"Stop fidgeting!" Sue chided the Newman woman as she helped to fasten up her armour.
"I can't help it! I'm too nervous!" She replied.
Sue took a step back and cast an appreciative eye over Cassie Opia as she stood before her. She looked quite resplendent in a custom white and pink heavy jacket. Based in part on the nurse's uniform that she wore when not accompanying Sue on another mission, it was quite unique and also guaranteed near constant attention from every lovesick male within fifty metres.
They had been brought together following an unpleasant episode involving her friend Ash Leguardia and something called 'Parasite Cell D.' They had become fast friends though sometimes Sue despaired that they were perhaps a little too inseparable.
Sue sighed and shook her head, smiling all the while.
"Today's the day... Big exam time. Do you think you're ready?"
Cassie never stopped grinning as she walked to the door. Turning round, hands on hips she stated "See, I'm ready to leave. It's you I'm waiting for."
"Oh really?" Asked Sue slyly as she picked up Cassie's Hold Lockgun off the dresser and casually waved it back and forth.
"Hey!" Exclaimed Cassie as she snatched it out of Sue's hand. "I need that."
"Come on." Said Sue putting an arm round her friend. "I don't want to be the last ones there."
-------
Unfortunately they were the last ones there. However, Ms. Milarose, the chief of the labs waited patiently till they were settled amongst the group of Hunters amassed around her desk before commencing.
"Welcome hunters. You may already be aware of this, but we'll say it again, just in case. The Pioneer Two Lab will begin doing its own research on Gal Da Val. Yes, the island which we just recently discovered..." She began.
Sue let her attention wander while the Chief droned on. She had heard a similar speech when she passed the solo hunter exam. This was a support team adaptation exam, slightly different in format, it would allow 'weaker' hunters to team-up with more experienced ones in order to qualify.
She had done her homework and fully knew what to expect so she checked out the competition. Among the pairs there were a lot of familiar faces, Hunters she had campaigned with before, some real oddities too.
Ash had teamed up with Bernie Tristane in another attempt to qualify. He had failed the solo and she was the only one he had dared confide to over the matter. From their conversation, she had assumed he would just give it up, the 'Last Survivor' competition was starting in six days time and should news leak out that the reigning champion failed to qualify for this it could tarnish his reputation.
Closest to the desk was a figure that probably everyone should recognise, the legendary hunter that had defeated Dark Falz and so they had rightfully earned the title of 'Hero of Ragol'. Their partner was a bit of a mystery, she was one of the operators from the VR section of the lab. Sue shrugged. It did not really matter she supposed. With that kind of power backing her up, the exam was nothing more than a formality.
That thought struck a chord with her. Since only three teams would be qualifying for this exam, did any of the others even stand a chance? She relaxed, a small smiling forming upon her lips, little did any of them realise about her 'ace in the hole'.
She snapped out of her musings as Chief Milarose finished speaking.
"... Will be given to you by your operator. They can communicate with you after you appear on the VR field. Good luck."
With this the hunter pairs made their way to the transporter that would ultimately take them to the VR field. Sue and Cassie held back until the last of the others had moved from view before approaching the Chief's desk.
"Everything is going exactly as planned, but there's only one concern. How will our reconstructed project react to her in the system? That is the critical question. Keep your eyes on them!" She instructed them.
"Huh?" Cassie mouthed silently.
"I'll explain on the way." Whispered Sue to the confused RAnewearl as they walked down the ramp.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" The Chief called after them. She threw a small black object to Sue who caught it.
Sue examined it. It was the size of a watch. The small display was black with the exception of coloured triangles that moved around. An ID badge tracker!
"Thanks!" Sue raised a hand in appreciation.
"I want it back afterwards!" Milarose shouted back as they disappeared through the lower doorway. "Good luck!" She said quietly.
--------
Bernie was starting to become exasperated with Ash's endless chatter. He was sure that by now every team out there knew their exact position from his inane chatter. Finally he could stand no more and came to a halt.
"Don't you ever shut up? Even for just one Beat?!" He fumed.
"Hey! Relax old man! You're liable to have a stroke or something..." Ash paused as he noticed that something had caught Bernie's attention behind him.
"Looks like somebody is up for a challenge. What should we do, partner?"
Ash glanced at the strangely dressed FOmar. He could not remember seeing him at the briefing but he was hardly expected to remember the face of every loser that would get in his way, was he?
"Step aside. I can handle him by myself."
Bernie raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "I thought you would say that. I'll just get out of your way..."
The FOmar raised his hands to the skies, an aura of pale yellow energy enveloped him. The energy flowed upwards forming a column filled with crackling electricity. Mere moments later the ground shook quite violently. Undeterred by this display Ash activated his Partisan of Lightning double saber and adopted an attack position.
"Hey, wait Ash!"
Ash glanced over his shoulder at the mention of his name only to see his RAmar partner running hell-for-leather in the opposite direction.
"Why are you running away?" Ash shouted.
"I just have a bad feeling about this!" Came the distant reply.
Ash took one more look at the FOmar before deciding that in this case he would trust Bernie's judgement. As he ran he suddenly felt very warm as the room began to get brighter and brighter until everything was white...