“ALRIGHT MAGGOTS!!! LeETS Get to… Ppphh okay yeah that’s way too over the top. Hehe!”

  Aegis took over the course as if she was always meant to. Like she’d been waiting to do this for a while. Smiling wide and just all around being the exact opposite to Parasonic’s permanent scowl.

  “Heheh, okay. Okay. Now, for the next month, all of you are going to be getting stronger. I’m sure you’ve all been working out to prepare for this. Training on your own and learning to use your powers. And trying to work out how you can use them to ‘fight the bad guys’. But, a lot of the time, they can be blocked. Or just straight up defeated and countered by all manner of gadgets. And of course others far more trained up in your power class. So, before you even get to really let loose with what you got, you’re going to have to learn how to fight without them. And before that, you’ll be needing to get much, much stronger. But don’t you worry, we’ve perfected the art of bulking up around here.”

  The loosely lined up trainees all had their own consternations or lack thereof, but all expected there to be rigorous routines to this course. But what wasn’t expected was her moving back over to Seth.

  “Para never let you say your name so…”

  “It’s Seth.”

  Her expression just cemented his resignation. She really didn’t remember him.

  “Cool. But I’m not going to lie Seth, that suit of yours seems pretty important to you.”

  Though his worry clouded the disappointment on his face.

  “You were booking serious G’s and standing up to full body resonation in it after all, that’s serious hardware. But, it’s going to make things harder for you in the long run. I’m not saying it’s what it looks a lot like but… Well all the other recruits are going to be carrying around powers they can’t fully use for a while, and to see you wearing that armor is going to cause some… jealousy? Nah they’ll just straight up hate you for it. So listen. For the next month, I’m going to need you to take the suit off and carry it everywhere you go.”

  Seth recoiled. Practically gasped. Streets and stairs were one thing, and he'd been ready to train in the suit itself for the longest time. But carrying it!?

  ...He sighed in surrender knowing full well he should have expected this. At least she was trying to mitigate things.

  “I understand.”

  He crooked his shoulder, hitting the release button on the inside bracket so he could step out. Turning and hitting the fold lever on the back and letting it crumple into its travel ready form. Though he flexed his arm in remembered strain at the prospect of hauling it around by hand again, so thought a little and turned looking for some small amount of goodwill. At Cleo.

  “Think... I could borrow two of those belts? Or some straps?”

  Who in turn smiled a little maliciously.

  “Sure, anything for yoouu.”

  He ignored her more than off putting tone and accepted two materialized, and hopefully inert, leather straps that seemed to slip into reality right in front of him. Long enough lengths to knot and loop into backpack straps around the suit's folded arms. And thankfully strong enough to take the weight as he pulled it up. Fulling looping into it, the weight was obvious for the other trainees. Who seemed to see it as payback for the free for all, mixed with at least one or two bits of empathy. Aegis glared down the malicious and turned back to him.

  “There. I know it’s heavy, but I also know full well you can handle it. You didn’t walk all the way here wearing it after all. And you fought in it like it was just a paper weight. But, speaking of which, if Para gives you shit about it tell me okay. I’ll knock him on his ass so you don’t get yours handed to you again.”

  She turned back to the gathered trainees.

  “Now then recruits! Let’s! Get! Running!!"

  ‘...Huh!?!’

  “What? This is a training camp! What did you think we were going to do?”

  ‘Fuuuuuuuck…’

  Seth trudged in behind as everyone moved over to the wall and aligned with the track lines. The sand just a little harder here, but still giving. He was already starting to regret ever coming up those damn stairs as Aegis stepped up beside them and-

  “Let’s go!!”

  Somehow... the running wasn’t actually too bad, once Seth got the massive weight over his shoulders set correctly. Lugging around nearly a thousand and a half pounds of metal with what can only be hoped to be non-maliciously attuned straps of conjured leather was at least easier on flat ground. He even kept pace with the groups already forming. Passing poor David, Jacob, Zeleny, and Razor as he stayed metered and they found out the hard way that endurance was expected. No need to use up everything in the first go round. Though he didn’t have much left anyway, so these reserves were coming from the suit more than his own stores of power. His legs though were already complaining when he hit the halfway point. The more competitive and less taxed of the bunch nearly at the second lap. But if this was all there was then-

  “All right!! Warm lap done now sprint!!”

