Signing up

[itbelongsinamuseum]

1
[An announcement is playing. It shows Alex alone trying to look in control.]

Hi everyone

I've been staying here for the last week following the attack on Brussels and I've met several of you already and I imagine the rest of you have at least heard about the battle, but I'd better introduce myself anyway.  My name is Alexandra de Witt and at the battle it turned out that I have the ability to call on the power of the Sumerian god Enki to fight monsters sent by the king of the gods Enlil...I don't think that will ever stop sounding insane. Regardless, I can summon the Sumerian god Enki as essentially a giant robot and while I think there won't be any more monsters, I still can't be sure.

I've spent the last week trying to figure out what to do about that and I have come to a decision. I will stay with you and help protect the world against alien invaders and rampaging monsters. I never thought about becoming a soldier before, but I have a powerful weapon in my hands that I can't hand over to somebody else and I can't just turn away and let others fight in that situation. So I'm officially introducing myself.

...And I'm probably also going to need to ask for your help in learning how to properly fight. I can pilot, or whatever you want to call it, Enki just fine, but I have no training in tactics or other parts of how to handle myself on the battle field.

2


[Later that day Alex can be found sitting slumped against the wall a short distance down the corridor from the gym to the showers. She's wearing what looks like very new training clothes that appear to be drenched in sweat.]

...Maybe I overdid it.

Comments

[abugslife]

Yes. You are talking to it.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Not the most humble, are you?

Anyway, thanks for the offer, I know I need it. So just tell me where to start, I guess.

[abugslife]

I know where my strengths lie. One of the most important things for me as a general is to keep my soldiers alive. Training is a significant part of that.

Enki possesses the power to control water, does he not?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Right, and transmute things into other things. I believe it follows physics and chemistry to a degree, so I couldn't make a rock into a ham, but it is still quite versatile. After I study some more science, at least.

[abugslife]

Transmute. I would like to see it.

See after you are done with a certain exercise, at least. Everyone, you can come here now.

[Several Gebians approach, from different direction. They are carrying pistols... which would count as threatening, if they weren't obviously water guns.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Sure thing.

...What are they going to do?

[abugslife]

They will shoot at you, while you will try to dodge. Fight fire with fire, and the same with the opposite element.

The water guns have a build-up time before firing, one that can be noticed audibly. You will need that, because you will be blindfolded during the exercise.

[One of the beetle-like aliens is approaching with a piece of cloth.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Whaaaaat? Have you been watching kung-fu movies or something?

[abugslife]

Awareness of your surroundings is one of the most crucial elements of survival on the battlefield. Whatever your defense against an attack is, it will be useless if you do not notice the attack coming, or notice it too late.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I was just saying that maybe starting with something simpler would be a good idea.

[abugslife]

In comparison to further exercises that await you? This is simple.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

You're sure you aren't just copying kung-fu movies? I'd need to train my body to even be able to move fast enough to dodge them.

[abugslife]

This is a tested method. It works. Or are you trying to tell me your agility is below that of an average Gebian?

[A few of the "gunners" wobble around clumsily.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

How would I know the agility of an average Gebian? I don't even know the agility of an average human.

But I do know that I haven't really worked out since I had PE in high school.

[abugslife]

Perhaps you should start again, then. Constitution and quick reflexes are necesary in combat, no matter what role you serve.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I was planning on it. I just haven't done it yet because I only decided to sign up this morning.

[abugslife]

Good. Make sure to take care of the basics on your own, then. The things I am going to teach you will serve to develop your battle instinct.

Put the blindfold on. We are starting.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Was this really going to help anything? Regardless, Alex put on the blindfold.]

Ready.

[abugslife]

Now focus on figuring out from which direction the sounds are coming. When you know, you can try to do something about them, even blind.

Proceed.

[Heph takes a step to the side - probably wise, considering a quiet hissing sound can be heard! That's the pressure in one of the water guns building up right before the fire...]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Alex stood quietly trying to pinpoint which of the water guns it was, before quickly dashing to the side - Right in front of the spray.]

That didn't count. I'm only warming up.

[abugslife]

Then let us know when you are done warming up.

Do not think there is any shame in failure. Nobody succeeds at this for the first time. Even I did not.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

I know. But this kind of training is mostly very weird for me, so I have no idea what to expect.

[abugslife]

That is on purpose. Very weird and unexpected things are very likely to show up on a battlefield.

[Watch out, while Heph is talking, more water guns are starting up!]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[Hearing the whir of the water guns charging, Alex ignored what Heph was saying to instead try to pinpoint them. It didn't help, she still managed to get herself hit.]

[abugslife]

Do not let those very weird things distract you. Including words coming in from the dark.