The Lunar Life Ch. 01

A gay story: The Lunar Life Ch. 01 Note: This story does not revolve around a quick sex scene, so if thats what you’re looking for, this story isn’t right for you.

Hi guys, I’m back with a new story. This will be slightly different from my other stories and I hope you give it a shot. As always, all feedback positive or constructive criticism are accepted.

There will be a total of 11 chapters in the series, and they all should be coming out within the next 2 weeks. Enjoy.

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Will looked across the forest laid out before him as he took a deep breath, inhaling the woody aroma of spruce and pine. He sighed in content as he took a seat on the hill he was standing on. Sunlight streaked across the treetops, rays of light catching on the slight mist that blanketed the forest, mingling between the leaves. Besides the slight rustling of leaves caused by the artificial breeze, all was quiet. Some might find the stillness of the forest a little unsettling, but Will relished it. After all, the only thing bad that could happen in this forest was tripping and getting a cut or two. It was probably the safest forest you could have ever been in.

Will loved coming to the forest, a change of scenery from the normal futuristic and metallic environment that was his city, Lunaris. State of the art and almost completely automated, nature just didn’t fit in amidst the electrical gadgetry.

Will gazed across the treetops, the forest continuing a couple of miles before coming to an abrupt end, a wall of glass preventing any further advancement of the plant life. The glass of the dome, almost completely flawless except for a few obvious scratches, stretched over the entirety of the forest, encasing it in a controlled environment for optimum growth and health. Will stared out at the darkness of space just beyond the glass, seeing Earth looming in the background. This Earth however, didn’t have the blue seas and green lands that Will learnt of in his studies, instead replaced by a planet with whitewashed land masses and frozen oceans; a mass graveyard for the billions of people not fortunate enough to be chosen for Lunaris.

The year was 89 P.M. or post migration. 89 years after the mass migration of human civilization to Lunaris, the city on the moon. A colony that spread across the entire surface of the moon with the sole purpose of preserving human existence. To prevent the extinction of the human race.

It was the year 2057 when the migration took place, but preparations started three years prior. Rising global temperatures were what prompted the development, although it was a massive volcanic eruption that set it into overdrive. Operations and developments were spearheaded by the Highland corporation, a company that specialized in research and development of all types of fields, from medical advancements to mechanical engineering. Their main focus however was gene therapy or genetic modification. For three years, infrastructures were set up on the moon, mass transport crafts built to ferry the people to their new home. The greatest minds in the world pooled their assets and worked for the highland corporation, for the greater good of the human race.

Two months before the migration, that was when mount Poruvia erupted. Nobody could have anticipated it. Mount Poruvia basically appeared overnight, somewhere along the pacific and although little was known about the new volcano, it was really active. It was no later than a week after its formation that the eruption occurred, the biggest in recorded history. The ash plume was so big, sunlight was blocked out in most parts of the world, causing temperatures to drop due to the decreased sunlight. Ironic how all this was in preparation of rising temperatures but dropping temperatures was what it was for in the end.

Of course, not everyone on Earth could be brought to Lunaris due to limited resources. It was decided that only the genetically superior, people possessing genes with favorable characteristics that were to be chosen. Genes that would benefit the human race should the need for repopulation of the Earth come around. Genes coding for increased immunity, physical endurance and mental capacity to name a few. Controversial as it may be, people with any medical condition, past or present, were excluded immediately while family trees that possessed none were required to undergo genetic testing. There were, of course, the rich who thought that they could buy their way onto Lunaris, but with the Highland corporation solely in charge of determining a person’s eligibility and money not being high on their list, these bribes were denied.

A total of 700 million people made the journey to the moon, while the rest of the world were left to die on the freezing planet. There were some backlash on Highland’s methods but after all that the company had done, these were few and far between. Most understood and accepted fate as it came. The lucky people who got chosen settled into their new life on Lunaris, with the Highland corporation as a sort of government.

