Disclaimer : Disney owns Sky High and it's characters , all the OC's belong to me
And Then There Were Nine ( Part 2 )
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Sky High, Maxville, U.S.A
"Ultra Team"
"Extreme Enforcers"
"Justice Patrol"
"C'mon there's has to be one of them you like." Zack whined
Magenta stared stonily at her computer monitor as she tapped away on her keyboard. Zack is getting on her last nerve, for the past twenty minutes he has been bombarding her with his team name suggestions and the names are now so bad they're not even funny anymore. And to make matters worse his voice is loud enough for the other students in the computer lab could hear, and several of them are snickering at him.
"Mighty Men"
"Attack Pack"
"Zack" she hissed "Give it a rest already, everyones laughing at you, it's getting embarrasing, and you said "Attack Pack" this morning already."
Zack grinned at her "So you were paying attention!!"
"Like I have a choice" Magenta muttered "Why don't you make yourself useful and give me a hand here."
Zack rolled his chair closer and peered over Magenta's shoulder.
"What are you doing?" He asked curiously "We finished our class activity thirty minutes ago."
Magenta sat back and cracked her knuckles.
"What Mr. Pablo said yesterday got me thinking." she said "remember what he said about developing our other skills to that we can help the team more effectively?"
Zack nodded
"Well, heres an idea." Magenta continued "why don't we make a computer program that can help us with tactical issues."
Zack sat back, folded his arms and stroked his chin.
"A tactical support program hmmmm," Zack mused "what features could we configure into it's system?"
Magenta tipped her head and thought about it.
"For starters we could integrate a power-ability matrix" she said "we can put the team's skills and powers into that matrix and combine it with a scenario simulation system."
Zack grinned at her.
"Ooh, I can see where this is going." he said "With those features, the matrix could help us with determine how to utilize each team member depending on the scenario."
Magenta smiled at Zack approvingly. While it's true that he can be a bit dense in other matters, when it comes to computer related topics, Zack can be very, very astute.
Zack frowned and looked at the ceiling.
"Lemme see, since we're making it to make our team perform better." Zack mused "We might as well go all the way and maximize in terms of software and hardware."
Zack rolled back to his workstation. Then he reached for his schoolbag and pulled out a notepad and rolled back to Magenta. He opened the notepad, took out a pen and began making notes.
"Ok, graphic-wise we could use the lab's 3D Designers X45 and for the program script we'll go with TechMaster 2.5." he grinned at Magenta "The lab's TechMaster 1.5 is good for school projects but we'll need a powerhouse to handle the programs your planning to make."
Zack went back to scribbling his notes.
"Now for our hardware." He continued "For optimum performance and minimum processing time, we'll be needing at least 150 gigs of hardrive, 5000 megs of RAM, 3.0 Gigahertz Quad core microprocessor and a 1 terrabyte graphics accelerator."
He looked at Magenta and waggled his brows.
"I just got this sweet new motherboard that I'm just itching to try out." he said
Afterwards he handed the notepad to Magenta. The goth took a few moments reading the list. Then frowning she looked back at Zack.
"Damn, Zack, are you sure we can't go a little lower." She complained "high performance parts like these won't come cheap you know."
Zack shook his head.
"Sorry, if we go even a little lower we'll end up with a very unreliable computer system that won't be able to handle the processes our matrix needs" Zack warned "we're talking about critical slowdowns even fatal crashes."
Magenta looked at the list again and sighed.
"But where are we gonna get the money to afford all these parts." She looked a Zack "Even if we combine all our allowances and Warren's salary we'll still end up less than half the total amount we need."
Zack leaned back, hooked his arms behind his chair and grinned.
"Don't worry about it" He assured his pseudo girlfriend "Professor Tech has a whole warehouse of computer spare parts,I can get some raw materials there and assemble the parts we need."
Magenta quirked her brow.
"And he would just let you have the stuff you want, why?" She asked
Zack grinned
"Professor T owes me a favor" He chortled "I helped him break into Mr Medulla's computer mainframe again."
Magenta gaped
"He what!?!?!?" She hissed
Zack snickered
"Ever since we broke into Mr Medulla's original firewall, Professor T has been itching to do it again." He smiled "He wanted to use it to sharpen his hacking skills because it has the most sophisticated encryption system in the school."
Magenta shook her head and gave Zack a troubled look.
"Zack, I know it's a lot of fun, but be careful ok?" Magenta said quietly "Professor Tech may be our teacher , but that doesn't mean everything he does is legal."
Zack reached out, took Magenta's hand and gave it a slight squeeze.
"Hey don't worry." He winked "I know what I'm doing and I'm sure Professor T knows his limitations."
Magenta narrowed her eyes at him.
"Just be sure you don't get into trouble like we did last year" she threatened "because if you do, I'll be the first one to kick your ass."
Zack laughed and squeezed her hand again.
"I know you only say that because you care about me" He grinned at her.
Magenta sighed and rolled her eyes but turned her hand and laced her fingers with his.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Warren stared at his shoes as he sat the school guidance counselor's waiting room. The only other occupant in the room was the secretary, she was busy typing away on her computer and occasionally looked at the watch hanging on the wall. The room was quiet except for the constant tapping on the computer's keyboard.
The pyro shoved his hands into his pockets and hunched his shoulders. God. he really hated these guidance sessions. Though Dr. O'Dell a.k.a Silverback, a Rank A Hero who can morph into a gorilla, is a really nice guy an all, it's just Warren really hated asked about his private life. And if he had his way he would steer clear from the guidance counselor's office for the entirety of his high school career.
Unfortunately he didn't have a choice. After after his little cafeteria incident with Will and coupled with his half villain parentage, the shool deemed that it would be best that he will attend anger management counseling until his senior year. And to make matters worse his mom agreed with the decision and used maternal pressure to make him go along with it.
It's moments like these that if Will was standing in front of him right now he would have cheerfully strangled his best friend.
