I did all my testing in my room, forcing all the instructors out, so I could concentrate. The only tests I couldn’t do in my room were the medical exams and the psychological assessments. Instead of being brought to my Psychologist’s office, I was escorted to a wing of the building that had previously been off limits. I was not advised of where we were going or what any of it was about or what was next, nor did I ask. I waited.
And waited, and waited. In a lobby of an area that didn’t have the appearance of a school whatsoever. There was a secretary and everything, magazines to look through, a TV with the volume on mute. The couch was the most comfortable thing I’d known in two years. I could curl up and take a nap.
The secretary came back carrying a cup of coffee.
“Is that for me?” I sat up.
“Umm, no, aren’t you a little young for coffee?”
I gave her the ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ look. “I’m here for the interview for the administrative assistant position.”
“What administrative assistant position?”
“Whoops, they didn’t tell you. How about that cup of coffee?”
“So you’re harassing my secretary now, are you?” I heard him before I saw him.
A giant of a man, spotless and wrinkle free, in starched military uniform, because even apparently full grown men had to be told how to dress.
“They prefer to be called administrative assistants,” I said. “Did she come highly recommended? I had to practically blackmail her to get a cup of coffee,” I stood, snooty-like, pulling on my own uniform. 5 foot 8 inches and I still only reached his massive chest.
“Catina Salsbury. What an honor it is to finally be able to meet you.” He smiled and put out his hand.
“I’d say likewise if I had any idea who you were.” I put my hand out all the same to shake. His hand practically swallowed mine, then held on a little too long for comfort, until I pulled it away.
“You may call me Commander Stavinksi, or sir, if you will. I’m the Head of High Intelligence.”
“Well I’m the brain of high intelligence. So glad to finally be meeting the head.”
He didn’t know what to think of that one.
“Did you want cream and sugar?” the assistant called.
“No, I prefer it black.” This should be interesting. I didn’t know how I liked my coffee, being as how I’d never had it before.
“Come join me in my quarters.” He waved his arms toward a set of double-doors.
“Will there be anyone else, or just you and I?”
“Just the two of us, but don’t be nervous. I don’t bite.”
That’s not what I’m afraid of. I thought.
I heard, ‘I prefer to lick’. Okay, that totally was not my thought. Welcome back, Voice. Perhaps the coffee would cure me. If I could manage to get it down. So should have told her I wanted sugar. How do people drink this stuff?
“Psychological assessments are required at each level, so I am standing in for Dr. Latoya today to perform yours.”
“She’s not ill, is she?”
He chuckled. “No, I don’t think that woman gets ill. She’s never missed a day of work in the eight years she’s been with us. Not one.”
“That’s impressive,” I said.
“It’s expected. I haven’t missed a day in twelve years, and I work seven days a week.”
“That’s . . . sad.”
“Do you always speak your mind so freely, Catina?”
“Is there any other way?”
“When was the last time you had your tea?”
“Right before dinner, after my bath.”
“You got quite a sense of humor on you. That’s surprising for a person of your intelligence, and what you’ve endured these couple years.”
“Was I sick the day they gave the class on how intelligent people can’t have a sense of humor? Or was that somewhere in the handbook?”
“Have a seat. Is the coffee of your good taste?”
“If horrible is good taste.”
He took the coffee from my hand. “Well then let’s find something more of your taste. I want you to be as comfortable as possible.”
“I’m comfortable.” Lie. “Why don’t we just get started?”
“Oh, but we already have. The moment you walked into the lobby.”
“I love being watched when I don’t know I’m being watched.”
“Are you saying you don’t feel like you’re being watched all the time?”
“No, should I? Am I?”
“Here, try this and tell me if you like it,” he provided me a creamy pink drink.
“Does this have alcohol in it, because I’m only 14,” I said.
“You crack me up, Catina.” He said without laughing. “Do you like your time spent here?”
“In this room?”
“In the school.”
“Do you want probabilities?”
“Just a simple question that requires a simple answer.”
“Umm, yes?” He raised his eyebrow. “No? Can you repeat the question please? I’m not very good with simple.”
