The PulseTeam, Book Two: Evolution

Chapter Three: The First Mission

Part One: Completing Training

Allen Manor | Cleveland, Ohio
Friday, June 10, 2033 | 15:58 EST

Today, we had a day off from school. I was planning on helping Rick with his MechPack, but my father apparently had other plans.

Aunt DEELEX woke us all up at our normal time to get ready, but she told us to put on our workout clothes and meet our parents in the backyard.

From then to now, they work us out, practically beating us silly. It's torture.

At this point, after my team completely taps out, Dad has me pinned on one knee in a struggle of strength.

He says to me, "There's no shame in tapping out, son. You know, part of being a good leader is knowing when to retreat."

I start taking energy from Alpha Centauri, and right before I start glowing brightly, I say to him, "This ain't one of those times, Dad!"

As soon as I start glowing, I grip Dad's hands tighter than he's got mine, and I begin pushing him back again, this time bringing him to his knees. As I pin him, I ask him, "Before we started training, you said not to pull our punches, right?"

"I'm probably going to regret those words," he responds, straining, "but yeah, I did. Why?"

"Well, Dad," I say, "sorry, not sorry!"

And with that being said, he only has time to widen his eyes before I suddenly spring free of his hands, and yelp as I get behind him, grab both of his legs out from under him, and while he's still in my grasp, I make like a never-ending spinning top, and I lean to a side while spinning with him. His face meets dirt at the end of each of my revolutions.

Then I let him go. He makes a crater in the ground, and said ground visibly trembles violently.

Just as I think I have the upper hand on him, I try to fly into my father, fists first, but he moves at the last possible nanosecond, grabs me by my throat and slams me down to the ground, and I stop glowing because I lose my power boost. But this time, I'm ready for him.

"You should have just tapped out like I suggested. Now, I'm telling you: Concede."

As he talks, I construct a copy of myself with a ninjato out of ice, and I have Copy Me point said ninjato at the back of Dad's head.

I grin, lightly chuckle, and retort, "You haven't beaten me, Dad. Not this time."

"And please enlighten me as to why not," says he.

"Because you, above all, should know by now to pay better attention to your six..."

As he turns around to destroy my ice replica, I immediately construct an energized, razor-sharp ninjato that is completely identical to Malaya's and hold it--blade edge out--where his throat will be when he turns back around.

After he completely decimates my statue with only one backfist strike, Dad turns back around only to be met with my sword against the external jugular vein on the right side of his neck. Then I finish, "...and keep close observation on your twelve."

He has an expression of shock plastered all over his face for a minute, then he smirks and says to me, "Well done, bud. I never thought that a tactic so simple would have caught me off guard so easily."

I make the sword go away, and he helps me up, saying, "It appears there's nothing more that I have to teach you, boss. Everything I taught you, you picked up, excelled at, and expanded upon. I'm impressed, and so very proud of you. You've come a long way in a short period of time."