July 1, 2010
When I got out of bed and started by placing the bar, alchemy stand, and the ZRX-9000 Science Research Station in the family inventory. Because it's totally reasonable for a seventeen-year-old to have a fully stocked bar and cloning equipment, the magic wand could just be brushed off as a prop, but I doubt an eldritch book with a cauldron wouldn't raise an eyebrow. I decided to make some waffles for breakfast as I waited for Sarah Walker to show up.
I saw as a black car show up to my parking lot next to my car that I had yet to drive. A blonde woman in a brown leather jacket and skinny jeans. The way the woman walked screamed that she was trained in some form of martial arts. I was honestly doubting that this woman was a normal government employee. She was more likely CIA or SHIELD agent. But I never heard of a Sarah Walker before. She wasn't mentioned in the MCU, and I didn't hear about her from one of my older sisters, who somewhat read the comics. A knock on the door stopped me from further thinking on who this Sarah Walker might be.
"Chiaki Nanami, may I please come in?" Her voice reminded me of Miranda Lawson from Mass Effect.
"Sure, sure, come in. Nothing I could really do to stop you. Care for some waffles? I just made a fresh batch."
"No, I'm good. Nice to see you eating more than cereal or ramen. Sometimes when I come over you're so absorbed by a video gams that you haven't eaten or slept in a day. I'll just do a quick inspection of the place, then ask you a few questions. After that, I will be out of your hair for a few days. Feel free to eat your breakfast." Sarah Walker
"Okay." I worked my way through my food and then put away my leftovers in the fridge. When I was done, Sarah Walker was sitting at my table with a clipboard in her hand.
She went over some questions that seemed to be pretty generic to me, at least. "So what are your current plans for the future?" Sarah
"Currently, I'm planning on doing some solo game development and making money that way. If that doesn't work out, I'll apply to a local bookstore for a job. I don't see myself doing the whole University BS. I have no way near enough cash to afford classes, and I refuse to go into heavy debt to spend another X amount of years getting a diploma that most employers won't even bother looking at." I had already gone through two years of college, and it all felt pointless. Nope, making games to make a living just feels like a better option for me, at least.
"I'll note down that you have no plans for further education after high school. I see that you have picked up a lot of things for hobbies. Five musical instruments, a painter's easel, sculpting tools, a solid training dummy, and other exercise equipment. Do you have teachers or a trainer lined up to help with any of these hobbies?" Sarah Walker
"As far as music goes, YouTube makes a fine teacher. I don't realy have a trainer as far as martial arts goes beyond the book I have already read."
"Show me what the book taught you on the training dummy." Sarah had an interested look on her face.
"Sure, sure, let me get changed real quick." I went to my room and changed into my orange belt martial arts outfit. I spotted a new moodlet on when I started using the training dummy.
Being trained. You learn skills 2X as fast when you are being instructed by a sim with a higher level in the skill than you currently have. The effect works as long as you are at a lower level than the Sims that are training you.
Sarah watched over me for an hour, getting me a fourth of the way to level four of my martial arts skill. "Well, I'm no expert, but it looks like you're going in the right direction. Keep practicing by yourself. I have a work friend I can ask to come over to help you get on a proper routine and train. Your lack of muscle density will make getting to a higher level difficult but you the equipment to help you get your body to the point where the movements will feel easier. Cuse, right now you're really stiff." Sarah
"Thanks, that sounds really helpful, but how much will I need to pay them?"
"Don't worry about that, I'll cover that as a write-off expense. Speaking of which, here is your check for living expenses for the month. Keep in mind, these checks will stop when you graduate next year. So, onto my last topic for the day. Are you still having the nightmares of you being trapped in a deadly maze as all your friends watch, unable to help you?" Sarah
I felt my body go stiff. I saw flashes of what Sarah Walker asked about. It was like reliving the Temple of Doom, and I was the human sacrifice. My eyes started darting everywhere, looking for traps. My breathing was fast and hard. It was that blond bitch on every screen trochering me. Junko fucking queen of dispar her self Enoshima. I was too weak to stop her to save myself to save the others.
I felt my hand being held, and I slowly got out of that nightmare. Sarah Walker was holding me. "I'm sorry I brought it up. Do you feel like you need to go to the hospital?" Sarah
"No, no, no, I'll be fine. I just need some time to feel safe."
Modlet Dispair: -80 mood lasts 3 hrs. Caused by memories of Junko Enoshima and the traumatic experiences she put you through. Stay away from elevators, tight spaces, and sharp objects to remove the despair modlet.
