The "Accident"

The next morning, Ethan, Gabe, and Tim were jolted awake by the insistent buzzing of their TapWatches signaling the unwelcome 0500 hours wake-up call. Ethan jumped up first, quickly heading into the bathroom.

"Hurry up in there!" Gabe called impatiently. "We all need a shower!"

"I'll be fast," Ethan promised, swiftly stepping under the spray. Although the bathroom was designed for multiple occupants at once, the guys had silently agreed to take turns whenever possible, preserving everyone's privacy—except for emergencies, of course. Ethan showered quickly, brushed his teeth, and emerged moments later, a towel wrapped casually around his waist.

"Bathroom's free," Ethan announced, moving briskly back into the room.

Tim's face instantly flushed at the sight of Ethan's athletic physique, eyes briefly lingering before he quickly turned away, embarrassed. Gabe noticed Tim's reaction and smiled to himself but said nothing.

The trio efficiently took turns, each quickly showering and preparing for the day. Fully dressed and ready, they exited their dorm and made their way down the hall, eager to meet up with Steph, Eliza, and Kelly.

The morning sun bathed the campus in bright warmth as Ethan, Gabe, and Tim headed toward the mess hall, soon joined by Steph, Eliza, and Kelly. The girls were still energized from the previous night's events, chatting excitedly and sharing snippets of dorm gossip. Ethan, however, remained distracted, his mind caught up in yesterday's confrontation. Gabe, always perceptive, noticed Ethan's distant expression and gave his shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "You okay?" Gabe mouthed discreetly, eyes filled with concern. Ethan responded with a small nod and appreciative smile, comforted by Gabe's quiet support.

After breakfast, Gabe and Ethan navigated through the sprawling EarthCorp complex, their TapWatches guiding them to their first training session. They joined a diverse group of recruits, each clearly carrying unique backgrounds and hidden anxieties. Their instructor, Sergeant Davis, stood waiting with an intense, no-nonsense demeanor.

"You think you're tough enough for EarthCorp?" she barked sharply, her gaze sweeping across the recruits. "Prove it."

She quickly launched them into an intense physical assessment, designed to push each recruit to their limits. Gabe and Ethan, careful to keep their celestial powers hidden, moved efficiently and precisely through the rigorous obstacle course. Their abilities subtly aided them, allowing them to navigate the challenges effortlessly while remaining inconspicuous.

Meanwhile, Tim walked hesitantly toward his own assigned training area, his body still aching from yesterday's ordeal. His stomach dropped as he recognized Jimmy, sporting a noticeable black eye courtesy of Ethan. Jimmy's expression darkened instantly as his eyes settled on Tim, his smirk malicious.

"Well, well, well," Jimmy sneered, stepping close enough for only Tim to hear. "Still nursing your bruises, huh?" Tim's face drained of color, eyes nervously darting toward the instructor, who was busy outlining the day's exercises.

Jimmy leaned in even closer, his voice dangerously low. "You won't slip away so easily next time," he threatened softly, his breath warm against Tim's ear. "Consider this your warning."

Tim's heart raced, palms dampening with anxiety. He knew another confrontation was inevitable, but the thought filled him with dread.

As the training session progressed, Jimmy persistently shadowed Tim, seizing every opportunity to torment him. Their next challenge was a daunting climbing wall, overseen by their instructor, Major Green, who barked instructions and safety reminders. The recruits split into two groups: half climbing, half handling ropes from below. Tim struggled noticeably, becoming increasingly clumsy as he climbed.

Jimmy, sensing Tim's vulnerability, relentlessly taunted him. "Come on, Timmy, move faster!" he sneered repeatedly. Tim reached the top second-to-last, visibly exhausted. Just as he began to steady himself, Jimmy deliberately stumbled, knocking another recruit—a startled girl—into Tim, sending him plummeting off the edge.

In a split second, Major Green instinctively grabbed Tim's rope, halting Tim's fall abruptly but launching the major upward. Tim collided forcefully against the wall, hitting his head and breaking his nose, an arm, and some ribs from the impact.

Jimmy smirked quietly to himself. "That'll teach him," he whispered.

