The Atlanteans of Proxima b: Chapter 5

30th August - 5th September in the Year of Our Lord 2732

Mar 21, 2025

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Captain's Log, 30^th August in the Year of Our Lord 2732

Rex Haverham, the anthropologist who wished to travel with me was at dinner with Korinna, her parents, and siblings. He had defied the Council and left the day after I had hoping to catch up to me with no supplies. He would be dead if it weren't for the Opli capturing him like they had me. He was treated much the same as I was and it appears the reason for our imprisonment was suspicion over our intentions. Once it became clear I carried nothing even approaching a weapon and Rex was just enthusiastic to learn more we were free to roam the town. Rex visited a temple to observe their rites and rituals, he was elated to have seen something that died out on Earth thousands of years ago, rituals to the old Greek gods. He could have talked for hours and I think Korinna would have let him, it was her mother who kept dragging the conversation towards me.

The dinner itself was not as extravagant as the one with Akakios's clan. Apparently Akakios is exceptionally important but no one quite said why or what he does. Rex and I had noticed the same thing after our day of wandering the overtown – there are few children among the Atlanteans, the only children I have seen are Akakios's and Rex spied one at the temple, only one. Korinna said they gather the children at the gymnasium and education is gruelling but her brother and sister smiled sadly when she said it. I suppose the manner of educating children is a sore topic for any society. I veered away from any talk of politics and asked about their lives beyond the home.

Rex did not. “Politics is culture,” he said. And so he pried and pried until I swear Korinna regretted inviting him for dinner, but he got his answers. There are few children, very few. Many women are infertile, the men also, but something about biology means whatever “it” is has effected women more than men, not that it matters in relation to reproduction. Both need to be healthy for anything to come of procreation. Dinner ended swiftly after the revelation, the air was cold, and I got the feeling Korinna shared something she wasn't supposed to.

I pray she isn't punished for her transgression.

Captain's Log, 1^st September in the Year of Our Lord 2732

1000 Hours

Rex Haverham found my apartment. Found isn't the right word. Akakios told him, or so Rex claims. The man was wonderful back home, at the colony, but he is like a rabid puppy here, always scribbling notes and running off to observe, and inevitably try out his language skills. He is a poor speaker of Ancient Greek, especially with all the natural drifts that have occurred over the millennia, though without other languages to interfere there has been far fewer changes, or so I was told by the linguists before leaving.

1300 Hours

Since Rex has joined me my shadows have been more vigilant, interjecting themselves and steering us away from places we are clearly not meant to go, or they don't want us to see. Given Korinna's admission I fail to see what else could be missing from the picture.

1400 Hours

We discovered an entrance into the undertown but were prevented from going by our guards/shadows/escorts, or whatever they are. The longer I wander the overtown the more I feel like a prisoner in a very large, very pretty, open air prison. We have been prevented from heading towards anything resembling a temple or government structure, all fluted pillars and bas relief pediments. We spotted a gathering of older men in one of the smaller amphitheatres, they wore togas, unlike everyone else, and were whispering. Our guards quickly diverted us to another portion of the overtown, another crop of private dwellings.

1500 Hours

I wished for a late lunch while Rex attempted to shake his shadows, I doubt he succeeded. My two obliged my need for food, though we could only communicate through hand gestures. Once again there was only various salads and flat breads, along with olive oil, no meat, no cheese, no fish. I am still hungry, no wonder the majority of people are short and skinny. There's no decent food.

1600 Hours

I returned home with the distinct feeling something is amiss.

Captain's Log, 2^nd September in the Year of Our Lord 2732

0200 Hours

I am sneaking out, though the permanent sunlight makes such a task difficult. Everyone has to sleep at some point and I have to find out what is going on.

0230 Hours

Success! I have lost my shadows, the streets are empty. Perhaps I should have asked Rex on the trip... no he would get me caught. Though, in truth, I would not have tried this had it not been for him.

0300 Hours

The temples are sealed shut over night. The main square, the agora, was open, though very little was taking place. Some secret deals I suppose but what I believe to be a government building, a senate or similar, is open. I am going to steal a look.

0310 Hours

What passes for government here was gathering, a room full of old men and women wearing togas that looked older than the bones of Christ. Oh, Father forgive me.

0320 Hours

I am being followed by someone, not a soldier but similar build. He is around Akakios's age and is dressed in a toga.

0345 Hours

I found an entrance to the undertown and have gone down.

0400 Hours

Whoever was following me has given up. If I were on Earth every inch of this place would be covered with cameras and they'd find me in seconds but here, here there is no reason for such distrust. Until we came along...

0600 Hours

I stand outside a room with a sign above it, I cannot read the sign, but through the thick glass in the doors I can see people, short people, in full body suits, literally covering head to foot, operating on what I can only describe as a giant hairy egg, I have never seen anything like it. The egg thing is oozing some ichor that one of the men in full body protective gear is harvesting. Behind them is an opening in the wall that leads to a tunnel through the rock. Are these the tunnels that the Atlanteans have been mapping all these years? How is that possible to spend so long, literally thousands of years, uncovering tunnels and caves and to continue doing so, and why? Why would they do it? What is down there?

0610 Hours

Someone is coming...

Captain's Log, 5^th September in the Year of Our Lord 2732

I wish Father Cooperson were here. I fear I am about to die and have need of confession and absolution. In all my years of dry, uninspired belief I never thought I would face death wanting a priest at my side.

They're going to kill me for what I have witnessed, I just know it.