Who do you think you are? A Superhero? ACT I The One About Trash

Chapter 3 - "The One About Hope"

Massimo knew he had to address the issue of the new member, but first, he needed to take a much-needed bath. After all, massimo as leader he feels the need to be as perfect as possible.
As he made his way towards the locker room, his thoughts were consumed by the weight of the decision he has to make. Completely immersed in his thoughts, Massimo pushed the door open, fully expecting to find the room empty. But much to his surprise, as he stepped inside, he found himself face to face with Clarissa, the half-husky, half-breed that had been accepted into the K-9. The air seemed to freeze around them as Massimo's gaze involuntarily flickered down, taking in the sight of Clarissa in her blue underwear.  Her back was still turned towards him, and he caught sight of two interesting marks on her back, looked like tattoos or some kind of pattern on her skin. One, in the shape of a delicate heart, that rested in the center of her waist, while the other, a mysterious symbol, was at the base of her neck. As he was about to look up, Clarissa turned around. Everything happened in slow motion, her eyes widening as she saw someone standing there. "Ahhhhhhhh!" Clarissa shrieked. "You pervert! What are you doing!"
"I didn't mean to intrude. I'll come back later," Massimo murmured, his voice barely audible as he took a step back from the door. His eyes darted around the hallway, his mind thinking back to the last mission.
A few minutes later, her voice called out, breaking into his thoughts. "It's alright, you can come back in," Clarissa's voice floated through the closed door, filled with a mix of hesitation and curiosity.
Massimo pushed open the door and stepped back into the room, the hinges creaking softly in protest. The door closed behind him with a gentle click, shutting him off from the outside world. As his eyes adjusted to the room's dim lighting, he found himself facing a now fully dressed Clarissa.
Clarissa, her hands fidgeting nervously with the hem of her dress, mustered the courage to break the silence. "You're Captain Massimo Solare, right?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly.
Massimo nodded curtly, his expression betraying no emotion. "Yeah," he finally replied, his voice a low rumble that resonated in the stillness of the room. "I apologize about earlier."
"No, no," Clarissa stammered, her words stumbling over each other in her haste. She waved her hand frantically, as if trying to erase the memory of her earlier outburst. "I must apologize for my earlier outburst. It's just that I wasn't prepared for someone to enter without knocking."
"There's something important we need to discuss."
Clarissa's excitement dimmed slightly as she nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. "Of course, Captain. I'm all ears."
Massimo began to speak, his voice filled with the usual curtness. "Clarissa, I understand that joining the K9 unit is a big opportunity for you. But I also need you to understand the impact it may have on the team. We are a group of elite individuals with unique abilities, and every mission we partake in is with our lives on the line. With death dancing above our heads, we want a team member that we will be able to have our backs."
Clarissa listened intently, her gaze never wavering from Massimo's. A mix of emotions played across her face, but it was clear that she wasn't about to give up. "Captain, I appreciate your concern for the team. But I want you to know that I am fully committed to upholding the values of the K9 unit. I may be a half-breed, but I have trained tirelessly to reach the level of power that matches, if not surpasses, that of my pure-blooded counterparts, I may not have a Primal Power, but I am here to prove myself and to break the cycle of discrimination that has plagued our society for far too long."
Massimo stood in stunned silence as Clarissa's words poured out, an unending chatterbox.
"I was first of my class in the academy. I was considered the champion of I1 Unitos, including the special recommendation of Admiral Hormiga... I also have five siblings, although we don't share the same blood... My favorite color is Blue. I love traveling..."
"Enough--" Massimo called out, but the newbie wasn't listening. His frustration grew, his patience wearing thin.
<one million years later>
"I also like flowers and gardening, blah, blah blah" Clarissa continued.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Massimo raised his voice, his words cutting through the air like a sharp blade. "Enough!" he demanded.  "What is your specialty, speaking?" Sighing, Massimo rubbed a hand down his tired face. "With a heavy heart, I must tell you that your presence here as a K9 was a mistake. It's not a question of your abilities or dedication, but rather a misunderstanding on our part. The dynamics of our team, as it stands, do not have a place for a half-breed. I have to ask that you resign from our team."
Clarissa's eyes began to flood, as she looked at Massimo straight into his eyes, and got closer to his face, way closer than Massimo was used to causing a light blush on the menacing wolf.
"Captain, I'm sure you can use me on any spot in your team, allow me to show you what im capable off!"
"Alright, I'm going to put you to the test. Training room, in an hour, sharp."
