The Higher Define (2018)

2

Along the corner of my eye, a small field pops up, requesting for coordinates. Silently, I summon the address for the Screening HeadQuarters and filled out the box. A set of directions begin to trickle into sight as the field slides out of my vision.

I head out.

The sky is an intense shade of azure and the bright colour blinds me momentarily. A flash of white sears into my mind before fading away from my vision. Artificial clouds that circulate in the air and churn out recycled oxygen, powered by carbon dioxide, slowly drift along the seams of blue and I continue my way down the streets as they float by.

Usually, I would teleport myself to the location that I am required to be at, but for today, I want to look at the sky. I can't tell for sure what life will be when I am finally casted as a Higher Define.

The first thing that I see when I step into Screening Quarters is the counter at the far end of the room, towards the north. My contacts flash again to tell me that I have reached my destination and as I enter the tiny building, I feel the slim sensors implanted along the glass doors detect me and track my identity in their large database.

My earpieces ring with a clear, soothing voice.

"Welcome to Screening Quarters, Aspen."

I smile as my vitals slide onto my contacts as I head towards the counter. It is a circular glass dome- the only difference is that this one does not have a cover and the curve doesn't complete itself.

Spread out along the length of the counter is a wide, fluorescent pink screen. When I approach the counter, words materialize onto the screen.

Processing visitor's information...

Retrieving data...

Please wait while we retrieve visitor data...

Words loop across the screen, pixels interweaving and colours filling along the squares binding together. The dots shift in a sophisticated dance, performing a silent play.

Growing tired of spectating the act, my thoughts push and pull through the ocean of numbers that swim in my brain as my mind controls the data rewritten and renewed.

Being able to manipulate my contacts with my thoughts is one of the genes that my parents implemented in me, through their tireless fusion. It's one of the things that allow me to understand that all their hardwork is worth it.

In fact, this trait that they managed to implement within me is the trait that got them famous in the first place. They were desperate with a perfect child and points that came close to not existing so they tried their luck in selling replications of my current gene.

They struck the lottery not long after and were saved from the threats of living with no points.

There are other Defines who approach the Mid Defines to help them in making a perfect baby but there are Corrupts, too, that put themselves out on the black market to allow Defines who are daring enough to remove a Corrupt's gene strand and infuse it into their own child.

"Never seen anyone so intense while coding before."

A voice behind me snatches my attention and I begin to grit my teeth before remembering that it's a terrible thing to do- the slightest depletion of my straight rows of perfectly white teeth is a danger, despite how ridiculous it might sound.

"I'm busy here." I turn to face the person who has caught my notice.

The first thing I notice is the state of his clothes. His shirt is loose and ill-fitted, torn around the edges of his sleeves.
He probably got it from working in the field, with the trees which uses such materials as fertilisers.

He's a Corrupt. There's no need to think twice about that.

"Did you get your clothes from the trees?" Is the first thing that bubbles past my lips and I feel an instant pang of regret the moment I say it but it is too late. There's no way I can take these words back.

Indifferent, he continues to stare at me, the smallest hint of fascination creeping onto his features.

After a long moment of silence, he speaks.

"I'm Cali."

"I don't care." I respond stiffly as the hologram behind me whines for attention. I turn my gaze back towards it and read the body of text that dance along the screen.

Aspen Heights, please proceed to Room 62. It's down the corridor, to your right.

Have a good day and goodbye!

I spin to my right and begin to head down the route that I have been instructed to go through when Cali calls out to me, voice filled with amusement.

"Aspen Heights, huh? I knew you seemed familiar."

Usually, I would continue walking. So many boys have tried to get my attention that I'm almost an expert at deflecting their moves but this time, I decide to play with Cali for a little while. While I still can.

"Everyone does, sweetheart." My words are drawn out in a slow, teasing manner that prompts a ripple of doubt to break gainst the surface of Cali's face.

"I don't mean it in a good way. Everyone talks about you becoming a Higher Define. That's the only label suitable for someone like you, isn't it?" I didn't plan on listening to him go on at first but one of the things he says catches my attention and I twist frantically to face him.

"So what? What if I'm famous everywhere?"

Cali's laughter reverberates throughout the Quarters, causing a spike of fear to snake through my veins.

"You think you know it all, don't you? Let me tell you one thing."

He starts to make his way towards me but I'm not used to this. My lungs swell with panic and I can feel my feet trying to detach themselves from the ground, screaming at me to step away from this strange Corrupt.

It's just a slip up, I tell myself as Cali draws close.

He doesn't do anything that pushes me over the line. All he does is lower his voice into a knowing tone, his words drenched in amusement when he speaks to me.

"The truth is out there and it will set you free."

A/N: Last edit was on 20 November ( Chapter 2 and what was previously known as Chapter 3 were merged)
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