Star-Crossed

Part 19

"Welcome to Planet Shinar," chirps a very tiny but very energetic Asian-looking woman who greets Eva and I as we exit the spacecraft.

We are inside some sort of windowless station.

"My name is Shilpi Sen, and I'll be your personal assistant as you get settled here," she continues. "Anything you need, you just let me know."

She hands us each a device that is the size of a blueberry, but that's flat and silver.

"I need you both to stick this behind your right ear," instructs Shilpi. "Place it so that no one can see it."

"Wait, what is it?" I ask, a bit suspicious.

Shilpi smiles and answers, "It's the bio-tracker we use to capture additional data about how best to keep you healthy and thriving as a Cadet...as back-up and also for the times when you aren't wearing your jumpsuit. So for example, in the shower, if you take a swim, if your jumpsuit is in repair...you know, things like that."

"It also," Shilpi adds, "communicates directly with this."

She hands Eva and I a very thin, rectangular piece of translucent paper. It's not paper exactly, but it's not plastic. I'm not sure what the material is, to be honest.

"Slap that on the inside of your left arm, just below your wrist," Shilpi instructs.

Eva doesn't seem concerned. She's already applied the bio tracker and now puts the paper thing on her arm. Immediately, it melds into her skin and lights up.

"Whoa cool!" exclaims Eva.

"It's sort of like a cell phone, all-in-one type of device that is always on you," explains Shilpi. "Literally." She laughs.

I smile, a bit uncomfortably. Then I notice Zayn and Xeno in the near distance. They both get into the same vehicle and zoom past us, out of the tunnel. I hope Xeno doesn't say anything to Zayn about the missing vial. I don't want him to think that I'm a thief, too.

"Hello -  Karina?" chimes Shilpi, snapping her fingers in my face.

"Oh sorry," I respond.

"Put your tracker and your cell on," she instructs, pointing to the blueberry-sized disc and the thin paper thing. "The cell is what everyone on Shinar uses to communicate with one another, shop for things, play games, take pictures, send messages, listen to music - everything. You will be debilitated without it. Chop chop!"

"Is it possible to remove these things once I put them on?" I ask, still sort of hesitant.

"Oh yes, yes," responds Shilpi, impatiently. "Just a bit of a process, but it's possible. We really must move quickly now, though. I need to take you to your apartment and then rush over to another Cohort of new Cadets. Any other questions, Ms. Ishma?"

"Come on, Karina, quit being so lame!" Eva complains. I notice she's got a can of that Iggy's Elixir stuff in her hand. Where does she keep getting it from?

"No more questions," I reply to Shilpi, sticking the tracker behind my ear and the screen thing - the "cell" - on my arm. "Thanks."

"Great," she beams. "Now, grab your things and follow me. Chop chop!"

Eva and I follow Shilpi, who leads us to a sleek silver vehicle that is hovering idly a few inches above the ground.

A big, burly, blond man stands outside.

"Hey Oliver," says Shilpi. "We are ready to go."

"Hello Ms. Sen," responds Oliver, giving her a slight bow. "Hello Ms. Ishma and Ms. Lively."