“I’ve heard of ODST armor, I know it’s from the halo franchise, but what specifically does it do?” I ask Charlie.

“ODST armor provides protection from extreme heat and protection against energy weapons, along with having a heads up display, a communication device, and something that highlights enemies.” Charlie answers.

“Wow that sounds extremely useful.” I say. “I wonder if we can link your communication device with Dave and I’s micro-beads.”

“Before we do that maybe we should go somewhere more private.” Charlie says. I look around and notice that all the other newbies are listening to what we say.

“It doesn’t particularly matter, but ok.” I shrug my shoulders and say. I enter my room and wait for Charlie and Dave to follow.

“Your room reminds me of a dorm.” Charlie states as he looks around.

I close my door and say. “It’s modeled after the dorm I used to live in. You know, until I came here.”

“Oh, ok.” Charlie says, while looking down.

‘I guess my words reminded him that we are trapped here.’ I wait a couple of minutes in awkward silence until Charlie looks back.

“So the communication devices?” He asks.

“Oh, right.” I go over to the black arbite armor that I placed on my bed. ‘I’m glad that didn’t last long.’ I start to take off my clothes so that I can put on the body suit and armor.

“Wow, at least wait until I’m out of the room.” Charlie says as he rushes to the door.

“Wha… Crap I’m so used to changing with Dave in the room that I forgot it would be weird to do so with someone else.” I hit my head and say. I wait until Charlie closes the door to change. ‘First goes the body suit, then goes the plastic armor with ceramite plates, and finally the helmet with micro-bead.’ After putting everything on and waiting for Dave to do the same I open the door and let Charlie in.

“Sorry about that.” I say.

“It fine I just didn’t expect you to change right there.” He answers.

“Any way back to what we were originally doing, let’s see if we can connect our communication devices.” I say.

“Is there anywhere that I could change.” He says as he holds up his armor.

I point to the bathroom door. “There’s a bathroom there.”

“Thanks.” He says as he opens the bathroom door. He enters and closes it behind him. After a couple of minutes he comes out, armor donned.

“How do we do this?” He asks.

“I have no idea.” I answer. “But we should probably check to see if they are on before we do anything else.” ‘I say that but I don’t even know how to turn it on.’ I feel the micro-bead for a second until I find bit that protrudes out. I push down and a static noise enters my ear. ‘Ok now it’s receiving, i just need to tune it to the proper channel.’ I look at Dave. “Dave press the button on the micro bead.” I say.

He nods his head and press the button on the micro-bead, which is set into his helmet near his ear. After he presses the button the static in my ear disappears. ‘It seems that it’s connected.’ I hold up my hand to Dave and enter the bathroom. “Dave can you hear me.” I whisper.

“Affirmative.” He answers.

“Good, it worked.” I say as I exit the bathroom. “How’s it going on your end?” I ask Charlie. He doesn’t answer for a couple seconds then I hear his voice in my ear.

“Yes, I got it.” He says as he punches up into the air. “Sorry, what was your question?”

“You just answered it.” I state.

“That’s good.” He says.

“Now that we have the comms working we can go down to the basement to test our weapons.” I say. I walk to the door to the basement/training area and head down the stairs.

Charlie quickly follows me and asks. “Why are we going into your basement to test weapons? Doesn’t that seem a bit unsafe.”

“You’ll see when we get down there.” I answer with a grin on my face. We reach the bottom of the steps and Charlie gasps.

“How is this all down here?” He asks.

“I don’t know and it doesn’t really matter to me.What does matter is that we have a place to test weapons.” I answer.

He looks at me with shining eyes. “Then let’s go get them.” He then runs up the stairs to get his gauss carbine. I quickly run after him.