Chapter 6

(Dante's pov)

A few hours ago, I was playing this competitive first person shooter game(that I swear it reminded me of those god awful first person shooter games that didn't sell too well with campaign or multiplayer but this was one of those games that focused on the multiplayer than the campaign...can't complain there.) on the computer (that Luigia gave me.) and to my unpredictable luck, Fox, Falco, Slippy and Gina were in my team fighting a team of mid leveled AIs. Things were going smoothly when Falco decided to be a complete fucking show off by throwing a grenade at me and as it lands next to me, I quickly throw the grenade back at him (thankfully there was a perk that if I threw a grenade at my ally, it would not harm them but they will stagger on the ground.) his character is on his knee covering his ears by the time the grenade exploded near him. Was that his way of a joke?

"Don't. Do that. Again." I warned Falco through my mic.

Falco chuckled nervously as I killed the last enemy with a sniper rifle ending the game.

"Victory." A male voice said in the intercom.

"That was pretty cool, Dante. Have you played this before?" Gina asks me.

"Nah. I played something like this back at earth before Armageddon occured. I pretty much stopped playing the series when it got repetitive for me. Can't remember the name...but it was getting so much shit when the company there thought it was a good idea to put microtransactions for the dumbest rewards like cosmetics and bad weapons...bad move and because of that has took a huge dip on sales. At least with this game, I can ride a tank that can float with some dodge rolls it can do and a sweet aircraft. What are those, Fox?"

"The tank is called the Landmaster. The cannon fires some energy powered beams that can be charged for more damage. It hovers and can even do a barrel roll. The ship that you were flying is called the Arwing. The Cornerian military go around with those and boy are they fast. Speaking of that, you're going to be doing a simulation test on flying the Arwing." Fox tells me.

"Sweet. Okay I'm up for one more match then I'm gonna take a break."

Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to start another round when Luigia knocked on the door.

"Dante. General Pepper has request that he meet you at once." I heard Luigia.

"In a minute. Sorry, guys. Looks like General Pepper needs me for something." I sighed as I took off my headset.

"Okay, Dante. Catch ya later." Gina said as I logged out and turned off the computer.

I got off my seat and headed to the Cornerian military base with Luigia. The moment we got near General Pepper's office, two heavy armed soldiers frisked me top to bottom to see if I was armed...now I know how foreigners feel when they are being searched by security in case the foreigners are carrying bombs or guns. The guards found only my keys to my house and pen. Nothing else...

"He's clean." Said the guard who finished frisking me.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Proceed." Said the guard next to the door.

I nod slowly and entered the office with Luigia as General Pepper smiled at me.

"Glad you could make it." He smiled.

"Traffic was kind of nuts but nothing serious." I chuckled as I sat down on a chair.

"I can tell. Now...on to business."

"Yes...is something the matter?" I asked with concern.

He nods slowly with a frown.

"Last night Luigia caught someone sneaking near your home. Turned out it was a Venomian spy who was ordered by Andross to give out details about you. Thankfully he was caught before he could report to Andross."

"Venomian? Andross? I'm lost..."

"Andross was once a brilliant Cornerian scientist with pure intentions. His research proved to be beneficial towards both Corneria and the Lylat System at large, earning him the title of a genius to be honored and respected. In time, however, Andross gained a wide lust for power, bringing him to the point of insanity with a disregard for public safety. His life's efforts in researching bio-technology went in vain after they proved no use to the more peaceful citizens of Corneria, turning Andross's morals into twisted insanity, working on secret dangerous experimentation that left General Pepper suspicious, often questioning the ethics of them. It was not long until both Andross and General Pepper came into a serious confrontation over the issue. While being ordered to terminate his research, Andross continued his work despite Pepper's demands. Eventually, his experimentation caused a massive explosion that tragically destroyed a large portion of Corneria City. Infuriated, General Pepper placed Andross under arrest and tried him for treason before having the maniacal scientist finally banished to the desolate planet Venom, in fear that he could potentially subvert the entire Lylat System if left to do his bidding. He assumed that he would not survive." Luigia explained with seriousness.

"And the Venomian? They are some sort of military for this Andross guy?" I asked with worry.

General Pepper nods...

"It is. Venom is a safe haven for scum. Those who have a reputation that peaks Andross' interest, become part of his army." He said as I looked at him with worry.

"I see...any idea why the Venomian suddenly have an interest in me?"

"Don't know...the spy committed suicide with cynide capsules hidden in his tooth cavities before we can get more out of him...but I can think of two things...kill you...or capture you so you can be experimented on." He sighs.

He then leans forward and goes serious mode.

"Take my advice...be weary of suspicious people...hell...be weary of some of any suspicious military personnels. Be on your guard...and be careful who you trust. Understand?" He said quietly with a serious tone.

"Yes, sir." I nod.

"Good...dismissed."

Great...someone wants me alive or dead...fuck...

3 hours later at my house and I was sitting down watching TV to distract myself from danger...it didn't work...the news were talking about me in Corneria...ugh...

"On other news, the human has been identified as Dante Vera. A 18 year old male human who was found in a pod that was looking for a planet for safety and a home. Home away from his destroyed home planet, Earth. According to a military personnel, Dante is being supervised 24/7 until they can determine he is a threat or not."

For Christ sake...can't I hear something else than about me? I decided to change the channel...thankfully...there was a good channel. A cooking channel...with a Cornerian terrier chef becoming the next Gordon Ramsay. I'm not kidding...listen to this guy.

"What the f #$ is this?! IT'S F#$ING RAW! RAW! RAW! RAW! AND YOU'RE SERVING FOOD WITH THIS GARBAGE!?"

Needless to say...this guy was good at losing his temper at cooks who don't know what the fuck they are doing...ah...this reminds me the good old days...

"What are you watching, Dante?"

"Hell's kitchen."

"Ah...now I see how you learned to be a complete professional in the kitchen. Gordon Ramsay."

"Yeah. If I were in a restaurant serving food, I need to do a good job and not screw up."

"That is true. I know Gordon for some time and actually been in that restaurant a few times and oh boy...were the chefs did a horrible job at cooking. One time I had a raw meat and the moment I told Gordon about it, he flipped out at the cooks. When he wanted me to leave him alone, he would curse me out. Yeah...he wasn't having it."

"Must be scary."

"Scary? Sort of. I have never in my life have seen in the kitchen go on a meltdown like that for years and whenever someone try to stand up at the guy...Gordon would humiliate that guy for life."

"Wow..."

"Yeah...so remember...don't screw up on the job...or you're gonna get burned."

the good old days...