Life on Lunaris could be called a utopia so to speak. Crime is non-existent, everyone is afforded whatever is necessary for a comfortable life and, although laws and rules are abundant, are all mostly for the good of the entire colony. Some might say such a life is ideal, but others want more than that. William ‘Will’ Harrison was one of those people.

A third generation Lunarision, all he knew was life on Lunaris. Sure, he was comfortable with his life, but he never felt connected to the place. He always felt that the more automated Lunaris became, the more unfeeling Lunarisions became, more like machines than humans. That was why he liked coming to the forest. It was a place he could escape the machines and see how nature was, to make him feel human again.

Will closed his eyes, enjoying the time he could do this, for it wasn’t long before he knew he would no longer be able to. His 21st birthday was coming in two days and it was time for him to become a contributing member of the colony. It was mandatory for everyone on Lunaris to get a proper education, a good fourteen years of time to get a fair amount of knowledge, starting when the child reaches the age of seven.

The first seven years of education are spent with theory of everything and anything. Everything you needed to know about every job and facet of life on Lunaris was taught through a system called the cognitive knowledge transfer or CKT. It was a very efficient method, basically turning humans into computers. Electrodes transfer huge amounts of information through nerves, which are then converted to images within the student’s brain. During the process, drugs are pumped into the body, improving cognitive functions, which helps the brain cope with the huge amounts of information.

The next seven years are hands on. With the theory and knowledge, students are tasked to put their knowledge to use in a practical environment. Under the guidance of teachers of various vocations, students are taught the ins and outs of every job on Lunaris. From musician to healthcare worker, jobs are classified as either sustaining or preserving. Sustaining jobs helped the colony function while preserving jobs are there to preserve human culture and history. After fourteen years, before you’re 21st birthday, a test was taken assessing a students affinity for any specific job, skills and talents all contributing to the final decision of integration on Lunaris.

A test that Will had just completed that morning, so a trip to the forest seemed just about right for him. He needed to get his mind off the prospect that this was the time for him to become an adult. The time that he needed to start thinking about the good of the colony rather than goofing off every now and then. To get over the anxiety of not knowing what job he would be stuck with for the rest of his life.

Will was never one to follow the path laid out in front of him, always wanting to find out more, learn new things, change things up every now and then; A personality trait that didn’t fit in the order and conformity that was Lunaris. However, no matter how much Will wanted life to be more carefree and unscripted, he knew that things worked as they were and thinking that it was going to change was foolish. Yeah, he may not have liked the idea that he would soon fall into the monotony of work, but he needed to do what he needed to do.

As he lay on the hill with his eyes closed, it somehow didn’t feel like he was on a moon. Everything from the smell to the sounds, nothing seemed to fit the silence and emptiness that was space.

“Echo!!!” The voice reverberated within the dome, echoing and disrupting the peace that Will was enjoying. A frown graced his features, annoyed that someone had to spoil his alone time.

“Seriously?” Will whispered, popping an eye open, scanning for the source of the voice. Sure the person had every right to be there, but no one ever came to the forest. Everyone was simply too busy with anything else to bother about something as insignificant as visiting the dome forest. Will was conflicted however, half wanting the person to leave and the other half, curious as to why there was someone else there besides him, because countless times Will had visited the place, and not once had he encountered anyone.

“Hello!!!” The voice echoed once more, the tone of glee in his voice was unmistakable. Curiosity bubbled within Will, wondering if he had finally found someone who shared his love for the forest. He sat up, scanning the area around him for the unknown source. It didn’t sound too far away but the echoing didn’t help Will pinpoint the direction the shout came from. What Will did have however, was a good vantage point. He scanned down the hill, finally seeing the figure standing a couple hundred feet away looking out to the forest.

