Panting, sweating, collapsing, firing, leaping, jumping, flipping, dodging… Training.
The Ten had rigged up a difficult course with obstacles and ropes and the works to help them prepare for any challenges along the journey. It had been an hour, and they were all exhausted to the bone. But AJ seemed to be enjoying it. The man was jumping and whooping every time he shot one of the targets.
There were two different preparation chambers. One for the personality traits and the other for the elements. It took two days for the engineers plus Joey on the ship to create the design for the courses. To put it up, however, took a little longer: 2 weeks. They had set it up in an abandoned construction site, with holograms of various things to ward people off.
Nebula first swung across a ravine on a rope, bats and other various animals flying at her, claws out, teeth ready. She cried out her element, and they dropped to the ground, frozen and dead. She landed with a grunt, and ran to a fork in the trail- three paths each with a different danger every time. She decided on straight ahead, and ran forward before dropping into a hole twice her height. After a few failed attempts to climb out, she decided to use her power.
“Ice pedestal,” she said, hoping it would know what she was talking about.
And it did. She rose out of the pit on top of the rising pillar of ice, and jumped out. The Princess screamed when a huge Armoya jumped out at her- a large vicious animal, which was a combination of an alligator, T-Rex, and teeth. The claws scratched at her, grazing roughly on her forearm.
“Ice daggers!” she called out in panic.
The sharp points of the ice embedded themselves into the animals skin, and it howled in pain, letting the Princess run.
Now there were two turns, and she took left.
The first thing she thought was happening was that everything was flying around, and found herself getting sick. But she figured out that it was a turntable. A very fast turntable. The surroundings were blended into blurs of flashing color- browns, blues, greens- and she threw up.
How could she get out of here? She could barely see where she had come in.
Nebula began to feel very lightheaded, and her stomach churned. She was never turning left again. Moments later she began to tilt and waver from where she stood, and fell into an exhausted heap on the somewhat soft material on the ground.
+ + +
AJ heard her muffled scream, and tried to find the direction of her voice. When he jumped up, he saw the top of Nick’s blonde head over the walls of the maze, but no Nebula. Somehow he knew she was in a trouble of some sort, and hurried to find his way quickly westward. He found the obstacles a distraction, and burned them, charred them, disintegrated them before he thought about it. It was as if he summoned it on his own.
He was losing his sense of direction and where her voice had come from, and he found himself at a split. He ran right, praying it was leading to her. Nearly tripping from shock at the wall of fire in front of him, he created a fire shield around his body, and walked through, scared and nervous, but he made it. Glancing back once at the barrier of death behind him, he continued forward. AJ was glad he had his sunglasses still on his head (they were wraparounds), or the colors would have dizzied him in a moment. He tried not to look at the blurring landscape and focused on looking in. And sure enough, he found a messed mound in the center of the turntable. The older man rushed toward her, and found her passed out.
“Ok Nebula, come on now,” he said to himself, shifting her body into his arms.
AJ made it to the exit at last, after many trials and errors. He set her down and shot fire up into the air, hoping someone saw it. After 5 minutes of nothing, he sent up the flames again.
“C’mon Neb…wake up,” he whispered, shaking and prodding her body. He fanned her face incessantly, hoping she’d awaken.
After sending his flames up the third time, he finally got results.
“AJ?”
“Right here!” AJ called out, never taking his eyes off Nebula, who was finally stirring.
“AJ what happened?” Lance asked, bending on one knee.
“I heard Neb scream and I followed her here.” AJ pointed up to the turntable, but it was gone. “I swear it was right there,” he said, scratching his head.
“Yeah I know whatcha mean. I saw a door somewhere around here, but I can’t find it anywhere. These guys are tricky.” Lance wiped the sweat off his forehead with his shirt. He had taken it off a while ago. Good thing he had worn a beater underneath.
“Ya think? I’m just havin a helluva time. I haven’t had this much fun in years!” AJ beamed.
“What? You think this is FUN?” Nebula groaned, her head hitting the ground after trying to lift it up. “My friend, you need help.”
“Hey I’m the one who saved you from that dizzy place.”
“And for that, I owe you one, but ugh I can’t take much more of this.”
+ + +
“AGH!”