Clarissa's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and hope, her tears now mingling with a glimmer of excitement. She nodded fervently, a renewed fire burning within her.
"Ill show you Captain that we half-breed can be surprising!"
"Sure..." were the last words he directed to her before leaving the locker room.
Despite not having exceptional abilities like Primal, her hand-to-hand combat training was admirable. He restrained himself enough not to incapacitate her or break any bones. There was an evident difference between them; Massimo was pure brute force, his only virtue being his rigorous martial arts training. He maintained a cautious distance at all times. If he had to counterattack, he did so without showing any fear in exchanging blows.
One of his hooks managed to make her stagger, only for her to get back up again and raise her guard. Whether she was aware that she could win or not, she continued to prolong the fight. Up to that point, Massimo had refrained from using his Primal; no matter how many times she fell to the ground, she always got back up, seemingly unwilling to give up easily.
She was a tough nut to crack; her punches became weaker
with each blow, her legs trembling with the pain inflicted by every kick, every blow directed to her abdomen or her head, avoiding knocking her unconscious, of course.
He let out a bitter sigh at having to reach this point. On one occasion, she managed to stop one of his kicks, pulling his leg to make him fall to the ground alongside her, clutching onto his leg. Clarissa brought her foot instep to her chest to lift her hips, forcing him to stretch his knee and consequently, tensing his muscles to the limit.
Massimo had no choice; he took her by surprise, before she could achieve her goal, he used his Primal Power just enough for his muscles to tensed like a rock, preventing her from exerting pressure.
No matter how hard she tried to contain him from flexing, she finally had to let go. Massimo wasted no time in starting to subdue her; no matter how much she struggled, his muscles barely allowed her to resist his precious attempts. Massimo clung to her back, embracing her with his legs, his right arm encircled her neck to perform a lock, gradually exerting pressure.
Clarissa desperately tried to free herself without success, one of her hands gripping his arm, digging her claws in. Her vision began to blur, and with it, her abrupt movements.
Massimo released his grip at the last second to allow her to breathe before falling unconscious. Clarissa could only breathe as she coughed.
Massimo stood up, allowing her to recover, as the fierce grey wolf stand up looking down on his opponent. She didn't say a single word for several minutes.
"Do you understand now?" he asked.
"Why?" she replied.
"Mhh..."
"I know what you're getting at with this, captain, but even if it's training, it's just that, training. This doesn't determine my performance or role in a real mission."
Massimo remained expressionless, his arms crossed over his chest, giving her no clue about his thoughts.
"This is what you will have to deal with in our missions, enemies far stronger than you, that wont hold back the way I did. I've never had a casualty on my watch before, and I'm not going to start now." Massimo declared, "This is the end of the road for you Clarissa... ill have to ask you to resign the K9"
Clarissa stood in complete silence, her eyes downcast and her body visibly deflating. The weight of Massimo's words hung heavily in the air, suffocating the room with a heavy sadness. Her dreams shattered before her, she felt the sting of rejection searing through her heart. Massimo, having said his piece, turned away and began walking towards the exit. But as he took a step out the door, a cry reached his ears, tugging at his conscience. He paused, his footsteps faltering, as he turned to see Clarissa on the floor, clutching something tightly to her chest. Tears streamed down her face, complete sadness deep within her eyes.
Clarissa looked up at Massimo, her tear-stained eyes filled with determination. "Please, Captain," she pleaded, her voice choked with emotion. "Give me a chance. I know I can prove myself, that I can surpass any expectations you have. I won't let you down."
For the first time, Massimo felt a twinge in his heart. It was the first sense of emotion he had felt in a long time, With a deep breath, Massimo made a decision.
He leaned in closer to Clarissa and whispered, "Tomorrow, at 4:00 a.m. sharp, I'll be waiting at the North exit. There's a special mission I need your help with. If you can prove your worth, then maybe, just maybe, you'll have a place in the K9 unit."
Clarissa's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and hope, her tears now mingling with a glimmer of excitement. She nodded fervently, a renewed fire burning within her. "Thank you, Captain," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "I won't let you down."
"We will see."
As the first rays of dawn cut across the sky, Massimo stood tall and stoic, his eyes focused on the mission that lay ahead. He was standing at the front of the departure gate and presently, it was 3:59 am. Just like he promised yesterday, he was giving Clarissa a chance. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his gear, his fingers expertly maneuvering the straps and buckles. It was then that he noticed a figure approaching, clad in heavy armor that clinked with each step. A furrow formed between Massimo's brows as he watched Clarissa hobbling towards his direction, her energy practically radiating off her.
