Ren was walking to his class dazed, bleary eyed from lack of sleep and his rush to class after an all night rabbit hole of reading. To be fair, it had started out school related, easy reading while researching a war for his history of government class and the rest fell like dominoes, article after article and book after book making its way from screen to mind.
Information was still racing through his head, a massive timeline of connecting events and intertwining narratives were making it even harder to focus on his Corporate Law degree, and he had an ever-encroaching sense of dread about his upcoming History of Law exam this afternoon. There was no way he was going to get this degree like they wanted him to.
Eventually he droned his way through the door to his world history lesson, moving into just the first of what was looking to be a long day. Finding his seat and throwing his bag down, he collapsed and let his head fall back, closing his eyes briefly before he was snatched back into consciousness, waking with a start.
“Good morning everyone, we’ll be starting with a simple video today. Post-Veil society can only truly be studied when we know what caused it to happen, so this will be the introduction for the semester.” Groans went up from the class.
“We already know!” one classmate said, obviously annoyed. The professor looked to them as the lights went down, a sharp glare that would shut down the most chaotic demon. The boy shrunk back in his seat, eyes low. Ren looked up and let out a small snort as the boy shot an angry look in his direction.
“Shush!” The professor shot at both of them. The screen flipped on, a bright logo reading AVARICE flashed on before a narrator took over.
“Hello, and welcome to “Lifting the Veil” presented by Avarice Entertainment, a subsidiary of Avarice Corporation! Today, we’re going to just take a brief overview of what life was like before the Veil, and how we got into the amazing machines we call arks today!” The screen flashed with various pictures of the arks, massive airships floating through the sky. “In the beginning, arks were mostly relegated to luxuries, top of the line mobile living spaces for society’s most influential and necessary citizens. As time went on though, both the rising sea levels and increased production demand led to new discoveries about just what the arks were capable of!”
“We knooooowwww.” Another student, this time the professor flicked an option on the touchscreen of her arm brace, causing a red flash to erupt on the student’s brace screen. “Come on, ten units?”
“You will be silent while this is playing.” The professor said. Ren rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the situation so he didn’t lose units too. He was already running low, and knew his mom would just be pissed if he requested more so he could buy lunch. The video went on, with Ren making sure to turn his eyes to focus before he was the next target.
“In the year 2188, Avarice built the first residential ark, giving way to their flagship housing brand with spacious 100 square foot condominiums in the massive three thousand unit ship. The maiden flight would take off the following year, with every unit filled by workers for the Avarice manufacturing facility also built into the ark. This innovation allowed workers to eat, sleep, and play while traveling the globe in the lower Troposphere, also allowing for Amphibious travel with air to water technology and vertical takeoff!”
Images on the screen flew by, pictures showing the first airship over three hundred years ago, smiling workers on an assembly line, another smiling while stretching out on the small cot that lined one side of the closet that made up his “condo”. More pictures, this time of a fleet of ships now.
“With the rise of global water levels, so too came the need to leave land and take to the skies. The fleets would begin rolling out by the time the 23rd century ran around, with three ships ringing it in with launch in 2200. These would be custom, outfitted for Avarice executives and families while also providing ample workspace for the administrative functions the company would need in the coming years.”
Now the images changed to factories on land and oil rigs in the sea, dark smoke billowing from smokestacks into the clear sky, timelapsing to show as The Veil slowly took over the ozone layer. Rolling black clouds filled the sky above the smokestack, eventually blocking the sun completely and causing dark lightning to crackle through the pollution.
“While Avarice devoted itself to clean energy and progress, the damage to the earth by those that came before was irreparable, leading the world’s ozone layer to be eliminated. In it’s place The Veil would form, the ever expanding layer of clouds you can probably see from right outside your window, right now! Avarice would increase their output of arks, leading to both private and public housing provided by the company at no extra cost to employees as well as government contracts and subsidies to make the transition to the atmosphere easier for all, it was around this time that new advancements were made, and we decided to aim higher.”
More photos of men in expensive suits sitting behind the controls of a massive, reinforced ark bridge. This one was much different than the others, with pressurized seals all around the glass edge and tints to block UV rays. These people in the picture were more clean cut than any of the workers so far, with more teeth too, Ren noticed.
“We would climb our way up, eventually making our way back into space as our ancestors did long ago. This time though, we would stay within orbit much like the space stations of old, providing a place at the top where those in power could lead with a birds eye view of the world beneath them. The Exosphere would become the seat of power for the united governments of the atmosphere.”
Ren was nodding off now, eyes heavy and closing despite his best efforts. He tried to fight it, shaking his head furiously trying to rid the sleep from his eyes. The battle wasn’t going in his favor though, and the tiredness just kept returning like a bug that wouldn’t leave him be. The video droned on, now going into even m ore bullshit they already knew.
