Little spoiler for what's ahead but I am Orchid and had a bit of a "spiritual awakening" a while back as of publishing this chapter.

Year Three: A Spiritual Awakening

Outside of Atlantic Residence - 4:07 AM

"Wait, wait!"

Angela skips back to hold the door open, turning back to see who's there. From the dark runs Orchid, out of breath as she nearly collides with the glass entrance door. She clings onto Angela before looking up at her with a grateful smile.

"What are you doing?" Angela asks. "It's 4 AM."

Orchid straightens, huffing. "How do you know I don't wake up at 4 AM and take a run?"

"Because you go to bed at 4 AM."

Angela opens her arm to their current situation and Orchid couldn't argue. Instead, she flattens wrinkles on her sweater before crossing her arms at Angela.

"Yeah, well, I need stuff and you're awake and have a car so let's go."

Angela pauses, unsure. "Are you having a breakdown?"

Orchid scoffs. "You call this a breakdown? I call it a spiritual awakening."

Angela's more excited than concerned. She puts her hand in her pocket and smiles when she feels her car keys. Usually, she leaves them in her dorm if she had no plans to drive.

"You're lucky we don't have to waste time going back to my dorm," Angela says grinning.

Orchid cheers as they run through the dark campus, following the path of street lights in the Academy. They slow once they arrive at Hudson's parking lot, waving to other classmates who are either calling it a night or starting it. Angela unlocks the car and they climb in. She has to adjust the driver's seat for herself.

"Fair warning, Xavier does most of the driving," Angela says as she starts the car and buckles up.

"Sweetie, I've seen you drive a quinjet," Orchid says excitedly. "Tear the roads apart!"

-o-

Hudson Residence - 5:19 AM

Today's the day Xavier's leaving for Camp. He's already packed and wants to say that his friends will be fine without him, especially since Brody and Ashton woke up early to say goodbye, but he was concerned when Angela and Orchid burst into his dorm room after describing a wild trip to Walmart. Xavier is more concerned that Angela was involved since, well, she's Angela. And he hasn't even left for Camp SHIELD yet.

"Good heavens, Xavier," Orchid exhales, "it was a great three years with you. Remember all my words of wisdom."

Brody and Ashton nod as Angela goes to hug him. Xavier didn't expect them to act like he was leaving forever. It was a month but since it was for Camp SHIELD, he would be lucky to return alive.

Either way, Orchid's told him so much crap over the three years. He isn't sure which information would be useful at Camp. She's told him about farm animals, church, and chicken-fried food.

"What'll you be up to since my absence seems to be affecting you?" Xavier asks.

"My SO is making me a replacement RA for the sixth floor since the current boy is heading to Camp," Brody says. "I think your SO set it up."

"And I'm going to Camp…" Xavier grumbles. Not fair.

"I'm training cadets after class for my SO," Orchid adds.

"Agent Moore still gave me nothing," Angela says.

"Oh," Ashton says, "are you bringing your broken mirror to Camp? I almost sliced my hand open when I was looking for something in your desk."

"You brought that?" Angela asks, now showing concern.

"What mirror?" Orchid and Brody ask.

Angela gives them a quick summary. Before Britney left, she gifted Xavier a broken mirror with her photo in it. It was an ode to remember the broken girl, or at least how Angela remembers. To Xavier's surprise and honest relief, Orchid and Brody find it cool and adorable.

"She's crazy," Ashton says, "and I know that because you told me so. Xavier, I could just glue it back together for you."

"It's fine," Xavier says.

"I'll get you a new mirror."

"I don't want a new one, thank you very much. If you get rid of it while I'm gone, Angela will kill you for me."

Angela smiles. "I will."

-o-

Edison Residence - 5:22 AM

Daniel wasn't asleep but turns around in his bunk and sees James making his way around their dorm in the dark as he does last-minute preparations before leaving for Camp. It wasn't completely dark since James had one of his fists lit up with bioelectricity. Daniel can't see anything since he wasn't wearing his glasses which is why James thought he was asleep, aside from the time.

"Just turn on the light, I'm awake," Daniel says.

James leans forwards to get a better look before walking over to the door. He turns off his hands before turning on the light. He notices that Daniel isn't in his pyjamas but he reaches forwards to put on his glasses. Daniel doesn't sit up but turns onto his side so he could see James. Despite being Sci-Tech's lead counsellor, he was wearing his Operations training uniform. Daniel isn't sure if the other Sci-Tech counsellors will throw him out of the plane but at least he can fly.

