Week 8 - The Alien As Other

"That is just a different development of Nature, another example of Nature's wonderful adaptability. Growing on another, perhaps harsher world, it has different form and features. But it is just as much a legitimate child of Nature as you are" - Blair

(Does nature exist outside of Earth?)

Week 7 - Planetary Disaster! (Oh Nooo!)

"The question of what our purpose is on earth, the question of how we may make a government that will represent these purposes, the question of what our own responsibility is, the question of what business it is of ours to think about these things, are not to be solved in any laboratory or settled by any equation or any mathematics" - Oppenheimer

How would you survive?

Week 6 - Looking At Each Other

“Power is violence. When did it get destroyed peacefully? We all fight when we’re back to the wall—or to tear down a wall" -Luciente

Week 5 - The Dystopian Prison

Eve

Life is good!" Serena said, flipping over to tattoo her back. "This design will win tonight." After three minutes, she got out to inspect her back. "Perfect!" The purple dragon swirled gracefully down her back. It climbed back up to breathe blue fire on her shoulders. Tonight was the annual Lighter's Cup and Serena planned to win. It took her five months to get the dragon motion right and eight more to fix the flames. She winced as she remembered the burn marks from that. "INCOMING GUEST!" shrieked the door. "Who is it?" Serena replied, anxious to be rid of the guest.
"Serena Nabis?" replied a child's voice. Curiosity peaked, Serena opened the door to find a girl no taller than her waist. "Yes?" she answered.
"Good." The girl takes out a gun and shoots. Serena wakes up dazed from the blackout. "Where am I?" "You're back where you belong." a voice echoes. "I don't see my stuff, so obviously not!" Serena accused.
"We've been looking for you for some time. You won't get away again."
"Again?" "You'll be restructured soon..." The voice shuts off. Serena stepped toward the door and peered through. There is one other door in front. There was a pair of eyes staring back. "Looks like they gotcha." the eyes said. "What do you mean?" "You Serena?" "Yes. Help me out." "If I could, I wouldn't be here myself." Her door opened and darkness engulfed her. "She ready?" "Not yet." "When?" "I still got to modify her switch, Sir. Maybe five minutes?" "Fine." A door closed from a distance. "You can open your eyes. I know you're awake." Serena peeked and noticed that whoever spoke was not looking. She was about the same height as the girl from earlier. Actually, there was something eerily familiar about her voice. "My Most High wanted a martyr and you fit the bill." she shrugged her shoulders casually as if they were discussing weekend plans. "My Most High values our quality of life. Something to do with his wife, The Martyr." Still not looking at her. Talking to her as if kidnapping is what she did everyday. "What's gonna happen to me?" she asked. "Oh, I just have one more modification and I'm done." she sounded bored. "Here, tell me what you think." She placed a full length mirror in front of her. "Do you like the brown skin or the light skin?" Confused Serena stared at the reflection and saw that she had no skin. She was also shorter by 4 feet! She screamed and passed out. "Is she alive?" "Yes." "Good. Serena?" Hazily memories drift in from a past she didn't recognize. She was in a room surrounded by chains and the sick stench of death. A boy approached her with a bowl of scrapes and a jug of musky water. "My Most High says that you mus eat." "I don't want it!" she heard herself scream. "Tell him I rather die!" "But you must eat. If you die, we die." "I don't care anymore. It's because of me everyone lives but it's because of everyone I suffer." The boy puts the bowl and jug by her feet and leaves. It seemed like almost an eternity before a woman appeared at the door. "So you want out?" she asked. "Who are you?" Serena asked cautiously. "Do you want out?" she repeated impatiently. "Yes! Please!" "Good. You'll start a new life as if this one never existed. If you get caught again, I cannot help." she explained. "Fine! Get me out!" "Serena! Open your eyes." demanded the voice. "What do you want?" she cried. "You of course. I killed the witch that freed you. I swear, I'm sick of this. Every few millennia someone sets you free. Ha! As if I wouldn't find you eventually." he laughed like it was a game. "You're to bear all the pain and suffering from the people of this world. When you're freed, people die." He waved his hand, dismissing the explanation. "I made you into a doll now. I don't have to worry about someone freeing you. I'll put you on my shelf and no one will find you again." "NOOOO!" she screamed. The young child walked behind Serena and flicked a switch. It was the last word she ever spoke.

""A hallucination," Chien said, "is merciful. I wish I had it; I want mine back""