autpaxautbellum | Tale of the colony (continued)

The elect of the colony found themselves in a new environment. At first it seemed a continuation of the days of summer, a warm climate with nutrient aplenty. For a time, the new colony of the elect mourned those they had left behind, those condemned to suffer the long winter. However there was also pride at being chosen ones of the ‘Aker, their generics proven superior to those that had been rejected. There was speculation that this was heaven, a permanent release from the cruel cycles of their kind. They prospered and their numbers grew.

However, this was not to be. After long years, the environment again changed. While the climate remained balmy, nutrient plentiful, there arose great periods of seismic instability - both frightening and dangerous - with these cataclysms taking an awful toll in life. Even more troubling were the crystalline monoliths that appeared throughout the land, huge things poisonous to the touch and leaching their poisons into the water supply.

These changing conditions caused them great consternation, asking why the ‘Aker would allow these destructive events to occur. The faithful opined that this place was a testing ground, a place for the colony to become strong through adversity. And the colony did grow strong, numbers on the increase, genetics at a vigor never seen before in colony memory. They took pride in this, shaped by the harsh disciplines of the ‘Aker. These shorter cycles of seismic instability continued for many years.

Some worried about this situation. Our population is completely out of control, they said. If not for the crystalline poisons taking their toll on our numbers, the supply of nutrient would have been long ago consumed. Their industry was also creating great bubbles of carbon gasses, which could lead to disastrous impact on an increasing unstable climate. But the momentum of population growth and associated industry seemed too strong; there seemed no way of stemming the rush of progress.

There came a time when temperatures began to rise once more. At first the colony rejoiced, their vigor stimulated to even greater heights. Those with environmental concerns became even more concerned, as the production of carbon gasses grew ever out of control. Might these gasses be causing the heating up of the climate, they wondered? However they were ignored. The colony as a whole became ravenous in their gluttony, consuming massive amounts of nutrient in spectacular orgies of excess. Few spoke of the ‘Aker, the law of the minimum either forgotten or laughed at.

The temperature continued to increase, now more rapidly. More became concerned, but frantic efforts to stem the exponential rate of population and carbon growth seemed doomed to failure. Increasing numbers succumbed to the now dangerous heat. The faithful implored the ‘Aker to deliver them, his elect, from this peril. But the temperature continued to increase, at a faster and faster rate. The environment itself began to harden, the water supply vaporizing and entombing them within the environment. Finally at the last, with their remaining energy, the colony screamed out with one voice. They damned the ‘Aker for his cruelty and malice, before perishing in the thermal Armageddon that had been unleashed.

And that evening, the Baker and his family sat down to dine on a fresh loaf of bread.