Chapter 2 - Welcome to MAIDENS
Only a few hours later, we are in the Lake Country, speeding over open meadow situated next to vast lakes and twisting rivers, the dense forest which circles us covering the entire face of the mountainside. The grass which sways in the gentle wind sparkles vibrant green. Every flower, every tree, and every rock are picture perfect, beautiful.
The speeder slow to a stop, and Typho looks back to face me.
"We're here," he mutters, jumping out from the speeder. He turns, and extends his arm to help me down, but I've already jumped down. He stutters in confusion.
"I'm just a normal girl, I don't want any special treatment," I explain.
"Right," he grunts.
"Which way?"
He gestures, and I begin walking in that direction.
"Are you sure you want to do this," he asks.
"Of course. I have a duty to my people."
"Very well," he says, reluctantly.
We walk for a while, into thick brush, but it seems that all the trees along our path curve and twist at a perfect height above our heads.
"Stop." Typho puts his hand out to stop me, then kneels down next to a stump, staring into the very center of the wood.
Something beeps, and suddenly the stump is tilted down, along with about five meters of ground around it, until it forms a moderately steep ramp down into a concrete structure.
"Welcome to the Main Administration Initiative District and Economic Networks System, or as we call it, MAIDENS."
"What a ridiculous name," I sigh.
"Yeah, the founder really wanted it to spell MAIDENS. Bit of a pervert, that guy."
I snort. "Really?"
"Yeah," he smiles. "He's not around anymore."
Our steps echo through the concrete tunnel. Every five paces, a dim, yellowed lights hang, precariously suspended by thin wires. The light breeze makes the fixtures sway back and forth, casting long beams of light across the polished concrete floors
Typho tries not to look at me, still angry for my decision, but unable to do anything about it.
We emerge from the tunnel into the atrium of a training facility, the large ovular room made completely from concrete and Durasteel, with red rugs and black furniture. At the for end of the room a small desk sits, and a young woman stares into her computer screen, her eyes never moving from the hologram.
Typho approaches the desk slowly, lifting one hand parallel to his shoulder, and waits for the attendant to look at him.
"Captain Typho," she says in a singsong voice. "And who is this?"
"One final recruit, Via the Queen's recommendation. Her name is Padmé."
"Ah. Welcome to MAIDENS, Padmé." She smiles at me, her perfect teeth glistening in the stark white light.
"You're sure you'll be all right," Typho asks, concerned.
"I'm fine," I reply, waving him away.
He nods, and turns back to the tunnel. In a few moments he'll be up above the surface again.
"Padmé, please follow me," the woman says, guiding me through a thin arch to the right of her desk.
I follow her through the dimly lit corridor, and am greeted by a large arena, without an audience. In the middle of the arena, seven young girls spar with their teachers, each one moving too quickly for my brain to understand.
"How do they do that," I gape, my mouth hanging slightly open.
"Practice," answers the attendant, giving me a wide smile.
She leads me through a Durasteel power door that leads to a corridor full of doors, five on each side. Each one is labeled with a different name, save for three in the back. I read the names, hoping to find faces to put to them in the near future. They read: Eirtaé, Ellé, Moteé, Rabé, Sabé, Saché, and Yané.
"We'll be adding your name soon," the attendant assures me. "Padmé, right?"
"Yes," I answer, nodding timidly.
She gestures to the second last room on the right. "This will be your room. You'll find everything you need there, please change into a more appropriate outfit and join us in the dining room."
I nod, and enter the bedroom.
It's less of a bedroom and more of a dorm, really, with a large closet and an ensuite bathroom, even a little sink and counter set to "cook" with, though without a stovetop, there's not much I can cook. In the closet is a vast assortment of dresses, all of them simple compared to the elaborate clothing I wore back at the palace. I select a ruched, full-length gown with tight sleeves and a hood to wear to dinner. I keep my hair simple, pulling it back into a simple braided bun.
When I emerge, I feel comparable, and yet, strangely out of place, nervous.
I take a breath before I leave my room to join the others.
oOo
Waiting in the dining room are seven other girls, and a tall man, wearing a public service uniform. He is thinner than Typho, and wears a warmer smile.
"Welcome," he says, looking at me by the door. "Please, join us!"
I nod, and move quickly to the last seat there, next to the only blonde girl and across from a girl with a stern expression.
"Welcome," the blond one says, "my name is Eirtaé. What's your name?"
"I'm Padmé." I take her hand and shake it, and she smiles.
"Yes, welcome," the stern one says. "It's very nice to meet you." Her voice is monotone, emotionless, and so is her face. "My name is Sabé."
"Delighted," I say, shaking her hand, too.
"We're glad you're joining us, Padmé," the service officer smiles. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Captain Panaka."
"My name is Moteé," the girl to his right says. Her expression exudes confidence, and she wears a very slight smile.
The girl across from her covers her face with a large hood, and speaks quietly, only saying her name, Rabé.
The introductions continue through Yané, Saché, and Ellé, all three of which keep to them selves, their melodic voices chirping their names one after another.
"We'd like to welcome you-" Panaka concludes- "to MAIDENS."
"It's really wonderful meet you all," I smile. "I hope we can get along fine."
oOo
The next morning, my training starts. I dress in a tight-fitting jumpsuit made of a stretchy material, and pull my hair back into a simple bun, if only to keep it out of my face.
Early in the morning, a thin blaster is placed into my hands, and I'm asked to shoot.
"I can't shoot, I've never shot anything before," I explain to Panaka.
"If the Queen comes into contact with any danger, you must protect her. This is a necessary evil for the good of the country," he urges. "Just point the barrel at the mannequin and pull the trigger."
"What if I hit someone?" My knees shake now, and I feel sick to my stomach.
"Well, that's the intention."
I look around at the other girls, who are taking on droids and training programs shooting at them from all directions. They don't even break a sweat, gracefully returning fire and dodging blaster shots.
I take a deep breath, and turn my attention back to the mannequin, which stares back at me.
"Just focus, and pull the trigger," Panaka coaches.
One more inhale, and I squeeze the trigger.
A fiery bolt of blue light fires out from the barrel of the pistol, and flies over my target, exploding into tiny sparks against the thick durasteel wall behind it.
Panaka laughs. "That was the worst shot I've ever seen!"
Blood rushes to my cheeks, and I look down on embarrasment, ashamed to look at him.
"Alright, try again," he smiles, placing a hand on my back.
"What?"
"Try again," he repeats, gesturing toward the mannequin.
"You saw how bad that was," I protest. "I'm a terrible shot!"
"Everyone is the first time they hold a gun. But you'll only get better with practice."
I guess he's right. I take another deep breath, and sneeze the trigger again.
Once more a blue bolt of light escapes from the barrel of the gun, flying out towards the mannequin. Panaka lets out a yelp of glee when it strikes the doll in the middle of the chest.
"Great shot, Padmé," he says, punching me in the shoulder. "Do it again!"
Adrenaline courses through my veins, I feel energized, excited. I squeeze the trigger again, this time aiming for the head. Panaka squeals with happiness when it hits its mark.
"You're a natural," he practically yells.
"Thank you," I say. "I didn't know I could do that!"
He smiles wide at me, his white teeth constraining against his dark skin, and his eyes seem to sparkle with excitement. He slaps me on the back again, and walks away, whistling.
"I've never seen Panaka so happy," Sabé whispers to me.
"That was the most amazing thing I've ever done," I smile, excitement on my face.
"Yeah," Sabé says, her expression unchanging, "it was amazing."