(Video comes on onto a sparse room, with a young caucasian male dressed in casual clothes standing in the middle. There is also an unskinned android with an armored frame standing nearby. The young man looks somewhat nervous.)
VOICE: Okay, we're recording. Are you ready, Jacob?
YOUNG MAN (JACOB): Yeah.
VOICE: All right, I'm going to take control of the Senator. We'll do a simple roleplaying exercise to get you used to your Augs.
JACOB: Okay.
(the SENATOR android comes to life, animating and walking casually toward JACOB)
SENATOR (with the same VOICE as over the PA): Hello, Mr. Kaufman? I'm Senator Wilson. I hear you've been assigned to my security detail.
(JACOB walks toward the SENATOR, smiling, and shakes its hand)
JACOB: Hello, Senator, I'm Jacob Kaufman. Pleased to meet you.
SENATOR: Ok, Jacob, you just broke the Senator's hand.
(JACOB pulls his hand away, and the SENATOR steps back)
JACOB: Shit! Damn. I'm sorry.
SENATOR: It's all right, it happens to almost everybody. Guardian Augs are tough to get used to. Let's try again.
(SENATOR walks toward JACOB, holding its hand out again)
SENATOR: Hello Mr. Kaufman. I'm Senator Wilson. I hear you're to be assigned to my security detail.
(JACOB shakes the SENATOR's hand nervously)
JACOB: Hello, Senator. It's good to meet you.
(JACOB draws his hand away, and the SENATOR stops moving)
SENATOR: Much better, Jacob. You don't have to be quite so timid; a firm handshake is the hallmark of any person of importance, and Guardians are no different. But you'll get used to it. I'm going to add Aug Sensitivity to your training regimen.
JACOB: Ok.
SENATOR: All right, let's move on.
(Video cuts out, and comes back in with a later time mark. The SENATOR bot has been replaced with five combat ROGUE-type androids, each equipped with a Murasame SMG in its shoulder holster. JACOB is surrounded by the androids on all sides. A small cylinder-shaped object is clipped to JACOB's belt.)
VOICE: Ok, Jacob, we're recording. Tell me when you're ready.
JACOB: I'm ready, sir.
VOICE: Ok. You'll be scored on your performance. Don't activate your sabre until the first Rogue draws.
JACOB: Yes.
(there is a pause, and then a small slow-motion icon appears in the corner of the transcript. The ROGUE behind JACOB reaches for its Murasame, and Jacob reaches for his belt. In a fluid motion, JACOB pulls the object from its holster and touches a switch on it. A three-foot antenna extrudes from the cylinder as JACOB palms it, and a crackling field of energy runs along its length. JACOB ducks under the drawn SMG and swings the MED sabre up, fluidly cleaving the gun into two pieces. The other robots all reach for their guns and draw them. JACOB turns back and forth in a flurry of movement almost too fast for the slow-mo camera to catch, and all of the SMGs lie broken on the ground but one, which clatters away as the robot who drew it falls to the ground. JACOB deactivates and sheathes the sabre, and the camera goes back to regular speed.)
JACOB: ... I killed one accidentally.
VOICE: It's all right, Jacob, you did quite well. You'll seldom face such a situation on the field where you are expected to leave everyone alive.
JACOB: Thanks.
VOICE: Your score is 430 of 600; 100 points were deducted for the 'life' you took, and seventy were reduced for slightly sub-par form. All in all a good performance, Jacob. I'm not assigning MED sabre to your regimen, but you may still access the training program if you'd like.
JACOB: Okay.
(the video cuts out and returns to a point several days later. A single ROGUE stands in front of JACOB, unarmed)
VOICE: Ok, Jacob. I know this is your hardest subject, but don't sweat it too hard. This Rogue is set at Augment strength. Disable it. Are you ready?
JACOB: Yes.
(the ROGUE animates and runs to JACOB, and throws a punch at him. JACOB sidesteps the punch and delivers a passing open-handed blow to the back of the ROGUE's head. It falls to the ground.)
JACOB: Dammit! That was too hard.
VOICE: We'll try again.
(the video cuts out and then cuts back in again, showing JACOB holding a ROGUE aloft and pounding it against the wall very hard. The ROGUE is already broken, its armor flattened and smoke pouring from its joints. It should be noted that ROGUE robots are 300 lbs and designed to withstand high-intensity explosions. Jacob is screaming, tears running down his face.)
JACOB: I can't do it! I can't do it! I'm a monster!!! Goddamn it!!!
(JACOB drops the ROGUE and collapses, weeping)
VOICE (not over the PA): I think Jacob's Augs are too well-integrated. Can we please get Dr. Maheer? Somebody call Dr. Maheer to the training area. Tell him that Jacob is having a nervous breakdown.
Poor kid.
(video cuts out, then comes in a day later. JACOB has a KRU standard-issue pistol on a shoulder holster. He looks much less distressed.)
VOICE: How is that Aug dampener feeling, Jacob?
JACOB: I feel a lot better, thank you.
VOICE: Poor acclimation is a common problem among younger Guardians. It's no worry for us. Hopefully, we'll be able to remove it by the end of the week. You may note sluggish performance during that time.
JACOB: I do. It's ok, I'm all right.
VOICE: Are you okay to train?
JACOB: I'm fine. I'm ready.
VOICE: Ok. Remember not to draw until you see the targets.
JACOB: Yeah. Ready.
(a holo-magical target appears in the air. JACOB draws the gun quickly enough that the camera cannot register it, and the muzzle of the gun flashes with a sharp report. More targets begin to appear, and JACOB tags them expertly one by one, some quickly enough that the muzzle flashes appear simultaneously on the video. The training lasts about one minute.)
VOICE: Excellent work, Jacob. 458 out of 600. Given your reduced Augs, that's unusually high.
JACOB holstering his pistol: Thank you.
(video cuts out)
This is really amazing stuff. I would love to see more of Jacob's trials. -Lauren's Wiki