Colton simply lay on his top bunk on the other side of the room, his eyes closed and face relaxed, as if he’d chosen to go back to sleep amidst all the emotional chaos.
Imara looked at Gemma from near the entrance to the ladies’ locker room. She shook her head, a gesture Gemma interpreted as she wasn’t leaving. Given that the love of Imara’s life was gone, Gemma understood. She wouldn’t give up her chance to get off Perileos either.
Besides, Gemma had a mission to fulfill, and that included being able to attend the formal party, which meant she needed the implant to be able to go. Even if shehadwanted children, she no longer had a choice.
She was going to be sterilized.
One more person left, then the dormitory was quiet for several minutes.
“Can I assume that everyone in this room has decided to receive the implant?” Ivan asked.
No one answered.
He clapped his hands together. “Splendid. When you are finished with your breakfasts, I will be outside the door, in the hallway with two of my nurses who will administer your implants.”
“And,” Rami interjected, “two of my assistants will also be there to update your citizenships and provide you with personal comm devices and information on your new living arrangements.” He grinned so widely that his perfectly white teeth gleamed in the bright light. “I’m thrilled to welcome you all to the United Planetary Systems. I will see you tonight at our formal celebration. Enjoy your day of relaxation and freedom!”
Without another word, Rami, the Kaizen, and Lieutenant Commander Mehnkof—Ivan—exited the dormitory, leaving the winners to finish their breakfasts in unrest. Some went straight to the locker room to dress; others kept talking and eating as if nothing had happened.
But the energy in the room had been tranquilized.
Gemma climbed down the ladder to find Christian sitting on the side of his bed, his jaw clenched and eyes tight. She sat next to him.
“You didn’t leave,” she said, though her statement sounded more like a question.
The little muscle on the side of his jaw twitched. “After everything my parents went through to get me here, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”
Gemma took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. After tonight, people like Christian wouldn’t have to make decisions like this anymore. After tonight, the Systems’ government would finally be forced to see Reva as a legitimate planet.
Tonight, Rami would die.
The implant went into Gemma’s upper arm, not far below her shoulder, and it felt like she’d been stabbed by a surgical knife. Even now, hours after receiving it, her arm ached incessantly.
Gemma’s black fibroglass ring had been upgraded to a white one, now that she was considered a true citizen of the United Planetary Systems. The ring also granted access to more areas of Zion, including the military training center, a recreation room, and a fancier pavilion that served even better food than the contestants’ cafeteria.
Additionally, Gemma was provided a flat in Zion, where she would live for her two remaining weeks while waiting for the shuttle to arrive. A comm device was assigned to her with permissions to systems such as halo messages, live visualizations, recorded optics, and information accesses. It was no more than a small, circular piece of electroglass that attached to her wrist via a strip of spidersilk. But where older technologies relied on external mechanisms to function, these comm devices harnessed an individual’s internal electricity to power them.
The moment the comm device was placed on her wrist, it imprinted with Gemma’s DNA, which was the essence that powered it. A tiny, flexible piece of electroglass sat directly upon her cornea, through which anyvisual messages appeared. Any auditory messages spoke directly through the biochip behind her ear.
It was technology unlike any she had ever seen or heard of. The Systems had always had access to their DNA information, but could they also control citizens through these devices?
Gemma shivered.
After receiving her room assignment, she waved goodbye to her teammates. Though her stomach was in knots, she had to admit it would be nice to wear something other than her ridiculous gray jumpsuit.
Gemma reached her designated room and held her fibroglass ring up to a square, black lockpad. She couldn’t help but notice the camera above her door. Was it there to protect her or monitor her?
The lockpad flashed green, and when the door slid open with a whoosh, Gemma decided to let that worry rest. She had enough to be concerned about—like murder.
The room was, unsurprisingly, as sterile as the rest of Zion. The white floors, walls, and ceiling were illuminated by white ultralights, and in the center was a white bed on an elevated platform. Shelves were adorned with some decoration, but for the most part, her “flat” held as much aesthetic as an infirmary room.
In one of the corners, an opening led to a small bath area with a walk-in shower and a wardrobe. But instead of being filled with clothes, a highly sophisticated piece of technology sat inside.
A manual hung from a metal hook on the inside of the chest. Its title read:Costumery Instructions. With the press of a button, Gemma could view the latest designs from Capital City, and the machine would recreate it within an hour.
She raised an eyebrow.This is what was available to citizens of the Planetary Systems?
Her nostrils flared as she flippantly tossed the manual. The people on Reva deserved better. It was cruel that while they had to trade for necessities like fresh food and water, those in the Capital enjoyed luxuries like a bloody clothing machine.
