Unfortunately, that wasn't to be. X-466 woke them up in the familiar manner.
X-466
You've rested enough! GET UP NOW!
Junior, who hadn't eaten anything the night before, immediately got up, still half asleep, still in the previous day's clothes, and, since his sight hadn't fully woken, let his sense of smell guide him to the kitchen. Unsurprisingly, he quickly found it, but whom he found inside was unexpected.
NICK
Hi Junior! Slept alright?
Junior barely remembered Nick as the shifty guy who had approached him in New York at the start of the Global Selection.
JUNIOR
Nick..? What are you doing here?!
NICK
The same thing I was doing before. Taking care of you...
JUNIOR
And why are you setting the dishes? Done something wrong?
Nick laughed before answering.
NICK
No I haven't... Just helping out...
He answered, shady as ever.
JUNIOR
Because that's what you do... You help people...
NICK
At your service!
Nick jokingly bowed to Junior.
JUNIOR
So will you be staying with us this winter?
NICK
No, no. You candidates will have this compound by yourselves. Me and the other helpers will be staying in a separate building.
JUNIOR
I expect I won't be seeing much of you then...
Said Junior, inquisitively.
NICK
Actually I will be seeing you in a few hours.
JUNIOR
Really? Anything special planned?
Nick smirked.
NICK
Something very special... You'll see! The aliens should brief you shortly.
And he went back to his duty.
JUNIOR
Send my best to Miss Roberts!
Junior said to him, trying to gauge his reaction.
NICK
Who are you talking about?
Asked Nick with false innocence.
JUNIOR
Yeah, right... act like you don't know each other...
He sat down at the lavishly laid table and started eating breakfast.
While alone, Junior pondered the real reason why Nick had been sent there by Miss Roberts. Would he hurt the other candidates? Would he kill them off? Would Nick hurt Junior if he didn't behave as expected? He had to be more careful than ever.
One by one, every candidate joined him and the kitchen quickly got chatty.
KUMIKO
What do you think they're planning for us?
SUN LI
As long as the food is this good, I don't care.
JUNIOR
Amm-enn.
Answered Junior, his face stuffed.
LWAZI
How would you feel if you died, chocking on food, on the very first day?
JUNIOR
Deelishoush!
Answered Junior, his mouth still full.
R-328
You're all here! Good.
As he entered the kitchen, R-328 drew everyone's attention,
R-328
You must be wondering what we have in store for you, but don't worry, we don't have anything extreme planned. Just some... examinations, nothing more...
IRINA
What do these examinations consist of?
R-328
You know, just the usual stuff...
CLARA
What kind of stuff?
Everyone had grown to mistrust R-328's words.
R-328
We will be observing you and tracking your responses in different situations.
NANDA
That's no usual examination...
R-328
Anyway, we will be doing most of your examinations indoor, building F to be precise, but we will also be testing your resistance to the cold...
Everybody but Irina groaned with disappointment.
R-328
...and we will be using the few daylight we have left for free-fall practice.
JUNIOR
C-come again?
Junior gasped, gulping down yet another mouthful.
R-328
You heard me right.
Said R-328 with an ambiguous smile.
R-328
In order to test your physiological reactions in conditions of stress and fear we decided to have you jump from the stratosphere.
All of a sudden, Junior regretted eating such a huge breakfast.
