“T-terminated? I don’t understand,” her voice trembled.
Surprised, the examiner raised his eyes and rested them briefly on her face before turning to the guards.
“You know where to take her.” The toneless order fell from his lips with a casualness that spoke of rote bureaucracy. A sense-death was placed over her head, and any hopes she held imploded into oblivion.

Slowly resurfacing to reality, she found herself seated in front of a table in a drab little room without windows. Across from her, an aging man in a neat suit of grey studied the contents of a manila folder. Seeing her returned awareness, he began rapidly confirming her identity.
“Mary Smith, IC αβ-38-17-26,” scraped his voice. “The results for your personality and aptitude tests exclude you from employment in any field currently regulated.”
She didn’t respond.
He dropped the folder and continued.
“Lucky for you, Ms. Smith, you seem ideal for a position in one of our…less regulated fields.” His gaze met hers.
“How would you like a new life?”