So I need to work on making these things a bit shorter. Over 6,000 words at a time is a little bit ridiculous for this format and setting.

Sword'sfun: Thanks for letting me know about the buffer line. Looking back it has been missing from everything I wrote which means that the site is editing it out. It does explain why a number of other stories have missing break lines, which is something I have been wondering about. I'm going to try some different things to see what works then go back and have to edit everything.

Kshall: I can't actually list it under its name because not enough people write fics for it. As for the strength of Alan's progression, that depends on how you count it. He won't get stuff falling into his lap like before, but skill and ability still count for a lot. Hopefully it will be a lot fun read.

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"Good of you to finally join us," Thiago said from the far head of the table. He was sitting slightly back with a relaxed but commanding pose that almost made him look like he was in a throne, and the way that his white coat looked almost like a cape on the chair behind him only enhanced that impression. It was a bit jarring considering the dirty and somewhat poorly lit bunker surrounding him. The others were making their way toward the table and I got the distinct impression that several of them had been watching the knife training.

"I had a student." Kitana answered, as though that ended the discussion. Surprisingly, though, it did. She took a place standing near the now open exit door, probably since there were only six chairs and nine of us. DaLong was already seated to Thiago's right and Aphrodite took the next place, a bit closer than absolutely necessary. KingArthor and MadMerlin sat opposite them and the final chair had already been taken by Daisy at one of the closer walls with Ace leaning against the wall next to her.

I took up a spot directly opposite Kitana near the door leading into the backroom where I could see the stairs leading up and out of our bunker. Thiago and his "throne" were to my left while the teleporter, Daisy, and Ace were to my right. Eve, can you figure out where we are? I asked.

According to the angle of the sun and the time of day cross-referenced with true and magnetic north I can give an exact longitude for our location but I can only estimate on longitude. Due to the temperature olfactory input I would assume somewhere near the coast in the center of the old State of California. I rolled my eyes at her lengthy explanation. And what was that about smells? Actually, come to think of it, I did smell salt-water.

Can you tell me where everything is once we get out? I did have you download all those maps after all.

Unlikely, while the initial topography hasn't changed the world has had the equivalent of four years to develop. Any and all non-geological landmarks would be suspect, and even some geological ones may have been modified due to the higher technology level and energy supplies available in The Game. Translation: I can tell you about what used to be there, but since one year in the Real World is four in the game (and people do crazy stuff in The Game) all bets are off. Great… So much for being prepared.

"We have around three hours till the first round starts, once that happens everyone knows what to do… with the exception of our newest addition." Was it my imagination or did he say the word 'addition' the same as someone might say 'stowaway'? "So Adam, is there anything of actual value that you can contribute? I've already heard about your low level, so do be honest if not."

I glanced over at Daisy and she shrunk down a bit at my gaze. Eve, what was that about the first round? Is that what the new timer is for? The new timer was ticking away in the corner of my vision, one that hadn't been there since partway through my training session with Kitana. Still, there were other things to worry about now. I shrugged and turned back to the table. "Actually, the level issue is working itself out, I've already gotten a couple more since I talked to Daisy. I can tell also tell you that we are most likely somewhere mid Calafornia near the coast, but I can't say much more than that without looking around. Perhaps I could go scouting or something for more information? We do have some time."

Several members of the group looked surprised and Thaigo narrowed his eyes. "And how exactly do you know that?"

"I dono. My AI told me." I shrugged and gave a cocky smile. "I think she said something about the saltwater smell, the angle of the sun, phase of the moon, and she might have even thrown some necromancy in there." Thaigo did not look happy with my answer and I decided to see if I could calm him down. "Seriously though, Eve has been all kinds of helpful. Maybe she could update your display with some of the information she has been feeding me? Also, please, call me Alan. That screen name was probably a joke from Icewolf."

The notification that you immediately dismissed upon entering this area described the format of this section of The Tutorial. There will be three rounds of increasingly difficult enemies with each round resulting in experience and credit rewards corresponding to your actions during and preceding the confrontation. Victory and high levels of contribution will net you greater rewards. Also the display you are seeing is something I am creating for you through your machine interface, the others are viewing the world essentially the same as in the outside world. Great, I had forgotten.

"Display? What are you talking about, Alan?" He paused a bit at saying my name, but seemed a bit calmer than before.

