Four Years Later
3005 AD
I stormed through our thin and dimly-lit hall, the sound of my angry steps echoing throughout our cramped ground-level apartment. I heard the sighs of my brothers as I stomped into the dining room and joined my family at the table. My parents stayed silent but I felt a twinge of guilt. I knew that sometimes my frustration got the best of me, and at those times I could be exhausting to my already tired family.
“What’s wrong, Stephanie?” my mother asked me, keeping her tone innocent despite the fact that we both knew why I was so stressed.
“The stupid Info Updates. The government has refused to even mention the dogs,” I said, staring down at my plate of meager rations.
“Well, what do you expect?” asked one of my brothers, Tom. “I mean, it’s been four years, and every day you still come storming in and mad about the IU’s. Those dogs are as good as dead. It would do you good– it would do all of us good– if you would just…” he trailed off as my look of utter disbelief became apparent to him.
I turned looking at each of my six family members in turn. My throat felt tight and it was a struggle to keep my strong opinion to myself. After a moment I gathered myself. “That’s really what you all think? You think I should give up?”
“No, we just…” my mother started to say before trailing off, unable to continue. My family’s silence answered for them.
I took a deep breath and stood up, resting my forearms on the back of my chair as I watched my silent family, none of them meeting my gaze. “Do you know why I haven’t given up?” I asked them, not expecting an answer. “I have accepted that Canaan is gone. I’ve accepted that Apple and all the others are dead. I know I will never see them again. We all know the government doesn’t like wasting time. If they didn’t want Canaan or other purebreds, they wouldn’t have taken them in those stupid hovercraft!” My voice rose slightly with confidence. “There are dogs out there somewhere, and I’m going to find them.”
“But why?” Mark, my younger brother, asked hopelessly.
I thought about this for a moment before answering, “Because. I have a feeling I’m the only one that will.” When I turned and left the room my family didn’t try to stop me, something I was grateful for.
I wandered onto the streets and decided to double check all the IU’s before returning home. I did my best to push through the crowd, irritated with how crowded the narrow streets were. The cities had been built as a last desperate measure. Scientists estimated that the deterioration of the atmosphere had started some time in the 1900s, slowly at first then faster. By the time we noticed it, the atmosphere was deteriorating so fast the world leaders had to take drastic measures to save the human race.
In 2025 the cities were built, each a large group of thick slabs built hollow on the inside used for living spaces. In between each slab was narrow pathways used as streets and the primary airflow into the city. Scientists designed giant nets that were cast over the cities, keeping out fifty percent of the sun’s heat. Without the nets, the temperature between the slab like buildings would heat to a deadly temperature. The hope was that if the cities were crowded yet ventilated, it would leave room for more trees, which would give more oxygen. It worked.
Once the cities were built everyone was assigned a city, and within a week crammed into their spaces, some assigned as farmers, and some assigned as IU voices. There were more lesser known jobs, that were assigned most commonly– the waste department and food department. The most well-known and well-sought-after job was a government position though. People who work for the government were given extra food, comfortable beds, and the best of everything. They were also greedy and cold. Despite what there personality had been before the job, they always changed.
Someone stepped on my foot and I growled quietly, then winced, hoping it wasn’t heard. My brothers always said I acted like a wolf and when I was mad they could imagine me on all fours, furry, with a tail, and with my lips drawn back and ears flattened.
I saddened at the thought, I wasn’t good at talking to people. I was always better with dogs, able to anticipate there moves and basic thoughts. They responded well to me and I responded well to them. Once they were gone, it felt like something was missing.
I sighed, shaking my head to clear the image of Canaan from my mind, something I had to do more and more often. Despite what I had said to my parents I knew part of me didn’t accept what had happened. Didn’t want to accept that even the government could be so cruel.
A loud beeping filled the air around me, causing some young children to yelp and many people to cover their ears. I flinched and ducked down with the crowd before standing taller, looking around curiously. Then I realized it was a mandatory IU, something that I had only heard once when I was really little. Slowly everyone around me began to relax and again my annoyance at the crowded city returned.
The recording started, causing me to wince as it seemed unnecessarily loud.
“Attention. This is the government of the Division of North America, delivering a mandatory Information Update. All citizens will give their full attention to our message. We are in need of service, and call on any able dog trainers to meet in the Center of Control in ten minutes.”
