Episode 4 of Broken Chains

Preparation Day

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(Orientation, AI Generated photo, owned by Flaat Library)

Today we were told to meet in a large gymnasium for an orientation or something like that, it all seemed pretty normal like on Earth during the assemblies, until a woman walked out and explained how things are run on Zone 16.

1) You are assigned a house, not everyone will be living with their original families. If you are under 16 years old and do not currently have a family, you will be given to a family that either has no children, or very small children. You are required to assist your assigned family with chores and things that they need done. If you are over 16 years old you will be given a house of your own, in a specific territory, and possibly a child to care for.

2) Individuals of age (16+) will be assigned a job. This will coincide the talent you provided the intake soldier before boarding the ship. You are required to do your job to the fullest every day, with three small breaks per day. You are not allowed to leave your post until your job is complete, even if it takes 12+ hours.

3) You are not allowed to date anyone, or have relationships unless it is approved. You must submit a charter to obtain a chain link. Your relationship will not be allowed to end, every year you are with the person you will receive another chain. If you end the relationship your chains will be broken and you will be on the“soiled” list, which basically means you are damaged goods and no one is allowed to be with you.

4) You are forbidden to look for, or have a relationship with your Earth family. If you are found speaking to any one from your Earth family you will be prosecuted and sentenced to a life serving the Royal Family.

5) You are forbidden to speak poorly of the Royal Family, if any entity hears of you speaking poorly about the Royal Family, you will be sentenced to death by public hanging.

6) Upon arrival you will be given a number, this is your identification number. If you wish to purchase food, supplies, or other materials for your home and family, you will use this number.

7) Each individual 16+ will be given $100,000 in gold currency per year, for said purchases. If you spend your gold currency, you will not be given more. Ever.

8) No family is allowed to have more than three children. If you are caught with more than three children, the eldest child will be taken and given to the Royal Family.

9) Each territory has their own specific laws and regulations that you will follow. If you refuse to abide by the laws and regulations you will be sentenced to death by public hanging.

10) Children will be required to attend school until they are 16 years old. Each child will be given a talent exam upon graduation to assign them jobs, and provide them a house in a separate territory as their family.

When the woman finished dishing out these absurd rules, she picked up her folder and left without saying another word. The gymnasium was silent. No one moved, or spoke, I would bet no one even took a deep breath. I didn't know what to think at first, then the only thoughts I had were of my brother and sister who left on their own before me. My sister was only nine and my brother was 13… had they both had been placed with another family?… These people knew I was alone, they had to know who I was in order to keep me from finding my family. My parents… they had to know… had they been forced to raise other peoples kids? Never to see us again?!

I feel betrayed, angry, and a little scared…

I need to process this information.

From,

Carter.

_________

Carter sat back from his desk staring at the notes he was given at orientation. How could they do this? Rip apart families, control who you can have a relationship with, dictate the type of job you will have, where you can live, and how many kids you can have? He slammed his fist onto the table. He had to figure a way out of this, even if he had to take drastic measures.

The next morning Carter woke to an alarm that sounded, his head hurt from the nuance. A red flashing light was going off in his room. He opened the door where the red light was flashing, and the others on his floor were opening their doors as well.

“What the hell is that!” A boy named Victor, who was 17 and lived in the room across from Carter, screamed over the alarm. Carter shrugged, and looked both ways down the hall. Once they all gathered around the elevator, the alarm went off, and a voice rang through invisible speakers.

‘This is a warning. We are 12 hours from landing. Settle your affairs and report promptly to the assembly area by 17:00.’ The bright white lights flickered back on, and everyone stared at each other .

“No way am I going oblige by their ridiculous rules.” Victor said, folding his thin arms over his chest.

“You don’t, and you die.” Another boy spoke. Carter didn’t know his name, but he looked older, as if he had been through enough to age him 30 years.

“Bull shit. You know I can fight.” Victor shot back, glaring at the boy.

The boy got closer to Victor with intimidation and authority, “you know as well as I do Victor, that doesn’t cut it anymore. They hear and see everything. You saw what I saw back in New York.” The boy looked at the rest of them, “want my advice? shut your mouth, and do as they say, or you die.” Then he turned, entered his room, and shut the door.

“Whatever.” Victor uncrossed his arms, and shifted from foot to foot.

