Chapter 28: The Morning After

After Skye discovered Jason and Moira together, everything fell apart. Their violation was reported to Ai, and the evidence spoke for itself. The beach trip was prematurely ended and within 24 hours both students were detained by security and brought in for interrogation.

They were interviewed in separate rooms without the freedom to see one another, or anyone else, until the questioning was concluded.

The entire time, all Jason could think about was Moira. What could he say to make things right? They’d gone too far this time. This wasn’t like stealing a crayon or running in the halls. They’d broken one of the most serious rules in the Bunker and now they would pay the price. But he should be the one to pay it. Not her. This was all his fault.

“Why did you violate the rules by engaging in sexual intimacy with someone who was not your Partner?”

“Because I wanted to,” he said quietly. “I saw her on the beach in her swimsuit, and I just felt like I wanted to do those things with her.”

The interviewer raised his eyebrow. “Even though she isn’t your Partner?”

He nodded.

“So you broke the rules of leaving the bungalow at night to go to the beach, where you then broke a second rule by engaging in sexual intercourse, is that what you’re confessing to?”

“That’s not how it happened,” he said, shaking his head. “I didn’t… I mean… we didn’t… ‘engage’ in sexual intercourse.”

“According to eyewitness testimony, you two were found naked on a towel. Physical evidence confirms sexual intercourse took place. Are you saying this evidence is incorrect?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying.” Jason took a deep breath and chose his next words carefully. “Yes, the two of us, we did… physically do those things. What I mean is… Moira, she… she didn’t want to. She said it was wrong, that it was against the rules. But I… I made her. I held my hand over her mouth so she couldn’t call for help, and then I made her come outside with me and then I… did that to her.”

Jason felt like he was going to be sick as scenes of forcing Moira to be with him overwrote the wonderful images of the two of them in his mind. But this was how it had to be. If he forced her, then it wasn’t her fault. He didn’t care what happened to him, but Moira… Moira could still be okay if he told this lie.

“I see, so you’re testifying that you forced Moira to have sex against her will. And you allege this is the first time you’ve violated the rules in regards to sexual intimacy, correct?”

“Yes, that’s… that’s right. I just couldn’t control myself and I hurt someone. I knew it was wrong, but I did it anyway, and I’m willing to accept any punishment deemed necessary.”

The interviewer set down his telescreen. “Ai has already determined your punishment. For grievous violation of the rules, Jason, you will be sentenced to the Punishment Box, where you will remain until it is determined that you will not be at risk of violating the rules again. At this time, all your privileges and obligations are revoked. Do you have any further questions?”

“What… what’s going to happen to Moira?”

“I cannot answer that question at this time. Is there anything else?”

Jason stared down at the table and shook his head. The interviewer nodded and left the room as a security officer took his place, escorting Jason out.

The walk to the Punishment Box was a dreadful one. It was a long corridor that was barely lit, and the dark cube of metal at the end loomed ominously over the other structures of the plaza. Jason kept his head down so no one could see his face, and thought about Moira. He didn’t know how long he would be in the box, but he would spend an eternity there if it would keep her safe.

The inside of the Punishment Box was even grimmer than the outside. As kids they’d had many ideas of what the box looked like, but none were like this. There was a massive telescreen that took up one wall, and the rest of the room was filled with cages, like in the zoos he’d read about from old Earth. The interior was dimly lit as well, and Jason could barely make out his surroundings as he was led deeper into the room.

And then he saw who was waiting for him, and his blood went cold.

“Jason?!” Moira exclaimed, her face white with shock. She rushed to the bars of her cell, unable to believe what she was seeing. “But why?! Why are you here?!”

“Moira?!” Jason sputtered. “B-But… but I said…” He turned to the guard. “Listen! Hey, this is wrong! She didn’t do anything, why did you lock her up too?! It was my fault! I’m responsible!”

The guard didn’t answer. He just shoved Jason into the cell beside hers and slammed the door in his face.

Moira shook her head, her eyes widening. “Oh, Jason… no, Jason, you didn’t…”

Immediately, the telescreen flickered on. Ai’s face stared out at them, and for once, she wasn’t smiling.

“Welcome to the Punishment Box, Jason and Moira,” she said sternly. “You’ve been detained here because I’ve reached the conclusion that your continued presence in the Bunker would have a deleterious effect on the community. Violations of the rules are not permitted. Until it is determined that no further violations are likely, you will remain sequestered from the general population.”

“That’s not fair!” Jason shouted, shaking the bars of his cage. “Moira didn’t do anything wrong! It was my fault, I’m the one who forced her! You can’t punish her for doing something she didn’t want to do!”

“I am aware of your testimony that you coerced Moira to violate the rules. And you are correct, under such circumstances it would be a miscarriage of justice to punish someone who was forced to violate a rule.”

“Then why-?!”

