Stardust

Chapter 7: Training

15 years ago

       "Sydney is doing well with the initial testing." An older woman says, huddled next to two men with clipboards. All three stand in front of a group of six children who were lined up wearing blue jumpsuits. The children stood side by side, looking at the group of adults who were evaluating them.

       "Yes, she is the star pupil at the moment." One of the others said, an elderly man in a lab coat spoke as he adjusted his round glasses on his freckled nose. "But the other children are also showing signs of adjusting to the phenomena well."

       The third man cleared his throat, grabbing the clipboard from the elderly man, he spoke as he compared the two clipboards for information. "Hmmm. Yes, all of the children appear to be able to handle the initial stages well... However, if these results are correct, only Sydney seems to be handling the retention tests with any success." He took a moment to set the clipboards on a table towards the side of the room, the only sound the thud of his shoes on the tile floor and the clack of the clipboards against the table. He turned and his eyes roamed over the six children as they stood there silently at attention in front of the three adults, before looking back to the other two adults. 

       "Send the other five to be adopted. We have no time or resources to waste on seedless fruit." He said firmly, his deep voice echoing in the quiet chamber. "Keep training Sydney, I see promise in that one." He turned and walked out of the room without another glance towards the children.

9 years ago

       "I don't understand." Sydney said, kicking her legs back and forth as she sat on the exam bench. "I just had an injection this morning Dr. Abby."

       "Hold still Sydney, or I'll have to stick you with the needle again." The doctor said, as she firmly held the injector casing in one hand and Sydney's arm in the other. "The Director has ordered for you to have the injections twice a day. Your illness can't be allowed to get a foothold in your body."

       Sydney frowned but didn't speak up. Her family was always saying things like that, but she had never even felt sick. She knew from the programs they let her watch that other kids sometimes got sick and even adults got sick too. Sydney never even sneezed. Maybe it was because of the medicine they gave her. She quickly forgot about her musings as a prick of pain shot up her right arm. "Ow!" she yelped as she looked at Dr. Abby with a small pout.

      "There you go, now that that is done, you can go to your afternoon media session." She said as she smiled warmly. Dr. Abby had cared for Sydney since she was an infant, even caring for other children before they were released from the training. As Sydney slid off the exam bench and skipped out of the room, she gave a small wave and smile before disappearing down the hallway. Abby frowned as she remembered the other five children. She shook her head trying to clear her mind, not wishing to dwell on negative thoughts of the past.

5 years ago

       'Sydney Fenala'. She moved her fingers over the name embroidered on the jumpsuit. She looked around the room from her position on a bed, the once crowded room, now empty save for her cot and bedside dresser. She was partially jealous of her brothers and sisters. They had gotten to be adopted and live a normal life outside of the facility. It had been ten years ago when the Director had given the order for only her to remain. Sydney hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to any of them. She set the jumpsuit on the bed and tried to pat her messy brown hair down as she always did when she was feeling anxious. She undressed from her nightgown and put the jumpsuit on before heading out the door to the hallway. She would be starting her flight training today with Serena.

       "She is showing no signs of exposure exhaustion." Dr. Abby spoke to an elderly man dressed in a fine suit. She was conversing with the Director just outside of the flight simulation room where Serena was training Sydney. "She also does not show any signs of rebellion as would be expected of someone her age. She readily accepts the programs and history that are assigned for her to learn without question." Abby said this last part with some guilt at the part that she herself plays in the elaborate deception. Everyone in the facility was a part of it in some way. Sydney believed them to all be a family, and that the world outside was as they said. The Director nodded as he watched through the observation window at the training.

       "She seems to have grown well, an ideal candidate for the next step of our plans." He spoke with a pleased tone. "Do not falter now doctor. We will forge a new future."