"Here, you can see that Professor Rob Dorington worked with his team over the course of about eighty years. However, it was only when fellow scientist, Professor Carol Fules, acquired the first surviving data of a black hole was Professor Rob actually able to answer the equation of inverted gravity that allowed sub-light travel to be realized into possibility. Now, the possibility for commercial use of this technology is far into the future. Even though we've found a reliable way to harness gravity to create a sub-space pocket that would effortlessly carry a spaceship forward, the cost and means to actually create the technology - let alone find a reliable energy source to power it that does not involve broad-scale nuclear fission - will not be picked up by any governments or private enterprises for a very long time. It'd be a lot easier for you students to find ways to shape the future if you weren't sleeping in class..."

A giggle resounded throughout the classroom, and eyes befell a young man with tussled hair happily drooling on his desk. A middle-aged woman with brunette hair and a slim frame walked to his desk, and slapped it - awakening the man with a gasp and a look of confusion on his face. "Mister Fuller, thank you for deciding to pay attention in my class. I get paid by the hour. So I'm telling you this for your own good. You're the only one who is failing my class. I know you want to go to medical school, but stellar science is a must-pass if you want to earn your degree. So I suggest you pay attention."

"Uh, shit. Sorry Mrs. Dunham. Rough night.", "Yes I'm sure your Call of Valor or your raids are very stressful. See me after class, and pay attention." The man sighed unknowingly, "Right. Sorry."

Afterwards, he did a he was told. He met with Mrs. Dunham at the end of class in her office, which was thankfully attached to her classroom. He slowly pandered towards a rather generic door made of solid oak and a section of bulletproof glass reinforced with a metal screen - the norm for doors in general throughout the college. The familiar hardwood desk and uncomfortable plastic chair sitting across a noticeably much nicer wheeled chair with fine leather sat across from it. A transparent screen held by nothing more than a thin, metal base rested easily on the desk, no wires in sight. Wireless technology had come far, and had essentially replaced anything and everything with wires at this point. Mrs. Dunham gestured to the hard plastic chair, inviting the young man in - who was noticeably nervous.

"Mister Cedric Fuller. I assume you know why I called you in after class?"

"I can take a guess."

"I understand this isn't the first time, but I'm being serious with you. This is not good for you, you understand that right?"

He cooly sat on the chair. A chair which was much too short and small to be any degree of comfortable.

"Yes Mrs. Dunham, I know. Won't happen again."

She sighed and her fingers caught the bridge of her nose.

"This isn't the first time. But it may actually be the last time. You're failing, Cedric. And if you fail a second time, you can't retake the class. You understand that right?"

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, is that if you keep sleeping in class and failing your assignments, that's it. It's done. There's no take-backs. It'd be different if you were sleeping but passing, but you're not. I won't claim to know what goes on in your personal life, but you need to fix it. You're a smart boy, you're passing introductory medical like a champ and your literature scores are off the charts. I want you to pass, I really do, but I've tried everything I can to help you. Stellar science is one of the easier classes, so why is it you're having difficulty with this class but not others?"

Cedric's face turned red and a bead of sweat ran down his forehead.

"I guess... it's just not interesting? I try to pay attention, but sometimes I'll actually fall asleep without realizing it. It's like, my brain just finds it so disinteresting that I actually struggle to stay awake while staring at the board."

"Disinteresting huh?"

"No, I mean. I'm sorry I just-"

Another wisp of air escaped the woman's lips.

"No, I'm not berating you. I've seen you with energy drinks and coffee in my class before. So it's not like you're not trying with... this problem of yours. Regardless, you need to figure out a way around this. Because if you don't, you're going to be dropped out of the course and you can't come back unless you start all over again."

Cedric jolted from his chair in indignance.

"Mrs. Dunham there's no way I can fucking afford to take college again! I worked my ass off to get here in the first place!"

"Mind your voice, and tone young man. When I was your age I'd never be so rude to my teachers. Sit down!"

Slowly, and with a huff. Cedric plopped back into his seat. Frustrated, and now angry.

"Sorry."

"Right. You know what's at stake, and you obviously can't afford to retake the course from the ground up. If being present in my class is too boring for you, then try learning the content outside of class. There's plenty of MeTube videos and other resources you can use to learn what will be on the tests. Geekle scholar is a great way to learn, as it has proper scientific papers on it that will be all information and no fluff. Whatever you decide to do, you need to do it fast. If you fail one more test, that's it. There's no recovering. Even if you ace all future tests. I want you to pass Cedric, I really do."

"Yeah. Thanks Mrs. Dunham. I'll try that."

