The People Of Avenir (The Avenirian Series)

Chapter 8: Working with Alex

Later that same day, Alex and I were called by Sawyer. He had told us he had some work for us. Alex and I went to the changing room, which is self-explanatory, then we went to the testing room, which was a wide open area in which battle simulations could be created, or at least that’s what I heard around these parts. Sawyer was in different clothing than the usual armor. He had a black shirt with a royal blue colored vest over it, and jeans. His hair was a little wet, so I assumed he took a bath, since there was no actual sweat-like smell, but instead a lavender scent. He was smiling and there was a table besides him, just outside the testing room, with something on it that was covered by a white blanket. “Here is your work.” said Sawyer while smiling. He seemed quite excited. He removed the blanket, showing what seemed to be a small bow and a small gun. “You are to test both of these weapons in battle simulation, and I’ll be keeping track of the results. Okay?” he said happily. We both nodded, but I asked Sawyer about the battle simulation. Sawyer smiled awkwardly and said “Oh right! You need to wear this visor, to see the battle simulation. When I turn the battle mode on this area, your visor will inform you when to begin.” He smiled kindly, and left the room, locking the door behind him.

Alex pointed at a glove besides the “small bow”, and said: “Let me explain something about that glove over there, it is used for attaching the prototype of a bow usable on your wrist. The wristbow, as we’ll call it, can be attached either on top of your wrist or below your wrist. Just like a normal bow, aim, and shoot.” he took the glove and attached it on my arm. I was surprised to see him doing this, and couldn’t help to smile and say “thank you”. Alex gave me a small smile back, but it didn’t look as forced as always, he was finally warming up to me. I took the “wristbow” and attached it over my wrist, and then I put some special arrows for the bow and put them in a quiver made for them, which I put on my back. Alex took the mini gun and he saw my curious expression and he smiled, it was an actual normal smile. “Hey, you look like you want to know why I took this normal-looking gun.  Well, I took it because this is a stun gun, every shot is electrified, and I can also poison the bullets to make the shots deadlier.” I was quite impressed of what the simple-looking gun could actually do. We put our visors on and the simulation started, an impressive landscape appeared and monsters as well, they all looked realistic, but they were still simulations.

We trained as if we were battling real monsters for about an hour, then the simulation was cut and Sawyer opened the door and came in. I took my visor off and was a bit dizzy; Alex was taking his off as well. Sawyer was smiling and said: “Guys, I got awesome data and great results. Thank you very much, I will start to lead in the manufacturing of these two new weapons, but we need slight improvements in some areas. So, see you later guys, I better get these results to Cpt. Fray.” Sawyer left in a hurry, and Alex told me in a normal tone: “Donovan did you like testing those weapons?” I nodded and said happily: “It was amazing, just like I always dreamed it would be.” Alex then responded seriously with: “Great, because that’s what we will do a lot more often now, but we will also test some weapons in the field from time to time. If we were lucky, we might test some weapons powered by Aveniorite. Now, let’s go out for a walk after we leave the prototypes back where they were.” Alex put the gun down, and I put the bow and the glove down.

We walked out of the testing room and made our way out of the facility, when we encountered Irina outside wearing a pink blouse with white shorts and low white shoes, also she didn’t have the white headband she usually wore while training. Irina looked surprised to see us. “Hi Donny and Alex, what are you guys doing here?” said Irina in her usual sweet voice. Alex responded before I got the chance: “We were testing weapons and, what are you doing here?” Irina seemed a little mad at the tone in which Alex said that last part and she said while grinding her teeth: “Well, I came to help Lysandre with the creation of new weapon design, since his previous design was stolen. We will create new and different blueprints. If you excuse me, I must go now. Bye Donovan.” A tear was about to come out of her eye as she left, and I turned and made a mad expression at Alex, also saying: “Was that really necessary Alex? What’s the deal with you anyway, always being so rude and serious, as if you were mad all the time?” Alex after hearing this snapped and said: “Donovan, it is none of your business what goes on in my personal life, okay? You shouldn’t care or ask what goes on and what doesn’t in my life, it’s not like you’ve known me forever, we’ve known only for weeks!”

     I had to leave him there for the rest day, at least. I couldn’t bear fighting with him. It felt just like the fight I had with my best friend back on Earth. We had fought because he decided to go to war, and I didn’t want him to leave. It still bothers me the fact that I never saw him again after that and I never got to tell him how sorry I was for being so selfish with him. Oh, how I would do anything to find my friend again… In my heart I feel he is still somewhere, and I plan on finding him no matter what, even if I don’t remember his name or how he looked like anymore. He was like Alex sometimes, stubborn, but dedicated to what they like to do.

After a while of walking around in the outside of the facility, I decided to head to the library in Sector Z-9 to read a book and to distract myself of what happened. As I headed there I decided to go to Sector Z-11, but not to my home, but to get ice cream in Kali Street, at the other corner of the street where Eastern Delight, the Chinese restaurant, is. When I finally arrived, I ordered a pistachio ice cream with three scoops in a cup. I sat inside the store, which was full of the smell of the different ice cream flavors. There was an AC and the store was really cold, so I decided to go to the bathroom and change to the clothes I was wearing in the morning, the long sleeve white shirt, the red shirt over it, my jeans and the black boots. I finished my ice cream in about 2 minutes and then resumed my way to the library.

I still couldn’t get the thought of my past away nor the one of my fight with Alex. He made it so hard for me, I want to keep trying and become his friend, but it’s too hard. I think two of the only reasons that keep me from giving up are: the fact that he reminds me of my best friend back on Earth, and that he is my partner and I’ll work with him for a long time. A long 25 minutes of walking passed before I got to the library at last, I picked up several books and started reading for a while. Lysandre had sent me a message to come back home after being in the library for about three hours. It was 6:53 pm when I went back to our house and found Lysandre waiting for me. Lysandre said: “Listen, Irina told me what happened with Alex, and that she overheard you fighting with him. I’m sorry about that, but it’s just how he is. Something must be bothering him, but he is not willing to tell, and we should all respect that he doesn’t want to. We all have things that bother us. You’ve told me about your best friend and your… well, like the hate my family had for me when I last saw them for deciding to go away from Earth. They never sent a message or anything saying sorry, but I must live on with that. At least I have you, and you are much more of a family member to me, than any of them, even when we are not related by blood. You are like my little brother, and I know you think of me as your big brother. I want you to be strong no matter what happens from now on, okay? I love you Donovan.” Lysandre hugged me and I couldn’t help but to cry, and he said it was okay again and again, until he eventually cried as well. Three minutes after all of that I took a bath, and he didn’t since he had already taken one, which I could tell since he looked very clean, and he smelled like kiwi as well, because of our shampoo. We both went to sleep around 10:39 pm, after a while of talking with each other once more.