About The Laws of Space

Post 159:

The Laws of Space

Episode Five

Chapter Three Concludes:

            “No kidding,” she said, staring into the mirror. A look at herself usually dissuaded anxiety. She’d been told she was perfect for Continuation. Hundreds of suitors had tried to break her Space, but all had been rebuffed. Lying down, the thought of her Charges precluded any peace. Am I frightened for them? Susa wasn’t supposed to care, but she knew the System and knew what was coming. Ninety-five percent of the little ones would be Regulars, given nothing but their personal Space for the rest of their lives. Forced to live alongside people, and people are the enemy. An existence of mindless toil, producing goods for the other five percent, those lucky enough to be named Spacers.

            Susa Burke, L9 tossed and turned that night at EF 25. In that facility alone, she was one of five hundred Spacers teaching in their own barracks. Hundreds if not thousands of facilities just like it were online all over the Five Cities. She wondered if any of her kind were experiencing the same emotions, the same doubts. Another buzz. RECOMMEND SLEEP AGENT.

            “Fine!” she yelled, pressing her right thumb over the message. The chip deactivated her natural melatonin inhibitor and her eyes began to droop. Susa felt cowardly, using her body’s own chemistry to avoid the questions. More pictures swirled in her consciousness but they were done in by the chemicals. Damn you, she whispered, her last words of the day. They were meant for one person in particular.