Academy Days VI: Princess

Sohel moves the broken-down door and gets inside the room. Jacob follows. The room was dark and Sohel smelled something bad. Jacob held his nose with his hand and said, "Did something die here?" They look around. Wires all over the place, The upper half of a robot like the ones in the corridor kept on a table with many wires attached to it. In front of them, 4 monitors showed footage all over the house and one monitor had some weird sci-fi stuff going on. Sohel could understand that that room needed some cleaning. In front of the monitor was a commuting system and a chair. Sohel went to the chair and touched the seat.

"The seat's still hot. Where is she then?" Jacob mocked Sohel, "Ehhhh. So you like touching girl's seats?"

Sohel gets irritated and says, "Want me to punch you?"

Jacob takes a few steps back and raises his hands. Sohel looks around for a light switch. He finds it and turns on the lights. He takes a look around the room and gets startled seeing Annabelle standing in a corner of the room.

"You can't recruit me, I'm still a minor." She said.

Sohel took out his tablet and after a while said, "But your data file here says you turned 18 almost 10 months ago."

Annabelle looked like she didn't want to go. She said with desperation, "I don't want to fight people. I don't want to shoot weapons or throw hands."

Sohel and Jacob look at each other again and burst out laughing. Sohel looked at Annabelle and said, "You aren't going to have to shoot people or throw hands. We're here to recruit you as a non-combatant engineer."

Annabelle was confused, "Huh!! Engineer. In an army."

Jacob replies, "You didn't know there are different classes in the army?"

"No. I thought being in the army meant wearing heavy armour and firing guns at each other."

Jacob said, "The more you know."

Sohel added, "So, now that you know we're not going to make you fight on the ground, will you join us?"

A smug look dawned upon Annabelle's face upon hearing that. She said, "Hmmm. Let me think. I will join you if you guys agree to my requests."

"And they are?"

"One, I want to be able to conduct my research freely. Two, The AI you used, what was the name? ... .ARIA right? I want to be able to use her. And lastly, I want your help testing the prototypes I will build. You were really cool there working with ARIA."

Sohel replies, "The 1st two shouldn't be a problem as long as you prove yourself to be useful. And as for me to be your tester, that will depend on what you build and if I'm free or not."

Annabelle said, "OK. I'll make sure you're not disappointed in me." 

Sohel then clears his throat and says, "OK then. Annabelle Josephina Watson, 2nd Princess of the British Royal Family. I hereby recruit you in the SNA on the recommendation of His Highness."

Jacob slaps Sohels back as he finishes his line, "Understood Mr. by the book. Let's move already. I want to be back in New Eden before the new year. I heard they will arrange a big festival in the entertainment district."

Sohel rubs his back and says, "Now that you remembered me that. Let's move. I haven't tried the new clothes I bought the other day yet."

"Let's go back and have some fun."

"We would be having fun if the old man hadn't put someone else's job on me."

After Annabelle packed her bags the three of them got out of the house and got in the car. They reached the base and after introducing Annabelle to Leon they got on the plane.

06th March 2031

22:40

Bravo Squad House, New Eden

They were interrupted by Gen. Ahmed's loud laughter. He controlled his laughter and said, "I had no idea about that deal. But it was really funny. She was dealing with what would be perks of joining the SNA."

Annabelle looks at Sohel furiously, "Why didn't you tell me that? I must've looked like an idiot there. "

Sohel and Jacob laugh, "Well you looked like you won something and were really proud of yourself. Didn't want to break that sweet pride of yours."

Annabelle's face gets red with anger, "I had hated Jacob for a while now but I'm starting to hate you too Sohel you know."

Jacob holds his hands close to his heart and acts like he got hurt, "Ahhh. You hurt my feelings, Ann."

"Don't call me Ann. That's for my friends."

Sohel calms them down, "OK.OK. Calm down. We're sorry Annabelle. We just pranked you. That's all. No hard feelings."

Annabelle calms down, "If you say sorry like that, I've got no choice but to accept it. I'll forgive you, Sohel." She looks at Jacob and says, "But not you. I still hate you."

Jacob whines, "Whyyyyyyyyy?"

Annabelle laughs, "Cause you're dumb. That's why."

Mitali laughs and says, "Annabelle, even though you say you hate Jacob, both of you are quite the buddies from what I see."

Annabelle says, "Buddies? Who's going to be buddies with this numbnut?"

All of them laugh in Unison.

31st December 2029

18:30

Entertainment District, New Eden

Sohel, Jacob, and Annabelle were bedazzled by the shining lights of the entertainment district. Sohel and Jacob had seen this type of decoration quite a few times in the entertainment district but it still made them awed every time they saw it. They entered the festival and saw different game shops and food shops lined up one after the other. They ran inside and started exploring. Annabelle asked Sohel, "Is it always like this?"

"No. But if it's a special location you have to enjoy it. This island houses students like us and also houses specialists who go into difficult missions. If you don't give them enough ways to free their minds it's going to take a toll on both their mental and physical health."

They enjoy it for quite a few more hours and start heading back after seeing the New Year fireworks.