  ‘Oh you fucking… grrrrr!’

  In no time he hit the start line and picked up the pace at Aegis’ goading. And now his knees were threatening full on revolution. A hip socket started wringing dry. And his back was already starting to feel impacted. But, every time he made it under the control booth, a warm current hit him and those pains disappeared. Only to reappear before he made it halfway again. It was Mediknight’s healing field again, he was watching from up there and extending his aura down to the trainees. Making sure they didn’t tear a tendon apart or wear all the cartilage out of their joints. Or pound their feet into disfigured lumps.

  One more pain already making itself known. Going along with the glare coming down from that booth as well.

  Para was up there watching, holding nothing back even through that plated glass. Just another thing Seth would have to deal with of the course of this course. But he could manage. Feeling those eyes on him again at least distracted away the pain.

  The pain… or lack thereof.

  Para rubbed his cheek, feeling that hit again and again. Staring down at the ingrate who struck him as he passed by over and over. Around and around. And each time more and more of the pain coming back. Out of the numbness he rubbed away. There was something about this kid that didn’t make sense to him. And that drove the grind of his jaw adding more understandable pain. Even as it wafted away like sand on a shoreline. Medi’s presence more irking than it should be.

  “What did you get from that brat?”

  Mediknight sat watching the screens arrayed before him, watching this new batch of trainees go round and round, hitting his field and rippling it as they left. And also watching several read outs and report scrolls from the lower level medical wing. Judging whether this was the best use of his time. And so far, it was.

  “He has powers. You’re not allowed to doubt that. But what kind… That’s harder to judge.”

  “I can doubt him as much as I want. No one comes here wearing that much metal without reason. He’s got strength enough to carry it, but that doesn’t mean shit. Either he’s compensating or he doesn’t even trust himself. So why the hell should we?”

  “Because the alternative in indeterminate. At least here we can watch and direct him if he is sincere. If not… Well assaulting a member of the Elite has put more than enough eyes on him.”

  “Hrmph… Not enough.”

  Para’s hand whipped away from his fully feeling face, as he stormed around and left Medi to his watching. His own plans more important than seeing what he already knew. He had applications to scour and plenty of other failures to form into something that could be called heroes one day.

  Seth burned through the rest of his saved up energy just trying to stay conscious by about lap fifty, even with the stuff he'd soaked into the suit before coming here. Sprawling out on the sand as best he could with his suit still on his back as Aegis finally let them stop. The other trainees at least were mutually exhausted, if not outright broken from the excessive running. The heaving fit that was the cut off for this first session seemed to suck every last bit of oxygen out of the arena. But despite what should have been catastrophic to the trainees' ability to move, they all still remained mobile. At least as mobile as a ninety year old arthritis victim. Plenty of other trainees had joined him on the ground in short order.

  “Whoo!! Good work you guys! So who’s up for a few dozen squat thrusts to get the blood really pumping?”

  At least twelve sets of nearly mummified death glares moaned toward her, the collective wheezing of the damned was all that could be mustered. And she knew that plain as day as her smile wrinkled flat.

  “Yeah, I’m kidding. Yall can go get lunch, it’s about time for it anyway.”

  Slowly, very slowly, the trainees stumbled to their feet and shuffled toward the door they came in from. Dead on their feet, except for Kaze, who just walked alongside Aegis as she made sure everyone was able to make it out.

  ‘Humph. He’s probably trained like this every day. Can’t have fallen too far from his dad after all.’

  The trudge through the locker room at least showered them in Mediknight’s healing field again. Getting a good bit of energy back as they changed out of their costumes. Seth’s back creaking like the bench he dropped his suit on. No will left to keep it out of the way, also all that pain fading away was giving him an unimaginable appetite. He left it there for now, some dread that he was going to come back to it for something worse than running.

  Showered, sore, and back in street clothes, or just in a cleaner version of her suit for Cleo, everyone headed on down the hall toward the south side of the periphery. Toward an emanating smell that seemed to give back what an ensuing soreness took away.

