1.1.1.1 I'd like to say sorry for any mistakes I might have made. There's
probably a few.
1.1.1.2 Chapter 3
A very loud siren woke me up the next morning. I climbed out of bed realizing I had fallen asleep with my clothes on. Cursing softly I looked around. Everyone else was crawling out of their beds as well, just as groggy as I was.
"Is that a fire alarm or something?" Jet asked hoarsely.
V laughed and yawned at the same time. "Oh, no, we're not that lucky. That's your new alarm clock. Guarantied to wake ya up daily."
Someone pounded on the door.
"Come in, it's open!" Pen yelled at the same time that Nat opened it.
A woman shoved a bundle of clothes at him. "Every one get up and change. Here are your uniforms for this week. Have your I.D. with you and be quick in changing. Head back to the main hall when you're done," she said, then left.
"Nice to see you too," Nat yawned as he closed the doors and began to hand out uniforms.
I was too tired to care about changing in front of the guys. Getting up at five in the morning could do that to you. It didn't matter much anyway, I never had much of a chest and with my breasts bound no one would notice as long as I kept a light tank top on under the rest of my clothes.
I left the room quickly, trying to decide which way I was supposed to go, and just ended up following the crowd of tired grumpy recruits.
A man was waiting on the platform over looking the room for everyone to get there. Several people stood behind him, including the woman who had given us the uniforms. When everyone had arrived the man began to talk.
"I am Commander Blake. For most of you I will be in charge of your beginning training. For a select lucky few after the first few days you'll be transferred to a higher level of training headed by one of the people behind me. Today you'll go through the same fighting drills you did before in your first tests, after that you'll go through some new ones. Anyone who excels will move on to harder tests in that field, all the rest of you will go to the basics and learn how to excel. Keep in mind that until you're off the training level you can be kicked out of Oz, so you should still try.
"Every one should be at a harder test by the end of the first two weeks. If you can't do that then you'll be packing your bags and out of here. By the end of the first month you should be at the lowest the forth level. Anyone who's been to advance training before should make it there easily. You'll have to pass at least the eighth level with flying colors to be transferred to a specialized trainer in that field. You must also pass all the tests in a different field to at least the fourth level, as is a minimum requirement for to remain in Oz with any position.
"For the first four days we'll run you all through tests in basic combat, mechanics, piloting a mobile suit and computer programming. There will be one day for each segment of the testing. You move on to the next level until you fail. Once everyone has failed a level we stop for the day, and if you haven't past the first four levels you train till ten-o-clock if it's not past that already. You can watch the others take the test once you're out."
Blake looked around the room sternly, "If you are already in Oz, you know who you are, and you don't pass the requirements for you position you're back to a trainee, and have to re-earn every title you have, start from scratch." He stepped back.
Another man walked up, explaining he was the basic combat instructor. The first test would be your accuracy with a gun and hand-to-hand fighting. Only the first two tests had hand to hand, since it wasn't used much but was still considered to be an important fighting skill.
The day went well. First was boxing, nothing hard, just normal punching. Then, if you wanted to, you could learn a little of some other fighting skills. I joined the martial arts section, having a little training from Poe who had learned from his father, WuFie. I wasn't the best there, but far from the worst. That was the first level test.
The next one was a little harder, a very, very little harder, but still some. To pass the second test you had to shoot a target with a handgun from thirty feet six out of ten times, you couldn't have entered Oz unless you could do that. After that you had to beat an Oz basic pilot. The pilot wasn't that good and he was purposely being worse than he was. No one failed that test, either. The third test was about the same thing, but only shooting.
Number four you had to hit a target at fifty feet, seven out of ten times. The target was considerably smaller than the first two. About half the people dropped out of that, I wasn't one of them. The next test went through five types of guns, shooting stationary targets at different distances. Sixth test you used the same weapons, but the targets were moving. You could only miss three out of twenty. I could hit them all, but 'accidentally' missed four of them. No one passed the eighth level, but about twenty people got there. Two of those twenty happened to be my new friends, V and Max.
Good pilots and shooters, I'd have to challenge them to a friendly competition sometime, I thought with a grin.
That was it for today. It was over by noon.
I went back to my room and changed into some casual cloths, putting my new uniform next to the second one I had been given.
The next day was the mechanic tests.
Again we were woken up at five in the morning. This time most of the people were a little ready for it. I had gone to sleep about eight-thirty after playing cards awhile with Pen and Nat. The three of us were just fine, though the rest of our group didn't look quite as cheerful. It hadn't taken long for me to be considered part of the group. I just sort of was in. No one seemed to mind so I didn't either.
The tests started with cars. Everything from changing a battery to changing a tire. Then it moved on to other things, mostly taking apart and fixing it. Then we were assigned to pairs. I was put with Alex Jefferson. It didn't take me long to learn he didn't really know what he was doing. On the forth test each group was given a mobile suit. I wondered how many suits they had to screw up to get ready for this test. But to my surprise there were quite a few people out already. I guess that not everyone knew how to fix things.
We were given half an hour to figure out what was wrong with the suit and do what we could to fix it. We didn't have to have it fixed, just be on the right track. I was guessing that at some point we would need to have it fixed. When that test came around I'd be out. I could fix household stuff but nothing as technical as a mobile suit, though I was pretty good on RedZero.
Alex and I made it through the fourth test but flunked the fifth, where, sure enough, you had to fix a mobile doll. Neither of us had a clue what to do, but we did our best.
The rest of my group, except for Rob, was out by the sixth test, but Rob made it all the way to the ninth. V explained that Rob was one of the best mechanics in oz, and the second best on this colony. His first time in the tests he had made it to the eight level, a very rare occurrence.
The next day was my favorite. Piloting.
The first two tests were on aim and accuracy. I think about twenty people didn't pass the second test and only one failed the first. In the third test we had to take on a very slow and easy to beat mobile doll. I think that should have been the first test, but that was my opinion.
In the forth test we were once again given partners, but this time they weren't preplanned. They gave everyone a number, you had to find the other person with your number and then get into a pair of space Leos. If one person in your group gets out you have to fight alone through out the remainder of the tests. The pair is supposed to show how well people work together as well as give you a better chance of pacing.
When it was my turn I walked up to the machine, typed in my name, and took the tab that came out of it. Walking into the middle of the room to wait for the other person with my number I smiled to myself. My tab read 13, my lucky number.
