Chapter 2 Military Recruit

CHAPTER 2: Military Recruit

                Are halls were clean and were mostly windows.  On each side of me was a long window.  It was bright inside the school.  The only time lights were really needed was when it was dark.  The floors in the halls were made of an unbreakable glass.  They figured it out somewhere in Africa in the rest of the years of the 2000’s.  A couple people walked by me.  There were in white and blue uniforms.

                The uniforms there wore were made of the finest stretchable material.  We studied this in class.  I thought back to my book.  One of the people who walked by me had a white skirt on with a light blue edge.  There were white leggings under her skirt and there were two garters that held a knife and a gun.  This was for fast and effective ways of defending on foot battle or sky battle.  The shirt was kind of like sailors shirt that was used so long ago and became a trend again.  The shirt was naturally white, but you wore a coat that had light blue boarders and a small light blue tie.  The boots for the girls were large white energy bots.  I had always wished I could get a pair of those, but they were strictly for the military.  There were a variety of accessories for the uniform.  Most people wore a head band or earrings, something else that symbolized they were a part of the military.

                The men wore a coat similar to the girls, but the men’s were a bit more masculine.  There were light blue pants and the white energy boots.  Both uniforms and a small emblem on the right arm of the uniform.  It had a picture of earth on it, to symbol the resistance. 

                As I walked by these two people, they looked at me curiously.  They whispered something to each other and carried on.  What was that about? I wondered.  I puffed my face though and put my hands in my pocket and walked on. 

                I didn’t meet anymore people on my way to the office.  It took a long time to get there though.  Our school was so big, and the hall ways were so bright.  It was door after door, hall way after hall way.  I used to get lost in this place, but I finally got used to it…..after the school decided we needed a map in each hall way…that was the smartest thing they’ve ever done.

                I came up to a glass door.  It was opaque though.  I couldn’t see through it, but it was made of glass all the same.  To the side of the door was a device.  I put my eye up to it like I did in my room and a scan started.  “Tori Winfrede, welcome, please come in,” it said and the door slid open.  I casually walked in, acting like I didn’t care. 

                I had my eyes closed as I walked into the room.  But when I opened them I was surprised.  The main office was big, and I mean really big….but there wasn’t much for furniture.  At the very end of the office was a big desk.   Someone was sitting behind it….I think he was the commander of the military…I think he ran the school.  The commander was wearing the military uniform, but he had white pants instead of light blue, and he didn’t have energy boots on.  He had grey hair and was blind in one eye.

                To the right of him stood another person from the military, he was masculine and had white pants on as well.  White pants signified that they were designated commanders or captains.  A girl would wear a completely white skirt and light blue leggings and wore the energy boots. 

                In front of the desk I saw three chairs.  The middle one was empty and my dad was on the right and my mom sat on the left.  I blinked a couple times, wondering what was going on.  “Please take a seat Miss Winfrede,” The commander instructed. 

                “Tori,” I replied.  I hated being called by my last name, it made me feel old. 

                “As you wish,” he said.  I sat down on the middle chair.  The room was made out of complete glass and my energy boots made a couple marks.  Small robots cleaned that up though.  I looked at both of my parents but they didn’t speak.  “Deacon, please get the files,” The commander instructed.  The person on the right walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a file.  I saw my name written on it and the initials MDM.  Oh boy…I knew what was coming next. 

                Deacon brought the file over to the commander and set it down in front of him.  The commander opened it up.  The first thing he turned to was my profile.  He looked it over for a couple minutes until he set it aside.  The next thing that he turned to was an MDM profile.

                “Tori, as you like it.” I looked up at him, trying to look like I was paying some sort of attention.  “Last night, the newest MDM was created.  You are in grade eleven correct?” I nodded.  “Very good, by now you should know then how a MDM picks it pilot.” I nodded sheepishly.  Here it comes.  “When we finish a MDM, a screen comes up and it searches for its pilot.  Last night when it ran its test, your name appeared on its radar,” the commander said.  I looked down at my feet.  I never wanted this to happen to me.  I never wanted to join the military, and now I knew I would have to no matter what, because I was a chosen, a chosen pilot.  The commander reached under the desk and pulled out a key. 

                He passed the key to me.  It was silver and had three jagged grooves.  “Of course you won’t be able to pilot yet, but this key gives you access to all simulators and facilities within the military side of the school,” The commander said.  I picked up the key and stared at it blankly. My parents stared at me.  Why weren’t they doing anything?  Why weren’t they saying anything?  “Deacon, please take Miss Tori to see Maxine right away.  She must be fitted for her uniforms immediately.”  Deacon nodded.  He was quiet and did what he was told.  My mom kicked me, issuing to get up. 

