"Miss Springs, it is time to get up. Your test will be beginning shortly and you must be prompt for once."

Morning. At least I think it's morning. Time often seems abstract this far beneath the ground. When I was very young my mother often woke me up saying, "good morning sunshine" and I always asked her, "how do we know it's morning if we can't see past the ceiling, and how do we know what sunshine looks like if we've never seen it before?" She always told me that I was the smartest bunny in the Burrow; I just wish that everyone else could see me how she did.

"Miss Springs! I insist you stop your day dreaming and get out of that bed! The Overseer just relayed a message over my comms, she is coming here personally to make sure you co-operate this time."

I have been dreading this day. I knew that they were going to force me to take that damn test today, I just did not think they would send her to force me to take it. It was well over my due date to take it, by a few years actually, but I have always managed to find a way to worm out of it. My first time I pretended to be sick, and it helped that there just happened to be a small, yet harmless, contagion making its rounds. The next test I just so happened to 'break' my leg while helping Doctor Rattigan. He wrote up an excuse and everything. All I had to do was promise to fix some of his worn out equipment. Once I even managed to hack the test system and removed my examiner identification from the test list. Last year was really the only time when I missed it for a genuine reason; the year she passed away. I always start to tear up when I think about my mother. She was the only one who truly understood me.

I wiped my tears off on my pillow before I turned towards the voice that kept disturbing me. Damn this bed was comfortable.

"Ok, ok, Onion. I'll get up. You don't have to use the shocker this time. I really don't know why I installed that thing anyways."

"Finally Miss. The Overseer will be here in fifteen minutes. You should really get dressed. I made you a nice hot bowl of carrot grits."

Boy was he direct. I guess it's my fault for programming him like that. After my mother… left, I had no one in my life. I did not know my father, and I honestly don't think my mother ever knew who it was. We often played guessing games as to who it could be. "He has chestnut fur just like mine!" I would point out. "Looks at him, he has ears. On his head, just like you!" my mother would joke. I don't think she ever did want to know; she was just happy with the two of us. That's why I could never stand the void she left. So I built a robot.

"Miss Springs! She will be here in five minutes. Get up. Get dressed. Now."

I really should have given him a sense of humor. Or at least made him a bit more mellow. Or just not given him a voice at all.

I slowly got out of my bed, slowly folded my blankets and took my time making them look nice. Onion just floated in the air, staring at me. If he had eyes I am sure he would be giving me the look, but I don't care. Maybe if I take long enough the Overseer would just give up on waiting for me and leave me alone. That thought was short lived when I heard two knocks on my door. She did not even announce herself, she just walked right in.

"Olivia Springs, you should have been ready by now" she squeaked out in a voice the suit her size. "You have five minutes to get dressed and then you are coming with me."

I didn't say anything, I just nodded as I went over to my dresser. I grabbed my Burrow jumpsuit and some clean undergarments, and headed into the lavatory. I really hated the Overseer. It wasn't because she was a rat, and that the rodent population outnumbers the bunny population four to one, and how most rodents tend to look down on the rabbits because of the population gap. It wasn't even her personality. When I was younger my mother told me all about the fact that they were good friends, and that the Overseer was really sweet and kind and always went out of the way to make every resident, rodent or rabbit, feel safe. It was her adamant adhesion to Burrow policies that made me hate her.

She said five minutes. I plan on making it five minutes. I took my time washing my fur before slowly slipping on my clothes. The entire time that test was on my mind. Many of the residents have a unique skill or talent. Some were natural chefs while others seemed to have be born into plant husbandry. I was one of the best at mechanical things. No, I am the best. Everyone knows that I can fix almost anything mechanical in nature. From a mouse's tiny watch to the most advanced Pip-Boar. That test however, did not care. You could be the first doctor to create a magical cure-all, and you would still be assigned to the janitorial department. Everyone hated it, but once you were assigned your Overseer approved, Burrow-Tec sanctioned career, it didn't matter. Here in Burrow 76, the Overseer's word is law.

