Amerta, 2071
The sound of footsteps awakened the figure of a girl from her deep slumber. It didn't take long for the girl to wake up. Sometimes even the clinking of glass is enough to wake her up. Especially if there's the barking of stray dogs or the loud sound of passing trucks. Unfortunately, her house has to be close to the main road.
The figure rubbed her beautiful eyes with her palms. Just a moment. It felt like only a moment she rested her mind in the subconscious. Just a moment, she leaned her head on the tricky green sofa that had been torn in several parts. Even though the couch could be said to be very unfit for use, she still placed it in the stuffy and poorly lit four-by-six-meter room.
It is not just a sofa or a place to sit for her. That thing means more than anything. At least that was what she still had from her sister, who had long since left her in God's arms. She missed her only sister very much. By keeping the sofa, at least she saved a few memories of her sister, which until now she had been difficult to erase from memory.
There was a loud knock on the door to her room. It seems the guest is really impatient. The girl who was initially curled up just hobbled and opened the door to her house. It was as if she was limp and boneless.
"Ivory Kelana?"
Two well-dressed Guardians with shiny hairdos stood in front of her. The two of them carried one of the newest long-barreled rifles, which lately copies were often displayed in shops near her house. They look handsome but look really cold as well. As if not having a human conscience.
Or maybe that's how they really are.
There is no friendly Guardian. They are nothing more than a robot programmed by The Higher-ups to maintain the stability of the country's security. That's what she's learned over the years.
"Right," she replied.
The girl slightly tidied the cream-colored sweater she was wearing. From the corner of her eye, one of the Guardians looked at the hole in the shoulder of her sweater. It is not because of the trending fashion currently popular among the Primers, but because it was damaged by the moths roamed around in her house. No matter how often she cleans her minimalist home, the animal still stubbornly returns again. As a result, some of her clothes were victims.
"You must have received an invitation from The Supreme Council to participate in Copulation, right?"
Ivory smiled wryly. She had expected the delightful Guardian to remind her of the activities she had to participate in. Even so, still, being reminded of that sickening event again made her stomach churn. She wanted to vomit her guts on top of the Guardian uniform, which was too clean.
For the record, Copulation is a four-year impregnation event held by The Higher-ups for all citizens of Amerta. From the east to the west and from the south to the North. This activity is intended for women aged 20 to 40 years who have Gene E and Gene F. Each partner can come from Gene E and Gene F or even Gene F with fellow Gene F.
Gene E or Gene Excellent is the best gene among all the genes owned by the citizens of Amerta. Both men and women with Gene E can certainly fertilize and be fertilized. Children born to couples who have both Gene E will definitely be born perfectly and without defects.
People with Gene E are not required to participate in Copulation. Still, they are usually happy to participate in the activity if they want to join. They tend not to care about other people and think that Copulation is just fun. In addition, those who decide to participate in Copulation are also paid if they participate in this activity. Therefore, they are included in the Primary or the elite class. The group of people with the most choices in Amerta.
Meanwhile, Gene F or Failed Genes are "defective" genes that decades ago had become "Failed Products" for research experiments by The Higher-ups. People belonging to Gene F are women or men who have a genetic defect. Children born from Gene F will certainly have disabilities, such as being unable to speak, unable to hear, unable to use their limbs ideally, and so on. This gene is dominated by women, about 95% percent, while 5% are owned by men.
Citizens with Gene F are required to participate in Copulation until they are at least forty years old. They will not be paid a penny and are prohibited from absent from the four-year activity. Because Gene F has few choices, they are classified as The Secondary, or people who don't have many options.
Technically, the Copulation activity is an activity to form a pair. The participants are given a maximum grace period of one year to fertilize and give birth to a child. The child will be taken by The Higher-ups and become the state's property. The couple is only tasked with fertilizing and giving birth without having to raise their child. The officials assessed that disabled children born from Gene F could be "used" according to the needs of the state.
As explained by Ivory's history teacher in elementary school, Amerta had experienced a very terrible Civil War in the past. The Civil War split Amerta into two camps, the South and the North. The war that lasted for almost ten years left the Southern stronghold destroyed, shattered, and with nothing left. All the citizens of the Southern region died. Only residents in the North region remained, who then rose from the remnants of the war and rebuilt Amerta into a unified whole.
Amerta, which stands tall today, is the result of the hard work of the North, led by The Supreme Council. The Supreme Council, assisted by at least a hundred Higher-ups, led Amerta with stringent rules. They were the ones who came up with the idea to create an activity called Copulation. This activity was created because since the war was over, it seemed that many citizens of the country refused to marry or have children. Residents who experienced fear and trauma due to the prolonged effects of the Civil War most chose to be single until the end of their lives.
At first, The Supreme Council and The Higher-ups struggled to find a solution to the depopulation problem in Amerta. However, they finally took decisive steps by genetically modifying all citizens. As a result, finally, some citizens are differentiated based on their genetic group. For those who have the best genetics, then they will be categorized as The Primary. Citizens with congenital defects are classified as Secondary. These secondary people are the central pawns in Copulation activities. They are the target and the solution to the depopulation problem that occurred in Amerta.
In short, there are not many choices for the Secondary to make.
If only Ivory could choose.
That's always been on her mind. If only she had been in the Primary, she would have chosen not to participate in Copulation. She really hated this activity.
If only she had Gene E, she would casually choose anyone to be her partner later. The real couple. Who will accompany her in joy and sorrow until the end of life separates them. Not a momentary pair like this.
If her parents didn't pass on bad genes to her, she would feel as normal as everyone else...
Ah, she never even met her parents once.
In fact, she was only The Secondary. People who have nothing. The underprivileged. People who always obey the orders of The Higher-ups without exception. People who have to bow at the feet of The Supreme Council despite the terrible treatment they give to people like Ivory.
She is also a girl with Gene F, the worst gene among the genes. The gene is always the last number. Forgotten, wasted, and underestimated. A gene passed down from her parents to herself and her sister. The gene that made her miserable for years.
"Of course," Ivory replied calmly, though her heart said otherwise. Her hand covered her left shoulder. Cover the hole in her clothes.
"We've come to give you your partner's name in this year's Copulation," a Guardian told her. The Guardian took out a black envelope from the small bag he was carrying. With a motion that was too stiff, he handed the envelope into Ivory's hand.
"You are asked to come to the residence of The Supreme Council, the day after tomorrow, at nine o'clock in the evening—"
"I know," Ivory cut in, annoyed. She had accepted the invitation for the past month. She already knew the details of the Copulation event till on the verge of getting sick of hearing it.
"Okay."
Without waiting for any response from the Hostess, the two Guardians turned and walked straight away, leaving Ivory and the black envelope.
Ivory returned to her beloved house. She almost fell asleep or just sat on the sofa before remembering her promise.
"Shit!" she cursed loudly. She hurriedly grabbed her tattered black sling bag and took her white hat, which had just been lying on the nightstand. "I'm late!" she added.