"Next!" a rather frightening looking women who had called herself Ms. Goodwitch called.
She was dressed in a slim black skirt with a white blouse and a purple and black cape. Slid into one of her thigh high black leather boots was what looking like a riding crop. In her hands was a transparent scroll that she studied voraciously through her glasses. All in all, she was quiet unnerving especially in how she reminded me of some certain scientists back at the Atlas facility.
A stuttering boy step up in front of me, mumbling his name. Ms. Goodwitch glanced at him annoyingly before growling a command to speak louder. The boy leapt in his skin, making me chuckle, and could say no more despite the sputtering of sounds escaping his mouth. Even more grumpily, Ms. Goodwitch scrolled through a list of photos and matched him with one.
"Mr. Lesse," she announced as he violently nodded his head. "Proceed."
He stumbled off through a door into one of the side buildings that was on the Beacon campus, beside it a sign that said 'male.'
"Next!" Ms. Goodwitch's voice barked, shattering my thoughts.
I took a step up and stopped, staring up into her spectacles.
"Name."
"Skye."
"Skye what?" she asked.
"Miriage. Skye Miriage," I said hesitantly.
I saw through her scroll as she paged down to the 'm' names and matched my face with an archived photo I took when I first applied. She checked a box next to my name and I was about to step forward before she stopped me with a question.
"From Atlas?" she lowered her scroll and peered over the rims of her glasses.
"Y-yes?" I stuttered. "Is there a problem?"
"It's rare that we see applicants from so far away," her toned hinted at a bit of suspicion.
"I… I wanted to become a Huntress," I replied, trying not to fidget or rub the shaved side of my head.
"Furthermore… you dress rather extravagant for someone from that region."
That irritated me more than anything. "I'm not the poster-child of Atlas and…" I hesitated before I spoke of my past life, "my youth wasn't like everyone elses."
Her piercing eyes took one last glance into my eyes before she returned to her scroll.
"Obviously," she stated, "Proceed."
With a sigh of relief I stepped forward and through the door marked for females. Inside was a large lobby with a main desk and hallways leading to other rooms. People in white uniforms and coats scurried about and made me freeze. It was too similar to the facility.
I felt the panic creep up from deep within me and seize control of my brain. My breathing became labored and my skin became damp with a cold sweat. Black closed in around my vision as reality and memories began to meld together. Somehow I managed a step back until a nurse called out.
"Are you okay miss?" she asked.
My head turned to her as if on a rusty gear and I looked at her with a frightened face.
I kept expecting Basher of Spira to come to my rescue but I had left them at the hotel. I didn't want to risk them in front of Huntresses and Hunters or the students training to become them, not on the campus. All I had was my case of armor behind me that was set to follow. There was no one to save me, no one who knew how to calm me down, and no one who knew about the picture in my pocket that could make this all end.
"Are you an applicant to become a Huntress?" the nurse asked.
At her words a hundred photos flashed through my eyes. Memories of a different time and a different place, sitting at a table with an orange haired girl in front of me asking if I wanted to become a Huntress. It brought me back to reality strangely.
"Yes," I finally was able to say.
"Oh good," she said, "here follow me."
I followed her down one of the hallways past other rooms where other applicants entered or exited until she found an empty one.
"Wait here."
"For what? I thought today was a combat test?" I asked as I entered the room.
"Yes it is, but before that we also must do a medical check up to ensure that you are fit, healthy, and able," she told me. "Just make yourself comfortable, someone will be by soon," with that she left.
It still unnerved me being in her but I focused on thoughts of that girl so that I wouldn't fall to my flashbacks again. It was a short while until a woman wearing a doctor's coat stepped into the room.
"Hello Miss?" she asked.
"Skye," I said a little shocked, the panic again batting against my mind.
"Are you alright?" she asked, noticing my apprehension.
"Uh… yeah, I just… don't do well around doctors," I told a part truth.
"Oh don't worry. There won't be any needles or prodding or poking if that's what you're worried about," she reassured me. "This is just a little check-up before I let you off to you assessment."
"Ah, okay," I replied.
"Well this will be quick, if you'll remove your clothes please. You can keep your undergarments on."