Warren sighed and tilted his head back and let it rest on the wall behind him and closed his eyes. In an effort to distract himself he let his mind drift back to his Literature class earlier. At least the materials discussed during his Lit class was interesting he thought.
His Lit teacher Mr. Polzack a.k.a Dynamo a Rank B Hero who can generate electricity, worked as a police detective as his cover job. As a result his Literature topics tend to concentrate on the crime and mystery genre. And Warren found the subject matter very much to his liking. He found himself raptly listening to the lecture and even at times couldn't resist participating in the discussion. Warren was fascinated how fictional detectives like Sherlock Holmes or Philip Marlowe would gather clues, correlate them to come up with a conclusion and solve the crime.
Who would have thought that Warren Peace son of Baron Battle was a crimebuster junkie.
The thought gave him pause.
For several months now he has been contemplating on his life after high school. Sure he'll be teaming up with the gang as a Hero team under the Agency. but aside from that Warren wanted to have a job he would actually enjoy. Usually Heroes are given two career choices to choose from. One option is an Agency job, where a Hero can work as a part of the Agency's internal workforce. Another choice is a non-Agency job or what Heroes call "cover jobs" and work as part of the normal professional world.
Warren frowned
Maybe he should ask for Dr. O'Dell's advice. The counselor did mention about a career assessment test that he could take.
Suddenly the guidance counselor's door opened. And the sound made Warren open his eyes. He quietly watched as a student walked out, stopped and talked to the secretary and afterwards left the room. Then after a few moments the she turned to Warren.
"Mr Peace?" she said "Dr. O'Dell will see you now."
Warren nodded, picked up his bag,stood up and entered the counselor's office.
Inside Warren saw Dr. O'Dell's large gorilla form sitting behind his desk. And at the moment busily writing notes. But as the pyro got closer the counselor raised his large furry head. Seeing Warren he smiled revealing large curved fangs.
", hello there" The gorilla spoke in a surprisingly cultured voice
"Hey" Warren responded quietly
"Well don't just stand there" Dr. O'Dell said as he gestured to a vacant seat in front of his large desk "please take a seat"
Warren walked over the the referred chair, dropped his bag near his feet and sat down. Dr. O'Dell set his notes aside, adjusted the spectacles he was wearing and leaned forward.
"Now" the counselor said "how are you doing?"
Warren shrugged.
"Fine, I guess" the pyro rumbled
Dr. O'Dell leaned back, opened a drawer and pulled out a folder. Then he leaned forward again and for a few moments read it's contents. Then after a few moments of silence he looked up and smiled at Warren.
"I must say Warren" he said "you made great improvements since last year."
Warren shrugged again
"Yeah" Warren agreed
"Other than that unfortunate incident last year with Mr. Stronghold" Dr. O'Dell continued "and aside from a few minor incidents after that you didn't have any major noteworthy outbursts."
"Yup" Warren said
"In that case" the counselor said "I'd say we can lower your risk category to a level D."
Warren leaned forward a bit. And for the first time since he entered the office showed showed more interest in his face and openness in his posture towards the guidance counselor.
"You mean in it?" Warren asked "I'm not gonna be a level B anymore?"
Being categorized as a risk level A or B in Sky High means being subjected to higher scrutiny by the school's faculty and security staff , limited access to sensitive areas like the Chemistry Lab or the Heavy Machinery Workshop, and to endure the added inconvenience of having mandatory after school meetings with Principal Powers.
A Level D risk ranking categorizes a student as a normal level risk. And that means a lot to Warren. To be considered a normal student like everyone else, and not some dangerous potential Villain that should be feared and treated like some outcast.
"Oh yes" the counselor assured "but that doesn't mean we'll discontinue our appointments Warren."
Dr. O'Dell leaned forward and laced his fingers together
"I need to monitor your progress until your senior year as the school mandated" he said " I do hope you understand"
Warren nodded
"I guess that's fair" the Pyro said
"Now" the counselor said "since we still have time left, is there anything you would wan't to discuss?"
Warren looked stared at him for a few seconds
"Actually" Warren said slowly "there is something I want to talk about."
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
"I wonder who our ninth team member is" Layla mused as she examined a fern leaf.
Will looked up from the mushroom culture he's been working on.
"Hmmm, I haven't a clue." He said as he began spraying fertilizer on a mushroom cluster
Layla took a test tube from her pouch, placed it under the leaf she's holding, tapped the leaf with her middle finger and caught some spore samples into the cylindrical glass container.
Will and Layla along with a handful of students are currently working on their botany projects in the school's greenhouse. Thanks to cutting edge environmental control technology an actual thriving rainforest is mantained by the Organic Sciences Department, which in turn acts as a living, breathing natural laboratory for botanical and environmental science students.
"When Principal Powers dropped by earlier" Layla said as she raised the test tube and began labelling it "I asked about our mystery team member."
"Uh-huh" Will said absently as he moved to another mushroom cluster and began spraying more fertilizer.
"And she said our team mate just got evaluated by Boomer" She picked another test tube "she said that they sort of butted heads."
Will looked over his shoulder and gave Layla a concerned frown.
"I hope Boomer didn't give the newbie a hard time." he said
Layla sighed
"Yeah, I know, I hope the poor thing isn't cowering in a corner somewhere.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Theo sprang in the air as he dodged an arching blow from the large seven foot combat training android. The metallic humanoid's massive fist misses him by inches and smashes harmlessly on the padded floor. Theo twisted midair and delivered a kick to the android's shoulder causing it to stagger backwards ,then Theo uses the recoil of the kick to propel himself a few feet away from his opponent. With another split second aerial maneuver he lands feet first on the ground. The momentum causes him to slide a few feet backward and once he stopped moving he assumed a defensive stance.
For a few moments neither moved. The two combatants facing off each other. Analyzing for strengths and weaknesses in the other's fighting style. And the only sound that can be heard are the subtle mechanical sounds emanating from the android and Theo's calm steady breathing.