Will observed and took in the person in front of him. The guy was pretty big, approximately 6’2″ with broad shoulders that narrowed down to his waist. His short brown hair was neatly combed back in a nice quiff and his clothes hugged his figure in a way that was only possible if it was tailored for him. As the guy looked at the world before him, Will caught a glimpse of his face. Even from that distance, Will knew the guy was handsome, unusually more than what should be normal. A thought ran through Will’s mind as to the reason, but dismissed it from how absurd it sounded to him. Still, his curiosity was peaked, and he couldn’t help himself pushing off the floor and heading in the direction of this stranger.

“Hey!” Will shouted, attracting the attention of the handsome stud. The guy turned in surprised, not expecting for anyone else to be there. Thane Hopper watched as Will made his way down the hill, taking in the appearance of the man walking towards him. With a somewhat slim build, Will was just another Lunarision who most people wouldn’t have noticed. At roughly 6′ tall, his black hair and mixed Caucasian-Asian look was common and uninteresting on Lunaris, but still, Will caught Thane’s eye. With his green eyes and small nose, his fringe coming down just above his eyebrows in a side-swept fashion, Will had a cute look that intrigued Thane.

“Hi.” Thane replied, giving a small wave to Will. “I didn’t know anyone ever came here.”

“Well that was what I was thinking. I’ve been here many times and this is the first time I’ve ever seen anyone.” Will said, staring intently at the stranger’s face. Will examined the perfect curves and angles of Thane’s face. His almost silver eyes were striking, coupled with lush lips and a strong jaw that looked so perfect in every way. “So…you uh…come here often?”

“Actually it’s my first time.” Thane said, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under Will’s gaze. He had inkling as to why Will was staring though, it was basically written on his face.

“Hmm, so you’re a natal?” Will asked.

“Um yeah, why would you think otherwise?” Thane replied, trying to keep as calm as possible. Surely this person wouldn’t guess that he was an elite right? He didn’t even know why he was so scared that this person knew he was elite. What did it matter anyway?

“Hmm, maybe because you don’t look like a natal. I could’ve sworn you’re an elite.” Will said, raising an eyebrow. “But then again, why would an elite come down to the forest? Surely they have much more important things to attend to. Plus, why would an elite degrade himself by identifying as a natal?” Will probed, watching for any reaction from the man in front of him.

Lunaris basically had two separate classes, namely elites and natals. Natals were like Will, normal, working class citizens of Lunaris. Natals were born as per how normal humans reproduce. A natural conception if you would call it that. Natals were brought up as normal children would be, and educated through the CKT system, who eventually worked on Lunaris. Natal spouses however, were still paired based on genetic compatibility, having parents from vastly different gene pools. A method to increase genetic variation and decrease the risk of inbreeding and mutations. That reason was why many pairings were between different races, and hence why Will’s mixed look was common on Lunaris.

Elites however, weren’t as simple; they were the cream of the crop. Originally, elites comprised of the best of the best in all fields known to man, most of whom were already working for the Highland corporation prior to the migration. It wasn’t debated upon, knowing who better to lead Lunaris than the brightest and greatest of the human species. As the years passed and the elites got older, new generations of elites had to be made, and that’s what they did.

With the greatest minds working together, advancements in genetic modification grew at an exponential rate. Elites started making babies, combining all the best genes from the human species and basically producing perfect humans. Elite children still required genes from two parents, although their genes were altered to include the best alleles. Unlike test tube babies of the past however, the embryos were grown in a growth chamber rather than a surrogate mother.

Elite children however, were not educated the same way natals were. The same CKT system was used, although their learning was more focused. Learning was directed towards the same field that their parents specialized in, learning every aspect of both their parent’s trades. Their fields were decided from the beginning, and everything was done to make them the best at that specific field. All in all, creating a perfect successor.

“Oh I look like an elite? That’s quite a compliment.” Thane replied, growing nervous at Will’s probing.

“Just drop the act. There is no way you’re a natal. An elite is unmistakable, even though I have never met one, until now I guess.” Will said, looking away from the handsome stranger in front of him.