"Times up Springs. Let's go."

"Can't I eat first? I've always read that you should never take a test on an empty stomach."

"No Springs. You have wasted enough time as it is."

Well, I tried.

I started to grab my tool belt when the Overseer chimed in, "Leave that there. Your robot stays, along with your Pip-Boar. I know how clever you are Springs, and you have evaded the test for far too long now. I will make sure you find no more excuses."

I looked at Onion. He flashed a couple lights and his rounded body bobbed up and down slightly as if he was giving her a shrug. I looked back at him with a look that he knew all too well that said 'you're no help'. I turned and followed the small animal, careful not to step on her tail as it swayed back and forth as she strode down the hallway. It was a quiet walk. I have read enough murder mysteries that this felt like taking the long walk down death row, only I never got to eat my last meal. Maybe I will be lucky and some freak accident will kill me before I'm cleaning the kitchen for the rest of my life. Wishful thinking Olivia, wishful thinking.

I did not see many residents on my way to where I would meet my fate. Usually it was a bit livelier then this; children running down the halls, Mr. Abernathy trying to unlock his quarters with a spatula, and typically I would be assaulted by the smells of fresh baked carrot cake or the savory smell of minestrone cooking. What time was it anyway? I never did look at my Pip-Boar to get the time, I figured that I overslept like usual. After this I think I will go back to bed since obviously it is way too early to be up. Wonder if the Overseer would let me get a cup of coffee, or two, or a whole carafe.

We finally stopped at the doors to the classroom …or rather she stopped. I almost stepped on her. Well, if she were to be accidentally killed by my foot, maybe I can get another delay. I would say that I am suffering from trauma from accidentally killing another living thing. They would buy that, right? Unfortunately, I won't be able to find out because my foot was planted on the ground as she opened the door and entered, signaling me to follow. She pointed towards a desk right at the front as she climbed a small ladder to the top of the larger instructor's desk. These seats were never comfortable. A stiff metal seat that attached to a large metal table with a carrot shaped pen and some sheets of paper. Due to the size differences between the rodents and the rabbits, they typically had the larger desks in the back and the smaller ones elevated near the front. My desk had obviously been moved to accommodate me, especially since I noticed that no one else is here. A private event, just for me. Doesn't that make me feel special?

"Ok Springs, this is how it will work. On your desk is the Career Aptitude Test, or C.A.T. for short. This test will present you with ten questions. You will answer all ten. There is no wrong answer so just pick what feels right. To make sure that nothing happens to delay this test, I will be sitting here, waiting for you to finish. I also will not be utilizing my terminal to 'grade' the test, but rather I will use the physical grading materials, just in case you happened to mess with anything again. The test is over, you will leave it on the table and I will escort you out. After that you are free for the rest of the day. I will send you your results and first day's assignment by this evening so you have plenty of time to prepare yourself. Do you understand all that?"

I simply nodded. My head started to hurt, my nose began to twitch rapidly, and my fur was feeling matted. I was not ready. When the Overseer told me to begin I don't think it registered right away. I sat there for what felt like an eternity before the Overseer snapped me out of it. I picked up the pen and turned over the first page.

I read the first question to myself. 'While working in the science labs a rather ghastly scientist comes up behind you and whispers into your ear, "How would you like me to put my dinglebop through your grumbo?" What's your response?' My response? To what!? I have no idea what I just read. I scanned it over and over and still had no idea what this thing was talking about. No wonder everyone gets crap jobs after this. I don't even thing the author of this test knew what he was typing. After looking at the selection of answers I went with 'Just as long as you use quality fleeb'. That sounded like I knew what I was talking about, even if I had no idea. Onto the next question.

