[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lXy-z0Qskg][img]https://i.imgur.com/M4rEQ6G.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Ｕ．Ｄ．Ｆ． Ｈｅａｄｑｕａｒｔｅｒｓ， Ｏａｋｒｉｄｇｅ， Ｍｏｎｄａｙ ０９：００[hr][indent][color=silver]“[i]Welcome to U.D.F. headquarters, how may I assist you?[/i]” The formally dressed woman behind a reception counter greeted an arriving guest. It was a drizzly morning outside in the city of Oakridge. Dark clouds hung low among the skyscrapers. Amelia had arrived by train the night before, quite late. It was a six hour ride from Helston to Oakridge, so she had only clocked a modest amount of sleep. Perhaps it was the doziness, but the headquarters of the military warmachine of the entire world was not what she suspected. It was rather clean and high-tech looking. For some reason, she expected something that was more rough around the edges.

“[color=#d9a470]Hi, uhm, I have this.[/color]” Amelia retrieved a tiny, plastic card out of her pocket and handed it to the woman behind the counter. The card was of some manner of chrome coloration with an engraved serial number on it. Every potential recruit of the ‘Silversky’ program had received one as an invitation.  The numbers had little meaning to Amelia, but it obviously meant something to the receptionist, as she began to submit them to the computer system. The card had been given to Amelia on that day that the U.D.F. agents came knocking on the door back home. She was to show up at the headquarters on this day, at this time, and present the card. The instructions had been very precise and clear.

“[i]You are now logged in the system. If you would be so kind as to follow this gentleman here. He will take you where you need to go.[/i]” The woman gestured to a nearby man, who was wearing a matching outfit—the official uniform of the U.D.F., without doubt. Amelia said nothing and simply trotted along by his side. As she caught a glimpse of his face and expression, the man appeared rather indifferent or dull about his duty. He was rather young, a bit meek looking, on the shorter side. Amelia had a feeling that he had once been rejected by the military and been put on a non-combative assignment. Or perhaps a missed opportunity plagued his facial features. Whatever it was, he managed to maintain posture like a professional.

The U.D.F. headquarters felt more like a maze than a coherent structure. They passed what seemed like a myriad of different rooms that all had completely esoteric purposes. Amelia’s gaze fluttered at all the signs and holographic messages displayed on walls and windows. She tried to keep track of all the twists and turns they took, but it was nearly impossible. Her mind did not have the capacity to remember any backtracking or emergency exit. Their little walk ended at an elevator. As the man called the contraption with the press of a button, Amelia seized the moment to take her medication. The man glanced at Amelia awkwardly, as she slightly tilted her frame away from him.

“[color=#d9a470]Allergies,[/color]” she said after having downed a little blue and white capsule.
“[i]How unfortunate,[/i]” the man said with a nuanced coloration of skepticism. Amelia shifted her expression to inquisition with a hint of lightheartedness.
“[color=#d9a470]You don’t believe me, do you?[/color]” She said with a smirk. The man could barely keep the façade of professionalism on his face.
“[i]I do. It’s very unfortunate to have allergies, ma’am.[/i]” The man knew fully well that the girl by his side had been sent here because she was a Guardian. He also knew that Guardians do not get sick, nor do they have allergies.
“[color=#d9a470]Right,[/color]” Amelia’s eyes rolled slightly. “[color=#d9a470]Where are we going, exactly?[/color]”
“[i]We’re going to the 46th floor. There is a comfortable waiting room there. I’ve been instructed to bring you there, and that’s all.[/i]”
“[color=#d9a470]Alright. If you say so,[/color]” Amelia said and followed the man into the elevator.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/GNWeJEO.jpg[/img][/center]

The waiting room was much like a miniature garden. Various trees and plants clad an environment with dark furniture. A small area with holographic computer screens and books rested along the wall opposite to the entrance. The man gestured to Amelia to make herself comfortable while she waited. He did not say much before he vanished into the elevator again. The U.D.F. had been very hush-hush about all of this. Amelia knew that this was about her having become a Guardian, but not much else. She had no knowledge of there being more people involved in this, nor what she was waiting for in this tiny garden-room. Either way, the medication would kick in at any moment now, so her mind would not wander as much.

Amelia slowly strolled around the room. She inspected the botany, the books, and what was on the holo-screen. Whoever had been here earlier had left ‘Frontline’ open in the browser window. The news about the war was being constantly streamed and updated, all around the clock. A glance at the front page showed that U.D.F. Airborne was gearing up for an offensive. The bookshelf just above the screen had an odd selection of works. There were military manuals mixed with classic literature. The military reads old classics? Amelia thought to herself with bewilderment. Her spirits had begun to emerge from her body, slowly swirling around the room. Amelia had gotten used to it by now, so she barely noticed it. The spirits had various hues of blue and purple, and took the shapes of creatures such as bees, echidnas, rays, geckos, eels, and spiders—a very odd collection.

The girl finally sat down in one of the couches, and sighed. The medication had begun to settle. She felt a bit more relaxed, but the room felt warmer despite the air conditioning. Amelia wore a pair of ripped jeans along with breathable sneakers and a roomy sweater. It was not terribly hot outside this time of the year, end of May, but the cloudy and drizzly weather did dampen the temperatures, slightly. Either way, now came the waiting game—waiting for whatever, something, she had no idea.
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