Episode 0-1 (Part 1): First Time Hire - Distinction Certificate: Six

"I'm Six. Just call me that. My services range to a lot of different things. From courier service to bodyguarding and assassinating, I'm a jack of all trades."

And that was it.

A few fruitful words, a small drill, paperwork, filing, and I'm an official Operator of Rhodes Island.

Those words I said, flashed by within two weeks. It was that fast.

Maybe because I gained an immediate routine, or nobody did notice my presence that much. Would not be surprised if they just considered me as the other security guards.

Not that it mattered much to me anyway. I could care less about my Karma here.

Which reminded me.

I just woke up, and I was fortunate to be put inside a room and not one of the dormitories. Doc said something when he pulled a bit of research on me. So when he found out, he put me inside my own room.

A privilege to be honest. Soon after I got my room, I turned a portion of it into a personal workshop. Though it's not like I can't use the workshop down in the 3rd basement.

Going back, I just woke up. And my detached Pip-Boy 3000 was on my bedside cabinet. I flung and flicked it onto my left wrist. Immediately attaching.

Other than checking the time which was, 7 AM. I went to my general statistics. I rechecked how much Karma I had. Since it's been a rough couple of months since I checked it.

Why did I even bother checking it now, of all days?

I switched tabs. I found my answer.

Karma: Good.

Damn.

A small FYI: I hate having Karma.

I won't say much about it, I just prefer staying Neutral. The gray area.

The bright side is that I can go lower it. The problem is how.

Oh well, I'll answer those questions next time.

For now, it's morning. I'm two hours away from my shift. And I realized I'm hungry.

A short shower will do. Plus my Elite Riot Gear is the only thing I wear around here.

Good thing it doesn't smell.

"Heyy! Six!" The Doc waved at me. Like some sort of kid.

Then I could feel the eyes of other Operators looking at where I'm at.

I'll be perfectly honest: I'm a stoic and pissed off guy. But this type of situation is embarassing.

I didn't verbally respond. But I turned tail with my tray in hand and out of the cafeteria.

Then I heard the sounds of metal clanging. And the clamoring of voices as I went into the hall.

"H-hey, wait!"

"Doctor, watch out!"

"Be careful!"

"Watch where you're going you fool!"

It didn't take much time before the Doc caught up with me. He also had a tray in hand, filled with his morning meal.

"Morning Six." He said, letting out a huff from all the running.

"Morning." I responded, my voice changing modulator my helmet has installed seems to be normal for Doc now.

"So, where you eating?" He asked.

"The workshop or the hangar."

"Figures. You're on workshop duty today. I'm sure Closure has some extending to do so she might need your efforts." Then Doc lit up as if he remembered something. "Oh right! I have some urgent news for you."

I tilted my head at him. Doc ran in front of me. Taking out something from his pocket.

"Ta-da!" He raised an ID towards me. "Here."

He handed me the ID. Though I wasn't sure what this was for.

He must've picked up on my confusion somehow. Because he elaborated. "You're my assistant for the week!"

...

"Excuse me?"

"Y'know, I can feel you glaring at me behind that helmet."

I audibly sighed.

Becoming the Doctor's assistant means most of your time with your shift's been cut off. Because either a lot or half of the time, you'll be with the Doctor in his office. Helping him do paperwork, and get close to him. That sort of stuff.

If you have the expertise for it, you can help him with specific stuff. Such as the scientific field or the medical area. Or form up combat strategies and tactics. Maybe play a hobby with him or two if you find one.

So what exactly is the problem here for me? Well, it's that he wants to dig up on your past. Sort of...

"It took a bit of work getting you to be my assistant for the week. I was a bit reluctant about canceling Amiya, but she seemed a bit understanding and made it easier for me to have you on board."

The bunny girl? She's allowing me to be his assistant? I mean, first glance at her, I thought she was a donkey-

Putting aside old wash jokes, I saw her as the clingy type. So I thought it'd be more difficult to have her get declined to be Doc's assistant.

