Prototype Dorian

Part I | 1.

Part I: The Selection

***

Eight days before the Selection

The smoke from my previous shots clears, and I spot three new targets among the trees.

One of them is directly ahead—lucky me—crawling under a bush while getting their gun ready. The other two are farther, each hiding behind a tree. Their weapons are already prepped and aimed, so they're the bigger problems. I only have a few seconds to get rid of them before they shoot me.

My fingers rest on the trigger.

Exhale, aim, fire. Relax, inhale, and repeat.

Both targets collapse to the ground. The holographic words, 'Double Kill', flashes in the air above the virtual enemies before disappearing along with them.

I let out the breath I was holding. Time for the last target.

Shifting my glance back to them, I realize they are still setting up their weapon. I snort. Damn, they're slow. I don't have to aim properly to shoot them right in the head.

The words, 'Critical Hit', glisten above the fallen target. As they vanish like the others, the forest fades into whiteness as well. It's the end of the simulation. Just like that, I am back inside the training cube—a small metallic enclosure with just enough room for me to swing my weapon around.

As I wipe the sweat off my forehead, my scores appear on a screen in front of me.

'Lara Lorensky

Rank: Cadet

Accuracy: 94.6%

Speed: 99.7%

Effectiveness: 91.8%

Total: 96.7%

New personal record!'

"Yes!" I punch the air in front of me, almost hitting the wall of the training cube.

That was a very successful simulation. My aim was superb, and I didn't waste a single bullet. The forest arena is also one of my favorites. The trees that are meant to make it harder to spot targets make me feel so at peace—and actually help me focus instead.

Maybe I can finally clinch the highest score this round.

I place the practice rifle down and leave the training cube to allow the cube disinfection process to start. Tightening my ponytail, my eyes scan the scoreboard on the wall eagerly.

'First place: Morgan Sánchez

Second place: Lara Lorensky'

I'm second place.

Again.

Even after one of the best simulations. Even after beating my personal record.

"Argh, what on Earth?" I spin around and strike the door of my training cube with an angered kick.

"Warning," a robotic voice booms from my in-ear earpieces. "The destruction of any Tower property is a violation under Code 369-1-A."

"Right. Sorry, Rea."

I bend down to inspect the door. There is a minor scratch, but I manage to mostly wipe it away using the sleeve of my cadet uniform—slightly damped with sweat. I'm pretty sure the training cube is built to withstand more than just my kicks anyway, but I know Rea, my personal Rule-Enforcing AI, errs on the side of caution when warning me.