imperfect by Tina Chan Page A

her some
pictures of a zygote being formed on his electro-slate. While
Michel was busy finding the pictures on his slate, Kristi snuck
around the reception desk and into the learning center.
    It was time to find Jaiden.
    She instinctively checked the library first;
ninety percent of the time Jaiden could be found in the library if
he was in the learning center. Kristi barely peeked into the
library before she left. It was obvious the room wasn’t occupied;
it was too quiet.
    Next stop was the classrooms. Kristi flung
each door open and peeked inside each room. However, thirty-six
classrooms later, Jaiden was yet to be found. She was steadily
growing concerned about the whereabouts of Jaiden. Aside from the
learning center, the only other place where Jaiden might be was the
lab.
    Feet dragging against the tiled floor, she
went back to the reception room of the learning center. Michel was
still explaining the miracles of science to Chelsa, using words too
big for Kristi to even bother to pretend to understand.
    “ Hey, I thought I said you
couldn’t enter without a valid ID!” Michel exclaimed. His curly
head shot up when Kristi walked by.
    “ That was a lovely
discussion we just had. Thank you so much,” Chelsa said.
    “ Why don’t you stay for a
bit and we can talk some more? Let me just deal with
Kristi.”
    “ I would love to stay, but
I really must go.” Chelsa grabbed Kristi’s arm and pulled her out
the front doors.
    Michel called out, “Wait, let me give you my
instafication number. It’s—”
    Chelsa allowed the heavy glass door to slam
shut behind her, drowning his voice. “Conceited little idiot.”
Chelsa sent Kristi a mischievous smile. “Michel really thought I
was interested in him, didn’t he?” She didn’t wait for a reply and
kept on talking. “He wouldn’t stop rattling on about how science
has improved human genetics and that Perfects were the apex of the
human race. He must’ve thought I was getting bored of listening to
him talk science nonsense because then he was all like ‘I love the
color of your eyes; did your parents customize them to be green?’
and I’m thinking to myself ‘I’m a freaking Accident. Of course my
parents didn’t choose for me to have green eyes’.”
    Chelsa dragged Kristi down the streets,
scanning the buildings lining the pavements. Kristi pointed to the
direction of Professor Smetana’s lab and Chelsa readjusted their
course. Chelsa continued talking and Kristi continued bobbing her
head and making noncommittal sounds at the right places.
    “ Hey, um, Kristi, is that
your mom and dad?” Chelsa pointed to the public screen broadcasting
NRN (North Region News). Kristi looked up. A picture of Don and
Maria’s faces scrolled by and reporter appeared on screen to
announce:
    “ This is NRN. Breaking
News: Two spies of the South Union were caught this morning at 7:32
a.m. The spies lived on 37 Bridge Street. Police have declared the
property to be under investigation and have installed surveillance
cameras around the perimeters. Maria and Don Shea have been brought
into a top security prison while their son, Jaiden Shea, is being
held in the local jail until the court has decided the appropriate
actions to take. As of right now, Kristi Shea is on the Wanted
List. Evidence suggests she was involved in this network of spies
for the South Union. Keep an eye out for Kristi Shea and help the
North Region stay united and safe. Have a good day, fellow
citizens!”
    “ You’re a spy?” Chelsa’s
eyes bugged out.
    “ No! I didn’t even know my
parents were spies,” Kristi said, her mind reeling with disbelief.
“Things just got a lot more complicated.”
    “ You think?”
    “ At least we know where
Jaiden is now.”
    “ We better find Jaiden
quickly before this news spreads,” said Chelsa.
    “ How do you suggest we
break into the jail?”
    Chelsa let out a laugh.
“I’ve broken out of jail plenty of time, but I can honestly say, I
have never tried