by Riker Kane
“Anything I should know before we get there?”
There was a moment of awkward silence before the bald man in the passenger seat responded with his deep voice.
“Everything will be explained to you during orientation.”
“Orientation… Right… Any chance you can tell me how much longer until we get there?”
“We’ll get there when we get there.”
“Okay…”
The car suddenly exited off the highway. It pulled onto the offramp but took a turn into the desert. The desert sands kicked up in every direction, leaving a trail of dust. Behind us, the closest signs of civilization slowly began to disappear in the distance.
A building. A road. Another car. Even a snake slithering on the ground. I searched for any sign of life but there was nothing but cacti and boulders wherever I looked. The farther we headed, the more interesting it got.
I glanced at my cell phone to see how long we’d been driving and shrugged. My heart began to thump a little harder in my chest. “Not to be one of those guys but I don’t see…”
“We’re here.”
I squinted and turned my head in every direction but the view hadn’t changed. “We are?”
“Yes.” The man in the passenger seat flipped a switch on the dashboard. The car zoomed forward and suddenly the scenery before me had changed.
“What the…” My brow twisted in confusion. I closed one eye as if it would help me see things better but I still couldn’t believe it.
A shining steel building several stories tall had suddenly appeared in the distance. It reminded me of the same buildings at college, only with a more polished sheen all over it. Surrounding it were smaller buildings with the same silver shine. Dull red lights pulsed softly along the tops of the buildings like nothing I’d never seen before. The nearer we got, the larger the buildings appeared.
The black sedan moved onto a road heading toward the buildings about a mile away from us.
“What was that?” I said. “It’s like those buildings came out of nowhere.”
“Access is restricted to Legion personnel. Did you bring your letter with you?”
“Sure.” I pulled the crumpled letter out of my pocket. “I’ve got some ID, too.”
“The letter is all you need.”
I continued staring in a combination of amazement and confusion as we neared the buildings. A chain-link fence two stories high was further secured by a silver-steel wall right behind it. We pulled up to the wall where a lone booth stood. Inside of it was a man wearing the same black suit and shades as the two men in the front seat.
The man stepped to the back window and held his hand out to me. “Authorization.”
“Um…” I hesitantly stuck my letter out to him. He placed a device the size of a cell phone over the golden stamp. A red light scanned over the stamp then flashed green. “Liam Aldridge. Welcome to the Vegas District.”
I took the letter back from him then watched as the gates opened up. The view changed but nothing like I expected it to.
“Whoa…”
The car pulled forward through the gates and the surrounding deserts had disappeared completely. In its place, a plaza no different from a shopping center was right in front of me. The buildings had the same metal shine as the towering structure in the distance. Between the buildings, next to a small fountain, a grassy area with a few trees was more inviting than any park I could remember. But what was more interesting than the buildings were the people making their way back and forth. Men and women in black uniforms went about their business.
I was so distracted by the people and the buildings I didn’t even realize the car had come to a stop.
“Recruit,” the man in the driver’s seat said. “This is where you get out.”
“I… I don’t know what exactly—”
“A chaperon has been assigned to you.”
“Hello!” I heard a faint voice. I turned toward the window and suddenly saw a woman standing there. Her smile was big as she waved at me, her other hand clutching a digital tablet against her chest.
“How can she see me?” I asked myself as I stepped out of the car. My ride moved back down the lone road as I stood on the curb next to the friendly, fair-skinned woman.
Her brown hair was tied into a couple of pigtails like a stereotypical schoolgirl. Considering her black uniform consisted of a skirt, a button-up shirt, and a pair of black stockings leading down to a couple of heels, her whole ensemble fit together well. But it was hard to not look at her cheery face.
She was tall enough to look right at me. She blinked her brown eyes at me and turned her head slightly, examining me like I was some sort of new specimen. Considering I was a fish out of water, I couldn’t blame her.
“You’re with the new class.” Her smile was so friendly I couldn’t help but chuckle before responding.
“Liam Aldridge.”
“Nice to meet you, Liam. Junior Adviser Janice Baker but you can just call me Janice. I’ll be your chaperon while you get settled in on campus.”
I shook her hand while taking in my surroundings. “Campus… This seems… nice. Then again, Cutler Valley isn’t exactly hard to beat.”
“I’m sure it’ll seem nice regardless of where you’re from. Follow me.”
She tilted her head up slightly and walked forward almost like she was marching. I trailed just behind her as we headed toward the cluster of buildings in front of us. We walked along the stone pavement until we arrived at the small fountain that looked like what people threw their loose change into.
“This is the Central Square.” Janice held her arms out. “Two full acres. Here you’ll find all of the amenities outside of campus. Food and drink. Shopping. The Internet cafe is available to unwind in. Or simply relax in the open park area in the middle of it all. Each of our facilities is digitally-run by robotics, so you can come by any time, though I wouldn’t recommend you stay up too late. Consider this the part of the campus where you can enjoy yourself when you’re not on duty. Here, you’ll be able to spend your allocated stipend at your leisure.”
