Pawn - The Leaderboard

Adonis IV
Six Star Alliance - Fortress Station
Fortress - Simulated Combat Training Center
20:30 - (20-01-2396)
…

In the confines of the military station's recreation area, two soldiers, Sergeant Jake "Thunder" Thornton and Corporal Rex "Razor" Rodriguez, were engaged in a lively, boastful dialogue. They were both mid-level ranks, burly and rugged, with tattoos that told stories of past battles. Their personalities matched their appearances – brash, rude, and exuding an overestimation of machismo.

Jake "Thunder" Thornton lounged back in a worn-out chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "You won't believe the moves I pulled in that damn combat simulator today. I was a freakin' tornado of destruction."

Rex "Razor" Rodriguez, leaning against the nearby table, chuckled. "Ha! You think you were a tornado? I was a hurricane, tearing through enemies like they were made of paper. My kill count was off the damn charts!"

Their banter echoed across the room, drawing the attention of other soldiers who paused their activities to witness the spectacle. Jake and Rex, fueled by competitive pride, continued to exchange vivid descriptions of their virtual triumphs.

Jake "Thunder" Thornton pounded his chest. "I was dodging bullets left and right, taking down targets without breaking a sweat. They should make a movie about my performance."

Rex "Razor" Rodriguez pumped his fist in the air. "Movie? Hell, they should build statues of me in the damn simulator room. I was untouchable. Unbeatable."

Their exaggerated tales reached a climax as they declared themselves the undisputed champions of the combat simulator. However, the room fell silent when the door to the simulator room slid open, and a figure calmly exited.

Dressed in his roaming combat medic uniform, Elio Varec, codenamed "Pawn.", displayed an air of humility and quiet confidence. The leaderboard displayed his name at the top, with a score that surpassed Jake and Rex by a considerable margin.

"What the hell is this?" Jake muttered, eyeing the leaderboard. "Pawn? A medic? Seriously?"

Rex grumbled in disbelief, "No way. We gotta see this."

The two tough soldiers went to look at the replay footage of the man's session, expecting to find some trick or cheat. To their surprise, they found none, leaving Jake and Rex staring at the screen in disbelief.

Their confusion deepened when a more seasoned soldier, Lieutenant Marcus "Grizzly" Walsh, joined the conversation. Grizzly, with scars and a stern demeanor, listened to their complaints and chuckled.

"Boys, there's a difference between a combat medic ... a CM ... and a roaming combat medic ... RCM. Look at Pawn's suit – the markings indicate he's a roaming medic. They're trained to handle the war games on their own, no backup. Badasses, every one of them. But also probably the nicest people you've ever met. I've met one out in the games before, saved my bacon. She was generous, trustworthy and dangerously competent. Good thing they point their talents towards putting people back together than taking them apart, eh?" He chuckled.

Jake and Rex exchanged glances, realizing they had underestimated the silent figure known as Pawn. The room, once filled with their boasting, had been silenced. It was quickly remedied though as Jake and Rex signed up for another go at the simulator, determined to beat the new high score.