Will
September 5th, 2007. 10:05 a.m. Several students are sectioned off into different classrooms. We’re supposed to do some sort of review game that will help us in the field. I don’t have time for this. I should be training. I should-
The teacher at the front of the room smiles wide. “The person who receives the most points will receive a $50 giftcard to the restaurant of their choosing.”
Before I can even think, my stomach propels my body to the front of the class. I can’t help it. Man’s gotta eat.
“Very well.” The teacher organizes four podiums and selects three other students from the rather small volunteer pool. Me, Vivian, Sejong, and Janelle were chosen. “Welcome one and all to Aegis’s favorite game show: Name! That! Villain! Rules are simple. I give hints and describe a villain and all you gotta do is hit that buzzer and come at me with your best guess! Ready? Let’s get this started!” She clears her throat and presses a button on the projector. A picture of a ragged looking man in a biker jacket on a motorcycle is projected onto the wall. He looks horrible and completely unkempt. I can see his ribs through his tattered jacket, his greasy hair has birds nesting in it… He looks like an evil version of Jesus. This is easy. That’s obvious-
BZZZT
Before I can even reach out for the buzzer, Vivian already pressed hers. “That’s Tiamat. His Tech is wind control and he is wanted in 48 states for burglary, murder, environmental terrorism, and public indecency. He was also excommunicated from The Elite for clogging up their toilets repeatedly.”
“Excellent!” the teacher cheers. “Point goes to Vivian!”
She’s got a heck of a quick draw… probably just a fluke. I’ll get her on the next one.
The teacher presses the projector again and shows a different villain on the wall. It-
BZZZT
“That’s Petshop.” Vivian proclaims. “She can turn into any animal at will. She’s wanted for stealing the English Crown Jewels and for laundering money to the Corgi Liberation Front. She has connections to The Elite, but isn’t a member.”
“Correctamundo! Another point to Vivian!”
What is this girl doing? Can she also see into the future? No… that’s impossible. No one can have more than one Tech. She has to be cheating.
The teacher presses the projector again and shows a man with a comically large turban. He has this huge beard and looks like he can snap a redwood in-
BZZT
“Yes, Vivian!” The teacher points to her.
“That’s Ottoman.” Vivian struggles to contain her laughter. “Can turn anything into an explosive and is wanted by the Kurdish-Armenian Commonwealth for numerous war crimes.”
“Excellent, excellent! Another point to Vivian!” The teacher presses the projector again.
Click. The projector changes to another photo, but it’s grainy, out of focus, and in black and white. It’s just a weird blur in front of a desert background. It looks like someone messed with the blur tool in photoshop. Finally as easy one it-
BZZZT
Vivian beats me to it again. “That’s the mysterious Red Blur. Between 1980 and 1990, it would travel around the American continent and commit random acts of heroism and chaos. Sometimes it would save people from falling to their deaths, sometimes it would run right through people and turn them to mush. There was never any rhyme or reason to its behavior and no one has seen it since Christmas 1990.”
“And another one!” The teacher points to Vivian again with a smile.
Click. New villain. Bushy mustache. Big burly hat. Body of a bear and the smile of an ancient.
BZZZT
I glance at Vivian and see her palm already slammed against the button. I’m not just saying this because I’m getting my butt handed to me, but something’s up with her… I can’t prove anything, but that woman’s been places. It’s just… something about the way she moves. She’s too fast for a civvie.
“Soviet Man.” Vivian proudly folds her arms and rubs her chin. “Developed under Brezhnev as a counter to Freedom Man. He possessed enough radiation and raw destructive power to cause a hundred-year nuclear winter, but realized the futility of the Cold War and now lives on the moon with Freedom Man.”
“And another one!” The teacher changes the projector image once more.
Click. New villain. It's an old photo from a yearbook. Looks like a completely normal student… She looks happy, despite the photo being in black and white. Hm. I have no idea wh-
BZZZT
“That’s Junko.” Vivian’s face turns somber. A cold, lonely wind seems to fall over her. “She is a ghost… and is wanted for acting as an accessory to other villains.”
“Correctadiddlymundo.” the teacher claps.
“Uh… Teacher?” Sejong raises his hand and looks pale. “How are we supposed to fight a ghost?”
