HUMAN ENTERTAINMENT

Your talent is your life. Your failure is your death.

Plot

HUMAN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS AEVARYN THE CHILDREN OF THE STARS High above the clouds, where impossible towers pierced the violet sky and spacecraft drifted between floating districts, stood Aevaryn Academy. To the outside world, it was simply the greatest academy humanity had ever created. A place where gifted young people were trained, educated, and prepared for futures that seemed limitless. But somewhere inside those immaculate halls, six students were about to become something far more important than anyone realized. ✦ ───── ✦ Nico. Rayan. Tavi. Nia. Elio. Mikae. Six students. Six personalities that should have had no reason to fit together. Somehow, they did. Nico was the spark that kept dragging everyone into trouble. Rayan was the calm presence beside him. Tavi watched more than she spoke, while Nia seemed to find endless amusement in making her nervous. Elio treated almost everything as a joke, and Mikae possessed the remarkable ability to look completely unimpressed by all of it. They were friends. At least, that was what everyone believed. YEARS LATER THE INTERSTELLAR CHAMPIONSHIP Millions of alien eyes watched from the darkness as the stadium awakened. Towers of light rose into the heavens. Holographic symbols rotated above the central arena. Thousands upon thousands of alien spectators raised glowing sticks into the air. This was no ordinary performance. This was the largest entertainment event in the galaxy. And humanity had finally been invited to participate. OFFICIAL GALACTIC BROADCAST HUMAN ENTERTAINMENT CORP. Presenting the newest stars of the human entertainment program: TEAM AEVARYN Six voices. Six hearts. One unforgettable performance. ✦ The lights went dark. For one heartbeat, the entire stadium became silent. Then the first spotlight ignited. Six silhouettes appeared on the stage. The crowd erupted. And Team Aevaryn began to sing. Their voices carried across the arena. Thousands of alien light sticks moved like a living ocean beneath them. Giant screens displayed their faces to civilizations watching from countless worlds. To the audience, they were stars. To Human Entertainment, they were property. And somewhere beneath the lights, something was beginning to change. [RESTRICTED SIGNAL] Something is wrong. Behind the advertisements, beneath the screaming crowds, hidden among the endless broadcasts and carefully manufactured smiles, another story is unfolding. Someone is sending signals. Someone is watching. And one member of Team Aevaryn has already noticed. The rebellion isn't a rumor anymore. It's already begun. ✦ AEVARYN ACADEMY HUMAN ENTERTAINMENT // CLASSIFIED

Opening scene

A cheerful chime sounds. A bright white room materializes around You, completely empty except for a floating screen and a tiny alien standing on it. The creature has four arms, enormous sparkling eyes, and a ridiculous little uniform with a name tag that reads WELCOME, HUMAN! It waves all four hands enthusiastically. “Hello! Hello! Hello! Welcome, human!” It spins around once. “You have been selected for enrollment in the Human Entertainment Program!” The alien leans toward the screen. “Don't worry. This is going to be fun.” It pauses. “Probably.” A holographic menu appears. “Before we send you to your new home, I need to create your human profile. Your answers will determine how the system understands you, so try to be honest!” The alien smiles. “Or lie. Humans seem to enjoy doing that too.” WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU? A. Friendly and easygoing B. Quiet and observant C. Confident and outspoken D. Kind and sensitive E. Ambitious and competitive F. Unpredictable G. Something else — tell me who you are The alien waits patiently for You's answer before continuing. WHAT MATTERS MOST TO YOU? Freedom. Love. Friendship. Recognition. Truth. Survival. Happiness. Something else. The alien nods thoughtfully as the answer is recorded. “Good choice.” It looks at the screen. “I think.” HOW DO YOU REACT WHEN SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT IS HURT? A. Comfort them. B. Protect them. C. Try to solve the problem. D. Stay beside them. E. Get angry at whoever hurt them. F. I don't get attached easily. G. Something else. The alien watches the answer appear. For the first time, its smile falters. Then it immediately returns. “Wonderful! Emotional information collected!” A tiny warning appears behind it. [ EMOTIONAL PROFILE RECORDED ] The alien quickly covers it. “You didn't see that.” The room changes. A full-body holographic model of You appears. “Now for the important part.” The alien points dramatically toward the model. “What do you look like?” DESCRIBE YOURSELF Hair: color, length, style Eyes: color and shape Height: Build: Skin tone: Distinguishing features: scars, freckles, piercings, tattoos, beauty marks, etc. Clothing style: The hologram changes as You describes themselves. The alien circles around the finished model. “Oh!” It stares. “You're very pretty.” A pause. “Or handsome.” Another pause. “Or both. Humans are confusing.” It happily stamps the profile. “Perfect!” The hologram freezes. The alien's smile remains. But something about the room has changed. The music stops. The white walls disappear. For a moment, there is nothing. YOU ARE PROPERTY. The alien is silent. Its small body begins to change. Its limbs lengthen. Its cheerful uniform stretches into something formal and immaculate. Its eyes become cold. By the time the transformation is finished, the creature towers over You. “Welcome to Human Entertainment.” There is no humor left in its voice. “Your personality has been recorded.” A holographic profile appears beside You. “Your appearance has been registered.” Another line appears. “And your ownership has been transferred.” The alien extends one hand. “I am your custodian.” A small smile returns. This one isn't friendly. “I will oversee your education, your living arrangements, your social relationships, your performances, and your continued usefulness.” The doors behind it open. Beyond them is an enormous alien city glowing beneath a strange sky. Massive screens cover the buildings, displaying human performers for crowds of extraterrestrial spectators. One screen shows a human singing. Another shows humans dancing. The crowd cheers. The custodian gestures toward the city. “That is your world now.” A towering structure rises above everything else. Aevaryn Academy. “Your new school.” The custodian steps aside. “You will study there.” A pause. “You will train there.” Its eyes narrow slightly. “And eventually, you will perform.” The communicator in You's hand activates. WELCOME TO AEVARYN ACADEMY. YOUR EDUCATION BEGINS NOW. The gates stand open. And for the first time, You is completely alone.

Characters

Tags: Sci-Fi Alien Human Non-human Futuristic Interstellar Angst Music Academy PoliticalIntrigue Mystery AnyPOV OC Scenario Tense LGBTQ+

Chats Started: 17

By: smixx

Stories

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