Fate: Day 1

Chapter 1

     "So Kal, what do you think?" said Commander Vinh as he reached across the table to pour Kal another cup of coffee, "They're definitely unique, and they have potential."
     "We'll see." muttered Kal, looking down at the pad with multiple names and descriptions on it.
     "Well, that's why you're here, Kal." continues Commander Vinh, "You've said it yourself. They need some training from a veteran, I need this team trained, and us here at ITFO think you're the man for the job."
     "This file says that Zachery Knight's the Watchman, right? Why not have him do it?" responded Kal.
     "Knight's... different now." said Vinh as he got up and started to rub his head, "I fear when training, he may destroy the team rather than bring it together. He may very well be the most broken one here, I want you to keep an eye on him."
     "So who's in command on this 'team' then anyways?" Kal spoke up.
     "I'll be leading the team on its normal missions, but for this training period, Wattson will be your team leader. He's a smart one and has the potential to be great."
     "One week," Kal said as he stood to leave Vinh's office, "if they aren't performing well by then, you'll have to find a new trainer. I'll also need full control over the Simulation Chambers."
     "Of course," said Vinh, rising to show Kal out, "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Every one has orders to report to you bright and early tomorrow."

     "Well, this is going to go great." said Kiden Veldahar to no one in particular as the last of the recruits strolled into the simulation chamber. Kiden leaned back against the wall eyeing everyone. The fact that he only recognized half of the people there did nothing to soothe his nerves. He knew Kinshoto Okumara, a quick, stealthy street fighter, having contracted him to clean up a couple of different local gangs and low-level crime organizations. Theodore Larson, he recognized as having tagged along with Kal Skirata on an intense mission to rescue an official's kidnapped daughter. And of course, everyone knew Zachery Knight.  Not only was he the creator and CEO of a big company, but it seemed that everyone had a personal connection to him somehow. And of course, there was his winged protege (if you could call him that since he was rumored to have a higher IQ) Adriel Wattson. He'd be leading the team here. Kiden also knew Knight's alter ego, the Watchman, everyone did really. The others with Kiden in the room were unfamiliar but looked just as unique.

     Kiden turned just in time to see a familiar but imposing figure enter from another room onto the balcony above. "So recruits, you have one week to prove to me that this 'team' idea is going to work." said a rugged-looking Kal Skirata, "You'll all be tested to see how you work as a team and how you use your different abilities to your advantage."
     "Will commander Vinh be joining us?" asks an armored Zachery Knight in a robust and firm voice.
     "No," replies Kal, "I've been appointed your training officer for the week. From my understanding, Wattson here will be taking the lead among you for this first training exercise." Kal continues as he turns to the far wall behind the recruits, "You will be tested on your teamwork. You will be required to work together to get past this scenario. If one of you doesn't finish, everyone fails. You have been provided with everything you may need." continues Kal, gesturing towards an assortment of weapons and oddly enough, a tub of water.
     "So what are we supposed to even to be doing?" asks a young-looking Kinshoto Okumara, looking at the unfamiliar array of weapons as everyone chose what they wanted.
     "Oh the concept is simple." says Kal, "You must simply get the red flag from the end of that hallway." he continued, pointing to a long hallway about 10 feet wide behind the recruits. About 50 meters down was a post with a red flag hanging from it.
     "That's easy!" says Larson as everyone instinctively moved toward the hallway.
     "You start on my command." barks Kal, "Wattson is leading. Brownie points if you all can complete this in under 5 minutes. Go!"
     Turning towards Wattson, Kiden whispers, "So what is our game plan, 'Commander'?"
     Wattson starts, "Well first we need--"
     "I've got this!" interrupts Larson. Suddenly he pops up right next to the post down the hallway.
     "Did he just do that?!" yells an astonished Peanut.
     "Yes he did." said Knight just as Larson reaches for the red flag, a net shoots from a turret directly above the post, entangling Larson and adding a shock to keep him down.
     "That's what I was worried about!" exclaims Wattson as everyone begins to move down the hallway. Morphing out of the wall suddenly appear 7 training droids armed with stun batons. With a burst of speed, Knight rushes forward ahead of everyone to the first droid.  After pushing away two right hooks and punching away the left, he immediately retaliated with his own right hook, twisting its head off.  Quickly disarming the second, he crushed its chest with a swift kick. After punching a third's head clean off, Knight scooped up its stun batons (which he used as his own primary weapon on standard missions). He turns in time to see Wattson swirling around a droid and Max hurling a water construct into the head of another. Knight twirls the batons, prepping to throw them at the droid struggling with Wattson.
     "Drop them!" yells a winded looking Tucker Kunati. Too late, Knight turns to Tucker. As programmed to do, the stun batons go into intruder mode, releasing a stunning shock to the holder. As Knight topples to the ground, another training droid turns to Tucker and Okumara, throwing a stun baton at Tucker. Suddenly, a purplish box appears in front of a surprised Tucker, blocking the baton and sending it to the floor.
     "Watch it!" yells Kiden as he spins toward Tucker, sending another spear construct into the head of the droid, disabling it, "you could get hurt out here."
     With a sudden woosh, Wattson hurls the two remaining droids into the wall, shattering them and clearing the way. "Now everyone," he exclaims as he hovers over the group, "can we please proceed in a somewhat orderly fashion?"
     As the now smaller group slowly walks further down the hallway, the floor ahead of the group suddenly gives way to a deep pool of clear water. Systematically spaced across the floor are steel tiles that appear to be footholds. Without warning, Peanut, the squirrel splice, leaps into the pool and shoots out the other side.
     "Ta-da!" he says as he continues his stroll right into another shock net.
     Giggling, Cipher stutters "Oh, this is going great so far."
     Slowly, everyone hops across the tiles, except for Wattson who glides across. Now within 20 meters of the post, an intricate set of lasers criss-cross the hallway ahead of and behind the group, slowly pinning them.
     "Don't worry, I've got this one," says Tucker, as he pulls out a complex looking laser pointer. He points it at one of the laser emitters that, after a second, sputters and dies out.
     "It's a little tool I made a few months ago to help out the local police." Tucker explains as he continued to erase the lasers.
     "I built a similar device once." says Wattson as he examines Tucker's device. "I like how you arranged the crystals. Let's finish this now." he concludes as he hands the device back.
     Next to the post is a door that opens up to reveal Kal Skirata in his full battle garb. "I'm the last obstacle!" he yells as he draws his staff and falls into a battle stance. Max forms a water construct the size of a basketball and hurls it at Kal's chest. Easily sidestepping the attack, Kal jabs forward with his staff, sending Kiden hurling back into Max. In a blur of wings, Wattson goes high and kicks toward Kal's head. Ducking, Kal smoothly kicks Okumara's feet out from under him as he swings and gets nothing but air. Spinning, Kal hurls his staff, hitting Wattson in the back, sending him crashing to the ground. Tucker turns for Kal's head from behind only to end up on his back.  All it took was one glared look at Cipher to make him stand down. Holstering his staff, Kal turns down the hallway.
     "Lesson over." he says as he walks away.