Another instructor, quickly noticing the incident, approached with immediate concern as Major Green carefully lowered the injured Tim to the ground.

"Are you alright, recruit?" she asked firmly, her tone authoritative yet compassionate.

Tim, face bloodied and battered, weakly shook his head before slipping into unconsciousness.

"Watch yourself," she warned Jimmy sharply before turning her attention back to the gathered recruits. Jimmy merely turned away, a triumphant smirk lingering on his face.

Across the training grounds, Ethan glanced at Gabe. "Do you hear what they're saying?" he asked.

Gabe nodded, grinning slightly. Recruits around them whispered about the duo's impressive performance, marveling at their speed and endurance during the rigorous exercises. Even some instructors cast curious glances their way.

"We should probably ease up," Ethan whispered urgently, a hint of concern in his voice. "We're already drawing too much attention, and it's only our second day."

As they completed their final push-ups, sit-ups, and rope climbs, the welcome sound of the chow bell rang out. "Finally!" Gabe exclaimed with relief. "I'm starving. The longer I spend in this form the hungrier I seem to get."

Ethan wiped sweat from his forehead as they entered the bustling mess hall. Steph and the girls had already claimed a table, and Steph enthusiastically waved them over. "Over here!" she called out loudly.

Ethan nodded in acknowledgment, and he and Gabe joined the line for food, deliberately ignoring Jimmy and his friends, who were laughing obnoxiously nearby. Sitting at the table, Ethan glanced around with a frown.

"Where's Tim?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. Everyone exchanged uncertain looks, offering only shrugs in response.

Meanwhile, Admiral Levine—a large, imposing man in his fifties—was discussing Tim's condition with Nurse Robin from the medical bay.

"How's the recruit who fell?" Admiral Levine inquired gruffly.

"He's pretty roughed up—broken nose, fractured arm, concussion, and plenty of scrapes," the nurse reported dutifully.

"Will he recover?"

"Yes, sir, but he'll likely need a couple of weeks," Nurse Robin replied.

Admiral Levine shook his head slowly, absorbing the report. Nurse Robin briefly mentioned other minor injuries that had occurred that morning before excusing herself. Alone again, Admiral Levine returned his attention to the surveillance footage replaying Tim's incident.

"Interesting…" he murmured thoughtfully, eyes narrowing as he observed Jimmy's actions. "Jimmy Dorsey, I think you have potential." He allowed a sinister smile to spread across his face, determined to keep a closer eye on the young recruit.

When Tim didn't show up for lunch, the group grew increasingly worried.

"Who cares?" Eliza remarked dismissively. "He's weird anyway."

"Shut up," Kelly snapped defensively. "I like him. He's sweet, tall, and gentle."

"Yeah, but he never stops staring at Ethan," Steph pointed out playfully. Ethan's cheeks immediately flushed with embarrassment.

"Enough!" Gabe interjected sharply, silencing the table. "Tim's our roommate and our friend. If you want to gossip about him, sit somewhere else."

Steph dropped her gaze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "I was just making an observation," she murmured softly.

Gabe shook his head, standing abruptly. "Come on, Ethan. Let's check the dorm." Ethan quickly rose to follow Gabe, leaving the others to their lunch.

Back in their dorm room, Ethan and Gabe prepared silently for their next training session, their thoughts troubled by Tim's absence. Suddenly, a hesitant knock broke the silence.

"Come in," Gabe called gently.

The door swung open, revealing Tim leaning heavily on Nurse Robin for support. His face was bruised, his arm immobilized, and his body visibly battered.

"What happened to you?" Ethan exclaimed, eyes wide with concern.

Tim limped slowly toward his bunk, avoiding eye contact. "I fell," he muttered, his voice barely audible, burdened with embarrassment. Just hours ago, he had been celebrating his victory over Jimmy and the other bullies.

Nurse Robin stepped forward, clarifying softly, "Another recruit, Jimmy, tripped and accidentally knocked someone into Tim. He fell from the climbing platform."

Ethan and Gabe immediately exchanged suspicious glances.

"Jimmy," Gabe echoed coldly, his voice dripping with skepticism. "That's quite the 'accident.'"