He hugged himself as tight as he could, but he couldn’t relieve the pain in his chest and heart. It was agony, and he knew it was worse than what he had endured at the office. This was pain as he had never felt before.
JC’s course was to focus emotions, to read minds, to find a way to keep himself in control while trying to keep others sane. Like Joey had said, he was a conduit for emotions to travel through, but it was killing him. They projected emotions like there was no tomorrow, five different emotions at the same time, and it was almost too much. But he always did his best, whether he failed or not. So he pushed himself to the limit, trying to keep one emotion in a certain part of his soul. It would be enough for now.
JC had gotten out of the hospital a few days after he was admitted. The doctor said that there would be a few aches and pains in his back, but nothing more if he took the medicine he was given. It was working out so far.
Beside him 50 feet away, Brian was set up with a virtual reality universe. The headgear was attached to a large machine, projecting images and seeing how he would react to them. It was real enough for him to cry out when he saw Nick being stabbed at. Brian had an area 100 yards in diameter for him to run or fight in. He was in a forest on another planet. He could hear screams of his friends, and yet he couldn’t find them. He used many different animal morphs to find his friends. The machine was testing him.
And farther off still, Kevin was in his own chamber, practicing his Teleportation. Everything and anything was thrown at him, while he dodged and Transported.
In Justin’s chamber, he was practicing his Telekinesis. Rocks and trees were thrown, felled, or swung, and he’d use his power to evade them.
Joey had a different type of exercise. He had to sneak into different rooms using his Invisibility. This chamber actually had real humans inside the room, searching for him while he hid.
So for half a month they practiced, prepared, and became one with their powers.
+ + +
“Alright. This morning, we are going to introduce a new exercise,” Captain Clarque was saying. He turned to the back of the room and nodded, walking off to the sidelines.
Chris and Joey, in white uniforms, came walking forward, grins on their faces. “I do not have a good feeling,” Justin muttered.
“Alright today, we are starting Tae Kwan Do. We figured that we’d need to learn how to fight along with our powers, in case it happens to backfire,” Chris started.
“So for another half month, we are coming here to practice and work hard,” Joey said.
“That’s only because all you have to do is tell us what to do,” Nick mused.
“Thank you Nick for volunteering,” Joey said, smirk on his lips. “Up here.” “What?”
“Up. Here.” Joey said clearly, pointing to a spot on the mat. Chris caught his idea and backed away.
Nick, feeling nervous now, went up to where he gestured, ignoring the snickers of his “friends”.
“Punch me.”
The blonde’s eyes widened in confusion. “What?”
“PUNCH. ME.”
Nick stupidly threw out his fist, and Joey stepped back- fighting stance, side kick close to his midsection, knife hand strike to his ribs and then to his neck. Nick’s eyes never left his hand, and grew ever nervous as Joey returned to a normal stance.
“Thank you.”
“Uh yeah you’re welcome…” Nick muttered, gathering what was left of his pride and getting back in line.
“Alright, first thing- uniforms, or, dobaks. They are uniforms, and when you’re wearing one, you’re doing Tae Kwan Do. Act like you belong in it,” Chris said, eyeing each of the new students. “Make a line after Joey or myself so we can see what size you wear.”
So one by one, they got their uniforms, and looked at them in curiosity. And they were expected to wear them that day.
“Can’t we wash these?” Brian asked, holding up his pair of size 4 pants (the uniforms were sizes 0-6, plus XL). “They aren’t broken in yet- I feel like I’m wearing canvas!”
“AAH this tickles!” Nebula cried, her legs together, for the fabric brushed against her skin. “I agree with Brian. Where is the washing machine?”
“How are we supposed to put this on?” Justin asked, looking over his uniform. “The top part of it has strings…”
“It’s to cross over Justin,” JC said. “You put it on and put one side over the other, then tie the strings.”
“How do you know?”
He shrugged. “Telepathy.”
“Ohh…” Justin said, looking down at his uniform. “I feel like a Flat Stanley.”
JC laughed, held up his pair of pants, also size 5. “Well look at this- they make extra room in the you–know-what area.”
Justin laughed and looked at the sewing of the pants. “Oh my god you’re right. This is gonna be fun.”
“Hey guys c’mon!” AJ called out. “They said we can wash these before class.”