"Sorry, I have gotten so used to my machine interface and all the info my AI shows that I forgot that you would need some sort of display to see anything similar. What happens if I send you a map of the room? Do you get anything from it at all?" Eve, send him a simple map of the room.

It took a second and his eyes narrowed a bit, then he returned to normal and spoke. "I got it. I see a picture in my head, a bit like The Game's message system, but I got it." He paused very momentarily before continuing, "Can you update it in realtime?"

Can you update it in real time? Eve?

Eve sounded unhappy as she answered. Yes, though type of constant revision would be accomplished by sending multiple messages, reducing my processing power for other secondary tasks. Translation: Yes, but it would be hard, and I don't want to.

Could you do that, feed me the data for my weapon, and watch for surprise threats?

Yes… If Eve had been reluctant before she was positively resigned now. Then, with a mental sigh, she continued. I will need you to make contacts with each of the others in this group for it to work.

"My AI says she can but I'll need to make contacts with you all."

Thiago seemed to consider it for a moment then nodded. Suddenly I got hit by a wave of notifications asking to add people to my contact list. I momentarily wondered what this would be like for everyone else without the display but put that thought away for now. Only Daisy and Ace didn't send requests and Daisy accepted a request once I sent it to her. Ace, however, never did.

I shrugged at Ace, and then nodded to Thiago. "Got it. So then do you want me to go scouting after this? And what will everyone else be doing?"

"Yes scout," he said, almost as an afterthought, then continued entirely for my benefit. "The rest of us have spoken extensively before this and have worked out our roles in this test. KingArthor will be our tank, holding off any larger threats, while Kitana aids him on the frontline. I'll be midline along with DeLong and Ace; we will aid with guns and some possible melee if they get overwhelmed. MadMerlin, Daisy, and Aphrodite will take up the rear and support with healing and whatever else they can." There was more to it that he didn't go into, MadMerlin wiggled his eyebrows and smiled at me as though it was an explanation, but Thiago only charged ahead. "Alan, your job will be to stay out of the way once the fighting starts and not die. We get extra bonuses if the entire group makes it through and I don't want you spoiling it. Beyond that I don't rightly care where you go as long as you don't get in the way." I was truly overwhelmed with the confidence he had in me.

I didn't answer and he didn't wait long enough before continuing to give me a chance.

"DeLong has bought a personal shield generator, so we can go with our original plan instead of switching to one of the backups," there was some agreement around the table and DeLong bowed his head in acknowledgement, "He assures me that he can have it up and running on time but I would like for Ace to help him just in case, the tech is a bit more complicated than we were originally expecting. I'll be outside looking for a place to setup with Kitana while KingArthor and MadMerlin prepare for some fortification. Daisy should stay safe at a fallback location in case we need her and Aphrodite can stand watch. Any questions before we get to the nitty gritty?"

I spoke up quickly. "If I'm going to be going out scouting then it might be better if I didn't go alone, just in case."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Any volunteers?" Nobody spoke up but Kitana nodded slightly and that was enough. "Fine, Kitana will go with you. Don't make us regret this." If looks could kill I would have failed The Tutorial long ago.

After that they began talking in more detail about their skills and what they could do now that everything was transferred into The Game. Kitana was, of course, a swordswoman and Daisy was a healer, but some more of what they could do was surprising. Ace and KingArthor were both boxer of different styles, but Ace was more offensive focused while Arthor was more defensive. Arthor and DeLong were also both generalists with some odd secondary skills mixed in. It was a bit surprising to learn that Daisy was a judo black-belt, although she wasn't the only one, but no less surprising to know that Ace and Thiago both had 'anti-personnel demolitions' experience. They were skilled with landmines? Tactics were mostly Thiago and DeLong's thing but Kitana was named as third in command if that became necessary. I was unclear on what Aphrodite did, and MadMerlin promised "unholy retribution of the arcane sort" on anyone who became too much of a problem. I wasn't sure if I could believe the "Merlin" part of his name, but he certainly lived up to the rest. Also everyone could use a gun and, with the exception of Daisy who only had a taser and a stun gun and Kitana who only used a sword, everyone also had plenty of guns. Everyone except me, of course. I would need to find a way to fix that.

