Chapter 2: Mistaken Identity

The monitor screens, filled throughout the room, illuminated the darkness. Dr. Hoffman sat down upon a velvet chair and began to rock back and forth gently while his leg rested upon the desktop. His gaze took to Monitor #3, where he could see the simulation perfectly from an above point-of-view. Suddenly, he winced as pain began to travel up his side. His leg was still injured, thanks to that damn Boomba. Dr. Hoffman had been to the simulation before, to test it. In the simulation, that one Boomba nearly chopped it off. The whole point of the simulation was actually to test the students, but I think the principal wanted to have them killed. That's why he suggested putting in real Boombas other than holograms. It creates more of a challenge really.

James Hoffman, a researcher at Pioneer 2 and Head Healer at the Academy of Forces, couldn't stand the way the principal had been acting. It was almost too unnatural. From the day Albert ever came to the academy, it was like he felt uncomfortable with all the Forces. Soon, he had grown accustomed to them with hatred. It was all too obvious to him, but the Forces never knew. They thought he was kind and caring, when on the inside, he was demon at heart.

Monitor #4 began to flicker for a second and then shut down. There was nothing he could do to fix it. It was just an empty room anyway. The Forces started off in different areas. It was their job to team-up, find a Mag and end this simulation. Dr. Hoffman had overheard Mrs. Arusia and Albert in the auditorium talking about the Boombas. As it turns, the principal is determined that none of the Forces will make it out alive. Dr. Hoffman had doubts about this test and wanted to go against it, but if he did, it would cost him his life.

The first battle was about to commence. There were a few forces already confronting the Boombas, but the rest were just running about like complete morons. Then his eyes took to screen #10. There she was… the girl that he particularly liked as a student; one of his favorites. Lani Melfice! Just a little while ago, Dr. Hoffman remembered sort-of-warning Lani about this test. Hopefully, she'll figure it out that the Boombas are actually real and not frauds. Unlike the rest of the forces, Lani is the only student, he has known, that has the ability to proceed through things with success. Dr. Hoffman continued to rock in his chair while staring at all the monitor screens.

I hope the others are doing fine…Why am I even thinking to myself at this very moment? What is that sound?

Lani had her usual baffled look as she momentarily looked about the room before she exited it. The outside corridor was similar to the hallways of the school. Wait…This simulation is taking place here at the Academy? God! Just shut the fuck up and look for that damn Mag already! It was almost like Lani seemed self-conscience about this whole thing. The corridor turned at the end of the hallway to the left and right. As soon as she made her way to the intersection, she heard an unusual scream to her left. I know that voice! It's Jake! She gathered her courage, ran to the left and through a doorway, revealing the cafeteria of the Academy. Lani gazed around the large section in shock at how many Boombas there actually were. Probably 12 to count… And there he was.

Jake lay across the marble floor in red liquid. The gruesome site made Lani want to puke, but she held it in. Instead, once again gathering her courage and she made her way to Jake without the Boombas catching sight of her. Lani dropped to her knees next to the young Fomar. Her only best friend had been obliterated. The white veils across his eyes said it all and it was too late to even cast Resta on him. "Jake…" she said weakly. She lifted his hand and checked for a pulse, but there was nothing. Tears began to build in her eyes as she stared in sorrow. The pain, Lani felt, purged through her like a Zonde spell. Every inch of her was trembling as the tears trickled down her cheeks and splashed onto the corpse below. The moment was soon interrupted by a curious Boomba. It stumbled towards her with outstreched arms and claws good and ready. That piece of shit! I'll rip through it before it rips through me! Lani felt anger flowing through her fists as she clenched them. " This is for Jake." She said as she suddenly began to focus for a split second and then shot her hand forward towards the Boomba. A fireball began to form above her fingers as she continued on concentrating. The fireball enlarged even further from gathering the surrounding energy and then shot forth. The Foie spell had worked for her finally. On impact, the Foie Ball inflicted massive damage to the Boomba causing it to falter and collapse onto the ground. It was dead, thank god, but there were still more in the room. Lani noticed something drop from the Boomba as it hit the floor. It was…Jake's Key. She quickly grabbed it and then stood up as the rest of the Boombas caught Lani in their sight. All 11 began to stumble towards her and Lani knew that she was no match for them. She looked back at Jake's lifeless body and then stuffed the key into her pocket. " Goodbye, Jake…" she said with a crackling in her voice. The Boombas were closing in on her, but she was quick enough to get out of the room before they caught her. She dashed through the open doors and simultaneously shut them. Now, Lani had to leave her memory of Jake behind her and continue on for the sake of her own life.

Dr. Hoffman kept an eye on the monitors. Each one flickering, but still working. As it seems, Albert's plan was becoming successful because at that moment, most of the forces were already dead. The door behind Dr. Hoffman suddenly opened up revealing that evil witch who went along with the principal's goal.

Mrs. Arusia- " James, what are you doing in here? This is an authorized zone for teachers only."

