Earth's Revival

25 - Newton's Third Law

"-and then she just let her die."

"Pfft. I knew York didn't have it in her to be a doctor."

Leissi sat in the theatre chair, clenching her hands. The people behind her were talking. It took every fibre of her self-restraint to keep her head facing forward, and her fist out of their faces. She was no stranger to gossip. Often, when it was juicy, she'd listen in herself to spill to Sidnio the moment she got home. 

But when it was about her friends, she found herself wanting to corner those idiots in some dark part of Trision and beat the crap out of them. Hell, she'd do it in the theatre. 

"I always knew she just got into the program because of her parents. Didn't work like the rest of us, and just lands herself an apprenticeship with Hunt."

"Just goes to show how they don't rely on talent or intelligence anymore."

"She'd have won simulation week anyhow. Maybe now it'll dial back some of the competition."

Leissi was close to standing and rounding on the two med students behind her. That was when Sid pushed through a couple of people to take the seat beside her.

"Hey," he whispered. "Everything okay? You're looking murderous."

Leissi took a loud breath through her nose and rested her chin against her fist, leaning away from her brother. 

"Nah. I have a feeling she'll back in the game soon. She's too stubborn just to leave it well enough alone."

Leissi had decided to name that idiot Dick. His voice, whiny, apathetic. She envisioned a tall, thin guy with classic cute looks. Human, of course. Thick waves of hair with too much product in it. Long limbs, a long nose that would nicely crunch when punched.

"Well, I heard she let one of the Vitro's die. An Aysel no less," Dick continued.

"Good riddance. Those... well, I wouldn't call them people. But just coming in on our colony, using our resources."

"You know, York is the perfect example of how the Aysel have ruined our species."

Before Leissi could react, Sid placed his hand on hers. 

"Let it go," he whispered. 

"Using your resources," Leissi hissed under her breath. "You remember the time we gave you our entire fucking planet for a hundred years when yours died? Nevermind the fact that you idiot Humans destroyed yours or the fact that you have the highest rate of genocide in the galaxy..."

She shot a glance at Sid who was popping snacks into his mouth, focusing on the screen in front of them. She leant over to whisper in his ear.

"So it doesn't bother you? The fact that they're talking about Kai? Or insulting our people."

"What would you do?"

"Punch them?"

"So cause a scene?" he asked. Leissi nodded. He snorted a laugh. "You're already on thin ice with Mom and Dad."

"They'd understand."

"Just let it go. There're always gonna be bigots. You can't deal with all of them."

The lights in the theatre dimmed. 

"Oh, so you're rolling over?"

"Hey!" The voice belonged to Dick's friend. Leissi decided to call him Richard. There was a sharp kick to the back of her seat. "Shut up. The film's about to start."

If Sid's grip on her hand hadn't strengthened, she'd have started swinging. She bit the inside of her cheek. Sid turned his head a few degrees to look at the boys.