Stars and Potential

I had around 30 minutes left to eat with all the looking (gawking) around I did and the not very short shower.

Once reaching the cafeteria, I was led by the crowd to a long lunch line. Looking at the menu I was stunned to see the various options of delicious food available. All of them look so good, I haven't seen this much food, since, uh, well ever. But my excitement was quickly put down after seeing the prices in a tiny corner in the menu. Honestly.

Picking one of the free meals which consist of a sandwich and milk, which is ok I suppose, I took a seat at one of the tables with noone on it. For some reason, they decided to make the tables round instead of a rectangle, it makes me feel like I'm back in kindergarten again. This sandwich is actually not that bad or maybe i was just hungry.

*Bang* a girl slammed her hand on my table "Whatt is this junk doing here! This is our table" she said wrinkling her nose, rudely interrupting my meal. I guess that's why no one's sitting here. The girl is standig next to her friend in a group of five. She's wearing a ponytail, with brunette hair and blue eyes, rare combination, they all seem to be wearing tight leggings a white pollo and a navy blue jacket with 3 stars pinned on it. Strange attire for your typical mean girls, it must be uniforms, but then why didn't i get any?

"Hello, i'm talking to you" she obnoxiously yelled

"Sorry? I wasn't aware there was assigned seats." I said not wanting to cause a scene on my first day. I grabbed my stuff and left. Mean girl though, roughly yanked my arms back and i dropped my stuff all over my lap, and fell on my butt on the floor

"Excuse me?!" I screeched looking at her with disbelief.

"Junk like you shouldn't give me that attitude, don't you see i'm a three star" she said pointing at the stars as if that justified everything.

"huh?" I'm so confused, junk, three stars what is she talking about.

"Maybe she just haven't come to terms with the fact that she's a junk" another 'three starred' girl said, making all of them laugh in their lady like laugh. They all went and took their seats on the table as if i never existed. Boiling mad I got up, got everything of me and stumped my way to them, they have the nerve to talk down to me, calling trash or junk or whatever, made me spill my delicious food and then ignore me?!

*beep beep beep* the sound of what i think is the intercom interrupts my confrontation, and i turned around facing the source of the noise "Cadet Sylvia Ilzfar please make your way to the main office, I repeat cadet Sylvia Ilzfar please make your way to the main office."

What? Me? I'm pretty sure thats my name. Why would they be calling me to the main office.

"What do you want junk?" the girls asked after the intercom is done. Ughh i wish i could tear their heads apart. I turned back around, gave them a death glare and went to the main office, it seems more important than these people.

I walked through a dozen identical grey hallways before getting to the main office, even with the map getting lost a few times is inevitable. The office is behind the same tight metal door guarding every other rooms, accept the cadet's quarters. It looks more like a vault than it does an office.

I went for the guard and asked to be let in saying that i was called here by the intercom

" identification card?" the guard asked.

"What identification card?"

The guard frowned at my words and went inside. Making my insides twist, nervous, what is going on, am I in trouble?" He came back a few moments later and told me to follow him as he led me into the office.

It was gorgeous inside, nothing like how it is outside, there was ac here, the walls weren't grey and there's even a few decorative plants. The sight made me even more nervous the difference must mean the people in here are important, and important means dangerous.

"The chief commander was the one that requested your presence. He's right behind this door." the guard said than left. Great, Im meeting the chief commander, the most important person on the base on my second day here. It can't be a good sign.

I knocked on the door and a voice told me to enter. The commander is a tall regal man, with wide soldiers and black hair, he donned a suit that didn't quit disguise his toned muscles, just standing here makes me break out in cold sweat. He oozes the typical commander vibes. The little name tag on his desk spells commander Rogers. He smiled and gestured for me to sit down.

"I've been looking forward to having you here sylvia" he said gently. Not typical. "it's nice to see you" I stiffly smiled and nodded taking a seat. His gentleness and smiles makes me even more nervous

"You passed out yesterday because your cells absorbed too much chemis so we weren't able to give you the proper introduction. Goodness we even forgot about your uniforms." the guy said.

"Chemis?" I got the courage to ask him.

"Yes sweetie chemis" he nodded " they are chemicals your cells absorb to strengthen and stretch it. It also serves to test how much potential a body has. The more chemis the cells can absorb the more likely that person is to become more and more 'evolved'. You should know your absorption rate is incredible I've never seen someone take that much in one go." he said his voice filled with awe

"Then why did I pass out" I asked

"Because your mind couldn't take so much absorption and changes at one time. It's incredible isn't it, normally the cells would be the one full and exhausted before the mind ever is but for you, its like your cells and dna would never be full" he said, I guess passing out is good?

"Oh here's your uniform" he said passing a bundle of neatly stacked clothes to me, the navy blue jacket on top. Five stars lay majestically on it

"what does the stars mean?" I questioned.

"They of course represent potential. Five stars being the highest in our camp, it means you're a genius among geniuses, guaranteed to be a leader in our country's' military" I scoff silently at that, I used to wish to be a powerful person, leading soldiers into battle and defeating evil, but circumstances changed that, the military in this country isn't as heroic and simple as it seems, hells it might even be the evil one.

"But beyond that, it also symbolizes status, those with more stars will be treated better and have more privileges than the other cadets. Such as having a private room like the one you're currently staying in. The other cadets will also be more polite and respectful to you than they would the less star cadets, not to mention the no star ones, those are trash with zero potential whatsoever" is that why those girls were so cruel earlier?

"this is your identification card" he slides a wallet with an id inside "it proves who you are and provides access to areas like your living quarters and classroom, do not lose it"

I took the wallet and my uniform he asked if i already have my schedule i nodded,

"that will be all than Sylvia, you should get going to you first period, i already informed your instructor that you'll be late. I  wish you luck not that you'll need it, i'm sure you'll be an important asset to our country in the future" he said and offered his hand, we shook hands he held it tight, leans in and whispered "don't do anything you'll regret"

I went out of the office down and the hallways with a racing heart and a shiver down my back, thoughts swirling in my brain.