NT Rangers

Lad bent over, panting and almost vomiting from exertion. He could not make the run. It was too far. The others were too fast and had already lapped him. The standards were simply too high. Unlike most of those around him, his assessed 'Heroic Trait' was nothing that would aid him in testing. He glanced to his right to see a rather chunky Orc boy that was having an equally hard time trying to pass the physical portion. The Orc glanced over, panting and sweating. It was possibly for that reason that the Orc felt some sense of camaraderie with the fellow soon-to-be reject.

“M-mental?” The Orc breathed.

“Social...” Lad admitted.

“I hoped to squeak by on the written portion but the ability portion is just...” Sebek wheezed.

“Just so oppressive.”

Lad frowned and held his stomach below his lungs as he continued to jog forward at a far from steady pace. He had also hoped to at least squeak by to a selection round on some sort of written or spoken round of testing. Both he and Leto, his sister thought that he had a shot if he could just talk to someone, anyone. He glanced up nervously at the observation tier.

“I got a fan.” The Orc chuckled, waving nervously up at an Aoian girl that had her eyes intently on him.

“Somehow... But it looks like you do, too.” He directed Lad's attention to a stunningly gorgeous Fox with red hair, Aoian garb and golden eyes centered on what could only be him.

-

“Why in the world are you both staring at the only two people that managed to fail every single aspect of the physical test. I understand Yeong and her 'unusual' tendencies, but you? Commander, I just don't get it.” Janna was filing her nails, barely observing at all. Joseph was leaned over the back of her chair, craning his head to see.

“We do not usually agree, but I just... I am not sure, either.” He commented.

“It has to be the Orc!” Yeong said insistently.

“Sebek has already more than proved himself. We don't need more fighters, anyway. We need people that can support the team in other ways. That's the purpose of the Black and Blue role.” She insisted.

“Plus...” Her cheeks flushed.

“We have a history.”

“She is not wrong. Kai has basically zero capabilities outside her Teknomancy.” Joseph admitted. As he said that, and the fur on the ears of the Fox girl stood up in anger, Janna snorted.

“You all quite done yammering?” Kara uttered, barely offering a glance back.

“Yeong's right, aside from one thing. We don't need more fighters and dear... As tempting as it is, many of these people you remember are not the same. You don't actually know that boy.” She advised. Yeong frowned deeply and slumped over the railing.

“The thing that I look for is potential, more than current ability. The ability to learn and grow is more important than already having everything you need. Someone that we take that passes all the tests could be outpaced easily down the line by someone that did not.” She stared down inquisitively at the short, silver-haired human.

“Putting aside the fact that his trait makes me 'want' to favor him, his intelligence is high. His drive is high. His moral drive is high. His social potential is... 'Good.'”

“What?” Joseph, and most others seemed quite intrigued.

“What your Orc is lacking, Yeong, is drive. He's missing something that he had in your original time.” Kara explained. Yeong wished he did not understand. He glanced over to a confused Kai rather hard before quickly turning away.

“What?” The Fox shrugged.

“I don't get it!”

“Yah. You don't.” Yeong huffed.

“I still want him.”

“I know, dear.” Kara rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. She felt like it would become an issue so she made up a quick solution.

“We'll draft some into reserves that don't make it. That way if something comes up in the future, we don't have to run this test again.” She watched closely and smiled as her Grandchild seemed somewhat satisfied with that compromise.

“So it is actually going to be the wimp?” Janna remarked.

“It is.” Kara, the Commander, doubled down.

-

“I-I'm grateful but even I have to admit, this seems like a mistake. Did you see some of those guys?” Lad asked.

“I did!” Lacey offered a very small, coy smile as she measured the human with her eyes.

“Lift your arms?” Lad did so.

“Thank you.” She hummed.

“Were you responsible for-”

“Not my decision. Well... I had a vote, but it is weighted.” She explained.

“Okay... I-” He bit his lip. It hurt him to admit it, but he had to say it before he got in over his head with something he could not actually manage. It was a common issue with him.

“I have to make it known, my Trait is-”

“That was already taken into consideration.” The Fox woman circled him, guiding his body into different poses like one would do with a doll during play. Except her purpose for it felt far more integral.

“It was?”

Lacie rounded him to the front and took a step back. She held her clipboard close to her impressive chest and lifted one lecturing finger as she began to speak.

“Social. The Trait has the effect of endearing yourself to others. This is useful in social interactions for the purpose of introductions and sustained conversations or social gatherings. It can be used to push someone over the edge in regards to attaining benefits and other privileges that can be granted by others.” She took a breath and lowered her hand.

“But, the limitations are fairly dire. You can not convince someone to do something they do not want to do. Bad.” She shrugged and tilted her head side to side.

“Well... Good for us. Bad for you. You can not overcome a driven person. Diverting someone from their Core goals or values is not possible from the jump. You are less likely to be picked out in a fight and more likely to be granted favor and mercy by an enemy but... Unfortunately if you are not going to be able to evade attention for long. If their benefit is your **** or maiming, they'll go for it. That's what we've found by analyzing your Core.”

Lad was floored. The woman was no Lab assistant and she did state she had a vote so she must have been fairly high up. Taking a closer look at Lacie she was an older Fox woman, much like the one that had her eye on him during the race. However, the one in front of him had far more impressive breasts, less impressive muscles and a more obvious silhouette in regards to her hips, thighs and rear. She was an intensely arousing figure, not just for her body but the way she carried herself and dressed. Her figure was not hidden but complimented by whatever tight sweater top she wore under her lab coat. She had on a knee-length skirt with slits down the side and no stockings. She wore sensible, two inch heeled shoes.

“That is not the last thing.” She added gravely. Lad looked to her.