"It was so nice of you to be awake to say goodbye to me," James says.

Daniel scoffs, letting James have this moment since he was being shipped to hell. No wonder he wore his training uniform. " … yeah, that's why I'm awake."

His looming second dissertation is haunting him.

Daniel's grateful when Angela walks into the dorm to say goodbye to James because it means he won't ask what's wrong. Daniel didn't think he was giving any signs that he wasn't asleep because he was overthinking. James was distracted by going to Camp. Daniel is half-paying attention to James when she says goodbye to him. He watches as James and Angela kiss a few times. They're whispering to each other but Daniel doesn't care enough to listen. After one final hug and kiss for Angela and a wave for him, James takes his bag and heads on out. Daniel wondered why Angela didn't leave with James but she takes a seat at his desk, crossing her leg and looking at him.

If there was one person who saw through his façade, it's Angela.

"What's up with you?" Angela asks. "Are you good?"

"Stupid dissertation," Daniel grumbles into his pillow.

Angela sighs. "I don't know how to help you but I can try. Tell me what it's about. You picked a field, right?"

"Nuclear physics."

That's way past the limit of Angela's help.

-o-

Suttner Residence - 5:34 AM

Merida didn't expect to hear from Victoria until their next class but she got a text thirty minutes ago saying to come to her dorm. Merida didn't bother to ask why. She got dressed and headed over to her residence building, hearing panicking first-year cadets heading to Camp and stressed agents along the way. She thought she'd get some sort of PTSD from seeing them but she only feels relieved that she isn't going. At least with Camp happening, Merida didn't have to call Victoria to buzz her up since freshie Communications cadets were heading out of their residence building.

The elevators were busy so she took the stairs. To Merida's surprise, Victoria's dorm's door was open and the light was on. She walked in to see Victoria sitting at the window, cradling a bottle of vodka in her lap. Smart. Nobody will bother doing inspections with the Camp chaos. Victoria heard Merida come in and stand beside her at the window.

"Where's your roommate?" Merida asks, pointing at the empty bunk.

"Heading to Camp," Victoria responds.

"Why are we here?"

"Best seat in the house. I thought you'd enjoy it."

Merida looks out the window and is amazed that Victoria's dorm has a view of the Academy's Landing Area. She thought the noise would be bothersome with aircrafts coming and going despite the new silent engines, but the sight was worth it. At least, tonight's sight. Through the Academy's light posts, Merida and Victoria watch as the cadets pile onto the planes. They spot clusters of panicking cadets, annoyed counsellors, and sleep-deprived agents. If those moods were any indicator of how this year's Camp session will go, it doesn't look good.

Victoria was right. She was enjoying this and good thing there's vodka.

"Drink every time you see a cadet drop their bag," Merida proposes.

"Drink every time you see a prof curse," Victoria adds.

"Drink every time you see a cadet wish they were dead."

"Drink every time you see a counsellor wish they were dead."

-o-

Camp SHIELD - 9:54 AM

Walking onto Camp SHIELD's grounds is nothing new for Xavier. It looks the same as the limited memories of his first-year experience. At least he won't be forced into the rigorous training, unlike his cadets. He's in charge so he thinks that this year might be fun for him. Cadets are intimidated by him which makes him wonder what stories they've heard from other upper years. He didn't hear any happily ever afters but Xavier has a different strategy for this year. It'll ease the paranoid looks he sees one all the freshies.

Xavier got his schedule on his way to his cabin. He didn't have to worry about the cadets right now since the agents assigned here were breaking them in. Good times. Once he threw his bag on a bunk, he connected with his other Operations counsellors and reviewed their roles for the month.

It wasn't until he was approaching the dining hall that he saw James. For a blissful moment, he forgot James was here.

"Look, Xavier, we're finally on the other side of things," James says.

"Remember our programs are enemies," Xavier states. Aside from forgetting James was here, Xavier spent the whole plane ride talking with the other counsellors about their plan for the war against Sci-Tech. Since James was here, he's amping up his plans. Nobody was here to stop him. If anything, this behaviour was encouraged.

James scoffs. "Oh yeah. I can't wait to kick your ass."

"I will throw you back to campus first."

"May the best program win."

They shake on it.

If you remember Camp SHIELD from Year One, then that will seem like child's play compared to what's coming.