After the attack, Somnia has been doing her job a little more diligently.
"Today is about weapons- during our skirmish with the Raze Breakers -I'm sure you saw most of them using swords and compact SMGs. We as the High Rollers don't have such proficiency, think of us as a queen, we can move in any direction, using any weapon, we are the jack of all trades."
Occasionally I turn to my right, only to be greeted by an empty chair.
The class suddenly goes quite as Sputnik idly stands at the doorway. His body whirrs as though breathing.
Somnia turns. "Oh, are you the robot I called to clean up the vomit? Someone already came."
Sputnik bows, "I apologize for any disturbance my arrival may have caused; I was told this is the classroom I have been assigned to. But it seems I am mistaken; due to the sheer number of empty liquor bottles, this must be the teachers lounge."
Somnias eyes widen as she walks over. "Oh, You must be the the unicorn of robots!" She turns to the class. "This is the first robot to ever wield a core. Introduce yourself robo man."
"Hello, my name is Sputnik."
Theres a pause before Somnia speaks. "Is that it? Do you want to say your favorite flavor of ice cream? Aspirations? Favorite color?"
Sputnik side eyes her before directing his attention to us. "With my inability to enjoy the frozen treat called ice cream, instead I shall share my aspirations." His digital eyes narrow, his voice absolute in resolve. "I came here to win. I do not represent my kind, nor will I serve under anyone. In the end I will win. Killing whatever or however gets in my way."
The class begins to chatter.
"Yay! A battle junkie, welcome to the club! Let's hear a round of applause."
The room is silent as they all simply stare.
Somnia leans in as she whispers something in his ear as she points to me.
Sputnik nods before walking over and placing sitting down in the desk beside me, Hallow's old desk.
"Alright, back to what I was saying. There are many types of weapons, while it usually depends on preference, there are also some meta builds. The Draxel-345 combined with Lupins Proven Level III is what is currently popular. While some of you may want to be different, just remember, trends are popular for a reason."
Leaning over I whisper. "What did Somnia tell you?"
Sputnik turns. "She told me to sit next to the Loner Boner. While I do wish to consider you a friend, Coffin, I don't think now is an appropriate time to prepare for mating."
Between Toko and Somnia, I have enough nicknames to have an identity crisis. "I don't have a boner, she wa-"
A bullet whizzes between us. "Robo ick and Coffin, no talking!" She fires another round, hitting Ekstacy as he lies asleep. "And Ekstacy, only I get to nap in class."
Clicking two latches she pulls off a chunk of her armor. "Most pros use Modular armor, meaning they start with skin-suits similar to the ones we issue; then add on pieces of their armor, making it one size fits all. Some of you have likely discovered this if you won a piece during the Skirmish."
I know it is probably wrong, but I did a bit of grave robbing and took the chest piece back from Hallow's armor. It was either me or the government getting it. And I pay my taxes; so... finders keepers.
The class wraps up as Somnia actually talks about vital stuff that probably should have been covered on the first day.
Patting sputnik on the shoulder I scoff. "So, you're officially a High Roller? I'm surprised the government let you join." A part of me is relived that I finally have someone to actually talk to.
"I had to threaten to off myself; even then, no deal comes without its strings."
"Well at least you're one step closer to your goal."
"And what of you? Has the candle found a new wick?"
"I'm... not sure, or perhaps I'm scared to know. Unfortunately the price of knowing comes at a cost that may be to expensive."
"I may be new to the High Rollers, but from what I've heard, price is of no concern for us."
Our deeply philosophical conversation is ended by a bullet whizzing past my face and a shout from across the room.
"Coffy, 9 PM, be there!"
Waving to Sputnik he leaves the room. I turn with a sigh before walking over to Somnia. "Am I really stuck being your babysitter again?"
"You should be more grateful that I chose you to be my drinking buddy."
"A wilting flower does not discriminate the kind of water it desires."
Her commanding expression vanishes as her icy eyes narrow. Yanking out her handcannon, the freezing barrel now pokes my chin. "Are you calling me easy?"
"I was calling you a flower?"
"This exit holes gonna make your head look like a flower."
"No, I was the water in that analogy."
"Then, your blood's about to flow like water."
"That... actually made sense."
"Be... there... 9 PM."