"I think we should tie her up," suggested Xeno
"Bound and gagged. Find her family and threaten her to obey"
"That wouldn't work," replied Lori shaking her head. "She looks like one of those hardened military types. If only we had time to get her a boyfriend. That would get her to loosen up."
Lina gave a tired nod to her sisters words. She had it the roughest out of the four. Her idea of a workout was shopping. Her idea of really really hard work was filing paperwork. She had chosen to specialize in accounting this was not what she signed up for. "I don't think im going to pass" she sighed resigned to her fate. who would have thought that people need to go through all this just to be a resource hunter. I have a new found respect for these people."
Kayden gave a guilty nod of agreement. He wasn't sure if training was suppose to be this bad or his Mom had made it so much worse. She had another thing coming if she thought he was going to quit though. He just felt bad for the others.
The first day of training had seen their limits being tested. Sprinting full speed with body armor wasn't easy. Then came sprinting with all the standard gear they would have to carry. After came the obstacle course. When they were dead tired some doctors came in and injected them with only god knows what. After they were then forced to eat some of the worst tasting rations ever. If that's wasn't bad enough they immediately started to feel over heated after eating. Sweating so they couldn't do anything but hydrate. 45 minutes later to thier surprise, they were in peak physical condition again.
At that point the demon of a woman came over and made us do it all again. To Kayden's surprise there was marked improvement. His top speed didn't increase but how fast he got there and how long he could maintain it did. The Same was true for everyone especially Lina who never really worked out. Her top speed even increased and even markedly so. She was slower than him but not by much. The thing was he wasn't the fastest Lori was, with Xeno right on her tail. Kayden was just thankful he wasn't the slowest but being only faster than Lina who never ran wasn't that much of an accomplishment. It Made him work harder, so much so all his times were vastly more improved than his friends. Even with all that he barely tied second with Xeno.
After going through the crucible a second time they were dead tired, much more than the first time. Kayden had thought that was it for the day but clearly he was deceived. The Great Demon Lord called in the doctors again, but this time instead of just injecting them with something. They told them all to sit asked if anyone wanted to quit. They were going inject them with two things this time. One was to help guard us against radiation on the planet in case our suits were damaged. There were possible side affects though. You might get all or none. You know the usual suspects Vomiting, Increased appetite, Nausea, Prone to Emotional outburst, Acne, Intestinal Gas, and Sterility for 7 months after use. The last one was guaranteed.
Xeno made a joke about his face being immune to acne but since none of us were planning on having kids anytime soon. Farting and acne wasn't a bad trade off for you know not dying of radiation poisoning. Lori and Lina even said Xeno and I would experience some of the symptoms they go through now and again. They thought it was hilarious as they laughed at us.
The Doctors chuckled with them and explained they would be giving us a second round of what they gave us before just a stronger version, because the first dose wouldn't work on us again. Xeno took the lead and stuck out his hand to the doctor saying he would go first since this was all his idea. The doctors just smiled and we were each given our own doctor who administered each shot to us simultaneously.
The Great Demon Lord waited till the exact moment the doctors prescribed to rest before starting to torture us again. She was a slave master like no other. Forcing us to do it all again. We improved again but not as much this time. I had passed Xeno who wasnt really trying his best. So it downed my enthusiasm some. Not much though because all of this was meant to help us to do well on earth. When we were finally done for the day she let us go. We were directed to these cots in the corner of the hall. They looked like they were temporarily set up just for us. That was how we got to where we are now. Young Heros planning to defeat the The Demon Lord.
"I'm to tired to plan," anymore said Lina as she shifted in her cot to get comfortable despite the armor. " I think i want to take this armor off there is know way for me to sleep with it."
"I wouldn't do that if i were you," replied Kayden. "I Imagine The Demon Lord plans to wake us up super early tomorrow. Like in those military movies."
"Yeah," agreed Xeno. "She'll probably give us no time to get dressed and subtract points if we are not. Its not hard to think like a her. Tou just have to imagine the most hurtful way to train us and that'll probably be her plan."
"Your right," replied Lina nodding her head.
