She tapped her short-trimmed nails impatiently on the edge of her tablet, glanced at the clock, then around the room. It was a small space, bare, and white -- just like everywhere else. Everything was white here, everything made from the ubiquitous milk-white resin.
There were eight in her study group, all focused on their tablets, some sitting erect and square in their chairs, others cross-legged. Sig neglected his chair altogether and stooped over a table in the corner, swaying with his usual nervous energy.
They were all the same. The same white coveralls. The same short, tight haircuts. The same slippers. The same age.
The uniformity made the little differences stand out: shades of skin color, hair color, facial structure, body type, makeup, accessories. There was always a way to stand out, for those interested in doing so.
Omi frowned and looked down at her study functions. Differentiation was usually an engaging puzzle, but her mind wouldn't stick to the work at hand.
After a few minutes, her tablet chimed a gentle reminder: her appointment started in fifteen minutes. She took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. Several heads turned her direction, and Beta gave her a knowing smile.
She stretched and stood.
"See you all tomorrow," she said, mustering confidence.
There were murmured polite goodbyes. Sig waved in her direction but didn't look up from his work. Beta gave her a big grin.
Omi turned on her heel and left the room, coveralls swishing, slippers squeaking quietly against the resin floor.
Excited, nervous, eager, anxious -- she worked through her counting exercises as she made her way through the corridors. When she found the right door she half-hoped it wouldn't open.
She was relieved when it did.
The room illuminated as she stepped in, and the door clicked shut behind her. Immediately ahead of her, on the opposite wall, was another door.
There's the pod,
she thought. She had seen it thousands of times remotely, but this would be her first time inside.
She looked around the room, and aside from having two doors, it was a standard bathroom unit: white, clean, and sterile. There was a toilet to the side, a locking cabinet, and a shower stall. Next to the sink was a small collection of toiletries. Beside that a full-length mirror, and a rack of fresh white towels.
"Hello Omicron Six," the soft voice of the Benevolent greeted her. "Thank you for arriving on time."
"Hi B," she replied, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Rho Fifteen is on his way to the pod. You have one hour. Please enjoy."
"I'll do my best, B."
Ok,
she encouraged herself.
Piece of cake. No sweat.
She put her tablet on the counter and undressed.
With a practiced motion she unzipped her overalls from her neck to her navel, shrugged it off her shoulders and arms, and dropped the loose garment to the floor around her ankles. She shivered.
"Warmer, please."
The air shifted and warmed.
She quickly removed her underwear then scooped up her clothes, folding them neatly and putting them in the cabinet.
After a quick shower she toweled off and stood in front of the mirror, examining herself with a critical eye. She felt skinny and androgynous, with slim hips and small breasts. She had a flash of doubt and her stomach clenched. She had seen Rho and Beta together, and how he responded when he looked over her body.
Was this a mistake?
She sighed. He was a beautiful man, and very experienced. She had watched him for months, and was enamored by the way he moved. She had been jealous when Beta picked him for her First, and started fretting about her own performance after watching them together.
Her stomach knotted and she focused on her breathing, counting as she slowly exhaled, pushing the buzz of anxiety out of her mind.
The Benevolent condoned.
Rho consented.
This how I want it.
She found a standard-issue cosmetics case amongst the toiletries. Her routine was practiced, efficient, and calmed her nerves: she didn't need much, just face cream and subtle lip and eyeliner for a little extra pop.
Satisfied with the results, she picked up her tablet and flicked to the monitor. Rho had arrived and was sitting naked on the platform in the middle of the room. She zoomed in on his face and found it kind and thoughtful.
Her skin flushed in anticipation, and she smiled to herself. She set down her tablet, straightened her posture in front of the mirror, and gave her nude reflection an encouraging thumbs-up.
Head high and shoulders back, she walked to the second door, opened it, and entered the pod.
Rho looked up, his eyes quickly appraising her figure before meeting her gaze. His full lips spread in an open smile. He rose from the platform and gave her a friendly nod.
"Hi Omi."
"Hey Rho."
Her cheeks went hot and she grinned: he was ready for her, and prominently so.
What a beautiful man,
she thought.
The bell chimed as she lay quietly, wrapped in his arms.
"You have ten minutes," the Benevolent said. "Please clear the pod."
Rho sat up and looked down at her affectionately, smiling his brilliant smile. She watched him intently as he stood.
"Congratulations on your First, and thank you."
She nodded and smiled.
With that, he turned and walked out of the pod, the door to his changing room shutting behind him with a quiet click.
She stretched, pointing her toes and reaching over her head, then relaxed for another few moments.
Who was watching?
She looked around the room, eyes scanning the ceiling and walls. They looked like everything and everywhere else in the city: translucent white panels, bonded together and glowing gently.
She waved her fingers in a vague goodbye to no one in particular and rolled off the platform to her feet.
In the changing room she was lost in her own thoughts. She showered again and used the toilet. No cosmetics. She put a pad in her panties before she got dressed, thanking the Benevolent for that particular piece of advice. Her education had been thorough.
The bell chimed.
"Hello, Omicron Six. Your time has expired. Congratulations on your first encounter. May you enjoy many more!"
Omi smirked. "Thanks, B."
She adjusted her coveralls to hang properly on her frame, ran her fingers through her short-cropped hair, and picked up her tablet. It pulsed with inbound messages, provoking the butterflies in her stomach. She entered the corridor and walked quickly to her quarters, avoiding the popular intersections where she might encounter someone she knew.
She wasn't ready to talk quite yet.
Her room configured itself as soon as she unlocked the door. The ambient light was low, and the wall screens were set to an endless pattern of slow shifting colors. Subtle white noise emanated from nowhere in particular, and the temperature increased a few degrees.
She tossed her tablet onto her bunk, removed her coveralls, and hoisted herself up onto the bed.
Omi lay flat, willing herself to sink into the pad. She closed her eyes and focused on her counting exercises until her heart resumed its normal slow beat.
"Ceiling, please."
The ceiling screen blinked to life above her, with an indication that her inbox had nearly a hundred new messages. She mustered her courage and gestured them open.
Most of them were from people she didn't recognize, as expected. She scrolled through the list until she found her guardians' names.
Omi!! We are so proud of you. Of course we watched. You were