Chapter 1: The Beginning

It all started about 400 years ago on planet Earth. Some mad scientist was able to create a serum that attacked the Powered among us, but something that is capable of killing the Powered was also able to kill everyone else.

Now everyone is living in space or on other planets/moons where the terrible conditions of Earth can't reach them. Most people wish to forget that we ever came from there but some hope we could go back. After The Great Disaster, only a couple hundred thousand people were able to escape into space. Technology has come a long way since then, allowing people to live amazing lives, but most still live in poverty, even in space.

"John, wake up," said the AI teacher in a robotic voice.

"Five more minutes," replied John.

"Johnathan, I am not your mother, wake up now," said the AI teacher in an annoyed robotic voice.

"Thank god for that," replied John, in a slightly more awake voice now.

Snickers could be heard from some of the classmates nearby as they too liked to mess with the robotic teacher.

"As I was saying, you all have your final exams coming up before you hit 18, and this will help you with your job placements after leaving basic education."

"Why even bother though. Most of us will just work hard labor jobs. Hardly anyone from here is smart enough to make it after basic education and no one is a Powered among us." A student by the name is Phil Breach shouted from the back.

Generally, the smart will be able to work their way into the upper levels of society by working in some of the more in demand and important jobs. As for everyone else, they get stuck doing the hard and dangerous labor task that no one wants to do. Being smart is like forcibly making room for yourselves in the upper levels of society. No one wants you their, but they still need you. Being a Powered though is like being born with a diamond spoon in your mouth. Everyone is told that it is your golden ticket to go or do whatever you want.

"Just make sure you study well and show up for your exam. Class dismissed."

At that, everyone got up and started to make their way out. Some went to get food, while others went back to their living quarters. Being a part of the lowest level of society, home for most of them is a tiny space station that holds only a couple of hundred of people. Still orbiting Earth, they all get to see a glimpse of a planet that was destroyed by past generations, where no one is allowed to go.

John made his way from the classroom to his living quarters. With no parents since young, he just shares a small room with his older brother, Sam. Being 25 years old, Sam has been working as an observer for the last 7 years. Being paid just enough to afford food and clothing, with the occasional treat here and there.

"Well that sucked," John said as he entered the room. Looking around he could see that no one was in it though. That is how it usually was. Sam worked long hours with little pay. Just like everyone else on their little space station. Going to the fridge to get something to each, John found some moldy bread and moldy cheese. Cutting off the bad parts, he took a seat by the telescope, grabbed a book, and waited for the space station to point at Mars. Being the next habitable planet from Earth, one could see all the lights flashing on the planet and all the ships moving in and out. Occasionally their would be the supply ship coming to them to give their metal home food, water, and equipment.

"Well that sucked," Sam said as he entered the room. Being brothers they shared a lot of things in common and they both disliked their tiny, metal home.

"How was work?"

"Same as usual, sat in a room and pointed a camera towards Earth for way to long. Nothing ever changes." Being an observer, Sam's job was to monitor Earth for any changes and report back his findings to the higher ups. Every report was the same though. 'Nothing unusual' or 'No change'. He would never get a reply back, but if he didn't send one they would dock his pay.

"How was your last day of classes?"

"I was asleep for most of it, so didn't really pay attention. She mostly talked about our futures and how we should do really well on the exams."

"Alright, just make sure you show up for the exams or you'll be stuck in a boring job like me." Sam always pushed John to study and take his basic education seriously. Being stuck in a boring job for the last 7 years of his life, he only wished the best for his younger brother.

"Do we have any water left?" Sam asked as he also went to get some moldy bread and cheese.

"Drinking water, yes. Shower water, no. The month is almost over so we should be getting more soon."

. . .

A week went by pretty quickly. John stayed in his room to study for the upcoming exams, while Sam went to work everyday. John would sometimes leave to exercise or see some friends, but he spent most of his time studying. Many people didn't know that John was pretty smart. Always completing the lessons giving to him by the robotic teachers and getting the best grade possible. If anyone were to do well on the exams it would be John, but just how the upper class society didn't like someone from the low class working with them, the opposite was true. Many people in the space station would find it foolish to study. They would rather start working young and spend the extra time to make some money.

"Well that sucked." Sam walked into the room after another long day of work.

"Anything happen?" John asked while not looking up from his book. He knew the answer to the question, but tried to start a conversation.

"No, but I do have a surprise for you," Sam said while pulling something out from his bag. This peaked John's interest because he knew that Sam didn't make enough money for surprises. John would get a monthly amount of money from the upper society to spend on food and necessity, but it was just barely enough to survive.

As John finally looked away from his book and looked at Sam, he could see a rectangle shape wrapped in foil.

"I managed to buy some chocolate from one of the supply ship's crew. Cost me an arm and a leg, but I think it was worth it. Good luck on your exam tomorrow and happy birthday," Sam said while throwing the chocolate bar across the room the John.

"Thanks," John replied, a little surprised. He knew how expensive it was to buy anything where they lived, but he accepted it without complaint. Splitting it in half, he threw one to his brother and started eating the other. Growing up without parents, they would also share everything. They sat there in silence eating their chocolate until Sam asked a question.

"What do you think life is like outside of this metal tube?"

John was surprised again because they talked often but never about anything important. They were never taught anything important in basic education. Mainly some history of how the Earth was destroyed and then math and science to see who were the smart ones out of the bunch. Many people believed that the upper society was purposely keeping information to themselves because everyone could see how bright Mars was, but then again people grew up on the space station, worked on the space station, and died on the space station. They would interact very little with the supply ship's crew, or more like the supply ship's crew would interact very little with them.

"Has to be much better than this. I heard from some of the older guys that the upper class don't have to work as hard or they have people do all the work for them. And there are the Powered. You've heard how they all have superpowers and can do amazing things. I even heard that some can fly in space without a space suit or shoot fire from their arms."

"You listened to that old man too much when you were younger, and the supply crew likes to spread stories around. You can never believe what they say," replied Sam with a light chuckle. There was an older man living on the space station when they were younger. He would tell stories to anyone that would listen, but most just assumed that he was crazy.

"Why do you ask?" asked John.

"Don't worry about it. Just do well on your exam tomorrow so that we have a chance to leave this metal tube," replied Sam in a monotone voice.

After finishing their chocolate and taking a shower for the first time in a couple of days, they both went to bed. Tomorrow, Sam would have another boring day at work, and John would go take his exam to finish up basic education.