Some people went around asking other people their numbers, some just stood still and shouted out their own, waiting for their partner to find them. I just stood still, answering the people who asked for my number and waiting for the crowds to thin out.
"Hey Conway, what's your number?" I heard Max say.
I turned to face him, "thirteen, and yours?"
He frowned, "I was hoping to have your number, but I'm one-hundred eleven." He smiled at me, "Good luck though. I have to make it to the ninth level or I'm knocked down a rank, maybe I'll see ya there."
"Maybe," I said, and he left to find his partner.
"So you're thirteen?" I heard V ask. I turned to face him, wondering why people always asked me questions when they were behind me. He held up his tab, "So am I." Sure enough his had the same number on it.
"Well, what-do-you-know," I said, "I guess we're partners then."
We headed for the Leos.
"It's a good thing I'm partners with someone who knows what they're doing. Last test I had I was with a guy who was horrible, he was out by the sixth level and wouldn't have made it that far if I hadn't saved him a few times."
I laughed. "So what level do you have to make it to?" I asked him.
"Like Max, level nine. I'm a superior pilot, it shouldn't be hard," he said sarcastically. "What they really mean is I don't care if it's hard, make it look easy. Level nine isn't easy, level ten is harder. We don't have to pass level nine, just get there, so I should be able to make it."
I nodded. Soon we reached the Leos, and were issued a pair of them. The test was explained simply. We'd face two mobile dolls that were the equivalent of another pilot. We could talk to our partners over the intercom hooked up between suits. It would be a mock battle so no one really gets hurt, but our suits would act as if they had been hit wherever they might have been hit, so you would have the same damage to your suit as you would in a real battle.
I looked over the suits system. Everything was operating normal, nothing was out of the ordinary. Each suit had a beam rifle, and when that ran out of ammo a machine gun. The bullets where fake, kinda. You'd see the shots but the wouldn't hurt. Until the battles become real we have only our first two guns, the ammo can't be refilled, so we'd have to be careful.
They had multiple areas were the mock battles would take place, all outside the colony. They'd go by number, twenty battles at a time. Since we had number thirteen we were one of the firsts up.
V and I were sent off into space, followed by two dolls.
"Careful not to waste shots, we only have so much," V reminded me over the com.
I smiled to myself. I'd make my shots count, it wouldn't be too hard in this first battle, maybe in the next but not this one. I flew up and around the dolls so that I was behind them. One turned to face my, but I shot it before it could do anything, V shooting the other at the same time. Their lights turned off and they floated back towards the colony.
V and I followed them back.
Inside we hopped out of the suits to see what was going on. A couple of people had already gotten out, but most made it with out a problem. The rest of the forth test went about the same.
The fifth test was similar, the difference is we were against four dolls, two were the same difficulty as before and the other two were about double the ability. By the time it was over more than half the people were out of the game. V and I hadn't had a problem yet.
Next test, against seven Virgos. I ran through my data of this particular doll. They were stronger, faster, basically better, than the suit I was in. they came with a beam cannon and planet defensor and one on one would beat most pilots. Of course, that's why they have mobile dolls.
"You know, this would be a whole lot easier if this suits came with all their normal weapons," I said over the com. system.
V only laughed.
This fight could be that much harder than the exam to get into Oz. We would make it.
We went out to our sections again. After about twenty seconds Virgos began leaving the colony in each of the designated sections. I saw quite a few people alone, their partners already gone. As the dolls came towards us I ignored everyone else. I slowly drifted away from V, heading steadily to the right. Four of the dolls came with me. I was actually hoping for that, not really knowing how well V was and not wanting to be stuck with seven Virgos to deal with in a low power suit.
The dolls separated: one to come from above, one from the right and left and one strait towards me. I went up, shooting at the doll there. It moved before I hit it. Cursing steadily I fought on, quickly turning around and firing again. I hit a Virgo, but it wasn't down. Turning quickly I shot again, hitting and getting rid of a doll which had come up behind me. One down, three to go. All three fired at me at once. I moved quickly, not quite quick enough to avoid getting grazed. Nothing much happened, I just got slower. Actually, a little slower, I was already slow.
I kept moving, heading closer to V. The dolls he was facing (there was only two now) turned to face me and fired their beam cannons. I dove down, the expected shots going over me and hitting a doll that had been behind me. The shot 'killed' it, bringing me down to just two dolls, and with V taking out a Virgo when they faced me he only had one.
The Virgos pulled back, all three of them. I moved closer to V, also regrouping. Then fired a few shots at the dolls, surprising them and hitting the one I had hit the first time. It took damage again, but was still in. The other shots went into nowhere, and I noticed I didn't have much power left on the rifle.
"Shit," I muttered.
V answer, "What?"
"My rifles close to gone," I explained.
"Damn, mine too," V said.
The dolls came again in a formation that tried to separate V and me. I glared at the Virgos, even though they couldn't see me. Backing up a bit, I shot at them instead of moving. They returned fire but I dodged all their shots. When I got my chance I headed over to V. If they wanted us to stay apart we'd better stay together. V shot a doll while I was on my way to him and I took care of the weak one, both of us took care of the last doll, using our spare guns because the rifles were out of ammo. And we were the first ones inside still in the tests.
That makes you feel good.
After the sixth test we were down to about forty, maybe forty-five people. Again we had to listen to Commander Blake explain things.
"You are all very good, else you wouldn't have made it this far," Blake said. "So now we are going to see how well you do in a different suit, which none of you have used before. Everyone without a partner will be partnered up with someone else. Each partner will use a different suit, the two of you can figure out who uses what."
Blake turned to a screen, which suddenly came on. He used a pointer stick thingy to point to a suit that looked very much like a Cancer.
"This, like you may be guessing, is a Cancer. But it is not like the ones we use on Earth, in fact it is very different. It has the same basic properties but has been modified to become stronger, and to be used in space." The screen changed to a list of abilities.
Fighting ability: 100
Weapons ability: 110
Speed ability: 130
Power ability: 105
Armor Materials: Titanium Alloy
Armaments:
4x torpedoes
2x beam cannons
1x gattling gun
Again the screen changed, this time to a Virgo.
"Yes," said Blake, "this is a Virgo. But not a mobile doll. It is exactly the same except it is only as good as the pilot who controls it. This suit will only be used for people who are better than the doll, else it won't be worth using. You have all proven to be so, allowing you to be some of the first pilots to test it."
The screen changed again to abilities.