I hesitated again. They had done this before at this before at the facility and usually what followed wasn't pleasant. In my mind I repeated the same lines to keep me calm. Become a Huntress. Do it for her. Become a Huntress. Do it for her.
With that in mind I nervously stripped out of my jacket, tank top, and jeans, leaving on my black bra and panties. What was worse was that my leg braces were showing, making me even more self-conscious.
The doctor looked up from her notes and said, "Well let's see what we have. Oh." She stopped upon seeing my leg braces. Rolling her chair closer so she could inspect the slim harnesses that were clamped around my leg she hummed. "If I may ask, what are these?"
"They're… my leg braces," I said, not knowing how to explain about my situation.
"May I?" she asked and I nodded, letting her touch and examine where the arms clamped around my leg and connected to my spine. "What do they do? Are they just for support?"
"No, uhm…" I paused not wanting this to set me back but there was no way around it. "They let me walk."
"Let you?" she finely picked at the words I used. "To what extent?"
I sighed and groaned, "Without them I can't use my legs. I'm a para… parapa… paraple…"
"Paraplegic?"
I quietly nodded.
She picked up her scroll again and tapped rapidly, beginning to interrogate me about my legs, braces, and how I was injured. Reluctantly I answered her queries, telling her about the Grimm in my town when I was little and select aspects of how the Atlas scientist developed my braces. Then she asked me to do a few motions to demonstrate my range of movement and ability of my legs, taking notes the whole time. I cursed myself for admitting my weakness.
"Alright, thank you for that Ms. Skye," she said laying her scroll on her lap. "Now can you please take off your braces for the rest of this examination?"
"What?!" I shouted by accident.
She didn't seemed fazed and only repeated herself, "Please remove your leg braces."
I stared at her in disbelief for a minute, not muttering a word.
"Is there a problem?"
"I… I…"
"We can't continue unless I do a full check-up and to finish I need you to remove your leg braces."
"Okay…" I whispered, barely audible.
I went over to my armor case and cracked open the top. For a moment I stared maliciously at the folded device that sat atop my things. Begrudgingly I took it out and unfolded it until my wheelchair locked itself. The whole time the woman watching me.
"You might want to cover your ears," I said as my hand hovered over the disconnect switch.
"Why?" her eyes darted from the wheelchair to me.
I gave her a half-hearted smile and released my leg braces. My scream tore through the room and echoed in the halls as the agony of disconnecting my braces from my nerves wracked my body. I collapsed into a useless pile on the floor as I saw nurses rush into the room. They along with the doctor rushed to my aide but I held a hand up to stop them.
"I'm fine," I said after I took a breath. "Disconnecting my leg braces is… painful. The shock of attaching and detaching them from my spine and nerves are almost unbearable."
I crawled over to my wheelchair and began to pull myself up. They tried to help me but I shook them off, all but one backed off. The one held onto my wheelchair for me. After they had ensured I wasn't in any more trouble they were shooed off by me and the doctor.
She sat back in her chair and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, trying to regain her composure which I had obviously shattered.
"And this happens…"
"Every time," I replied.
"They couldn't do anything about it?" her worried gaze made me chuckle.
"To my knowledge no."
"Atlas prosthetics are far more advanced than Vale's… If they couldn't… Well that's beyond the point. What's the extent of your paralysis?" she asked.
"I can't feel anything from the waist down. My braces give me feeling and the use of my legs back while amplifying their strength," I sighed.
Internally I had given up. This was it, the nail in my coffin. Now that I had revealed the extent of my injury and my… disability, there was no way I was going to advance farther than this. I had failed.
Regardless of my thoughts, she continued the examination without further questioning of my legs. I was scanned head to toe, a light shined in my eyes, my nose and ears were inspected, just about every aspect of my body was checked. The exam ended a short while later as she finished up her annotation in my profile.
"Alright Ms. Skye, I'm pleased to say that you're in perfect health," she finally said cheerily. "You're free to go on to the rest of your examinations today."
I was astounded.
"What?" I uttered. "You're letting me pass?"
