A Dreamer's Knight

Chapter 18 - Tests

"Question 831: Do you occasionally have the urge to inflict violence on other living beings for pleasure?"

"I'm getting there." Mikaen muttered.

The nurse glanced up from her desk questioningly.

Grimacing, Mikaen shook his head. "Just talking to myself. Sorry if I disturbed you."

Returning his gaze to the clipboard, Mikaen continued the truly herculean task of checking little boxes drawn on mashed up bits of dead trees. He had just about reached the end of the stack when another nurse came over with an armload of paper.

Huffing from the exertion, she said, "Here's the last set. I'll stop back and check up on you after I take a break."

Mikaen stared at the stack of papers as though it had personally insulted him. He could stand the blood work and the physical exam, but the only thing this 'yes' or 'no' questionnaire was testing was his patience.

"Question 832: Do you believe in a supreme deity?"

"I did until question seven-hundred and five."

The head nurse looked up from her paperwork with a frown.

"Sorry."

Mikaen looked down at the question again. It was hard not to get sarcastic after over so many questions, especially given the fact that the only options were 'yes' and 'no'. With a sigh, he checked the box labeled 'yes' and continued on to the next question.

"Question 833: Do you think there's really a point to all this 'yes or no' bull-crap?"

Mikaen stared at the question. "What the ...?"

The nurse glared at him again and put a finger to her lips.

Looking back down at the paper, Mikaen nearly leaped out of his seat when the letters merged together to create a picture that was unmistakably Narrator Number One.

"Sorry to interrupt," A little text bubble above his head read, "but you look like you could use a break too."

Glancing up to make sure the nurse wasn't watching, Mikaen whispered, "What are you doing in there?"

One shrugged, the text box above him reading, "I was kinda bored, and wanted to see what you were up to."

The Dreamer looked distastefully at the question below him. "Have you ever engaged in sexual intercourse with a non-sapient species? Who the hell writes this crap?" With a leap, One stomped on the 'no' box, filling it completely with ink.

"Hey!" Mikaen objected.

One looked up at him questioningly. "Sorry, did I answer that one wrong?"

Blushing, Mikaen shook his head.

One sat down on the next question and started absently kicking the period with his foot. "I had to take this test once. Halfway through I just started just picking answers randomly. I wouldn't recommend that, by the way."

"Look, One," Mikaen whispered, "I'm grateful that you want to help me out, but I'd like to finish before nightfall."

"Oh, well go right ahead. I'll be quiet."

One crossed his arms behind his head and lay back on the end of Question 835.

Mikaen tried to continue the questionnaire, but it was disconcerting to see One watching him out of the corner of his eyes, especially given the nature of the questions asked.