Bronzed - Chapter 1 (GLD)

CHAPTER 1

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To: Office of the United Nations Space and Sciences Director-General

From: Department of Interplanetary Space Exploration

Date: 14:56 UTC, September 22, 2040

The following letter is CLASSIFIED and the contents are to be considered TOP SECRET.

I'm writing with regards to the two American astronauts, Commander James McCoy and Captain Jennifer Johnson that broke the law on the space station Hubris. It is obvious that this location is Top Secret and for the same reason I recommend that they are stripped of their title and dishonorably discharged. They were out of line with their act and in so doing threaten everything that we've worked so hard to do.

I must admit, we knew that this complication was a possibility when we decided to send one female and one male to take the place of the two Russians that were there previous. However, this does not justify their keeping a secret Captain Johnson's pregnancy and birth of a child. A child born and raised in space could suffer very horrible limitations on growth and even death. They must have known these risks.

They are of course free to raise the child, though his 16 months off planet might destroy his chance for a regular life. They will be arriving in 2 months and I will personally oversee the child's health exams. I hope you take into consideration what I have recommended. Inaction can only result in a higher probability of subversion.

Edna Willows

Director of Interplanetary Space Exploration

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“Mom, what’s the deal? There’s no way I’m going to test positive. No one has tested positive for the N121 enzyme in the southern United States in the 14 years that they’ve been doing these tests.”
            “I know. But I’m your mother. I’m supposed to worry.” She said.

“Well it’s making me nervous.” I responded. I pointed to her bedroom door, “maybe you can go worry in there so I don’t freak out.”

She laughed, “okay, I’ll stop worrying, but you have to promise not to test positive.”
            She knew full well there was no way I could make a promise like that. These tests were designed to find a certain enzyme hidden away in the blood that no other test could find. How was I possibly supposed to know if I already had this enzyme?

“Mom, I can’t really promise that, but if it will make you feel better than I guess I have no other choice.” I said.

“That’s good. Now finish getting ready for school so you don’t miss the bus. If you skip school today they’ll send the military to our house to search for you” she grinned, “but at least I’d be able to visit you in prison.”

I smiled back at her. I knew what she meant. The place where they kept everyone that tested positive for the N121 enzyme was sent to a space station called The Cloud. Visitations were quite impossible.

I made my way to the bedroom to get dressed. The military academy had strict guidelines on the dress code. You could either wear a dress shirt with a tie, which was what the nerds always wore, or you could wear the military standard issued jumpsuit. The jumpsuit wasn’t that bad. There were two colors to choose from and it had a flashy flag on it. The dark blue jumpsuit it is. It was nice and clean and smelled of springtime and grass. Mom must have washed it last night knowing I would pick it. She knows me so well.

I sat down to tie my boots and while finishing the double knot my eyes fell upon one of the few pictures I had of my father. It rested on my desk in a golden picture frame. He was in his Space Academy suit that was custom for the 2030s. Maybe I should bring him with me today. Before I knew it, my hand was on the picture frame opening up the back to get the picture out. I had read the note on the back of the picture several times but I read it to myself one more time: ‘I love you Jen. I love you Shawn. You are both more precious than gold to me.’

I shoved the picture in my pocket and picked up my book bag. I didn’t have anything to pack since I didn’t get any of my books out the night before. No homework was due on the day of the testing. As soon as you got tested you could go home. I was right in the middle of the alphabet though so at best I would have a half day. At worst I would be on my way to a shuttle to blast me to The Cloud.

“Shawn, the bus gets here in two minutes! I’m serious. You can’t be late.” Mom yelled from the kitchen.

“Okay, mom! I’m on my way out.”

I started toward the door but looked back at my room to take it in maybe for the last time. The bookshelves were filled mostly with old novels. Clothes were scattered all over the floor. The bed wasn’t made. The whole place was in disarray. It was home.

I can’t be late.

I ran past the kitchen and started to open the door when a hand grabbed me.

“You’re not going to leave without a goodbye kiss.” Mom said.

“Of course not.”

I tilted my head down so she could kiss me on the forehead. She was significantly shorter than me even though she was above the average height for a woman. I must have gotten all of my height from my father.

She kissed my head and I looked back at her face. She looked tired, almost exhausted.

“Are you ok, mom?”

“Yes, yes of course. Now hurry off, you have one minute now.” She said, folding her arms and smiling. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

I ran out into the hallway of our apartment complex and down the two flights of stairs to the front door. Our apartment complex wasn’t as secure as most complexes. It only required an eye and thumb scan to get in, but not to get out. Most apartment buildings were requiring both entrance and exit scans to know who was coming and going at all times. Luckily for me, that meant I wouldn’t be late for the bus.

I pulled the front door open and leaped the four stairs down to the sidewalk. The bus stop was right in front of the door and of course the bus was loading the last person. The sensor on the door of the bus turned toward me and series of red lasers on my body.

“New passenger detected.” A female voice said.

“Yeah, it’s just me.” I responded

“Bus Pass, please.” She stated.

I stuck out my pass to be scanned on the module next to the door. The red light disappeared and was replaced with a green light.

“Thank you, Shawn McCoy. Please come aboard so that we can depart.”

Since my stop is the first stop I always get first choice for which seat I want. I shared the stop with a few other people but they sat at the front. The back was always mine. It was a nice place to sit and think. There were a few more stops until anyone got on that was worth talking to.

“Shawn!” someone yelled.

I jolted upright.

“What the heck is going on?”

“You must have fallen asleep in the 3 minutes it takes to get from your stop to mine. It figures. What, were you up all night studying or playing virtual games? And you might want to think about wiping that drool off your face.”

“Yeah, whatever Calla.” I said while using the sleeve of my jumpsuit to wipe the saliva that had accumulated on my lips and chin. “No I wasn’t playing virtual games. I was studying plays for tonight. It’s our biggest game of the season.”

 “Oh, studying football plays, huh? Haha, you’re lying. But, why would anyone put a football game on the same day as the tests?” She smiled as she slid in to the spot next to me.

“Probably to make it seem like nothing. The tests scare people and even though no one has been chosen from any surrounding high school, I guess it brings comfort to some. They want us to live our lives like it will always go on.”

“Well, my dad says it’s a conspiracy. He has all of these ideas about how the random testing isn’t so random. I usually tell him to shut up because I don’t want him to end up jail.” She laughed to herself. “I’m just glad we don’t have classes today. Oh, and I’m glad that my last name is Evans. It means I get out of school earlier than you.” She sticks her tongue out quickly.

“Yep, you get to do a whole bunch of nothing because you never do anything without me except maybe paint. Who paints? Are you coming to the game?” I asked.

“Nope, there’s nothing there for me. Maybe if there was someone worth cheering for…” She watched as my expression dropped and then said, “Haha, of course I’m coming! I hate the social wave, but I’ve gotta support my best friend, right?”

“Ok, good. I usually play well when I know someone I like is watching.”
            “Well, won’t your mom be there?” She asked.

“No, she’s working a double today. I won’t see here again until tomorrow morning. She’s saving up money so that we can go on a trip somewhere later this year. I hope it’s somewhere foreign.”

“Foreign? Do you even speak any other languages?” She said.

“No, well kind of German, But look. School. And I am so happy to be here. Can you tell I’m overjoyed? Because I am. I’m completely ecstatic about these tests.” I said trying to sound as sarcastic as I possibly could.

“Oh, shut up.” She said as she hit me playfully in the arm.