The Conference#

The next morning, the group gathered for brunch at Henry’s place. Anna wore a 1950s flower-print dress with large petticoats, a cinched waist, and long sleeves. She had on short blue leather gloves and a matching headscarf, with a mask concealing her face, completing the vintage look. Sonia was dressed in a floor-length gray pencil skirt and a white blouse buttoned at the back. Her elbow-length leather gloves tucked under the cuffs, and she wore a straw hat pinned to her bun. She was masked as well. Mara, in her usual attire, had on a bonnet and a mask fixed to the collar of her iGuardian, keeping her head still. She wore a white blouse locked in the back, an Edwardian walking skirt in deep navy blue, and her usual ballet knee-boots under the Yoyah Sheengzoh.

The women, locked to their chairs, signed to each other while the men talked outside on the terrace, their conversation taking on a more serious tone.

Anna glanced around before signing to Mara. The leather of her tight gloves creaked softly. This one heard there was an attack during intermission. What happened?

Mara’s fingers moved gracefully. Yes. A group of Freeborn tried to free us. It was chaotic, but the Grenadiers stopped them quickly.

Sonia added, Apparently one woman noticed them beforehand. The women in the group were obviously underdressed and uncorseted, and the men behaved rudely. They tried to blend in, but badly. Because of the attack on Zendaya, she grew suspicious and called the police helpline. The Grenadiers were already on the way when it began.

Anna’s eyes widened with interest. That is fascinating. How did the Freeborn stay uninfected by something as contagious as LASS-VASH-2024? Why form a terrorist group only now, three years after the Change? And where did they get money for their equipment?

Mara’s fingers paused before she signed. This one will use her contacts. More information is needed. That group cannot be allowed to cause serious harm.

The women exchanged nods, understanding the seriousness of the situation. Mara’s vague response suggested she had ways of gathering information, and they would discuss it more once she had news.

The conversation then shifted to other topics.

Mara mentioned that she had received the agenda for the upcoming conference on viruses and pandemic control.

Sonia signed with curiosity. What is the conference focused on?

Mara signed. The conference will cover the medical and legal aspects of pandemic control. It is a major event for all of us. There will be sessions on antiviral development, vaccine distribution strategy, and the legal side of pandemic response.

Anna nodded. It sounds very informative. Who is speaking?

Mara’s hands showed a hint of amusement. One of the keynote speakers is Dr. Cheng, CEO of CBI. She turned to Anna. And did Anna know he is also CEO of Maylee Shufoo? This one found that out for Sonia a long time ago. He will speak on neuroactive viral disease and future pandemic preparedness. There are several other well-known experts from medicine and law as well.

Sonia’s hands froze mid-sign. She signed quickly, anxiously. Dr. Cheng? Are you sure?

Mara nodded, noticing Sonia’s reaction. Yes. Why? Is something wrong?

Sonia’s hands shook slightly as she signed. When this one met him in Shanghai three years ago… the situation was not favorable. From her signs, it was clear there was more to the story. Anna knew the details, but Mara did not, and Sonia wasn’t ready to share. It has been three years, but this one worries he might recognize her.

Anna reached over, gently touching Sonia’s arm to calm her. Sonia, that was a long time ago. Now you are masked or veiled, and even if he sees your bare face, he probably will not recognize you. You have changed, and so has the world.

Sonia took a deep breath, trying to steady her hands. This one knows. Still, the thought makes her nervous. He was involved… Her hands paused, then she started again. What if somehow he realizes who she is?

Mara’s eyes softened with understanding. Sonia has come a long way since then. Dr. Cheng may not remember her at all. Besides, we are going to the conference to learn and to make a difference. If she feels uncomfortable, she need not attend his session.

Sonia nodded, her fingers moving more slowly. Thank you, Mara. This one appreciates that. She will try to focus on the positive side of the conference.

Anna signed. Feeling nervous is normal, but we are in this together. We will support one another.

Later that week, the conference at the International Conference Center began with a quiet sense of anticipation. The venue, designed to accommodate thousands, had most of its space unused, except for a small section set up for the 200 attendees. The main auditorium had been thoughtfully divided: one half was arranged with locking fempads for unattended women, while the other half was set up for men and their wards. The seating was cleverly designed, allowing the chairs to convert easily from standard seats to secure women’s seats with locking arms and modified beds.

