Chapter 91

Something about this girl is setting me off, Sonya thought as she looked up at the tall girl standing over her. The stunned look on her face was refreshing, and she couldn’t help but smile cheekily up at her. A little bit of smugness, a little bit of mischief, a twinkle in her eyes, and the girl was smiling back at her without even realizing it. What is it? My gut is just…

“You can find out an ability’s name with a touch, right?” the girl, Lillian Landrey, asked.

“Sure can!” Sonya said with a wink.

Lillian seemed to hesitate. There were a few scattered chuckles amongst those present, and Sonya pretended not to notice them. Her senses filtered them out quickly, though, and she made a mental note to keep a close eye on the bullies in the group. There was always one. She waited for the girl’s agreement, and eventually she glanced at the few who seemed supportive. One of them, a blonde jock, gave her a grin, while a brown-haired boy gave her a thumbs up. She looked back at Sonya and took her hand.

“Okay, I’ll bite.”

Sonya gripped her hand.

Analyze.

<You have acquired the Product: Zone of Comfort>

Sonya paused, her thoughts going a mile a minute as she took a quick look at the girl. All muscle, strong bearing, a sharp look in her eyes. A warrior. Yet here she was with an ability made for comforting and helping others. Sonya was not one of the people who fully ascribed to the notion that awakened abilities were somewhat tailored to a person’s personality. That said, she could understand why people felt that way. I don’t have to dig to know this girl has a good-

<Possible intervention target found. Activate Deus Ex Machina?>

Huh?

Sonya stepped back with a chuckle and broke the hand contact. She gave the girl a coy grin as her mind whirled. It happened again. “I’ll make a note of it!” she laughed. "Definitely come see me this evening during the open interviews, and we can talk more.”

The girl frowned.

Sonya cocked an eyebrow, and the jock boy stepped forward. “You aren’t going to tell her here?”

<Alex Owens, Awakened>

She glanced past him towards the brown-haired boy, who shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.

<Greg Wilt, Awakened>

She exhaled and put her hands on her hips, staring Alex down. "Excuse me? Why on Earth would I do that here?” she asked sharply.

The kid blinked. "Uh… because…”

“Listen here!” she said and stepped back to stand in front of the group. She panned her eyes over them and scanned each of their faces before stopping on one in particular. She felt a thrill run up her spine. Her heart stopped. Her mind just stuttered. If it hadn’t been for her enhanced brain, her reaction would have been blatantly obvious. She barely managed to hang on to her poker face as the bar above the boy’s head revealed itself.

<Unknown, Unknown - ERROR>

Blonde hair. Piercing blue eyes. That smile. A face she could only remember when she laid eyes on it in person. Otis, he’s here. Now. And I can’t do a damn thing! She forced herself to redirect her focus even as the gears in her head tried desperately to screech to a halt. He’s right there!

She cleared her throat. “I’m going to make something clear for all of you,” She held up a finger. "The name of your power is a precious thing. It tells you a lot about the nature of it, how it works, what it does, and how to help it grow to its fullest potential. All powers are capable of hitting the peak of their grade, and some can even encroach higher with smart use,” she said, turning to give Alex a look.

I need to get out of here. I need a moment to breathe. HE’S RIGHT THERE! Will I remember when I leave? I need to think.

“They are also a hint at your weaknesses. Blatantly shouting out your power’s name is suicidal and stupid, especially the higher in rank it is. In the peak-Epic, Heroic, and Mythic tiers, some of those powers have conceptual weaknesses,” She explained, and she didn’t miss Otis flinching a little. "Thematic ones, especially those named after mythological or historical figures, can tell you a lot. Imagine if you went around bragging that you had Achilles’ body? Hm?” She spun dramatically and pointed at Ollie. He was looking better since she last met him. "Ollie, dear! Tell me, what would you do if you had to fight a villain with Achilles’ powers?”

Everyone glanced at Ollie, who shrank a little bit under the intense scrutiny. He pushed his glasses up. "Um… I would go for his heels?”

“That’s right!” Sonya announced, her heart thundering in her ears. "Achilles was a hero who was thought invincible in myth, but his heel was vulnerable, and one blow killed him.”

Sonya turned to Alex with a raised eyebrow. "Sharing the name and details of your powers is something for your closest allies and those you trust intimately.” She pursed her lips and smiled at him. "Be more careful in the future, mm? Fortunately, you’re surrounded by fellow aspirant heroes.”

She turned away with a flourish and resisted the urge to just run. She needed to get away and reassess everything now. “Miss Landrey, I’m looking forward to talking later tonight!” She said with a wave and walked towards the doors. “Black Lotus can handle it from here, I’m sure!” She said, and Marta opened the door for her with a bow, the two disappearing inside.

–

Everyone stood in stunned silence for a moment, looking at one another. Lillian looked down at her hand and up at the door, clenching it tightly. Now I definitely want to know. Behind her, the blonde girl shifted a bit. "Wow…” Lillian and a few of the others within earshot looked her way. She had long, straight blonde hair and dark, dark blue eyes. She pulled her hair back over her ear and scowled at Lillian. "What?”

