•Chapter Nine•
May 24th, 2058
Desert Lands: Hidden City, Training Facility
9:39 am

Conrad gives a concerned look as the buzzing silence throughout the Training Facility keeps playing while all curious eyes happen to fall on me. "I'm okay," I force a smile before reassuring him. His eyes look over me and I can feel the sting of Heidi's worry on my back. I turn around. "I promise. I'm okay." I can't tell if I sound convincing or not. "Can we continue?"

    Both take a minute to have a staring contest and my head begins to feel fuzzy and staticky before they nod simultaneously. The static oddly clears up immediately before we start again and I take a deep breath. I'm fine.

    Conrad lifts his fingers to his mouth as he faces Hidden City's Soldiers and then blows a loud whistle. Everyone turns away without question and return to their training.

"Alright, Ms. Summers. Straight ahead is our Combat Center. Bree takes her class into that room everyday to go over and practice what she has demonstrated for them at the beginning of each day."

Through the glass doors I see Bree and her class practicing, as Conrad stated. She's barking orders as her students are now in groups of two, trying to tire one another out. I'm realizing, after taking a minute to study the soldiers during their training, that they are probably close to my age or even older.

Ask, my thoughts demand after my realization.
"How old are your soldiers?"

Conrad stops in his tracks and takes in a sharp breath. "Our soldiers in training begin at sixteen. Our official Hidden Soldiers are eighteen and older. We don't allow our students under age to become full soldiers until they reach the coming of age and pass our Hidden Soldier tests, if that's what they still wish to perceive."

"Tests?" I speak out of curiosity.

"Yes," Heidi pipes in. "Only the best can pass these tests and we require the absolute best for our city."

Again, they nod together.

I give a nod in response. "What happens while they wait to become of age?"

I'm watching Bree's class from where we are standing as Conrad begins to explain, "Hidden City's Training Facility has five different levels for our trainee soldiers in order to become Hidden Soldiers." Conrad continues by mentioning that there are six different levels provided and how five need to be fully accomplished to become an official Hidden Soldier after the Tests.

I am told Level One's are Beginners and they are required minimum training a day as they also learn the ropes of the Training Facility. "No more than five hours a day and no less than three. Each hour is separated for each Training Center," Heidi cuts in.

Conrad clears his throat. "Level Two's are Trainees and their work will intensify by doubling their hours and training. Extreme dieting and muscle building will not be optional; not only bodybuilding, but mind as well. Studying is another main focus throughout their training. Physical and mental growth will be of the utmost importance for Level Two." He begins walking forward and we reach the opposite side of the training facility and the other side of the platform. "We also prefer to call our 'Trainees' 'Hidden Troops'." Conrad adds as he takes a seat on one of the nearest benches we come across.

"Studying?" I ask, skipping over his last comment.

Heidi nods. "Training is not just physical. It's mental, emotional, spiritual, and even sociable."

I cringe at the last one.

"Sociable is crucial." Conrad's voice intensifies. "During a fight, battle, or even a war, whatever you'd prefer, there will be civilians. Hidden Soldiers must have sociable skills in order to communicate and help those in danger. They are our number one priority."

A serious question escapes my stupid lips again. "What about staying alive? That's not number one?"

Heidi smiles. "Twilight, can you tell me what makes Hidden Soldiers different from White Soldiers?"

I think back with a shudder. "Um...." My throat is going dry and I can feel the liquid fear sinking in as memories play in slow motion. "White Soldiers are selfish." It came out as a thick whisper.

"Correct, and we're not." Conrad stands up and sweeps his hand outward. "Every life matters. Young or old. Black, white, and, yes, even rainbow. Height and size. All of it. All of us. Blood matters. Civilians are our number one and I hold strongly to that."

"Hidden City holds strongly to that." Heidi firmly adds.

A calming silence fills the space between the three of us.

At least, until I open my mouth. "Level Three?"

Conrad's smile warms up my nerves. "Pre-Trained," he answers. "Before reaching Level Three, though, Troops decide from Level Two if they want to move on. They have a choice after enduring intense training, dieting, and studying if they would like to live this type of lifestyle." I nod with each word slowly. "Level Three, in a way, is like a mini graduation to assure the Troops of their place in becoming a full time Hidden Soldier for our City, especially if they haven't reached eighteen years of age."

"Once passed Level Three, you're a shoe-in," giggles Heidi.

My mind begins placing the puzzle pieces together. "Level Two is the test."

"Correct, Ms. Summers." Conrad leans himself against the stage as I find myself standing between him and Heidi.

