[ WP ] `` To explore the universe , we had to sacrifice our humanity . And we did . ''

Her screams echoed throughout the quarters. The Master listened intently as the cries drew closer, focusing on the sound of her torment. Relishing in it. He wondered if she, too, would beg for her life. He hoped she would. It always made the Punishing more fun to watch. 
 
 The doors to his office swiveled open. Two guards, each donning their vacuum-ready armor suits, held a distressed woman by each of her arms. Tears streamed down her face, and her hair was dirty and unkempt. `` Ugh,'' the Master said, revolted by the sight of the prisoner. `` How come we never have a *pretty* thief on board this ship?'' 
 
 The woman fell to her knees. `` Please, Sir,'' she said between sobs. `` Do n't Punish me. I -- I was trying to feed my kids.'' 
 
 The Master kicked his feet against the metallic walls, a flash of anger erupting inside of him. `` How many *fucking* times have I heard that excuse?'' He yelled. 
 
 The woman did n't listen. She shook her head and cried even harder. `` My kids... why are you people so cruel?'' 
 
 The Master started pacing around the room, trying to bottle in his frustration. He had to set an example to the guards, and everyone else on the ship, that emotions were *bad. * `` If you had trouble raising your kids,'' he said, in a forced calmness, `` you should have filed an F-45 form for their re-location.'' 
 
 `` No,'' the woman said. `` You ca n't seriously expect a mother to just give up her children?'' 
 
 The Master raised a hand. `` That's your problem. You used your *feelings* to guide you, instead of logic. Feelings did n't get us off of that Rock a hundred years ago. And it wo n't help us get to wherever we're going.'' 
 
 The woman said nothing. She stared at the ground, too dejected to argue. 
 
 The Master smiled. `` Good. I'm glad you see it my way. Now, there is the matter of your Punishment... `` 
 
 The woman stood up. `` No. Please. I'm sorry. I'll give everything back. I'll work harder. I'll relocate my kids. Just, please, do n't do this!'' 
 
 The Master shook his head. `` I'm sorry. But you know the rules.'' He looked at the two guards. `` Take her to the airlock.'' 
 
 She kicked and screamed as the guards picked her up and hauled her back through the quarters, toward the exit bay. The Master had to try his hardest not to smile with glee. They could n't know that he actually *enjoyed* this. After all, no one was allowed to enjoy anything. What kind of example would he set? 
 
 As the marched toward the airlock, several other residents left their rooms and followed; soon, a whole gathering of onlookers accompanied the Master. That was good. The more people that saw the Punishment, the better. 
 
 Finally, they reached the airlock. The guards shoved her inside. The Master turned and addressed his crowd. `` This is what happens when you let *emotions* and *feelings* take you over.'' He pointed at the woman. `` People like that get in the way of our mission. And what is our mission?'' He gestured toward the audience. 
 
 `` Rebuild civilization,'' they said in unison. 
 
 He nodded, then gestured toward the guardsmen. They typed a few keys into the airlock's console, and all stared through the porthole in the door as the air was slowly drained from the airlock. The woman screamed and kicked and pleaded, her cries becoming more and more muffled until completely disappearing. Her face turned blue and her eyes bulged. Her skin became bloated and grey. `` Release her,'' the Master said. The guardsman pressed another key, and the exit door slowly opened. A robotic arm grabbed the woman and flung her out into space. 
 
 The Master turned back toward the people, trying his best not to show how elated he was. `` That concludes today's lesson.''
