by Rayya Deeb
"Sounds like Big Brother."
"S.O.I.L. is like Big Brother's older, smarter, cooler, stronger and much more ruthless brother."
"I see."
"You start down the path of interacting with Dominic Ambrosia, and you're just asking for S.O.I.L. to be all over you like white on rice, for the rest of your life."
I wasn't so interested in my chilaquiles anymore.
13
THE ACOUSTIC CARRIER dropped us off at S.E.R.C. Monday morning. I wanted to dodge Reba so he wouldn't ask me what I’d decided about Blue Combat Boots. Dominic. I scanned my surroundings as I stepped off the carrier. I was in the clear.
"Campbellllla. Just who I was looking for."
Well, lots of things were unavoidable around here. "Hey Reebs."
"Listen, about our conversation yesterday."
"What conversation?"
"Exactly. Can we keep it that way? Dominic isn't a bad guy. I just want the best for you is all."
"You trust me, I trust you. Sounds like we have a pretty solid friendship."
Reba smiled. "Be careful. That's all I ask."
I nodded. He knew what I was up to. This kid seriously had some incredible intuition going on, and the nose of a bloodhound. There was no pulling something over on him.
"Lunch." He put his fist up for a bump, and I bumped him back
With five minutes to kill before first session, I booked it to the hallway where I invariably ran into Dominic. I waited until twenty seconds before my flexer session notification was set to go off, but no sign of him. I was royally bummed. Did Reba know Dominic wouldn't be around today, and that's why he was cool with me running off to find him?
I sat through my first few sessions that day completely unimpressed, even though what we were doing in them I normally would have found fascinating. Then, in Seneca Civics and Ethics we had a guest speaker. Seneca citizen, Julian Hollenbeck, was not only the head of America's top television network, but he also owned news outlets and multi-media distribution networks around the globe. I was more than surprised to see him since, according to reports in the Aboves, he had died of brain cancer a few years back. According to Mr. Hollenbeck, he had been given the opportunity; if he stayed for good in Seneca, to instantaneously eradicate his terminal cancer, and then go on to develop media distribution channels for this new, advanced society. He gave a really inspiring speech about why Seneca is the place where you can carve a promising new future with other likeminded individuals. He reminded us that we were empowered here, unlike anywhere else. Now, more than ever, I wanted to align with the people who could help create a positive change in our world. I had an overwhelming feeling that Dominic would be one of those people.
My last session of the day was quantum computing freestyle. I was exhausted but pepped up when we were given a project. My session mates and I were each assigned a different country and given two hours to bypass international government agency defense systems to extract intelligence on American nationals who resided there. It wasn't merely for the sake of taking a quiz. This was legit undercover operative stuff, and S.O.I.L. would use our information. There were twenty-two of us in the session. Whoever came up with the correct results first would be awarded an escorted trip to the Aboves with their guest of choice.
In seventeen minutes and six seconds flat I cracked the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, a supposed zero-knowledge proof system. The session leaders reacted as if it was the greatest achievement since the inception of quantum algorithm freestyle. My session mates cheered like I was the quarterback who had just thrown a winning Hail Mary. This whole situation couldn't have been more different from Mr. Malin's calculus class back in LA, but the greatest thing of all was that Saturday afternoon I would get to visit Great Falls Park. Somehow, between now and then, I was determined to locate and invite my boy in blue combat boots.
14
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND Thursday all came and went. Every morning I scoped out Dominic's first session, but he was nowhere to be seen. By Friday, when I stepped off the acoustic carrier, I was convinced that this day wouldn’t be any different. I hadn't seen Reba all week either. He hadn’t shown up at our normal meeting spot for lunch, nor was he at the arrival pad when I came in the mornings. I'm sure he was disappointed that I was pursuing Dominic. Part of me felt bad, but I knew I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just following my instincts, which were just about all I had left from my former life in the Aboves.
