"Rise and shine, outcast chow!" Came Gale's growl from outside the Manipulators door, loud enough to wake a sleeping giant.
Whiplash bolted to the white wardrobe closest to his podbed, and entered, sliding the doors behind him. He changed into clothes already inside the wardrobe: a white shirt with red pants that were baggy at the thighs, tight at the legs. The pants snapped to their shoes: black boots that laced up at the sides.
He and Furor quickly ran to the sitting room, and all seven Manipulators exited. They all joined with the flood of other trainees, and hurried downstairs. Upon entry of the hand-to-hand combat training room, the Highest stood straight as a statue upon the circular stage, hands folded neatly behind his back. He wore the same black trenchcoat, and black trousers with black dress shoes. It was was hard to pick out details from a distance, but was definitely handsome, earning the name 'Highest Handsome' among a group of giggling girls beside him.
Highest Pyre had blonde hair, perfectly neat and shiny. His Amber eyes flickered as he observed the crowd silently. The Highest suddenly spoke, a calm and soothing voice. "Welcome, trainees, to your first day. Today, you will learn basic dodges to hand-to-hand combat attacks...
Excited murmurs washed over the crowd, as the Highest waited patiently for them to subside. "I don't expect you to be a professional at only the first day, nor do I intend to turn you into savages."
Whiplash suddenly noticed Gale and Orion standing at the foot of the stage, when Orion spoke. "Yes, you will be trained to be soldiers, and kill only when provoked."
The Highest places a hand to his chin thoughtfully, before flashing the group a half smile. "Would all Manipulators please come to the front? We are going to split you into branches."
Whiplash moves to the front, along with the other Manipulators. Orion begins to talk about how all injuries are meant to be learned from. Whiplash drowns him out, focusing on Gale. Gale seems to take notice, his one green and one light brown eyes flickered with confusion as he faced Whiplash. Whiplash was again transported to a foreign world.
Smoke rose in the skies, and the sounds of weapons clashing rung about in his ears. Laser guns fired their neon, which soared past him. Whiplash was Gale. Gale let out a yowl of pain as a streak of neon grazed his leg, letting out a sickening sizzle. He was now on the ground, black spots dancing across his vision. His heart rate on the screen was going up, as Gale tried to get himself to calm down. Gale growls in pain again, and turns his head and vomits. He slowly wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, and tries to get up.
He was having no luck, and lay defeated on the brittle grass and dirt. Nobody was coming for him. They all moved to one side of the clearing, Gale forgotten. He could hear the beast pounding closer, and closed his eyes, ready for fangs to tear into his XenoBody. A yowl of rage sounds from just a few paces away, and he opens his eyes to see a figure sprint in front of his body and the beast. The slender man pulls out an orange spear, slashing at the beast, the sound of alien flesh being torn followed. The oddly colored blood splattered the ground, and on the man's XenoBody. The man faces Gale on the ground now, unable to move. He disables his graphics on his helm, and his Amber eyes glimmer as he looks down at him. Gale is mesmerized, looking up at him. The man's short blonde hair was perfect, despite just running and charging at a beast. The man extends a hand to pull Gale up, Gale accepts. Whiplash blinks with understanding. The man who saved Gale was Highest Pyre.
"GET... OUT... OF MY HEAD...!" He is jerked back into the present with the burning sensation of pain as Gale slaps him across the face.
Whiplash stumbles backward, hand to his reddened cheek. Highest Pyre leaps off his platform and wraps his arms around Gale, holding him protectively back. Whiplash frowns, blinking the stinging pain away. "What...?" Orion stands between them, curious expression on his stubbled face.
Whiplash looks back to Gale and the Highest, Gale still angrily thrashing about in his grip. The Highest diverts his stunning gaze to Whiplash. Highest Pyre studies him for a brief moment, before gripping Gale by the shoulders and muttering something in his ear. Gale storms off. The Highest leaps back onto the platform, Orion hesitantly following underneath. The Highest speaks as if nothing had just happened. "Now... Without anymore further interruptions, please, let us continue."
After an hour of dodge-moves Whiplash had no idea existed, the bell chimed, dismissing the hand-to-hand combat class. Pyre gives one final judging glance at Whiplash, before gracefully strutting to the doors, and exiting the building.
Arlo speaks to Whiplash in a hushed tone as they walk down the hallway. "What was that about...?"
Whiplash studies his feet as he walks forward. "I... I dunno."
"Gale REALLY does not like you. What was that about?"
Whiplash wonders if he should tell Arlo or not. "Er... You know how I'm a Manipulator?"
"Uh, yeah, I think."
Whiplash looks at his palm. "Well, I found my powers."
