A group of Atlas soldiers are seen doing a variety of training. Two soldiers were sparring. One was weightlifting and two were having a basketball one on one.

The atmosphere is filled with the sounds of grunts, clanging weights, and the squeak of basketball shoes on the court. Zack enters the arena with you beside him, looking around and smelling the air. One of the soldiers notice you and bumps his colleague on the shoulder.

???: Got a newbie Jenkins.

Jenkins looks towards Zack and yourself and raises a brow.

Jenkins: A faunas?

Jenkins wonders as his eyes scan your features, mainly your long black tail and extra appendages on your back.

Jenkins: Any idea what kind of Faunas that is, Cisco?

Cisco hums and taps his chin as he analyses your 'faunas' traits carefully.

Cisco: Could be a scorpion.

Jenkins looks at his companion with a look of uncertainty.

Jenkins: Scorpion's have tails like that?

Cisco just shrugs at his question. Meanwhile, Zack approaches you, a determined look on his face.

Zack: Today, Hybrid, we're going to focus on testing your physical abilities. We want to see what you're capable of and how your unique traits can be utilized.

You just tilt your head at him which causes him to sweat drop and sigh.

Zack: Tests, Hybrid. Okay, looks at everyone in the room.

You follow his finger as he points out to the room. You see the soldiers doing their individual activities. You look at Zack then back at the soldiers.

Zack: I think you've got it down...hopefully you do anyway.

Zack looks at one soldier doing laps and points at him.

Zack: We'll start with the easy test. You see the guy running?

You follow his finger again and look at the man running.

Zack: Do what he's doing right now.

You stare at Zack who sighs seeing you not budge and reaches into his pocket. A familiar scent graces your nose as you look at him holding onto a packet of jerky. You inch closer to him like a dog who has spotted an unguarded piece of meat. He however pulls the packet back and waves his finger at you.

Zack: Nuh-uh. You gotta work for it. By work, I mean run.

He states as he points at the man running again. You look at the track and find it going in an oval shape. It didn't take long before realising that you need to follow the lines. You walk to the track and starts to speed walk before going into a full sprint. Zack looks on in awe as you are easily able to complete a full lap, overtaking the soldier who stops after you pass him and looks in awe.

???: What in the fuck?

Jenkins cups his hands together.

Jenkins: What's wrong Michael? Did he shatter your motivation?

The soldier on the track now known as Michael, looks at Jenkins and flips him off. As for you, you kept doing laps to the point that Zack's clapping at the beginning began to fade out as he couldn't believe your almost unending stamina.

Zack: Monty oum.

Zack snaps out of his amazement and starts to type notes onto his scroll. After that he begins to record your running for two more laps before stepping onto the track.

Zack: Okay Hybrid, that's enough!

You see him on the track and stop in front of him. He smiles and pulls out a piece of jerky which you smell before putting your hand out. He puts the jerky in your hand, the moment it makes contact, your hand slaps over your mouth as you consume the hard meat.

As you eagerly devour the jerky, savoring its flavor and texture, Zack watches with a mix of amusement and astonishment. He quickly realizes that your physical abilities extend beyond just running laps.

Zack: Impressive, Hybrid. Your speed and endurance are remarkable.

You nod, still chewing on the last bits of jerky, and give Zack a grateful look. He ponders on your agility and looks over at the obstacle course he set up. Zack's eyes light up with an idea as he observes the obstacle course. He gestures towards it, his excitement evident in his voice.

Zack: Hybrid, let's put your agility to the test. See that course over there? I want you to navigate through it as quickly as possible, avoiding obstacles and completing the challenges.

He points to the various hurdles, balance beams, and climbing walls that make up the course. The other soldiers in the training area gather around, curious to see how you will tackle the challenge.

Zack: Remember, speed is important, but accuracy and precision are equally vital. Focus on maintaining control as you maneuver through the course.

You just stare at him as he sighs and looks at Jenkins.

Zack: Jenkins can you demonstrate.

Jenkins nods and starts the obstacle course. You watch as he hops over hurdles, balances himself on the balancing beam and scaling the climbing wall.

Zack looks at you with a smile and gives you a 'understand?' look.

You simply nod in understanding. As you approach the obstacle course, you analyze each challenge, calculating the best way to overcome them.

