CELESTINA

Chapter 10: Daughters of the Grandest

The plans for my Grand Gala were well underway. Weirdly, I did not know much about it. Gloriana rarely asked my opinion and had told me very little, other than to inform me on what my father has decided, against her better judgment, that Vivian and I would have a shared Gala.

As the head of Armory Development, Vivian’s father, Denny, was gaining importance in society. His unmatched skills and his loyalty to Committee were to be rewarded, thus his political and social significance started increasing tremendously. Our fathers were working together quite closely, so my father had decided that it would be a great show of common interests for the two of their daughters to have the grandest Gala of all.

If Vivian’s father was so important to Committee, it must mean that the Armory Department was quite important to Committee. Yet we were never told of any threats. We were never informed of any conflict with outside sources, or inside sources, for that matter. So, it seemed like a pointless occupation for me. I guess, that, just knowing Armory existed helped the Citizens feel secure because Committee would always be prepared and ready to keep us safe from any harm.

On Monday morning my father dropped me off at the Career Education Centre on his way to the administrative offices where he worked. I had been informed that I was expected to show up about thirty minutes before Vivian, or anyone else, was required to.

The building was eerily quiet when I entered. The clack of my heels on the tile floor echoed throughout the Common Room at the entrance to the CEC. Branching out from the room were three hallways that would soon be full of students, some beginning their education, some in the middle of it, and some who were soon to be sent off to apprentice in their given field.

Standing in the centre of the common room was a woman. She was perfectly poised, perfectly dressed, perfectly perfect. Her short blonde hair was smooth and straight, the ends lightly brushing her shoulders. Her suit was dark metallic grey, trim and stylish, and the color somehow made her eyes shine.

The black shoes on her feet were pointed, shiny, and tall. I immediately thought of Beta. In a way, the outward appearance of perfection and her confident stance reminded me of him. She stood tall and proud, hands behind her back, chin up, with a small smile on her lips. I assumed that she was there for me, so I walked up to her.

“Hello. I am Celestina” I introduced myself.

“Yes. I have been given your file. You are much more appealing in person, which is a good thing. Your Tech photo does not do you justice. You will do quite nicely,” she looked at me with a smile on her lips, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

“Nicely?” I c****d my head to the side as I asked her that question.

“Forgive me. I have ignored proper introductions. My name is Chiron. I will be your mentor and guide while you are instructed and groomed to be a respectable public figure for Committee” this time, however, her smile reached her eyes making me feel a little at ease.

“Chiron. I have never heard that name before. I like it,” I smiled.

“Thank you. My parents picked it just as the transition from Fallen Cities to Natural Names was taking place. It was still a city but it makes one think of the natural spice. I have never met another Chiron” she mused.

“Neither have I” I agreed but still remembering my earlier question “Why did you say I would do nicely?” I asked.

“You have a pleasant and friendly look about you, and you look healthy. You have obviously followed your nutrition and exercise guidelines. You are a perfect example of an outstanding Citizen of the Committee. You will be an easy sell. If you were unattractive or an improper weight or sickly looking then… well… it will simply make more sense to the general public that someone like you would be Aurora. Can I see it?” she asked, pointing to my arm.

“Why not?” I said and held up my wrist for inspection.

“It is actually quite pretty. That will help too. You will be the envy of all” a small smile graced her lips as he traced her fingers lightly over my Brand.

I pulled my arm back hesitantly “I do not want to be the envy of all. I did not do anything out of the ordinary to earn this. My friends did not do something wrong to be marked infertile”.

“Ah, but you do not know that” She shook her head in disagreement and held out her arm. “You see this I. This is a direct consequence of my mother’s desire for youth over duty. She decided to take her first youth serum when she was seven months pregnant. She was a bit older when she conceived me, and she decided that she had waited long enough. She ruined both our chances. She was never able to conceive again and I was marked infertile.”

