Christchurch, 11 April, 2097

The blocks tumbled across the rug, spreading around the child’s plump thighs in casual disarray. Slowly the child looked up, his blue eyes wide as he watched his mother answer the door. Her face, tired but warm, contorted in surprise, her hand tightening on the doorknob. “H-Hello?”

The child heard an unfamiliar voice behind the plain, cheap door, and his frown deepened. It wasn’t Daddy home from work, so it was unlikely the unknown voice was going to bring him sweets. Suddenly disinterested, he turned back to his brightly colored blocks.

“Excuse me, Ma’am, but it is time.”

“Already?” The child’s mother blinked in surprise, then gave the stranger a genuine smile. “It is an honour, sir. He is right through here.”

Opening the door, she turned and gave her son a warm smile. She was a simple woman, plain by every meaning of the word. Her hair was limp and harshly cut, but thoroughly cleaned. Her hands spoke of years of labour, both in the industrial factories and as a housewife. Her eyes were a clear blue, and smiling, but strangely vacant. The child’s father shared the same eyes as his wife, though a pale green, as did their neighbors, and their friends.

“Ryan.”

The young boy looked up, studying his mother silently.

“Ryan, someone’s here to see you.” Ryan’s gaze flicked from his mother’s face and up to the figure standing in the door. His face was open and friendly, and his clothes, though much better quality then Ryan’s or his mother’s, were casual. His mouth twisted in a small grin, his dark eyes flashing in good humor. “I hear someone’s just turned four.”

Ryan nodded, his eyes dropping to the man’s pockets. Maybe that bulge was a packet of sweets. The stranger followed his gaze, and pulled an object out of his pocket.

“I see you’ve spotted my computer.” He turned it in his hands, crouching to show the boy the clear screen, tapping the tiny object in his palm. Suddenly an image flickered to life above the device, a miniature replica of the planet gently turning in the air. Ryan reached out and frowned as the image contorted, lights stretching across his tiny palm.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” The man’s voice was warm and soothing. “I’m Dr. Jones. Could you answer some things for me?”

Ryan turned and studied the man, and nodded slowly. He knew that doctors had lollipops.

“Can you tell me what colour this is?” Dr Jones tapped a block next to the child’s knee. Ryan glanced down, and then glared back at the man defiantly. “Blue.”

“Good. How many blocks do you have?”

Ryan frowned. Why did this man want to know? Did he want to keep them for himself? They were his blocks. Ryan stuck out his chin and didn’t answer.

“Ryan.” He raised his head and met his mother’s pleading gaze. “It’s okay honey. Answer the nice man.”

Ryan sighed and glanced around him. “Twenty. Four red, eight blue, five yellow and three green.”

Dr Jones raised his eyebrows and tapped something into his computer, muttering under his breath. “Numeric skills advanced for his age… clear diction…” He glanced back up at the boy. “Very clever young man. Now, can you tell me how this person is feeling?” The image of the earth was replaced by a human profile, red rimmed eyes glaring angrily at the small boy, wild twisted blonde hair sticking out at odd angles from her face, and her lips tight. Ryan studied her for a moment; he had seen holo-photos before; then studied the doctor. “She looks very angry with you. Did you take her blocks too?”

The man blinked and laughed, a genuine, easy sound. “No, I’m not here to take your blocks.” He turned to the boy’s mother. “Remarkable young boy you have here.”

Ryan watched his mother’s face light up. “Is he eligible?” Her voice danced with suppressed hope.

“It seems he might well be. We will be studying him the next few days, but his chances look good…”

Ryan’s mother beamed with pride, tears falling freely off her cheeks. “Thank you, thank you… so, so much.” She swept her son into a tight hug, murmuring into his sandy locks. “Just wait till your daddy hears, Ryan, his son… a governor.”

Ryan frowned slightly, and sucked on his bottom lip, watching the strange doctor. He hadn’t moved, just stood there with a polite smile on his face as he watched the scene unfold. Ryan didn’t know what his mum was so happy about, but didn’t know if he liked this new man. He hadn’t even given him a lollipop.

---------

“What’s for dinner tonight, Jasmine?” Ryan’s father stretched, brushing dust off his uniform. He worked down the nearest cement works, and often came home a freakish off-white, disguising tough leathery skin developed from years spent mostly outdoors. Most manual jobs were done by machinery these days, but even machines needed engineers to fix and supervise, and the cement works got no less dusty.

Jasmine, Ryan’s mother, looked up and gave her husband a warm smile. “I will have to check the computer.”

Dale nodded, and bent to pick up his son, throwing him into the air. Ryan screamed with delight, his eyes bright with laughter as he landed safely back in his father’s arms.

“Have you had a good day, my son?” Dale planted a dusty kiss on the child’s smooth forehead, leaving a grey mark clinging to pink skin. Ryan nodded, wrapping his arms around his father’s neck. “Love yooou Daddy.”

“I love you too Ryan.” Dale tore his eyes off his young son, stepping towards his wife. Jasmine tapped a screen, about the size of a small book, set into the wall. Next to it was what looked like a small oven, but really was an outlet. Three meals were sent to each household per day, through a system of conveyer belts and sterilized chutes. The display that Jasmine was studying informed the public what they were eating that night. She turned and smiled, tapping the glass door absently. “Pasta, tonight. They said that meat was being cut back, since the ‘flu went around the livestock.”

Dale nodded wisely. “I heard, from a governor no less, that it was sabotage. I’m a simple man,” he tapped his forehead with his free hand, “but that sounds downright dangerous to me.”

Jasmine nodded, her eyes landing on Ryan, silently studying his father from the comfort of his arms. “A governor came here today.”

Dale frowned. “Oh? I don’t really like getting too personal with a governor. I mean, life sure got better when they took over, but they spook me. Somethin’ ‘bout their eyes, I think. Too bright, if you know what I mean. Like Ryan here.” He turned and studied his son. “Boy, I love you and all, but sometimes you give me the willies.”

Ryan didn’t reply, gazing steadily at his father.

Jasmine cleared her throat. “That’s just it, Dale. He said our Ryan could be Eligible.”

Dale’s eyes widened. “What? Our Ryan?” He shot a look at Jasmine, trying to determine whether she was joking. “Our Ryan?” He repeated, looking back at his son as if he had suddenly grown an extra head.

“Yes, it was his check-up today. He did well, and the doctor said they would be studying him for the next week.” Involuntarily, she glanced around the clean, white room. Everyone knew there were cameras, ever since childhood. But it was easy to forget you were being studied.

Dale frowned at Ryan, then exclaimed, “geez boy, I knew you were bright, but I didn’t know you were that bright!”

Ryan yawned, and frowned back at his father in a tiny mirror image. “Doctor didn’t have any lollipops.”

Dale looked horrified. “He didn’t? Now that’s just rude. But, tell you what, have a look in Daddy’s pocket.”

Jasmine smiled as her son’s face broke into a delighted grin as he hunted through his father’s many pockets, searching for a treat.

We may be simple, but we’re a family, she thought. What would become of that, if he is accepted?