Knowing the facade was over, Thane didn’t bother trying to convince Will. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to lie. Elites are sometimes not well received by natals.”

“Well, it’s kind of an inferior complex kind of thing I guess. We want to believe that we’re all the same, but we know otherwise.” Will said.

“Please don’t think that we are better than you. We are all humans after all. I know that’s what a lot of natals think of elites.”

“Yeah we do, but only because it’s true. I mean that’s kinda what elites are supposed to be right. If you guys were the same as us then what’s the whole point of having a class system. It’s not even you’re fault. You didn’t ask to be made perfect.” Will said, looking out at the forest again.

“We’re not perfect.”

“Yeah right. You guys are as perfect as humanly possible. Insanely smart, impossibly athletic and look like you guys were carved from marble. I mean have you seen yourself in the mirror? You’re like a walking statue of a god.” Will said. He didn’t know why he was talking the way he was. A natal didn’t talk to an elite like that. Elites were to be respected, and arguing with one wasn’t considered respectful.

“You think I look good?” Thane asked, disrupting Will’s train of thought. Realizing that he may have crossed a line he wasn’t supposed to, Will quickly apologized.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to talk like that. It was out of line.”

“No, don’t apologize. It’s refreshing having someone who just treats me like a person. You have no idea the expectations that are put upon me. It’s exhausting at times. That’s why I came here in the first place, to forget all the shit that is expected of me. I just want to live a simple life.” Thane said, dropping down onto the ground

“Hmm, can’t say I understand what you’re going through but I can imagine. As a natal you don’t really have much expectations. You just do as you’re told. I guess elites have a lot more pressure, what with needing to lead Lunaris and all.” Will said, taking a seat beside Thane.

Thane chuckled, shaking his head. “Okay well, I came here to forget my worries. I’m Thane by the way.” He said, stretching out his hand. Will returned the handshake, introducing himself. “So Will, based on you’re looks I’m guessing you’re about 21? I’m assuming you haven’t taken the test yet, or you wouldn’t have time to be here now would you.”

“Actually I just took the test this morning. I needed to clear my head after that.”

“Really, why?”

“I just don’t like the idea of being stuck with what the test says for the rest of my life. I don’t like the idea of monotony, never had, never will.”

“Well what I wouldn’t give for some monotony. Seems like I’m more a natal and you’re more of an elite.” Thane laughed, looking out across the treetops. “So, have you ever been to the other forest domes?”

“Nah. I know there are but I think I would prefer this to the wet rainforest. Besides, those are across the moon.”

“Well I can’t argue with that. You know, these forest domes provide most of the oxygen for Lunaris. The domes are spread across the moon to maximize the available sunlight that shines on the moon at any one time. A technological marvel combining technology and botany.” Thane said, smiling.

“Yeah I know. When they teach us everything about Lunaris, they really mean everything.” Will laughed.

“Oh right.” Thane said, blushing a deep shade of red.

“What do you specialize in anyway? If you don’t mind me asking.” Will asked, looking to the hunk beside him. Will knew he found Thane attractive but kept it in check. Homosexuality wasn’t frowned upon from a morality standpoint, but unacceptable in the grand scheme of things. The main reason anyone was on Lunaris, was to one day repopulate the earth. That couldn’t happen between two males. So Will knew it was best if he kept his preference on the down low.

“Electrical engineering and psychology.” Thane replied.

“Wow talk about different ends of the spectrum.”

“Yeah well, my dad’s an electrical genius and my mom’s a world class shrink. It kinda comes with the package.”

“I see, so I guess you’re an expert on the human psyche then?”

“Well I wouldn’t say expert, but I can definitely read some people.”

“What about me? Can you read me?”

“You’re a little hard to read, but I’m seeing a lot of a suppressed rebellious side to you. I also sense that you’re the quiet sufferer, keeping your problems to yourself and braving them rather than seeking help from others. Independent in a way.” Thane said.

