Chapter 2


Despite her years of traveling as a pop music superstar, Hayley had never quite mastered the art of being able to fall asleep on a flight. The same could not be said for Max however, who was out like a light within the first hour of the trip. With else little to do other than stare at the crates a few inches from her face, Hayley slipped Max’s DPAD (digital personal access device) out of his jacket pocket, activating its touch sensitive screen with her thumb.

She’d managed to do some homework on Vega IV prior to her venturing to the planet. She’d always found learning of a colony’s history to be one of the best way to become acclimated whenever she was on tour or just visiting new worlds for interest sake. During her first intergalactic tour, she’d missed Vega IV, mainly due to its distance from the core of Federation space, but also because the Federation had listed a travel advisory on the planet. At the time the Aegean Republic was suffering from a considerable degree of civil unrest and outbreaks of violence. Although the New Liberty colony wasn’t directly affected by any of this, the advisory nevertheless meant there was a travel embargo on the planet, and only authorized personnel were allowed on or off by Federation mandate.

Though there still remained a travel advisory on the planet, the Federation’s recognition and support of the New Liberty colony at least made it possible for people to visit the planet again. Visitors were however barred from entering the Aegean Republic, but not because of a Federation mandate, but because the Republic had closed its borders.

What Hayley found most fascinating though were some of the rumors regarding the Republic’s incarceration methods. During their formative years, as crime and civil disobedience began growing rampant, the Republic was suffering from overcrowding in their prisons. By the end of the 2180s, there was an estimated twelve thousand inmates interred within the colony. Out of a population of just shy of six million, twelve thousand seemed like a relatively small number, but what the number represented was a terrible growing trend. In the fifty years prior to the formation of the Aegean Republic, there had only ever been ninety people charged with a criminal offense and incarcerated. And in each of those cases, the accused served no more than a 12 month sentence. With the formation of the Republic, average sentences were between 5 and 10 years, and the prison population was skyrocketing.

Unfortunately, the colony’s arcologies had not been built to support the massive numbers of prisoners that were being dumped into them. And, with the colony’s population growing, space was becoming a real concern, even with the most recent addition of a forth arcology. At some point in the 2190s, the Administrative Council had decided on a new form of punishment. Though they’d toyed with the idea of carrying out mass executions, they were also worried about the potential repercussions of such an act- specifically, they were concerned that it might simply lead to further civil dissent, potentially escalating into a civil war. They were also concerned with the Federation getting involved. So far, since the Republic wasn’t actually killing its citizens, the Terran Federation maintained their distance, despite their support of the New Liberty colony just on the other side of the planet. Instead, they came up with a system of incarcerating individuals within their own bodies. The Exile Program...more precisely the Self-Confined Incarcerated Exile Program, or SCIE (pronounced – sky).

There was limited information on SCIE. What information there was on the public database was piecemeal, cobbled together from conjecture, speculation and some evidence, but not enough to come to a full, accurate conclusion.

Based on what information there was, Hayley gathered SCIE placed prisoners into special confinement suits. These suits were designed to effectively isolate and individual from the outside world by nullifying their senses, eliminating his or her individuality and identity and controlling their behavior via some sort of computerized system called ‘Warden’. Much of the technology was based on a mid 21st century program known as the Banishment Program- created by a long defunct corporation and utilized in another planned utopian society on Earth.

The Administrative Council essentially revived this program, reinvented it and modernized it to suit their needs, utilizing many of the same methods although now with much more advanced technologies at their disposal. The first thousand test prisoners would be admitted to the SCIE program in 2197. After a year, the program proved so successful, that the Administrative Council ordered a second batch be processed. By 2200, the entire prison population had been Exiled. That same year, the Republic declared that all individuals convicted of criminal acts be Exiled. Conventional imprisonment ceased to be in the Republic by the 23rd century. Not only that, but the council had effectively culled criminal activity in their colony. People became terrified of becoming an Exile. The sight of Exiles wandering the grounds outside of the arcologies and through the shanties served as a constant reminder to every Republic citizen what would happen to them if they did anything in contravention of the Republic’s laws. Furthermore, anyone discovered aiding an Exile, even interacting with an Exile would be charged. The Exiles were to be left alone to suffer and serve out their gratuitous sentences in total isolation.

