The pair spent their last 7 days in training facilities, trying to understand what each could provide in the field. For now, Vivar had decided that if a fight were inevitable, he would either ask Savan to run and hide, leaving him to deal with the threat or the second option:
Director -" Carry them in your left hand, using the shield as cover, Number 8?", asked the director while reading the machine's report. "It's a risky maneuver, C.T.D., which would hamper your mobility and fighting capabilities. This worked with a few partners, for a few special occasions, if I may add", the old man mentioned as if trying to poke the machine.
Vivar -" Yes director, I am aware, but since patient 8 has a thin physique, it shouldn't be a problem. Besides, after they receive their first few enhancements, their usefulness will increase by a considerable margin."
The tired man just scrubbed his chin, thinking of another retort, but he was too fatigued to engage in "shenanigans with a puppet", he thought to himself. "Fine Vivar, I don't care, just try not to get eliminated in the second round. The badgering I would get for that, sheesh."
...
Savan -" Hey, buddy, are you ok?", Savan asked while carried by the machine in his left hand. Vivar nodded and just mentioned that he had to discuss it with the director for a second. "Ah, ok. It's just that you suddenly became more silent than usual, you know? So, what did the good ol' mad scientist tell you?"
Vivar -" Confidential and battle tactics. Please do not inquire more about the first, you won't receive an answer".
Savan -" Yes, I learned that by now. You and your restrictions of what and you can not tell me. They do know I'm probably going to die anyway, so I could just take any secret the Brand is hiding to the grave, anyway".
Vivar stopped dead in his tracks, staring with his lifeless gaze directly at his partner.
Vivar -" Listen to me, clopy. The feeds never show what happens inside the clinics, especially on round one right? Nobody knows what happens there", he said, concluding that this was the best way to encourage Savan." That is because everyone is supposed to pass the first round- The first clinic is a checkpoint, meant to install a harmonizer device for the rest of the parts, seeing as all of them are made by different laboratories, and owned by different Brands. So for them to work, together, with any type of person, those devices are mandatory. So you will survive…for at least a round."
Savan -" Huh…Thanks buddy", mentioned Savan with a shy cadence. "You are correct. Let's finish this test then and prepare for the last day in the facility."
Vivar -" Agreed. By the way, since my map function is still disabled, in which direction should we go?", asked the robot.
The clopy tried to take a look around, but brown, thin objects around them blocked the view in any direction. Above, the pillars clogged the sky with their branching parts, and green bits at the end. At first, the clopy didn't understand the design of the course, so after their previous failed test, they asked around about it.
Savan -" Trees, huh", they said with the same surprise of hearing about a new bold type. They never heard the word before or knew that such structures existed in the world. "I guess they look weird but somewhat interesting. I always wondered why the holograms are always using the same stage each year, but I always guessed it was for cost-saving measures from the models."
The clopy quickly found that a small and medium tree was too tough for them to scratch or break, but not enough to stop Vivar in its tracks, which gave Savan an idea. They pointed towards the top of the objects and asked their partner to lift them as high as he could. Before that, though, the robot knew that traps and dangers lurked where you least expected them, so he double-checked the area just in case.
Vivar -" Let me do an analysis first, just in case of any traces of radiation, toxic clouds, or other dangerous compounds."
Savan -" With your different visions, right?", asked Savan nonchalantly. "Hey, could you, uhm, describe to me what you see when you look at a…radiated area?"
Vivar -" Please elaborate and explain why you need those details", he asked with a noticeable irk from his usual monotone demeanor.
Savan -" Just curious, you know. I mean, I know that there are things that biological eyes can't see, and mechanical ones can. What shape does radiation take, and in what colors does it change? Does it make a sound only you can hear? I don't know how to explain it besides curiosity."
Vivar -" Hmmm...The nuances are limited, based on the type of ocular implant you have and what type of vision you use. But the shape would be like that of a mist. Just like the one above us. Seems like we need to check for another place", responded Vivar. His partner seemed content for now with the answer they received, but the robot still marked down the interaction in a personal log.
Unbeknownst to the patients, C.T.Ds are also assigned to keep secret surveys on the participants for the Brand's personal reports. As the task was vague in its description, the robot also kept a duplicate of the file, which was more detailed, and only he and another user knew where to find it and how to access it.
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On their last day, Savan and Vivar were guided towards a bigger elevator, which could withhold machines like the C.T.Ds. In front of it were four other figures awaiting them, Angie and Marc, each with their robotic partners behind them.
The girl's partner was half her size, but otherwise bulky and sturdy-looking, having no head to speak of. It communicated in short, technical, and impersonal text messages. Marc's companion was the largest in the group, at 2.8 meters, looking like a darkened, lanky human, with golden highlights. This design made it appear less durable than the other two. Except that it also had four limbs stretching from it, which made it a sort of dark horse in the competition.
The two participants greeted Savan, who waved enthusiastically back at them. Presentations were followed soon after, with the smaller bot being called Ingress, and the taller Azin. Before the clopy could ask them a ton of questions about themselves, the director showed up in a hovering bed behind them.
He drenched his throat a little, skimming through the speech he was supposed to give, but then considered it a "waste of time. Besides, all three of the C.T.D heard it before, so they can recite it for you. If you're weird about it… Anyway, good luck and have fun, or whatever. Now get the hell out of my lab."
…
On the way down, the group noticed an empty line stretching from the elevator, with tons of people around it.
Savan -" Did you know about this", Savan asked the other two, right before they received a message on their coms.
Announcement -" Smile, wave, do not say anything, and just slowly walk forward. Signed, R.O.C Management."
They didn't notice from up high, but a reinforced glass stood between the road and the crowd, who congratulated and cheered them on. Savan couldn't resist the temptation to share their good feelings as well, and they encouraged the rest to do the same:
Savan -" It's the least we could do to thank them, they are probably losing points by wasting working time here". Angie and Marc quickly got the clopy's point of view and followed their lead, with the C.T.Ds also waving at the people.
"It's Vivar!" someone screamed randomly in the crowd. "You can do it this year Azin, show them girl", another one yelled encouragingly. It then became clear to the patients that the crowd wasn't actually there for them.
"Oh well, might as well play along", thought Savan. The parade stretched on for hundreds of meters, and the slow pace made it seem even longer, at least for Angie. Marc and Savan acclimated rapidly to the environment and even did some silly hand moves or poses to entertain the people for a bit.
At some point, the clopy's attention was fixated on a knock on the glass. It came from a young boy in a dirty tracksuit, filled with holes. He tried to scream, but his voice wasn't loud enough, and he seemed out of breath as if he had run a marathon beforehand.
He motioned for Savan to come closer, to which the clopy did as requested, especially after they took a better look at him. With every step, any form of joy or enthusiasm gradually left them. The boy had massive burns on the left side of his face and his left arm was replaced by a flimsy, stick-like prosthetic. He, on the other hand, seemed happy at the sight of their former guide, and wrote a message on his newly acquired WristCom - "Can you take a picture with me?"
The oldest of the two siblings Savan helped on their first day at work, changed so quickly by the County. Enough time had passed for him to get what the company had promised to his face, while behind his back making gamblings with his life.
And he was alone. At least that's the first thought Savan had. They swallowed a nod in their throat and kneeled near the glass and positioned themselves to appear in the frame right next to the boy. They had time for only one photo. Savan stared at him for a few more seconds, took a sunny disposition while silently mouth mimicking "No problem" and moved on.