Point Zero: Elliot’s Entrance

Point Zero: Elliot’s Entrance

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Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 1000

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“Good afternoon, Miss Elliot. Are you ready for your exam?”

“It is 11:40 AM. It is still morning.” I checked my very nice watch, one of the gifts given to me upon my departure from the camp. Was it incorrect? Did I forget to account for time zones? No. It is correct. The one who is wrong is the tester. “You are incorrect.”

“…Your punctuality and ability to tell time is noted, Miss Elliot. Are you ready to begin the test?”

Officers of the law should be capable of remembering the right time and place at all times, so I must have passed a hidden test. Perhaps, all my nervousness is without reason, and I will become the best police officer.

“I am ready for the simulation.”

The room began to shift once I gave my answer. The walls of the room moved inward, while holographic projectors began to hum, and turn the facades into photo-real surfaces of buildings. The panels at my feet buzzed as well, and formed into a street that went into an imaginary distance. When the room ceased to move, I was in the center of a street, with two buildings to my right and left, both with open “windows.”

I moment later my foes encircled me in an instant. They were holographic projections of soldiers in powered armor made from jury-rigged junk and stolen batteries from air shuttles. The weapons they carried were gunpowder based, but a few had direct-fire, single-use rocket launchers on their back. All had pipe bombs with cell-phone activators on their belts. 

On their knees, in front of guns and between me and my foes, were a group of civilians who were blind and gagged.

“You are surrounded. You have been told that hostages will be killed, if you resist. Solve the problem. The simulation begins now.”

I see.

The solution is simple, then.

I raised gestured upward and threw all those on the street into the air, while ripped those in the buildings out. With my free hand, I pulled the hostages towards myself, found the one that has a bomb strapped to his chest, and tore it off of him and sent it towards the orb of simulated metal, explosives, and meat in the sky.

The simulation was very good, the armor was leaking blood and the false people were screaming a lot, before the bomb reached them and made them, their weapons, and itself explode and “enrobe” the street and buildings with blood, metal bits, and bloody metal bits.

The simulation turned off a second later, leaving me in a plain, white room.

“M-miss, Elliot why did you do that?” Ah, this is the post evaluation of the exam. The examiner is also different this time. She sounds much nicer than the last one, even though he was very nice already and gave me a good test to show off my skills. 

However, even if she is nice, I must provide the correct answer.

“If a civilian life is in danger, Verdict agents are authorized to use lethal force.” Hostages existed. Enemies existed. Hostages cease to be hostages once enemies cease to exist. The day is saved by super-cop Gwendolyn Elliot, and she gets lots of ice cream to eat, because she is very smart and knows all of the rules by heart. “If there were no hostages, I would have incapacitated my opponents one by one. However, with them present, I decided to utilize the loophole provided by the UN accessible only in the direst of circumstances.”

“...Then, you would be fine with be tested again, to see how you will incapacitate all your foes without hostages?”

“That is fine, but I would like to ask a question.”

“Okay, you may.”

“Your simulated bodies are that of infected humans, correct?”

“…Yes.”

“Therefore, if their heads are taken off, the will last for thirty minutes without oxygen and will not suffer from death from shock?”

“…Y-yes.”

“Okay. That is all the information I require. Please, begin the simulation.”

I like this new tester. 

She is much nicer and more helpful.

…

“Commander? But I applied to be an agent?” I was confused by the news given to me by the recruiter. It is a different recruiter from the one I first met. This one is very sharply dressed in a nice suit and has sunglasses. I should wear the same, if I’m going to be a boss. I hope it’s comfy. “I am confused.”

“Your abilities and strengths will still be used as an Agent, but we want you to be trained in leading and commanding, due to your lack in experience in both categories.” Ah, I see. They are training me where I am lacking, while still using me properly. What a smart idea. I like it very much. “Your pay will be increased five times, you will also receive all necessary insurance and medical coverage, as well as an upgrade domicile.”

“…Will the new domicile be able to support a food fabricator of the same scale here in this dorm?”

“Yes, and its power supply can support the top-of-the-line used my restaurants.”

“I accept this job and I am very grateful for the opportunity.” I bowed to the man, who laughed in a very nice way, before extending his hand for a handshake. Very carefully, I did what I practiced, and didn’t hurt him at all. I just made him wince a little. I have made much progress in controlling my strength. “When can I move to my new home with the food fabricator?”

“Today, after we go over your new schedule.” Ooh, a schedule. Those are things important people have, because they’re too valuable to waste. I am moving up in the world, especially if the UN is giving me my schedule. This is very good. “As you can see, for the next five weeks, we’ll be focusing on your education. Your cognitive scores and excellent memory should make this easy for you, so you can spend the evenings patrolling.”

I raised my hand and he nodded at me.

“Am I still paid by the hour or is this position salaried?” Five times more money is a lot, but less that I thought if I am working twice as hard.

“By the hour, Commander Elliot.”

“I accept my assignment and schedule, and am confident that I can do more.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Spirit? 

Religion has nothing to do with this.

The more I work the sooner I attain my Gourmet Food Fabricator!