I had a funny feeling and as I looked up, Dominic was there, exactly where I was hoping to catch up with him. When he saw me standing there, we stared each other down. This was my only chance. If I didn't approach him now, I wouldn't be able to invite him to the Aboves. He turned away and started along the golden wall towards his session. I booked it after him.
He lifted his flexer, and as the doorway began to open up, I did the only thing I knew would get his attention. "Dominic!"
He put his arm down. The door glazed back over as he pivoted slowly. I strode right up to him, having no idea where I got the nerve.
He looked me over. It was a "you again" sort of look, only this time, he wasn't paranoid and guarded at all. I didn't know how to begin, so I just went for it.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"You haven't been around the past few days."
"Nice of you to notice."
"You didn't catch the Necrolla Carne did you?" I thought I was being pretty freaking funny.
And there it was. His lips finally formed what everyone else in Seneca had given up so easily. A smile. My heart melted. I felt it drip down inside my chest. My knees almost buckled, making it an effort just to stand up straight. I hoped he couldn't tell.
He leaned in and whispered into my ear, so softly I could barely hear him but I could feel his warm breath and it gave me butterflies. "You don't believe that, do you? I was under the impression that you were smarter than the rest."
I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I didn't want to get into that at the moment. Once again, our next sessions were starting in a second or two. "Look,” he said, “I gotta get to session. I can't be calling any more attention to myself than I already have." He turned away from me.
It was now or never. "Hey! Listen. I was awarded a trip to the Aboves because of a thing I figured out fast in my quantum computing freestyle session... and I get to take a guest. I'm new here, don't know that many people and..."
"You’re inviting me to go with you to the Aboves?"
"Well, if you're not busy Saturday afternoon and–"
"I'll meet you at the base of Sector Twelve at nine."
Without waiting for my response, he moved through the doorway that was open for a handful of others headed into session.
15
I LAY IN bed watching the news on my flexer projector at nine o'clock on Friday night. Not that I'm big on the news, in all honesty, but everything else was a rerun and I'm not a fan of media that isn't on its first run. It must be something about feeling up to date, not stuck in the past. Guess that crosses over to many areas of my life. Tonight's main story was focused on how the Seneca medical community should be commended for their record in containing 98 per cent of the Necrolla Carne cases. I was right there with them, silently congratulating and counting my blessings. At the same time, I was turned off by the amount of time and attention Necrolla Carne got in Seneca.
All in all, I couldn't complain about the variety of media available to us here. Virtually every song that ever had been recorded and every movie ever made were at my fingertips. Each Senecan had the same level of access, and it was free. Hollenbeck Media from the Aboves scored the exclusive deal to provide entertainment to all of Seneca and ran it under the "Big Bang Boom Media" banner. Otherwise known as B3, the symbol was just about everywhere you looked and constantly popping up on my flexer to let me know about some new offering.
A knock at my door startled me. Nobody ever knocked at my door and I wasn't expecting anyone. I got up and moved to the door, pu
shed my ear up against it. "Who is it?"
"Hi Doro, it's Ellen–"
"And Gregory!"
I commanded the door to dissolve. It was nice to see familiar faces. I hugged Ellen, then went to shake Gregory's hand, but he gave me a big ol' bear hug instead.
"Hey. This is a surprise."
Gregory barely gave Ellen a chance to speak. "We thought we'd stop in and see how you were taking to your new living situation."
"Not bad. The food here is ridiculous. And I have a couple new friends, so–"
"Great!"
"That's good to hear, Doro. I knew you'd fit right in," Ellen said sincerely as she checked out my room. "You look like you've settled in nicely."
"Yeah. Still doesn't feel like home, but I know that doesn't happen over night."
Gregory took a seat on my desk, feet up on the chair. "Better than college dorms in the Aboves. You should have seen where I lived when I was at the Naval Academy. I was in a sports dorm, too, so it was extra nasty. Compared to that, you're living in the lap of luxury."
Gregory and Ellen laughed.
"I can't complain."
