CHAPTER 1
Lio picked at the embedded glass in her palm. She squeezed and the tiny shards tore to the surface. Adrenaline bubbled under her skin, and she couldn’t decide if she’d rather cry or laugh. Lio hadn’t planned much for her twenty-second birthday, but a whiskey bottle to the face had been unexpected. The sight of her father, weeping, trying to pull her mother off of her lingered in her mind. She shuddered and lifted herself off the frigid concrete stoop. Her parents had quieted inside, but Lio would rather be anywhere else.
It was just after nine and the city was coming alive. Cars and pedestrians traveled hurriedly to their New Years' Eve destinations. A frosty December breeze bit at her exposed shoulders.
“Shit.” Lio warmed her injured hands with her breath. She had left her coat on the kitchen chair. She glanced down at her soiled outfit, the knit sweater hung off her shoulders and was completely inadequate for the night air of Kansas City. Let alone in December. Lio palmed her pockets for her phone as she walked towards the neighborhood convenience store. She had a message from Maya.
You’re still coming tonight right? Do I need to pick you up?
Lio sighed and swung open the door to the convenience store. The man behind the counter eyed her warily, glancing at her stained sweater and cut lip. Lio didn’t hold it against him but walked back towards the coolers. She typed out a reply :
Yeah… So IDK if I’ll make it. I’m not really feeling well.
Lio looked over the coolers, ignoring the alcohol and choosing her favorite can of fruit tea. Her phone buzzed in her hand with a text from Maya.
Look, if you don’t want to come you don’t have to lie about being sick. I know you don’t like parties, but I thought you’d at least show up. We got a cake and everything Lio.
Lio debated defending herself, trying to explain how or why her night had turned to total shit. How her mother, completely sauced, had ambushed her when she had come downstairs to leave for the party. It had been years since her mother had gotten violently drunk, not that Lio had forgotten those times either. Lio’s eyes flicked to the small scar on her pinky. A token of the fight that had caused her mother to stay sober the last eight years. Well, not after tonight.
Lio looked again at her phone and felt a deep weariness. She shoved the device back into her pocket, without responding and walked to the counter. The man's dark brows lowered as she approached, behind him the local news played on a small television.
“… thousands across the country have gathered at their local Rhoth terminals. Terminal data was reset at approximately 1:30 this afternoon. New or returning applicants are hopeful for a chance to join the Rhoth Initiative. In response, humanist protests have appeared at…”
Lio set the can down and dug a few crumpled bills from her pocket.
“Fuckin’ degenerates.”
Lio’s head popped up at the man’s swear. He grabbed the can, and for the first time, Lio noticed that he was missing a finger. The surly man was scowling at the television. Her uneasiness spread as she realized this man was likely a purist and had cut his own index finger off. The Rhoth, like it or not, rejected everyone with missing appendages. To demonstrate their hatred and refusal to accept the Rhoth some humans had chosen to mutilate themselves. The man dug out her change and handed it to her.
“Thanks,” Lio said sheepishly. The man grunted gruffly in response. Lio pushed her hip into the door, choosing to brave the winter air than the man’s cool looks. It’s not like he could tell, Lio told herself. Lio had applied to the Rhoth Initiative last year on her birthday but never made it past the preliminary assessment. With the terminals reset, the edge of a possibility cut through her mind. Lio chewed her cheek. She hadn’t planned on visiting a terminal tonight. Her sigh clouded the air in front of her.
Why not now? That single thought solidified her plan. Lio shivered, though not entirely from the cold. Her mind and body whirred with anticipation. It had been ten years since the Rhoth had appeared to humanity, erecting recruitment terminals across the globe. The Rhoth promised adventure, compensation, and purpose for those willing to align themselves with their cause. And while it meant being a mercenary, the opportunity to explore and experience the cosmos had tempted millions, including Lio.
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The Rhoth had created terminals as a liaison between their Earth HQ and the everyday human. The terminals were erected overnight and seemed to be correlated to population density. Initially, there had been chaos; people feared international terrorism, threats of invasion, war, or literally the apocalypse. What eventually became clear was that Rhoth agents had been in communications with world governments and that some governments had chosen to enter negotiations with the Rhoth.
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That day amid the horror and panic of the masses, different governments held conferences detailing why or why not they would be entering diplomacies with a new extraterrestrial life form. Outrage from the citizens grew, but so did human interest. Who were the Rhoth? Were they here to destroy us, or could we expect benevolence?
