The Circuit

The Circuit by Natalie Hannah

Viper and I analyzed people as they approached our shop, Josephine's Nest. Mom inherited it from her parents,  the original colonists. Everyone buzzed through their to-do list before the mandatory curfew. This is the only coffeehouse and the best place for short-order delicacies in the Colony. It's the place where everyone comes for essentials. Josephine's Jambalaya is a Colony favorite. 

Our fifteen-minute Colony has everything, all within walking distance. We can just about see everything from our place on the rooftop of the Nest. From this perch, we sit and view the action. Mom runs this coffeehouse, and we are one of the only families with a nontraditional residence in the Colony. Most families have a three-bedroom, two-bath condo. When I say most, I mean all but my mom, the Host, and one Air BNB. Visitors schedule their trips here at least two months in advance as there is always a waiting list for two units to rent, mainly because our city is immaculate and green.

Viper looks at me and asks when Dad is coming home. She spins in circles in her bamboo cage chair. She turns and positions herself so her long black braids drag cyclically along the floor. She lets out a fart, and we giggle for a minute before I correct her with, "Say excuse me," and she says in an intense, stoic voice, "EXCUSE ME! We both burst laughing for a while. I say Dad is leaving his post and will return in 72 hours. I am, of course, older than Viper, 24 minutes to be exact. We giggle from our particular spot as we await Mom's call for dinner. We usually eat whatever mistake someone orders. It doesn't matter because everything mom makes is fabulous.

"Trinity and Viper," Mom yells, "dinner." I hurry off my square swing and walk down the spiral stairway with Viper close behind. "Mom," Viper whines. When is Dad coming back?" Dad is almost always on the move. He works for HIRE. (Homeless Initiative Reduction Endowment). The endowment is by some people called the Circuit; they do good things in the community. I love to go along when he is in a different city. When he goes to Deterge cities, he usually helps one or two homeless people get back on their feet. If he goes to a Befoul city, he says it's dangerous and will not let me come. Either way, he is always on the move. Mom says, "He'll be home before you know it!"

The next day, at our spot above the shop, we sat and watched the people. Saturdays are great because we can come outside our window and sit in our pajamas. Mom always works Saturdays; everyone depends on Josephine's generosity in her portions and phenomenal recipes. Viper falls out of the chair, looks at me, and asks what I will do when we graduate next year. I tell her I would like to help Dad protect those less fortunate and show them how to get on their feet. She says she would like to be a scientist and cure all the world's diseases. She starts listing all the diseases she can think of; she is fantastic. Using stem cells from the suborns can keep people well with the stem cell program. She is always watching some kind of surgery or exploring innovations for diseases utilizing bioscience. I'm so excited to see where she goes with all her curiosity. She says Mom is so proud of her smartness when I hear my day call out," Josie, I'm home!" He is the only one she lets shorten her name. 

 I leap from my chair, the sudden news electrifying the air. I slide down the railing of the stairs, my heart racing with anticipation. I run and jump right into his arms. He is bowled over because I am getting bigger; at 16, I weigh 115 pounds and wrap all five feet of me around him. He hugs me and abruptly says, "Where is your sister?" She is right behind me- calm down. That quick Piper is behind me and squirms between us. She starts questioning Dad to see if there is anything new that he has experienced, but when he starts to talk about people, she interjects with, no, Dad, not people silly, diseases. Mom nods, and I know it's my time to help get everyone food. 

When we finish eating, it is finally my turn to talk to Dad. I ask him about all of his journeys. He tells me that some people are being promised housing, but when they finish their daily jobs, they are given sleeping bags in the streets. How can people be so cruel? Not just adults but mistreated children reminds me of how I want to help him when I graduate. There is a training class managed by the same people who elect our Host. They are unknown to anyone who is not affiliated with them directly. He only knows them as The Circuit.

The next day, we are just before the roof's edge, watching, and I see someone moving towards us, unaware of our presence yet still whispering. The Host is talking to a man. They look out of place. I motion to Viper, cover her mouth, and point to the people.

