Safe Dimension 001
Building 013, Residential Zone
"Okay then! Let get started then."
'Azisa' suddenly jumped up from his "cut-strings puppet" pose on the couch. He took stock of the room around him and was just about to start speaking again when the dark green box pinged and Tut popped out doing the lost phone dance as he did so. Looking around he quickly spied his gear in the popout compartment and quickly picked them up and rushed into the bathroom nearby. A few seconds passed before he came back out looking a bit red in the face and sat down on another couch without saying another word.
Azisa looked at him with slight disapproval on his 'face' before he said, "Well, since everyone is on board, let’s have a quick ice breaking session and discuss ourselves and how we might improve the team's capabilities. I'll go first, Team leader Azisa, i guess you could call me a techno-path, I'm a 3 star combatant, 6 star comms specialist and a 5 star chef. I like anime and ponies and my favorite color is purple. I do look forward to working with all of you" Smiling brightly, he sat back down on the couch and looked at the others expectantly.
An awkward silence began to build up as no one else got up to continue what Azisa had started.
Gemma could no longer bear as she erupted as she stood up frantically. "I'm Gemma and I'm a 4 star combatant and 3 star support technician and a ..........4 star scout" The last bit had been said as her volume decreased drastically throughout the entire sentence. She sat back down gingerly with a healthy blush on her face and refused to make eye contact with anyone.
Tut got up while still eyeing Rashida and said, “I’m Tut and I'm a 5 star combatant and a 2 star scout." Sitting back down immediately, he looked expectantly at Bink and Rashida.
Rashida sighed and said, "This is kind of pointless but I'm Rashida and I'm a 6 star combat medic and..." She had only gotten so far when Azisa suddenly interrupted her and exclaimed, "THIS IS POINTLESS,.... well, ok, time for another type of ice breaking session!" and fished out a TV remote from his trouser pocket and pressed a series of buttons on it. Before any of the four people sitting on the couch could say a word, a bright purple dot materialized in front of them and with a soft 'thump' all four of them suddenly fell back onto the couches with their eyes shut.
As Azisa looked around at his handiwork, he gently touched Tut on his forehead as though checking on something. Nodding his head in satisfaction, he turned to Gemma who seemed to have turned a shade of orange. As he tapped her forehead, he muttered, "Transmogrification.... no... rock puppet... nope..... ah just a self-defense mechanism, a bit too simple" Spending a few more moments considering her, he moved onto Bink and found that the middle aged man was fine as well though he did have an unlit lighter open in his hand. Nodding his head slightly in approval, he finally took a step and was just about to touch Rashida on her forehead when he suddenly stiffened. The scene could be said to have been frozen except for the ever present clacking of the keyboard by the guy who was still playing a game, seemingly unconcerned by the events taking place behind him.
Slowly, 'Azisa' split into 16 neatly cut portions, with bits of circuitry sparking being revealed as 'he' fell apart. eight horizontal cuts and one vertical made it look quite weird as his normal smile stayed on his divided face, though the light in his eyes faded quickly. A slight whirring noise sounded out as his eyes closed and with a quiet swish, several thin threads that had been spread all over the room was slowly reeled back in onto Rashida's person.
A few minutes passed before 'Azisa' walked in through the front door again and regarded his previous chopped up 'self' lying on the floor in between all the couches. With a sigh he bundled all the pieces up and put them into the dark green box and set it's timer to twenty minutes. He turned and began to check on Rashida once more. As he leaned down to touch her forehead, He stiffened once more as it seemed to look like deja vu. He split into sixteen pieces once more just like his other ‘self’ earlier.
After a few more minutes had passed, another 'Azisa' walked in through the front door and regarded the pieces on the floor once more. This time he bundled the pieces up and began to walk out of the apartment with those pieces muttering "repeating trap" in a perplexed manner.
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V-Amazon instance J0931, Server 06
Four people stared at each other as they fell towards the forest far below them. Two of them screaming hysterically at the sudden transition from sitting on a couch to falling from the sky. Bink simply stared at Tut as he tuned out Gemma and Rashida's collective screaming as he analyzed the approaching forest. Tut in turn, looked around himself with his jaws tightly clenched. As he looked past the similarly falling Bink, his expression changed. Bink caught the look and peeked behind himself only to see a flowerpot with petunias falling just like them.
