Page 1 of Breaking Ties

Chapter One

Aubrey staggered up to the checkpoint where the shuttle was waiting. A gold-skinned person with a tablet asked, “Name?”

“Aubrey Yorinson. Female, twenty-seven years old. Minor bruise injuries and one torn fingernail.”

The male smiled encouragingly and tapped on his screen. “We have someone in with that secondary designation. Do you have a sibling?”

“I do. She will consider my survival an unpleasant surprise.”

“Ah. We have seen a few of those situations. Please go into the blue structure, and they will give you a complete scanning and repair that finger.”

Aubrey smiled. “Thank you.”

“Congratulations on your survival.”

“Thank you again.” She nodded and walked toward the blue structure.

Her jeep was dead after her repairs took it as far as it could go. The five-kilometre run to get on the next flight had left her sweaty, grimy, and irritated at the people who had caused the exertion on an empty stomach.

The medics looked up as she came in, and one of them did a double take. “Miss, weren’t you just here?”

“Same bloodline, different person. That was my younger sister, Avery. I am the elder. Aubrey. Good afternoon.” She inclined her head with a smile.

They paused and approached her with a smile. “I have some mild bruising and a torn fingernail.”

The woman approaching her had what looked like folded scrubs. “Go into that cubicle, disrobe, hit the large button, and then stand with your hands away from your body. The sonic scrub will clean you, and you can dress in your station clothing.”

Aubrey paused. “Do you have any kind of cutting device? I had to leave my knife on the trail.” It had been in someone, but that was another matter.

“We can find something. What is the purpose?”

“I would like to remove my hair. I am constantly being mistaken for my sibling, and I wish to make the difference clear.”

“That is not normally something that we do.”

“It’s fine. I can just go to one of those torches and burn it off.”

The medics discussed it and then nodded. “If that is a large concern, we will authorize the cropping of your hair after your shower.”

One of the ladies raised her hand. “I used to work in a grooming salon. I can do a decent job.”

Aubrey smiled. “Thank you. Back in a moment.”

She took her first sonic shower, put her clothing in the receptacle marked for it, and wondered if this scene was being enacted around the world as she got into the tunic, trousers, and shoes that fit themselves to her feet.

She emerged with her hair out and said, “If you want plausible deniability, you can just hand me the cutting implement.”

“Miss, we are under strict instructions not to allow any of your people anything sharp. Until you arrive at the station, be prepared to eat everything with a spoon.”

“There is food?” Aubrey looked hopeful.

“Once we shear you.” The woman smiled. “Have a seat in this cubicle. We will have you trimmed in no time.”

“Thank you. I am tired of seeing her in the mirror.”

The woman with the small rod nodded. “She was here, so I understand.”

“She was not pleasant?”