IV: MARS

rookie.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Venus pressed.
"You don't need to babysit him, V." Malakai said from where he was leaning against the door frame. Venus rolled her eyes and ignored him.
"I'll be fine. Thank you." Dakota assured.
Venus hugged him one last time before relinquishing him into the care of Malakai.

***
To say this was awkward would be an understatement. Malakai, who had a mental breakdown a few days ago, was now showing a complete stranger around his base. Dakota, who is not socially conscious enough, is now living with the one person who could possibly kill him. He led him to one of the training rooms, but abruptly stopped to face him.
"I don't know how much combat training you've had prior, but you're going to need it if you'll be staying here."
Dakota blinked back at him. Malakai sighed and decided to just get on with it.
"Let me know if anyone gives you any trouble."
"Why would anyone anyone give me trouble?"
Malakai rolled his eyes and ushered him through the door.
"Don't say anything to provoke someone to give them a reason to give you trouble. Okay?"
It took Dakota a second to unscramble his words, but the message was clear: say nothing, be nothing. Just like Dr. Panoma taught him.

"This is Baddar. He's my second in command and trains the rookie classes which includes you. For now."
Baddar smiled and offered his hand to shake.
"Wow, you got smooth hands!"
Malakai nudged him with his elbow. Baddar laughed and apologized quickly.
"So, we're probably going to get training started. Malakai, are you sticking around to watch?"
"No, I have the intermediate class to teach. You have fun with the kids, though."
Baddar gave him the finger and shooed him out of the room.
"Alright, rookies!" He yelled clapping his hands. The people on the other side of the room went quiet.
"Welcome to your first day of hell! Today, you will be testing your combat skills against your fellow classmates. You, yeah you with the crazy eyes in the back, this is NOT a fight to the death arena. I don't want any guts getting on the floor. All you're doing is trying to get your opponent to the ground. That's it. Understood?"
Someone from the back of the room shouted 'BORING!'.
"Whoever said that is going first!"

They were lined up in two rows in front of the mat. Dakota looked to his left to see who he was up against. Turns out he was already staring at him.
"Name's Wenn. Second sector. Planet R81."
Dakota didn't know how he was supposed to respond to that, so he just copied what Baddar had done earlier.
"I'm Dakota." He said offering his hand.
Thankfully, Wenn shook it.
"Cheers to a fair game!" Wenn laughed.
Dakota didn't know what he was doing, but it wasn't getting him beat up.

When is was their turn to face off, Wenn turned to Dakota and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."
He wasn't quite sure what he meant by that, but he brushed it off and went to the opposite side of the mat.
"Are you ready?" Baddar asked.
Both of them nodded and the match started.
Wenn charged at him, but ended up laying flat on his back in no less than 3 seconds.
"Time!" Baddar announced.
"Wenn, you good?" He asked the motionless body.
"Physically, yes. But my pride is hurt." Wenn croaked.
There were a couple of laughs and a few hoots from the others.
"Did I do something wrong?" Dakota asked.
Baddar gave a deep laugh and placed his hand on Dakota's shoulder.
"No, you did exactly what you were supposed to do. Keep doing that and you'll be in the intermediate class in no time."