Chapter 7

Hayes and Lilith were at the lounge when the man in green approached. "Your results are in! I have job offers for the both of you, please come with me!" It had been two weeks since their placement tests. The two followed the man down the winding hallways. The trio finally reached a large court room, there were five judges lined along the table. Each judge donned each faction's colors; red, yellow, white, green and blue? Hayes stared at the judge in blue, he didn't remember there being a fifth faction. Before he could ask his escort the man who had guided them had disappeared from the room. Only he and Lilith remained. The man in blue stood up. "Today we will be reviewing your results and offering you positions in each faction. As long as you have an offer you may join the faction of your choice. Please note, until you reach sufficient rank you will not be permitted to leave your faction's vessel. Let us review your offers starting with Lilith Bazzel." The judge in white stood up. "Your medical knowledge is basic, but your overall test score results in qualifying for an offer. You may join the medical faction if you choose to do so." Next the judge in yellow took a stand. "The advanced scores you achieved in the engineering test will allow you to join the engineers. Due to your scores you will be given freedom to choose your sub division within the faction." As the judge in yellow sat down the judge in red rose. "Although you did not complete the final test, you showed exceptional marksmanship will long range weapons. You will have a number of choices if you join our faction." Finally the green judge quickly stood. "Of course the guard faction is the default faction no matter the score you will receive an offer." The judge in blue simply sat watching the pair. A screen appeared on Lilith's wristband, it had four colors each signifying the choice she was to make. Lilith stared at her wrist for what seemed like a lifetime. She knew the obvious choice, but something worried her. She finally selected the yellow offer on the screen. "You have joined the engineers congratulations!" The judge in yellow announced.

"Thomas Hayes, let us review your results. Medical has no offers for you at this time." The judge in white didn't even stand when reviewing his test results. "Engineering is also unavailable." The judge in yellow did not look up at Hayes when making the announcement. Finally, the judge in red took a stand. "Military faction would like to offer you an officer position upon joining." The judge in green was next. "Due to your test results you will be free to choose a sub division in the guard faction." All of a sudden the judge in blue slowly stood up; he was older than the others. "I would like to propose another option. A new faction is forming within the fleet. The Deep Space Force, I would like to offer you to be a part of something that is only in its infant stages. We will focus on exploring the unknown, discovering new species or planets." Hayes looked at each of the judges then looked down at his glowing wristband, it had three colors red, green and blue... Hayes looked at the red light, he thought of his last few days on earth, the brutality. The death. Hayes wanted to be more than some killing puppet for the fleet. Hayes looked at the green, he thought back to the test he did not want to be a babysitter for royalty. Hayes moved to the blue, the judges words rang in his head. Exploring the unknown, he thought of his time on earth with his mom exploring the outlands. He pressed the blue button. "You have selected Deep Space Force."

The two returned to their room, it was a small living space with bunk beds. A desk with a holo-screen sat in the corner. "So does this mean I won't see you anymore?" Lilith asked Hayes with heavy heart. Hayes looked at the teary eyed girl, his heart shattered. He knew on the fleet factions were your identity, they were your purpose. The two simply had a different purpose. "This isn't the end, we will see each other again. I promise." Hayes responded. Each of them were given a uniform signifying their faction. "It is time you both are to join your respective factions. Please follow them." A man in green pointed to a woman in yellow and the judge in blue. Lilith grabbed Hayes' sleeve, Hayes swung her around for an embrace. "Work hard Lilith, become a great engineer to honor your father. I will find you." Hayes wrapped his pinky around hers. Lilith broke them embrace and followed the woman in yellow. Hayes watched as she disappeared into the labyrinth of hallways. He turned towards the judge in blue, but he was already quite a distance away. Hayes ran after the old man. Hayes followed the judge through the winding hallways. The walk started to feel like more of a journey. Hayes was out of breath before they reached the destination; they had reached a docking port similar to where their shuttle had arrived. Hayes followed the man onto a blue shuttle, Hayes made eye contact with the judge. The judge simply stared remaining silent.

The shuttle exited the white vessel into a sea ships. Each their faction's color. From the outside the shuttle did not have any windows, but the inside was transparent. Hayes looked around at the sights around him. He stared in wonder at the size of the fleet, every direction had a cluster of ships. The flew through the cluster at an insane speed. Hayes felt that they would crash into a ship watching as it perfectly weaved itself through the cluster. The ship was exiting the fleet? The shuttle started making distance from the fleet until all that could be see were small dots in a distance, the size of distance stars. The shuttle was approaching a red planet. "We are approaching our destination, put on this respirator before we exit the shuttle." The judge broke the silence and handed Hayes a small facemask to cover his mouth and nose. Shuttle landed next to a large castle sized structure. "Welcome to the Deep Space Force base one." The judge equipped himself a respirator and stepped onto the sandy surface of the planet.

Hayes followed the old man into the base. The man then began to guide Hayes through the castle explaining each room and its use. The base was broken into three areas, one for quarters where they slept. The next was a large dining hall and cafeteria. The last was the largest, it was a training area, it was an immeasurable room. The old man called it the sandbox. It was to be a room where countless scenarios could be practiced and experienced. Hayes realized he had not seen a single person since landing at the base, throughout the base no other person was seen. Finally, they headed to a building next to the castle, it was a large rectangular building. Inside was different vehicles, all different shapes. Hayes noticed none of them had wheels like the ones on earth he was accustomed to. The judge then lead Hayes to his room, it was a small room with just enough room for a bed and desk. Before the judge could leave he had a question. "When will I see Lilith again?" Hayes knew she was a smart girl, but he still worried about her. "We will discuss that in time. For now get some rest, we have much to do tomorrow." The judge replied. Hayes laid on his bed looking at the ceiling when his wristband buzzed. Hayes looked at his wrist, it was a message from that medic who had given him the new hand. Hayes read the message. 'Tomorrow I will be visiting old man Smith, after the meeting we will discuss the future of your arm. Be ready!' Hayes looked at his replaced arm, nothing seemed off about it. Everything felt the same as if nothing had ever happened. The only difference was the dreams, in his dream he could see his arm being devoured by the colossal man. Hayes drifted off to sleep.

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At the same time Lilith was transported to the engineering faction's main vessel. Her journey was much shorter as her faction resided inside the fleet. Inside the main vessel were multiple workshops and factories. Everyone was either building or experimenting with unfamiliar technologies. She was introduced to a classroom of other engineers and took her place among them. She missed Hayes, but she remember her fathers words. She must become a great engineer to honor his memory. Determination eliminated the sadness in her heart. She will become a great engineer and find Hayes one day!