This somehow reminds me of Adam and Isabelle. It's as if I am my younger sister, Conrad is my older brother, and Heidi is me. The energy is family friendly and it's heart melting. Until it becomes heart clenching and I have to distract myself.

"What does that mean for Level Three, then?" I ask, nearly stumbling on my words.

"Training will continue," Heidi nods her head in response, red hair flopping back and forth briskly. "The only thing that changes are uniforms and the hours. Level One requires five hours, Level Two ten, and Level Three is twelve."

"Twelve?" My voice rises along with the heels of my feet.

"Yeah." A sigh comes from Conrad. "When a Troop becomes a Hidden Soldier then they'll wish it was only twelve."

I shake my head. "Hidden City isn't kidding."
Both of them nod their heads in agreement while I find a bench to help support this overflowing information. "I remember President Reed explaining to me that citizens are required to work eight hours a day?" Though I wasn't intending for my sentence to come out as a question, it somehow spilled out as one.

Conrad tilts his head with a facial expression that simply states 'that's-the-dream'. "Hidden Soldiers are the jobs that never end. Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week."

Heidi runs her skinny fingers through her flat hair. "It's part of the reason why the Training Facility is second to visit on these tours I present. We're always searching for new recruits. And not just for here."

I bite my lower lip. "That's why the hospital is first."

"That," she breathes. "And to make sure newcomers-as yourself-aren't carrying any diseases from out there." There's a sort of sour shift in her words before our eyes meet. "We have no clue what Tovar White is cooking up in that atmosphere."

My head is reeling with concerns now. "Yeah," is all I can say after this discussion, and my conscience overflows with more questions that I don't intend on letting come out.

The tour continues and they show me the work out section, locker rooms, and resting area. There's a small office next to the entrance where Conrad and I say our goodbyes once the tour and questions end. Before that, however, he has me fill out a chart to see if I would like to start Level One training, if I ever wanted to try is out.

"It's optional," he reassures. "Not required. Sleep on it. You'll be testing out many jobs these next few weeks, so no pressure." He takes the clipboard from my hands and gives a half-hearted smile. "Becoming a Hidden Soldier is not for everyone." His joyful eyes seem to sink into a thick darkness which sends a shudder down my spine. "Just know the door is always open when it comes down to it."

****

Entering the Headquarters building was less nerve wracking than when I had first arrived two weeks ago.

A cool rush of air fills the building as Heidi leads the way, sass evident in her posture which has had me genuinely smiling all the way from the Training Facility, to now.

"Carl may have mentioned when you first arrived that the first floor is actually the third floor of this building." Heidi begins giving her tour-like-lecture-voice as we reach the three desks, centered across from the entrance.

"Um....he did not, actually." I reply nervously.

Heidi frowns. "Of course not." Shaking her head she stops and turns on her heels hovering over me. I take a step back as she chuckles slightly, child-like, after realizing our height difference. "There are two floors below us," she starts after collecting herself. "The second is our 'Holding Cell' area and below that one is the parking garage."

"Where Jared entered," I confidently say.
Heidi nods, pointing both of her index fingers downward, lavender eyes brightening.

"Correct. Only Hidden Soldiers and High Class Security Guards and Soldiers are allowed on both of those lower levels."

I nod and she takes that as a cue to turn and continue by walking forward, confidently, which is grasping my full attention.

"These doors," she begins speaking over her left shoulder, long arms swaying outward, motioning to the marble black frames. "They are each an office, holding Hidden City records."

Instantly, I stop in my tracks.

"My Mother's...." My voice loses itself for a minute. "Her records are behind one of these doors?"

Heidi's full head of short red hairs nod slowly after she realizes I've stopped following. "That's right." She gives a soft smile. "Soon, Twilight. Don't worry." With a nod she gestures to me to keep following her down the long hall before I am retracing my steps from my first night in Hidden City.

Reaching the second-technically fourth-floor by the stairwell, we reach the area full of cubicles and monitors and as we enter my body strangely begins to feel as if needles are being placed on every inch of my skin. I can feel the curious eyes with each stab.

"This place is constantly busy!" Heidi yells over the endless typing, sharp clicking, harsh printing, and thunderous talking. "Here is where President Reed's assistants work constantly to help run the City!" As Heidi raises her springful voice to reach my hearing, I watch as busy bodies are working from computer to computer. Typing away, helping others, and printing paper after paper. "They help track Points for our Citizens, file Citizens records, and place people in housing! Along with updating everyone on everyday announcements and or laws!" She yells on.

"That's a lot!" I volumize my voice in response with as much strength as I can muster.

