Kaleb parked his car in the parking lot of the college and turned it off. Sitting in his seat, he took a few quick breaths as he stared at the building. He was surprisingly nervous, even as he stared out at the half-empty community college parking lot. Apparently Wednesdays weren’t a big day for classes. Humans and aliens were milling about in front of the college building and the parking lot itself. Some were smoking, others were talking, and most were holding books or bags.
Kaleb took a few steadying breaths and then grabbed his mug of coffee. With a grunt, he opened his door and stood out of his car. His bright white lab coat and robotic arm drew some stares. But he noticed he wasn’t the only cyborg on the street. A few of the students also had their own prosthetics. He quickly crossed the street and climbed the short stairs into the building. Crossing the threshold, a cool breeze hit Kaleb in the face and he shivered. The warm Texas air was always welcome, but apparently someone preferred the college to be freezing.
Ignoring the odd looks he was still getting, Kaleb walked over to the receptionist desk and waited in line. Three students were in front of him, all talking to a harried alien woman at the same time. The discussion was loud and seemed to be going nowhere before the receptionist finally slammed her hand down on her counter. Making the students fall silent.
“Listen! I don’t care if you were just notified, the schedule has changed. Today’s class will be chemistry taught by a certified Super. Those of you here for advanced robotics will just have to wait until we find a replacement teacher.”
“There was supposed to be a robotics class today?” Kaleb asked before he could stop himself.
Four heads pivoted toward him like tank turrets. Kaleb watched as all of their eyes took in his clothing, his robotic arm, and his armor in that order. The alien receptionist scowled at his attire, but collected herself quickly.
“Yes and sir, normally we ask students not to attend school in full combat gear.”
Kaleb almost cursed his mouth as words once again flew from his lips. “Oh, that’s okay. I’m the chemistry teacher.”
A brief silence met his announcement as some students took a step back from him in surprise. The receptionist’s eyes grew wide, and she immediately started typing something on an unseen keyboard. Her eyes were angled down, making Kaleb think the screen she was looking at was below the top of her desk. Kaleb pushed himself to the front of the line as he nodded thanks to the students who cleared the way for him.
The receptionist finished whatever she was doing and turned her alien eyes up at him. She seemed confused as she sputtered.
“Professor…Pack… Rat?”
“Wow, it’s been so long since I heard the whole thing that I’d almost forgotten. Most people just call me Professor. But that’s me. Is there anything I should see before I start my class? I understand that I’m teaching basic chemistry.”
“Now, wait just a moment! You can’t just teach a class. What are your qualifications? Do you have any references? How are you already in our systems?!”
The alien woman started hyperventilating as she asked her questions, and Kaleb took a step back. All of these had been questions he had asked the previous receptionist the last time he was here. But she had told him that everything would be taken care of. All he needed to do was show up. Now here he was and a different receptionist didn’t even know he was coming? Strange. Kaleb almost felt sad that he would not get to teach anyone. But then another female voice spoke up from behind the desk.
“He’s fine, Barb. That’s the substitute I was talking about. His info is in the system.”
The alien woman, Barb, spun in her chair to address the voice. “I can see that, Clarice. But you can’t just fudge official documentation to get your friends a job.”
Kaleb recognized Clarice as the woman that had press-ganged him into being a teacher. She was stepping out of the back office beyond the front desk and scowling. She humphed angrily as she stomped over to Barb and took over her unseen terminal.
“Look here. He’s a Mundane Super of the Basilinoid Science Caste. Known for deploying unorthodox equipment and gear when subduing criminals. He’s exactly what we need.”
“Bu-”
“Barb! Our teachers are leaving in droves. If we want the school to stay open, we need to take action.”
The alien woman made an annoyed squeal as she waved her mauve-colored arms at her screen. “But Clarice! You can see he’s got a Class-13 note on him from the HLO, right? What if he is a suspected criminal?!”
“Then I suppose we will all die in a fireball of death from a mad scientist's lab,” Clarice scoffed.
Kaleb was busy trying to look over the counter at the terminal to see Barb’s response. But the sound of wheels on carpet and stomping made him think the woman had left. The countertop groaned in protest as he spotted the top portion of a holo-screen. But a firm smack to the top of his head made him stand up straight. Clarice was standing there, a clipboard in her hands. She was scowling at him.
“Professor, your class is in thirty minutes. Please familiarize yourself with your attendance sheet and the supplies we have provided. Any extra supplies will have to be bought by you. Also, your classroom has been moved to room 302. SOMEbody started a fire in the old chemistry lab, so we are getting it renovated.”
Kaleb coughed awkwardly as he took the clipboard from Clarice. It wasn’t a fire, really. More of a fight with a small portion of a demon lord. But Kaleb wasn’t going to correct her. Instead, he read the names of his fifteen students and nodded his head. It wasn’t a huge class and most of the kids were coming straight out of high school. But Kaleb was back to being equal parts nervous and excited.
“What about us?” A student from behind Kaleb asked. “Robotics 101 was supposed to start today. Now I hear we’ve lost that professor as well? What are all of us supposed to do?”
