Whesto Dwanian

[Whesto]

H+ Clinic - Final Part - Finishing Up

The training hall was vast, with plenty of square meters to move around, fight and scale obstacles. The room could be modified with various presets to change the layout of the room, like an arena. This compound was not in the H+ clinic, but close by. Some would call it a physical rehab center, but getting augmentations doesn't necessarily need conventional rehabilitation. It is more about getting to know your new limits and possibilities before heading back into reality and live action.

Whesto and Stella squared up on opposite sides of the hall. They had been practicing augmentation combat for three days, on and off. CQB, hand-to-hand combat, assault rifle course, among other things. Both had been augmented to a similar extent, with AI assist included. The scores were essentially even at this point.

- "Centurion Pleiade,ready for a final round? We need to get back to The Core and re-join the fray before I go mad", Whesto said to Stella.
- "As you wish, I wanted to leave days ago, and call me Stella already, we've been stuck here together long enough", she replied.

They stood ready, able to leap forward in a split second, staring at each other. They put on their combat armor helmets. The practice alarm sounded, strobing lights flashing on the walls. The room took shape and various obstacles raised from the floor and out from the walls.

3.. 2.. 1.. lights switched to a faint blue and in that instant both of them rushed forward. They scaled several square feet with an incredible speed, augmentations doing what they are supposed to do. The AI in Whesto's vision fed him information constantly, scanning the layout of the room, looking for heat signatures, tracking his "opponent". Whesto knew Stella did the same thing.

Whesto held to the left side and sweeped the maze of walls, nothing yet. Then his system beeped intensely, indicating movement above him to the right. With his new reflexes, he turned and leaped up to reach the top of the maze, but Stella was already pouncing at him and they clashed mid-air. First landing on the edge of an obstacle, tearing the top off from the impact. No damage to themselves. Then, landing on their feet they drew their practice sticks, charged with electrical stun charges and began hand-to hand combat.

It was a fast-paced fight with decent impacts from both sides. Neither getting the upper hand yet but both serious to do so. Suddenly, an alarm sounded, they paused in front of each other and looked up. Two tungsten combat rifles dropped from the ceiling.

- "Now that's new", Whesto said raising his eyebrow and picked up the rifle and looked at it.
Stella picked up the other rifle while looking around.

- "Incoming, over there!", Stella shouted and put the rifle against her shoulder and started to send superheated tungsten rounds down the maze.

Practice drones, coming in from all sides mimicking the movement of Nomad infectees , it was time to team up. Someone, probably the combat trainer, had devised a final test. The drones may not be lethal, but their rounds were designed to stun and cause pain if they connected, perhaps failing the duo on the test. Whesto covered Stella's back and let the rifle sing as well, shredding drones that kept pouring in.

The duo moved in sync, as they'd spent a decent amount of time rigorously training together the past days. After a few minutes, rounds were running out. Whesto grabbed drones with his augmented arms and clenched his fists, metal creaking and composites tearing. The duo moved fast across the room, dodging incoming fire or blocking it with disabled drones, AI processing at max level. Eventually Whesto took a stun round to the back of his armor, bringing him to his knees.

- "What kind of APM punishment is this", Whesto thought to himself. He couldn't help but laugh, holding his chest while catching his breath. He'd never been able to move and fight like this before in his life. Stella was right behind him but there were too many and she too went down, also letting out a short laugh on the floor.

The drones froze and a voice spoke over the intercom.

-"Round over! Well done, clearly above the needed level, and you fought 'til the end, together. For The Core!", said the combat trainer.

- "Great, now can you let us the f**k out of here!?", Whesto said with a smile, recovering from the floor.

- "We're done with exercises and calibration, we have a duty to carry out, thank you!". Whesto now stressed to continue and feeling ready and able more than ever.

Remaining drones went back, the room cleared of obstacles and the combat trainer came into the room with the H+ specialist. Stella stood up.

-"Certainly, Centurion Dwanian. You have of course been able to leave whenever you wanted. However, getting augmentations is one thing, being lethally wounded beforehand is another. Therefore some extra calibration was offered, for the both of you. Good seeing you and good luck out there." , the combat trainer replied.

Whesto and Stella nodded and made way to the hangar. Whesto's Core destroyer, The Voidmourn was parked. He stopped outside the entry and turned to Stella.

- "I'm heading back to Durban Station, I appreciate the time and effort together. Where are you headed? Where's your vessel?".

Stella looked at him with her usual calm and neutral look.

- "You have no clue, do you?", she said with a hint of sarcasm and a concealed grin. Whesto was perplexed. He realized they hadn't talked much about anything, both focusing on their clinical procedure and calibration.

- "I was in the battle as a fighter wing leader. My wing flew with The Voidmourn to Omicron Nu and covered your boarding vessel upon breach. My Sawback took punishment from an enemy cruiser before it went down and I ejected. My pod took severe shrapnel from a torpedo blast in my proximity right before I was recovered by The Voidmourn. Then I ended up at H+, with you.", Stella shrugged slightly, awaiting Whesto's reaction.

Still a bit perplexed, Whesto replied.

- "I see. Well fought, I wouldn't expect anything less at this point. I'm glad we got to this point together. Now let's get the hell out of here".

They both entered The Voidmourn and booted up the systems, starting the engines. The Voidmourn left the H+ premises, headed for Durban Station.