Then again, she has to put up face. And the fact that she's genuinely considerate and kind.

"Plus, Dr. Kal'tsit was also protesting to this for a bit. Though we did reach a compromise and she finalized the decision to let me have you." The Doctor added.

Huh, Dr. Kal'tsit wasn't keen on letting be me his assistant? That's something I should ask next time I meet her.

Well. I can't really decline to be an assistant since you'll be forced to. So...

"Alright. When do I go to your office?" I pocketed the ID he gave me.

"You could go after your breakfast. Or we could have it there right now." He answered.

I walked past him, going towards the direction of his office. "Let's get going then. We're burning daylight here."

I could hear him catching up to me. "Hey, wait up!"

I fixed the hold I had on the box I was carrying while making my way to where the Rhine Lab nerds were at.

After settling a bit in the Doc's office, he told me I still had to do some leftover quota of my shift before I could coop up inside his office.

So he handed me a large box, told me to give the stuff inside to the designated places and sent me along my merry way.

And my first destination was Rhine Lab. Well, not the laboratory itself, the people in that faction.

I wasn't really well-versed in what Rhine Lab does and who the people were that volunteered to work here. But I knew a few and what the organization did.

Short answer: I don't like them. They tried to pull an Enclave.

Well, they could be comparable to the Big MT nerds, but I don't think they ever tried to play God. Making operating system personalities for appliances does not count as playing God. Or probably cybernetically enhancing dogs too.

Either way, I don't like what they tried. Especially what I found out after.

As for the people, they aren't bad. From the words of Joshua Graham: Hate the sin, love the sinner.

And they're mostly alright people. Though the only ones I'm mostly acquaintances with are-

The sealed door to the replacement laboratory for the Rhine Lab personnel opened. I made my presence known. "Special delivery."

"I'll be there!" A chipper voice answered.

Guess I had to wait then.

It didn't take long. Because a certain weasel (despite not having any weasel features from what I've seen) attended to my presence.

And she still had her workshop with her.

"Mornin' Six!" Mayer responded happily. Her extra robotic appendages doing their work. Whatever work that was.

I laid the box down on the floor. Opening it. "Hey, Mayer."

"Still on courier duty, eh Six?"

I was tempted to retort with a witty one. But I held my tongue. I should keep my distance from these people.

I took out the smaller box that had a Rhine Lab emblem on it. "Here."

Mayer used one of her extra arms to grab it. She inspected the box.

I should at least let her know what's up with me.

"I'm on assistant duty for the week, Mayer."

She looked a bit surprised. "Oh really? Congrats!"

It felt off though. "Why should you congratulate me?"

She shook her head at me with a smile. "Mr. Six. You should know new Operators don't even become the Doctor's assistant within two weeks. In fact, you'll have to wait a month or two before you're chosen."

"Which is why I don't want to even be his assistant." I closed the box.

"Eh? Why? That's an opportunity wasted. Any Operator would like to be the Doctor's assistant!"

"I didn't ask to be. I'll see you later." I turned to the door.

"Hm.. you're boring to talk to," Mayer commented as I went out of the room. "Take care, Six!"

True Mayer. Since I keep you, strangers, at arm's length, I'm boring to talk to.

I finished the errand. For the rest of the factions, I handed BSW's box to Liskarm. I gave the box meant for Kjerag to Courier. And the others are just individual deliveries that I can do by sending them to their respective locker.

With that out of the way, I guess most of my day would be comprised of just lunch, work and dinner. All doing that with Doc.

Well unless I would be deployed to a mission. Which I doubt would happen really soon. Give or take two days.

Anyway, I'm currently making my way back to Doc's office. I viewed over some notes my Pip-Boy downloaded. When I got over them, it pissed me off when I realized it. Because I had some letters or folders that I had to place inside lockers, my Pip-Boy naturally downloaded them.

