The Solar Wind

by Laura E. Collins

  Helena waited impatiently for Ava to be checked in. “Isn’t this exciting? I’m going to be working on Level 5 and living on Level 6. What about you Ava? What level are you on? Are you going to have a room-mate?”

  “No room-mate. They gave me a single dwelling. I’ll be working on Level 3 and living on Level 4. It looks like I’ll be able to walk to and from work, I’m glad, the public transportation fees for the trams are outrageous.”

  “Wow, Level 4, that’s nice.” Ava thought she detected a slight note of jealousy in Helena’s voice. Ava’s prior research of Orionis revealed that the station had 12 levels. Like an onion’s layers, the outermost levels were larger and the lower, inner-most levels were smaller and more compact. It was no secret that the more affluent people and businesses were situated closest to Level 1 and it seemed to go down from there. The extent of the differences in class amongst the levels did not seem to be widely publicized. Ava figured they would learn more at tomorrow’s orientation.

  “I’m going to have a room-mate.” Helena mockingly pouted.

  “That’s great Helena; you’ll have someone who can help to show you around.”

  “Yeah, I guess so; I wasn’t expecting a room-mate. I’ve never lived with anyone other than my parents. I always had my own place in college. I hope she’s not a psycho.”

  “I’m sure she’s not.” Ava laughed as they exchanged addresses so that they would be able to call and message one another.

  The ITO completed the registration of its new residents. There were a few more people in the waiting room that must have come in on other starships. Several sighs of relief were heard as the tram arrived to collect everyone and their possessions to escort them to their new homes.

  Ava was one of the first residents to be dropped off on Level 4. Most of the others would most likely dwell on one of the lower levels. Ava suspected that because of her profession, she needed to be closer to the clinic and was assigned her quarters based on this. An ITO officer punched a code on the number panel next to the door. A chime prompted Ava to press her thumb on the digital scanner to record her thumbprint which would now be her entry key. Once everything was set the door silently slid open and Ava said good-bye to Helena as two of the officers carried her trunks inside. The door shut instantly once Ava was inside and the lights turned on. They were apparently set to activate on motion sensors in order to conserve energy. The vents began to cycle once the sensors were activated, flushing out the dry, stale air. What a nice little one bedroom apartment Ava thought. Although small and plain, it was neutrally decorated and adequately furnished. A small lightly cushioned couch and metal table were in the center of the main living area. A large monitor/television hung on the main wall next to the tiny kitchen. Two small stools stood at the kitchen bar/counter. Whoever had lived here before arranged the small desk with the computer next to the entryway, a nice placement Ava thought. Next Ava checked out the small bedroom. A twin sized bed, small armoire and dresser overwhelmed the space. The bathroom next to the closet also housed the laundry equipment, small, but more than adequate for one person. Overall Ava felt satisfied with her new home and began the task of unpacking her few belongings.

  After a short rest, Ava accessed the map of Level 4 online and decided to venture out to buy some food. Residents were allocated a set amount of water each day. Using more than the assigned amount meant receiving a water bill above and beyond the rent. Most residents could not afford this. Ava felt exhausted by the time she reached the store. This is weird she thought, she didn’t usually become so tired from walking. Must be the long journey she thought. Food and plant life, especially produce, were precious commodities on any space station. The outermost level of any station was dedicated to sustaining oxygen gardens, agriculture, and also farming of edible food. No one looked up as Ava passed through the crowded avenues and arrived at a small store. Ava never expected friendliness from anyone, it just didn’t happen. Making ends meet was hard and everyone had their own agenda, mainly survival, therefore people tended to keep to themselves.

  Ava walked through the entryway into the small store. Everything appeared to be arranged in a neat, orderly fashion on the shelves and in the refrigerated units. She scanned the shelves for the basic staples and was astonished by the prices. English and French were the primary languages used on Orionis. Ava only knew a few words in French. She could not identify many of the items on the shelves because of the plain packaging and language barrier. On Earth most food products could be identified just by looking at the package, it didn’t matter what language was used. Without pictures or illustrations, Ava had to spend more time standing there, figuring out what things were. Being in a store when you are hungry is not good for your budget, it’s even worse when you are starving. She remembered from the online map that there were a few more stores further down the avenue. She left the store without buying anything. A few minutes later Ava stood outside of the second store. She hoped for the best and walked in. These prices were even more expensive than the first place and most everything was labeled in French. She couldn’t believe it. Much to Ava’s relief the third store, “Foust”, had slightly lower prices than the first store, but not by much. Ava knew it would be a few weeks until her first payday so she could only afford only a few of the basics. No produce this week. Looks like it will be rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a while. Anything to fill an empty stomach. It won’t be so bad once I get paid, Ava kept thinking. By the time she returned home with her few precious food items, she could barely keep her eyes open. After a quick rinse in the shower and eating a small bowl of rice she set the alarm for 6:30 a.m. and went to bed.

