Chapter 3

Chaz woke up as he usually did, ate his breakfast, and got in the car as he did every morning for school. In the car Diana didn't say a word, she hadn't spoken since last night. She took Chaz to school, then drove off without a word. Chaz went through his normal classes, math, history, combat training, and quantum physics. At the end of his Egyptian Sandscript Class there was an announcement. "Attention all students, please proceed to the lunch room." All the students began heading down the halls, Chaz included. Executives from across human controlled space had shown up to recruit students. It was important to begin training as teens to ensure the maximum potential of every student is realized. Chaz knew this better than anyone as he was a year younger than any other student here. Chaz looked behind him and saw Todd with a cast, a crutch and a black eye. Chaz faced forward and smiled. They went through the doors and there were rows and rows of stands, each with about three people. Chaz immediately began searching for an officer academy, but saw nothing but boot camps. "Come on, there's gotta be one." Chaz turned a corner and finally saw one, 'Douglas MacArthur Naval Officer Academy.' Chaz was disappointed that it was one of the worst, but nevertheless it was an officer academy. Chaz began running as fast as he could, dodging people left and right. Chaz arrived at the stand leaving a rush of air behind him and looked up to a man in a nice suit, "I'd like to apply at your school." Finally, all of Chaz's dreams could come true, he'd become an officer, and join the Vanguard fleet. "Sorry kid were full up." Chaz's heart sank deep into his stomach. "Impossible, what can I do now?" Chaz looked around and saw no more officer schools. A tear went down his face as he began walking to the closest boot camp stand, "Perhaps I have no other choice." Suddenly the main doors opened and every soul in the lunch room was quiet. Chaz looked around, students had no idea what was going on, but the executives were sweating. A voice echoed throughout the room, "Sorry I'm late." Chaz saw from fifty meters away, it was a single Asian man in a white suit decorated with dozens of medals with two men at his side each with a black suit, glasses, guns and headsets. As they walked the crowd parted ways. Once the Asian man passed by Chaz, he saw who it was. There was a name tag on his left shoulder, reading 'Vice Admiral Near Ishida,' or the director of Keys military academy. Chaz was stunned, his childhood hero just walked past him. There were whispers among the crowd, "Is that Near Ishida, they say he's the greatest tactition that ever lived." He entered a room at the opposite side of the lunch room and the two guards waited outside. Everyone was afraid to move. Suddenly, a student walked towards the room, and prepared to open the door. Before he could the two bodies guards began punching and kicking him. The student fell to the floor and was dragged away by two other men. The students were still not moving. "How the hell do I get in there?" Chaz thought to himself. Could he possibly take down two trained guards? "These aren't a few bullies in the bathroom, these are professionals," Chaz thought. Chaz began sweating rapidly, and he clenched his fist. Chaz began walking forward and every student turned to watch him. "This is it," he thought, "my only chance, I refuse to waste it." Chaz arrived at the front of the door, and the guards watched him carefully. Chaz gulped, then grabbed the door handle. The guard to the left went for punch. Chaz was barely able to react and ducked and punched the guard in the gut but it did nothing. The guard to the left picked up and restrained Chaz and the guard to the right began punching him. Chaz began spitting up blood. "Damn, these guys punch way harder than Todd." The right guard went for another punch but Chaz managed to kick him in the face. The right guard fell back but was still standing. Chaz quickly headbutted the guard restraining him causing him to let go. The right guard ran at Chaz and tried to grapple him but Chaz managed to dodge to the right and hit the guard with a left hook, knocking him into the wall. The left guard came from behind so Chaz managed to elbow him in the ribs. The guard spit up blood and blacked out. Chaz had beaten the guards, and proceeded to enter the door. In the room was Near Ishida sitting quietly at a desk, with several operating tables in the back. His eyes were closed and his head was resting on his hands, "Tell me, how did you defeat my guards?" Chaz gulped and walked up to the desk. Chaz sat down and Near Ishida opened his red eyes, "Well?" Chaz was sweating but he wasn't about to waste his chance, "They were stronger, stronger than me, but their fighting style was very linear, easy to predict and counter. They left critical points wide open, making it easy to finish the fight with one clean shot to each guard." At first Near looked angry, then he smiled, and began laughing, "And here I thought that no good student would come out of this school!" Near was laughing hysterically, making Chaz wonder if this guy was really Near Ishida. He suddenly stopped laughing and became deadly serious, "Unfortunately you were supposed to kill those guards." A drop of sweat went down Chaz's face, "What?" he spoke in a very quiet voice. Near began laughing again, "Oh my god you should see your face, you look so fucking scared!" Chaz calmed down again but was still afraid, for a different reason however. "Tell me kid, what're your