Free United (The United Trilogy Book 1) by Jaci Wheeler

maybe you can request a thorough tour,” I say, mostly joking.  The teasing, however, was completely lost on Wes.
    “Oh you bet I will.”  Just then the train comes to a stop and it looks as though we have arrived!
    “Wow, that was fast!  There’s no way we are here already!” I say in total surprise.
    Wes rolls his eyes.  “Roz, it’s called a bullet train for a reason.” At my blank look he adds, “It's fast.”
    Just then the doors swoosh open and the animated voice calls out: “Please exit the train.  Welcome to the Department of Ministry and thank you for riding.”
    As soon as we step onto the platform the doors close behind as and the train is off so fast that the wind causes my dress to fly up in a flourish.  Oh great, my first day as President and already I’m flashing my panties.
    Wes, completely oblivious of my panic to keep my dress down, begins walking with purpose toward...oh great, it looks like the head of the Ministry of Defense: Kevin Masters.  His smirk tells me that he was not oblivious to my little panty show.  With shoulders squared, and as much fake confidence as I can muster, I marched up to him.  “Good morning, sir.”
    He nods and gives me what I assume to be his “I-eat-children-for-breakfast look.”  I’m hoping he just isn’t a morning person, but I have a feeling that this is his usual sunny disposition.  “Everyone calls me Masters.” He says this more as an order than a statement.  “If you follow me, we will get started.”
    Just then something occurs to me: we had gotten so caught up with the train that I didn’t realize that Molly hasn’t ridden with us.  “Has Molly already arrived?” I ask him.
    He sighs like my question is putting him out, but answers with a vague “She isn’t scheduled to arrive yet.”  His tone tells me that I'm not getting anything else out of him on the subject, or maybe just nothing in general, so I decide to keep my mouth shut and follow in silence.
    Wes is completely in awe of everything around us and I doubt he has even realized that we were talking.  It is then that I get my first look at the building we are about to enter.  It's massive, the biggest building by far that I’ve ever seen in pictures or in person.  Not only is it huge, but the aesthetics are simply breath-taking.
    The building is made out of the same type of glass that most of the structures in United America are made, utilizing natural light as effectively as possible, but it is the detail in the glass that amazes me.  It isn’t just a pane of solid glass; there are cut outs and etchings in every wall, most of which appear to be handmade.  Even though the walls and ceiling are made up of clear glass, bits of colored glass scattered throughout make the building come alive.  A red rose, a yellow sun, some blue rain drops, both light and dark.  It is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!  Even Wes was taken by its beauty, although, it is more likely that his seeming awe is simply him calculating the dimensions of the building in his head. 
    We walk over to the middle of the room to a glass cylinder.  Masters scans his hand and the doors instantly open for us.  He gestures for us to enter, and he follows us in.  The doors close and we are sucked up several stories.  Wes is fascinated, while I most likely just look sick.  Masters, on the other hand, remains stoic with his hands crossed in front of him. 
    As soon as we come to a stop, he scans his hand again and the doors open.  Masters walks out with Wes and me trailing slightly behind.  I take a deep breath when we walk into a large area, beautiful and calming.  Again, it is made from glass, but with a light blue tint to it.  It looks as though we are in the sea, surrounded by drops of water shining as the light reflects through it.  In the middle of the room is a waterfall sculpture.  Ornate pieces of glass twist and wrap around each other and the water dances through them.  Each