  Ava followed the directions from the online map to the ITO Orientation office on Level 3. As she walked she observed her surroundings. The passages and avenues appeared clean, sleek and simple. The streets consisted of a pattern of white and silver tiles. The offices and shops that lined the corridors demonstrated their uniqueness in their store front designs and colors of their lighted signs. The light gray industrial ceiling did nothing for the imagination. Orionis certainly did not have a reputation for excitement, nor was it a vacation destination. However, dull as it may have seemed, Ava appreciated the cleaner air and peaceful environment. She never enjoyed living underground on Earth. The entrance to the ITO office seemed impressive compared to the other offices around.

  Ava sat next to Helena at orientation. “Good morning how was your first night? Did you like your roommate?”

  “I hardly even saw her. Her name is Samantha. She works nights, and I work days. I think that we will only be seeing each other in passing. She seemed O.K. I think she’s around twenty-one.”

  “Did you like your apartment?”

  “It’s so small, but I’m happy that I have my own bedroom. I can lock it when I leave so at least I don’t have to worry about anything getting ripped off.”

  “Do you think that your roommate would do that?”

  “Who knows? You can’t really trust anyone here until you get to know them. The residents on Level 6 seem a bit desperate. I went shopping for food yesterday and I could barely afford anything. There are only two stores on my level and I went to both of them. One had slightly lower prices than the other, but it was a hike. I was quite put out. I haven’t been this tired in my whole life. It’s also a good thing I learned some French in school, that’s all the food packages are written in and that’s all Samantha speaks.”

  “I’m beginning to wish I had taken some French. I went shopping also and I couldn’t figure out what was what. I ended up buying mostly rice. I’m going to have to start learning some French. I saw there was a tutorial online.”

  “Here comes the instructor.” Helena noted. “I’m glad they are doing an orientation. I have tons of questions I need answered.”

  The ITO instructor was a short, no-nonsense, clean cut kind of man. Despite his lack of enthusiasm, his presentation was extremely informative. The attendees learned about Orionis’ history
and development. They learned about the twelve levels that comprised the station and that each level had a different purpose and function. The most important levels were the outermost first and second levels because they contained the precious oxygen and agricultural gardens as well as the innumerable solar panels. The import and export landing hangars as well as the cargo bays were also located on these levels. Therefore this is where the security is most tight and strict. As the levels progressed inward towards the nuclear power cells at the core, security still maintained a presence, but it was nowhere near that of the outermost levels. Orionis had a wonderful self sustaining reputation. Water and air were recycled. Nothing was wasted. Most documents were electronic, thus eliminating unnecessary waste. Residents were fined if they did not participate in the strict recycling programs for anything that did come in a paper or plastic package. Fire or anything with an open flame was strictly forbidden due to the consumption of oxygen.

  Each station in orbit held a democracy, each lead by an elected president. Only citizens who have lived on the station for a minimum of three years could register to vote. The ITO strictly controlled all travel to and from the station. Residents who could afford to travel to the other stations for recreation could do so only after six months of continuous residency on the station. At the orientation, the ITO instructor gave an explicit warning to the new residents not to go beyond their spending limits. Residents who could not support their spending would be promptly prosecuted and shipped back to Earth. Although a working community, the station had many recreational activities. Residents were encouraged to use the various workout facilities on levels three and four. Memberships were actually free. This is because power cells are connected to most of the workout equipment, thus harnessing the energy created from repetitive movements. The station utilized this type of energy for simple things, such as lighting.

  Orientation ended in the early afternoon. Ava and Helena wandered about the avenues becoming acclimated with their surroundings before heading back to their homes. Ava wanted to rest before her first day at work. As she made her way home she felt as though she was being watched again. This time, however, as she looked around, she did not see anyone gazing at her.

  Ava arrived early to work at the OMC, eager to meet the physician whom she would be working with. The doors pushed quietly open as the nurses gave Ava the tour of the clinic and Dr. Brennan Grant stepped in.

  “Ms. Amherst, welcome to the OMC.”

  Ava approved of him instantly. He appeared to have a calm, soft-spoken, reassuring nature. He looked to be around fifty years old, a thin man just under six feet tall with plentiful salt and pepper brown hair and a goatee. He wore a simple white lab coat and stood in the doorway to his office wiping his glasses off on his lab coat.

  “I’m pleased to meet you Dr. Grant.” Ava smiled. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

  “We are excited to have you; your resume and your work at the All Saints Medical Clinic on Earth is impressive.”

  “Thank you. I had such a wonderful experience working for them before and after I graduated. I love the variety of patients you see in primary care.”

  Ava and Dr. Grant sat in his office for a short time while he gave her an overview of the clinic schedule, job expectations, etc. Ava had always been a dedicated student and a hard worker. She enjoyed seeing patients, she consistently felt rewarded when she could help them improve and feel better. As she shadowed Dr. Grant the first few days she knew she had come to the right place. The other providers and staff were welcoming and she appreciated having such a pleasant physician to collaborate with. By the middle of the next week, Ava was ready to take on her own team of patients each day without difficulty.