What happened with these people once their sentences were done was anyone’s guess. So far, there was no evidence to suggest than any Exile had completed their sentence yet. If any had, none were talking. Setting the DPAD on her lap, Hayley’s eyes drifted up toward the fuselage ceiling. She couldn’t imagine being forced to live any amount of time in the kind of isolation Exiles were forced to endure. Not able to talk to anyone. Not able to touch anyone. Forced to live outside like an animal. It was inhumane. She wanted to see an Exile for herself. These were the people she wanted to make others aware of...these forgotten, lost souls.

"Hey back there," the pilots voice buzzed electronically through the ship’s intercom system. "Just a heads up, we’re about twenty minutes away from our destination."

Hayley’s heart began beating faster in her chest. She was beginning to feel nervous about this, and started regretting doing that extra bit of research. All it did was serve to unnerve her. Shutting off the hand-held digital device, she shoved it back into Max’s jacket pocket, the abrupt movement causing him to stir. Groaning tiredly, his eyes slowly blinked open. Sitting up straight, he threw a glance at the young singer.

"Hey Hayl. We almost there? How long was I out?"

"Yeah, we’ll be landing in twenty minutes," she told him plainly, twisting her lips in mildly contemplative manner.

"I know that look," he told her, gesturing at her crooked mouth. "What’s the matter? Having second thoughts?"

She breathed a light sigh, conceding with a nod. "I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t."

"Well, then don’t go through with it," Max offered a shrug. "You don’t have to do this." "No, I do," she turned her deep brown eyes at him. "This tour will be for nothing if I don’t see what’s going on here with my own eyes. Look, we can’t just believe the New Liberty propaganda...I mean, it’s probably all true, but we won’t know that until I’ve seen the way things really are in the Republic."

Max heaved a deep sigh, craning his head back and staring blankly through the cargo bay’s metal ceiling. "Figured it was too much to hope that you’d change your mind. You never change your mind."

"I know, I’m stubborn," she said with a hint of a smile on her glossy pink highlighted lips. "Well good, at least you admit it," Max replied with a snicker.

The transport shuddered as it entered a hovering position above the shipping depot’s landing pad. As its landing gear deployed, the hawkish nosed vessel slowly descended, its jets howling as they eased the craft onto one of the depot’s four topside landing pads. The depot itself was a towering structure of metal and concrete. The primary facility was atop four large reinforced pylons, like the legs of a table. On the roof of the structure, situated along the corners were large landing platforms, each capable of supporting the weight of a medium transport craft, similar to the one Hayley first arrived on the planet in. The entire facility had the look of a massive oilrig, similar to the ones found on earth’s oceans before petroleum ceased to be a viable energy source.

As Hayley, Max and the pilot disembarked, they were greeted by number of dockworkers, including the dockmaster. He gave the pilot a nod, and seemed to know him on a personal level.

"Carter. Passengers today?"

The pilot bobbed his head in a nod. "Yessir. Were interested in getting a look at the arcologies."

"Well, tell em to get a good look," the dockmaster gestured past the pilot’s shoulder. "Won’t get much closer to them then here if they’re coming in from New Lib."

Hayley and Max both turned around, looking past the ship to the four massive structures that covered the horizon. Hayley’s jaw became slack as she moved toward the edge of the landing pad, staring out toward the four identical pyramidal structures that rose into the sky like massive ominous metal spikes. Each structure stood 250 stories tall, and sat nearly a mile across at the base. Hundreds upon thousands of tiny pinpoints of light covered each structure. With the sun blocked out behind them, the arcologies cast long deep shadows across the untamed grasslands spreading out beyond them. Even at several kilometers away, their sheer enormity of the structures was simply awe inspiring and intimidating. The hollow clanking and buzzing of industrial work echoed ominously throughout the area, mixed in with the unintelligible droning of various voices speaking over a PA system.

