I navigated the halls by memory, although one of the guards would certainly step in if I strayed somewhere forbidden. A short walk brought me to the double-doors of the ballroom, where two more Grays bowed as they opened the way.

Blinking to adjust to the darkness, I stepped inside. The domed glass ceiling let in a sliver of moonlight. The only other illumination came from the sporadic black lights that highlighted ice sculptures and standing tables in pools of purple.

UV tattoos glowed from the arms of each Seligo. In this crowd of senators and their guests, more were Seligo than not. All symmetrical faces and plastic smiles.

I scanned the crowd as I made my way through. Not a single woman wore a long-sleeved gown, and suit jackets cut to reveal Helix tattoos were still in fashion for the men. Despite the variations in skin and hair color, all Seligo had a certain sameness that made it that much easier to spot the outliers. At my six o’clock, a woman in a clingy, crystal-encrusted gown, posture slumped, pupils dilated. Likely high on serums.

A short man, reflexively rubbing his hands at my two. His suit was slightly baggy and a few years out of style. An uncomfortable guest who didn’t belong in this crowd. I assumed one of the pompous-looking Helixes at his side was trying to awe the man for business or some prank. Did they have nothing better to do with their time?

I nearly snorted. Obviously not.

At one edge of the room, a knot of proud parents stood, passing around their test tube babies like the children were the latest accessories. All five infants had skin the same shade of brown that must be in style now. They’d been drugged so they wouldn’t fuss, but one mother helpfully pulled back her son’s eyelid to show off his pale, yellow eyes.

The spectacle was nothing new, but it still made my conscience throb. All I could do was turn away. My disgust wouldn’t help right now.

A few upper-level Greens nodded in my direction. I faked smiles in return, but kept moving through the crowd. The first order of business was greeting my parents.

They stood shoulder to shoulder near the string quartet, whose plexi instruments glowed with imbedded black lights. A proud UV Helix glimmered from each of their forearms.

“Mother, Father.” I dipped my head in what passed for deference.

“Altair.” Mother smoothed the shimmering fabric of her high-necked gown, and the pin in her dark hair chimed as she moved toward me. After a cold welcome hug, she tugged my sleeve past the tattooed lines that peeked out. “Mind your appearance, darling.”