Welcome to Anilitia
“Here, in Anilitia, we strongly value gaining a deeper understanding about all things, creating or finding solutions to problems, and most importantly loyalty. Unlike in some of the other outfits around Abudits, we do not really care what exactly you do, rather that you push yourself, and your thinking to its furthest limits. We have generational Anilites that have pushed the limits of what it would look like to live, so far that we eventually moved the epicenter of our society into the midst of the water. But, there have been Xanthuan-born, adopted Anilites that have pushed those limits so that our epicenter thus moved under the surface. Whether you are passionate about technology, art, or plants, you can have a place here. All you need to do is find the underlying problems within your field or fields of choice, or at the very least know that everything and anything can be better than it currently is. Questions?”
“Can we, theoretically, work on problems of different outfits?” said one of Malvas.
“Yes, it will improve intrafit relations, but that is not the focus of our research and development, at large. Next.”
“You said ‘field or fields.’ Does that mean I could pursue work in water collents in highly arid climates and correlations between thoughts and involuntary actions?” asked one of the Qirmite boys.
“Yes, simultaneously or sequentially. Last question. You, you have a question,” our Introductory Leader for Anilitia said while looking directly at me.
“Umm, is there anything that is off limits,” I asked hesitantly.
“As a whole, we discourage any research that could result in any form of harm or promotion of violence.”
“Aren’t you the leader for the development for warfare instruments?” I rebutted.
“That’s why I said ‘discouraged.’ If you are so inclined, find me and we can talk about it at another point. Now, we are going to move on and going to hear more about the history, culture, and research of Anilita from their respective counselors from our governing council.
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“To begin,” started the Counselor of Life, “a brief history of Anilitia. We, simply, are the opposite of the Qirmites. We seek peace, level-headed decision-making, and seek the welfare of others and the whole before the individual, as clearly championed by our forefather, Anili the Serene. As a child, he sought to make life for the other forefathers and foremothers better. Often by creating physical solutions to problems that they suffered from. He took it upon himself to learn and study how the world around him worked to make any changes or corrections to his reality. He was also drawn to the water studying the tides, salinity, and different creatures that interacted with it. That is why Anilitia is characterised by the Chitraka, a quadruped that is naturally land-based but relies heavily on the water for all sustenance and escape. All of Abudits turns to Anilitia for the creation and/or development of more technically complex or advanced tools, including the elevating system of Xanthune, material development for the Malvos, and the underground heating network for the food preservation and storage structure in Atramentousia.”
“Culturally, Anilites value efficiency, responsibility, and honestly because they encourage and foster trust. We encourage our children to be specific with the words they use so that their needs are clear and be met. We discourage the use of figures of speech. And, starting from a young age, all children are taught the basics of our outfit, so that they can be trusted members of Anilitia,” rattled off the Counselor of Culture, without missing a beat after the other counselor stopped talking.
“As you may be beginning to understand,” the Counselor of Research picked up, “Anilitia seeks to gain understanding so we can provide a better way of life for everyone. The basis for all research and development is to fulfill just that–provision of a better way of life for everyone, not exclusively Anilites. As was mentioned, any research-based work can focus on anything, as long as justification can be made that the result will indeed better life. That includes the teaching of children, the development of furniture and other home-based appliances, and the development of instruments that can cause pain, violence, or even death. This may seem contradictory. However, if Abudits were to be attacked, being able to protect ourselves and debilitate our attacker would ultimately better the life of everyone.”
All of this seems so…ingenuine. They talk about research and community and making Abudits better but how can it be better if no one can actually do anything they want, if it everything has to be justified?! All of the Anilites walk around with their faces in a screen or some augmented reality, or glued to a board drawing out their ideas and course of action. I don’t care what they do, but I want to know why! They are so smart and sit around all day and think, but no one actually sees the people around them except as a potential source of information or a sounding board for their preformed ideas. I feel like if I chose Anilitia on Saturation Day, I’d be stuck doing without the chance to be or even feel. I don’t know where I’ll choose, but none of them seem like a good fit so far.