“Okay, you’re good.” Will said, chuckling a little.

“Like how you’re kicking yourself over your attraction to me.” Will’s laughter ceased immediately and turned his wide-eyed stare to Thane. “You’re angry that you’re feeling attraction to another guy and yet scared that someone would find out. Scared that an elite…would find out.” Will visibly swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn’t know what to feel.

“Umm, I don’t find you attractive.” Will choked out.

“It’s okay Will, I’m not one of those anti homo types. In fact, the feeling is mutual.” If Will’s eyes weren’t already bulging, they would have doubled in size. “I did say that not all elites were perfect.” Thane smirked.

“Whoa wait…” Will started but was cut off by an annoying beeping.

It was Thane’s BIC. A biologically integrated communicator or BIC was a watch-like device that was imbedded into the wrist of every Lunarision. The BIC connected to the blood vessels within the wrist, able to monitor the wearers vitals. Apart from its medical uses, the BIC was also a communicator, much like a mobile phone. “Looks like business calls.” Thane said, shaking his beeping wrist. “It was nice meeting you Will. Maybe I’ll see you again some day.” He said, getting up and shooting one last smirk at Will.

“Uh, yeah sure.” Will replied stupidly, watching as Thane ran off to the exit. He wasn’t sure what to make of what just happened. He thought it was surreal that an elite had just said he felt attraction with Will, a natal of all people, and more shocking than that, was that the elite was a guy. The thought that maybe it was a joke crossed his mind, that maybe it was a common thing for elites to play pranks on unsuspecting natals. Will did know one thing though, and that was that he would probably never see Thane again.

Elites and natals just didn’t coexist in the way you think they would. 21 years on Lunaris and it was the first time Will had ever encountered an elite. The boundaries were clear and somehow everyone was okay with that. Elites could sometimes come across as intimidating to many natals, and elites on the other hand, didn’t feel like they could connect with natals on a personal level. It was neither of their faults, just that both sects didn’t understand each other.

After trying to wrap his mind around the encounter with Thane, Will tried to put it behind him, trying to forget whatever was said. A part of him was scared that he had been exposed, and it was just a matter of time before elites came after him to eliminate the gay from the colony, but he rationalized that he never actually said anything that incriminated him in anyway. He didn’t say that he was gay. Still though, the fear was there, but he knew only time would tell if anything would come out from it.

Will looked to his BIC and saw the time, noticing that it was getting late and his parents should be wondering about his whereabouts. He exited the dome and immediately the sounds of the city returned to his ears. Goodbye to the peace of the forest, and hello to the bustle of city life. Will stuck his hands into his pockets, making his way to the tram that was the primary means of transport around Lunaris.

Looking at the world around him, he noticed the different groups of people going about their own business. He looked at the natals who walked by, some carrying crates of paint, others working away at woodcarvings. The area surrounding the forest was predominantly where the preserving jobs were located, especially those that required wood from the forest. Naturally, carpenters and painters set up their businesses in the area.

Will wondered if this was where he would be placed, whether he would be posted to a sustaining or preserving job. He didn’t even know which he preferred. He liked the idea of a preserving job, to tie him to human history and heritage, but he was never really good at those kinds of stuff. A sustaining job made him feel like he could contribute more but still it didn’t seem right to him. He felt like he didn’t fit in anywhere.

As he stepped onto the tram, he looked out the window, watching as the tram shot down the track towards his house. His eyes watched the screens atop the glass buildings, some showing news of events happening around Lunaris while others showing ads and trivia about the city. Will rolled his eyes at the obvious propaganda tactic but couldn’t do anything other than ignore it.