And then all of a sudden, everything paused. Except the screaming, that took several more seconds to peter out as Rashida stopped and Gemma finally opened her eyes and shut herself up as well. As they looked around themselves in silence a cube materialized in between them.
"HEY!!, sorry about that but this seems better than just chatting around like a bunch of losers." Each side of the cube showed a screen of 'Azisa' as he cheerfully waved at the four impromptu skydivers. "So, the instructions are kinda a simple, when you land on the ground your mission will start. The details of the mission are on your comms so do have listen to it when you can. All four of you have the same objective but the plan and methods are yours to decide as a group. This is a training mission and is part of a virtual reality, as one of you has already guessed but I hope you won't take it lightly because of that. Your official training periods will be affected by your performance in this mission. Your equipment has been virtually constructed and will be delivered by parachute at the location you land at 2 minutes after you do. Communications and supplies for the purpose of the mission will be attached to the same. Remember our rationale as we will be inspecting your performance on the same basis. Alrighty then. Azisa out!" as the screens on the cube fizzled out with a fading image of Azisa giving them a mock salute. The cube itself shot straight up after that and three pings sounded out before everything resumed. Including one person's screaming.
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Sparkfly Fen, Maguuma Jungle
Two Rangers barraged their way through the Risen as their pet Wolves ran around attacking the stragglers that they were pointed out to.
Bowbeforethe1: my heal is on cooldown could u use urs
Syalus: get closer then
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
Bowbeforethe1: ty, switch to shortbow now?
Syalus: we dont need to run away
Bowbeforethe1: ahk, let the wolves take care of the last couple of them.
Syalus: ye, just gonna check the market for a better shortbow.
Bowbeforethe1: so what u think of the recruits so far? who knew gemma was afraida heights?
Syalus: they ok bink has the best progress tut isnt using his head like he should
Bowbeforethe1: and the girls? rashida is always trying to toy with others though it doesnt seem to work with bink
Syalus: he knows what she wants gemma is struggling with the code her family taught rashida needs to play
Bowbeforethe1: so u think theyre fine?
Syalus: barely
Bowbeforethe1: k, so why dint u say anything to them? or talk at all using your real voice ? im getting tired of only chatting with you through this game
Syalus: unnecessary right now
And then they both teleported back to the city.
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Prince sultan Air Base, Al Kharj
A group of men stood waiting inside a hangar as a private Cessna taxied in. The leader of the group stood in the center of the group and as his arms fell out of the folded position he had, the other men spread out keeping a distance of around two meters or so from each other. As the plane stopped, the door opened immediately and four women veiled in the traditional burqas rushed down, their high heels very noticeable to the leader. As the first woman reached the ground, the hangar door began to close and the lights inside came on. The four women hurried past the group, fear in their eyes, as they eyed at the leader of the group. Only one pair of eyes did not show fear but instead held the leader's eye contact for two beat before focusing on the door all four women were hurrying towards.
As the women exited the building with the door shutting beside them, a roar seemed to shake the entire hangar. It was almost animalistic in nature but listening closely it there was no anger in it. A huge man began to exit the aircraft. He was wearing desert fatigues and had a palpable sense of command around him.
As the leader watched him descend the stairs, he wondered how he possibly fit inside the cabin or even the onboard bathroom. Shaking his head in resignation, he raised a hand in greeting towards the titanic officer.
"HAHA!! MATE!! THERE YOU ARE!!! COME AND GIVE ME HUG!!!"
Sighing, the leader stepped forward and almost disappeared into the hug. A few seconds later he was released and he felt like he had stepped out of a tropical rainforest.
"STILL SCRAWNY AS EVER EH?" the giant rumbled as he let go the relatively tiny man.
Behind the giant, a woman and three men also got off the plane, all of them dressed in similar uniforms. They were all lean and sharp-eyed and they gave polite smiles at the man their giant had just hugged.
"THESE HERE ARE MY KIDDOS!! ELITE OF THE ELITE, EACH ONE OF THEM!! YOU'LL BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND BETTER WARRIORS ANYWHERE ELSE!!"
Turning to them, he continued in the same manner, "KIDDOS THIS IS NATE 'THE MATE' WILSON HERE. A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. HIS ORGANIZATION EVEN MORE SO!! HAHAHAHA!!" This evaluation made the four disciples wrinkle their brow as they realized that put this man on the same level as their leader, at the very least.
"Sure." Nate Wilson calmly waved off the introduction. "How was the ride over? Enjoyed yourself?"
