Free Guns And Dogs by T.A. Uner

strangling her first.”
    ***
    Seeing Argos and the two Dobermans settled Johnny’s nerves. It was good to see a familiar face in this compound. Apart from Patrice he hadn’t really talked to anyone. Not that talking to her was a pleasurable experience. He’d had more exciting conversations with toaster ovens.
    Upon re-entering the Training Room Patrice was waiting for him. “I was about to message you on your wristlink. Just in case you’d gotten yourself lost again.”
    ‘Work on being her friend.’ Isn’t that what Argos said? “Nope, not me. Can’t afford to get lost. Time’s a big deal around here. Remember? Now, what’s next? Some more memory training? Love that bunny rabbit by the way.”
    Patrice shot him a curious glance. “Actually you’ve completed your memory training and your test scores have already been recorded. Now we’ll move on to a different testing examination.” She headed for the door before stopping and turning around to face him. “Please follow me.”
    “Where we going?”
    “To Training Room 2.”
    Johnny crossed his arms. “What are you going to test me on in there?”
    “Character testing, to be followed by hand-to-hand combat. We’re going to find out what you’re really made of Mr. Veto.
     
     
    Training Room 2 looked exactly like Training Room 1. Except there was no reclining chair and no HUD training helmet. The lights were dimmer too. “So now what?”
    Patrice ignored him and spoke into her wrist gauntlet. “Prepare the simulation,” she said.
    Johnny wondered what she meant by ‘simulation’ and how that tied into his character testing.
    “You’re to remain in this room until the end of the simulation.” Patrice turned and left the training room.
    “You still haven’t answered my question,” Johnny yelled. There was an intercom speaker built into the ceiling and he directed his speech towards it. “Hey Patrice? How am I supposed to know how to complete this test if you don’t give me any instructions?”
    The intercom came to life. “Calm yourself Mr. Veto,” Patrice said. “This test will take place in a holographic environment. That is all I can tell you. AL regulations. Good luck.”
    The lights dimmed even more before the room shifted around Johnny. For a moment he felt dizzy but soon steadied himself. Seconds later the room formed into a park. He heard the chirping of birds and the sky was clear, while a bright sun shone down on him. Even the air was warmer.
    To his right was a park bench. He watched as an old man wearing a baseball cap sat down and began feeding a group of pigeons that had gathered in front of him. The old man looked up at Johnny and smiled. “Beautiful weather for a day at the park. Ehh son?”
    “I suppose,” Johnny answered. The old man had a curly white beard and bushy grey eyebrows that made him look like Santa Claus.
    “You look lost son,” the old man said. “Mind telling an old man your troubles? I could use some company.”
    Perhaps this is part of the test, Johnny thought. They want to hear what I’ll say, or do. “No that’s alright, mister. I’ve gotta be going anyways.”
    “Suit yourself.” The old man tipped his baseball cap and returned to feeding his birds.
    Johnny walked down the asphalt path and took in the smell of the freshly-cut grass flanking his path. In the distance he saw a carousel under the cool shade of a large tree where children were riding alongside the supervision of their parents.
    The sun beat down on him and he wished he had a hat to wear. He decided to head for the carousel and see if he could figure out how to pass this simulation. Moments later he found an object lying in his path. A wallet. He picked it up. It was filled with a half dozen credit cards and a thick row of hundred dollar bills. His eyes widened. For holographic currency it sure looked and smelled like real money. A part of him wanted to hang onto it. But in the end he felt guilty.
    He opened the inside of the