Day One and I Already Screwed Up

I coiled my hands into fists atop my knees in anxiety with little to no morale support. The most support I got was from supers who legitimately thought I was the average mall cop. Crow hasn't said so much of a word to me, not even things like 'Hi,' or 'excuse me'. Nova gave me worried glances but that was all. Spider gave nods of approval and a clap on the back. Andy was the only one bold enough to sit next to me, saying,

"Don't worry, your gonna be fine."

I kept silence.

"You were given to us by the Keeper, not the Academy. He can try, but I don't think he can discharge you. Some of the civilians began a petition for you to stay. SOME of the supers are interested in you and made their own petition."

"What are they calling me?" I weakly asked, my code name is kinda secret after all.

He smiled mischievously, "SWAT Em'All."

A cheeky smile broke through my sadness and I shook my head. He took my shoulder.

"You'll be fine."

A secretary leaned her blonde head into the waiting area.

"He's ready for you Maverick."

Karver bellowed from his office, "Sir!"

The blonde rolled her eyes and added sir to my name. When I stepped inside Karver looked... okay. It wasn't until that I got next to my chair and he set his knitted hands onto the grand desk that I noticed that he was so mad that he was having chest pain. His face was self-explanatory: I'm dead.

Through grit teeth he hissed, "Sit."

I did and he sipped from the glass of water on his desk like my life depended on it. My expression flat, face pale, I was surprised that I had enough composure to not grovel at his feet. He looked like he wanted to shoot me as he finished his glass.

He gave a contented sigh and messaged his secretary to bring him more water. Examining me like an insect he tapped his finger on what was probably my death warrant. He didn't meet my eyes as he said,

"I just got off the phone with the President. He wasn't happy. I might have to talk to the Vice-President as well. The Secretary of Defense and possibly the whole committee that made this little club you're in. Now why?" He asked rhetorically, "You wonder, 'why didn't we just unleash your team?' You went in alone and saved the hostages after all."

He set his hands on the table and leaned in, "We try to be careful with Vigilantes due to the fact that children of political parties from around the world were drafted into this program. Forced. Conscripted, if you will. As you should know, the Infection caused mass chaos. Nations thought that they were being attacked via chemical weapons, emergency sessions of Congresses around the world were called with half of them deemed unable, being Infected themselves. The world was on the bloody verge of anarchy. And now, me, a previous US president, soldier, and SS have kids dead from nation X, Y, and Z and then the US will be in three de facto wars for suspicions of assassination. And you-" he pointed in my face with the finger that was on my warrant earlier, "someone I fought and bled for could have put this nation in jeopardy." He sat down as the secretary came in and placed his water on the cup rest, "I'm honestly more upset about that than anything. So," he took a sip and knitted his fingers onto the table as the secretary nosily lingered, "what. The. Hell. Were. You. Thinking?"

I gave him a humble plea of silence and said, "My mind was a little bit of everywhere. Impulsive, but to paraphrase my thoughts-" I stammered, "but I thought like any of your soldiers. We're Marines, we're supposed to get in there and kick butt and take names."

The secretary gave a surprised expression but Karver narrowed his eyes.

"You're dismissed."

The secretary was behind Karver and gave me a thumbs up, mouthing, 'good answer'. I never walked out of a room faster in my life but before the door shut I thought I saw Karver suppressing a smile.

Andy was quickly by my side,

"What was it?! I can tell by your vitals that it's good."

"What?" I said caught off guard.

"Oh, your endorphin and dopamine levels are going up!"

"Get outta my head Andy," I growled, "he just gave me a history lecture."

He gave me a clap on the back, "That means you live!"

I tried to hide tears of relief.

"Pfft, Spider pissed his pants once when Karver rung him out. It's okay."

"Wait," I looked at him, "you were monitoring my vitals?"

He rolled his eyes, "Robot bruh, and yes I can tell when you're crushing on someone. However some teens-" he focused on me teasingly, "have their dopamine levels spike when any girl is around."

Aw crap.

"But I'm not supposed to monitor people."

I rubbed my eyes with my palms, exclaiming, "I'm alive!" I sighed in relief, "What had Spider done?"

"He was a horny early bloomer and was going around stealing kisses from his peers like an idiot." He smiled at the humor behind the memory, "Thought I saw Karver almost back-hand him. But Spider's still the little rebel of the gang. Speaking of-"

After passing through nondescript halls we arrived at the cafeteria. Spider yelled a triumphant greeting as Crow and Nova turned to me. Nova smiled. Crow... flat-lined. For drinks, Crow had black coffee, Nova a fruit smoothie with four inches of whipped cream, Spider had a 64 oz cup with several I❤️(Spider-Man emoji) signs on it.

When I approached the first words Crow said since the other night were,

"When are you leaving?"

I was to hurt and shocked to respond.

"Karver just gave him a history lesson."

"Boy," Spider said getting up and giving me a gangster handshake, "my nigga!"

Andy's eye twitched but Crow's eyes bore into mine, her expression unreadable. She stood, her coffee on a little plate. Then she announced,

"I'm going to my room."