After that we all headed to our tasks and I quickly went to the bot to spend my points (basically putting everything into agility), grabbed a first aid kit (using up half my remaining 100 credits), then I made my way up the steps toward the outside. The first aid kit had been a demand from Thiago so that I could, and I quote: "have a slight possibility of being dammed useful," unquote. Kitana had gone ahead of me as well as most of the others. It was a beautiful afternoon and we were next to a clearing on the edge of a forest near the edge of a hill. The door was built directly into the side of the hill, making it seem like some sort of hobbit hole. It wasn't a particularly tall hill, but climbing it let me see for miles around, including what might have once been a fairly famous bridge.

We are currently located in Marin County, just opposite the San-Francisco peninsula, on a hill four miles from the remains of the Golden Gate Bridge. Topography remains largely the same but San Francisco itself is all but unrecognizable. I looked over in the direction marked on my mini-map, which is when I discovered I could make it zoom in and out with a thought. I first noticed that the Golden Gate Bridge had been cut in half, but what I saw next completely arrested my attention from that. Ahead of me the buildings of San Francisco looked like a jungle had taken over with vines encircling even the largest of buildings, reminding me of some B rated "made for TV" movie. It gave me a very clear understanding why Eve had called San-Francisco "unrecognizable". Do you want me to send the group the map along with a picture of San-Francisco?

Yes. Do it. I answered, mouth still open from the sight. It was miles away but I could still see it clearly, partially because the plants were just that big. Some of the leaves looked large enough to cover entire city blocks. Two of the plants were budding and a third had a giant purple flower pointed up toward the sun. It was both amazingly beautiful and horrifying. What was especially horrifying was when I stopped to think about what type of insect it would take to pollinate that flower.

"Where do you want to go first?" Kitana asked, seemingly far less interested in the sight then I was. I glanced around and saw a couple others staring just as I had been. Aphrodite had somehow made it up a tree and was not even trying to hide her interest, unlike several of the others who tried glancing during their work.

Eve, mark the previous locations of any police stations, hospitals, or similar emergency buildings. She did and I could see the closest was a fire department only a little ways down the road.

"This way, there is a fire department nearby and we should be able to get some info if nothing else. Maybe it even has something we could loot." I pointed down a road that led nearly strait there.

She nodded and started jogging with me struggling to keep up. I could see my stamina depleting slowly but there was nothing really to do about it. Oddly the pace we were going at meant that we went a lot faster than walking but also used up a lot less energy than running. Still, I knew I was going to end up feeling this later.

"What were your thoughts on the plan?" she asked after a couple minutes of jogging.

I glanced at her before focusing forward again. "I don't know if I can really say anything. You all seem so organized and experienced with real life combat experience. The only wars I've ever fought have been virtual."

It was a minute more before she spoke, this time her words were a good deal more fluid than before. "Please excuse my words, but I cannot find the right way to say it. You seemed somewhat upset at the plan. I was unsure if you thought the plan was unsound or if you were only dissatisfied with your own place within it."

Wait, had she just switched to Japaneese? I would have to ask her later. The real question for now was if I would err on the side of truth or optimism. Then I realized that I wasn't an optimist and Kitana honestly had some sort of code that would almost certainly not mesh well with lies. It took me a minute to figure out how to say it, though.

"The plan assumes that we are the more powerful party and backs us into a corner. The enemy has the chance to probe our defenses and pick their fight. If they are more powerful, if they can find a weak point big enough, or even if they can just randomly pelt us from afar till we fall by attrition than we loose. I'm not even sure if they have to "win", their goal might only be to make us loose, so suicide attacks become a good option for them. All I am saying is that we give up the initiative, and so all we can do is respond to whatever tricks they may have. That makes me nervous." I slowed to catch my breath, running and talking had tired me out.

She frowned and began speaking more haltingly again. "Do you believe us incapable of overcoming this obstacle?"

"What? No. Of course not." I waved off her words while walking forward. "This is a tutorial. Tutorials are supposed to be easy to let players figure out how to play and all that stuff. Also, you guys are way overpowered compared to any normal people I've ever seen. But the more you let your opponent do their own thing the more likely they are to get lucky." And honestly I didn't trust the universe to not to find some way to screw me over. After all, I wasn't once voted 'most likely to accidentally find the entire enemy team while they were readying an ambush' for nothing. Not that I was about to tell her that.

I continued. "Even so, I'm willing to follow your lead over it. So don't worry about there being any sort of problem there. What I really want to know is why you keep switching between English and your native language?" Hopefully she would get the hint and let me change the subject.

