Up down spin kick repeat, up down spin kick repeat, up down spin kick repea-
"Really Oregon? Still training at this hour?" Asked a voice from behind me. I stopped and turned, seeing a freelancer in all white armour. Wyoming, who was one of the only older freelancers who actually respected me. I sighed and turned my back on the sparring AI that the director had suggested we used, I for one though they were about as useful as the stationary clay targets we had. All they could do was keep their arms squared and send a right handed jab or left handed hook every few moments, it was easy to find the pattern and I had already broken seven in three hours. I turned his attention to Wyoming, the older man's hand straying to his luxurious moustache. I chuckled, and cocked my head to the side,
"And what hour might that be dear old Wyoming?" He raised his arm and pulled back the sleeve on his black cotton shirt to look at his watch,
"Exactly one thirty seven AM young chap!" He responded grinning from one tip of his moustache to the other.
"Well you seem to be up aswell," I bantered back extracting a laugh from his lips.
"Only because I was woken up by your training alarm, since you weren't in the room, I figured you were here." My lips quirked up, "And I was right," He added.
"Well aren't you a britty detective." He shook his head, taking on a slightly more serious expression,
"You really should rest Ore, you have a match against Alaska tomorrow and if you want any chance at winning, you need to be well rested."
I shook my head but his expression turned light again, knowing that he had won the discussion I nodded pulling my helmet off and smiling at him, though the smile didn't quite reach my eyes.
The blaring sound of my alarm shook me awake, I groaned and opened my eyes, Wyoming was stepping out of our washroom a towel tied around his waist.
"You better get yourself up if you want to eat anything mate," I turned and looked at the clock on my dressed and rolled out of bed, already pulling off the shirt I had used as pajamas as I headed to the bathroom Reggie had left. Not reggie, I scolded myself internally, just because I knew him before the project didn't mean I could call him by his name. I wasn't even supposed to know about him. I closed and locked the bathroom door behind me looking at myself in the mirror, I noticed that even though it had only been in the project about four months, and my body was remarkably bigger than it had been the first day I found himself looking in my mirror(Even if I was still huge when I joined). I shook the train of thought away, running a tired hand through my curly blond hair, well it really was more of an ivory colour than blond. It was strange but so were his eyes. They were yellow, not like a cats but a pale yellow with specks of brown in them. I chuckled at my strange appearance and turned the shower on, not waiting for the water to warm up before I stepped in. I shuddered as the cold drops shifted to hot pellets in a matter of seconds. I welcomes the warmth and I began leaning backwards, still not used to the short showerhead. I banged my head on it and stumbled forwards slightly rubbing the agitated area on the back of my head. These showers were too damn small, these bathrooms were too damn small, these living quarters were too damn small! I wasn't used to it. At my previous house everything had been made to suite me, so it was tall. I was quite well.. big. I was 6,6. Tallest of the project(besides from Maine who was two inches taller than him), and weighed in at a strong 234 pounds, though I doubt an inch of it was extra skin. It was all muscle. I knew people look at me like some kind of giant monster, hell I heard them talking about it but it's not like I could help it! It's the way I was built! Same thing for Maine I imagine.
I turned around and turned the knob for the shower making the water recede to a slow drip. I climbed out and grabbed a towel, running it through my hair then drying my body. I tied the towel around my waist and left the room. Wyoming had left so I was alone to change. I pulled on my polyester bodysuit and jogged to the cafeteria. I tapped my hand against my leg impatiently. While trying to ignore everyone's stares, (I suppose I was the only one in the polyester uniform, but even the other freelancers were staring! I mean they wore it all the time!) I shook my head as the lunch lady offered me juice.
"Just buttered toast please." I muttered with a somewhat urgent undertone. She nodded and walked into the kitchen. A few moments later she came back out and handed a piece of buttered toast to me. I nodded gratefully and shoved it into my mouth as I began to run the the men's locker room. I supposed I didn't want to fight Alaska but he was being a jerk and needed to be taught a lesson, I mean he made fun of Florida when he got injured in battle! That man was the sweetest person I knew. He didn't deserve to be ridiculed. Plus, as third wavers, we were supposed to respect the veterans of the project. I jogged into the locker room and over to my locker. Expertly putting in the combination to my lock I swung the small door open with a bit more force than I intended. I knew I was nervous. I was huge that's true but Alaska was skilled. Really skilled. I grabbed my infiltrator armour, it was a dark blue with yellow highlights, personally I loved the colours together. I began putting it on, starting with the chest piece on. It fell into place and I put my codpiece on. Then came my shin pieces, the boots, the bracers and the gloves. I finally grabbed my helmet from my locker and tucked it under my arm.
