Chapter 1
"I just don't know how you're staying so calm with all of this," I pinned my brooch to my chest, watching the holographic display flash my name. "If I were you, I wouldn't know how to handle it. I mean, Valedictorian, Audie! In the most prestigious security school in the country!"
I looked up into the mirror and flashed a smile at my friend. "You work out a bit, you learn how to beat up some bad guys. It's nothing to ride home about, Vanny."
I did a little twirl in my white linen dress. My long tan arms felt naked in the garment. It wasn't at all skimpy, it was just more skin than I was used to showing. I turned around and grabbed my old leather jacket, worn with time and embedded in pins. I wrapped it around my body and put my hands in its pockets.
"They're not going to let you wear that," Vanny frowned.
"I know. It's just something to remind me of home before I get stationed," I always loved the thrill of a fight. I had no qualms about taking a hit during my new security job, whether that be on the enforcement squad, or personal protections, or anything. What did make me nervous was all the official stuff in between. The ceremonies, interviews. That was enough to make me shudder.
Vanny brushed through my long, fiery orange hair with her fingers. She took a clip on her waistband and pinned my hair in a bun on the back of my head. Out of my face, the way I liked it.
"Shame they don't make you wear make-up. you could use a little softness in your face for occasions like these."
"I'm not soft. I'm tough. And I hope everyone here today sees that."
"Nothing wrong with a little femininity, though."
I pulled up a strap that had been slipping down my arm. "Remind me to toss this the moment I get commissioned, okay?"
Vanny crossed her arms and frowned at me. She herself was looking very nice, very comfortable in her attire. Even though she and I wore the same thing for graduation, on her it seemed like a completely different dress. She wore it with confidence and beauty, while I looked like a man in a bedsheet.
A soft knock landed on our dressing room door. "Come in," Vanny said softly.
An old, short man in a tweed suit gently opened our door. "Hello," he said. "All the other graduates are ready to go and seated. We're just waiting on you girls."
"Alright Dad, we'll be out in a bit," Vanny closed her makeup box and smiled at him.
Vanny's dad nodded and closed the door.
"Alright, Valedictorian," she said, adjusting my somehow already crooked brooch. "Time for you to shine."
I gingerly took off my jacket and placed it on a chair in the dressing room. Vanny followed me into the main hall of the chapel, where soon hundreds of my class' family and friends would sit, watching us as we took the oath of security and vowed to protect our city.
Natural light from the Chapel's massive windows spilled onto the rows of benches, casting the Class of 1823 A.U. in a brilliant golden glow. Vanny and I sat next to them in an open bench. It was a beautiful time- we had all spent the last four years together in downtown Crystal Point, training to be the best possible security officers we could be. Sure, some of us weren't the best of friends, but I was optimistic that each and every one of us had the main goal in mind to protect our city.
We exchanged smiles and nervous comments, talking about where we were hoping to be assigned and which sector of the city they thought about migrating to. We talked about how anxious we all were, but also how grateful we felt to finally be on our own, making the City a better place. As the chapel filled family by family, we wished each other the best of luck.
When the capacity of the chapel filled, Vanny's dad stepped up to the lectern. He cleared his throat in front of the microphone, and the chaotic crowd settled.
"It has been an honor to oversee the instruction of these talented individuals this year," he said, his posture perfect, his hands crossed neatly in front of him. "As the Director of Education at the Security Sector, it has been my pleasure to serve the people of Crystal Point by instructing today's youth and tomorrow's heroes. Graduation season has always been a bittersweet time- it is the hellos to a new generation of leaders, and the farewell of the times of learning and juvenile growth. Today we celebrate the new security officers of Crystal Point!"
The room erupted into enthusiastic applause. My eyes darted around the room. Drones equipped with television cameras equipped danced about the ceiling in a choreographed motion, capturing everything the Director said in his speech.
"Before I continue, I would like to request a word from this class' Valedictorian, Audrey Khalos," The old man turned to me, a twinkle in his eye. A pair of acolytes stood on the end of the bench I was sitting on. I stood up and marched towards the stand. The Director stepped back from the lectern, and I inched towards the microphone.
"Hi there," I said, a tinge of microphone feedback reciprocating in my eardrums. "As some of you might know, several years ago nobody would have nominated me for this esteemed position. In fact, I'm still stunned that I'm here right now. When I was sixteen and this program was recommended to me, I was a troublesome hacker with a habit of scamming the credits out of innocent people and businesses. My future was bleak, not much in store for me besides an under-the-law job as a digital thief," I turned to Vanny, who gave me a nod and a thumbs-up. "I have to thank Mr. Gunner here for creating such a wonderful program that could turn even me into something productive," a small giggle escaped the back of my throat with that comment. "It just goes to show you that anyone can turn their life around and become something great," one of the drones circled in on me to get a headshot. I pushed a string of hair out of my face and grinned, hoping the whole country had seen my moment of honor.
"Are you positive that's the one we are looking for?" The figure stood in front of a half dozen monitors, all focusing on different angles of Audrey Khalos. The girl didn't look like much- she was 20 years old, around the same age as the rest of the graduates. muscular and tan. Determined and proud. Just like every other student that school had pumped out for years.
The figure turned to the assistant who had asked the question. Their face was obscured by the lack of light in the room. A chill ran down the assistant's spine. "I've been watching Audie Khalos for years. She's not just like every other security graduate they've ever pumped out," they turned back to the monitors. "She's smart. Very smart. She's about as much of a lapdog for the city as anyone else, but anyone's loyalties can be shifted with enough persuasion."
"So... what now?"
"Now, we wait. She's bound for a good commission, all Valedictorians are."
"This is very good news," the assistant remarked. "I shall alert the General."
"That would be optimal," On the monitors, the chapel once again joined in applause as Audie made her way back to the seating area she shared with her fellow graduates. The figure lifted a gloved hand to the screen. "It's finally time for us to take back New America."
