The Replacements- 20
The next morning, I was called in early to speak with Chief Anderson.
"Sit down, Mark." Anderson ordered. "I'd like to know how the training is going."
I cleared my throat nervously. "Um, not as well as I'd like…"
"I imagine you've had to deal with a lot of team dynamics lately." Anderson began. "So, were you able to get Princess to come back?"
My eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"I have my ways, Mark." Anderson smirked. "Besides, I know how hard headed you can be…"
Suddenly it came to me. Jill. Anderson's little informant.
"I didn't get very far, Chief. She did say she'd think about it."
Anderson's lips curled in a wide smile. "Well, I happen to know that there is someone here to see you this morning, but you'll have to go up to the island to see who it is…"
My jaw dropped. "Princess?"
Anderson nodded. "Go and talk to her, Mark…that's an order." He grinned.
"Yes, sir!" I smiled back at him and headed for the island.
When I stepped out onto the sand, I saw her sitting cross legged in the sand. Her hair was blowing in the breeze, and she looked just as beautiful as she did when she first arrived.
She heard my footsteps, and cocked her head sideways, motioning for me to sit beside her.
"Hi there." She said.
"Hi, yourself." I replied. "I was expecting a phone call, but this is better."
Princess beamed. "So, are we going to try that Pyramid again, or what?"
"Does that mean…you're back on the team again?" I asked.
She held up her wrist and showed me her wristband. It glistened in the early morning light.
"I talked to the Chief already. It's official." She grinned. "He even let me keep my job and apartment for when we are off duty."
"What about that guy you were dating?" I gulped. I couldn't believe I had just blurted that out.
"How did you...?" Her eyes widened in surprise, and then she let out a loud sigh. "Jill..."
I chuckled lightly as I watched her pick up a shell and toss it into the waves.
"He'll have to wait. I have a duty…the world needs me…right?" Princess teased.
"Yeah, we need you a lot more than he does." I nodded. I felt a blush rise into my cheeks. "Come on, let's go tell the others!"
Without thinking, I grabbed her hand, pulled her up off the sand and escorted her to find Tiny and Jason.
I stopped for a moment, and let go. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking when I held your hand like that." My head drooped in shame.
"It's ok, Mark. You aren't taking advantage of me. Relax. I'll let you know if you've gone too far." She stated decisively. Then she grabbed my hand again. "Come on, let's go and find the others!"
We celebrated over breakfast. Pancakes, eggs and bacon…complete with an orange juice toast.
Things were finally turning around for me. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps, we'd become a tight knit team after all. It was beginning to feel like a family.
As we finished breakfast and headed out to work on the pyramid.
All four of us transmuted simultaneously, filling the gym with a blinding white light.
"You ready, Princess?" Tiny looked worried, but tried to mask his concern with his usual cheerful demeanor.
"Ready as I'll ever be..." She sighed, and leapt up onto Jason's shoulders.
I followed suit, and wrapped an arm around her narrow shoulders. I silently prayed that she'd get it right this time.
However, my prayers were evidently left unanswered.
"OUCH!" Jason looked up at Princess, inadvertently catching an eyeful of white panties. "Prin can you move your heel? It's digging into my..."
"Watch it, Creep!" She squealed.
I cringed as I watched her boot smack Jason square in the side of his face...
He immediately bent over, toppling Princess and knocking all of us out of formation.
"Why'd you do that?" He howled, still bent over and covering his cheek.
I got up from the mat, angry at both of them for ruining our team effort.
"What's going on, here?" I demanded.
"This jerk was checking out my bridstyle a little too closely," Princess pointed a thumb at Jason, who was still lying crumbled on the mat. "So he had to pay the consequences!"
She folded her arms at her chest and turned her back to the cowering Condor.
I couldn't help but chuckle in response. Tiny joined me.
"So Jase, do you think you've learned your lesson?" I teased.
"I give, I give..." He raised one hand in the air, mocking submission. The other hand still gingerly cupped his cheek. "No more boots to the head, ok?" He mumbled.
Princess winked back. She had a smug look on her face. "As long as you stay on your best behavior, Condor..."
"Let's try this again, shall we?" I grinned.
Jason's arm snapped out to his side as we began a second attempt at the pyramid. I could see the swelling and bruising already.
I had to admit I was impressed; I had never left an impressive bruise on him like that. Princess had truly left her mark. Jason would surely watch himself around Princess in the future. It was clear that she had gained his respect.
"Whirlwind Pyramid!" I shouted the command.
It was beautiful. Our first successful attempt, complete with a perfect landing. I felt so proud that we had pulled ourselves together as a team. We finally proved that we could work as a team.
Suddenly, our communicators beeped. The Chief summoned us to his office. Immediately.
Jason stared at his wristband. "Do you think there's already an emergency?"
We all looked at each other, confused.
I had just seen the Chief, and everything was fine.
We scurried down the hall to his office anyway, just in case.
"Come in, team. I have some news for you." Anderson stood in front of his desk with his arms crossed.
We all assembled on the couches, and stared at the Chief in silence.
" Is there an emergency, Chief?" I asked.
"No." Anderson sighed. "But I have something of great importance to share with you all."
He motioned to a small boy, who was standing timidly in the doorway. "G- Force, I'd like you to meet your final member. His name is Keyop."
An audible gasp escaped from my teammates.
A kid?
It seemed as though the calm seas we were experiencing were about to get a little rough again...
But however rough it became, I knew that I had the support of my teammates, and we could get through anything as long as we had each other.