Here’s another Sci-fi themed scene. It occurred to me as a cool concept. I’m not as well read on my Sci-fi as I am my Horror, so I don’t know how original a concept this is. Anyway, if it hasn’t been done before, here it is:
* * * * *
The apartment door closed. The sharp click of the latch pierced an uncomfortable silence.
“What were you thinking, PJ?” Leo looked down at his son. Both anger and concern fought for control of his tone.
“I said I was sorry, Dad.”
“I know you’re sorry. That don’t answer my question. What were you thinking, going out that far?”
“I –”
“The Border Ring is there for a reason. Things aren’t stable between there and the edge.”
“I just wanted to see it for myself. Not vids, but for real.”
Concern was beginning to win out. What kid didn’t want to press his face up against the glass? To see the outside as it truly is?
“Well, you didn’t get hurt, that’s good,” he looked his son up and down. Tall and thin, like himself at that age. It was hard on kids these days, Leo thought. But that was probably true no matter the generation. Kids seemed so much more curious. They starved for life’s experiences; forever sheltered in the tera-domes, with their artificial gravity and filtered sunlight. Remnants of the way life used to be, slowly floating by on the wind currents outside of the massive domes. Still, what could be gained by seeing such things?
“You’ll have to stay in the apartment for a while. You know that, don’t you?”
“How long?” PJ spoke softer, resignation in his voice.
“Well, because of your little adventure, the whole building will be paying double taxes for at least nine months–”
“Nine months?” He yelled. “I’ll go nuts in here, Dad! It’s bad enough–”
“Don’t worry, after about two months things will cool down. They’ll be a lot less likely to bite your head off.”
“Even two months…”
“Face it, you’re not very popular right now. Give people a little time to get over it.”
PJ’s head slowly sank. “You’re right.” He really didn’t want to show his face out there. Not right now, anyway.
“Look, PJ, in the fall when the grav-quakes are gone, I’ll take you out on the Tetherails. You’ll get to see what it’s like for yourself then. I’ve been saving up.”
“Even now, with the taxes?”
“We can still manage it. You not going anywhere is going to save us money.”
There was a long silence, each one lost in thought.
“Dad?” PJ said, finally. The gleam in his eye, though somewhat doused, still managed to flicker.
“Yes?”
A small smile crept up one side of his face. “I think I saw a truck, at least half of one. It was cool.”
Leo felt his own grin begin to bloom, “I bet it was.”
∞
As someone whose interests are primarily sci-fi, fantasy, and mystery, I can tell you that while this concept has been explored before, it certainly doesn’t make your scene trite. In fact, I’d actually like to see some more of this, and understand why things are so restricted in the world in which your scene takes place. It sounds interesting.
Thanks for the feedback, Amanda. Some of these scenes–this being one of them–have continued percolating in my head since their posting. A couple will be short stories and at least two I can see using for my Nano challenge in November.
I’m very glad to hear that. I think this would make a great NaNo story.