05-28-2023, 09:37 PM
Iletina Girls Junior Alternative Education Centre
The under-12s did not have to write essays for release; instead they were assessed and given marks through observation. Their minimum stay was also shorter, at a single month for the cooperative. After her first month, Jia was taken into an office for her ‘review’. She was sat down on an uncomfortable chair while a woman flicked through a file of information about her. She knew to sit very still, but it was still difficult when everything seemed designed to increase her urge to fidget.
“Well, Jia,” the woman said at last, when it transpired that Jia did indeed have enough self-control to prevent them having an excuse to punish her. “You appear to be the most cooperative of your class. That, however, is a low bar to clear. You still display unacceptable rebellious tendencies that put you at risk from the patriarchy. For your own good, you must remain here longer. Indeed, unless we see some improvement, your projected length of stay is three years and four months.”
Jia tried her very, very best not to react. She clearly failed, as the women smirked at the look on the eight-year-old’s face.
“You see, Jia, we have a way of calculating the likely length of time it will take for a girl to be cured of her patriarchal tendencies based on her behaviour. Unless your behaviour changes, you will be… let’s see… eleven and a half by the time you can go home. Neither of us wants that. Therefore, I suggest you become more cooperative, quickly.”
Jia folded her arms and looked away. As if this was really about Jia’s behaviour and not some political thing. Suzie had told her that a failing grade led to punishment regardless of her reaction; so, with the promise of inevitability, Jia decided to just go for it. “I’m not stupid you know,” she said. “I know this is about politics. Don’t lie to me and pretend that if I act like a good little Kerlian that you’ll let me go.”
To her surprise, the woman sighed and sat back, rubbing her temples. “You’re right, Jia,” she said, unexpectedly. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Okay…” Jia said, uncertain how to respond.
“In truth, nothing you do will change things. This is all an act. You are far too young to have to deal with this; and the fact you understand even half of it is impressive. I don’t expect you to fully understand everything I’m about to say, but to be frank, I’ve nobody else to tell, and it’s bursting to get out.”
Jia didn’t know what to say, so just remained silent and waited to see what happened.
“This place isn’t doing what is advertised on the tin any longer,” the woman said. “What happens is this: Reformists gain the upper hand, and have everybody released. Then, they falter and the Women’s Party has a bunch of people arrested and stuck in here. Until once more, the Reformists gain the upper hand. And so on to infinity.”
The woman began to laugh helplessly leaving Jia confused and uncertain how to proceed. She’d seen adults have breakdowns before; one couldn’t spend time around the Council Families without seeing multiple mental breakdowns among over-18s. She still didn’t know how to handle it.
“You and your mother are reformists, of course, so you’ll be happy to hear that this means they’re absolutely gaining the upper hand. You know, I took this job because I actually thought it was to help convince girls who hated themselves for misogynistic reasons that they were enough. Goddess, I’m such a fool.”
“I’m…” Jia hesitated. This was a lot. “I’m not a Reformist? I’m not in a political party; I’m eight years old.”
“Whether you are a member or not is immaterial, Jia. You are a reformist in your heart; the files in front of me make that very clear. I am but a fool who read too much propaganda and is now attempting to get herself executed to assuage her own guilt.”
“I don’t know what several of those words mean,” Jia responded.
“Ah, yes,” the woman blinked, comporting herself again quickly. “My apologies, I forgot you are a child. Anyway, uh, you can go and eat now. I’m supposed to send you to bed without dinner for your failure, but you and I both know that I’m long past caring.”
Jia was ushered out of the door to dinner, still uncertain about what just happened.
*
Olivia Pierre had submitted an essay full of jokes once more. Since she’d arrived, she’d done her best to provoke her captors. And to her great surprise, it hadn’t worked. She had expected to be moved to Phase Two by now; strapped down and tortured into compliance. Not that she was entirely displeased by the lack of torture. She was no masochist; merely principled and doing what any good rebel would do in her situation.
“Why haven’t you tortured me?” she asked one of the guards once after she had deliberately spilled some gruel onto her. She was met merely by silence; not even a little beating. It was very confusing. In fact, her initial impressions of the place had turned out to be somewhat mistaken.
The other women were not nearly as zombie-like as she had thought upon arrival. In fact, none of them had any visible scars, and when she finally decided to speak to some of them, their stories weren’t as horror-genre as she’d expected. No, indeed quite the opposite. The women in the over-25s group were all here, rather than up against a wall, because they’d already decided to cooperate completely.