Once or twice, President Dart’s face would appear on a screen before fading out to the Lunaris logo. President Everett Dart was the top gun so to speak, the overall in charge of all the workings of Lunaris. It was a rumor that he used to be CEO of Highland Corporation, but most people dismissed it as that would make him almost two centuries old. Still, most wondered why President Dart didn’t look like he ever aged. He, of course was an elite, but he didn’t have the perfect look that most elites had. He still looked human, flaws and all, but it’s just another conspiracy theory.

When the tram came to a standstill at his stop, he stepped off. He looked off in the distance and could see the city centre looming in the background. Tall buildings painted the skyline, with one in particular, The Spire as it was called, towering over the rest. The structure was so tall it pierced the ceiling of the dome, leading to a small glass orb that hovered over the entire city. The residence of President Dart. The city centre was where most of the elites lived, a place where most natals never stepped foot into.

Will walked down the path, seeing identical houses to his left and right. Most natals lived in the same type of accommodations, basically a moderately sized two-story apartment, comfortable for an occupancy of four. These houses were concentrated in residential areas, the idea being to foster a feeling of community, but with most natals busy working a lot of times, the idea was just that, an idea. Will for one, hardly saw any of his neighbors, let alone talked to them.

He arrived at his front door, which was a slab of reinforced glass, the usual doorknob and lock nowhere to be seen. Will waved his BIC in front of the door, which beeped once before sliding open, closing once he stepped through it. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!” Will shouted out, his voice carrying through the house.

“We’re in the Kitchen dear. Dinner’s about ready.” He heard his mother reply. Will made the familiar way to the kitchen, seeing his father at the table with eyes focused on the table top, a news article displayed across the interactive glass interface. His father shot him a quick smile before returning to his news while Will’s mom got dinner ready.

Trevor Harrison was a man in his late fifties. Despite his young age though, grey streaks painted the sides of his otherwise brown hair, making him look older than he actually was. Sarah Harrison was different though, although the same age as Trevor, looked a lot younger than her age. With her Asian blood, she had classic black hair, which was passed down to Will.

“So what’s for dinner?” Will asked, walking up behind his mother, looking over her shoulders to the pot of mash potatoes on the conduction stove. “Hmm, smells good.”

“There is chicken too if you’re wondering.” His mother said as Will took a seat beside his father.

“Oh really? Real chicken or synthetic.” Will asked, raising an eyebrow at his mother. All food on Lunaris was synthetic, manufactured in a factory somewhere from basic components like protein, carbohydrates and such. In the beginning, food was grown as it would have been on earth but after awhile, they realized that the yield from growing crops and farming animals weren’t high enough to sustain Lunaris, hence the current method of synthetic food.

“Don’t ask stupid questions Will.” Sarah scolded, which Will simply chuckled at.

“So how was the test today?” Trevor asked his son.

“You know, same as any other CKT session. Didn’t really remember what happened in the test though.” Will replied, recalling the test that morning.

“Yeah well it’s like that. No one ever remembers what happens in the test. Most people think we’re made to forget what happens so we can’t tell anyone who hasn’t already taken the test, anything about it.”

“Hmm makes sense, I mean if it’s supposed to be unbiased and everything.”

“Yeah well, what do you hope to get though?” His father asked.

“Honestly Dad, I really don’t know. I mean, I don’t think I fit in anywhere to be truthful.”

“Oh honey, don’t worry. I felt that way when I was younger too, but when I became a nurse, I realized that it just fit me.” Sarah said, bringing a couple plates to the table, laying one in front of Will. “Ok Trev, time for dinner.” She said, swiping the articles across the table, which disappeared at the edge of the glass.

“Hey I was still reading that.” Trevor whined, before Sarah put a plate down in front of him.

“Eat now, you can read again later.” Will chuckled at his parent’s antics. He knew that natal spouses were paired based on genetic compatibility, and many of them never really fell in love with each other. He was lucky that his parents actually did though; he could see how much his parents loved each other.

“So anyway, I’m assuming you went to the forest again after the test just now.” Trevor asked, taking a spoonful of potatoes. Will nodded in response.

