The Apollo Academy by Kimberly P. Chase

bad as people who wore alternate-reality tech all the time and didn’t even realize what was happening.
    “Initially it was believed that we would be able to curb reproduction rates, disease susceptibility, and other health problems through Eugenics. However, in the United States and other western countries most forms of Eugenics have been deemed unconstitutional, and mandatory sterilizations have all but ceased.
    “The question of whether or not we will entirely run out of resources is no longer debatable; it’s only a question of what happens when we do and how much further our quality of life will deteriorate.
    “Many believed that the enormous city ships that travel the ocean would be a more comfortable place to live but that has proved problematic.”
    “You got that right,” Hailen huffed.
    “Others still place their hopes in the technology sector that so far has only been able to produce technology, commonly known as tech candy. But some believe those products are what distract many from the problems we face. None have been more successful than Titon Technologies and Frontier Solutions, but despite their many technological and medical advancements, neither has put forward a viable solution to the problem.”
    Everyone around the table glanced at Aurora. She bit her lip and purposefully looked back at Zane’s techiwatch. It’s not like she was the one who did it. Could people really blame her father? He only wanted to make people’s lives better, but maybe alternate-reality tech candy wasn’t the best way. And what about Frontier Solutions? Her dad’s company wasn’t the only one that distributed technology. Hadn’t anyone heard of self-control? It was called tech candy for a reason.
    “So is the Apollo Alliance’s solution to ‘look above’ that unacceptable? Or do you agree with the protestors behind me, and TerraUnited? Our Gridlink is open, so please tell us what you think. For Broadcast 5 News, this is Veronica Harley reporting outside of the Apollo Alliance SpacePort in Cape Canaveral, Florida.”
    The cafeteria was completely quiet when Zane minimized his screen.
    “Damn,” Kaylana said, breaking the silence.
    Conversation immediately started again as people discussed the news.
    Kaylana pulled Aurora closer. “TerraUnited. I’ve never heard of them. You?”
    Aurora shook her head. “I’m not sure what they think we’re supposed to do. It’s not like we really have a choice.” Aurora remembered how sick she felt the time she saw a bulldozer knock down one of the last tress in Orlando to make way for a bigger highway. The only thing green she had seen since then, were the four palm trees outside. Her planet was dying, but if they didn’t do something, it wouldn’t be the trees dying this time.
    “Yeah,” Kaylana agreed, looking around. “No one’s paying any attention to the real world because their alternate reality distorts it.”
    Heat rushed to Aurora’s cheeks. She looked around to see who was listening and was thankful to find Hailen completely absorbed in conversation. Zane, on the other hand, quietly watched them, but she couldn’t make herself care. The news report gave her a whole new perspective. She’d never had to beg for food, money, or anything for that matter. While she’d hidden from what she thought were problems— absent father, fame— others out there were truly suffering.
    Kaylana still rambled on. “I know what you’re thinking, so stop. It can’t all be blamed on your dad. That’s ridiculous. It’s not like he’s holding a gun to everyone’s head saying ‘Buy my products or else—’”
    Aurora interrupted her before she continued what was sure to be a long-winded tirade. “It doesn’t matter anyway.” She looked around at the cadets talking to one another. “This isn’t our generation’s or even our parents’ generation’s fault really. Tech addicts and over-population happened a long time ago.” Her voice lowered to a whisper. “But