Something in James' field test made me go back in PNG and tweak an early arc. You'll know what it is when you read it.

Year Three: Field Test - Cadet #119 043 093 092

Somewhere Above the Caribbean Sea - 17:07 PM

James slouches in his seat, drumming his fingers against his leg. He's been sitting on this quinjet for hours, watching the cabin of cadets slowly empty out as they made pitstops at various field test locations. He was in one row and Angela was sitting across from him in the second. They're now the last cadets, waiting impatiently to arrive at their field tests.

Other cadets were armed with guns in various holsters, top branded gear - one cadet even had a SHIELD-issued jetpack. James couldn't help but notice he and Angela weren't told to arm up. She was in her normal training uniform (as some other cadets were but they got to have holsters) and he was in a standard SHIELD scuba suit with no oxygen tank or flippers.

When Angela leans forwards, playing with the ends of her ponytail, she looks at James. When he winks at her, she puckers her lips for a second to mimic a kiss. Oddly enough, he doesn't feel nervous and neither does she. He only knows that because she didn't sit next to him once cadets started clearing out. No need for reassurance because their presence was enough.

Their quinjet stops, hovering in their current destination. Agent Moore, Angela's SO, walks over to the landing dock as it opens. She glances at her clipboard before looking at the remaining two cadets.

"Pym, you're up," Agent Moore says.

"Nice," James says, unbuckling excitedly.

He gets up from his seat and rolls his arms back to stretch, getting a grin from Angela as she watches.

"We got this," James says. "Remember that Xavier, top of the class, just went down a bunny hill."

Angela scoffs. She and Xavier are tied at the top but she probably won't get a bunny hill. They heard the mighty tale of Xavier's field avalanche and laughed at every detail. "Sure, babe, sure."

"And Merida's test will be worse than ours."

"Definitely."

James cups her face and kisses her quickly. She tries to hold him for longer but Agent Moore cleaning her throat forces them to part. He sneaks another peck before approaching Agent Moore with a cheesy grin on his face. She doesn't look amused at all.

The salty scent of the ocean whiffs past James as he looks over the open dock and they're above the water. They didn't even land. There doesn't even seem like there's any land down there.

"Are we landing?" James asks.

"You are," Agent Moore responds.

Before James could ask any more questions, Agent Moore pushes him out of the quinjet and he's falling towards the water.

At least his wetsuit makes sense now.

-o-

James was free-falling and spiralling for a few rounds before remembering he could fly. If only he realized that sooner because the moment he shrank, he hit the water. At least he didn't make a giant splash and draw attention. He's doing well so far. He thinks.

The quinjet is out of sight. James isn't sure if he should grow back to his normal size because it could save him more time from being spotted but the waves are overwhelming. He could barely tread this tiny. He doesn't have to be mindful of his O2 levels because he wasn't allowed to bring a tank. It's not like they told him in advance that he'd be swimming in the ocean.

Just then, James hears something splashing in the water a little way off, and he swims backwards because he doesn't want to know what it is. At first, he thinks it must be a shark or a dolphin, but then he remembered how small he is now and soon made out that it was only a fish.

A fish that disregarded him once it swam past him. Rude.

James grows back to his normal size and looks around. A sudden whirring of jets overhead causes him to duck underwater. Were those for him? The Caribbean Sea is darker because of the light reflecting on all the life. He can barely see the deeper he swims.

Could he light up underwater? Everyone always says not to throw a hairdryer in the bathtub but the electricity is already in his body. And he hasn't been electrocuted so far. He's bioluminescent. He can create his own energy.

Besides, jellyfish, algae, and electric eels exist.

Before he could test his theory, James hears a boat whirring on the surface towards him. He swims further back, keeping his eyes on it. The moment someone jumps in and speeds towards him, James swims back up to the surface. He knew he would try to be kept underwater so he needs to intake all the oxygen can.

He thrusts above the water, inhaling as deep as he can before he's yanked back under. James grits his teeth as his attacker forces him to swim downwards. Bastard got an O2 tank and not him? He's held by the shoulders and pushed downwards. James' chest hurts and he tries to punch back but the water slows him down.

James grits his teeth as he brings his knees upwards and kicks his attacker back. He somersaults back - stupid water - and before he could reorient himself, his assailant grabs him from behind. James' legs burn from needing constant motion not to sink and he's trying his best to focus on anything else but breathing.

James grips the man's arm around him and whips himself forwards, shrinking and causing the man to flip overhead and lose his grip. James flutters away and he catches the glowing tint from his wings as he tries to get to the surface to breathe.

Water can be a good electricity conductor. It has charged ions and impurities. People advise not to mix water and electricity because the user could become the power's path making it lethal; hence the hairdryer and bathtub.

But again, electric eels exist.

A current from a school of fish swarms him and James tumbles, slamming against each scaly body. He resists the urge to scream and grows back to his normal size which causes the fish to disperse.

James isn't sure if the lack of oxygen to his brain or the ocean is making him dizzy, but he's still suddenly forgotten which way is the surface. He swims upwards until something appears in his peripheral vision, swimming towards him. James screams and is suddenly blinded by the brightest light he'd ever seen.

His lungs are nearly deflated but he stops himself from expelling oxygen. He opens his eyes and realizes it's coming from him. His body is muted but still shining so bright in the dark ocean even when peeking through his dark scuba suit, almost like he's encompassed by a halo.

Bioluminescence has never been so beautiful. The fact that James was still alive was a miracle - the sort of miracle that'll come back to kill him later once the adrenaline wears off or the lack of oxygen takes him to the afterlife.

He catches his assailant swimming nearby and can't make out his face with the scuba gear but James thinks he's in shock because he's not being attacked. Is the field test over? Is his attacker wondering if he'll get electrocuted if he comes closer? James can't be sure about either. He doesn't shoot the poor man but fires some bioelectricity with a finger gun at the O2 tank.

-o-

James breaks the surface beside a speedboat, resting on his back as he gasps for air. He catches the SHIELD logo on the side and floats on his back. He's no longer glowing but basking in the sun.

He can't believe he did any of that.

He squints his eyes when a shadow casts over him. James' eyes adjust and he sees his SO looking over him from the boat with an extended hand. James reaches over and climbs in the boat, sitting on a towel that he rubs all over himself.

"I did that in one breath!" James exclaims.

Prof Nine scoffs. "Are you bragging?"

"I'm catching … my breath."

Prof Nine tosses him a water bottle. "I don't know how to evaluate field tests since it's not exactly my domain but you nailed it. You sold me on bioluminescence. Spooked your opponent and it was just awesome."