I learned something as she walked away. Besides the fact that she's the wallflower, she doesn't like it when people rock the boat per se. Then what she overheard last night and then the scene this morning was a volcanic catastrophe of a good first impression.

Andy pursed his lips wondering why she left. I'm sure everyone was wondering what all was going on but I couldn't tell them if I wanted to. Spider sat taking a long sip from his drink as Nova's eyes flickered to me and where Scarecrow just left.

Then Nova said in an attempt to cheer me up, "Hey! Get a soda! Sit down!"

I turned and went to the biggest collection of fountain drinks on the planet. Who would want lemon coffee? And how come I've never seen coffee in a fountain form like this?

"Sorry boss!" Spider said from his seat, "Ain't nothing up there to drown your sorrows!"

Nova smacked him, chastising him for talking like some uneducated Southerner.

"I feel like piss, but I think I'll get this!"

I settled for vanilla Dr. Pepper and the table was silent as I sat in front of Nova and in between the guys. I tried to keep the hall Crow left through behind me. The group just looked at me like I was crazy.

"What?"

Then Spider began laughing, "Oh my god! 'I feel like piss but-'"

Everyone laughed while I blushed and cackled weakly at myself.

"So," Andy asked, rubbing it in, "that's what you were wanting to drink or..."

Spider laughed harder, muttering at the same time. Once he finished one last 'oh god' mutter he clambered to his seat next to me. We watched him, waiting if he was done.

"My chest hurts."

We softly laughed at him but Andy punned, "Did you piss yourself?"

Spider shook his head and was to tired to laugh.

"Andy!" Nova said.

"Your the best, boss." Spider croaked.

"Anyway," Andy started, "how did you do it?"

Everyone's gaze focused on me. For a second the only sound audible was Spider slurping his soda in an attempt to repair his throat.

"Do what?" I asked.

"Word was... you killed twenty of them."

"I'll ask you again," Spider said with mock seriousness, "do you have aimbots!"

Everyone rolled their eyes and ignored the question. However, why did they want to know so bad? Their eyes bore into me. Is this that leadership thing? I sighed, I've led before...

but those pawns were expendable.

"I just... went Viking all up on them." I said weakly.

"Oof, what are we doing!?" Nova checked the time, "It's Friday!"

Andy groaned, "We watch an opera every Friday! Do we have to?"

Nova discreetly looked both ways and leaned in like I would, "YES."

Spider nudged me, whispering, "You're rubbing off on her already!"

"But Maverick can go tell Crow what she's missing, she should be at the pools." She hinted, "Maybe you can share your experience with her? Qualifications might get her to come around."

"Why she so serious?" Spider said in the Joker voice as a joke and hint.

"See ya tomorrow, Commander." Andy said.

***

After asking 13 privates, 6 corporals, and one fiery major I found the pool. They had suits set out for those who didn't have one... speedos. I almost gagged. I sighed before going in with all I had.

When I came in, she didn't see me but boy, I saw her. She was climbing high up the diving board. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

She was so preoccupied that after doing angelic flips through the air she dove and swam across the Olympic pool to my feet. She came up for air but her being shoulder high in the water reminded me of a mermaid. It was past midnight so I greeted with a smirk,

"Good morning."

"Who are you?" She said suspiciously. Can't she see me?

"Uhm, Maverick? Aka SWAT 'EM All?"

She scrunched her eyes in distaste and snorted. Was she snorting water from her nose? Better not ask...

She glanced back at the door; tempted to leave I thought. Then, glaring, she paddled over to me. The blue swimmers hat and goggles reminded me of Riddick but with a blue doo-rag. As she closed the distance I could tell she was experiencing some disbelief.

She saw my scars.

Nothing says, 'This ain't my first gunfight' than sitting in a scarred up body and being confident or indifferent about it. I don't know why but I think my dopamine might have increased with her being around. She pulled herself up in her one piece and sat next to me. She sighed and ripped her swimmers hat and goggles off.

"Sorry about not seeing you," she said flopping her hair back, "I don't wear my contacts while I swim."

"You have contacts?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah," the dry tint back in her voice, "and I usually swim alone."

I rose a brow, trying to get me to leave huh?

"Well this pool doesn't have your name on it, Lieutenant."

She squinted her eyes.

"No lifeguard is here if you drown..."

Threatening now? I chuckled.

"All I'd have to do to you," poking her, and leaning closer to her in playful challenge, "is touch you."

"I wouldn't even need to touch you," she said smugly, "I'd just encase you in a force-field, fill it with water, and go get a snack."

We held each other's gazes, not willing to give in. I didn't even know what we were fighting over. Our ninja staring contest turned into an awkward two-way checking out session.

"So..." I said, "don't take this the wrong way, but speaking of snacks."

"Yes," she broke her gaze and rubbed her eyes, "let's settle this over coffee... tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is today." I jibed and she sighed and suppressed a smile.

"You know what I mean." Then she added, "Commander."

"Awaken," an ominous voice whispered. My eyes shot open and I could feel my eyes dilate as my vision turned red and tunneled.

"Rise," Slaymore said, "arise and wear blood!"

