"It's Yasmine!"
Yasmine turned around at the sound of the familiar voice, seeing a pair of women hurrying over to join her on the street. "Mashallah Annissa, it's been so long! Is that Najila as well?" she said as she closed the distance and wrapped Annissa in a tight hug.
"It is," confirmed Najila. "You look fantastic, how've you been?"
Yasmine broke her hug, giving a shorter one to Najila before finally stepping away. "I've been well, mother is finally walking again after her therapies so I have more time to go out and have fun. There's this new club I've been visiting that plays just the strangest music." She stopped herself, looking the other two up and down. "But enough about me, where have you two been? I haven't seen you since the last round of classes, where did all this style come from all of a sudden?"
Her two friends had changed quite a bit in the month they'd been apart. Their clothes were made of smooth, modern fabrics with intricate patterns that would have been unimaginably expensive just a year ago but were becoming more and more common. The new materials had such vivid colours to them that caught the eye. Compared to Yasmine, who only had enough of the new clothes to provide accents to her older, traditionally made clothing, it was night and day.
The styles of their clothes were different. While Yasmine still wore a robe with a hood, designed to keep her cool in the sun, Najila wore pants and a loose shirt, using a hat to protect her from the sun, and Annissa's own robe was replaced with a hooded shawl and sun dress.
"The factory is being modernised, so we took a trip to Tunis to see the sights," Annissa explained. A trip to Tunis from Algiers would have taken 20 days not so long ago, not to mention the return trip. None of them had ever gone far from the city, let alone to an entirely different one, until now.
"How was it?" Yasmine asked.
The other two shared a look, Najila giggled. Something must have happened between them that Yasmine wasn't privy to, a thought that left her with a brief feeling of loneliness. "It was fun!" Annissa said before that feeling could take root. "It's a beautiful city, so many old buildings that are finally being restored properly. We went and visited the TMWR factory that's been on the news lately."
"What was it like?" Yasmine interjected. She'd heard about the research bureau as well, 'Tunisia's big step into modern research and design' was what the broadcasts were calling it.
"Wonderful," Najila said, before Annissa stepped in.
"Filled with all sorts of modern machines that I could never understand. Workers buzzing around like bees, but we spent nearly an hour there because Najila was enthralled."
Najila smacked Annissa's arm playfully. "And why did we spend so long in the art museum then, Annissa? Half a day so you can talk my ear off about the miracles of digital painting. You don't even own a computer!" Her chastisement earned a blush from Annissa, who grew quiet while Najila continued. "But she's right, it was magnificent. I hope I can work there some day, or somewhere closer to home."
Yasmine cocked her head. "Isn't Design Bureau 27 in the city, couldn't you work there?"
"Astaghfirulla, designing guns?" Najila's nose wrinkled in distaste. "Mobile weapons, Yasmine! The motion of them is what matters."
Laughing, Yasmine put her hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay!" she said placatingly. "Maybe that new factory, Kabylia Research? I just started hearing about it the other day. They are going to look at the English suits."
Mollified, Najila seemed to consider it. "That new? Maybe if they stick around I'll consider it. That's not too far away any more."
"You have to promise to visit us if you do," Yasmine said.
Annissa threw an arm around Najila's shoulder. "Don't bother her, Yasmine. We have to let our genius engineer go help them out. She's our neighbourhood's contribution to society.": That earned her an eye roll, but Najila didn't protest. "When's class starting back up anyways?"
"Inshallah in a couple weeks, they just sent out the agendas yesterday." All three of them had been enrolled in the new school programs for young adults that had been set up. Access to space made technology and educational resources had revolutionised the reach of education, and most adults spent a few months a year going to schools that hadn't been available when they were children. It's where Yasmine had met the other two, where they had immediately become close as the only people their age in the class.
All three of them were eager to get back to it, the chance to expand their horizons exciting and fresh still, so the news that it was coming up soon brought out smiles. "I know, lets go to this new cafe I've been dying to try," Yasmine suggested. "You both have so much more to tell me about Tunis."
The three walked back down the way that Annissa and Najila had come, chatting about their adventure. On the way they had to weave through crowds and dodge the occasional electric car, while the tram system rumbled through the middle of the road regularly. Their destination wasn't far enough to warrant catching it though, and they soon found themselves at the Cafe.
It was typical of the new economy to see small businesses like this popping up. Built out of a home, the cafe was small and cramped, made with more enthusiasm than skill. This particular place had gained notoriety for their unusual offerings. The influx of space age technology had made people go absolutely wild with food, creating new dishes and drinks that were often as bad to eat as they were interesting to look at.
The three found a seat after getting their drinks, taking a moment to sample them.
"Mine just tastes like sugar," Yasmine said after a couple sips. "How are yours?"
"I have no idea what I'm drinking right now," Annissa said conversationally.
"What flavour is it supposed to be?"
"No idea, it just said Ocean Breeze." Annissa stirred the drink with her straw, shifting the ice around. "I thought it sounded interesting."
"Is it good?" Yasmine asked.
"It's interesting."
"Mine's very good, alhamdulillah," Najila said after laughing at the other two's misfortune. "Pomegranate never disappoints, and the lemon is nice."
Annissa pouted. "This is why I should let you order for me. I told you she's a genius, Yasmine."
