LCTC (Little Chasers Training Center)

May 17

10h00

Five days.

Five days since Keika accidentally blasted Maxine with light.

Five days.

Five days for gossip to spread around the training center and twist into a mess.

Five days.

Five days of trying to live a ordinary life and discovering life was not meant to be ordinary.

Today was Keika's birthday. The past shouldn't have mattered. Yet here she was, walking down the hall with her three closest friends - Jaunea, Katrine, and Laney. And the past had words.

"I heard Maxine had to go to the eye doctor after Keika blasted her."

"Well, I heard Keika has a crush on Metaru Shontai, and lights up when he smiles at her."

"Like a light bulb!"

"Yeah!"

"Here she comes."

"And here come her three weird friends."

"You - leave us alone." Laney didn't sound as intimidating as she would have liked to. But where her voice failed, her motion and posture made up for it.

"Oh, the princess actually talks." mocked one of the gossipers.

Laney wasn't having it. She turned her back fast enough that her long, thick braid acted as a whip.

"OW!" That knocked one of them over. Not wanting to land in the nurse's office from a worse injury, she got up and left. Laney looked rather satisfied.

Katrine snapped something in French that sounded like a threat. One of the loudmouths backed down and left, knowing that it was indeed a threat.

That just left one jerk. Jaunea had a warning: "I know where the trainer keeps batons."

The path was clear.

"Thanks…" Keika felt weakened.

"Hey, this isn't about the light thing, is it?" asked Katrine.

"Yes - I mean, no - I mean… kind of." Keika tried to breathe. "It's how they're reacting."

Her three friends put on encouraging smiles. "It's your birthday, Keika. Shine on!"

"You're the best." Keika beamed - literally.

LCTC Playground

Same day

14h00, Recess Period

Near the slide, a Nuurahk trainee named Pikras waited for something to happen. Pikras was a Junior Guard. Junior Guards were older, more mature trainees - usually in Primary Training, or upper-level LC. They were tasked with helping younger trainees and reporting to the security staff in case of trouble. Naturally, the position was a huge status boost.

Rather than using his authority responsibly, Pikras abused it. After all, you can't get in trouble with the rules if you are the rules. He figured he was immune to mistakes.

But his next move was a big mistake. He saw Haidie playing "secret agents" with some of her friends.

"Agent 1, do you have it?" asked Celeste from her toy communication radio.

Haidie grinned, slowly reaching into her pocket. "Affirmative, Agent 3."

"Hey, aren't you a little old to be playing secret agents?" interrupted Pikras.

"It's good practice!" retorted Celeste, immediately breaking character.

"Yeah, right." Pikras turned to Haidie. "Have you heard about Keika?"

Haidie looked downright angry. She whipped a small flashlight from her pocket and pointed it at Pikras.

"Oh, a flashlight. Cute." Pikras wasn't deterred. That is, until Haidie turned on the flashlight to full power, wide beam. The light struck Pikras in both eyes. His jade green eyes flashed like an arcade game and he fell hard on the playground sand.

Haidie stood over Pikras like a tiger over a kill. "You think that's bad? You don't want to know what my big sister can do!" She put the flashlight back in her pocket and strode off.

Chase Household

Same day

15h30

Aédynu managed to get off work early that day. He walked into the door and gave Aislina a kiss. "How was your day?" he asked.

"It was - interesting." Aislina rolled her amber eyes.

"Did Keyok get in trouble again?"

"No, surprisingly." Aislina dropped her volume. "But he's going to be."

Aédynu looked over at Keyok, who was reading to Haidie in the kitchen. It was a junior novelization of a TV show that Haidie liked.

"Keyok, that's not how the episode goes!" Haidie protested.

Keyok slammed the book onto the table. "Fine! You read it!"

"Keyok!"

"Dad, reading to her is annoying! I'm trying to do something nice and she…"

Aédynu gave Keyok a look that clearly meant "stop talking."

"This isn't about the book. This is about how Haidie got her hands on an assault flashlight."

"Keyok gave it to me!" piped Haidie.

Aislina noticed Aédynu was about to lose his patience. She pulled him back by the left gauntlet, making sure her thumb pressed into his wrist. "You are not going to make an example of our son." she ordered.

Aédynu's temper deflated. "Yes dear, whatever you say… can you let go of my hand now?"

"Very well. I'll deal with this."

Keika came inside last - to a somewhat amusing sight. Her father's left wrist guard had a minor dent - thankfully filling itself back out. Her mother was giving Haidie and Keyok a talk on "not sharing weapons except in absolute emergencies."

"What's this about sharing weapons?" she asked.

Haidie turned around. "Dad gave Keyok a really bright flashlight and Keyok gave it to me. Pikras was saying mean things about you so I used the flashlight."

Keika gestured to Haidie. The sisters shared a smirk. After that, Keika gave praise - and instruction. "Good work. Next time, let me handle him!"