Don't Poke the Bear

It had been nearly a week since the members of Squad Zero had first moved into their dorms. In the first few days they'd been given certain rule sets to follow. Examples would be the prioritization of a civilian's life when met with danger, or what to do when encountering a plausible Sin. They'd been told that if any person were to ever claim themselves a Sin, that person were to be placed on the hit list immediately. According to Minister Harrison, it was now illegal under Cardinal Nexus law to self-proclaim or even joke about the persona of a Sin. So those who broke the law were to be put under immediately, no matter the plausibility.

In the next few days halfway through the week, the team began doing training sessions based around their specialties. Jasper, Axel, Wardell, and Suto were primarily trained in the field of physical combat. It were these four that would be counted on to get involved physically when it came to it, and that meant they needed top-tier teamwork. "Communication is key," Jasper had told them, and although it was well established between himself, Axel, and Suto, Wardell was oddly quiet. Wardell had been silent ever since their first day moving into the hub.

Zika was trained under themes that worked in the darkness. Espionage, reconnaissance, wiretapping, and secret infiltration. She was also trained in using long ranged weapons. Suto was included among a few of Zika's training sessions, focused specifically on the spying aspect.

Jarrett was given detailed context behind the Seven Sins' capabilities to provide him ideas for countermeasures. It was up to him to create items or apparel that could possibly suppress the effect of the Sins, develop technology that could aid the squad in numerous ways, or formulate weapons that could permeate the Sins in the most efficient way possible. All that he would engineer would be taking the Seven Sins' known capabilities and possible capabilities into consideration. Jarrett understood that even assumptions would be reasonable to use in this situation.

Lastly, Hugo spent this week doing research on the Seven Sins as needed. The whole squad would depend on him to provide them the information they needed in the most detailed format. If he were wrong even by the slightest margin, it could cost them their lives, as well as those of innocent civilians. Since he was the one dealing information, he was also the primary strategist. This would be in accordance with Jasper of course, since it was the leader that needed to polish the tactics and ideas. But by the end of the week, Hugo had accumulated countless details that would prove useful to the team. He also concocted an initial start-up plan to get the squad headed in a certain direction. Squad Zero needed somewhere to start their investigations, and Hugo had just that.

Sunday now comes along, and that states the end of Squad Zero's first week together. Minister Harrison decided to visit them at their hub on this day.

"I'm proud to be informed that you've all been working very hard. I suppose you've all been working well alongside each other?"

The members of Squad Zero all nodded. Axel batted an eye at Wardell, who didn't nod, but instead rubbed the bandage wrapped around his half-broken nose.

"That's great. We need you all to look your best together when we present you to the public. There's just one more step before we do the official broadcast reveal of Squad Zero."

"What may that be sir?" Jasper asked.

"Knowing that the Seven Sins themselves have been experimented on, we want to replicate what we think would be a similar process on you guys."

"An experimentation? On us?" Jarret yelped.

"You will be excluded. And so will Hugo. You two won't be involved in any combat. The experiments are specifically meant to enhance one's physical strength and durability."

"Oh…"

"Unless of course you two choose to involve yourselves in more direct danger. But it is not a requirement for you two. Your main roles are to support this team rather than to fight for it."

"Yeah I'll keep myself steroid free thanks," Jarrett chuckled.

Hugo raised his eyebrows as if in thought for a moment, but then waved it off. "I'll go with the original plan and stick to my role."

"As expected. As for you other five, rest up for the rest of today. Tomorrow morning my security team will pick you up and guide you to a designated lab in a lower part of this building. No food or liquid consumption is allowed before the experiment. You'll be provided a feast following the inductions, which won't be until late tomorrow evening. Understood?"

"Yes sir." Everyone saluted.

"Good. I'll most likely see you all tomorrow evening then." Harrison turned around and walked out of the room. His security men followed behind him, closing the door to the hub.

"Enhanced strength and durability? That sounds crazy."

Jasper responded to Axel. "It may sound crazy, but compared to the powers of the Sins, it's closer to normal."

"True…"

"That stuff's probably gonna hurt a lot. Good luck," Jarrett made his way to his room.

"Well it's probably our only chance at cracking the Sins. If that's the case, then I'm all for it. Right Zika?" Suto looked at her. She had no response. Instead, Zika followed after Jarrett and went to her room, silently.

"Not even an expression of recognition…" Suto sighed.

"Don't worry about it Suto," Jasper spoke up. "I've worked with a lot of people like her in the past. It just takes time for them to open up, and that'll come with experience in working together."

"Thanks Jasper," Suto began making his way to his room now too.

Jasper then looked at the others who remained. "Everyone can go to their rooms now and rest up just like Minister Harrison said."

Everyone nodded and began making their way up. "Wardell," Jasper called out.

He turned around, slightly surprised.

"Can I have a moment with you?"