Ellen looked genuinely happy to see that I was doing well. Every time I was around her, I felt like she had my back. She had shared some deeply personal things with me, and I knew that, above all the business and politics, she had that maternal vibe going on and it needed an outlet. At the same time, Gregory was over the top with his cheeriness and I had no reason whatsoever to trust this guy. I wasn't one to buy into that whole "any friend of yours is a friend of mine" boloney. No thanks. Plus, I wasn’t thrilled with the way he always seemed to interrupt Ellen. And here he was again, trying to buddy up to me. "Any plans with friends this weekend?"
"Actually, yeah, did you hear about how I cracked the Iranian Ministry defense systems?"
"We sure did."
"Three levels."
Gregory put his hand up for a high five. I threw one up to him. Why not? Might as well play along with the whole "buddies" song and dance to keep my new status intact. The people here appreciated me, and it was a relief after the way things had been at school back in LA.
"As my reward, tomorrow I get a trip to the Aboves. I'm going to Great Falls Park."
"Great Falls is beautiful. It's one of the best-kept secrets in the area. You'll love it." Ellen said.
"I cannot wait to feel the sun on my skin. Even though I was never one for tanning and all that, it's definitely a 'you don't know what you got 'til it's gone' kinda thing."
"That it is. Well, soak it up. You deserve it." Ellen meant it. I appreciated her being proud of me.
"And what deserving friend will be accompanying you?"
I blushed. Now it felt like prying.
Gregory caught on. "Uh-oh, must be a love interest. Someone's cheeks are on fire!"
"It's not love. I met this guy Dominic at S.E.R.C. I don't know too many people and thought it would be fun to do this with him, so I invited him and he accepted."
Ellen didn't show much expression, just a little nod. "I know Dominic. I actually recruited him in one of my first ever on-location visits."
Ellen knew Dominic. Did everyone know Dominic?
Gregory chimed in, "Smart kid."
"That he is. He's also... Let's just say, be careful how much you share with him about yourself and what you’re doing here. And take what he says with a grain of salt," Ellen said.
It was fascinating. Everyone seemed to have an opinion on this guy. Now, more than ever, I wanted to form my own opinion. His intrigue factor had grown exponentially with this visit from Ellen and Gregory and, for me, that's what caught my interest. Not someone's looks, their sense of humor or how kind they are to babies. The mystery of what was going on in his mind was a major attraction– the unknown, the element of surprise. But I had to reassure Ellen and Gregory that I’d heard their advice, so they’d quit worrying about it.
"I will definitely keep that in mind. Really. I'm just looking to enjoy nature and have a good time with someone my age."
Ellen nodded. "Perfect, and you should. You have my flexer if you need to talk. Anytime, day or night, I'm here for you, Doro."
16
NINE A.M. SATURDAY could not come soon enough. Especially since my eyelids refused to cooperate with my overwhelming desire for sleep. I lay there in complete silence and avoided my flexer because I knew giving in to it would squash any chance of slipping back to sleep. Who was I kidding? It was going to be another all-nighter whether I liked it or not.
All I could think about was Dominic. Why did Ellen seem anxious about our potential bond? I was beginning to wonder if she had stopped by because she knew I'd be with him on Saturday, and not just for a social visit. She could have asked me how I was settling in anytime. Something was up. I might have been new to Seneca, but in real life I was no spring chicken.
I was relieved, to say the least, when my flexer finally signaled eight a.m. Unlike the Aboves, where the sun would come out and tap into your natural biorhythms to get you going, here we had to rely entirely on artificial light and flexer notifications to know the difference between night and day.
I was anxiously waiting for Dominic at 8:57. It seemed like light years later when I watched my flexer switch to 9:00, and there was a tap on my shoulder.
"Ready for our big date?"
I felt my face flush. Oh no, please let him think I’m just a rosy skin-toned person. I really had to get this thing in check.
"Hi, Dominic."
"So formal."
"Who me?"
Dominic looked around as he squished his lips together. I loved it when he did that.
"I don't see anyone else here in this conversation."
