Combat academy Part 1 (*Random)

Combining robots, I wish something like that were possible. A collection of various vehicles forming around a single robot to create an even bigger robot.  The unfortunate truth of the matter is that its just not practical.  Weight/balance/mobility are key to a machines assets. I would know, as a pilot in training that these elements can make a difference between victory and defeat.

What, am I reciting stuff for an exam or something? I'm already late to class, Its my first day even. Not so much for a first impression, unless my impression is 'fashionably late' which its not.  At least the academy is in view now.

I park my truck and shuffle down the white and silver hallway to my first class 'close quarters combat' I open the door and like a tidal wave every head in class is staring at me.

"You're late, Mr..." The teacher said, somewhat upset.

"Wheeler, Marcus. I'm sorry for being tardy sir"

"Just shut it and take a seat" he said.  I found an empty chair close to the window, the girl next to me had the same blue and red BDU on as I did, which meant she was in the armored division.  She had long black hair with a green tint to it tied into a low ponytail. I also couldn't help but notice her whole left arm was wrapped in bandages, not a single bit of skin was showing.  Whatever, I need to focus.

Class ended soon after I sat down, the girl next to me looked at me like I had done something impressive.

"You've got guts walking into his class lake like that, he likes to douche on everyone who disrupts class" She said.

"Its not like I did it on purpose, didn't get into town till four last night.  Doesn't leave much time for sleep" I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

"So where were you shipped in from? Desert, Forrest?" We in the combat don't like to name names so we keep things simple.

"Tundra actually" I said.

"Is that so? how's the heat and humidity getting to you here?" She pulled at her uniform, the humid air made everything a little damp.

"Honestly, I'm liking it" It wasn't a complete truth but I couldn't go back on it now.

"Can't say the feeling is mutual. I'm Vela by the way, Vela Maxwell" She gestured to the girl in front of her, she was wearing a tan and black BDU, Ninja division.

"This is my friend **Whisper, ND" Whisper waved at me. She had dark brown hair and red eyes, though to be fair, everyone in ND had red eyes, and none of them went by their real names. Whisper didn't come off as a ninja, she was rather small and seemed like she would have a better chance of being in the Communications division.

"So what's your next class Marcus? Field testing?" It was in fact, I would feel better if she had that class too. "I do actually" I said. "Then we'll go together" While she was nice it seemed strange, almost a little too nice. Our division, while peaceful among'st ourselves we often get heated in the field, A little more than 'friendly competition' and I still don't know what the deal is with her arm.  I keep my guard up while we walk and Whisper disappears some point while we're chatting.

We get outside and I find I don't like the humidity all that much, while better than 60 below 0 its still very uncomfortable, at least I stayed dry in the Tundra.  We enter the abnormal vehicle hangar.  If things went as they should've my mech should be here.  We approach a desk where terminals are placed. I enter my student ID.

"Hangar 35" I said, thinking out loud."

"I'm in 30" Vela said. We hop in a shuttle and move down the aisles. While most of the doors were shut, I did get a glimpse of a few of the abnormal vehicles.  Not too many mechs from what I could see, the ones I did get a look at weren't much too impressive. Vela stops in front of her hangar, the doors closed.

"See you on the playing field" she said, leaving the shuttle. I watch her until she out of sight. I see her reach for her bandaged arm before she's gone.  I stop in front of 35 and enter.  I'm relieved to find my GGX13 waiting for me. I had it repainted before it arrived, its signature dark green and black. I liked to call him The Highwayman.  It sounds better than the model name.  While not too much too look at on the outside, its innards are what makes it stand out.

*While random now, it might become a new series. Just saying.
**Name subject to change (If I deem necessary)
BDU (Battle dress uniform) color determines division

Character work

I can't bring myself to write a story at the moment so I'll do the next best thing, I'll talk a little about a character.

Name: Boomstick (possible name)
The name is still in development phase until I find something more meaningful in my own mind.  Something that expresses the character a little more.

