The simulation of the forest arena is kind enough to portray chirping birds. Honey can’t see them, but she can definitely hear them. The leaves rustle with the wind, and Honey takes a step, smiling when her feet press into the mulch covered ground. The shadows from the trees fall on her, warm sunlight touches her skin, and she marvels at the different types of vegetation surrounding her. She knows everything is fake, and yet it all feels so real. The temperature, the breeze, the scent of pine and flowers, and the whistling of an arrow barely missing her head and impacting a tree trunk.
“Jeez!”
Honey runs to cover behind a tree and readies Thor-Ton. Then the arrow lodged in the tree explodes, flinging bits of broken wood and bark everywhere. Honey flinches from this, and a light blue glow is emitted from her cannon’s barrel. She hears footsteps rustling in the mulch, and she peeks out and sees Rocky moving with a bow in his hand and a quiver slung on his back.
Honey’s eyes narrow, and she slides out of cover and shoots at him. A ball of blue energy streaks across the forest and strikes just behind Rocky. The explosion throws him off his feet, but he quickly rolls back up and leaps away from another blue energy orb. The orb strikes a tree behind Rocky, and it groans and snaps as it tilts over, breaking other branches off of nearby trees. The impact shakes the ground, and Honey runs through the forest with her weapon raised.
Her heart is racing and everything feels just as heavy in the simulation as it does outside. This is aggravating, but she knows she’ll have to get used to this.
Honey sees Rocky duck behind another tree, and she shoots it with her cannon, blowing its center to pieces. That tree falls over just like the last one, and when Honey goes to the smoldering stump, she sees bits of blood on the ground some bloody splinters.
Honey frowns and looks around, keeping her weapon held tight. Her blue lines pulse to strengthen her muscles, and her eyes and ears strain for any sign of movement. Then she hears another whizzing noise, and immediately dives away. No direction planned. All reflexes.
The arrow hits the ground nearby and explodes a couple of seconds later, and Honey gets up in the kneeling position with her cannon’s dial turned down, and she unloads a barrage of multiple weak energy shots. The ground is kicked up and bits of trees are blasted off, and blue tinted smoke rises from Thor-Ton while dust lingers in the air. Then she hears running from her side, and she turns and aims Thor-Ton right as Rocky takes a leap and kicks her in the face.
Honey falls flat on her back with a bloody nose, and Rocky draws a long dagger and attempts to bring it down on her. Honey grabs his wrist, and he winces as her enhanced strength crushes his wrist, forcing him to drop his knife. Then she throws him off, climbs on top of him and attempts to punch him in the face. But he deflects and kicks her off, plucks his knife off the ground and with swift, fluid motion, he stabs Honey in the side.
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Honey screams and punches him in the jaw, knocking him down. Her enhanced strength leads to some of his teeth breaking loose, and blood pours from his destroyed jaw as he stumbles up. Honey's steps are wobbly as she backs up, and she grips the knife hilt but stops herself from pulling it out. Instead, she stomps towards Rocky and kicks him in the butt before he can fully stand up, sending him crashing into the ground. After that, she staggers to Thor-Ton with blood staining her corset and skirt, and dripping down her leg, and she picks up her cannon while turning the dial to maximum.
When Honey aims Thor-Ton at Rocky, an arrow hits her in the kidney, and she stumbles back and falls to her knee, cursing and clutching her wound. She looks up, glaring at Rocky with sweaty hair hanging in front of her eyes, and despite his jaw being wrecked, he manages to smirk at her. Honey grits her teeth, stands up with the help of her cannon, and when she aims her weapon, the arrow detonates.
In blink, Honey is laying on the ground. Her ears are ringing, but she doesn’t feel anything. She sees blood soaking the ground and her torn clothes, and bits of bone and flesh surround her and dot the trees and grass. Her heart gets weaker, her vision darkens, and Rocky stands above her, his jaw hanging in loose pieces. He lifts his boot, and then brings it down hard and fast on her face.
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Honey’s eyes snap open inside the simulation pod. The lights brighten, and a series of clicks move around the perimeter. The pod lid opens, and Frank calmly removes the sensors and straps. Honey’s heart is still racing and sweat coats her body and sticks her hair to her forehead and neck. When the straps are removed, Honey climbs out of the pod and falls to her knees, clutching her heart with one quivering hand keeping her propped up. Her breathing is raspy, and her eyes are wide as sweat drips off her nose.
Meanwhile, Rocky calmly gets out of his pod after he is released from the straps, and Honey looks at him with wide eyes and colors drained from her face. As she looks at him, Dr. Neda uses a device on her wrist to scan Honey. The device beeps and shows a chart of data, and the doctor smiles.
“I am pleased to say that you are fine,” says Dr. “A little rattled, but still okay. I did warn the developers that the simulation was too real, but you know how these people like their lack of limits. Now, I would advise you to relax in the recovery room until your nerves are under control. Complimentary drinks and snacks can be provided if you’d like. And cartoons will be playing for your enjoyment.”
Honey ignores the doctor and keeps her eyes on Rocky as he goes to his dressing room; but despite being ignored, Dr. Neda guides Honey to move into the sitting position. She keeps her eyes on the door, though. A few moments later, Rocky comes out of his dressing room, back in his normal clothes, and while he goes to the exit, he flashes a small smile and quick wave to Honey. Once Rocky is out of sight, Honey looks at Dr. Neda and swallows.
“I’m going to need those free snacks and drinks,” says Honey.