Course Diverted

The agent sat across from Michelle, rifling through paperwork. The room looked more like an old-fashioned interrogation cell than a government office. He found the sheet he was looking for and closed his folder.

"Now, Mrs. Carter," he said, "there's a few things we'll need to go over before we begin your final assessment. Firstly, although I know you've already read and signed the Interstellar Travel Consent form, I am also required to receive verbal consent on several important matters before we proceed. Are you aware that true faster-than-light travel is impossible, and you will arrive at your destination years after your departure?"

Michelle nodded.

"Yes."

"Are you aware that you will make your journey in cryostasis, and will have no recollection of your time en route to your destination?"

"Yes."

"Have you passed a complete physical in the last three months, and accept liability for any physical harm that may come to you due to a pre-existing condition found during said physical?"

"Yes."

The agent slipped the paper back into his folder, and removed a bundle of papers with her photograph in the top-right corner of the first page.

"Very good Mrs. Carter. May I ask your reason to join the colonization program?"

"My husband and son began traveling to Hania 3 years ago. I was meant to go with them, but I lost my priority to a better educated medical professional. I'm hoping to follow them."

"Very well. And you are, in fact, a nurse practitioner who has received full triage training?"

"Yes."

The agent made marks on her documents.

"I see. Well-"

The questions continued for several more seemingly endless hours.

***

A young woman sat in the interview office, taking a pen-and-paper exam. Black hair reached nearly to her waist. She seemed frantic to complete her tests.

Violet eyes marked her out as geneforged. Brynn had no parents, she was intentionally created out of the DNA of hundreds of exceptional individuals and grown in a lab.

Mark watched her.

"What was she made for?"

Eric checked his watch.

"Research and engineering," he said, "Brynn's a purebred super-genius. She's taking longer with the exams than I expected, but still making admirable time compared to an unmodified human."

"Were any of her samples from a relative of previous Hania colonists?"

"None. We take genetic diversity very seriously. With any hope, she'll settle down and pass her intellect along to a couple kids."

"And where was she educated?"

"An accelerated course at The Parisian. She speaks both English and French, and had a masters in both biology and engineering by her eighteenth birthday. As far as I know, she's pursuing computer science as a personal hobby."

"Has she developed any defects?"

"A predisposition to substance and an anxiety disorder, both managed wonderfully by both talking and gene therapy as she was raised."

Brynn set down her pencil and hit the buzzer. Eric looked at his watch again.

"fifty-two seconds slower than I was expecting. She's nervous."

***

Natasha was one of the most intimidating women Mark had ever met. Ropes of wiry muscle snaked down her arms. As he walked in, he caught a glimpse of her backpiece poking out the neck of her tank top, an elaborate knotwork design.

"Ms. Veryn," he said, "I would like to ask you about your criminal background."

Natasha visibly tensed.

"It was expunged," she hissed.

"It certainly was, and does not disqualify you immediately because of that," Mark said calmly, "we just want to clear up a few concerns."

Natasha was silent, waiting.

"Did you maintain contact with your gang during your time in the armed forces?"

"No."

"Had you ever committed a during your time as an active criminal?"

"No."

"Any other violent crimes?"

"Two assaults, one armed robbery."

"How did you get such serious crimes expunged?"

"I joined the army under the penal service act. Everything was above board."

Sweat clung to her forehead, clearly visible thanks to her slicked-back hair.

"I'm sure it was. Any notable deployments?"

"I was a scout during the Beijing insurgency. I was stationed in rural China and eventually became the primary guide through the forest for the 15th cohort."

"Did you face combat during your time there?"

"Yes."

***

Jesslyn fidgeted in her seat. It was clear she wasn't used to being inside for long. She had the look of a hippie around her.

"Ms. Dors. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long."

"Not at all! Just excited to get things moving."

"I'm sure. Tell me about your time at agritech."

"I was a menial. Anything that couldn't be done by a machine fell to me. I knew enough about horticulture, but didn't handle any of the sciencey side of things. I tilled fields, sowed seeds, picked beans. Old-fashioned farm stuff."

"To what extent was your horticultural knowledge?"

"I was capable of monitoring soil quality, designing drainage systems, and my opinion was listened to on the topic of biodiversity."

"I understand you were a major advocate of the unmodified organism movement?"

"Yes, sir. I wanted to reintroduce native insects into the area that refused to pollinate our modified stock."

"Was that directly in line with your assigned duties?"

Jesslyn blushed.

"No," she admitted, "more of a personal project."

Mark shuffled through his papers. He cleared his throat.

"Ms. Dors, I'm sure you aware we prefer to send women capable of bearing children to the colonies. It takes a long time to send resupplies and new settlers, and it's more efficient to help produce a new generation rather than supply it from off-world."

"I can reproduce! I might not be able to carry children, but my transition was designed to preserve my reproductive system. Everything downstairs works, I just need a cis woman to help me out."