Heidi nods. "I know! That's why there's so many of them and why they never stop working!" She leads me to the end of the maze of desks to the wall closest from the exit. "President Reed has titled them her 'Best Men'! Too bad she hand picks them! I'd be great for the job!" Heidi winks as her feet keep going without any doubt where to go. I am only trying to catch my breath as I follow.

She leads me right past the exit which leads to President Reed's office and towards a tall silver rectangular shaped door that's against the wall. Heidi pushes a white button next to it and I watch it glow from her simple touch. In two seconds a ding announces and the silver wall splits open in two, revealing an empty grey space which we walk into.

"Now this is an elevator," I breathe, relieving my fears from earlier when I was with Carl.

Heidi enthusiastically responds. "Right?! That's what I say. Hidden City's entry elevator is too slow for my liking." I nod in agreement then we both give each other a smile as the doors shut. "Go ahead and push the number five," she happily says.

I carefully push the white circle labeled five and it glows just as the other button had done for Heidi. She smiles brightly, eyes squinting more than usual as we begin moving upward. All the while her energy in this small space is somehow soothing which then makes me realize the needle feeling has completely stopped.

The two metallic doors open up, after another ding, to a large oval shaped room lined up with large squared screens that are the length of the room. Below the screens stands a long wide white shelf displaying millions of glowing buttons. Colors of red, yellow, blue, and green; all flashing in an unsynchronized session.

"Headquarters Security System Base. Or for short, S.S. Base." Heidi sweeps her long arms outwards again and she gives a slow motion twirl in the not so empty room.

I count, besides Heidi and myself, seven different people dressed in deep black colored uniforms. Their pants, somehow a darker black than their skin tight long sleeve turtle necks, are hiding multiple pockets. Inside of those pockets Heidi tells me they should hold communication devices called "Talkies', keys, and tasers'.

A taser is actually the small black squared weapon I had the pleasure to encounter when I felt threatened by both Carl and Jared when we first arrived.

I sigh fearfully as the memory returns, dreading my mistake.

"Carolyn," Heidi breaks my concentration, making her way to one of the black wheeled chairs in front of the screens and buttons. "Where's Ms. Kristi?"

An average sized heavy set woman with beautiful blond hair, stands to her feet. "She should be coming back from a meeting with President Reed any moment now. Is this our newbie?" Her small thick hand reaches out to shake mine and I trustingly take it. "Carolyn Shane, third in command of the S.S.Base. Welcome to Hidden City." She speaks with such serenity.

I nod in response. "Twilight Summers. Thank you."

Our eyes meet and her pupils dilate immensely. "Wow...." She says, mesmerized. "I apologize for staring at you, it's just....you two could be identical."

"I'm sorry....'you two'?" I ask in confusion.

"Oh look! Ms. Kristi is here!" Heidi cuts in, much louder than her usual spunky volume. "Let's introduce you to the Head Commander of Hidden City's S.S. Base."

A tall muscular woman comes walking in from the left of the security room. Two glass doors slide open at the moment her presence arrives. Her chestnut complexion is covered in dark brown freckles, including both sides of her lightly shaved head. The rest of her dirty blond hair is in multiple thick braids pulled up in a high ponytail, swaying left to right, above her bare shoulders with every move.

Each step she takes shows power and control which very clearly states that she is in charge. Just as President Reed showed me the first night we met through her words why she was the one in charge of this secret community. I have no doubt in my mind these two women are the reason Hidden City is running smoothly after all these years since my Mother helped found it. Which then helps remove the previous comments from Carolyn from my mind.

"Woodrose, Whitfield told me you'd be bringing Hidden City's latest commer to my office." Her honey brown eyes dart in my direction without a spark of curiosity. Her muscular arms raise a finger up at Heidi as she says, "If she touches or breaks anything, it's on you."
"You got it, Ms. Kristi," Heidi replies, perkiness nowhere near deflated.

Ms. Kristi smirks. "Welcome Summers," she speaks up while not breaking eye contact with Heidi for nearly a minute. Then her attention is on me as she steps forward and places herself in a firm-like-stance. Hands in front, legs apart, and shoulders straight. "You touch anything, Summers, I'll feed you to my dogs. Got it?"

I nod vigorously as a lump in my throat forms.
"Good. Enjoy the tour, I find my Base to be the best on Heidi's guide." Kristi's stance loosens as she walks right past me. Her footsteps sound stronger than I feel as the sound of the elevator doors open behind us, which has me assume she pushed the button. "I'm off on my rounds. Antonia is in charge while I'm gone." I hear the other button being clicked behind me as she adds, "Oh, and Carolyn, make sure R.J. gets a lunch break this time. Conrad nearly had my head for that one."

