Chapter 10. Trainee Agent.

"Well, it seems that you're not interested in this job. So, it's just as well; I don't have to choose." K looked at Jay. He was actually very pleased with Jay, he was similar to him when he was young, but Noah was good too.

Moreover, Noah was better than good! His physical qualities were excellent. Why was he unemployed before?

"No, no, no. I'm interested. Well, if you can hire two people...?" Jay suddenly felt that police work was nothing.

　　...

On a park bench, K explained to the two in a low voice, "At any given time, there are around 1500 aliens on the planet. Most of them are right here in Manhattan, and most of them are decent enough."

"They're just trying to make a living. Cab drivers, chefs, teachers, or pawnbrokers..."

Jay thought of his acquaintance Jack Jeebs, whom he had known for a long time. 'Maybe that's why I always felt there was something off about him?'

"Only a few people know about them, like us."

"Why doesn't the public know?" Jay asked.

"Jay, everyone has different ideas. Some people hold guns to catch bad people, while others hold guns to be bad people. Knowing something isn't always a good thing; ignorance is bliss." Noah patted Jay on the shoulder.

"Ignorance is bliss? Short, simple, but true for the most part. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals, and you know it." K looked at Noah. This young man gave him a strange feeling. he was a little too calm. 'Could it be that his memory wasn't erased before?'

'Impossible...'

"What's the pros and cons?" Jay asked.

"The pros? 1500 years ago, everybody knew the Earth was the centre of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody knew the earth was flat, and 15 minutes ago, you knew that people were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow."

"As for the cons. You will sever every human contact, nobody will ever know you exist, anywhere.... ever."

When K spoke, he also paid special attention to Noah's eyes. He saw the look of reminiscing in Noah's eyes and was a little puzzled. This was odd, but nothing too much out of the ordinary.

Noah asked, "Zed said that you guys are only recruiting one person; you're talking to the both of us. Is there another test or something?"

"If one of you voluntarily quits, then I won't have to choose. If you both want to join, then you can only be a trainee first. Follow me, watch and learn. I'll let you know who would be let go eventually."

"Being let go might be a blessing. You can return to normal society, gain friends, watch football, drink beer, have poker night... build a family." It was the kind of life K wanted after his retirement.

Jay hesitated. Joining the organisation meant saying goodbye to the past, "Is it worth it?"

Before K could answer, Noah seriously looked at him, "I want to try. I might get kicked out before the training is over, but it's a different experience, isn't it? Maybe it just won't end up in my memories...."

K stood up, "I'll give you to sunrise to think it over. It's worth it... if you're strong enough."

"No, I don't need a whole night. I can promise you now. I am willing to join the M.I.B." Noah directly said so and then looked at Jay.

"Hey, Noah, listen to me and give him a reply tomorrow." Jay stopped Noah and whispered in his ear, "Let's go to the bar tonight. It's always a good idea to relax before intense training and leaving society, isn't it?"

"Think about it. I won't be able to find a girlfriend for as long as you're in that job. That old guy is probably still single. You need to think about it some more."

Noah instantly changed his mind: "Well, I'll think about it all night. Shall we meet you at 504 Battery Drive tomorrow?"

K pointed to his ear, "I can hear you whispering. If you come hungover tomorrow, I'll be looking for a new trainee."

Noah was instantly embarrassed, but Jay turned around and pulled Noah away. It would be more awkward to keep on talking here.

K, looking at the backs of the two, the corners of his mouth hook up. 'Being young isn't that bad.'

　　...

"Hey, so we're going to join the organisation that manages the aliens? Ahahahaha, it's my childhood dream." When driving, Jay couldn't conceal his excitement and started nodding with the music.

The ET in his car was stolen. That wasn't important anymore right now. He could see real aliens; how could those collectibles compare?

"Noah, you didn't seem that shocked. Did you know about aliens before?"

"I've always thought that aliens shouldn't be something as simple as ET, and I thought that someone must have been concealing them. Now that we could join them, obviously, I'd be excited."

"And you better focus on driving. I don't want to get into an accident before our first day."

"Come on, man. Don't act all cool and mysterious. You got to show it when you're happy. Swing to the rhythm like this. Yeah, that's it. When you get to the bar, those girls would be all over you."

"Noah, what do you think would happen if you fail the training?" Jay suddenly asked. He didn't want to spend his time as a trainee for several months, then get kicked out and forced to forget about his friend and everything that happened today.

"Heh, you won't remember me after the training anyway. But don't worry, I'll remember you." Jay looked like he was sure he would be the last one standing and become a real agent of the M.I.B.

"Are you? Well, if you're the one to leave, I'll remember you too. If I didn't let you off during the arm-wrestling today, could you pass?"

"How come you're that strong when you don't even look like it? Did you learn some sort of kung fu? Like Bruce Lee? Can you teach me?"

After seeing Noah defeat all those soldiers, Jay felt that he was too incredible. 'He's not some sort of body-snatching alien, pretending to be Noah, right?'

"Yes, it's Wing Chun Kung Fu. I've been training for 20 years. You got to practice from 4-years-old, and stay celibate, or you won't be qualified to train."

Noah wasn't being completely honest, but he wasn't being dishonest either. Wing Chun Kung Fu was a self-defense type of Kung Fu, which he learned not because of his heritage, but because of his favourite actor.

In his real world, there was a famous actor with the name Robert Downey Jr. When he was making a come-back in Hollywood; this legendary actor had acted as the lead role in a famous movie called "Sherlock Holmes."

In that movie, there was a famous scene of a fighting arena where RDJ had 'discombobulated' his opponent using Wing Chun Kung Fu.

It's a not-so-well-known fact that, although the Sherlock Holmes in the stories doesn't know kung-fu, rather, it was RDJ who had learnt this in real life.

Inspired by this, more specifically from the fighting arena scene, Noah had taken some classes about it and had become a sort of expert after a few years of regular practice.

Of course, the stuff related to age and maintaining virginity was total bullshit.

"No wonder you never looked for a girlfriend. I'd rather not, man... it's inhuman." Jay clamoured, "Then you'll just have to watch me take a girl home tonight. Sucks to be you..."

"Nah, man. I spent 20 years training. I don't need to stay a virgin now. But we don't have much money. What kind of bar could we go to?"

"Noah, K said that if we're joining the M.I.B tomorrow, we need to sever connections completely. Would it matter if we max out our credit cards tonight?"

"Tonight, I'm going to the best bar with the most expensive drinks! Let's try one of those celebrity-filled special bars! They got private rooms and everything!" Jay slammed on the gas pedal.

Tonight, they were living large!