Chapter 50
Once they were back at their dorm, “Team Challengers” got to work choosing their captain. Bailey knew that she could shine, but the problem was that her teammates didn’t think very highly of her, as expressed in the first episode of Top Seed. If she was going to be named team captain for this trial, her friends would need to back her up.
“So, how are we gonna do this?” Megan’s timid voice asked over the din of conversation.
“Well, are there any volunteers?” Jax responded with his own question. “Because I’d like to nominate my sister. I know, I know, you’re all shocked. But hear me out. June has been training to be a Herald forever. And I know for a fact that she’s thought about how she’d introduce herself to the world. Plus, she’s got some connections in the Herald world that might pay off in a challenge like this.”
“Surprise, Surprise. The Bradley twins sticking together again,” Connor snarked before sardonically adding, “I personally think Cecilia should lead us.”
“Cecilia?” Bobby couldn’t hold back his shock. “You mean the same Cecilia that thought the last challenge was better executed individually instead of working as a team?”
“What, are you unable to take direction from someone that turns you on?” Cecilia bit back.
“It was a joke!” Bobby responded. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you used your influence in the last trial to sway people away from June and Ken’s potentially winning strategy to your much less effective one, costing us a win. Unless, of course, you think the All-Stars are just that much better than us? I’d cast my vote for Ken or June, based purely on the last challenge.”
Bailey looked around the room, taking in all the hostility. When had The Challengers split into two warring sides? She had been so focused on her own drama that she hadn’t noticed the two distinct factions that had formed within the larger group.
“Guys, guys! Come on!” Bailey urged. “Unless we come together, we won’t have any chance at winning.”
“She’s right!” Joel backed his bestie up. “We need to come to a consensus. Is there anyone that we all would feel good about in the leadership role?”
“Does anyone have any actual experience in this sort of thing?” Ken posed the question to the group.
“Well, I do,” Bailey answered. “I mean, it's not easy to get even the small amount of success that I have in Hollywood. But I busted my ass and marketed the shit out of myself. Sure, I’m not landing ‘leading lady’ type roles yet, but I am making a living as an actress. And that’s not easy.”
“Well, it may not be Hollywood, but I’ve managed my uncle’s motorcycle repair shop’s social media right here in Meta-Eden. And, now, we are the shop that all the Heralds and their employees use for bike repair.” Connor followed up. Bailey felt insulted that Connor would compare a glorified Yelp page to her career management but kept her pique contained.
“Being team leader is not about specifics of task…” Spencer’s soft-spoken Russian accent always grabbed the group’s attention. He didn’t speak often, but when he chose to, his words mattered. “...it’s to earn and maintain the group's trust. We need someone strong. Decisive. Someone we can get behind.”
“I had a really good time working with Jax on the balloon game,” Ralph offered. “And he did get us all to do team building on our day off.”
“That’s true,” June added, deciding that she would back her brother the same way he backed her earlier in the discussion. “And he has the same connections to The Herald and media worlds that I do, which could easily become an asset in the challenge.”
“And I have never seen him lose his temper or treat anyone with anything other than respect,” Ken affirmed.
“Huh,” Cecilia thought aloud. “I’m pretty sure he didn’t even shit talk anyone on television either.”
“When are you gonna let that shit go!” Bobby feigned exasperation.
“Never,” Cecilia answered cooly. “But I’d back Jax for team captain.”
Bailey could sense the job slipping away. Or maybe it was never within reach in the first place. She was having a hard time keeping her anger tamped down, though. She could understand the group going with Cecilia or Ken… or June. But Jax? The kid was a slacker. She liked him just fine. But as the team’s leader? How could this group not see that she was clearly the most qualified for the role? Hell, she was their team’s fucking point leader! What would she need to do to get their respect?
“Okay, I think we are all ready to vote, yeah?” June said. “Everyone in favor of my brother leading the team for this challenge, raise your hand.” Everyone in the room raised their hands. “Great! Now we just need to choose our client.”