I barely managed to contain a gasp of astonishment at these words.
“All dog trainers are required to come alone and with nothing on them but their clothing, as this is a order sensitive to your welfare. Thank you for your cooperation.”
As the last beep that signaled the end of the message filled the air I was already moving towards the center of our city, to the huge white slab that towered above the regular gray slabs that served as our buildings. I couldn’t help but feel intimidated. I had never been to the Center of Control, as it was strictly forbidden unless you were called upon.
This order must be serious, I thought as I drew closer, my neck aching as I craned it in an effort to see the top of the Center of Control.
I reached the building and found I was one of only a few others that had gathered at the heavily guarded doors. I stated my business and a woman with long brown hair came out with a smile that felt fake and made me uncomfortable. She said hello and then led us all back to a small and comfortable room I assumed to be the waiting area. We sat there for what felt like hours, my foot bouncing lightly against the floor as I relieved my nervous energy.
The other trainers — or who I assumed to be other trainers– sat nearby. None of us spoke or even fully looked at each other. To nervous to strike up conversation.
A door opened to our left and a oficial gestured for us to follow him into the room , where I could hear the soft scrape of claws against smooth floor. My heart started beating faster and I fought the urge to rush ahead of the group and the oficial, just to get a look at the dogs I knew were ahead of me. I held back and eventually we entered the room, lining up against the wall.
My eyes were instantly glued to the dogs, each of them holding my attention for a long moment before I looked to the next one.
“Each of these dogs are exactly one year old, and all of them are purebreds,” said the official, gesturing at the dogs. “You will each pick ten dogs to train. These are not pets and will work for the government. You will only be able to train these dogs if you agree to our terms,” he said, handing each of us a small recording device, just like the one I was given when I was thirteen. “If you agree to these terms you will work with the dogs for a week, and if the government deems you worthy of continuing with the training, then you will be allowed to go on with our new program. If the government deems you unsuitable to the task, you will be sent home.”
I heard a few people around me suck in a sharp breath, obviously surprised. I stayed silent, barely hearing the official’s words as I drank in the sights, sounds, and smells of the dogs around me. I then pulled my gaze away from the dogs and pressed the button on the device.
“Attention. If you are hearing this message, then you are most likely in the Central Control system receiving details for a something we call ‘Project Alpha’. To proceed in playing a part in this project you must first swear loyalty to the government. After that you will be given the proper recompense for your work, and respect among all.”
The voice recording stopped and the sound of shifting gears started from within the devices. Within moments a small needle had stuck itself from the side of the box, and I studied it with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
“Prick your finger with the needle. This will allow us to collect blood and match your DNA any time we need to.” the official said.
Obediently I bit my lip and stuck my finger with the needle, wincing. I kept my mouth shut, deciding that even that small sign of weakness could end my newfound career. Most of the other trainers stayed silent as well except for a few who whimperedunder their breathe.
“Now raise your right hand and repeat after me,” the man said.
I obeyed hesitantly, knowing how my family would react if they found out I had sworn loyalty to the government.
“As a citizen of the X City Group, I pledge loyalty and obedience to all officials of the government,” the official said.
I and the rest of the trainers repeated after the man.
“I understand that to disobey or betray the government would be treason, punishable by a most painful death to keep order among the citizens.”
Everyone in the room repeated the official’s words, though nervous glances darted among us at the thought of a ‘most painful death’.
“I swear that I will take all orders from those in the government seriously and selflessly,” continued the government official. “I will continue to aspire in this task until death. For the people and the government.”
Once we were done repeating the pledge, I let my hand drop thankfully to my side. It felt as if a sudden weight had just been pushed onto my shoulders, giving me an uneasy feeling.
The official nodded to the line of waiting trainers and newly assigned government agents, giving them the okay to go pick their teams of dogs.
I suddenly felt nervous. Which dogs should I choose? Would they like me? Would my family be mad at me when they found out about my new job? Would I fail? These thoughts froze me in place. I shouldn’t have come, I thought. Then I shook my head, clearing away the brief feelings of regret and fear, determination filling me. Sure, my family would be mad. The dogs might not like me at first. But I would choose the dogs that my gut told me to choose. I would not fail.