Ethan and Gabe left the dorm, checking Gabe's TapPad for their next class schedule. "Hand-to-hand combat," Gabe noted, scanning the brief course description. They made their way toward Building Four, known aptly as the Battle Building. A line of recruits stretched from the entrance, each scanning their TapWatches and receiving gear before entering the arena for instructions.

Waiting patiently, Ethan's thoughts wandered to the upcoming weekend. Although it was only their first full day at the facility, he already anticipated taking the ferry to City Island—a small, bustling community just west of Los Angeles Island, with shops, restaurants, and spaces to unwind.

Back at the dorm, Steph and Kelly knocked to see if the boys had found Tim. Receiving no answer and unable to contact Ethan due to blocked communications throughout the facility, Kelly gently pushed the unlocked door open. Inside, they were shocked to find Tim lying unconscious on his bed.

"Oh my god, what happened?" Kelly gasped, rushing to Tim's bedside, taking his hand gently. Tim's battered condition was obvious: a cast on his arm, his nose bandaged, and dried blood matting his hair.

Steph, stunned, quietly noted, "I heard someone got hurt badly today in climbing. I didn't know it was Tim."

"Let him rest," Steph urged softly, gently pulling Kelly to her feet. Reluctantly, they left Tim behind, hurrying to their computer training class.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Gabe had entered the hot, crowded Battle Building. The humid air smelled strongly of sweat, and the heavy breathing of hundreds of recruits filled the space. As the instructor demonstrated techniques, Gabe leaned toward Ethan.

"Tim's supposed to be in this class with us," Gabe whispered. "I hope he's doing ok."

"Yeah, me too," Ethan replied quietly, scanning the crowd. Gabe's eyes narrowed as he spotted Jimmy across the room.

Ethan noticed him too. "Jimmy, that bastard," Ethan muttered, his voice laced with anger.

Jimmy was being obnoxious as usual, playfully smacking his friend with the numbered card he'd received. Gabe strained to see Jimmy's number. "43," Gabe whispered sharply. "Quick, what's your number?"

"74," Ethan replied.

"I'm 19," Gabe added. "Look around for the other 43."

After instructions concluded, recruits moved around searching for their matching numbers. Suddenly, Ethan heard a timid voice calling out nervously, "43? Anyone else have 43?" Ethan quickly approached the small recruit.

"Hey, trade numbers with me," Ethan said firmly but kindly. Pointing to Jimmy, he added, "Trust me, you don't want to spar with him." The recruit paled and hastily swapped cards with Ethan, visibly relieved.

Turning, Ethan saw Gabe already facing Frank, one of Jimmy's cronies. Jimmy approached, smug and confident.

"Well, well," Jimmy drawled mockingly. "The dynamic duo."

Gabe leaned toward Ethan, whispering with determination, "Let's break their noses—and whatever else we can get away with."

Sergeant Davis blew the whistle sharply, signaling the start of the sparring match. Ethan and Gabe, carefully hiding their celestial abilities, fought with restrained precision. They gracefully dodged Jimmy and Frank's wild, uncontrolled attacks, landing calculated strikes designed to incapacitate without serious injury.

The session gradually grew intense, the room erupting in cheers and shouts from fellow recruits watching others spar. Ethan and Gabe allowed Jimmy and Frank occasional hits, maintaining their cover, but tensions eventually escalated. Jimmy landed a sharp punch, splitting Ethan's lip and drawing blood. Furious, Ethan clenched his fist, preparing to retaliate with full force when Sergeant Williams swiftly grabbed his wrist.

"That's enough!" she commanded sternly, ending the session abruptly.

Ethan and Gabe exchanged frustrated glances, irritated by the abrupt halt. Both knew they needed to handle Jimmy and Frank carefully due to constant surveillance. Reluctantly, they decided to return to their dorm to check on Tim, postponing their confrontation for another time.

Gabe and Ethan handed their gear back to the instructor as they exited the training facility. Sergeant Williams pulled them aside before they left, her expression clearly impressed.

"Those were impressive moves today," she commended warmly. "Have you two considered competing in the semi-annual sparing contest? It's intense—hand-to-hand combat and blunted weapons-based matches."

Gabe nodded politely. "We'll think about it," he replied diplomatically.