“Conditions on the surface would decline quickly, with the sea levels rising higher every year. Eventually, most of the United States, as well as other regions lower than 1000 feet above sea level began to disappear. Many ruins of these former societies can still be found today, deep on the ocean floor.” The voice was becoming a part of the dream now, Ren floating through the history as if he was living it along with the narrator. “That was when Avarice stepped in!”
Suddenly Ren was soaring above the Veil, rolling black clouds below him arcing purple lightning in every direction within. He floated through the empty space, seeing the blue sky above him in stark contrast to the Veil’s darkness. He saw the Avarice arks flying by, sparkling with fresh paint, exterior shining and workers waving as he went by.
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“Clarence!” One shouted as he passed. Ren tried to look toward the shouting, not sure where it was coming from. He shrugged it off for the moment, continuing his peaceful drift through the empty sky.
“Clarence!” a faraway voice like a broken intercom in a loud room, Ren tried to reply but found his voice wouldn’t match his brain. It interrupted again, louder this time, breaking through the noise and fizzy speakers, “MISTER CALVERT!!”
Ren snapped into action upon hearing his last name. That usually meant trouble, anyone from his mother to an admin finding whatever they could to ridicule him over. He was up and at attention, shaking sleep from his eyes to minimal success.. Everyone else started laughing as he began to come to, flustered by everyone suddenly watching him. He tried shaking his head again, bouncing his foot to try and keep himself awake. The professor approached his desk.
“CLARENCE!” She shouted one more time, finally clearing the haze of sleep with a massive rush of an emotion Ren recognized by his own label of “oh shit”.
“I’m awake. No need to yell.” He mumbled, avoiding the professor’s glare.
“Lights,” a collective groan and shout as the bright lights overhead came on, temporarily blinding everyone. “You’re already on thin ice, Calvert. What would your mother say if I told her you fell asleep? Would she be proud of working to guarantee your scholarship here?”
Ren shifted in his seat, uncomfortable. He was put on the spot, what he knew were dozens of eyes staring him down felt like millions. He could feel their eyes like lasers, burning through his skin the longer they looked. He felt his breathing pick up, starting to sweat. He gave a swallow and tried to answer.
“No.” He replied, avoiding her gaze.
“And that scholarship was for?” The professor asked again, obviously digging for the answers, grinning as she pulled each question out of him with more anxiety along with it.
“Corporate Law.” Ren muttered. The professor snorted, turning to the rest of the class. She turned to another student, a girl sitting a few feet behind Ren.
“Corporate Law and you can’t even watch a small presentation on the corporation that led us here and sponsored not only your education, but this school?” She said, “That seems awfully ungrateful of you. Everyone else here had to work for their scholarships, and some are here on Avarice credit. Meanwhile you got a ride through with some of the worst grades I’ve seen for a Law major. All because of your mother.”
Classmates were laughing at him now, others looking on in uncomfortable silence as the professor destroyed whatever was left of Ren’s ego with delight “Usually we only take those particularly gifted in their field of study, as I”m sure you all know. Clarence though, is here because of his mother’s money and power.”
His foot was bouncing without his input now, nerves taking over and breath catching as she continued insulting him. She took obvious delight in it, Ren probably just the latest victim of the professor who got their only joy by demeaning students. He wouldn’t be the last one either, unfortunately.
“Well, Clarence, if you know enough to sleep through a history lesson, when were the Inter-Atmos Accords put into place?
“After the Solar Wars. 2193.” Ren replied, looking up and groaning.
“Oh, he does know something! Not enough to keep you above the Veil if you don’t get your act together though.” Professor gave a mocking little clap while she talked, obvious contempt spilling from her mouth now. “You belong on the surface.”
“If it gets me away from you.” Ren realized too late that he wasn’t just saying that in his head, but out loud so everyone could hear. Other fully processed his mistake before him, hearing ‘oohs’ coming from the other students in the room. One letting out a loud ‘DAMN!’ behind them as Ren felt the weight in his throat sink to his stomach. He wanted to sink with it, through the hull and to the earth below. “Oh. Shit.”
“Out. Now.” Professor was pointing from him to the door, angry. “You’re lucky that our time is mostly up. Everyone, you are dismissed. Clarence, twenty unit penalty.”
“Seriously?” Ren shouted, much louder than he had intended to. The professor looked at him again, raising an eyebrow in invitation to question her again. He shook his head, seeing the red mark come up on his own brace screen, leaving his balance at just five units. “How the hell can I afford to eat and make rent now? Come on!”
“Guess you’ll have to go cry to mommy for some money.” One of the class assholes, the one who made it a point to crash into Ren in hallways and knock him down.
“I’ll be taking ten of yours as well.” She said to the asshole, who gave out a loud protest but was quickly shushed and pointed toward the door. He grumbled and glared at Ren as he packed his things.