With a burst of speed, you begin the course. Your agility and quick reflexes allow you to effortlessly leap over hurdles, gracefully balance on the narrow beam, and scale the climbing walls with ease. The soldiers watching are in awe as they witness your fluid and precise movements.

Zack, impressed by your performance, takes notes on your agility and technique. He watches as you flawlessly navigate the course, not even breaking a sweat.

As you reach the end, the soldiers applaud your success, some murmuring at how easily you passed the course, on your first go nonetheless. Zack approaches you, a proud smile on his face.

Zack: Hybrid, that was outstanding.

You give Zack a nod. He rewards you with more jerky in which you consume immediately.

As you chew the hard meat. A smell infiltrates your nostrils. It was something...odd. You look around till you see a man wearing a mask. He was speaking a white substance on a weapon. At least that's what you guessed the object was. You look at your mask and then back at the man again. You start walking over to which Zack notices and watches.

Zack: Hybrid?

You watch the man and crouch down while watching him work. He notices and looks at you.

???: Whoa! Kid careful! This fumes from the spray paint will get you all nauseous.

You just tilt your head at him. The 'fumes' he was referring to didn't bother you all that much. Shaking your head, disregarding his warning, you put your mask down and tap it. The man looks at it then back at you.

???: You uh...not a fan of the colour your mask is or something?

He asked. You look at your mask then at the man and nod. The man picks up the mask then looks at you.

???: I see you're going with a theme here, dressing up in all black as you are now?

You just stare at him as he sighs and lets out a chuckle.

???: Leave it with me. I'll repaint your mask and give it back when I'm done okay? Oh! My name is Jason by the way.

You just stand as he starts to work on your mask. Zack comes next to you.

Zack: Feeling decorative?

You look at Zack who just smiles.

Zack: I gotta tend to my boys here. Jason! Finish Hybrid's mask then join us immediately.

Zack orders to Jason who just does a two finger salute then continues with your mask. Zack brings you to the basketball court and hands a spherical orange ball to you.

Zack: This is a basketball, Hybrid. The aim is to get it in the net.

Zack bounces the ball then points to the net hanging off a ring that is attached to a square board that has a black square on it.

Zack: Do you understand?

You look at the ball then the net. Understanding the objective of the game, you take the basketball in your hands and examine it, feeling the texture of the grooves on its surface. You then look at the net, calculating the distance and angle needed to make a successful shot.

With a focused expression, you step onto the basketball court and position yourself a few feet away from the net. You take a deep breath, preparing yourself for the challenge. With a swift motion, you launch the basketball towards the net, and to the amazement of everyone watching, it swishes through the hoop effortlessly.

Zack whistles in astonishment as the basketball bounces back towards you to which you grab it.

Zack: Three pointer first try. Maybe you were a basketball player before you lost your memory huh?

Zack suggests which doesn't gain any reaction from you as you were now too focused on the new game. Zack just smiles as he watches you bounce the ball and run up to the ring before slam dunking it into the net.

Zack: Huh. Quite a jumper too...

Zack goes to the soldiers, leaving you to play basketball by yourself.

As he gathers the soldiers around. Five people entered the training grounds. They were dressed in Atlas uniforms like the rest of Zack's men. One was a man with short brown hair and teal-green eyes. He wore a sleeveless Atlesian Specialist uniform that consisted of a white sleeveless double breasted coat with red and blue accents with ornate detailing shaped to the form of wishbones, broad tail with red lining and a four-leaf clover pin on the lapel. He also wore white pants and covered his hands with brown fingerless gloves. He also wears blue calf high boots with four dark blue straps and silver steel toe plating. His belt had a rabbit's foot keychain hanging off it.

A woman next to him was a tall buff young woman with medium brown hair in a short ponytail, light brown skin, and brown eyes. She wore an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of an open white, one-sleeved crop jacket with dark blue accents, shoulder flaps and collar and a dark gray armor shirt. She has silver vambraces over her forearms. She also has a red belt around her white pants and goes barefoot save for some martial arts footwraps alongside dark blue calf plates that cover the tops of her feet, the plates have three red straps tied around them; the soles of her feet are appropriately dirty as a result. She also has a silver hoop earring on her right ear.