Dr. Hoffman- " I'm a teacher, so I have the right to be here."

Mrs. Arusia- " Tisk, Tisk. Not anymore."

Dr. Hoffman- " What are you talking about?"

Mrs. Arusia- " You've been fired as of now. Albert has let you go."

Dr. Hoffman- " What! Why?"

Mrs. Arusia- " You didn't keep your part of the bargain. Plus you altered the code of the Boombas."

Dr. Hoffman- " What! I didn't… You! You altered the code! You framed me!"

Mrs. Arusia- " Oh… You've figured out my plan. Oh well. Away with you!"

James was surprised to see one of his fellow friends turn against him. He had to accept defeat because there was nothing else he could do. Even for the simulation.

Dr. Hoffman departed the room, leaving Mrs. Arusia. I may not be a teacher anymore, but at least now I can help some of the forces. Including Lani. His leg was now scarred from the incident and he could walk a bit faster now. Dr. Hoffman reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his communicator. Alycia and Donoph may be able to help also. I'll call them.

Luckily for her, the Boombas weren't as smart as she thought they were. Otherwise, she'd be dead. Lani turned the hall corner to see a door at the end of the hallway. It was her only route to escape. The doors opened automatically. As soon as she entered the room, there were no enemies, but there were a couple of forces hunched in the corner.

Lani- " Are you guys alright?"

Lani could see that they were those Fomarls that were snickering at her before. They were frightened out of their minds and couldn't even focus on what she was saying. She felt pity for such infidels. The Fomarls gazed up at her worried. One of them darted forward for her legs and held on.

Lani- "Get off of me!"

She shook her legs free of the terrified girl.

Lani- " You guys need to get out of here. Find a Mag and leave!"

They were still hunched in the corner and didn't move. It was as if they were paralyzed. So, Lani just thought to herself. Screw them! Get going! They'll be all right! She continued on through the next door, which revealed a flight of stairs.

Suddenly, she was stopped by something that was floating in mid-air. The round-disk stopped Lani from preceding any further. It emitted a strange static sound and then a holographic image pulled together displaying a woman of a tall stature and yellow force clothes. A Fomarl!

?- " Thank god, I've found you! Dr. Hoffman was worried about you, Lani."

Lani was so stunned by the sudden obstacle that she was speechless for about a minute.

Lani- " Who are you?"

?- " Oh me? I'm Alycia Baz! Head of the Research Facility of Pioneer 2 and I'm here to rescue you!"

Lani- " You mean from the Boombas?"

Alycia- " Exactly! Now what I want you to do is memorize this electronic map, okay? It's the structure simulation map of this building. This red dot is you and that blue dot is where your destination is. You've got to hurry before Mrs. Arusia alters the code and shuts down the telepipe, otherwise, you'll never see life again!"

The hologram disappeared unexpectedly and the disk dropped to the ground and shattered. Lani was overwhelmed by the rapid information that she felt like she was going to collapse. Mrs. Arusia is behind this madness! Along with the principal no doubt! I've got to get to the exit quickly! Lani turned back around towards the doors she just came through, but… they were locked. Dammit! Now I can't help those forces. Okay…Calm down, and just get out. Now, Alycia said that the blue dot was my destination and that destination was down the hallway on the top of this stairwell. I've got to hurry!

Alycia- " Dammit! What happened! I didn't get to finish the explanation!"

Assistants- " I'm sorry, miss, but the disk has seemed to malfunction. That was just a prototype anyway…"

Alycia- " I don't give a damn! I forgot to tell her that there was one little obstacle blocking the exit."

Assistants- " You mean… prototype #4113?"

Alycia- " Exactly… the Savage Wolf."

After preceding the stairwell, Lani made it to the top floor. The exit is just down this hall and through that door. Now what is that?

Lani- " Oh…my…god…"

A fierce growl reverberated down the halls and suddenly a giant beast leaped out from the hall corner and was now eye contacting Lani. A savage wolf! How could she do this to us. I'll kill that witch if I ever see her again. She taught me the Foie spell…How could she? The wolf pounced towards her; halving their original distance. Lani didn't want to fight the beast, so instead she thought to herself as the beast pounced another quarter of the way and was now charging her. Now! Lani evasively darted forward right before the savage wolf made contact and it jumped over her body and landed on the adjacent side. While the wolf was being confused, Lani decided to make a run for it. The distance between her and the wolf and her and the exit was about equal and if she maybe sprinted for the door, she could outrun it.

Lani had the initiative and scurried for the door as quick as she could. The beast rejuvenated its mind and shook its head as it gazed at its running prey. The growl behind her, reverberated again and it suddenly took the initiative to pounce Lani. She was almost there… Come on! Come on! The wolf took one final pounce leaping through the air just about ready to catch its prey when…the door behind Lani closed and the beast slammed into the metal with such force and bent it, but knocked the wolf senselessly out of reality. Lani was safe and the portal glowed in front of her. I made it. She stepped on through the warp and piped to her next destination and hopefully the other forces will make it out.