18Hey dickbiscuit, wake up. WAKE UP!
Huh?! What? Xi what's going on?
Nothing, you fell asleep last night, but you're about to miss breakfast.
Getting up off the floor, which I had to sleep on by the way-
Hey, I could have let you sleep through breakfast.
That's not even remotely funny Xi. How far did we get with the armor systems anyway?
I did the best I could, but we won't know until they are tested again.
So it could try to rip my arm off again?
No, I added a subsystem routine so if the hydraulics go offline they lock up instead of moving on their own.
That's good at least. So what's on our schedule today?
We have a training session scheduled for after breakfast.
What kind of training session?
The special kind.
Why don't I like it when you say that? Seriously, I don't like the way he said that.
And there you go narrating again!
Hey, I do it to cope with stress! Anyway, why is this so special?
The Director wants to see your new upgrades in action.
Okay, so as long as the hydraulics don't go ballistic again, were good?
Not necessarily, the other agents will be there as well.
Um, why?
It's supposed to be a sort of way for the agents to see your combat skills.
But they already saw my skills against South. Why do we need to do this again?
This time the agents are supposed to grade your performance.
Fucking perfect. South and Tex basically hate me, and the others, well im too sure about them.
What do you mean?
Well, I know York is cool with me because I helped him with the grenade. And I know North is too, because well, he's North. I'm pretty sure Wash is okay with me, but Carolina, Wyoming and Maine I'm not too sure of.
You forgot about Conneticut.
Shit! I did didn't I?
Well I just told you that you did, so yeah.
Hey, don't get snippy with me!
Then don't be an idiot.
I really hate you sometimes, you know that?
Maybe, but let's see how far you get without me.
I step through the double doors and into the mess hall. I grab a tray and get some breakfast before picking a table. Scanning the room, I see Wash, York and North all sitting together at one table. Well, I can't sit by myself. Walking over, I sit down next to Wash.
"Hey Oregon." Wash greets me as I sit down. North and York soon follow suit.
"So, what can we expect to see in your performance today?" York asks, between bites of an apple.
"What do you mean? What performance?" I ask, although I probably know the answer.
"All of the top ranking agents are going to be evaluating you in combat." North answers.
"Yeah, and we figure with the track record you've had so far, it's going to be interesting." York jokes.
I honestly wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
Really? Now your turning on me too?
"So what kind of tests will I have to do?" I ask, curious to know what I'm going to be doing..
"Were not sure, but it will probably include lock down paint, or robots." York says.
"Wait, robots?" I don't ever remember robots being on the show.
"Yeah, the Director had a new training mode where you fight robots installed. Nobody has used it yet, so you'll be the first. York informs me.
"Great, something nobody else has seen." I say sarcastically.
"Hey it could be worse." North offers, in his usual chipper tone.
"How could it be worse North?"
"Well, you could have to fight Tex."
"North, don't even say that. Please, don't even think that." What? Would you like to fight Tex? I didn't think so.
"Even I don't want to fight her again." York says, and North and I nod in agreement.
North shifts in his seat uncomfortably. It almost looks like he's hiding something, which is quite rare for North.
"North, is there something you wanna tell me?" I ask, looking at the purple and green freelancer.
"Well….there was a rumor that you might have to fight Maine." He says, in a sympathetic voice.
Xi, did I hear North right?
Indeed.
I can't fight Maine! He's going to kill me with his bare hands! Xi what are we gonna do?!
Calm down, North said it was a rumor, it might not be true.
Yeah…..yeah your right Xi.
Aren't I usually? I mean seriously, when have I ever been wrong
Is that a hint of cockiness Xi?
You tell me.
Okay, okay sheesh. Wait, North and York are both just staring at me.
"Uh guys? What's wrong?"
"We've just learned to not interrupt someone when there having a conversation with their AI is all." York says. At his words, Delta appears over York's shoulder.
"Indeed, it is much more time effective to-"
"D!" York yells, cutting off Delta. "We really don't need your calculations right now bud, alright?"
"Understood." Delta then disappears from York's shoulder.
"Jeez York, you gotta be so mean to the little guy?" Wash asks.
"You try having D running his calculations through your head all day!" York snaps.
"Woa York, calm down." North says, putting a hand on York's shoulder.
"Sorry Wash, I've just been a little stressed lately." He says apologetically to Wash.
"Does this stress come from a certain bossy redhead?" Wash asks.
"Yeah, she's been acting so different ever since Tex showed up." York takes a sip of his coffee.
"It'll be alright York, she'll come around." I say, trying to comfort the tan freelancer.
"Thanks, but we have to go." He says, putting his mug of coffee on the table.
"Why?" I only just got here.
"Breakfast is over, it's time for you to show us what you got kid." York says, before he and North stand up and leave. Wait, breakfast is over? I didn't even get to eat! How am I supposed to fight on an empty stomach?
You'll get over it. Now let's go get ready, were going to give them a show.
Well Xi, I can't put on a show without food.
Will you stop complaining about food?
Fine, let's go and give the Director a reason to let me keep this stuff.
That's the spirit! Oh and by the way, I woke you up late on purpose dickbiscuit.
I'm going to buy a very large scorpion, and put in our room.
You wouldn't dare!
If you mess with my food again, were going to another roommate Xi. Just remember that.
Fine, let's just do this stupid training session.