  It was divine, meat seasoned in black pepper and blends. Potatoes boiling in broth and butter. Onions caramelizing alongside it all. And fresh baked bread. A full meat stew platter being prepped before their noses as they made it into the canteen.

  Tables, both round and school cafeteria fold outs, scattered about. Some already filled with other heroes waiting just as hungrily. A window and buffet line, heat lamps and views into the kitchen taking up the far wall. And a single hat running back and forth passed the window.

  “Go ahead and sit anywhere, you’re gonna love Ambrose’s cooking.”

  ‘I already am!’

  No one could vocalize it, but as soon as bowels started being popped out under the heat lamps no one would need to. It was like a home cooked meal from a movie. Except made for a five star restaurant. The bread nearly turned his brain off right then and there. The meat just melted away as he bit into it. The potatoes exploded in as good a way as they could ever. The broth it was all in made it seem like Seth was in a home he never had. Almost falling into a sobbing fit of joy. If not just passing out in the stew like Razor almost did.

  “Gah! Hot! It’s so good but it’s so hot!”

  If this was just lunch, what the hell was dinner like?

  ‘It’s no wonder they fail so many people. They just want to keep this for themselves!’

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  The soreness melted with the meat in his mouth, whatever bad memories that tried to interrupt from the hunger were smothered away. This was heaven, just as much as it was hell.

  ‘I don’t want to ever leave this seat.’

  But he still had to. Once everyone was fed and back to being able to stand on their own, Aegis corralled them toward the dormitories. Up a flight of stairs and above the southern half of the periphery. She handed off each trainee to their respective rooms, giving them some time to rest and get used to their new homes.

  They were fairly small, but not quite broom closets. A built in bed and dresser on one side, sunken into the wall. A sink and enclosed bathroom in the back. Even a fold out desk and chair on the opposite. Seth could live with it, even if he basically crawled into it and passed out on the bed. It at least didn’t have yellowed wallpaper after all.

  Each room also had an aforementioned terminal that popped out of the wall above the desk. Full access to the internet, so the Garkah were happy even if he couldn’t feel it passed the thrum of his over worked heart. Though apparently there were serious security features keeping it monitored and controlled. Can’t have League secrets getting out so easily, they had access to the full schedule and directory for The Hill’s facilities after all. Apparently they ran tours through every other week for the key facilities though, and have quite a few events marked up well in advance. But nearly all of them were blank. Just set dates to expect something maybe. All in all this was probably a life he could still get used to.

  After a short rest of feeling fat and happy in bed, Seth and the rest were called back into the arena. A few of the other sectors were being used for sparring matches and the hits were shaking things a bit. But it seemed like this was just a time for Aegis to tell them what was ahead…

  What a month’s worth of super strength training meant.

  More sprints around the arena, all four hundred yards of it in intervals up to seventy five laps. Standard push-ups and sit-ups sets, but wholesale in the hundreds. Weight training in increments from fifty to two hundred pounds. Even full on deadlift routines almost reaching half a ton on their own.

  For half of this first week Para would be tagging in, with all the expected accosting that entailed. His training focusing more on competitive regimens rather than straight work outs. Obstacle courses being his favorite, but some days he would mix things up with full ton block pushes and 'actual' endurance runs. And, if by the end everyone wasn’t passed out or close to it, he’d make them run it again. With just that knowledge alone the trainees were all left comatose in their beds, only even thinking of moving when dinner was being served.

  ‘I regret… all my life choices…’

  The next day started with a pushup set. Seth lost feeling in his arms after the first fifty, don’t ask about the next hundred. Much of the other workouts were similarly brutal, sit ups at least offered a reprieve, the suit acting as a spotter. But of course to compensate, he had to do an extra hundred. The weight training ended up being just squats in weighted clothing. And Seth already had all he needed to weigh him down, so Aegis let him stay burdened as is.

  But he had the hardest time when Para tagged in.

  ‘Because of course he was a bitter asshat!’

  He regularly stood on Seth’s block during the one ton block push, using it as a stage to berate anyone who fell behind him. He at least didn’t limit his accosting, but it was annoying to be considered the low point in the class.

  ‘What normal person could survive all this shit, huh!?’