Behind her was a a dark-skinned young woman with platinum blonde and brown hair shaved on the sides and dark pink eyes. She wears a very short-sleeved Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of a sleeveless white double-breasted vest with silver buttons and dark blue accents. It has a white and dark blue-collar, a dark blue short-sleeved t-shirt, a red tie and white shorts. She wears dark blue chaps that presumably connect to the tops of her shorts. The chaps expose the inner part of the thighs and the backs of her calves. She also wears blue fingerless gloves and dark gray trainers with black accents and a white stripe accompanied with red socks. She also has white calf pads and dark blue knee pads as well. There are also dark blue straps fastened around the top of her vest. The blond portions of her hair are styled in a way that almost resembled rabbit's ears.

Another man amongst their group was a tall man with short shaved gray hair, deathly pale skin and light blue eyes. He had several tattoos, including a third eye tattoo along the center of his forehead and chin. He wore an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consisted of a white double-breasted, partially unbuttoned coat with a broad tail, navy blue accents, collar and shoulder flaps, a red sash running diagonally over his left shoulder meeting a second red sash around his waist under a large blue belt, and navy blue fingerless gloves that go up to his brachium. He wore navy blue pants tucked into a pair of navy blue thigh-high boots with steel toe and heel plating, a small pouch on the sides and kneepad detailing. He wore beaded necklaces around his neck and beaded bracelets around his right arm alongside two silver bands, one small, one large on his left forearm.

Behind that man was the final member of the group who was a young male Faunus with long greenish-black hair tied in a bun and blue eyes. His trait is a dark gray canine tail. He wore an Atlesian Specialist uniform that consists of a white double-breasted coat with silver buttons, dark blue accents, collar, shoulder flaps with matching cuffs that have two silver buttons. The coat's tail splits, allowing his canine tail to move freely. He has a dark blue belt with a silver buckle around his waist with a dark blue pouch on the right side. He has a red ascot tied around his neck and a red shirt under his coat. He also wore dark blue trousers tucked into his black knee-high boots.

???: Zack's at it again.

The young faunas states to which the young dark skinned girl facepalms and shakes her head.

???: He's been at it for a month now, with no results either. Even Tortuga is getting frustrated watching him work away like this. You'd think he would give up after the second week.

Curiosity piqued, after overhearing the two talk, you wonder what Zack has been working on for such a long time and what has led to this level of frustration.

Shrugging you continue to play basketball

???: You should make yourself scarce Elm. Jenkins still has his eyes on you.

The man with the rabbit's foot keychain comments to the tall buff woman now identified as Elm.

Elm: Yeah, you're probably right.

She trails off as her eyes slowly scan the room until they land on you.

Elm: Hmm? A new guy? A Faunas nonetheless.

Elm points out which causes the rest of the team to look at Elm and follow her stare.

???: What kind of Faunas is that Marrow?

The man with the short shaved head questions. The canine faunas now known as Marrow look at him with a deadpanned look.

Marrow: What? You think all Faunas know each other and what kind of faunas they are?

Marrow shouts at him only to gain a waiting stare from the man. Marrow just sighs and looks away with his arms crossed.

Marrow: Never seen a Faunas like him.

They walk over with their interests now peaked. Elm watched you move with amazing speed as you jumped and slam dunked the basketball into the net. A smirk graces her lips as she lets out a satisfied sigh as she stepped onto the court.

???: Elm...

Elm turns to the dark skinned girl and waves her off.

Elm: C'mon Harriet. You know I can't resist the tall boys.

She states as she steps in front of you which causes you to stare at her with curiosity.

Elm: Wanna go one on one with me big guy?~

She says in a seductive tone.

You could smell the pheromones from this woman. Almost like an animal wanting to attract a mate.

As she stands in front of you, she makes an attempt to possess the ball from you. But you quickly react, your reflexes and instinct kick in, rolling the ball around your back from your dominant hand to your non-dominant hand.

Elm is slightly surprised by your reaction time as she stands up straight and watches you keep passing the ball around your torso. Her eyes follow it and when she's sure enough, she goes for it again only to see you change directions and hold the ball behind your back now.

Elm: Got some moves on you boy.

She says as she gets closer to the point where your noses are nearly touching. Her scent was sweet and odd to you. A distraction? Most likely.

