Ætherglow #147

“And what’s in it for me if I cooperate peacefully?” you say.

Yelena halfway smiles at this. “A fair question. Though I don’t know what more we can give you than a home, tuition, and a good secure job for the rest of your life.”

“That all benefits you,” you say. “What about something I want?”

“What do you want, then?” she says.

“I don’t know...” You’ve never really had the chance to think about it before.

“Do well for the company tomorrow, and I’ll get you something you want, within reason. An implant? An augment? A modification? A shuttle ticket to visit somewhere? Give it some thought,” she says.

“Okay. I’ve recorded that audio so I can hold you to it before the Chamber,” you say.

“Good girl,” Yelena says.

“Sort of...” you say.

“Also, I got you a dress you can wear tomorrow,” Ælita says. “A handmade Evelina Zima original. It’s in your room.”

“Ah, the Redshift uniform contractor,” you say.

“She also does more elegant work. Evie’s very versatile,” she says.

“You could have asked me what I wanted to wear...” you say.

“But you always liked dresses,” Ælita says. “And the implants are bringing out your feminine side so well.”

“Feminine power is another selling point we’re pushing in this campaign.” Yelena looks you in the eyes from across the table. “Our more traditional investors are willing to accept you as our daughter. Don’t...confuse them.”

“Remember, this isn’t about you, Aydan,” Ælita says.

“Right, right, it’s always about you.” Having eaten half of your plate, you stand up, not looking at them. “I’ve had enough.”

You leave before they can stop you. At the far end of the house you find the best part of it. AYDAN, the LED sign you made reads, hardwired so it can’t be easily changed.

The door slides open to a flood of dark red--the carpet beneath you, the walls around you--with black and dark grey filling the gaps. It’s much bigger than your dorm room, and much nicer, with its large skylights letting the starlight shine in, but it couldn’t be more different from what you’ve gotten used to.

Hanging up on the hook by your closet is the aforementioned dress--mostly light silver with a metallic sheen to the fabric, with crimson felt bands around the edges of its short sleeves and the rim of the skirt. You wonder if they’ll want to dye your eyes red too somehow. You resent the fact that despite its colors completely clashing with you, it is pretty.

You shut the door and lock it with a 900 character randomized passphrase, and go to fall down onto your bed. You stare up at the stars. One of them is the one you just came from, TLA. Here on your supposed homeworld, you find yourself feeling strangely homesick.

You feel more alone than you have since the day you left for the academy. You call up your contact list before your eyes. It’s too soon to reach Akiko, it’ll take her days to get to L3 on the opposite side of Earth. Zeta won’t be home yet either. It would have to be one of the few local people you have a public key for. Or maybe 7, you don’t know where exactly she lives, she might not be traveling. And then there is always one person you can reach most anywhere in the solar system.