"AHAHAHAHAHA!! YOUR ACCENT IS BARELY NOTICABLE, GREAT PROGRESS SINCE THE LAST TIME WE TALKED. YES, I DID. VERY DELECTABLE AND DURABLE, I MUST SAY!!! "
Nate chuckled
An odd quality to mention about prostitutes but then given the general's temperament and ways, it was miracle if any woman accompanying him to bed was able to move more than ten feet the next morning. Or even six women.
The General's voice finally relaxed a bit and he spoke in what seemed to be his version of whisper “Any chance you could find five more like them for my next journey?"
Better to get this over quickly.
The smile fading off his face, Nate said, "Well, that would depend on your choice, old friend."
General Sharan's face showed confusion for a moment before his the infamous vein began pulsing on his forehead. His eyes began sweeping the surroundings for any threats before settling on to Nate Wilson's eyes. He unleashed his aura as he lowered his center of gravity and waited. Behind him, his four disciples armed themselves and took up positions behind the giant scanning the area around them.
"What do you mean by that, my little friend?" The general's voice is surprisingly low. But still, very distinct.
Nate releases his aura as well and stares unflinchingly at the chipper old man in front of him. A feat only possible by less than fifty people worldwide.
General Hadiq Sharan is a legend in the military. Originally an officer in the SAS, he hopped around most armies, holding a position of considerable influence and command every time. Something unheard of before. Such were his skills. Being a soldier for so long, he finally 'retired' at the age of 62. The retirement was when he was awakened to the truth of the world and its society. There had never been an older initiate to the reality behind the working of the world and there hasn't been once since. More importantly, an initiate who was so old who could easily defeat all but the thirty strongest people on Earth within a month of awakening. His legend didn't stop there as he then setup a mercenary company, which is now known throughout the world and the best private contractor in most circles. All the time remaining neutral to both sides of the war despite offers and threats.
This was a man Nate Wilson had known for 20 years and had the utmost respect for. if not for his new allies and the plan they made, he would never have thought of doing what he was doing now to the General. But the chances for success and survival would improve drastically with the General with him.
"What I mean is that i have joined the nuthouse and I'd like to 'invite' you to join me." Nate said as though talking about everyday affairs.
The General snorted, "PAH! I doubt the word 'invite' is accurate! "
"Well my choice is made and I'd love nothing more than to see you join me of your own volition." Nate replied.
"Ahh! Youth is truly wasted on the young! as suppose I wish not to join?" the General asked in a low tone. His entire body screaming out that all hell was about to break loose.
"Then we part ways, immediately." Having said his part, Nate surreptitiously pressed down on a small remote.
The general's face immediately flushed and his eyes grew increasingly bloodshot. Even his huge body trembled intermittently. Despite all this, he did not move and he seemed to be ready to attack at any moment. At this point, his four disciples, as though in a dream, turned their weapons against him and pointed those weapons at various vital points on his body. The General's bloodshot eyes calmly regarded the four youngsters. Refocusing on the indifferent Irishman standing a few meters away from him, he slowly relaxed. Even Pulsy the vein on his forehead receded and he said, "Very well then, I accept. Let's do this."
Pleased, Nate pressed another button and the unnatural flush went away in a few seconds. The amiable giant from the beginning seemed to be back with the slightest hint of resignation visible on him.
"Excellent, do you need some help with your luggage?" Nate gestured toward the men who hadn’t moved once throughout the show.
"No, my luggage is smaller now due to my change of plans. I can handle my kiddos' stuff temporarily. I assume it is temporary?" his eyes glinted dangerously at that last question.
"No need to worry, they'll be up and about in a couple of hours. Won't remember this at all." Nate assured as he watched the General walk back to the aircraft.
I really did think he'd erupt and I'd be forced to make a move to subdue him. Is he finally getting soft with his old age? Or does he truly realize the wisdom of siding with us?
On the plane, the General hefted two large suitcases, each the size of his massive torso. Sighing in disappointment for a moment, he maneuvered them so that he could push them out of the cabin on his way out. Pausing by the cabin control panel, he pressed down on two buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds before releasing them. The screen blanked and he said, "Recruitment failed. Change mission type and duration." he paused as the screen began to make the changes. Once the flight was back over international airspace, the details would be broadcast to prevent local interception. "Mission type: undercover and duration: indefinite. Change call-sign from General to Captain." tapping the screen to restore the usual display, he walked out towards his smiling 'ally'.