Fighting Ability: 130
Weapons Ability: 140
Speed Ability: 125
Power ability: 110
Armor ability: 120
Armaments:
1x beam cannon
4x planet defensor
The screen turned off.
We were led to our pair of suits and I stared at them. I had never been in a Cancer, so I only knew the basics. They hadn't told us what we would be up against, so I didn't have a clue what to go with. The Virgo would be a little more familiar, just because of the shape. The Cancer was more shaped like a crab, kind of.
"What do you want to use?" I asked.
V rocked on his feet for a moment. "Well… I'm not sure, but I totally screwed up last time I used a Cancer. So unless you want to use it I'd like to go with the Virgo," he said.
I shrugged. "Fine with me."
We got into our suits and went out to space. We had five minutes to wander around learning our suits. I took a moment to see where the weapons were. The torpedoes and beam cannons were in front on the arms that went out from the suit. The gattling gun was on the back of the suit, to shot behind me. After I figured out the controls I spent the remainder of my time figuring out how to move the Cancer. By the time the five minutes were up I could move around decently and had a clue of what to do.
Four Virgos left the colony, followed by four Virgo IIs. Along with the dolls there was two Aries and Leo. I could tell the Aries and Leo were suits, not dolls, and I was wondering who was piloting them. My guess was just someone there to be annoying and get in the way. I knew the IIs would be harder than the regular Virgo, but the others should be easy enough to get rid of.
"You know, last year I got to use a suit I knew and we didn't have to face anything but the Virgo and IIs," V said.
I smiled, but didn't answer.
Backing up I once again moved away from V, watching the dolls come as I did so. The dolls and suits split in half, an equal amount of each type going to each of us. I quickly got rid of the Leo with the beam cannon, almost getting hit by a Virgo. Then they all fired at me.
I spent most of the next five minutes dodging shots that were fired at me, wondering if the dolls might run out of ammo. As soon as I got a minute to stop running I turned to face the Virgos. Shooting a torpedo I moved again, dodging their firing. But lucky for me the torpedo hit a Virgo. I tried to shoot again, but stopped my self just in time. I had to move the suit to aim differently. Growling to myself I wished I had gotten to use the Virgo, but I was doing okay with what I had.
Anyway, I did fire another torpedo, hitting a Virgo II, along with firing the gattling gun and knocking out the Aries. Moving away from them again, I glanced at my screen to see how well V was doing. He had only the two Virgo IIs on him now, having gotten rid of the others. Only four out of twelve left, not bad.
The remaining Virgo II was faster than I was and easily got ahead of my suit. It fired its beam cannon while the Virgo behind me fired as well. I flipped around, putting myself upside down, kind of, there really isn't any upside down in space, and facing the direction I had come from.
I shot both the gattling gun and the beam cannon. I hit the Virgo II behind me, but it didn't do much to it, and the beam cannon just grazed the Virgo, throwing it off for just long enough for me to shot again, this time finishing it off.
When I turned again to face the last doll I saw it heading for V, who had his hands full with a Virgo II. I guess he got rid of the other one. I followed the doll towards V, who didn't realize it was heading for him.
"V, there's a doll coming up behind you, I'll try to get rid of it," I told him.
V didn't answer, but he did pause for a moment, almost getting hit. He turned and shot at the doll coming at him, missing. I bit my tongue instead of yelling about how I had said that I would get it. Of course, I would have done the same thing, but it still bugged me.
V turned back to the doll he'd been facing before. We each finished a Virgo and headed back inside. It didn't take long for the rest of the tests to end. About half the people were out. We were congratulated by just about everyone. Before the eighth test there was a break, to go eat or do whatever. Max met up with us and slowly we found the rest of our group.
We went to eat at a McDonalds. I hadn't been to one before, because most were going out of business, so I just ordered what everyone else was getting. Big Mac meal, super-sized.
"So you guys only have to beat one more test?" I asked Max and V. hey both nodded.
"Yep, but we'll try to go for more," V said. "At the ninth test we're be fighting one on one, vs. mobile dolls. On the tenth we face each other."
I raised an eyebrow. "So in the tenth level no matter what half the people are kicked out of the contest?" I asked.
"All but one, actually," Max said. "They just keep partnering people off until only one person is left." He smiled for a second. "The real challenge is you don't know what type of suit you're going to have. They put at least five different types of suits out, but you don't know which is which, and you have to choose one. So if you chose a Leo you get a Leo, if you chose something better you get something better."
I leaned back in my chair, considering this. "Does it matter what type of suits they offer?" I asked.
V nodded. "Yep," he said, " There has to be at least two types of suit that we had used in the previous tests, the newest one Oz has made, and one or two of their choice," he paused to grin at me, "Their choice usually sucks big time."
We finished quickly and headed back to the tests. There were a total of ten people left in it. Max, V and I were the only ones from my group. In this test we only had laser swords, and we'd be facing each other. We'd be in teams of five, and as soon as five people were 'dead' the test would end.
I smiled at the description on the test. It would be easy. The sword was my favorite weapon, even if it wasn't the most deadly. V and Max both muttered a bit about how the tests were different from last years. When the teams were arranged I saw that both of my friends were on the different one.
Cussing under my breath I began to walk over to the rest of my team. My eyes met a pair of violet ones, which quickly looked away with little interest. Before they looked back at me I had switched directions, heading for the Virgo I was to fly instead.
Zechs Peacecraft was one of the most annoying and dangerous men I know. Unfortunately he was also my cousin, son of Millardo Peacecraft, my uncle. I hadn't seen either since my mom decided she'd like to throw a family reunion about a year and a half ago. It hadn't been the best experience.
And now he was with Oz. Capable of finding out who I was.
It would probably take more than a glance, but contacts and hair dye, along with a nice tan, doesn't hide what you look like all that much. I couldn't stop thinking about it once I was in the cockpit, but forced myself to when we were launched out into space.
We don't want ourselves getting knocked out of the game because you're having family troubles.
Max and Zechs quickly identified themselves, to each other and to me. All talk over the com system went to both teams. I told them who I was, too. And then the fight began. All of my team except me launched themselves at the other group. I was surprised Zechs would do something that stupid, but then I saw his reasons. He stayed right behind the others, letting them get hit first so if they died he could easily take out whoever killed them.
