August 3rd, 2048
Five months since the Information Protection Foundation (IPF) went live, the trickle of refugees into Mittenwald swelled into a deluge. And with them came stories of the world. Among the seven seats of power, one was lost to calamity, Iceland and Australia were challenging to reach for most, and Langeland’s borders were open by invitation only. This situation left three others struggling to accommodate families in search of safety. The insightful and hopeful—Asians gravitating towards South Korea, Africans towards South Africa, and temperate Europeans braving the treacherous Alpine paths to Mittenwald—raised the refugee count there to over 1,200 so far. The arduous journey through the Alps served as a crucible, ensuring those who made it to Mittenwald were not only self-motivated and rugged but also possessed invaluable skills for the community.
The responsibility of assimilating this burgeoning populace fell to Peace. Yet, the integration of their scientific acumen and skills into Mittenwald’s society unexpectedly fell upon Richard, as his knowledge spanned a bit of everything. This additional burden, on top of his usual duties, gradually wore him down, edging him toward exhaustion. He had reserved today for some much-needed respite—a gentle exploration of the town which, despite its proximity to the Manor, remained largely unexplored by him. However, nature had other plans. For three consecutive days, relentless downpours besieged the town, with the Alps funneling a torrential fury into the Isar River until it overflowed, leading to flash floods that turned streets into rivers and Richard’s plans into mere wishful thinking.
Resigned yet adaptable, Richard recalibrated his day off. Instead of meandering through Mittenwald’s picturesque streets and alleys, he found himself ensnared in the ensuing chaos. Fortunately, the language barrier posed less of an obstacle than anticipated; a sufficient number of English speakers directed him to where he could be of help. This shift from coordination to engaging in straightforward, albeit perilous, labor provided him with the mental reprieve he sorely needed. The floods, a grim reminder of their precarious existence, underscored the critical need for unity and cooperation.
Navigating the flooded streets, Richard’s efforts in rescue, fortification of defenses, and supply distribution revealed the community’s remarkable resilience. Strangers and neighbors worked side by side, embodying the profound capacity for human cooperation and empathy. Amidst the turmoil, Richard discovered the true spirit of Mittenwald—not in its architectural beauty or serene backdrop but in the collective strength and solidarity of its people.
Enormous dead trees, having hurtled down the mountains, had barricaded the fire station. Richard joined a team of twenty men who, equipped with harnesses and thick ropes, spent the remainder of the daylight clearing the debris. As they toiled, they sang—an eclectic mix of songs in various languages. An English song, which Richard figured was titled “All I Ever Wanted,” became an earworm despite its discordant rendition.
Despite the physical toll and his waterlogged attire, Richard experienced an unexpected surge of fulfillment. His intended day of leisure might have been disrupted, but it was replaced by a profound connection to the town and its inhabitants. Mittenwald, with its old-world allure and emergent vitality, demonstrated that even in the wake of a storm, opportunities for growth and rejuvenation abound.
Returning home, Richard hitched a ride with Cotton Pravacia, a recent arrival from Georgia, US, who had been in Lucknow, India, when the world had collapsed. Cotton's odyssey toward the rumored haven of Perfectland had been thwarted by Austria's closed borders, forcing him to detour west extensively through the Alps. En route he heard about Mittenwald. Richard's initial curiosity about Cotton waned upon discovering his lack of New England knowledge, his exhaustion sinking him deep into the solar-powered golf cart's seat, oblivious to the rain easing to a mere drizzle.
Arriving at the Manor, Richard was both bone-weary and ravenously hungry. He made his way to the dining hall, where he found several drenched, grimy figures—men and women alike—voraciously consuming hot plates of corned beef and cabbage. Cabbage and potatoes were in abundance at the Manor, and each tragedy that befell the community typically resulted in the loss of a few cattle. These unfortunate events necessitated the carving and preservation of the fallen livestock, thereby liberating the remains of their predecessors. Although the circumstances now irrevocably linked corned beef and cabbage with destruction in his mind, the meal remained one of his favorites, evoking memories of his teenage years and providing a semblance of comfort amidst the chaos.
He joined the others, gratefully accepting a heaping plate of the hearty fare. As he ate, the warmth of the food seemed to seep into his very bones, reviving him bit by bit. Around him, the atmosphere was one of silent camaraderie; shared exhaustion and the simple act of eating together forged a bond among those who had weathered the storm.
Instead of climbing the steep stairs to the second floor and hauling himself down the long corridor to his room, he had something he wanted to do before he forgot. So, he dragged himself outside, the rain now a fine mist, and into the lab complex to his workshop.
"Nina, play 'All I Ever Wanted,'" Richard lightly commanded and held his breath.
"Playing 'All I Ever Wanted' by September Reign, June 11th, 2047," announced the glowing red disk on the wall.
"Out where the golden sunshine meets the green," lofted through the air. "Yup, that's the right song. What a lovely voice. Music from after the fall—hell, a year ago—in the database, on tap," he thought.
He got comfortable on his napping couch, closed his eyes, and said, "Nina, start the song over."
When it was done, he unearthed his tablet and pulled up the lyrics. "Nina, loop the song."
