Witch Hunter Robin
Rebuilding from the rubble
Chapter 18
Final Exam
A fanfic by Prospero53223
When Amon and Robin awoke the next morning they could see that the roads had been plowed clear and that it had stopped snowing. Getting there butts in gear they both dressed quickly and took the complementary breakfast with coffee on the road with them. When they finally got back to the base at eleven thirty the barracks manager stopped them as they entered and assigned both the both of them as his assistants since there class was the most senior. That and the barracks manager knew that he could trust both Amon and Robin to get what ever task he asked them to help with done. Around one that afternoon the barracks manger had asked Amon help him assembled all the students who had returned by then into the lounge since the schools commander wanted to speak with all of them.
"Well to those who are back I'm glad to see you have all made it safely." The school commander started to say as she looked through her notes of what needed to be passed on to the students. "OK, now how many here are in Senior Hunter John's class 593?" Robin, Amon, Stephie, and the Triplets raised their hands as the commander nodded her head.
"All right I have a message here from John letting me know that a few more of your fellow class mates should be returning to base by five PM with rest of your class returning to the base by twelve noon tomorrow. The only exceptions to the twelve-noon check in are Joe and Ian. From what John has told me it seems that mother nature decided to hit them both with snow storms in there home countries. John would also like for Amon and Robin, which of you in class five nine three are Amon and Robin?"
Amon and Robin both raised their hands as the commander nodded her head to acknowledge their presence. "All right John wants the both of you to set up a study group tonight to go over questions for the final exam which will be held by the end of the week, hopefully Joe and Ian will be back by then."
"What will happen if they don't return by then ma'am?" Robin had asked.
"Unfortunately they'll have to be set back into another class." Robin nodded her head as she stood back and let the commander finish what she needed to pass down. "The rest of you are to do the same and everyone will be pulling duty for the next two nights regardless of class duty schedule." Some of the students groaned and protested, " I'm sorry you guys but with the amount of students I see here now its only fair unless class five nine six would like to stand double if not triple duty today since it is your duty day."
That got the protest to stop while the barracks manager assigned everyone a duty including any and all students who had just returned. The barracks manager also assigned the students who weren't standing duty at that point in time to a cleaning detail, which included a hand full of students to start shoveling the sidewalk since it started to snow again. Everyone was to pull there weight around the barracks today and study groups for the individual classes were assigned at hour long intervals. For class 593 Robin was assigned the first duty at the front desk to be relieved by Stephie who would stand a double. Amon was in the middle of setting up a study group for his class that was to take place when Stephie finished her duty; he soon realized what a mistake that was. Stephie did not pay attention to anything being discussed in the study review nor could she get any of the questions right. Amon was now at the end of his rope and quickly losing patients at a dangerous rate.
"Robin could you please take Stephie aside and do a one on one study with her maybe that might help a bit." Robin nodded her head as she picked up her books and took Stephie to the side at a small study table set up in the lounge.
"OK I know you don't like me and I don't like you but if you want to pass this exam I would really hope we can at least put aside our differences for one night and let me help you." Stephie huffed and stuck her nose up in the air as Robin sighed in frustration while writing out a questioner for her. When Robin handed it to Stephie all she did was crumple it up and toss it on the floor which made Robin's all most non-existent temper start to boil.
" Look I know your little secret I talked with your brother and if you don't pass I know daddy is cutting you off so pick up that paper and answer the questions that way we can review what you got wrong and go from there."
Stephie looked down her nose at Robin and just scoffed, " What do you care anyway; besides daddy doesn't mean it he's just saying that to scare me. My daddy would never leave me or my brother hanging like that unlike some peoples dead parents."
Robin had to bite her tongue while she mentally counted to ten before speaking to Stephie again. " You know Stephie you're right I don't care I would love to see you fall flat on your face and live like the rest of us filth as you so like to call us and see you try and last five minutes with out your money and your servants."
With that Robin got up and left Stephie where she was at so she could think about what was just said to her. Of course Stephie didn't budge from where she sat; ignoring everything Robin had just said to her. She even kicked at the crumpled piece of paper sending it across the floor while she continued to mope at the table, arms across her chest. Stephie as far as Robin was concerned was a lost cause and rejoined the study group helping Amon with the students who actually cared about their grades and future.
A few days had passed since Robin and Stephie had words in the lounge. Joe and Ian had returned from their leave; and not a moment too soon.
The students had a few more days of review before they were handed their final exam. For Amon and Robin the test was all too easy, with questions like what would you do if you found the witch you were hunting had a partner who suddenly attacked your team? And how do you properly detain a witch while you wait for transport from a SOLOMON run prison facility?
"Time," John said as everyone placed their pencils down and turned in their test.
"We'll see everyone after lunch with your final test results in hand. After we go over the test scores we will also be going over some more information about Malik Uchenna and our role in assisting the combined arm forces the UN has sent over to Africa."
The class filed out of the room as they all headed to the bowling ally for lunch; since the food in the galley had given a bunch of the students and instructors food poising during breakfast. Robin and Amon tried to sit and eat quietly by themselves but it didn't work everyone in the class kept coming up to them asking Robin about the ring she had gotten.
