Prologue
***
He sat in the Social Studies III. Samael watched the screen as it ended playing, final words on the screen had him rolling his eyes as they sounded so bogus.
'Keep The Fight Alive - Terrans Must Be Ended'
The professor had a metallic arm he used to rake the keys sending the screen into the ceiling, "Who can tell me the beginning of the documentary? How did it start?"
Samael smiled at the professor. In his kind nature he was trying to judge who paid attention. A vetting process meant to establish who was worthy to earn graduation in the end. The documentary was a long 6-hour drag of gibberish that promoted the Martian culture to the uneducated and heavily slandered anything that had to do with Primal Earth. Or how it had begun to be widely called, Terra.
A pretty female student's arm went up, almost instantly reciting the answer, "The humanity is reaching new heights.
The year is Our Lord's 5025. The Earth our original home planet, Terra is in crisis and was so for several millennia. Many species lived in harmony. Earthlings however were fragmented and in cups of breaking out in all-out war. The brewing was few millennia old Cold War, between different races, on what counted to be human."
Professor raked the table with his metallic fingers, "Perfect answer. That was indeed the beginning of the film, a bit heavy handed with the literal wording. Nevertheless, perfect score for the answer. I wonder if how many of you were really paying attention. Thank you, Miss Gurple."
The young lady smiled and sat down.
"Good, I'm not done yet miss. Miss Gurple, tell me please, what would you do if you're an Empress of Mars? Let's pretend a little, you're on the throne and given the possibility, what would you do in her stead?"
The class looked uncomfortable. Young lady looked horrified at the question asked. Impersonating an Emperor was a serious criminal sin. Professor seeing this raised his hand and calmed the students, "Relax, I'm on the record and I take full responsibility for your answer."
Students still looked uncomfortably around, feeling like this might be a trap to get the young woman to say the words and later criminally charge her.
Samael watched the girl twist in her seat, having trouble deciding if it was good to answer the deadly question and potentially end up criminally charged and excommunicated with her whole family back to the barren wastelands. Better known as Earth.
Samael raised his own hand high in the air attracting the Professor's attention, after briefly checking his notes he addressed the sturdy young man, "Yes, Mister van Ryn?"
"Thank you, Professor. Well to answer your question, I'd open the trade Embargo set back in the year 4650. Maybe then the Earthlings would start to trust us more. The process, I gather, would take several decades if not centuries for them to truly believe us since our ancestors poisoned them heavily during the early 3000's," after briefly checking his notes on the screen he was satisfied that he had the years in order and proceeded to sit down.
"Not yet Mister Ryn please. Intriguing answer. Do you think trading with Earthlings would do any good? After all they were, and still are, heavily persecuted by us in every aspect," the professor smiled adding, "I want you to really think about your next words. How would it benefit them, and finally, what do we get out of it?"
Samael keyed his screen and quickly read his notes, he politely answered, "Well, during our history, us Humans wared with everyone. Taking this into count we have historical evidence that Trading did good. It opens up the borders, not only to immigration, which is totally different matter. But for their goods. We get to see how they live day to day. What are they eating? What are they drinking? Are they using the same deodorant I'm using?"
He beamed, the line worked as intended and the class laughed, merrily nodding to each other. Samael waited few more moments for the laugher to die down before he continued his thought process, "I'm not asking for full blown open borders. No. I'm just asking for their merch; I mean we only know they look like us because of these Social Studies and people like you who fight for freedom of speech. These movies are propaganda. And even then I suspect they're heavily in favor of our side. Trade would allow us to know our foe. To meet them. Eventually even befriend them. 'sides our side is powerful. We're the most advanced in our Imperium."
He sat down and watched in his screen. His nerves were frayed. He wasn't accustomed to feeling that many eyes on him. He wondered why he lifted his hand in the first place. Samael, though, was happy he managed to get it all out without stuttering. His notes covered wide range of dates and events, but he stuck to the most important ones.
The professor smiled, "Good answer. This class as you know is to prepare you what's to come. Political and social structures of our era. History is important. Mistakes that we made and continue to make as species will continue to evolve us as a society, even as we're divided. Martians aren't that different from Earthlings. We're the same. Our DNA is the same. No matter what the propaganda says. Mister van Ryn I appreciate your thoughts. This class isn't as important as Science IV," the students gently laughed at that, some shaking their heads, "However, any of you could be at forefront of our society. Guiding us in whatever directions the political waters may take you. Do so knowing that you're doing it for all humanity, no matter where they live."
The bell finally rang.
"With this I salute you, until our final meeting in few days. Then we'll make final preparation for the Graduation Tests. I've sent you all a video to your personal emails. I suggest watching it few times and take notes. Make sure you pay special attention at what the Martians greatest feats were. Especially during wartime," the professor finally took his notes and allowed the students to disperse to their next class.
Samael was done for the day. This was his last class and he quickly grabbed his things and ran out the door. He had a car to buy.
***
"Now I would suggest this early model. ME 5500. Comes with upgraded battery, self-drive and auto-ejectors in case of crashing. The speed and the force of ejecting can be adjusted. They deploy only in case every system is off-line and if the gyro indicates that the ejectors wouldn't launch the passengers into the ground. Of course, the model has built in airbags as well. But pop out and can be replaced by the newest model that will come out in few weeks." The sales pitch was a bit too strong for Samael's liking, but nevertheless he admired his zeal.
"I wonder," Samael lowered his voice so that his father couldn't hear him, "what about off-road?"
The salesman smiled, "The model has off-road capabilities, however, I must inform the young gentleman that the model does come with built in tracking device."
Samael nodded, "I suspected as much. I like the look of the vehicle, reminds me of old Alfa Romeo model. 952, correct?"
The salesman beamed, "Yes, our company has requested several antique models from Earth. But those aren't selling as much. Is the young gentleman a car aficionado?"
Samael sadly shook his head, "No, I just like the old Earth models. I came across this one on my search through the NET."