“Class?”
“Hey do we get belts or anything?” Lance asked.
“You have one Smart One,” AJ rolled his eyes.
“No like belt ranks.”
“Of course you do,” Chris said.
“Cool.”
“Hurry up, get them washed, and meet back here to stretch,” Joey yelled.
“And don’t forget to bow before you leave!” Chris added.
The other eight stared at them before turning and leaving.
“Pure stupidity.”
“Damn straight.”
+ + +
“Ok we’re in the straight jackets, now what do we do?” Nebula asked, straightening out her uniform.
“You can start by giving me ten pushups,” Chris said, pointing to the floor.
“What?”
“Push ups. Common courtesy- you always address black belts with a sir, or mister. Pushups.”
Nick hid his smile when he watched the young woman struggle with the exercise. He elbowed Brian who was whispering to Kevin and pointed to Nebula. Brian eyed her with amusement as she shook with the effort.
“Alright. First, we line up. Since we have eight of you, there will be four across,” Chris said, gesturing to the air in front of him.
Everyone ran up, trying to be first in line. After a few grunts and frustrations, they settled in line- JC was first on the right.
“Space yourselves evenly…second row step back please…ok. Since we have only two weeks, I’ll sum everything up for you. Tae Kwan Do is from Korea. It means kick punch way. It takes from 3-5 years to become a black belt, and if we start now maybe you can at least get to orange belt. Anyone wearing a black stripe is someone you have to show great respect to. Grand Master Kim, for example. We’ll begin learning how to punch.
“Stand so your feet are shoulder width apart, your hands in fists in front of your belt. This is the ready position. When I say, chun-be, you stand like this. Whenever I ask you to do a technique, you step out with your left foot first. It’s always left first unless you’re doing a fighting stance. So when you do a punch, step out with your left foot into a horse-riding stance, right hand in a fist on your belt. When I ki hahp, you punch. UT!”
And so began the training.
+ + +
By the time Joey and Chris decided to let them have a break, they were sweating and panting hard.
“Alright, when we fall out, the senior student, that means you Chasez, will clap twice,” Chris waited till JC clapped. “Then you’ll say, chidit kyung nae, and everyone bows. After that, I’ll turn around and you’ll say kyung nae again.”
“Chidit kyung nae,” JC stupidly repeated, trying to remember everything that was being told while bowing. “Kyung nae.”
“Then second in line- that’s you McLean- turn to JC and say, face the senior student.”
“Face the senior student,” AJ said loudly, turning to JC.
“Everyone face the senior student. Then, AJ, say kyung nae, everyone bow.”
“Kyung nae.” Bow.
“Then JC, you say, class fall out for a short break, then everyone bows.”
“Class fall out for a short break.”
Bow.
“Then turn to face the me, bow, and say thank you sir.” Chris watched them critically.
“Then you can go, bowing when you leave.”
As expected, he saw them rush and whisper, “Enough bowing?”
“That was a successful class, don’t you think Joey?”
“Yeah but teaching them the spin side kick already? Don’t you think that was a little over? And you taught for 40 minutes without a break. You’re over working them.”
“Fine. You can teach tomorrow.”
“Cool.” Joey took a long sip from his water bottle.
+ + +
By the end of the two weeks, the eight students were guaranteed orange belts. They knew everything an orange belt, yellow belt, and white belt would know. They knew the one steps, they knew the basics, they knew the forms, and they knew how to use their techniques properly. They had 2 classes everyday, each 2 hours long. Yet none of them complained.
Nick breathed deeply, trying to get his breath back. He was sparring with Nebula, and it was harder than he expected. That girl was FLEXIBLE. Her kicks were up to his head, and he used side blocks a lot. He was sure he had a bruise on his arm from blocking so much.
The blonde threw a punch to her midsection (mind you, none of this is contact) and jumped back to block her spin side kick. He finally figured out that most of the time she’d throw round kicks and spin side kicks, and made sure he used a variety of techniques to beat her.
It worked.
Lying flat on her back on the blue mat, an exhausted Nebula panted heavily while waving her arm in defeat, too tired to even say the words.
“HAHA!” Nick cried triumphantly, finger up in the air and fist on his hip, before falling and collapsing next to his friend.