"It's a very beautiful ring." Anisa had commented as she walked by.
"Where did you get it?" Devi had asked.
"If I'm not mistaken it looks like an engagement ring." Ian said as he looked at the pair of them with both girls waiting to hear the answer so they could scream in joy.
"Sorry to disappoint you guys it's just a promises ring." Robin had answered.
"Ah, I see it's very lovely though." Devi had replied.
"Thank you." The group walked away leaving Amon and Robin alone at lest for now as they both sighed in relief.
"Good cover." Amon said as he relaxed just a bit he didn't really want his private life being yelled off the mountaintop.
"Thanks." Robin replied as she turned her head just slightly to see the gossip going on at one of the other tables. "Think we should tell them the truth though?"
"Not particularly, I think those who need to know all ready do." Amon said before taking a bite of his lunch
Robin nodded her head in agreement as she sipped on her coffee, "Agreed we only have a week left here and I want to get through it as painless and gossip free as possible. And as you said the people we want to know about us all ready do well not all of them."
Amon knew what she meant and he too wished he could have the rest of the STN-J know what was going on even if he is a private person; they were really the only family he had other then Nagira. "Well if they send us back to Japan they'll know soon enough."
Robin nodded her head again as she finished her meal. "So how do you think this hunt is going to go me personally I don't like the idea of going into a war zone to hunt a witch."
" Neither do I but I've done this before in Haiti you just got to keep a clear head and know your soundings just like we would with any other hunt. " Amon said coolly just like he would if they were back in the briefing room at the STN-J.
"True but there is a lot more at stake and a lot more danger then just hunting one witch. This witch has a whole following of people who think he is the Messiah and these people will probably stop at nothing to make sure we don't take him away regardless if he's starving them. I mean we're talking about a lot of innocent people being exposed to craft users not to mention heavy artillery and if we even injure just one person on account of him or even worse someone dies that whole area will be in arms because they'll see it as our fault." Robin seemed to be both planning and worrying about the consequences if they were to fail in even the slightest.
"You're right about that we'll just have to be careful and follow the UN's orders along with Solomon's." Amon's cold business tone came back as Robin nodded her head in agreement with what he had to say.
In a way she found it funny to hear his tone so cold and business like. Sure his voice was naturally deep and always came off as being very cold and distant but this was the first time in eight months that he and Robin had discussed a hunt. To Robin it felt as if they had fallen back into there old routine which for witch hunting was a good thing especially when one is hunting a witch who is also a mad man.
After lunch everyone filed into class where John and Benjamin stood waiting for them all to take their seats before announcing the final results.
"You guys know the drill when you hear your name come up to the front of the class and we will hand you your test back while we read off your score." Everyone nodded his or her heads as John called the first student up.
" Anisa, ninety five, you pass; Blasé, ninety nine, you pass; Ian, ninety, you pass; Brooklyn, eighty seven you pass; Ken, eight nine, you pass; Jacob, Justin, and Jordan, the three of you scored a ninety eight, the three of you pass; Mike, eighty, you just passed; Cathy, ninety, you pass; Leigh, eight five, you pass; Devi, and Devdas, you both receive a ninety five as well, you pass." John paused for a moment and looked at Benjamin.
"Have you ever noticed that the twins and the triplets always score the same on every test even though we separate them?"
"Sure do John." Both men always gave the triplets and the twins a hard time when it came to their grades while the class chuckled along with their instructors.
"Senior Hunter John, Hunter Benjamin how many times do we have to tell you we multiples are using our "esp." it's a conspiracy we like to use to drive you singletons nuts with." Jacob said in a smart-ass tone to his instructors.
"Yes, yes we all know your little game there you guys now Jacob shut up and sit down so we can continue here." Hunter Benjamin instructed as the classroom filled with laughter again.
After everyone's little laugh as John went back to reading off the rest test results. " Evelyn, eighty seven, pass; Daria, ninety one, pass; Ron, eighty eight, pass Gaius, ninety two pass; Akin, eighty nine, pass; Steven, ninety nine pas; Amon-San one hundred, pass; Robin, one hundred, pass; Zena, ninety four, pass, Stephie, please step outside the class we will discuss your grades when we are finished with the test review."
Robin looked over at Amon who just shook his head there was nothing they could do for her they tried to help but Stephie wouldn't accept any; Stephie had failed her final exam. Stephie got up from her desk knocking it over along with her books as she spat at her instructors before storming out of the room. Benjamin went out after her and dragged Stephie to the instructor's office while they both waited for John. This time she would have to see the school commander along with the base commander since she was not just being expelled from the school but from all Solomon training.
John had Amon and Robin run the test review session this time since they had both received the top score in the class. When that was finished with they both took their seats as John seat up the slide machine and pulled down the viewing screen.
"This is Malik Uchenna, aka Vuai Yahya," John told them as a slide of Malik came up on the screen. "As I told all of you before Christmas break Malik believes himself to be the Messiah as do his people but not out of love and respect cause of any miracle he's done but more out of fear and the abuse he inflicts on them. Right now Solomon has him marked as one of the world's most dangerous witches and it's our job to help capture him."
