It was 5:00 am Vincent Banda was just in his room packing for the two-day trip to Blantyre. He looked the bandages wrapped around his torso, a little on his arm and legs, they were a reminder of his humiliating defeat at the hands of Chimwemwe Caçar which frustrated him to a high degree. Chimwemwe's attacks were just too fast for him to react too so he was easily overwhelmed not to mention he was a lot more athletic than he thought.
Vincent himself didn't know his parents but from what the caretakers at the orphanage said his bitch of a mother just left him there with just a surname. The orphanage he grew up in at Copperbelt wasn't all that bad but they did face difficulty with food a lot. When his quirk awakened it was one of the best days of life as he could produce green-yellowish spores to make any green life grow and be manipulated by him.
Of course, it wasn't all that at first as he could barely grow anything so he trained hard to grow because of a little garden they were growing for food fresh vegetables with little success. Of course, since there were in a rougher side of town he got in and out of trouble with the wrong crowd a lot. He was slowly getting more involved with street gangs.
One day the orphanage was a victim of a villain attack leading to some children dying and it would have been a lot worse if the pro hero Shadow Shaman didn't save them. After the event the hero stayed to help with damage control and even paid for the funeral of the deceased.
After the incident which left Vincent a little scared and Shadow Shaman had a little chat for a good while and after he told him the quirk, he possessed the hero told him that he didn't have to choose life of crime and how I had potential to be a great hero in the future. A little more time passed and Vincent began to see bad his neighborhood he couldn't even go to the store without a fear of a villain attack or being jumped so being a hero to fix his breaking neighborhood but it was impossible for him to become a hero especially with no finances for schooling or anything.
Then sometime later Shadow Shaman came back and offered him a chance to join a project to help realize his true potential and become a hero all expenses paid for by the government. Of course, he agreed not because he was inspired to be a hero but also because he found out that hero work offers high pays if you made it big so he was going to work hard earn enough money and change his neighborhood.
But of course, it wasn't that easy as he had to take a really hard quirk examination with other kids at Madaliso park. He didn't know how they were picking but they luckily choose him.
So, he was brought to the pillar project here in Lusaka where they provided him with a place to stay, food, an education since he was very much lacking in it, but most importantly hero training.
"Hey Vincent why are you just staring at your bag?" Danelle asked standing by his doorway hands on her hips and purple travel bag behind her. "Come on one of the monitors told me to come get you it's time to go." She told him.
"Be there in a minute." He told and she nodded and left. After he put a shirt in his bag and left his room going to join Danelle at the exit from the dorms.
Danelle was pretty much the closest thing he had to a friend at the pillar project. She was a little more mature for someone their age, probably because of being the oldest of four siblings. She more patient and mostly went with the flow but had unpredictable mood swings at times. He seen her train and had to admit her mermaid quirk was something especially when she was in water. She explained she got her when her school participated a special government exercise with asking them to use their quirks freely and she said they liked her performance and her she was.
Next was Lusungu, and he didn't really interact with much but he was a somewhat shy kid with a good enhancement quirk called gear change. He didn't know the specifics of it only that it gave Lusungu a boost. He got here the same way Danelle did.
Then there was Suwi and he can say he tolerated her at best. She was a little bit of a show off but had a good quirk called diamond Meister and also worked hard to when it came to the exercises. He still thought she was privileged spoiled rich kid as she didn't even take any special exam like the rest of them but her daddy probably put in the word. But besides are annoying love of clothes and fashion or girly talks with Danelle she wasn't all bad.
Finally, Chimwemwe and the thought of him made him a tick mark pop up on his head. In the beginning this wasn't the case but his attitude over time was what did it. First, got there through similar means to Suiw but unlike her he didn't even work to the bone when training nor did he seem to want to be a hero he just seemed to be here just mess around that's it.
He remembered the Cheetah woman who he assumed was his mom stuck around a bit little just to watch the exercises to make sure he was okay in the beginning. The love and protectiveness he saw in her eyes for him made Vicent feel a tad bit of jealousy especially how she sometimes openly cuddled him. The same could be said for Suiw's be her parents only came by very few times.
"VINCENT!!" Danella yelled knocking out of his thoughts.
"WHAT!!" He snapped at her.
"He my don't yell at me like that I was just trying to get your attention." She said angrily and crossed her arms. "I just wanted to tell you the bus is this way you were so in your own head you were walking off." She pointed at the direction of the car they will all be traveling in and it amazed Vincent that they will be travelling in such an expensive car.
"Oh, right sorry." He said a little sheepish.