The hulking Android's scanner examines it's young opponent, evaluating with it's visual within it's electronic brain data is being assembled, making a detailed analysis of Theo based on what it sees. It sees a slender yet leanly muscled young man, wearing a dark gray sleeveless shirt, black sport pants and black rubber shoes. His sparring performance indicates extensive martial arts training and combat experience. And the teen seem to have an uncanny ability to predict it's actions.
In turn Theo calmly studies his robotic adversary. The sharp quality of his eyes indicative of his activated sixth sense. After several minutes of combat Theo has gathered enough information to understand it's attack patterns. The Mechanoid ATU-5 is inhumanly strong, the dents on the floor are evidences of that. Also it's body armor is incredibly impervious, he has been testing various body parts looking for flaws in it's physical defense. And so far he has yet to find it. However the upside is that it's movements though powerful are slow and thanks to his sixth sense predictable. All he has to do is bide his time and look for a chink in it's armor.
The android slouched it's shoulders and began lumbering towards Theo. Once it came within striking distance raised it's fist and swung it towards the teen's head.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Layla and Will stepped into a large tent in the middle of the Botanical Lab. Their teacher Ms. Ludwig a.k.a Swallowtail, a Rank B Hero with the power to change into a large butterfly, looked up from the book she's reading and smiled at them. They handed her their botanical notes and then headed for their work table.
"I can't wait for team classes to start" Layla said as she walked towards their lab table and took out her test tubes.
"Yeah" Will said as he carried a tray of mushroom samples
"I mean, by this afternoon our group will be complete and our team training really begins." Layla continued as she lined up the test tubes a lab rack.
Will nodded and placed his tray on the table. Then he picked up a pair of thongs and began putting his mushroom samples into several beakers.
Layla began separating her spore samples into several petri dishes. Then she began labeling them. For s few minutes the two of them worked quietly with their specimens. Will took some tap water and poured it on the mushroom filled beakers. Then he placed them on a large pan burner and lighted the flame underneath it. Afterwards he pulled a stool, sat on it and began writing more notes. Layla was setting up a large microscope, cleaning it's lenses and preparing her petri dish samples.
Afterwards Layla looked at Will and smiled.
"I'm sure whoever our team member is he or she will feel right at home with us ." she said "I mean look at Serenity and Jules, they fit right in with us and it's been a blast!"
Will's pen stopped moving, he looked at Layla, bit his lower lip and frowned a bit.
"What?" Layla asked seeing his look.
"Uhm, Layla" Will said hesitantly "I know your really excited and all but..." he hesitated
Layla tipped her head
"It's just that, our ninth team member might not be as nice as Serenity or Jules" Will shrugged "for all we know the newbie could be a jerk or worse...I just don't want you to be disappointed."
Layla frowned. She hadn't thought about that. She was so excited with the idea of a completed team, that she didn't consider the possibility that their final team mate might not be as nice as the their two other new friends. She sighed, she got caught up with the idea that their mystery member will have a personality that will jive perfectly with theirs like Jules and Serenity did.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Theo smoothly avoided another swing from the android. But this time he noticed that the mechanoid arm have delicate and vulnerable wirings between it's solid metal plates. Then the android launched a series of swings, but kept missing as Theo kept twisting and maneuvering out of the way. Finally the robotic combatant reached out to grab the agile teen. Theo ducked, dove between it's legs and rolled away at a safe distance.
The android looked down between it's legs it's mind in a temporary state of electronic disorientation. A few moments later it recovers and begins to turn. Unaware that his young opponent behind him was observing him with razor sharp focus.
Theo used the android's momentary delay in movement to do a quick sensory scan. His heightened perception noticed that despite the android's seeming indestructible armor plates there were several openings particularly on it's vital joint areas. And within those spaces are it's delicate but vital wirings. His eyes ran upwards the machine's muscular torso, and noticed that there were very large and very vulnerable areas on its neck section.
Theo pushed his senses even more, particularly his eyes and sixth sense. Visually his sharpened eyesight began to notice the slight elecric pulse fields circulating within the wires. And his sixth sense noticed the flow patterns are centralized in the chest and the head.
Theo considers this.
The electric pulse flowing throughout the android's body is it's life's blood. And without it, the machine fails to function. The head contains it's electronic brain, and along with the rest of it's vital components needs a constant supply of energy distributed by those precious wires.
Sever that link on the neck area and the flow to the brain is cut. Deprived of energy the brain thus the entire android dies.
.... in a manner of speaking..
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
"Well" Layla insisted "if we end up with a...er...less than pleasant person as our ninth team member, we'll just have to try our best to make him or her fit in with the team."
Will looked up from his bubbling beakers of mushrooms and quirked his brow at her dubiously.
"Look at Warren" she smiled at him "in the beginning he was bristling with hostility and rage, but we kept at him until he warmed up to us"
she giggled as she noticed what she said "so to speak" she grinned at Will as she tipped her head.
Will smiled at his girlfriend. Layla has always been the eternal optimist. And despite her sweet exterior she seldom backs down from anyone. That's one of the many things he loved about her, sugar and sunshine with a dash of spunk and a pinch of stubbornness that goes a loooong way.
And also Will shook his head, God help anyone who Layla sets her sights on to become their next friend. If that potential friend is not ready, well get ready for an all out assault because Layla will be at it until she wears down his or her defenses. Case and point Warren Peace former bad boy hotheaded loner and now bad boy hotheaded member of the gang. The group with Layla leading the charge chipped away his bristly shell until he let up and accepted their overtures of friendship. And though he would never admit it (except to Will, though Warren made him promise never to tell anyone under the threat of a fiery death) the pyro had never been more content.
Will got up and gave Layla a hug. She blinked and looked at her boyfriend as he walked back towards his stool and sat back down.
"What was that for?" she asked
"Oh nothing" he grinned as he went back to examining his beakers "can't a guy give his girlfriend a hug?"
