Page 23 of The Cerulean Sister
I take a deep breath and check the strength of my light. It undulates and slithers across my skin, waiting to be freed.
I hold out my palms and press forward into the tunnel of sensors, sending a streak of lightning spitting out and colliding with the target in a sharp zap. Other than a single beep from the sensors, nothing changes. There are no char marks or dents on the target’s surface. It looks completely untouched.
"Well done." 99 comes up behind me, not quite touching my back but enough to make me long for it. "Now, hold it for longer and keep those legs wider." He taps his boot on the side of mine.
I can't help but peek over my shoulder at him, his tone strong and authoritative. I have to press my lips together to hide a smile, taking everything in me not to reveal just how appealing I find his voice as he is telling me what to do in that tone.
The first target dashes up into the ceiling in a quick motion, and another one farther down the aisle of sensors appears.
I take a step outward, widening my stance, and hold out my hand again. My light is just on the surface now but still easily intensified. I inhale two large breaths, filling my lungs asmuch as they will stretch, and on the exhale, I expel my light, concentrating it in the middle.
My fingertips curl downward, flexing and straining to hold the emerald, flashing trail longer, directing it into the red lines of the target.
I wield my light until it hurts to keep the pathway open and the joint in my elbow begs for relief.
My torso hunches forward as my gift sputters out, and I have to lean on the ledge of the booth for support while I catch my breath.
99 is rubbing my back before I have gained my composure, praising me for how long I was able to last this time.
"Submission complete," the commander says over the speaker.
I realize 99 told the commander in the control booth that we were inputting a new weapon. I should have known he meant my light.
The sound of an unlocking door spikes my attention, like we are being let into another portion of the building now that I have completed this part.
"There is more?" I ask with a panting smile.
He flicks his fingers, beckoning me to join him.
I follow 99 through the entrance to another dark hallway and through the seemingly endless interior of this building. He opens a steel door, letting me pass under his arm as he braces it.
"This is the simulation room," he says.
I am immediately drawn to the vast ceiling above us, with a depth that seems to go on forever like an open night sky, but I know we are inside still. Petite honeycomb-shaped panels dot the entire space that’s just as vast as the courtyard we passed through earlier.
"Simulation room," I repeat, not sure what the proper question would be for this situation.
99 removes a panel from the side of the door and fastens it to his wrist like an extra data pad. He taps a few buttons on the dull screen, and then a short platform is illuminated in the center of the room.
"Come," he says and walks with purpose toward it.
I can't help but brush over the tall structures sporadically placed throughout, columns of smooth honeycomb panels stretching up into the ceiling, presumably for support.
99 lines up his boots on two illuminated circles and waits for me to step onto the platform with him. I follow without question, placing my feet on the other two placements, facing him.
The new data pad on his wrist beeps as he presses into the screen. "This room is used to simulate combat. It's not exact, but it's helpful for training."
The thousands of honeycomb panels come to life suddenly, creating a picture that cascades down from the ceiling until the entire chamber is mimicking the courtyard outside. I jump when a moving image of a commander walks across the wall we entered from.
"It's incredible," I say and look up into the blue sky, wispy clouds brushing across it so naturally.
"We can choose any location you like."
I shake my head at him, too overwhelmed that this is even possible.
He presses some more buttons, knowing I need him to choose for me, and the hexagons shift as if they are endless facets of blinking eyes and change our surroundings.
All around us is lush greenery; the huge column-like structures have transformed into trees with dense bark and vibrant leaves. The walls look out into a distant field of dancing grass, and a colossal mountain paints the horizon.
