10 Minute Tales

Feb 26 (Untimed)

Queenson sighed as he left the hospital, looking around at the dome above.

"Inspector Queenson, shall I arrange transport to return you to the security station?"

"Nah, not yet, I... I'm gonna walk for a bit."

"As you wish." Queenson let his feet take him away, one foot before the other, walking towards an observation platform at the edge of the crystalline spike. He stood at the rail, leaning on it as he stared out to the city below. It seemed chaotic from this angle, spires pointing every which way, none reaching the dome. Beyond the dome was nothing but orange dust, a single line of a road stretching far beyond the horizon's edge, to Biodome 84-D over the edge of the sky. He sighed softly.

"Goddamn huge planet, we confine ourselves to a couple of balls we stick on the surface."

"The biodomes are designed for your protection. The current atmosphere beyond the biodome is unsuitable for human inhalation, without the use of augmentations - either genetic, or through the use of Geoco prosthetic augmentations."

"Yeah, I know, but..." he sighs, looking out at the tinted sky. "We could have chosen somewhere better, you know?"

"The Ascended did not select this planet deliberately. My predecessor, the A.I. known as Vessel, selected this planet once it had entered Vessel's sensor's range. It was deemed the most habitable in the solar system."

"What did they call the star? I've known it as Sol-B all this time."

"Proxima Centauri. It is approximately 4.25 light years from the original Sol."

"Four years away, huh?" Queenson pushed himself up and turned, heading back towards the hospital.

"Only for light. Conventional transportation would take significantly longer, probably generations."

"Jeez..." he sighed, walking to the staircase leading into the spire. "And we just left 'cause we destroyed the planet?"

"In all but the literal sense, unfortunately. The population grew too dense, the resources were poorly handled and the 195 countries were unable to reach a global unity."

"Guess that's why there's a children rule up here."

"It is designed to help, though my own assistance is aiding these issues."

"Guess so." Queenson grew quiet as he climbed down the stairs. He fumbled with his watch again; he had to alert Abe of the date of the launch to Sinis, and the last thing he wanted was to bring Sentinel directly to him.

"Oh, are you preparing to wander the area below the spire?"

"Yeah. Don't worry, I've got my mask."

"Be cautious. Security is in lower numbers on this level."

"I'll be careful, stop your worrying." he shrugged, taking the watch off and switching it off.

"Ackno-" Sentinel started, but was interrupted by the lack of power. Queenson sighed.

"Damnit, his voice is getting annoying."

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Sorry! Yesterday's post used the name Flora, but I should have used the name Rose. Flora was a working name that I was using until I decided on Rose.