We quietly move to hear what is happening. The man starts whispering, yelling in frustration:" The Circuit elected me to suicide assist for the census, but now that you have reached the optimal functioning population, you want me and my family to leave? We have friends here; I've built a life. You promised me independence when I left the Befoul. You said you would give my family a home. She raised her voice slightly. "You have to go so that no one will know about the population remediation practices." Your whole family will be rifted if what you do causes disillusion to everyday perspective. I am trying to prevent that, Harry! He pleads, "I won't leave; we are not returning to that violent place where no one rests, and everyone fights for food." Now look, she says, "I am telling you theCircuitt predicts if you do not leave, they will interrogate you, and we are exposed. I promise. Once you are there, I will try finding another assignment, but you must get your family out now!" He retorted, "Promises, promises, We are not going anywhere over my dead body," and with that, she raises a fluorescent blue tube. "Last chance!" 'I'm not going- tell them no!" She taps him with the light, and he starts to fade away. He screams, "Your power keeps us all treading water. I want to swim," with that, he grabs her hand, rebounds the tube into her heart, and disappears. As she falls to the ground,  her head falls to the side, and she sees Viper. She says in an extraordinary voice.

At this moment, I bequeath the power of truth and justice through theCircuitt upon you- with all the privileges and anonymity it decrees; say goodbye to your life and say I do. 

"NO!" Viper repeatedly says,  I don't want to be part of theCircuitt. I grab her hand, and the woman says:

Your twin can take your place. 

Piper looks at me with a desperate face, and I say, "I do." 

Suddenly, I am transported to a desert. The sudden change in scenery leaves me disoriented. There is a man in a long robe, his figure starkly contrasting with the familiar surroundings I've just left behind.  

"Trinity," he says without moving his lips. "It is a strange experience indeed, you are in. You have been inducted into theCircuitt. I am Origin. I am one of the first clippers for theCircuitt, and you are my youngest apprentice."

I did not know what to say. I wanted to go back and change my mind. Why was I always responsible for Vioer? I need to focus. Just then, Origin tapped his rod three times on the ground, and we found ourselves on a beach.

People were all around us, and a man walked over to us. Origin addressed him sternly, "You are still dumping 30 tons of waste into the ocean. Last month, when I was here, I said I wanted to see some changes. What have you done?" The man started to stammer. "I don't have the staff or resources to change how we process waste." Origin spoke, so the man knew he was becoming increasingly impatient. "When I asked you to make changes, I told you there would be consequences if no new expectations were put on your manufacturing plants. This has led me to stop all manufacturing production. You have one week to develop and implement strategies for consideration, or you will be clipped and replaced. Am I making myself clear?" "Yes," the man said, "but how can you expect our people to change when we cannot produce anything? You just crushed our economy! How dare you? Who do you think you are talking to?" Just then, the man grabbed Origin by the robe and started to pull on him aggressively. Origin took out a glowing blue wand, and the man was instantly gone.

Origin explained that the man's vision contained no hope. He was not trying to make life better for anyone other than himself, and with that, we arrived in a beautiful home.

There was a young man who was well-dressed but not pompous. "Hello," Origin said. "I am here to discuss taking over your father's responsibilities." "What do you mean the man replied." Origin continued, "I am Origin and a clipper for The Circuit. We are an international power that regulates the major political governing bodies. I am here to talk to you because your father attacked me when I addressed his lack of concern for water contamination. TheCircuitt does not honor such violence, so he was clipped. I hope to have more success addressing our concerns with you." Origin watched him intently while he waited for his answer. The son walked and paced before finally responding. 

"Well, that's all fine and good," said the man, "but if there were any way of fixing it, my father would have done so by now." He paused and looked out the window momentarily before a shocked look crossed his face. "Did you say you clipped my father? Does that mean you killed him? You killed my father? Are you crazy?" With that, he grabbed Origin's robe and disappeared. 

Startled by this exchange and the ease with which Origin managed conflict. At some point, I noticed he would begin to try to rationalize the discussion, but if at any moment there was a physical altercation like there was previously with my Host, the debate ended, and the person was clipped. 

