Origins by James Frey

Author:James Frey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

MU

CHIYOKO

All day, every day, Chiyoko belongs to her people. Her life, her time, her choices, none of them are her own. She lives for the Mu, the thousands who share her ancient bloodline and will rely on her to save them if Endgame comes. It is both obligation and honor; it is a promise she made before she was old enough to understand sacrifice. A promise made on her behalf, before she was born. The stars spelled out her fate six days before baby Chiyoko made her way, red-faced and gasping—but never crying, never that—into the world. She was training for her role before she was old enough to understand what training meant, that training was anything other than life. She has never had friends, never had hobbies. She has never doubted the person she would grow to become, the things she would be capable of, the obligations she would serve, because her uncle told her what would come to pass, and she knew no other way but to believe him.

She begrudges none of it. The Mu are her people and she is their Player. Her days belong to them.

But her nights are her own.

By day she endures an isolated, regimented existence, her every minute accounted for. She is a precious object, to be protected at all costs. Yes, the training is rigorous and often puts her life in danger—she’s leaped from airplanes, scaled skyscrapers, infiltrated military installations, walked through fire—but those are calculated risks, efficient risks. They serve a purpose. When she is not enduring missions, preparing for an end that might never come, she is meant to be safe at home, under her uncle’s watchful eye. If and when Endgame begins, she will be the champion of her people. But until then, her uncle never tires of reminding her, she is a 13-year-old girl. A 13-year-old girl who can tie a hundred different knots, load a machine gun in three seconds flat, disarm a man three times her size. But she cannot do something so simple as open her mouth and ask for help.

Chiyoko lived 13 years as a Player-to-be, and accepted the limitations of that life, having never known any other. But 10 days ago, on her 13th birthday, she ascended. Player-to-be no more. She is now the Player, the one and only. She has placed her hands on the ancient scrolls, the ones that tell of the near obliteration of the Mu by their alien overlords. She has sworn to protect her people in the event that these merciless beings finally return. The Mu were saved once, by the cruel grace of the creatures from the stars. Only Chiyoko can save them again. This she swore to do—silently, with a slow nod of the head that her uncle understood. She could hear several of the elders on the Council of Twelve muttering, as if a promise were not a promise unless spoken aloud. As if her entire life had not been a promise of service to them and their needs.

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