From the gate, certain early adopter countries reaped massive benefits by engaging with the Rhoth. In particular, India had been the most vocal and staunch in their support of Rhoth beings on Earth. They built the first International Embassy in Mumbai. The Rhoth were interested in communication and cultural exchange and India was the place to experience that. Tourism alone doubled India’s national economy. But it turned out, that wasn’t the only thing the Rhoth were interested in.
Lio eyed the few people queuing up in front of the Rhoth terminal. It consisted of a pillar about four feet high and projected a holographic image into the air above it. At first, the terminals had communicated exclusively with written word, but the monoliths had been updated with regional languages over the years. Lio stepped into line behind a man in his early thirties. She shifted on her feet nervously; the man in front of her flinched and turned at her entrance. His body was tense, expression alert. She froze her feet, unsure how her arrival had upset the man. She watched his shoulders relax and he looked strangely apologetic.
“Sorry, they just broke up the protesters and I’m still on edge,” he offered as an explanation.
“No worries,” Lio replied and released the breath she was holding. She had been worried about the protesters as well. There had always been a group of humans that had rejected the Rhoth and any interactions with them. But that group had grown when humanity had been offered the chance to join the Rhoth Initiative. Protests broke out, and people splintered into either Pro or Anti Rhoth. Neighbors fought in the street, families fell apart and some countries demolished their terminals.
Lio thought their hatred stemmed from envy. The Rhoth signified opportunity. As a teenager, Lio watched as people volunteered to become recruits. Not everyone made it past the preliminary check, even fewer through the initiations but those that did were different; Stronger, faster, and immortal. Well, at least partially. Lio recalled the video of a recruit describing what he called a Reset. He had died but Rhoth technology revived him. He went on to explain that it didn’t work in every situation but that he was grateful for the chance to continue his life with the Initiative.
The line progressed and the man in front of Lio stepped up to the terminal. She was next. Anxiety flooded in, what if she was rejected again? She had gone to the terminal secretly last year and was rejected due to Insufficient Development. Lio bit her lip nervously and then flinched, remembering her cut. Her mom had somehow found out she had applied. Lio knew that was the reason for the whiskey tonight. Her mother had forbidden Lio from applying again. She could have just agreed, even if it was a lie just for the sake of peace- she should have. But she hadn’t.
She watched the terminal emit a strong light towards the man - scanning his body. It only took about two minutes for the Rhoth to decide if you were worth recruiting. Whatever advanced technology they possessed could identify disqualifying health issues. That's why extremists mutilated their bodies, why her mother had been willing to mutilate her own daughter. Lio looked again at her pinky, the scar barely visible. Her mom had stopped herself, but Lio could never look at her the same. A noise chimed in front of her.
“Congratulations, Ian Nash. You have passed all preliminary scans. To continue your recruitment process please accept this communication node.” Lio had never seen anyone pass in person. The man collected his device and turned away from the terminal. He seemed even more anxious as he scanned the area. He nodded once in her direction, and she realized with a start it was her turn. Lio stepped up to the machine. Atop the pillar was a holographic orb. The orb fluctuated between different neon colors, their vibrancy felt almost surreal.
“Hello, thank you for your interest in the Rhoth Initiative. Currently, this location is accepting applications from humans between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five. Please be advised you may only apply once annually. Would you like to apply to the Rhoth Initiative?”
“Yes.” Lio fidgeted slightly, the terminal’s voice was soothing despite its robotic quality.
“Thank you. To continue please place your palm directly on the device.” Lio reached her hand towards the machine, the icy metal bit into her hand. She had forgotten how underdressed she was in the excitement.
“Our records indicate that you have applied previously. Do you confirm that you are the returning applicant LIO FRYE?”
“Yes.” Lio kept her answers concise.
“Thank you. We will now begin the preliminary diagnostics. A transfer sample of dermal tissue and a comprehensive health analysis will be collected. Do you consent to these testings?”
“Yes,” Lio said. She felt the machine whirr slightly and a triangular beam of light began to slowly scan down the length of her body. She felt nothing as her whole body was washed in neon green, then cyan. Hope, fear, and excitement sloshed in her mind. The scanner’s color shifted to magenta, then faded away.
Please, please, please - Lio begged.
“Congratulations, Lio Frye. You have passed all preliminary scans. To continue your recruitment process please accept this communication node.”