In the aftermath of the chaotic period known as The Wasting, the once-common phrase "starving artist" had taken on a tragic, literal truth. The collapse of societal structures in the late 2040s stifled the world of music, silencing the vibrant creativity that once thrived globally. During this time, artists struggled to survive, let alone share their craft. Traditional avenues for music distribution were shattered, except within the few and far-between safe havens where semblances of order and normalcy persisted.
For Richard, music was a lifeline to the past—a sonic bridge to memories of his own childhood cradled in the tunes spanning from the 1950s to the 1980s, the era of his father's youth. These melodies, once trapped in vinyl grooves or magnetic tapes, now existed as digital echoes, transferred through time, from one device to the next, finally finding a home in an MP3 player. This device, a jury-rigged piece from the brilliant mind of Magnus, was crafted to endure the tempests of that new, uncertain world. Eventually, it was mirrored in the repository of music in the backbone of the new Internet. Every stored note and melody was a reminder of a world that once was. But within the rebirth of civilization, amidst the rebuilding and healing, a new sound rose from the ashes—the inaugural anthem of hope by a band known as September Reign. Their song, "All I Ever Wanted," marked the rebirth of music as it echoed through the surviving strongholds of humanity.
This innovative ballad, with its fusion of K-pop sensibilities, funk's rhythmic backbone, and an organic touch of acoustic harmony, brought forth an unexpected and captivating genre. It was the undercurrent of haunting melancholy in the instrumentation that captured Richard's attention—a subtle but profound reflection of the journey through despair to the promise of a new dawn.
The song began with a single low note that hung in the air like mist, only to be shattered by a burst of silence—a breathless moment before an explosion of sound. The drums thundered into life, each beat a palpable heartbeat of renewal, while the flute weaved its way through the percussive storm, an enchanting melody that seemed to resonate with the soul's deepest yearnings. Unlike carrying a melody like, say, by Jethro Tull, their flute was more a machine gun, pounding notes into the listener.
During the choruses, the melody of "All I Ever Wanted" took a captivating twist, breaking away from its initial sound and transitioning into a haunting, slow acoustic undertone. It evoked a similar atmosphere to Bryan Adams' iconic song "Summer of '69," transporting Richard back to moments of nostalgia and longing. Just as the listener began to settle into the tranquility of this stripped-down arrangement, each chorus culminated in the full force of the instruments kicking back in, enveloping the lyrics with a powerful and electrifying energy. It was a dynamic and unexpected shift that added depth and intensity to the song's emotional journey.
Richard would lose himself in the music, his hands instinctively playing out the drum rhythms in the air as if he were a shadow musician accompanying the track. The lyrics, powerful and resonant, soon became an anthem for Richard and represented something beyond mere words. They told a story of resilience, of the unyielding spirit of humanity, and the ability to find beauty amidst rubble.
"All I Ever Wanted" became the template, the touchstone that inspired countless other artists within the new era of music. It represented the collective hope of society and served as a lasting reminder that even in the darkest times, creativity and human connection can thrive when fostered in the right environment. This song, much like Richard himself, was a survivor—a testament to the endurance of art and the undying voice of the human spirit.
As Richard lay on the thin orange vinyl couch once taken in trade for seeds, Nina playing "All I Ever Wanted" repetitively, he listened to the song. He held the tablet above his eyes and absorbed the lyrics visually:
"All I Ever Wanted" by September Reign (Cookie Shay, Thom "Blast" Pisso, Kyle Garpottitka, Trish Ng) @ June 11th, 2047
[Verse 1]
Out where the golden sunshine meets the green,
Life was a canvas, oh, so serene.
Laughter and dreams under skies so vast,
We ran through the fields, free at last.
Mornings would greet us with a soft embrace,
Innocence written on every face.
Friends by my side, we'd explore and roam,
This little farm, our timeless home.
[Chorus]
All I ever wanted was the world I had then;
Whispers of hope, where love would never end.
A simple wish for the times to be kind,
All I ever wanted—a peace we seek to find.
[Verse 2]
Parents like anchors in a turning tide,
Their strength and their solace, where we'd confide.
Through every season, these memories grow,
Harvesting moments, we reaped what we sow.
Sunsets would signal the warmth of the night,
With stories and songs by the soft firelight.
Under the stars, the future seemed bright,
A world unshaken, holding us tight.
[Chorus]
All I ever wanted was the world I had then;
Whispers of hope, where love would never end.
A simple wish for the world not yet forsaken,
All I ever wanted—serenity for granted taken.
[Bridge]
And though the storms may come, and shadows cast their spell,
We'll find the heart of youth, and in that spirit dwell.
A stable world, where kindness reigns supreme,
A haven safe, our universal dream.
[Verse 3]
Now in the echoes of those sunlit days,
I search for traces in the morning haze.
A world that's stable, where good always wins,
A place for healing, let it begin.
[Chorus]
All I ever wanted was that world of light,
A future built on what is true and right.
A wish upon the times, for love to rule,
All I ever wanted—a world tender and cool.
[Outro]
And so we dream of fields bathed in sun,
Where life's symphony is sweetly strummed.
A world restored, where we all are friends,
All I ever wanted—in a song that never ends.
Nina continued to play the song, after Richard gave into exhaustion on the couch. He stopped it when dawn's early light woke him up.