Chapter 25: No choice
Dutch led the trainees to the mental training room next.
It was a large obsidian dark room lined with large iron beds.
Beside the beds were high grade psyche helmets positioned on the walls.
Psyche helmets were devices invented by the Aurnexs to create life-like scenarios in a person's mind.
It had multiple uses, but the Renegades mostly used it as a way to create imaginary situations for people to clear.
It was a good way to test someone's inner psyche, and how prepared they were to face certain challenges.
"This is the mental training room," Dutch said, his tone growing serious. "Here you'll undergo simulated missions that feel completely real to you while inside. Even the injuries you get while you're there will feel real."
"Each of you will face different challenges based on your current abilities and the weaknesses you need to improve on."
"If you complete more missions successfully, your final evaluation scores will improve drastically, making it possible for you to choose a Vanguard of choice when this is all over."
"Fail too many... and well, you fail." Dutch added before leading the curious trainees out of the room.
After that, he led them to a few more areas like the physical training room, which was basically a humongous gym. It had training gear suited to every species in this star system.
He also briefly showed them the Pilot training room, for practising the basics for emergencies.
Finally, he brought the new batch of trainees to what the instructors referred to as the simulation room.
"This is the simulation area, where you'll take on various training robots designed to slowly grow more dangerous based on their levels.
"Each training session will start with level one. The more levels you reach, the more impressive your score."
Dutch paused for a moment, then added.
"That also means the danger level increases dramatically as you keep going."
"This is the only area where there's a possibility of you actually dying."
"So I advise you to know when to quit, before it's too late."
Dutch noticed a few of the trainees gazes brighten slightly as he spoke.
Especially that of the Prince, Jet and the Dune heir, Rin.
To his surprise, the silent blue mornan trainee who stood up for Arbus earlier didn't seem as interested as Dutch expected him to be.
'Kaeru Mackhai, if I remember correctly.' Dutch thought in contemplation.
His file was particularly eye-catching.
After a bit, Dutch's gaze finally shifted to Arbus.
A complicated expression crossed his features.
"..."
"This concludes the brief tour to familiarise you all with your new surroundings."
"You can all head to your dorm rooms soon."
He said, gesturing to some of the staff.
"Three students each are to share a dorm."
"The decision of roommates has already been randomly selected by instructor Harves. All you have to do is check the device that will be handed to you shortly and head to your assigned room."
After that, Dutch promptly excused himself as he headed back to the instructor lounge.
A few of the trainees tensed slightly.
There was a possibility of two of them ending up in the same dorm room as Arbus.
Despite their new found bravado, none of them would be able to sleep soundly with a human laying right next to them.
Just like Dutch had said, several devices resembling the ones the instructors wore were handed to the trainees by the administrative staff.
Their room details were then transmitted to all of them simultaneously.
_________________
Dutch sighed heavily as he strode into the instructor's lounge.
He noticed Ty still sprawled lazily on the couch, like usual.
Meanwhile, Kate was in the process of chewing Harves out.
"I told you to check them didn't I!? How is this my fault." Harves grumbled loudly why suppressing a laugh.
Kate gritted her teeth.
"You annoying pointy tailed..."
"Bah, y'know what, forget it. You're right, I should have taken them." Kate said with a sigh as she crashed down on a couch.
"I just didn't think a case like today was possible."
"It's just so..." She trailed off, her features contorting in frustration.
"Unbelievable?, yeah tell me about it. Has the council gone insane!? This is just outrageous!" Solis bellowed in anger.
Kate had already informed the others of the situation that took place in the hanger.
After that, she had called the Hold directly to better understand why something like this happened.
She'd been told that she wasn't authorised to ask any further questions about the matter and that all she needed to do was follow the will of the council.
It had frustrated her to no end.
"They really expect us to teach that devi-" Solis stopped herself in time, then rephrased her words.
"Reincarnators spawn!"
"This doesn't make any sense!"
Most of the instructors beside Ty and Harves, who didn't care much, were having a hard time adjusting to this.
Even the usually stoic Hui seemed to be pondering about this situation deeply.
They didn't have time to think about the royal Mornan and very important Dune heir under their care.
"Especially after what this star system just went through, what are they thinking!?"
A sudden boisterous laughter suddenly echoed in the lounge.
Everyone present turned to the source, Ty.
"You guys are really overreacting, don't you think?"
"There's no reason for any of you to worry about teaching a half-human."
Kate's gaze turned into a glare.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
Ty sat up slightly, pausing to ponder his words before continuing.
"...He's only a half-human. He's no real danger to any of us, or the other trainees."
"Especially not with me and the security team here."
His expression grew somber for a moment, which was rather odd considering his usual personality.
"Sometimes it's best to remember that half-humans children of Reincarnators are, most of the time, victims just like us."
"They don't really get to choose who their parents are or anything like that."
After a few moments, he leaned back again.
"What I'm trying to say is that you guys should just do your best."
"There's nothing we can do to change the council's mind anyways."
"..."
"He's right, I don't think it's such a big deal for us to train a half-human this one time." Harves said, breaking the sudden quiet.
"It's only for a few months anyways."
A furious expression slowly spread across Solis's face as she pierced Ty and Harves with a sharp look.
"Are you two really standing up for a human like that!? Seriously!? After what happened to Bell's parents. Orr's wife. and Art's children!?" She shouted in disbelief.
She remembered the lost expressions on the faces of her colleagues a few days ago when the confirmation of their loved ones deaths had reached them.
"Calm down Solis, obviously that wasn't their intention." Dutch spoke up finally, trying his best to keep his volatile colleague calm.
"No it's not! What the hell is wrong with you two!?" She shouted furiously at the top of her lungs.
"That's enough, Solis." Kate ordered as she got up.
"Ty is right about one thing at least."
"There's nothing we can do about it now."
"It's strange, and downright infuriating, but we can't defy the Council's orders, no matter how terrible they are." She said through clenched teeth.
Then she turned to the door as she strode past Dutch.
"The commander should be arriving soon."
"I'll wait for him outside."