by Ewan
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the True Man’s Show."
"A reality TV show of unprecedented scale and complexity. Even we struggle to call this a mere television program—because it isn’t one. It is much more."
"Watch the True Man’s Show and experience the footsteps of our ancestors as they lived it. Religion, faith, superstition, miracles, hardships—all broadcasted in real time, in stunning 8K clarity."
"One dome. Ten thousand hectares. Just as many inhabitants—born of the land, bound to it, and destined to take their last breath within its borders."
"But before that, a segue to our sponsor: Timora. Experience virtual meetings like never before. Timora Virtual Link encapsulates the latest and greatest in hologram technology. With Timora, watch your colleagues appear as lifelike holograms, making remote collaboration feel as natural as in-person interactions. Timora Virtual Link revolutionizes the way teams connect, fostering engagement, presence, and seamless communication—no matter where you are."
"Guooooo Boooooo, Nuooooooo, Doooooooooooooo"
The deep, rhythmic chants reverberated throughout the mountain pass. The tribe chanted in unison; every voice unwavering. Their eyes locked on to the distant wall, gazing solemnly.
Pan stood in silence; his hands clenched tightly. Tonight is the night. The night where he would leave for the wall. He had been chosen, or rather, his parents had ensured that he would be.
His father, a stocky, middle aged elder stood behind him patted him on the shoulder. "Today is your day lad," he said warmly, "Go and make us proud, reach the edge and pray."
"Will it be dangerous? I mean...I would obviously go for the honor and everything, but the myths. You know, the myth where there is something else over there, over the edge. The expedition where two of them just disa-"
"Stop speaking nonsense!" His father interrupted, "The edge is holy, nothing malicious could even come close. You should be honored that you were chosen! When I was little, I couldn't even dream of such an elaborate coming-of-age adventure. You will find this experience an unforgettable part of your life, believe me, and it would be a moment to look back on. Now then, off you go." With a final push, his father left the mustering spot.
The chants slowly faded into the wind as the tribesman dispersed, leaving Pan to his own musings. He stood at muster point, pouch in hand, and waited. He did not know what to feel. On one hand, this is a great honor, he is taking part in the yearly pilgrimage to the edge, but he couldn't help but feel unnerved by the massive, looming wall in front of him. It was the first time he was this close to the edge. From afar, it did not seem like a wall at all. In fact, it always seemed to blend into the skyline. Now, it was just behind the mountain pass, and for the first time, he could almost see it. It’s there, just behind the curtain of smoke that covered it.
A firm tap on his back jolted him from his thoughts.
The group had gathered.
The Journey had begun.
"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen! You’re in for a treat today."
"Today’s broadcast is simple yet thrilling—the annual pilgrimage To the Edge has begun!"
"Now, for those of you tuning in for the first time, welcome! I’m your host, Derry, and you’re watching The True Man’s Show—the premier reality TV experience. Witness the footsteps of our ancestors as they lived them—religion, faith, superstition, miracles, and hardships—all unfolding in real time, in breathtaking 8K clarity."
"Let’s talk about the group you see on screen. These lucky souls have been chosen by their tribe for a sacred journey—an annual pilgrimage to the edge. Every year, most of the tribe travels near the edge. While most of the tribe ventures only so far, never daring to reach what they consider the holiest site in their world, a group such as this one is formed each and every year to approach the edge. Think of it like the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca."
"I mean, sure, our motto is about "witnessing the footsteps of our ancestors" but just look at that! There is no place on Earth where people still practice religion this faithfully!"
"Sorry, I got a little carried away there. Now, back to their mission. The journey itself is short—just about a day's walk through this mountain pass. Simple, right? Well, not so fast. Don't let the scenery fool you, folks. This trek is far more grueling than it seems. The rocky terrain might be manageable with modern equipment, but for these brave souls, wearing nothing but sandals, it’s a true test of endurance."
Pan was struggling to keep up, and it shows. At the moment, he was the last of the group, and if he did not keep up soon, he wouldn't be in the group for much longer. The aggressive ascent had soaked his entire body in sweat. His legs, unused to the rocky terrain, trembled every step of the way. His feet, already sore from the sharp rocks protruding everywhere, felt like it was going to give out at any moment. But the worst offender, by far, was the temperature at night.
By tradition, every expedition towards the edge starts at dusk, and ends around dawn. It was around midnight, and Pan, drenched in his own sweat, is starting to feel its toll. He carried on at first, but then his fingers started to tremble, then his hands, his legs, and finally his entire body was shaking.
"Stop!" he cried, "Please stop."
The group turned. "I... need to rest...for a—"
"There is no time for rest, not in this expedition." Don, the group leader responded.
