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

Chapter 4 - "The One About Dreams"

The crowd began to throw the rocks recklessly, aimed at causing injuries. Massimo raised his left arm to protect both himself and Clarissa from the attack. Each impact had no effect on him, but Clarissa was getting more scared. "Captain..." she sniffled, her eyes filled with tears. "What do we do?" She asked as she looked around in search of a solution.
Massimo secretly let out a sigh of relief, as he realized that Clarissa was finally beginning to understand the harsh reality of being a K9. The rocks continued to fly through the air, propelled by the furious crowd, but Massimo's emotionless expression remained unchanged. He had witnessed this scene a thousand times before, and this moment was no different. In the midst of the chaos, Massimo's eyes caught a glimpse of a larger rock hurtling towards Clarissa's head. Time seemed to slow down as he instinctively stepped in front of her, his massive frame shielding her from the impending danger. Clarissa winced, her eyes tightly shut in anticipation of the impact, but to her surprise, it never came. Opening her eyes, Clarissa gasped as she saw Massimo's paw firmly gripping the rock, crushing it effortlessly into a shower of sand and smaller chunks. Her eyes widened in amazement, realizing the true extent of his strength and skill. The crowd fell silent for a moment, as the realization of Massimo's power spread among them.
With a controlled fury burning in his eyes, Massimo scanned the crowd, his gaze piercing through the sea of hostile faces. His heightened senses allowed him to pick up on the faint scent of the culprit, guiding his search through the chaotic scene. Finally, his eyes locked onto a little girl, her face twisted with hatred, holding another rock in his hand. Without hesitation, Massimo lunged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. The girl's eyes widened in terror as Massimo's massive paw grabbed her by the collar, lifting her off the ground effortlessly. Clarissa watched in horror as the girl's feet dangled helplessly in the air, her voice reduced to a terrified squeak. "Let me go you bastard, let me go!" The girl fought back, but it was no use.
"Captain, please let her go! Please!" Clarissa shouted, trying to hold on to his hand, but Massimo wasn't budging.
Massimo's voice was calm yet filled with authority as he spoke, his grip on the girl not loosening. "Step aside." He commanded.
The girl continued to struggle, her face turning red as she tried to break free from his grip. "You're nothing but rabid dogs with fancy names!" She spat out, her voice quivering with both fear and rage.
Clarissa's heart raced as she stood before Massimo, her tear-filled eyes filled with disappointment and disbelief. Her voice quivered as she found the strength to speak her mind. "You are not the hero I thought you were," she declared, her words hanging in the air, heavy with emotion.
"Clarissa-" Massimo began.
But she interrupted him, her voice resolute. "No!" she exclaimed adamantly, her voice carrying a strength that surprised even herself. "She is just a small girl. I am sure she didn't mean to hurt anyone! It was only a mistake!" Her words echoed through the crowd, briefly reducing their hostility, even if just for a moment.
Massimo's gaze bore into Clarissa's, his voice firm. "No, Clarissa," he rebutted. "She is a criminal. And that's what we do. We punish criminals." His words cut through the air, leaving no room for argument. "If you can't handle this, what makes you a perfect candidate for the K9? So, step aside," Massimo reiterated.
"I thought the K9 was supposed to have compassion... to love, to fight for justice, for the rights of all," Clarissa argued, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and defiance. "This violence will only breed more suffering, more hatred."
The inhabitants of the outskirts, who had been observing the confrontation, began to voice their support for Clarissa.
"Tell him!" one voice shouted.
"Listen to her, you bully!" another added.
"Let the girl go!" a third person pleaded.
"Stop abusing your power!" someone else shouted, the crowd's chorus of disapproval growing louder with each passing moment.
Massimo could sense the crowd closing in on them from all directions, the atmosphere thick with tension. He knew they needed to leave before things escalated further. "Move, we are going back to HQ," Massimo commanded through gritted teeth, finally releasing his grip on the girl's collar. The young girl fell to the ground and began to cough, clutching her throat, while Clarissa rushed to her side, concern etched across her face.
"Are you okay?" Clarissa asked, her voice filled with genuine care and worry, her tears momentarily forgotten.
Without uttering another word, Massimo turned on his heel, marching away from the angry mob. The crowd reluctantly parted, shooting him scornful glances as he walked away, their anger still palpable in the air.
Clarissa gently rubbed the girl's shoulder, offering her comfort, before swiftly catching up to Massimo's long strides. As they made their way back to HQ, Clarissa's expression was somber, her heart heavy with the weight of the events that had transpired. She mustered the courage to ask the question that lingered in her mind. "Did I pass the test?" she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.
Massimo's response was swift and firm, leaving no room for further questions. "Of course not," he replied tersely, his disappointment evident. And so, they walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
A few minutes later, the tension between Clarissa and Massimo was noticeable, the silence stretching between them like a tight string about to snap. With a deep breath, she finally found her voice, breaking the silence that threatened to consume them both. "It was a mistake to join the K9," she admitted softly, her voice trembling with a mixture of regret and uncertainty. "I thought I wanted to be with the best, to be a clear statement that half-breeds are good enough too. To show people with dreams that nothing is impossible."