A young woman then entered the room. She looked as if she was twenty-something. "Is everything OK in here? I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you." Origin once again introduced himself, "My name is Origin, and I work for theCircuitt. I want to ask you how you feel about your high contamination rate." "It is awful; I became aware of the issue and became sheepishly embarrassed. I'm not sure how it could be better, but if we put some effort into it, we can improve our systems for a better society." There was an instant change in Origin's demeanor; he looked hopeful, and with that, he queried, "Would you be willing to sit down with me so we can devise a plan?" Her reply was anxious, "Of course, I should probably get my father; he makes all the decisions here." Origin did not attempt to stop her as she left the room. 

She came back moments later. "My father and brother are nowhere to be found; they have disappeared." Origin put his hand up to explain, "I have arranged for them to be indisposed because they need more vision for your people. Would you be willing to step into this position to shape a better plan for all?" "Yes, of course, I will. She said, but what of my father and brother?" "They do not have the status they once held. They are now dealing with the consequences of their actions in a position where they experience the choices of their actions. The good news is that if you improve this situation, they will directly benefit. They do not have any recollection of the previous privilege they enjoyed. They will not be back. Is there a problem with that for you? "No," she said reluctantly, but also with a sense of pride, I would like to make my Befoul City better for my people." I see the damage we are doing to our environment. I wish to serve." "Repeat after me," Origin said: 

At this moment, If you pledge to serve with truth and justice through the circuit - with all the privileges it decrees; saying goodbye to my old life, say I do.

I do, she said, and we were off.

For many years, I traveled with Origin to different cities where we dealt with drug lords and traffickers who were preying upon the fragility of society. Finally, I was assigned my first scenario. My assignment: a genetic engineer, Dr. Bouchon, was working in a senior facility, and her supervisors warned her that she must get approval for the experiments she was engaging in with her clients. Recent data suggests that over 200 people have been sacrificed for her cause. I must either convince her to stop or clip her.

I arrive at the site. There is an older woman in the adjoining room. I asked the doctor, "Do you know who I am?" Resentfully, she responded, "I suppose you are another advisor to caution me in my plight to find the cure for Alzheimer's, and I don't care. I have raised my funding. This is personal, and I will not stop until I find an intervention for my dear, sweet mother, Josephine." "Josephine?" 

"Yes, my mother has aimlessly been detached from society for three years, babbling some strange references to the Trinity. She started at first asking me where my sister was. I never had a sister."

I break off from her talking. Could this be my sister Viper? I quickly remembered the oath when I agreed to save her. I return to the conversation. She continued, "My father died when I was 18 in the Befoul helping the homeless but not his wife. It has been Mom and me ever since. I will die before I let my mother suffer one minute longer than I have to. I am so close to just a few more tweaks, and I know I will save her. I only have days left. She will not even eat anymore." 

I approach her, look into her eyes, and explain that I am with an organization called The Circuit. She has been watched for over a year, and they have found her guilty of crimes against humanity. She needs to stop, or she will be clippped. She rolls her eyes. I plead with her, "Viper, you need to listen- I can't get you out of this. You can't spin your way out of this. People aren't playing around." Just then, Mom walks out and points at me. "Trinity, it's you! My Trinity has come home!" Viper questions, "Mom, what are you talking about?" Mom ecstatically exclaims, "It's your twin; I told you!" Viper stops and looks at me, realizing something is off-she asks," Have we met before?" 

Suddenly, Origin appears in an announcement, and he says: "Here is, for the first time in our history, a mistake. We must take responsibility for our errors. Suggestions?" The room goes black except for the light that is now coming from Origin's Rod. It is glowing blue. "We must clip them says a voice." That is outside our parameters; Trinity has no error in this matter and, therefore, cannot be clipped. I suggest we exchange the time continuum: All those in favor?" Origin says it as a command; all echoing voices say "I."

In that instant, I fell off my square swing and looked at Viper. We were sixteen, and she laughed hysterically. I remember nothing. 

Over the next two years, flashes of memories come back. I tell no one because I fear the circuit's response. Everything about my time at The Circuit over the next few years.