#26130
Chapter One - "Frankie and the Upgrades"
"OK, cadets, good job," Chained Angel said as the doors to the R.A.I.D. (Regulated Augmented Instructional Department) simulator closed. "We still have some work to do, but you are coming along well in your training."
I couldn't help but smile at her praise. Getting some positive coaching after combat training felt good, and fighting in a holographic environment against a computer generated foe was much less painful than my league war training sessions with my mentor, Midgardsormr. His technique was brutally straightforward. Learn to fight by surviving someone trying to literally kill you. Effective, but if it weren't for the medical staff aboard the BADGE Stellar Arena, I don't know if I'd still be alive today.
"Thanks for getting us scheduled," Prysmatica said as she wiped her face with towel. The session had been grueling, several hours long. Many other leagues completed it faster than we did on average, which was slightly embarrassing but we were slowly improving. "Do you have the time for our next go set up?"
"Actually, I do. There was an opening tomorrow at 8a.m.," Chained Angel said. "As it is Saturday, I figured we could squeeze it in to get ready for the new event Director Nova has for us next week."
I think our explosive groans and eye-rolls might have offset the station's rotational balance a bit. Training is all well and good, but so were days off.
"What have you been smoking?" Wyldfyre said sharply. "We've been going non-stop since Agent Justin came up with the idea. I need some me time. Me time that includes none of you all being around."
Chained Angel shoved her palm outward between them and turned her head away, the universal gesture for 3THCTFDC (Talk to the hand cause the face don't care). "We've only been able to attempt the first of the simulations. There is a whole other program for advanced fighting, but if you're to weak to face it..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Wyldfyre crafted a dog-sized dragon out of a fire he generated with the wave of a hand. It walked over to the simulator doors as a new team of 5th Precinct leaguemembers walked through and the construct proceeded raise its leg and urinate flame at their feet. "I'll be there, just to show the rest of you losers how to get it done."
"I'll be there," I said as I ignored Wyldfyre's latest antics. As I caught a reflection of myself in my Madam Marvelous persona in a window to the outside of the space station, I reveled in the view beyond the enhanced transparent aluminum pane of glass. The darkness of space never ceased to amaze me when I looked into it. As a shapeshifter, I could turn into diminutive insects, but no matter how tiny I could become, looking out at the endless void of the universe made me feel so much smaller. "I've got to get going, though. Anyone else want to head to New Amsterdam with me on the shuttle?"
"I can take you," Catalyst said. "I'm heading to our HQ."
"Can I join?" Prysmatica asked. "I have to meet Chaz in a few hours for a dat--"
A collective "OOOHHHHH" resounded from our group, one I participated in, and one that brought a rosy blush to Prysmatica's cheeks. "Come on. What are you guys, in high school still?"
I restrained from raising my hand despite her being correct. Yes, I was in tenth grade, but that secret didn't need to be shared. As superheroes, or capes as most called us, a degree of secrecy to our private identities was shared by each member of our group. "I don't mind."
"Let's go, then," Calalyst said. He, Prysmatica, Infinite Tempest, and I all departed the waiting area to the simulator and headed to the docking bay on our way back home.
MMMMMMMM
A wall of electronic equipment hummed with the buzz of thousands of bees within its components. The notorious villain known as Gamer G plugged wires into various outlets, each time the noise shifting in frequency, escalating in pitch in a climbing musical disharmony. Red wire to black port. Blue wire to yellow. He pulled and switched connections like a conductor creating a maddening symphony while he himself chuckled maniacally alongside the cacophony.
Flipping a switch, Gamer G stepped back as the sounds rose to a frequency the human ear could not detect, blanketing the room in silence. "Achievement unlocked. You've officially leveled up. Can you feel it?"
"With the addition of these Xandraxi parts I was able to smuggle out of Free Detroit, you are deadlier than ever, Frankie," Gamer G said gleefully as he rubbed his hands together with exuberance. "I've even managed to replace your arm that those zero heroes stole from you. Feel free to DIS-arm any who get in your way on your mission with the same Dis-regard, my prec... my creation of deadly death. You will be such a surprise for them, I almost want to save you to give them for Christmas, but I need that reporter out of my hair. He's trying to open up an investigation into my rebranding of Super Duper Games."
"What is my mission?" Frankie asked.
"Why, kill Chaz Hamilton, of course."
to be continued...
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