The year is 3022. Utora is a disciplined futuristic planet where robots and humans have learned to coexist. People are fed information via a technology called “head-lines”, which is a small chip implanted into their brains. In addition to the required brain implant, people customize and augment their bodies with cybernetic parts. People without any kind of augmentation have become more and more rare. One of the consequences of cybernetic augmentation is the loss of human emotions like empathy. A secret “rebellion” grows in direct opposition to the technological evolution of humanity. This rebellion calls Innoa its home and believes that technology has taken the best qualities away from humans. The society only reveals itself to 99% “pure” humans.
Growing up, Aluma always felt like she didn’t fit in but she never knew why. One day, she was feeling too ill to go to Priming, so her mom took her to the doctor to run some tests. Once Aluma returned home, she found an unusual letter sitting on her desk. “That’s strange”, Aluma thought to herself. She quickly realized this is an invitation to the secret society for pure humans, known as Innoa. There were rumors about a cult-like society, human trafficking, and disappearances, but no one knew the truth. Reading the letter, Aluma felt a strange connection to this unfamiliar planet.
At dinner that night, Aluma asked, “What is Innoa?” Her parents immediately looked up at the same time and said, “Why should that cult be of any interest to you? We’ve done so much to make others accept you, why would you want to throw it all away?” Realizing she’ll never truly belong in this family, Aluma decided to leave. In the middle of the night, she snuck out of her window and followed the letter’s directions to a personal pod. She entered the code “6643” and opened the pod. After a quick journey over, Aluma was rushed into a white room where they said they would prepare her for this new world. That’s the last thing she remembered.
When she woke up, she was immediately assigned a mentor, who would teach and support her in her transition. “Hello Aluma, you can call me Mary.” She seemed friendly enough but Aluma sensed something eerie as well. Next morning, Aluma began her first day of learning. Mary explained the importance of tradition and culture, which meant learning how to cook, clean and take care of each other without the use of technology. Aluma felt nervous as she realized that this new place is not exactly what she expected it to be. Nonetheless, Aluma decided to learn these new skills. Everything that used to be done by robots now has to be done by hand. Gradually, she becomes accustomed to this new way of life and even makes a new friend. Her name is Robin and is warm towards Aluma. They quickly developed a bond over their shared experiences. One night, after she had been working for the whole day and being extremely exhausted, Robin feels sick. Robin’s mentor is made aware of her situation and takes her away. Aluma, first bewildered by what’s happening, is told that her friend Robin is being released from her misery and that it’s the natural order of the world.
A couple of months later, Aluma isn’t feeling well but she’s afraid she’ll end up like Robin and doesn’t tell anyone*.* Until she is stopped by Mary, who says, “Aluma, I’m worried about you, you haven’t been yourself lately.” Aluma takes a deep breath and tells her everything, but Mary doesn’t look upset, in fact, she is overjoyed, “This is such good news child, this is a miracle”. Confused, Aluma finds that people are taking her things and Mary is leading her away, “Follow me child, we are moving you to a special place.” Aluma’s new room is larger and filled with items she has never seen before. She is interrupted by a notification sound, which she hasn’t heard in months. She sits down on her bed and begins to scroll through months of “head-lines”, when she sees her mother’s face and a missing persons report. “My family is looking for me.” A sound outside her room startles her back to reality and she closes out of her “head-lines” just as her door slides open to reveal a man standing before her. “Follow me, Milo Solomon wants to see you.” She follows him to a room and standing in the center is a lone figure, who approaches Aluma. Milo reaches out to cradle her belly, “I hear congratulations are in order, growing inside of you is the seed of the future.”
Aluma hesitates before her eyes widen.“I have to get this thing out of me”, she thinks. As she takes a step back, Milo says, “I know this must seem confusing and scary, but we will take care of you. It’s not only your best option... it’s your only option.” “Why are you doing this? What’s going to happen to me?” Milo breaks eye contact and sighs. “What do you think led you to join us? I don’t know for sure, but I’ll guess that you never felt like you belonged.” Milo continues, “You are human, Aluma. More than anyone else you’ve ever met. That is what led me to you. You see, I made the “head-lines” as a way to bring people closer together. Unfortunately, human greed took my idea and spun it into a weapon of mass communication. The community you see before you today is a testament to my original dream— to bring people closer, to make them appreciate their humanity.” “So what the hell does this,” gesturing to her body, “have to do with your dream?” Milo continued “When you got into the pod, your fate was sealed. I injected you with my genes, so that you two can carry us into a natural future.” She starts to panic. “I’ll give you some time to calm down”, Milo leaves but not before giving her swollen stomach a kiss. As soon as he leaves, she stumbles around the room looking for something sharp. She finds a letter opener on his desk. Aluma inhales and presses down with the sharp thing, biting on her shirt to keep from making noise. The letter opener isn’t sharp enough and she’s bleeding profusely. After a long time or a short time, she blacks out.