  The obstacle course was obscene though. The best times got to rest for longer, but much of it wasn’t designed to handle the weight going over it. Let alone what Seth brought along through it. Logs and ropes snapped with regularity. And each time Para hit the whole group with collective punishments, usually devolving into more endurance runs. The idea he favored competition but distributed collective punishments was downright radicalizing to everyone, especially Seth since he was the one most likely to be called out for it. Thankfully Aegis stepped in after the first few sessions devolved and took over the obstacle course. To balance the schedule, Para opted for rock climbing races, the indoor units at least proving sturdier than the wooden obstacles. And at least it was instructive.

  'Going to have to do a lot of climbing. Why couldn't the Garkah have given me levitation or something?'

  By the end of the first week, the trainees were beaten to shit. They were allowed weekends off, but everyone used them to simply remain passed out in their beds. Seth using the time to watch TV on his terminal and recharge. Even though he quit, he still liked keeping tabs on the armor industry at large. How else would he be sure that what he left would get used? Also he was too much of a couch potato to really do much else.

  The next week started with more of the same, but... was surprisingly less taxing. Even those that struggled with the training were handling the strain better. It was almost like a normal morning jog to sprint around the arena by the second day. Like an average routine set to knock out three hundred pull ups. Or just a casual attempt on the obstacle course to barrel through it in thirty seconds. They were all still pretty sore though, but the improvement was something else.

  By the end of that second week the trainees were actually set to enjoy their weekend off, though they were evidently confined to The Hill. A lightly organized night out to get to know each other better shot down before it even had time to cook. Apparently the League on its own has serious considerations for security. Though Para was adding his own brand on top. So all they got was a get together in the canteen during off hours, so they didn’t get between official heroes and their own meals.

  Seth wasn’t the biggest socialite, but wasn’t about to not go. It basically replaced their lunch break anyway so if he didn’t go he’d miss out. And he really didn’t like going hungry. And Ambrose was making chicken pesto paninis that smelled like an Italian countryside.

  And, it didn’t really go too bad. Even in the face of how that first day had started. He even brought his helmet to try and dispel some of Para’s bullshit and show off a little bit of his craftsmanship. Though everyone else was kind of expected to do the same in their own ways. And say more than just the minimum that Para let them say.

  “My name is Cleopatra Bradberton, and I enjoy many things.”

  Cleo obviously organized the whole thing and so took immediate charge of the format. And apparently wasn’t holding a grudge for the gut shots, thankfully. She seemed to be the creative type and started listing off a lot of stuff she’d done in the past. Band, origami, speed skating? She never settled on one thing for too long… Other than leather, which she learned the full ins and outs of by the time she was six.

  ‘Why?’

  “I just like it. It feels like me, you know?"

  The worried groans from everyone at least told Seth he had common cause.

  Maya was standoffish by comparison, but relented as everyone started staring.

  “Ughh. My name is Maya Montoya Herrera Guerrera Torres… That enough for you?”

  Not quite the full flashbang, but a lot of the stares were withered. Though Jacob seemed to recognize the name.

  “Like the Torres and So…ons?”

  And then stepped on the landmine everyone was avoiding as she glared at him with just as much malice as she gave to Para for his brazenness.

  “sorry…”

  His apology stayed the fuse, but it was clear she didn’t like to share. Though that glare moved off of Jacob and landed unjustly on Seth without even noise made. Or more aptly it landed on his helmet. He smirked at challenge she’d silently tried to drop on top of him and handed her the helmet. The disgust on her face said plenty, but the way she nearly tipped over at the sudden weight of it had the desired effect. Driving that disgust into the beam trying to lighten her up. And succeeding.

  “You made this?”

  “Yup! Full spec, drive train and all.”

  “So… you work for the industry?”

  “Not any more but yeah, maintenance over at-”

  “Because my family’s been run off sites and muscled out of contracts by too many of your precious… suits!”

  “…That was probably Malachite. Those fuckers are aggressive. Because they make utter crap that can’t stand toe to toe with actual powers.”

  Seth kept his smile in the face of generalized accusation. But that was about all he got before that helmet came hurtling back. Maya sneering a touch lighter for the effort. And for the sprained wrist.

