“Well, I’d love to stick around and spar with Sandra, but I have a hot date.” Cain gloated.
“You? On a date?” Cassandra was shocked. “With who?”
“A girl down in maintenance. What can I say; I have a thing for working girls.” Cain shrugged.
“Don’t let us keep you; enjoy yourself.” Brent had the feeling Cassandra’s jaw was hanging open behind her helmet.
“I plan to. A nice romantic dinner followed by a shared 3P. Just standard dating fair, but sometimes the simple pleasures in life are the best ones. Don’t wait up.” Cain winked as he departed.
“Just when I thought I had him figured out,” Brent mumbled to himself. “Given his over the top nature, I never would have figured he’d enjoy the simple things.”
Realizing Cassandra had gone silent, he glanced at her. A thick orange and red was blazing around her.
“So, Cassandra?” he interrupted her reverie.
“Yes?” she responded, half listening.
“Would you like to join me for some dinner?”
The helmet quickly spun and locked on him; the red aura doubled in size and intensity.
“Seriously?”
“My treat.” Brent grabbed her arm and pulled her along.
“For what?”
“For taking so long, and to make up for not turning Cain down in the first place. I know you didn’t want to go with him.”
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I actually enjoyed myself.”
The mess hall was much more full than it had been earlier, but most of the plethora of tables were still empty. It took Brent a while to find the right spot. Finding what he had in mind, he took Cassandra and sat her down before running off to fetch the meals. It turned out that A rations cost thirty credits each, while D rations cost three. Carefully balancing the two plates, Brent returned to the waiting suit of armor. He placed the meals on the table as he took his seat. As Cassandra reached for her utensil, he grabbed her hand.
“I have a single request before we start.” He braced for a blow.
“Oh?” Cassandra sounded surprised.
“No faceplate.”
“You have got to be kidding.” Swirls of blue and black danced in her outline. “Not a chance.”
“Look around you. Not a single trooper for at least four tables. Plus, you are facing the wall. Even if someone did look your way all they would see is the back of your helmet.”
Cassandra glanced around, checking out his story.
“Why do you care?” She was trying to negotiate her way out of it, but the black had faded away so at least she wasn’t mad at him.
“I’ve been talking to my reflection all day. Although, I can see how that might be an attractive concept for a narcissist like Cain. Do you think the girl from maintenance wears a suit like yours?” Brent joked.
Cassandra burst into laughter.
“Fine, I give. If it means that much to you, I’ll do it.” She made it clear he was forcing her.
She tapped at the panel on her left wrist, and the faceplate obscuring her face vanished.
“Better?” Cassandra was a deep red.
“Much.” Brent smiled and started eating.
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Fair enough.”
“Tell me, how did you know those tripod things could do that?” Cassandra’s table manners were impeccable with the faceplate removed.
“Well, on the last exam I had to use them a bit. I noticed their blades could cut into the metal surface of the world like it was butter. Figured digging through soft dirt would have to be easy in comparison.”
“And those blocky things?”
“You mean the Strikers?”
“They have a name?”
“Of course. Everything has a name. Couldn’t very well command my blocky things to attack their human things.” Brent smiled.
“I suppose not.” Cassandra chuckled.
“So how much did Cain win?”
“What?”
“Well, Cain took us somewhere. Obviously there was money to be made.”
“I don’t really care. All he cares about is getting his hands on more credits. He’d sell his soul if he could get a good enough deal on it.”
“You know, this is a vast improvement.”
“What do you mean?”
“Talking to someone else’s face is so much more interesting than just watching your own.”
“Why bring that up?” Cassandra’s face flashed red.
“Not sure.” Brent smiled sinisterly.
“You rat! You just want to see me turn red! That’s it isn’t it.”
“Maybe.”
“Doesn’t it bother you at all?” Cassandra asked, obviously stunned.
“Nope.”
“Not even a little?”
“Not even a little.”
“There is something seriously wrong with you, you do know that right?”
“I’ve gathered you think that, yes.” Brent chuckled.
“Oh, shut up and eat.” Cassandra smiled as she focused on her meal.
The two ate their meal with only some light conversation. It was obvious Cassandra was deep in thought. Odd colors would dance around her outline, but he had no idea what any of them meant. He wondered what might be bothering her as he ate the last bite of his corn.
“Brent?” Cassandra’s voice was troubled.
“Yes?” He prepared for the worst.
“What are you going to do about the trial?”
“What do you mean?”
“Cain said the division leaders were plotting how to use you.” Cassandra leaned over and started whispering. “What happens when they find out you can only sense me?”
“I hadn’t thought about it. I suppose I’ll just take the position of a standard trooper.”
“Leonard won’t like it.”
“What is Leonard going to do? Offer me up to the other divisions? He knows I’m too valuable for that.”
“That’s exactly why he’ll offer you up. He could get a dozen skilled troopers in exchange for you, probably more.”
“It’s more complex than that. Right now Leonard is the leader of what I gather is the worst division in the academy, or at least the one held in the lowest regard. As long as he has me, he has an ace up his sleeve.”
“An ace up his sleeve? I don’t get it.”