She cocked her head for a moment before answering in her not quite perfect English. "It is done to be precise and clear with my words. Not every word translates exactly as I would wish, so I want to choose the words for myself. Also I wish to know the more common language better and so I practice."

"I'm sure it can't be that bad. I asked the testing robot before and they told me that the translations take the thoughts and the intent of the words of the speaker and translates it to the words of the listener. Like a real life Babblefish or something."

We had almost reached the fire department but it looked looted and abandoned, if my roundabout guess was any good. Several of the bullet proof windows had been blown out and the main doors were no longer functional, one of them barely hanging by a single hinge and the other one completely missing. The doors for where the fire trucks went were lying in a heap across the street. Only one vehicle was left and it looked to have been burned, chunks were missing from the side facing the street, and a third of it seemed to have been sliced off somehow. As I looked around some of the walls seemed to show the same type of pockmarked appearance of weapon fire. Some of the other buildings we had passed had looked bad, as though they had been abandoned and some of the windows broken, but this place looked like it had come out of a war zone. Only a couple walls seemed to be left fully intact and one had some writing on it in large easily legible graffiti, so I headed over toward it. Across the street was a residential district that looked essentially untouched. It was an odd dichotomy.

"Babblefish?" she asked in an unsure tone. The heathen needs better reading material, I mused. "It is more of an issue than you know. An example: the word in your language is 'The Tutorial' while in mine it is 'The Testing'."

Now what was interesting. Not that I really expected much but: Eve, do you know why the words would be different in the different languages.

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Well, at least The Game was being consistent in shutting down all attempts at any information. I swear, if I ever get a hold of one of the main administrators of this thing I have no idea WHAT I would end up doing.

"That is definitely something to think about." I answered as we approached the wall with the graffiti. The only artistic ones were advertisements, and there was none of the normal tagging that was common with real world graffiti, but much of the information here was useful. For instance there was the writing saying "Fire station already looted, don't bother," with "Fire station" underlined and a list of other buildings, like the hospital and a couple malls, listed there as well. There was a warning that bringing in help would fail the tutorial, and another note under it telling that buying stuff was allowed, and a third one advertising special prices for those in the Tutorial. Also, lots and lots of advertisements. Most of the advertisements mentioned a location in the Marin Headlands but a few gave contact info.

"Kitana," I asked, "Do you know anything about being able to buy with players outside The Tutorial, or is that under the same type of rules as buying from someone in it?"

She silently shrugged, either indicating that she didn't know, didn't care, or both.

"One second, I'll ask someone." I said.

Eve, send a message to Daisy, I want to ask her to check with the Administrator's robot if we can buy, sell, or trade with people who aren't in The Tutorial.

Do you want to create a verbal line of communication or simply a text communication?

Wait, I can do that? Sure, send a text.

You will have to specify your exact wording of the text, as the rules governing AI do not allow me to do so.

Some of the rules seemed confusing as heck, but there would be time to try to figure those out later. Right now I had more important things to focus on. I gave Eve the words of the text and waited. A couple minutes later I got a reply.

Wow, that was weird, the words just popped up in my head. I went and asked the android in the other room and he said that it was ok but that it was "inadvisable" due to a multiplier being applied to your credits at the end of the Tutorial.

Thanks. I sent to her and turned back to Kitana. "Apparently you can buy and sell stuff to and from other players who aren't in The Tutorial." From there I started looking back over the wall to find the right people to contact.

"Hm. Not important right now." She answered after a few seconds thought. "You have no money to buy with and the only things you have to sell are your clothes, some food, your backpack, and the knife."

"Actually, that isn't quite the case."

From there I started contacting the screen-names on the list that seemed or advertised to be more intelligence based. The first couple "calls" were a complete waste. The first was a government operative who wanted me to turn over any crucial information "for the good of all" without any reward and the second obviously just wanted to cheat me. The third was more of a general information retailer but, while they couldn't help me, they did direct me to someone who could. Apparently there was a major information firm, called the Thought Emporium, that might be willing to deal for it.

Hello, this is EmporiumAgentEarth865. How can I help you today? His voice was pleasant but had an odd tone to it I couldn't place.

Hello. I'm a player going through The Tutorial right now and I would like to trade some information for some supplies.

Hm. Sounds like you are part of the most recent group to come through. That means you wouldn't even have accurate information about what the first round includes. So that meant I could sell the info I got about the first round later? That was something I should probably remember.

