Free Beta Planet: Rise by Dayton Grey

continued on toward the station, Kumuki tapped a few buttons on his LifeCuff and started playing music. It was a synthesized blend of rhythmic beats and instruments, with occasional sounds of an electronic voice speaking strange words over the music. Hard to make out and not really pleasing to the ears, Geon wondered how Kumuki could even stand to listen to it. He seems to be enjoying himself though , he thought. Maybe it’s an acquired taste.
    The streets were fairly quiet that morning, and only a few PMVs rolled passed them on the way.
    As they turned the corner and hopped on the altinator, Allea signaled to Kumuki by drawing an imaginary circle above her head.
    “Kumuki, put your cuff in halo mode,” she said.
    “Oh yeah, I forgot ‘bout that!” With a click on his cuff, the music was instantly muted to outside ears and could only be heard by him.
    Geon tried to mentally prepare himself for his first day back at school. As he looked down at his left hand, he hoped that the other kids wouldn’t treat him different. He wanted to just blend in, and he felt comforted by the thought that his three friends would be there with him. Smiling, he corrected himself in his head. They aren’t my friends. They’re family.
    A voice from the ceiling announced, “Next stop, zone three, sector eleven. The Memoriam Vale School. Have a positive and productive day!”
    Geon stepped off the Glidewing car and saw that a number of other teens his age got off as well. There was quiet talking and quick walking from all students toward the school grounds. Geon made abrupt eye contact with a black-uniformed CARE Enforcement Officer in the corner, who carefully watched each student walk by, hands crossed behind his back and a stern look on his face. On his chest was a logo, an image of the planet surrounded almost completely by a red letter ‘C’.
    Why does that logo look so familiar? I know I’ve seen it before.
    As the students rode the altinator down to the ground level, Geon got his first glance of the school grounds. It was a large oval-shaped structure that was lifted off the ground on large blocks, similar to their home. The structure appeared to be comprised of multiple smaller semi-circular prefabs. The outside had no windows. It looked intimidating and ominous to Geon.
    “Sabe, what’s the deal with the building?” Geon asked with curiosity. “It’s like, one big building? Or is it separated ?”
    “Keen observation, my young friend. The school, like all schools, is an oval-shaped building comprised of smaller semi-circular, pre-fab structures. Each structure is a single classroom. You see the medians between the structures?”
    Geon nodded, looking at what appeared to be a folded layer of metal between the sections.
    “Well those are the flexible connectors. The school can be as small as four classrooms, or as big as maybe twenty or even more. Ours has twelve. If they’re in an area where there are a lot more students, they drop another classroom in place and extend the oval. And if they’re in an area where there are fewer students.”
    Sabien’s voice trailed off and Geon saw him staring blankly at the school. He knew what Sabien was saying so he didn’t ask him to explain.
    “Also,” Allea jumped in. “The center section of all the schools is always known as the Commons. It’s the general meeting, studying, and eating area for each school. They use the same material as the median connectors to build a floor and roof in there, depending on the size of the overall structure. It’s really a brilliantly customizable design.”
    “It’s also hurricane proof!” Kumuki added.
    “Yes, thanks Kumuki,” Allea nodded. “The rounded design is intentional to serve as an aerodynamic stormproof safe house in case of hurricanes, tornadoes, etcetera, thus the lack of outer windows.”
    “Great minds like mine need protecting, you know? C’mon all,” Sabien said. “Let’s get moving or we’ll have to contend with