For Daggs2378 who put the idea into my head…much like a computer chip.

:Governing:

From the moment of birth, everyone was monitored. It was a simple fact of life. A baby was born, cleaned, wrapped in a blanket, and a microscopic chip was embedded under the skin at the base of the neck. No one remembered when it started, or even which country began the process. That knowledge was lost in history. No one even bothered to object, either. It made things easy. The chip contained everything. How much money you possessed, your personal medical history, address, list of property, everything.

You went to the store, checked out and a simple scan of your neck completed your purchases. You got in an accident, a quick scan showed the medical personal you allergies, medications, and previous illnesses. It was simple. Even when it came to procreation.

Procreation was non-optional. Everyone did their part. At age 30 for men and 25 for women, you were paired up. Your chip was matched to one that proposed the best possible offspring. Once paired, the couple would mate at least once a week until conception was accomplished. Each couple was obligated to produce two children. That was the way things were. It was simple.

Until he met her.

His eyes were immediately drawn to her. She was beyond beautiful, but that wasn't what drew his attention. It was her smile. She reminded him of a quote by Oscar Wilde. "A mask tell us more than a face." Her smile was a mask. He wanted to know what lay beneath that mask. She approached their table and introduced herself.

"Hi! I'm, Penny. I'll be your server. Would you like to hear about the specials or do you already know what you want?"

Sheldon blushed and looked down. Yes, he was fairly certain he knew what he wanted.

She smiled as she looked at the clock. He would be there soon. Every Tuesday, he and his friends would come in. She already had his order written down. A bacon barbecue cheeseburger, bacon, barbeque and cheese on the side.

Sheldon was ..unusual. He was very bright, often talking circles around her. She liked listening to him, though. He was also very sweet and shy. She liked that about him. He was neurotic, and awkward, and she was starting to like him way more than she should.

Suddenly the anguish of her news washed over her again. She blinked away the tears that threatened to form. No. She was not going to do this. It was her last night of freedom and she was going to spend it how she wanted.

Sheldon knew immediately that something terrible had happened. She was smiling when he sat down, but her eyes were red and fearful. His friends ordered and she hurried to get their meals. Her shift was to end in 50 minutes. Then she was to join them for bowling. Sheldon watched her step into the kitchen and he rose. He made the excuse he needed to use the bathroom and walked away. He looked around and slipped into the back, unseen. Penny was coming back toward the dining room and he grabbed her and pulled her into the storage room.

"Penny, what has happened?" he asked softly.

Penny looked down at the floor. "I, …" She looked up at him and sobbed. "I've been paired," she whispered.

Sheldon felt dizzy. He closed his eyes and drew in a shaky breath. No. Not Penny. Not now. Sheldon felt his restraint snap. He pulled her close and held her tight. Penny curled her hands into his tee and cried.

"I can't do it, Sheldon!" she sobbed. "I can't! I love you! Oh god, Sheldon, what am I going to do?" Her voice broke and she sagged against him.

Sheldon was overwhelmed by grief. He was still a year away from pairing. Why couldn't it be him? They loved each other! Shouldn't that count for something? He tilted her head back and kissed her gently. She clung to him and poured all her desire and love into their embrace. After several minutes they slowly separated.

Sheldon's heart broke at the resignation in her eyes. Penny drew her emotions back inside her. "I have to report to the board in three days," she said. "I think it would be best if I didn't go bowling tonight. I have packing to do." Her face was once more hidden behind that mask.

Sheldon caressed her cheek softly. "I love you," he whispered before he walked out of the room. When Penny returned to the dining room, his friends were still there, but he was gone.

She looked around the apartment sadly. For two days she had packed her belongings and she had cried. In the morning, a shuttle would take her to the Governing Center and she would go before the board and be formally paired with one Mr. Darryl Hutchins. A knock on her door drew her attention. Penny glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight.

She looked through the peep hole and closed her eyes. She shouldn't answer. She couldn't. She twisted the knob and pulled the door open. Sheldon slipped in quickly. He closed the door and grabbed her close. Penny melted into him and kissed him back. Sheldon stepped back and looked at her carefully.

"Do you love me?" he asked. Penny nodded fervently. "What would you give up to be with me?"

"Everything," she answered with certainty. "Anything and everything."

Sheldon smiled and hugged her for a moment. Then he drew her to the bathroom and pulled out a small case. He unzipped it and Penny stared at the scalpel and bandages inside.

"Sheldon?"

He turned his head and showed her the tiny bandage at the base of his neck. "I removed my chip. I'm going to remove yours as well. I found it, Penny. It took two days of nonstop research, but I found a haven. There's a series of islands in the south. People who refused to conform to the government control. We can find asylum there. Together."

Penny was limp with relief. "Together? We can be together?" Sheldon nodded , hope and eagerness written all over his face. Penny smiled and turned her back to him. She gathered her hair on top of her head. "Do it."

He leaned against the outcropping and watched with a smile as they jumped back from the wave. As soon as it receded, they would run toward the water, only to rush back as it surged forward again. Their laughter rang out over the beach. Sheldon pushed off the rock and headed toward them. Two pairs of bright green eyes smiled up at him . He reached out and picked up the little boy.

"Daddy! We're faster than the ocean!"

Sheldon smiled and ruffled his hair. "I saw that. You're just like the Flash."

Andrew giggled and threw his tiny arms around Sheldon's neck. Sheldon slung his other arm around Penny's shoulders and drew her into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed happily. This was how life was supposed to be.