1
Jack hurried past the large billboards that declared the Lottery Draw this coming weekend. After almost six months the Lottery was all people were talking about and Jack knew those with credits would get the seats, probably fixed.
Earth was dying, bound to happen sooner or later right? She was in her final death throes and the fate of the human race now rested in those willing to do what had been done since time immemorial. A ship was going to set sail for new lands, only…this ship currently was a good three hour trip above them in the Away Vessel and Jack was still uncomfortable with the other crew. Guaranteed seats for them and their immediate families. Several unwed had hastily married those they loved, liked or had been promised their extended family left behind would be well compensated. Jack liked the Medic Owen Harper, an acidic doctor who openly admired the pretty Japanese lady who had accepted his hand in marriage. Toshiko Sato was a teacher, something that had pushed their papers through and Owen had confided in him that he had quietly admired her for several years, her being a friend if his deceased fiancé Katie.
The Communications Officer Gwen Cooper had also hastily married her beau that she had lived with for some time and Rhys Williams had found a place in the kitchens as a good cook. Other crew had moved quickly and now it was down to the lottery to see who the final members would be, some obviously not able to help as crew but he did hope they got some more academics.
Jack flopped into the Captain's Seat on the Away Vessel and looked across at his First Mate who was currently going over something on his Tablet.
"Are you going to watch the lottery?" Jack asked and stormy grey eyes slid over to look at him, making him feel like he had interrupted something important but then the Tablet was politely lowered as he received a nod of welcome.
"No Captain, I do not envy those who will be chosen in the red sector as there will no doubt be rioting and a few deaths incurred as they squabble." Mister Jones said drolly, "I think we all know there will be few riff raff allowed to board as those who win in the upper quadrant will no doubt be less surprised than they make out."
"You think so too?" Jack snorted, "I was thinking the same thing. They will have to allow some common people in or it will be too obvious that some purchased their numbers."
"I estimate about half the numbers will be random, half will be those who will want nothing more than to sit back and moan. I also recommend we be prepared for those who try to bring staff with them as family and such as well." Mister Jones warned and Jack frowned. "I suggest any recent adoptions be looked at closely."
"I hadn't thought of that, shit. A claim of an older teenage child could be a maid or nanny." Gwen interrupted and Jack find himself drawn to her as she spoke freely of her thoughts and by the time the coupling booms sounded they had a plan set out to counteract this by way of DNA checks.
"Sir?"
"Yes?" Jack turned to Mister Jones and found the man bristling as if he had somehow insulted him, "Mister Jones? What's wrong?"
"Your DNA checks are not going to be acceptable. What of legitimate adoptions, mixed race families and those blended families? Only recent adoptions would be for this purpose? What of ones from a few years back, before talk of a lottery?" he argued and Jack shook his head as he turned to leave the Away Vessel.
"No, Gwen is right we have to tighten things up. Who's to say someone doesn't try to sneak their friends' children on as their own. A promise of a future, who wouldn't try." Jack shook his head and again saw a flare of something behind the bland stare "Spots are limited and we have to be harsh."
"So an adopted child is left behind due to their heritage" the man said as he turned away from Jack with slumped shoulders, "great way to start saving mankind. Let's segregate and alienate."
"It's just common sense" Gwen snorted, "get you head out of your arse. It's us or them. We have earned our spots, everyone else has to as well."
The man seemed to stare a hole into Gwen's head before he brushed past with a silent anger that left Jack feeling cold. He didn't even know a man could take warmth from a room like it was his faithful dog.
Jack went to the Bridge where Mister Jones was standing by his chair and when he saw him he moved away with that graceful silence that made Jack wonder if he was part Vampyre. He watched Mister Jones leave the Bridge and head into the Ready Room, then he settled in the Captain's Chair to go through the preliminary flight checks they went through every time.
This time next month they would be finally taking that step beyond.