Ana: Incipience

Chapter 4: The Genetic Rebirth

In the time before the genetic rebirth there was true diversity. It started with 'designer babies', people picking basic things like the gender of their babies. As science became more and more advance people started picking how tall their child would be and then how smart and on and on it went until it was too late. There is a catch though,  science has yet to be able to create the perfect human.  A person who is fast, strong, smart, ruthless, truthful and close minded that is the ultimate goal.  But it seems there must be a trade off,  When they first begun trying to make the perfect specimen they quickly learned that the children would have a number of genetic defects.  No one is perfect, but everyone has a specific purpose.  Now they have every genetic type sorted into letters and numbers for quick reference. For example before the rebirth, B types were usually models. Tall and lithe, the military discovered that once they had been in training for a few years and ate a well balanced diet they gained well placed muscle. They had the advantage of a longer reach and the ability to be very strong yet fast. They were seen as one of the optimal body types for the military, of course they would take almost any body type as long as the rest of your gene number was adequate.

ANA's PERSPECTIVE

After having the best shower of my life I quickly realized how hungry I was.   I did not have time for the wet black mess that was my hair so I ripped a brush through  it and pulled it into a tight braid which fell down my back.  I knew the dining hall wasn't far away but my legs were exhausted so I moved far too slowly for my liking.  When I finally reached the dining hall I was shocked by how warm the room was.  I grabbed my allocated meal and sat down in the back corner of the room.  The rows of table and chairs in front of me stole my attention and I knew I had seen those types of chairs before. I flicked through my millions of memories to find the one I wanted.  I was suddenly transported back to when I was much younger, 

I sat in a small room on a chair, the same grey one's that were in the dining hall.  The room smelt of bleach that burnt my nose and gave me a headache.  A Dark headed lady, whose name I didn't know was sitting in front of me. 

"68 C 89,  Look at this picture." She shoved a laminated piece of paper in my lap, the picture had various cubes and circles printed on it.  "Remember it." She snatched it out from my small hands and covered it. 

"How many squares were on the page?" She turned her head and examined me.  I was a nervous wreck all over again.  All I could see was the number of magazines in the wait room,  I tried to remember the paper that was in my hands.  I couldn't control my memories,  it took massive amounts of concentration to pull the correct one from my brain.  I stuttered.  She glared.

"81"  I was unsure but the older lady smiled.  I had done well, this was getting easier.  She placed another picture in my hands, this one was strange....

"Hello?" A deep voice ripped me from my trance.  I spun around quickly to face Jonathon, he looked impatient.  In my rush to get away, I knocked the half empty bottle of water over and it split onto the table and dripped onto my lap. 

"May I sit here?"  He passed me some napkins as he half sat half stood over the chair.  I nodded and hurriedly wiped up the water. It had been a long time since I had been trapped in a memory like that. I could still smell the bleach and it certainly did not make me want to eat my meal. 

"I never properly introduced myself,  I'm Jonathon."  I certainly did not feel like speaking to this man who glared at his plate.  His looming figure did not do much to make me want to continue the conversation.  He cleared his throat as if embarrassed. 

"And you are?"  He had turned to face me now and I suffered the full weight of his stare.

"68 C 89"  I attempted to make my voice as monotonous as his. I clenched my fists,  it angered me that goals had been set and limits were placed on my ability before I had even a chance to decide what I even wanted to do.  Everything that I am or ever will be amounts to those 5 characters.  He had asked me who I was and I had given the most complete answer I could ever give. 

"I meant your name" His voice was quiet now, his superior smirk had vanished.  It was an odd question to ask me, names were being phased out.  We were the last generation to be given them, next year the new students would not have been given names at birth.  People very rarely asked for your name and even then it was only used among close friends and family.  Unless of course you were a superior, then your name was used and your number was revered. 

"Ana." 

The uncomfortable silence stretched out.  I struggled to think of of something to say but my mind was blank and my head still hurt from that memory. 

"Meet at the hall tomorrow morning at 8am to discover your first group assignment. I will see you tomorrow, Ana." His voice was somber and stiff; he turned from his chair and left the food hall. I stood puzzled for a second and then I followed him out the door.