Cinder stumbled up the ship's ramp, pulling her shirt away from her
hips in an effort to get some airflow against her skin. The desert heat
was also relentless. Then there was the sand, that annoying, hateful sand.
She had spent what seemed like hours trying to clean it out from her
cybernetic joints, discovering more nooks and crannies in her hand than
she'd known existed.
"Iko, close ramp," she said, sinking onto a crate. She was exhausted.
All her time was spent worrying over Wolf and trying to be gracious to
the townsfolk who had brought her so many gifts of sugar dates and
sweet rolls and spiced curries that she wasn't sure if they were trying to
thank her, or fatten her up for a feast.
On top of that were the constant arguments with Dr. Erland. He
wanted her to focus on finding a way to get onto Luna without being
captured, and while she had conceded that would have to happen
eventually, she was still set on putting a stop to the royal wedding first.
After all, what did it matter if she dethroned Levana on Luna after she
was crowned empress of the Commonwealth? There had to be a way to
do both.
But the royal wedding was only a week away, and Iko's clock seemed to
tick faster with every hour.
"How is he?" asked Iko. Poor Iko, who was stuck alone inside the
spaceship's system for hours at a time while Cinder was at the hotel.
"The doctor started weaning him off the sedatives this morning," said
Cinder. "He's afraid that if Wolf wakes up again when no one is there,
he'll have a mental breakdown and reinsure himself, but I told we
can't keep him unconscious forever."
The ship sighed around her—oxygen hissing out of the life support
system.
Reaching down, Cinder pulled off her boots and dumped the sand out
onto the metal floor. "Has there been any news?"
"Yes, two interesting developments, actually."
The netscreen on the wall brightened. On one side was a static order
form with CONFIDENTIAl emblazoned across the top. Despite the spark
of curiosity it caused, under's what was drawn immediately to the
other article, and a picture of Kai.
EMPEROR DEMANDS IMMEDIATE DISCONTINUATION OF
CYBORG DRAFT
Heart skipping, Cinder hopped off the crate to get a better look. The
very mention of the draft brought memories flooding back to her. Being
taken by androids, waking up in a sterile quarantine room strapped to a
side, having a ratio detector forced into her head and a needle plunged
into her vein.
The article opened with a video of Kai at a press conference, standing
behind a podium.
"Play video."
"This policy change in no way indicates a sense of hopelessness," Kai
was saying on the screen. "We are not giving up on finding a cure for
letumosis. Please be aware that our team has made stunning progress in
the past months and I am confident that we are on the verge of a breakthrough.
I want all those who are suffering from this sickness or have
surfaced ones who are battling it right now to know that this is not a sign
of defeat. We will never give up until letumosis has been eradicated from
our society." He paused, his silence punctuated by flashes that bounced
off the Commonwealth's flag behind him.
"However, it recently came to my attention that the use of the cyborg
draft to further our research was an antiquated practice that was neither
necessary nor justifiable. We are society that values human life—all human life
—-all human life. The purpose of our research facilities is to stanch the
loss of that life as quickly and humanely as possible. The draft went
against that value and, I believe, belittled all that we have accomplished
in then hundred and twenty-six years since our country was formed.
Our country was but on a foundation of equality and togetherness, not
prejudice and hatred."
Cinder watched him with a weakness in her limbs. She yearned to
reach into the screen and wrap her arms around him and say thank you—
thank you. But, thousands of miles away, she found herself hugging
herself instead.
"I anticipate the criticism and backlash that this decision will cause,"
Kai continted. "I am fully aware that letumosis is a problem that effects
every one of us, and that my decision to end the cyborg draft without
first conferencing with my cabinet and your representatives is both
unexpected and unconventional. But I could not stand by while our citizens
were being forced to sacrifice their lives under a mistaken belief
that their lives are less valuable than those of their peers. The letumosis
research team will be developing new strategies for the continuation of
their research, and we at the palace are optimistic that this change will
not hinder our ongoing search for an antidote. We will continue accepting
test subjects on a volunteer basis. There is a comm link below for
anyone wanting more information on the volunteer process. Thank you.
I will not be taking questions today."
As Kai left the stage and was replaced with the press secretary, already
trying to calm a boisterous crowd, under sank to her floor.
She could hardly what she'd heard. Kai's speech was not only
about letumosis and research and medical procedures. His speech had
been about equality. Rights. Moving past the hatred.
YOU ARE READING
Cress
Teen FictionTheir best hope lies with Cress, a girl trapped on a satellite since childhood who's only ever had her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker. Unfortunately, she's being force to work for Queen Levana, and she...