Ren gave a heavy sigh and started walking toward the door as other students did the same, sunlight pouring through from the open deck. He was blinded upon walking out onto the Upper Deck, the thin air catching his breath a bit while he adjusted from the processed, stale oxygen they pumped through the Arks.
“Calvert!,” a voice shouted, distracting him as he looked at his arm brace, screen lighting up with a call, notification saying it was from mom. He fit an earpiece in and picked up the call.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Ren said into his phone, brushing off the voice who had just called to him and preparing for a storm of shouting from his mother.
“Why the hell did I just get a notification that you’re skipping classes?” an angry voice started shouting, “Do you know what I had to do to get you into that school? They only let you in because I pulled strings with the previous Dean. If you get expelled then you’re on your own.”
“I wasn’t skipping. I was there.” Ren shot back, technically true. “I fell asleep in class. All that tuition and we just get shown a video like we’re in grade school again.”
“I don’t care, Clarence!” he rolled his eyes and winced as she shouted again. “You’re supposed to be studying so you can go into Delegation. You don’t have a choice. Either get your act together, or Delegation will have you pack your shit for the surface if you can’t contribute.”
“CALVERT!” the voice was suddenly right behind him, pushing him against the railing of Upper Deck. “You made me lose units, asshole.”
“Come on, man. I don’t want to do this.” He groaned, turning to see the asshole was the one holding him. He was massive, blonde hair cut short in a buzz while his meathead buddies flanked him on both sides. “Hell does an ape need money for, anyway?”
“Ren!” His mother shouted, still in the earpiece. He didn’t get a chance to respond.
His words just made the meatheads angry. Massive hands grabbed him, holding him up closer to the railing, Ren looked around, searching for any way to wiggle out of this like so many other fights before. Not that he had been in many fights that hadn’t ended in his own bruises or missing teeth. Buzz cut and the other meathead grabbed Ren by the legs, hoisting him up to the railing. Ren could see the Veil below, abyssal clouds absorbing any light that tried to get through from the sun above them. Ren started stammering nervously, “Hey, guys, chill. Come on, I lost more than you did, don’t you think that’s enough?”
“What the hell is happening?” His mom asked in his ear. He desperately tried to get free, but was now almost completely over the edge of the railing. Buzz had one of his legs while the asshole held his other foot. The other one began grabbing for Ren’s brace, making him push his thumbprint to the screen. “Clarence! Answer me!”
“If you don’t wanna be here we can help you get out.” Buzz said, looking over the rails at Ren’s frightened eyes, looking anywhere for a way to clamber back up. He could see the bright sun right above them, making dark shadows instead of people outlined in light. “Bet you would like a nice place under the Veil.”
“Look guys, I know we’re not on good terms right now but if you could pull me up and maybe not kill me that would be fucking fantastic. Please?” Ren was shouting now, his mother shouting loud in his ear as the assholes dangled him further.
“You know, you never really seemed like you liked it here anyway.” the one holding his left leg sneered, letting Ren slip further down. He could feel the heat from the sun on both sides now, from the sun itself and reflecting off the massive, shiny metal Ark. As he dangled and bumped against it he could feel his skin burn and almost stick to the metal.
“Just let me up, please? I don’t want to be here as much as you guys do.” Ren replied, trying to reason as they lowered him further, getting a little too carried away “Come on. Please. This isn’t funny anymore!”
He looked down, another major mistake. He could see the curvature of Earth as it expanded before him, only he couldn’t see the ground from the upper stratosphere where they were staying. Even worse he could see the infinite stretch of the Veil, desperately trying not to think of the darkness below.
“Dammit, why did you let him go?” Ren barely noticed when the meathead loosened his grip and dropped Ren, Buzz following shortly after as he suddenly became the bearer of all Ren’s wait. Now the leader of the brainy bully band was looking over the railing as Ren fell in almost slow motion.
“Ren? Ren what are you doing? Dammit, listen to me!” His mother was screaming in the earpiece now, but Ren thought it was just a distant dream, his reality becoming too bizarre to comprehend.
The weightless feeling washed over him as he floated for a moment, gasping as he was released into the air. For the briefest moment, he was flying just like he had in his dream. He desperately flailed his arms, reaching for the ripcord on his chute but finding nothing. He tumbled as air currents off the Ark battered his body, ragdolling him limp in the air. He shouted, feeling himself grow violently ill as the constant rotation hit him full on. A violent gust of wind hit him, causing Ren to bash his head on the metal flanking on the side of the Ark, knocking him out immediately and making him fall, no longer restisting.
The culprits on the ship stared down, wide eyed and slack jawed seeing what they had done. They all began to freak out at once, pacing and screaming as the professor walked out, looking casually over the rail at Ren’s body.