Not So Long Ago...


An eerie silence consumed the cold, durasteel plated room. A lull fell over the crowd that fell in a perfect line. Every man and about four women scattered about the grouping of nearly 100 men in the shell of a room. Normally the clump of beings would stretch out their legs to catch a better balance and stature, but instead because of the small arrangements they stood straight. The human's chins rose only slightly from the norm as their eyes stared idle ahead. Every person, with his or her unique features, did this for moments on in. A single man stood before them, his body nicely outfitted in a black double-breasted long-sleeve and a cap to match. The man was an Imperial Officer, and with the drooping of his cheeks and crackling of his pale skin there was a certain aura of wisdom reeking from his pores. The dark of his eyes carefully judged the dispatch of humans before him. He waited for a flinch, the observer’s eyes becoming narrower as the humid room built in body heat.

The officer twitched, quickly.

The black of his eyes, corresponding with his attire, looked to where the sound came. A small bead of sweat laid a long the gray tile. There was a snarl upon the man's face now, distorting the purity that could once be seen in his aged features. The transformation from a wise elder to a demonic villain was quick and nearly unnoticed by the idle participates of his examination.

Slowly turning on the heels of his black boots, their came a whispering squeak from under before an abrupt thud smacked onto the ground. Dust flew from the tiles, forming a small cloud of brown at the man's feet. The place had been used for a while, especially this particularly unique building. Even in the minimized size to comparison of the other facilities it had been used in numerous One-on-One examinations, and breaking or exposing of great soldiers. People snapped all over the places around that room and for a moment the Imperial Trooper Officer could only reminiscence on the days that he had trained as a younger man. The vile mask of the demon slowly melted off, leaving the wisdom to be seen once more. Once again his eyes were calm, in all their darkness. Illuminating every man he took a calm, careful staring at, he began with his announcement.

"Everyone do push-ups. We aren't done yet...not by a long shot." The old man peered over the crowd as they quickly dropped. Sweat ran over their well-coated frames. Every man and woman had been ordered to wear the light gray jumpsuits that they had been given only a week previous at the Introduction Meeting at the Hangar Bay. It wasn't exactly heat friendly, nor did it prevent a horrid smell of body odor from leaking through. After hours upon hours of standing motionless in the heated room not a single one could help but notice the infuriating stench that overcame their frail nostrils.

It was true for the Officer as well, and he quickly took the disadvantage into an advantage. Smoothly walk across the front of the crowd, he headed out of the small quarters and watched from a nearby glass window outside the establishment. Clicking on the facility comm., he let his words steam through. The words were a breathe of fresh air, something else to focus on. At least the first word was...the rest seemed to make everything worst.

"Stop! All of you increase the speed. I want 100 as soon as I re enter the room. The holo cam is watching every last one of you."

Sweat puked from everyone's pores. Yet one, much less than the other's lay pushing away. The beads of his dangling, black, artistically locked hair beat against the back of his neck in a rhtyhm that'd blow D'an's Fizz Band away. It repeatidally banged against his caramel flesh, the calmness on his facing standing out amongst the strained beings about him. His eyes were that of a TIE targetting system, locked definitively on the surface below as he pushed away the strenous aches that consumed his being.

The man, from even a glance, was clearly new to such a title. Even though his body in shape spelled out "manliness" to the fullest, his face was young. All the youth splashed across his face, overwhelming it with a sheer cuteness that deserved the pinching of grandmother's across the galaxy. Yet through all the detail it shaked furiously. Pressing himself up once more, his face shook in a rattle that'd match an old starship's engine. This was focus, this was precision, this was prestige.

Once an observer, the man standing behind the glass became transfixed with the figure with braids. It wasn't the locks upon the man's head, it was the lock in his attention that disfigured the privately seen face. The Imperial Officer was confused, surprised and almost taken aback by such uncanny push. Even though other's about the man held the same speed, their faces weren't filled with the calm that the newly certified man had. It was interesting indeed...