"Well, you know my number if you need any more help." Sarah
"Thank you, Miss Walker."
"Just call me Sarah, Chiaki. I'll be over to check on you again in a week, and I will see about bringing that friend I mentioned."
"Goodbye, Sarah, see you later." I waved goodbye to Sarah and then went to the shower to clean myself up. I had a mall to visit and a friend to visit. I hoped that talking to Gwen would help me.
-.-
Sarah Walker set down in her car and made her report to Phil Coulson. "Chiaki is looking to be doing better than the state we found her in a year ago, though she is still experiencing panic attacks." Sarah
"Well, of course, she is doing better. It's hard not to be doing better when you were in a near-death state when we found her. I'll see if Agent Romanoff will be willing to be the girls' trainer. She is between missions at the monument." Phil
"Talking about other missions. Any news on Bryce Larkin?" Sarah asked
"Nothing to report on the whereabouts of the former CIA Agent Larkin. I would of let you know if anything came up. For now, keep monitoring Chiaki Nanami. Your mission will end in a year, then you will be re-assigned, and someone else will take up your current mission of watching Chiaki." Phil
"Understood." Sarah then hung up her phone.
Sarah wondered what Nick Fury saw in Chiaki Nanami. She was a girl who disappeared for a few weeks after the death of her parents and was then found in critical condition in a subway tunnel by Daredevil. The only real thing of note was the fact that when she healed from her wounds, there were no visible scars left behind. The only other thing that bothered her was the fact that the house was fully refurbished from the sorry state it was a few days ago. She forgot to report it, and she doubted it would be of interest to Phil anyway.
-.-
I made my way to the food court to meet up with Gwen. I saw her sitting with an asian girl wearing a bright yellow trench coat over a pink shirt and short shorts. She had a pair of pink Kamina glasses perched on her forehead.
"Hey Chi, this is Jubilation Lee, or Jubilee for short." Gwen introduced the girl she was sitting next to.
"Sup, sweet Mrs.PacMan hair clip." Jubilee
"Thanks, I have a small collection of retro video game hair clips. My name is Chiaki Nanami. So what's the plan, Gwen… Gwen were you always this tone? Heck, did you go up a cup size? You weren't this stacked four days ago."
"Right? I'm not the only one who noticed it. Spill, Gwen, did you add some more storage to your rack, or did they just grow overnight?" Jubilee asked
"Can we not talk about my chest?" Gwen asked covering her boobs with her arms
"Fine, fine. So, what is the plan? You did invite us and all."
"Well, after lunch. I'm thinking we check out a few different stores and then hit a movie." Gwen
"What movie?"
"Scott Pilgrim vs the World is still playing, and the other option I'd like to see is How to Train Your Dragon. No way in hell I'm watching vampire trash or Sex in the City 2." Jubilee
"Got something against vampires?" Gwen
"Nah. I just think Twilight is trash. If I wanted a vamp story, I would watch Buffy or read Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter." Jubilee
"I'd like to watch Scott Pilgrim. Video game references and some dumb action sign me up."
"So, Chiaki, what are some of your hobbies? Know how to play any musical instrument? What are your plans over summer break?" Jubilee
"I like playing video games and practicing martial arts. I'm learning how to play a few musical instruments, and my current plans for summer is to make a small horror game and release it on Steam. Maybe I'll write up a musical and see if I could get it performed somewhere."
"That's so cool. I love video games! Could I playtest for you?" Jubilee
"Sure, give me your email, and when I have a playable build, I'll have you test it out. Right now, I'm just in the early planning phases."
"So what is this about a musical?" Gwen
"Oh, I have ideas for a musical based off the Odyssey." Well, I have memories of a musical that wouldn't come out for 15 years. Hamilton was also a musical I knew, but that was only 5 years away. So I wouldn't bother bringing that one forward.
"Oh, that sounds fun. Hey, could I get a role in the musical?" Gwen
"I think you would do a good job as Athena."
"That sounds so cool. I would also ask for a role but I know my singing voice is trash. Now if you need someone who could play the bass, I'm you're girl." Jubilee
We had a fun day at the mall shopping and watching a movie. It was nice having another female friend to talk to. But the fun couldn't last for long. When we were on our way out of the theater, a man with what looked to be some kind of canister on his back connected to a gun was holding up the cashier.
"Now hand over all your cash or I'll make sure you're stuck here all day." The man shot his gun at the other employees, covering them in some kind of industrial adhesive.
"Why is it that the day I go outside the safety of my home, I run into a mess like this