The Boys- Apprentice

Training

I lean over to turn off the alarm clock on my phone only to miss it. Then I turn on the bedside lamp and look over for my phone only to find it way on the other side of my nightstand. I stand up and walk over to turn it off. For a second I am confused, and then I remember why my alarm is so far away, I didn't want to be late for today's training.

I quickly start to get ready for the day, I brush my teeth and get dressed in my regular clothes like I have for the last week. But today I bring my portable super suit with me. In other words, I bring my briefcase full of metal that I can manipulate into transforming into a suit of bullet proof, full body armor.

After I'm completely ready I rush over to my car and drive over to Vought. By the time I get there I'm about 30 minutes early and Queen Maeve hasn't arrived yet. So I decide to start helping out some of the other workers while I wait. I delivered some messages for them and helped them fill out some paperwork.

Finally, after what seems like forever Queen Maeve arrived. I went up to her, very nervously and asked, "Um, we'll be training today right?"

She responded by grinning and then saying, "Somebody seems excited. Yes, we'll begin training now. Follow me, we'll be going to my private gym."

She starts leading me over to a the elevator and clicks on a floor that I had never been on before. When the elevator opened it revealed a giant room with a fighting ring in the center. Looking around, I saw weapon racks around the fighting ring.

Queen Maeve then walked over to the center of the ring and called out to me, " Ok, we'll fight until either knockout or when you first tap out."

"What, right now?

"Yes right now, I want to see what you're capable of."

"Um should I change into my costume?

"No, I want to fight you with no costume or powers first. There may come a time where you will need to go hand to hand with an enemy without your steel armor to protect you."

"Ok."

I nervously stepped into the ring. I thought to my self "Ok James you can do this, it's just like fighting at the jujitsu club, you've done it a thousand times before. Except this is Queen Maeve and not your instructor. Ok calm down James and just do your best. No, do better then your best, you got this James, your are the man, you are a beast just waiting to be unleashed."

When Queen Maeve said start I stepped forward after psyching myself up and was about to attack when Maeve stepped forward and the next thing I know is the mat. Standing up a little dazed I look around only to see Queen Maeve standing there looking like she is waiting for me to attack.

"Ok James, you got this" I quickly mumbled to myself. I ran at her at went for a kick only to once again be knocked to the floor.

This pattern continued for quite some time before Queen Maeve said we were done. So, lying on the ground exhausted and very nervous I asked, "So, how did I do?".

Queen Maeve responded by saying, " I expected you to be a lot worse so not bad."

I took this to mean that I had done great and cheered silently in my head.

Maeve continued "We'll start doing this every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from now on unless something comes up. We will continue to work on your unarmed and armed fighting ability every Monday and Friday as they clearly need a lot of work. But every Wednesday I'll take you out to work on your powers".

I felt too much joy for a moment and actually jumped up cheered out, "Wahoo". I then collapsed from exhaustion again. After doing some cool down stretches with Queen Maeve for a few minutes I asked her, "How did you take me down so easily? I mean I know you are better than me but you totally destroyed me in the ring."

She responded by saying, "You seem to be forgetting a few things, I have super strength and durability while you, well you don't. While you aren't a bad fighter, not at all, you just haven't ever fought against someone who is that much stronger than you."

This got me thinking for a moment and then I realized that what she was saying was true. I had never really fought someone much stronger than me. After having this realization I got much more excited to start fighting and training with my powers.

We then left the gym after cleaning up and showering. After this we continued on with the rest of the day. I did my usual work as an intern shadowing Queen Maeve around when she was at the company headquarters. Later, when she was about to go on patrol she said that if my powers are up to snuff, I may be able to start helping her out on her superhero duties soon. She said she would be testing me later this week to see if I was ready to start going out with her.

Maeve then left the room only to hear my call of joy. She looked back into the room only to see me covering my mouth with my hands. After she walked away I cheered again, only a lot quieter.