Layle smiled back, shook her head and went back to working on her spore samples.
Whoever their new team member will be , the poor guy or gal is going to be their friend whether he or she likes it or not.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Booming echoes filled the training room as the android threw punch after punch and each blow striking the floor. Theo kept jumping backwards avoiding each attack,his balance and footwork flawless. The pair kept at it for several minutes, moving accross the circular area in a game of cat and mouse.
The android has used up all it's offensive combinations Theo thought. It's attack patterns have grown repetitive and very predictable.
However he can't keep this up forever. While his large robotic opponent seems to have an unlimited supply of energy. Like all organic beings,Theo's own energy is finite. That means he has to make his move soon, before he reaches his endurance limit.
There has to be a way to reach the hulking machine's neck.
Theo leaped sideways as he avoids another swing. As the massive arm surges past him, instantly Theo's attention focuses on it. And a plan begins to formulate
As the android continues it's assault, Theo begins to time it's arm speed.
One - five...one - five...one - five...one - five....
One second to throw the punch and five seconds to pull the arm back again.
Finally Theo's sixth sense locks on a scenario with the highest probability and effectiveness. He has to get this right the first time...despite the high possibility for success he gets no second chances.
Suddenly Theo stops moving and stands very still. The mechanical behemoth looms over him and it raises it's massive arm. A second later it's fist hurtles towards the motionless teen.
One second, incoming fist strike
At the last moment before the huge fist connects with fragile human flesh. Theo sidesteps and the fist streaks past him, missing him by a few inches. For a second the arm remains motionless.
One second, fist delay
Theo reaches out and grabs the arm.
Two seconds, commencing fist retraction
As the android begin pulling back the arm, Theo leaps and hooks his legs around the arm.
Three seconds, retraction continues
He moves to a crouch as he balances on the forearm
Four seconds, retracted arm nears shoulder area
Then he begins to maneuver his way swiftly up the massive appendage
Five seconds, end of retraction
Theo leaps the final short distance between the arm and upper body. The moment he lands on the android's massive shoulders he immediately locks his legs around the neck. The android lumbers around, it's arms beginning to reach up in an attempt to remove the teen from his perch. It's electronic brain confident that with it's superior strength, and that it can rip Theo off it's shoulders with minimal effort.
It never got the chance.
Using the combined momentum of the leap and his body weight, with a vicious twist of his hips, Theo snaps the mechanized brute's head to an almost 360 degrees. Though the metal plates remained intact, the delicate wires within ripped and tore apart with an audible crackling sound as the large head is forcibly twisted around.
Critical warning signals surge across the android's electronic brain. A massive feedback fries it's logic circuitry array, causing it's A.I. to lose stability. Within seconds it's major facilities began shutting down one after another.
The large metallic behemoth suddenly stops moving, it's massive arms drops to it's sides. Then after waving it began falling backwards. Theo leaps away as his gigantic opponent hits a nearby wall with a loud CRASH!!, and then slowly slid to a sitting position on the floor.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Ethan frowned and looked up from the files he was reading when he heard a loud CRASH!! that seem to resonate all over the room.
"What the??" he muttered.
For the past several minutes muffled booming sounds were echoing in the classroom.. The class simply ignored them and continued on with their given tasks. Since the Power Development Research classroom was directly beside one of the two advanced training rooms, they simply assumed that someone is doing some heavy training. But this last crashing sound is so much louder that it jarred the students from their collective concentration.
Activity in the classroom ceased as Ethan and three other students stopped working on their class activity. They looked at each other, their expressions identical looks of curiousity. For several moments they stood still ,awaiting for anything else to happen.
"God, I hope no one's hurt ." Ethan said to himself.
Seconds tick by, but nothing but silence filled the classroom.
The beeping sound of the large centerfuge machine in front of Ethan drew his attention back to his schoolwork. Ethan jumped , opened the lid and began pulling out several testubes. His three other classmates however instead of going back to their respective projects kept staring at the wall where the sound seem to have emanated from.
Their teacher Dr. Spinelli a.k.a Scanner a Rank A Hero with the abiliity to detect and identify powers, looked up from the report he was reading. He cleared his throat When the students looked at him, he raised his brows.
"Class, you have five more minutes to finish your class activity" he said " I suggest you stop wasting time and finish what needs finishing."
"Uuuuh, Doc Spinelli, shouldn't we check if someone's hurt or somethin." A student asks "that "crash" sounded really major"
Dr. Spinelli shrugged
"It came from the advanced training room" he said nodding at the wall where the sound vibrated from earlier "I'm sure whoever was training there is all right, because only those with extensive field experience are allowed to train inside there."
"Besides" he continued as he looked back to his report "It's standard procedure to have someone monitor the training, just in case some mishap happens, so there is no need for you to worry."
Students looked at each other again.
"Four minutes before time's up" Dr. Spinelli said without looking up from the report "You guys better wrap things up."
Hesitantly the students went back to their tasks and began making their finishing touches.
Ethan began categorizing his test tubes, then he placed them in several labeled boxes. The test tubes contained sample DNA material from different Heroes, and his task is to study how their powers developed at a cellular level.
Power Development Research class is one of the most complex and needless to say difficult classes in the curriculum. Only a handful of students are admitted after a very stringent entrance test. In fact only Ethan and three other sophomores were accepted into the second year program. However as difficult as the power development program is, the rewards for passing subjects belonging to this particular branch in the curriculum is considerable. Student's who are skilled and fortunate enough to have good grades in these subjects will have doors open to them, particularly in the highly competitive genetic courses of the Agency sponsored universities.
Ethan closed the now filled boxes and placed them in his class locker. Then he began tidying up his laboratory table.