"Whatever just get in the car." She walked off a little mad at him for his outburst and just boarded the car which he followed.
When they got in, they saw the car was a three-row vehicle and the other three pillars Chimwemwe, Suiw and Lusungu who all sat at the back and were just watching Chimwemwe play some online game on his phone.Professor Kewli was in the passenger seat with a driver who looked like a boyguard.
"Heys guys." Danelle greeted them.
"Sup/Hey/Hello." The all answered.
"Am surprised to see you guys here already." She sat in the right seat of the middle row while Vincent seat in the left and shot a minor glare at Chimwemwe who just nonchalantly flipped him off.
"Yeah, they messaged all three us to be at the building by 4:30 than pick up you guys." Suiw answered as Chimwemwe was too focused on his game with Lusungu watching.
"Okay children get ready this is going to be an eleven-hour drive if there's no traffic." When he announced that a glass breaking effect happened and all of them looked in shock. "Don't worry it won't be that bad."
14 and a half hours later
"Alright kids were here." Kewli said to wake to the five pillars
Suwi was asleep on Chimwemwe's right shoulder who also fell asleep but woke up just 30 minutes ago and was now just listening to music. Danelle was also asleep with her head leaning on the window, Vincent was just looking at some hero clips on his phone. Lusungu was reading a book on engineering and luckily, he wasn't reading for long otherwise he would have gotten car sickness.
"Suiw wake." Chimwemwe nudged his friend a bit.
"Noo~ to comfy~." She said in a drowsy voice and hugged him in her sleep.
"Aww~ That's so cute~." Danella squealed a bit and Lusungu laughed.
Chimwemwe just rolled his eyes and sent a little at her jolt and wake up with an eep. She glared at him with her cheeks unconsciously were coated in pink crystals.
"What the hell!" She yelled at him.
"Relax it's not like that hurt you."
"Why you…!"
"Alright kids that's enough let's just check out the hotel mister Mwamba checked in in for us." Professor Kewli interrupted. The Pillars all got out not before Suiw did the am watching you sign at Chimwemwe.
After they got out getting their travel bags, they saw the hotel which they will staying at. Vincent, Danelle and Lusungu were in awe while Chimwemwe and Suiw where fine.
"Ryalls hotel huh." Suiw recognized the hotel than they all went inside after they got their travel bags from the trunk.
After a check in with the Zebra faced receptionist which Chimwemwe was an urge to snick his teeth into for some reason but ignored it and asked if it was okay if he used the Wi-Fi for the place which the receptionist accepted and gave him the password. They then got directed to the room the five pillars would share together.
"Alright it's been a long journey you kids rest up. We will come get you all in an hour for dinner and Mr. Mwamba will be them too for a special assignment for you all tomorrow." He told them and left the room leaving the children to their own devices.
"Man, the was one really long trip." Suiw laid jumped on her bed stretching.
"Yeah, but it was a little worth it. I never been to hotel like this before." Danelle sat on her bed enjoying its softness.
"Meh it's not all that I've been too better." Suiw bragged a little and Danelle jumped on her bed and started pulling cheeks. "Hey what are you doing!"
"Stop flex on how rich you are." She jokily scolded while giggling.
"Let go you crazy fish lady." Suiw giggled as she struggled to get free.
Vincent looked at the two girls more apparently Danelle finding her laughter cute but shook off the thoughts. This was his first-time being hotel ever so he decided to leave the room and look around a bit.
"Um Vincent where are going?" Lusungu asked the older boy.
"Um going to look around a bit." He answered.
"Don't be late okay remember Mr. Kewli said we have Dinner in an hour." Danelle told him while hugging Suiw like a plushy.
"Yeah, yeah mom I heard." Vincent rolled his eyes while leaving the while avoiding a pillow flying his way.
Chimwemwe was just getting his laptop out from his traveling bag. Minerva made him promise that when he got there safely, he would video chat her as she said might be free at this time. He already messaged his uncle that he arrived in one piece. After putting on his headphones he opened the video chat which didn't take long to answer.
"Hey Chicky kitty." Minerva greeted her nephew she was in a black woman's suit.
"Come on man!" Chimwemwe yelled a bit embarrassed which got the other Pillars attention who he forgot where in the room.
"Oh, I'm just messing with you Chicky Cub." Minerva chuckled a bit.
Chimwemwe grumbled but then noticed his aunt's appearance. She wore a bath and hair was no longer her usual braids but she had it in a curly like afro similar to his agogo and mom and pictures of his mom and she really did look like them. She also had a small bandage on her cheek and arm.
"Wow auntie what happened to you." He asked in a little worry.