“You don’t.” The teacher stares at us. “If you are ever fighting a villain and suddenly feel this inexplicable chill in your chest or if you notice one of your teammates acting weird, turn and leave. Immediately. We don’t need any of you getting into a fight you can’t win.”
W-what in tarnation? G-ghosts exist? That… That’s impossible! Calm down. Calm down. In the event that ghosts do exist, I’ll just stop by my parish and stock up on some holy water. Yeah. No ghost can stand up to the power of the Lord. I’m not scared.
The game continues.
One after another, Vivian answers the questions flawlessly. None of us stood a chance. After the Junko question, I had no idea who any of those villains were… This is inexcusable. I need to study harder. I cannot be upstaged like this.
Janelle
September 5th, 2007. 11:21 a.m. It’s hot. Really, really hot. Good. I shouldn’t have to worry about my temperature too much. Everyone is out on the track field. We’re supposed to run a mile and do some other exercises to see if we meet some physical requirements. I was going to exercise over the summer… but this summer’s anime season was phenomenal… I don’t think anime will ever get better than the summer of 2007… but even if I fail, I’m certain they won’t kick us out. We have until 2008 to reach the fitness goal. I’m sure it’ll be fine. I hope. Just breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Don’t let any fire out. No one needs to see that.
The fitness teacher approaches the starting line. “Everyone. You have 9 minutes to race a mile to the finish line. If you fail, you will be entered into an intensive training program to ensure you meet the requirements to stay enrolled. Get good or perish.” he points his finger to the sky. “On your marks. Get set….” a puff of smoke and a loud blast of air erupts from his finger.
Everyone begins running. We all start off running together, but within five seconds, everyone already starts drifting off. Joshua, Will, and AD take off like cheetahs and lead the group. There’s an enormous gap between them and Vivian. I trail behind Vivian, but she’s growing farther away by the second. Sejong is on my heels the entire time. I refuse to let him get ahead of me. Behind him is Angela and Yuko tied neck and neck. Angela looks like she has never ran once in her life while Yuko is running with her arm pressed against her chest.
“Screw this!” Yuko yells, pivots 180 degrees, and begins propelling herself forward with her voice. She shoots past me, Vivian, and even William in no time. She makes it to the finish line in about three minutes, leaving the rest of us to suffer. I… I can’t keep this up. My heart feels ready to burst out of my chest. My knees are weak. Arms are heavy. Sparks begin to fly off my shoulders again. No matter what I do or what I think, they won’t stop. I can’t control my breathing.
I can’t fall behind... not again…
No matter how hard I try, no matter how much my legs and arms press on, everyone keeps running on. They grow farther and farther away, leaving me behind. I stop and put my arms over my head. I can’t vomit. Not here… I’d… never… live that down…
It’s no use. The world begins to pulse around me. Everyone’s laughing at me. I just know it. Pillars of flame shoot out my stomach and off the top of my head. It hurts, it hurts… but it won’t stay in.
Soon enough, even Sejong passes me. I’m pathetic… beyond pathetic.
I put my hands on my knees and try to gather my breath. It’s no use. The fire won’t stop. My mouth is trembling, my skin turns pale, and my limbs won’t stop shaking… Every inhale nearly causes air to freeze inside my lungs. After all this… I still can’t control it. What am I doing here?
Bump
A pair of small hands press into my back.
I turn around to see Angela pushing me.
“What… are you doing…?”
“If I have to run this, so do you. Move. You’re making me sweaty...” She keeps trying to push me, but to no avail.
“Just go around me…”
slap
Angela slaps my butt with a surprising amount of force. “Move! Your! Butt!” She keeps slapping.
“You little! Get back here!” I try to turn around and slap Angela, but she just runs past me.
“Nah nah. Gotta try harder than that, grandma!” She slaps her butt and keeps running away from me.
“I’ll get you for that!” I cry out and chase after the little goblin. I can never quite catch Angela, but she never gets too far from me. “Get back here!” As I run, my fire slowly creeps back into me. My body loosens up and my breathing slowly, but surely comes back under my control.
“No! I refuse!” Angela starts laughing and screaming at the same time.
“ANGELAAAAAAAA!”
“AAAAAAAA! Josh! Help! I’m being bullied by an old lady!” Angela keeps running as fast as her legs will carry her.