“I am sorry, I heard that something like that could happen” I know it is wrong of me to burst out like that coz it is not her fault.

“I had a roommate at Tech who loved to run. Not just a little, to strengthen her heart, as we are advised. No, she ran to clear her mind, ran to relax, ran when she was angry, and also when she was happy. It made no sense. The Protectors advised her not to, the doctors warned her it could have adverse outcomes. She was even put on hold. But when she finally showed up at the CEC it was with an I as well. She ruined her own chance” a look of sadness shrouded her features as she reminisced about her friend.

I shook my head “That is very sad”.

“Yes. Excessive exercise is detrimental. And recently we have had reports that some new mothers have actually exceeded the advised immunization dates for their child by seven to ten days. They are putting their children at risk of infertility by waiting so long for much needed medicines. That will simply not do. There is talk that the immunizations team may be forced to become a mobile one. With home visits, there will be no risk of noncompliance. You see, the Citizens need to know that when they live their lives within the guidelines set up to protect them, good things are possible,” she smiled.

“What exactly do you do for Committee?” I asked.

“I am the lead Citizen’s Information Specialist. I make sure the people of the Committee know what is being done to make their very existence a positive, safe, and secure experience. And I make sure the people are aware of the adverse effects of trying to go against the wishes of The Chapter. The Chapter always knows best. Reign with Committee,” she lilted.

“Committee Reigns” I smiled. It was the response that was expected of me, so I gave it willingly.

“See what I mean?” she smiled. In fact, she had done nothing but smile since I would walk up to her “You’re perfect. Follow me,” she ordered and turned to walk down one of the halls.

I immediately followed. We entered one of the rooms at the end of the hallway and Chiron instructed me to sit on one side of the table that had been placed in the center of the small room. She rounded the table and sat on the other side. There was a tablet waiting there, between us.

“This is your official tablet. It is private. Keep it separate from your personal one and keep it with you always. I will be contacting you after hours and sometimes on Sundays to discover the progress you have made on certain tasks that you will be given. It is important that a member of my team is able to reach you at any time” she looked at me with intense eyes, all the lightness from before replaced by seriousness.

“I understand,” I replied.

“The information that you will be given is private. You are not to share it with friends or even family members. Your mother and father are aware of most aspects of your role as ambassador, so there is no need to seek permission from them or to ask for their blessing on anything I ask you to do. You have been given a certain level of clearance by The Chapter, which will increase as you show your loyalty and hard work. This is a great privilege!” the smile was back on her features and the lightness from before made its way back to our conversation.

“Will I be able to see my friends?” I asked with hope that I will be allowed to meet my friends and spend a little time with them.

“Of course. The Chapter is quite adamant that you maintain a high profile. You must be seen in the best of company, enjoying yourself. You need to be the very picture of youth, health, and social grace” something flashed in her eyes, but she masked it just as it made its appearance.

“That is a lot to live up to” I worried as I realized the kind of responsibility that is placed on me “I hope I do not disappoint anyone”.

“I will be here to guide you along the way. You will do fine,” Chiron said and reached across the table to pat my hand. Then she pressed a button on the tablet, turning it on.

My name appeared on the screen. Celestina. The Aurora Ambassador of Committee.

Chiron read the words aloud “Your mother picked a lovely name for you” she mused giving me a gentle smile, one that is filled with pride.

“Gloriana has a knack for that. She knows how to pick out lovely things” I smirked but the pride or the happiness did not make its way to me, rather, her coldness and the distance she maintains from me, made me feel nothing towards her.

“Lesson Number One: Your parents are to be always referred to as Mother and Father when you are in public. It shows respect” she said not knowing as to why I call my parents by their first name.

‘She does not know why I started addressing my parents with their first name and not as Mother or Father!’ “Tell that to Gloriana. She is the one that told me to stop calling her Mother”

Chiron pulled out her own mini-tablet and began to type away on it. She looked up at me after she was finished and had put the tablet back in her jacket pocket “Done. Gloriana, your mother, has been informed of the changes”.

