I think I need something shocking to happen. A “bug in the belly button” moment (if you know what I mean. Ideas?

    Reply
  2. bad_cook says:
    May 21, 2013 at 10:20 pm

    This just seemed…heavy-handed.
    Authority Figure: I am villainous, and I am here to control your life.
    Hero: (to audience) I do not trust this villainous authority figure, but I will make all the noises and movements associated with obedience despite my angry, rebellious thoughts.
    Authority Figure: ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THAT UNDERDOG REBELLION GROUP?
    Hero: Clearly my rebellious, underdog self has nothing in common with that underdog rebellion group. I am shocked and appalled because propaganda has taught me that those people are freakish and gross. This scene isn’t setting up an ironic reversal, is it?

    Reply
    • Christopher Miller says:
      May 21, 2013 at 11:05 pm

      Perhaps. Why not? 🙂 
      Also, is there anything wrong with stereotypes this early in a story?Readers like to know where people stand early on. Keeping the lines drawn clearly at first isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 
      Thanks for the discussion. 

      Reply
  3. Henrietta Frankensee says:
    May 21, 2013 at 11:14 pm

    Lord Langley is his father and is recruiting him for the Separatists. But he has to go through lot of reprogramming to make him hate the Construct. 

    Reply
  4. Henrietta Frankensee says:
    May 21, 2013 at 11:23 pm

    Or as Lord Langley leaves the world shakes and they are sealed in together and have to rely on each other to survive and escape.  On the outside they discover that aliens (or a meteor or nearby supernova or mantel indigestion) have destroyed everything and the Separatists are in control of what is left.

    Reply
  5. Leanna says:
    May 22, 2013 at 12:40 am

    If you’re open to editing this scene, I still think an offer should be made at this meeting. There’s some sort of mission that they need someone with killer mechanical skills for but it’s a mission with a lot of risk and they wouldn’t want to waste a mature loyal mechanic on it. Possibly, it is also the sort of mission where a free thinker is valuable and CON recognizes that.

    It seems silly to me to bring Alden in just to lay out some veiled threats but I don’t mind the stereotypical villainy-ness (although “how shall we say” coming in the same scene as “how should I put it” is a bit much… unless you were going to make it a tick and put it in every fourth or fifth sentence Langley utters… I’d be amused)
     
    Then you could still have the next chapter explore the home life Alden is about to lose (especially interesting if his current family isn’t allowed to know that he’s been assigned early).
     
    Random: why are people always hating on sanitation? What if the coolest job was in sanitation? (seriously, there are possibilities!)

    Reply
  6. Henrietta Frankensee says:
    May 30, 2013 at 9:13 am

    The more I think about the main character the more I believe he is too civilised in this meeting. People with his history of disruption in childhood are either mice or hyenas. I suspect he comes under the latter category. I can see him laughing hysterically in the face of the lord who slams him with an energy blast to get his respect.

    Reply
  7. Speculative Faith Blog — Last Son of Earth: Part 5 says:
    June 4, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    […] Chapter 2 – One of Them (Part 1) Chapter 2 – One of Them (Part 2) […]

    Reply

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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