Chapter 7

Press, Patrick, and Osa walked back to the others. They were still in the giant park, but now they were sitting on a bench. Press was over the tower thing now. They all sat around and talked. Bill suddenly sat up a little straighter and looked more stern.

"You all really shouldn't be here. The people in the Space Colonies are revolting against the people on Earth. There's been a war going on for about a couple years."

"What can we do to help?" Brent asked.

"They've instituted a draft. All able bodied men and women, age fifteen to age 45, have to fight."

"I'll fight." Press said

"Press, are you crazy!"

"No, I've finally seen the future. It's no different than home, just advanced technology. This is gonna be a war to end all wars." Press looked at everyone. They looked back. Brent closed his eyes and turned away, "Fine, go get yourself killed."

"I will. Now am I in this alone?"

"No. I'm with you." Patrick said

"So am I." Osa said

"We can't let all of you go in this alone. We're in too." Bill said, "Right?"

"Right." Quor said

"Only because I don't want you to get killed." Brent said

"Where do we go to sign up?"

"Right down the road. We'd better go."

So everyone went to the recruiting station. They came to a bland room with a desk and a picture of an American eagle behind the desk. They immediately got their weapons and uniform. The uniform was dark silver. It had their names on the chest and an American Flag on the shoulder. The guns they had, were like a half circle. The straight end was the handle and you squeezed it to fire. Press squeezed his gun and a beam shot out of it. It hit the street and a hole about 6 inches in diameter had appeared. Bill came out of the recruiting building looking grim.

"We're going up right away. They're running low on reinforcements and they need immediate help."

"How are we getting up there?" Brent asked

"Wait, wait, wait, and wait. You mean 'up there' as in space?"

"Yes."

"We're going up into space to fight in the war?"

"As soon as tomorrow, but first they want us in a simulation."

"What's a simulation?" Osa asked

"We'll be in a big underground room. There's no gravity and are weapons are fake. You'll be cold, but when you get hit you suddenly become warm."

"That's cool."

"Where is the room?"

"It's under Battery Park. Spectators will be there watching us but just ignore them."

They walked from the Recruiting Station in Time Square, south to Battery Park. They walked down some stairs and came to one of the big underground cities.

People were walking everywhere. Crowds piled in stores. There were private looking doors which Press thought, were probably apartments. They came to a room with a desk and a guy about in his twenties.

"We're with the military and need a private room."

The guy pressed a button on his desk and a door opened off to his left. They went in a started their simulation. The room was about the size of a football field. The ceiling was about fifty feet high and they floated freely. All the walls were black except one, and that was made of glass for people to see through. Press could make out little chairs for people to sit in behind the glass. Suddenly the ceiling opened up and six little boxes fell down.

Press tried to go for it but couldn't move. He tried to move his arm but something wouldn't let him. On the far wall at the end of the room, was a countdown.

3.....

2......

1.....

Suddenly Press felt he could move. He made a fist and tried to move, but as soon as he made a fist he shot forward. He looked back and saw a trail of smoke following him. He saw the trail ended at his feet.

"So my feet have little jets in them." He thought

He tested out his jets all around the room. He figured out the harder you make a fist, the faster you go. He quickly jetted across the room and grabbed a box. He opened it and inside he saw a gun and a few badge looking things. They were shaped like a triangle and had a button in the middle. He pushed the button and waited for something to happen. He accidentally dropped it and it floated up past his head. Suddenly an orange ball appeared around it. It kept growing and growing until it was big enough for a pro wrestler to fit inside with a couple cats.

"I guess that acts as a grenade." Press thought

The others had already grabbed their guns and were trying to figure out the grenades.

Press took his gun and shot at Brent and Osa. Quor got out of the way while Bill and Patrick jetted off to a far wall. Press jetted off after Quor, he aimed and missed Quor by millimeters. Suddenly Press felt very warm.

"Dang it, someone got me!"

He looked up and saw Bill fly by. Bill saluted and flew off after Quor.

Press just floated and waited for the end.