“Are you nervous?” Indigo asked Pierce.
“Me? Nervous? Never!” Pierce tried to laugh it off.
“Don’t be. Dr. Spencer’s really nice.”
“I know. But still…”
Indigo was walking Pierce to the conference room again, to meet with Dr. Spencer. Before she went to bed last night, she had made a mental list of all the questions she wanted to ask him, but now she feared she would forget all her questions the moment she walked into the room; she was already having trouble thinking straight even though she the door to the conference room wasn’t even in sight.
“So, how’s your second day at the Complex so far?” asked Indigo.
“It’s not even noontime yet,” said Pierce. “But it’s going fine.”
The conference room doorway loomed ahead, guarded by a different pair of guards this time.
“How did you land your job as my…personal guard?” Pierce asked. The words “personal guard” fumbled off her tongue. Indigo acted more like her friend. Then again, I’ve only met four people in the Complex so far: Cook Asha, Dr. Spencer, Dr. Claries and Indigo. I wonder if there are any kids my age around.
“My father was a good friend of Dr. Spencer,” said Indigo. “He helped Dr. Spencer plan the creation of the Complex and Restorers, so I got to know Dr. Spencer very well. Since I graduated from Hudson Academy six months ago, it seemed natural for Dr. Spencer to assign me as your personal guard.”
Hudson Academy was the top school for military and guard training. Many politicians hired Hudson Academy graduates as their bodyguards.
Pierce made a face. “I don’t see why I need a personal guard. It’s not like I’m dangerous.”
Indigo raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure?” He provided the guard in front of the bulletproof glass door his ID card. “After you.” Indigo gestured for Pierce to go in before him.
Like the previous meeting, Dr. Spencer and Dr. Claries were waiting for them.
“Did you sleep well?” Dr. Spencer asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Is there anything you need?”
I would love to add some color to my room. All the whiteness makes my eyes hurt. “No.”
“Good, good. Then we can move onto more urgent matters.” Dr. Spencer paused for a dramatic effect, then said, “Child, you’re flawless.”
Pierce tilted her head, a quizzical look on her face. “Isn’t everyone flawless? I mean, aren’t all citizens Perfects?”
“Ah, that’s true. Everyone’s genetically perfect. But you’re beyond perfect.”
“What do you—”
“You’re the very apex of the human race.”
Pierce laughed nervously. “Is this, like, a joke or something?”
“No, Dr. Spencer’s serious about what he said,” said Dr. Claries.