“Ward off obsession wherever you can, Lad. It may feel tempting to have someone fawn over you, but interest is it's own curse.”

“I don't understand.” He admitted.

“That's fine. Just be careful, okay?” As she said that she finally fitted his left wrist with a sleek-looking device that held the ChesAn pattern and insignia. She also took his old HanCom and offered a new one. “This is far more secure. Take care to transfer over any important data and dispose of the old one, please. If you need help, ask around for Kai.”

Lad thought nothing of it until he eyed the brand and model of the HanCom. “Th-this isn't even released yet!? Th-this could pay our rent for a year if I sold it.”

Lacie's smile cracked. “Please do NOT think about selling anything we give you, okay? Think of this as a perk of working for the people that make them. I designed this one and built it myself so be nice to it, okay?” She asked delicately.

“W-wait...” Lad took in her appearance. Her tall red ears, her smart-looking glasses and her cute face that was unmistakable.

“Are you Lacie Briggs!?”

“The one and the same!” She fanned herself.

“Hoo... Is it getting warmer in here? Praise makes me a bit-” She giggled and left it at that.

“Any-hoo. Do not sell or give away anything we give you. We have already moved your sister to our facilities. You will no longer worry about rent or food so relax on all that, okay?”

Lad shook his head. “Y-yeah! Of course.” It was everything he wanted and he was even standing in front of the woman that invented the Wired. Naked. He remembered that he was naked and tried to cover up, suddenly feeling a rush of shame at being attended by such an important person.

Her body shook from withheld laughter as she covered her mouth with one hand and pointed to his left wrist with the other.

“It's better if you just press the emblem.” He quickly did so. In an instant a tight, black suit wrapped around his whole body. It was flexible, like a second skin but also felt solid somehow.

“Black...”

“That's right! The unique material is fluid when at rest but becomes solid, with the fibers on the surface interlocking and becoming solid in response to trauma. The layers beneath it work to dampen stress. So falls, blows and any other event that would normally kill or grievously injure you will now simply cause you discomfort. We also have them set to dampen pain and other negative sensations.” She stared at him harshly.

“That doesn't mean you're invincible! Don't damage my equipment without reason, okay?”

“Okay.” Lad stared down at the sleek black suit. He closed and opened his palm, causing the thing to stretch and then reform in response to his movement.

“Wasn't there already a ChesAn Black?” He questioned innocently. There was a long pause.

“L- Miss Briggs?” He looked up to see her staring at him coldly.

“Very hard question to answer. For now, just get to know the team and begin working as hard as you can to raise your skills to the standards we require. Okay?”

-

“You've been replaced.” Driana uttered coldly, turning Raithe's chin easily with just a faint grip.

“No...” Rathe coughed. She tried to turn her head to shake off the Core Beast's grip, but her hand simply followed, or **** her to once again look directly ahead into the dark eyes of the monster.

Driana cocked her head to one side and brought her face close enough to almost kiss. “They didn't even 'try' to save you. That's how little you matter... Empty doll. You're like us. Nothing inside. You had to learn to live again like a normal thing.”

“If I can do it, you can too.” Raithe offered weakly. As soon as she said that Driana smacked the Fox harshly. The girl yelped. Driana was happy to see she drew blood from Raithe's lip, but quickly took a step back as she heard the familiar rhythmic tapping sound behind her, like eight individual high heels all moving across a tile floor in perfect sync Cold hands emerged from the darkness to caress her shoulders from behind. Then the full, pale upper body came down and embraced her while the lower half remained obscured in dark. She stood perfectly, uncomfortably still and sneered as Raithe looked upon her with pity.

“How is our guest?” The Dyder's voice echoed.

“Still holding on...” Driana gritted her teeth. The Womans grip tightened threateningly from behind as she hesitated, then loosened as Driana relented and spoke.

“Mother.”

“We may not be the same, but you are 'mine' child.” The Dryder cooed.

“The others will want to see progress with this one. Less conversing and more...” Driana could hear her grin widely as she continued.

“Coercing.”

Raithe glanced away as Driana smiled cruelly at her. “With pleasure.”

-

Kai lead Lad loosely by the wrist into the congregation room. It looked like a cross between a living room and game room. There was a seating area with a conference table in the center, and then there were several other stations with games, pool tables and anything else that one could idly while away their time with. Lad's eyes centered on the water cool, as he was thirsty, but the cute Fox was intent on dragging him over to where everyone was sitting.

“Okay. This is everybody. Everybody, this is Lad.”

“Hi.” Lad said nervously, offering a small wave to the group. He gulped as he saw that at least one openly had it out with him. The Aoian girl with short dark hair was wearing a loose-fitting black band shirt and tight black leggings. She had one leg crossed comfortably over the other. The two Ciar seemed polite enough, though he could tell that the woman was smiling at him sarcastically and the twin male was barely registering his presence except to simply acknowledge he exists. Then there was Kai, the young fox with a bushy tail that he had to lean away from as he followed her due to his swaying back and forth. She was at least putting in an effort. There was a long, awkward pause, then before Lad could say another word Yeong stood up and crossed her arms tightly over her chest.

“We aren't friends! We're co-workers.” She turned and stomped away, utterly confusing and stunning Lad who was not used to being derided. He looked to the twins he traded an impish look with each other before centering their attention on him.

“We can be friends.” Joseph claimed.

“We just need you to run a few errands around the facility for us.” Janna added.

Lad nodded slowly. Kai rolled her eyes and turned around. She seemed to be the most neutral and friendly of the group.

“Okay... They're degenerates and Yeong is nice when you get to know her.”

“What about you?” Lad questioned.

“Me?” Her cheeks flushed and she stared up and away in thought.

“I'm busy, but if you have any questions, since our fearless leader is having a temper tantrum, you can ask me, I guess...” Lad was speechless.