Kaleb studied the corner of his clipboard as he tried to step out of the situation. He knew about as much about Robotics as he did chemistry. There was no sense in him getting roped into teaching both classes. No matter what they paid him. Thankfully, Clarice was already on top of things.
“I have a friend coming in to teach Robotics. But she won’t be here for a few hours. So all of you can go home and the school will notify you later today.”
The three students grumbled aloud but moved toward the front door as a group. Kaleb sighed in relief as he set the clipboard on the desk and took a sip from his mug. He felt Clarice's eyes on him, though. He looked up to see the human woman glaring at him and he shrugged his shoulders in confusion.
“What?”
Clarice grunted. “Can you not read unless you’re standing? Move on to your classroom, professor. You have a string of students that will arrive shortly.”
“Oh, I was wondering if you needed me for anything else.”
“No. We’ll handle your payment information after class. Now git.”
Kaleb softly chuckled as he stepped away from the front desk and turned down the hall. It wasn’t that long ago that he, Jar-lock and Vivienne had been here. Studying a portion of the Sludge Lord’s body. Of course, that brief episode resorted in Vivienne getting possessed and them setting the school on fire. Well… Vivienne set the fire… while the demon possessed her. It was a time.
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Kaleb walked through the halls, studying the building as he walked. It was clearly old and in disrepair in places. Even before he got to the portion of the hallway that was under construction. Small bits of trash dotted the floor, and the walls were marked up. It wasn’t completely run down, but it certainly wasn’t the wealthiest of schools. He found his room after zigzagging his way through the halls. The building was only one story, but it went back a decent way.
His room was nestled firmly halfway down a hall on the eastern side of the building. An Old wooden door swung open creakily at his touch and Kaleb stepped in. Light from the hall streamed in and dust particles floated in the air before Kaleb turned on the light. What met his gaze was a tiny classroom with a green board hanging on the north wall. Aside from the old chalkboard, Kaleb had a desk in the northeastern corner and several uncomfortable-looking desks. He grit his teeth at the state of things.
Clearly, he had not been given the best room. In fact, Kaleb suspected he was given the worst room the college had. He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he walked around. The walls were bare; the floor was filthy, and the desks were shoved toward the back of the room. There was one closet with its door half-open. When Kaleb went to close it, he found that the wooden door was warped so much that it wouldn’t shut properly. He left it open as he explored the small closet, his temper flaring.
The small space smelled of old books and possibly mold as he looked around. When he tried to turn on the closet light, Kaleb found that the bulb was out. He grabbed a few books and pulled them into the light. Their pages were yellowed and their covers cracked. Two of the three he grabbed were marred with doodles and writing. Kaleb spent the next few minutes emptying the closet, looking for suitable books.
Once he was done there, he ventured back out into the hall and found a janitor’s closet. Grabbing what he needed, Kaleb spent his time cleaning his new classroom. He swept the floor, dusted the chalkboard, found some chalk, and wiped off the desks. He was in the middle of moving the now-cleaned desks into position when he heard voices at his door.
“It’s fine. They always put the best classes at the back of the school. Everyone knows that.”
“That sounds like bullshit, Brick.”
“Naw, I’m serious. It’s so the Professors won’t meet too many people. The really smart ones are pretty eccentric.”
A young man and woman walked into his classroom. The big man was about Kaleb’s height, but extra thick in the shoulders. His skin was blueish gray and had loose white hair hanging about his face. His companion was a human woman. She was slightly shorter with tan skin and blonde hair. They both looked around the room until they spotted Kaleb carrying a desk in his arms.
“See, only one here is the Janitor. I told you we’d even beat the teacher here.” The man proclaimed, raising his massive arm into the air for a high-five.
Kaleb scowled, and the woman gasped.
“Brick, I don’t think he’s the janitor.”
“What? Of course he is. He’s cleaning the room, arranging the desk, dressed in… armor?”
Brick slowly stopped talking as Kaleb moved the desk into position and turned around to grab another. As he did, he caught the human girl’s eye.
“I see you’re the brains of the outfit. Chemistry is going to have to wait for a bit. They left me a room in pretty terrible shape.”
The other student smiled awkwardly as Brick seemed to still be trying to wrap his mind around what he was seeing. His two students stayed near the door as Kaleb kept arranging chairs. Neither offered to help, which gave them both a failing grade for the day in Kaleb’s book. He had the first row done when the next student arrived. A male Rapidian with yellow skin and a twitchy nature. The alien zoomed into the classroom and looked around before zooming back out. He was quickly back again and standing in front of the class, staring at Kaleb.
“Nooo.” The Rapidian said in stunned disbelief.
“Yep. Professor Pack Rat, chemistry teacher. Any changes to your schedule can be made at the front desk.”
“I already changed it to get rid of that asshole Neridad that slept through his own class.” The alien replied.
Kaleb simply shrugged his shoulders and went back to moving desks. Brick’s brain restarted, and he asked the new arrival.
“What’s a-matter with the professor?”