"Yes, there is nothing wrong with you. Ah, are you worried about your legs?" she grinned at me as I nodded. "Haha, I'll admit you're a special case, probably the first paralysis applicant I've seen but not the first with a condition. Many come with varying problems, chronic diseases, disabilities, or any other sort of problem you could imagine. None of that however disqualifies them for the exams," she explained.
"But I don't understand. I can't walk without my leg braces, I'd be dead meat without them!"
Again she chuckled, "We don't care what you can't do Skye. What we care about is what you can do. As long as you have what it takes to pass, to never give up, to fight and become a Hunter or Huntress, who are we to deny you before you've had a chance to prove yourself."
Words failed me once again.
The doctor go up and put a hand on my shoulder as I sat in my wheelchair. "You've made it this far. That tells me in itself that you are strong no matter what state your body is currently in. That's more than I need but I think you have a few more tricks in that case of yours so as I said before. Ms. Skye, you may continue," she smiled once again.
"Thank you," I murmured still in shock.
As I rolled myself over to my leg braces and prepared to lift myself into their embrace I heard her walk over to me.
"Oh and Skye, take this," she had taken a plastic mouthpiece from one of the drawers in the room. "It'll stop you from biting through your tongue and make things… quieter."
With another thanks I took the mouthpiece from her and she left me to get dressed.
"One step closer Andy," I told myself.
Sitting in what I guess served as a locker room I double checked all my gear. Everything was prepared but habit and my nerves made me recheck everything. All the other applicants were doing the same. They were pulling their weapons out of protective cases, donning armor or the outfits they wore into a fight, practicing moves or form, or conversing with other applicants. I had elected to sit on a bench to myself. Kids were sharing where they were from or examining each other's weapons and setups. Their conversations sounded cheerful albeit nervous. The close quarters combined with the amount of us they stuck in her bothered me though so I kept to my own business.
I was hesitant to strip and change into my combat gear but took a deep breath and got on with the task, trying to block out everyone around me. Sticking my clothes into a locker I slipped on the body suit that I generally wore under my armored chassis. It was a two piece, trouser and top set that was black almost rubber like material that hugged my skin. There were connection ports for where the exoskeleton I fought with attached, monitoring my body and translating nerve impulses into actions. Likewise, it kept open slits for the sides of my leg braces so they could also link with my armor.
With that done I thumbed the fingerprint and DNA scan on my case and it opened, metallic whines announced the awakening of my sleeping beast. Instead of attending it though I pulled out my shotgun from a holster inside, giving it a once over. I did a functions check to make sure internally it would still fire, checked that the sights that I would use to aim were tight and set, made sure the insides were properly oiled, and finally loaded with a full clip of shells. My shotgun was unique, the Atlas scientist specifically developed it for me and my armor. It had a folding and adjustable stock, used magazine for ammo, a holographic sight, and the best part was that it used dust ammunition. The most notable thing was it was oversized like a small cannon or mortar, I could manage it normally but it mass was tailored for when I used it inside my exoskeleton.
"Klaka, hope you're ready for some work today. I could definitely use all the help I could get," I said to it. "And now," I said gazing down at the beast that slept in my case.
Placing one foot at a time into the only flat spots inside the case, I stepped into my armored exoskeleton. Recognizing the pressure of my feet it pulsed to life, closing over my feet and latching onto the connections around my ankles. Crawling onto my body like a shadow cast by the setting sun, my armor attached itself to my calves and thighs like a hungry animal. It whined and clicked as it attached to my leg braces, screwing mechanical muscles over my fleshy ones and latching thick armor over that. The beast stood up and covered my torso, arms, and finally my neck until I was locked tight inside seemingly impenetrable armor.
"Good Afternoon. How are you doing my Coffin?" I said with a hint of delight, referring to my exoskeleton with the nickname I had coined for it.
"User identified, Skye Miriage," it said back to me in a robotic voice, "Command unknown. Please rephrase."
I sighed, wishing the scientist had given my armor more of a personality.
"Disregard prior command. Run diagnostic check," I said.
