Mirror-Mirror

Chapter 1

Drax took a deep breath as he stood before the massive industrial wall. Like a fortress of sorts and yet, it also felt like a prison. This was the summer camp compound. There were other children who were anxiously awaiting to go in, their parents beaming with pride as they got the last minute pep talk before the gates opened. Drax felt a hand come on to his shoulder. He turned and saw Amai in his makeup outfit Alley made for him. He leaned down and whispered. "If this becomes too difficult, call. I will pick you up. Don't feel obligated to stay."

"Thanks dad" he whispered back.

The gates suddenly began to power on, the doors cracked opened and revealed within the high tech training facility before the masses. Accel was the first to step out and greet them. He smiled as he looked about at the faces before him, yet his smile only grew as his eyes came on to Drax. "Welcome! One and all!" he announced. "Parents, know your children are in the best and safest hands in the world! We Neo Heroes are going to take great care of them, besides, it won't be long until these young ones are the new heroes of the cities we all love and protect!" the parents applauded as Accel turned to the children. "Young heroes, please come on in, let the training begin!"

Drax turned to Amai once more and gave a confident nod. He crossed the threshold with all the other students who marvelled at the large, pristine dome facility before them. The walls were white, you couldn't see into it, perhaps for privacy concerned as well as the Neo Heroes keeping their training secret from prying eyes. As they began to approach, Drax felt a hand on his shoulder, a massive one at that. He turned and saw Raiden looking down at him, smiling. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

"To the facility, isn't that where I am suppose to go?"

"Not you, come with me."

For a moment, a sense of dread began to fill Drax, did they know his true intent? Do they know he is the son of Biting Snake Fist Snek? What if they figured out he was the young serpent that was with his father last summer? Then again, he didn't remember coming across any Neo Heroes in that time. His father made certain they stayed out of their sights. Yet, as Drax blindly followed the sumo wrestler, he began to notice there were a lot more facilities here than the massive dome one all the other kids were being herded to. There was a smaller one down on the right side of the compound, and yet it appeared to be just as high-tech. Raiden has to use his hand print to gain access, when the door opened, he invited Drax inside. He did so slowly. His eyes took in everything. It reminded of Alley's lab that absorbed kinetic energy, yet there was more gadgets and training equipment. "What the hell is this place?" Drax asked.

"Neo Hero training room, this is what WE use. The children we have invited have potential of becoming heroes. We don't know if they will make it as such. You however… you do!" Raiden said. "Which is why we will be training you hands on over the other candidates we have accepted." He leaned down and said. "Not many children who claim to have such power and strength, can prove it. You… you did, and I never will underestimate you again."

Drax gave a nervous smile. He was regretting in showing and telling those around him of his abilities. Despite how small the place was, the main attraction was held underground. Looking through a window it allowed him to see the real training facility hidden below. There, he saw two Neo Heroes training. They moved fast and struck hard, Drax was taken with them as they began to move faster and faster! There were robot drones being used as targets, and each one were obliterated! They used no weapons, merely their bare hands.
"Whoa… who are they?" Drax asked.

Raiden snorted to the question. "Latest recruits by Accel. Those there are brothers, Ran and Shaw. You'll be working with them, in fact, let's go introduce you!"

Drax froze. Training with them!?

Raiden gently coxed him down to elevator down to the training grounds. The brothers had just polished off the last of the droids when Raiden came in with Drax. He looked about at the carnage around him, but then, he stared at the two martial artists.

Shaw was a tall and slender looking young man. He had very short white hair, buzzed cut of all things. His pants were black and he wore a white tank top. His brother Ran possessed long black hair he kept tied back, he has a small black beard on his chin. His blue jeans were torn and well broken in with a vest top. The two stopped and stared at him, at first, they froze in shock. Where they startled by him? Drax could almost sense their fear from where he stood, for he was just as scared!

"Boys, meet Drax!" Raiden announced. "We found he has great potential, strength that shouldn't belong in a young boy, and yet, he has it!"

Ran was the first to regain his composure. "Please to meet you!" he announced and stuck out his hand. Drax accepted it graciously. "Now tell me, do you know any martial artist?"

Drax nodded. "A little," but he couldn't tell them he has mastered Biting Snake Fist martial arts.

"A little huh? I think we can work with him, can't we brother?"

Shaw was smiling. "Will you quit it with that smirk! I keep telling you, you look too much like Garou!" scolded Raiden.

The smile only grew on the face of Shaw. "How about you leave him to us Raiden, you got to go introduce yourselves to the summer camp kids" said Ran.