                I stood up and turned around.  “Wait,” the commander issued.  “From now on, when you leave and are in presence of a superior, always bow to them.”  Bow, he wanted me to bow to him?  What makes him think that I would bow to him?  Everyone stared at me and I had the feeling of uneasiness that I would get in trouble so I obeyed.  I turned to the commander and bowed deeply. 

                “Please excuse me,” I said.  My voice cracked, it didn’t come out like it should have, strong.  It came out hoarse.  I was going to cry at some point.  I followed Deacon out the door after having my eyes scanned once again. 

                “It’s not as bad as it seems,” Deacon said.  I didn’t really hear him…well I heard him but it was just pushed to the back of my mind.  I was thinking of things.  Why was I chosen for this?  Why did the MDM pick me…why did the stupid machines have to pick their pilot…and why did it have to be me? “Hello?” I walked into Deacon.  I put my hand to my forehead as that where it hurt more.

                “Sorry…I wasn’t paying attention…” I said.  He looked at me with sad eyes.  I stared down at my feet.  Deacon took my hand.  His tone became soft. 

                “No one wants to do this.  I didn’t want to do this either.  But it’s not so bad, really.  It’s like a whole new world of boarding.  New areas, new places, you’ll even get to see even more quiet spots…and practice,” he said gently.  I looked up at him for a second till I looked away.  He pulled me along.  “C’mon, Maxine’s is this way,” he said pulling me along.  I just followed.  I was a lifeless puppet, being dragged on by its master.  He still looked at me with sad eyes. 

                Deacon pulled me in front of a door.  It didn’t have a reading device on it.  I was thankful, the devices didn’t read tears.  Deacon opened the door for me and I walked in.  I wiped the tears from my eyes before anyone could see them.  “Maxine, I have a new recruit,” Deacon called. 

                “Oh what a joy, male or female?” a voice asked.  It was kind of high pitched but seemed motherly. 

                “Female,” Deacon replied.  I heard some rummaging and someone emerged from behind a curtain.  She was carrying a large brown box.  She set it down on the ground.  She walked over to me.  She looked kind of boney.  She had her hair in a bun.  It was a light brown.  She had blue eyes.  She was wearing silver earrings and some ugly looking outfit.  She looked at me and I looked away. 

                “Hmm,” she pondered, “hmm,” she said again.  She took out a measuring tape from her pocket and started to measure me.  I felt kind of embarrassed by this…especially being in front of a guy.  “Your chest is so small,” she complained.

                “What!?” I snapped moving away from her.  What was she talking about, by breast were obviously bigger then hers were….but they were kind of small. 

                “Don’t fret, just calm down, I have just the size,” she chuckled.  I scowled.  Deacon nudged me to calm down.  I sighed and crossed my arms sitting down.  Maxine had gone back in through the curtain and rummaged through something.  She same back out with the white and light blue uniforms.  “Here you go, try it on,” she said.  She handed me the uniform.  I looked around. 

                “Err, where do I get changed?” I asked. 

                “Well, in here of course!” Maxine replied.  I raised an eye brow. 

               “Um, no offence or anything…but I’m not changing with a guy in presence,” I said.  Deacon took the hint and just stepped outside for the moment.  I gave a sigh of relief…one down…one to go.  “Can I get a little privacy…?” I asked.  I think Maxine had a look of disappointment on her face… but she left behind the curtain anyways.  This room wasn’t filled with windows…thank God.  I huddled myself into a corner and stripped.  I threw my clothes onto a heap on the floor…I knew I would probably not get to wear them for a while.  I put on the uniform.  I tightened the tie and looked in the nearest mirror.  I didn’t have my boots on yet.  I would probably have to be tested for them, because I needed to connect with them.

                When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t look to bad I guess.  It was a bit too much white though I think.  But I knew I would have to get used to it.  “I’m done,” I said.  Maxine practically burst out of the curtain to see me.  Deacon walked back into.  Maxine had brought out a pair of boots with her as well. 

                “You’re a CN, right?” she asked.  I nodded.  CN was a classification of an energy boot.  There were five different one, CN, DN, GN, UN, and ON.  I was a CN.  Anyone who was in that classification could wear them and still be able to fly.  She handed me the boots and I took my others one off, replacing with the white ones.  I felt a surge from my feet off.  This meant that the boots were reading my energy levels and adjusting themselves.  “Do you feel it?” she asked. 

                “Yea,” I muttered.  It hurt when the boots first attach to your feelings and body.  The small pain subsided.  My body felt kind of weak after that, but that feeling passed by as well.  I hid the rest of the mental pain away. 