After his response, the young woman waved him off. She needed to prepare for her next lesson, after all. As Cedric left the classroom and slowly cantered through the halls. He thought long and hard about his future. There's no guarantee that he'd not fall asleep next class. While he could no doubt try studying outside of class, it'd ultimately not be worth it. After all, he had his job to worry about. If he didn't make money, his mother would kick him out. She sure as hell doesn't let him forget that. It was lunchtime now, and he had some extra money on his person. So he made a rare visit to the college cafeteria, and took a gander at its overpriced magnificence. Metal long tables with carbon weave tops, cushioned benches between each table, a long a la carte line with all manner of of goodies. TVs were suspended high in the corners, their translucent screens showing the news and sports updates in a glareless fashion. Broad windows made up the walls, letting sunlight soak the cafeteria in its warmth. All in all, it was a very nice place and was well-maintained. No surprise, considering how grotesquely overpriced the food was.

As Cedric entered the lunch line, he heard a booming voice in the corner of the cafeteria. It was a recruiter for the UCSC, United Countries Space Command. This was just a fancy name for the military assigned to "Protect the interests of the Union, and to ensure the safety of its citizens." Which, was a laughable motto hiding the fact that the UCSC almost explicitly is contracted by private companies to maintain order and protect their investments in space. Humanity had not but barely gone beyond the asteroid belt. Mining valuable minerals that are plentiful in the inner asteroid belt. It was only a matter of time until they get their hands on the Kuiper belt. Regardless, belt mining was incredibly lucrative, and become the first global multi-trillion dollar industry. Naturally, where there's a lot of money, there's a lot of people wanting a piece of that sweet, sweet profitable pie. That's where the government-backed UCSC came in. He listened to the words of the recruiter intently as he awaited his turn to order.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Join the UCSC! Haven't figured out what you want to do with your life? Do you want to be part of something bigger? Serve your country! Earn a starting salary of 60k a year, pay not a dime for schooling, education, and certificates. The UCSC will provide everything for you. Clothing, lodging, travel, family support chains, Healthcare, physical fitness, truly everything! Talk with one of our recruiters for more information!"

It had never occurred to Cedric to join the military. Did they really provide all that? No charge? He knew that'd he'd have to sign a contract, but considering his current situation it really did sound like the way to go. He could seriously have a head-start on his life with that.

"Excuse me sir? You're next!"

Cedric jumped from his thoughts.

"Oh, right. Sorry. I'll take a chicken sandwich and a side salad please."

"That'll be twenty for the sandwich, and ten for the side salad. You want a drink?"

Cedric didn't ponder the question asked from the high pitched, customer service voice for very long.

"Uh, I think I'll just get water from the fountain..."

"Okay, thank you sir. Enjoy!"

"Yeah, no problem."

He stared at his sandwich and his salad after finding a quiet spot in the corner of the cafeteria. The sandwich was nothing more than a slab of chicken with half-melted cheese, and the salad was nothing more than some lettuce with chopped tomatoes and cheese sprinkled on top resting in a small bowl.

"I'm remembering why I don't normally order food from here now..."

Given the tiny size of his lunch, it didn't take him long to finish it. He threw his trash away, and took a look gulp from the water fountain placed conveniently near the cafeteria's exit. Before he stepped out, he took a second look at the UCSC booth.

"Couldn't hurt to just ask about it, right?"

With his mind set, Cedric approached the recruiting booth. The recruiter that did the announcement was playing on his phone, in full uniform. Paying no heed to his surroundings. Another recruiter also at the booth however, approached him. Three chevrons and a rocker lie in the middle of his black and silver, digicamo uniform.

"Interested in the UCSC bud?"

The man's voice was cordial and easy to listen to. He sounded more like a friend, than a highly trained soldier.

"Maybe. I heard that you guys provide everything?"

"Yes we do! Are you married, bud?"

"No. I wish."

"Ah. Well in that case you'd get your own room to yourself. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me."

"About that. You said you provide everything, so what would a random unmarried guy like me actually get if I join?"

"Well, bear in mind it's a four year minimum contract. But if you decide to go through with it, you'll go to your local hospital and get a health check done. After that, you'll be sworn in."

"Okay, cool, but what do I actually get for joining?"

"Ah, right. When you sign up, you'll be sent to basic combat training. You won't need anything other than your phone, your wallet, IDs, and the clothes on your back. Your first week there after pre-hold you'll get assigned your clothing, uniforms, bathroom necessities with a secure bag, toothpaste, toothbrush, razer, shaving cream, lotion, everything. Bedding and stuff too, then you'll get assigned to a bay with a bunch of others and begin your training."

"What about Healthcare, a place to stay, and all that?"

"If you pass basic, you'll get assigned to your unit. The UCSC will cover all the travel costs and make sure your baggage arrives on time. Since you're not married, you'll get a room to yourself in the barracks. If you need anything medical related you just talk to your superior officer and contact whatever facility is there to get your appointment scheduled. No co-pay, no bullshit, you just get your appointment and go."

"And the salary?"

"Starting out you'll make 60k a year. The work is easy and you tend to get off work early. So long as you do your job, of course."