"A lot of people really want my employer dead so your poor auntie has to work overtime to keep him alive." She said tiredly.
"Why do they want him dead though?"
"Oh, dear nephew that information's classified." She faked being all mysterious and I laughed a bit.
Then a female hero burst into the room she was in room and it was one he recognized. It was a Miriko but still younger than her canon counterpart with a similar out.
"THERE YOU ARE OLD LADY I DEMAND I REMATCH!!" She yelled in Japanese which Chimwemwe barely understood.
"How many times do I have to tell you I don't speak Japanese." Minerva told the younger woman a little annoyed. 'Why did the Mr. Muthali think getting her involved.'
"She said she wants a rematch I think." Chimwemwe translated for her.
"Tch seriously." Minerva smacked her lips but turned to the computer. "Stay safe chicky have fun on your trip. I have to deal with this bye." She than cut the video before Chimwemwe said anything else.
'Well, that was something. I didn't even get a chance to event say hie to Miriko but damn she was really sexy though' Chimwemwe thought as he closed his laptop. 'Wait what involvement does she have with auntie's bodyguarding gig?'
"So, how's your Auntie doing in Japan." Suiw jumped by his side on the bed.
"She's doing okay. Seems to be getting a lot of action there." He answered.
"Wow you two really love each other huh." Danelle commented. "Do you do frequent video calls?"
"Surprisingly no. Guess she's busier the I thought." Chimwemwe than looked at the other three. "Wait aren't you going to call all your folks?"
"Chimzey didn't the scientists say they will tell all our parents and guardians when we all got here." Lusungu questioned while messing with a very old radio brought. He decided to start off a little small and with the basics to truly understand mechanics.
"Oh, Chicky's just an auntie's boy~." Suiw teased Chimwemwe while tilting her head closer to him.
"I really don't want too here that from you. Don't you still need your mom to sing you a lullaby and hold your hand just too got to sleep from time to time." Chimwemwe shot back with a little cat smirk.
"H-hey h-how do you know about that." Suiw's shrieked as her face crystal blushed in embarrassment.
"Wait she does I was just kidding to get under your skin." Chimwemwe laughed a little at her.
"You stupid bug zapper!" She jumped on top of him and attempted to pin him down but she ended up under him. "Get off me!" She yelled he blush spreading more.
"Chimwemwe o think you should get off her before those red crystals completely cover her face." Danelle said looking at the whole scene amused.
"Gross you two you're like those couples from those comedy dramas my mom watches." Lusungu fake gagged.
Chimwemwe just rolled his eyes at Lusungu's comment and got off her just when Kewli come into the room.
"Alright Children Mr. Mwamba so please follow me to where we will be dining."
"Wait shouldn't we wait for Vincent." Danelle informed him which he shook his head.
"No, he's already there with Mr. Mwamba we ran into him about 10 minutes earlier."
All four of them just went on the room their will be dining in and it was a buffy table and they all so Vincent all ready eating a ton of food and Mr. Mwamba sitting at the right comer with guards beside him.
"Oh, good you're all here please sit and have eat whatever it is you all need to eat." He invited them which they all did but Kewli left the room for some reason which Chimwemwe was the only one who cared why.
As they all sat down and began eating Suiw looked at Chimwemwe's plate or plates and saw four steaks and five chicken, beef stew with rice and two chambo. Chimwemwe noticed the girl's look.
"What?"
"Nothing it's just you've been eating a lot lately more apparently meat-based food. I mean mom told me one time that Ms. Caçar eats like that sometimes."
"Meh am just enjoying the opportunity I'll never know if I get a chance like this again." Chimwemwe shrugged.
"What are talking about you hung out with me a lot don't you." She tilted her head in confusion. Her plate consisted of spaghetti with mince lobster, shrimp with vegetables.
"Stop flexing Suiw." Danelle rolled her eyes. Her plate consisted three chambo fish, shrimps, and macaroni.
As they all continued to dine Mr. Mwamba decided to start talking business.
"Alright Pillars it's time to tell you all why you're here." He said seriously. "Danelle one of your quirks abilities lets you purify water by separating toxic substances from it right?" Danella just nodded. "Good you see here in Blantyre there's a problem with limbi river. It's gotten a little too toxic over the years making one of the most polluted rivers here in Nyasaland."
"So, you want me to purify limbi river I think need more training to purify a whole river."
"Not the whole river but it will be a good show case of your abilities as other investors and potential investors have been invited to the event tomorrow as long as the number two hero so don't disappoint." He to her and poor Danella looked like a she had a minor heart attack