New Identity

"So, you have quite a lot of different skills, huh?" I commented, scrolling through the list the boy wrote. He really did his best to write everything he could think of, from basic skills such as writing, to things he must have learned as a trainee at the organization, such as weapon handling. He even mentioned shoplifting and pickpocketing.

Obviously, most of those were not suitable for any job he might end up applying for. I sighed and created a new file, in which I started sorting all the skills into three categories: job, organization, and other.

While many of the things he wrote were not relevant, they were still useful information for me. Not only they gave me some clues about the training the field agents underwent in the organization, but also provided me with multiple ideas of how I could use the boy in the future. From fighting to doing household chores, he had plenty of different abilities, if I were to trust his words.

Once I was done sorting, I opened an online job board to look at available offers. "Do you know what kind of work would you like to do?" I asked the boy. I didn't really care, so I might as well let him choose. He would probably be more enthusiastic about it if it's up to his liking.

The boy, however, shook his head. "I'm fine with anything."

I glanced at him. He was sitting straight, his hands resting on his knees. He seemed slightly nervous.

"You know, if you have any preferences, you can just let me know," I said with a sigh. He might have been trying not to cause any trouble for me, but it ended up having the opposite effect actually. It would be far easier for me if he would pick something himself.

I kept on scrolling in silence, but the boy still hasn't given me any answer. "How do you feel about customer service? Like working at a restaurant or a bar?" I suggested eventually.

"It sounds nice. But I'm fine with anything, really." His answer was still the same.

He flinched slightly as I glared at him, annoyed by his lack of decisiveness. But I let it go. Scolding him would probably make him even more nervous, and that's not what I was aiming for right now.

"Customer service it is, then." I just accepted his answer. This sort of job should suit him pretty well. He seemed to be a chatty and bright type of person, after all. And if he ends up hating it, he would only have himself to blame. I gave him a choice.

I created a CV for him based on the templates I found online. Then, I also wrote a short new biography for him. From now on, he was supposed to be an 18-year-old who grew up in a completely different part of the country, and has just moved to the city. That should solve the problem with his fake education and work experience. Nobody would bother verifying all that, not for a simple job at a restaurant.

"I've sent some files to your new e-mail address. Read them carefully and memorize everything. That's your new background and identity. I will test you tomorrow." I instructed the boy and turned off the laptop. It was getting late, and I still haven't done my healing session. I would just continue the apartment search tomorrow.

The boy started studying the files diligently. Even after I turned off the lights to go to sleep, he still had his eyes glued to the screen, reviewing all the information.

***

In the morning, both of us had dark circles underneath our eyes. The boy, because he spent the whole night studying. Me, because I couldn't sleep well with him awake and moving around just a few feet away from me.

I sat at the breakfast table, drinking my coffee in a bad mood. However, despite being annoyed, I couldn't really scold the boy. He was following my orders, and did a pretty decent job. So far, he answered correctly to all the questions I asked.

It was time to mix things up a little.

"By the way. At the organization, you used that communication device of yours to travel between different worlds, right?" I asked, changing the topic. "How exactly does that work?"

"Mm…" The boy stopped eating his cereal for a moment and tilted his head, thinking. "I'm not sure. I just send the signal that I need to be teleported, and then somebody at the base does it for me? I just need to hold onto the radio."

I nodded lightly. I didn't expect any better from him. "What other functions does that radio of yours have?"

"Just communication, I think. Between all the connected radios, even if they are in a different world." The boy glanced at me, and seeing my casual, relaxed attitude, he resumed eating. Seems he's been slowly starting to feel more and more at ease around me.

"And how many radios are connected? All the organization has, or only a single team?" I was asking random, pretty much irrelevant things at this point. I didn't care much about his answers right now, I just wanted to keep his mind occupied with simple questions to divert his attention.

"Just a single team, I think," he answered straightaway, without any hesitation.

"I see. When is your birthday?" I continued, not giving him any break.

The boy paused for a second. "…August 7th."

I smiled at him. "Not bad."

He was bursting with happiness upon hearing my praise.

I guess he somewhat deserved it. I purposely changed the topic before asking him this question. When distracted, he was far more likely to slip up and say the real date. But he gave the answer I wanted, that is the date I put on his ID, after only a short, almost unnoticeable, moment of hesitation. I didn't know what his real birthday was, but what were the odds that it would be the same?

I got up to get myself another cup of coffee. I still had a lot left to do, and I wanted to finish it as soon as possible, so I could finally relax and go have some fun.

I couldn't help but sigh. In just over a month, my life got so much busier. Just because some stupid organization decided to show up.