Historical Holograms From A Runaway Punk
Hologram Recording Transcript: October 16, 2096

It’s taking forever to get to the lighthouse. And once again, I’m traveling along a cracked and deserted pathway that seems like it will never end. I keep seeing old, rusty, four-wheeled machines called cars with wild grass growing inside them. Strange how they are not used anymore.

Nami has me practice reading the old giant green signs on the way, too, teaching me even more about places that used to be filled with people, such as old Georgia, old Alabama, and old Florida.

“Why is there a wall around Tech City?” I asked her.

Zora said, “We all wanted it, to keep safe, to keep order and a system of rules, like we used to have. We wanted to be able to protect ourselves from being harmed considering the entire country was falling apart.”

“Wandering into chaos?” I asked.

Zora smiled at me, “Yes, that’s right. Good girl.”

Zora’s scouts found us on the way, and she was excited to hear what they had to say. I kept close by her side and overheard them talking about the Godfather, that he was out west, on Goat Island in Old Texas. They said his Henchmen inhabited the entire island and that they were boasting of receiving a new batch of Exiles.

“Mom!” I blurted out.

Zora put her hand in front of my face so she could finish listening to her scouts. They said the Godfather also had a little pirate problem. Zora smiled and said, “Good.”

A little later, Zora took me aside and away from the others and said, “Now King, we must be extra careful at this point. Only fools rush into anything. There is a chance your mother may be at Goat Island, but there is a chance she may not.”

“She’s there; I know she is!” I said.

“We will go see for ourselves….”

I screamed with excitement and was overjoyed at the thought of being with my mother again, “AHHHHHHHHH!”

“AFTER we get settled into our new location,” said Zora.

“Okay, okay, okay. Thank you!” I gave her a big hug and squeezed her a little too hard. I could tell she was worried when she hugged me back as if she was not too sure she wanted to see the Godfather. Then she asked, “Do you have your little Mil-RAT with you?” I nodded yes and showed her that it was in my pocket. She said, “Make sure to keep it with you at all times now.”

I said, “Okay,” but I was starting to get annoyed with the thing, ready to throw it away. I mean, seriously, why do I have to hang onto it? It’s a piece of dead weight, so useless!