(Viewpoint: Roum)
The sky is magnificent, I have never seen anything so beautiful and blue.
The white floor of the dome reflects every light, every step, every breath.
It almost makes you think, and if that's what paradise looks like, it will be good.
Gentle, peaceful and relaxing, as if I were literally floating in the air and being carried away on a light white cotton.
Asmara walks in front of me.
Steep.
Cold.
Arms crossed over chest, yet with a nonchalant and tired gait.
A weariness that no one would dare tell him to his face.
I'm keeping my distance.
It's simpler.
I don't know what to say to him, or how to talk to him after all this.
Alpha-1 was moving far behind us, and when I turned around to observe it, it seemed motionless, with a sort of calm predator hovering around it.
Then she smiled at me.
- We're here.
The room in front of us opens like a metallic maw.
Silhouettes are already waiting for us, seated in a circle around a floating table.
Four.
Four EMOTIONAL .
I swallow my saliva.
One man first.
With long black hair tied back, one foot on the other, and an uncompromising look, he paid no attention to us and continued reading what was displayed on his wrist.
I was observing him to better understand him.
Bright eyes, almost red in the light.
Compact energy.
As if his entire body were enclosed in a fist.
Beta 1.
I knew it without anyone telling me.
It was written on his collar
He sweeps us off our feet with an unabashed disdain and plunges back into his reading.
It was as if we were two stains on a perfectly clean window.
"Roum?" said one of them, his voice trailing.
Alpha-1 calmly replies:
- Yes. They will be part of your team.
I turned my gaze so quickly that I didn't have time to be surprised by what I saw.
Chetan breathes out through his nose, almost a laugh.
And Ela was there, a kind of joy on her face and tears welling in her eyes.
"For pity's sake... I thought we were aiming for excellence, not... charity," Chetan sighed.
Ela takes a step forward.
Repeat that one more time. Roum deserves his place as much as we do.
Her voice trembled slightly, but not from fear.
Out of rage.
But she was overjoyed to see again what she thought was lost.
And he stepped forward to take me in his arms.
Chetan does not back down.
On the contrary, he approaches, his gaze sharp as a knife being sharpened.
- You don't want me to speak because you know that what I say is only pure truth, to be sure that he understands and doesn't believe it's legitimate.
I feel my chest tighten.
And my gaze turns towards Asmara
She was leaning against the wall and rolling her eyes completely indifferently.
I'm going to speak.
I feel like I'm going to say something pointless, stupid, that will make everything worse-
when a soft voice travels through the air.
- Stop, Chetan.
I turn my head.
A girl.
No older than us, she looked like an angel, with a beauty comparable to that of Alpha 1, her gaze...of gold, her pink curls that fell delicately over her shoulders.
There is a profound presence emanating from her.
Claire, in a silent way.
Like a calm lake where everything flows and drowns.
BETA 2.
Sadness.
But a restrained, controlled sadness, almost beautiful in its mastery.
She glances at me, then at Asmara.
"Alpha-1 never chooses randomly," she said simply.
If she brought them here… it's because they have something.
Chetan looks up at the sky.
- You and your poems… We're not here to do emotional knitting.
Ela will be even more in my arms.
Stroking my back like when we were young.
She simply gives me a look to comfort me.
So there you have it.
The members of the Alpha-1 team.
The first, Beta 1, calm almost sculpted in marble, with a gaze as cold as a scalpel.
Broad shoulders, perfect posture, perfect face.
Yet it is an emotion of "anger".
Then the second one, smaller but with that golden intensity in her eyes.
Pink curly hair, impeccable uniform, delicate, precise gestures.
And that's a "sadness"
Asmara blinks, unsettled.
Without showing it too much, though.
I think she was expecting something more… private.
I'm staying glued to Ela.
I have no idea what is expected of me, and my heart is beating too fast to ask questions.
Alpha-1 made a gesture.
Everyone immediately fell silent.
- Good. Now that you're all together, I need to clarify one thing.
She takes a step forward.
His presence fills the room like a liquid that stifles all sound.
All eyes turned towards her.
- You are a team.
We are six anomalies.
Six incomplete fragments.
She approaches me.
- You, Roum… you are already perfect in your form.
I freeze.
Asmara turns her head towards me, surprised.
Alpha-1 continues, without emotion:
We have a goal, we are indispensable pillars of this society, we must all contribute to its progress and peace
Chetan aquiexa .
- That has always been my goal.
I lower my head, but… Ela looks at me. A non-judgmental look, and she raises my head.
Alpha-1 turns towards Asmara.
- She will be your boss in my absence.
Asmara opens her mouth, but no sound comes out.
She's trembling a little.
Alpha resumes:
- You all agree, don't you?
She looks at me.
-... Yes
I have nothing else to say.
I don't even know if I should make a claim or not.
- Draven, Liora.
You can begin.
The two members of Alpha-1 advance like two standing shadows.
Draven places a cold tablet against my chest.
Symptoms consistent with partial awakening. He will have a suitable uniform for tomorrow.
I take a step back involuntarily.
- What is… ?
Liora grabs my wrist.
His hand is icy cold.
- Don't move.
I need to check your internal conduction.
I feel something moving up my arm.
A tingling sensation.
Then a brief, dry burning sensation.
I grit my teeth.
"Her perception is active," she said.
He feels... it's all so strange to see through you.
Alpha-1 smiled slightly.
- Perfect.
Asmara gives him a dark look.
- Stop saying "perfect". We're not.
"Good," said Alpha-1.
Chetan steps forward and crosses his arms.
- So, shall we go?
I don't have all day.
Ela sighed softly.
Alpha simply turns his back and walks towards the massive doors at the end of the room.
- Follow me.
Nobody moves.
Then Chetan, of course, advances first.
Iron.
Arrogant.
Impatient.
Ela follows him, calm, almost floating.
Draven and Liora join Alpha-1 at His side, silent as statues.
Asmara hesitates.
Then she walks.
Head held high.
Me…
I was being dragged along by Ela.
I look at my hands in hers.
- Are we really going to work together...?