I hovered over some contents. Not bothering to read them, just wanted them to be considered viewed so that I wouldn't make the mistake of reading them.

Done. On with the-

I stepped on a piece of paper. I was confused for a bit, before a voice called out to me.

"Oi! Can you help? I need you to pick up that report for me!"

A brown-haired girl wearing black waved at me. She had fox features, and she was wearing a tactical vest?

Oh wait. It's this girl. One of the three I faced off with in the drill I had before being accepted by Rhodes Island.

I idly picked up the paper and went to her, where she was at the end of the hall. Jeez, how'd that paper get here? And again, my Pip-Boy downloaded the report.

I approached her and she took the paper I was reaching out. "Thanks!"

Boy. She was carrying a heavy load. Stack of folders and papers on her hands.

"Where you headed to?" I asked.

"Ah. Just dropping this by the Doctor's office." She answered.

"Oh, convenient. Was headed there myself. Here," I took a portion of the stack from her. "I'll take some."

"Aw, you shouldn't. You might as well carry the entire thing yourself. Heh, just kidding~"

We began walking our way to Doc's office.

"Hey, I never got your name." I just asked. Hey, I keep strangers at arms length. But knowing their names would be the least I can do.

"You're the one we trialed against two weeks ago, right?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Name's Six."

"Ooohh. Code name or real name?" She asked.

"Eh, both." I shrugged. It's not like I even knew my real name.

"Oh I see." She smiled at me. "Well, I'm Franka. Former BSW chemical handler."

"And also a dangerous duelist." I added. She giggled.

"Come on, I don't bite~"

"You're former BSW?"

"Oh. I should word that better. No, I am currently working at BSW. I'm just done with being a chemical handler is all." She elaborated.

I hummed as a response.

We were close to Doc's office.

"I gotta ask. Why are the other Operators ignoring you?" Franka asked.

"Beats me. Though I did stay a whole lot in my room in the first week because I was renovating my room."

"I feel as if you're putting quotes on the 'renovation' part."

"What if I am?" I chuckled. She giggled lightly.

Hey. Six. You just said you'd keep strangers at arms length. What's with the special treatment for Franka and the sour treatment for Mayer then?

Damn, I hate not going back to my words. Oh well. From now on, I'll be answering less.

"I'm curious. I saw how you fought two weeks ago, and I heard you're a sharpshooter." Franka began. "Tell me, what's your Operator class then?"

Well. A lot of stuff ran through my head.

Firstly, that's an interesting question. Second, I feel tempted to be secretive about it. I don't even know if my class or my presence was made public at all. I mean it might've been, but was just ignored at the bulletin board (if there is one).

Come on, Six. It's just your class. It's not like they'll form a contingency plan where they'll try and kill me if I've gone rogue.

Though I doubt they even know the full extent of my capabilities.

Oh well. Doesn't matter.

I turned to Franka. "I'm a Specialist."

"Really? I would have thought you'd be a Sniper or a Guard."

I didn't comment at that. Though I'm sure I wouldn't like those two because they restrict my abilities.

Anyway. We stopped talking and we faded into silence. I don't know if it was comfortable for Franka, but I could care less.

Finally, we made it to Doc's office door.

The door automatically opened at our presence.

"Doctor!" Franka skipped in. The Doctor looked up from his tablet and looked at the skipping fox.

"Franka. And Six?" He asked. The fox girl plopped the stack of paperwork onto his desk.

"I finished my errand. Let's get to business." I replied as I placed the other portion of files onto his desk.

Franka then snapped her fingers. "Aw right! Why're you here anyway?"

Doctor filled her in before I could. Thankfully. "Ah, he's my assistant for the week."

"Really?" Franka's brows raised up at that. "I thought it was Amiya-chan?"

"Well. She allowed me to have him. And she had other duties for this week anyway."

"Oh. Hm, I see." Franka would have stared at Doc longer if she didn't decide to leave immediately. "Anyway. I'll be going now. Take care."