They were not ghosts walking the corridors dead inside; they were merely obedient little contrite Kerlians who deeply regretted ever committing a crime. Which was distressing in itself, of course, but it did mean that Olivia was unlikely to suffer too much. To even end up in Alt-Ed as an over-25, one must demonstrate sufficient remorse. Except for Olivia herself, of course, but on the file, it likely said she gave herself up. True, if not the full story.
The scientists who studied these things had found it was ineffective on those who had passed the age of 25, unless they themselves desired to become loyal once more. The others were indeed former dissidents, who upon being imprisoned for some action, had decided that their cause was not worth more to them than their lives, and they had chosen to try and make peace with the Matriarchy.
Olivia didn’t begrudge them, if she was honest. She firmly believed that nobody should be forced or expected to lay down their lives for a cause. While she herself would absolutely die for her ideals; she abhorred the idea of forcing others to take such risks and shaming those who sought safety. In her mind, it cheapened the sacrifice, and was no better than controlling people in other ways.
In its own way, not that Olivia’s conscious mind would ever countenance the thought, Alt-Ed had indeed convinced Olivia of the benefits of at least some of the Matriarchy’s policies. She would have preferred to live in a democracy, of course, but if she had to live in an authoritarian state, then at least it was the one that was willing to give people second chances. And, hey: the lack of torture proved one thing conclusively. The reformists were indeed making clear gains.
*
Carolyn Greenwood got another A on her essay. One-third of the way to possible release. It was easier now, that she’d accepted that she deserved it. She behaved as the very model of what the designers of Alt-Ed intended. Contrite, obedient and willing to accept whatever the authority figures around told her as absolute truth. She let every piece of propaganda sink in to her very bones.
If anyone had ever told Carolyn a secret, it would soon be shared with the Kerlian state. The other Daughters who had once allowed her in on their conspiracy would be even more screwed now, if they hadn’t already hit up on their limit. Except… except one secret. She couldn’t tell them that. Or could she? She wrestled with the idea in her head.
Meanwhile, her mother Letitia watched her via the CCTV system she had access to as a result of her position. Her mother watched every twitch of her daughter’s face as Carolyn thought through the pros and cons. Her mother read every report on the secrets her daughter had willingly given up. And her mother sighed, tapping her fingers, and trying to decide if her daughter was a liability; and if so, what she would do about it.
The under-12s did not have to write essays for release; instead they were assessed and given marks through observation. Their minimum stay was also shorter, at a single month for the cooperative. After her first month, Jia was taken into an office for her ‘review’. She was sat down on an uncomfortable chair while a woman flicked through a file of information about her. She knew to sit very still, but it was still difficult when everything seemed designed to increase her urge to fidget.
“Well, Jia,” the woman said at last, when it transpired that Jia did indeed have enough self-control to prevent them having an excuse to punish her. “You appear to be the most cooperative of your class. That, however, is a low bar to clear. You still display unacceptable rebellious tendencies that put you at risk from the patriarchy. For your own good, you must remain here longer. Indeed, unless we see some improvement, your projected length of stay is three years and four months.”
Jia tried her very, very best not to react. She clearly failed, as the women smirked at the look on the eight-year-old’s face.
“You see, Jia, we have a way of calculating the likely length of time it will take for a girl to be cured of her patriarchal tendencies based on her behaviour. Unless your behaviour changes, you will be… let’s see… eleven and a half by the time you can go home. Neither of us wants that. Therefore, I suggest you become more cooperative, quickly.”
Jia folded her arms and looked away. As if this was really about Jia’s behaviour and not some political thing. Suzie had told her that a failing grade led to punishment regardless of her reaction; so, with the promise of inevitability, Jia decided to just go for it. “I’m not stupid you know,” she said. “I know this is about politics. Don’t lie to me and pretend that if I act like a good little Kerlian that you’ll let me go.”
To her surprise, the woman sighed and sat back, rubbing her temples. “You’re right, Jia,” she said, unexpectedly. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Okay…” Jia said, uncertain how to respond.
“In truth, nothing you do will change things. This is all an act. You are far too young to have to deal with this; and the fact you understand even half of it is impressive. I don’t expect you to fully understand everything I’m about to say, but to be frank, I’ve nobody else to tell, and it’s bursting to get out.”
Jia didn’t know what to say, so just remained silent and waited to see what happened.
“This place isn’t doing what is advertised on the tin any longer,” the woman said. “What happens is this: Reformists gain the upper hand, and have everybody released. Then, they falter and the Women’s Party has a bunch of people arrested and stuck in here. Until once more, the Reformists gain the upper hand. And so on to infinity.”
