E-73 for Earth

The DMX aircraft glided across the sky with gentle speed. It didn't fly at a very high altitude like Earth's planes but it was still high above everything else. Leo could see all he wanted see below him.

He looked behind him at the low rank military base, and he could see that the whole military bunkers formed a shape like the top view of a tortoise. Four wings spread out, two on each sides, a narrow tail at the end, and a large head at the front. It was an amazing plan.

They skimmed through the residential areas also. Thousands of houses of different shapes and sizes adorned his view. They were not built like the bunkers but most of them was also in circular shapes, some semi-circular.

Leo looked ahead and saw a very large building that almost touched the sky. It was a fat mass of stone that rose up into with sky with a pointy end. At the pointy end was the flag of Luxus blowing wildly due to the wind. "What is that?"

"That is the power house of Luxus. Since the whole of Luxus is united under one flag, unlike Earth, we need a planetary power house to control the affairs of the planet. Nothing enters or leaves this planet without the power house knowing."

"I see," was all Leo could say. In truth, he didn't care what the large Tower stands for. He only gawked at the beauty and magnificence.

"Strap up."

Leo fumbled around with the seat belt a little before he got the hang of it. The DMX aircraft swooped down as it decreases in altitude. The ground was moving up fast against them. Leo feared they were going to crash due to the sudden descent. He held the seat tight and closed his eyes. It was only when the engine was switched off and the whirring sound stopped that he was convinced that they had landed.

Loca laughed.

They were now on an airfield. It wasn't a large one for commercial transport, but for private air machines. Leo saw aircrafts that took his breath away. He immediately felt how inferior Loca's vehicle is to the ones lined up to his far right.

"Those are for official purposes. Let's go."

Loca now has a bag strapped to his back, and he was moving at a fast pace out of the airfield. Leo ran after him. His body still ached from overexertion, and the air still made him feel dizzy.

A roaring vehicle was coming towards them. As soon as it got close, Loca flagged it to a stop. The doors opened automatically and Loca jumped in. Leo did the same, and the vehicle turned and zoomed off in the opposite direction.

"How are the kids these days?" Loca asked the driver.

"A pain in the butt, as always. Lanky had to stop himself from using his stunning quirk against them. He didn't do well though, because he stunned one and the board of staff teleported him to the red planet's prison for a week."

"Oh, shoot. Lanky is a good guy. The kids must really be annoying."

"Annoying is an understatement. Earthlings never fail to show their true colours."

"Well, they'll soon be going back. Their planet calls," Loca sighed.

Leo looked at Loca and wondered what this conversation was all about. But even if Loca noticed his gaze, he was doing well not to react.

The driver drove at an insane speed down the long road. Since it was a free road, nothing could cause him to slow down. After about ten minutes, the dirt vehicle turned a sharp left and stopped in front of a large gate. On the gate was a crest that featured a fist with energy cracks round it. Under it was the name of the academy... E-73 FOR EARTH.

There were two guards at the gate. Loca showed his tag once again, and one of them gave Leo a piercing gaze. From the last guard's experience, Leo knew he was scanning him for weapons. He hated how deep their eyes bore into him. What kind of stupid power is that?

The gate swung open and shut close as soon as they stepped in. If Leo thought the barracks was an amazing sight, this academy was a killer sight. There were about 20 different buildings scattered in hectares of bare land. Each building was painted yellow, but a single one was painted brown. As he walked with Loca, he could see boys his age lurking around corners and staring at them. This place was different. It was cracking with some strange energy Leo couldn't explain. He wanted to be part of this. He wanted to be one of the boys lurking in those corners. He wanted to attend this academy.

But as if Loca could hear his thoughts, he said, "It's a pity you won't be attending this wonderful academy. You earthlings are going to be sent back very soon, and you must go with them. You can discover whatever you want there too. This place is just for breeding..."

Loca stopped himself. Leo wondered why the man was hiding some information from him. If only he could use their mind communication ability to hear what Loca was thinking. But it didn't work that way. One can only hear what the other allows in his thoughts.

I will find out anyway. Why the rush?

They stopped at the brown building and the door swung open even before they pushed. The floor was adorned with intricate designs that stretched down the whole long hall. The walls were painted yellow and beautified with artistic designs. Leo saw one that indicated a space ship flying towards a blue circle that is definitely the planet Luxus.

Leo was looking at each art with interest that he didn't realise that Loca has stopped to talk to a man. The man is a sturdy one, with well pronounced muscles bulging out of his neat green uniform. He is an academy staff. He reminded Leo of high rank soldiers back on Earth.

"Sergeant Broadstone, it's been a while," Loca greeted.

"Save the greetings, my friend. Are you here for the kids?" He didn't sound angry but his words was saying otherwise. Loca already knew how the man was, so he continued with a smile.

"Yes, the kids. I need to tell them now. Gather them in the assemblage, please."

"Send me no errands, Loca," Sergeant Broadstone said. Yet, he turned his back and walked down the hall to call the earthling kids out.

"Stone's a very awkward man," Loca said, more to himself than to Leo.

After a few minutes, Sergeant Stone came back to inform them that the kids are already in the assemblage.

"Thank you my dear friend."

"Call me no friend of yours, Loca." Stone walked out with a grunt.

Loca grabbed Leo by the hand as he walked down the hall, to the assemblage.

They walked in through the backstage door. Every eyes was on the two of them. Leo has never felt this way before. He started shaking at the number of eyes peering at him. He just realized what it means to suffer from stage fright.

Everybody in the hall was silent, waiting for the important information to be passed. They numbered about 200, the oldest being 22 and the youngest, 13.

It was like they knew what Loca wanted to announce, but they just wanted to hear it for affirmation.

"Boys and girls," Loca said into the small microphone device on the podium. "the time is here. Your planet needs you."

Leo was expecting the students to erupt in either joyous shouts or in complaints, but they did neither. They only stared like Loca hasn't said anything. And Loca wasn't ready to say anything again.

Then, one of the kids shouted as he pointed to Leo. "You on stage, what is your quirk? Let's have a round."

"Yesssss," the whole hall shook with noise in consent to the kid's proposal. Loca tried to restore calm, shouting into the mic but they won't calm down again. They have gone into a frenzy.

And what happened next was the craziest event Leo could ever imagine. A kid flew from his seat, high into the air and released two balls of fire from his two outstretched hands. It was going straight for Leo.

Leo couldn't react on time or doge the attack. He was even shocked that a human is ever able to bring out fire from his body. He has never seen anything like that in his life. He raised his arms and gritted his teeth, waiting for the impact.

Just then, Loca had pressed his little bubble device and sent out two large bubbles in the line of fire. The bubbles blocked the fire before it got to Leo. The kids cheered even more. Loca turned towards Leo and shouted, "Let's get out of here. These kids are crazy."

He grabbed Leo and they stormed out the backstage door.