by P H Campbell
The level of complexity in dealing with the UGW, despite outward appearances of superiority regarding technology, neatness, and order compared to the Shade, would play heavily into the decision of which side they would go with.
Once the prison officials concluded the "preparations" for the delegations' stay on the planet, the delegation was free to "wander", as Seren put it. Officials assured them that no harm would come to them. It would be to the UGW's detriment if any harm occurred, so most of the group had no concerns about walking around freely in what amounted to be a prison housing the worst of a galaxy's criminal element.
The "guides" assigned to them turned out to be prisoners themselves. None of the guides were currently serving a sentence, but had instead chosen, for a variety of reasons, to remain on Gateway once their sentences were up. As sources of information, they seemed to be quite knowledgeable. Seren doubted the officials had briefed them in depth about their roles or who their charges were, but to a person, they all seemed to be unusually happy to oblige in performing a necessary service.
Too happy, in Seren's opinion.
As for the rules, Seren and the rest of the delegation learned in quick succession that, walking on the grass was a minor offense, loitering was a minor offense, even speaking too loudly was an offense. The population of android guards to prisoners was about even, from what Seren could tell. It was easy to differentiate an android from anyone else – they all looked alike. Humanoid, faceless, shiny and efficient. Seren and the other delegates were told in no uncertain terms that if an Android addressed them, obey them immediately. Given that most of the delegates still weren't fluent in English, and that the Androids probably couldn't address them in Common, Seren was quite certain that "immediate" obedience would be problematic.
After one of the individual guides warned them about a potential infraction in as many minutes, Seren asked her guide, "Do people just know the rules automatically around here?"
Her guide – a mild-looking Human male of about twenty five World years (over thirty standard) whose name was "Steven" – looked around and shrugged, saying as if it was self-evident, "Of course."
"Do the adjustments have something to do with that?" Seren wondered.
"Adjustments?" Steven echoed, then shrugged again, "I'm not sure what you mean. Everyone just knows what the rules are."
"The adjustment that's part of the sentence for being sent here," Seren clarified.
"That's a funny thought," Steven grinned, then pointed, "Over there is the library for this region, and we can take classes there if we want to."
After a few more questions regarding what Steven knew about "the adjustments", it became clear none of the guides they would discuss the subject and instead would change it to something else.
"They don't know shit 'bout this adjustment thing," Koreen remarked to Seren in Common as the group met up at a prearranged spot. "It's really creepy, too. They just shrug and talk about somethin' else. Every time."
"These guides do exhibit very unusual behavior," Markov agreed.
"They sure don't get riled up much," Gliff noted. "'Course, I was told bein' riled up is an offense of some kind, so there's that."
"The rules signs are everywhere," Sasha had noticed, as had most of the others.
"It would appear that these people have an abnormal aversion toward speaking about what the penal system has done to them," Morlendrus agreed.
"They also seem to lack curiosity and initiative," Walentia noted. "We're standing here talking in Common, and they're over there in small groups just waiting for us."
But as she spoke, Steven came over and said, "We should move on separately now since lingering in numbers larger than four is prohibited."
"Oh, I think we've seen enough here," Seren agreed as an android approached them.
"Please disburse immediately," the android stated.
"Hi there, my name is Seren, and I'd like transport for myself and my fellow representatives back to the main administration center where Administrator Fa'glit works, please," Seren told it.
"Please disburse immediately," the android stated, seemingly not hearing what Seren said.
"We'd better do what it says," Steven stated in an inappropriately pleasant manner.
"Split up and head back to the administration building, guys," Seren told the others as she nodded to Steven, turned and walked away with him. Over her shoulder, she added, "Be sure to keep your guides close."
The group dispersed, the android did nothing more and life went on, but for the delegates, it was an unnerving experience. When they could "legally" gather as a group, they compared notes, worked out what they still needed to know, and then had Seren seek information from Fa'glit.
Fa'glit made the time to see Seren, who had Dr. Treah in tow when Seren arrived. Cinder also tagged along, curious about the side of the UGW with which she'd have had much more intimate experience had things gone differently for her. She was rather pleased by the tone of the conversation.
The Worlders were not happy with what they had experienced. What remained to be seen was if the administrator of UGC 0063-B could put things into a less detrimental context.
Seren ran down a list of things they'd encountered, then stated her point of contention, "We're not really concerned about the rules here. It is, after all, a prison, of sorts. What we're concerned about is how the people here seem to not know what happened to them, and act so pleasant all the time."
"The adjustments are fairly comprehensive," Fa'glit replied, but didn't elaborate. Seren was getting pissed off by that continued lack of elaboration. Fa'glit wasn't Human, though, so it may have been a species trait. Seren knew different people did things differently. But she would not let that stand in her way of understanding the people of the UGW and their societies.
"It seems our lack of understanding about exactly what the adjustments do, what they're specifically intended to do, how they're done and other such things is where the problems we have arise," she replied. "Would it be too much to ask for a comprehensive lesson in its purpose, theory and application?"