"Sorry, I didn't get much sleep."
"Hey, no worries, you can be formal all day long if you want, but I'm on vacation. Hope that's okay with you. I haven't seen the sun in over seven hundred days, so this is a pretty epic day for me... And by the way, you can call me Dom. It's what my friends back home all called me."
I was blown away. Seven hundred days? Really? Even though I technically knew what was in store living here without sun, I couldn't comprehend being in his shoes. Or, rather, his blue combat boots.
"Oh, for sure. I'm dying to get out of here for a breather, too. It will be good to get a reality check."
"Reality. Funny thing, ain't it?"
Dom made some odd comments. Ones that made me wonder what he really meant. But I still wasn’t ready to ask.
"We don't have to be at the entrance point until ten. Want to get some food first?"
"Doro, let me tell you something about me–"
Um, yes please, I thought...
"I’m always ready to get something to eat."
Ah, how refreshing. Dominic Ambrosia was handsome, witty, unequivocally mysterious, and a good eater!
17
THE RESTAURANT DISTRICT was a dreamlike version of a place I remember visiting as a kid. The sun beat down on me, interrupted only by rustling leaves from tall oak trees. I looked up, squinting to see how this could possibly be. The soft, cornflower blue sky blew me a kiss as a sweet floral breeze swept my hair across my face, tickling my nose. It reminded me of the outdoor mall near the beach in Santa Monica. Birds chirping, kids laughing, babies crying. All kinds of people and every kind of food. I heard murmurs of different languages– Mandarin, Spanish, Russian... Incredibly, I almost forgot I was with Dom, my attention was so absorbed by all the mouthwatering aromas around us. Dom didn't seem as mesmerized by this place as I was. He cut into a doorway and I followed, looking back over my shoulder.
We were at a sushi spot that he said he went to every weekend. We sat at the sushi bar. I thought it was funny that we were having sushi for breakfast, but fresh, edible, wild fish had not been available in my lifetime, so this was a mouthwatering treat. Salmon, halibut, cod, and assorted rare fish and seafood were transported here on BoomJets from places that had the remaining clean water on the planet. They had also b
een testing new ways to replicate wild breeding here. Senecans were the only population with the privilege to enjoy these delicacies as regular eating habits. I could seriously get used to this.
Our first time eating together wasn't as carefree and lighthearted as my lunches and brunches with Reba. I didn't ask a lot of questions, but when I did, Dom answered with a question in return. He was obviously still vetting me. Could I be trusted and what was my motivation? Not the typical form of assessment I was used to from my peers. Usually it was questions about what musicians I like or if I got invited to some popular kid’s party last Saturday night.
This morning I learned one thing about Dom. He was fluent in Japanese, and best buds with this restaurant’s 28-year-old sushi chef, Ty. Ty had been recruited to Seneca because he had started a highly addictive sushi franchise that spread across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. It was literally the fastest growing food chain in world history. Addiction was an understatement. Ty knew exactly what Dom liked, so I went ahead and tried it all. No exaggeration, these were hands down the most explosive bites of food I'd ever tasted. Dom slowly savored each bite as he explained to me that in Seneca Ty was pushing the envelope of sushi preparation in a way he never could in the Aboves. He took the most ideal, fresh cuts of fish, and through the use of nanocapsules, he matched them with flavors of the customer's choosing. Ty's menu had everything from kumquat to truffle, which was injected into the fish for a timed release to deliver an eruption of flavor in your mouth at just the right moment. There was no question about it– I would be back for the jalapeno lime-infused halibut cheek.
Ty spoke English pretty well. When he and Dom flipped to Japanese, I sensed that they were talking about me. It seemed to be in a good way, though.
"You will take Dom to see the sun today. No wonder he likes you."
Please don't blush. Please don't blush, please, please, please... I took a huge gulp of water. Dom didn't notice– he was meticulously cleaning his vintage wooden chopsticks, which he obviously cherished like I did my vinyl LPs.