As though June had summoned him, The Show’s face popped up on the dorm’s main television screen. “Hello, Challengers! I see you have chosen your team leader. Congratulations Borealis! You will do a fine job, I’m sure.”
“Uh, thanks,” Jax responded, not sure that The Show could even hear them.
“Well said.”
Huh, I guess he can hear us, Jax thought.
“Now, on to your next decision. In a moment, the All-Stars will deliver two dossiers for you to look at. You will have an hour to choose an up-and-coming Herald that your team will be introducing to the world. Choose wisely. Each will have their pros and cons. Weigh them thoroughly and decide which of the two would best help your team navigate through the choppy public relations waters of a worldwide debut. Once you have made your selection, place the unchosen dossier in the box outside your door. You can hold on to the folder with your chosen Herald’s info to reference throughout the week. Good Luck!” The monitor powered off, and The Challengers heard a knock at their front door.
Jax stood up and walked to the door. Opening it revealed Lizzy, standing tall and holding two folders. She handed them to her challenger counterpart and asked, “They chose you to be captain?”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“Yep,” Jax answered. “You?”
“Of course! Who else? I mean, Olympian put up a fight, but let’s be honest…” She trailed off before shouting over Jax, “Thanks for not choosing my cousin! Looks like another easy All-Star win!”
“Just get outta here,” Jax said as he shut the door on Lizzy and turned to the group of challengers who were huddled around a large square coffee table. “Let’s do this!” he said as he walked over and plopped the pair of dossiers into the center of the group.
Bailey grabbed the top one, opened it up, and started reading silently. In the top right corner was a photograph of a beautiful blond woman in her early twenties. Bailey knew a headshot when she saw one. This Herald was an actress. To the left and below the photograph was her biography.
__________________________________________________________________________
Name: Silver Scream
Herald Team: Hollywood Heralds
Power: Sonic Disruption
Category: Manipulator
Bio: Silver Scream grew up in Hollywood and worked for over a decade as a child actress. After landing her famous Grouchy Baby Doll commercial, she appeared on television shows like Relative Issues and Riley Rukus, where she displayed her singing and dancing talents. Silver Scream’s time in Hollywood led her to discover a world of abuse, greed, and corruption, which motivated her to try out for her local Herald team. Earlier this month, The Show hand-picked Silver Scream to join the lauded Hollywood Heralds, and the squad voted unanimously to admit her to their illustrious group.
Charitable Goals: She is a founding member of Actors for Equality and is a leader in the fight for pay equity and family leave across her industry and beyond. A dog owner and vegan, Silver Scream is an outspoken advocate for animal rights and a member of PETA and the ASPCA. In addition, members of her family have Alzheimer's disease, and Silver Scream has donated her time and resources in the fight for its cure.
___________________________________________________________________________
“She’s impressive,” Bailey said to the group while perusing the dossier. “An actress… involved in lots of good causes. Plus, the fact that she already has name ID, and that people will recognize her face could be super helpful. I mean, the challenge is essentially about creating the type of popularity that she already has.” She wondered who the All-Stars actually did choose if they would let someone with this much potential fall to The Challengers.
“You just like her because she’s an actress,” Connor said. Bailey was starting to dislike that kid. He always had issues with other people’s ideas but never voiced any solutions or plans of his own.
“I like her because she will give us a leg up in a popularity contest. She’s already media trained. And, I mean, look at her,” she flipped the dossier around so the group could see how hot Silver Scream was.
Ashley, who was busy reading through the other dossier, looked up and said, “This one is a strong contender, too. She's an activist who’s already built online movements for her causes. Hollywood stardom is a strong force, but so is youth activism. Take a look. Her name’s Shortfin Mako,” she added as she passed the dossier over to Jax.
Bailey felt strongly that Silver Scream was the right choice but was wary of another battle against Ashley. They were making good progress in rebuilding a friendship, and this could set them back once again. Plus, Jax was the leader. Ultimately, the decision would be his. All Bailey could do was advise him on what she thought was best.
