''Ms Young?''
Eva opens her eyes slowly. The bright daylight entering the conscription office makes her eyes hurt and she squeezes them to keep looking. She sees an officer standing next to her couch and behind him is another one, whom she recognizes as the conscription officer. At first glance, Eva thinks the other one is an ordinary officer, but she notices the person has the symbol of an eagle and a claw imprinted on the left chest section of his grey suit. This person is no ordinary officer of the conscription office, she thinks. Who else could he be?
''Good morning, I'm from the Eagleclaw Fleet and I work for the recruitment program and the Academy on Vaulent 6,'' says the officer. ''How do you feel, ms Young?''
Eva slowly pushes herself up from the couch to sit. Her back aches a little. This couch wasn't exactly made for sleeping, and Eva can feel it in her back, feeling like her spine is as stiff as a steel rod.
''Not so good,'' Eva stammers a little.
The officer nods. ''I'm sorry for your loss. I heard you want to enlist yourself, is that correct?''
Eva nods.
''Well then, follow me. I'll take you to the Imperial Academy,'' says the officer.
''I've already been recruited?'' asks Eva surprised.
The officer laughs a bit. ''No, no, not yet but maybe soon.''
Even though he's a military officer, he sounds friendly, and it makes Eva feel more comfortable in a world that has become anything but.
Outside the conscription office, they board an ITT. It's a long, box-shaped repulsor craft intended for troop transport, idling with its engine rumbling on Uxrow Avenue right in front of the office. The officer lets Eva board the passenger compartment first, which is the back section of the ITT and she sits in the seats.
As they drive on Uxrow Avenue, he tells Eva what to expect. She will participate in the pre-recruitment program that consists of a couple of tests to see what the limits are of her physical and psychological conditions, intelligence, and loyalty. All of this is to ensure Eva is the right candidate for the program. She is already familiar with the pre-recruitment program, yet it sounds difficult for Eva, maybe even too difficult, but she knows it's the only path for her to walk upon. What else should she do? Stay with Oliva and do nothing but continue as if the death of her parents never happened? No, that's not an option.
Then something different comes to her mind. That officer introduced himself as somebody working for the Eagleclaw fleet. He's a naval officer from a navy fleet. Why is he in charge of the recruitment program here? The Army is supposed to lead the Stormtrooper program and the Academy, not the Navy unless this is something entirely different, but she's too afraid to ask. A naval officer is something different from just a casual conscription officer.
They arrive at the Imperial Academy. This is where teenagers become Stormtroopers. The officer leads Eva through the building. All the corridors seem like one big maze, and Eva tries to remember the route from the entrance to wherever the captain is taking her.
''Ms Eva, I'm taking you to the dorm,'' says the officer as they turn around a corner. ''We provide you basic needs such as food, water and medical attention.''
Eva nods.
Then they stop in front of a shut door.
CADET BARRACK 2
Cadet barrack? So I'm not alone?
''The cadet barrack,'' says the officer. ''You're with a group of 4 others of your age.''
He wants to say something but his comlink interrupts him, beeping relentlessly as he's called up by his commanding officer.
''Yes sir,'' he responds, holding his comlink in his hand close to his mouth. ''Ms Eva, I have to leave you alone. Inside is your team. Go meet them, they'll explain the things you don't understand,'' and he quickly turns around.
Command seems to be in a hurry. It surprises Eva that she isn't getting any more guidance from a supervisor, but she kind of understands it. The Rebel air raid on Vaulent 6 made the military on the moon anxious.
Eva presses the button and the door opens. Once the door slides up into the ceiling, she sees 5 other girls in the barracks, sitting on their beds, talking about stuff she can't hear. Boys and girls at the Academy are usually split, and it looks like Eva is in a girl's team.
The dorm is a rectangular room that is longer than it is wide. There are 6 beds, fairly distributed in two rows. Each row of three beds stands next to the left and right wall. The fluorescent lights in the ceiling emit a white-blue hue on the grey beds and metal floor.
As she steps into the room, she's noticed by the other girls.
''Hi,'' greets the closest girl, sitting on her bed
Eva sees the girl has the same hair as her: long, blond hair, shining in the fluorescent light. She also notices she's chewing on some pink gum.
''Are you the fifth member of the team?'' the girl asks.
''I guess so,'' Eva answers, stepping into the room.
The other girls look at her, and Eva's heart starts to pound a bit. She feels uneasy being suddenly dropped into this group of girls she doesn't know.