V, Max and two others took on the attack while the remaining member of their team came for me. Big mistake, but I doubted I'd need to tell him that. His sword met mine, then I pulled back almost instantly. He could chase me around till he showed a weakness, or made a mistake. Because I flew backwards he could catch up to me, but he didn't know how to use the suit's speed as well as I did, giving me the advantage. I was able to go over him and supposedly cut of the suit's head, which would make it explode, if this whole thing wasn't fake.
I looked around to see that four suits were already gone, including the one I killed. Two on each side were out, making it three to three. Looking at the battle I saw a team member fighting two on one with V and another member of his team. I flew over to them, trying to get rid of the other guy before V got killed. Who ever he was fighting was pretty good.
V and his partner both noticed me coming. V knew who I was and wasn't worried, the other turned to face me. He, too, was good, and with him gone V was doing much better. With his team member out of his way he was able to do more.
My opponent came at me, purely offensive. He attacked again and again, not giving me time to do anything but defend myself. I frowned. Not being able to fight back wasn't my idea of a walk in the park. I blocked every thrust and swing he sent at me with my own sword, waiting for him to back down or screw up. He screwed up first, letting just a small gap show, which I took advantage of. With a simple attack my opponent was out, and the level was over.
Turning to see who all was left I saw that if I had 'killed' the person I had fought a moment later the game would have already been over. V had gotten rid of his enemy the second after I had taken care of mine. We all went back inside the colony.
I got out of the Virgo slowly. I had made it on to level nine, along with four other pilots. Not bad if I do say so myself. Max and V were also going to the next level, I expected they would, sense they had made it there before and needed to because of their rank.
Zechs was waiting for me right outside my suit.
"You did good out there, good enough to move me on to the next level," he said as I touched the ground.
I raised an eyebrow. "What did I do?" I asked, not sure if he knew who I was.
He laughed softly. "Oh, you got rid of the fifth pilot before I got kicked out," he said, then added with a grin, "Alex."
"Hey Conway, you did great out there," called Max as he slapped my back.
"You didn't do that bad yourself," I replied as I kept an eye on Zechs. Max had taken out one of the first people. "So where's V?" I asked, noticing that Zechs was keeping quiet. Didn't need him going around telling my little secret.
"His dad showed up in the middle of this test," Max explained, "he went off to talk with him and should be done in a bit." Max glanced at Zechs with a frown, but didn't say anything. I didn't say anything either so we were just quiet for a moment.
Zechs broke the silence. "So Max, how have you been?" he asked.
"Pretty good I guess," Max paused, "why exactly are you here?"
Zechs grinned. "Going through the tests, just like you. I just thought I'd stop by and talk with my friend… Conway."
"'Friend' is a bit of a overstatement," I murmured under my breath.
Max looked at me, "You know him?"
"Unfortunately."
"Tom's mother was a good friend of my father before…" Zechs paused, staring at me, "Tarmine destroyed the colony."
"It was Tarmine?" I asked, knowing perfectly well that it was.
"Yep," Zechs said, "Or at least it was her gundam, Sandstorm."
"You know about the different gundams?" V asked as he walked up to our group.
I nodded. "I studied them a bit."
Our conversation was thankfully cut short. I didn't really want to talk about how I knew about the gundams. I didn't really think up a story for that, guess I'd have to now.
For the ninth test, as Max and V had said, we had to go up against a doll. We were given Virgos and sent out to space not knowing what we were to face. I waited with the others till the dolls were launched after us, then saw that we didn't all have the same type to fight. I couldn't see what the others were against, but mine looked suspiciously like the Vay-Ate almost exactly like it. The Vay-Ate mobile doll was programmed with Trowa's skill as a pilot because he had flown the original suit. I could have beaten the doll in a gundam, but a Virgo?
The doll's statistics suddenly showed up on my screen. It was the Vay-Ate II, based off the first mobile doll and suit. It was faster and better in almost every way than the original, and programmed with the mind of a gundam pilot. It had a beam cannon, beam sword and gattling guns. It came at me quickly, being faster then my suit. The doll attacked like Trowa would. The same moves and tactics, which were probably the only reason I was still in, I knew how to avoid these moves. I'd fought against Trowa, but I don't think I've won more than three or four fights against him. This would be the next time, I hoped.
Again I was defensive, maybe attacking once every ten or fifteen blocks. The Vay-ate wasn't making mistakes, but it was beginning to be annoying. That was probably the biggest difference between Trowa and this doll. He didn't annoy me, and he didn't use such a limited amount of moves, his were always so much better, too. This thing wasn't nearly as efficient. Trowa would have beaten me by now, or would have been beaten. Neither of us likes that long of a battle. This doll was just waiting for me to slip and show an opening.
I gave it one, but nothing too great. He took it, but missed me as I shot upwards, waiting for him to follow. He came at me quickly, just as I expected, shooting his beam rifle, which I easily avoided. I fired back, three shots. One hit it, slowing it down just a little.
We went back to fighting with swords, but I started guessing its moves, and I was almost always right. It was good, but it completely relied on the programming given to it by the brief time Trowa used the Vay-ate. I knew when he'd use which move and was able to block and attack before it had time to respond. It didn't take long for me to find an opening, finishing off this particular Vay-ate doll.
Inside the colony people were cheering for someone else who had passed, two someone's actually. Both V and Zechs had passed, while Max and the fifth pilot was out. People congratulated me, too, but Zechs had finished the test surprisingly quick, followed not long after by V. I had been the slow one for a change.
V came over to me, "Good job Conway," he said grinning. He seemed very happy that he did a good job. I'd be too, actually I was. But I guess he was especially happy sense his dad was watching.
"Good job to you too," I said cheerfully. "That was most definitely an interesting test."
"Yes it was," I turned to see Zechs facing us. "You we're pretty screwed up at first, I didn't know if you'd make it," he smiled, "but then it was as if you'd fought the doll before, or perhaps fought Trowa."
I was very glad that V was behind me so he couldn't see the glare on my face, even as it changed into an all too fake smile. "You're right, I've fought Trowa. I'm a gundam pilot who's trying to get into Oz." I smirked. "Yeah right."
Zechs smiled fakely, though it did appear to be real. I guess you'd just have to know him well enough to see the lack of sincerity. "I never said that, didn't even hint at it."
"Actually Zechs," said V coldly, "that's exactly what you meant." His glare would have made even me shiver, but Zechs seamed unaffected, uncaring to what anyone else might think of him.
Zechs nodded to V, "I see," he murmured. Then he left.
"Ignore him," V growled under his breath as he watched him walk away. "He's just being a jerk."
