Life in the Stars

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. Once upon a time, nobody knew this. Space was unexplored and unknown. Now, we have populated the stars. Humanity has expanded long beyond Earth. Mars, the Moon... and a colony in space. Miners, living on converted ships mining minerals on asteroids for the rest of humanity to exploit.

September 2176

Jessie flinched as a rock soared past her face, connecting with the fabric protecting her body. She knew it wouldn’t damage her suit – they’d created countermeasures for fast-moving rocks in space. It still wasn’t pleasant when a rock connected with the suit though. She knew they’d be a wicked bruise but thankfully no broken bones. The suit protected the wearer from that kind of force.

“Knock off time,” grunted Samuel, scooting up beside Jessie. “Let’s head back.”

Jessie gripped her pickaxe and slowly swung it over her shoulder. ‘Futuristic technology’ they touted, and yet they ended up using technology invented centuries ago. Just modified for asteroids. What a joke.

“You’d think they’d be able to find a way to automate this,” groaned Jessie.

Samuel shrugged. “They don’t care about automating things for us losers.”

“Who are you calling a loser?”

He just shrugged. He wasn’t wrong and he knew it. Miners were the losers of the galaxy. Their ancestors chose to live on ships, mining minerals for those more important. They were impoverished and desperate. The rich preyed on that. Now their descendants are stuck doing what they started. Living in space with nothing to their names. Barely making enough money to survive.

Jessie followed Samuel back to the ship, carefully manoeuvring around the floating asteroids and rocks. It was dangerous work and they got next to nothing out of it. Made sense.

Samuel whacked on the door, and it slowly opened, jamming slightly as it did. It was old and breaking, just like everything else. The door shut behind them as they stood inside and the compartment slowly pressurised. Once the light was green the next door opened and they both filed inside, taking off their helmets and suits.

“Got plans tonight?” asked Samuel as he tucked his suit into his locker.

“Plans to sleep,” replied Jessie, stretching her sore limbs. “My day off is tomorrow so I’m going to sleep it up.”

“You act like a grandmother.”

“At least I’m well-rested when I go back out there unlike you party animals.”

Samuel grunted. “What a life we live,” he grumbled.

We parted and headed back to our individual quarters. The ship was quiet. Jessie glanced at her watch, frowning when she saw the time. 4:05. Where were the kids? School would have finished half an hour ago. Usually, the corridors were bustling with noise and activity when she finished work.

She paused at the door to her quarters, looking up and down the corridor. Her little sister had usually ambushed her by now, asking questions and demanding attention. She was nowhere in sight.

Jessie bit her lip and let out a sigh. She had to find her sister. She headed down the corridor to her parent’s quarters. Her sister still lived with them since she was little. Once she hit 18, she’d be in her own room, ready to start work as a miner like everyone else. It meant that school was pointless – why bother learning math and grammar when all you’d do was mine? It wasn’t her place to question it, but it made no sense. She’d never needed her math or grammar skills.

She knocked on the door to her parent’s quarters but was met with silence. They weren’t there. Her frown deepened as she stared at the unanswered door – what was going on? She made her way further down the hallways, ducking her head into the classroom briefly to see if she could spot anyone. She started to run, unsure of what was going on. Where had everyone gone? She heard voices and stumbled to a stop.

The auditorium? She slowly made her way there, cracking the door open to look inside. Everyone that wasn’t working that day had gathered inside. Including all the children, and Jessie’s parents. They spotted her and motioned for her to come over to them.

“What’s going on?” whispered Jessie, sliding up to her mother.

“A revolt,” replied her mother. “We’re done with this life, Jessie.”

Jessie’s eyes widened. “A revolt?” she repeated.

Her mother nodded; eyes trained on the speaker at the front. Jessie barely recognised him – he wasn’t someone she had much to do with. Slightly older than her and he often refused to work. A troublemaker he had been labelled.

“My friends, our slavery is over,” he boomed. “No more will the rich take everything from us. If they want these minerals, they can take it themselves. We have been self-sufficient this long; we do not need their handouts!”

Everyone cheered.

“We will stand up for ourselves! We deserve more than this life we’ve been forced into! From today, we will fight back!”

More cheers. Jessie shuffled awkwardly on her feet. They were miners, not fighters. What was he planning on doing? A screen lit up behind him, outlining the collection ship coming towards them. Collection day, when all their minerals disappeared in exchange for minimal food and supplies.

An explosion lit up the sky as the ship was hit by missiles. The crowd cheered again. “Let’s see them exploit us now!” yelled the man as the crowd continued to cheer.

“War?” muttered Jessie in shock.

Her mother gripped her shoulders tightly. “It’s about time,” she said. “We’re going to war to leave this life.”

“Our lives with never be the same.”

“Good. This is no life worth living. Prepare yourself, Jessie. You’re over 18 so you’ll be called to fight. To fight for the freedom of us all, including your little sister.”

Jessie stiffened. Fighting was not her strength. It wasn’t anyone’s strength. Her jaw tightened and she nodded as she stared into the crowd. She had no choice anymore. She had to help free her people, there had to be a better life than this.