0011 Naked Adventure

We made you, we can break you.

Sarah Gold knew the system always wins. Those who make everything work behind the scenes are the ones who determine who gets famous, how long they stay that way, and when they should step aside for others to take the spotlight.

The Adventure Society had its own secret “Committee” of senior members, and while Laura was once a part of this group, her current position and fame meant she – and her extended family – needed to step aside. Take a background role. Stop her excursions and let others take the spotlight.

Starting a naturalist magazine and video-blogging her extended stepfamily’s adventures was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She did not have permission to do this, to get it as famous as it had become, and to continue it when told to wind things down.

You never challenge the system.

Or it will make an example out of you.

She pulled the plane hard as her last shots missed again, and she rocketed past the lumbering beast of an aircraft she knew carried them all. The fighter she was given had a lot of trouble maneuvering, and she was not a fighter ace so lining up her shots on target was proving to be harder than she thought it would be. And the last few passes were remarkably close calls.

What about my stepdaughter? What treasures would be left for her to find? Not with Laura and her tribe taking them all! Greedy, entitled, glory-hounding, populist, too famous Laura, and her family! Leaving nothing for us!

Well, Laura, this is what happens when you do not play by the rules.

The Adventure Society made you its number one mistake.

And the system fixes its mistakes.