Fort Knoll

Out of all the places and people one can meet, one ends up meeting one's best friends. For friends, one would go to the moon and back. For one’s family, one would do the same. Blake contemplated this as he put his bag in the yellow taxi to head for a train to Fort Knoll, New York. Alongside him was his childhood friend, Alex, who was also enlisting in the space force. Together, they have faced Earth leaders and now an alien invasion. On the news, an armada of aliens has arrived in their solar system. Blake’s father, Jonah Sharp, had found a benign alien race named the Vexes, but Earth had dictated an order. The order was for the Vexes to move further from Earth into deep space because of a court ruling.

Searching for his father had led him across the stars of the galaxies in Earth’s domain. Now Blake was finding his way on Earth. Blake missed his father and wished to be with him again. Another person he missed was Lily. She is dear to him. His feelings toward her have turned into more than friendship. He knew she felt the same way.

For now, Blake said his goodbyes to New York City; he liked this city. It was not like he was on vacation, but he got to sightsee some of the city. They reached the train station with time to spare. Alex and Blake wait to board their train. Once inside their compartment, they relax a bit, but they both seem on edge.

“You still have time to return with your dad,” says Alex.

“No, I want to join,” says Blake.

“Then it’s set,” says Alex.

They talk little for the rest of the train ride.

Finally, they reached their destination: Fort Knoll, New York. By assessing other passengers, young men with light baggage were here to enlist, too. The Fort was walking distance away from the station. Almost all the passengers headed that way.

The icy wind cut into Blake’s cheeks; He was not used to this temperature. The Oasis always controlled the temperature to a steady, mild faux climate.

Alex and Blake walked down the road to Fort Knoll. The land was bare around here. Finally, they reached a gate.

“Fort Knoll, business?” says a soldier.

“We are here to enlist for the space war,” says Alex.

“Into the first room. Fill out all the forms.”

“Thank you,” says Alex and Blake.

They walk into the first room and receive a packet to fill out. Others are also filling out paperwork. It takes a while to finish. One question is the desired area of training. Blake writes mechanical repairs and Alex writes pilot aviation. Alex and Blake wait with everyone else in miniature office space. The circulation in this room nullifies any sense of calm. People’s feet tap the floor and their arms cross and uncross.

“We will call the names of those we enlisted today.”

“Alexander Han,”

Two names later.

“Blake Sharp,”

People press together in the hall behind one another in a line.

“We will show you to your rooms. Leave your belongings here. You won’t be needing them. We will store them,” says Officer Camelot.

Everyone followed the officer deeper into the building. After twists and turns, they arrived at a room full of bunk beds. Each bed had clothes and essentials for personal hygiene laid out. Alex chose the top bed and Blake the bottom bed of the closest bed to the door.

“Lights turn off at nine o’clock and we rise at six in the morning,”

They change into their new clothes. The material is navy, durable and flexible.

A soldier comes in thirty minutes later to take them to eat lunch in the cafeteria. In the center of the building, the soldier tells them it is a simple spot to remember if lost. Recruits line up to receive their meals. They eat a grilled sandwich and a hearty serving of vegetables with a roll on the side. The soldier comes back to talk to them when most have finished their meal.

“For now, you will go back to your dormitory. Tomorrow is your aptitude test. Recruits must face a physical test, the second is mental. The third test is knowledge on paper and you have on a set skill you signed up for. The test will take two days to complete. Afterward, you enter a unit and begin your training. Failure is possible.” says the soldier Camelot.

Blake and Alex made a friend while at lunch. His name is Daniel Henry, a medium-built young man with dark hair. Daniel is from upstate New York. Blake felt eyes staring at him and sure enough. A pair of maroon eyes glanced his way every so often. Blake figured this guy must be shy, so he started a conversation with him. Soon enough, those maroon eyes had become talkative.

“What unit did you wish to join?” says Daniel.

“The mechanical repairs team,” says Blake.

“Pilot,” says Alex.

“Technical support and communications,” says Daniel.

“So you guys are from out there,” says Daniel.

“Yes,” says Blake.

“That’s amazing. I bet you have some knowledge of spacecraft already,” says Daniel.

“Yeah, only the ones I have worked on,” says Blake.

“It is time to head back to your dormitory,” Camelot says.

Twenty-two recruits march to their dormitories. Of twenty-two, eighteen are men, while four are women. The women stay in a separate dormitory. Upon arriving at the dormitory, some men introduced themselves to everyone. When Blake and Alex talk about outer space, the rest of the men have multiple questions. Once everyone stops with the questions, people settle into a conversation. They then go to take showers of a few people at once. There is space for ten people at a time. With only a few minutes to shower, soon it was time to turn in for the night. Everyone is in bed when the light turns off. Blake soon drifts to sleep.

With the sound of a trumpet sound, the darkness of sleep shatters. It is six o'clock am.

Today is the first day of the aptitude test