"EQ test commencing." This test I've heard of. The Emotional Quota Test. It's purpose is to test how emotionally inteligent you are, or something like that. It's been around as long as anyone can remember. Before the personality test or the stresser or anything else I've heard of. I steel myself, not looking forward to the experience.
Everything goes black. Rattling of pipes and metal echo through whereever it is I am. Then, theres a light coming from my side. A flashlight, no. A piece of mirror laying on the ground. I'm in an alley, definately in the bronze ring. Either the Milyn or Tashclancha. I'm still not sure why it's considered a ring. Even though the other two surviving rings of the Alkina are solid with no breaks, Tashclancha and Milyn are both islands on either side of the main body of land, both in places that I assume would make a ring if they were ever connected. The sidewalk in front of me doesn't look familiar, so I assume it's Tashclancha, since I know Milyn like the back of my hand. It's where I grew up. Where the begining of my life was. Where I met Seraphina and where I lost her. Stepping out of the alley, I tentatively observe my surroundings. It's silent, unlike the Milyn. Tashclancha is a larger island. Milyn used to be the bigger of the two, but after the collapse it's size decreased by an entire third and the remaining population was forced to either live on top of one another or move to Tashclancha. Unfortunately, Bronzers are probably the most strong headed of the classes and so most people prefered to remain on Milyn. Other than some rustling of metals and garbage from another alleyway, I can't hear anything. It's amazing. All my life everything has been noise. Sound. Shouting. Then I spot a young bronze boy rip around the corner, shattering the calm illusion. He's bleeding, and as he starts to get closer, I see that the blood is coming from a head wound. His bronze hair is stained red, matted to the side of his face. The blood is running in his eyes and I don't think he can see that he's about to run into me, much less that I'm even here in the first place. In a split second descision, I scoop him up as he attempts to scramble past. His legs kick as he struggles and he yelps. I shush him.
"It's okay. Calm, calm. I'm not going to hurt you. Look at me. Who did this?" I set the trembling boy on his feet when he calms and get down on my knees, brushing the blood and hair out of his eyes with my sleeve.
"I did it, and seeing as how I outrank you and this boy has commited a transgression against me, I claim him to be taken back to Aitmil where proper consquences will be determined." A man, obviously a diamond, towers over me. The boy wraps his arms around my legs and I stroke the top of his head in an atempt at comforting him.
"I'm the boys mother, therefor I outrank you in this matter. Shame on you, sir. No boy of mine could have done anything so horrid as to require the wrath and time of such a highly distinguished member of the Alkina as you." I reply, lying through my teeth. I may not know this boy, but seeing as how he's bronze, letting him go with this strange man is unthinkable. He would never be seen again. Bronze citizens aren't exactly the most heavily protected on the Alkina, and I could never live with myself if I betrayed on of my own.
"I'm sorry miss, but this boy has stolen bread from my table in the course of serving me. He has indeed commited a crime." I freeze, pushing the boy behind me.
"You need to leave." My voice trembles, darting to the saphire standing next to him. I don't know if I can take them both, even if they're both spoiled brats, all I've ever fought is one or two guys who got a little too handsey.
"Miss, I'll give you one last chance. Give me the boy or I will be forced to take him from you." He threatens, and I pale, pushing the boy back more.
"Run!" I shout, ramming forward into the diamond, and then the simulation is over. I'm in the white room again and my breath is heavy. I run my hands through my hair, examining myself. No blood or dirt from the boy. No signs that any of it physically happened. I must have just been standing there the entire time. I feel something on my face wrapping over to the back of my head. They're VR technology. My head spins. How did they get on me? I didn't put them on. Or did I... I can't remember. Shoot.
"EQ test over. Commencing personality evaluation." I sit, leaning back against the wall. "Please answer all questions as efficiently as possible." I nod, exhausted. "Your best friend tells you their dog has just died. How do you comfort them?"
"I make them laugh." I huff, rolling my eyes.
"I sense sarcasm. Shall I add that to your response?" I grin, but shake my head.
"No."
"Very well. You are in a bar. A band is playing and they are asking for donations to continue being able to do so. You can spare five dollars. What do you give them?"
"A dollar. It could be a scam, and frankly I need every dollar I can keep, even if I like them."
"A crazed little girl attacks one of your own family members or friends and is very clearly going to kill them. What do you do?"
"I knock her out, and if all else fails, kill her."
"Why?"
"I must protect my family, and yes that includes my friends. Her age has no bearing on her capability as a killer in this scenario, correct?"
"No."
"Well then that's my final answer." The computer goes silent for a few minutes, as if thinking, then it continues asking questions. I don't know how long I've been in here and once the personality evaluation is over the computer starts the values test and we go through that, then the pictagrams and finally the voice stops. I stand, waiting for it to announce the last test, the test I've been waiting for.
"Stresser test commencing."
ns 15.158.61.18da2
