Where It All Began

In the brightly lit corridor of Building F, a tall, young man turned left at the corner after walking for a hundred metres ahead. His posture was steady and his face looked indifferent as he stepped in front of the door to get permission from the person inside to let him in.

The room he stepped into was a regular office of a clinic. In fact, it was quite similar to those clinics of long-forgotten days, where those who wanted to get plastic surgeries because they were unsatisfied with one or more of their body parts could choose their dream nose, ears, boobs, etc. The only difference is that here they can not only see it on a computer's monitor but they can also see it in 3D, just the way it will look like after the surgery if they go with that particular shape, or type they chose previously. 

But the man, who stepped through the door didn't come here for that. In the year 3336, those practices have already been obsolete for many years. In an age, where after a child is conceived, the parents can just walk in and after paying some money, they can genetically modify their yet unborn child to have the qualities they wish for, who would need a place like that? Since every parent wants their child to be the best and have the best, don't they? Well, according to the Act of Peaceful Harmony and Coexistence of 3207, they can all have it now. And what better way to ensure harmony than making the same opportunities available to everyone and thus making everyone equally content?

After stepping into the room, the young man looked at the woman sitting in front of one of the monitors and walked straight to her desk. The solitary figure of the woman seemed lonely but commanding. She looked at the man and waited for him to speak first.

"Dr. Rostensky, I came to talk to you about the case Mrs. Feng has entrusted you with."

"Mr. Dong, I have already told you when you contacted me that it is a strictly confidential matter since the current world leader's son's future spouse is involved in it.
"I know, so I'm not here for the details," he said casually.

The woman's eyes widened in astonishment as she asked:
"Who told you?"

"No one. But isn't it obvious? Everyone wants the best for their child. Why would a world leader be any different? I suppose it's a charming, slim woman of medium height we're talking about with fair complexion, cherry lips, and eyes to die for. She is smart, her temperament is mild and agreeable, and she has a keen eye for the arts with a knack for foreign languages. Shall I continue?"

"No need," the doctor replied. Her whole demeanor changed in a matter of seconds. "What do you want?" she asked after a while of thinking.

"To ask you to make some changes," he said earnestly and sat down on the chair in front of her desk.

"That's impossible. Even in the case of a common civilian. And especially in this case," she said adamantly.

"Really?" he said tauntingly, raising his eyebrows at her to make her waver."But you do make some exceptions, don't you?" he propped his right elbow on his left arm and held his chin in his hand, seemingly lost in thought. "Like what you did in the case of Mrs. Feng. I wonder what would the world think if people realized their leader, whom they laid their hopes in preferred a boy instead of a girl to become their successor?" he said mockingly.

"It would be considered an unjust, discriminative, and autocratic act that would threaten world peace and harmony if found out."

"But you still did it," he said without reproach, only stating a fact.

"I had to. I had..."

"No choice," he said, finishing her sentence. "If you say so."

"What do you want?"

"To change the gender of that prospective spouse."

"They will be outraged," she said terrified.

"Not if you tell them the chosen family is expecting twins. A girl and a boy. But the girl tragically dies during childbirth."

"You are insane!" she raised her voice again, almost shouting but quickly calmed down so as not to alert anyone's attention outside. "Even if I would do that, no one would believe me. No such thing has happened for hundreds of years."

"Then find a way to make it happen," he said unwaveringly.

"Why?"

"Because no one should be subjected to be forced into a marriage way before they were born. Your future leader wouldn't want that. And they only need a girl anyway, so if the child born is a boy, he will be safe and can live the life he wants to without getting involved."

Silence followed as both of them waited for the other to speak. At last, the young man broke the silence first.

"Don't worry! If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."

"What authority do you have to..." she stopped mid-sentence as she saw the man stand up and lean over her desk to whisper something in her ear. Her eyes widened in shock and her lips parted, almost trembling in fear. She no longer dared to move.

"Good," the man said seeing her reaction, and straightened his back, ready to leave. "After it's taken care of, we'll make sure to help that family to disappear without a trace. So that they can live in peace just like everyone else."

"Understood, sir. But why are you so sure they won't try to find another candidate to replace the spouse they have lost?" she asked a little unconvinced.

"Because they won't know that there's a problem. Not until it's too late," he said, expecting the doctor to object still but she didn't. "What's their surname?" he asked finally.

"Saito, sir," she replied immediately. She didn't even have to check the name as it was an exclusive case she was specifically entrusted with so she would definitely know every detail about it. She couldn't afford herself not to.

The young man was about to leave as he took a final look at the woman sitting at her desk, who could've been mistaken for an everyday official if one didn't know the name of the institution she worked at.

"I wasn't here," he said sternly as a response to the woman's expectant look. 

"Of course you weren't," the woman replied and with that, the man stepped out of the room and left.

He walked back the way he came, through the same corridor. Perhaps, he should've asked her how that foreign-sounding name is written but whatever. It doesn't really matter since they won't have anything to do with each other. Crisis averted and that's what really matters.

He hadn't yet left the building when he had an incoming message.

Wintry Tree to Winter Breeze:

I have to attend a meeting, tomorrow at 2 p.m. Reschedule?

Seeing this, the young man stopped in his tracks but immediately went on his way as he sent a reply.

Winter Breeze to Wintry Tree:

Reschedule. Talk later.