As the Coffin did a rundown of all the systems in it I noticed that many eyes were now staring aghast at me. Surely there were some outlandish outfits and astonishing weapons amongst the many kids here but I guess my armor took the cake. It did make me six feet tall, added a couple hundred pounds of armor and machine, and was jet black only exposing my head since my helmet wasn't on. I chuckled imagining the awe struck face of any one of them if we had to fight. They'd think I'd be a stationary, slow target but then they'd be in for a deathly surprise.
"Diagnostic scan complete," the Coffin told me. "All system green and operating at optimal settings. Neural connection ports to occupant all green. Strength at 95%."
I scowled, skimming through the scrolling data that a display around my neck showed. 95% was good but it also told me things were a little off. I'd have to tune up the connectors when I had a chance and also work on the neural links. However, it was more than enough to do whatever they had in store. I hoped.
I wanted to sit but none of the benches would've held the massive weight of my exoskeleton, plus taking it off again would be a hassle. Trying to be polite as I could I made my way through the groups of other applicants. I didn't have to try too hard, the thud of each step I took alerted everyone to me and the imposing figure of my armor pretty much cleared me a path. Finding a wall that was sturdy enough I gently leaned back against it, reviewing scenarios in my mind and the drills in case my shotgun or armor failed me. Above all else though I tried to calm my mind.
A little while later, after a few more girls had come into the locker room, Ms. Goodwitch's voice blared over an intercom.
"Attention, all Beacon applicants will report to the testing grounds for their combat evaluations. I repeat, all Beacon applicants will report to the testing grounds for their combat evaluations," her voice said.
The room erupted in a beehive of chaos. People made last minute adjustments to their gear, threw unneeded items away into lockers, and fought against the crowd shuffling to the doors. I deliberately waited until most had gone through and then followed, crouching low under the doorway and watching out not to bump into anyone. As I meandered through the hallway with the crowd, trusting that they knew the way, I listened to snippets of what everyone was saying.
"-make us fight Grimm!"
"We just applied. That wouldn't be safe!"
"I heard we'd all have to fight it out and the last standing get to-."
"Ridiculous."
"-you think that my outfit matches my weapon."
"I'm gonna go this way and feint that way and then strike at the-."
Sighing it bored me how immature some of the kids here were. From the sounds of things they had no real experience, spending all their time in school or fighting simulations. They weren't like me, not thrown into the garbage of the world and forced to survive. None of them had face actual Grimm before from the sounds of it. The thought comforted me, it was an advantage I had over them all. I would use everything I had to excel at these exams to make up for my shortcomings at the written portion.
The path lead outside to the Beacon campus where we soon found ourselves in a massive training grounds. There were obstacle courses, shooting ranges, sparring arenas, simulators, and so much more. It almost reminded me of back at the facility although it seemed like the technology wasn't quite as advanced. Everyone milled about, the boys and girls, waiting for the next instruction.
It was few minutes before Ms. Goodwitch came out accompanied with another man in a green and black suit. He had white-gray hair but looked surprisingly young. Despite his slim build and his spectacles that rested low on his nose he was quite drab.
"Applicants," he said with a calm yet projecting voice. "Congratulations on making it this far on your journeys. You have weathered fierce training to be here and now we will see the results of your efforts and…" he paused and I thought his gaze lingered on me, "sacrifices."
With that address he backed away and Ms. Goodwitch stepped forward, taking control of the bumbling group of children. She organized everyone quickly in order according to her scroll, separating them into different groups.
"Now," she said, "we will test your practical combat skills. The first test will be a strength test and obstacle course. Next will be a weapons proficiency test with your preferred weapon of choice. Lastly, your final examination will consist of a match first between you and a Grimm."
I grinned, so far everything sounded easy. As she walked off to observe the tests from the side other teachers came and took over. I watched while waiting in line, seeing kids breeze through or stumble with the obstacle course. Some were physically astounding in their strength tests, others looked like they relied heavily on their armor or weapons and didn't do too well. There were a good couple that looked like their gear were more of a nuisance. The other two tests were happening where I couldn't see so I couldn't see any of them.
Just before I was about to head over to do my first test I was stopped by one of the teachers.
"Miss, the first test doesn't allow any augmentations," he said.