“Will, I don’t like you going there. You might get hurt.” Sarah said, worry etched into her features. She had never liked the fact that Will frequented the forest, although she knew that she couldn’t do anything to prevent it from happening.

“C’mon now Sarah. You and I both know that there is nothing dangerous in that forest. Besides, he has Harrison blood in him, I think my son can handle himself if push comes to shove.” Trevor said.

“Yeah Mom, it’s fine. Anyway, I won’t have time to go there much after my posting anyway.” Will defended himself.

“And for that I’m glad. And you,” She said, pointing a finger at Trevor. “You need to stop encouraging him. You are the tough animal handler, not Will.” Trevor worked as an animal handler on Lunaris, one of the more physical jobs you could find. Not too long ago, the environment domes were filled with wildlife from earth, to keep their species viable as well. Trevor was an animal handler whose job was to ensure the upkeep of these animals, as well as to keep any visitors, mostly the occasional scientist, safe while they were inside. They were something akin to a park ranger.

However, a couple of incidents involving animal attacks made it clear that free roaming animals in these domes were not safe. Hence, the decision was made to house all these animals in a sort of stasis. Animal handlers like Trevor no longer needed to patrol the domes and take care of animals in the wild. They were however converted into a somewhat veterinary kind of job, instead looking after the well being of these creatures that were stuck in suspended animation.

“He may be, you never know. For all we know he may become an animal handler too.” Trevor said.

“Yeah…no. Sorry Dad, but animals just aren’t my thing. The time I interned for that job was a disaster.” Will said, shaking his head at the memory of it.

“Well a man can hope can’t he?”

“Well whatever you get, I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Sarah said, patting Will on the shoulder.

“I hope so Mom.” Even with all the assurance from his parents however, Will just didn’t feel comfortable with the whole situation. He felt that something was off, and he couldn’t tell what it was. He chalked it up to him just being nervous about getting a final job and left it at that.

“So anyway, anything interesting happened at the forest today?” Trevor asked, looking expectantly at his son.

“Actually yeah.” Trevor looked shocked for a moment, not expecting that answer. So many times he had asked the same questions, more a formality than anything, and always had he heard the same answer. ‘Same old, same old.’

“Care to elaborate?”

“Well, I met an elite.” Will said.

“An elite, really? A scientist? They don’t usually go there anymore.” Trevor asked, his interest peaked. Even Sarah seemed a little more curious.

“No actually. He was kinda my age I guess. Said he was there to clear his head or something. Funny thing was, he actually thought he could fool me into thinking he was a natal.”

“Wait, he tried to pass off as a natal?” Sarah asked, to which Will nodded in return. “That’s strange, I’ve never met an elite who said anything close to that.”

“Do you meet a lot of them?” Will asked.

“Quite a few. A lot of them come to the hospital to help treat some of the more serious patients. You know, all the smart medical types.” Sarah replied.

“So what are they like in general?” Sarah shot a curious look at Will, wondering why her son was so interested in the topic.

“They come with all sorts of personalities, much like natals. Why are you so interested anyway?” She probed. Will blushed when he realized he may have come off a little too enthusiastic.

“Oh no reason. It was just the first time I had met an elite and, I don’t know, he was kinda weird.” Will said, leaving out any other details that he felt shouldn’t be said.

“Well you may just find them weird because you don’t interact with many of them. They behave a little differently from everyone else. Maybe it has something to do with the authority that they carry.” Sarah said, returning to her meal.

“Hmm, maybe.” Will said. That was what was bothering Will though. Thane wasn’t different. Will was surprised at how easy it was to talk to Thane, even if they were supposed to be really different, and authority wasn’t something he felt when he spoke with Thane. One thing was for sure though, meeting Thane had stirred something up in Will. Something that set off his intrigue and curiosity. Will’s desire to learn more about elites had been kindled.

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