Airlock Brunches Anger Old Colonists

AURELIA DOME: Young colonists have begun hosting social brunches inside decommissioned airlocks, drawing fierce condemnation from survivors of the 2051 disaster.

The weekly gatherings, known locally as Decompression Brunches, take place in Lock Four. In 2051, a sudden pressure failure there killed forty-one miners. Today, younger residents use the space for yeast-wine and flatbread. They bring two folding benches, a crate of synthetic fruit, and a portable music box. Yellow paper ribbons now hang from the emergency hand-cranks.

"We spent twelve hours scraping frost off our own teeth," said Clara Henderson, a survivor of the blowout. "Now they are using the manual release valves to hang their cardigans."

The trend has grown from a quiet weekend gathering into a structured social rite. The colony’s housing office now lists Lock Four as a reservable leisure space. The rent is low. The rental package includes a broom, a dustpan, and four emergency oxygen canisters that expired in 2084.

Organisers defend the events as a respectful way to reclaim dark spaces.

"It has a very airy feel," said Joji Patel, 19. "The acoustics are great."