Ethan and Gabe hurried back to their dorm, eager to check on Tim and desperate for showers after hours of rigorous training. When they entered, Ethan immediately noticed a note on the desk from Kelly, mentioning she and Steph had stopped by to see Tim.

"He's still out like a light," Gabe remarked softly, stepping into the bathroom.

Concerned, Ethan approached Tim's bedside. Tim's face was severely bruised, his eyes swollen shut, and he was clearly in significant pain, evident from his soft groans.

Left alone with Tim, Ethan's concern rapidly escalated. Tim's breathing seemed uneven, and his injuries appeared far worse than initially described. Urgently, Ethan whispered, "Halo, is it possible to scan Tim and display his vitals?"

A beam of holographic light swiftly scanned Tim, revealing alarming results:

Scanning complete: Timothy Crane - Human Male - 18 years old. Vital Signs: Critical Heart rate: Below normal Blood pressure: Critically low blood oxygen levels: Critical Injuries detected: Cranial fractures. Multiple rib fractures. Fractured right ulna and scapula. Severe cranial hemorrhage (potentially lethal)

"Halo, he could die! What do I do?" Ethan asked, panic rising rapidly in his voice.

System Notification: New Assignments Available: Heal Timothy Crane: (Reward: 50 XP) Teach Jimmy Dorsey a Lesson: (Reward: 100 XP)

"Place one hand on his heart, the other on his forehead," Halo instructed urgently. "You must hurry!"

"Is this beyond my abilities to heal?" Ethan questioned anxiously, voice trembling.

"Approximately sixty percent restoration is possible—but you must begin now," Halo confirmed sharply.

Gabe emerged from the bathroom, towel in hand, immediately noticing Ethan's holographic projection. "What's happening, Ethan?" Gabe rushed over, scanning the displayed information, his eyes widening with alarm. Recognizing the urgency, Gabe placed his hands firmly atop Ethan's, their expressions mirroring mutual determination and anxiety.

"Together," Gabe whispered intensely, locking eyes with Ethan.

Their combined energy surged forth, illuminating Tim's battered body with pulses of powerful celestial radiance. The intensity grew rapidly, filling the room with an otherworldly glow. Ethan and Gabe became enveloped in a comforting yet overwhelming warmth of divine energy, their wings unfolding dramatically, Gabe's halo blazing brilliantly above him. Ethan's halo, still tight around his neck, surged with light. Ethan, experiencing this profound celestial connection for the first time, gasped sharply as an intense wave of euphoric love overwhelmed him, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.

Tim, enveloped by this healing force, initially convulsed slightly before all pain and fear were swept away by an overwhelming, serene warmth. Slowly, miraculously, his eyes fluttered open, absorbing the breathtaking sight before him.

"Ethan?" Tim murmured faintly, his voice shaking with awe and disbelief.

Gabe, suddenly realizing they'd inadvertently revealed their divine nature, reacted swiftly. Retracting his wings and halo with a powerful snap, he urgently grabbed Ethan, trying to pull him from Tim. Ethan, deeply immersed in a euphoric state, resisted unconsciously, the powerful energy keeping him locked in place. Gabe tugged harder, desperately whispering, "Ethan, come back! You have to let go now!"

With one final, forceful pull, Gabe freed Ethan, causing them both to collapse backward onto the floor.

"Halo! Cloak now!" Gabe commanded desperately.

Ethan's wings retracted swiftly, his halo fading rapidly into his skin. Dazed and only half-conscious, Ethan barely heard Halo confirm, "Cloaking complete."

Gabe gently laid Ethan down, anxiously addressing Halo, "Halo, give me Ethan's vitals."

Halo swiftly responded, "Ethan Blade vitals—Elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Neurochemical balance significantly altered due to celestial energy exposure. Condition stable."

Gabe exhaled a shaky breath, relief washing over him.

Tim, jolted upright, cried out anxiously, "Is Ethan alright? What's happening?"

Gabe, his voice soothing despite his own adrenaline, reassured Tim with a gentle smile, "He's fine. Actually, he's feeling really good right now." Gabe chuckled nervously, suddenly realizing the gravity of what had just been revealed.