Jinyoung looks across the forest laid out before him as he takes a deep breath, inhaling the woody aroma of spruce and pine. He sighs in content as he takes a seat on the hill he was standing on. Sunlight streaked across the treetops, rays of light catching on the slight mist that blanketed the forest, mingling between the leaves. Besides the slight rustling of leaves caused by the artificial breeze, all is quiet. Some might find the stillness of the forest a little unsettling, but Jinyoung relishes in it. After all, the only thing bad that could happen in this forest was tripping and getting a cut or two. It was probably the safest forest you could have ever been in.

Jinyoung loves coming to the forest, a change of scenery from the normal futuristic and metallic environment that is his city, Selene. State of the art and almost completely automated, nature just didn't fit in amidst the electrical gadgetry. 

He gazes across the treetops, the forest continuing a couple of miles before coming to an abrupt end, a wall of glass preventing any further advancement of the plant life. The glass of the dome, almost completely flawless except for a few obvious scratches, stretches over the entirety of the forest, encasing it in a controlled environment for optimum growth and health. Jinyoung stares out at the darkness of space just beyond the glass, seeing Earth looming in the background.

This Earth, however, didn't have the blue seas and green lands that Jinyoung learnt of in his studies, instead replaced by a planet with whitewashed land masses and frozen oceans. A mass graveyard for the billions of people not fortunate enough to be chosen for Selene.

It was the year 2057 when the migration took place but preparations started five years prior. Rising global temperatures were what prompted the development, although it was a massive volcanic eruption that set it into overdrive. Operations and developments were spearheaded by the Lotus Corporation, a company that specialized in research and development of all types of fields, from medical advancements to mechanical engineering. The company's main focus, however, was gene therapy or genetic modification. For five years, infrastructures were set up on the moon, mass transport spacecrafts built to ferry the pre-selected people to their new home. The greatest minds in the world pooled their assets and worked for the Lotus Corporation for the greater good of the human race. 

A month before the migration was when a newly formed volcano, Mount Poruvia, erupted. Nobody could have anticipated it. Mount Poruvia basically appeared overnight, somewhere along the Pacific. Although little was known about the new volcano, it was really active. It was no later than a week after its formation did the eruption occur, the biggest in recorded history. The ash plume was so big that sunlight was blocked out on most parts of the world, causing global temperatures to drop due to the decreased sunlight. Ironic how all the preparations were to be a solution for the rising global temperatures yet the dropping temperatures were what it was for in the end. 

Of course, not everyone on Earth could be brought to Selene due to limited resources. It was decided that only the genetically-superior, people possessing genes with favorable characteristics, were to be chosen to go to Selene. Genes that would benefit the human race should the need for repopulation of the Earth come around. Genes coding for increased immunity, physical endurance and mental capacity to name a few. Controversial as it may be, people with any medical condition, be it in the past or in the present, were excluded immediately while family trees that possessed none were required to undergo genetic testing. There were, of course, the rich who thought that they could buy their way onto Selene but with the Lotus Corporation solely in charge of determining a person's eligibility and money not being high on its list, these bribes were denied. 

A total of 700 million people made the journey to the moon, while the rest of the world were left to die on the freezing planet. There were some backlash on Lotus's methods but after all the company had done for the human race, these were few and far in between. Most understood and accepted fate as it came. The lucky people who got chosen settled into their new life on Selene, with the Lotus Corporation as a sort of government figure.

Jinyoung thinks that life on Selene could be called a utopia so to speak. Crime is non-existent, everyone is afforded whatever is necessary for a comfortable life. Although laws and rules are abundant, all are mostly for the common good of the entire colony. Some might say such a life is ideal, but others want more than that. Park Jinyoung was one of those people. 

Jinyoung being a third generation Selenian, all he knew was life on Selene. Sure, he was comfortable with his life but he never felt connected to the place. He always felt that the more automated Selene became, the more unfeeling Selenians became, being more like machines than humans. That was why he liked coming to the forest. It was a place he could escape the machines from and see how nature was, to make him feel human again. 

Jinyoung closes his eyes, enjoying the time he could do this, for it isn't long before he knew he would no longer be able to. His 21st birthday is coming in two days and it was nigh time for him to become a contributing member of the colony. It is mandatory for everyone on Selene to get a proper education. A good fourteen years of time to get a fair amount of knowledge, starting when the child reaches the age of seven.

The first seven years of education are spent with theory of everything and anything. Everything you needed to know about every job and facet of life on Selene was taught through a system called the Cognitive Knowledge Transfer or CKT. It's a very efficient method, basically turning humans into supercomputers. Electrodes transfer huge amounts of information through nerves, which are then converted to images within the student's brain. During the process, drugs are pumped into the body, improving cognitive functions, which helps the brain cope with the huge amounts of information. 

The next seven years are hands on. With the theory and knowledge, students are tasked to put their knowledge to use in a practical environment. Under the guidance of teachers of various vocations and professions, students are taught the ins and outs of every job on Selene. From musicians to healthcare workers, jobs are classified as either sustaining or preserving. Sustaining jobs help the colony function while preserving jobs are there to preserve human culture and history. After fourteen years, before one's 21st birthday, a test is to be taken assessing a student's affinity for any specific job, skills and talents all contributing to the final decision of integration on Selene. 

A test that Jinyoung has just completed earlier in the morning. So a trip to the forest seems just about right for him. He needed to get his mind off of the prospect that this is the time for him to become an adult. The time that he needs to start thinking about the good of the colony rather than goofing off every now and then. To get over the anxiety of not knowing what job he would be stuck with for the rest of his life. 