"What?" I said, completely focused on the test.
"Your suit Miss, you'll have to remove it for the first test."
"But other students got to wear their armor through!" I exclaimed, feeling cheated.
"Yes but this test is to test what you can do unassisted and plus their armor isn't so…" he paused, grasping for a word to describe my Coffin.
With a heave I disengaged the suit, leaving it in the 'ready' mode. The back unlatched and folded neatly behind me at the ankles while the front stayed standing, ready for me to step into.
As I stepped out and stretched out I heard someone whisper behind me, "Told you there was a person inside there. It's a girl to boot!"
I ignored them as I began my exam. Even without my exoskeleton the exercises were a breeze. Training at the facility, work, and dealing with two Grimm constantly had tempered my body into iron. I excelled and beat most of the other kids at the exercises but my real strength came when they wanted me to run for time. Due to the augmentations they didn't make me take off, namingly my leg braces, I could run faster than anyone else and again with a few exceptions the longest. The obstacle course was a joke. Back in Atlas they had made me do courses that were ten times harder than the one Beacon had set up… and ten times more painful…
Once through I got a five minute rest before I had to move on to the next station. I used the time to take a breather and wipe the sweat off my face. Taking a seat I heard a crumple in one of the few pockets lining my combat under-suit. Curiously I reached in and pulled out her photo.
"How in the hell did this get here?" I murmured then thought of the only two idiots who knew about it. "You dumbasses," I smiled as I cursed them, "Thank you."
I taped the photo to the inside of my neck plate, beside the secondary screen that was placed there. I gave her face a soft caress with my thumb as if she were really in front of me before stepping back into my exoskeleton. All for you, I thought as my Coffin tightened around me.
Lumbering over to the next exam I stepped through high protective walls into a shooting range and sparring area. One side was consumed in a long length of flat ground with targets at the far end. From the seams in the ground and walls it appeared like it could be altered into an assortment of environments. The other half of the area were over a dozen partitioned arenas meant for sparring with melee weapons.
"Just like… home?" I said to myself. "More like just like some sort of… weird… torturous… hellish home-ish boot camp. Meh, whatever," I chuckled.
I stepped up to one of the empty lanes on the range where a teacher was waiting.
"Good afternoon, name and weapon of choice?" he asked.
"Skye Miriage, shotgun and uhm…" I paused, not wanting to give away my trump card. My secondary weapon was a secret that I hadn't told anyone. It was my last resort and something I could catch my opponents off guard with. Furthermore it was a highly advanced piece of my arsenal that I didn't want revealed. "Swords," I finally said, telling a half truth.
"Excellent!" he said. "Ah and if I'm not mistaken they are of Atlas build?" he asked enthusiastically.
I jumped in my armor, glad that he couldn't see the surprise of my body through my stoic exterior. "Y-yes, how did you know?"
"I'm obsessed with weapons and gear," he said joyously. "It's my absolute joy to see what all the new applicants bring to Beacon. Every year it's something different, new, and exciting. We see the normal assortment of weapons and the like but they always change with the trend. Lately we've been seeing more and more melee-firearm type weapons. I guess that's the new trend with the preparatory combat schools. Back in my day it was all about how much dust you could project from your weapon."
"A-ah," was all I said.
"Well your weapon types aren't anything we haven't seen before but I am intrigued to see what Atlas has to offer. It has been ages since I've seen their new technology and I've never seen anything like your armor before," he continued.
"R-right," I stammered, "my armor and weapons are… unique… to me that is."
"Of course, of course, ah what am I doing ranting on a tangent like this. Please," he motioned to the range. "First will be a simple shoot on a single target for accuracy. After will be multiple target engagements. Last will be a dynamic shoot with cover involved," he told me, making me a bit uneasy about how complicated the test was becoming. "Do you have any questions?" I shook my head. "Let's begin!"