“The other divisions saw my performance on the exams, right? Even if they think the FF is incapable of victory on their own, they have to admit the FF has a shiny new toy that could give them an edge. This puts those facing us in the trial at a disadvantage; they are no longer certain of victory. Even if it is only a small voice in the back of their heads, it’s still loud enough to make them hesitate at the wrong time. Make mistakes they normally wouldn’t make. If Leonard even hints that he wants to trade me away, the other divisions will wonder why.”
“No one wants to get rid of a perfect weapon . . .”
“Exactly. They will know something is wrong. That I’m not the super weapon they think I am. If they realize that, the psychological edge the FF has now is gone.”
“So we’ve got you until the next trial. What about after that?”
“That depends on how we do. In any case, I’ll face that when the time comes. For now, I’d rather worry about getting out of here before I get into another brawl.”
Cassandra chuckled.
Well, that answered one question. Cassandra liked war stories. After their meal, she took him to the main repository. Countless 3Ps to pick from and she instantly zeroed in on a period piece set a couple of hundred years ago about some minor rebellion on some nameless world. For the next two hours the two engaged in guerilla warfare in a muggy, bug-filled jungle. There had been only one upside to the whole experience. In the 3P, Cassandra had appeared without the armored suit. She was in the fatigues of the rebel faction with the strength of a normal person. It was refreshing to watch as she struggled along without
her super strength. By the end of the 3P, they had fought off countless troopers and managed to take control of the capital. Brent was shocked that they hadn’t needed a shower after the ordeal. When the 3P had shut down, they were in the exact shape they had started in, not one sweat stain or bug bite to be found.
“Well?” Cassandra asked expectantly as they headed back toward the division’s quarters.
“Well what?” He was still searching for the imaginary bug bites that were making him itch.
“Did you enjoy yourself?”
“I think the better question is if those bugs enjoyed making a meal out of me.”
“The itching should go away any minute. Once you get used to 3Ps, you won’t have any residuals.
“That’s good to know.”
“So?”
“So what?”
“Did you have a good time, despite the bugs?”
“I actually did. Good choice.” He knew she would keep hounding him until she got a yes or no answer.
“Excellent. Guess I’ll see you tomorrow then. Night.” Cassandra ran off ahead of him.
As she disappeared around a corner, Brent watched the bright red outline surrounding her march into the distance. Despite the unpleasantness of the 3P, he had learned a little. When he hadn’t been swatting some bug, he had been observing her. He didn’t dare alter it, but he had quickly realized that her aurora was much stronger in the 3P than in real life. These nightly 3Ps could teach Brent a great deal, that was if he could endure Cassandra’s choices. A powerful urge to scratch overcame him. As he reached for the source of the itch, he wondered how insects always attacked the small area he couldn’t reach. Just an inch short. He paused in the corridor and stretched as far as he could to reach the itch. Just as Brent was about to reach the spot, a trooper ran right into him, knocking him over.
“Watch where you are going! . . . Brent?” Cain chuckled as he realized whom he had just run over.
“That’s me.” He got to his feet, his back still itching. “What’s the hurry?”
“No hurry, just a little distracted that’s all.”
“Distracted? Your date go badly?”
“Not at all! It was perfect!” Cain grinned widely. “Already got a second in the works. It was the 3P that sealed the deal.”
“What’s so special about a 3P?”
“You might as well ask why girls like stinky candles or flora. You must not have had many girls around you when you were young. Asking a girl to join you in a 3P is a serious thing. I’d remember that if I were you. No faster way to get slapped than to ask a random girl to a 3P.”
“Really? So you serious about the girl from maintenance?”
“What can I say? I have a thing . . .”
“ . . .for working girls. I remember. Just don’t get in over your head. Credits can’t solve everything.”
“True enough. Now what are you doing standing out here? Take in a 3P yourself?”
“Something like that.”
“Don’t tell me you’re already putting the moves on someone! Sweeping some sweet young thing off her feet? A brilliant tactician and a Casanova. Is there anything you can’t do?”
“You are almost as bad as that announcer. I simply chuckle and all of a sudden I’m accused of mocking an entire room of troopers.”
“I suppose jumping to conclusions comes with the territory. People are more willing to part with their credits when around an exciting over-the-top person than a boring accountant.”
“Perhaps. If you really must know, I spent the last two hours trekking through a bug-filled jungle; still itch like mad. Not exactly a romantic outing.”
“Ouch! That’s why I always ask the receptionist before I select a 3P. Those titles can be misleading. In fact, I can recommend a few if you need. Perhaps even a few that are on the romantic side.” Cain nudged and winked.
“All for a low, low price, I’m sure. Always trying to sell something, aren’t you?”
“You wound me. To think I offer my assistance to a fellow squad mate only to be accused of trying to swindle him.”
“I hit the nail on the head, didn’t I?”
“Squarely.” Cain laughed.
“So how much you want for your list of suggestions?”
“Thought you were going to turn me down.”
“It’s a big repository. I probably wouldn’t live long enough to watch them all. Life’s too short to watch garbage, let alone walk through it.”
“Wisdom beyond your years!” Cain chuckled. “I might have to use that line in future sales pitches. So what are you interested in?”