“Do you like being the face of the Modules?”
“Sometimes.”
He kept walking around me, making me nervous.
“Do you like the drink I gave you?”
“I do, yes, very tasty.”
“I want you to close your eyes and relax.”
“O-kay?”
“I’m going to ask you a set of yes or no questions. All you have to do is respond yes or no. Understand?”
I gave him the thumbs up.
“Is your name Catina Salsbury?”
“Yes.”
“Are you 14?”
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“I thought these were yes or no questions.”
“You are 14,” he said.
“I’m 14 and a half,” I said
The voice was getting pretty irritated.
“Is your sister Kadrin Salsbury?”
“Why?’
“Yes or no only.”
“What do you want with my sister?”
“Do you have an issue following direction?”
“Are we still on yes or no, or are you just asking me?” I asked innocently.
“You’re really not making this easy.”
“Um, no? Wait, was that a question?”
“You know, Catina. You really are absolutely, wonderfully brilliant.”
“I know. It’s more a curse than a blessing.”
“If not for these other factors, you could go way above and beyond being a mere Doctor.”
“What other factors?”
“I’ve said too much.”
“What factors? You can tell me you –.”
In two steps he’d reached me, and cut off the rest of my words with his mouth. With his hand, he held my neck and my face, so I couldn’t turn away. I squealed and screamed and attempted to lift my knee, but his other huge arm, probably the length of my entire body, held me down. I dug my nails into the arm holding my neck and chin, and managed to get his face with my other hand, before he pulled away. Great, my first tongue kiss, and it was an old guy, against my will. Gross.
He walked away laughing, though I’d drawn blood on his face. “Those factors. Someday someone is going to succeed in taming you, wild Cat. When that happens, you’ll be greater than any of us could ever wish to be. I think I know the trick, but you’re still a bit too young according to our laws. Laws, mind you, that will very soon change, if I have anything to do with it. Let this serve as a very important lesson to you, Cat.”
“What lesson is that? Your breath smells like dog food, and you kiss like a cow?”
“I look forward to seeing you at the graduation. We’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, Catina, throughout these coming years, especially now that I’ve seen you with my own two eyes.”
“Oh goodie.”
And waited, and waited. In a lobby of an area that didn’t have the appearance of a school whatsoever. There was a secretary and everything, magazines to look through, a TV with the volume on mute. The couch was the most comfortable thing I’d known in two years. I could curl up and take a nap.
The secretary came back carrying a cup of coffee.
“Is that for me?” I sat up.
“Umm, no, aren’t you a little young for coffee?”
I gave her the ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ look. “I’m here for the interview for the administrative assistant position.”
“What administrative assistant position?”
“Whoops, they didn’t tell you. How about that cup of coffee?”
“So you’re harassing my secretary now, are you?” I heard him before I saw him.
A giant of a man, spotless and wrinkle free, in starched military uniform, because even apparently full grown men had to be told how to dress.
“They prefer to be called administrative assistants,” I said. “Did she come highly recommended? I had to practically blackmail her to get a cup of coffee,” I stood, snooty-like, pulling on my own uniform. 5 foot 8 inches and I still only reached his massive chest.
“Catina Salsbury. What an honor it is to finally be able to meet you.” He smiled and put out his hand.
“I’d say likewise if I had any idea who you were.” I put my hand out all the same to shake. His hand practically swallowed mine, then held on a little too long for comfort, until I pulled it away.
“You may call me Commander Stavinksi, or sir, if you will. I’m the Head of High Intelligence.”
“Well I’m the brain of high intelligence. So glad to finally be meeting the head.”
He didn’t know what to think of that one.
“Did you want cream and sugar?” the assistant called.
“No, I prefer it black.” This should be interesting. I didn’t know how I liked my coffee, being as how I’d never had it before.
“Come join me in my quarters.” He waved his arms toward a set of double-doors.
“Will there be anyone else, or just you and I?”
“Just the two of us, but don’t be nervous. I don’t bite.”
That’s not what I’m afraid of. I thought.
