Paladin's Academy

Act I, Chapter 13: Somebody, Save Me! Part 1

Simulation Room, Afternoon. Paladin's Academy.

The friendly mock battle has begun! Dreadnought and Team Red have already devised their strategy to rescue the blue dummy and win the game. But they know that Team Blue won't back down without a fight. As the game progresses, elsewhere, in the monitor room, Streetwise, Sparkplug, and several other teachers watch on, as the students start scouting the arena, looking for their adversaries. Streetwise looks to one of the monitors and notices that the students have begun their assault.

"So, how much do we have on Team Red?" Streetwise laughs as he places a hundred dollars down on a table.

"You're absolutely despicable." Ms. Winter scoffs, as she bets two hundred dollars on Team Blue.

Sparkplug nervously laughs. "Come on guys, this is just a friendly thing!"

"I'll put down fifty on Team Blue." A man speaks up. He has black hair and a muscular build. He sports a blue-tinted visor while wearing a white, blue, and red jumpsuit.

"Fifty against you're own sister? Yikes Glance." Streetwise mocks. Glance laughs, brushing his comment aside.

"Just to even things out, here's a hundred for Team Red." A woman says. She has long black hair resting on her shoulder and black eyes. Her outfit is mainly light grey, with black highlights.

"Of course you would. Wherever Streetwise goes, you follow, Aegis." Ms. Winter comments.

"We're all on the same side here!" Sparkplug says, trying to diffuse the animosity between the two groups. "Look, something's happening!" She says as she points at one of the screens.

"Shouldn't you both be down there monitoring the situation?" Ms. Winter says as she glares at the two incompetent teachers.

"Aaaaand that's our cue. Every party needs a pooper, and that's why we invited you." Streetwise groans as he leaves the monitor room along with Sparkplug. Ms. Winter sighs as she turns her attention to one of the big screens.

Back at base, Sure-Shot plays with his slingshot. Legally, he is not allowed to wield a firearm. Thus, the school has opted to give him an alternative, complete with rubber pellets. As dictated by White Mask earlier, Sure-Shot, along with another girl, must lay down the fort. One could even say they are the last line of defense.

Sure-Shot notices the girl being quiet, too quiet. He does something new and thinks before he acts, maybe because he's talking to a girl.

Okay, no more 'backstory' questions. How about ability evaluation instead? Yeah, that's better. Good thinking Sure-Shot.

"So, Meraxes, right? You control fire, yea?"

"That's right," Meraxes replies. She has long red hair and orange eyes. She's wearing a black spandex costume with her fire-red gloves, mask, and boots. She also has a literal cloak made of flames that burn bright orange.

"How good are you with fire control?"

"Adequate."

"Ah, I see."

Sure-Shot coughs as he leans against the wall. The conversation dies just as fast as it started.

Suddenly, multiple blue portals open around them. Smoke comes flowing out as it fills the entire room. Sure-Shot coughs as he prepares his slingshot. He holds his breath as he scans the area. All he can see is the fiery glow of Meraxes, who isn't moving.

Shit, did they get her? Sure-Shot worries, as he points his weapons around. Out of nowhere, someone grabs his shoulder and says,

"Don't move~"