“I also have testimony from Moira, who claims that she was the one who forced you to violate the rules.”

Jason was struck silent with shock. He turned to Moira, who glanced down at the ground, shame burning over her face.

“Both parties have testified that they forced the other to violate the rules. Given the circumstances of the rule that was broken, I determined that the most likely result is that both of you are lying in an effort to protect the other. Lying to me is also against the rules. Thus you have been detained.”

“Raaaaah!” Jason shook the bars with frustration and turned to Moira. “Moira! You have to tell her the truth! Tell her that I was the one who forced you, that-“

“Furthermore, the evidence does not corroborate that either one of you was forced to violate the rules,” Ai added.

“What?! No way!” Moira exclaimed.

“How do you know that?!” Jason demanded.

“You both testified that this incident was the first time that you broke any rules corresponding to illicit sexual intimacy. Co-conspirator testimony has found that to be a lie.”

It took a second for that to sink in.

“…Co-conspirator testimony?” Jason whispered in confusion.

The door of the Punishment Box swung open and the answer to his question walked inside, escorted by a guard of her own.

“Doctor Sylvia?!” They boy exclaimed.

“Hello kids,” the doctor smiled, walking into a cell of her own across from theirs. “So it’s all come to an end.”

“Doctor Sylvia has testified that this was not your first violation of the rules. She has asserted that she has been facilitating the two of you engaging in intimate activities with one another over a 97 day period, and has provided evidence that corroborates this testimony. To that end, any assertions that either one of you were coerced by the other to violate the rules has been dismissed.”

Jason glared at the doctor, his heart stinging. “You… how could you?! You testified against us? Why?!”

“Doctor Sylvia…” Moira whimpered. She didn’t even have it in her to get upset at this point. It was over.

The doctor just smirked. She leaned back in her cot with her hands behind her head like this was all one big joke and she wasn’t incarcerated like they were.

“The three of us broke the rules, and that’s wrong, isn’t it?” She said, her tone cold and mocking in a way neither had heard from her before. “Once you were caught, I had to make sure that the truth came out. You wouldn’t want me to break the rules further by lying to Ai, would you?”

“Given your position and your prior infractions, your sentence has already been determined,” Ai said. She turned to Jason and Moira. “As for you two, your sentence will be determined now.”

Suddenly, she was all smiles again.

“Please renounce your past transgressions and commit to no longer violating the rules again!” She chirped. “Then you will be free to go!”

Jason couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Wait, seriously? You’ll just… let us go?”

“Really?!” Moira cried, her face lighting up in excitement.

“Of course!” Ai nodded. “The purpose of the Punishment Box is to rehabilitate those who violate the rules! Once it’s determined that you will not violate those rules again, then you will be free to go!”

Jason’s heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Moira, and a surge of joyful hope flared between them. Could it really be that simple? They could get out of here if they just…

“W-Wait, what would that mean?” Jason asked, turning back to Ai. “How will you determine that?”

“Oh, simple! There are several methods to ensure you will not reoffend,” Ai explained. “Once you both are released from here, you will be moved to different sides of the Bunker, with your families and Partners, of course. Your schedules will be adjusted so that you will no longer have any classes together. You will not be permitted to use the same public facilities at the same times, and any contact whether direct or indirect will also be prohibited. Once you’ve agreed to these terms, then you’ll be free to go, understood?”

“B-But that’s…” Jason glanced at Moira and saw her face twist in apprehension.

“So then… we wouldn’t be able to see each other again?” Moira whispered.

“Not exactly.” Ai shook her head. “You will also not be able to speak with one another, or communicate through telescreens or any other method. Those actions are prohibited. You are to have no contact with the other party to ensure that any further violation of the rules does not occur. As an advanced Artificial Intelligence, I’m capable of understanding that the temptation to be with one another was too strong, and that is why you two were compelled to break the rules. Factoring in the influence of an outside party, it’s clear that the two of you really are good kids! So don’t worry! I will remove all temptation to break the rules by removing you from each other’s lives. For the rest of your time in the Bunker it will be as though the other person never existed. Once you have agreed to these terms, then you’ll be free to go, understood?”

Doctor Sylvia burst out laughing. It was a cold, cruel laugh, the laugh of someone who’d expected exactly this outcome, and seemed to be enjoying it.

Jason stared at Moira. Earlier he’d been willing to spend the rest of his life in the Punishment Box if it meant Moira could go free. And now Ai was offering them the chance to both get out of here, immediately. All it would take was the two of them agreeing to never have anything to do with one another again. It was obviously the right decision. He could see in Moira’s eyes that she was thinking the same thing.

But they were both hesitating. Why couldn’t he do it? When he thought he’d never see her again anyway, the choice was so simple. But now she was here, right in front of him, waiting for him to save them both by just agreeing to end things for good.

Why couldn’t he?