The glances of strangers, who visibly noticed and then dutifully pretended they had not, alerted her to the fact that her impeccably coiffed head was defying the advertising claims of her hair spray. A visit to the ladies’ room later and she was perfected enough to walk into the office to smiled at the receptionist. “Mary Smith, identity code Alpha Beta thirty-eight seventeen twenty-six, here to see my assignment specialist.” She took a seat in the small meeting room just beyond, as directed, but didn’t have long to wait.

“Mary! You’re looking well today.” He sat across from her after a firm handshake then examined the documents before himself. “I’m afraid I have somewhat bad news for you. You see, the results for your personality and aptitude tests exclude you from employment in any field currently regulated. It’s clear that you do your best to conform but…there’s never an easy way to say this.” A pair of officers in body armour entered and stood at either side of Mary. “You are to be terminated.”