"he's always being a jerk," I muttered as a reply.
1.1.1.2 Chapter 3
A very loud siren woke me up the next morning. I climbed out of bed realizing I had fallen asleep with my clothes on. Cursing softly I looked around. Everyone else was crawling out of their beds as well, just as groggy as I was.
"Is that a fire alarm or something?" Jet asked hoarsely.
V laughed and yawned at the same time. "Oh, no, we're not that lucky. That's your new alarm clock. Guarantied to wake ya up daily."
Someone pounded on the door.
"Come in, it's open!" Pen yelled at the same time that Nat opened it.
A woman shoved a bundle of clothes at him. "Every one get up and change. Here are your uniforms for this week. Have your I.D. with you and be quick in changing. Head back to the main hall when you're done," she said, then left.
"Nice to see you too," Nat yawned as he closed the doors and began to hand out uniforms.
I was too tired to care about changing in front of the guys. Getting up at five in the morning could do that to you. It didn't matter much anyway, I never had much of a chest and with my breasts bound no one would notice as long as I kept a light tank top on under the rest of my clothes.
I left the room quickly, trying to decide which way I was supposed to go, and just ended up following the crowd of tired grumpy recruits.
A man was waiting on the platform over looking the room for everyone to get there. Several people stood behind him, including the woman who had given us the uniforms. When everyone had arrived the man began to talk.
"I am Commander Blake. For most of you I will be in charge of your beginning training. For a select lucky few after the first few days you'll be transferred to a higher level of training headed by one of the people behind me. Today you'll go through the same fighting drills you did before in your first tests, after that you'll go through some new ones. Anyone who excels will move on to harder tests in that field, all the rest of you will go to the basics and learn how to excel. Keep in mind that until you're off the training level you can be kicked out of Oz, so you should still try.
"Every one should be at a harder test by the end of the first two weeks. If you can't do that then you'll be packing your bags and out of here. By the end of the first month you should be at the lowest the forth level. Anyone who's been to advance training before should make it there easily. You'll have to pass at least the eighth level with flying colors to be transferred to a specialized trainer in that field. You must also pass all the tests in a different field to at least the fourth level, as is a minimum requirement for to remain in Oz with any position.
"For the first four days we'll run you all through tests in basic combat, mechanics, piloting a mobile suit and computer programming. There will be one day for each segment of the testing. You move on to the next level until you fail. Once everyone has failed a level we stop for the day, and if you haven't past the first four levels you train till ten-o-clock if it's not past that already. You can watch the others take the test once you're out."
Blake looked around the room sternly, "If you are already in Oz, you know who you are, and you don't pass the requirements for you position you're back to a trainee, and have to re-earn every title you have, start from scratch." He stepped back.
Another man walked up, explaining he was the basic combat instructor. The first test would be your accuracy with a gun and hand-to-hand fighting. Only the first two tests had hand to hand, since it wasn't used much but was still considered to be an important fighting skill.
The day went well. First was boxing, nothing hard, just normal punching. Then, if you wanted to, you could learn a little of some other fighting skills. I joined the martial arts section, having a little training from Poe who had learned from his father, WuFie. I wasn't the best there, but far from the worst. That was the first level test.
The next one was a little harder, a very, very little harder, but still some. To pass the second test you had to shoot a target with a handgun from thirty feet six out of ten times, you couldn't have entered Oz unless you could do that. After that you had to beat an Oz basic pilot. The pilot wasn't that good and he was purposely being worse than he was. No one failed that test, either. The third test was about the same thing, but only shooting.
Number four you had to hit a target at fifty feet, seven out of ten times. The target was considerably smaller than the first two. About half the people dropped out of that, I wasn't one of them. The next test went through five types of guns, shooting stationary targets at different distances. Sixth test you used the same weapons, but the targets were moving. You could only miss three out of twenty. I could hit them all, but 'accidentally' missed four of them. No one passed the eighth level, but about twenty people got there. Two of those twenty happened to be my new friends, V and Max.
Good pilots and shooters, I'd have to challenge them to a friendly competition sometime, I thought with a grin.
That was it for today. It was over by noon.
I went back to my room and changed into some casual cloths, putting my new uniform next to the second one I had been given.
The next day was the mechanic tests.
Again we were woken up at five in the morning. This time most of the people were a little ready for it. I had gone to sleep about eight-thirty after playing cards awhile with Pen and Nat. The three of us were just fine, though the rest of our group didn't look quite as cheerful. It hadn't taken long for me to be considered part of the group. I just sort of was in. No one seemed to mind so I didn't either.
The tests started with cars. Everything from changing a battery to changing a tire. Then it moved on to other things, mostly taking apart and fixing it. Then we were assigned to pairs. I was put with Alex Jefferson. It didn't take me long to learn he didn't really know what he was doing. On the forth test each group was given a mobile suit. I wondered how many suits they had to screw up to get ready for this test. But to my surprise there were quite a few people out already. I guess that not everyone knew how to fix things.
We were given half an hour to figure out what was wrong with the suit and do what we could to fix it. We didn't have to have it fixed, just be on the right track. I was guessing that at some point we would need to have it fixed. When that test came around I'd be out. I could fix household stuff but nothing as technical as a mobile suit, though I was pretty good on RedZero.
Alex and I made it through the fourth test but flunked the fifth, where, sure enough, you had to fix a mobile doll. Neither of us had a clue what to do, but we did our best.
The rest of my group, except for Rob, was out by the sixth test, but Rob made it all the way to the ninth. V explained that Rob was one of the best mechanics in oz, and the second best on this colony. His first time in the tests he had made it to the eight level, a very rare occurrence.
The next day was my favorite. Piloting.
The first two tests were on aim and accuracy. I think about twenty people didn't pass the second test and only one failed the first. In the third test we had to take on a very slow and easy to beat mobile doll. I think that should have been the first test, but that was my opinion.
In the forth test we were once again given partners, but this time they weren't preplanned. They gave everyone a number, you had to find the other person with your number and then get into a pair of space Leos. If one person in your group gets out you have to fight alone through out the remainder of the tests. The pair is supposed to show how well people work together as well as give you a better chance of pacing.
When it was my turn I walked up to the machine, typed in my name, and took the tab that came out of it. Walking into the middle of the room to wait for the other person with my number I smiled to myself. My tab read 13, my lucky number.
Some people went around asking other people their numbers, some just stood still and shouted out their own, waiting for their partner to find them. I just stood still, answering the people who asked for my number and waiting for the crowds to thin out.
