(Author's Note: Sister Margaret's speech here is a combination of what she says in the final pages of Arnett's arc in the Freezing Zero and the starting pages of the "28th Generation West Genetics" arc, which you have already seen be heavily used in the last act, with slight bits added on in light of Cameron's recent performances in the last act. Given that we have shifted from Boot Camp to first year at West Genetics, I feel like starting with Margaret's speech for this chapter seems very fitting.)

March 5th, 2063
Two days after the events of last chapter..

After taking a lecture from Radox over not ruining the rental suits he bought for the boy, Cameron found himself, dressed in what seemed like a cross of the uniform of a limiter at Genetics and his own outfit in the field, sitting in a chair next to Abyss on the stage in the same auditorium that over six weeks earlier, he had dented the wall while getting his butt owned - alongside Abyss' - by a Level 5 Training Nova. The wall had since been repaired, but there were still small indentations here and there on the edges of the patched section, a reminder to Cameron being molded into the wall in the process of denting it.

For whatever reason, Abyss was also - at least - wearing a suit and tie, something which the commando droid wasn't really used to, but it didn't seem to bother him all that much. Addressing the crowd of freshman Pandora as well as this year's freshmen limiters, with the teens Cameron and Abyss talked to last night not being among them - due to them joining next year and only having just completed their first of two years of training at the time of Cameron's rampage through Astrid's base as the Cloaked Bulldozer. Still, the sight of watching Arnett and Dolly, both proud of themselves for having made it here, was a pleasant sight for the sitting blonde boy, as was seeing Elizabeth in the crowd as well.

Sister Margaret Lindman, the Headmistress of West Genetics, was at the podium, giving a speech to the freshmen Pandora and limiters.

"To begin, I like you to know how grateful we are that you are here! However, to those of you who have resolved to walk that difficult path, no matter if you are or are not from this world.."

Cameron could feel the eyes shifting towards him and he tried to remain calm. He knew that last part was directed towards him and his droids, being as elite and as capable as they had proven to be, so he just simply shrugged it off and stayed in that professional attitude he was used to being in.

"..we are proud to have fine men and women like you ready to risk your lives for mankind's future!"

Those words are all kind and good in a peace sense, but the true test of if they are willing to make that ultimate sacrifice comes on the battlefield, Cameron thought to himself as Margaret continued her speech.

"All of you today have overcome the harsh basic training needed to make it here to West Genetics, with one of you standing out above the rest.."

As if he didn't need introducing, all eyes instantly turned to Cameron, who couldn't stay calm this time, and really just started sweating a lot, not really being used to being stared at by a lot of women at the intensity he was feeling at the moment. "Girls.. guys.. just, please.. don't stare" he started, as Abyss just facepalmed, something which caused a few, low, yet still audible giggles from the crowd of freshmen Pandora, and the commando droid quietly muttered, "Oh for fuck's sake."

Sister Margaret continued. "..and in response to your brave vow to put your very lives on the line to save mankind, I wish to offer you my heartfelt thanks and respect, on behalf of everyone here at Genetics and all of mankind."

As much as the trainee graduates knew that it was directly at all of them, they also knew that again, it was more squarely directed at Cameron than anything else. To his credit, Cameron knew it too, which is why as soon as everyone stopped looking at him, he slid back into that professional attitude.

"The next three months will be spent teaching you the basics of what you need to know.."

Basics that Cameron and Abyss had already spent plenty of time during free time in training bulking up on, and only more-so intensified in the last week of training after the landslide incident and the return of the Cloaked Bulldozer up till now, so they were a fair bit ahead of every other first year there.

"..After which, you will have likely discovered what skills and talents lie within you."

They already knew plenty about Cameron's at the moment, or so they thought.

"It won't be easy, and the road to becoming Pandora and Limiters is a long and challenging one, even if you are someone that despite all probable logic, either here or where they are from, is somehow both at the same time.."

Once again, all eyes looked at Cameron - except Margaret's as usual, and even though he didn't get all sweaty like last time, a lot of the first years could tell for sure that for all of his strengths, the second in command of the C.I.S military wasn't really used to being in the spotlight in this fashion.

"..we here at Genetics welcome you with open arms! You who have offered up both your minds and bodies to the rest of the world.." For some odd reason, Cameron felt a little angered by what she said in that last statement, but he paid it no mind. "..I consider all of you, the 28th Generation of Students at West Genetics, to be my children, my family!"

"Thank you very much!" said everyone standing in front of the stage, and Margaret wrapped her speech. "Welcome to West Genetics, first-years. Congratulations."

Cheers and applause erupted among the first years, and Cameron and Abyss clapped along with the other Chevalier officials there, with the sight of Elizabeth's, Dolly's, and Arnett's happy faces being a lovely - and cute - sight for Cameron.


With the results of the stigmata analysis, with Arnett's 80% compatibility and three stigmata, Elizabeth's 85% compatibility and four stigmata, and Dolly's 82% compatibility and three stigmata, it was definitely clear to everyone surrounding the three - and by extension, Cameron as well - that the three first-years known to be closely associated with the Cloaked Bulldozer were, just from their high compatibilities alone, not to be trifled with. Combined with Cameron's bat-shit insane stats, it was no wonder that most first-years, apart from quite a few, really wanted to stay out of the way of the Cloaked Bulldozer.

To Cameron, he really didn't mind it all that much. As per usual with him, he was still thinking towards the future. Sure, he had successfully helped to bring down a major terrorist organization, but that was a success achieved mainly normal humans. He still had yet to get the chance to be able to face off against an actual Nova - or a Pandora, for that matter. In the meantime, he had at least the upcoming Carnival, in little over a week, to look forward to, as well as the girls to look after - and anything that Abyss and him found interesting enough to look into. Even so, despite the promising outlook, something was nagging at him. He had a gut feeling that soon enough, he was going to find himself up against a very strong opponent - one that had yet to reveal themselves.