In the After

for genetic compatibility. It gives our species the best hope of survival.”
    I watched my mother from across the room, holding Adam. She spotted me and beckoned me over.
    “Duty calls.” I smiled at Vivian.
    My mother had me speak with more of her colleagues, eat more cake, fake more smiles. I finally found a quiet corner to hide in when Rice saw me and brought over Baby. She beamed at me, just happy to be at her first party.
    “You knew,” I playfully accused Rice.
    He grinned. “Of course I knew. Your mother had me show you those orientation films to keep you busy while they set up the party.”
    “But you told me my mother wanted me to watch those videos before I even took that test today, before I was placed in Advanced Theory.”
    Rice shrugged. “She had high hopes for you.”
    “She didn’t . . .” I paused. “Rice, did I actually place into Advanced Theory, or did my mother pull some strings?”
    “No, the director wouldn’t do that,” Rice assured me. “Your scores placed you. The director wouldn’t break the rules.”
    I thought of Adam, what his existence meant. Of course she wouldn’t break the rules. But I wondered. “Not even for her daughter?”
    “Especially not for her daughter,” Rice said.
    Baby tugged on my sleeve and signed urgently, Amy , I think that’s the woman from the ship .
    I looked up and saw Kay. She wasn’t wearing her skintight black outfit, but it was definitely her.
    “Who’s that woman?” I asked Rice.
    “That’s Kay Oh. You don’t recognize her?” he asked, surprised.
    “No, I do. She brought us in. She’s tough.” I admired her.
    “No, I mean don’t you recognize her from pre-ap times. . . . She was a pop star.”
    I took a closer look at Kay. She did look familiar, but not entirely. The hair was wrong. For some reason I pictured it blue and spiky. Suddenly I had it.
    “That’s Kay Oh from Kay Oh and the Okays!” I was startled to remember them. They were a pop girl band and Kay Oh was the lead singer. They were everywhere Before.
    “Yeah, she’s in charge of the Guardians now, believe it or not. It suits her. She likes to cause trouble and kick ass. She scares me,” he whispered with a smile.
    “Me too,” I admitted. “She’s the one who captured us.” I moved my shoulder up and down. “I still have the bruises.”
    Rice laughed. “Kay gives your mother a headache, but she’s good at her job.”
    “A headache how?”
    “You know, she’s just . . . difficult,” he said, clearly not wanting to say more.
    “Like?” I smiled. “Come on, Rice, you’ve got to give me something here. Everything can’t be a secret.” I tried to sound like I was joking, but it was really how I felt.
    Rice considered, adjusting his hold on Baby. “Kay likes to shake things up. In committee meetings she always plays devil’s advocate, doesn’t just fall into line. I really shouldn’t be telling you this.” He looked genuinely nervous.
    “Their jobs are pretty demanding physically, aren’t they?” I asked, an idea starting to form.
    “Yes, Guardians are the only ones who have to work out every day, and they’re exempt from almost everything except their psyche-eval. The women don’t even have to donate their genetic material unless they want to.”
    “And how, exactly, do you become a Guardian?” I asked, prying.
    “You have to pass certain tests, stealth, speed, weaponry . . .” He stopped and studied my face. “Amy, you don’t want to be a Guardian.”
    “Why not?”
    “Your mom would freak, first of all.”
    He was right. If my mother didn’t want me to be a Guardian, I’d have a powerful opponent. On the other hand, her fanaticism for her own rules could work in my favor. She couldn’t keep me from doing something I was qualified for because she wanted to keep me out of harm’s way. Not when she asked other citizens of New Hope to risk their lives as Guardians.
    “Besides,” Rice continued, “do you know the mortality rate for Guardians? The odds aren’t good. I wouldn’t want you in danger like that.”
    I thought for a moment about the death that was announced on the news. “No, but I do know about Floraes and surviving outside of New Hope.”
    He sighed. “Look, the Guardians started up as soon as your mother became director. There were some military people here, checking up on their commissioned research, but most of the Guardians are Hutsen-Prime security staff and new recruits. At first everyone