#new decree

They have made use of all public (and even most private) speakers and radios to announce this decree to all people of all nations that are under the jurisdiction of the world government. The world sits in terror as it contemplates the gravity of the situation at hand.

And the government spoke thusly:

"All citizens under the jurisdiction of world government, good morning. You have one hour in which to find a partner who you will be with for the rest of your life. There are no rules as to who you pick, but the partnership must be mutually agreed and you can only pick one person. This is mandatory for those of legal marriageable age. Anyone who does not have a lifelong partner by the end of this hour will be placed in solitary confinement in a dank (but not necessarily dark) prison. The countdown shall begin in ten, nine, eight..."

Ruth Naylor and Emily Naish looked at each other in sheer terror, eyes saying that they picked each other for fear of the dank prison.