goals in life?" "I'd like to graduate from Keys Academy then become an officer in the Vanguard." Near's eyebrow raised, "I hope you aren't trying to get out of ground combat by becoming an officer." Chaz rapidly shook his head, "No no no, it's not that, I just think someone of my skill shouldn't be wasted as one of the countless soldiers to die on the ground." Near closed his eyes slowly, then opened them with a flash, "Perhaps Keys isn't for you. Despite what the media says, Keys isn't about making perfect officers it's about making the ultimate soldier. Mastery of combat, marksmanship, tactics, piloting, and yes, physical abilities. In order to weed out only the very best, Keys keeps much of our criteria secret except to those that apply. For example, only advanced humans are allowed to join the academy. Some normal humans have surpassed advanced humans but they have no room to grow from that point forward. And I can already tell from your combat abilities to the shape of your eyes that you are an advanced human." Chaz was thinking of millions of questions, as his advanced mind was capable of processing so many. Near took a bite from an apple, "Are you aware of the risks that come with applying?" Chaz stopped thinking and looked at Near, "What risks?" Near threw the apple into a trash can on the other side of the room, "We can't guarantee that you won't be seriously injured or even killed in the program. Like I said the goal is to create perfect soldiers so if you end being killed then it's just proof that you weren't a perfect soldier. Also if we don't accept you, I will have to kill you." Chaz's jaw dropped slightly and he began sweating again when Near began laughing hysterically again. "I'm kidding of course but it's true I can't guarantee your safety if you join the program." Chaz thought hard for ten seconds, considering his family. Yes they didn't like the idea but certainly if he could be accepted they be proud of him, or would they? Chaz came to a decision and stared Near in the eye, stood up and spoke with the utmost confidence, "I will apply to the program!" Near was unamused, "Kid sit back down." Chaz did as Near said, "Yes sir." "Well the paperwork can be dealt with later, but there is one more thing to be done." Chaz slammed his hands on the desk, "What is it? Another test? Whatever it is I can do it!" Near was still unamused, "Sit back down." Chaz sat back down. "This final thing, is not a test of skill, but a test of luck." The wall behind Near rose to reveal a single operating table, "One thing that seperates Keys from other schools is that every student has a unique ability. When a student is accepted they are injected with a serum called the Omega Serum, which has different effect depending on genetics, personality, and billions of other variables. For example, a student known as Tim Brown, whom I believe you are acquainted with, was gifted the ability to shoot fire from his hands." Chaz smirked and thought of Tim, "Hm, i'm kinda jealous of him." Near jumped on to the desk and got in Chaz's face who leaned as far back into his chair as possible, "Don't be, he'll be fodder by the second arc." Near back flipped onto the ground and began walking towards the table. Chaz realised that he never told Near his name, "Wait a second, how did you know I was friends with Tim if I never told you my name?" Near turned around with a big grin on his face, "What, do you think I go to every school in the galaxy? Tim told me that your intelligence and fighting skill surpassed his, that was someone I had to meet. Although I imagine being smarter than him isn't that impressive based on his grammar." Chaz chuckled again. "So, how do you give me this ability?" Near held up a needle, "It's the same as any other doctor's appointment, you lie down, I inject this serum into your bloodstream, we wait. Got it." Chaz answered as he lied down, "No problem, are there any risks?" Near looked Chaz in the eye, "You could die." Chaz was waiting for Near to laugh or even smile but he never did. Near picked up a needle and began moving it towards Chaz's arm. Chaz closed his eyes, and clenched his fists waiting for the worst. "Ok your done." Chaz opened his eyes and saw Near put a bandage on the bleeding hole the needle left behind. He looked across his entire body looking for anything wrong, "That was it?" Near set the needle down, "Yes. Now stand up, the effects are instant and I'd like to see what your power is before I say yes or no." Chaz stood up and went to an open area in the room. Chaz began breathing heavily, feeling for anything, but nothing was different from earlier, "Something's wrong, I don't feel any different." Near stroked his chin, "Odd, perhaps it's a defencive ability, hold still." Chaz turned to Near, "Wait what are you-" Near punched Chaz in the face sending him into a wall, cracking it. Chaz fell to his knees, coughing. Near walked up to him but didn't help him up. "This is rather odd, out of more than ten thousand applicants, only one, you making it two, have had no abilities." Chaz stood up, "Wait, does this mean that I can't go to Keys?" Near closed his eyes, "I'd say sorry but I'm unable to feel bad for people." Tears began welling up in Chaz's eyes when the whole room turned red. "Attention everyone, this is a Class one emergency! There has been a swarm outbreak in the school! Please proceed to the emergency-" The announcer's voice cut to static. The red sirens light up the room and the people in the lunchroom were screaming. Chaz was scared but Near was