"That... Sounds good, actually."

"Perfect! Sign your name here and we'll get you started."

Cedric's eyes wandered to a nearby stack of brochures on the generic plastic folding table, making careful note to not put his name to anything. At least, not yet.

"I think I'll just take a brochure for now."

"Alright, yeah that's fine. Let me give you my number so you can contact me if you decide to go through with it."

"Sure."

Quickly, Cedric received the recruiter's number. His phone was nothing more than an outdated flip phone that can barely call or text, but it got the job done. He stashed the brochure in his bag, and went about his day.

It was late, but with college and work done for the day. Cedric went home. His mind never wondered far from the brochure in his backpack, the UCSC recruiter's words fresh in his mind. Even if he didn't want this to be his endgame, he could still use it to get a head start right? None of his family had ever served, and he himself it never occurred to either. It just never really interested him. With him a hair's breadth away from failing college and having no alternatives, he may have no choice assuming he didn't want to live on the streets. He briskly opened the door to a rundown apartment building, making note of the panties strewn freshly on the couch and his mother smoking a cigarette.

"I'm home, Mom."

"About time. You're behind on your rent, when are you gonna pay your damn bill?"

"I told you before, a child shouldn't have to pay rent in his own home."

"Yeah, right right. You're what, twenty-two and still living in my house? Grow a damn pair and start taking responsibility."

"I'm twenty-four..."

His mother grew angry, her spotted face and disheveled auburn hair making itself well known. Her lack of a bra and lack of personal care made itself very apparent.

"Damn it boy, you know how hard I've hustled to give you a life off the streets? This country is a shithole. You're lucky that you don't live in one too. Most you could be damned to give me on my birthday is a card. When are you gonna start paying me back for all the money I spent on you?"

"Yeah, sorry. Thanks mom."

"God damn it son."

She took a long drag off her cigarette, finishing it off and flicking it into a nearby ashtray on a rickety coffee table, overfilling it even more than it already was.

"The only reason you get to go to college is because your daddy decided to hide his account from me, said it was 'for your future.' Yet here we are, you're failing college and squandering all your daddy's money on books and shit for your classes, and yet we live in a shitty ass apartment. Asshole should've gave me that money instead of you, and maybe we would be someplace nicer. Go to your room and do whatever. My boyfriend is using the restroom so don't go near it till' he's done."

"Yeah, will do."

Cedric quickly made his way back to his modest room and locked the door. He looked with horror as he realized the computer he'd saved up for was gone. He thrust the door back open in a rage, "Where the hell is my computer?"

"Remember what I said about rent? I sold it."

"You what?"

"I fucking sold it, are you deaf? You've been slacking on rent and the bill is due next week. If you actually worked a decent job I wouldn't have had to sell it."

"How much did you sell it for?"

"Twelve-hundred, enough to pay the rent for the next two months."

Cedric screamed, "I saved twenty-five hundred dollars over the course of a fucking year to buy that. you had no right!"

"No right my ass! My house, my rules. Pay your damn rent next time and stop working that dead-beat job of yours."

"Are you fucking kidding me? Are you serious? I barely make do working part-time on minimum wage, you can't do this to me!"

"Yeah well be happy your momma is looking out for you. All you do is play games on that thing anyways. You should happy that your rent is covered for the next two months."

"My rent should not be the rent of the entire fucking apartment! I'm only doing this shit to be nice!"

"That's where you fucked up, if you hate your mother so much maybe I should just kill myself! Will that make you happy?"

"No, that's not-"

"Ungrateful, that's what you are! Ungrateful and hateful! I do nothing but take care of you and this is how you repay me? Don't be surprised if I never wake up again because of you!"

The shouting match could have continued for a longer time, it wouldn't be the first. Cedric was so flabbergasted he simply slammed the door, and flopped onto his bed - screaming into his pillow. The idea of looking up the course material for stellar science in his own time was a good one. Even if he lost sleep over it, he'd maybe be able to pass the class. But without his computer and without the financial means to pay for a thousand-USAC Credit (United States of America and Canada) library card, he had no access to a computer. He had no friends either, so he couldn't ask anyone else. All around, he was screwed. After a few hours of sobbing into his pillow, he recalled the brochure he procured from the UCSC Recruiter. He lifted himself from his depressed stupor and pulled it from his pack, staring intently at the holographic and colorful brochure paper. Swishing it back and forth formed the image of a rocket starting and stopping its engines. It was a neat touch. He gently thumbed through it, looking at all the benefit he could get from joining the military. It displayed what the recruiters had already summarized, but the more he gazed at it the better it seemed. The grass is always greener, as they say. Should he stay with his mother, failing college and working for scraps? Or should he join the United Countries Space Command, and get a new lease on life with good pay, a place to stay, and all his medical and education paid for? The choice was obvious.