''What's your name?'' asks the girl.
''Eva Young.''
The girl nods.
''Eva, I'm Roslin,'' she introduces herself, ''and that's Ashara, Peyton, and Ecklund,'' and she points to the different girls in the room.
All the girls in the room look different from each other. Ashara, a blue-skinned Pantoran, has red, short hair with golden tattoos shimmering on her cheeks. It's a cultural thing to have them imprinted. Peyton, a girl gazing at the screen of a datapad, has black, short hair. Ecklund has short, black hair as well but braided them, and her eyes seem to twinkle in the fluorescent lights as her round glasses sit on her nose.
Despite the difference in appearances, the girls seem to share one thing. Eva sees pain in all of their eyes, and it makes her think that they all endured something similar during the Rebel air raid on the city.
''Welcome to the team,'' says Ashara, stepping off of her bed.
Eva's eyes shift to her and she sees Ashara is a Pantoran girl. It's an alien, near-human race, characterised by the ocean-blue skin, yellow eyes, wine-red hair and sometimes, golden face tattoos that shimmer in the light, depending on the Pantoran's history. The shimmering tattoos on her cheeks catch the attention of Eva, shimmering in the fluorescent lights as the girl walks towards her.
''Thanks,'' Eva replies.
''Do you have luggage?'' asks Ashara.
Eva sees Ashara is a bit weirded out by the fact that Eva only has a schoolbag on her back with her.
''No, I only have my schoolbag. I lost the rest,'' replies Eva.
Ashara nods. ''Well, you're not the only one here who lost a lot.''
''Are we all orphans?''
''Yeah, we all are since the Rebel attack yesterday.''
The fact that Eva is put in a team of only orphans makes her think that something is going on with the Academy. Usually, a squad of cadets consists of orphans and teens who still have parents because the Academy randomly puts children together. It doesn't matter who lost someone and who did not. Depending on their age, they are put in a team at random, and Eva wonders why, even when the selection is random, her squad only consists of orphans. She wonders whether the Academy did this consciously.
''Why are we all in the same team?'' Eva wonders.
Ashara sighs, shrugging. ''I don't know. Extreme luck?'' She then turns to the other girl sitting on a different bed. ''Peyton, do you know?''
Peyton looks up from her datapad with her dark, short hair. ''Apparently, it's part of the recruitment program.''
''How do you know?'' asks Eva, stepping towards the girl with Ashara.
Peyton holds her datapad in the air with the screen pointed towards Eva. ''I'm connected to the Academy's data server.''
''Peyton is our tech goddess,'' explains Ashara, shifting her head to Eva.
Eva nods. ''Peyton, named after Peyton Digital Technologies?''
Ashara chuckles a little.
''I hope so, or else my dead parents have lots of explaining to do,'' replies Peyton with a straight face.
Eva wanted to ask something, but then she hears a buzzer going off. She turns around and sees a white protocol droid, shining in the light, opening the door and entering the dorm. As it steps into the room, it first takes a good look around the room, making sure that all the girls are settling themselves.
''Girls, I am ACY-4,'' introduces the droid in its female voice, ''and I will guide you through the Academy's pre-recruitment program. Today is day one, and we are going to do a batch of examinations and checks to make sure you are medically eligible for the program. Follow me if you will.''
As the shiny droid turns around, the other girls follow it.
''Where is my bed?'' asks Eva to Ashara.
''It's there,'' points Ashara.
Eva nods and she walks quickly to the bed Ashara points at. She puts down her school bag on the bed and walks quickly back to the group as they follow the droid out of the room.
''What's going to happen?'' asks Eva to Ashara walking next to her. They follow ACY-4 through the corridors of the Acadamy.
''They'll do some medical checks,'' replies Ashara. ''That's it.''
''Do we have some sort of program or schedule to follow?'' asks Eva.
''Yeah, Peyton has it on her datapad. Today's the medical checks and tomorrow the physical tests.''
''And if we pass those, we're eligible for the recruitment?''
Ashara nods.
So that's how today and tomorrow will be, thinks Eva. She knows she will easily pass the medical tests as she knows she has no questionable background. The physical tests of tomorrow won't be a problem too. Even though she isn't in perfect shape as she's not much of a sporter, she knows her endurance and physical condition are good enough to be improved within weeks.
The group of girls follow the shiny droid into the white, sterile medical bay of the Imperial Academy. It is so white compared to the grey corridors that it hurts Eva's eyes. The group is split into two smaller groups, one consisting of two girls and the other of three to speed up the medical examinations.
