From space, with death

Chapter 4 The Tests

Chapter 4
The Tests

"Well look who brought us some fresh meat, haha, welcome back Dom!" the security guard says in probably the thickest Australian accent I have ever heard." So, is he part of the new crew set to take over the R&D after last weeks accident?"

"Blake, what did i say about trying to scare the new recruits? Oh thats right, not too!" Dom yells. Everyone in the area turns and looks, but people closer flinch away.

"Sorry boss, just like to have so fun since there is almost no threat around here." The guard says while looking away.

" I understand," Dom smiles, " but you really need to come up with a new story. Its the same for every new recruit. Oh, sorry for yelling, just wanted to scare Leon here."

" Got it boss, and from the looks of it you got him good." As he turns to leave.

" Wait a sec Blake, you still have to introduce yourself, since your a boss."

" Oh right! Forget about that every time." As Blake's hand rapidly accelerates towards his head, and meets with a reassuring smack. " Names Blake, head of computer science security and S.O.S.F's." he holds out his hand while he talks, "S.O.S.F stands for Space Operational Special Force or space police."

As I shake his hand, his eyes quickly dart over to Dom, then quickly over my body, before giving me the death grip handshake. He then pulls me close and whispers " Everyone under me will monitor your every move, try anything, and I will personally throw you on the next flight to the sun." He then shoves me back to Dom and Rick who are waiting nearby. " Well I best be off, because I see lunch walking through the doors over there right now."

As Blake walks over to a young man carrying a Subway footlong sub with 32oz cup of soda, Dom and Rick start to drag me into the building.

The pure white, rippled walls are the first thing I see as I enter what looks to be the main lobby. Next is the red and green alien plant life that snakes like vines up the wall and onto a walkway above. A classic palm tree with a sandy mound surrounding blocked my sight from what is behind, but the people siting on the mounds all have holo projection in front of them, moving their hands in and out to move and rotate the projection. While looking at the people I notice a ever changing floor below, with different designs for everyone in the area. I notice that The area around Dom's feet is a 3d version of our solar system, if the earth was the center. around Rick's feet I notice a flickering flame that dances around his feet. I then look to my feet to see nothing but black, like the black emptiness of the expanding known universe. iI'm about to ask Dom how I get the floor designs when a robotic waiter, with metallic black aluminum plates painted in such a way to look like a suit, come up and speaks in a perfect British accent.

" Good day, Mr. Smith. Just as a reminder, you have a meeting at 4:35 in half an hour in room 435 west wing about the next launch. I suggest you leave now to prepare for the meeting." Dom looks quickly to me and Rick, then walk away to the nearest elevator bank and goes up. The robotic head passes over me, and looks to Rick . "Mr. Jones, two of the ten recruits are waiting in the recruits training room. I also suggest you leave to monitor and record all physical capabilities."

" Sorry Rex, but this guy here is a new recruit and he needs to get signed in. Let George know that I'll be there shortly." Rick says as he pulls me close like he and I are buddies.

"Would the new member like a tour of facilities?" The robot turns it humanoid head towards me. Thankfully Rick answers for me, "No Rex , not now, but log that Leon here needs the tour as soon as my team is done with him."

"Log made. Please follow me to the registration area." The robot quickly turns on its wheel and drives close to a center median between the glass wall on the left and vine wall on the right, but in the opposite direction of the way Dom headed. The medians were made of what looked to be marble brick exterior with shaped hedges and tan mulch filling the inside area.

It takes us about 5 minutes of walking before the robot finally turns down one of the many hallways. Above the hallway is a clear plexiglass walkway with micro led crystals simulating all the different 2D and 3D floor designs that people had chosen. Along some of the hallways edges, i notice spheres rolling aroung in tunnels.

"Hey Rick, what are those balls rolloing around for?