“I just want to go to Belvun,” I say to discreetly change the topic.

“And why’s that?”

“My friend lives there. Her father’s an ambassador, too.”

Jeremy arches his eyebrows and a grin overtakes his face. “Got yourself a girl! What’s her name?”

“Ladia.”

“She hot?”

My stomach flips and I can’t stop the smile forcing its way onto my face.

Jeremy punches my shoulder. “Ha-ha! Admit it, you’re a lucky guy. Hope you see her.”

He leans forward to grab another handful of shrimp, almost tipping his plate under his stomach. He flicks his eyes at Glacia as he returns to his seat.

“How’s the pudding, missy?”

Glacia is shoveling a spoon of chocolate goop into her mouth, and rushes to swallow so she can answer his question. A glob drips down the side of her cheek, and she hastily wipes it away, embarrassed. She resorts to him giving a quick thumbs up.

“This place hasn’t disappointed me yet,” Jeremy says as he plops some pudding into a small glass bowl. He slurps it down in two scoops and reaches for another helping. “How’d, uh…” He stretches behind me and taps Glacia’s shoulder. “Oy, what’s your name?”

“Glacia.”

“How’d you do on the Report?”

“Ninety-seven.”

“You got family here?”

“No, I’m first gener—”

She stops talking when Jeremy turns away and nudges the blond guy next to him.

“Oy, Lonso. This is Arman and Gloria—”

“Glacia.”

“—and guys, this is Alonso Kelvin.”

“Just call me Lon,” he tells us. “Sorry you guys got stuck with this meathead.”

Jeremy thumps Lon’s shoulder and mutters a few choice words. Lon ignores him again and resumes talking to the girls beside him, but they don’t get to say much before the lights dim and a spotlight fixates on a balding man standing at the front of the room.

“On behalf of our ambassadors, Officials, and, of course, Chancellor Green, I welcome you all to the Undil Embassy. I am Crown Director Henri Estilon. Please give yourselves a round of applause, because you have inherited the future of humanity!”

Claps thicken the air, and two holograms of the Undil Embassy crest form behind the Director. The phrase Recruit Class 4319 shimmers between them.

“As you are all well aware, the Modern Embassy Program is in its ninety-ninth year, and I must say, I couldn’t be any more proud of you fine young men and women who have been selected to represent us. Look around. We pride ourselves on the quality of our Recruits, and this year is looking no different. The day draws near when the Embassy Program is no longer a necessity, but an option.”