Nebula managed a laugh before breathing heavily again.
“Whoa did I beat you that bad?” Nick asked through his breaths.
“No… of course… not…I’m just… winded…”
“That was kinda fun though… except if you count the bruise on my arm from blocking your kicks…” Nick winked.
Nebula laughed and blushed. “Whoops?”
“Nah it’s aiight. I got another arm,” Nick chuckled.
“Get up before Chris or Joey sees you!” Lance hissed.
Nick rolled his blue eyes at the shorter blonde standing over him. “Jeez nothing’s gonna happen!”
“Nick, Nebula, 10 push ups.”
“Dammit,” he muttered, struggling up off his back to start the exercise.
Nebula groaned. “I don’t like pushups!” she whined, starting the down motion.
“Told ya so…” Lance said under his breath as he walked away.
“Oh shove it Goody Good,” Nick rolled his eyes, his arms straining on the 8th pushup.
Lance rolled his green eyes and turned around to work on Jae Sang, for he still had to get the blocks right.
By the time Nick was finished, Nebula was still on her 7th. The blonde stifled a laugh as she finally collapsed in defeat on her 8th.
“C’mon Neb… you can do it.”
Her arms visibly shook under the weight as she pushed up and down, finally finishing the exercise.
“See?”
“Ugh… just kill me now!” she said, flopping down onto her side.
“Let’s get up before we do more pushups,” Nick said after a short chuckle, hurrying to get up.
“Oh great… now my arms are proved to be useless.” Nebula winced as she squeezed her bicep.
“C’mon you baby,” Nick joked, wrapping his arms around her torso and heaving her small body up.
“I can get up by myself!”
“Nick, Nebula,” Chris acknowledged, eyebrow cocked. “This is Tae Kwan Do, not ballroom dancing. Get to work please.”
The two glanced at each other as he walked away.
“I’m REALLY not liking him right now,” Nick muttered, pretending to stretch as he talked to Nebula.
“No not really… and to think he’s the outgoing, funny one.”
“Pssh!”
“Hey…” JC panted, closing his eyes tightly before spraying the cold water from his bottle onto his sweating face. He wiped his face with a towel before smiling and leaving.
“I can’t believe him… with that back and everything I was sure he was ready to collapse any time now,” Nebula said in disbelief, shaking her head. “And he’s the one who’s the senior student! I hear that he’s good enough to be a light green belt?”
“Are you kidding?”
“I think it’s kinda… cool.”
“I could beat him.”
“Arrogant much Nick?” Nebula smirked as she did the splits vertically, causing Nick to cringe.
Ignoring her comment, he changed the subject. “Don’t DO that! That’s just…eew.”
Nebula laughed and did the splits horizontally.
“GOD!” Nick’s hands went down to his legs, where he was sure he could feel the strain of his muscles. “Don’t DO that!”
Nebula rolled her eyes. “You need help my dear friend.”
“Nope. I’m BEYOND help.”
+ + +
The tension in the room could be cut with knives. Everyone was nervous and tense. Only one was anything but. She bit her lip in anticipation.
‘Are you sure we’re doing the right thing?’
‘Of course. It’s in our blood’
‘But what if we don’t come back?’
JC’s words rang in Justin’s mind. If they didn’t come back? That can’t be possible. They HAD to come back. Right?
Karielle’s neutral face didn’t help matters as she entered the room.
“Are you ready?”
The nine glanced at each other, making sure they were doing what they were meant to.
“Guys, I don’t know if I should do this,” Lance said uncomfortably, fiddling nervously with his fingers. “It’s too much of a risk. To us and our family, and our jobs and-”
“Lance, I for one know what you’re talking about,” Joey said quietly. “I found out about my past, my parents’ past, and they disowned me. Wanted NOTHING to do with me. But what we’re doing… could make things even better if you give it your 100%. All of us could do it. But we can’t do it without you.”
“Joey’s right,” Nebula said. “I know, that if it weren’t for my crew, nothing could have possibly happened. Xavier found me Kevin, Kevin found Brian, Brian found Nick, who found Chris… it pulled together. Only because he gave his 100%. But if all of us could do that, there is nothing that can stop us.”
Lance let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. Looking at everyone around him, he said confidently, “Let’s do it!”