I looked around and noticed a group of recruits sitting at the tables outside of a pizza joint. Other recruits sat next to a coffee shop, sipping on Frappuccinos like you’d find at any Starbucks. Others scattered in the open grassy area, lounging underneath the sun and enjoying the weather. Despite how clean and polished the silver steel buildings were, the scene wasn’t completely strange.
“Central Square,” I said. “Outside of all of the people in uniforms, I guess this isn’t any different from a commercial shopping center or an outdoor mall.”
“Exactly! Officials understand what Omegas are tasked with. Young adults need a chance to breathe. Studies have shown leisure increases performance in battle. You should make it a point to find the time to relax.”
I looked up and noticed how clear the sky was. The sun was out but it wasn’t nearly as hot as I expected it to be. “Strange… I thought it’d be a little hotter out here in the desert…”
“The Vegas District, like all LOD campuses, is surrounded by an energy dome invisible to the naked eye. The same dome that prevents others from seeing our location also provides climate control. The days never get too hot and the nights are always cool, regardless of the conditions outside of the dome.”
“I think I’ll enjoy staying here just because of the weather…”
Janice held a hand up to her mouth as she giggled. “Again, officials do everything they can to make all recruits as comfortable as possible. You’ll be provided everything you need to succeed and should you excel, you’ll be granted even greater benefits.”
“I’m not here for greater benefits,” I sighed. “Just here to see if I can be an Omega.”
“That attitude will serve you well.”
I looked around the sprawling Central Square then out toward the building in front of me. The steel structure stood ominously in the distance.
“What’s that bu
ilding?” I pointed toward it. “I’m guessing that’s where all of the action is.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” Janice directed me toward a small podium just a few meters away from the fountain. She swiped her fingers on the large digital display and brought up a map. “That building is the Nerve Center. Everything pertaining to Pandora is performed over there. But before we head over, we have to make sure you get settled in.”
She ran her finger along the map on display. “This section is the Central Square, where we’re standing. To the north is the Nerve Center. To the east are the dormitories and residential facilities for all cadets. If you ever get lost, these universal tablets all over campus will help you get where you’re going.”
“A giant L… Simple enough I shouldn’t get lost. What’s next?”
“Orientation for new recruits isn’t scheduled for another hour. I’ll take you to the dormitory.”
~ ~ ~
We walked through the Central Square, heading the short distance to the eastern block of the campus. The dormitory was like most college dorms, the only differences being the silver steel it seemed to be made out of and how small it was.
I shook my head as I examined the structure. “This thing is only four stories tall. I can’t imagine it can house more than a hundred people.”
“That would be the amount of cadets on campus at the moment. Vegas is the newest LOD facility. You’re part of only the second wave of recruits. When more recruits arrive, the building can be expanded.”
“Makes sense…”
The men and women in uniform paid no attention to me as I headed into the building with Janice.
“Let’s see here…” She scanned through the digital tablet. “Liam Aldridge… You’ve been assigned to the first floor. Room 1106. Right this way.”
We moved the down spacious hall as more recruits walked by before quickly arriving at my room.
“Now if you’ll just press your thumb down here.” She held her tablet out to me. “And then just give my tablet a look at your face.” A blue light shined and scanned over my face. “There we are… Your thumbprint, face, and retina are on file. You’ll be granted access to wherever you’re allowed with any of those things. Try it out.”
I pressed my thumb on the digital touchpad next to the door. The red light flashed green and the door clicked open.
The room was furnished with a bed and a desk but nothing more. On the table was a small metal wristband that looked like a bracer. I picked it up and read the note next to it.
“That’s your communicator,” Janice said. “Go ahead. Put it on.”
The piece of gray metal clicked around my forearm and locked on tight enough I’d need a blowtorch to get it off but it wasn’t painful against my skin.
“All pertinent information will be on the display. Consider it a replacement for your cell phone.”
The screen on my communicator was slightly larger than the one on my phone. It lit up blue but there was nothing to read except for my name and the clock indicating the current campus hour.
“Here.” Janice walked up and held her communicator next to mine. A small chime rang from both devices. “You can use it to contact me. Should you ever get lost or ever need help, feel free to let me know. Hold it up to someone else’s communicator and wait for the bell if you want their contact information as well… Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
Janice widened her eyes at me. Her cheery expression hadn’t changed ever since I met her. She had such a bubbly attitude, I wasn’t sure if she was faking it.
“Janice… Can I ask you something… personal?”
Her smile softened slightly but not enough to go away. “Of course.”
“Are you an Omega? Do you fight?”
She shook her head. “Everybody fights. But at the moment, my priority is making sure the new recruits are integrated into life with the Legion as quickly as possible. Why do you ask?”
“I was just… wondering what it’s like. I guess I’ll get my answer at orientation.”
She nodded and took a step toward me. She put a hand on my shoulder, her touch delicate as she gave me a smile. “Every recruit is given the support they need to succeed. If not me, someone else will always be here to help you.”
