Traveling the Distance Between Right & Wrong

Chapter Eight

The next day, Vivian had set aside to spend her day working on helping the beginning of the tests. She wanted to check on the progress, efficiency, and check who passed the testing so far. If mistakes were made the city could topple before it even started. Vivian refused to allow the society to topple because of something so simple a baboon could do it.

The database for the testing rested on the other side of the city. It revealed itself as a huge white building and contained many rooms. It had all sorts of chambers for different levels of testing, and an entire floor dedicated to rooms for individuals to stay while they were being tested. They were neatly organized and designed for comfort. The small rooms contained individual beds and bathrooms. The contestants of the testing were prepared food and given fresh clothes. The clothes consisted of identical brown suits, except for a striped band. The band indicated how the individual performed and what level of the testing they were on.

Vivian was anxious and enthusiastic to see the progress of the testing. Her green boots clicked on the ground as she strolled through the city. Soon, she would not be the only one walking through these streets. She wore an intense black outfit. Her top had a cape that draped down behind her and followed like her very own shadow. Emeralds covered her shoulders, and rings that doubled as hidden weapons shined on her fingers. The accents of green almost turned her blue eyes into poison ivy.

Vivian entered the center of the testing, a narrow gray corridor-like room. Chambers lined the right-side of the area. Desks lined the middle of the space. Half of the desks were in the chambers and the other half sitting on the outside. The tested individuals were in the chambers, and reviewers interviewed them on the other side. Bright-colored bulbs on the interviewers side flashed with lights indicating how the individuals were performing.

Vivian watched from the entrance for a few minutes. The reviewers wrote down their thoughts and analysis on each tested person. Everyone of them bustled about, eager to get to the next contestant. Tiana watched over the shoulders of them and fixed mistakes and critiqued their interviews. Vivian watched as lights flashed from green to red and yellow to green. It proved to be quite the sight. Everything had fallen together in its proper place. Tiana's plan had begun to work.

As Vivian entered the room the echoes of her heels alerted everyone of her presence. Reviewers turned and bowed their heads to show their respect, and Vivian told them to carry on. She walked up to Tiana, who seemed happy to see her. Tiana wanted to prove how well her idea had worked for them.

"Tiana, how is the progress?" Vivian asked the young scientist. She could see herself, that it was doing well, but she wanted to hear it from Tiana.

"I think going well... we are pretty even on those who have moved on and those being casted out. I believe my team of interviewers are performing quite well. They have been good at spotting troubled people and those deemed worthy of moving on. I am quite proud of them, and their training seems to be paying off. The only thing is that it is a bit slow," Tiana beamed with excitement, despite the speed of her work. She stood tall beside Vivian, and proved to be gaining confidence in herself.

Vivian nodded, she felt herself gaining respect for Tiana, "I would like to do some of the testing myself. You can set me up wherever you deem worthy. I want to see the citizens of my new city for myself." Her blue eyes flashed and gazed into Tiana's own eyes.

Tiana nodded and looked around. Her anxiety began to rise from Vivian's own confidence and authority, "Uh yes. Follow me down here and I will get you a station." Tiana looked around for the best place to put Vivian. She did not want to put her at the wrong station and end up paying for it later.

Vivian followed the nervous girl to a few stations down. Tiana moved a man from his seat and gave the station up to Vivian. Vivian gladly took it and settled herself in. She read the man's notes and judged his work, "Tiana I thought you said they were performing well?" Vivian looked up at her from the seat she had taken. The man's notes were sloppy, unorganized, and his choices of candidates seemed poor.