With a nod, Raiden left. Drax however was only growing more and more nervous as the two men stared down at him. The smile grew on Shaw as he leaned down and whispered. "You look just like your father, a certain former A Class hero if I am not mistaken."

He froze.

Drax felt his body unable to move, yet the two men laughed aloud. "No need to worry, we won't breath a word of it. But, knowing only a 'little' martial arts, that's a lie we won't tolerate. Now… you are going to show us what you got!" announced Ran.

Shaking the nerves off, Drax nodded. He took off his shoes and socks and were given a new pair to wear in place of them. "Your feet need to be protected, wear these." Said Shaw. Ran then approached the far wall and struck a single button. Robots came in and cleared the debris from the floor. When it was pristine again, Shaw invited Drax out into the middle of the room. "Now, there's no need to hold back. Go all out"

He nodded and took his stance, honouring his father he took the form of Biting Snake Fist. Shaw only smiled as he took his. Ran stood between them. "Ready…. BEGIN!"

Drax rushed at him hard and fast. Despite how fast he was, Shaw was faster. Each move was blocked, but he knew he could let himself go a little stronger. For the moment, he was biding his time for Shaw has yet to strike back, he was testing him!

When Shaw began to strike, Drax was able to block all of his moves as well! He was going easy on him! Placing some distance between himself and the martial artist, Drax protested. "Quit going easy on me!"

Shaw smirked. "When you stop going easy on me, I will to you!"

His body began to surge. Drax could feel his strength growing, it was time to go all out! This time, he caught Shaw slightly off guard with his speed. He was able to dash and move faster than the human eye can see, and yet, Shaw could see his movements. His strikes were getting closer, and yet they were still blocked. Even when Shaw struck back, Drax blocked all of his movements with ease.

"Enough!" called Ran.

The two broke off, Drax breathless and yet, Shaw wasn't. "Amazing… such skill and strength in one so young." Shaw whispered.

Ran approached his brother and whispered to him oddly, there came a nod from Shaw as the two turned back to Drax. "I think it will be best if we train you rather than Accel and Raiden." Ran announced. "But we must confirm this with them after all, we're only newbies to them in this organization."

"You think that wouldn't be the case considering we took down a demon level threat on our own."

"Patients brother, our time will come after all. But for now, we need to explain to the two we are most suited in training this young hero here. His skills are beyond what they are able to handle no doubt."

Drax blushed at the notion, yet, he couldn't shake the feeling he knew Shaw somehow. "Uh… this seems odd to ask… but… do you two know Silver…"

"Hey, you didn't break him in already did you?"

Drax jumped as the voice of Accel filled the room. He was smiling down at him with great joy. "I was hoping you would change your mind after our little encounter. I know potential when I see it!"

"Thanks, I didn't mean to be rude the first time I met you and Raiden. It's just that…"

"Yes, your teacher," he sighed. "Look Kid, I know you got a fondness for the M Class or whatever, but why aim your sights so low?"

"What?" Drax demanded sharply. "You think I want to be an M Class Dragon?"

"No, no, I am not assuming that. I am just saying you should turn your focus to actual heroes"

It didn't make his anger decrease, Drax felt more rallied up! "They are heroes! Snek saved me last summer before school ended!" he protested. "It took him less time to get there than any other hero, if it weren't for him, a lot of people would have died!"

"I am not denying the fact that it saved you, it's just that, monsters shouldn't be seen as heroes. That's all!"

He was fuming now. He's insulted his father, what he does and how he does it! Drax wanted to shout, swear, say something! Yet Shaw was quick to do so. "Accel, in respect to his young man's training. I was wondering if you would consider letting my brother and I take over? After all, you got a whole summer camp to tend to, kids are going to be disappointed if you and Raiden are not there when you promised them that for the duration of the month…"

Accel paused to the notion. "You two just started, besides. I want to shape this young hero myself! I got a vision for him." He said with a grin.

"Yeah, but can you handle him? His skills are beyond yours and you are aware of that aren't you?" asked Ran.

"My brother and I just tested him, you couldn't keep up with Shaw when he was going easy on you. This kid did when my brother went all out!"

Accel glared at the brothers, Drax was hoping he would agree. And yet, there was a part of him that wants to give Accel a good thrashing for what he said about his father. "I will consider what you say, but the whole purpose for him being here was for me to train him!"

"Do think about it, let's take a break and get some food into us, all this training made me hungry!" announced Shaw.