Chapter 2: Enter Kelsey

As Jeffrey walked in he was confronted by Dr Brian the scientist. He always wore a white shirt with black pants to contrast with his blue eyes of the deep blue sea. His hair was a little grey but he still could look very excited. Jeffrey had always hated how scientists droned on about forces and chemicals since he was a school boy. He always fell asleep during class as he tried to concentrate on the symbols for potassium, silicon and iodine.

"Hello Jeffrey, I've been expecting you," he greeted Jeffrey.

"What's the equipment this time?" Jeffrey grumbled softly. Dr Brian ignored Jeffrey completely but he walked enthusiastically to a table and held up a black suit which was as dark as midnight.

"This is your CSS M4, short for Covert Special Suit Mark IV. It absorbs 30 of any plasma based weapons damage and has an active camouflage for 30 seconds before recharging for 5 minutes. It also keeps the heat in but it is undetectable by infra red,"

"With the suit you have a helmet which shows your physical health, suit condition, motion tracker, a spy camera, DP (Download Plug) for downloading information and neural implants," he continued holding a black helmet. Suddenly, Jeffrey was highly suspicious: There was a slot in the helmet that looked as if it was for an AI (Artificial Intelligence) chip. He remembered when the damn AI led him into the ambush when they were transporting the two convoys. Ever since, he had thought that AIs where very thick and also very annoying. AI chips were invented in 2536 when Dr Hasley who also invented the famous Spartan-IIs, discovered how to process AIs into chips. From then they created AIs with personalities, bodies and emotions.

"You will be equipped with a modified MA7B Rifle with a scope and it fires 8.64 mm HE (Highly Explosive) rounds or 9.42 mm shredder rounds. Each has sixty bullets in a magazine and you will be issued with a silencer," he told Jeffrey who suddenly stood to attention. He had always liked the bit where he was shown the guns. Dr Brian was holding a sleek rifle with an additional scope clipped to the top. It was also black as a starless night.

"You will also be equipped with a S2 AM sniper rifle with new 15.1 mm armor piercing rounds," he continued holding a long snipe that was not black but a shining silver like the a full moon.

"Thirdly, you will be equipped with two new SMG s (Sub Machine Gun) with fire 5.34 mm armor piercing rounds," Dr Brian continued indicating towards two SMG s neatly set on a table.

"Lastly, you will be equipped with two combat knives made of an alloy that contains titanium, steel, silicon, iron and aluminum. It is suitable for either throwing, stabbing or blocking," he said pointing to a table with two knives which were as sharp as a needle.

"You will be equipped with four M-10 HE-DP grenades and for every gun you will be equipped with four rounds each," Dr Brian said indicating to a weapons stash in the corner of the room.

"As usual you will be given two medical packs."

"Lastly, but not least, is Kelsey, an AI that has been specially assigned to you for this mission," Dr Brian informed Jeffrey as Dr Brian pointed to a purple holographic image of a young teenage girl. She turned around.

"The first few seconds of my existence and I'm looking at the ugliest thing in the universe," she insulted Jeffrey, challenging him.

"How come I have to work with a chick AI?" Jeffrey asked Dr Brian how was happily admiring her while Jeffrey angrily glared at the impudent Kelsey. Without answering Jeffrey's question, Dr Brian inserted Kelsey into Jeffrey's helmet slot. A loud shriek was heard and Jeffrey shouted angrily, "What the hell!"

"Just checking the volume," Kelsey notified Jeffrey annoyingly.

"You little….." Jeffrey said angrily.

"Will Jeffrey please report to Hangar Bay 2," Captain Jimmy's voice boomed over the radio on Jeffrey's helmet. Picking up his equipment he walked out of the room to hear Dr Brian saying, "Take good care of her." Jeffrey walked slowly, quietly arguing with Kelsey as he walked to the hangar.