I took the seconds I had while he selected programs to switch out the shells my shotgun used, also engaging the helmet which slide out from behind me and clamp over my head.. I had a limited amount of dust ammo and intended to save that for the simulation and sparring match. Using regular shells I began my tests, either cutting targets in half or leaving a single hole grouping in them. I kept that up until the targets got farther out, past 100 yards. At that range, due to the nature of my shotgun, accuracy began to steeply drop off no matter how skillful I was or what my exoskeleton targeting systems corrected for. With the limitations of Klaka established I moved into multiple target engagements. A single target or more would pop up at a time and I had to shoot them all down. I didn't miss one, even taking two out with a single spread of a shell at some points. The last test went much the same way although I was disadvantaged by my armor, limiting the amount of cover I could hide behind as I was a gigantic figure. It's not like it mattered, even if I couldn't use cover I was encased in thick armor! I was a walking piece of cover for crying out loud!
"Excellent, excellent!" the teacher said as I finished, reloading my shotgun. "Alright if you will follow me to the sparring arenas we'll see your swordsmanship," he said.
I sighed, stomping after him, despising that I had to use my alternate weapons. Stopping in the center of one of the empty rings. The display inside my helmet and below on the front of my neck plate responded to my eyes and to a limited amount of my thoughts. Through them it already hummed with energy, preparing to initiate my other weapon system. On the neck plate screen the words 'Melee Mode on Standby' flashed again and again, waiting to change my targeting system for something more samurai-esque.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
I nodded but realized such a movement wouldn't be noticeable with my helmet encasing my head and so I spoke, my voice projected externally through speakers. "Yes."
"Begin!" he shouted as he initiated the program.
Targets in the shape of various Grimm began to materialize around me. They would pop up for only a certain amount of time before they disappeared, just like the shooting range except now they could appear anywhere around me. Sighing one last time I let myself grin, breaking my shotgun into two. They morphed into grips that locked around my hands, connecting to port on my gauntlets that would feed them with energy. With a satisfying hum, two purple plasma blades grew from each part of my separated shotgun stopping only when they were three feet long. Each arced like electricity along a metal back spine. The world around me stopped as I felt pairs of eyes linger on me but I didn't care. The joints and artificial muscles of my exoskeleton whined with exuberance as they prepared to unleash another trump card, speed.
I leapt at targets, slicing them with ease. My armor moved with the speed of a fox, a frightening thing considering how quick the massive machine was. The quickness wasn't without control because my plasma swords were precise, able to cut targets as small as a floating petal. All the technicians back at the facility often said I looked like a football player doing the ballet. I showed them as I showed everyone around me how deadly that ballet could be.
At the end of it all I had developed a sweat, despite the cooling system integrated to keep my body temperature as comfortable levels. The burning plasma swords combined with the increased operation of my exoskeleton created considerable heat. I stood in my armor in the center of the arena, a slight wisp of steam drifting from me.
"Display heat levels," I said to my Coffin.
"Displaying," an image of my exoskeleton appeared on my screen with corresponding colors to the temperature. "Detecting increased levels due to Melee Mode. All temperatures within acceptable levels. Occupant's core temperature above average," the robotic voice informed me.
"Initiate cooling purge," I told it.
"Initiating," it said.
At my command, select panels of my armor hinged out like miniature wings. Scalding steam was expelled through the open slots adding to the smoke already wafting through the air. All the heated liquid that filled the internal workings of my armor were forced out into vapor while new coolant was pumped through to replace those lost. Within seconds the suit image turned from a yellow-orange to a cool blue-green while fresh cool atmosphere pressed against my skin.
The teacher waited until the hot steam abated before approaching me. "Fascinating. Absolutely astonishing," he praised studying my armor.
I disengaged my helmet and meet him with my bare face. "Thanks," I said.
"Atlas really has outdone themselves once again. The speed of your armor is unbelievable. And your plasma swords are a new addition as well. Am I correct to assume that the expelling of that steam was a cooling system of some sort?"
"Uh, yeah," I said trying to rub the shaved side of my head. I had mastered the habit while wearing my armor, my gauntleted hand cold against my skin.
"And the energy consumption, it must be enormous?" he continued.
"Uh, if you don't mind, can I move on? I don't like to really talk about…"
"Ah of course, of course. I understand, trade secrets and all. Every warrior must have their secrets. But what I wouldn't give to examine your armor… Anyways, here are your stats," he said, reversing his scroll so I could read what the simulation had recorded. It displayed targets dispatched per minute, accuracy, and various other observations about my fighting style and weaponry. "You've more than achieved the required scores. You may proceed to the next station."
