Violet von Kanin and Silas A. Hunt
Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out again.Almost entirely oblivious to the world around her, Violet walked, slowly trailing behind the group of prospective cadets. True, she had known this day would come for several months or more, but in the face of reality, all her rationalizing and self-delusion melted away, replaced, at last, by an all too familiar presence.
Fear. Anxiety. Each hovered over her, silently taunting her as she struggled, step by step and thought by thought, to banish it. She didn't know why, and she didn't know how - to her, it could have been the result of any of a myriad of possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. A flaw in her genome - was she doomed to live as a damaged reject? The result of a lifetime of isolation and abuse - was she cursed to walk the path of a loner?
With every step she took, her mind spiraled ever further downwards, submerging itself into the darkness. It was, more or less, a familiar cycle. Eventually, she would lock up, and cease to function - overwhelmed by herself, and doomed to failure yet again.
Then - something changed. Crashing in from outside her mind, it shattered her thoughts, disrupted the cycle. It was merely a hand, gently ruffling her hair, and a word, questioningly whispered into her ear, but it changed everything.
"Violet?"
A pause.
"Are you okay?"
Another pause. Then, as her mind slowly resumed its normal functions and she yet again arduously grasped the concept of reality, the droopy rabbit ears twitched, Violet stirred, sighed, and said, "I'm scared, Silas. It's happening again, and I don't know what to do."
Silas A. Hunt - her boyfriend, confidante, and fellow Cadet of three months. Trailing behind her in the line, he had entertained his own such thoughts. He remembered, of course, his family, and all the grief, pain, and anger he had felt at their deaths. But, he also remembered his promise to himself - to become stronger, more successful, and someday, perhaps, to avenge them. This promise, forged in the dark depths of his heart by the fiery brand of hatred, had given him purpose. But purpose is nothing without an anchor, and his short time on this island, he had found his: Violet. She was weak and frail, but she reached out when all others had forsaken him, and the peace and silence she brought had proved invaluable. She had allowed him to grow, given him time to find his strength, and in return, he shielded her from the mysteries of the world.
And so, he found himself, moments away from passing through the Sim Room's door, comforting the pink rabbit, when what he wanted and needed most was comfort from her.
"Calm down, Violet. It'll be all right. Remember, this isn't the real thing, just a simulation. If you need me, I'll be there too. Just - stay strong. You can do this, Violet. I believe in you."
A final parting glance, and he was gone, carried away by the tide of bodies. Slowly, but more confidently, she made her way to an open pod, dumped her luggage, and climbed in. A brief moment of blissful silence, inevitably interrupted by the chime of an artificially cheerful voice.
Body-software integration complete. Welcome back to ARIES: Cadet von Kanin! You are scheduled for: The First Battle of Mogadishu, as Somali Militia OPFOR. Is this correct?... Thank You for your confirmation... Remember to always check your auto-eject before accepting the final synchronization. Thank you for using Aries and as always,
Welcome to the Program & Have a Happy Conflict!
Spine tingling with an unexpected chill, her senses slowly faded - but not before she caught sight of one final message, lurking in the corner of her vision.
Cadet: Violet von Kanin
Unit: Wolf Squad
Designation: Wolf 1, Executive Officer
Status: Online
A brief surge of alarm shot through her brain, as she desperately focused on one line with her fading vision:
Designation: Wolf 1, Executive OfficerExecutive Officer...
Gasping for breath, she shot upright. Eyes still adjusting to the piercing desert sun, she blearily looked around, making out the shape of seven bodies...bodies, she realized, was in command of.
A shrill voice crackled through her headset. Nervously scanning her surrounding squadmates, she switched on the microphone and let her training take over.
"Wolf 1, Executive Officer...reporting for duty, sir."
Hourai the Wolf
It is among the laws of the wild that one must eat, or be eaten. This Hourai knew, and as she watched each cadet confidently strut towards their individual pods, she supposed that it wasn't too much of a stretch to apply it here, even amongst the most civilized of men.
I promised I would become great, renowned throughout the land. Well, here's my chance. I just have to make the most of it...before it's too late.Walking with all the pride and dignity she could muster, she strode pass several cadets, studiously ignoring them to the last; even the one who seemed to be stripping. Standing in front of a pod, she carefully removed her cherished brown traveling cloak, neatly folded it, and placed it next to her small pack of belongings. After some thought, she subtly bent down and moved it, so that it entirely covered the beaten and worn leather bag. she felt no shame, of course, as that would be undignified, it was just...complicated.
After some further deliberation, she climbed into the pod and navigated through the menus. Feeling a sense of smug satisfaction, she leaned back, relaxed and prepared, as the final message flashed before her eyes.
Body-software integration complete. Welcome back to ARIES: Cadet Hourai! You are scheduled for: The First Battle of Mogadishu, as Somali Militia OPFOR. Is this correct?... Thank You for your confirmation... Remember to always check your auto-eject before accepting the final synchronization. Thank you for using Aries and as always,
Welcome to the Program & Have a Happy Conflict!
...
She awoke to heat, and the bright Somalian sun. Climbing to her feet, she hefted a gun, felt the weight of cold steel in her hands.
"Variable Three, Acting Officer, reporting for duty, sir."
At last...the hunt begins.