  David sheepishly interceded, and looked like he was about to apologize for splashing Seth and almost ambushing Maya during the free for all.

  “M-My name is David Belus a-and I like swimming.”

  Kinda tame but okay.

  “And… I want to… I want to be a hero like my dad! I want to get stronger!”

  There we go, nodding heads and meeting smiles all around. Most around. Marco didn’t seem to smile much, Razor didn’t want to be seen smiling, and Ohm was just… Ohm. Though Maya cheered up a bit, so that was a success.

  ‘Good for him, he definitely needs the help.’

  Jacob even patted him on the back as he took everyone’s attention.

  “My name’s Jacob Whalen and… yeah… my mom’s the Fire Chief for Kadia.”

  “hrmph…Not all of it.”

  A confused look turned to Razor trying to look like he didn’t just say something under his breath. Only getting shrugs in return.

  “Soooo… I’m hoping to get to her level and help out with emergencies in more ways than just putting out fires.”

  A few snickered, mostly Kabar, but his goal wasn’t too bad.

  ‘But his mom really is a really good firefighter. He is sooo fucked.’

  When you’re in competition with the League for saving people you kinda have to be. Seth had actually seen her once when one of the steel mills had an accident and nearly spalled a line of superheated metal out of its doors. Her truck was on the scene in minutes and was icing over the ever extruding I-beam. And curtailing all the burns a twisted hell spaghetti caused as it whipped around out of anyone’s control. She even froze the steel so cold it shattered so the mill could be repaired faster.

  ‘So very fucked.’

  Macro was next in line.

  “My name is Marco Smith. I want to become stronger as well.”

  ‘…Okay.’

  He didn’t continue, and didn’t budge as everyone stared and gestured for anything more. So Tabby just took the rest of the moment.

  “I’m Tabatha Lyon and I enjoy ballet. And I’m hoping to… get stronger as well?”

  ‘Knew that spin was more than just a roundhouse.’

  A running theme was starting to show, but commonality bred teamwork so no one was complaining. Except Ohm, who was next.

  “Heh… as if I would tell you my last name. Or even need to. My name is still Ohmega to you. And if you have an issue, take it up with my father. Things like to disappear in his presence, so I’d tread lightly.”

  ‘And Para was calling me the silverspoon?’

  He didn’t even say who his father was, so what was the point of all that?

  “Oh. And if you fucking call me Clarence I’ll fry you alive.”

  “He also has a brother named Richter in the medical wing. Floor 30, if you want to lodge a more formal complaint.”

  Kaze smiled just ever so slightly, as Ohm tried to melt his face off with his eyes.

  “My name is Kaze, my family doesn’t really use surnames. My father and I hope you all become great heroes someday, but also know that the road ahead is rough. Also my favorite color is magenta.”

  Tabby shot up.

  “Oh, shit we’re doing colors now! Mine’s sand!”

  “Burnt orange.”

  “Kabar wait your turn!”

  “I like black.”

  “““We Know!”““

  ‘Huh… I kinda like the color of blue.’

  “I…ugh… like green.”

  “We know that too Zel.”

  Kaz was stuck flatly smiling in the middle of the uproar he’d caused.

  “Let’s table colors for now.”

  “Ugh, fine. You’re up Zeleny, you were last.”

  “M-my name is Marketa Holanova, Zeleny if you’d like, and I’m hoping to be a hero. Like… I believe my mom was.”

  The excitement from before died down with Zeleny’s demeanor.

  “I never got to know her, only my dad and his family over in Europe. I just… want to be a hero here. Where she was. So maybe she’ll find me, or I’ll find her.”

  Alex, next in line, tried to pick up the drooping mood. With her phone out and translating.

  “Is that why you want to be called Green in Czech?”

  “Yee… yeah. That’s what she called me apparently. I don’t know why, but… I like it.”

  “““We know.”““

  “You’re next Alex.”

  “Yeah yeah… I’m Alex Cartwright. I’m from here in Kadia. I hope to be a hero. And my favorite color is burgundy.”

  Straight to the point… and yet still kinda lacking. Like she didn’t want to say much more than that. But no one really called her out. Just devolved back into-

  “I like seafoam.”

