Chapter 2: Shake Down 2

I headed out the monitor room and went straight into the men's changing room. Immediately there were people dressing up in the uniforms and looking at the mirror. I quickly found a spot and put my bag and shoe box down on the bench.

Opening my bag, I put the bedding inside and zipped it up. Then I unzipped the uniform bag pulling out the uniform. There was a smaller bag in it with four patches inside. Two with my last name on it, one with a K, and the last was a little dragon.

I grabbed one of the name patches and looked at my bag, there was a small indent near the top zipper. I put the patch over it and it stuck like a magnet. It was a red box with my name in black. No one should confuse it with theirs now.

I looked up and near the mirrors were two guides. One with a man in uniform, showing how it should look. The other was a step-by-step guide of putting it on. I started to follow the latter.

Step 1: Put on Kaida Combat Uniform neck gaiter.

Step 2: Put on standard issued undershirt.

Step 3: Put on Kaida Combat Uniform pants.

Step 4: Put on Kaida Combat Uniform coat.

Step 5: Put on standard issued socks.

Step 6: Put on standard issued shoes.

Opening up the shoe box I took them out. They were black with a red line from the sole to the inside lining. I put my right shoe on and the shoe started to form to my feet. I put the left one on too.

Step 7: Put on issued nametag on nameplate.

Step 8: Put on standard issued Kaida symbols below nameplate.

Step 9: Put belt over coat and let it form to waist.

Step 10: Perform a spin princess.

Now I wonder what step ten is for the one in the women's room. I looked in the mirror for the first time. Dang, I lowkey look clean. The black pants fit nice with the end hugging my ankle setting a nice transition into the shoe. The black undershirt and gaiter are a nice contrast to the red lined collar. The coat was thin but breathable and used magnets to connect. The sleaves also tightened around my wrist and hand no problem with rotating my arms. The belt was snug and didn’t feel like a hinderance.

I looked at the man in the poster then myself in the mirror. I think the shock is hitting me now, I wish I said more words to Rudy and Rease. Looking around I saw everyone else, all staring and probably all feeling the same shock.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Hurring up I grabbed my bag and threw my trash away. When I walked out the room what greeted me was a large open room with small cubicle like rooms going up and down the floor.

A lady on the side was waving down everyone who was coming out the changing rooms. Walking over to the make shift reception desk I waited in line for the next step. Shortly I was called next.

“I need your new folder and tablet.”

“Yes ma’am.”

I opened my bag, scrambled for both and handed it to her.

“Kon Zinc?” she asked when she opened the folder.

“Yes Ma’am.”

She had one of the scanners I saw earlier scan another sheet in the folder then she started to unpackage the tablet. She plugged the tablet into the scanner. When the scanner dinged, she unplugged the tablet. Putting the paper back she handed me both items back.

“Follow the map on your tablet, and keep your folder out.”

I said my thanks and walked out of line. I stood in an open spot on the side to study the map I was given. It was basically a mini map. There was an orange dot which I assumed was where I was supposed to go. There was a second, blinking icon which was most likely me. Taking a deep breath, I started to maneuver this market-like place.

On my way I saw others like me head into the moving rooms. When they walked in, the rooms started to head down. Slowly I was reaching my destination.

I walked up to an empty plot, I couldn’t even see an outline on the ground. The dot disappeared on the map and a few seconds later, like I assumed, a room started to rise out of the ground. If I never saw other rooms rise up and down, I would have never guessed there was anything underground. It would probably look like a big warehouse to the outside. Do they even have to worry about outsiders?

In the room stood an examiner, in black and red scrubs.

“Kon Zinc?”

“Yes sir.”

“Great, come inside and give me your folder.”

Walking into the small room and handing him my folder, I took a good look around. There was a small desk with a monitor and some other equipment. There was a big egg-like decoration on one wall. The man walked to his desk reading the paperwork.

“I’m just going to go over a few things to see if the data matches, nothing to hard”

“Ok”

“Starting simple, when were you born?”

“October 30th, 2110.”

“Height?”

“175cm”

“Weight?”

“58kg”

“Do you have any disease and or symptoms of any?”

“No sir.”

“Have you broken or fractured anything that could limit yourself?”

“No sir.”

“Do you have any history of medication or use of hallucinogenic that are in your system”

“No sir, I’m all clean.”

“All right that should be all, hang your coat and take seat while I put this into our system.”

I didn’t notice but the room was already underground. I placed my bag near the chair and hung my coat. Taking a seat, I started fiddling with my necklace while he was on the computer.

“Ok now your records are officially in our system. I’m going to take a quick picture of you for a new military ID.”

I nodded while he pointed his phone at me. I felt like smiling wasn’t the appropriate action so I put on a stoic face while looking at the camera.

“Great now onto the final step.”

He handed me a tablet with a document on it.

“This is mostly a formality. You can take as long as you like.”

I started to read it, and it was basically a work contract. Not wanting to take too long I just scrolled to the bottom and signed my name and initials. Handing it back to him, he smiled.

“Ok, when your ready take off your shoes and enter the Embryo.”

Machinery noise started to come from the egg. Opening up with mist seeping out. Slowly the egg fully opened up revealing a headset stuck to the top.

“When you put the headset on, I’ll speak to you from here. If you played any games it should feel similar to a tutorial.”

Maybe I should’ve read the fine print. Sighing I took off my shoes and slowly approached it. At least it looks comfortable.