I don't own Sonic or Sega.

5. Evaluation Day

"Ryko, it's evaluation day."

"Really? I thought that was next month."

"Well, too bad. We've got everything set up."

"Of course. I'll go on down to the room,"

Ryko didn't tell anybody, but he loved evaluation day. It was where all members of G.U.N went through various combat situations and will be graded. Ryko got the highest grade every year and the commander always tried to throw something else in his way.

"Okay Ryko. We'll be giving you various items that you may or may not know how to use. You will receive one to begin with and numerous others on pedestals. When you begin a certain test, the pedestals will shoot out of the floor and a weapon will be on top. You may take them all, but remember, you may only have time to take one. The situations we put you in are completely random each year-"

"And we will not be responsible for injury and or death on any situation whatsoever. Just bring me to my room, Commander."

"Not before you get your first weapon."

The commander tossed Ryko something. Ryko caught it with his left hand.

"Brass knuckles?"

"Look closer."

Ryko found a button on the middle finger of the knuckles. He hit it and 2 knives flew out both sides of the knuckles. Ryko whistled.

"Can I keep these?"

"They cost money."

"How much?"

"About 1,000 rings."

"I'll take two."

Test One, 4:30 AM

"This simulation will test how well you react in a dangerous situation."

"Goody."

7 hedgehogs flew out of nowhere and three pedestals shot out of the floor. On one was a rubix cube; Ryko picked it up and solved it just because he could; another was some throwing knives and the last was a SIG Sauer. Ryko picked up the throwing knives and threw them at two of the hedgehogs, which fell dead(simulation dead, Ryko thought). He took out two more with the knives and picked up the Sauer. He shot two more and dropped the gun. He leapt in the air and nailed him in the face with his knuckles. When the hedgehog was on the ground, he extended the knives and finished him. The 'hedgehogs' slowly deteriorated and the holograms vanished away. Ryko looked around. A rather attractive female hedgehog was going over some paper work.

"Took them all out… solved that rubix cube, even though that was supposed to be a joke… used a wide variety of weapons… A+, I gotta say."

"Alright sweetheart, I know I'm awesome, let's just get on to the next test, please."

"The name is Sadie, thank you very much."

"Yea, whatever, Katie, let's just go."

Test Two, 4:50 AM

"Okay, Ryko, this simulation will evaluate how well you can break into places that are locked. When the test starts you-"She looked up wide-eyed.

Ryko was holding the lock in his hand, and the lock behind the first one in his other hand.

"Did you just do that without any lockpicks?"

"Did you check your back pocket?"

She reached into her back pocket. Where she knew she had kept some picks to give to this hedgehog were now gone. She turned around and Ryko held them in his hand.

"You can't do that!"

"I can't? According to the G.U.N codex, section 1.123 states that during an evaluation, one may use any means necessary to achieve your goal. If you want, you may call the commander."

She flipped out her cell phone and dialed a number.

"Yes commander, he stole the picks from me and used them… what? That's acceptable? Urrrgghhh…" She hung up the phone.

"A+"

"I know."

"How do you get everything done when you're a cocky, arrogant weasel?"

"There isn't a thing called cocky and arrogant when you can back up everything you say."

"And how can you do that?"

"What time is it?"

She instinctively checked her left wrist, but her watch was gone.

"Never mind, I got it."

Her watch was on Ryko's left wrist now. She could have exploded.

"Do I get extra credit for that?"

"I SWEAR TO THE GODS I'M ABOUT TO-"

"Sadie!" The commander's voice rang through the room.

"Keep yourself in check. Ryko, give her her watch back."

"I already did, Commander." Her watch was back on her wrist.

Test Three,5:00 AM

"In this evaluation we'll test how well you do under pressure. There is a citizen behind that door. There also is a bomb behind that door, which detonates in a minute. Ready? Go."

Three pedestals shot up from the ground. On them was the other knuckleduster he'd bought, which he took, another rubix cube, which he solved, and a Barrett 50. Caliber, fully loaded. Ryko smiled and took the Barrett before taking the secret hatch that no one else had noticed upward. He found the bomb and disabled it. Three thugs came out from nowhere and started to attack the citizen. Ryko took them all out with his Barrett and slipped down the hatch.

Sadie was absolutely stunned. She had never seen that hatch and Ryko had done that whole operation with 32 seconds to spare.

"I don't even know where he is right now." She thought aloud.

"Right behind ya, sweetheart." Sadie could have jumped out of her chair.

"Who… who are you?" She asked. Ryko smiled.

"The guy who just got straight A+'s on his report card this year… again."

"I hate you."

"I've noticed."

G.U.N Commander's Office, 5:05 AM

"He aced it again?"

"Yes, sir."

"You amaze me every time I see you, Ryko. You remind me of-" He stopped in mid-sentence, like he did every time he was about to say the word.

"My father, sir. I know."

The commander was stunned. He didn't think Ryko even knew anything about his father. Sadie watched with interest.

"Well, you're still the best on the force, kid."

"I'm seventeen."

"Whatever. Good job grading him, kid."

"I'm also seventeen, sir."

"Dear god. Do your glasses still work, Ryko?"

"I never wore those, sir."

The commander was stunned again. Ryko wore jet black sunglasses just below his bright silver eyes 24/7. What only he and the commander knew was that these were basically a pair of robotic eyes.

"So you never put those on when I gave them to you?"

"I never needed them."

"So you saw the hatch-"

"Without those things? Yes commander, I always have."

"You're amazing."

"Thank you, sir."

Ryko was walking out the door when Sadie caught up to him.

"Hey!" Ryko turned around.

"Yea?"

"Sorry about what happened back there-"

Don't worry about it. See ya later." He hopped in his Cobra and drove off.

"I hope so." She muttered under her breath.