Location: Hidden

Agents: All

Section: 1

Fluffy white snow covered the ground, undisturbed save for the soft crunch of snow from the newbie. Her long hair had been braided and pinned up, a headband holding back the blue tinged ends. Her eyes scanned the arena, noting no exits and no entrances from the ten foot high walls. Everything was covered in snow; even herself, for she had to walk the entire way through the snowy forest.

Distantly, the classicus' voice echoed around the stadium, roaring through the speakers from her top seat, with the rest of the agents. "This is the first of you assessments. You will have to fight Agent Conge."

"Well then where is she?" the newbie screamed, pulling down her hood. "Where did she run off to? To hide?"

"You know, I don't take well to smart mouths." A soft voice hissed from behind the newbie, making her plucked eyebrows raise. "And I wouldn't run into this fight. I haven't lost yet."

"If I turn around, are you going to be behind me?" The newbie - subsequently named Agent Novum - replied icily, her voice slick and cold as the frozen ground.

"Of course not." The voice purred, a stony laugh following it. "It's not in my nature to stay in one place."

"Then come in front of me and fight." Snarled Novum, rolling forward and turning on her heels. As expected, no one was standing there; not even a footstep was imprinted into the snow to give clue as to the opponent who was.

"It appears that everyone is ready for the match to begin. On your mark, get set, go." The classicus commanded, making Novum's lips curl into a smile.

"Yes, Conge, let's play." She turned in a circle slowly, her black sweater as bright as her blue hair.

"Do you know what Conge stands for? It stands for Congelata. Do you know what that means?" something cold slid across Novum's throat, causing a hand to fly up and feel a slow moving necklace. "Frozen." The voice whispered, releasing the chain so it rested on the nape of her neck. Novum reached behind her, grabbing an arm and yanking it over her shoulder.

A small pale body followed the arm, but it twisted in midair, catching Novum by surprise. Her small hesitation was noted, and that one second was used to wrap Conge's legs around Novum's neck and roll her to the ground. Novum's back slammed into the ground, the wind being shot out of her in an instant.

"Try again." Conge encouraged, bouncing back up and giving Novum a full look at her. She was short, about five feet high, and had long white blonde hair that was braided and wrapped in black leather ropes. Her eyes were blue as well, and she seemed to fit perfectly into the snow.

Novum rolled to her feet, taking the advantage of having Conge standing in one place to come up with a plan. Conge wasn't on the balls of her feet, bouncing around like she was ready for anything to be thrown at her; yet Conge didn't seem to be the one to be underestimated.

At the same time, Conge was taking in Novum's stance, her attitude and her emotions. She had to have been trained, that was the only reason why she seemed to be so cocky. Novum hesitated longer on her left leg, like she was waiting for any second to swing it back and come into a fighting stance. Though she appeared to be ready for almost anything, for her eyes didn't leave Conge even as she got to her feet and shook off the cold snow. Her attire, unlike Conge's white sports bra and long white yoga pants, was a black long sleeved, furry sweater and long winter snow pants.

"You stand out like a sore thumb in the winter time." Conge noted dryly, flicking her braid over her shoulder. "It would serve you better to fit into your environment. Also, you shouldn't hinder your body with such heavy materials. You should use less materials to allow your body better connection with the environment."

"Is this a lesson?" Novum paused to say, cocking an eyebrow to Conge. "I thought this was an assessment, and we fight."

"A good agent learns how to fight. A top agent learns when they fight." Conge grinned at her wisdom. "Besides, we did fight. You lost. I told you to get up and try again. You don't have to if you don't want to," Here Conge shrugged, like it didn't really matter to her. "But then I automatically win."

"No, I'll continue to fight. It isn't terrible." Conge grinned and nodded at Novum's statement, raising one hand up to eye level. Slowly, she curled her fingers inward, grinning like a cheshire cat on Halloween.

Two steps forward and one step back seemed to be Novum's pattern; she danced forward then dodged back to avoid Conge's fist strikes. This was noted, and strategies were changed. Conge ducked under Novum's right hook, swiping down and knocking into her left leg. Novum swung back onto her right let, but Conge had prepared for that. She rolled forward, wrapping her leg around Novum's knee and ramming her shoulder into her ribcage.

"Time!" was called, and Conge popped to her feet, stepping back a little into the covers of the snow covered trees. Novum stayed on the ground, clutching her ribcage and moaning in pain. Some of the snow was dotted with red, from Novum's nosebleed, and Conge grinned slyly. She liked the newbie, she liked the fight, the challenge she put forward.

The classicus came down from her top spot, entering the arena from jumping down the wall and walked over to Novum.

"Damage level Conge?" she asked softly, motioning forward a couple of the on deck EMT's.

"Most likely a bruised rib and a slight nosebleed, nothing broken, just a little sore." Replied Conge, gratefully taking the light white jacket being handed to her and slipped it on. "When would you like my assessment?"

"Attach it to the video footage, along with critiques for yourself. Do you have the pendent?" Conge stepped forward gently, leaning down to bend over Novum. Her hands quickly unbuttoned the clasp on the necklace, slipping on a silver pendant.

It was a beautiful thing, being a sterling silver snowflake graced with tiny diamonds and one sapphire right in the middle. The top band of it -the part that attached it to the necklace- was bright blue, indicating a loss. Soon, her necklace would be filled with all the fights she participated in, her wins, her losses, her ties, her strengths and her weaknesses. Her identity.

"Bring her to the infirmary to do a primary check up. I need her ready to go by seven tonight, when her next event is." The classicus requested, straightening herself out to her tall six foot height. "Meanwhile, the rest of you," She raised her voice loudly, so ever gathered agent could hear. "Will continue on with your daily activities, save for at seven o'clock, we will join together again to watch Novum's test against Agent Sensus. We will be meeting in testing room 7B."

Conge nodded with the rest of the agents, turning to go back to her training room to work on a new technique. "Not you Conge. Go back to your room and take the afternoon off. You worked hard this morning, and I appreciate it." Inwardly, Conge cheered herself on, nodding to classicus before hurrying away off to her bedroom. Time to work on the assessment, and to relax. She thought to herself, smiling again. Ah.

A/N: 1281 words