"We regret to say that we classify the details regarding the adjustments," Fa'glit admitted. "Were such things made common knowledge, much of the process could be reversed, and criminals would repeat their offenses more than once. Our society will not put up with that. Our system of justice may seem unjust to those who have different social expectations…" it's eye twitched in Cinder's direction, then back to Seren, "… but we have considerably lowed crime rates because of the deterrence factor inherent to our methods of punishment."
"Yeah, they just went to the Shade, where they can live freer than they could in the UGW," Cinder couldn't help but remark. "What makes up a crime is relative."
"Inasmuch as one could argue specific examples, that is not an unfair assessment," Fa'glit agreed.
"So, are the rules we encountered inherent to this planet or this city, or the whole UGW?" Seren wondered.
"By and large, inmates with the most difficult adjustments live under the most stringent rules," Fa'glit informed her. "We keep most of them here, so you are seeing, literally, the worst of our worst, as your party requested. The rules we have are not typical for the rest of the UGW, nor for most of the rest of this planet. We would encourage you to see other places on our world, so you can make up your own minds."
That certainly made sense to Seren. The context she seemed to have missed was that this was all according to the terms she and the delegation had stated. The "pleasantness" of the prison world had blinded her to the fact that the prisoners she walked among were, literally, the worst criminals of the UGW.
"Thank you for explaining that," Seren told it. "Your world here isn't what I expected to see for "worst"."
"That is not unexpected, from what we gather," Fa'glit agreed. "May we assume you wish to see more?"
"We'll leave it up to you folks to make those arrangements, but we're here to assess, so more assessment is a good plan," Seren agree
d.
"A schedule is already being worked out," Fa'glit replied.
There were a few other details discussed before Seren and the other two returned to the group.
"I apologize if your experiences were unnerving," Dr. Treah mentioned to Seren as they walked. "I expected that any explanations of what you might encounter could color your views of what you saw. Rather than prejudice your views, I decided the best course of action was to present the reality you saw, and let you react based on your own inclinations and concepts."
"I get that," Seren nodded. "I appreciate the courtesy, even if your side took a major hit for it."
"You and your people have been both patient and tolerant, not given to panic nor to jumping to conclusions," Dr. Treah observed. "We relied on that assessment in determining our methods of showing you our side."
"Risky," Seren decided, "but not stupidly so."
"I believe I forgot to add, 'straightforward' to that list of traits," Dr. Treah chuckled.
"From what I've seen here, at the least, it'd be rudely blunt," Seren pointed out.
"Which made up the risk in our method," Dr. Treah agreed. "We also counted on your good sense not to be indiscreet in a situation like this."
"So you're measuring us for how well we'd fit into the UGW as much as we are you, only less overtly," Seren concluded.
"Would you not, were you in our position?" Dr. Treah asked. "In many ways, the UGW is both parent and partner to our members. None of them had the level of technology Humans had when first contacted. No one has had an equal level of technology – until the Fornyth attacked us. It took a hundred years of warfare to defeat them. But we have members with lower technology than your world has, and others, like Gateway, with the highest levels of technology possible. We are open to everyone joining if they wish. But with your system, we want you to become a member, both active, and with open arms. We're therefore doing our best to meet your requests."
"We can't ask for more than that," Seren concurred.
CHAPTER 9
The party decided not to go out in that particular area of Gateway again. Instead, they opted to wait until the next day to be taken to other places, where they found people to be somewhat less odd, and the "rules" considerably less draconian.
Those they met elsewhere all referred to the administration center of the planet as "Zombieville". It took some explaining for the Worlders to understand the concept of a "zombie", but once explained, they understood the allusion. It was from one of the permanent residents (by choice) that they learned the basic nature of the "adjustments".
"They mess with your brain, and fix what's sociopathic with it," one woman told them. "For most of us, that's a one-time thing. For the worst cases, we've heard they have implants and other things that keep them calm and happy, but they're all kept in Zombieville."
"If you're fixed, why didn't you go back home when your time here was up?" Seren wondered.
"It's not that easy," the woman sighed. "People have different views of other people. When the authorities adjust someone, other people think there's still something "wrong" with them. It's hard to make new friends, or get a decent job, or find a better place to live. But here, everyone's the same. A job, a place to live and even friends are right here. We don't go roaming the galaxy, but we usually have comfortable lives, as long as we work for it."
"And if you don't work for it?" Seren asked.
"No one starves, or has no place to sleep, but I wouldn't call it comfortable," the woman replied. "And since that's where everyone starts, it's not that big of a deal if someone hangs out there for a few years getting their bearings, or learning a trade, before moving up the social ladder."
"Is that starting off low and working your way up how it works out for people in the UGW?" Seren asked her.
"Mostly," the woman replied. "It depends on the planet, I've heard."
Since they scheduled the delegation to visit the "average" UGW planet next, Seren didn't probe further. Nor did she ask what the woman had done to be interred on Gateway.
