I felt something light hit my shoulder as I was gaping at the sight, and turned to find Leslie grinning at me. "It is pretty amazing, isn't it?" She said. I couldn't find the words, so I merely nodded.
The floor started out as a lush forest from the elevator and opened up to a green plain that separates by river into a desert. Mountains and snow to the left, a mass of water to the right. A mix of almost every known landscape. Despite the vast indoor environment, you knew we were inside because of you looked up you'd see the white walls towering above and around us. Surrounding us. Finally finding myself, I asked Leslie. "How is this even possible? This room is way too big to fit into a building!"
She nodded, answering back as she began to pull me along. My legs gave in and followed despite me still catching up. "That ... isn't something I can explain for you, James. It's rather complicated, really."
As we walked, I got a little lost in our surroundings again. There was an in-laid pathway of old stone leading through the forest that we followed. The trees were unimaginably tall, and within them Insects chirped, birds dung, and I spotted a variety of animals. "This isn't just a War Zone. What's this place for?" I asked Leslie.
Leslie kept walking as she spoke. We were supposed to be heading to the registration, but so far all I saw was green. "We use this floor for a variety of purposes between housing our meals to training to the games. Some people often visit this level for the view, too. The Headmaster permits it, though some of the creatures here can be hostile." As we kept walking, the forest opened up to reveal a lodge of sorts. The building read Safari Reception & War Games Registration.
I had no further questions as we walked the last bit up to the building entrance. Leslie opened the door for me before I had the chance to do so, and I smiled. Though a bit discomforted, I took the first step inside and looked around as she joined me. "It's quiet. Must be a very lonely job." I commented.
The building almost resembled a clinic seating area except for the animal posters and armored manikins mingling with the corner and walls. They spotted armor of varying types, which gave a mixed impression about the room. A single young lady was watching over the front desk while her head buried itself in attention over something on her desk. We walked up and Leslie spoke to the woman. "Sherry."
Sherry didn't respond, and I could hear some kind of unfamiliar tune playing from her ears. Leslie reached over and pressed a quality blue button on the counter and the desk rang, causing the girl to panic. Flinging her attention around until her eyes settled on us. She sighed dramatically, holding her chest. The music stopped suddenly and she spoke in feign exasperation. "Don't do that! I thought you were my boss ... " she seemed to whimper, though it was almost a grumble. I couldn't tell myself it wasn't sort of cute, but I was more concerned with signing up than thinking about girls at the moment.
Leslie nodded, "Good Morning, Sherry. It's nice to see you so diligently doing your job." Her finger found itself pointing at Sherry's ear and it was almost too obvious until Leslie turned to look away, pretending it was accidental.
Sherry frowned, pouting. "You know I get almost no visitors down here, Leslie! What else am I supposed to do?" Sherry reclined back in her chair as she watched the two of us, though Leslie more than anything. I spoke, sensing the silence growing as well as my anxiety. "Sherry, we came down here for registration. We sign up here, right?"
The moodiness in Sherry's eyes seemed to dissipate as she heard me, and a bright glow of personality emerged. "Yes! Are you signing up for the War Games? You must be new, because I haven't seen you around before." Sherry turned toward Leslie In a questioning glance. "Are you sure that's wise, Les? You know how brutal those games are ... "
Brutal? My heart sunk as Leslie swept away Sherry's worry casually. "He will be fine. James here has special skills, and I'm positive he will be up to snuff before we head in that direction." There was an air of confidence about her now, as if she were rather proud of something.
Sherry frowned at Leslie, sighing as she proud out a pen and document. The pen looked odd. It wasn't sharp. Instead, it had an odd ball-shaped point at the end where one might write. Sherry handed me the pen and slid the paper over. "Please sign, James. Here, and here." She pointed towards the lined spaces where I was to give my signature, but I was too busy trying to figure out the strange new writing utensil I'd just been introduced to. Sherry spoke up in question as she watched me. "You've never used an airo pen before, James?"
I blinked, turning up to Sherry and shaking my head. "I've never even heard of such a thing. Back in my day, we used ink and point." Leslie intervened with a comment of her own as it to clarify for her. "James is from the 21st century, Sherry."
Sherry's eyes lit up suddenly as she almost flew out of her seat. "Oh! I see, yes. That was the time of lead pencils. Okay, so you'll want to tap the back of the pen and it'll turn on. There really isn't much else to it, just start writing." I thought, great. So anytime I need people to understand me I just have to throw out some personal information. Good to know.
I quickly wrote my name with the strange pen and handed it back to Sherry, glaring at my crappy hand writing. "I'm sorry it's such a mess." A thought came to me in that moment as she was putting away the document. The odd need for paper in such a far off future boggled me. "Sherry, why do you use paper instead of machines? I thought the world moved past that."
Leslie intervened again as I came to a close on my question and answered for her. "Machines can be hacked into, James. Putting information on file like that isn't safe in the world now with all the tech at our disposal. Besides, Mister Subaru is old-fashioned, as you put It earlier. He admired the old world."
I nodded, understanding. Safety and preference. I guess that's reason enough, though I can't imagine the load of papers they have to keep track of. Sherry smiled at me curiously and spoke. "Listen to Les, James. She's the brightest among us and knows what she's talking about." She didn't need to tell me that. I'd already seen enough of Leslie's brilliance to understand just how great she was.
Fortunately, Leslie had already taken to the exit door and was waiting on me. She hadn't heard that bit, and I was thankful. I don't know why, but I was. I began to make my way over to Leslie when I heard Sherry's goodbyes. "I'll see you again at the games, James!" I turned and smiled back at her before catching up with my guide as held the door open for the both of us, trailing behind me in the way out.
As the door closed behind us, Leslie looked at me with a smile and spoke. "Today's been an active day. Though, I am glad I had this time with you, James. It certainly beats sitting at a desk all day~" I nodded, thinking it must be considering I see her up there almost every day. Even at the late hours, she's working hard. "You need more off time, Leslie. You work too hard." I said to her.
Leslie laughed, and responded. I hadn't meant it but I was happy to hear her enjoying herself. "Yes, I think you're right, James. Though I don't believe our boss would survive a night without me. I'm sure you're aware of just how much of a mess he is ... " Boy, was that true, I thought.
There was a change in Leslie as her eyes took on a bit of mischief, a playful smile dancing onto her already joyful face. "Leslie? What's with that look ... ?" She shrugged, trying to hide it. Taking my hand, she pulled me along the pathway back to the elevator. "Did I tell you I had a suprise for you, James? We've done enough today. Let's head back up to your Dorm. I want to talk to you about something~"
I glanced at her, slipping my hand out of her grasp as we walked. "The War Floor wasn't the surprise?" I looked at Leslie, confused. She smiled and kept walking. Not deigning to answer.