The Veil

Chapter One

I pulled the gray veil over my head and secured my hair underneath it. I tugged on my gloves, smoothed any hint of a crease on my loose pants and shirt, and fastened on the necklace I'd had since birth. I wasn't supposed even have it, let alone wear it. If Vin hadn't of been a grabby ten year old and taken it off me before the corporation took me away, i would of never known of its existence.

I tucked it under the collar of my shirt and went down stairs for first meal.

I sat at the table and took my food pod. Each calorie perfectly crafted to keep me as similar to everyone else as possible. My guardians and sibling sat down a few moments later. We all lifted our veils and set the timer.

"Ro what have we told you about waking up early?" My guardian scolded.

"I'm sorry I woke up before my alarm." I said hanging my head. My other guardian sighed and glanced at the timer. "Hurry and eat you two, we have to put the veils back on in twenty minutes." We ate in silence, I still had a few bites of food left on my plate when the timer rang. We all immediately dropped our forks and covered our faces again. Any disobedience to the rules resulted in punishment, or being taken away. The corporation saw everything. Well, almost everything.

"Ro. It's a miracle the corporation let you into this family seventeen years ago, considering the fact you didn't come from the procreation labs." My guardian reminded me once again. I had the urge to feel the key shaped necklace from beneath my shirt but suppressed the nervous habit.

Everyone was genetically modified to be extremely similar, yet different enough in case a deadly disease wiped out the entire human race, genetic variation would prevent that.

I was conceived the "carnal" way, found in the woods when I was two by a patrol android. I was average enough to be allowed to live, how lucky I am.

"Ro make sure you're not late to school again." My sibling, Vin warned.

"I know Vin. I know." I retorted. I stared at Vin. The veil covering my siblings face so I couldn't read Vin's expression. I only saw Vin's face twice a day for thirty minutes during meals. Only your family ever got to see your face. It wouldn't be fair if the world got to see your face. And the corporation was obsessed with everything being fair.

I grabbed my school bag and left. my two friends El and Ni at the train station. They looked over at me I waved and they waved back. All around me were other citizens with the same gray ominous veil and billowy trousers and shirts.

We couldn't see anyone's skin, because hundreds of years ago humans hated eachother for simply having different skin tones. It was odd but I guess the corporation knew best.

History class was almost as boring as the world I lived in. Everyone seemed so content with their gray lives. I forced myself to pay attention. You weren't allowed to study because being more intelligent than your peers on purpose wouldn't be fair, but if I didn't make the cut I would get taken away.

"Can anyone tell me why we no longer carnally reproduce?"

My classmate, Ki raised their hand.

"Because that formed relationships which meant people liked certain people significantly more than other people, which wouldn't be equal."

"Yes that is correct Ki but can anyone tell me the other reason?"

"If a human with a disease bred with another diseased human they would create a child with an unfair advantage to other healthy children." Ayd drawled. The teacher nodded. If it weren't for the veil they probably would of been smiling.

"Yes ayd! Very good and that class...."

"Wouldn't be fair." We all said in unison, sounding like one of the monotone patrol androids.

Bur slowly raised their hand "um teacher?"

"Yes bur?" My instructor replied

"Don't we all have genders? Or did the corporation fix that too?" Bur asked innocently. Even beneath the veil and loose clothing I could visibly see my teacher stiffen.

"Gender is a very touchy subject." My teacher paused and took a deep breath. "Each and every one of you is different this is true. There are two genders male and female the only thing that distinguishes them is genitalia, and breasts for girls, which we have no use for thanks to the procreation labs. Gender started becoming a huge issue with equal rights so we erased it. We still have our different body parts but they are completely unnecessary to the function of our society." The teacher explained.

The next day that particular teacher was no longer at the school.