>>5126461Zipping up in an elevator and through another sprawling mess of rooms you passed more people in a few minutes than you had seen in your entire youth. It was overwhelming, but after long you barely even registered them. Nothing but blank faces in the crowd. One thing did send a chill down your spine. A vault door, to either side stood men in black marking less combat gear. You felt them weighing you threat level through their blacked out visors. Avoid any eye contact you kept close to the doctor. You knew you had arrived as the hefty block of metal hissed shut behind you. Pivoting on the balls of her feet Yumigawa gave you a reassuring smile and held out a hand. "Give me your pack. I'll drop it off in your room while you are with the others." Hesitating a little, you handed it over.
Clutching your pack the woman let out a hooting roar as she began strutting down the corridor, the walls held fancy art. Paintings or drawings of cottages in the woods or horses in a field. The drone of voices came into earshot as you advanced, through a cracked door shadows moved and someone laughed. Your heart pounded, drumming a mad beat as you struggle to keep up. You swore the air was growing hot as you swallowed it down forcefully. The doctor let out another excited holler as she kicked the ajar door open with full force. Bloody hell what have you gotten yourself into. Following her in, you were the center of attention as the doctor at your side held her hands on her hips triumphantly. "Listen up Pilots! The Theta candidate has arrived. Say a big ole howdy to Mortimer!" She declared happily, clapping enthusiastically. "Howdy!" A girl in a white beret chirped out sarcastically. No one else made a peep.
The others present were all young, obviously the same age as you or close enough for linking. "Hello everyone!" You say out rather loud, trying to match the woman's gumption and eclipse her rather thunderous clapping. Only earning another set of clapping from the doctor. "Yeah! We have only got a couple of candidates left, so enjoy your time off. Because once everyone else arrives you'll be pushed to the limit!" Clearly excited by the idea Yumigawa back tracked out of the room and with a wink she slammed the door shut. Abandoning you to your fate. Turning back around you found almost every eye on you, but with her gone the crowd's attention was quickly drawn away. Standing alone you examined the room. The recreation room was the size of a large hall, in the far corner you could make out dining tables, the nearest area was mostly littered with sofas, coffee tables and television sets.
