"You may address me as Captain Arnold. I'll keep this brief. We have all been 'gathered' here this morning because a great disaster threatens the world and we are the individuals collectively chosen to save it. Details will be given to those who deserve them and the rest of you will be spared. We will train hard and no one will question the rules. The best team will join me for training and I assure you it will come with its advantages. Adjourned!"
Sir... No Captain Arnold is well known here. We may be human machines but believe me, gossip still travels just as fast. He so marvellously rose up to being captain in his first year here. All the higher-ups know about him and he's well respected. The best in every type of training we have here, mental and physical. He's still quite young, recruited when he was 14 and now he's 19 turnings 20 this year. Besides he has quite the looks.
We're into the second week now. No one can beat me in physical training. I raised myself from the age of 7, stealing and running. There's nothing I don't know of. If anything the training we do here is only tertiary level but maybe I'm just too good. I don't spare myself compliments because waiting for someone to appreciate you is a waste. I asked my teams superior if there's anything more challenging and it's only for the high tiers. So much for training that caters to our needs.
As a result, people here don't like me because apparently, I'm a show-off, rebel, spoilt and all that crap of which I don't even give a jit about. Truth be told people only find what you do either interesting or impressive that's all there is to it. The population of beings is always on the lookout for a missed step or a floor climbed.
Captain Arnold has been cursed with the opportunity to watch all the new teams training. How fun. I honestly do not care. If he can't get me out of this place, well no point showing off my technique. He'll be here at 3 pm and now it's 2.55pm. I'm not gonna bother to warm up. One, I'm too lazy. Two, there ain't no point trying to unnecessarily give me away, if he's worth it, he should know and if not well I can just enjoy fangirling over his beautiful face. The door just opened, and there he is. So punctual. Well well, he looks even better today.
"Captain Arnold," we all say.
He just nods his head at us. I assume that means he wants us to begin. I look at all the children in my group. I signal them to their spots and we begin the routine we practice almost every day. I kept it simple obviously. All the nerds in my group are not fit whatsoever other than Kevin, Natasha and John. I walk around the training hall telling them what to do until Captain Arnold's pet starts barking at me for no reason whatsoever.
"Hey. Coach why don't you show us something impressive, something worthy of a coach. I hear your quite the hand full."
"Haha, I am if you try to squeeze me into a shoe size box. I believe Mr Sidekick here knows we've been here two weeks and that I am trying my best to suck up to the responsibilities expected of me. I have no time to work on myself."
"Surely you don't mean you have no time to train yourself. You look like you know what you are doing by the looks of your...." he ponders over it and then drops mockingly to one knee and makes a hand gesture "your leadership."
"Well, I'm already 20 now, I believe it's quite late to begin training my physique. If I were younger it would be easier but unfortunately, I'm an old lady now. Not as fit as I used to be." I spit back annoyed.
"Patricia Jones! I believe we know you more than you know yourself, little miss pickpocket." I know that's what I did to survive but I can't help sneering at the remark. Looks like Cap noticed but he can do nothing about it for all I care. Damn that smirk across his face makes want to punch the living daylights out of his pup. Just when I'm trying to compose my self Captain speaks.
"Miss Jones. If you please, show me what you got." Beautiful deep voice check.
"Your Sidekicks name is Mike Ravage. Born 9th of May. Came when he was 13. Turning 18 this year. That good enough Sir, oh my bad Captain."
"Watch your tone, Missy. I didn't know you were quite the hacker but this has nothing to do with your computer skills. This is physical ability training."
I hold Captains gaze. He's quick to catch on. He brings his eyes down to the hand behind my back. I only spare his sidekick a single glance when I tose to him his wallet and ID card.
"Slow one isn't he, your pet. A lifetime of pick-pocketing has its benefits I suppose." I say to him in an annoying tone just to piss his sidekick off but he speaks before the pup gets to bark again.
"Dinner time tonight see you in Silver Hall."
Wow just like that and he left. The sidekick doesn't like me but still gives me a pass before catching up to captain. Guess he's good at some of his job other than barking enough his Cap doesn't get to talk much. Dinner time feels like its almost days away. I've been passing notes with Kevin all through the lessons. A year younger than me though. He may be a boy but there is no gender barricade between us. Mostly we talk about nothingness and computer science. A passion we have in common. He heard what Captain said and he just won't stop pestering me about it. I'm not worried about it I tell him in the note I pass to him. He gives me the I don't think so eye which I retaliate with an eye roll. That's the end of our conversation until Nat brings it up again.