The Commander’s Choice: Synced by Fate

Fiora POV

"Tonight, the Genetic Matching Ceremony Between Colonies will take place. You are already 25 years old, how long are you going to be alone? When will you find a compatible genetic partner?"

I could only remain silent. Mother always forced me to find a strong and accomplished Class-A Commander – only Class-A, no one else. That’s why I still don’t have a partner.

"Mother, it’s just—"

"Do you want to defy me again? What are you thinking, Fiora! Look at your standard genetic profile, which Commander would want to marry someone like you without augmentation! Look at your sister, Freya! Her DNA is perfect, and all the Commanders are already waiting outside to submit matching requests with her!"

Freya, and Freya again. Sometimes I think I’m not the product of genetic engineering from the Starfire family. Only Freya is considered worthy.

"Mother, I’ll go," I said, and mother looked very happy.

"Yes, whether you like it or not. I don’t care. Tonight, wear your best neural-link uniform so that the Commanders will be interested! Don’t make me angry if any man with a low genetic code picks you!"

A simple nod was enough to make mother stop talking. Which Commander would want me? They all know I am the daughter of the unwanted Beta-Engineer family. I am a useless genetic anomaly.

I took the neural-link uniform from the storage unit, and as I closed the door, Freya's hologram appeared on the nano mirror surface. I sighed, wondering what she wanted now.

"Are you sure you want to go?" I turned around and nodded. Freya then laughed with her face full of the latest beauty augmentations.

"Mother forced me."

"Yeah, I told Mother. You’re 25 and haven’t contributed to the colony at all. Just robot maintenance with nothing else? You’d better go get married."

She arrogantly tossed her bionic hair back, then smiled like the most perfect woman. I admit, her genetic modification was impressive, but her personality was rotten.

"I can’t decide that, if the Central AI wants me to have a genetic partner, it will show me one."

Freya smirked, I wonder what she’s thinking now. "Oh, now you’re starting to defy me." My neural-link hurt as she hacked into it, then forced me out of the room with an electromagnetic wave.

With all her might, she slammed me against the anti-gravity wall. I held my implant on my head, which had hit the wall, and glanced up at Father and Mother. Why do I always end up in trouble, what else are the three of them going to do now?

"What’s wrong, darling?" Darling? Has Father forgotten that I’m the result of genetic engineering? Why doesn’t he ever call me that?

"Fiora mocked me, saying she would find a great Commander tonight." They all started laughing, and I tried to stand up while holding the implant that had hit the wall, still feeling the interference.

"I know one Commander who would be suitable for her, Commander Rey… hahaha." They laughed again, mocking someone who did no wrong while thinking they were always right.

"Commander Rey? That fits! A discarded Commander with a useless genetic anomaly."

"Don’t forget, Commander Rey is already 70 years old with outdated augmentations. Fiora is the perfect woman to pair with him."

I could only smile, they didn’t even care about my feelings. Commander Rey? Well, I think it wouldn’t matter to marry him, rather than in a habitat hungry for power and genetic purity.

Tonight is the night everyone in the colony is waiting for, but not me. The Orbital Space Station Genesis adorns the holographic sky, illuminating the Neutral Dome where we gather.

Once a year, when the mother station reaches its closest point to the colony, they come from various sectors, leaving their territories for one purpose – to choose a compatible genetic partner.

I saw all the colony members present, very enthusiastic. They stood upright with their latest augmentations, proud and strong, showing off their genetic superiority. I knew this was to attract the opposite sex.

Suddenly, everyone began to step back, opening the holopath path, "Commander Brynmor!" shouted every woman here.

He was the cruelest Commander, and yes, the nemesis of my family. But he was handsome with his premium augmentations, oh my, what was I thinking. I deactivated my neural-link temporarily to stay aware.

"Fiora! Why are you still standing here! Go attract the Commanders! Or do you want to marry Commander Rey!"

I nodded as he began interfering with my neural-link. I walked down every holopath, but as I got closer, they all started backing away slowly, whispering about me in a closed network.

"Just give up," I muttered before finding an anti-gravity seating unit.

The genetic partner selection began, the Commanders were called one by one to the holographic platform. "Commander Joy!" Everyone looked at Commander Joy, the leader of the Tiger-X Colony.

"Which girl from which genetic caste will Commander Joy choose as a partner!" Everyone cheered, and the women activated the attractive mode on their augmentations.

I was sure it wasn’t me, if he picked me, it meant the system was malfunctioning and illogical. Choosing me would be like lowering his genetic status.

But for some reason, Commander Joy’s sensor pointed at me, I quickly broke eye contact, don’t tell me the system really malfunctioned and chose me.

"What are you doing!" whispered Mother, who suddenly appeared while messing with my neural-link, it was painful. "Show your face!" I nodded and straightened up, but when our sensors met, Commander Joy immediately shifted his focus, thank goodness the system was still functioning normally.

"Daughter of the Storm Colony. Lucile Storm!"

I sighed in relief, though Mother’s face looked terrifying. Lucile then stepped onto the holographic platform, yes, they immediately exchanged genetic data under the supervision of the Central AI to ensure the compatibility of their marriage.

"Now it’s Commander Brynmor’s turn." Everyone went silent, what’s up with this Commander.

I knew he was 35 years old and had failed to find the genetic partner he wanted every year, but as usual, Commanders were always pursued by women.

Even though everyone went silent, the women activated their attractive mode on their augmentations again.

"Stand up, Flora!" I stood up as Mother activated the emergency protocol on my neural-link. What now.

"If you don’t get a genetic partner tonight, I’ll forcibly remove all your augmentations."

Living without augmentations might be better, but when I looked at Commander Brynmor, for some reason, his sensors focused on me with a strange pattern.

Don’t tell me the system is malfunctioning and will pick me, I immediately broke eye contact, but after peeking, he scanned me even more intensely in a strange way.

I’m done for, slowly, the direction of his sensors changed, I felt a little relieved. "Stupid! Why are you relieved like that!"

"Mother, as we said earlier, which Commander would want to marry her? It’s very illogical if anyone does." Freya always shows up to stir things up. "Commander Brynmor, known for his premium augmentations and superior strength, would never want to be with a genetic anomaly like her."

"Fiora Starfire!"

"What!"