About The Laws of Space

Post 180:

The Laws of Space

Episode Fifteen

Chapter Eight Continues

            Another shuttle took off, this one louder than the last. She was getting farther along in the cue, and each departure meant more unease. There was no doubt, anymore. Susa Burke, L9, was actually apprehensive about leaving. Yes, she had agreed to the match with Clement Pope, but his reckless public message formed thorns in her heart. Pope was ideal, of course, the only Level 10 on the planet. Their progeny would assuredly be a great benefit to the Continuation. Susa knew this was all that mattered—still, the thought of them being Spacemates was unnerving. Would they have to spend a lot of time together, live together even? There were Laws for almost everything in the Five Cities, but very few governing the process of Space Breaking and… whatever went along with it.

            Another shuttle. She moved up once again in the cue, looking up at the acrid xanthic sky as it made room for another Spacer’s path. Here, in the heart of the city, the air was filth—seemingly all the way to the stratosphere. On the outskirts of each metropolis, where the higher level Spacers lived, the yellow gave way to more azure tones. Another shuttle. She was getting close.

            Susa gave herself heart, thinking of her estate, the gardens, the blue sky wrapped around it. Back home she would feel better. She had to. It was an honor to be with the Administrator. He was obviously better than the countless suitors of the past—he had the credits, after all. He was suitable, more worthy, and theirs would be a dutiful and worthy offering of Continuation to the System.

            Finally, her shuttle. She stepped on and turned back to look at her peers. They looked skittish, like MFGs with bad wiring. Susa was well rid of them. If anything, she would miss the Charges—their restive natures, the meanness, the willingness to soak up the Laws. She had done her duty, gotten them to the Test. Strangely, none of the ones she predicted made it to Spacer status. She thought little of it—as the shuttle took off she thought only of the day of her own Test.

            Hers was an auspicious birthday: Susa’s class was only the second in history to have three Charges score L9s. That class included mostly idiots; it just happened to include Clement, herself, and yes, everyone’s favorite, Alder Tate.