Actually I had some information about the United World Government meeting before The Tutorial started. Would that interest you? I was hoping that they hadn't heard about the attack, but if that didn't work than all I really had to work with was the info about the bomb.

Yes, yes. That is old news. The Legion of Man or somebody attacks every time. We also know about the bomb that went off in the stadium. If that is all than I have other important things to be doing. Damn and double damn. I had to think of something quick, he sounded a bit exasperated and I was a bit worried he would hang up.

Er, um. Actually there were two explosions, the second one was bigger than the first. I was running out of ideas at this point. The only other one I had was what I had learned from the hack, but that would out me as having been in their system.

Really now, what do you know about that? Oh thank god, (if they exist) it worked.

I can tell you, but I will need some supplies in return.

He paused a second. What do you want?

I will need a map of the area, a gun that I can use, I glanced over at Kitana who was giving me curious glances as she surveyed the area, and a sword I can use.

Another seconds worth of pause, and his voice with that weird accent came back. Done. I will, however, add onto the contract an insurance policy of 10,000 credit debt if you try to lie to me.

That's fair. I answered. And I'll add on the same for if you try to cheat me by giving me less than fair value for the information.

There was an incomprehensible grumbling sound before he answered. Where are you now?

I'm in front of the burned out Marin Fire Department on Drake Avenue. Do you want me to tell you the information now so you can figure out what value of supplies to bring as proper compensation?

Are you crazy, this is an unsecured line!? He shot back immediately. I'll come to you in about 20 minutes and trade money for info and supplies for money. Fair?

Fair. I answered, and he had already hung up on me. What was that about an "unsecured line"? I would have to ask about that later.

"What happened?" Kitana asked.

"I managed to find someone who will trade my information for supplies, including a map." She narrowed her eyes slightly and I continued quickly. "Not about you guys, about the explosion that knocked us around when we were on the Titan."

Her eyes returned to normal and she shrugged her shoulders. "I fail to see how that information would be useful to anyone."

I smiled. "You might be surprised. Someone always wants to know. A crashed ship may mean the business that owned it might have some trouble or it might change how the owners approach risk. I don't know what big companies want with all their information, all I know is that they want it and are sometimes willing to pay for it through a middleman."

"You seem knowledgeable about this. I would not have expected it from one who played with children's toys all day."

I rolled my eyes, then started in earnest. "Professional gaming is a full time job where you can be working an average of sixteen hours a day sometimes. Starting out, once you do make it 'professional' you can expect living expenses but no actual income unless you win. You also never see anyone truly fat or with any major disabilities since they just can't take the stress and keep up with the quality workload expectation. Nobody, and I mean absolutely nobody, who makes it to that level is playing games." My words had become a bit harsher as I had spoken. Yeah, I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder when it comes to this subject. I can't tell you how many times I've had someone say how lucky I am to be playing all day long or ask me when I will get a "real job". That is actually why I don't talk with my parents much anymore. Still, I doubt Kitana had meant it that way. "Sorry about that. Gaming was hard work and it was my life for years. I tend to be a bit oversensitive about it."

Kitana nodded and drew her sword, her original one. "I understand. I too have been mocked for my dedication. For my honor." She looked at it as she spoke, moving it one way and the next as though she were slicing at the air. It was a beautiful blade and I could see some form of etching along the side creating symbols I could not understand. It was a quiet moment. Then she returned the blade to its sheath and it was suddenly over.

I waited a couple moments before speaking. "So, yeah." I said, a bit uncomfortable at breaking the silence. "As I was saying, information can be powerful. We had spies running over to the other clubs all the time and they had the same trying to see what we were doing. Even the slightest information about what the other guy was doing could decide a battle. So I'm not surprised that a company would be willing to come out here to meet us for the chance at some good information. I'm not surprised one single bit. No use complaining about it, you've got to learn from it and make the most of it."

Kitana nodded then walked over to a heavy plank of wood, drew her new sword, and started hacking at it. It took something like eight swings, but she had reduced the solid peace of wood into what looked like a narrow arrow cut in half down the center. Holy crap that thing was sharp, I saw it leave several slices in the concrete under the board. It was both effortless and left the sword without a single sign that it had even been used. I thought my implant was powerful, but holy crap I may have been wrong. After this she calmly put the sword away, threw me half of the arrow, then took her half up as though it was a dagger. "Practice," she said.

