Fall Like Lightning

Chapter 22 - Utopian Experiments

The International University of New York

"The reason that a utopia as described in this book can never truly exist is because there is a natural hierarchy to mankind." Chloe DeWitt shifted her gaze to Athena. "Some people are just better than others."

"And what do you mean by that?" Athena shot back, fully aware of the insult behind the other woman's comment.

"Obviously, someone like you wouldn't understand." She rolled her eyes before sharing a snicker with some of her peers in their philosophy class.

This time, the professor intervened. "Lady DeWitt, I'm curious to understand your logic as well."

A wave of color rose into Chloe's cheeks. "If I have to explain it to you, too, then obviously you're not living up to this university's reputation. But since you asked, I'll refer back to efforts of the Global Earth Alliance to achieve the closest thing we'll ever get to Utopia. Once they shipped the undesirables off the colonies, we finally achieved peace here on Earth. It was like throwing out the trash and being left with a clean house."

Athena dug her nails into her palm. "What makes you think the colonies are populated by undesirables? From my experience, there are a vast array of colonies in outer space, including technologically advanced ones like the Khan and Jade colonies. The GEA is heavily dependent on the discoveries and breakthroughs they've made, yet you consider them inferior to you?"

Chloe's mouth hung open for a moment before she narrowed her eyes in retaliation. "There's a reason they're in space and not here."

"There is, but perhaps not for the reasons you're suggesting," Rhys replied.

Her pulse kicked up a notch, and she wondered if he'd blurt out something that could expose her.

"I'd argue that the independent colonies are experiments in utopian society," Rhys continued, his attention focused on Chloe and not her. "Many of them were formed by separatist factions who opposed the multinational unions that ultimately led to formation of the Global Earth Alliance. They wanted to maintain their cultures, their beliefs, while at the same time providing a higher standard of life for their people than what they could have on Earth."

"What makes you such an expert on all the colonies?" a male classmate retorted. "Your dad?"

Rhys's nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath, the only hint at his agitation. "Have you ever been to a space colony? I mean, besides Paradiso?"

"Why would I want to bother with Earth's rejects?"

"Because if you did, you'd be surprised." Then Rhys turned to Athena, and her mouth went dry.

Please don't reveal anything.

"Athena, you were the one to mention the advances made by the colonies. What are your thoughts on the colonies being experiments in utopian societies?"

She drew in her bottom lip and chewed on it as she tried to state her beliefs without disclosing her origins. "I think the conditions of the colonies depend on their leadership."

"Meaning?" Chloe asked, practically daring her to say something traitorous about the GEA.

She knew better than to fall into that trap. "Just that. Nazir Khan, for example, has created a series of colonies based on the Islamic principle of peace."

"Don't you mean a religious dictatorship?" the same boy who'd challenged Rhys argued.

"No, they're not like that all," Rhys interjected. "There is complete religious freedom on the Khan colonies. What Miss Davis was referring to was the absence of strife. The people of his colonies are well fed, well housed, well educated, and enjoy more freedom than many here on Earth do."