Aileen stands before large black doors, a neon emblem on them. "Welcome to the training facility! Here, you will split into your designated branch, and train for five years, before becoming a certified soldier. You--"
"What's the point of this?" Someone asks.
Aileen opens her mouth, thinking. "Uh... Well, to serve the greatest: our dictator. We protect his empire, he protects us."
Orion and Gale murmur in agreement.
Aileen begins again. "Anyway, you will be forbidden to come in contact with other branches every hour of the day except Sharing Hour. It's where you share what you've learned and demonstrate your abilities to others over food."
Orion nods. "Yes, the dictator does not like separate branches interacting, so please stick with your branch."
Aileen turns around, taking off a glove and placing a pale hand to a scanner. She slides her wrist under it, and it jingles, sliding the doors open. She enters, as does everyone else, a ritual Whiplash was now getting used to. Aileen faces them and gestures to the brightly-lit space. "Welcome!" Her voice echoes throughout the tall ceiling, and curved hallways.
She leads them through the first set of open doors. Inside was a circular room with three banners hanging from the ceiling. It had white wooden floors, and one-way glass all around it. Whiplash couldn't see out. The ceiling, once again, was a sun roof. There was an elevated circle in the center of the room, supposedly a stage. There were a total of four doors to this room, all evenly spaced. "This here is where you will receive hand-to-hand combat training."
Aileen crossed through the room to the next one, straight across from the door they had come in. Upon entry, the lighting was dim, and it took Whiplash a few seconds to adjust. There was a platform with an open doorway jutting from one wall, the three banners around it. There were 'x's and dashes across the ground, along with empty racks. As Whiplash walked closer to the racks, he noticed they had names of the trainees on a plaque to mark where to put their weapon. "This room is the weaponry training room. The Observing only get hand-to-hand combat training, no weapons. The Bravery and the Manipulators train with weapons at different times." Aileen says, adjusting her glasses, and walking back into the first circular room.
She exited through a side door, into a room lined with white, circular tables. At the far end was a cylindrical counter with glass doors, a place to get food. "This the Eatery, where you eat and have Sharing Hour." Aileen quickly shuffles back out of the Eatery.
She then exits through the last unexplored door, to a dim hallway. Gale stays behind at the door, frowning. Aileen hurries forward, to a door at the end of the hallway. She sighs. "This is the last... And worst... The training room," She opens the door, as everyone filters in. Every wall was mirror, along with the floor and ceiling. Whiplash whips around, feeling uneasy. "This is the simulation room. It's not activated, currently, but when it is, it's horrible. It can simulate any situation the Highest enters, hence the name. But do know, that it is not the Highest's fault! The dictator forces him to train you this way..."
Everyone glances at each other, horrified looks on their faces. Aileen looks at the floor, a mirror, and closes her eyes, hurrying to the door. "Alright! Next rooms!"
Whiplash begins to exit, and doesn't realize it, but focuses on Gale. The people around him blurred, Gale the only detailed person. Gale spins around, and Whiplash is transported to another world. He sprints down a hill, streaks of neon laser flashing past him. Cries of anger and pain fill his ears, as he realizes that he is not himself, that he is in the memory of Gale. He blinks, forcing himself back to the present. Gale is furious. He now stands before Whiplash, glaring at him. "Hey! Pay attention and stop staring!" Gale growls, and follows Aileen.
Whiplash blinks again. What had just happened? Had he just relived someone else's memories?