"Please," he begged, raising his arms, revealing his trembling hands, "Can't you see...this?"
Don paced around before he looked at Pan, "Fine," he huffed, "Everybody, to rest, but only for a short moment. There is no time to waste, the ritual must be held on time, so don't go and ask for another break!"
"Welcome! Ladies and gentleman, I welcome you to the True man's show, for a special dawn session today. Yes, quite early, but even more exciting."
"As you can see, despite the...setbacks, the group had arrived on time for their annual ceremony. I really cannot convey how excited I am at this moment. What you will be seeing today, I can just say, is one of a kind."
"To record this piece of history, we also sent camera crews down into the dome. let’s cut to their footage now."
Camera focuses on the entire group, revealing fifteen figures standing in formation under the lush, clearing inside a forest.
"Ah, here they are, the stars of our show today. Allow me to begin by introducing their leader to you: Don"
Camera moves closer to the group, focusing on the leader.
"This is Don, their leader, their most faithful. He is in charge of conducting the ritual. Yes, much like how a music conductor must manage every voice of their ensemble—the violin, the bass, the cello, Don's job today is the make sure the ritual goes smoothly."
The cameraman moves ever closer, now focused on Don's hands.
"See that stick? This is a ritual staff, and excuse me for using that comparison again, but this works just like a baton except its heftier, so you must be strong to hold it properly. Conducting a ritual is no simple task. First, you need those precise movements—"
The camera suddenly drops to the ground, leaving just a few blades of grass in focus before cutting out.
"I am so very sorry, ladies and gentleman, but we are experiencing some technical difficulties at the moment. Don't forget to stay tuned for updates!"
"Who was that?" Don shouted angrily, "No one else should be here!"
Pan stopped in his tracks, looking around frantically, but all he could see was their expedition group and no one else. Plus, with the novelty of witnessing the edge in person still clouding his mind—the impossible, never-ending curve, the sheer smoothness of the surface, the unnatural orange aura it seemed to emit, he found it difficult to concentrate at all.
"Everyone, stop and listen!" Don commanded, reaching for his staff, "Remember this, we are the predators here, we are the will of the edge, and it is us that will uphold the laws of this holy land!"
Suddenly, as if time itself had frozen, every movement ceased.
Rustle...Rustle...
Rustle—
As if struck by lightning, Don jumped into action.
"Everyone, there!" He cried out loud, pointing towards a dark figure hidden behind the trees, before sprinting towards them.
The figure bolted, followed by two more.
Without hesitation, Pan sprang into action, following the lead. Around him, his squad-mates, fourteen in total, surged forward. He could see the edge up ahead, less than a hundred paces away.
"They're close!" Don exclaimed. He was right, the group was quickly closing in on the figures, who had stopped around the edge.
Pan sprinted with all his might; he was so close. At the moment, he was possessed by desire. At last, he could gain the respect he deserved, at last, he could make his parents proud.
twenty
ten
five
Then, the edge...parted. It didn't break apart, nor did it groan. Pan felt something in his world shatter. A great chunk just...slid up as if it had always meant to do so, as if...no...No...NO! These fig—human scums are escaping!
Pan lunged.
He bumped headfirst into the other figure, sending them both tumbling to the ground. Quickly, he moved to subdue the other human when the chunk...slid back in place. At that moment, Don and the rest of the group arrived.
"No, God please no!" The capture figure cried out, struggling against the ever-increasing number of hands before giving up. Then, he was pinned swiftly onto the ground.
"Hold him!" Don commanded before stepping back. Although he stood confidently, his eyes betrayed his uncertainty.
"Who are you people? Why are you here? What had you done to the edge?" He questioned, pointing at the entrance that had just vanished moments ago.
"I...no it’s not like that, I swear! I was just doing my job!" The figure cowed.
"Doing your job?" Don spat, "Vandalizing the holy land? Then you should be punished a hundredfold!" Don bellowed as he raised his staff—
"Wait!" The stranger cried, his voice desperate, "Its a lie! Everything, your world, your entire lives, everything you had every known! It’s all a lie! It’s all for show!" The stranger cried.
The group froze in their tracks. "Show, what show?" Don asked.
"You don't get it do you?" The stranger started to giggle, "There is an entire world out there, and you, you are their spectacle!" He paused for a moment, then pointed his finger at Don, before whispering, "You are their prisoner, you are their plaything, these...outsiders, they control every aspect of you. They also watch you. They watch you eat, watch you sing, watch you shit. They know everything."
The crowd erupted, their voices growing louder with every passing second. Pan remained silent, still frozen by the stranger's words. If the stranger—their kind can manipulate the edge, they must be on to something. Although his entire being wanted to scoff at this ridiculous thought, what he had just seen was equally as improbable.
