“Thank you, Deputy Commissioner!” Speaker Jin screeched, “For this timely reminder. Is there any oth—” He trailed off into silent, mouthed Korean, likely profanity. Who could blame him? The ceremonial paper draft held aloft by the figure who rose before him now was not the pale blue pages of a proposed Senatorial Consult to the Hives and Hiveless, nor the sunny yellow of a Senatorial Order to Romanova’s administrative organs, nor even the white or gray of common draft bills, but a coal-black page inscribed with pale ink, shimmering like steel. One hundred and thirteen years serving in Romanova and even Jin Im-Jin had never seen one.

“Order!” the Speaker had to scream. “Order! Order! Minister Cook, you are proposing a new Black Law?”

“Yes, Member Speaker.”

“Today? You’re proposing a new Black Law today?”

“Yes, Member Speaker. As an urgent motion to address this current crisis, I propose that the following be added to the list of Universal Laws, quote: It is an Intolerable Crime to take action which will cripple a child’s ability to participate in and interface naturally and productively with human society and the world at large.”

Chaos erupted as only volcanoes have the right to do. “The old Eighth Law.” The dire misnomer cut swathes through the crowd like the curse it was.