Gianni and Me

Chapter Five

I fear it already. 

At first it was very fascinating, being underground and in this huge space that no one else on the planet knows exists. That would impress anyone. The MIDAS underground quarters have to be AT LEAST two hundred football fields, side by side. It's literally a city. Forty years of hard work and money made this. Insane. 

The overall design of the underground city is steel and modern. Light blues along with grey accents show throughout the interior. It's very... professional. 

The Unit One section has medals, pictures, and success certificates of all the past soldiers' who've already been through the training. Charlotte and a guy in Unit Five training, John, walk me through the section; I'm able to glance at the photos, as they explain the requirements necessary to move on to the next unit. 

"You have to pass the swim test. It's challenging, but anyone who's been in the navy would get through it easily. The others... they have a harder time. But that's what they're here for." John explains. He is a bronze beauty with buzz cut hair, and biceps the size of my head. Are all MIDAS soldiers attractive?

"What do the swim tests consist of?" I ask. I spot a picture of Liam, and my heart spikes. He's in a military uniform- like a legit one- standing next to three other men, all holding... rifles? They're long. I don't know the names. 

"Breath control, you have to be under for minimum of two minutes. Maximum would be six- but that's rare, and we don't expect that from anyone." 

Two minutes? Holy moly that's long. I can make it maybe thirty seconds; I know where my weaknesses lie. 

"Next is under water combat. It's a rare fighting style; we like to learn tactics that may only be used once in a million situations. The actual combat will last up to a minute. If you don't have your opponent disarmed by then, you're both out." 

I spot another photo of Liam, in a martial arts getup, looking all brooding and serious. His arms cross over his chest and gold medals hang off both sides like a cloak. There has to be at least twenty on each side; they overlap each other. Mr. Ricci stands next to him, also frowning, but you can see the pride in his eyes. Liam was for sure a favorite. 

"There are a series of water tests that the trainees undergo before they graduate."

"Graduate?" I ask, looking at John. 

"That's what we call it when our soldiers pass through Unit Five." Charlotte responds for John. He nods comfortably, glancing at her with a tint of red on his cheeks. They seem... close. Hmm. I'll have to ask more about that later. Charlotte and Bryan did break up. Maybe... Nope. No prying. I have other things to worry about today. Like keeping my head on my shoulders and not dying. Moments like this, I'm really wishing I never went to that dinner.

"Shall we move on?" John asks. Charlotte and I both nod. 

We move through the rest of the Units smoothly. It seemed that Unit One was the only section that showed off MIDAS soldiers and their successes. Perhaps it's a part of the welcome.

 By the time we walk through Unit Three, I am outright terrified. I would never make it through these courses, if I were in their positions. 

Unit Four is also terrifying, but in a different way. They are cracking safes and had built actual skyscrapers into the ground for MIDAS soldiers to scale. 

While we walked through, John pointed out a trainee. 

A woman in one of the skyscrapers is currently looking around a near empty room, moving quickly. I don't know what more there is to see. Only a couch that looks incredibly uncomfortable, a steel desk, and an empty picture frame decorate the top room she's in. But for what? And what is she searching for?