Untameable Earth

First of Three

'Venetia Savannah Castaldi, please come to the reception desk,' V's thoughts froze up in her head. It was her turn. She stood up and walked with purpose to the model perfectly made up and dressed receptionist behind the crystal clear safety glass and marble of the reception window,

'I am Venetia Castaldi,' she showed the receptionist her UK passport, one of the acceptable forms of proof of identity. The receptionist, Rhea her name tag indicated, smiled at her, as she gingerly reached her hand out, taking the proffered burgundy passport before she quickly flashed the document under a high end scanner that was attached to her brand new slim line laptop, while indicating for V to smile into a camera sat on the shelf in front of the receptionist's enclosed desk area. Rhea nodded subconsciously at the positive ping from her electronics while clicking a button on her keyboard to take V's photo. A moment later she picked up the newly printed badge off the stylish, compact printer beside the scanner, slid it into the clear pouch of a pristine lanyard with a UWC logo. She then handed Venetia the 'potential contribution pass' - according to the label across the top of the badge,

'Please sign here that you've received your pass and accept the conditions of volunteering as a contribution,' her red, perfectly polished nail tapped by the line on the registration book on the shelf where V found her name and pass number was already written in small, precise handwriting. She signed and dated the line in the log,

'I will be keeping your passport. In the unlikely event you are unable to be matched, I will return it to you on your departure. However, in the expected case that you are matched, your passport will be destroyed as you will be renouncing your British citizenship and Earthling association to become a citizen of the planet or fighting unit to which you are matched,' Her Uncle had warned her this was required so she only experienced a twinge of regret on accepting that she would no longer be an Earth citizen,

'If you have no questions, please report to the third floor assessment area, room 312 where one of my colleagues will walk you through the process for the four assessments to establish your contribution classification. You will then go through a medical and mental examination before you experience the four assessments to match you. We all hope you will be very happy in your assignment,' V was starting to feel creeped out by the Stepford wife vibe she was getting from the too perfect receptionist.

V shivered, getting the familiar psionic tingle that indicated she could use her talent to invade the privacy of the mind of the person in front of her... But her intuition was screaming at her that this female had not been recruited from Earth and could possibly be aware of V's mental invasion.

Not prepared to take that chance, V gave her a stiff smile in return and hoped it communicated itself as excessive nerves to the enigmatic receptionist rather than distrust, she then turned to stride to the elevator bank. As she walked away, she lost the tiniest bit of her 'grip' of mental control over her ability and 'heard' the thoughts in the 'public' area of the receptionist's mind,

'I must tell Rand to watch that one, I definitely sensed a cerebral ebb to her aura...' V quickened her walk away from the receptionist, even more grimly aware that she would have to control even the slightest manifestation of her abilities during the coming testing to ensure she did not give herself away.

Stepping into the elevator, V punched the button for the third floor and even as the door was shutting she could still feel the receptionist's considering eyes watching her leave the foyer. Very creepy and potentially a threat to her secret. She knew from speaking with her psionic trainers, Sybil and Martin, how to 'guard' her mind. She began the mental process of 'building' the stone and tungsten wall to keep everyone out of her mind beyond the 'public' area of her thoughts. She engaged her breathing exercises along with visualising the 'wall' protecting her mental abilities as the elevator rose two floors. When the doors opened, her heart rate had calmed considerably and she was ready to face the next stage of the assessment process. She walked calmly but with purpose to room 312 and knocked for permission to enter,