Ethan is the first to admit that compared to several of his other friends, his powers in it's current level is somewhat negligible. He can't fly and have super strength like Will, manipulate plants like Layle, generate fire like Warren, have super hard skin like Jules or have sonic powers like Serenity. What he does have is a genius level intellect and it is something he intends to develop. And the best way to achieve that is maximize his training and studies. That means enrolling into the best classes here in Sky High and then to Aegis University, the top superhero school in the North American Chapter.
"Ok time's up people." Dr. Spinelli said "I'll email to you guys tonight's assignments this afternoon. And I expect it to be submitted tomorrow, so unless a cataclysmic catastrophe occurs tomorrow there will be no extensions"
The students silenty sighed and gave each other pained glances.
Ah well, Ethan shrugged to himself as he picked up his books and schoolbag, his teachers did warn them that these Power and Genetics classes are incredibly, tough might as well suck it in he thought.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
"Hey, Wright." Boomer said "quit standing there like a lump and continue with your focus training."
Serenity turned away from the wall and looked at a frowning Coach Boomer . She was working on her power focusing exercises when a massive CRASH!! shook the room. Serenity was so surprised by the loud sound that she let out a quick shriek. Unfortunately she was not wearing her sonic suppressor and her voice caused several flourescent light bulbs overhead to blow up.
She chewed her lip and looked guiltily at Boomer. After her history class with Jules, Serenity proceeded to her focus training class. And saying that it was hard was an understatement to the extreme.
=I'm so sorry about the lights, Sir= She wrote in her notepad and hesitantly showed it to the coach.
Boomer shrugged
"Don't worry about it Wright" he said gruffly "your not the first student to cause some damage in this room during their focus training."
Serenity timidly but gratefully nodded.
=What was that loud sound?= she wrote
Bommer shrugged again.
"Probably someone doing some vigorous training in the advanced training room" he said and frowned "no one in the faculty is scheduled to use it, wonder who it is."
Suddenly he scowled and looked at the wall where the crashing sounds seemingly emanated from.
"I bet it's that punk Saccay" He muttered to himself "I still say that little hooligan has no place here in Sky High."
Serenity tipped her head questioningly.
=Whose Saccay?= she wrote
Boomer turned to look at Serenity's raised notepad and snorted.
"Someone you shouldn't turn your back on" he said rubbing his adam's apple "I tell ya Wright, that guy is unstable and dangerous, if you ever meet him be sure to keep your guard up...you don't know when he'll snap"
Serenity's eyes grew huge. Oh dear, she thought, this Saccay must be a very nasty person. In her mind she imagined a shifty, sharp featured guy with crazy eyes and twitchy hands who would happily inflict bodily harm on the nearest living thing he set his eyes on. Worriedly she looked at the wall where the "CRASH" came from. She silently prayed that she'll never meet such a horrid individual.
"Hey, Wright" Boomer said as he snapped his fingers.
Serenity jumped and looked at the coach.
"We're wasting time" Boomer said impatiently "get back to your focus exercises"
Serenity nodded and took a deep breath. She was standing in a middle of a circular platfrom with a several large tuning forks surrounding the edges. She opened her mouth, exhaled and bit by bit allowed her vocal chords to generate her voice.
The object of the exercise is the help her modulate and control her sonic power. The tuning forks act as indicators, the more they vibrate means the less her power is being focused. Boomer told her, that when she achieves perfect control over her power she will be able to use her voice without making the forks react. This means being able to talk freely without the fear of hurting anyone or causing unintentional damage.
The forks began vibrating and their warning hum filled the room. Boomer raised his hand and Serenity stopped using her voice.
"You need to find the right timbre of you voice" Boomer said "go to high you'll break glass, go too low and you'll be busting eardrums."
Serenity bit her bottom lip and nodded.
"Remember you don't have the luxury other people have" Boomer said firmly but kindly " your voice is now a potential weapon learn to use it properly"
Boomer looked down at his notebook and began making notes.
"Don't get discouraged Wright" he said " it may seem impossible at first, but as you get used to your power, controlling it will be second nature to you and you'll be able to modulate your voice without thinking at all"
Serenity nodded
"Now then" Boomer said as he closed his notebook "We still have a few more minutes, you still up for another go at it?"
Serenity straightened her shoulders and nodded. She will master her voice, she told herself firmly. She will not let that terrible incident last year mess up her life a more than it did. She will control her power, she will talk,...and by God she will be able to sing again.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Two figures stood silently as they looked at a large display monitor on the wall. Large red text saying "Training Terminated" flashed across the screen. On the screen Theo could be seen crouching on the floor with his back turned away from the now motionless android.
Mr. Medulla stroked his chin as Theo slowly straightened up to his feet, calmly turned around, and looked at his fallen metallic opponent.
"Interesting" he said
Principal Powers turned to him and raised a brow.
"Care to elaborate on that comment?" she asked
Medulla pointed to a indicator display on the upper left side of the screen.
"I attached several small sensor arrays on Mr. Saccay" he said "they monitor his physical , mental and perceptive levels during his training session"
"And?" the Principal asked
"While it's not a surprise that the boy indicates higher than normal levels of physcial and perceptive activity given the nature of his power" Mr Medulla said " I am intrigued by the lack of activity in two indicators linked to his mental facilities"
Principal Powers nodded, silently urging him to continue
"There seem to be zero neurological reaction in certain sections in Mr. Saccay's prefrontal cortex." Mr Medulla said.
Principal Powers frowned
"And these sections of the brain are for?" she asked
"They theoretically govern the moral systems of an individual" Mr. Medulla said "to be more accurate the concept of right and wrong"
Mr Medulla pulled out a small remote control and pointed it at the screen. Instantly a playback of Theo snapping the android's neck appears on the screen.
"Observe when Mr. Saccay delivered the killing blow" he said "he did not have any significant neurological reaction when he did this"
he looked at Principal Powers
"In other words, he didn't feel anything when he "killed" his opponent" he said quietly
Principal Powers frowned again
"Maybe it's because he knows it's a machine" she said "Heroes destroy mechanical enemies all the time, and they don't feel bad about it."
