Selection

Jonah followed Maria up the walkway towards the entrance to the Career Selection Center. The landscaping well-groomed and adorned with statues that honored all different professions and their contributions to the Empire. 

There were many others walking along in both directions, some having just finished their selection process while others were on their way to complete it. You could see many smiling faces, but there were also several that you could tell were not happy with their results. 

"I don't want to be stuck in a factory..." One passing girl said to her group of friends. "Why didn't I get the farms with the rest of you? We all grew up on them together." She stated as they walked by Jonah and Maria. 

Jonah frowned, but kept to himself, glancing at Maria and thinking of her concerns. Maria didn't happen to hear them and was focused on the large building they were approaching, the crest of the Celestial Empire prominent above the doors and banners hanging from the pillars. 

"Isn't this overwhelming Jonah? I mean look at it!" Maria exclaimed excitedly as she spread her arms wide to indicate she was taking in the whole building before them. 

With a smile and a small chuckle Jonah reached over and patted Maria on her head, "Calm down there little one. If you're good maybe we will get cotton candy afterwards." He laughed as Maria glared back at him. 

"Don't make me kill you before you even get a selection..." She searingly joked back with him. "Short and dangerous. Just remember that." She laughed as they walked up the steps and stopped just outside of the doors. 

"This is it." Jonah thought to himself as Maria and him glanced at each other. "Everything will be okay...." He continued within himself, trying to get courage to step through the doors to the center that would change his life. 

"Jonah... no matter what. This doesn't change who we are or what we care about. Promise me we will always stay in contact." Maria suddenly stated, looking down towards her feet like she did in the pod. It was a habit of hers when things were serious. 

"I... I promise... this doesn't change anything." He replied and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Nothing can erase our friendship or the memories we have. Plus like you clearly pointed out earlier. Everything will be just fine." The smile on his face appeared as he attempted to comfort her. 

Maria nodded and opened the doors, stepping through with Jonah. The great entrance way was marble and extravagant, a reception area placed directly ahead and the walkway adorned with more statues. The imperial crest impressively hung from the ceiling just over the reception desk and guards stood in various areas with banner just above their heads. 

"There is no greater glory than to serve what is Holy. Selection is to be humble and serve others." A message played across a central announcement system. "Please remain within the great hall until directed otherwise." 

Jonah and Maria approached the reception desk and awaited their turns quietly, both lost in their own thoughts and concerns. Time seemed to slow as they stood in line waiting. 

"Next please." A female in her early twenties stated from behind the desk. She wore an Imperial Army uniform with the rank of sergeant and the insignia of the Human Resources division on her shoulder. 

"Next please..." she stated again as Jonah looked up from his own thoughts an realized she was speaking to him. "Oh sorry." He stated as he stepped forward and handed her his ID card. 

"Jonah Owens, 18 years old. Orphan. Average school marks." She read back after inserting his ID into her computer system. "Please head through the door to the left, room three." She stated as she pointed to the doorway.

Jonah nodded and glanced at Maria who had a concerned and nervous look on her face. "I'll see you after alright. It will be fine." He smiled and once she nodded back, he headed to his designated room. 

Room 3 was all that was on frosted glass door and as Jonah approached the door swished open, allowing him to enter. Inside the room was a singular chair, almost like a dentist chair and nothing else. 

"Owens, Jonah, age 18. Please sit." A digital female voice requested as he approached the chair. Jonah glanced back over towards the reception desk before fully stepping into the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of Maria, but she had already gone to her room it appeared. 

With a reluctant sigh he stepped in and took a seat in the chair. Looking at the blank wall he wondered what the process entailed. Questions? Medical Exams? He wasn't sure and the selection process was a state secret and closely guarded. 

"Please remain seated until requested otherwise." The voice stated and a ceiling tile opened. Jonah watched as a robotic style arm lowered from the opening with what appeared to be a device to place on his head. 

The voice came across the room again, "Do not move. This will not hurt." It stated as the device came closer to his head and gently lowered before his eyes. A bright red light blinked, causing Jonah to flinch for a moment out of shock. 