Robin shot up her hand as John nodded in her direction, "Do we know what his craft is?"
" Well we sort of do," John answered, " Which is why he's considered to be very dangerous cause he seems to possess more then one craft."
"That is most unusual." Amon spoke up in his cold tone.
"Agreed," John said as he reviewed the information he had on Uchenna." we know he possess an earth craft but some how he's also managed to be able to kill his victims with out even touching them."
"Just like Misawa Kazuya." Robin said in her soft voice with Amon nodding his head in agreement.
"Who?" Gaius asked Robin and Amon.
"He was a witch we hunted back in Japan he supposedly killed his business partner with a curse but that was far from the truth. His craft allowed him to squeeze and rip apart his victim's internal organs causing a quick yet painful death." Amon replied.
"Well that's good to know." John said as he looked to the class, "And I hope you all wrote it down as well."
The class picked up their pens and jotted down what Amon had just said along with the rest of the information that was given to them before being dismissed so they could go and pack their things. "Remember guys we leave in three days so make sure you have everything you need if not I suggest you go to the PX and get it. Oh and girls if you have any rings you will have to take them off before we get to Africa or if you want to still keep them on your person you may place them around your dog tags as well its up to you."
Everyone seemed to be at the shopping center on the base picking up hygiene materials that they were almost out of and needed to pack with them. Robin was having a hard time finding shower shoes her size since the base shop rarely carried any shoes smaller then a size six. She sighed after looking for over an hour for shower shoes in her size and just grabbed the size sixes and purchased them with the rest of the items in her shopping basket.
"You know I'm not really asking for much all I want them to do is carry size fives it can't be that hard to order a few pairs of size five shower shoes." Amon laughed as Robin griped about her shoes.
"It could be worse; you could have ended up like Joe and having to buy a pair one size smaller then what you actually wear."
Robin smiled as she nodded her head, "You are right I'll stop complaining."
"Good." Amon said as he opened the door to the barracks letting Robin go inside before he did; both walked down the hall together and to their rooms for the evening.
"Oyasuminasai waga ai." Amon said to Robin before he kissed her goodnight.
Robin's cheeks seemed to blush as she told Amon good night before she entered her room not expecting to witness the events that unfolded before her very eyes.
Before Amon even had the chance to enter his room he heard a gunfire off. He didn't even hear Robin scream before he burst into her room to see what had happened as did Cathy, Leigh and every one else who heard the gun fire off. Robin just stumbled back into God knows who she was in shock and covered in blood and brain matter.
"Someone get the barracks manager and call an ambulance." Robin couldn't make out the voices in her room all she wanted to do was go into a shower and wash all the blood off. All she knew at that time was that strong hands were holding her back and a voice telling her to stay where she was.
"Signorina, Signorina, can you tell me what happened with your roommate."
Robin shook her head violently no as the police questioned her, "Did she say anything?"
"I won't live like the rest of you filth." Was all Robin could tell them.
" Is that what," The police officer that Robin was talking to paused for a moment as he flipped to the piece of paper in his note pad that had her roommates name on it. "What a Signorina Stephie Miller said?"
Robin nodded her head quickly as Amon held her up. "Can we get her looked at before she passes out?" Amon asked the officer rather impatiently.
"Si, Si Signore, after we ask her a few more questions you must be patient."
"No, no more questions, I'm going to be sick." Robin said as she called up the last of her strength to run into the bathroom so she could empty the contents of her stomach. The paramedics were right behind her so they could take the opportunity to evaluate Robin before the police started to ask questions again. One of the medics even had to break open a smelling salt so she wouldn't pass out on them as they sat her down on the floor.
"Can I wash?" Robin as one of the medics who noticed that Robin had a glazed look in her eyes, a sure sign that she was in shock.
"After we get you to the hospital you can Signorina Sena right now we need to get you in the ambulance."
"No I don't need to go to the hospital I'm fine really I'm fine." The parametics had to ignore her refusal to go since the longer they put off her medical care the worse Robin's health would become.
"Signorina just humor us ok." The one paramedic asked Robin as he flashed her a kind smile to get her to agree to go. She nodded her head as two other parametics came into the room with a stretcher for her.
"No I can walk really I can." Robin said as she tried to get up but someone was holding her down.
"Just let them take you to the ambulance this way Robin." Amon told her, his voice soft and filled with concern.
"What about Stephie won't she need a stretcher?"
Amon sighed he knew Robin just saw Stephie kill herself but the shock seemed to be blocking what she just saw from her mind.
"Don't worry about her they have a special one for her." Amon said as he noticed the medical examiners and crime scene investigators come into the room.
"Don't leave." Robin pleaded as she grabbed a hold of Amon's arm as they wheeled her out to the ambulance.
Amon agreed to go with her but there was no room in the ambulance for him so he had to follow in his car. As soon as he could get into the room Robin was in at the hospital he stayed with her until she was discharged the next morning. When they arrived back to the barracks the barracks manager had assigned her a new room since the one she shared with Stephie was still considered a crime scene.