She left through the door. Leaving me and the Doc in the room. I took a seat beside his desk. He started sorting out the folders and papers.

"So, do I help here?" I asked.

"If you can do the paperwork, then sure. Have at it." He says.

I began sorting through the papers. "And you?"

"I'll be viewing the recent operation and medical reports. Also I have to make some archived documents myself while I'm at it."

"Alrighty then."

This isn't hard. I dislike paperwork, but I'm fine with it.

"You know. I'm fine with paperwork. But if there's any haggling or negotiating, let me do it."

I said as I continued writing the Doctor's signature.

"Negotiation?"

Doc kept reading the report he had. Which was a recent precious cargo operation.

"Maybe some representative of an industry might come and ask for a collaboration. How 'bout you let me lead the deal?"

I finished the last document that stated Doc's agreement on... something. I dunno, I could care less. He told me to sign and ignore anything that has Kjerag on it.

"Heh. Like that'll ever happen. Rhodes Island right now is getting some clout, and not in a good way. And other than the L.G.D., no one is asking for our help. So to counter that, we had to send in Operators into contracts where they had to look like they had no correlation with Rhodes."

Doc lifted the report up further.

"What about current contracts you have right now?"

I dropped my pen and leaned back into my seat.

"Well they're a contract of course. They'll have to run it's course before they can say no to us. Either way, companies like Blacksteel or Kjerag know our true intentions and aims. So I don't think they'll turn their backs on us."

Doc then lowered the report and put it back in the folder it was placed in.

"Plus. We're treating a couple of patients from their company. Such as Franka."

That caught my attention.

"Franka's infected?"

Doc didn't answer. But he did turn to me slowly.

"Are we on break time now?"

"I finished your side of the paperwork. Dunno about you. Besides, how long have we been writing crap?"

The Doctor checked his watch. How convenient.

"We've been at this for two hours."

"That's quick."

Doc shrugged at me.

"Got a minute to tell a story?"

"No. And I hate stories. What am I, the Storyteller?"

"I'm curious about you."

I internally sighed. This is what I was trying to avoid.

"Well I'm not curious about myself. So better luck next time."

Then the door to Doc's office opened. Revealing a wolf girl in a tracksuit-

Oh wait. It's that girl I also fought against two weeks ago in the drill. The one who wielded dual energy blades.

What was her name again?

"Doctor. I have two things that need your permission." The girl walked forward and stopped before his desk, handing Doc a clipboard.

His mask stared at it, before staring back at the girl.

"You need permission for a full operating squad and the operation I'll be commandeering?"

The girl simply nodded.

Then Doc looked at me all of a sudden.

"You said you wanted to negotiate. Right?"

"Huh?"

"Want to oversee their preparation expenses and whatnot?"

Behind my helmet, my smug expression laughed at him. As I leaned backward on my seat.

"Doc, miss here said she needed you specifically. Ain't that right miss..?"

Though it was rude I forgot her name (did I even ask for it?), it would be a good opportunity to learn it right now.

"Texas." The girl answered. "It's Texas."

Oh, like the state? That'll be easy to remember.

"Texas. Huh. I like that name."

She didn't respond, but she did measly nod at me. Before turning back to the Doctor who was already signing it.

They both kept discussing the operation, though I could care less about it. If Doc ain't going to force me in, then I have no need to force myself in.

"You know, Doctor. We have one more spot for an Operator to join."

"Oh, what do you need exactly?"

"Someone who can be both a Sniper and a ground assault unit at the same time."

"So a Specialist?"

"More or less."

"Do you want me to suggest for you?"

"That would be appreciated."

"Alright. I'll let you know if I find one."

"Thank you, Doctor."

Texas turned to the door with her clipboard in hand. As she was about to leave, her-

"Be seeing you, Six."

The door opened and closed a second later.

"Huh. She remembers my name. While I forgot hers." I mumbled, looking at the door. Still surprised because she actually greeted me. Even though I felt like a wallflower around Rhodes Island.

