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Chloe Miller | Origins

Chloe caught her own eye as she applied her makeup. It gave her pause, and she looked for a moment as an observer. Today was her high school graduation. She looked beautiful, there was no doubt about that. But that compliment had become increasingly more hollow over the course of recent weeks. It started at a Cousin’s birthday dinner a few months back, when her aunt asked what she planned to do after graduating. “I’m not sure yet,”‌ Chloe said, thoughtfully. “I-” “Well, there’s plenty of options for pretty girls like yourself. You could get a hostess job at one of those fancy restraunts- you have such a nice smile!‌ And I’m sure the guys would tip well. Or even become an influencer and do collabs with beauty products. Even working with people- you’re such a people person, anyone would be crazy to not hire you.” Her aunt spoke with righteous conviction. Outwardly, Chloe smiled. Inwardly, she cumpled to the floor. “Yeah, probably,” she said in her typical smiley manner. Chloe excused herself to the bathroom, and darted off before any of the other girls could join. When she made it to the safe haven, the tears began to flow. This was the final nail in her coffin. She had already been growing suspicious- last week she posted photos of her at the science center with a caption that read “Can’t wait to leave my mark one day,” as she stood in front of the “Women of Science”‌ Exhibit. The comments glossed over this completely. Many of her well meaning friends commented the typical “You look so prettyyyy!”‌ and “Yess Hottie!”- but none of them acknowledged her point. None of them saw her. She was broken. She hated the system, and society, and how it insisted on putting her in a box. She cried for dreams and a future that she knew realistically would always be out of reach- even if she did graduate and go to school and pursue the things she wanted, the world would never see her for how she wanted to be seen. They would never see past the pretty face. So if all she was ever going to be was a pretty face… Chloe applied one last flick of mascara. Then she was going to do it her way. With excellence and perfection. The next few hours were a blur. When they announced valedictorian, Chloe stood up and mindlessly accepted. Photos, smiles, cheers… but what did it matter. The principal said some kind words about Chloe’s impact on the school; on her kindness and her upbeat attitude, and congratulated her on her achievement. She sat down. She was drowning. And she was in deep enough that she began wondering if it would be easier to swim down. Afterwards, her family overwhelmed her with cameras and beckoned for poses. “Smile Chloe!”‌ “Turn Chloe!” “Chloe stand next to Kate!”‌ “Do you have a moment, Ms. Miller” “Chloe, hold up you-”

Wait… What?

Chloe snapped around to find a man dressed in a sharp suit; a lapel of a light blue wing on his chest. On his right was woman, dressed equally sharply, but with a soft, femenine demeanor. The man extended his hand, and Chloe shook it. “My name is Ethan Martinez. Do you have a brief moment to talk?”‌ Chloe turned to her parents, and gestured for them to wait a few moments. She turned back to the man. “I work with a group called Pegasus. Have you heard of them?” Chloe nodded her head yes. “Yeah, I‌ have… You guys responded to that typhoon last year, right?” “Yes Ma’am, that was us.”‌ This from the woman, who answered proudly. “I realize you’re enjoying the festivities, so I‌ won’t drag this on.”‌ The man gestured to the droves of kids taking pictures. “I’d like to offer you a job, Ms. Miller.”‌ Chloe was immediately skeptical. A strange man, claiming to be from a massive organization, singling her out at a little utah high school graduation. But Chloe wasn’t the kind to back down when she was scared. “How did you find me?” “Your math teacher. Mr. Sato. 2 years ago, he wrote to one of our recruiters. He raved, and raved, and raved about his brightest student. He made a special point to make sure we didn’t let your pretty demeanor fool us, but in all honesty, that was never a danger.” The man produced the note for Chloe, and she read it. She recognized Mr. Sato’s handwriting. He had pushed her harder than anyone had ever pushed her in her life. When he got sick, she felt it personally. He seemed like the only one who had ever really believed in her and her dreams. With his passing, she felt a critical part of her die too, and she struggled ever since then to find it again. Ethan’s eyes shifted, showing sudden sympathy. “We only recently heard the news. We’re sorry for your loss. But there is a brightside. Before his passing, he left you a lifeline. And that is why we’re here.” The woman spoke up. “We know this is a LOT to take in, and we don’t need an answer right away, but…” Chloe’s survival instinct kicked in. This might be her only escape, and she might never have the opportunity again. “What would you want me to do? I‌ like math, but it’s not like I‌ have a degree.”‌ “We’ll teach you.” The man spoke with quiet resolution. “We’re building a computer; the most advanced the world has ever seen. We need more than math majors and developers and data-scientists. We need people who aren’t willing to be bound by a box of conventional thought. We need trailblazers who… how did you put it?‌ Can’t wait to leave their mark one day?” He delivered this with a knowing smile, and Chloe choked up on a smile of her own. “And what if I‌ don’t fit in with this project?” Again, the woman spoke. “Then you can do whatever you want. We have no shortage of avenues for changing the world.” “But you will.”‌ The man, again, said this with such confidence that chloe felt silly for even posing the question. “We already have a position made just for you.” Chloe took a deep breath. “When do I‌ have to decide by?” “You don’t.” The man handed Chloe two cards. “Contact us when YOU‌ are ready.”‌ He offered her a smile, and the pair turned and walked away. Chloe looked down. In her hand was a business card and a gift card to a steakhouse in town. It read,“‌ Celebrate your achievements. Enjoy dinner on me tonight. -Director Martinez.” And so, she did.

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