Chapter: 12

As the weapon printer finished its process, a sleek, high-tech assault rifle materialized in Ethan's hands. The gun hummed with energy as the AI inspected it with a practiced ease.

"Ah, nothing like the smell of freshly printed firepower," Ethan quipped, spinning the rifle in his hands before expertly flipping it into a ready position. "Now, let's see if my aim is still as good as ever."

Ben stepped forward, tapping a few buttons on a nearby console. The training arena's walls shifted, revealing a set of moving targets that hovered at varying distances.

"Alright, Ethan, let's see what you got," Ben said, crossing his arms. "Standard accuracy test—no explosives this time."

Ethan dramatically placed a hand over his chest. "You wound me, Ben. I would never use explosives without permission… most of the time."

Melissa giggled as she leaned against the console, watching with fascination. "Go on, Ethan. Show us what you can do."

Ethan nodded, raising the rifle. The instant the first target moved, he fired. A single shot rang out, striking dead center. The next two targets popped up in rapid succession, and Ethan took them down with pinpoint precision. As the speed of the targets increased, his shots remained flawlessly accurate, each round landing exactly where it was intended.

After a final flurry of shots, the last target exploded into sparks, signaling the end of the test. The screen on the console lit up, displaying a perfect score.

Ben whistled. "Not bad. Guess you haven't gotten rusty."

Ethan mockingly dusted off his hands. "Please. I was programmed for perfection."

Melissa clapped her hands together, impressed. "This is incredible! The reaction time, the precision, it's almost like you're human."

Ethan placed a hand on his hip. "Well, I was implanted with the brain of a human farmer."

Melissa blinked. "Really?"

Ethan's optics flickered with amusement. "No, ma'am."

Ben laughed. "He got you there."

Melissa crossed her arms. "Did not."

Melissa's excitement grew as she examined Ethan more closely. "Anyway, you said he was built for protection, right? What kind of defensive capabilities does he have?"

Ethan straightened. "Oh, you're gonna love this."

With a quick motion, he pressed a small button on his forearm, and his exterior plating shifted. A shimmering energy shield materialized around him, forming a translucent barrier.

"This lovely piece of technology can withstand ballistic, thermal, and energy-based attacks," Ethan explained. "Oh, and it also makes me look even more awesome."

Melissa leaned in, her eyes glowing with curiosity. "Ben, this is revolutionary. His adaptability, combat efficiency he could redefine what support technology means for heroes!"

Ben scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, well… he's not exactly public knowledge. Built him off the books. Too many regulations, too much red tape. I'd rather keep him in trusted hands."

Ethan saluted. "And these hands are always ready to serve."

Melissa gave Ben a thoughtful look. "You really put a lot into this, didn't you?"

Ben met her gaze, a rare sincerity in his expression. "Yeah. I wanted something (someone) who could keep you safe when I can't."

Ethan clapped his hands together. "Alright, alright, before we turn this into a heartfelt drama, let's get back to business. What's next?"

Ben smirked. "Let's see how you handle a real challenge."

With a few keystrokes, the arena changed again, shifting into a full-scale battlefield simulation. Mechanical drones emerged, armed with stun rounds and energy weapons.

Ethan cracked his metallic knuckles. "Now this is my kind of party."

Melissa took a step back as the simulation began, her heart pounding with excitement. She had no idea what the future held, but with Ben and Ethan, she knew one thing for certain—she was in for one hell of an adventure.