“…Thanks, Janice.”
She gave me a wink and turned around. “Orientation is scheduled at the top of the hour. Just follow the map toward the Nerve Center. The auditorium shouldn’t be hard for you to find. Oh, and make sure you put on your uniform. I’m sure it’ll look good on you.”
Janice left my dormitory and silence filled the room. I walked over to the closet and noticed the uniforms hanging. But before I put one of them on, I turned toward my reflection in the mirror. Everything was happening so fast I hadn’t gotten the chance to take it all in.
“One minute you’re in a t-shirt and blue jeans trying to enjoy a Big Mac, the next you’re expected to save humanity. Only in this world…”
3: Orientation
The Omega uniform was nothing fancy. The black, button-up shirt was made of a comfortable cotton. The sleeves went right up to my elbow, leaving enough space on my forearm to see the digital pad on my communicator. The LOD logo, an Omega symbol, was stitched on the upper-left side of the chest.
The black slacks led to the floor. A red stripe of satin ran along the seams, leading down to the pair of dull black loafers I was assigned.
I took a moment to look in the mirror. I ran a hand through my brown hair but couldn’t quite slick it back enough even with some water from the sink.
“How the hell does Adam make it look so easy?”
My reflection stared back at me. The uniform was only a pair of slacks and a button-up shirt but there was something else. The realization of where I was and what I was doing still hadn’t hit me fully.
“You really signed-up for this, huh?” I gave myself a smirk then sighed a deep breath through my nose. “Let’s get this done.”
One last nod to recompose myself and I headed out of my room. I looked the dormitory up and down as I left it. The polished building was just constructed recently, judging from how clean it appeared. Along with the freshly cut grass and trimmed oak trees around it, it was easier to look at than anything back in Cutler Valley.
I headed back west to the Central Square. I figured there was no point in checking a map since the Nerve Center was clear to the north.
The Central Square was home to the same cadets I saw when I first arrived. Dozens were enjoying their leisure time while they chatted, ate and drank with one another. Whether they were on the short grass and out in the sun or underneath the shade of an oak tree, the ones in the park relaxed peacefully in the perfect weather. Outside of an occasional glance, the other cadets in uniform didn’t pay any attention to me.
After a short walk up the stone pathway, I knew I was in the northern block of campus. Surrounded by the same trees and grassy areas as the dormitories, the Nerve Center was seven-stories high and towered over every other building. Its silver shine glistened underneath the sun like someone had just finished wiping it down with a squeegee. There were windows but they were tinted blue, so I couldn’t see inside. Just looking at it was enough to know it was a state-of-the-art building constructed recently like everything else on campus.
“Hey! Wait up!”
I turned around to see someone rushing up. A man caught up to me and fell forward, holding himself up on his knees. His short brown locks were scattered over his head like he’d run his hand through them too many times. Judging from how disheveled but clean his uniform was, he looked like he threw it on in a hurry.
He took a few seconds for himself before straightening up. He was a few inches shorter than me. Lanky arms and legs. His collar was loose on his neck like his shirt was a couple of sizes too big. He was skinny but his face was oddly chubby. He might have been babyfaced but there was some scruff on his chin like he hadn’t shaved in a few days.
“Yo
u’re heading to orientation in the assembly, right?” he asked still slightly out of breath.
I nodded and looked at the digital display on my communicator. “It’s not scheduled until 1500 hours. We’ve got time.”
“Sure but I don’t know my way around this place. Figure I should hurry in case I get lost. Since we’re headed in the same direction, we might as well go together.”
“Makes sense.”
“Quentin Young.” He stuck his hand out to me.
“Liam Aldridge.”
“Good to meet you, Liam. It’s nice to know I’m not the only new guy around here.” The way his lips turned into a smirk made it seem like he was up to something but I figured he was just relieved he wasn’t alone.
We headed toward the building together as the other recruits made their way in every direction.
Quentin scratched his head as he looked around at everything. “It’s pretty crazy, isn’t it? I haven’t seen anything like this before. I’ve watched all kinds of videos and leaked footage on YouTube but it’s not the same. We’re actually on an Omega campus.”
“It is pretty remarkable…”
There was a combination of enthusiasm and amazement in Quentin’s eyes. He constantly turned his head while trying to fix his wrinkled collar around his bony neck.
The glass doors of the building slid open when we got to them. I stepped into the main hall. My soles squeaked against the polished black granite of the circular room underneath my feet. On the ground, a golden omega symbol was stamped into the floor.
The next thing I noticed was the high ceiling. It stretched all the way to the highest floor of the building, giving me a view of every floor like standing at the center of a hotel lobby. The walls were made of the same polished steel as the outside of the building. Lines of soft blue and white lights trailed along the ceiling, lighting the paths heading in multiple directions. The brightest light came from the one shining directly above us, large enough to illuminate the entire circular hall. With how pristine everything was, it really did feel like I was in a high-tech facility.