"Lets sleep then as much as we can so she cant get us, said Lori taking what the boys said to heart. "Xeno what's wrong why are you crying?"
"I don't know," sobbed Xeno. "It was just so nice how you respected what i said and made plans based on it. Im just so happy"
Kayden Lori and Lina looked at each other and bust out laughing.
"No Problem Xeno. Of course we respect you we are friends right," laughed Lina cracking up so hard she almost fell off the bed.
Kayden smiled and said "Its good your in touch with your emotional side Z but get some rest.
"What re you smiling about," Xeno replied giving Kayden an angry look. How about i slap you so you can be in touch with your emotions as well. Id like watching you cry."
Kayden gave Xeno and even more shocked look While Lina and Lori entered a new fit of furious laughter.
"Goodnight", said Kayden not even bothering with Xeno's Emotional outbursts. Desperately hoping it wouldn't happen to him.
"Im sorry," replied Xeno sobbing as he threw the covers over his head.
So the night went. with Xeno sobbing, the twins, laughing, and kayden hoping it wouldn't happen to him.
The next morning Lori was the first to awaken. After checking her link. She saw it was already 7am and The Demon Lord Didn't wake them. 'Maybe she forgot' she thought not really believing her own thoughts. What ever happened it was time for her to get up.
She headed off to the bathroom. It took her a minute or two to get there from where the cots were. When she got there. There new tooth brushes, soap and changes of clothes laid out on a table for them. On the wall a sign that said showers caught her attention.
Lori looked around before looking at the time. she gave herself 10 min she wouldn't worry about her hair but the rest of her needed a good shower. Lori made her way to the shower it took her longer than she thought to slip out of her armor. All Links were water proof so she brought it with her to shower so she wouldn't be to far if the others contacted her. She would lose access to her virtual screen as long as the link wasn't able to make contact with the base of her neck. but could still make voice commands.
After Taking quick shower and brushing her teeth it was 7:34am. Lori really wasn't sure what to do at this point should she wake the others, or go through her normal routine. To her mornings were sacred. It was time she had all to herself and would do most of her daily workouts then. So instead of waking the others she went over to do some warm up stretches. The armor did limit her movement some but not as much as she thought it would. It had allowed her a decent range of motion, which when she thought about it made sense. They were supposed to be mainly surveys and resources gatherers not soldiers. So some dexterity is needed for there work.
As She stretch Lori thought about the day they had yesterday and couldn't help but chuckle. She was an observant person and could tell it hadn't sat well with Kayden that he was second to last. He had worked hard and wasn't that far off from her results. Her sister really surprised her which was rare because they were twins.
Lori thought she knew her sister inside and out but didn't expect her to put this much effort in going to earth with her. She had given her the option to still go to Link-Sanity with the rest of thier friends but she opted for earth. Though that wasn't to shocking, her giving her all in training was.
'I don't even think she noticed it, but the harder Kayden worked the more she did as well. So much so that if Xeno doesn't work hard the next two days he might end up forth in the group.' she thought to herself as she continued her stretches.
Lori decided not to think to much about it.As long as we all pass and get to go together it will be fun she thought. Ill get to hyper jump for the first time. Lori had a dream that she didn't tell most people about. She wanted to be a Racer on The Hyper Circuit. A dream that would probably never happen as long as her Dad was alive.
Lori could even imagine her Dad saying no because of the high mortality rate. Which to be fair it was. It was rare to retire of old age in the circuit. Usually you got out before the races took you out, but she wanted to race just the same.
When she finished her stretches still lost in thought. She got on the treadmill. A few minutes went by then a voice came from behind her. "Your up early?"
Checking her link time she replied "8am is early?"
"I guess not," replied Kayden. "Where's the bathroom around here? There should be one you smell like soap even from over here"
Lori smiled and pointed to reply, Not quite sure how he missed the giant sign for the bathroom along the hall.
" Oh Thanks not sure how i missed that," he said chuckling at his momentary blindness. Without saying anything else he was gone.
Lori watched him go wondering where the demon lord was.