I heard, ‘I prefer to lick’. Okay, that totally was not my thought. Welcome back, Voice. Perhaps the coffee would cure me. If I could manage to get it down. So should have told her I wanted sugar. How do people drink this stuff?
“Psychological assessments are required at each level, so I am standing in for Dr. Latoya today to perform yours.”
“She’s not ill, is she?”
He chuckled. “No, I don’t think that woman gets ill. She’s never missed a day of work in the eight years she’s been with us. Not one.”
“That’s impressive,” I said.
“It’s expected. I haven’t missed a day in twelve years, and I work seven days a week.”
“That’s . . . sad.”
“Do you always speak your mind so freely, Catina?”
“Is there any other way?”
“When was the last time you had your tea?”
“Right before dinner, after my bath.”
“You got quite a sense of humor on you. That’s surprising for a person of your intelligence, and what you’ve endured these couple years.”
“Was I sick the day they gave the class on how intelligent people can’t have a sense of humor? Or was that somewhere in the handbook?”
“Have a seat. Is the coffee of your good taste?”
“If horrible is good taste.”
He took the coffee from my hand. “Well then let’s find something more of your taste. I want you to be as comfortable as possible.”
“I’m comfortable.” Lie. “Why don’t we just get started?”
“Oh, but we already have. The moment you walked into the lobby.”
“I love being watched when I don’t know I’m being watched.”
“Are you saying you don’t feel like you’re being watched all the time?”
“No, should I? Am I?”
“Here, try this and tell me if you like it,” he provided me a creamy pink drink.
“Does this have alcohol in it, because I’m only 14,” I said.
“You crack me up, Catina.” He said without laughing. “Do you like your time spent here?”
“In this room?”
“In the school.”
“Do you want probabilities?”
“Just a simple question that requires a simple answer.”
“Umm, yes?” He raised his eyebrow. “No? Can you repeat the question please? I’m not very good with simple.”
“Do you like being the face of the Modules?”
“Sometimes.”
He kept walking around me, making me nervous.
“Do you like the drink I gave you?”
“I do, yes, very tasty.”
“I want you to close your eyes and relax.”
“O-kay?”
“I’m going to ask you a set of yes or no questions. All you have to do is respond yes or no. Understand?”
I gave him the thumbs up.
“Is your name Catina Salsbury?”
“Yes.”
“Are you 14?”
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“I thought these were yes or no questions.”
“You are 14,” he said.
“I’m 14 and a half,” I said
The voice was getting pretty irritated.
“Is your sister Kadrin Salsbury?”
“Why?’
“Yes or no only.”
“What do you want with my sister?”
“Do you have an issue following direction?”
“Are we still on yes or no, or are you just asking me?” I asked innocently.
“You’re really not making this easy.”
“Um, no? Wait, was that a question?”
“You know, Catina. You really are absolutely, wonderfully brilliant.”
“I know. It’s more a curse than a blessing.”
“If not for these other factors, you could go way above and beyond being a mere Doctor.”
“What other factors?”
“I’ve said too much.”
“What factors? You can tell me you –.”
In two steps he’d reached me, and cut off the rest of my words with his mouth. With his hand, he held my neck and my face, so I couldn’t turn away. I squealed and screamed and attempted to lift my knee, but his other huge arm, probably the length of my entire body, held me down. I dug my nails into the arm holding my neck and chin, and managed to get his face with my other hand, before he pulled away. Great, my first tongue kiss, and it was an old guy, against my will. Gross.
He walked away laughing, though I’d drawn blood on his face. “Those factors. Someday someone is going to succeed in taming you, wild Cat. When that happens, you’ll be greater than any of us could ever wish to be. I think I know the trick, but you’re still a bit too young according to our laws. Laws, mind you, that will very soon change, if I have anything to do with it. Let this serve as a very important lesson to you, Cat.”
“What lesson is that? Your breath smells like dog food, and you kiss like a cow?”
“I look forward to seeing you at the graduation. We’ll be seeing a lot more of each other, Catina, throughout these coming years, especially now that I’ve seen you with my own two eyes.”
“Oh goodie.”