The next few seemed a bit more logical. What would I do if I found a lost child with a stolen item, how would I respond if I suddenly grew extra limbs, how would I use a virtual history chamber if chosen to test it, and so on. One of them made me chuckle with my response. The question read: 'Your gram-mama invites you in for a cannoli, but you are surprised when she asks you to ice another Burrow resident. What do you do?' I have no idea what a cannoli is, but finding a bucket of ice and dumbing it on the resident seemed like something I'd enjoy, especially if that resident was the Overseer. Then I got to the last question. This had to be a joke, right? It asked who was the most important person in the Burrow. The answer was the Overseer. Every. Single. Answer. What is the sense of picking an answer if they were all the same! At least I was done.

I stood up, put my pen down on the desk and just stared at her. She asked if I was done and I just nodded. I tried to talk as little as possible to her, maybe she would feel guilty and just throw it away and let me do what I wanted to do, what I was good at doing. It was wishful thinking. She would never do that, especially since it would be against Burrow policies. She could take those 'policies' and shove them up her tiny ass.

After she escorted me out of the classroom and closed the door behind her I went straight to my quarters. I passed by a few residents who looked like they just got out of bead. It was still way too early for me. While I was trying to think about my bed awaiting me I heard a small voice come from below me.

"Olivia. You look well."

I looked down and saw that I was mere inches from stepping on him. It's often hard for a rabbit to live with such small residents, especially a quiet gerbil like himself. No wonder some of them seemed to resent the rabbits, they are like clumsy giants to them.

"Oh I am sorry.I did not see you. I am just really tired, I hate being up this early. What time is it anyways?"

"It is no problem my dear. It is just about 6:30 in the morning. I was kinda surprised to see you up this early to be honest."

"Yeah, I finally got around to taking my C.A.T." I don't think I could have said that with any more of a spiteful tone.

"Well then my dear, I will be happy to see what becomes of that. I know you are very handy with your tools. I am sure you will get your dream career just as I did. Now then, breakfast is calling me my dear, you go home and rest. That test can be such a dreary thing to some."

I faked the best smile I could before continuing back to my quarters. When I got back, Onion greeted me with as much gusto as he could.

"Welcome home Miss. I took the liberty of procuring you a fresh slice of carrot cake from the cafeteria."

The cake looked delicious but I just wanted to lie down. I stripped off my jumpsuit and crashed onto my bed wearing nothing but my panties. I really hated tight fitting clothing like that jumpsuit but I did not have much other clothing, nothing ever really felt like it suited me better. Onion must have noticed that I was in no mood to talk so he went on and busied himself with cleaning up my abandoned clothing. I closed my eyes and tried to push everything out of my head. I just wanted to sleep, and maybe I will wake up and everything will be better. Maybe Mr. Felwick was right and I will get my dream career. I mean, even the Overseer could see how well the Burrow would be if I was in charge of maintenance. Isn't that the point of the Overseer to make sure both the Burrow and its residents are well kept and happy? I yawned once before I fell asleep.

"Miss, Miss! Wake up. Twice in one day, must be some kind of record."

"Wha… what is it Onion? I was having the nicest dream."

"The Overseer just comm'd me your results. I took the liberty of sending it to your Pip-Boar, you should read it."

Results? Already? How long did I sleep? I jumped up as I remembered bits of my dream. I was lead technician of the Burrow. Everything was running smoother than even when it first opened. In my dream the Burrow finally opened and a high ranking member of Burrow-Tec was the first to give us the good news. The world was healed and we were free to leave and live our lives on the surface. After doing an inspection of the Burrow he was beyond impressed and instantly hired me to be the chief engineer of Burrow-Tec! I got my dream job at last! The excitement filled me with energy as I grabbed my Pip-Boar and opened up itsinternal messaging program.

Springs, Olivia. 20. Female. Rabbit. On behalf of Burrow 76's Overseer and by command of Burrow-Tec, the world's leader in mammal safety, do we present the results of the carefully crafted Career Aptitude Test. These results, which will be dutifully enforced by your current Overseer, entitle you to not only the luxuries that the career provides, but also allows you to take part of the betterment of the Burrow and it's residents.

Congratulations! You have been selected to be Burrow 76's newest…