“...So in conclusion, While the people of this galaxy have struggled in these recent years, those problems have created solutions to other pervading issues in our society, and soon, Apollios too, will cease to be a threat we run away from.”
At the moment, I was standing in front of my English class. The Sterile yet aging walls were about as comforting as this class was interesting… that is to say, not comforting at all. I quietly stood in for a few seconds, waiting for the applause of my captive audience, the 23 other students in this class.
I glanced around the room, Most of my classmates wore disinterested expressions. I guess I could understand why, it was the last day of general studies for most of us after all. But still… I took a deep breath and forced myself to smile. Maybe I just needed to push a little to get my desired result. ”U-um, does anyone have any questions?”
I waited a few seconds for a response. The silence in the room was so strong that it was possible to hear Flash-point Delta’s Oxygen filter humming throughout the walls. A girl’s hand rose breaking the the silence, she started speaking without me or the instructor giving her the okay;
“Yeah so, like, my question is… Melodie, can you sit down already?”
My eyes narrowed as I briefly stared her down. Luna Osupa, always found ways to pick with me specifically. , I turned to the rest of the class in an attempt to ignore her.
”Okay, does anyone else
“Why is she acting like her speech was that good anyways? Like everyone already knows everything about Apollios anyways.” I made it to my seat and moved to sit down, but I stopped.
‘“Miss Fendal?” The voice of my instructor startled me away from my whirlwind of thoughts.
I quickly turned around to face him, while suppressing any despair I may have been showing. Y-yes sir?”
The old man groaned, the expression on his face became stern. “Why are you standing in place, go sit down.” I gasped and looked around, he was right, I had completely forgotten to sit down... I took a deep breath, and then lightly tapped myself in the head while quickly sitting down before I could be scolded again.
‘Right, because in this Modern Era, and especially in stations like flash-point; children are usually out of school by the age of 15. Most choose to move onto some form of higher education in their chosen profession though. Once today’s schooling is over, I have some big plans ,namely-
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
-Never mind, that was the final bell just now, so that thought will have to wait a moment.
I grabbed the pencil and paper I used for the last-minute version of my speech and stuffed them into my bag. My classmates were all getting up and moving around, so I continued to sit, I wouldn’t want to crash into anyone. I said I had big plans, But I had all day and then some to make the final preparations, there’s no need to rush. I leaned back into my chair and closed my eyes. I began to focus, mentally reviewing today’s schedule.
In a few hours, the A.A.S Office on Flash-point will be conducting It’s weekly entrance examinations. I’m 15 and officially done with basic schooling, so they legally cannot instantly disqualify me. The A.A.S. also isn’t a government facility, nor is it considered higher education. As long as a particular someone
opening my eyes, I took a quick scan of the room. My classmates were starting to leave, which meant that I was free to clear out of the classroom myself. I grabbed my bag and stood up to stretch. I won’t take my exam until later today, so in the meantime, Time go on a walk!
--
Flash-point delta is the largest residential space colony. It had to be, because of a certain disaster 10 years ago, 1000 people suddenly became in need of a permanent residence. From there the rest is history, with each ‘temporary’ evacuation caused by Apollios, the colony needed more space, and more space requires more workers, which requires more food, which requires more space and-- well, you get the Idea. Anyways, all of that preamble is to say-
“-There’s too many people here…” I was barely outside of the school building, and people were standing shoulder to shoulder. The central dome, where I was currently ‘stuck in traffic’, was about the size of a classical football field. It was home to most of the governmental buildings as well as the vast majority of the colony’s leisure activities. So I guess the fact that it’s crowded makes sense… After all, it’s the last day of school for a fraction of the space colony.
yeah, everyone's families were here to congratulate them. A mom and dad hugging their daughter, an uncle giving his nephew a fist-bump, a grandmother crying and a grandfather proudly proclaiming how proud he was. I was happy for my classmates, but at the same time, there was heaviness in my heart. Maybe it was from annoyance from earlier today, or maybe it was because…
Well regardless, I was heading eastward, out of this Dome and towards the direction of tower-3, which contained my apartment. But my destination was beyond that, in the east dome. Each dome, and the towers associated with them, had their own style of architecture and sub-culture. For example, this central dome is apparently based on classical pre-space-age Earth’s architecture.
Most of the buildings were large and looked to be made from bricks and concrete. They seemed old like a breeze could come and knock them all down. I didn’t really like it all that much, although I was told that my father had a hand in designing them, so I’ll hold my tongue.
As I made my way onto the main road and away from the school buildings it became infinitely less crowded. I breathed a sigh of relief as I turned to look at the building which had been my prison for 10 years. For what it was worth, I did have some pleasant memories there. Back in those days when it was more about learning than it was stress. Back in those days, it didn’t matter what my future was going to be.
“Good-bye school-building, See you around.”
I did a 180, turning back to the main road, and took a right. Beginning my journey.
–