  “There’s this shade of ice on bergs that-

  “Neon yellow.”

  “Hmm… Gold.”

  These guys really like colors for some reason. Getting at least a shared chuckle and side eye barrage from the obvious and less expected. Alex might be a bit too good at distracting people.

  ‘And I swear I feel her looking at me more often than not.’

  “I like rust. My name is Razor by the way. And I don’t hope to, I’m gonna be a hero and yall are just gonna have to deal with it.”

  ‘Please stop, we don’t need two Ohms.’

  “Is that all?”

  The circle was coming back toward him, so Seth felt like speaking up a bit.

  “N-no…! But I don’t need to tell you everything! …I have other friends for that.”

  Better than nothing. At least he had someone to fall back on. Or to. Kabar snickered his place in line and kept the flow going.

  “I’m Kendrick Vaughn, but call me Kabar alright. I’m from here in Kadia, my parents own the suit tailors down on floor 26. And my mom has a running feud with Jacob’s mom.”

  “Ugghh seriously?”

  “Hey, they can squabble all they want. Doesn’t mean I have to buy into it.”

  “Says the guy who doesn’t have an entire fire corps just waiting to rib him for this.”

  The light mood came back with smiles at Jacob’s expense. And Seth felt just that little bit more confident.

  “You made your suit yourself, didn’t you?”

  Kabar’s face rather quickly turned as red as his glare back, but Seth just pointed down to the helmet in his lap.

  “You know… same. And it's awesome work by the way. The stitching I mean.”

  His sneer was withering away that small bravery, but still had an effect.

  “Hmph… Yeah, I made it myself. Who else was going to? …So what, you just made that by hand?”

  “Y-yeah. Built it in my garage. I used to work for-”

  “Don’t care. What do you use for padding in it?”

  “Uh… It’s just some ugh… a layer of specialized gel and fabric I-”

  “How did you secure it?”

  “I stapled it.”

  “Amateur.”

  “…But I don’t know how to sew.”

  Seth’s bit of bravery smudged, but he still had to say a bit about himself. Because it was his turn next.

  “Anyway, my name is Seth Tarrow, I’m from here in Kadia too, and I’ve been working on and building suits since I was 14.”

  The enthusiasm waned, but didn’t flat line at least.

  “Oh! And my favorite color is blue. But like the blue that electrical arcs sometimes shine at.”

  “So just like really bright white blue?”

  “No, I’ve seen it before. It’s kinda green and blue mixed together.”

  “I thought electricity was yellow.”

  Well, things could have gone better, but at least they weren’t pure hostility anymore. And apparently everyone really liked to take about colors. And had some touchy subjects to avoid. And knew next to nothing about electricity.

  ‘Seriously? Yellow?’

  The next week flew by, everyone feeling stronger and stronger each day. Even as the training regiments shifted to more specialized courses. Namely those rock climbing sessions. It was touch and go as Para increased the grades, but Seth could manage. The weight on his back did him no favors though. But at least they had gear to keep it, and him, secured to the safety lines hung over the wall.

  Still everything was looking good. No one falling behind, let alone washing out. The general muscle tone between the lot of them was kind of off putting. In that it was way less than expected of this kind of extreme workload. Most wagered all that good food was full of some weird toned down steroids, others just passively thanked Mediknight’s abilities for the moderated gains as is. Speaker seemed to affirm that suspicion.

  “Becoming dense is good, but remember to practice at your own healing. Better to not have to rely on others after all.”

  ‘Don’t you start too.’

  Whatever the cause, they were certainly more geared toward endurance than extreme strength. One session without Mediknight’s healing field told Seth that clear as day. A bad slip from the wall had sent Jacob careening to the sand on his arm, but instead of snapping it apart he just picked himself up and rolled off the discomfort. They were building muscle more like fighters rather than body builders, so it protected just as much as it powered. Their skin was toughening too. Not a single scrape and callous even after pushing all those heavy concrete blocks around. Things still weighed them down, they didn’t all have super strength, but things were looking good.

  Good enough for Para to alter his courses for the last week of the month.

  To everyone's detriment.