The Apprenticeship

Day Seven

Today's the day the elders are testing me. I need to do my best, I can't be in these classes any more or I'll never graduate.

I was given a card that says to meet them on the lower floor lab. I don't know where that is because Daniels never finished showing me around.

I find the room literally 30 seconds before I'd be counted as late. One of the Elders calls me over.

"Avery, welcome. Please, have a seat."

I listen to his instructions and sit at a lab table.

"This test will be similar to the one you took in school. We want to test your progress." Another guy places a pen and the test paper in front of me. "You will have one hour to complete the test. Your time begins, now."

I zip through the test in fifty minutes.

"We will have your scores later in the day. Until then, we grant Daniels authority to teach you."

They walk out the room and Daniels walks forward.

"You ready Avery?

"A part of me was hoping to see my sister today."

"I see, unfortunately, training comes before family."

"I understand. Where do we start?"

"Basic equations."

"Oh, like math?"

"No," he sits down across from me, "science equations."

"Oh," I put my hands on the table and extend my arms.

"Honestly, I'm not excited either. It's just something we have to do."

"Why did you choose science?"

"Avery. We talked about this."

"Sorry." I look down and read the label on my clothes:

Avery
Science Program
Remedial

"Why did the give me a new uniform?" I ask.

"Protocol, I guess. Technically you changed programs."

"Can someone change programs, willingly?"

"It's never been done, I wouldn't know."

"Why do we have programs? Why can't we choose then get education for it but, change if we don't like it? Like it used to be?"

"You spend too much time in the archives. Stop that."

"Stop what? Reading about our past?"

"Yes. It's bad for you. You shouldn't question the way our society has worked for hundreds of years."

"Maybe we should question it."

"Avery."

"Why can't society change?"

Daniels stands up and slams his hands on the table, "Avery! That's enough."

I stop talking. Daniels isn't happy at all.

"Avery," he sits back down, calmer than just a second ago.

"Yes?"

"Never, ever, question our society again."

"Yes sir. I'm sorry."