A/N: This chapter is dedicated to inevitxble for making an amazing cover for Enhancement right here:

She also made a cover for Instability, which i love a lot, so everyone go follow her! If you want me to use this cover, comment HERE!

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As I train my eyes on the Equinox lady, I lace my fingers between Stephen's. Not only do I want to keep him close, but I also feel safer when we're within each others' touch. Anything could happen in the next 10 minutes.

"Alright, let's begin the finale of your Equinox," the woman says. She begins an applause, and the rest of the room claps with her.

I don't bother clapping; no way am I letting go of Stephen's hand. To settle my uneasiness, I scan the dining hall for Nicolette. I spot her easily on the clear other side of the area. She's secure over there, away from the dangers Stephen and I impose on her.

After all, she burned the fear technology in my neck with a table knife. That makes her an accomplice to treason. The best I can do is ensure her Equinox is normal.

I brush a flyaway hair behind my ear. On stage, a large hologram springs awake behind the woman. A reel of patriotic symbols swirl on the hologram. The images are so fake, so phony in their powerful appeal. How was I able to believe all this crap for so much of my life?

But like always, Stephen and I blend in. We pretend to be focused and gullible as the woman continues. When we need to strike, we will... somehow, somewhere.

"Let's begin our ceremony with our nation pledge. Everyone rise from your seats and face the hologram."

I glance at Stephen as we ease our hands apart. Turning around again, I face the patriotic display. The room recites:

I pledge my allegiance
Now and always
Forever to my country.
My loyalty will never falter,
My obedience will never halt,
And my actions
Will always reflect these words:
Timeliness
For the sake of productivity;
Control
For the sake of order.

"Your pledge has been accepted, ladies and gentlemen. You may be seated again," the woman says crisply.

The room seats itself, tempted to chatter but resists. "The Equinox each year is about categorization. As you recall from your most recent interaction with your glass boxes, the system ranked your tendencies, likelihoods, possibilities, and confirmations using your behavior in the tasks. We also tap into a few behaviors from throughout your life to form those scores."

The hologram switches off the patriotic stuff and switches to a scrolling list of hundreds of thousands of words. The text is so small I can't read it.

"The whole purpose of the Equinox is to see where you fit in the world, if you're stable enough to become an effective worker or parent. It's a sensible, easy way for the nation to assess your present and future."

That's a nicer way of saying 'we're testing your loyalty,' I think to myself. My thoughts flash back to Tanner, Peyton, and everyone in Pod 14. I hope they're okay. We need them now more than ever. Those tasks were horrible and twisted.

The woman interrupts my thoughts. "Then the Equinox team confirms those rankings and organizes a national percentile chart for everyone in this year's Equinox. Based on those rankings, we put you in your best spot in the nation."

The names stop shuffling, now forming a smaller list. "Remember, this is your best place."

A few of the faces in the audience scrunch up their noses in confusion. What does she mean?

"We'll be starting with the lowest ranks, then work our way up. Names will be announced in groups of four, so when you're name is called, rise and step on stage."

I glance at Stephen for the millionth time. His eyes are worried, expecting the worst. Something's off here.

Turning back to the stage, I watch the Equinox woman carefully. Her resting smile is pinched and cold. Half a dozen Screeners march in, circling around the stage like robots. Some of them set down gold boxes or cases. Whatever they're expecting, I have no idea.

The hologram switches to a black background and gold text. "Holland Renner, Stephen Moore, Raena Simmons, and Edmund Tyde," a monotonous voice says loudly.

My stomach jumps. Our names flash onto the hologram. I'm freaking out on the inside for no apparent reason. I can feel the tremors in my legs, my fingers.

I stand and push my chair in. Stephen nods as I shake my head in response. As we approach the stage, I can't help but think the announcer voice sounds so similar to the Enhancement Project one.

All eyes are on us. The Screeners stare us down as we near the stage. I can never get over how those red helmets and dark visors convey so much distaste and aggressiveness. Their red suits stop us before stepping on stage. One shoves a black pin into my right hand.

"Ouch," I grit my teeth. The Screener stares me right in the eyes, but I can't tell behind the visor. He hands me a dark, rectangular case and sends me up the stage steps. I swear there's almost a slight force in his push.

Stephen meets me on stage a second later, but I'm face-to-face with the Equinox lady for just a moment. Her snootiness is almost as strong as her fragrant perfume.

The four of us fit on stage perfectly. Somehow the presence of Raena and Edmund restore some normality to the situation.

A few more names are called as the Equinox lady speaks to us. "By the power of the Equinox Team and President Hybriad, I declare you all stable citizens of the nation."

She tells us to lift our pins towards her, and we follow her command. Her hand swipes a few inches over the pins, and then she instructs us to do the same.

She smiles that pinched smile to us before straightening out her expression. "The nation bestows you with the gift of new lives for yourselves. Now complete your new daily duties with pride."

"Now and always," we say automatically. Stephen mumbles the same after us. The pins glow, spewing holograms and then shutting off.

"Be prepared for a fresh, new life. As stable citizens, it is a gift from the President," the Equinox woman says. She flicks her focus among all four of us, but her gaze is especially fixated on me.

The four of us nod and filter off stage towards the side exit of the room. Screeners beckon us towards the doorway, red as ever.

More names continue to echo loudly through the banquet room. Raena and Edmund take the lead towards the Screeners, buying me time to lock eyes with Nicolette. She half-smiles, unsure of what's destined for us or for herself.

"Hand me your pin," the Screener says suddenly.

Startled, I take a step back. Then I shake my head at myself and cover up my shock. I didn't realize he was so close to me. "Sorry. Here."

The Screener swipes his own device over the pin. I see the glint of light behind his visor, meaning something flashed onto that visor for him to see.

The Screener gives me the pin back and says, "Turn left through the doorway and go to Screener number nine."

Still very confused with the whole Equinox process, I follow his directions and walk to the left out the archway. I enter a nicely-decorated hall and spot Stephen in front of me. About a dozen Screeners are spaced out along the hall.

But that's not what I notice first. Initially I see each Screener at a table, preparing gold cases full of syringes. I watch Raena and Edmund further down the hall receive injection in their temples and necks.

I force my feet forward, dragging my heels. Stephen turns over his shoulder and gives me that all-knowing look. Sickened by the sight of his fear and mine, I move as slowly as I can towards the designated Screener.

"Sit down," Screener Nine says from his table. "I hope you're not scared of needles."

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okay, you guys picked "blend in" and "never seen," which is great news for holland and stephen. this means they won't be publicly screened for removing the fear device with a table knife. in this case, the screeners are "never seen" and holland doesn't "command the stage" with her screening.

pretty scary stuff considering we were literally one vote away from seeing those screeners.

Now for more SUPER important questions...

Question: choose a phrase: iron grip or icy grip.

Follow-Up Question: choose a cunning twist: go with the vote or use scifiwriter's idea.

ps: i will be announcing winners for the 250K contests one at a time every saturday, so watch out for those updates. everyone did a really amazing job, like i'm floored by the creativity. i will be making a little video message for everyone's entry. plus prizes of course :)