I thanked him and let my shotgun rebuild itself out of my sword, holstering it behind my back before I continued.
"Oh, you may have to wait a while for the last test. There is limited room. Feel free to rest and watch," he informed me.
Again I expressed my thanks and headed over to the last exam. It was in an arena like area that had seating on an elevated ring around it. In the middle was a wide open circle of space but with the simulator it could be made to resemble anything you could imagine. It could also produce any opponent you could imagine as well, given you had enough information. This was the one piece of technology I had seen so far that matched the stuff they had back at the Atlas facility. I went over to another teacher and gave her my name so that she could add me to the waiting list then climbed the stairs into the bleachers.
My lumbering hulk and the thuds of my footsteps made many faces turn and gasp at me before returning to the match at hand. I glanced around seeing many nervous faces, many confident ones too, but all of them were quite messy from the exertions of the exams. A lot seemed tired and I admit I was feeling thirsty and hungry too.
"Ugh I don't want to take off my armor… but it would be more comfortable… I could use some food… arrrggghhhh!" I argued with myself as I met the gaze of the girl in my photo. "She would have made me food…" I sighed.
After checking my name on a list that they displayed on a large screen hung above the arena I decided to step out, gauging that I had a good while before it was my turn. The Coffin released me reluctantly and I stepped out into the nice breeze of Beacon. Again more whispers and murmurs erupted around as people saw the person who was inside the armor. I cursed myself, wishing that I had thought ahead. I didn't even have water. My armor would've had a survival supply or at least water and food for a few days of operations but I hadn't stocked it in age being broke and all that.
"Hey Coffin," I said.
"Awaiting commands."
"Really should change the title options on you," I said aloud.
"Affirmative, awaiting new designation for Skye Miriage."
"Now there's a tempting though. Disregard prior command," I said in a louder voice, "initiate sentry mode. Deadly force disabled."
"Affirmative."
With that I left my armor standing in an open aisle. I walked around the arena seeing if there were any stands. To my luck I found a couple stands on the highest tier behind all the bleachers and seats. It seems that some of the student clubs had come out to make some money as well as watch the matches. I pulled out the little bit of cash I had left and bought a bottle of water and a large sandwich filled with meat. Both I scarfed down ravenously, returning to where my armor stood. Instead of taking a seat on the bleachers I climbed onto my exoskeleton and sat on one of its boulder like shoulders, taking the time to catch my breath and put my hair into a neater mess.
The small crowd of finished and waiting applicants erupted with cheers, making me immediately see what happened down below. A boy had fallen onto his back, a large Beowulf stalking him. He was fumbling for his weapon, a large spear at his side, unable to take his eyes off from the approaching Grimm.
"You idiot," I murmured to myself, shifting on top of my armor into a more comfortable position.
Moments before the Grimm's claws eviscerated the frozen boy the simulation stopped and faded from existence. Teacher jogged out to check and the boy, escorting him out while another person took his place.
"Looks pretty easy," I said. "Too bad I don't have Bash or Spira here. They'd do half the work for me… or I could use Bash as a distraction…" I continued to play out imaginary battles in my head while the next fight began.
The next fighter looked pretty confident, but I didn't like how flashy his armor and gear was. He flaunted around his weapon, a two-handed axe, with obvious flare. It all pissed me off.
"Fighting isn't about looking the best," I growled to myself.
As the match begun another Beowulf appeared and charge him. He flung around his axe, smashing it into the Grimm's face. While the rest of the onlookers cheered I scowled, I could tell that he let the weight of his weapon control his movements. It was sloppy and he was open for attack, trying to fight the swing of his axe. He was all show, no skill, and I guessed he relied more on the prowess of his weapon and gear than his own ability. In the end he won the match but he doubled over, leaning on his axe obviously out of breath.