To tell the truth, Jinyoung was never one to follow the path laid out in front of him. Always wanting to find out more, learn about new things, change things up every now and then. A personality trait that didn't fit in the order and conformity that was Selene. However, no matter how much Jinyoung wants life to be more carefree and unscripted, he knows that things worked as they were and thinking that it was going to change was foolish. Yeah, he may not have liked the idea that he would soon fall into the monotony of work but he needed to accept what he needed to do. 

As he lies on the hill with his eyes closed, it somehow didn't feel like he was on the moon. Everything from the smell to the sounds, nothing seems to fit the silence and emptiness that was space. 

"Echo!!!" A voice reverberated within the dome, echoing and disrupting the peace that Jinyoung is currently enjoying. A frown graces his features, annoyed that someone had to spoil his alone time. 

"Seriously?" Jinyoung whispers, popping an eye open and scanning for the source of the voice. Sure, the person has every right to be there, but no one ever comes to the forest. Everyone is simply too busy with anything else to bother about something as insignificant as visiting the dome forest. Jinyoung is conflicted however, half wanting the person to leave and the other half, curious as to why there was someone else there besides him. Because countless times has Jinyoung visited the place, and not once did he encounter or meet anyone. 

"Hello!!!" The voice echoed once more, the tone of glee in his voice was unmistakable. Curiosity continues bubbling within Jinyoung, wondering if he has finally found someone who shared his love for the forest. He sits up, scanning the area around him for the unknown source. It didn't sound too far away but the echoing didn't help Jinyoung to pinpoint the direction where the shout came from. What Jinyoung did have however, is a good vantage point. He scans down the hill, finally seeing the figure standing a couple hundred feet away looking out to the forest. 

Jinyoung observes and takes in the person in front of him. The guy is lean, approximately 5'9" with somewhat broad shoulders that narrows down to his slim waist. His platinum blonde hair neatly combed back in a nice quiff and his clothes hugging his figure in a way that is only possible if the clothes were specifically tailored for him. As the guy looks at the world before him, Jinyoung catches a glimpse of his face. Even from that distance, Jinyoung knows that the guy is handsome, unusually more than what should be considered normal. A thought runs through Jinyoung's mind as to the reason, but dismisses it from how absurd it sounded to him. Still, his curiosity is piqued, and he couldn't help himself from pushing off the ground and heading in the direction of this stranger. 

"Hey!" Jinyoung shouts, attracting the attention of the handsome stud. The guy turns in surprise, not expecting for anyone else to be there.

Mark Tuan watches as Jinyoung makes his way down the hill, taking in the appearance of the man walking towards him. With a somewhat impressive yet lean build, Jinyoung, at roughly 5'10" tall, has his raven black hair and Asian look which are common and somewhat unnoticed on Selene. But still, Jinyoung caught Mark's eye. With his brown eyes, a little bit different from his own, and sculpted nose, his fringe coming down just above his eyebrows in a side-swept fashion, Jinyoung has a cute look that intrigued Mark. 

"Hi." Mark replies, giving a small wave to Jinyoung. "I didn't know anyone ever came here." He continues, subtlely urging the other to answer his unasked question.

"Well that was what I was thinking. I've been here many times and this is the first time I've ever seen anyone." Jinyoung says, staring intently at the stranger's face. Jinyoung examines the perfect curves and angles of Mark's face. His brown doe eyes are striking, coupled with his lush lips and a strong jaw that looks so perfect in every way. "So... You uh... come here often?" Jinyoung asks, flustered at the gorgeous male specimen in front of him.

"Actually it's my first time." Mark confesses, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under Jinyoung's gaze. He has an inkling as to why Jinyoung is staring though, it was basically written on his face. 

"Hmm... So you're an indigene?" Jinyoung dubiously asks to the stranger. 

"Ummm yeah. Why would you think otherwise?" Mark replies, trying to keep as calm as possible. Surely this person wouldn't guess that he is an elite right? He didn't even know why he is so scared that this person knows he was elite. What did it matter anyway?

"Hmm... Maybe because you don't look like an indigene. I could've sworn you're an elite." Jinyoung says, raising an eyebrow. "But then again, why would an elite come down to the forest? Surely they have much more important things to attend to. Plus, why would an elite degrade himself by identifying as an indigene?" Jinyoung probes, watching for any reaction from the man in front of him.

Selene basically has two separate social classes, namely elites and indigenes. Indigenes were like Jinyoung, who are treated as the normal, working class citizens of Selene. Indigenes were born as per how normal humans reproduce. A natural conception if you would call it that. Indigenes were brought up as how normal children would be and educated through the CKT system, who eventually works on Selene. Indigene spouses however, were still paired based on genetic compatibility, having parents from vastly different gene pools. A method to increase genetic variation and decrease the risk of inbreeding and mutations. That reason alone was why many pairings were between different races, and hence why Jinyoung's Asian look was common on Selene. 

Elites however, weren't as simple. They were considered the cream of the crop. Originally, elites comprised of the best of the best in all fields known to man, most of whom were already working for the Lotus Corporation prior to the migration. It wasn't debated upon, knowing who better to lead Selene than the brightest and greatest of the human species. As the years passed and the elites got older, new generations of elites had to be made and that's what they did. 

With the greatest minds working together, advancements in genetic modification grew at an exponential rate. Elites started making babies, combining all the best genes from the human species and basically producing perfect humans. Elite children still required genes from two parents, although their genes were altered to include the best alleles. Unlike test tube babies of the past however, the embryos were grown in a growth chamber rather than a surrogate mother.

Elite children however, were not educated the same way natals were. The same CKT system was used, although their learning was more focused. Learning was directed towards the same field that their parents specialized in, learning every aspect of both their parent's trades. Their fields were decided from the beginning and everything was done