Talent: Explosives/Pyrotechnitian
In the story the act of arson/explosives/pyrotech and the like are taken as a very serious taboo.  Arsonists and explosives experts often become obsessed in their 'art' and work tirelessly to make masterpiece after another.  If not controlled properly they can eventually destroy themselves in their own work by getting closer and closer to the 'beauty of it'.  Which is what eventually happens to my character.  Though her demise hasn't been specifically created for the main plot (though I do have ideas)

Weapons: Double barrel grenade launcher, various kinds of things that go boom.
Much like a watchmaker she is spiritually involved in her work, to the very last intimate detail.  Making various forms of explosives for each situation she comes across.  Ranging from explosive darts, coins, jewelry, perfume. To ammunition for various firearms (usually when requested).  Her weapon for frontline combat is a double barreled grenade launcher designed from scratch by her fellow partner Ratchet, who made the gun from spare Grinder parts (A Grinder is a piloted robot). While durable and fully capable the weapon is somewhat heavier than its production counterparts.  But she appreciates the extra weight, as if she's bearing a punishment for the path she's taken in life. Though that's just speculation.  Pyrolagnia is etched into the side.

Features: In the 5 foot range.  Gunmetal grey hair, long and silky that falls to her lower back.  Orange eyes that reflect her affection for fire.  Striking figure (though usually lost due to her height being the attention hog so most of her shoes have height inserts to make her seem taller).  Red glasses with missing lenses, loupe magnifying lenses are attached instead.  She wears an armored grey apron for working and combat, hidden behind it is many of her explosives.  Her normal attire sports a more casual apron

Personality:
Along with being obsessive compulsive over her work, she is ignorant, stubborn, selfish, and intolerant.  Her passion is her work and a very few things can match up to what she does.  The only people she can bond with is Ratchet, Kata the group leader is a far second only because she is the one who gives her art an audience (whether they appreciate it or not doesn't matter to her) as long as she has an objective she'll see it through to the end, after that she's back to her work.  Since she is usually busy with crafting art, she rarely leaves the Carrier her and the crew live on.  Somebody usually has to take her food to her and watch her eat it or she'll forget and it'll spoil.

Other:
Like any good bomb maker she's been involved in her fair share of accidental explosions.  Some fingers on her right hand are cybernetic while her whole left hand up to her mid forearm is a complete replacement.  Honestly the replacement made her a more proficient crafter, and therefore only served to dig her deeper into her passion (obsession is more like it).  She also bears a jagged scar from her jaw past her ear, though it has been cleaned up and is less noticeable from far away.  By the way, 'pyrophilia' think about that for a moment.

That's everything I've scrounged together for this character at this point, I'm always working on improving her.  Even though she's not relevant to the main timeline she's still needs to be put together to make her more acceptable.

Monotony

Alright.  So I have school starting up again.  Going into my next part of Psychology and honestly, this has been the thing I've been looking most forward to since december.  I got out of my first Psych class and felt pretty good about it, I wanted to take the next class. I held it off cause my teacher wasn't teaching it till late this year, so I passed the time with my imaginative writing class.  Which took a dump on me, out of all the classes I wanted, it was one of the worst.

At this point though, other than taking the class to better myself I'm taking classes to keep the monotony of my life from destroying me. Since my last class got out I've done pretty much the same thing every week.

Monday: work
Tuesday: time with friends
Wednesday: work
Thursday: day off (do a few chores and errands, but usually do nothing)
Friday: work
Saturday: work
Sunday: Skip classes at church and do nothing

I need school to break this up a little. Cause if there is one thing I refuse to let happen, its to care about work and its cache of issues.

When you work at a job where the customers who come in don't want to be there, and we later ask then how there visit was, they're going to dump all their crap on us.  We get rated every week for performance and the past few reports have tanked, I refuse to let this be my priority in life, to try and fix this problem (among others) cause in the long run... it means almost nothing.  Giving upset people an audience never fares well.

I'm not saying we're bad at our jobs. I'm out there in the midst of it and I know for a fact we're doing our jobs just fine.

sorry about the rant.

I'm just saying that I can't keep going like this having nothing to do all the time.  School is important to me and if I could swing it I would go full-time school part-time work, cause work is so stressful a kind of stressful that's unhealthy.  I would rather stress about school cause that leads somewhere eventually.

Some of you might say I should go on dates and the like.  At this point in my life, I don't want to.  My honest opinion of people and society in general right now is pretty low, and to think of seeking these people out for dates and such seems counter productive.  I don't find things of that nature very intriguing at the moment.  All the positive things are out weighed by the negative.

The primary focus of my life right now is to continue school and to continue writing.  To work towards a tomorrow that actually looks exciting. If things happen to change later on I'll deal with it as it comes but as of now I'm not expecting anything.