"Six." Doc called for me, I turned to him. "You do realize that Texas was specifically asking for you. Right?"

Huh, what? "I didn't listen to what you both were talking about so elaborate please."

"Six. Texas was saying there's a vacant spot in her upcoming operation. And she was looking for your specific capabilities."

"Did she ask for me specifically?"

"No. But she might as well would be, considering her words. And how she gave you a glance."

"You noticed that?" I also noticed her giving me a passing glance.

"Six, I know my Operators here. Texas doesn't just acknowledge someone out of the blue unless you seem to be recognizable."

I shrugged at the Doctor. "Okay other than that. What are you going to do about it?"

"Put you in..?"

"And if I decline?"

"...force you in?"

I gave him a deadpanned stare. Though what's the point when you have a helmet on.

"No thanks. Not in the mood."

"But this-"

"Lookie Doc. We're done with our 5 minute break."

"It hasn't even been 5-"

"Anyway, I'll sign where it says Silverash needs your sp-"

"NO PLEASE DON'T, DR. KAL'TSIT WILL KILL ME!"

After telling him that Silverash wrote him a letter that just needed his presence over some meeting, he calmed down and we went back to our work for another hour.

All of a sudden, he instructed me to escort some guests into a conference room. Just right before I was going to have a break.

Now here I am once more, running around doing errands. Except this time, I was in the hangar of the facility. Weird how this is sort of the entrance of the Ark. Unless there's an actual entrance in which I'm unaware of.

I should probably study the layout of this place. Could save me some time if I learn some shortcuts.

Ah well, I can't right now since the hangar doors started opening. Means the guards let them pass through. Or they might have some sort of recognition in the databanks that P.R.T.S just decided to let them waltz in.

At the middle of the hangar doors opening, only two persons stood. Both women. One was tall and had green hair and a horn above her right eye. She wore a black outfit, armor posted on it. Sleeveless, but had gloves on.

The other was shorter than her, and probably shorter than me. She had dragon horns and dark blue hair. Her eyes were red, pretty opposing color for her hair. She had a jacket on, a short black short. Pretty sure that's a white button up with a yellow tie on it. Fingerless gloves. There were blades inside sheathes that rested on her hips.

Hmm.. coulda sworn we met somewhere.

I walked forward. Intent on greeting them.

"Remember what you're going to say?" The tall one asked the short blue-haired girl.

"Yeah. Of course. We're going to give a briefing after all-"

"Hello there." They both weren't paying attention to me as they conversed.

The blue-haired one met my helmet. "Hello. I'm- WAIT, YOU'RE HIM!"

Both of them had a form of surprised expressions on their faces. The tall one was clearly surprised. The blue girl was both shocked and pissed as she pointed fingers at me.

I, on the other hand, am confused.

"Him?"

I didn't get to ask for more when blue girl placed the tip of her blade at my neck.

Well, this is worrying.

"You bastard... do you know the aftermath of what you did back in Lungmen?" She asked through gritted teeth.

Wait, Lungmen? Aftermath?

Then it clicked and I realized.

"Ch'en? This is you ri-"

"Shut up."

She again didn't let me finish my sentence as I narrowly avoided her blade. And then I remembered Ch'en quickdrawing is like a second of death.

Fortunately I saw right through. Good thing the wasteland of this place and the Mojave taught me a lot.

I wasn't really serious about fighting. So I did what I can to dodge all her attacks. If I knew Ch'en back then, she wasn't this serious in killing me.

Now? Add to the fact that she gained more training and experience the last time I saw her, and the speed which her attacks look like a blur, she is dead set on cutting me apart.

I was about to take another backstep, until I had my back onto the wall.

I saw the tip of her blade coming for my neck. I move-

"Hey Six. Turns out I can spare-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

Me, Ch'en and tall green girl (I forgot her name, Sushigum-something?) froze and stopped when the Doctor looked at what was happening.

"Um..."

"Doctor..."