Call-up

Emma's phone buzzed for the seventh time that morning. Melly's name flashed on the screen with a text: Em, are you okay? Please call me. I'm worried.

Emma silenced the notification without responding. She couldn't face Melly right now, not after what had happened at the cafe. How could she explain to her oldest friend that her life had just been completely upended? Maybe it wasn't Melly she couldn't face, but herself. The truth she'd been running from for weeks.

Outside her apartment window, a Defense transport vehicle waited, its sleek black surface reflecting the morning light. Emma glanced down at the grey utility coverall she was wearing, given to her by Stillon, as she glanced down she got the sense that she was not in her own body. Specialist Stillon, after taking her through enrollment the day prior, had been clear about the time and her expected promptness. 0800 hours the next morning. No excuses.

Emma grabbed her bag and took one last look at her apartment. She'd packed light, a few changes of clothes, toiletries, a framed photo of her and Lily from happier times. Stillon hadn't specified how long her "assessment" would take. Days? Weeks? Months? Emma knew enough about the process, having watched her sister go through it, to understand on some level that this was strange. First the interrogation from the Captain, and now, a Specialist assigned as her chauffeur? 

She gathered that whatever had happened between her and the rampager, for whatever reason sparked the attention of Defense. She just wasn't sure what exactly about it wasnt so unusual. Werent they from a wrold where people battled monsters that came through portals? Was her moment with the rampager really so odd? She didnt know and felt she wouldn't get answers anytime soon.

The feeling of powerlessness washed over her as she locked her door. This was essentially a military draft, no choice, no say in her own future. Just like the rest of her life, it seemed. From the fall of her home colony, to losing her parents, to Lily's disappearance, she had always been at the mercy of circumstances beyond her control, swept along by forces greater than herself. 

As she stepped down the hall, she took a glance back to her apartment door, not sure when she would see it again. Emma did feel that she was powerless in life, but she had always been able to be happy in some way. This time was different, the hopelessness of her situation was evident and Emma didn't know how to be positive about anything anymore. She continued down the hall, and as she descended the stairs, fought the desire to look back again.

The ride to the Conduit Training Facility passed in tense silence. Stillon's sleek black car stuck out in the roads of PortTown, immedietly identifying its driver as a military official. As they continued out of PortTown and passed the security checkpoint to the Floating City bridge, a four-kilometer bridge that linked the district of PortTown to the colony, Emma began to see more cars that looked like Stillons, and began to feel that now she was the one who stuck out here.

She had rarely gone to Floating City. Occasionally for the odd job over the years, and then more regularly to visit Lily when she had enlisted. As they continued to drive deeper into the colony, Emma looked up at the tall skyscrappers that were casting a shadow on them as they drove deeper into the colony. She felt as if the shadows were swallowing her up. As she glanced around and observed beautiful glass and chrome buildings, elegant families walking through lush man made parks, pockets of vibrant green against the concrete grey city backdrop. As she took on the sites, she affirmed to herself that she was right, Floating City was much more beautiful viewed from afar.

Eventually, Specialist Stillon broke the silence.

"I know this is difficult," he said, eyes on the road. "Being drafted so suddenly. It can be overwhelming."

Emma stared out the window, saying nothing.

"I can relate, you know," he continued. "I'm a conduit too. It's hard for us, especially in the beginning."

"Right," Emma replied flatly, not bothering to hide her lack of wanting to engage.

But internally, his words struck her. Us. It kept hitting her over and over again, like a hammer at a nail that wouldn't budge. She wasn't just changing careers or moving to a new apartment. She was joining a group, a classification of people separate from the general population. Her identity was changing at its core.

As they continued to drive, she noted that they must have been in a residential district. She hadn't recognized the route they had taken. Realizing that even in Floating City she was only familiar with the poor side of town, since her travel there was restricred to areas serviced by public transport. However, now the landscape was transitioning to grand dark, utilitarian concrete buildings, and she noted that things started to look familar. They were headed towards the government sector.

The Facility loomed ahead, a round, brutalist structure with few windows, all concrete and reinforced doors, surrounded by a high fence. The harsh, utilitarian design was a stark contrast to the soaring glass ceilings and elegant pre-rift architecture of the shopping center where she'd been with Melly just yesterday. That space had been designed to inspire and uplift; this building was made for intimidation and functionality.

As they left the car and moved through the facility. Stillon had continued to try to engage Emma with conversation as they arrived, but Emma didn't hear a single thing he said.

Eventually she asked him a question. "Do all conduits get escorted like this?" She asked.

Still walking ahead of her, Stillon turned back and smiled. "No, just special ones," he beamed. A futile attempt to try to make her feel better. Still, Emma appreciated the small gesture.

"What makes me special?" She asked.

Stillon shook his head. "That I don't know, but Captain Reed has a very vested interest in your assessment today, which is all I need to know," he said.

Emma was not satisfied with that answer. All she could figure was what Reed had mentioned before. Her inquires about her connecting with the rampager. From what she could understand. Either this was unusual full stop, or it was unusual for a newly awakened conduit. She thought about asking Stillon but stopped when she wondered if she even wanted more people to know about her situation. How much did Stillon know? She thought again about asking, but hesitated.

Stillon eventually stopped walking and Emma deep in thought almost collided with his back. Quickly adjusting herself she looked around him to see a door that led to what looked like a large corridor.

"Welcome to your first Call-up," Stillon said as he pointed to the door. "This is where assessment begins."