  As the days passed Ava became increasingly tired. It would be another week until she would be paid for the first time. Health care providers were considered to be included in the more affluent members of society on Orionis and on average usually earned a decent living, depending on experience. The discussion of salary was disappointing, it would be less than Ava had hoped for because she only had less than two years of experience after graduation. She would have to stick to a strict budget with food for a while until things evened out. She had never experienced a time of prolonged hunger growing up. Food had never been overly abundant, but she never recalled feeling as starved as she had now. Eating mostly rice day in and day out kept you alive, but wasn’t appetizing, or nutritious. Ava vowed never to eat rice ever again once she could afford it. Helena seemed to be in a similar situation. She constantly complained to Ava whenever they were together about how hungry she felt. She would earn even fewer credits than Ava.

  As the next week arrived Ava began to feel increasingly worn out. She had always been average; however she noticed that she had started losing weight. After work one day, Ava stepped on the scale, 110 pounds. This is not good Ava thought. She had never weighed so little. That night at home Ava took a shower and studied herself in the mirror. She looked pale and weary, almost emaciated. Her ribs and hips were clearly visible, her hair and eyes were lackluster and dull. She realized she appeared as most of her patients did to her; gaunt and spiritless. No wonder there wasn't any shortage of food on Orionis Ava thought; nobody could afford to buy what was available. Ava knew it would only be a few more days until she was paid, if she conserved as much energy as possible, perhaps she could make it to Friday.

  Chapter 3: The Square

  When Thursday arrived Ava set off for work feeling exhausted. As the day dragged on Ava put forth her best effort to maintain her composure. Over the past week she intentionally worked on charting through her lunch hours to conceal the fact that she never had much more than reheated rice to eat. She dreaded how embarrassed she would feel if her coworkers knew that she could barely afford to buy food. Only one more day she thought. As soon as the day is over tomorrow she could go directly to the store and buy some real food. Fortunately none of Ava’s patients or her coworkers sensed the discouragement she felt. She worked hard to keep it that way. She had not had what she would call a decent meal in a few weeks. At first, the inadequate amounts of food left her with the sensation of a ravenous hunger. As the time passed, she no longer felt the hunger so much anymore. She just became numb to it.

  The avenues swelled like a sea of moving people as Ava slowly walked home from work. She normally walked with a sense of purpose when she moved about, observing her surroundings, but not today. No longer needing to put on a strong front; she let her gait slow and her eyes search the ground as she moved. The Square on Level 3 marked the half-way point home. It was a great intersection of several avenues lined with many stores and small cafes that enticed people to stop by with small tables both inside as well as outside to create ambience. It was one of her favorite places she had seen so far on Orionis.

  As she entered the square she began to feel warm and sweaty. With each step she sensed something was wrong and getting worse. Ava was almost knocked over by the people walking in a steady stream around her on their way home. She could feel it coming, she knew if she didn’t sit down she was going to faint. But where? She knew better, she knew she had to do something. Her vision began to dim and the ringing that began in her ears drowned out the sounds of the crowds. It seemed like an eternity had passed. She stopped and tried to concentrate on steadying her breathing and staying conscious, but it was a losing battle. At that moment Ava felt a jolt as two pairs of strong hands gripped her arms, one person on each side of her. She couldn’t think or act as she sensed that she was placed into a seated position on a chair nearby. Someone was speaking calmly, a man, while someone steadied Ava in a sitting position on the chair. Ava couldn’t open her eyes and the roaring in her ears continued. She concentrated on breathing. Then, the pair of hands holding her up seemed to switch with the other pair and someone held a cool glass of water to her lips. Instinct had taken over and Ava drank in small amounts. As the warm sensation passed, and the roaring insider her ears gradually faded. Ava
’s vision slowly returned to normal. Her breathing slowed and she looked upon the two strangers that had come to her aid.

  Ava found herself sitting at a small “outdoor” table at “Fruition” a specialty café. A blonde woman stood to her left next to the table holding the half empty glass of water. Ava thought she resembled a beautiful angel. A man with black hair and very dark, expressive round eyes took a seat at the little round table towards her right. Both looked upon her with relieved faces. As Ava began to recover she looked upon the pair and tried to think of something to say, her brain cells did not seem to be working right now.

  “Are you feeling better Miss? That was close. A few more seconds and we would have been picking you up off of the ground. Looks like you are starting to get your color back. Why don’t you have the rest of this water?” The blonde woman had a pleasant voice, a kind face, and smiled with sympathy at Ava.

  Ava took the glass carefully with a slight tremble in her hands from the blonde woman who seemed to be standing guard over her. “Thank you, I’m so sorry to have troubled you. I’m grateful for your assistance,” she managed to reply as she recovered.