"Hey Conway, what's your number?" I heard Max say.
I turned to face him, "thirteen, and yours?"
He frowned, "I was hoping to have your number, but I'm one-hundred eleven." He smiled at me, "Good luck though. I have to make it to the ninth level or I'm knocked down a rank, maybe I'll see ya there."
"Maybe," I said, and he left to find his partner.
"So you're thirteen?" I heard V ask. I turned to face him, wondering why people always asked me questions when they were behind me. He held up his tab, "So am I." Sure enough his had the same number on it.
"Well, what-do-you-know," I said, "I guess we're partners then."
We headed for the Leos.
"It's a good thing I'm partners with someone who knows what they're doing. Last test I had I was with a guy who was horrible, he was out by the sixth level and wouldn't have made it that far if I hadn't saved him a few times."
I laughed. "So what level do you have to make it to?" I asked him.
"Like Max, level nine. I'm a superior pilot, it shouldn't be hard," he said sarcastically. "What they really mean is I don't care if it's hard, make it look easy. Level nine isn't easy, level ten is harder. We don't have to pass level nine, just get there, so I should be able to make it."
I nodded. Soon we reached the Leos, and were issued a pair of them. The test was explained simply. We'd face two mobile dolls that were the equivalent of another pilot. We could talk to our partners over the intercom hooked up between suits. It would be a mock battle so no one really gets hurt, but our suits would act as if they had been hit wherever they might have been hit, so you would have the same damage to your suit as you would in a real battle.
I looked over the suits system. Everything was operating normal, nothing was out of the ordinary. Each suit had a beam rifle, and when that ran out of ammo a machine gun. The bullets where fake, kinda. You'd see the shots but the wouldn't hurt. Until the battles become real we have only our first two guns, the ammo can't be refilled, so we'd have to be careful.
They had multiple areas were the mock battles would take place, all outside the colony. They'd go by number, twenty battles at a time. Since we had number thirteen we were one of the firsts up.
V and I were sent off into space, followed by two dolls.
"Careful not to waste shots, we only have so much," V reminded me over the com.
I smiled to myself. I'd make my shots count, it wouldn't be too hard in this first battle, maybe in the next but not this one. I flew up and around the dolls so that I was behind them. One turned to face my, but I shot it before it could do anything, V shooting the other at the same time. Their lights turned off and they floated back towards the colony.
V and I followed them back.
Inside we hopped out of the suits to see what was going on. A couple of people had already gotten out, but most made it with out a problem. The rest of the forth test went about the same.
The fifth test was similar, the difference is we were against four dolls, two were the same difficulty as before and the other two were about double the ability. By the time it was over more than half the people were out of the game. V and I hadn't had a problem yet.
Next test, against seven Virgos. I ran through my data of this particular doll. They were stronger, faster, basically better, than the suit I was in. they came with a beam cannon and planet defensor and one on one would beat most pilots. Of course, that's why they have mobile dolls.
"You know, this would be a whole lot easier if this suits came with all their normal weapons," I said over the com. system.
V only laughed.
This fight could be that much harder than the exam to get into Oz. We would make it.
We went out to our sections again. After about twenty seconds Virgos began leaving the colony in each of the designated sections. I saw quite a few people alone, their partners already gone. As the dolls came towards us I ignored everyone else. I slowly drifted away from V, heading steadily to the right. Four of the dolls came with me. I was actually hoping for that, not really knowing how well V was and not wanting to be stuck with seven Virgos to deal with in a low power suit.
The dolls separated: one to come from above, one from the right and left and one strait towards me. I went up, shooting at the doll there. It moved before I hit it. Cursing steadily I fought on, quickly turning around and firing again. I hit a Virgo, but it wasn't down. Turning quickly I shot again, hitting and getting rid of a doll which had come up behind me. One down, three to go. All three fired at me at once. I moved quickly, not quite quick enough to avoid getting grazed. Nothing much happened, I just got slower. Actually, a little slower, I was already slow.
I kept moving, heading closer to V. The dolls he was facing (there was only two now) turned to face me and fired their beam cannons. I dove down, the expected shots going over me and hitting a doll that had been behind me. The shot 'killed' it, bringing me down to just two dolls, and with V taking out a Virgo when they faced me he only had one.
The Virgos pulled back, all three of them. I moved closer to V, also regrouping. Then fired a few shots at the dolls, surprising them and hitting the one I had hit the first time. It took damage again, but was still in. The other shots went into nowhere, and I noticed I didn't have much power left on the rifle.
"Shit," I muttered.
V answer, "What?"
"My rifles close to gone," I explained.
"Damn, mine too," V said.
The dolls came again in a formation that tried to separate V and me. I glared at the Virgos, even though they couldn't see me. Backing up a bit, I shot at them instead of moving. They returned fire but I dodged all their shots. When I got my chance I headed over to V. If they wanted us to stay apart we'd better stay together. V shot a doll while I was on my way to him and I took care of the weak one, both of us took care of the last doll, using our spare guns because the rifles were out of ammo. And we were the first ones inside still in the tests.
That makes you feel good.
After the sixth test we were down to about forty, maybe forty-five people. Again we had to listen to Commander Blake explain things.
"You are all very good, else you wouldn't have made it this far," Blake said. "So now we are going to see how well you do in a different suit, which none of you have used before. Everyone without a partner will be partnered up with someone else. Each partner will use a different suit, the two of you can figure out who uses what."
Blake turned to a screen, which suddenly came on. He used a pointer stick thingy to point to a suit that looked very much like a Cancer.
"This, like you may be guessing, is a Cancer. But it is not like the ones we use on Earth, in fact it is very different. It has the same basic properties but has been modified to become stronger, and to be used in space." The screen changed to a list of abilities.
Fighting ability: 100
Weapons ability: 110
Speed ability: 130
Power ability: 105
Armor Materials: Titanium Alloy
Armaments:
4x torpedoes
2x beam cannons
1x gattling gun
Again the screen changed, this time to a Virgo.
"Yes," said Blake, "this is a Virgo. But not a mobile doll. It is exactly the same except it is only as good as the pilot who controls it. This suit will only be used for people who are better than the doll, else it won't be worth using. You have all proven to be so, allowing you to be some of the first pilots to test it."
The screen changed again to abilities.