Then Ceasaer, Kaiser, Abbadon, leader of the Band, Lord of Locusts, the man on many names said,

"Kill."

Several ominous voices repeated the commands. I tossed the covers away, my bare feet clopping on the cold tile as the warmth of adrenaline pulsed throughout my body. I was going to wear blood!

Crow's and Commander Karver's greeting was cut short when I drained the life from them. My eyes and smile was wide and my head twitched when I locked eyes with Karver's secretary. Her scream was cut short when I used my power to pulseSlide past her and seven other workers, draining their life. I stood smiling like a mad man as time slowed, the life of my enemies acting like the a drug which granted god-like power. I roared with ecstasy, the power!

I smiled at the staff member that as he pulled a pistol from the drawer, to afraid to act and everything was in slow motion as as he said,

"No-now Maverick!"

A military soldier came from the hall and I blasted him. The staff member shot but I could see the bullets coming as I proverbially flicked them aside with my power. I dramatically raised a hand and I showered in his blood. I proceeded in killing that whole floor. Then the next... and the next even until I was taking the elevator to the ground floor.

My blood and gore covered visage was greeted to the sound of cocking weapons. Someone shouted something over the megaphone but time was so slow that I couldn't understand them. I roared, under the lovely influence of power itself.

They began to fire and I moved. I pulseSlid to them, my power so strong that red electric-like arcs licked up the life of all the soldiers. Then I saw a hooded figure in white move through the air and I charged a blast. The figure was moving at a normal speed despite my power but I stopped in my tracks.

The air rippled around her in a white aura, her cloak fluttering in the wind, and a dark, glaring, picture-perfect face of Athena. She looked down on me in a scrutinizing gaze.

"I thought you said you were done? I thought that you were done with us."

Shame clubbed me upside the head and began to burn within me until-

I woke, coughing my guts out. The chest pain was almost unbearable, like that time I crawled out from under a building (long story). Coughing continued until I forced myself into the bathroom and coughed snot into the toilet. However, I wiped my mouth and groaned at the sight of blood. I'm coughing blood.

Making a mental note to kill Burke when he gets here, I proceeded to brush my teeth and shave and spat blood into the sink. I gazed into the mirror, no... through the mirror into the ghost of a man upon it. No, not a ghost... monster? God? God... of monsters?

Visions of my past phased into my head and screamed like keening phantoms. I splashed water onto my face and refrained from breaking down in the privacy of my room. The residue guilt from my dream still lingered as I coughed a bit as I stepped out of the bathroom. An automated voice chimed,

"Formation in five minutes."

I internally groaned, my throat was killing me as I threw open the closet and grabbed the outfit inside. Inside was a black on-base super uniform. The uniform either consisted of more casual military-wear... or more militarized casual wear I couldn't really tell. I was just glad I haven't had to put on skin tight spandex like those cursed speedos.

If I wasn't running late, or had just coughed blood, I would have basked on how swag I looked in these black combats. I started brisk walking past random staff and soldiers. Some thumbed the way as I passed and I nodded my thanks.

A super poked his head into the hall with shaggy, shoulder-length hair. When he saw me I croaked,

"Godzilla attacking again?"

He smiled and shook his head.

"You Maverick?"

I nodded my head and covered a cough, getting blood on my arm. Good thing the black hid the stains. He waved me over.

"Scarecrow said you might be lost... or drowned at the non-existent water fountain."

He saw my paling face.

"Sick bro?"

I shook my head, groaning out a joke, "Need a water fountain."

"Okay," he said unconvinced.

He pointed to table seventeen. But I was overwhelmed by a sea of faces. Inside was hundreds of people my age, all in super uniform. I wormed my way to my table and sat down with Crow who had her head buried in her arms on the table.

Spider held out a hand for another gangster handshake. Andy and Nova exchanged a smug look

"Good morning my boi! Wassup?"

I shrugged, squeaking,

"Cough."

Everyone gave me a second look, Scarecrow even unburied her head and groaned.

"Tired?" I asked Scarecrow.

"No." She moaned.

Nova said, "She is, every Saturday she's like this."

"How did you sleep?" I asked Nova, my voice killing me.

She huffed a laugh.

"Sleep? What's that? It was TV night!"

"You didn't sleep?" Spider asked.

"Pfft, you would know if you weren't drool-"

She stopped mid-sentence and I noted Spider's face turn into a glower.

"D-drooling all over your self about that actress!"

His face returned to normal.

"Hey, Megan Fox." He gave me a thumbs up. "Top notch."

I looked between the two, something's up and the others didn't notice.

"So," I croaked, "what are we doing today?"

"Once-or if we survive," Crow groaned drowsily from her arms, "Lineup we are going to see the quartermaster and I will lead you through on patrols."

"Quartermaster? That guy have guns?" I asked jokingly, playing dumb.

"Yeah, and cough medicine." She jabbed and Nova chimed in sarcastically,

"Naw, he sells stuffed unicorns for the government."

Our laughter was cut short by-

A/N: This is the end of the transcription. I edited out some scenes and details from the paper version.

In the handwritten original I was at about 54 1/2 pages of notebook paper