The second dossier made its way through the group to Bailey, and she took a look at the alternative option. The photo on this one was of a young black woman with round features in a blue mask. Her smile and eyes radiated an intensity that Silver Scream lacked. Bailey continued reading.
____________________________________________________________________________
Name: Shortfin Mako
Herald Team: Hawaii Heralds
Power: Shark
Category: Augment
Bio: Shortfin Mako grew up in Hawaii, where she pursued competitive surfing. She was the first Black woman to win a gold medal in the under-20 world championship before being stripped of that medal when her meta abilities were revealed. After being kicked out of the WSL, Shortfin Mako began her fight against injustice. Recently, she was arrested during a sit-in in The Arctic to protest drilling in the region. In fact, she was the first Herald to be admitted to her team in spite of multiple arrests.
Charitable Goals: Shortfin Mako’s main goal is to help reverse the negative effects of global warming. She wants to protect the planet from being destroyed by drilling and trash dumping. Her particular focus is on cleaning up the oceans. She is a founding member of Oceana and a member of Sunshine, Surfrider Foundation, Oceanic Preservation Society, and The Seas of Change Foundation, amongst many others. All in all, she is a member of over two dozen organizations, many of which have her on the board or as a founding member. A recent article in the New York Times named Shortfin Mako “the most important force in Earth’s fight for survival.”
____________________________________________________________________________
Bailey understood why Ashley would gravitate toward Shortfin Mako. They were as similar as Bailey was to Silver Scream. Which actually made Bailey feel a little less pressure. No matter who they chose, someone on their team would be able to relate to the subject, which would help them connect to the client in important personal ways.
“Okay,” Jax said, “Has everyone read both dossiers?”
The crowd nodded silently.
“Does anyone else want to make an argument for, or against, either of our options?” he asked.
“Look,” Ashley started after a few moments of silence, “I know the Hollywood celebrity is probably easier to market or whatever. But I think we should go with Shortfin Mako. We can send a message and do some good for the environment. And it’s not like she isn’t popular. Her personal OnyxSocial account has almost half a million followers. That’s almost as many as Silver Scream’s personal.”
“Almost as many…” Bailey responded. “Why start with a disadvantage?”
“Well, not really,” Bobby said. “Sorry, Bailey, but we aren’t going up against the one we don’t choose. If we choose Shortfin Mako, then Silver Scream goes into the discard pile. We have no idea who the All-Stars chose.”
“But it might be handicapping us,” Cecilia said. “If Shortfin Mako has less followers already, are we capping our ceiling?”
“More likely, we are capping our floor,” Bobby argued. “We have no idea how much work went into building their existing accounts. It's possible Shortfin Mako organically grew hers, while Silver Scream had a whole PR team to help her. Or vice versa, I guess. So it’s probably best to think of their existing numbers as a floor that we can try to grow. If anything, Shortfin Mako likely has the higher ceiling once we get the word out.”
“If. If we can get the word out,” Bailey said. “It’s possible we won’t break through.”
“But that is the challenge.” Ken sounded almost definitive in his response. “We either break through, or we do not. We have to decide who will give us the best chance to win and who we want to be the face of our team. We’ll have to sell our Herald to the world. In doing so, we will be attaching our team’s image, and our own names and reputations, to theirs. So the question is: What do we want to represent? Who do we want to represent us?”
“Um, okay. So, let’s take a vote,” Jax said in the ensuing silence following Ken’s rallying words. “Raise your hand if you think Silver Scream is The Herald for us.” Bailey raised her hand and watched Jax mentally tally the votes. “And, Shortfin Mako?”
“Someone either didn’t vote or voted twice,” Jax said. “Because I stayed neutral, and we have a tie.”
“I guess you have to break the tie, bro,” June smiled in her brother’s direction.
“Time to step up, dude,” Bobby echoed.
“Um. Okay, well then. I guess, in that case, we will be representing….Shortfin Mako!”