“She is not going to like it” I said under my breath knowing Gloriana to blow a gasket when she is told to do something against her wish.

“She will do what is expected. Her father has set this plan into motion. Your grandfather is a brilliant man. You and your parents will be the perfect picture of a Committee family. It is my understanding that she is quite looking forward to it. I have been told to keep her apprised” Chiron informed me with a grin plastered on her lips.

“I wonder if I will see my grandfather soon. Gloriana, I mean Mother, told me that he was looking forward to seeing me again. But then I think he must have been the one to call my father away after I received my Citizen Brand” I racked my brain to see if I have any memory of my grandfather but came with nothing.

“I think you are right,” she winked at me “They were planning your future. You are a lucky girl to have such caring people to look out for you. I wish my mother had been as diligent about my future. If it was not for my father, and the fact that we are proud members of the Platina family, I might have been destined for another life. But I married well. I have an adopted daughter in Year Six. It is a pity she can’t take our family category it would be of great benefit later in her life. But those are the ways of Committee” Chiron looked wistful for a moment, almost like she was imagining another life for her daughter, but then the smile appeared on her face again “So let us start with a brief overview,” she said, opening a document in my new official Ambassador Tablet.

************

It was time to break for lunch, and Chiron gave me a black bag and told me to keep my new tablet in it always. There were two pockets inside, one for each of my two tablets, and a space to keep other personal items. The new bag hung from my left shoulder, slung across my body, with the words Committee Reigns embroidered in shimmering gold. The gold against the black sparkled in the sun as I stepped outside, glinting, and catching the eye of everyone that I passed.

Vivian stared at it as I approached the table where she sat, waiting for me, with a group of our friends. Alanzo and Steven were perched on either side of her. Lily, Meg, Nash, and Cameron were across from them.

“Nice bag” Vivian whistled as I neared “Fancy bag for your fancy new position. My father told me about it this morning. Hope you do not mind, I kind of filled them in already” she said, gesturing to the group.

I rushed over to her and gave her a hug “No. It is fine. Everyone will know soon enough” I sat down beside Steven “Chiron, my new mentor, gave the bag to me. I was also given a second tablet for my training as Aurora Ambassador of Committee. Apparently, I must always carry two tablets with me, one for me and one for Committee.”

“I would hate that,” Steven said through a breath of released air “A small one in my pocket is more than enough for me. I think I could do without it, actually”.

“How can you say that?” Meg balked at the thought “We are much safer with them. How would anyone know where you are or if you are in trouble if you did not have your tablet?”

“She is right” Lily agreed.

“Yes, I know. I have got it with me,” Steven assured her “See,” he said, pulling it out of his pocket and waved it in the air.

Alanzo pulled out his full – sized tablet and placed it on the table “I would not be able to look at all my Architectural studies with something that small, Tina, I got Architecture. That was a load off my mind.”

“Oh, yeah! I almost forgot,” I said “You guys all got your assignments today. So, what did everybody get? I want to know what was chosen for each of you” I stared at them excitedly.

“Architecture, as I just said,” smiled Alanzo.

“Armory, as expected” beamed Vivian.

Steven raised his hands in the air, a show of triumph “Entertainment Video Production. No desk, no desk!”

“Yay!” I laughed “No desk.”

Meg spoke next. “Well, I am to become a Culinary Technician and Nutritional Consultant.”

“I am bound for the Peacekeeper Training” Nash’s eyes shone with pride.

I gave an inward sigh of relief. His I had not rendered him with an undesirable position.

Lily gave a sheepish smile “I have no idea why, but I have been told that I would excel as an actress. Steven and I will be working on opposite ends of the video camera”.

“This is pretty exciting!” I exclaimed, “We will all be working in such different areas. I love it. I can’t wait to find out what everyone else was assigned to”.