Ten minutes of running and yelling later, I make it across the finish line. Angela collapses. Josh, A.D., and William are talking amongst themselves. Vivian is holding back Yuko from getting into a fistfight with the fitness instructor.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!” Yuko barks. “I’M NOT DOING THAT AGAIN! I MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE! WHY SHOULD I RUN WHEN THAT WAS SO MUCH FASTER?”
“Ms. Kaneko, that wasn’t the point of the exercise. You were intended to run that mile, not cheat using your Tech.”
“THEN YOU SHOULD’VE TOLD US THAT YOU FAT BASTARD!” Yuko threw her elbows to try and escape Vivian’s grasp.
“One more word and I’ll have you expelled.” the teacher points his finger at Yuko.
“Promise?” Yuko’s voice and demeanor softened.
“Promise.”
“You can take that mile and shove it up your fat ass.” Yuko flips off the teacher.
“Goddamnit…” Vivian mumbles.
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“That’s it. Ms. Kaneko. You will be expected to vacate the premises by the end of the day.” The instructor began filing a form on his clipboard. “If you do not vacate, you will be vacated by force.”
“Thank you.” Yuko smiles and breaks free of Vivian. “See ya. I’m outtie.” she struts back to the dorm.
Josh walks over and bends down to Angela. “Hey.” he pokes her. “Are you actually hurt or are you just being dramatic.”
“Give me a phoenix down, chief…” Angela rolls over with her tongue out.
“Come on, kid.” Josh lets out a chuckle, picks Angela up by her shirt, and places her back on her feet. “You made pretty good time out there. I had no idea you could run like that.”
“I get a speed buff when I’m running from enemies.”
“Don’t we all?” Josh patted her head.
The instructor turns to us looking like he was about to murder something. “Everyone drop and give me 30.”
“Sir, yes, sir!” William yells before doing pushups with incredible form. He looks like he’s been rehearsing this for weeks.
The rest of us also begin doing push ups. Angela does one then just plops down on her chest. Vivian does twenty before taking a short break. Josh does his at a slow, deliberate pace. I can hear him breathe in and out from here. It’s so regular and rhythmic he begins to sound like a machine. Even his muscles move with an uncanny level of precision and restraint.
A.D. and Will on the other hand are doing push ups like their lives depend on it. A cloud of sweat begins to emit from their moist, solid bodies. A.D. moves faster than I believed possible… my stomach churns just looking at him. William matches A.D.’s pace for a minute until I hear something snap, then plops onto the ground and yells into the dirt until his voice cracks.
Vivian
September 5th, 2007. 7:10 p.m. Just got out of a shower. Feeling clean. Very. Very. Clean. Got all snugged up in my pjs and I’m gonna play some Metroid Prime 3 to celebrate barely making the physical exam cut. Eight minutes and fifty-eight seconds. A win’s a win. Just as I put the disc in and got all comfy on my bed, our dorm intercom crackles to life. “Team Lovers please report to the Mission Hall. Team Lovers please report to the Mission Hall asap.”
I turn to Yuko, who’s still packing everything up. “Are you going to come with us?”
“What for?” She shrugs and smiles. “Not like I’m here for long anyway.”
“Okay…” I turn off the Wii and get up to leave the dorm.
“Hey, Vivian.” Yuko says without looking at me.
“Yeah?” I stop in the doorway and look back at her.
“Thanks for the breakfast yesterday.”
I smile. “Don’t worry about it. That’s what friends are for.”
“Hmm.” Yuko grunts and I leave the dorm with A.D. and Bill.
“What do you think they want?” I ask.
“They’re obviously going to assign us a mission.” Bill glares at me like the jv soccer coach used to. “Why else would they summon us to the Mission Hall?”
“Dunno. Could be anything. I don’t like to assume anything.” I shrug. “But I’d loooove a mission. I’ve been craving for some action ever since the exam.”
“Assumptions can easily lead to one being bodied.” A.D. nods in agreement. “I hope the fitness instructor challenges me to a duel. He looks like he has some sick grapples.”
We cut through the park to reach the Mission Hall. Aside from some bright lamps by the side of the roads, the park is completely dark. I can barely see five feet past the lamps’ glow. We’re completely silent. Should I say something? I feel like I should say something. Or would that just annoy Bill?
“Are you okay, Vivian?” A.D. turns to me.
“Huh? Yeah, why?”
“My bad. I thought I heard you groan or something.”
“That must’ve been the ghosts.” I chuckle.