Mr. Medulla shook his head
"I installed a sympathy resonator inside the ATU-5" he said "It's designed to trigger a emotional response from those within it's broadcast range, so anyone fighting the android will feel like their fighting a living being."
He smiled apologetically at the principal.
"I did it as an experiment, to observe how Heroes emotionally restrain themselves from killing" he said
Principal Powers tipped her head.
"So your saying that Theo displayed no remorse when he performed the fatal move?" she asked
Mr. Medulla nodded.
"So it's your conclusion that Theo has killer tendencies and villainous inclinations?" she asked
Dr Medulla frowned.
"Normally I would have said yes" he said carefully " but look at the second indicator"
Principal Powers again at the indicator.
"It shows no reaction" she said
"Correct, zero reaction in his Alpha 2 brainwaves, I studied neurological files from Villains in our archives" he said "normally when they kill someone, there is a massive spike in those particular waves, it may be triggered by euphoria , ecstasy or perhaps a sense of accomplishment."
"But in Theo there's no reaction" Principal Powers said
"Indeed" Mr Medulla said
Principal Powers considers this.
"This could mean he doesn't see anything wrong with this." she said "or that he doesn't feel a thing"
"Or maybe his moral compass is crippled" Mr. Medulla warned "or it's possible he's a psychopath"
Principal Powers looked at the monitor.
"I choose to believe that Theo is inherently a good person" she said firmly "and that he can still be taught what's right and what's wrong."
She turned to her colleague
"Theo has been influenced by the wrong people" she said " but he's sill very young, and I refuse to accept that it's too late to reform him."
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Ethan clutched his schoolbooks as he hurried down the corridor of Sky High's 1st sub level facility. While the school's main floor houses the regular classrooms, school gymnasium, student libraries, faculty lounge area and clinics. The sub level contains the facilities for teachers, visiting Heroes and advanced students. It boasts two advanced training rooms, several special research labs, a hangar and even a command room
Ethan's Power Development Research class was held in one of those research labs and has just been dismissed. His next class is Hero Genetics and he's currently trying to find his teacher Mr. Medulla. Unfortunately due to the complicated floor plan, finding the right classroom for can be a bit confusing for those unfamiliar with the sub-complex layout.
"This place is like a maze" he muttered to himself, a little worried that he might end up missing his class because he can't find where it is.
Ethan was about to reach another corner when Principal Powers suddenly walked into view, and headed towards him. Spotting the teen she smiled.
"Ethan hi" she said
Ethan grinned back, relief flooded through him.
"Principal Powers, thank goodness I ran into you" he said
Principal Powers smiled kindly at him.
"Is something wrong?" she asked
Uuuh, actually, it's kinda embarrassing" Ethan sheepishly "I'm uuh kinda lost and can't find my next classroom"
Principal Powers chuckled
"That's quite alright Ethan" she smiled "a lot of students get a little lost here in the sublevel area. But don't worry it gets easier finding your way down here as you get used to it's crazy floor plan."
Ethan nodded
"Now" she said "what's your next class?"
"Hero Genetics 201" Ethan said
"Ah, that's in room 4b" she said, then pointed back to the corridor where she came from " just walk straight ahead and go inside the last room on the end of this corridor."
Ethan beamed.
"Thanks!!, Principal Powers" he said as he start to hurry towards his classroom
Principal Powers waved at him and then went her own way.
As Ethan approached the end of the corridor he saw Mr. Medulla standing outside of the classroom. He is talking to a slender black haired boy that Ethan never seen before.
Must be one of the freshmen Ethan thought as he approached them. As he got closer he could hear them talking.
"So you wish to enroll in my Advanced Toxicology class" Medulla said
"Yes" the black haired boy said
"I must warn you that it is a very tedious and difficult class" the teacher said "in fact you're the only one so far who applied for it."
"That won't be a problem" the teen flatly said "I have experience with the subject matter."
Mr. Medulla stroked his chin
"Just how much experience are we talking here?" he asked "you do realize that this is not your everyday kiddie chemistry class where you simply mix chemicals and watch them change color."
"Extensive experience, I can show you my Toxicant Proficiency 4 certification if you want" the boy said "I have been studying and handling complex toxins for almost six years now."
Medulla was clearly impressed.
" Toxicant Proficiency 4 you say" he said "well then I can see you can be of use to me."
The black haired boy tipped his head.
"Then you accept my enrollment application?" he asked
"I can't see a reason why no-" Medulla stopped talking and noticed Ethan approaching them. "Mr. Tyler, I see you found our classroom."
Ethan grinned sheepishly at him. The black haired boy turned to look at him and Ethan felt a visceral reaction down in his gut when he met the guy's cold black eyes.
Quckly he turned back to Medulla
"Got a little lost, sorry about that" Ethan said
Medulla laughed.
"Happens all the time" he grinned "but no harm done, the class won't start for another ten minutes, and you're the first one here."
Ethan was clearly pleased.
"Really, thank goodness" he said "I had embarrassing visions of entering during the middle of the class and end up being the humiliated."
Medulla chuckled
"I must admit that is precisely what I plan to do to latecomers" he said deviously "but since your early I don't see why you should be concerned about it."
Ethan looked at his teacher worriedly
"Uuuh what are you gonna do to the latecomers, sir?" he asked apprehensively
Medulla chuckled mischievously and rubbed his hands together.
"You'll just have to see my boy" he chortled "I just hope we'll have a latecomer or two we could convince to offer their...er...shall we say services in the name of science."
Ethan inwardly cringed. He could just imagine what Medulla have in mind. Last year he kept using latecomers as guinea pigs for class experiments and the end result ranged from totally funny to donwright disturbing. There was one time last year when Zack and Will were late in their Chemistry class and Medulla made them drink a formula that turned them into dizty cheerleaders. Layla and Magenta were mortified, Ethan was wierded out and Warren was trying to keep his stoic expression but his shoulders were shaking suspiciously. Fortunately the effects of the formula was temporary and the it only ended up with two extremely humiliated boys.