completely composed, "I'd call it back luck that you took out my guards but I don't believe in luck." Chaz turned to Near, "What the fuck is going on!" Near began stroking his chin again, "Well, I can only assume the 'Pro Zeno riots' in the city today must've been under the influences of the swarm, so they likely found a way to summon swarm warriors here. Unfortunately there are only around eight advanced humans here, meaning there is no way to defend against such a threat." Chaz was to busy thinking about how Jonathan's platoon had been deployed to fight the riots to process the rest of Near's sentence. Near slapped Chaz back to reality, "Focus idiot, your life is hanging in the balance!" Chaz rubbed his hurt cheek, "What about your life?" Near began chuckling, "Joke's on you kid, I planned on taking my own life the moment I got home. Now, we have to get to the closest bunker." Chaz and Near begin running for the door. Once they get in the lunchroom, all the students are running for the exits, Chaz points to a second floor, "Up there is another exit we can take." Near throws Chaz by his shirt collar up to the second floor twenty meters up. Chaz falls flat on his face, "Son of a." Chaz gets up and begins running and is shortly followed by Near. They begin running down the hallway, passing dozens of door when they hear moaning coming from the dark hallway, Chaz begins sweating, "What the hell is that?" The moaning is eventually overcome by growing footsteps. Suddenly dozens of fleshy creatures appear in the light of the hallway. Their shape was that of a normal human but they were made of red and brown flesh and muscles. Near scoffed, "Damn, fleshies!" Chaz put his arm in front of Near, "Don't worry Admiral, I'll hold them off as long as possible!" With a rush of air Near was gone, and in an instant all the flesh monsters were dead. Chunks of flesh were on the walls, floor and roof, seeping with blood and various other juices. Near stood at the top of a pile of flesh, covered with blood. He swept a squirming piece of flesh off of his shoulder and turned to Chaz, "We call these buggers fleshies." Chaz's jaw dropped, "Yes sir." Near motioned for him to follow, "Now hurry, there will be more." The two begin running again, this time with Near up front. Another fleshy appeared. Near ran up faster and cut its head off with a quick chop. "Is this what I could've become if I could go to Keys?" Chaz thought to himself, he'd never thought that someone with such intelligence could be so powerful. Chaz suddenly came back to reality, "Now, the safe room should be just to the left!" The two turned left to see a metal door. Near went forward and opened the door, "Hurry up kid!" Chaz ran as fast as he could when something wrapped around his stomach. Chaz turned around to see a massive bulky flesh covered creature, "What the hell is that thing?" Near began running when an army of fleshies came rushing at him. Near tried fighting off the fleshies but was being overwhelmed and buried under the fleshy bodies, "Kid, you gotta get out of her-!" He was completely buried under the bodies. Chaz reached out, "Admiral Ishi-!" The giant rapped another tentacle around Chaz's throat, choking him. Everything started turning black. "Is this it, is this how I died?" Chaz thought as his eyes closed. He thought of his two brothers when suddenly something within him had awoken. Chaz opened his eyes again but they were different, they were gray. They weren't the scared eyes of a young teen, they had the calming gaze of a proud warrior. A light blue aura surrounded his body, which was also surrounded by a light red mist. Chaz lightly grabbed hold of the monster's tentacle, and clenched his fist around it. The monster stopped squeezing and suddenly exploded, sending blood and flesh everywhere. The fleshies stopped attacking Near and turned to look at Chaz. Chaz didn't speak but motioned for the creatures to come forward with the twitch of a finger. The fleshies all stood up and piled on top of Chaz. Near was lying there, barely conscious. When he saw the creatures attacking Chaz he stood up, "Hey kid get out of there!" In an instant all the fleshies exploded, sending more flesh and blood in every direction. Chaz stands in the center, looking up to Near. Near's jaw drops, "This strength, it may even rival Lucas," he thought to himself. Chaz's face was calm and he remained unmoved, but he was unlike he was normally. Where he would normally be standing up straight at all times, he was slouched, more like an animal. His hair was normally brushed and perfect, but now it was ruffled and messy. His eyes pierced Near's soul. Suddenly Near could hear footsteps. A fleshy was running down the hall, howling. It had it's sight set on Near, and it began to run past Chaz. Without even looking, Chaz raised his fist to the fleshy's head so fast it made a rush of air push Near back, and turning the fleshy's head into a pile of flesh. The fleshy fell to the ground and Chaz remained unmoved. Suddenly, Chaz's eyes widened and he shook once. His eyes returned to the normal brown and he blacked out, falling to the floor. Near's jaw remained dropped and his eyes were wide with disbelief. Then suddenly he smirked, "Maybe it's a good thing I was wearing this tight suit." Near arranged his tie to make it more comfortable, "If I could fight at full power, the entire city would've been saved in an instant, and I never would have seen this power inside of you." Near picked Chaz up and threw him over his shoulder and entered the bunker.