                “Hold out your left hand,” Maxine then instructed.  I stuck out my left arm.  She measured it…why just my wrist though?  “You can bring her to see Josie after school.  Here watch should be ready by then,” Maxine said to Deacon.  What…After school?  I can’t come after school; I want to catch the gust front.  I was going to speak but Deacon spoke before me.

                “I’ll be sure to take her to see her,” Deacon replied.  Maxine nodded. 

                “Then I’ll have the rest of her clothes sent to her house,” Maxine said.  “You’re done, you can go,” she said to me.  “Don’t bother with your other clothes; I’ll have them sent to your house as well.  I nodded.  I remembered the commander’s words about bowing and I respectfully bowed to Maxine. 

                “I’ll be on my way then,” I said.  “Thank you.” (Even though I didn’t mean it)

                “Do you want me to walk you back to class?” Deacon offered.  I shook my head. 

                “I’ll be fine,” I said and bowed to him.  I left the room without hesitation.  I shut the door behind me and walked a couple hall ways down.  No one was in the hall ways.  I pressed my back against the back of the glass.  I could still feel the tingling sensations in my feet.  It was now just a dull tickle that made me laugh.  I rested for a moment then left after I heard steps coming from behind me.  I didn’t really want anyone to see me yet. 

                I walked onwards to the next set of hall ways and doors.  I was now one door away from my class room.  I stared at it blankly.  “Please confirm eye sight,” the device spoke.  I sighed and pulled my head up to it, pulling my bangs away out of my face to look at it.  It scanned my eye, “confirmation complete.” The door to the class room opened. 

                My class room was large.  There had to have been about maybe 100 students in the class room, only a few had the uniforms I was wearing on.  They were the ones that stared at me most.  No…maybe Jackson was.  His eyes had widened, I’d swear his eyes should have fallen out.  Are desks were in stair cased rows.  It was kind of cool, the desks even floated.  This way I could always be in the air. 

                I sat at my desk which was conveniently by Jackson and JD, who was wearing a uniform.  She stared at me.  I just looked at my desk.  I felt so awkward.  I found hand outs on my desk.  I quietly started to work on them, trying not to notice the stares that were looking at me as if I had something on my face.  I took a deep breath and sat my pencil down as the bell rang.  I had momentarily forgotten about my uniform and what had happened.  It was up until JD came to stand next to me that I remembered.

                “So you were recruited?” She asked. 

                “Isn’t it obvious…?” I mumbled.  My tone was snappy.  I didn’t really want to talk to anyone.  She sensed my anger and sighed. 

                “Do you have your watch yet?” she asked.  What was with this watch, why was it so important? 

                “Whatever that is…no I don’t,” I snapped again, stareing at my pencil. 

                “Then a suggestion for when you’re going to get it.  Take some pain killers, it will ease the pain.”  She left down the stair case.

                “Tore…um...I’m sorry….” Jackson started but broke off.  I set my head down on my desk.  The tingling in my boots had subsided. 

                “It’s alright,” I mumbled.  “I mean, there’s no avoiding it…right?” I choked.  “It chose me…” I said.  Jackson laid a hand on my shoulder. 

                “Well at least we have the gust spot after school,” he said trying t lighten up my mood.  I squeezed my eyes shut. 

                “I’m not even going to be able to make it anymore,” I said.  “I have to get that…watch whatever it is…but I’ll see if I can make it after…though I doubt it,” I said.  I wiped the tears away again.  “C’mon, we have next class to get to…boarding…what a relief.”  Sky Boarding was a natural class.  People were taught the basics and played a couple sports with them.  Most of us though just practiced tricks. 

                I got out of my desk and walked over to the lockers located in the rooms.  There was another eye scanner.  It scanned my eyes and my locker opened revealing my things.  Only my board and bag were located in there now.  I pulled my board out and felt another tingle through my body.  I would probably feel this for a couple days with my board till I was used to my boots.  “I’m not even sure boarding will be fun today,” I sighed.  “My feet are tingling at every moment I step on them.  I hate these new EB’s I want mine back,” I whined.  Jackson laughed but understood me. 

                “You’ll get used to them, don’t worry,” he said.  We walked out of the classroom.  I still got the stares.  I heard a couple saying.  “When did this happen?” or, “she’s a pilot?”  It was all frustrating.  Although, anyone who was involved with the military was kind to me, I didn’t want to talk to them.  I was going to be seeing enough of them anyways. 

                Boarding class was wear what you want class.  Most people wore the outfits they danced with.  I stayed in uniform.  I didn’t want to find out what happened when you didn’t…plus…the other military people didn’t take off theirs…I took that as a sign.  “Let’s practice our routine,” Jackson offered.  I had pulled out a Fly On.  A Fly On was a device that floated in the air with music.  But the people had to connect an ear phone to listen to it.  This helped better efficient ways of routines.  I threw an earphone to Jackson. 

