scientists. She felt like she was looking at a completely different person. While she wanted to continue the discussion, to press him for his logic in the decision he had made, the look in his eyes warned against it. Instead, she straightened her back, bowed traditionally and closed the door to his office on the way out.
What she did next was the exact opposite of what Ts’ai had recommended. She began paying more attention to what World Corp was doing, and how her lab in particular was involved. She researched the company outside of work and found that World Corp had donated not just to this project, but many more at the research lab. Bonuses had been awarded to several key members of the facility. Not just her lab, either. Many other facilities were on the list.
Jia found the advertisements World Corp was making for Colony One – and images that she had never seen of the planets they had discovered were shown. They were remarkably authentic, but she knew without a shadow of a doubt that they were fakes.
She even found the drafted agreements that potential colonists would have to agree to in order to be selected. It was a complete waiver of any rights – in effect; it was excommunication without an exit clause if you suddenly changed your mind. Passengers would not be permitted to communicate with Earth once they stepped on the Colony ship, their rights as citizens of Earth were forfeited – including voting rights, legal protections and assets – provided there were any.
Despite all the warning signs, Jia tried to rationalize everything she uncovered. Was it so bad that her research facility was the object of such lavished attention? Advancements were being made at unheard of paces. The images were fake, yes, but it wasn’t uncommon to generate projections based on research findings of what a planet’s composition would be.
She spent many sleepless nights in her small high-rise apartment telling stories to herself about why she was probably making it all up in her head. The exercise exhausted her, but it allowed her to go to work every day without feeling the dread that she continuously pushed down.
She was able to keep up the façade, to herself and others, until one day she was reviewing the ship’s software configuration. At first, she was confused by what she had found, but the more she uncovered, the clearer the picture was in her mind. She stood over the console for what seemed like an eternity, reading and rereading what she had found.
Eventually she came to the conclusion that she could not remain silent given what she had discovered – if she was correct, it was simply unconscionable. Her head began to pound as she made the decision. She was about to lose the battle to remain quiet.
Once she made up her mind, however, she moved quickly. She scanned her right forearm and tapped in commands with her left hand, downloading the information to an encrypted drive she had created when she started to have doubts about the project.
Mere moments after initiating the download, one of the two lab doors opened. She deactivated the display of the station she was working at and began a brisk walk towards a second exit, away from whoever had just entered.
Just as she was reaching the door, it opened and filled with the outline of a research facility security officer. He wore dark glasses and spoke with a deep voice, “Doctor, you are going to have to come with us.” His arms rested at his sides – sleeves of his black athletic fit shirt bunched up at his elbows, revealing strong, muscular forearms.
Jia shook her head and smiled, “I’m sorry, but I’m very late for a meeting.” She tried to go around him, but he took the opportunity to grab her by the upper arm. “What are you doing?” She asked and repeated loudly as he began to walk with her in his grasp. “Where are you taking me?” No answer. She tried to pull away from his grip, but he only tightened it to the point of pain.
They were joined by
What she did next was the exact opposite of what Ts’ai had recommended. She began paying more attention to what World Corp was doing, and how her lab in particular was involved. She researched the company outside of work and found that World Corp had donated not just to this project, but many more at the research lab. Bonuses had been awarded to several key members of the facility. Not just her lab, either. Many other facilities were on the list.
Jia found the advertisements World Corp was making for Colony One – and images that she had never seen of the planets they had discovered were shown. They were remarkably authentic, but she knew without a shadow of a doubt that they were fakes.
She even found the drafted agreements that potential colonists would have to agree to in order to be selected. It was a complete waiver of any rights – in effect; it was excommunication without an exit clause if you suddenly changed your mind. Passengers would not be permitted to communicate with Earth once they stepped on the Colony ship, their rights as citizens of Earth were forfeited – including voting rights, legal protections and assets – provided there were any.
Despite all the warning signs, Jia tried to rationalize everything she uncovered. Was it so bad that her research facility was the object of such lavished attention? Advancements were being made at unheard of paces. The images were fake, yes, but it wasn’t uncommon to generate projections based on research findings of what a planet’s composition would be.
She spent many sleepless nights in her small high-rise apartment telling stories to herself about why she was probably making it all up in her head. The exercise exhausted her, but it allowed her to go to work every day without feeling the dread that she continuously pushed down.
She was able to keep up the façade, to herself and others, until one day she was reviewing the ship’s software configuration. At first, she was confused by what she had found, but the more she uncovered, the clearer the picture was in her mind. She stood over the console for what seemed like an eternity, reading and rereading what she had found.
Eventually she came to the conclusion that she could not remain silent given what she had discovered – if she was correct, it was simply unconscionable. Her head began to pound as she made the decision. She was about to lose the battle to remain quiet.
Once she made up her mind, however, she moved quickly. She scanned her right forearm and tapped in commands with her left hand, downloading the information to an encrypted drive she had created when she started to have doubts about the project.
Mere moments after initiating the download, one of the two lab doors opened. She deactivated the display of the station she was working at and began a brisk walk towards a second exit, away from whoever had just entered.
Just as she was reaching the door, it opened and filled with the outline of a research facility security officer. He wore dark glasses and spoke with a deep voice, “Doctor, you are going to have to come with us.” His arms rested at his sides – sleeves of his black athletic fit shirt bunched up at his elbows, revealing strong, muscular forearms.
Jia shook her head and smiled, “I’m sorry, but I’m very late for a meeting.” She tried to go around him, but he took the opportunity to grab her by the upper arm. “What are you doing?” She asked and repeated loudly as he began to walk with her in his grasp. “Where are you taking me?” No answer. She tried to pull away from his grip, but he only tightened it to the point of pain.
They were joined by
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