“That’s absurd.” Bill shakes his head and tips his hat; obscuring his eyes. “Ghosts ain’t real.”
“Are you trying to convince us or yourself?” I grin.
“Ghosts. Ain’t. Real. Even if they were, a prayer to Jesus would just dispel ‘em in an instant.”
“Ooooooh~” A.D. began waving his arms. “I am Baphomet! Come to steal your scarf!”
“That ain’t even a ghost.” Bill folds his arms and glares at A.D. “But, I’m more than willing to do some demon busting.” he holds his arm out and sharpens it to a point.
“H-hey now…” A.D. side steps. “Sharp objects aren’t allowed in sparring.”
“Well that’s convenient. You’re as dull as a sheep.”
Hehe. That actually gets a chuckle out of me.
We make it to the Mission Hall. There’s some tired looking seniors filing reports and playing some cards with the janitor. The front desk attendant looks about ready to pass out.
“Can I help you?” He asks sucking on a lollipop.
“We were summoned here by the intercom.” Bill says.
“Yeah, that doesn’t help me. What’s your team name?”
“Team Lovers.” I proclaim.
Bill tips his hat and obscures his eyes.
“Uh… huh… Right. Briefing Room #2 is what you want. Walk past me and go into the hallway on your left. Should be the first room on the right.
“Thank you kindly.” Bill walks past him and walks ahead of us right into the room. It kinda looks like the interrogation rooms in movies. Plain steel desk, four steel chairs perfect for throwing, big conspicuous mirror on the wall, a single lamp right above the table. Just being in this room makes me want to flip some tables and threaten some dude’s family for information.
Sitting across from us was the headmaster with three empty coffee cups on the desk. “You’re late.” She says before bringing a fourth cup from under the table and taking a big chug. “Sit. I ain’t got all night.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Bill sits and we follow.
“Where’s Ms. Kaneko?”
“She’s… busy.” I rub the back of my neck.
“Very well.” She shrugs and opens a binder. “I trust you three to impart this information to her. I called you all here because there’s a bit of a special mission I want your team to take on.”
“Tell us the mission already.” Will demands.
“Don’t interrupt me.” Headmaster takes a slow sip of coffee. As she drinks, I feel something clamp down against my spine. I feel like I’m being watched from every angle.
“Sorry, ma’am.” Will slinks down into a chair.
“We got a calling card from Origami yesterday.” The headmaster pulls out a beautifully crafted paper crane with five different languages written over it. “She claims that she’ll be stealing something from LA’s Natural History Museum tomorrow at 7 p.m. Are you three familiar with Origami?”
“Yes.” I nod. “Didn’t she just go to prison a month ago for killing the state governor?”
“Indeed. I’m surprised you knew that.” She smiles.
“What would Origami want from the museum?” A.D. scratches his head. “She doesn’t seem like much of a history nerd.”
“A.D., there are millions of dollars worth of art in every museum.” Bill pinches the bridge of his nose.
“I know that.” A.D. rolls his eyes. “I’m just saying that seems a little too generic, don’t you think? If Origami needed money, I’m sure she could just counterfeit with her Tech.”
“That is a valid point actually.” Headmaster flashes a small smile. “She’s been counterfeiting cash for the past decade. The feds ain’t too happy about that.”
“Are there any special exhibits right now?” I ask.
“There’s a Meiji art exhibition and a Sumerian artifact show.” Headmaster licks some stray coffee off her wrist. “Dunno what she’d want with the artifacts, so the art exhibit seems like a likely target.”
“Understood.” We all nod in unison.
“I want your team to perform guard duty at the museum tomorrow. If you see her, engage her and restrain her.” the headmaster leans forward and whispers. “But if there’s an… accident that results in her death, don’t worry.”
A.D. grimaces. “I thought we weren’t supposed to kill villains.”
“Yeah. That’s California’s stance, but it’d make our job a lot easier if some villains just ceased to exist. Got it?”
“Indeed.” Bill nods with a smile.
A.D. still doesn’t look convinced.
“Isn’t it a bit suspicious for her to just announce a theft?” I ask. “Doesn’t this seem like a trap to you?”
“I’m glad you noticed that.” She smiles at me. “Even if it may be a trap, we still have to address it. If she really does end up stealing something, and we did nothing even though she announced it, we’d look like major jackasses.”
“Makes sense.”