"Just make sure it won't be anything dangerous. sir " Ethan pleaded
"Don't worry Mr. Tyler" Medulla said with a chipper voice "it will be one hundred percent safe I assure you."
"Excuse me" the black haired boy quietly said "I have a appointment with the school's guidance counselor, if there is nothing else to discuss may I go?"
"Oh, of course Mr. Saccay" Medulla nodded "but be sure to come in time for my Toxicology class, I'll have quite a list of tasks for you to do"
The boy nodded and walked away. Ethan frowned at the departing figure. Something about the guy gave him pause. He couldn't put a finger on it but there was something familiar about him. Ethan turned to Mr. Medulla.
"A new freshman sir?" he asked
"Why no, Mr. Saccay is a sophomore" he said "he's a transferee from the Asian Chapter."
Ethan's eyes widened, his head snapped towards the black haired boy's retreating back. The ninth team member...he just met their ninth team member!!
"Hoo boy" Ethan breathed
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Jules walked briskly down the hall as he made his way towards his Arts and Crafts class. His Social Studies teacher Ms. Jennyson aka Blink a Rank B Hero with the ability to teleport, had an emergency call from her team so the class was dismissed thirty minutes early. Oh well, he thought cheerfully that leaves him enough time to find a great seat and finish his homework for Hero History.
He just turned a corner when he saw Zack and Magenta standing in front of the guidance office. The pair was being confronted by three rather unpleasant looking boys. Jules frowned and began to hurry towards them.
"You think your hot stuff just because you and your loser friends saved the school" Bull a freakishly fat freshman with the ability to increase his molecular density sneered.
"Yeah, if we were here, we would have wiped the floor with Royal Pain and her henchies" Croc a burly freshman who with a super powerful bite and steel hard teeth added.
Magenta curled her lip.
"Just what we need, bully wannabes who want to fill Lash and Speed's shoes" she growled
"Hah, we're way better than those losers" Slick a skeletal thin freshman with the ability to secrete slime snarled.
"Why don't you guys just chill ok?" Zack said tensely
"Oh we will" Slick smiled menacingly "right after we mop the floor with the two of you."
The trio began to approach Magenta and Zack their postures radiating malice.
"I say, stop that!!" Jules said as he reached them.
The five of them turned to looked at the flamboyantly dressed platinum blonde teen as he approached them. Zack looked relieved, Magenta looked grim and the three budding bullies suddenly laughed.
"Well, what do we have here" Croc snickered
"Stay out of this Barbie" Slick said "if you know what's good for you"
Jules finally reached them and stood beside his two friends. By now a number of students are looking at them curiously.
"Why don't you cretins just go away and jump of the edge of the school?" Jules said in his most snobbish voice
"Why don't you make us girlie" Bull sneered.
Jules stepped in front of Magenta and Zack as the trio began to move in on them.
"Excuse me" flat voice said behind them "but can you move out of the way?"
The six of them turned to see a slender black haired boy with cold eyes standing quietly behind them.
Croc looked him over from head to toe and bared his teeth.
"Why don't you just run along pipsqueak" he said "before I chew you up and spit you out like a used gum."
The black haired teen tipped his head.
"I have an appointment with the guidance counselor" he said flatly "If you won't let me pass, I'll just have to make you, however I don't think you will like it we do it my way."
The three of them guffawed.
"Really??" Slick snickered "you and what army?"
The cold eyed teen said nothing, he simply adjusted his schoolbag, tightened the straps around his shoulders and let his hands drop loosely on his sides.
"Harassment of other students is strictly prohibited" he said quietly "I suggest you cease and desist, otherwise you leave me no choice but to enforce the rules."
"Oooh" Croc said wiggling his fingers at the black haired boy "and what are you gonna do about it if we don't."
The teen said nothing, his cold eyes showing no emotion at all.
Slick turnend to his two cohorts
"Bull, Croc take care of the other dweebs" he said as he pointed at the black haired boy "I'll take care of this half-pint"
"Got it boss" Bull chuckled.
Slick began to approach the cold eyed teen. His cheeks began to puff up as his salivary glands began to produce his slime power.
Croc nodded at Bul,.then as one they began to move in towards Zack, Magenta and Jules.
Magenta stepped forward and positioned herself beside Jules and assumed a fighting pose. Jules looked at her and she looked back. They stared at each other for a second, then both nodded. They turned to face the incoming wannabe bullies.
Croc laughed maliciously as he took in the picture of the goth and the girly boy facing them off.
"This is gonna be fun" he said to Bull
Suddenly a cry of extreme pain was heard behind them.
Zack, Jules, Magenta and the two bullies turned around.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Warren and Dr. O'Dell deep in discussion regarding the young pyro's career options. When suddenly an muffled agoinzed shriek interrupted them.
Dr. O'Dell looked at the door and frowned.
"What on earth was that" The counselor asked
Warren looked over his shoulder and stared at the open office door.
"Sounds like it came from outside" he said
For a few seconds neither moved, waited and intently listened.
"Let go you little shit!!!!" a strained voice shrieked
Almost instantly sounds of barely suppressed excitement followed that shrill pained demand.
a few second later a familiar voice yelled.
"Oh no you don't!!!" Jules' voice said
a few seconds later another yell of pain followed
"Yeeeooow!!!" a voice bellowed
Warren turned back to Dr. O'Dell and raised his brows.
The counselor sighed and slowly stood up.
"Well then, let's see what's all that commotion about." the counselor said
The pyro nodded, got to his feet, picked up his bag and followed the counselor out the door.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Slick was on his knees his arm twisted upwards in a sharp painful backward angle. The black haired boy standing behind him was calmly gripping the bully's hand and twisting it in an anatomically precarious position. The aspiring bully's face was crumpled in a pained grimace and slime was dripping down his chin.
