I am walking down a long Waypoint Station corridor curving off into the distance, its gleaming silver walls subtly patterned and split down the middle with a stripe of clear material showing through to starry void...

While Nae continues chattering away. "-and Waypoint itself is only thirty years old, the youngest Station in operation, or at least until Oculus Station comes into service at the end of AE657. Interesting fact!!! Both Stations are built around the new gravimetric engines invented by Dr. Lanier, although of course they've been retrofitted into other older Stations as well. I'm almost too young to know a time without artificial gravity! Can you believe it?! Andddd there are a few members of the habitation control ops approaching from that side corridor. Yep, right there. Great people if just a teensy bit stiff. Hi Vel!!! That's Vel. She's a friend of mine. I actually helped get her that position. I kind of know everyone, hahaha! Oh!!! And over there you can see-"

My bemused smile is hidden by a shadowed cowl. I willed nanites to construct me a swirling purple Pareo earlier. Its fullbody covering provides me with anonymity on this first sojourn out into Waypoint Station proper, although my infamous arrival has already proceeded me. As we pass by a group of blue-skinned humanoids in white labcoats, two of them stare after me. Still, things could be worse. The chilly reception so far has been thawing, and my guide is...

Friendly.

(Distracting.)

Last night had seemed to last forever. After having been assigned private living quarters I had feigned sleep. No telling who might be watching on hidden camera's. But as I lay there during all those long hours, my mind had sifted through endless possibilities regarding Outer culture, the Interlocuter's aims, and my own chances at successfully joining their ranks. Things hadn't looked promising. However, a buzz at the door early that morning heralded change. After wrapping up, head to toe, in my newly constructed fullbody pareo wrap, which would cover up my features until I knew exactly how I wanted to present myself, SHE had been standing there. My guide, Nae. She was a slender, pretty, purple-eyed young woman with alabaster skin and silken midnight hair falling to her waist. Her fashion sense was interesting too. The faux jade uniform skirt. Black leggings. Designer flats that can apply magnetic attraction should the Lanier Drive's gravimetrics de-active. It was an interesting mix of technology, which I was coming to find common among the Outers. Almost...

Anachronistic.

(Or suspicious. Old station tech, and no smartmatter, or energy shielding. But they have gravimetrics, amond other oddly advanced baubles. The Lanier drive IS just a new name for old gravimetric technology the Twelve have had for more than a century, but which has slowly been shrunk down until it can fit not just in the bauble Joy displayed at the meeting, but applied to your own EIS integrated system. Considering how odd such an invention would be to make in the technological landscape here, Lanier would surely be one to meet...)

But he is not on this station. And I must focus.

Nae is still chattering on as we approach a large aperture leading out into a spacious communal area full of various biosynth chatting in groups, eating at long tables, or walking through sculpted arboreal terracing, beyond which curves a giant clear wall showing through to space. "-and this is the Anterior Commons. Catchy name, right? Most of us just call is the Quad though. It's an old joke from some pre-history youth films the historians scrounged up. They are just a HOOT. Stories don't make a lick of sense but they were young, and we're young, so we thought hey: why not just run with it? HA!"

While passing around the outside of this spacious communal area, I stare around us at...

... a place just like Dream City, on Earth. Except this biological diversity is a product of multiple naturally occurring generations. Not the forced creation of godlike tyrants.

"-and you will notice the diversity! Dwarf miners and automatons from Natter. Tall spindlers and rainbow drifters from Plenum Sphere. Asteroid belters of all types. And more. So much more! Waypoint is not an idly chosen name. This station is centrally located among all the Outer enclaves in the System. Accounting for the inter-revolving nature of planetary orbits and asteroid belts, of course. Our rules here allow for it. They are exceptionally moderate, and inclusive. Members of any enclave in the System are allowed to temporarily visit or permanently emigrate as long as they follow the appropriate channels, the People's Council votes accordingly and the Interlocuter signs off. Naturally, this might be new information to you. Bypassing all that with such an interesting entrance was just WILD. All my friends are dying to know more about you, and–"

But her friends were not the only ones: nearby members of the Commons were showing me a fair bit of attention as we passed around the outer rim, back towards the next hallway. Heads turned. Eyes tracked. The wave grew outwards, although few of the stares were intense...

My eyebrows drew together.

Most are calm. Only mildly interested. This is not quite the reaction I had expected, all things considered. A truly placid people. Without extreme swings of emotion. Even with my rumoured association with the Anomoly, myth, and legend. Although...

Some are different. A tigerman eating alone, a group of ape biosynth in business suits, and two spacesuit wearing Avians stare suspiciously.

(The Chimerics, yes. What is it about animal hybrids, and animals evolved? A common Outer different from pure human progeny?)

Nae leads me out into another long white corridor curving off into the distance, its walls gleaming silver, subtly patterned and split down the center with a clear stripe showing through to starry void. "-and of course there is plenty to do besides work at various administrative, maintenance, and production modules. The Interlocuter is one of the most progressive Station heads. He successfully campaigned to have a public Synthesium installed. There! You can see it through the next few apertures. The laboratory half includes highly advanced computers, robotics, spectral equipment, chemistry sets, and fabrication assemblies. I dabble a bit myself, although most of my extra-curriculars focus more on the social/physical fun. Are you interested?! We have a number of different rec leagues for sports, which are scheduled chiefly in the Anterior Park, or Commons. To get acclimated, you could join my g-ball club!!! Or any others, and try–"

Only half listening, I am staring into one of the Synthesium's public science sections. It's a mostly empty white labspace. The few biosynths within wear white labcoats. Cubicles are small, medium, and large. Basic processers and standing screens dominate. Gleaming silver, glass, and grey equipment is spread throughout.

