The Initiation part 1

Shadowfox walks into the double doors of a seemingly small building.  Right there in front of her is the front help desk.  “Why hello there ma’am.  Is there anything I can help you with?”

Shadowfox walks up and gives the secretary the code Temo gave her.  “yes, I’m here to deliver a package of goods to a Mr. Swift.”  The secretary gets the message right away.  “Very well,  take this ID badge and step inside the elevator behind me.  You will be taken to the correct floor once the door closes.”

Shadowfox take the badge and places it around her neck, then steps in the elevator.  The door closes and she begins to descend.  For what seems like hours the elevator continues to go down.  At one point a pocket in the wall opens up and informs her the elevator is halfway there, and offers her a glass of water.  She takes it and slowly sips it.

Finally, two hours, an instant appearing bathroom, and a virtual media console later, the elevator stops moving down, and starts moving forward.  The side of the elevator opens up so she can see out of it, and there in front of her is a humongous jungle.  The size of it can only be described as, realistic.

Ten minutes later, the elevator again comes to a stop.  The doors open, and Temo steps forward to greet her.  “Ah welcome Shadowfox!  You’re right on time for your exams.”

“This place is, big.”  She says, staring at the area around her.  It was obviously a clearing in the jungle.

“yes I suppose it is.  Well, are you ready for the first test?”  Temo loosely ties a ribbon on each of her arms, legs, tails, one around her head, and one around her midsection.  “This first test is in anticipation of your opponent’s movements.  Haaga will be your training partner for this one.  This entire jungle is your training area.  The goal is to get all of Haaga’s ribbons off of him before he gets all of yours.  To make it fair, Haaga has to back away every time he gets one, while you don’t.”

“Sounds simple enough.”

“It won’t be, trust me.  This jungle isn’t only big, it’s also as realistic as possible.  Quicksand, thick vines ready to trip you up, animals, and more.  The test concludes when one of you has successfully taken all of the other’s ribbons or when three days have gone by.  There is a river which fresh water to the north and food all over.  One hour must pass before you can start going after each other.  Oh, and remember, if anything happens, I’ll be watching, and will send help if needed.”


One hour later, Shadowfox was lost.  She had pretty much been dumped in a manmade jungle with no supplies except ten ribbons and the clothes on her back.  Every small noise had her alert.  “Wow, how am I going to see him coming?”

“You won’t.”  Haaga was right behind her.  He grabbed the ribbon off of one of her tails and jumped away.  “That’s one down!  You got ten minutes to hide before I can take another!”  She takes off, hoping to get away in time.


Several more hours have passed, and Haaga hasn’t shown up again.  “ok, let’s sum up what I’m up against.  He’s as silent as a ghost, he’s fast, very fast, and is pretty intelligent to boot.  It’ll take all I got to catch him.  A snare trap might work, but he’d see it right away, unless…….”  An idea forms in her mind.  She gets to work right away.


Haaga is following the trail that Shadowfox left behind, while staying in the trees.  “This isn’t going well for her, but we need the best of the best.  She may excel in another field and make up for this test.”  He comes across a section of cleared area, and can see the obvious snare trap.  “Shadowfox!  You’re gonna have to do better than that to fool me!”  He drops down by the rope.  Taking a small sharp rock, he cuts the rope.  “well, she tried at least.”  He steps into the middle of the disarmed snare, and it closes on his ankle.  He’s yanked into the air by a second hidden rope.

“Well now, this is an interesting sight.”  Shadowfox says, walking out from behind a nearby tree.

“Shadowfox, you better get me down!”  Haaga yells at her.

“Not that easy.  Three ribbons, and your promise to leave me alone tonight.”

“Grr, fine!  Three ribbons and your safety tonight it is.  Now get me down!”  Shadowfox cuts him down, then takes the three ribbons.  “Well, I’ll be going, good night!”  She takes off into the darkening jungle.

“Maybe she does have a chance this test…………”


Day 3:  1:00 P.M. 5 hours remain.


Things weren’t going well for either side.  Both Haaga and Shadowfox were down to their last ribbon.  Shadowfox had taken to the trees.  If she was to win this she had to get craftier than she had ever been.  She heads off towards the river.


Day 3: 5:50 P.M.  10 minutes remain.


Haaga had about had enough of this.  His stomach was growling, his mouth was dry, and his head was throbbing.  “Damn this insomnia.”  He makes his way towards the river.  There on the shore was Shadowfox.  ‘well, it looks like I’m gonna win this.’ he thinks to himself.  He sneaks up to her slowly, then pounces.  He goes right through the bed of leaves Shadowfox had set up to look like her, and into the mud.  Shadowfox pops out of the grass nearby and makes a grab for the ribbon on Haaga’s head, as he does the same.  They both get a hold and pull away.

“Time’s up you two!  Return to the start clearing!”  Temo says over the intercom system.  They both make their way back.  “So, let’s see how you did.  Ok, Haaga lost all his ribbons, and so did you Shadowfox.  I’m guessing you both lost your last ones at the same time.  Ok, you pass this test Shadowfox.”

“But I didn’t beat him.”

“Yes I know that, but the objective was to last as long as you could.  I knew he was gonna give you a rough time even with his restrictions in place.  It’s to remind you that an opponent will not be as lenient.  Get some rest, your next test will be tomorrow morning.”


End of part 1.