"Good morning, Captain," Clarissa greeted with bursting enthusiasm. Her voice cut through the early morning silence, causing Massimo to raise a single eyebrow in response. He found himself taken aback by Clarissa's energetic personality, especially considering the early hour of the morning. He wasn't accustomed to speaking with someone so lively. In fact, none of the members of the K9 team possessed the same level of chaotic energy.
"Did you sleep well, Captain? How are you today, Captain?" Clarissa's words flowed freely, as she popped up on both sides of Massimo's shoulder.
Massimo felt his left eye twitch. "Keep up," he instructed tersely, leading the way towards their destination.
"Yes, Captain!" Clarissa chirped happily, her short legs keeping up with his longer ones.
Massimo didn't say any word after that - after all, she might decide to leave on her own after today. The purpose of today's mission was to expose Clarissa to the harsh realities of being a K9, to test her mettle and resilience, and to see if she had what it takes to be part of the team.
And so, they set out towards the outskirts where the bustling city slowly gave way to emptiness. As they walked, the once bustling streets transformed into a desolate landscape. The comforting hum of city life was replaced by an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional sound of boots against the barren ground. Armed forces stationed at the exit halted in their tracks, their crisp salutes acknowledging Massimo's presence as a respected figure amongst their ranks.
"Salute, sir!" one of the armed forces barked, the sound echoing through the air. Massimo nodded curtly in response, his gaze fixed ahead. Unable to bear the heavy silence, Clarissa broke it with a burst of words. "You're very popular, Captain," she began, her eyes widening with admiration. "How do you..." She began to ramble once again, and Massimo was visibly annoyed by her presence. it felt like a fly buzzing in his ears, and no matter how many times he cleared his throat to stop the conversation, she brought up another topic; completely oblivious.
As they passed the exit and entered the outskirts, Massimo and Clarissa were greeted by a scene that was starkly different from the city they had just left behind. Rubbish littered the ground, forming a pattern of discarded items and forgotten dreams. Sludge and brownish water oozed beneath their feet, splashing against their boots with each step they took. The air was also heavy with a putrid stench, a suffocating blend of decay and waste that seemed to come from every nook and cranny, making it hard to breathe. Massimo and Clarissa were met with disturbing stares from the outskirt people that lined the streets. Their eyes were filled with a mixture of hatred and rage, causing a dangerous energy to hang heavily in the air. What made it even more disturbing, was their emaciated figures, reflecting a life filled with poverty and inequality. It created a suffocating silence, interrupted only by the occasional whisper or whimper.
"Eek..." Clarissa hiccuped, clamping both hands over her mouth so as to stifle any further sounds. Her wide eyes darted between the hostile crowd and Massimo, her heart racing in her chest. She had never witnessed such hatred, such animosity directed towards her by people of her own kind, in the west sector of the outskirts where she grew up, while lacking luxury, you could still live a decent life, at least on half breed standarts. This was a startling contrast to the adoration and respect that Massimo commanded within the concrete buildings of the city.
Suddenly, someone from the crowd yelled above the whimpers. "Dogs of the Pure Breed! I curse you!" a man roared, his voice dripping with venom. Without warning, he threw a rock towards Massimo, the stone finding its mark in the middle of his chest with a resounding thud. Clarissa gasped, her hands instinctively reaching out to pat the spot where the rock had struck.
"Captain, are you alright?" she asked in a panicked voice, her eyes filled with concern as she assessed the dirt-streaked area where the rock had made contact. Massimo gently pulled her hand away, his gaze transfixed on the man who had thrown the stone.
"Wh-what, what are you going to do? You evil dogs!" The man challenged.
Massimo's face showed no expression, his jaw tightly clenched as he endured the hateful words directed at them. Instead of fighting back, he remained calm, using his composed demeanor as a shield against the growing anger in the crowd.
The man who had initiated the attack, backed by the crowd's fury, taunted Massimo further. "What are you going to do, you evil dogs?" he continued challenged, his voice filled with contempt. The words acted as a spark, igniting the active fury from the crowd. Soon, the air was filled with a chorus of voices, each one carrying its own venomous message.
"Haven't you done enough? Get away from our lands!"
"You filthy mutts! Sold your souls to the devil!"
"I hope you die!"
"Go away!"
Just as curses began to rain, so did more rocks.