As Eva sits on a white hospital bed, a grey nurse droid prepares a needle to take a blood sample of her, while Peyton is sitting on another bed on the opposing side, looking at her datapad and tapping relentlessly.
''Who's the other girl?'' asks Eva.
Peyton looks up from her datapad. ''Who? Ecklund?''
Eva nods.
Peyton looks over Eva's shoulder to look at Ecklund on the other side of the medical bay.
''I-, I don't know, honestly,'' replies Peyton. ''She hasn't said much.''
Eva nods and looks over her shoulder, seeing Ecklund with her braided, black hair sitting on the hospital bed. The girl's round glasses reflect the bright, fluorescent lights, making her brown eyes twinkle, and she sees Ecklund isn't talking to Ashara and Roslin in the little group as they're medically checked by a different droid. Maybe she's struggling with something, Eva wonders.
''Apparently, she's appointed as the team's sharpshooter,'' says Peyton as she looks at her datapad.
Eva turns her head back. ''Sharpshooter? Does everyone here have a role?''
Peyton nods. ''The tall girl, Roslin, is appointed as the team's leader. I guess she keeps the team together and is responsible for us. Then we got the Pantoran, Ashara, the team's medic who keeps us healthy, and I am the slicer, or well, the tech goddess,'' she says and smiles a bit.
Slicer is a nickname given to individuals who are skilled at hacking into computer systems and breaking encryption.
Eva's eyebrows rise in surprise as she hears that all of her group members already have appointed roles.
''Do I have a role?'' asks Eva.
Peyton looks down at her datapad and starts tapping and scrolling.
''No, not yet, but I think you'll get one soon,'' Peyton replies as she looks down.
Eva nods. ''Why are they giving us roles before we're recruited?'' she asks.
Peyton shrugs. ''Maybe they're trying to rule out people who don't take the military seriously? I don't know.''
Eva nods. It seems weird to already give a group of teenagers roles in an army they haven't been recruited for, but Peyton's conclusion sounds plausible to her.
The droid nurse finishes preparing the blood sample and walks with its metal feet towards Eva with a needle in its hand.
''Ms Eva, this could hurt,'' says the droid in a male, monotone voice.
Eva braces herself as the droid points the needle at her neck, and she feels a sharp, stinging pain as it pierces her skin. The pain quickly subsides to a dull ache, and before she could count how long it was in her skin, the nurse droid retracts the needle, leaving a tiny sample of blood.
Eva winches slightly, but the procedure ended quicker than she anticipated. She watches as the grey nurse droid moves on to Peyton, who takes the blood sample without any sign of discomfort as she looks down on her datapad. It makes Eva curious about Peyton's history with technology, and how she became obsessed with her little datapad.
Once the droids check Eva's medical history and some of the last tests are completed, the group of girls is ushered out of the sterile medical bay and led back to their sleeping dorm to stay for the rest of the day. The group of girls talk about the pre-recruitment program and what's to come, but Eva feels that none of them has the desire to become each other's, new close friends. They don't ask each other personal questions, or who their parents were, and Eva understands why. The Rebel attack that left Vaulent Capital behind in ash and rubble also left behind a lot of scars in the minds of people, including teenagers like Eva and the others, so she understands why none of them feels the need to build a social life with each other, and she doesn't feel the need either. It's as if the Rebel attack not only left behind ash, rubble and mental scars but also a dull ache in the back of their minds that kept draining the girls' power.
As night falls and the Academy sleeps, Eva rolls relentlessly around below her blanket on her bed. She can't get her mind to rest as she keeps wondering about the recruitment program and what it has in store for her. Why is a naval officer in charge of an Army operation? What are the chances of everyone in a group being an orphan? What will happen after tomorrow? They are questions that keep her mind awake.
Another thing she wonders about is her role within her group. Peyton is the tech girl, the red-haired Pantoran, Ashara, the medic, Roslin the team leader, and Ecklund, the quiet one, the sharpshooter. Why does Eva not have a role? Why is the Academy already assigning roles to teenagers who haven't even been found eligible to take part in the recruitment program? Something in the back of her mind says that this recruitment program she's about to enter is not usual and that this is not the typical Academy training, but whatever she questions about the program, she is determined to go on. The death of her parents, her house in rubble, and Eline in the hospital give her the power to go on, no matter the vague outlines of the recruitment program. She knows that she has to go on, not just for herself but also for the people she has lost to the Rebel Alliance.