The woman began to laugh helplessly leaving Jia confused and uncertain how to proceed. She’d seen adults have breakdowns before; one couldn’t spend time around the Council Families without seeing multiple mental breakdowns among over-18s. She still didn’t know how to handle it.
“You and your mother are reformists, of course, so you’ll be happy to hear that this means they’re absolutely gaining the upper hand. You know, I took this job because I actually thought it was to help convince girls who hated themselves for misogynistic reasons that they were enough. Goddess, I’m such a fool.”
“I’m…” Jia hesitated. This was a lot. “I’m not a Reformist? I’m not in a political party; I’m eight years old.”
“Whether you are a member or not is immaterial, Jia. You are a reformist in your heart; the files in front of me make that very clear. I am but a fool who read too much propaganda and is now attempting to get herself executed to assuage her own guilt.”
“I don’t know what several of those words mean,” Jia responded.
“Ah, yes,” the woman blinked, comporting herself again quickly. “My apologies, I forgot you are a child. Anyway, uh, you can go and eat now. I’m supposed to send you to bed without dinner for your failure, but you and I both know that I’m long past caring.”
Jia was ushered out of the door to dinner, still uncertain about what just happened.
*
Olivia Pierre had submitted an essay full of jokes once more. Since she’d arrived, she’d done her best to provoke her captors. And to her great surprise, it hadn’t worked. She had expected to be moved to Phase Two by now; strapped down and tortured into compliance. Not that she was entirely displeased by the lack of torture. She was no masochist; merely principled and doing what any good rebel would do in her situation.
“Why haven’t you tortured me?” she asked one of the guards once after she had deliberately spilled some gruel onto her. She was met merely by silence; not even a little beating. It was very confusing. In fact, her initial impressions of the place had turned out to be somewhat mistaken.
The other women were not nearly as zombie-like as she had thought upon arrival. In fact, none of them had any visible scars, and when she finally decided to speak to some of them, their stories weren’t as horror-genre as she’d expected. No, indeed quite the opposite. The women in the over-25s group were all here, rather than up against a wall, because they’d already decided to cooperate completely.
They were not ghosts walking the corridors dead inside; they were merely obedient little contrite Kerlians who deeply regretted ever committing a crime. Which was distressing in itself, of course, but it did mean that Olivia was unlikely to suffer too much. To even end up in Alt-Ed as an over-25, one must demonstrate sufficient remorse. Except for Olivia herself, of course, but on the file, it likely said she gave herself up. True, if not the full story.
The scientists who studied these things had found it was ineffective on those who had passed the age of 25, unless they themselves desired to become loyal once more. The others were indeed former dissidents, who upon being imprisoned for some action, had decided that their cause was not worth more to them than their lives, and they had chosen to try and make peace with the Matriarchy.
Olivia didn’t begrudge them, if she was honest. She firmly believed that nobody should be forced or expected to lay down their lives for a cause. While she herself would absolutely die for her ideals; she abhorred the idea of forcing others to take such risks and shaming those who sought safety. In her mind, it cheapened the sacrifice, and was no better than controlling people in other ways.
In its own way, not that Olivia’s conscious mind would ever countenance the thought, Alt-Ed had indeed convinced Olivia of the benefits of at least some of the Matriarchy’s policies. She would have preferred to live in a democracy, of course, but if she had to live in an authoritarian state, then at least it was the one that was willing to give people second chances. And, hey: the lack of torture proved one thing conclusively. The reformists were indeed making clear gains.
*
Carolyn Greenwood got another A on her essay. One-third of the way to possible release. It was easier now, that she’d accepted that she deserved it. She behaved as the very model of what the designers of Alt-Ed intended. Contrite, obedient and willing to accept whatever the authority figures around told her as absolute truth. She let every piece of propaganda sink in to her very bones.
If anyone had ever told Carolyn a secret, it would soon be shared with the Kerlian state. The other Daughters who had once allowed her in on their conspiracy would be even more screwed now, if they hadn’t already hit up on their limit. Except… except one secret. She couldn’t tell them that. Or could she? She wrestled with the idea in her head.
Meanwhile, her mother Letitia watched her via the CCTV system she had access to as a result of her position. Her mother watched every twitch of her daughter’s face as Carolyn thought through the pros and cons. Her mother read every report on the secrets her daughter had willingly given up. And her mother sighed, tapping her fingers, and trying to decide if her daughter was a liability; and if so, what she would do about it.
LIDUN President 2024 | she/her | Puppets: Kerlile, Glanainn, Yesteria, Zongongia, Zargothrax