'It's been ninety-seven years since a nuclear apocalypse killed everyone on earth, leaving the planet simmering in radiation. Fortunately, there were survivors. Twelve nations had operational space stations at the time of the bombs. There is now only the ark, one station forged from the many. We're told the earth needs another hundred years to become survivable again. Four more space-locked generations, and man can go home, back to the ground. The ground, that's the dream. This is reality.'

It was time.

From the moment she woke up that morning, she'd been resigned to her fate. Today was the day of her eighteenth birthday, a milestone in the life of many, a moment to be celebrated. For anyone else, today would have been the day she was given her own quarters, her own food rations and her own position within the hierarchy of the ark. Today should have been exciting.

But today wasn't exciting and today wasn't a day for celebration. For her, it was a day of resignation.

Today was the day she was going to die.

She knew her case had been opened for review in the days leading up to her birthday, and from the small look of pity she received from the guard who delivered her daily rations, she knew that they had reached a final decision.

Condemned. Executed. Floated.

They all meant the same thing. Death.

She had been in solitary for going on three years now. At first they had sent her in to be with everyone else, to socialise her, but quickly they had decided a stronger approach was needed to handle her. They had labelled her impulsive, angry and dangerous.

The door to her cell opened with an audible creak.

'Prisoner two-four-six, please rise.'

Her eyes closed for a second as she fought to contain the emotions bubbling up inside her. With careful movements she stood, raising her chin defiantly at the woman she had known her entire life.

Abby Griffin watched the girl stand before her defiantly, and if it weren't for the circumstances she would have smiled at the rebellion that seemed to run in the girls veins like poison.

'As you know, at eighteen the council come together to review crimes committed by inhabitants of the Ark while underage. As of today you are eighteen and under the guide of the law you are no longer seen as a minor. We have reviewed your case and come to a decision. Please understand that this is not a decision that we make lightly.' Abby reeled off the usual spiel given to those who were reviewed, doing her best to detach herself from the situation. It wasn't working as well as she had hoped. 

The girl in front of her didn't move a muscle as she awaited her fate.

Abby couldn't seem to keep her voice from shaking. 'Given the circumstances of your arrest, we have no choice but to find you guilty of crimes committed while a minor. These crimes are now considered capital crimes and the punishment for that is death. The council has officially sentenced you to death by space exposure. Time of death is predicted to be 9:33am.' 

A shaky breath escaped the girl's lips as Abby confirmed what truthfully she had already known. Her shoulders slumped in uncharacteristic defeat.

Abby's serious composure broke as she sent the guards out to stand in the hall.

She reached towards the girl who stepped away from her hastily, leaning against the cool wall of her cell.

'Brinley, I'm so sorry.'

'Abby, please, don't.'

'None of us want to do this, please understand that.' Abby's voice shook.

To her surprise, Brinley laughed though there was no humour involved.

'Don't think the irony of this is lost on me. My father and the people who helped raise me have just signed my death sentence.'

'We didn't have a choice, the law-'

'The law is a load of bullshit.' Brinley snapped.

Abby stayed quiet.

'Will it be painful?' Brinley's voice was quiet.

Abby stepped closer to the girl, gripping her arm and squeezing it tightly.

'Fourteen seconds after the chamber opens you'll lose consciousness. After 90 seconds, your body will completely shut down and death becomes inevitable.'

Brinley let out a shaky sigh. 'What about the fourteen seconds before I pass out? What will that be like?'

Abby's voice was quiet. 'Those fourteen seconds will be the longest fourteen seconds of your life.'

Brinley sucked in a sharp breath, thankful for Abby's honesty. 

The door to the cell opened suddenly and Abby stepped away from the girl, shooting her a mournful glance as she looked at the guard who had opened the door.

'It's time.'

Brinley protested as the cuffs were being placed on her wrists, successfully knocking one guard back, while taking the guard in front of her out, falling on top of him as she shoved the handgun from his belt down her bra in-between her breasts knowing that her zipped jacket would hide most of the bulkiness. She had decided years ago that she would rather go out with a literal bang than let them float her. Hands pulled her up roughly and clasped the cuffs around her wrists, this time she didn't protest, feeling the cool metal digging into her chest, a reminder that she had one final act of defiance left in her.

She didn't spare a glance at the people who gawked at her as she was led towards the chambers that meant her death. She marched on with her head held high, ignoring everything around her. Before she knew it, Abby was opening the chamber door.

Abby hugged her fiercely, praying for a miracle.

Brinley let the woman hug her with shaking arms. She pulled away from the tight grip Abby had on her, forcing her feet into the chamber. Abby pressed the red button that closed the doors and she knew it was only a matter of time before the doors behind her slid open before she was sucked into oblivion. She crossed her arms over her chest, mentally preparing to pull out the loaded gun.

Brinley watched in shock and confusion as a commotion began outside the chamber, she listened closely straining to hear the conversation through the pounding in her ears.

A dark haired man appeared around the corner, followed closely by the chancellor himself. Jaha looked exhausted as he looked towards the floating chamber, watching the girl inside as her face morphed into one of bewilderment and anger upon seeing his companion.

Brinley almost choked as her father appeared around the corner, not even once glancing her way. Instead he headed straight towards Abby.

'Get her out of there, now.'

Marcus Kane's voice was hard. He couldn't bare to look at his only daughter standing stiffly as she waited for someone to push the button that would successfully end her life.

Abby wasted no time pushing the button that opened the doors between her and Brinley. Kane signalled two guards behind him to grab the girl who immediately began struggling against them.

'What is this? What the fuck is this? Abby! What's going on?'

Abby ignored the girl and turned to the two men in front of her.

'What is going on? Thelonious?'

'We're sending her down with the 100, Abby. She's not dying, not right now.'

A stinging sensation made Brinley hiss out in pain as she glanced at the bracelet now enclosed around her right wrist. With a sudden burst of energy, Brinley shoved the two guards off of her and made her way angrily to her father.

'How dare you come here!' She growled, pushing his shoulders angrily, making him stumble back a few steps from the surprise attack.

'I'm trying to save you, Brinley.'

Brinley felt anger consume her whole body as someone pulled her away from her father. 'Save me? Are you trying to save me, or your reputation?' She spat.

Marcus' face was tired. 'I'm your father, Brinley.'

Brinley felt a small sting in the side of her neck as all the energy drained out of her body. Despite the drug now coursing through her system she continued to fight her captors as much as she could.

'Father? You lost the right to call yourself a father the day you threw me in the skybox. As far as I'm concerned, I'm an orphan.' Her words were sluggish and slurred but they had their intended effect. Marcus Kane's eyes flooded with hurt as he watched the four guards pick up his daughter and begin to lead her away.

Brinley continued to fight the sleepy feeling that was trying to tug her under its spell. Abby noticed this and whispered in her ear gently. 'Stop fighting.'

Brinley looked up at the woman through half shut eyes as she laughed, the sound coming out breathless and slow.

'Never.'