Fighting Ability: 130
Weapons Ability: 140
Speed Ability: 125
Power ability: 110
Armor ability: 120
Armaments:
1x beam cannon
4x planet defensor
The screen turned off.
We were led to our pair of suits and I stared at them. I had never been in a Cancer, so I only knew the basics. They hadn't told us what we would be up against, so I didn't have a clue what to go with. The Virgo would be a little more familiar, just because of the shape. The Cancer was more shaped like a crab, kind of.
"What do you want to use?" I asked.
V rocked on his feet for a moment. "Well… I'm not sure, but I totally screwed up last time I used a Cancer. So unless you want to use it I'd like to go with the Virgo," he said.
I shrugged. "Fine with me."
We got into our suits and went out to space. We had five minutes to wander around learning our suits. I took a moment to see where the weapons were. The torpedoes and beam cannons were in front on the arms that went out from the suit. The gattling gun was on the back of the suit, to shot behind me. After I figured out the controls I spent the remainder of my time figuring out how to move the Cancer. By the time the five minutes were up I could move around decently and had a clue of what to do.
Four Virgos left the colony, followed by four Virgo IIs. Along with the dolls there was two Aries and Leo. I could tell the Aries and Leo were suits, not dolls, and I was wondering who was piloting them. My guess was just someone there to be annoying and get in the way. I knew the IIs would be harder than the regular Virgo, but the others should be easy enough to get rid of.
"You know, last year I got to use a suit I knew and we didn't have to face anything but the Virgo and IIs," V said.
I smiled, but didn't answer.
Backing up I once again moved away from V, watching the dolls come as I did so. The dolls and suits split in half, an equal amount of each type going to each of us. I quickly got rid of the Leo with the beam cannon, almost getting hit by a Virgo. Then they all fired at me.
I spent most of the next five minutes dodging shots that were fired at me, wondering if the dolls might run out of ammo. As soon as I got a minute to stop running I turned to face the Virgos. Shooting a torpedo I moved again, dodging their firing. But lucky for me the torpedo hit a Virgo. I tried to shoot again, but stopped my self just in time. I had to move the suit to aim differently. Growling to myself I wished I had gotten to use the Virgo, but I was doing okay with what I had.
Anyway, I did fire another torpedo, hitting a Virgo II, along with firing the gattling gun and knocking out the Aries. Moving away from them again, I glanced at my screen to see how well V was doing. He had only the two Virgo IIs on him now, having gotten rid of the others. Only four out of twelve left, not bad.
The remaining Virgo II was faster than I was and easily got ahead of my suit. It fired its beam cannon while the Virgo behind me fired as well. I flipped around, putting myself upside down, kind of, there really isn't any upside down in space, and facing the direction I had come from.
I shot both the gattling gun and the beam cannon. I hit the Virgo II behind me, but it didn't do much to it, and the beam cannon just grazed the Virgo, throwing it off for just long enough for me to shot again, this time finishing it off.
When I turned again to face the last doll I saw it heading for V, who had his hands full with a Virgo II. I guess he got rid of the other one. I followed the doll towards V, who didn't realize it was heading for him.
"V, there's a doll coming up behind you, I'll try to get rid of it," I told him.
V didn't answer, but he did pause for a moment, almost getting hit. He turned and shot at the doll coming at him, missing. I bit my tongue instead of yelling about how I had said that I would get it. Of course, I would have done the same thing, but it still bugged me.
V turned back to the doll he'd been facing before. We each finished a Virgo and headed back inside. It didn't take long for the rest of the tests to end. About half the people were out. We were congratulated by just about everyone. Before the eighth test there was a break, to go eat or do whatever. Max met up with us and slowly we found the rest of our group.
We went to eat at a McDonalds. I hadn't been to one before, because most were going out of business, so I just ordered what everyone else was getting. Big Mac meal, super-sized.
"So you guys only have to beat one more test?" I asked Max and V. hey both nodded.
"Yep, but we'll try to go for more," V said. "At the ninth test we're be fighting one on one, vs. mobile dolls. On the tenth we face each other."
I raised an eyebrow. "So in the tenth level no matter what half the people are kicked out of the contest?" I asked.
"All but one, actually," Max said. "They just keep partnering people off until only one person is left." He smiled for a second. "The real challenge is you don't know what type of suit you're going to have. They put at least five different types of suits out, but you don't know which is which, and you have to choose one. So if you chose a Leo you get a Leo, if you chose something better you get something better."
I leaned back in my chair, considering this. "Does it matter what type of suits they offer?" I asked.
V nodded. "Yep," he said, " There has to be at least two types of suit that we had used in the previous tests, the newest one Oz has made, and one or two of their choice," he paused to grin at me, "Their choice usually sucks big time."
We finished quickly and headed back to the tests. There were a total of ten people left in it. Max, V and I were the only ones from my group. In this test we only had laser swords, and we'd be facing each other. We'd be in teams of five, and as soon as five people were 'dead' the test would end.
I smiled at the description on the test. It would be easy. The sword was my favorite weapon, even if it wasn't the most deadly. V and Max both muttered a bit about how the tests were different from last years. When the teams were arranged I saw that both of my friends were on the different one.
Cussing under my breath I began to walk over to the rest of my team. My eyes met a pair of violet ones, which quickly looked away with little interest. Before they looked back at me I had switched directions, heading for the Virgo I was to fly instead.
Zechs Peacecraft was one of the most annoying and dangerous men I know. Unfortunately he was also my cousin, son of Millardo Peacecraft, my uncle. I hadn't seen either since my mom decided she'd like to throw a family reunion about a year and a half ago. It hadn't been the best experience.
And now he was with Oz. Capable of finding out who I was.
It would probably take more than a glance, but contacts and hair dye, along with a nice tan, doesn't hide what you look like all that much. I couldn't stop thinking about it once I was in the cockpit, but forced myself to when we were launched out into space.
We don't want ourselves getting knocked out of the game because you're having family troubles.
Max and Zechs quickly identified themselves, to each other and to me. All talk over the com system went to both teams. I told them who I was, too. And then the fight began. All of my team except me launched themselves at the other group. I was surprised Zechs would do something that stupid, but then I saw his reasons. He stayed right behind the others, letting them get hit first so if they died he could easily take out whoever killed them.
V, Max and two others took on the attack while the remaining member of their team came for me. Big mistake, but I doubted I'd need to tell him that. His sword met mine, then I pulled back almost instantly. He could chase me around till he showed a weakness, or made a mistake. Because I flew backwards he could catch up to me, but he didn't know how to use the suit's speed as well as I did, giving me the advantage. I was able to go over him and supposedly cut of the suit's head, which would make it explode, if this whole thing wasn't fake.