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By the time the small shuttle landed next to us I was pretty well exhausted again. It wasn't all bad, though, since we had figured out what I needed to do to get up to both Intermediate and Expert level with my knife. To get to Intermediate I needed perfect precision and expert reactions to another attacker. Eve helped with that one and I was able to get up to that level of proficiency. To get to expert I needed to have "creativity" and "flow" and to "feel the blade"… whatever that was supposed to mean. Both Eve and I really sucked at that part. Kitana did her best, but I just wasn't getting it. Finally I tried explaining to her how I was "learning" so fast, how it was because I was simply copying the actions and reactions with extreme precision.

She had only shaken her head. "Mastery is easy, all most people need is time. To become a Master is truly difficult. You are only faster at the first step then most, this is nothing to becoming a Master." Then she continued training me, as though I had said nothing. I was actually relieved when the shuttle had arrived.

And seriously, it looked like a "shuttle" from Star Trek, The Next Generation. Stub nose with an see-through viewing area like the front of a van, a back that opened completely for space for cargo, and it even had a couple of glowing skis below it right where the thrusters would be. When the man stepped out of it he looked like a completely normal businessman except that his businesssuit was armored and missing the tie, and he himself was grey. Grey like his skin was from a black-and-white movie or like he was a drow; while the rest of him seemed completely normal.

Right, space has aliens. Stop staring, Alan, and get on with it.

The other man, on seeing me, went first and a pop-up appeared with the trading contract. I had to ask Eve about it, mainly how to modify it to include the part about him not cheating me (he had conveniently forgotten to include it), but she also let me know that this was how most transactions went. An offer is made, both sides agree, and then it is basically in The System; for better or for worse. She used much bigger words and gave more exasperated sighs at my inane questions, but I thought you would want the condensed version.

Once that was done 'EmporiumAgentEarth865' was right to business with his strange accent. "Ok, lets hear what you've got."

"There was a second explosion at the meeting, this one was caused by one of the new-player transports running into one of the buildings. The explosion was big enough to shake a Haxlordian ship, so I doubt there were any survivors."

He started some sort of semi-nervious tic with his hands. "Really now? Was it pilot error? Or sabotage perhaps?"

"Nope, they got hit by a Legion of Man fighter after it was damaged…" I considered weather or not to say how, then figured that Pharaoh was an ass to me when I had done nothing to him so why not return the favor? "… by a haxlardian ship."

"Very good, very good indeed." He said, wringing his hands a bit more excitedly, "and you wouldn't by any chance know what ship it was that went down?"

I asked eve and she told me. "Transport j45hdt4t3, headed toward Mars colony." I said, then continued."Also, if you wouldn't mind, I would rather my name not be linked with this information"

"I can arrange for that, my source will not be for sale." I noticed, though, that he said nothing about not keeping records of it. Nothing I could do about that.

"It looks like you are happy with my product. Now, about the other half of things…"

"Yes, yes. You have done well." He disappeared back into his ship then returned with a couple of weapons in container and a pad. Suddenly I had two notifications, one for a request to transfer funds to me and one to transfer them away. I wondered why this intermediate step rather than just transferring the items directly.

The dealer is attempting to take advantage of the credit multiplication that takes place for new players at the end of The Tutorial. By adding this step he ensures a better return on his investment. Eve explained.

Ah, it's an accounting thing. I clicked yes for both messages and he handed me the weapons and the pad, which Eve immediately started downloading.

"You had some good information, good enough that this won't quite cover it." He said with a bit of a smile, "Come to the Thought Emporium later and I can make sure they give you special treatment."

I nodded. "So what do you think are our chances for the Tutorial?"

He gave me a sideways glance and then answered with a shrug. "They say that each round only has a one percent passing rate, but that is across everywhere. The harsh truth is that, around the galaxy, humans and other low base value races are known as 'barely sentient'. Most races average starting at around level one or two hundred, some higher. Your race barely hits fifty, and that is with the best of the best going in first."

I gave a sour smile as what he said hit me.

"Hey kid, I give it to you straight. I don't deal in fake information."

I nodded solemnly. "Thanks."

"You got it kid, now is there anything else before I go?"

It took me a moment before my mind jumped back into gear. "Actually, these energy weapons are a bit new to me. Can you show me how to use them?"