''Girls, Welcome to day two of the pre-recruitment program.''
The same, white protocol droid of yesterday, ACY-4, is standing in front of the large, grey sporting room of the Academy as it explains with its clunky moving arms what is going to happen today. It shines in the fluorescent white-blue lights of the sporting room and stands next to a different, light-blue droid. Its metal body doesn't shine as much in fluorescent lights. While ACY-4 explains what is going to happen, Eva stands in a straight line with the rest of her group. Her heart pounds nervously in her chest, but she is confident enough that day two of the pre-recruitment program will go without a bump.
''Today is the physical evaluation of your endurance, muscle power, flexibility, and cardiovascular condition,'' ACY-4 explains in its female voice. ''First, the flexibility evaluation. We are going to do six exercises which will test the flexibility of your body. This is FPT-6-203, a colleague specialized in giving physical exercises. For the first exercise, spread your feet and stand by for further instructions.''
As Eva spreads her feet, feeling the tight shoes of the sporting suit she was given by the Academy and the floor feeling cold, she tilts her head to Peyton on her right.
''Why are we getting this from a droid?'' Eva asks, gesturing to the light-blue droid standing next to ACY-4
Peyton looks at her and then takes a look at the droid.
''It's a LeisureMech FPT-6 protocol droid,'' Peyton replies.
''A what?''
''Flexible, Physical Training. The droid's intended for these kinds of exercises.''
Eva nods with intrigue. Peyton knows a lot about technology, and Eva wonders how the girl got there. Smart parents maybe?
The FPT droid then starts to show the girls how to do the stretching exercises. The flexibility of the droid itself surprises Eva. ACY-4 moves its arms clunky, but this droid moves its limbs smoothly as if it's a human. While the group of girls does the stretching exercises given by the training droid, Eva notices that some researchers, dressed in white clothing, are in the room too, tapping on their datapads and observing the girls as they stretch their muscles and limbs to the limits, and sometimes beyond them.
Halfway through the flexibility test, the droid performs the Bridge Pose. It lowers itself and lies with its metal back on the floor. Eva follows the droid, and does the same too, lowering herself and lying with her back on the cold, metal floor. As Eva shifts her head sideways to look at the droid, it then bends up its metal knees and keeps its feet flat on the floor. Lying on the metal, Eva bends up her knees too and applies pressure to her feet, keeping them stable on the floor. The droid then puts its metal hands on the floor next to its head and pushes itself up and lifts its hips. Eva puts her hands next to her ears and pushes herself off the floor, feeling her hips and arms ache as she forces her limbs to stay in the Bridge Pose for over a minute. In the corner of her eye, she sees the researchers continuing to tap away at their datapads, making Eva inclined to push her limbs closer to the limits as she gasps for air, trying to stay in position. But a couple of seconds later, she feels her arms tremble as they can't hold her weight any longer, and she collapses onto the floor, feeling her back bump into the cold, metal floor. Panting, Eva keeps lying on the floor as her arms and hips ache, wiping away the sweat on her forehead with her hand as she sees ACY-4 stepping towards it, bending over her.
''Need help?'' asks the droid with its female voice, reaching out to Eva.
Still gasping for air, Eva reaches out to the droid's metal hand and ACY-4 pulls her onto her feet.
''Thanks, A C Y-4,'' says Eva, twisting her arms to relieve the stress in her muscles as she feels the sweat on her forehead.
''You're welcome,'' says the droid, nearly monotone.
''A C Y-4, can I just call you Acy?'' asks Eva''
''Acy?'' asks the droid. ''That sounds like a good name. Yes, call me like that.''
Eva smiles a bit, happy that the droid likes its new nickname.
As the droid turns around and walks back to the FPT droid, now performing the Cobra Pose, Eva sees the researchers observing her and the other girls. Lying face down on the floor and placing her hands down under the shoulders, she sees them tapping relentlessly on their datapads, making her curious about what they're noting. Following the FPT droid, Eva presses her hips down and pushes her upper body off the floor, creating a gentle bend in the spine. As she stays in position, she keeps seeing the researchers tapping away at their datapads, and it makes Eva inclined to keep going, ensuring she gets accepted into the Academy.