Though barely distinguishable in the dark shadows covering them, surrounding the base of the arcologies were the shanties; a collection of temporary modular building units, not unlike the ones found in New Liberty. Though not quite as expansive as New Liberty, the Aegean colony shanty town was still quite large. As far as she knew, nearly a quarter of a million people lived in the shanties...most of whom were part of the labor class.

"Listen friend," the pilot spoke in a low tone to the dockmaster. "One of my passengers here really wants to get a closer look at them arcologies. What do you say we let her?"

"Sorry Carter, can’t do it," the dockmaster folded his arms, shaking his head. "You know the rules. Border’s closed, nobody goes in or out without proper authorization. Unless she has a pass I can’t..."

The pilot pulled out his DPAD, bringing up his credit scan program. "I think I got her pass right here. How’s three thousand?"

The dockmaster affixed a cold stare on the other man. For a moment the pilot though the dockmaster might turn him in to DIS right then and there. Instead, he twisted his lips, considered it for a moment then pulled out his own DPAD. "Make it five."

"Four."

"Forty-five, and that’s as low as I go."

The pilot tapped a finger against the DPAD’s touch sensitive screen. After selecting an amount to transfer from his credit and then finding the dockmaster’s DPAD in the local devices directory, he authorized the transfer of payment with his thumbprint ID. The dockmaster’s device emitted a series of beeps, letting its owner know that the bank transfer had just gone through and he was now forty-five hundred credits richer. With a smile, the dockmaster stuffed the device into his pocket, then pulled out an access card.

"24-hour pass," he said, handing the card to the pilot. "Tell her it’ll let her get in and out of the New Rome arcology, but it’ll only work for the next 24 hours. I assume you or someone else will be back here tomorrow to pick her up?"

"I’ll be here," the pilot nodded. "Thanks Chuck."

"Pleasure doing business with you," said the dockmaster, giving the pilot a firm slap in the arm, before heading off to claim the latest shipment.

Carter marched briskly over to Hayley and Max who were still admiring the triangular silhouettes in the near distance. Detecting the pilot’s approach, Hayley turned to greet him and was handed a card.

"What’s this?" She queried.

"24-hour access. It’ll let you get into the New Rome arcology. Just don’t get caught with it. They’re all encoded and registered, and without the paperwork, they’ll know you have it illegally. If anything, find somewhere to hide it once you’re inside. But you will need it to get back in here tomorrow. Just remember that."

Hayley took a deep breath as she tucked the card into the rim of her legging. She turned and faced Max. "Well...this is it."

He nodded in a deliberate manner. "You watch yourself out there. Don’t make me regret letting you do this, n’est-ce, pas?"

"Oui, mon amour."

"Oh, and take this," Max fished out his DPAD, and handed it to Hayley. "You never know when you may need it. You call me if you need anything, okay? I don’t care what it takes, I’ll be here in a heartbeat."

Hayley smiled and took the hand held personal computer. The two then shared an impassioned embrace, their lips locking and their hands clinging tightly together. After a long moment, they pulled apart, their lips smacking loudly as they separated. For some strange reason, Max felt it might be a long time before he’d see her again. For an instant he didn’t want to let her go for that reason. He figured he was just being paranoid. Minutes later, Max was back on the transport and slowly lifting back into the cloudy blue skies. From the ground, Hayley watched as the shuttle carrying her manager and lover rocketed into the sky. She suddenly felt very alone and very exposed. Despite having always been a very independent young woman, she did like the security Max’s presence in her life provided. When she was with him, she felt safe. She knew she could handle herself, but also knew there was nothing better than having that extra security blanket just in case things got out of control.

Pushing the feelings to the back of her consciousness, she focused on her task at hand. A wide paved strip, the first paved road she’d come across so far on Vega IV, ran from the depot, across the untouched landscape and to the colony. With her normally quick pace, she figured she could be at perimeter of the shantytown within twenty minutes. Fueled by her convictions, she started walking.