I sighed, relented to lazing about atop my armor. My mind drifted back to that quiet morning, in our old apartment. Andy was reading the newspaper and me watching her. We talked about Beacon and here I was. I was so close. All I had to do was make it through this last test and hope they accepted me. If they didn't… I shuddered. If they didn't I didn't know what I would do. What could I do, continue on making a meager living by bounties? It was a despairing thought. I had to pass, I had to making it in or else… I'd have nothing else.
"Gods damnit," I said shaking my head vigorously. I couldn't afford to think like this. "But… it's the truth," I mumbled.
"Skye Miriage," Ms. Goodwitch's voice boomed over a loud speaker, "report to the arena for your examination."
That shocked my nerves back into place and I shot my head up, realizing it was already my turn. Sliding off my armor I stepped into it, the folded backside quickly enveloping me. My screens lit up and status monitors came to life and I steeled my resolve. Instead of going through the entrance at the bottom floor, which I doubt I could fit through, I leapt from the stands and landed in the arena with a thud. The ground shook with my impact and I bent my knees slightly to absorb the shock.
I felt a ripple of energy that I thought was dust forming behind me.
"Ms. Miriage," Ms. Goodwitch's voice growled behind me.
"Y-yes?" I said, her aura very imposing.
"Next time, use the appropriate walkways when entering the arena."
"G-got it," I managed to respond. Thank the gods that I didn't have to fight teachers. I couldn't even begin to imagine what it'd be like to spar with someone with so much experience.
With that I engaged my helmet and pulled my shotgun from its holster, racking the bolt and putting a round into the chamber. I prepared everything, set all the options to standby just in case, and stood at the ready. This was going to be a breeze!
Then everything changed.
Inside my armor my hands began to shake. I couldn't understand it. No matter how hard I focused or how many times I flexed and relax them they felt like coiled springs yearning to be released. My vision grew hazy, the world sway in front of me. Then it began.
No, no not now! I screamed in my mind, feeling an attack coming.
As much as I fought the nightmare took over. I felt blood fill the inside of my armor, it rose until it forced me to breathe it. I shuddered, my vision full of red and blood choking my lungs. A moment later the match began and a large Beowulf appear in front of me, snarling with anger. It was like my first simulations back at Atlas, I was full of fear, full of apprehension. I couldn't get myself to move.
The Grimm smelled the fear seeping from me and made its attack, charging me with full force. I stumbled back, trying to pivot out of the way at the last second. Its shoulder was hard as steel, barreling through my side and tossing me like a ragdoll to the other side of the ring.
Basher, Spira, where were they?! That's right… they were back at the hotel… I was alone. I was alone and there was no one.
The Beowulf stampeded at me on all fours once again. I raised my arms to block its downward strike but I was too slow. It took hold of both my wrists, holding them above my head. Suddenly I wasn't fighting a Beowulf but C-ydna. He was here, he was in front of me, and he was going to beat me again.
Our tussle shook me inside my armor and Andy's picture slide down a bit from where I had put it inside my armor. Snarls and growls came from the Beowulf but I stared at Andy's photo as she stared back at me. To me the world was silent and calm, there wasn't anything left in it except her photo.
I took a deep breath, aware now of the gasps of the crowd watching and their comments. They were saying how my armor did nothing and it was all for show. That honed my focus and the nightmare went away.
With a yell I kicked it in the chest, throwing it to the other side of the ring. It smashed into the side wall, cracking the stone. I picked up my shotgun which I had dropped and took aim.
"Fuck you!" I screamed, firing until there wasn't any ammo left.
My shots were devastating. I had loaded Klaka with my precious dust ammo that I had been saving, each shell firing a firebolt into the helpless Beowulf. With the accuracy I had I tore at its shoulders, both of its arms falling to the ground moments later detached. I wasn't done. Charging the Beowulf I caught it by the neck as it tried to run away, pinning it against the wall. I drew out my plasma sword from my shotgun, severing its legs with two quick slashes, its howls piercing through the gasps of the crowd. For a finale I grabbed the limbless body by its jaws, hearing its razor sharp fangs scrap against my armored fingers. With a spray of blood that coated my armor I tore its body in half by its mandibles.
Then there was silence, as I stood in the rain of Grimm blood with half a Beowulf held in each hand.