As the day progresses, Eva can feel her muscles burn as she pushes them further towards the limit, showing the observing researchers how far she can go. After the stretching exercises come the strength exercises to measure their physical strength. Each exercise is demonstrated by the training droid, and each time she pushes herself off the cold floor, her muscles ache, but no matter the pain, Eva is determined to go on. Each time she feels her muscles ache, she sees Eline in her hospital bed and the two body bags of her parents flashing in her mind. Eva knows she can't give up or weaken. She knows that she must join the Army and thus show the best of her capabilities.
After the strength exercises come the cardiovascular test. ACY-4 leads the group to a different room attached to the sporting room. It is smaller and is illuminated in a bright, light-blue hue coming from the ceiling lights. In the middle of the room is a platform slightly raised above the floor. ACY-4 guides Eva and the other girls on this platform, and she sees they are standing on some sort of circular treadmill.
''On this platform, we will conduct a cardiovascular evaluation,'' explains Acy with its female voice as it steps off the platform. ''We will test your heart rate and oxygen consumption to measure your cardiovascular health.''
''Never heard of cardiovascular health before,'' says Peyton, shifting her head to Ashara.
''It means the condition of your heart and blood vessels,'' replies Ashara.
''So we have to run all day?'' asks Peyton, letting out a sigh.
Ashara nods.
''Will this be the last test of today?'' asks Eva, stretching her legs to ease the ache. ''I'm tired and my muscles ache.''
''The schedule of the pre-recruitment program says it is,'' replies Peyton, ''but I can't remember it correctly.''
Eva nods. She feels her muscles burn and ache.
''But we go on nonetheless,'' says Roslin, chewing gum. ''An unexpected exercise at the end won't stop us. Remember, we do this for the Empire.''
''For the Empire,'' says Eva confidently, and she starts to see the memories of the two body bags and Eline in the hospital flashing in her mind again.
''Ecklund, everything good?'' asks Roslin.
Eva looks over her shoulder and sees Ecklund nodding, her round glasses shimmering in the fluorescent light. Eva recalls what Peyton said to her yesterday at the medbay, that Ecklund doesn't say much, and it surprises Eva how long Ecklund has gone so far without saying a word. Because she is so quiet, Eva actually forgot that she's even in their team, and she wonders what is behind her silence.
Then Acy speaks up again. ''Girls, the cardiovascular evaluation will be initiated soon. When the disk moves, do not stop or slow down until the evaluation is over.''
''Let's do this,'' says Roslin, encouraging the others.
Eva nods, and she starts to see that Roslin takes her role as the team leader seriously. It makes her feel relieved that there is somebody else who is just as determined as she is. However, it also makes Eva feel a bit left behind, as she is still the only one in the team who doesn't have a role yet.
Then Eva hears a whirring sound filling the room as the disk she stands on starts to rotate. It is rotating slowly enough for Eva to walk to keep up, but as the disk starts to rotate faster, she has to speed up. The disk rotates faster and faster until Eva and the rest are forced to keep on running.
''How are they measuring our heart rate?'' asks Eva, gasping for air as she runs.
''Our suits have likely some sensors built in,'' replies Peyton.
Eva nods.
''And if they don't have sensors, the doctors will likely measure our heart rate afterwards,'' adds Ashara, tilting her head to Peyton.
As she runs, Eva feels her heart painfully pounding in her chest as she struggles to keep up with the disk, but the flashes of the body bags and Eline give her the extra power she needs to keep up.
After what seemed to be an eternity of running, Eva feels the disk slowing down and finally, it comes to a stop. As the disk comes to a halt, Eva reaches out for her knees to lean on them, gasping for air as her heart races in her chest. She can feel the sweat dripping off of her forehead and her lungs burn from exhaustion. She looks up and makes eye contact with Roslin next to her, and they smile at each other, feeling relieved that the test is over.
''Congratulations, girls,'' says ACY-4 as it steps onto the platform. ''You all have passed the cardiovascular evaluation and day two of the pre-recruitment program, well done.''
Running for what seemed to be an eternity was worse than the push-ups and the other strength exercises she had to do, and Eva feels relieved it is all over.
The droid then leads the group of girls to the showers to wash off the sweat. After a warm shower that felt relieving, Eva and the rest were led back to their sleeping dorm. A second after the lights go off in the barracks, Eva quickly dozes off, feeling exhausted after the physical challenges she had to endure today. Her muscles ache and her feet burn from running constantly, and it feels relieving to finally let them rest. The challenges of today were exhausting. However, they were by far not the most-demanding challenges, as tomorrow, the last test is waiting, and this one is the most intense one.