The second part of the NOVA exam

To become a NOVA is for sure not so easy, at least in the old NOVA gold times.

On my universe, you just had to find the magical bucket and the bucket had to take a basic psych test on yourself to see if you're not going to do something crazy with the helmet.

But on this universe. . .

-First, the physical exam, to ensure we are building strong soldiers. Then the psychologic test, and personality analysis and history analysis, to ensure you are qualified to protect the galaxy. Finally, comes the personal conversation as a great IA NOVA. It is the result of the accumulated experience of millions of the best NOVA's in history.

With his permission and his advice, you will be able to start NOVA training under his tutelage. A step that of course will be skipped by yours. . . Special conditions.- Prime herself takes me through the NOVA headquarters and explains the rules to me while we take a tour.

2h and 30 minutes remaining before the moon's collision.

- And here. . . This is where you will do the test. I know it is a lot of paper, but so are the rules.- She says when we arrive in a room with only a desk with a pile of forms on top.

Now that's weird. Normally, I'm the one who prepares and corrects the tests, not the other way around. At least that's how I was programmed to be.

Do you know what is worse? These tests don't work on me. Alien or not. I'm programmed to already know the good and bad answers.

- Don't worry, it's not a problem at all.- I say as I go to the desk and touch the pineapple of forms.

The needles in my hand also serve as printers, did you know?

I can print pictures, fill in forms, or tattoo someone with them.

I scan all the pages at once and start filling in. I press my hand back to the paper and a thin layer of paint comes off my fingers.

At print speed, I finish all 50 pages in two minutes right in front of Prime's eyes.

That saves us two hours.

I look back at Prime.

-That is all? -I ask.

-Yes my dear. Thanks for not stopping to impress us. I will personally accompany you to the grand intelligence. That will be interesting to see. - She responds as a corpsman soldier collects my forms.

- I am honored. -I answer politely.

She smiles and turns back to the glass corridors. We always walked with her personal escort behind us. Not that it bothers me. . . ok, maybe a little bit.

We came to an open chamber with only a golden NOVA helmet in the center, placed under a plinth.

The new escort is positioned at the four corners of the room. Prime turns to me with that formal smile and says:

-Come on, you can go and put it on.

I go to the plinth and carefully pick up the helmet. It's light, how strange, many things in this place are strange.

I fit the extra-wide helmet over my head.