However, he turned a corner and walked into one of the student lounges and found the holiday spirit completely missing. Loud metal music echoed off the walls, the two large televisions had action movies playing violent scenes, and the one occupant laid across a couch while thumbing through a rather risque magazine.
Nova paused, the onslaught of the lights and sounds inside this room were almost painful after his walk here. He beheld the occupant with a critical gaze for a moment. The young man was twenty, wearing nothing but a pair of super briefs, and his body was lithe but muscular. His skin had a shine of greens and browns that were glistening off of the lizard-like scales. His black hair he spiked with bright red, and dark green claws adorned his fingertips.
Nova casually walked over to the wall and punched a button exclusive to instructors. The lights changed to bright white; the televisions went dark, and the music came to an abrupt halt.
“What the hell! Who killed the music?” The boy launched up from the couch, ready to strike. His wrath turned to shock at the sight of Nova. “Oh, sorry, sir. I didn’t know you were coming. I thought everyone was busy with all the holiday nonsense.”
Nova cocked his head and looked down at the magazine on the floor. “You know we don’t allow those kinds of publications on the station.”
“I know. Don’t care.”
Nova, still holding the file in his hand, strolled closer. “What are you doing here?”
“What’s it look like? Enjoying myself.”
Nova looked down at the file, “Micheal Messenger. You asked us to let you exit the program early. So... why are you even here?”
“I was dumb and signed on to take your classes.”
Nova said, “They aren’t ‘my’ classes. This is an education program designed by several of the brightest minds in hero theory and practice. They’re here to help you maximize your potential with your powers.”
“Nice speech, gramps. I don’t need the recruitment brochure, I know how this works. I signed up, that was a big mistake, now I wanna go home. If I read that brochure correctly, it says I can opt to leave the program. So, I opt.” He flicked at his claws with a practiced dismissive attitude.
Nova refrained from responding in kind to this attitude. He has become accustomed to the arrogance that can be part of gaining powers. “Okay. Before I let you leave, I want to know why you are even here? You barely began before you started purposefully flunking out of everything. I saw your powers when you came up initially. You could prove to be a useful hero in this world. Recent events repeatedly show our ongoing need for heroes.”
Micheal plopped down on the couch. “I didn’t want to run around fighting the bad guys. Don’t care. Let someone else deal with them. I just thought, if I gave up my powers, I would lose this...” He gestured to his overly exposed body.
“Your... skin?”
“The scales, the claws, the abs, the gorgeous pecks. And, have you seen my ass... the ladies like it.” He smiled.
Nova sneered, “You signed on to be a hero because of your appearance? I’m not following.”
“Look, I just worried that if I took your drugs or whatever it takes to reduce my powers, that all this would revert to what I was before. Now, I can eat like a hog, and still be hot. I want two things in life: fun and babes.”
Nova pushed aside the sermon building in him at this attitude and chose a different path. “Don’t you think of other people? Heroes are just as glamorous as you want to be. They get the attention from people, even the... babes,” he loathed to use that term, “At the same time, those heroes also save lives and protect this world. Doesn’t that matter to you?”
Micheal kicked his legs up on the coffee table, “You got lots of heroes. I don’t need to be one of them. Besides, unless it’s a hot chick, I don’t care if I save them or not.”
Nova said, “Son, you have a serious attitude problem.”
“I know. Don’t care. Now, are we done? I’d love to be on the first shuttle back to civilization.”
“We aren’t done. I must impress on you the seriousness of this. Even if you go back, you will still need to be responsible for keeping up with your power suppression. Big egos lead to villainy. I can’t let anyone leave here who might choose to use their gifts against us and endanger the world.”
Micheal laid his head back and let out a hot sigh, “Look, old man, I ain’t gonna go out and start robbing banks or trying to take over the world. I don’t care. I want the nightlife in the big city, I want the hot girls around me, I want to lie on a crowded beach and show off these guns. So, don’t worry about that.”
Nova turned and headed for the door.
Micheal sat up, “So, can I leave or not?”
“No.”
“Wait! The rules say that I can opt to leave. I’m leaving. You can’t stop me.”
Nova turned around and smiled as he looked at the furious lizard, “If you read the rules all the way, you would find there is more to it than just deciding to leave. I need to be convinced you are no risk, no danger.”
“I just said I’m no risk. I don’t want to become a villain. That’s not on my to-do list.”
Nova said, “You can say all you want. Actions speak louder than words.”
“What do you want me to do? How the hell do I prove I won’t become a villain?”
Nova said, “Join in the festivities tonight. We can talk and discuss your plans later.”
Micheal plopped back down again, “I’ll pass.”
“You really don’t like Christmas?”
“Kid’s stuff. Don’t hate it, but really don’t care about it.” He snarled, “It’s so sweet and gooey and cutesy. I’d rather do just about anything else.”
With a clever look, Nova said, “I think I just figured out a way you can prove to me you are fit to leave the program.”
“How?”
Nova shook his head. “I’ll tell you later. I will bring someone here to help.”
“Gonna bring in a head shrinker to see if I’m a psychopath?” Sarcasm dripped from each word.
“I had considered that. But I have a better choice.”
“Who?”
“You’ll find out. Just be ready. He’ll be here soon.” Nova headed for the door, “Oh, and get that out of your briefs before he gets here. It’s undignified.” Pressing the button on the wall, he canceled the instructor lock and everything returned to all the noise.
Micheal watched Nova leave. Once the door was closed, he pulled the rolled up sock out of his briefs and tossed it aside. He plopped back on the couch and picked up the dirty magazine.
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