Burning the Ladder

In a future where humanity has colonized countless worlds, a lone individual is tasked with a grim duty: to systematically destroy the "ladders"—the means of interstellar travel—that connect settled planets. This act of cosmic vandalism is meant to prevent the spread of a devastating alien plague, but it also severs the connections between people and cultures, leaving isolated communities to face their fates alone. The story explores the profound loneliness and moral ambiguity of sacrificing connection for survival, questioning the true cost of safety.