Yasmine laughed in turn. "I can see that. Fa sahatek, to our genius who is just as good at drinks as she is with robotics." The three clinked their glasses together gently, before going back to drinking. After her next sip, Yasmine looked around conspiratorially before continuing. "You know, I heard that Domina Gunn is being deployed to Morocco."
That earned an instant response. Domina Gunn was something of a legendary figure among some circles in Algeria for her good looks and fast, decisive action when it came to protecting the revolution. The Seraphim were mostly well regarded in general, so a very prominent ace who repeatedly ignored orders to save lives and fight monarchists was bound to be popular.
Sure enough, Najila immediately turned as red as her drink and started sputtering. Annissa went wide eyed. "So things have been going that bad? We only heard bits and pieces."
"It's that bad," Yasmine said, the mood dampening. "Moroccans getting slaughtered in the streets by tyrant princes. Algerian soldiers murdered by Freehold bought mercenaries trying to defend cities that only yearn for freedom. The stories are terrible."
The three sat in silence for a while, the cheerful mood of the reunion gone. After a while, Yasmine tried again. "But, I bet you we could find the money to send Najila to go meet her."
Najila shot her a glare for the trouble. "No way, it's a war zone!"
Annissa, getting what was happening, clapped her on the back. "Maybe just a love letter then? It won't dig as much into our savings and you are the best writer here."
"She wouldn't read it anyways," Najila sulked, looking down at her drink. The other two could tell she was playing it up for effect by the small smile that wasn't quite hidden by the angle. "But maybe. It can't hurt to try."
"That's our girl!" Annissa cheered.
Yasmine cheered along with her, before continuing. "I heard there was another ace named recently after the fight at the Fortress"
"I thought it was a bunker," interrupted Annissa.
Yasmine winced, she'd heard too many arguments about this. "Officially a fortress now."
"What's her name?"
"Lieutenant Basamu. Apparently got 4 confirmed downs in her first action."
Najila whistled in approval. "She's not a veteran?"
"No," said Yasmine, shaking her head for emphasis. "Brand new, was part of the second wave training under the Seraphim for the Type-1s according to the newspaper."
Annissa sat back in her chair. "That's cool, but she's no match for the Riptide. She's out there showing the Siberians how to fight! That's the only ace I'll ever need."
The other two rolled their eyes. Their friend was a loud and vocal supporter of Major Lamine ever since she had been given the Type-2.
"Speaking of," Annissa continued. "I heard the latest, the robots got calmed down. Juno almost managed to ruin it, but Axis got there in time to stop them, subhanallah. Our girls barely even had to fight."
"I hope that Sabra is ok-"
Yasmine put her hand up. "Enough talk about war," she said before the mood could once again turn to dire things. "Today is a happy day. When does your factory get running again?"
The other two seemed more than happy to change topics. "Day after tomorrow," Najila confirmed. "So if you don't have work, you have us for as long as you want us."
"Then what do you say we go to this new place I've been wanting to try out, then hit the club I mentioned?" Yasmine suggested.
Annissa gave her a skeptical look. "It's not another cafe, is it?"
"No, no," Yasmine said quickly. "It's called an arcade, it's apparently full of games."
"What, like Khabarga?" Najila asked. "My grandma keeps trying to make me play that."
"Computer games," Yasmine said. She wasn't entirely sure of the specifics herself. She had gotten to learn how to use a computer from the training program sponsored by Applegate, but she still didn't own one so it was hard to imagine what games could be played on what she mostly saw as a machine to write documents and take tests on. "I heard about it from some kids, it sounds worth checking out. Until the club opens up at least."
The other two looked at each other, sharing some unspoken conversation for a moment before Annissa shrugged. "Why not, it will be something new."
"What isn't these days?" Yasmine replied with a smile.
Algeria today is nothing like how it was even a year ago. We have taken a bold leap forward together into a future that is filled with marvels and dangers in equal measure. The lives of our fellow citizens have been changed in ways we could have scarcely imagined, with new tools and activities arriving seemingly every week.
However, we are all too aware that such riches have not been evenly distributed. The flood of new ideas and appliances has been focused on urban areas, better suited for industry and investment, better concentrated for distribution. However, much of our population remains rural, with tribes and communities spread throughout our great nation that have seen little benefit from the direction Algeria has gone.
Moreover, we are freshly joined by our comrades in Libya, who didn't have the good fortune of finding so many partners willing to share their wealth quite so openly.
It is for that reason that today the governing body of the Algerian Socialist Republic would reaffirm their commitment to guaranteeing the basic human dignity of every person within our borders. To this end, we make a promise to all of you. Over the coming years we promise that the following amenities will be provided to every citizen, free of cost:
- Running water
- Functioning sewage systems
- Electricity
- Waste disposal services
- Telephone service and a telephone
- A selection of modern appliances to improve quality of life, including but not limited to:
- A radio
- A refrigeration machine
- An electric stove
- A computer
- Access to public transit
- Access to quick and reliable health services
In recognition that the lives of different groups may not all look the same as those who dwell in our great cities we will be working with communities to make sure that these are delivered in responsible ways that respect the traditions and lifestyles of the local people. As part of that, should anyone decide that they do not want some, or all, of the above amenities they may deny them at their discretion.
We hope that by providing these to our citizens they may continue to thrive and live in happiness and comfort. May we all prosper together.
-Zohra Kerbouche, Secretary of the Interior