“Give me a smattering of everything. Variety is the spice of life. Just keep those romances to yourself. I’m sure they get an extra ten percent markup.”
“Twenty percent but who’s counting? I’ll give you the sampler’s list. I’ll even throw in a few romances, on me.”
“One more thing, Cain. I want a description about what happens in the 3Ps you’re recommending me; no surprises. I’ve had enough of those for one day.” Brent exaggeratedly scratched his forearm.
“Making me work for my credits, aren’t you? Most people remember to ask if there are descriptions after they look through the list of titles.”
“Which you graciously offer to them for a small additional fee, I’m sure.” Brent grinned.
Cain pointed at his nose and burst into laughter.
“Been a pleasure doing business with you.” Cain quickly pulled out his pad and tapped on it twice. “I can honestly say I haven’t enjoyed haggling that much in a while.”
“Always ready to make a sale, even right after a date?” Brent gestured toward Cain’s pad.
“Always. Learned from the best. My father is a master when it comes to meeting the needs of others, at a minor personal profit of course.”
“So, how much did I just get, and how much did it set me back?”
“A couple thousand titles. The best every genre has to offer. Including extensive descriptions at no additional cost. All for the measly sum of twenty credits.”
“Of course, the list probably cost you next to nothing to compile.”
“Near enough. But it did take me a while to track it all down. It’s a bargain, if I do say so myself.”
“Is there a complaint line? Just in case.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that. I gave you a copy of my personal favorites. You won’t be disappointed.” Cain winked.
“I’m sure I won’t be.”
“One final thing.” Cain glanced around to make sure no one was nearby. “Be careful with some of those. While there aren’t any illegal 3Ps, there are a few that raise eyebrows. If you get my meaning.”
Content in the sale, Cain walked down the hallway, chuckling to himself. Brent immediately pulled up the listing. It was far more professional than he expected. The 3Ps were arranged by selectable categories like genre or mood. Each one had descriptions that could be toggled between brief summary and complete walkthrough. The eyebrow raisers had been listed as such. It was no surprise to him that most of them were in the “romance” category. Brent grinned to himself. Not only had he kept Cassandra’s secret, but now he understood why she wanted it a secret in the first place.
The relationship between Cassandra and Cain was anything but amiable. If he learned that Brent had asked her to a 3P, Cain would never let her live it down. The list would also prove useful for testing his abilities. Brent could suggest 3Ps to her, already knowing what emotions they would stir up. Perhaps he could study a broader range of emotions than “angry at biting bugs.” Suddenly, he realized he wasn’t itching anymore. She had been right; the feeling did fade. Heading back to his bunk, he read through the list. Comedy, action, drama – everything was covered. The only problem would be getting Cassandra to agree to them. Brent shuddered at the thought of another jungle adventure. It didn’t matter how he convinced her – he had to. It would be preferable to get punched by a fist ten times stronger than normal than to end
ure another stint as bug bait.
Chapter 13: Routine
Despite flashy advertisements promising a life of action and excitement, life in the academy was made up of a series of dull routines broken up by the occasional bright spot. Every morning Brent awoke to the same dream of the fifth exam. While the dream was anything but pleasant, just being able to remember his dreams was a comfort to him. In the dull light early he quietly left the rest of the still sleeping troopers and joined Sanderson’s squad in their morning routines. On his way to Davis’ training, he made a point to greet and shake the hands of the troopers along his way. It had taken a few days, but the troopers didn’t tremble when he stopped in front of them now. To his surprise, after a week they even started greeting him. Thankfully, Davis focused on defense training, how to protect yourself from other Weavers and those that can’t be altered. It was a relief to Brent, as any training focused on using his powers would have been wasted. He could still only sense Cassandra.
When Davis let them go, he made a mad dash to the mess hall to snatch some D rations. After he had gotten used to them, he found he actually enjoyed their taste. However, the main reason he grabbed D rations was they were easy to eat in a rush. Wrapping the red square around the brown one turned it into a roll that didn’t fall apart as he devoured it while darting down the corridors. In addition to that, it left no residue on his fingers; as soon as the last bite was taken, there was no evidence it ever existed. It was a good thing too; the basic tactics instructor hated it when troopers brought food to class. Brent had only made the mistake once, but the scorned lecture was something he’d never forget.
It had been one of the only times the instructor had lectured in a vigorous voice. Normally, the instructor lectured for an hour in a monotone that could put a deaf person to sleep. Tactics from generations past and history lessons about ancient battles could be horribly boring in their own right, but with his unique delivery, it was a struggle for Brent to keep his eyes open. He noticed in passing that only a few people ever took notes. It had been a mystery to him until he recognized one of the intent listeners as Terrance. Apparently, they were doing research for the war room.
When the torture was finally over, it was time for basic weapons training, and they meant basic. After a few days of “how to hold a rifle properly,” Brent was ready to shoot himself properly. Wouldn’t have done any good though; all training weapons were on minimal power usage. At best he could stun himself. Thankfully, just as he was about to go stir crazy, they actually started marksmanship. Brent found he wasn’t a half bad shot, not a natural sniper, but with training perhaps he could become one.
The Ninth Page 28