Lina awoke to find only Xeno still sleeping in the cot area. She kind of expected her sister to not wake her she did the same thing every day. When she Got herself together. Lina found Lori lifting weights and Kayden running the obstacle course.
'No wonder they keep pulling away from me.' she thought they got up to train. Lina wasted no time and headed to the mats to stretch and warm up.
"What are you doing?" called Lori. "Shower and change of clothes is in the battoom."
Lina was immediately embarrassed. She had been so caught up being competitive it had slipped her mind. "Thanks," she said with a red face mortified by her over site. She scurried to the bathroom not even looking back.
Lori smiled and shook her head. Looking at the time she thought, 'maybe I should wake up Xeno,' but immediately thought better of it as she remembered his emotional outbursts ' He could be still tired from last night'.
Lina for her part showered and resuited in record time. Just to get back to training she didn't want to be left behind by her workout maniac sister and her fast improving friends.
The three had worked out for an hour before Xeno joined them at 10. His mood swings were not there anymore but he was still embarrassed by his behavior. He had just showered when The Demon Lord returned.
"Lori points for being up first, but you lose some as well. Failure to wake the rest of your teammates. Points for working out on your own though your taking this seriously. Everyone except Xeno passes this section of self discipline. Cant have people without their own motivation to do well join on such a dangerous mission. Xeno," She continued. "If you don't improve today and tomorrow you wont be going." assessed the demon lord.
"Ms.Graham Xeno was suffering from side effects from the injections yesterday cant you make an exception," responded Lori feeling guilty for not waking him.
"No He woke around the time Lina did but chose to get some extra shut eye." responded thier trainer
The three gave a look at Xeno who gave a helpless nod confirming what she said.
"Ok today will be weapons training. You will be practicing with real weapons so do don't point the guns at yourselves or each other. your armor could take some damage but i wouldn't risk it if i were you guys." said Ms.Graham as she motioned for them to follow her. She headed to the gated section where they got their armor and equipment.
"These," she said pointing at the weapons on the walls, "are Tactical Pulse Rifles. Im sure You've have all heard of and seen them before. They are some of the most commonly used weapons among all military and government outfits today. "
"First introduced in 2640 they have been in refinement for over 400 years and are some of the simplest yet deadly forms of weaponry at medium range. Each energy cell cartridge can Fire 230 plasma bolts. Making it a forgiving weapon when it comes to accuracy. "
6 Engerycell cartridges gives almost 1300 opportunities to het rid of your opponent. Today most combat armor is resiatant to energy based weaponry as is your suits, but getting hit enough will still cook someone alive in an intact armor. Armor is only now starting to catch up with the advances in weaponry. For a long time laser and plasam based weapons were undefendable.
"They reined supreme until 2790 when this was releases to the public," she said taking out a square cube frome off the wall. This is an energy shield. Their first iteration was large and bulky devices that were hard to power and harder to deploy now even a numbskull can throw this out and render energy weapons ineffective for a small window of time.
"Today i will be teaching you how to connect your rifle to your Net-Link. You wont miss much once you get used to the targeting overlay that is provided by the program im going to have you download in a bit."
This will help you become quickly proficient in shooting but its not a permanent solution. As we have learned through history an over reliance on computers and AI is the quickest way to a downfall. So I want you all firing without the targeting system 5 hours from now.
A beep sounded in all the ears of the group as they received a request to join in the ark defense server. After joining. They're link immediately downloaded a targeting software.
Kayden tried to browse through to see what other software was available, but everything was locked behind a tier system. What ever credentials they were given they weren't allowed to download anything else.
"Now choose your rifle. They come in 5 slightly modified sizes to fit different body types and arm lengths for smother wielding."
The four chose there weapons, for Xeno and Kayden it felt familiar yet it wasn't. Thier game avatars didn't resemble thier actual bodies so there was a period of adjustment. After downloading the software Kayden was the first to travel the length of the hall to the shooting range. He wanted to see how he would do with out the aim assist. Setting the rifle to the lowest power settings he activated the targets. humanoid solid alloy targets popped up about 15 ,25, 35, 50 yrds away from him.
'This should make a good test see how much of my skills translate' He thought as he took aim.