Olympus Hall

University of Calgary

At the end of that second day, the students responded in a variety of ways. Some found the closest hot tub and melded with it. More than a few students enjoyed a bit of alcohol to help relax. A few students fell directly into their beds. The entire class packed away small mountains of food. The meals of fish or chicken, rice, potatoes, and a myriad of vegetables each followed the dietary guidelines they had been given.

In Team One’s, as they had learned they were numbered today, apartment Drew lay on top of his sheets. His muscles burned with the large amounts of lactic acid that they built up. Never in his life had he been this sore, or even imagined that a human could be this sore. Apparently, Instructor Pearson’s healing abilities would mend damaged tissue, but could not aid with fatigue.

As he drifted into sleep a sobering thought flashed through him: this was day two of a three-year program. Logic said that, for him, the most arduous physical part would be the beginning as he was beaten into physical condition by the instructors. Surely it would get easier as his endurance and strength increased, wouldn’t it? No matter, tomorrow was an “off day” at the Academy; a chance for those enrolled in university to attend classes, or for those with part-time jobs to work. Tomorrow he would meet with his Ph.D. advisor and get some lab time in.

Sharon rolled over in bed and picked up her cell phone, checking the screen to see it was her father, David Bourque, calling. She sat up and tabbed the icon to answer.

“Hi, Daddy.”

“How is my superhero? Have those rednecks in Alberta tried to get you to go to a rodeo or tip a few cows?”

“No, I haven’t even seen any cows yet.”

“They keeping you busy?”

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“Very. Mostly it has been evaluations so far, but they say real training starts Thursday.”

“They know you are the best there by now, don’t they? You showing up all the others?”

“It has been pretty tough here so far... Physically I am one of the strongest I think, but I had a match against someone today that really pushed me. I won though.”

“You hesitated, why?” a harsh tone had driven out the jolly manner that had been there seconds before.

“You know I can’t tell you specifics, but the first test they gave us was kind of a no-win situation.”

“No win? That is a copout and you know it! You lost, admit it and don’t lie to me.”

“We were not meant..”

His angry reply cut her off, “Bull crap! I spent tens of thousands getting you the best coaches, training, and nutrition possible. Don’t you dare try to explain away your failure. God dammit, there are other members of parliament who know you are a student there. How will they react when they learn you have failed? How the hell am I supposed to become Prime Minister without the party’s confidence, and how am I supposed to gain that if my own daughter is a complete screw-up in everything she does? Christ you stupid girl, there is more to life than just yourself. Stop being so damn stupid!”

In the room next to her’s El raised his head slightly, careful not to hit it against the bottom of the bed. His ear’s unconsciously angled to better pick up the angry voice.

Other members of the party know I am here? Only if you have bragged about it to them. Thanks for keeping a secret Daddy.

“I promise I will do better. I will train harder than anyone else here, you know I will.”

A low whine escaped El at the barely contained pain in his teammate’s strained voice. There were disadvantages to sleeping as a wolf.

“I know you say you will, but what damn good is a woman’s promise? Why couldn’t your brother have been the one born special? He would have been the greatest hero Canada has ever produced.”

If Daniel was so great why did all the NHL and AHL teams pass on him in the draft? Why is he working for you now instead of breaking all of Gretzky’s records like you said he would?

“I can’t even talk to you now, I am just so disgusted with you. You fat, stupid, lazy cow!”

Sharon held the phone to her head for several seconds after the line went dead. She set the phone down, rolled over in the blankets and curled around her pillow. Tomorrow she had time for a run followed by a strength workout before her first class. Perhaps if she worked hard enough things would be alright...