Skies Over Tomorrow: Constellation by Kelly B. Johnson

sat back down.
    â€œGood, that’s good,” he said, as he, too, resumed sitting.
    â€œI will kill you.”
    â€œPlease, Naomi, don’t talk like that. It only gives the Enforcers reason to neutralize you.”
    Neutralize—such a cold, pretty word; I smiled.
    â€œThere will be an end to the mistake I made,” he then said. “When all class B humans are no longer. You, on the other hand, I want to spare. You are all the family I have left.”
    â€œYou are insane.”
    â€œThe choice is yours: Be my daughter or die, along with the rest of your kind.”
    â€œI will not be kept as some pet, so my only choice is to see an end to you and give all class B humans some sense of justice.”
    â€œWill killing me give you justice?” he said, rising to his feet as his voice resounded about the court. “If you really believe that, then you are truly a fool. Justice in killing me will be a false peace, some fantastic dream you can only hope to come true.”
    â€œWe’ve never had peace, so what does that matter? I only hope to stop the fear you poison people with—fear that has only led to resentment and somehow justifies the persecution of class B humans. You should be the one on public trial. It is you, Councilor Carmichael, who sealed the fate of Homo sapiens when you created us.”
    â€œI will not concede to that!” he said.
    â€œWhen you look at us, you know that you are a dying species.”
    â€œMy only intention for creating your kind was for the greater good of the Federation.”
    â€œYour only intention was to play God,” I said. “However, you did not give any thought to consequences of producing human beings for labor. Now, a moral dilemma has been imposed on the conscience of humanity, one in which you have decided to ignore by having us wiped out, as though we never existed.”
    â€œI cannot let my mistake unseat what is important, which is this institution that is the Galactic Federation of Mars,” he said, as he moved down and from around the bench. “The Federation is what holds humanity together and keeps order throughout the known universe. You must understand people are comfortable. They treasure the peace and prosperity that has permeated to every level of society, as provided by the Federation.” As Carmichael stepped onto The Floor, he continued, “It is preferred that people be complacent than for them to deal with issues of any kind. That is why the High Council exists. We take the worry from the people, and so long as they do not have to be concerned with matters that can be divisive or promote dissenters, the Federation is at peace. Disorder, such as the plight of class B humans, rear up only to disturb the psyche of humanity, which cannot be allowed. Nothing can be allowed to threaten centuries of progress—not even my blinding arrogance that created you and your kind.”
    â€œWhat’s done is done, so understand this,” I said. “Because class B humans suffer, the peace you so treasure will be stolen.”
    â€œI’ve heard enough of your fundamentalist imprudence, Naomi. I’ve always regarded you as a normal human being, and what have I gotten in return? Extremist attitude. I’ve called you my daughter because I wanted very much to see you as a citizen of the Federation, but this crusade of yours has only warranted your demise. What do you think you are to come here and believe you can make a difference and change things, and by killing me?”
    â€œHuman.”
    â€œNo,” he said as he stood before me, using the podium to separate us. Leaning on it, he looked down at me and said in a harsh tone, “You are simply a tool.”
    I frowned at those words, and said, “I am the mother of future generations that will replace you.”
    â€œThat’s a powerful statement, Naomi.”
    â€œPowerful words precede powerful actions.”
    He