I looked around to see that four suits were already gone, including the one I killed. Two on each side were out, making it three to three. Looking at the battle I saw a team member fighting two on one with V and another member of his team. I flew over to them, trying to get rid of the other guy before V got killed. Who ever he was fighting was pretty good.
V and his partner both noticed me coming. V knew who I was and wasn't worried, the other turned to face me. He, too, was good, and with him gone V was doing much better. With his team member out of his way he was able to do more.
My opponent came at me, purely offensive. He attacked again and again, not giving me time to do anything but defend myself. I frowned. Not being able to fight back wasn't my idea of a walk in the park. I blocked every thrust and swing he sent at me with my own sword, waiting for him to back down or screw up. He screwed up first, letting just a small gap show, which I took advantage of. With a simple attack my opponent was out, and the level was over.
Turning to see who all was left I saw that if I had 'killed' the person I had fought a moment later the game would have already been over. V had gotten rid of his enemy the second after I had taken care of mine. We all went back inside the colony.
I got out of the Virgo slowly. I had made it on to level nine, along with four other pilots. Not bad if I do say so myself. Max and V were also going to the next level, I expected they would, sense they had made it there before and needed to because of their rank.
Zechs was waiting for me right outside my suit.
"You did good out there, good enough to move me on to the next level," he said as I touched the ground.
I raised an eyebrow. "What did I do?" I asked, not sure if he knew who I was.
He laughed softly. "Oh, you got rid of the fifth pilot before I got kicked out," he said, then added with a grin, "Alex."
"Hey Conway, you did great out there," called Max as he slapped my back.
"You didn't do that bad yourself," I replied as I kept an eye on Zechs. Max had taken out one of the first people. "So where's V?" I asked, noticing that Zechs was keeping quiet. Didn't need him going around telling my little secret.
"His dad showed up in the middle of this test," Max explained, "he went off to talk with him and should be done in a bit." Max glanced at Zechs with a frown, but didn't say anything. I didn't say anything either so we were just quiet for a moment.
Zechs broke the silence. "So Max, how have you been?" he asked.
"Pretty good I guess," Max paused, "why exactly are you here?"
Zechs grinned. "Going through the tests, just like you. I just thought I'd stop by and talk with my friend… Conway."
"'Friend' is a bit of a overstatement," I murmured under my breath.
Max looked at me, "You know him?"
"Unfortunately."
"Tom's mother was a good friend of my father before…" Zechs paused, staring at me, "Tarmine destroyed the colony."
"It was Tarmine?" I asked, knowing perfectly well that it was.
"Yep," Zechs said, "Or at least it was her gundam, Sandstorm."
"You know about the different gundams?" V asked as he walked up to our group.
I nodded. "I studied them a bit."
Our conversation was thankfully cut short. I didn't really want to talk about how I knew about the gundams. I didn't really think up a story for that, guess I'd have to now.
For the ninth test, as Max and V had said, we had to go up against a doll. We were given Virgos and sent out to space not knowing what we were to face. I waited with the others till the dolls were launched after us, then saw that we didn't all have the same type to fight. I couldn't see what the others were against, but mine looked suspiciously like the Vay-Ate almost exactly like it. The Vay-Ate mobile doll was programmed with Trowa's skill as a pilot because he had flown the original suit. I could have beaten the doll in a gundam, but a Virgo?
The doll's statistics suddenly showed up on my screen. It was the Vay-Ate II, based off the first mobile doll and suit. It was faster and better in almost every way than the original, and programmed with the mind of a gundam pilot. It had a beam cannon, beam sword and gattling guns. It came at me quickly, being faster then my suit. The doll attacked like Trowa would. The same moves and tactics, which were probably the only reason I was still in, I knew how to avoid these moves. I'd fought against Trowa, but I don't think I've won more than three or four fights against him. This would be the next time, I hoped.
Again I was defensive, maybe attacking once every ten or fifteen blocks. The Vay-ate wasn't making mistakes, but it was beginning to be annoying. That was probably the biggest difference between Trowa and this doll. He didn't annoy me, and he didn't use such a limited amount of moves, his were always so much better, too. This thing wasn't nearly as efficient. Trowa would have beaten me by now, or would have been beaten. Neither of us likes that long of a battle. This doll was just waiting for me to slip and show an opening.
I gave it one, but nothing too great. He took it, but missed me as I shot upwards, waiting for him to follow. He came at me quickly, just as I expected, shooting his beam rifle, which I easily avoided. I fired back, three shots. One hit it, slowing it down just a little.
We went back to fighting with swords, but I started guessing its moves, and I was almost always right. It was good, but it completely relied on the programming given to it by the brief time Trowa used the Vay-ate. I knew when he'd use which move and was able to block and attack before it had time to respond. It didn't take long for me to find an opening, finishing off this particular Vay-ate doll.
Inside the colony people were cheering for someone else who had passed, two someone's actually. Both V and Zechs had passed, while Max and the fifth pilot was out. People congratulated me, too, but Zechs had finished the test surprisingly quick, followed not long after by V. I had been the slow one for a change.
V came over to me, "Good job Conway," he said grinning. He seemed very happy that he did a good job. I'd be too, actually I was. But I guess he was especially happy sense his dad was watching.
"Good job to you too," I said cheerfully. "That was most definitely an interesting test."
"Yes it was," I turned to see Zechs facing us. "You we're pretty screwed up at first, I didn't know if you'd make it," he smiled, "but then it was as if you'd fought the doll before, or perhaps fought Trowa."
I was very glad that V was behind me so he couldn't see the glare on my face, even as it changed into an all too fake smile. "You're right, I've fought Trowa. I'm a gundam pilot who's trying to get into Oz." I smirked. "Yeah right."
Zechs smiled fakely, though it did appear to be real. I guess you'd just have to know him well enough to see the lack of sincerity. "I never said that, didn't even hint at it."
"Actually Zechs," said V coldly, "that's exactly what you meant." His glare would have made even me shiver, but Zechs seamed unaffected, uncaring to what anyone else might think of him.
Zechs nodded to V, "I see," he murmured. Then he left.
"Ignore him," V growled under his breath as he watched him walk away. "He's just being a jerk."
"he's always being a jerk," I muttered as a reply.