"Agents Alaska and Oregon please report to the training room for your scheduled match in ten minutes." The motherly robot, FILSS. I smiled, I liked her and I suspected she liked me. Well if AI of her intelligence level could like people. As I made my way out of the locker room Alaska walked in. I could tell he was glaring at me under the black visor of his pure forest green deadeye armour. As he walked by me he shoved his shoulder into mine. Gosh! He was so damn rude! I had had enough.
"Hey!" I called after him. I sensed him tense and turn to face me,
"What is it you gigantic idiot?" He snarled at me.
"Save you anger for the match." I snapped back, I didn't want to fight him here. It wouldn't end well and I suspected that we'd both be in large amounts of trouble, but I doubted I'd be able to stop myself.
"Or what?" He replied, his voice full of acid. I was beginning to smile.
"Or there won't be a match." A said in a factual voice, that at least I though was threatening.
"Why not, you finally going to give in to you nature and run away you little baby?" I could feel the anger building up inside me. I hated when I got like this, In battle I wasn't usually like this. Unless I was mad, normally in battle I was calm.
"No because I'll bash your skull in so hard, your brain won't be able to send the proper signals to get your body to move to get to the match." I retorted beginning to draw myself up, using my high as what I hoped would be a scare tactic. He paused for a moment, but I wasn't a complete idiot, his hand was inching towards hi magnum at his waist. I was about to spring on him, I would have if Maine hadn't walked in. I was thankful but at the same time disappointed. I wanted to rip his spine out in private so the other agents couldn't stop me.
"Hey guys," He seemed to notice the tension between us, I mean I was breathing heavier than an angry bear and Alaska was absolutely heaving with rage. "Uh you two should really get to the training room, the match is starting soon.." His voice trailed off and I nodded reluctantly, slightly stiff.
"Right, see you there Alaska." I put as much acid into the last word that I could and I turned and left the room. I made my way to the training room, eager to sweat out the anger coursing through my veins. When I finally got in the arena I went to my side and eagerly looked over the table that had the weapons on it. I grabbed two laser headed tomahawks. Of course the laser only set your armour into lockdown mode. That's why it was laser, so we didn't kill our team mates. I put the tomahawks on my back, then grabbed a magnum and a saw, I quickly grabbed two grenades and backed away from the table, it began to slowly sink into the ground and Alaska came into the room and simply picked up a battle sniper rifle and a knife. Strange choice of weapons but I suppose to each their own.
"You ready for this Al?" He saw Alaska flinch as he used a shortened version of his name. It sent temporary glee through me and I pulled out my saw checking to make sure it was loaded.
"You really should be asking yourself that Oregon." He snapped back. I grinned and cracked my neck, I looked up at the observation room and noted in surprise that many vet agents were actually there, including North, South, Maine York, and even Carolina. Flowers was cheering loudly enough that I could somewhat hear him through the glass separating us. I was pretty sure that all of the third wave agents were there. Even some techies and regular soldiers were there watching. It made me momentarily happy. But then I saw Alaska's green armour and the content was chased away by fury.
"Alright bad boy, let's get this party started." I grinned under my helmet, "Start the match FILSS!" I called to the AI.
"Certainly!" She replied in her usual upbeat tone, "Rules will go as followed, first to get hit three times by either blade or paint losses." She listed the rules that we had all grown accustomed to.
"Setting up moving defences," She spoke to herself as blocks started to rise and fall all around us at a low steady speed, the pattern was seemingly untraceable. "Starting training match in Three… Two… One… Begin!" I had lost sight of him at this point and I imagine he had lost sight of me aswell. I made my way into the maze of blocks slowly.
I grinned to myself, this… Was going to be fun.
