The Industrialist

Chapter 68: Dome

After NWW 1, all plants died, including the root crops. Somehow, the Scientists managed to reconstruct root crops by genetic modification and fusion.

The names, types, and classifications of plants before NWW 1 no longer exists. The Corporation has reformulated the Plant Classification hierarchies based on the results of genome hybrids.

There is something about the plants that reconstructed a healthy atmosphere. It is not yet been studied but it is, by theory, possible that the Atmospheric Contamination fuels plant growth.

Well, you do not need to dwell more on Agriculture. You want to become an Electronics Scientist so, focus on Scrapping first and familiarize Electronic components instead.

- Erik Berkley to his son, Lance.

***

"Did you remember that I invited you to become one of my research team member for my new project?" Jaqi said as they exited the decontamination chamber.

"Project? I may have inferior knowledge about what you are going to do." Lance responded.

"Nope. I chose you because you have the drive. I can see it in you. You wanted to make a difference, disregarding race and social classification."

"Ok. Ok. Only if I can do it, I will agree to it. So, what is your project?" Lance asked as they entered to a tunneled chamber, walled by the use of transparent glass.

"In vitro plant propagation?" Jaqi said.

"In vitro? It means in vials?" Lance asked.

"I know, it’s wild. I can explain to you with Mother." She said.

Then holographic 2D constructs appeared on the glass, showcasing information about the plants inside the dome.

’The ostentatious glass tunnel,’ Lance thought.

They walked through the tunnel on a wet floor. No. It was a sole bath.

"What is this?" Lance asked, pointing at the wet bath soaking his soles. Explore more adventures at NovelBin.Côm

"Sole bath. Its use is to decontaminate our soles and sanitize them. You know the number one carrier of pathogens from the external environment to this biosecured environment? Our shoes." Jaqi answered.

Then, at the end of the tunnel, nozzles from both sides hissed and emerged their bodies once again by the aromatic white smoke.

"Final decontamination complete," The AI voice reported.

Then, what was inside overwhelmed the visitor.

In so much sense, Lance could not even close his mouth out of his surprise. The giant dome was the largest greenhouse he ever witnessed. The silver sheet panels that comprised the walls were translucent and mirrored, refracting light from the outside and the artificial light inside. Light waves were ushered in sensible direction, bouncing from the walls, thus, amplifying heat and its distribution.

’Should I clap?’ Lance thought.

How could they manage to construct a structure like this? Compared to the SARS and SkyCorp buildings that were utterly extravagant with the use of materials, the Dome was its absolute opposite.

It was frugally constructed, every material harmonizing its function with each other with immense efficiency.

But, what it housed triggered something in his soul. The soaring high racks that held the intricacy of plant propagation. Ten levels of high rackings, with water sprinklers strategically installed on each level.

Men in white lab coats used hydraulic lifts to tend on the plants. In addition, there were robotic arms move about above them as they were ready for harvest.

The staff were busy, only a few of them tending thousands of potted plants. There were staff operators who controlled robotic arms that pruned excess and dead leaves on all racking levels. The others inspected defective seedlings in one seedbed using scanners. On the far end table, the other staff had its beakers and test tubes, spinning liquid inside those transparent equipment.

Others gawked at them for a few seconds, just ignoring their presence.

"I know it’s a lot to take in," Jaqi said while she saw Lance glaring above them with absolute awe.

The vertical farming was widely used in the age to save space constraints. Because of the high volume and high food demand, and of course, space constraints within the walls of the city, pushed Agricultural Sectors to farm vertically instead of horizontally.

"This is incredible, Jaqi!" Lance said.

"Yeah. I know right? We have the same first expression," She said. "You should see the other Dome that processed livestock. You will be doubly shocked!"

On the end of the array of rackings held processing tables and various robotic hands. The harvested plants undergo processing such as cutting, cleaning, packing, mincing, grinding, and even liquifying, depending on the specifications.

"Now you know where our food condiments are made," Jaqi said while Lance trained on the expanse of every corner of the Dome.

On their left side was a cylindrical large metallic tube that reached the whole length of the dome, seemingly designed on chambers, and whatever it went through the gargantuan tube was packed in sacks on the way to its end.

’Soil decontamination tunnel?’ Lance deduced.

"Almost all are robotics?" Lance asked. But he was not really asking. He was shocked that even in Agricultural Sectors, there was so much funding.

For over a decade, Lance only tasted processed food, in cans or vacuum packs. He tasted only once or twice of fresh leafy vegetables not using his currency. He knew that this produce was expensive and only the middle and high-classers could afford it.

"Have you tasted Mammoth Pechay?" Jaqi said.

"Not yet, I only tasted a Fire Carrot once. It tasted like plastic." Lance scoffed.

"You gotta try Mammoth Pechay. Here, eat this," Jaqi took Lance to a nearby harvesting table after the leaves were washed. She picked a stalk of green leaf and gave it to him.

"You just chew it, then savor it. Don’t just swallow it. Tell me what it tastes like," Jaqi commanded.

Lance placed the leaf in his mouth and chewed it. The juice bathed his tongue after one crunchy chew. The natural flavor savored his taste buds.

"Healthy, I guess," Lance said.

"For only 45 units per kilogram, you can have a taste of the life before the Nuclear World War," Jaqi picked another one from the conveyorized table.

"It seemed real," Lance said as he swallowed the whole thing. It was heaven, he thought. The fresh juice invigorated his mouth and his throat. Lance had imagined that such juice had cleansed his digestive tract of any diseases present from the contaminated atmosphere.

"It is real. But genetically modified of course," Jaqi retorted.

"We have here, the Fig Spice, Savage Onions, Raven Laurel leaves, Milfoil beans, and… of course the well-known Mammoth Pechay. In the other Domes are other condiments."

Lance only saw Mammoth Pechays in a High-classer restaurant table Inland but never reached the outskirts.

He was fine for almost two decades of eating processed ground food. At first, it was horrendous to even think about how these processed food were produced. Corned Beef had no beef in it. But only a modified meat substitute, ground together with artificial flavoring and then canned for extending shelf-lives.

Lowlifers never had healthy foods or raw meat. They were expensive.

If only the prices were regulated by the GLD for it to be available to all classifications. However, if the Government wanted profits, why would they degrade the prices if 50% of the population would buy from it?

Lance could expect some of the root crops harvest to be smuggled inside the City from the Outsiders - the only way for commoners to savor on agricultural produce.

That explains the short life expectancy at this age. If you are to reach sixty, then it is already a blessing for commoners. On the other hand, mid-classers and high-classers have a longer life expectancy of seventy years.

"My Darling Jaqi!" An authoritative but loving voice emerged from behind them. "Why are you here this time of day?" A woman in mid-forties, wearing a lab coat, glasses, and her hairnet on clasping her hair, hurriedly walked towards them.

It was her mother.