                “Yea, sure,” I said.  I put in our CD.  The theme for this year’s competition was A Blast from the Way Past, from the early 2000.  So I was soling to “Let it Rock.”  Jackson and I were partnering to “I caught myself,” by Paramore.  A bunch of the songs from the 2000’s were coming back to style.  I grabbed the mini remote and Jackson and I took a running start to fly our boards.  The Fly On followed behind us.  It was amazing what that thing could do.

                Jackson and I parted from each other so we had some distance.  We faced opposite ends.  He faced the front I faced backwards.  I pressed start on the remote and pocketed it, the music started.  First was the intro.  We just started off with a circle boarding with one board backwards.  When the drums kicked in we kept doing the circle put we did small Fall Off jumps.  It wasn’t like when I was trying to Break In.  We just did little bunny hop kind of things.  When the lyrics started we pushed forward then back, bent are knees down, pulling our heads in and then breaking free. 

                The music had gotten faster by this point and the chorus had started.  We did spins and Over Under.  This consisted of one person boarding to the other person front wards with your feet frontwards on each side of the board and ducking.  The other person would perform a fall off jump and land on their board again after the other person had successfully gone under.    

                I started to feel relieved.  I forgot that I was ever a part of the military.  I felt calm.  Until something decided it was going to come straight for my head.  I barely dodged it but succeeded after doing an upside down 360.  “Hey, watch it, we’re practicing!” I snapped.  Although I immediately took it back once I saw Deacon flying up towards me.  “S**t,” I muttered.  I quickly stopped my board and bowed.  “Sorry I didn’t know,”

                “Don’t worry, no apologies needed.  I did the exact same thing when I was new to the military,” Deacon said.  I raised my head feeling extremely dumb now.  What had been thrown at me was a sky ball.  Often used for soccer games.  Soccer games in the sky consisted of the people on the field to have a break off boards so there was one for each foot.  Then the game would go on like any other soccer game.              

                “Why are you even here?”” I asked coldly.  I wanted to get back to practicing, “I’m practicing,” I added. 

                “Not any more you aren’t.  The Commander asked me to see how well you are at boarding this class.”

                “I’ve never played soccer on a board.  I’m a dancer, I’ve never played any other kind of sport on boards,” I said.  Well…I had played soccer, but I couldn’t get used to it.  I’m a dancer, there’s no way I would play soccer.

                “What a shame,” Deacon muttered.

                “Can’t she just show you her dancing skills?  It takes more skills to perform then it is in any other sport,” Jackson defended, coming up to me.  He bowed too…did everyone know how to bow except me.  Actually, I think Jackson was trying to be polite.

                “Is that so?  Then maybe Tori should show me.  What do you say Tori?”  Deacon had come close to me, his voice had gone to a psycho mother who would grab your cheek and think that you’re so cute…he did that to me.  I sighed…I had to nock his hand away from my face.  That was my personal space. 

                “As you wish,” I said.  The Fly On had flown over to me and I handed the remote to Zack so the Fly On wouldn’t follow me.  I had placed my other CD in it so it would play “Let it Rock.”  I pulled my board away from them and started to rehearse after the music started.  I was going to show that captain what I was made of.  I performed a Fall Off, Break In.  These were fun, and the part I had mastered in my other move.  I caught a glimpse of Deacons stunned face. 

                By the time I had finished all of the routine I could, I just started boarding to the beat, doing little or big different moves.  I started to climb up vertically when I reached the high enough point a started to keep going vertical but did so my body was upside down and my board on top.  I froze.  Froze was a move where you just sat there for a couple seconds and continued on with the dance.  After I finished the Froze, I dropped.  I spun around in circles as I was heading for the ground.  Nope, didn’t touch the ground.  I maneuvered my body to just exactly at the right time, skim the ground.  I returned to Deacon and Jackson.

                “Tori, you always scare me when you do it.  Stop it,” Jackson complained.  I think he was ready to pull his hair out. 

                “Boo who,” I said. 

                “Well, I have to say you are an excellent boarder.  You’ll serve us well,” Deacon complimented.

                “You’re welcome,” I said.  I wasn’t being as rude to him as I could have been.  I mean, I could probably kill him if I wanted. 

                “You’re energy boots work fine?” He asked.  I nodded.  They were feeling better now that I had actually done a….lot of boarding.  “I’ll come pick you up after school then, just wait in your class room…I’ll bring some pain killers too…you’ll probably need them,” he said.

                What was with the pain killers?