Disney Undercover

Training Center

"So this is the famous gym?" I ask as I step into the gym.
     It resembled the meeting room. It was dark and most things were black. Some treadmills were along one wall. Weight lifting equipment on the other. The was also a rock climbing wall, a number of punching bags, and a computer coding area along the far left wall.
The most noticeable thing in the room is a large tiled circle in the middle. It was illuminated with colorful lights. It looked like water flowing underneath.
"The infamous," Ashton mumbles. I laugh a little bit.
"What's that?" I ask as I step closer to the tiled center. It's smooth like glass.
"It's virtual training. It's like a virtual mission. But it's the most real thing here, you actually feel pain, but it's only virtual," Ashton explains.
Garth sat over in the corner with the computers. He looked focused. I had a day off, and they requested that I work out. So, Ashton took the day off too. Fatima stood over in another corner, observing mannequin heads with makeup on them. Ashton walks away.
"Hey!" Fatima squeals as she runs up to me, squeezing me tight.
"Hey, friend hey!" I say as she loosens her hug.
"What're you doing?"
"Practicing with makeup," She says while gets back into focus. She goes over to a mannequin head with Ariel makeup and a wig.
"What are you working on?"
"Just practice. The real events are in the simulation room. What I wouldn't give to be doing that,"
"You want to be out in the field?"
"Nah, it's just like a giant video game," I stare at her blankly for a minute. "What? I grew up with 4 brothers!"
"No shame, no shame" I nod.
"Hey, Brown!" Ashton yells over to me.
"Yes, Ash" I say as I walk over. He stands next to a punching bag.
"Let's go, sparring. One two punches,"
"What?"
"Here," Ashton joins me on the opposite side of the punching bag. He slowly jolts it to show me what to do. "Make sense?"
"Yeah..." I say. I take a second to breath. I swing. And I miss. I let out a loud grunt to show my frustration.
"It's ok, don't worry," He says as he walks out. "Imagine that the punching bag is your ex, who had the nerve to walk on your attraction, flaunting his new girl!" He exaggerates.
"You're dead to me!" I shout as I swing. I hit it head on. "Yeah!"
"That's what I'm talking about!" He smiles. "Try it again," I keep swinging. And swinging. And swinging. I move the hot sweat off of my face.
"Water for the athletes," Garth says as he hands us water.
"Thanks, man" I nod as I take a breath.
"Now let's work on kicking," He says as he pulls me into a small boxing ring. "Let's go!" He nods over to me. It's almost like he's beckoning me to fight him. "Take me down,"
    I crack my neck. He jumps around in a little circle. I roll my eyes. He moves in a mocking  way. I lunge for his knees. He falls to the ground.
     I turn him onto his stomach. I pin his arm back. I put my knee onto his back. He pats rapidly on the mat. I release him, and lend him my hand to get up. I look at him hopefully. He grins in approval.
"Okay everybody, it's Tuesday, and you know what that means!" Mark yells as he walks in. "Simulations. Everybody in the back room, let's go!" He yells.
     I follow the crowd into a black door. Computer monitors stand on the side. Twelve chairs that are identical to ones you'd see as a dentists go across the room. A huge machine with tons of wires dangle above each chair. A tray with  9 injections sit near the door. They appear to be filled with an orange liquid.
"Amber," Mark calls over to me when we all are in.
"Yes?" I ask when I walk up.
"No one, here, expects you to do this, so don't feel chicken if you don't want to do the simulation," Mark tells me.
"I'll do it," I nod.
"Chair 3," He grins at me.
    So, I hop into the third chair. Ashton sits himself right next to me. He grins at me. His eyes read good luck. I grin back at him. Mark steps into the center of the room.
"Just to review, this injection," Mark starts as he lifts up a shot. "Will crest it's own reality. It will allow us to observe how you react. For example, if you punch a Pearson, I will be notified. If you abandoned your team, I will know. Affirmative?"
"Yes sir," We all nod.
"It also has the ability to create pain. It's just an illusion. If you die in the simulation, you will come back into reality. I can also pull you out if necessary. Fatima and I will be monitoring your tests. Good luck," He nods. Fatima takes an injection, and walks over to Chantel. She rests her head back, and closes her eyes. Fatima plunged the shot into her neck. She flinches. Then her body falls limp. Fatima takes another, and walks over to me. I guess I looked afraid, because she said-
"It's okay," She nods. I take a sigh. I lean my head over to my shoulder. My neck is revealed. Fatima pierces my skin. She lightly pushes my shoulder back, I lie down. My world goes black. I can hear distant voices. I can only make out one saying.
"Begin the simulation,"