Built during the Age of Peace, when humanity’s governments had an excess of wealth and Earth’s health was a huge—and then affordable—concern, the whole of the school was comprised of experimental steel webbings and special glass, utilizing amplified natural sunlight via complex refractions and magnifications. Old rusty chairs and tables in all colours of the rainbow were strewn all over the mega-school, haphazardly consolidated from all the bombed-out schools in Old Singapore, from primary schools to junior colleges. Jade was from the poorest district, and so her examination hall was the furthest from the cargo unloading bays.
Terminal Seven. The budget terminal.
For the planes that did not fly close to the edge of space, or at all.
The boneyard.
There were ten planes, all with their engines removed. The sergeant-major got each one of them to number off, from one to one hundred. The one-thousand were divided. Jade’s number was seventy-seven of plane seven. She sat seventh on the plane with a window seat overlooking the wing and tarmac.
“Good morning, fellow candidates.” Hailed the female invigilator. “Welcome to the X-Levels, aboard Plane Seven of Terminal Twenty-Seven, of Changi Hyper-International Spaceport, also known as the Royal Changi Education Site. The time now is 9:50 am, Royal Asian Standard Time. We are currently waiting for the other schools to be seated and ready…
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Meanwhile, please pull out the examination booklet and examination-grade pen in the front pocket of the seat in front of you and write your name, barcode number, seat and plane number, and examination location. If you do not know all this, you have failed X-Levels and are subject to recycling, and your parents will be duly informed and compensated.
If you wish to use the restroom, now is the time. Because after this, there will be none. When the fasten seatbelt sign is on, you are to remain seated at all times. Use of the restroom is illegal during the entirety of this examination due to royal decree. This is to eliminate all attempts at cheating. Defecating or urinating yourself is expected, but not recommended. Please be mindful of the other candidates as when the examinations begin, this aircraft’s doors will be sealed shut.
In an event of a fire aboard this examination room, emergency exits are located at the front, wing area and back of the aircraft, marked by green strobes and—Oh, look. All states are ready already. Please rise for our national anthem.”
Jade’s mind went blank, but her mouth and vocal cords moved on their own, knowing the song by heart, not soul.
“Please be seated and fasten your seatbelts. The exam begins in three minutes at 10 am sharp. You may begin only when the air raid siren is broadcast throughout the entire spaceport. Good luck. The nation hopes for your success, and the throne hopes that you will be useful for the continued survival of our Asia.”
