The System

Chapter 1

Seated nervously among other people my age, I realised the atrium was huger than I ever realised.

Today was the Job Selection Ceremony. And truthfully, I had never been so nervous. I just sat there and hoped I'd get the job I wanted.

"Ellis, Bobby."

A clear voice came over the microphone. Bobby Ellis stood up. She was an okay friend of mine. With ginger hair, freckles, glasses and braces, she looked like a teenager who just crossed puberty. But she was actually 20, the same age as all of us. I gave her a thumbs up and a smile as she passed by. She returned it with a nervous grin.

Walking to the centre of the atrium, she stepped onto the circular platform.

"Your choice?" asked the Master of Ceremonies, Koby Hanson. He had been nominated for this month's Job ceremony.

"Revival of the past.", Bobby replied, fidgeting. Her red checked shirt seemed orange in the bright light.

"You may sit down.", Koby guided, and Bobby sits on a chair, a device connected to it.

She sits, and closes her eyes and the device lowers on her. It goes down until it's till her torso.

A green light is seen from the bottom. Us, the participants, see it more closely than our parents, friends, and acquaintances, who are at the back. The atrium is a rectangle, with a curve at both short ends. While there is a stage in the middle that is about 30 meters in diameter, there is still a lot of space around it. This is why the atrium is used for all the important ceremonies, as it can hold about 100000 people at maximum.

Right now, Bobby has just finished her scan. She stands up, an alarmed look in her eyes. What happened? What has she seen?

Koby smiles, and pats Bobby on the back. Koby is wide shouldered and broad chested, wearing a double breasted suit. Standing next to him, Bobby looks like a child. Koby's wild blonde hair sticks up.

Koby then checks his transpod, a device that is about the size of your palm. It's colour coded. Officials, like Koby, have a white one. CEOS of jobs and important Colleagues under them have red. Common citizens have blue. Other colleagues have orange. And students have green.

The transpod contains important data, but I'll explain that later.

Right now, Bobby is hoping fervently that she gets her chosen job. Her choice surprises me. I never knew she had such a big interest for the past.

"Congratulations, Bobby! You have gotten your selected job- reviving!" says Kobe with a smile. Bobby lets out a scream of relief and pumps her hand in the air. Such childish behaviour would not be tolerated by any other official, but Koby's chill. He's humorous, and surprisingly supportive. Unlike other officials. The audience claps politely.

A pang of sadness hits me as I realise I probably won't see Bobby again. My career interests are different from her's. While I, hopefully, will be in the sorting and programming office, Bobby will be out, recovering the past. Oh, well. At least she'll be happy.

She walks back to his seat in a daze. I smile at her as she walks by. This time, she returns it warmly.

The thing is, The System is all about perfection. You may want a job, but if your brain scans and The System's infallible computers show you'll not be good at it, you are automatically put into another job, whether you like it or not. This way, the smooth functioning of The System prevails. Of course, you will be happy in your job. They can't just stick you in a place where you'll hate it.

The System thrives on independence, responsibility, precision, and perfection. You go to school till you're 16, opt to study further, or choose a leisure skill to learn till you're 18, train in your wanted job for 2 years, and at the end of the month you turn 20, attend your job ceremony. You work in your job till you're 50. Then, you either become a senior official, or you retire. Retiring doesn't mean you quit working. You work, but mostly on less important jobs. Then when you're 65 years old, you retire to an old age home, where you will live till you die.

You move out of your parents home when you're 18, to an assigned apartment. It's neither too big, not to small. Just perfect. Just how the System likes it.

In your years of life,you can choose to get married, have kids, or whatever. It is important that if you get married, you must have at least one child.

This society depends on young, independent minds to progress. We've made lots already, but we are determined not to fall prey to the same mistake the previous age made.

All this time, names have been called out. My birthday just have being 3 days ago, makes me one of the youngest. Only 5 others including me are left.
We have been going date-wise. Bobby, who was born on the 19th of June, had finished it then. Now it was my turn. The 27th of June.

"Razia, Selena." the clear voice spoke out. I got up, and smoothed out my light brown hair. I left it loose for the ceremony. My attire was similar to all the girls here, black t-shirt, red checked shirt, and black jeans. This was the dress we had to wear. Boys had the same, except they wore red t-shirts and black checked shirts.

I walked up, and saw a few thumbs ups. I smiled nervously, as Bobby had. As I walked on stage, I felt nervous. My palms started sweating, but Koby's smile put me at ease. "Don't worry," he whispered. "Everything will be just fine."

"Your choice?" he asks, tilting an eyebrow.

"Sorting and programming." I say. I have been rehearsing this moment since I turned 19.

"Very well. Please sit down."

I sit on the chair. The material is smooth, and nice to touch. I rest my back, and I notice Koby press a button. The device comes down, and comes till my stomach. I can only see the green walls, and my hands, if I look down. The green light appears, and suddenly, I feel stabs of pain. Everywhere. It only lasts a few seconds, but it felt like eternity. This is what Bobby must have felt. This was odd. But I guess everyone did go through the same thing.

When it finally lifts, all the pain vanishes, and I feel an alarmed look in my eyes. But only for a second. Koby swipes through his transpod, and gives me a smile. "Sorting and programming it is!!" he says and my face lights up. I jump for joy, and face Koby.

"Thank you!" I breathe out, my head in whirl. I scan the crowd, and my parents smile at me proudly. I walk back to my seat. I'm ecstatic right now! The past four years have finally payed off. The next few people go through, and a guy born on the 29th of June doesn't get his choice. He chose sorting, but ended up with Officials. He came and sat next to me.

"Don't worry, if your an Official, that means you have the exceeded responsibility trait. That gives yo a higher paying job!!" I encourage him. Money doesn't account for much, since we are given food to stay healthy. But it can be used in your leisure time.

He smiles back, a little sadness in his eyes. But I see hope there.

And, I think to myself, I have hope for a great future for me.

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So, new book!! I'll probably update my other book, The Antagonists, along with this, to any of those worried

GAAH I'VE BEEN SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK.

I give all credit to my friend, Shaina (name changed for protection) as she inspired me to get the idea for this book. She writes really good poems, and they inspired me to write this book. She has published a book too.

I'm really excited for this, as I love dystopian series. So I thought, why not write one?

I really hope you enjoy this book.

So vote and comment!!

With love,
~Storylover276 ❤️