"Sorry, I'm late. . ." Link Fox said, walking into the control booth and taking a seat next to Paragon. "Not at all, we're just about to get started." Paragon turned back and looked out through the plexiglass viewscreen towards the membership of Vanguard Europe.
They stood, five in all, on the floor of the training room located several sublevels below the offices. Drake Marshall, Lady Lykopis, Edmund Gaunt, Adem Different, and Icarus Sidewinder.
"Well, Perry, isn't this exciting?" Icarus said in mock appreciation.
Edmund Gaunt flicked his fingers towards Sidewinder's face as a small piece of shadow matter covered the pilot's mouth. "I prefer silence when I work." The Shadow Chancellor's only reply as Lykopis stifled a laugh.
"To start off, I thought we'd try something to apply towards teamwork. The objective," Paragon pressed several switches as the holographic hard light generators transformed the room from a barren steel area the size of a football field, into a desert plain with two flagpoles located at the far ends, "is to capture the enemie's flag."
"Enemies? I am not a fighter, William." Adem Different said, cautiously.
"You don't have to be, Adem. This test will gauge your skills as well as your aptitude for teamwork. Jym, load datafiles in Epsilon 4."
"Epsilon 4?" the alien AI asked. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And we'll talk about your novel later." Paragon continued, not missing a beat.
"Great." the computer beamed.
<Downloading file: Daniel Hearn.>
<Downloading file: Grimm.>
<Downloading file: Banshee.>
<Downloading file: Phouka.>
<Downloading file: Grissom Montag.>
<Downloading file: Dirk Bell.>
As hard light hologram duplicates of Vanguardians past and present materialized on the far end of the desert battlefield, their European counterparts looked on in astonishment.
"We're missing a guy on our side, are you sure you don't want me to. . ." Link started.
"No, no, it's covered. Jym, download Epsilon five one one A zero niner to team Alpha's side." Paragon continued.
<Downloading file: Ozzy Baxter.>
As a hologram of Ozzy appeared next to Adem Different. "I had no idea. . ." the alien mused, wondering just what other surprises this Doc Paragon held in store for their team.
"Now, Vanguards, make me proud." Paragon said, starting the game.
"Move your arses, team! Phouka, Dirk, Grimm, guard the flag, Grissom, Banshee, you're with me, let's go!" The hologram of Danny sounded, replete with his Australian accent.
"Icarus, Lykopis, flank me, we're taking their flag, Ozzy, Adem, Gaunt, hold them off!" Drake Marshall responded, slipping his helmet on and pulling his broadsword.
Banshee circled in the air above Adem's head. . .
Grissom dived into the dirt and tunneled beneath Gaunt's body. . .
Danny flew straight for Ozzy, the hologram of the boxer, guarding the flag intently.
Icarus rocketed towards the form of Dirk Bell, readying his weaponry. . .
Lykopis drew steel and clashed with Grimm's own weapon. . .
Marshall ran in a straight sprint towards the enemy flag guarded by Phouka. . .
