"Doctor's Assistant"
Pride Trooper Headquarters, Science Lab
Dyspo's POV …
Aw, man! Another useless punishment from the general. Okay, the part when I rushed into the battle wasn't on me. That leader had it coming! Messing with the great Pride Troopers … He should feel the righteous wrath of justice! Ah, what am I saying to myself? Kasheral was going to put me in janitor duty again, but the lead janitor wasn't available, so Dr. Shocks was the better option. Why? Apparently, Dr. Shocks needs extra help around the science lab, and Kasheral thought it would be a beneficial punishment for me to learn something. About letting my arrogance guide me through everything. Hmph! What does he know? Almost everyone has an arrogant side, even him! I enter the lab, seeing no one by the doctor himself. Shocks manages the lab, as well as the support items Pride Troopers use during certain missions. I respect the man's effort, but becoming his assistant for one day? The rest of the day is going to bore me! I'm supposed to watch the latest football game tonight and I'm stuck here! Agh! "Dyspo! Kasheral send me the message about the incident. Did you really let your arrogance get the better of-" said Dr. Shocks until I interrupted. "No! I was doing the right thing! Like always!" I said, while grumpily walking towards an open chair.
"I can tell that today didn't go as you planned, but we'll have a great time here. Mind helping me with a few test runs?" said Dr. Shocks in his usual smile towards me. For a guy so generous, I can see why Top would trust him in weapons and items. We leave the lab to the testing section, where the scientists test various new items before presenting them to the team. Dr. Shocks explains that we will test the two new inventions tonight before tomorrow. "I want these inventions to go well tomorrow. Don't want them exploding in front of the team. Now, do we?" said Dr. Shocks. He sets up the first new inventions: The Anti-Gravity Ray Gun. A generic name, but it generates energy, converts it onto a person, allowing that person to float off the ground. Pretty impressive. Shocks told me to monitor the control panel while he fetches his clipboard. Rolling my eyes, I answered Shocks. He leaves the section, and I boredly stare at the invention. For five whole minutes! God, this is so boring! Dr. Shocks returns with his clipboard of notes, ready for the first test run. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Dyspo. I had to get my notes first. Gotta need notes to analyze errors!" said Dr. Shocks with a cheery smile. Ugh, let's just start this test run already!
First Test Run Complete (Ten Minutes Later) …
The first test run wasn't bad. The Anti-Gravity Ray Gun works well. Dr. Shocks says that the ray gun needs some improvements on manual control, but other than that, the invention test run was a success. Now, onto the next test run: The Grapple Whip. It's similar to Vuon's Justice Whip, or Kunshi's energy strings, but more manual. Dr. Shocks commands me to go in the testing chamber and try the whip out. "Really, Doctor?" I said. "Of course. I can't let my assistants sit on their butts and observe. They get full on permission in testing out the inventions. Just as long as they stay in the testing chambers," said Dr. Shocks. This might go interesting for me. I enter the testing chambers, examine the whip, grabbed it, and watch the whip glow in bright yellow. Yep, this is just like Vuon's Justice Whip! "Now, target the whip onto the projectiles!" said Dr. Shocks in the speakers. I did as told, and the whip slices two targets in half. What!? My mind's completely blown by all this! I keep whipping the item around, taking down more moving projectiles! This is the best item they've made thus far! "Okay, Dyspo! Testing is over. How did it go?" said Dr. Shocks, again, through the speakers. "That was … f***ing awesome!" I said. From Dr. Shocks's smile through the clear window, I can surely say that tonight won't be a boring moment for me.
Fifteen Minutes Later …
{Dr. Shocks and Dyspo drinking beer}
"So, you were a Pride Trooper, doc?" I said, while me and the doctor chug down beer cans. He was a part of the Pride Trooper team for ten years, until his ego got the better of him. "When that missile was about to target those innocent kids, I had to step in. However, me getting involved only caused the mission, as the leader - the one before Top - planned a sneak attack. I ruined the plan, but we caught the villain. Fauna fired me from the elite level and promoted me into head scientist at the science lab. Twenty-seven years later, my ego depleted. I don't feel justified in my actions on the battlefield and not being there solved it. You see, Dyspo. If you let your arrogance guide you, you'll only make mistakes. Don't make any more mistakes in the future. Don't be like me," said Dr. Shocks. Wow, his tone was serious. He had an ego complex and it… it ruined his chance at being a hero. A genuine hero of justice, and his ego destroyed it? Is that what my ego will do to me? Will I end up as a broke scientist or hobo, because of my ego?! What Dr. Shocks said blew my mind! After he chugs the beer can, I pat him on the back. "Thanks, man! You finally saw something in me. My ego became a nuisance and grown into something worse! I promise I won't let my arrogance guide me the wrong way! Ever again!" I said proudly. "That's good, Dyspo. Now, I believe nighttime is upon us. You better go back to your room and get some sleep. I'm sure the team will respect the new you!" said Dr. Shocks, as he lightly taps me on the shoulder. After last night, my perspective of what I've done has changed. My ego will never interfere true justice.
Kasheral's Office (The Next Day) …
"I apologize for letting arrogance blind me from true justice. From here on out, I'll try to become a Pride Trooper gentleman. You have my word," I said before bowing down while sitting on a chair. Kasheral, although dumbfounded, takes the apology. "I didn't expect that to come out of YOUR mouth, but it's a good enough apology. Just practice not letting that ego take over," said Kasheral with a charismatic smile. After Kasheral, I apologized to the other Pride Troopers. Apologized to Top for not listening to his orders ; Apologized to Jiren for calling Cherri a hot chick during missions; and so on. Now, about my promise. How am I going to contain my ego from coming out? It's gonna be a hard son of a bitch, but as a Pride Trooper, I have to keep my promises.