"You dare to utter such blasphemy?" Don roared, his knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. "Death is not enough for you, you...you deserve all the pain in the world for your sins!"
"No, not blasphemy, it’s the truth!"
"Turn him around!" Don barked as he stepped towards the stranger and spat, "You really chose the wrong day to come, didn't you? Enjoy. The. Pain." He readied his staff.
"Damn you, Bobby! Damn your stupid show! Are you watching right now? Send someone! You sick bastard!" The stranger screamed.
"Halt!" A voice resounded through the chaos like thunder.
In an instant, everything was washed over by glaring red lights. Out of the parting wall, a line of officers marched forward perfectly in sync, their polished uniforms reflecting off the crimson light.
Beyond the opening revealed an alien world. In the distance, towering buildings with impossible, graceful curves rose into the sky, their surfaces gleaming in the sunlight. In the air, strange vehicles floated silently, twisting and turning through the air with effortless grace.
Out of the line stood a lone figure—his chin held high; his every movement calculated. On his vest, his insignia glowed.
Officer Gabriel - Chief of Operations
"Restrain them," he ordered.
The line of soldiers resumed its march with robotic precision. The predator had found its prey, and now, it will do what it does best: catch it.
"Stop!" Don called, "Stop! Take me, take me with you! I denounce my belief!" He suddenly pointed at the others, "Take those savages instead."
The expedition group froze, staring at him in shock. Then, the murmurs swelled into outrage.
"Traitor!"
"False leader! You were supposed to be the most faithful of us!"
In an instant, whatever courage they had left was shattered. But Pan could barely hear them. Pan couldn’t care less. All he did was stare at that infinite blue and endless steel.
Meanwhile, the officers never stopped at their task. One by one, expedition members were subdued and then handcuffed. Then, satisfied with their assignment, the officers marched away.
"I see you all know the truth now," officer Gabriel approached, he continued, "Then perhaps you shall make a more informed choice."
"I had been given orders to give each of you a choice. We had determined that since you had discovered the truths, live here is no longer suitable for you," He points at the exit, "This shall be your new home, if you wish for it."
Once again, the crowd erupted into fiery discussion. Pan could not believe it, he was invited, given access to a world that only mere moments ago he had considered impossible. Yet, his eyes, his senses do not lie, beyond the exit, beyond the edge lies a whole new world, more beautiful than anything he had ever seen.
Then, there are his family, his friends he would be losing, still ignorant to the brutal truth that had shaken his reality to the core. Then again, he knew at that moment that his life would never be the same. He would never forget those graceful curves that rose into the air, the flawless blue sky, and the floating vehicles. If he stayed, he must endure every moment of it, knowing that it was all a lie.
No, perhaps he should leave—no, he must stay. Yes, he would stay, but he will spread the word of this grave injustice these outsiders had done to their people. By the time he had come to his senses, everyone had already made their decision.
Don had made a dash for the outside world the moment he could. Soon, most of the group members followed his steps, twelve in total. This leaves only three left: Pan, and two others.
Gabriel approached them, "I see that you three had reached a consensus to stay. Brave choice, I must say. I applaud your courage, and I assure you that no harm will come to you. Leave, and never come back, and bring your myths with you. May you enrich your culture once more.
"We are back, ladies and gentlemen. This has been an extraordinarily stressful day. I sincerely apologize for the interruption of our broadcast. As it turns out, nothing in this age and time is truly infallible—even our state-of-the-art transmission systems experienced an unexpected failure this morning."
"I'm pleased to inform you that the situation has been fully resolved. Rest assured that True Man Interactive Inc. takes all unexpected events with the utmost seriousness. At this very moment, hundreds of technicians are working around the clock, ensuring your ultimate viewing experience is never compromised again."
“Now, back to today’s ceremony. It was a horrible day for the people of the dome, as the brave souls that stood on that picturesque landscape just this morning had perished, but the ritual is not to be blamed for what had gone wrong. For it is the landslide that had resulted in the death of fifteen poor souls - a tragic but natural occurrence. The group had been walking back from their successful pilgrimage when suddenly, a wave of rocks blocked their path, followed by a deafening boom that also enveloped them in whole.”
“For those concerned by the integrity of the dome and its environment, I want to emphasize that our team of specialists had taken to the site mere minutes after the incident and had determined that the no part of the dome - its infrastructure nor its suite of control units had caused the unfortunate landslide. Again, I emphasize that everything occurred naturally.”
“To commemorate this tragedy, the board of directors at True Man Interactive Inc. had approved a special memorial episode tomorrow, honoring those heroic fifteen that gave their life for what they believed in.”
“Until then, this is Derry, signing off. As the natives say - Ğuooo hũohônúo”