first person in his family in generations to step on land! He wondered what it looked like outside the cosmoship. Bailen also wondered how long it would take until he could go. The planet rovers were probably exploring the unknown planet at that moment. Bailen was jealous. When he was younger, he would spend hours daydreaming about what it would have felt like to walk around on uneven ground, or to feel a star’s light on his skin. Educator Akiel told Bailen that the star next to Earth was called the Sun. What an odd name, he thought. Sun. “Okay, it’s time. Let’s head to the nearest PRS,” exclaimed Educator Akiel. Bailen’s PTD executed a smooth redirection and glided down to the nearest InstanTelepot. Their PTDs entered it one by one and reappeared in a receiving chamber near the CRS. Bailen was giddy with excitement. In the contemporary world of technology, Bailen’s life was comfortably monotonous and repetitive. The new experiences were extremely overwhelming. He had always been a creature of habit. He thought, this is what it must have been like back in ancient times on EarthWorld. People had to interact with their surroundings and make split-second decisions. It must have been so stressful and uncertain. I’m glad that there have been so many new and helpful technological advances. Maybe it’s better we’re not still living on EarthWorld. And imagine life without PTDs! There was no climate control. There’d be perspiration and the risk of being rained on! EarthWorld must have been a brutal place. “The PRS is now being opened. Keep in mind that your PTD is in ship mode. It is perfectly safe. However, please put on the automatic respiri that your PTD provides. And make sure that your PTD is in antigravitator space detection shutdown mode. It is advised by your Educator to ‘observe your environment during this priceless learning opportunity.’” Bailen was jolted out of his ponderings. He pressed his nose to the SpiriGlass as his PTD attached itself to the cosmoship with a fibrocord. Once attached, Bailen floated out into the nothingness. ~ Lucia Gomez-Ibáñez
The Assassin’s War I slipped through the shadows up to the giant Victorian home. I had been here the night before and I knew what to do. Circling around the side, I looked for the familiar trellis that would be a perfect way to get in. There it was. I surveyed my surroundings once again and began to climb. The little window that led to the attic proved quite a challenge, but I still managed to crawl in without a sound. This was where the fun began. I opened the little trapdoor and climbed down into the house. A censor at every corner made it harder to get to Erica’s bedroom, but there was a reason I was the best at my game. I pranced through the halls and down to the last door. She was in there, I could hear her. Humming her happy little song as the clickity-clack of her typing rang out across the room. There were two ways I could do this, barge in, or sneak in. Of course, I went with the wiser way. The door silently opened and I walked in. As I saw her sitting in the chair across the room, my heart felt a tang of guilt. I shouldn’t be here. She spun around in her chair to face me. “I thought you’d come earlier,” she whispered. “I came as soon as I could. You know I don’t have much time anymore,” I replied. “Anyway, you have any good news? I just came to check in with you. Before I go off-world for a while.” “Well, there isn’t much good news. In fact, it’s horrible,” she hesitates “I- Dad made Dex propose. He-” She couldn’t finish. “That’s- not good.” My palms got sweaty. I couldn’t finish. “What did you say?” “Father decided he would answer for me,” she said, with an edge of hatred in her voice. “Luke, you know I can’t tell him about you. This is our secret.” “I know, I know,” I replied as I sat down on the bed. Erica came over and slung her arm over my shoulders. I leaned over and felt her soft hair on my face. That’s when I heard the footsteps thundering up the stairs. “I have to go. I wish I didn’t have to leave now. We could figure this out. But you know I’ll come back. I love you, Erica,” I whispered. 34