“Cameron got something technical” Steven said, “That is all I know.”

“As if we did not expect that already” Alanzo added.

“It is not just something technical” Cameron scoffed “I will eventually be apprenticing with the Committee One Information Systems Department. I hope to eventually work my way into the Overseer Division and encompass Two, Three, and Four as well”.

I tried to picture Cameron in any profession that was not technical, and I just could not do it. If he were not able to analyze something, he would be a miserable boy “That sounds about right,” I smiled.

Steven puffed his cheeks out huge and then expelled the breath “Alright, Miss Tina, let us see it”.

“Arm on the table, oh Aurora one,” Lily added to which I sighed, quite loudly.

“Celestina, I have a feeling you will be doing this quite often. So, you better get used to it,” Vivian coaxed.

“Plus, we are your friends, so we get first dibs to gawk at your brand” Alanzo smirked leaning forward on his chair.

Meg nodded her head “Who better to expose yourself to?”

“Meg!” Lily laughed taking in the double meaning of Meg’s words.

“I did not mean it that way!” Meg gasped placing a hand on her chest dramatically.

“Alright, alright,” I said and placed my arm on the table, palm up, Citizen Brand exposed. “Gawk away.”

Cameron moved in for a closer look, examining the circles quite intently. He was taking mental technical pictures to file away in that overworked brain of his. I just knew it. Lily and Meg put their fingers out at the same time and began touching it. But Alanzo and Steven just observed from where they sat. I felt like an oddity… an interesting oddity.

Nash turned his head. He did not want to look at it, and I did not blame him. He had bragged about and expected an F, but had ended up with an I. I had been secure in the fact that I would be fine with either mark, but I have been blessed with something entirely outside of the realm of my expectations. We had both been thrown. He would be fine though, I knew he would.

Nash had genuinely good looks and had been placed on a promising career path, even though neither of his parents were all that influential. There was a novelty in being a twin, and that novelty had saved him. He knew it, I knew it, we all knew it, but none of us needed to point it out. I am sure we were all just glad that Nash would be able to secure a noble place in Committee Society.

“Anyone know about Plum?” I asked.

Rose walked by our table just as I asked the question “She was given a choice between Custodial Management and being a Protector. She has to decide by tomorrow morning,” she laughed “So much for the Platina. Her family has been steadily falling from its rickety pedestal for years and that I on her arm just knocked them to the ground.”

“Rose, that is a little harsh, isn’t it?” Vivian frowned.

“If you had been secretly belittled the way I was for most of my time at Grooming Tech, you would be harsh too. You get what you give, right? And that girl gave me smiles and then backstabs for many years. She got what she deserved,” Rose countered “I am destined for Party Planning, if anyone wants to know. Galas, parties, balls, soirees… mine will be outstanding.”

Rose clasped her hands together, tilted her head up, and closed her eyes, as if imagining one of her fabulous celebrations. When she opened her eyes, she looked at me “Congrats on the Brand, Tina. You lucked out with that one,” Rose stated before continuing “Although I think I would excel in a position like that. It is kind of wasted on you, isn’t it?” She spun around and walked away.

“Rose is the new Plum,” Meg whispered.

“I think we will just have two of them now,” Lily whispered back.

“No,” I said, being the realist “Neither of those positions will allow for Plum to act with her usual flippant behavior. She will have to learn her place or suffer the consequences.”

A collective sigh went through the group.

I pulled my arm back and hid it under the table “I am really hungry,” I declared “Can we order some food now?”

There was no longer a Food Manager dispensing required sustenance at the CEC. We were finally able to order whatever it was that we wanted to eat, with few, if any, restrictions. The food was delivered to the table in precisely measured portion sizes. It was artfully arranged and visually appetizing.

“Meg, take note” I called her attention to my plate of food “This is a beautiful thing.”

“Mine will be better,” she smiled.

“I have no doubt, my friend,” I smiled in return before taking a bite.