- 7th August 2138, Morning, Order of Judicators, GC Branch -
The cold feeling of energy deprivation could be felt across my whole body. It seemed I'd awoken after my quasi-rampage. My eyes slowly coming into focus on the black and gold patterned ceiling of the Order of Judicators training room. Wolfgang, the test instructor, was awake and walking over to me. Was this to reprimand me for going crazy at the end of our battle? Nonetheless, I sat up. Ready to receive whatever my penalty would be for such a performance.
I'd lost control during the fight and shot off some technique I didn't recognise. It felt rather powerful. What could that have been? Was it a reaction from my exalted sight or something else? Upon closer inspection, Wolfgang didn't too damaged. His clothing's ends were singed a little, with a big hole in the chest of his clothing. That must have been where I'd hit him.
After a moment of agonising silence that felt like it stretched far beyond what you'd expect from a sublte pause, Wolfgang finally spoke.
"Well, that was quite the show you put on," Wolfgang said with a smirk. "I'm impressed."
Nodding, still a little dazed from the fight. I would have to be more careful in the future if I wanted to avoid overworking myself.
I had potential? Maybe he thought I did all that on purpose. Telling him I couldn't control my own body back then likely wasn't in my best interests then. I'll just go along with what he thinks.
"Thanks, but I still haven't figured out how to use my Gravity affinity properly." I replied, handing him my GEI issued ID card.
"That's imp-" he retorted, before looking at my ID card properly.
=G=E=I=-=-=-=G=E=I=
[Name: Erik Graham]
[DoB: 07/7/2122]
[Singularity]:
-[Unknown]: Observation-Type
[Attribution]: Conjury/Phenom
-[Rank]: B
-[Affinity]: Spark/Gravity
[E-Signature]: 055GS
=G=E=I=-=-=-=G=E=I=
"Wait a moment. You're only 16?" He asked, confounded.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I replied, equally confused.
"Such firepower..." He trailed off, deep in thought. Before gazing into my very soul with his two pinprick eyes, fear washing over me. Was he suspicious of me?
"Do you agree to act in the name of Justice and Justice only? When working with us." He asked, a menacing aura emitting from his very eyes. As if he was trying to intimidate me into saying yes.
Mulling it over, it'd be disadvantageous to me to act in only justice all the time. Though if by 'when working with us' he meant while on a job, then it'd probably be fine. I could other more morally dubious things off the record. I could pretend to be interested in his offer, and then use it to my advantage.
Learning more about his group and what they're up to, and then use that information to take them down, if they try to get in my way in the future... I'd be able to make an informed decision about whether I wanted to help them at that specific moment, and then take appropriate action.
"Fine, I agree." I replied. Internally I felt indignant, but I did my best not to show that.
"Good!" He exclaimed, clearly happy with my answer. "Now, where would you like to start?"
"Wherever I'm needed." I cooly remarked.
"Alright then, collect your uniform from the front desk and report to me after you get changed." He explained, beaming.
-------:-
The uniform was very similar to what Warmund had been wearing in the lobby, before I embarked on the interesting journey that was my entry test. Though my version was just a simple black and gold suit with the Order of Judicators logo on the pocket. By all means fancy, it actually seemed flexible despite appearances. I put it on, it fitting perfectly to my frame. When had they measured me?
Slowly making my way out of the changing room, I stealthily tried to sneak past Warmund on my way to his father's office. With each step quieter than the last, I managed to reach the door at the top of the lobby without him noticing. Perhaps I don't give myself enough credit?
With a slight tinge of nervousness, I entered the office. It was of minimalist desgin, a simple wooden desk with various pens and HoloDevices strewn across. An entire set of gym free weights lay in the corner, well worn with use. It seemed all of Warmund's ilk had a similar mindset. In the middle of the room, on a chair, was Wolfgang. He seemed to be eagerly waiting for me to sit down in front of him, on the opposite side of the desk.
"Ah, good. You're here."
I took a seat and tried to compose myself, but it was difficult with him looking at me with a expectant grin. Clutching the armrests, trying to ignore the itch I felt on my nose.
"The most promising candidate I've seen in a long time. I have to say, I'm impressed." He seemed to be sizing me up, seeing what I was made of outside of raw Extrinsic power.
I couldn't help but feel a little awkward, so I simply nodded in response to his question. I wasn't quite sure what to say that would make the situation any less awkward, so I remained silent.
"You must have some nerves of steel to make it this far."
"I do what I have to." I replied, slightly confused.
All I'd done was fight him once? Could my training with Warmund have been part of the selection process for this place? It's possible, but not likely. There's no way to know for sure.
"Indeed. The OJ is very selective in its training and recruitment, and you are the first one in a long time to pass the entry exam."
"I'm the only one who passed the entry exam?" I queried, interested.
"Indeed. You must be quite the gifted young man."
"I do what I can."
With a deft and strong movement, he placed three sheets of paper on the desk. Each one a request for the OJ.
"I want you to go on a mission, pick whichever you like. I'll give an overview of each, shrimp."
Picking up the first sheet, he read some of the details off to me.
"EX-Beasts have been found in the sewers. Please sort them out. Client: GEI Sewage Corps"
He scanned the next sheet, his brow furrowed in intrigue. He read it over a few times, trying to make sense of it.
"Act as a bodyguard for my darling adoptive daughter, Client: Mr. Geldbeutel"
Finally the third sheet. He seemed not to react as much to this one. Must be something boring.
"Patrol the cities at night, dealing with any petty criminals. Client: GEI JD."
It was a difficult choice, barring the bodyguard request, they all seemed like good opportunities to improve my power and gain renown in the city. In different ways.
Fighting EX-Beasts was something done by every student in their second year at GCA as a part of their mandatory testing, doing some now would be some difficult but useful practice. I could sell their butchered corpses, too.
Being a bodyguard for some rich girl seemed like a rather underwhelming job, though the fact she was adopted piqued my curiosity. It could pay well too. Why would a rich guy go out of his way to protect somebody not sharing his blood, especially in today's society?
I decided to do some quick research on her with my InfoComm, and it turns out she was orphaned at a young age. Her parents had died in a EX-Beast infestation of their home, and she was sent to live with her grandparents. When they passed away, she was adopted by a wealthy family.
Mystery solved. She wasn't related to him by blood, but he must have felt some sort of connection to her because they shared the same experience of being orphans.
Plus, he probably felt like he owed her something because if it weren't for her adoptive parents' generosity, she would have been left alone in the world with no one to care for her. Though interestingly enough, it seemed her name and age were stricken from the records I had access to. Though I did find that she hailed from Dawnport.
Finally the petty criminals, while boring at first, I could steal their belongings for my personal gain. Morally dubious, but is stealing from a criminal all that bad? Not that morals matter that much when not caught by anyone.
It's not a crime if you don't get caught!
Of course there were other opportunities outside of the Order of Judicators,
The Confli-Dome Reality HTV's organizers were always looking for new blood to add to their roster. If I managed to improve my skills enough I could quickly become a champion and make a name for myself. I'd have to be confident in deploying gravity-based techniques before that. Since before anything, they loved a good show.
The Union of Plunder was always looking for new recruits, and I could learn a lot from them about the seedier side of things. Especially with my observation based singularity. I'd only known about them from those dark InfoComm directories.
What to choose...?