Anna, Sonia, and Mara arrived without their guardians. Philippe had programmed Mara’s iGuardian to guide her to the center and had set a geofence to keep her within the conference area. Dressed formally, Mara wore a sleek, dark navy suit with a high-collared blouse that locked at the back. The blouse, made from smooth, matte silk, had delicate lace detailing at the cuffs. Her long skirt fell just above her ballet boots, with a traditional Yoyah Sheengzoh underneath. She also wore matching leather gloves, and a tight bonnet held her mask securely in place, fixed to the collar of her iGuardian.

Sonia chose a more balanced look. She wore a fitted gray pencil skirt with a lavender blouse featuring puffed sleeves and a ruffled collar. Her light gray gloves matched her stylish mask, which had subtle embroidered patterns complementing her outfit. A matching headscarf kept her hair neatly tucked away.

Anna, opting for a more casual style, wore a pale blue dress with a flared skirt and short sleeves that covered her elbow-length gloves. The dress had a playful polka-dot pattern, giving it a relaxed “casual Friday” vibe. Her mask was simple and plain white, without any embellishments, and she wore a light summer hat pinned to her bun.

The three women made their way to the women’s section and locked themselves into the fempads. They felt the firm grip of the restraints as they settled into place, a reassuring pressure that anchored them in the midst of the growing crowd. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, though the room was eerily silent, save for the soft clicking of heels and the rustling of fabric as other women took their places. The subdued murmur of male voices drifted from the other side of the room, adding to the quiet tension.

As the lights dimmed, Dr. Cheng stepped onto the stage, ready to deliver his keynote on neuroactive diseases. Sonia, already anxious, felt her heart race as she realized she was now locked into a fempad for a talk given by the very man she had been avoiding. The mask she wore, along with her complete coverage in Changed attire, meant there was little chance of being recognized, yet the anxiety gnawed at her. She had to consciously breathe deeply, forcing herself to stay calm, knowing there was no real danger, though the memories of Shanghai made it hard to relax.

Dr. Cheng began his lecture, titled “Neuroactive Parasites and Viruses: Common Pathways from Toxoplasma Gondii to Emerging Human Influences,” speaking with the calm authority of someone deeply knowledgeable in his field. Sonia and Anna, both familiar with the LASS-VASH-2024 virus, quickly noticed that Dr. Cheng was only scratching the surface of the virus’s true nature. For them, his presentation was interesting but lacked the depth they knew was possible. However, for most of the audience, his revelations were groundbreaking. He spoke about how a hypothetical virus could influence behavior, and the audience hung on every word.

As the lecture ended, the women were automatically released from their fempads, and they filed out in an orderly manner. The silence was only broken by the sound of their heels and the soft swish of their skirts. The stillness of the event was almost unnerving, with only the occasional murmur of male voices breaking through the quiet.

In the main hall, the space was divided again. The unattended women had their own section, where they could switch from masks to veils modestly for refreshments. Or, in Mara’s case, she had the option to be locked into a women’s chair with a feed bag if she wished to take a break. The wards accompanied by their guardians mingled in the other half, quietly discussing the topics of the day.

Sonia and Mara walked over to the refreshment bar, eyeing the options laid out on the table. Anna, unimpressed by the usual conference fare, stayed back, making a quiet joke about the poor quality of the coffee. Mara picked up a feed bag, reading the label with mild interest.

Suddenly, the kitchen door beside them burst open with a loud crash. A group of armed intruders, their strange breathing masks identifying them as Freeborn, stormed into the room: The door slammed into Mara with brutal force, hitting her body and face. The titanium shell of her iGuardian and her fixed mask absorbed most of the blow and protected her from harm, but the impact still knocked her off her feet. She lost her balance, and fell hard onto her back, her narrow skirt preventing her from getting up. She tried to turn her head to find Sonia, but her locked-on mask held her head rigid. She lay there, trapped and helpless, like an overturned bug unable to right itself.

Around her, muffled cries filled the air—panicked sounds from gagged women who couldn’t scream. The clicking of heels echoed as others tried to flee, their movements frantic and chaotic. Then, a gunshot rang out, loud and terrifying, freezing everyone in place. Mara felt a rough hand grab her, flipping her onto her stomach. She felt the cold edge of a knife scrape against the back of her iGuardian, followed by the harsh buzz of a taser.

A powerful shock jolted through her body, sent from her fried iGuardian through all electrodes at once. The pain was overwhelming, blurring her vision as she slipped into unconsciousness.

The intruders worked quickly, rounding up several Changed women, including Sonia and Mara. Within moments, they retreated, leaving behind a scene of chaos and fear. Sonia and Mara, along with the others, were gone, taken by the Freeborn, their fate uncertain.