"Yes Ma'am!" Carolyn stumbles to her feet and places her hand up in a saluting position, until the sound of the elevator lowers Ms. Kristi away from ear shot.

"Well," I breathe.

Heidi gives a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, she's intense."

"I'll say." I shake my head before giving Heidi a nod of reassurance. "So what's so important about the S.S.Base?"

Heidi doesn't miss a beat with explaining Hidden City's Security Base. She explains how there's cameras at every entry and exit of Hidden City. There's also a camera at every entry and exit of Hidden City's Training Facility, Hospital, Cafeteria, and Headquarters. "Then we have the security cameras inside of our holding cell hallways, and most holding cells where interrogations would occur if and when they are in use."

"What does that have to do with the importance of the Base?" I question with only the intentions of knowledge.

"Protection," answers a thick accent woman with brown long waves, thick pink lips, and light brown skin. "I'm Antonia, second in command of this Base." Her tone has me on edge before she gives a welcoming smile.

"I'm Twilight Summers."

She nods. "I know who you are. Word travels fast in our home." She gives a prideful smirk before leading me to her seating area. "Everyday our security cameras are making facial recognition of each citizen that comes in or out of anywhere." Antonia adds on.

I nod in response but not exactly following.

"I know it's confusing, but with our machines," we both look up at the monitors hanging above us. "We are able to detect any false movement." Though her accent is strong, I am having no trouble understanding.

"I thought that's why we have Hidden Soldiers?" I question before biting my tongue.

Carolyn laughs. "Humans make mistakes. Though we dont place our complete faith in machines, I'd trust it over a human any day."

After wrapping my head about the importance of the S.S.Base equipment, Heidi continues on. She begins to explain how Hidden Soldiers have the option of becoming Security Soldiers or Guards. "Meaning they can either work inside of the Head Quarters Security or work as Hidden City's Security."

"So there's Security Guards and Security Soldiers?" I voice my thoughts again, cringing at myself.

Heidi nods yes in response.

"That would make Ms. Kristi a Security Guard?" I bite my lower lip trying to understand.

"No," Heidi answers while nearly jumping with excitement. "Look, Carolyn and Antonia here are Security Guards, working inside the Headquarters while Ms. Kristi is on her mid-morning rounds, Securing Hidden City."

"Making her a Security Soldier," I express thoughtfully after putting it all together.

"Correct." Antonia's thick accent states before I see the proud expressions on both Heidi and Carolyn's faces. "Security Guards do finish the Levels as Hidden Soldiers, but they do get to decide if they'd prefer being in the frontlines or behind the scenes where most of the magic happens."

Heidi gives me a wink while she places her tall figure closer to my seemling small one. Her presence gives me a sense of relief during all this somewhat confusing conversation.

Carolyn gives a calming laugh soon as she begins sitting back down and pushing random buttons. "If I could do anything else instead of understanding machines, I'd be in the kitchen baking." Heidi gives her a sharp look and that's when nervous laughter erupts from Carolyn as she quickly adds, "But being behind the scenes is a blessing! It's almost like we're calling the shots after giving our information to the Security Soldiers." She gulps and turns away from my eyesight.

"Alright," Heidi claps. "Let's get a move on from the S.S.Base and keep this tour going before lunch, shall we?"

Antonia and Carolyn wish me the best and say their goodbyes then I do the same before Heidi leads us out the way Ms. Kristi had entered before exiting.

Walking down the brightly lit curving hall with our footsteps echoing while passing others, Heidi continues on about the safety of Hidden City. She explains how they leave no stone unturned and how it takes them weeks, sometimes even months, to trust a newcomer.

"Then why trust me so easily?" I find my mouth releasing my inner curiosity that I have no control over anymore.

Heidi stops before taking a short breath. She turns around and places her boney hands upon my shoulders, lowering her head to reach my questioning gaze. "Because you're a founder's flesh and blood."

A sharp cold hits my back and I find it hard to breathe for a second. I close my eyes and shake the pain before processing this strange yet true feeling.

She's lying.
I shake the truth away.

No....?

Heidi begins directing the way once more, her tone of voice now somewhat different than her usual lovable one.

Yeah. She lied.

Sadness and fear consume my thoughts throughout the rest of our conversation and I find myself wincing at every beam, step, voice, and hand shake as we continue.

I can't trust anyone.

________________________________

Working two jobs really took a toll on my writing but now that I am now full time at one of my jobs, I surprisingly have free time again!

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