EDITORIAL: ARE WE FREE OR ARE WE ANTS?

Samara Prescott
Senior Editorial Correspondent

Five decades ago the human race's home planet of Earth was attacked by terrorists who had the

Fritz Lang's Earth classic "Metropolis"

singular intention of wiping out all life for good. Miraculously, a quarter of our population was rescued along with complete catalogues of our history, culture, wildlife and agriculture. The beings who saved us gave us a new home that those first survivors named Avalon. The beings called themselves Aetherians and we have never met them. We have only met their representatives, the strangely beautiful androids that live amongst us. They are called the Proxies.

But who are these strange machines and do their shadowy masters even exist? They have never caused us any harm, merely guided us in the use of the technology granted us for the perseverance of our society and way of life. They come and go like ghosts, offering advice and help, but never directly interfering with our advancement.

Many would argue that they are interfering. The Aetherians gave us Avalon and all its wonderous technology, along with the means (and guidance) to shape it to our own needs and desires, but is their presence completely innocuous? Are the motivations of their masters truly altruistic?

Since the remnants of humanity were relocated, many have decided to become "free" of the Aetherians who gifted us Avalon with seemingly asking nothing in return. Colonists have settled all across the system. Some, like the "Sons of Mars" have embraced Earth's militaristic past, believing without the Aetherian "watchers" they will forge a new destiny for humanity. Others have chosen to explore beyond the reaches of the system where war rages on between alien factions that have barely paid Avalon any mind.

In the midst of constant change, the Proxies, however, have remained disturbingly inert. The threat of war within the system, predicated by forces like the Sons of Mars has not stirred the Proxies to any kind of reaction. What at first seemed like cordial neutrality is now being construed by some as condescending indifference. They gave us the means to continue our way of life, why not guide us to defend it? Surely, a race of beings that could construct such a place with such advanced technology to preserve a race of lesser beings can continue to preserve that race by offering a larger helping hand?

But, then again, perhaps that is their way. To give us the means to continue, the tools to survive and leave it to us to decide how best to use those tools. To many, this is ultimate freedom, complete choice. But to others, including this writer, it seems too much like ants in an ant farm with no way to block the sun that is slowly being focused through a magnifying glass drawer ever closer to our 'paradise', while the Gods sit back, uninterested one way or another.

This editorial is based entirely on the writer's opinion and does not reflect the views of the Avalon Chronicler.