Your intuition was right as she tried to get the ball from behind you but you quickly moved it to your right underarm.

Harriet: Having trouble Elm?

The dark skinned girl who was before mentioned as Harriet questions. Elm just lets out a small laugh.

Elm: Think you can do better?

Harriet shrugs and stands on the other side of the court while Elm steps aside. You see electricity emit from Harriet's legs and her pink eyes go a gold colour. She immediately rushes you with a smirk plastered on her face. You however smack that smirk off her face as you spin around her and dribble to the net before slam dunking into the net. Harriet stops and looks at you.

The man with the rabbit's foot keychain raises an eyebrow at Marrow, who is recording the impressive display of basketball skills with his wagging tail.

???: Marrow, are you seriously recording this?

Marrow: Hey, it's not every day we see someone with moves that can move past Harriet, Clover. I'm sure Ironwood would be interested after he gets back from the tournament!

The man now known as Clover chuckles and shakes his head, clearly amused by Marrow's enthusiasm.

Marrow: Vine! You're in my shot!

Marrow exclaims as he calls out the pale man of their team. Meanwhile, Harriet, who had just witnessed your skillful evasion of her and Elm's attempts, walks next to you as you had reacquired the ball. Elm followed suite as they both were beside you.

Harriet: Okay...not everyday I see someone dodge my semblance.

Elm: Gonna surrender the ball now?

Elm whispers in your ear and gives it a playful nibble. This doesn't sit well with you as you moved away and hit her in the head with the ball as you held onto it. Elm slides on the ground on her back and holds her jaw.

Harriet: Hey!

Harriet attempts to punch you however your tail unwraps from your waist and deflects her punch as you then kick her in the stomach.

Narrow steps back while still recording while Clover and Vine step forward.

Vine uses his semblance to push a shelf full of basketballs at you while Clover intends to use the attack in an attempt to get close. You however look at Clover and the balls flying towards your face as if time had slowed down.

To the naked eye, you quickly reacted to the attack by throwing the basketball in your hands at one of the incoming basketballs which deflected and hit Clover in the face causing him to stumble towards you as you then sweep his legs.

The loud thud from Clover falling on the floor, catches Zack's attention as he saw you crouched, dodging the basketballs that were flung at you.

Zack: Hey!

Zack runs over causing the soldiers to look and stop what they were doing.

The four attacking members of the ace ops team got up, ready to fight you as you got in a defensive stance with your tail ready to stab any that came close.

Zack: Stop! Stop!

You look at Zack who waves his hands frantically.

Zack: Hybrid you okay?

He asks you.

Elm: Is he okay?! Zack, he just hit me for no reason!

Zack shot a glare at her.

Zack: You five were surrounding him! He was just defending himself!

Zack protested. Seeing that he was trying to get everything under control, you calmed yourself as well in order to stop any more problems from rising. Marrow ceased recording and watched the scene unfold.

Zack: Come on Hybrid. I think we've had enough for today.

You pick up another basketball and walk with Zack.

Elm: What the hell are you...?

Elm questioned as you walked past. You however didn't listen. You looked at Jason and quickly go to him as he looks at you and hands you your mask.

Jason: Here kid. Don't wear it straight away cause of the paint, okay?

You tilt your head. Zack looks and sighs. He takes the mask after thanking Jason.

Zack: I'll hold onto it hybrid...oh and, leave the basketball here. It's Atlas property.

Zack says. You look at the ball then back at the ace ops. They were still staring at you. That's what you noticed anyway as your real target was the net of the basketball ring.

You throw the ball up into the air then catch it with your dominant hand before tossing it at the ring. Everyone in the area followed the ball as it travels through the air.

Swish

The ace ops look in awe as you just turn around and walk with Zack out of the training grounds. Your tail rewraps itself around your waist.

A whistle is heard from Marrow, breaking the silence as he pulls up his scroll again and watches the video back.

Clover: What has Zack brought to Atlas...?

No one knew how to answer that. They look at Marrow who looks up from his scroll. An intense stare is shared between Marrow and Clover, ending in nod of understanding, as if they were telepathically linked.

Marrow types on his scroll until a name comes up on it.

James Ironwood.
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Until next time :)