Lillian grimaced and turned away. Scary.

A sound like a whip crack broke through all the murmured conversation. Lillian turned back and looked up to see Black Lotus standing up there, leaning on the railing with one hand up. The way her fingers were positioned… Did she just snap her fingers and make that kind of sound? That could deafen someone! 

Black Lotus frowned. "Back to business!” She said, her voice carrying despite speaking at a normal volume. She crossed her arms behind her back and held her head high. "As you are all aware, this is both a training camp and a way to test you to see if you have what it takes to get your license and become a hero. The laws have changed since the flash, and there are many regulations in place and qualifications you must meet. You will be challenged here and pushed to your limits to see just the kind of person you are.”

She swept her gaze over the gathered youths. Everyone stood up a bit straighter. Lillian felt her heart pound in her chest. “You are the fifty highest potential aspirants on the East Coast. That puts a lot of pressure on you. Embrace it. Face it. Tonight is your sole night of peace before the coming storm. As Miss Chernovna indicated, there will be open interviews tonight and every night to introduce yourself to the various sponsors present. It is up to you to choose when to take the plunge and meet with one of them.”

She gestured to the left. "Miss Hardy from Wizney. Mister Onslow from Forge. Mister Cramer from Marian. And, of course, Miss Chernovna from ASTA will be in their offices within the facility that you’ll be staying in. Their doors will be open after training is done each day to meet with you.”

She drew her arm back. "As for your instructors, there are several licensed heroes present, such as myself, who will help oversee your education, and Miss Chernovna, who has agreed to assist in a few classes, including one of the combat courses. You can learn more inside; there are catalogs on your bunks. It is up to you to pick which classes you attend throughout the day. Do not waste your time. It is limited.”

The stern woman gave them all one more once-over. "This is your chance to prove yourselves. Tonight is your opportunity to rest and get to know one another. Enjoy, eat, rest, and prepare for tomorrow. Dismissed.” She finished the last statement with a clipped tone and turned away to sweep back towards the doors leading inside. The sponsor representatives scanned the gathered youths one more time before making a few notes of their own and turning away to follow her.

Everyone just stood there, Lillian watching the top hero disappear into the upper floor of the building. She turned a wide-eyed look to the others. “Did… did you guys get all that?”

John nodded and tapped his temple. "Memorized.”

Val crossed his arms and frowned a little. "So there’s no set schedule. That’s rough.”

Alex grinned. "Chernovna is teaching a combat class? I gotta see this.”

Snow tapped into her phone, and a thumbs-up emoji appeared, followed by: <Let’s check out the dorms.>

Greg glanced at Ollie, who was watching Marc march towards the doors without looking back at the others. More of the aspirants started to move, making their way inside. “Ollie, you didn’t say anything about knowing the CEO of ASTA.”

Ollie’s shoulders sank. "...She got me out of prison,” he said morosely. "Vouched for me to be here. If I make it in as a hero, my record will be cleared.”

Lillian and the others looked at one another. "Ollie, what do you mean?” Lillian asked delicately.

He turned and looked over his shoulder with a frown. "Someone died of complications from the riot,” he said quietly. "I’m legally a villain right now. Miss Chernovna heard about my powers and gave me a chance to do something good with them.” He hung his head and turned away. "I gotta go,” he said and hurried towards the doors before they could say anything.

Greg rubbed his neck. "Now I feel like an asshole.”

“I pressed,” Lillian said soberly, feeling her heart sink a little. "Poor guy, he clearly didn’t mean it.”

“We’ll look after him,” Val grunted and shoved his hands in his pockets. "C’mon, I’m hungry.”

“Salad sounds good,” John mumbled and joined him.

“You and fuckin’ salad,” Val laughed.

Alex punched his palm and marched off after Val. "Shouldn’t he be looking after you? He’s Heroic!” He laughed as Greg shrugged and moved as well.

Snow stayed behind and glanced up at Lillian. She was still standing there, hugging her arms a little bit. A small finger reached up and tapped her on the nose. She looked up to see a big winky-face smiley in front of her. “Woah!” She gasped and stepped back. "Oh, shit.” She caught her breath as Snow turned away and hurried off after her friends. She smiled at their backs and set her shoulders. Everybody’s got a story, right? It’ll be okay. First things first, let’s go check out the dorms!

The dorms were, of course, separated into two sides of the building. Lillian followed Snow and the arrows on the walls to the girls’ dorms, where there were already a few inside getting unpacked. All of the beds had a small booklet on them and a metal badge with their names. She found her bed and picked up her badge - it felt a little warm to the touch. She immediately understood why. It was freshly made.

LILIAN LANDREY, ASPIRANT - RARE TIER

“Woah, that was fast,” Lillian said, quickly clipping it to her jacket and picking up the catalog. She flipped it open, and it was filled with schedules and tables with names and descriptions of classes and tests they could take.

“Oh my god, look at the last class!” One girl shouted from the other side of the room.

Lillian looked up and then down at her book, hurrying to the last page.

COMMON-TIER DUNGEON, FINAL EXAMINATION

“A dungeon,” she breathed. "There’s a dungeon here?”