"Do not move. Selection will now begin." The voice stated as straps went around his wrists, legs, ankles, and chest, holding him tightly to the chair. Little arms came out of the device and moved towards his eyes, but he could not move his head. The arms reached slowly forward and held open his eyelids and lights started to flash in front of him. 

"What the hell is this!" Jonah screamed in his head as the lights radiated across his pupils. The computer continued the scan, at times repeating the same light patterns. 

The sound of the door swishing open could be heard by Jonah and footsteps approached him, but nothing was said. He could not look to see who had entered, but he suddenly felt a needle enter his shoulder and a slight pain as he was injected with a solution of some sort. 

His body stiffened as the injection moved through his body, but it did not cause paise, more so a warm feeling across him. The lights seemed to be a distant memory as he began to have visions of past memories, experiences, the death of his parents, growing up an orphan and living with Maria. All of it seemed to flood out of him like water. 

Sleep was the only thought on Jonah's mind that he could pick out from all of it. He just wanted to go to sleep, but the lights and memories wouldn't let him. Why was it digging so deep into him, what could they possibly gain from all his memories and experiences?

The tiny arms opening his eyelids released and the robotic arm whirled away and moved back up into the ceiling. All Jonah could see was spots in front of his eyes for several moments as he adjusted back to not having the light beams scanning the deepest reaches of his retinas. 

"Is it over?" He thought to himself as the straps removed themselves from his body and he could finally move again. His hand instinctively reaching to where the injection was placed in his shoulder. 

"Ownes, Jonah. Please remain seated." The voice directed as Jonah looked about the room. No one was there. He hadn't heard the person leave who administered the injection, but he knew someone had entered during the process. 

Jonah remained seated like directed and the minutes ticked by, "What are they doing?" He wondered as he sat there. From the stories he heard once the process was over, you'd know your selection instantly, why was he being made to sit here. 

The door swished open and Jonah heard the clicking of boots on the marble floor, causing him to look over his shoulder. A large man with an athletic woman entered the room, but wearing Imperial Officer uniforms of the intelligence corps. 

"Jonah Owens?" The lady asked directly as they stood next to the chair where Jonah was seated. 

"Yes?" He confirmed with a shaky voice. Did he do something wrong, or did they see something they didn't like? Why were imperial officers in the room with him. Surely, they didn't hand out the selections. 

"Mr. Owens I'm Captain Hayes and this is Major Bjorn. We are here about your selection." The woman stated as she looked down at a tablet. "Normally the computer would issue your selection, however, to preserve progress and growth there are a few randoms selected for special selection. You happen to be one of the lucky individuals chosen."

"What do you mean special selection? What is going on?" Jonah asked quickly. He was confused and didn't understand what the officer was going on about. 

"Please relax Mr. Owens. You've been selected to attend Solitude. The Imperial Military Academy." She smiled at Jonah as if it was some big prize he had won. 

"Solitude... military academy... what? I don't get it." Jonah stated, his head spinning and a sense of nausea coming over him. 

"Yes, you will ship out to Solitude and begin training to become an Imperial Officer. As I stated, this happens at times to preserve progress and growth. By placing those who would not normally be placed there, we can at times achieve great things from them." Captain Hayes explained. 

Jonah sat in the chair, his mouth open. "Great leaders are those who never wanted it..." He muttered, trying to remember what Maria had said to him earlier. 

"Excuse me?" Major Bjorn asked with a raised brow. 

"Oh nothing, sorry. Just remember something someone once told me." Jonah said as he cleared his throat. "But wait, what about Maria, what about my home?" He asked in panic. 

"Calm down young man. You will have a chance to head home and wrap up all your personal business. Your flight to Solitude leaves tomorrow morning at 0600." The Major stated as he handed Jonah his ID back and his official selection card with his results. "Congratulations son."

With that both officers stepped out of the room, leaving Jonah sitting in a daze. He had to get out of there and tell Maria. Perhaps she got selected for the academy too, perhaps they would be able to go together. 

"Perhaps..." He thought to himself.