As they walked back to HQ, Massimo remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead. Clarissa, however, felt an overwhelming need to explain herself, to explain why she has reacted that way despite her strong urge to win his approval. She continued to speak, her words pouring from the deepest part of her heart. "Growing up in the outskirts is not easy. Every single moment of your life is filled with hunger, illness, rage... despair." She added, a sad smile on her face.  Clarissa's voice trembled as she spoke of the darker aspects of her life on the outskirts. Her words were filled with a mixture of pain and determination, her eyes shining with a fierce resolve to make a difference. Although Massimo didn't reply, he was listening intently to every word.
Clarissa spoke of the gangs that ruled the streets, their presence a constant threat that loomed over every corner. She described the fear that twisted in her gut, the sleepless nights spent hiding from their watchful eyes. She also spoke of the hopelessness that hung heavy in the air the countless times she had witnessed violence. "But amidst the chaos, I found solace in my best friend. We were both outcasts, brought together by our shared struggles. But fate isn't kind to the half-breeds." Clarissa's voice wavered as she revealed the heart-wrenching truth "we were sold into prostitution at a young age, our innocence stolen by the hands of greed and cruelty." She whispered. The memories of their past haunted Clarissa's every step, leaving a deep mark on her soul. "I was lucky enough to be sponsored by a kind Purebred, Darius, he was a member of the C4 Unit in Nova Fauna Army, he took me off the streets.. I lost contact with my friend, and my brothers. It was this experience that fueled my desire to join the K9, to become a symbol of hope and justice for those who had suffered like we did."
As the weight of Clarissa's words settled between them, Massimo finally broke his silence, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "Is that the reason for the tattoo I saw on your back? And the back of your hip?" he asked, his eyes finally meeting hers. The question caught Clarissa off guard, the unexpected inquiry leaving her momentarily speechless. It was the first time since they had met that Massimo had shown any interest in her beyond their military service.
"Yes, that's one of the reasons. In the streets, the leader of the block often marks you with symbols, for other gang members to understand by simply looking at them. In my case I was marked with a heart, that meant that I worked as a escort, and the other symbol... that meant... i belonged to the leader...." Clarissa continued, her voice gaining strength, "however, I carried a glimmer of hope." She paused for a moment, her hand tightening around the necklace she wore, a memento of her friend, and a symbol of her own aspirations. "My friend, she used to tell me stories of superheroes and damsels in distress," Clarissa confessed, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment. "I wanted to be one of those damsels, hoping that someone like you, someone with power, would come and rescue me." The weight of her words settled between them, and Clarissa could sense Massimo's troubled thoughts. A part of her yearned for his understanding, for him to see the depth of her longing and the determination that burned within her. But he remained silent this time. As they approached the entrance of HQ, Clarissa's emotions overwhelmed her, tears streaming down her face. She knew that her brief time in the K9 had come to an abrupt end.
"I should probably go pack my stuff," Clarissa said, her voice trembling as she pointed with her thumb in the direction of the locker room.
Massimo nodded, his expression unreadable. As Clarissa turned to walk down the hallway, Massimo stood rooted to the spot, watching her retreating figure. But then, as if pulled by an invisible force, Clarissa abruptly stopped in her tracks and turned around. Massimo's left eye twitched, as he watched the energy bouncing off her steps. He wondered if she was about to plead with him, to beg for another chance. But her words were completely different, taking him by surprise.
"Maybe everyone was right," Clarissa began, her voice clear. "Maybe we are doomed to suffer." She added. And as Massimo watched her expression, he could see that even in the face of despair, a flicker of determination ignited within her. "But if there's even the slightest chance, one must fight for it," she declared, her voice filled with a quiet resolve. "It's such a pity though." She added in a small voice. By now, the tears were spilling over the edge of her eyelids. With a mixture of gratitude and sorrow, she choked out. "Thank you...Thank you for everything you've taught me, even if our time together was cut short." She sniffled.
Massimo turned away from her, his gaze fixed on the distance. Even though she tried to hide it, he could feel her hopeful gaze on his back. "Debrief tomorrow. 5:00 sharp. I'll see you there, soldier," he said, walking away.
"Ca-Captain!" Clarissa called out, her voice choked with tears. "Thank you so much! Thank you!" Her words echoed down the hallway, a mix of joy and relief seeping through her sobs. Clarissa's eyes shimmered with sheer happiness, as she realized that she was going to be a part of the K9. "I made it Luna, I made it..." She sobbed, kissing her necklace.
As Massimo continued to walk away, the corner of his lip moved ever so slightly; it wasn't a smile... it wasn't, well - whatever it was, Massimo understood that everyone deserves a chance, for in war they are all equal and bled the same. He also remembered the time she had stood up to him, and the fire he had seen burning in her eyes. It was a quality he had not expected, an unexpected strength that had remained hidden behind her cheerful personality. Perhaps, her empathy was not a sign of weakness, but a quality that would make the K9 grow even more.
Massimo let a though slip through his lips,
"Is this what you are trying to teach us Oleksandr?..."