She looked up wide-eyed and saw Snow sitting on her own bed a few bunks over. Snow was also looking up at her, those off-white eyes wide with shock. She quickly grabbed her phone and tapped into it.

<They don’t expect us to clear it, do they?>

“I don’t know,” Lillian said, rubbing her neck. "Shit, that’s scary.”

<Black Lotus wasn’t screwing around.>

Lillian nodded. "Yeah, this isn’t going to be easy.” She was glad she put herself through so much training before and after the flash. It would help, she hoped. She clutched at the catalog and glanced back at the door. “They said there’s food. Want to go eat?” She asked.

<Sure! I’m starving.> Snow said and hopped off her bed, hurrying to catch up with the much longer-legged Lillian. Lily hazarded a glance down at Snow’s badge.

SUMMER FINCH, ASPIRANT - EPIC TIER

“Summer, huh?” She asked. "Funny.”

Summer gave her a petulant look and tapped into her phone, <Look who’s talking. Your name sounds like a comic book character’s.>

Lillian burst into laughter. "Yeah, I’ve heard that one before. I like it, though.”

<Thought of a codename yet?> Snow asked as they passed into the hallway.

“Not until I talk to Miss Chernovna,” Lillian said, dodging around a pair of girls that nearly raced through her to get to the dorms. 

<So you’re going? Not gonna wait till you’ve earned a little prestige?> Snow asked. <That’s what Black Lotus was implying, you know.>

Lillian nodded. "Yeah, I caught that,” she said and crossed her arms, muscles tensing a little as she frowned. "But Miss Chernovna invited me directly and said tonight. I can’t disappoint her.”

<Could be a test?> Snow pointed out.

Lillian shrugged. "This whole thing’s a test, isn’t it?”

<Point taken.>

They stepped out into the large common area that they had rushed through when they’d first come in. There was a massive diorama of the earth hanging at one side of the room surrounded by rails. The rest of the space was dominated by couches and chairs. There were tables lined up along one side with a whole spread, and aspirants had already crowded it, grabbing what they could before hurrying back to their cliques and teams. She spotted the rest of the Nashville team all sitting in one area, somehow having managed to drag Ollie in with them. Marc was nowhere in sight.

Don’t think about that guy right now. It’ll just get you worked up. She thought and made her way over to the food line. Took only a few minutes to grab a heaping plate of meat, veggies, noodles, and some rice - the works. She made sure to grab a few slices of bread too before making her way over to the group with Snow. 

“Dorms are pretty spartan, huh?” Alex said as they sat down.

“Yeah, I don’t mind. Reminds me of track and field camp,” Lillian said.

“You ran track?” Greg asked, grabbing a hot dog from his plate.

“Yeah. Moved to free running after that, and it became part of my prep regime for becoming a hero,” she said, a small smile coming to her face.

“You do parkour?” Alex blurted, sitting up. "I gotta see this.”

“Not here, dumbass,” Val chided him.

“I liked the dorms,” John muttered over a neat pile of sandwiches. "Perfect.”

“Of course you would,” Alex grunted and sat back, waving a fork in Lillian’s direction. "So, you gonna go see Miss Chernovna?”

“Yeah,” Lillian said. "After I eat.”

“Good shit,. Tell me how it goes,” Alex said with a grin. "Wouldn’t mind signing with ASTA; they got great gear.”

<Do you even need gear?> Snow pointed out with a text in the air.

“I could always work with some!” Alex rumbled.

As the bickering picked up, Lillian dug in. The food was beyond good. They’d really taken out all the stops for the aspirants’ first night. She hoped it would continue, but she had a feeling things would be tougher in the days to come. Her lips pressed together as she stared at her food. It’s going to be really hard. But I can do it. I know I can. She looked up at the others, carefree, laughing. Yeah, definitely. She nodded to herself and scarfed the rest of her food down, getting a few startled looks from the others, and shot to her feet.

“I’m going,” she said, her fists clenched.

“Hell yeah! That’s the spirit!” Alex laughed.

<Good luck. Come back to us when you’re done.> Snow said.

She looked at them and felt her chest swell a little with confidence. Yeah, she could do this. She turned around and spotted the arrow pointing up the stairs that said ‘sponsor offices’ and made her way towards it. A few groups glanced up at her and whispered among themselves as she made it to the steps. She ignored them, excitement building as she forced herself not to race up the steps or hop the rail in a little parkour show. She walked up slowly before arriving at a hallway with several doors leading into conference rooms. Each had a logo set on them for the various companies present. 

One of the doors near the end opened, and Black Lotus stepped out in a huff. Lillian froze. The woman’s expression was frustrated and a little… sad? Disappointed? No, hurt. What happened? She frowned and took a step only to draw the woman’s attention. Black Lotus looked up and schooled her expression into that military frown. 

“Aspirant,” She clipped and walked towards her before passing. The woman paused at her shoulder. "Good luck. If there’s anyone in the world that can help you, it’s her,” she said before disappearing down the stairs to the common area.

Lillian looked back over her shoulder at the disappearing wave of black hair before looking back at the simple door that seemed a lot more ominous now. She swallowed. No pressure or anything, right?