Chapter 1: An Invitation

"...in ways uniquely suited to their respective talents."

As the last few images of smiling students clad in ARES tracksuits performing various exercises to upbeat music slowly faded out, to be replaced with the academy's logo itself, the device on which the video was being played began to vibrate and beep, drawing the attention of the person upon whose table it currently rested.

For the first time since the impromptu history lesson began, Charlie Hewitt removed his headphones and rose from where he had been lounging on his couch. Picking up the small, phone-like device, he returned to his position of comfort and silently offered his thanks for it finally ending 'textbook mode'.

The device itself had arrived about an hour earlier, contained in a yellow shipping envelope marked with the ARES seal and address. As soon as he had retrieved it from the package, it had begun to play. And as soon as it had begun to play, he had ceased to listen.

Now, however, the device had caught his interest. For on the device's monitor, a small alert box had appeared over the symbol of the Academy, reading:

"Please Confirm the Following Information is Accurate, by pressing the button below.

Name: Charles Hewitt

Age: 20

Ability: Vibration"

Below this text was a button that simply read 'Confirm'. After a short giggle-fit over how the academy had defined his particular talent, Charlie quickly tapped the button and groaned as a even larger wall of text now appeared.

"The following information is confidential. Please read over the rules and terms of the agreement below before continuing. By continuing, you are verifying that you have read and accepted the terms of this agreement, and any resp-"

Charlie promptly tapped okay, upon which the screen turned black for a few moments. Just before Charlie could move to return his headphones to his head,another video began to play. A man whom Charlie recognized as Albert Besker, a former hero known as 'Stretch' and the man who had supervised Charlie himself and several others as they took the academy entrance exam. Charlie remembered thinking that the first thing in his mind when the man had introduced himself then was that he had really let himself go. After a few moments, Besker cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Let's see here, who was this one? Ah, yes, Charles Hewitt. Good day to you, Mr. Hewitt, and congratulations. The fact that you are receiving this device, and this particular message, means that you are one of the lucky number considered to move on to the second stage of the entrance exam for the Academy for the Registration and Education of Superhumans"

At this point, there was a slight murmur from off-camera, and a sheet of paper was handed to the portly former hero, who was silent for a few moments as he read over it.

"Ah, I see. Well, good news and bad news then, Mr. Hewitt. It seems that you only barely passed the written portion of the entrance exams, leaving several questions on it completely unanswered."

Charlie shrugged upon hearing this. He could hardly be expected to read the entire study guide, after all. He'd gotten about halfway through before realizing it worked much better as a doorstop than as reading material. On the video screen, Besker continued after clearing his throat once more.

"However, it seems that the admissions staff have decided to allow you to proceed in the exam in light of your superhuman ability. Hmm. Very well then. Once this video has finished playing, the device you are watching it on will provide you with information on where to go, as well as a general idea of what you will be doing. Keep this device with you at all times, as if you are accepted into the academy it will be used to provide important information and announcements. Also, please remember the agreement you signed beforehand in regards to this information. With that being said, I wish you good luck in the days to come. Good day."

With that, the screen returned to the academy symbol yet again, only now the logo was surrounded by many other applications. Of these, one was labeled 'Announcements', and bore a badge indicating it had unread information. Charlie tapped upon it, skimmed over the page it opened, and grinned.

"Finally, some action!"