"Let go you little shit!!!!" Slick shrieked
The cold eyed teen said nothing.
Out of desperation the young bully turned to his friends. His face a mask of intense agony.
"Don't just stand there" he gritted out "help me."
After a moment's pause Croc nodded and moved towards the black haired boy.
Swiftly the cold eyed teen grabbed Slick's hair, pulled back his head and forced his body to arch backwards. Then he dug his knee into a spot in the middle of the bully's back.
Then suddenly in one quick sharp movement the black haired boy twisted Slick's hand even more, brutally yanked his hair and jolted his back with the positioned knee.
A stream of slime spurted out of Slick's mouth and splashed all over Croc's face.
Croc staggered backwards and yelped. The sticky fluid stung his eyes and glued his mouth shut. In a panic he began rubbing his face is an attempt to remove the glue-like substance from his face.
The black haired boy released Slick's hand. And delivered a open handed strike on the back of his head, And the budding bully dropped on the floor unconscious.
Then in the next split second with one smooth stride the black haired teen was directly in front of Croc. And in a blur of movement delivers a well targeted punch at a spot right below the bully's rib cage. Croc doubled over as excruciating pain surged through his body like wildfire.
"Bastard!!!" he hissed
In that exact moment Bull snarled, lowered his head and prepared to charge the cold eyed teen.
"Oh no you don't!!" Jules yelled.
The platinum haired teen shifted into his metallic form and locked his arms around the rotund bully's neck. After a beat Magenta leaped, shifted into a guinea pig, landed on Jule's shoulder and scampered across his arm, then sank her teeth into Bull's ear.
"Yeeeoooow!!!" Bull yelled.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Warren and Dr. O'Dell hurried out the door and stopped to stare at the scene unfolding before them.
Jules was standing behind a fat butt-ugly bald guy, his arms wrapped in an armlock around the fatso's neck. Magenta in her guinea pig form was viciously gnawing at one of his ears. Zack was behind them holding his schoolbag as if it were a weapon and was cheering them on.
A few feet away from them a slimy looking teenager was lying unconscious on the ground. Another large muscular teen was bent over and gasping with pain. A cold eyed black haired boy was standing impassively in front of him.
"Oh dear" Dr. O'Dell muttered beside Warren "this will not do at all."
But Warren was not listening to him. He was walking rapidly towards his friends, his arms starting to smolder as his pyrokinetic power began to activate.
"Warren!!" Zack said gratefully "Dude!!, thank god your here."
The fat guy began to grow even fatter and began to walk slowly towards the black haired boy, dragging Jules behind him.
"Damn, he did something!!" Magenta said in her squeaky guinea pig voice "I can't bite through his skin anymore!!"
With an irate growl the fatso reached up and grabbed the purple and black guinea pig.
"You little rat!!" he sneered "I'm gonna squish you like a grape!!"
"Hey!!" Warren snarled "leave her alone!!"
Waves of fire rippled down his arms and concentrated around his fists.
Jules turned to look at the pyro and their eyes locked.
he nodded at Warren in silent understanding.
"Do it!!" Jules yelled
Warren braced his booted feed, flexed his right arm, took careful aim then hurled massive fireball towards Jules and his overweight opponent. The ball of flame hit the struggling pair and ignited on their midsections. The fatso panicked as the flames began spreading throughout their bodies. He threw Magenta high in the air and began flapping his arms. Jules tightened his armlock and held on.
Magenta yelled as she flew through the air. And after a beat Zack and Warren began running towards the goth guinea pig each trying to catch her.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Croc felt the overwhelming pain surging through his body fade. He was able to wipe off most of the slime from his face, so he was able to see clearly and open his mouth again.
He heard a high pitched yell from above and saw the black and purple guinea pig falling towards him. He grinned evilly, opened his mouth wide and waited for the rodent to fall into his gaping jaws.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Theo saw Croc open his jaws as he positioned his head to catch airborne guinea pig. He tipped his head and considered the situation. Then his eyes glazed over then sharpened as his higher sensory powers activated. Within a second his sixth sense ran through several scenarios and chose the most effective one that would neutralize the situation.
A moment later Theo ran towards the bully. And once he was within striking distance raised his foot and smashed his heel on Croc's instep.
The bully yowled in agony as pain lanced up his leg. He jerked head and bared his teeth at Theo .
"You little piece of shi-" he snarled, but was cut off as Theo leaped to the air, spun around and delivered an roundhouse kick right to his jaw.
Theo's heel connected with Croc's jaw with the force of a sledgehammer. The bully's head snapped to the side, he fell down on the floor and was out like a light. Theo twisted his body midair, reached out his hand, caught the guinea pig and landed on the floor in a graceful crouch.
(_____________________________________________________________________________________((V))_____________________________________________________________________________________)
Zack and Warren ground to a halt a few feet away from the black haired boy. They tensely watched, unsure what to do next, worried that the cold eyed teen might hurt Magenta.
The black haired boy gently placed the black and purple guinea pig on the floor and quietly stood up.
Magenta scampered towards her friends and shifted back to her human form. She looked up at the two boys and suddenly grinned.
"Damn, what rush!!" she breathed
Warren quirked his brow, sighed and shook his head. Zack suddenly reached out and pulled her into a bear hug.
"Don't ever scare me like that again." he said shakily
Warren folded his arms and tactfully looked away as Zack continued to hug his unofficial girlfriend. And after a few seconds Magenta had enough.
"Your hugging me" she growled "let go!!"
"Uh,ok" Zack said in small voice as he stepped back.
"Uuuh a little help here?" Jules said.
Warren, Zack and Magenta turned to look at their metallic friend still struggling with Bull. Most of the flames from Warren's fireball has burned out, leaving their clothes singed in several fat bully has lost his will to fight and is trying get away.
The pyro took a step to assist his friend, but a shocked voice stopped his movements.
"What is going on here!?!?!?!?!"