Ojbect by Viola Grace

Chapter One
     
     
    Bella Banks sat up straight with a bland expression on her face. She had gone through the application process, but her skills were not exceptional.
    “I understand, Recruiter Norz. I will be on my way. Apologies for wasting your time.” She inclined her head and smiled.
    He blinked his huge black eyes. “What do you mean?”
    “You just stated that I was currently unexceptional in my cognition or psychic talents. I thought that was what you were looking for.”
    He sat back. “That was not the only quality. I believe that your self-containment is going to be an asset for you. Though you are beautiful by Terran standards, it will not help you in the position I have in mind.”
    Bella leaned forward. “My face won’t matter?”
    “No. In fact, if they agree, it will not even be visible.” He smiled slightly. “For the first time in your life, you will be able to be your true self, to an extent.”
    Bella cocked her head. “To an extent?”
    “The Kloa enjoy having their staff’s features covered. It creates an environment where their wishes hold sway and only the duty is left behind. They cannot favour those who work for them because they do not know who they are.”
    “I would be a servant?”
    “You would be an assistant, and you would be invisible. Based on the answers you have provided to me, that is your true desire. You want to be known by your work, not your appearance. The Court of Kloa in the Nyal Imperium is the place to do it. Are you interested?”
    He didn’t have proper eyebrows, but the challenge in his tone was unmistakable.
    “I would become a faceless bureaucrat? Done. What position is there for me to aspire to?”
    Recruiter Norz chuckled. “You could go all the way to the top, to be an advisor to the ruling heads of Kloa.”
    Bella mulled it over for a moment and then nodded. “Fine. Where do I sign?”
     
    Two months later, she grunted as she hit the practice projection and followed up with a kick. The chime timed her out, and she stopped fighting.
    Bella looked over at her trainer with a smile. “Did you need me, Master With?”
    “It’s time, Bella. The Kloa ship is on its final approach. Shower and get ready. Full court gear, just like we practised.”
    “Now?”
    With nodded. “I thought it best to not warn you earlier. You get a little nervous, and then, you get aggressive. This time, you will be stepping on board with calm deliberation. Now, go. Time is short.”
    Bella muttered to herself as she left the workout centre, ran down the hall and stripped off her exercise suit on her way down the final approach to her room. The monitors would record her no matter where she was, so public nudity wasn’t nearly the deal it was when she arrived.
    The solar shower was quick, and she was developing a tan. From now on, she would be restricted to sonic showers, so it was a final farewell to the all-over warmth that embraced her.
    The court suit was waiting for her in the wardrobe, and she left the lav while pinning her hair up into the twist that was required by Kloa regulation. The suit was heavy, the inner lining made it bearable, but the outer skin of the clothing was rough. Trousers and boots went on without trouble. She had to wrestle herself into the top and lace the heavy fabric closed. When everything was settled, she put on the high, pointed collar that would frame her head. From there, she slipped on the court mask that resembled nothing so much as a fencer’s protection. It covered her hair, draped over her neck and shrouded her features in soft grey.
    She turned and looked at herself in the mirror. The world was grey, and she was a blank. She was an object with no other worth than how useful it could be. It was quite a switch from being set into certain social positions because of what she looked like. Bella was being given the chance to make her own fortunes and live the life her skills deserved. She planned to bust her ass and see how far she could