The visit to Gateway wasn't nearly as "exciting" as had been the trip to UGC 1182-F, but most of the delegation came away from it with a decidedly bad taste in their mouths. It wasn't necessarily how the people of Gateway lived, but what was done to them to "reform" them.
"They mess with their minds?" Sasha echoed Seren's explanation after the delegation was on their way to their next destination. "That explains a lot."
"I don't like that idea," Koreen declared flatly. "It just ain't fittin' ta mess with someone's brain like that."
"It obviously works for the UGW," Morlendrus mentioned. "Their crime figures are lower than ours, not that we have programs for dealing with petty crimes that are taken care of on the spot."
"I'm more concerned 'bout the attitudes," Majel mentioned. "I mean, sure, everyone fucks up at some point, and some more'n others. But once they're done payin' it back, why hold it 'gainst 'em? People're people. Gotta give 'em some latitude or they'll just go back ta doin' bad things because they have to ta get by."
"The Shade rarely holds things against their people," Seren recalled. "They may blacklist an individual who doesn't hold to the standard, but it's specific to what they did, not that they did something bad. What it sounded like was that the people of the UGW don't approve of mind-altered people, regardless of what they had done."
"What if there's a mistake an' someone's altered even though they didn't do nuthin'?" Ronik wondered.
"I won't say that mistakes can't happen," Seren mused, "but my impression is that if there are sociopathic tendencies in the person to begin with, then those will be removed, but if there aren't any to begin with… I don't know."
"Maybe I could find out something about how that works?" Sasha offered.
"I'm not sure it makes a difference," Seren sighed. "That's how they do things. The question is, do we want to be part of that? Another one would be how would we differ from them, since The World isn't exactly a high-tech planet. Would we do what the UGW people do and shun the people we embrace now?"
She glanced at Morlendrus.
"An excellent point," he nodded, recalling that he had once been Seren's "slave" as a sentence for harming the Borderlands while he was acting as a spy for the Magentians almost fifteen World years previously.
"If we did, it wouldn't be overnight," Ronik insisted.
"We're going to have change, either way," Seren remarked, a statement with which everyone agreed. Even if their social orders remained unchanged, that everyone was now having human children would have a huge, if gradual, impact on day-to-day life for everyone.
"Change can be managed, if implemented properly," Markov pointed out. "Which, of course, begs the question, what is "properly"?"
The delegates looked at one another blankly.
"Okay, that's a very good point," Seren nodded. "Now that we have at least some idea of what we're getting into, let's discuss that."
During that discussion, at their request, the nine delegates were unaccompanied by anyone from the Shade or the UGW while they hashed out the definition of "proper" change. They didn't go into specifics, but instead laid out some guidelines that would help them meter their eventual decision. They knew they needed a healthier ecosystem for their planet. That was their first goal. After that, their needs began to diverge, since each society was more or less dependent on others, but was self-sufficient in ways the others lacked.
Focusing on the major necessities that remained – health, food, clothing, shelter and opportunity – they set out priorities for what they agreed the Worlders had to implement sooner than other things, and what each Worlder society could do for the total effort in that respect. Then it worked down to what each society needed the most from outside aid.
Fortunately, there were a lot of things they had in common in that respect.
The Delegates also took the longer view, knowing that in several decades, only Humans would remain, and most, if not all, of the rac
ial prejudices would be gone. That brought up other aspects of their social order, and what to look for in how each side handled those different things, and what might be handled differently in the long-term.
They carried the discussions out over several days. They made no decisions, and they wouldn't be deciding for their respective societies. But their recommendations would carry weight, and knowing their own needs better than anyone else, it was up to each society to come to grips with the coming changes. Understanding and planning for what those changes would likely be was the first step.
When they arrived at UGC 2009-A – the shortest trip the group had made thus far going from place to place – the discussions were still on-going.
In the hour of time before they landed, Dr. Treah provided the group with a summary of the planet.
"The locals call it New Haven," she explained, a holo showing the group what they would encounter. "It's very similar to Earth because it has a fairly large moon, though proportionally smaller than Earth's. Its gravity is like Earth's as well, being only slightly below one gee. It's mostly an agricultural planet with light industry taking care of most of its local manufacturing needs. They established it before the creation of the UGW, and it is contemporary with the founding of your planet's first colony – give or take a millennium."
The holo zoomed in to various places that looked fairly normal, even if the construction materials didn't look entirely natural.
"The current population is almost entirely Human, which is typical of most worlds in the UGW. You will generally find alien species on the more advanced worlds of the UGW, or on their planets of origin. There may be some Methonian administrators or advisers, however we expect the vast majority of people you meet here to be Human. Since your world is Human populated, we chose to show you a typical Human populated world."
"Is there any prejudice toward aliens on this planet?" Seren wondered, glancing at her group. Since they didn't look like normal Humans, and the various races of Humans on The World had prejudices, it was possible that other humans might react prejudicially toward them.