“Why ask us to do this mission?” A.D. asks. “I’m honored, but I’m also curious.”
“For starters, Mr. Cruz here has quite a record of taking down scum back in Austin and El Paso. Plus his Tech gives him a great advantage over Origami. I can also tell that Ms. Manalastas and you are just itching for some field work.”
“I am.” A.D. gives a short bow. “Thank you very much, ma’am, but wouldn’t Janelle be a better counterpick for Origami?”
“Do you think fire near a museum is a good idea?”
“You got me there.”
“I appreciate it. I won’t let you down.” I smile.
“Yeah, yeah. Meet by the flagpoles at 4 p.m. tomorrow for us to take you there. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.” We say in unison.
“Excellent. Any other questions?”
“Yes.” Bill says. “Would it be possible to give A.D. and Vivian a separate mission?”
“Why?” She leans back and takes another chug of coffee.
“One, I didn’t enroll here to work security. You and I both know I’m way overqualified for that. Second, this mission could be a little too dangerous for newbies like them.” Bill points at us. “Sure, Origami’s not the most lethal villain, but she’s way out of their lea-”
The headmaster lifts her finger.
Bam. Bill is propelled into the air by his neck. He struggles and claws at his throat as if an invisible talon is piercing his arteries. He kicks and kicks and kicks the air around him, but the headmaster just sits there in silence.
“You work better alone, huh? Then go on, Mr. Angel. Get out of this by yourself.”
Bill glares and reaches for her with a sharpened arm, but could not reach. “ggck…”
“I’m waiting. Seriously.” She looks at him with tired eyes and weary cheeks and takes another swig of coffee.
“Stop it!” I yell. “Let him down!”
“No.” The headmaster shrugs. “He wants to go in alone, let him.”
“I said let him down!” I shrink the table, grow my fist into a big gross Hulk hand, and lock eyes with the headmaster.
She smiles at me before looking at Bill. “What do you think, Billy? Are you ready to play nice?”
Bill looks down and says nothing.
“Very well.” She lowers her finger and drops Bill back onto his chair. “If I was a villain, I could’ve just killed you right then and there. You have teammates. All of you. Don’t forget that, got it?”
“Got it…” Bill groans and glares at her.
“Good. Now get some sleep. You have a big day tomorrow.” She waves us goodbye and takes another sip of coffee. I’d be surprised if that woman had any blood left in her coffee stream.
I fix the table, revert my hand to normal size, leave the Mission Hall, and begin walking back towards the dorms in utter silence.
“Your neck okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. It’s fine.” Bill fixes his scarf. “You two go on ahead. I need to go for a run.”
“You sure?”
“Do I look unsure?”
“No. Go on.”
Without saying goodbye, Bill runs off deeper into the park.
A.D. looks at me and waves goodbye. “Sorry. Can’t say no to a good jog. See ya later.”
“See ya.” I wave to A.D. and head back to the dorm. When I get back, I see the fitness instructor talking with Yuko at the door to our dorm.
“Please forgive me, Ms. Kaneko.” He bows. “I shouldn’t have been so rude earlier. Your expulsion is withdrawn. You may continue to learn at this institution.”
“No.” Yuko responds with hollow eyes and her mouth ajar. “Expel me, you coward.”
“I cannot expel a student with such great potential. Please continue to enjoy your time here.”
“I won’t.”
“Please try to.” he jogs off in a panic.
I walk past him and look at Yuko. “So… you’re staying? How?”
“Let’s just say my parents made a generous donation.”
“Ooooooh…” I nod. “Well, I’m happy you’re still with us.”
Yuko was about to say something, but just closes her eyes and exhales. “What did you guys get summoned for?”
“We have a mission tomorrow in downtown L.A. We’re supposed to do guard duty at the museum. Gotta meet at the flagpoles at 4.”
“Could be worse…” Yuko rubs her temple. “I’ve been meaning to go to Little Tokyo.”
“What for?”
“There’s this curry joint that I haven’t had in forever.”
“Wanna get dinner there?”
“I’m getting dinner there. Alone.”
“My treat.”
Yuko pauses, then sighs. “Yeah okay, we’ll have dinner there.”
“Yes!” I wind up a high-five. “I’m looking forward to it!”
Yuko looks at my hand, then at me, then at my hand again. “I’m going to bed.” she walks away.