He nodded, and joined Jasper in the living room. At first, the two sat in silence, as if both expecting the other to talk first. But to Jasper's surprise, it was Wardell.

"Look, if this is about what happened a week ago, I don't wanna hear a single thing about it—"

"Wardell," Jasper interrupted.

"Don't 'Wardell' me! I don't wanna hear my name coming out of your mouth! I don't care if you're stronger than me or whatever. I still don't plan on accepting you as my leader. So if that's what you're trying to take care of through speaking with me, then you can fuck off!" Wardell stood up, about to stomp away. But Jasper took one last shot at reeling him back in.

"I know what happened to your mother," he said.

Wardell stopped in his tracks. "Excuse me…?"

Jasper now stood up, facing him. "I know what's going on in your family. I know about the absence of your mother and father—"

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMIND ME!" Wardell yelled. His voice could be heard among everyone else in their rooms.

"I know you have a little sister, and that the two of you have had an absent father."

"Stop…"

"And I've also heard of your recent news, involving your mother and sister—"

"STOP!"

"I'm sorry… about that…"

Wardell now fumed. "WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME ABOUT MY LIFE SITUATION HUH!?" He leapt towards the still Jasper, who weaved to the side, completely avoiding Wardell's attack.

"TSK!" He growled with anger. "TAKE BACK EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID. RIGHT NOW—!"

Jasper grabbed his wrist. "Stop."

This only made Wardell even angrier. He threw a heavy punch at Jasper's face, a complete replication of the incident just a week ago. The punch connected, this time sending blood and a couple teeth right out of Jasper's mouth with its power.

"—Ptouh!" Jasper's head waved to the side. Wardell would not waste any opportunities this time and jumped over Jasper, pinning his back to the ground.

"HOW DO YOU LIKE THIS?" He threw a punch. "AND THIS?" He threw another. "AND THIS AND THIS AND THIS AND THIS!?" Wardell flurried Jasper's face with punches. The sounds of knuckle beating flesh could be heard down the hallways, accompanied by bones cracking—Jasper's jaw breaking.

"HERE'S A LITTLE PAYBACK TOO," Wardell threw his head forward. Connecting with Jasper's nose, it broke upon impact with Wardell's forehead. Blood dripped down both their faces.

Wardell continued to beat Jasper's face into a smudge until nothing but swollen lumps of purple flesh remained. It wasn't until a few minutes in that Suto came out of his room to grab water, when suddenly he saw the commotion going on.

"Jasper!" He bolted forwards. "Get off of him Wardell!" He bodychecked into him. This sent the two of them tumbling past the carpet. By this time, everyone had come out of their rooms to check what was going on.

"What the hell happened?" Hugo had asked.

The room was now in commotion. Jarrett was rushing to get ice for Jasper's face. Suto was pinning Wardell down. Zika was holding Axel back from getting a hit on Wardell. "How could you do this to my brother!? He's your leader! Our leader!"

Wardell did not reply.

"Hugo! Call the building's medical facility!" Suto called out.

Hugo rushed over to the hub's phone and dialed the number.

The collaborative energy that had been built up over the last week seemed to step near its breaking point in this one moment. The leader was brought down, and everyone else ran around in a panic. When suddenly—

"Stop." Jasper coughed through his broken teeth.

They all looked down at him; face bloodied, eyes swollen.

"Jasper?"

"Stop panicking," he told them.

They all looked at him confused, as if seeing his injured face wasn't already worrying enough.

"If you all panic at the mere sight of me being beaten, how're you all going to handle facing the Sins themselves?"

They all stood there, silent.

"Don't worry about my injuries. I'm your leader. I'm the one that's supposed to be worried about you guys." Jasper surprisingly brought himself to stand, and calmly too.

"But look at your face… It's—"

"And so what?" He interrupted Jarrett. "When we're out there on the field and something like this happens, I can't have any of you faltering because of some expected injury. Get yourselves together. The civilians are going to be counting on us to stay strong for them."

The rest still remained silent, in awe that Jasper continued to walk even though beaten badly. He made his way over to Wardell who was pinned down by Suto.

"What would you like to do with him sir?" Suto asked.

"I think he deserves a painful punishment! And a banishment from this team! Tell Minister Harrison!" Axel exclaimed.

But to all of this, Jasper ignored. "He doesn't need a punishment."

"But—!"

"Nor will he be banished. He won't be leaving this team."

The words surprised Wardell. "But… I just did 'that' to you, and you're the leader…"

"It's alright. You're forgiven Wardell. I know how much you need the commission in this job." Jasper leaned in so that only Wardell could hear. "I know how much you need to support your sister…"

Wardell's eyes widened at this. But rather than out of rage, a tear dropped from his eye.

Jasper stepped back. "Hugo, don't call them. I'll head down there myself."

Hugo put the phone back, shocked.

"Like I said. Go rest, all of you. Tomorrow's going to be a tiring day."

And just like that, Jasper exited the hub.