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The Story:
When the monorail comes to a stop, the doors open and blast me with frigid air. I have approximately 1.37 miles to walk before I reach my home. Those of us who have less than two miles to our homes exit in single file. Anything less orderly would be a breach in student conduct protocol, and we would require disciplinary action.
In front of me is a brunette girl. I recognize her face, but we have never spoken before. Behind me is a blond boy. I’ve never seen him before. He could be a recent transfer. They often wind up here due to the fairly common accidents in the neighboring city’s minerals processing facility.
Marching down the sidewalk with our Student Conduct Handbooks in our right hands, I spot something skipping across the ground. As I get closer to it, I can see it has writing on it. Trash is rare, but artifacts from before the wars are even more so. I have to have it.
Without thinking, I bend down to grab it as it intercepts me. Before I have the chance to stand up, a black drone flies over to me and hovers a couple of feet away.
“You have breached Protection 218 of your Student Conduct Handbook, which states, ‘All students must never break formation in transit.’ Do you have a valid explanation?”
I stand up and desperately try to think of something, anything, but all I can think about is trying to hide the treasure I picked up.
“She was tying her boot. Acceptable Overrides, Formations 14. She almost tripped me, too. Tie your boots better, sister.”
It is the boy behind me. He must have seen me retrieve the artifact. There’s no chance that he really thought I was tying my shoes.
The drone pauses to process a verdict. I don’t dare look back at my new friend for fear of breaching another protocol in view of the drone.
“Override, Formations 14 accepted. Proceed and stay safe,” the drone says before flying away.
With one hand, I quickly stuff the artifact into my handbook. I chance a peek over my shoulder at the cover story artist who saved me. He gives me a slight grin, and I know I’m going to have to let him read it, too.
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