(That one.)

A great ape biosynth wearing a white labcoat is typing away at the back. He frowns into a screen, then glances at me with intensity...

We pass out of sight, approaching the bright end of the curving hallway. "- are useful, without a doubt. Not all of us are so advanced. Some Outers are always in shape due to advance genetics, but others have to work at it just like legacy humans. And some others are practically immortal! The Interlocuter is one. HA! But that's not jealousy you hear. I'm one of the longer lived. Still, there's lots of diversity. Much can also be done with body modifications. But listen to me chattering away! Anyhoo, we're approaching the Anterior Park. Isn't it just a lovely space? Most of us were born on Stations, so few can enjoy the touch of nature. Our wallscreens are state of the art, so you really feel immersed in a different environment. This one rectreates Earth-like conditions that existed before it was consumed by the Anomoly. Sights, smells, and–" She leads me out into a huge bright space. Grass stretches away, paths leading through distant trees beneath an artificial sun. My resolution-enhanced vision shows its pixels, so I dial it down to better enjoy the effect as we head down a tiled lane.

Mm. Better.

I breath in deeply, and exhale.

(Similar. But not the same.)

A young lizard Chimerics hangs from her tail among the distant tree branches. She watches us like a greenscaled ape...

This park...

(... is a pale imitation, like so much else here. But...)

... it is free.

I breath in deeply, and exhale.

(Yes.)

...

Nae is leading me down another long white corridor curving off into the distance, both sides marked by closed apertures fronted by red, black-bordered doormats. "-and we have just about come all the way back around the Station. We took the outer loops, and inner. Now we are passing through the opposite side of your Dormitory section, full of more neighbours who I'm sure would be more than happy to make your acquaintance. Just let me know if you are-"

And I am...

Unsure.

Waypoint Station is a diverse Outer hub, as promised. But many of their reactions made me uncomfortable.

(I am standing out.)

After finally reaching my dormitory doorway, Nae turns with a friendly smile. She hops once, which briefly flounces her faux jade uniform skirt and briefly shows more of her black-stockinged leg, then flung out one of her slender arm.s "And tada! We are back at your residence unit, safe and sound. What did you think of Waypoint?!"

My lips quirk up, hidden in the shadow of the cowl. "I think that this Station is everything promised, and it lives up to its reputation as well as any."

"Good to hear!" Nae salutes me sharply, her violet eyes twinkling. "And next time, I hope you might be willing to come out of fashion-hiding. I know there's still info about you that's top secret and all" she whispers, leaning conspiratorally close, "but don't be shy. A lot of people here are different. I'm sure you won't stand out if you just be yourself." A wink. "Honesty is the best policy. Right?"

I incline my head. "Thank you Nae."

The alabaster-skinned young woman takes the hint. "Ok! Hope to see you again tomorrow around the Station. Have a great night!!!" She spins about, then jogs off down the corridor. Her silken midnight hair, and faux jade skirt, swish with the motion. At the end of the hall she turns once to wave at me, jogging backwards out of sight.

Scrunching my face to wipe the smile off, I turn towards my door. It slides open into the left wall recess smoothly enough. I step inside.

My residence is a small space. The front room is 8x8 meters. Dim. With a light grey silica floor, silver fixtures in dark walls, neon blue runner lights at the edge. An L-shaped couch of magenta dominates one half, a silver dining room table the other, flanked by soft magenta chairs. Two unlit adjoining rooms await me: one for cooking, one for sleeping.

Home?

The front doors slides almost soundless shut behind me as I step further inside. My mind is elsewhere. Thoughts linger on the day out. People. Places. Things. All the various postures. Dress. Faces. Demeanors. Mixing together, progeny of the legacy humans, biosynth, Chimerics, all beyond the absolute control of the hidden Earth's Twelve Masters...

(I want...)

After a moment, I come back to myself standing in the private washroom. Staring at myself in the mirror. My cowl is already down, revealing my face...

Neutral. I am nongendered. Slightly translucent skin hinting at underlying biology. Ear length hair-feathers flowers. Features neither masculine nor feminine. Height is moderate. Appearance attractive, but still only an androgynous biosynthetic posthuman. In this place...

(Yes.)

... I want to fit in.

My brow furrows.

So how should I shade? Obviously towards traits of legacy humans, in an effort to appease Outer sensibilities. But masculine, and male? Or feminine, and female?

While considering, my thoughts dwell upon the residents of Waypoint Station. On Nae, so friendly and chatty and popular. On the Interlouter, masculine and imposing, standing out in his own way. On Obit, the big, bluff, handsome Outer I had first met...

... and to the picture in his small craft of a beautiful young woman with long hair, wearing a spacesuit.

Yes.

I breath in, and out. Letting down my guard, accessing my 2nd Generation nervous systems. Awareness of the nanites/smartmatter inside my blood spreads. Suffusing the entirety of my EIS (Enclosed Integrated System) body, always ready with the power to change, create, or destroy. While staring into the mirror, I watch my neutral gender begin shading towards...

Yes. (There will be change.)