“See…” Emily leaned closer to Carter and whispered, “I told you New York was bad.” Carter looked at her, she had her head down looking at the ground. Carter went to touch her arm, but she pulled away, and walked quickly back to her room, shutting the door. The others dispersed as well, leaving Carter alone in the hallway.

Whatever he had done to deserve Emily leaving that way, he didn't have time to worry about. Based on what he was told yesterday, they wouldn’t be together anyway. He accepted that last night, when he walked her back to her room in silence. Carter walked back to his room, and quietly closed his door. He sat on his bed contemplating what to do. The clock read 10:00 in the morning. It was the only thing he had to help him know what day, and time, it was on the ship.

He decided to gather as much as he could before packing. He got dressed, and headed to the main deck where the shops were that he and Emily shopped at before. As the doors opened, he was bombarded with people shoving into the elevator with bags, and children, in hand. He was shoved into a wall, a woman apologized quickly before picking up her toddler, and entered the elevator. The doors closed, Carter straightened his shirt. The whole floor was littered with trash, bags, items from the shops, and people rushing. Apparently everyone else had the same idea as he had.

He made his way to the clothing store, not much left, but he did find some pants and shirts that would fit him for a while, he didn’t know what this planet would have. He figured he would be assigned to some sort of military or guns man job, base don his talent he had told the woman in New York, so he needed to gather supplies for that. Nowhere had guns, but he did find a store with tactical gear. He gathered as much as he could before heading back to his room.

13:00, the clock read. He still had four hours before he needed to be in the assembly area. He showered, ate, and packed.

15:00.

He took a nap, 16:00.

He had one hour to compose himself for what lay ahead. Thinking about what will come, made his head pound. Panic set in, followed by anger.

He had a plan to lay low, do as he was told, abide by their ridiculous rules, then once he was settled in, and knew how things worked, he would start the process of finding his family.

The clock now read 16:20. He threw his backpack on, his new side bag over his shoulder, and took one last look at the comfortable bed he lay in the past week and a half. He took a deep breath to settle his heart as the elevator doors opened to the assembly area. He was among the first to show up, along with Emily, the woman with her toddler, and several other families and children without parents. He took a seat at the front. He wanted to be the first on and the first off. He wanted to scope the land, the first to be assigned, and the first to settle into his new home.

The same woman from orientation entered the room, and stood at the front podium.

“Good evening everyone.” She began without looking up from her notes. Her voice was cold and matter of fact, her outfit resembled high ranking military, and her hair in the same bun as the soldier he spoke to on Earth. “I know things are hectic, and we know that this process is different than how we did things on Earth. Understand that this is the way things need to be for our race to survive in the Universe. We are working closely with the beings on Zone 16, to accommodate all of us, and while their rules are unique, we have agreed to honor them until things can progress in a more positive way for us.” She paused to shift to her left foot. “When we arrive, you will be greeted by the advisors. Do not be frightened by these beings, they are similar to the reptiles on Earth, however, they are much larger, and helpful. These advisors will help you get settled into your new homes and jobs. They will be with you for the first month to assure you are happy and understand how things are run on Zone 16.” She shifted again. “The planet is called, Zepher. Spelled, Z-E-P-H-E-R, by the locals. Do not, under any circumstances refer to their planet as Zone 16.” She cleared her throat. “Again, we understand these are big changes, but it is what needs to be done to save the human race. Thank you.” She concluded, and walked between the benches to the elevator, not looking up from the floor.

“I would rather be back on Earth and take my chances.” The woman with the toddler said, grabbing her child and crying.

“You would be just as dead as we will be on Zepher.” A man in the back claimed.

Carter looked around the room, everyone who boarded back on Earth seemed to be in the room now, except the old woman with the hunch back, and Sean. Carter didn't want to get up in fear his seat being taken. He would wait until they arrived to look for Sean, although he had a sinking feeling Sean never boarded the ship.

The ship made a loud thud, and hiss before the wall in front of Carter began to open, a bright white light poured into the room. Carter blinked to adjust his eyes as several military beings entered, both human and reptilian. They shouted at everyone to get off and form a single file line. They were escorted into what seemed like an airport, but everything was white, no signs that helped direct people. There was a long table set up in front of them with reptilian beings sitting in chairs. They were terrifying, and majestic. Carter felt his stomach turn at the sight of them, he didn't feel as if they were going to be helpful.

Once everyone was off, the door of the ship lifted, and shut, making the hissing sound, as if an airlock was activated. Carter took a deep breath, there was no going back.