h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have the basic details and elements put together to make up my story called "Serenity". However, I am in the process of typing this story and putting it in the open to be read. So, I will be doing revisions, as I type, to better present the episodes as they come out.

This is the 3rd revision of Episode 1.

My friend Jacob Hiller has provided me with good information to better refine a point in this beginning episode of "Serenity".

Jacob Hiller advised me to increase the woman's population of 52% to that of over 60% to better convey why ViveAnn's society became matriarchal.

I will provide a prologue to explain why ViveAnn's society became matriarchal with all women now fulfilling roles, such as soldiers, instead of men.

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"Mom, I am surviving."

ViveAnn speaks this into the phone as she stands in the booth.

“Mom, this new place that I am in is not the greatest. In fact, I never liked the set up of this society. I won’t be perfectly happy wherever I am sent to.”

She grimaces her face as she says this. She then grips the phone tighter with her left hand and stares at the blue illuminated digits of the military time. On the phone box, the time reads: 17:00. It is 5 pm, and dark outside.

“ViveAnn, stop saying that you are surviving. Try to make the best of the situation.”

“How can I mom? I have been born into a rank that prevents me from marrying. This denial is what bothers me.”

“Dear, you know that I was allowed to meet and marry your father. Perhaps you would be blessed in the same way?”

“However Mom, you weren't born and slotted into the position of 'soldier' like I was."

ViveAnn furrows her eyebrows and sighs.

"...These rules of rank bar woman soldiers like myself from ever marrying. As of now, the definition of Marriage is meant for women to become mothers and for men to become fathers in a union. So my position as soldier, by the accepted reasoning, cannot ever include caring for children as a full-time duty.”

"*Sigh*...Dear, getting mad is doing nothing for you at this moment."

ViveAnn sighs to this and replies,

"I am sorry, but I feel inadequate and frustrated."

She gives a wintry smile.

"The History that you revealed to me, frustrates me and saddens me. The way that social rank is set up now, wasn't forever this way but was different. So society changes its form and slots the genders into different positions.
...Furthermore: Is what happens good or bad?"

Mom interposes,

"You're not inadequate but always talk well."

To that ViveAnn smiles but injects,

"I can only talk and not change the current situation that I live in."

However, to this ViveAnn broadens her smile with enthusiasm and continues...

"Is the result of change good or bad? Well, I can say that my position seems bad to me!"

She laughs.

"ViveAnn, you are doing well in your position. Never forget that."

"I know mom, but I don't really like my position. I always, always had (and currently have) a feeling that I am being slightly wronged by being barred from marriage."

ViveAnn, huffs and sighs. She needs to speak her mind about this matter.

"The current definition of soldierhood, a position filled by women because the population of women RIGHT NOW is over 60% compared to that of men, has it that a woman cannot be a wife/and mother and a soldier at the same time. The definition of marriage is the distinct recognized union of a man and a woman together to obviously love one another but very importantly to have children together.
...These damned wars are the reason why many women from the majority of the population are slotted to be soldiers. I am in the time like that of the Roman soldiers. *Sigh* But there is no Valentine to help and marry me to whom I wish to be wed to."

The blue glow emitted from the military time on the phone box ghostly illuminates the whites of ViveAnn eyes as she speaks her mind. ViveAnn pauses and thinks, "This society is like that Roman time and place." ViveAnn curls her mouth into a deep frown -- She deeply feels wronged by being "denied" to marry. If she were in a world in which she could simply marry without problem, then she wouldn't be frustrated because of her restriction of rank. "But who knows what this different world would allow her," ViveAnn further thought.
"I would most likely take on a whole new set of problems in that world."

ViveAnn resumes the conversation.

"...but women (not men) are now slotted into the position of soldier with the duty that only allows connections with family members as auxiliary relationships.
Just like that time and place, a soldier of this time cannot have two differing engagements but only one, which is why marriage/and children cannot happen. Such is the reasoning of the current way that I live in."

“I know, dear, those are the reasons that restrict you. I am sorry that you were born a girl. But that cannot be helped. Fortunately, your situation is also a blessing: You are intelligent and you are strong.”

To this ViveAnn's eyes darken as her brown irises show a deep emerging sadness. Each hazel iris is like a dark pool that now wells up to show a profound melancholy.

“I sometimes wish that I never desired a man. But this desire is what frees my mind to know better, or different, or whatever. *Sigh*
I ask why can’t I MARRY? The answer is: ‘Because you are not in the position to, and never will be. A soldier you are and a soldier cannot marry.’ I was born to be a soldier, and that’s why I can’t marry.
You, mom, weren’t born as a soldier but as a socialite.
According to the circumstances that I was born into, the situation required soldiers. So I was born into the position of soldier. I hate this. I first hated having a desire that can’t be fulfilled. But then I started to question the societal system. Now I am glad that I have a desire, and I don’t care what other people think. Well, I disdain but still am slave to the system.”

To this ViveAnn gives a wintry smile.

“I am not mindless. That is the point. I am glad that I think about the circumstances that box us in.”

“Dear, for now, stop criticizing the hierarchy. Oh, you should be a little happy since Prince Phaedus personally asked for you to be part of the Guard.”

“Prince Phaedus? …Mom! He isn’t allowed to be interested in me.”

“Not being allowed has never stopped anyone from thinking or being interested.”

“Mom, I appreciate Prince Phaedus for his capacity but his wife-to-be is a BITCH. This girl will have my head on a platter --literally, mom!-- if she catches me even brushing shoulders with Prince Phaedus.”

“Dear, but she doesn’t rule his thoughts nor his mouth. He can still think of you and talk to you.”

“Mom, I am too …How should I say?... Ah, right!, "Prickly" to enjoy a Prince’s attention. But, he does talk well and I like talking with him.”

“Well, enjoy yourself there. God only knows and I know that you deserve it. Well, I have to hang up the phone for now. When can we talk again?”

ViveAnn raises and again furrows her eyebrows. She sighs. She thinks, “Probably tomorrow.” She can call her mom whenever she chooses to since Prince Phaedus has given her license to.

“Mom, I will call you tomorrow.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to you then.”

“I love you mom.”

“I love you, too.”

A click is heard. The conversation is over, and ViveAnn hangs up the phone receiver. She then turns from the phone box and walks out of the booth. She walks down the hallway, and past its illuminated walls that reflect an orange-red glow. Lights line the walls, and they are lanterns that glow like firelight but instead are bulbs that shine artificially. The hallway floor “click, clicks” the sound of her footsteps and the sound reverberates throughout the hallway. ViveAnn then thinks, “I wish my boots didn’t make this damned echo.”

She walks on the tiled hallway floor, and ponders her situation. She thinks, “Mom says that I can make the best of this situation. Well, I am one smart monkey. But I just want out of this reality. However, I should listen to mom, and make the best of the situation.”