“He’s a mundane, ya clod. Basilinoids aren’t known for their super-powers. Unless you count the ability to regenerate limbs.”
“How is that not a superpower?” Brick’s female friend asked.
“It’s a biological response to danger.” Kaleb answered. “Sort of like a lizard cutting off its tail to avoid predators. However, unlike a normal super-power, I can’t train it like a muscle or strengthen it in any way. My ability to regenerate is merely something that happens, not something I can control.”
The yellow-skinned alien stared at Kaleb in respect for a few seconds before he blurred away. He reappeared in a chair in the front row of the class. He spun in his seat as he addressed Kaleb again.
“At least you seem knowledgeable enough. How’s your chemistry?”
“Good enough to teach you the basics.” Kaleb said, marking the Rapidian down a grade for not helping, either.
Brick and his friend also took seats toward the front, and Kaleb hissed under his breath. The desks weren’t heavy, but the work was tedious. The Rapidian watched him for a bit before asking another question.
“The front desk said that you were a certified hero. Is that true?”
“Yes, it is. I work with the Lone Star Hounds and we do contract work around Blue Bluff.”
“Ahh, a contract hero. Gotcha.” The Rapidian scoffed.
Brick’s friend was confused as she turned in her seat to join the conversation. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing.” Kaleb interrupted before the Rapidian could reply. “It’s just some people are so used to the HLO that they can’t imagine how a super can work without them.”
“Please, Mundane, you’re not a super. You’re a guy with too much time and a bunch of toys,” the Rapidian said angrily.
Kaleb arched an eyebrow. “You want to test that theory?”
“It’s not a theory. It’s a fact. Take away your toys and you’re just a lizard with a prosthetic.”
“Then get up and prove it.” Kaleb said, putting down his desk.
He crossed his arms and sat his butt on the edge of the desk as he stared at the young alien. The guy’s yellow skin seemed to glow brighter before he stood to his feet. Kaleb could only guess that the young alien was pissed. But he didn’t have time to wonder as the Rapidian blurred again. Brick leapt from his chair, trying to do something. His friend screamed, and Kaleb felt something slam into his chest. His armor took the blow easily, and the Rapidian rebounded off Kaleb. He slammed into a few desks and went down to the floor as Kaleb crossed his arms and smirked.
A Demon Lord and advanced weaponry had a hard time getting through Kaleb’s armor. A young-adult alien with more balls than sense was much easier. His assailant groaned from the floor and Kaleb grabbed the skinny man’s arm. He lifted his student to his feet and gave him a quick once over. The alien was cradling his arm, but otherwise seemed fine. Fine enough to take another swing at Kaleb, at least. The Rapidian’s arm blurred through the air and Kaleb instinctually took a step back. The kid over-extended the punch and almost went back down to the floor. But Kaleb caught him and shook him slightly.
“Alright, that’s enough of that. You take another shot and I’ll put you down hard.”
The alien sniffed indignantly but didn’t break his hold. Kaleb cautiously let the boy go and looked around the room. Even more students were at the front of the class now, watching. Kaleb gave them an awkward wave with his robotic hand and patted the Rapidian with the other. His class looked a little dumbstruck at his actions, but Kaleb merely shrugged. He shoved the Rapidian toward the door, careful not to use too much force.
“Go see the nurse about that arm. You’re free to try again next time. But I’d suggest you avoid the armor.”
The surly alien muttered something as he stomped out of the room and Kaleb went back to moving chairs. Brick was introducing himself to the new arrivals as Kaleb got things squared away. Still, no one helped him, though. Although, at this point, Kaleb understood. Soon, the desks were in order and Kaleb walked to the front of the class. As he did, his students gave him a wide berth and rushed to their chairs. The Rapidian’s seat was still empty and there were a few minutes left on the clock. So Kaleb took off his lab coat and got comfortable.
A yellow blur spun into the room with a little more force than was necessary, and his Rapidian friend appeared again. This time, the alien took his seat and pointedly looked away from Kaleb. The bell rung shortly afterwards and Kaleb stood to address the class. As he did, he waved a hand at Brick.
“Could you and your friend come up here and pass out the books, please?”
Brick nodded happily as his friend scowled. She rose from her seat and glanced at Kaleb before muttering.
“My name’s Valerie.”
“Apologies, Valerie. Would you mind helping Brick?”
“No, sir.”
“Thank you.”
The pair of students went about handing books as Kaleb watched the room. All fifteen chairs were occupied and a tense air filled the room. He saw several eyes shoot toward his weapons, and Kaleb briefly lamented leaving his Magic Gun behind. He wasn’t fully kitted out and probably seemed lopsided with only three guns on him.
“Then again, that’s probably not what they are thinking about,” Kaleb told himself.
Brick and Valerie finished handing out the books, and Kaleb coughed to get everyone’s attention. Multiple eyes shot up from his various weapons and Kaleb spread his arms wide. A big fake smile appeared on his face.
“Welcome, students. My name is Professor Pack Rat, and I’ll be teaching you chemistry 101.”