The warm artificial breeze blew Aella's bobbed hair away into her face, carrying with it the scent of flowers. She stared out into the hospital's gardens through the latticework of the patio's balcony but made no move to clear the hair from her eyes. She took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair, staring up at the white skin of the building. Up and down the patio, wicker chairs and beds lay empty.

She stared at the roof, then closed her eyes. The words of the broadcast that morning still replayed over and over again in her mind. Her Quadrant had been destroyed. The Trinity rebels had attacked the Facility, decimating the buildings before moving on to the industrial factories, annihilating the population as they went before being eradicated by Founder troops.

"Miss," a voice called to her.

She shook her head, the image of the Founder soldier throwing the bomb flashing before her eyes. A Trinity had saved her from the bullets. He had been wounded keeping her safe.

"Chloe," she whispered.

"Miss," a voice repeated, more insistent this time.

She jumped as she realized the woman was next to her. Her shoulders slumped as she turned to look at the doctor that had been assigned to her. The woman's face was kind as she pulled the light blanket further up on Aella's lap. She had been there since Aella had woken up the day before.

"You have a visitor, miss."

Aella turned back to the roof, her breaths coming long and slow. She shivered as goosebumps broke out on her skin and she wrapped her arms around her waist.

She leaned forward as she slid her legs out from the narrow bed and to the warm wooden floor below. She gripped the bed sheets and swallowed, feeling cold as the breeze blew over her. The pain was numbed in her leg, reduced to faint flickers of pain when she moved the stiff muscles. The bullet wound was almost completely healed, only a faint scar left in its place.

She stood, keeping her eyes trained on the floor as she bowed. Her movements were stiff and jerky as if she were mechanical. A pair of highly shined shoes came into her vision, and she slowly stood back up, meeting the eyes of the visitor.

She looked up and stepped back, the bed hindering her movement.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the man standing before her, an amused smile on his face. She dropped into a bow once more, her breathing coming in bursts. She jumped as she felt hands on her shoulders, raising her to a standing position. She froze as she looked up into his gray eyes.

He stood in front of her, an eyebrow raised. "I would suppose from your reaction that you have not been told of your sponsorship yet?"

"No, Founder," she said, her voice catching in her throat.

"It is no matter," he said, moving to the empty chair on the other side of the patio, and sat down, the wicker creaking as he sat down. "Please sit, my dear. There is no need for such strict formality between us. I was traveling by your Quadrant when I was alerted to the attack. The survivors were transported to the Complex. Your condition, however, required that you be transported to this Facility."

Aella sat down on the bed, bringing her legs up underneath her, her back rigid as she stared at the Founder of United Earth. He wasn't as tall as he looked on the broadcasts, she noted. He was taller and with a trim build.

He lounged in the chair, his hand underneath his chin as he looked her over. "How are you feeling?"

Aella watched him for several seconds, her fingers moving in the sheets as she closed her fist. "I do not know yet, Founder."

He nodded and motioned to the nurse. "How goes her recovery?"

The doctor bowed to the man, keeping her head bowed as she talked. "She has recovered well, and she is nearing 80% functionality in her therapy."

"I am pleased with Aella's progress. You have continued to give me the assurance that your program will achieve success. I will reroute traffic from Quadrant 3 to your facility in the future. Will Aella be able to travel in the morning?"

The doctor nodded. "I am sure your physicians will be able to monitor her. The last of her therapy is scheduled for this evening."

"Thank you, doctor."

The woman bowed, and stepped away from the group, disappearing behind a door.

Aella straightened her back as the Founder turned to her. She swallowed, shaking her head slightly.

"I would wish for you to be able to process your grief and shock before placing you into your apprenticeship," he said, leaning forward. "But I am afraid that the Beta Game is set to begin in a mere three days, and you are going to be a special part of it. My son and my Apprentice will join you in the Beta Game."

She laughed as she shook her head. "I'm going to be a player?"

The Founder shrugged. "You passed all of the requirements, and your reactions in the special trial that was arranged for you were satisfactory. You have qualified."

"My Quadrant was just destroyed, my friends murdered," she said, battling the lump in her throat that pushed tears to her eyes. Her voice cracked as she gripped the sheets even tighter. "How can you expect me to fight in the Game? It is little more than sanctioned violence under the pretense of what? Entertainment? I am in no condition to handle the stress it would bring, even if I hadn't just survived an attack." She stared into his eyes, noting the cold, amber steel that stared back at her.

She frowned as he nodded, and hung his head.

"My dear, you are right," he said.

Aella swallowed, swiping her hand across her cheek where a tear-streaked down her face. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes.

"You have survived a great trauma, and you deserve to rest. You must also learn when to speak up about your beliefs, and when to respect your Founder," he said, standing to his feet.

Aella bowed her head and nodded. "Yes, my lord."

"I will explain everything to you in time. Here is neither the place nor the appropriate setting to reveal to you why the Game was created, and the role I hope you to have in it. You will travel with me to the Capitol in the morning, and I shall explain my reasons to you then. You will be introduced to my court at the Beta Game's Unveiling Ball, and I will escort you to the Game Center in three day's time. I will see you in the morning, Aella."

Aella nodded, bringing her arm up to her chest in salute. His footsteps made a rhythmic thumping in time with his guards on the wooden boards as he walked down the patio. She felt her heart beating beneath the thin robe and dress she wore, beating erratically. She trembled as she lowered her arm, and felt tears begin to flow down her face as she fell forward into a ball on the bed, as the doctor stepped forward and placed her hands on Aella's shoulders.