CHAPTER 131: CHAPTER 131: BOOK ONE EPILOGUE (1)

[Pauline Cain]

"How were your first ten days in the Academy?"

"Uhm. Great? I didn’t expect the time to fly by this fast. But... but I guess that’s what happens when you’re having fun? I was wondering. I was wondering what was going to happen to me here, and I still don’t know exactly where all of this will lead. But what I can tell you...

...is that I’m having a lot of fun.

"Have you made any friends already?"

"Y-yes! That... I didn’t expect that at all. I thought it was going to be like my last school, where... where everyone’s scared of me because of what I can do. Here, my... my new friends—they’re more focused on who I am as a person, rather than the potential danger of my powers. I think... I want our friendship to... to continue even after we graduate. I know it’s a long way there, but... I want this to be forever. The Baby Crew. That’s... that’s what we call ourselves."

"Does anyone stand out in your group of friends?"

"Oh uh... Everyone stands out in their own unique ways, but... Riley Ross. There’s this... void inside his mind that I can’t—Oh, wait! It doesn’t mean that I’m looking inside his mind! I... I try to avoid that as much as possible. It’s just...you really should stop putting alcohol in the dessert shop."

"That’s... I’ll pass that on. After spending ten days with your instructor, as well as other supers like yourself. Has there been any change in your thoughts of becoming or not becoming a superhero?"

"I’m... not sure. The truth is... I was very adamant in my decision to stay away from all of that. I mean, reading minds and implanting thoughts inside people? It’s not really screaming s-superhero material, right? I can go into law enforcement, but evidence from reading minds isn’t really admissible in court unless proven. And... and I don’t think I have what it takes. But... maybe if the Baby Crew all decided to be superheroes, then... maybe we can be like a thing?"

[Bella Jackson]

"So, how were your first ten days in the Academy?"

"Hold up, hold up—yo, we only been in them classes ten days? You playin’ with me, right? Nah, for real? Damn... Aight. Well, if you askin’ me how it was? Crazy, man. Straight crazy. I swear there’s some voodoo shit goin’ on in this school. You heard about them bodies droppin’? Folks dyin’ left an’ right. Somebody even got murked an’ squashed a few blocks down durin’ the entrance exam. You hear that?"

"Yes."

"Man, I don’t know... the older students talkin’ like it’s a curse or somethin’. But lemme tell you right now—I ain’t dyin’ to no villain, and sure as hell not to this Darkday dude. Bet he ain’t even Black under that drip, watch."

"Okay. But how were your first ten days?"

"Shit, feel like I ain’t learned nothin’ in class. But if kidnappin’ counts as a lesson plan? Then yeah, I guess I learned a lot. I mean, I knew Mega Academy was about bein’ practical, but damn... maybe a little bit of pen and paper won’t hurt."

"Have you made any friends already?"

"Hell yeah. Baby Crew, baby! Represent. I got friends outside school, sure—but this? This feels different. Like I known these fools forever. We eat together, chill together, run into trouble together—straight family, yo. Baby Crew for life."

"Does anyone stand out in your group of friends?"

"Pssh, easy. The OG White boy, straight birthed by the damn Caucasus mountains himself—Riley Ross. I ain’t even one to hype nobody up, but this kid? Built different. Y’all seen him yet? Interviewed him? Bruh, mark my words—he either gon’ be president one day... or turn up to be a serial killer. Ain’t no in between."

"Are you having fun in the Academy?"

"Honestly? Yeah. Even with all the grim shit happenin’, I ain’t never had this kinda fun before in my life. But still, like I said, we need some actual learnin’, too. But yo. Get this—we got practical trainin’ tomorrow. Fun and learnin’. That’s Mega Academy right there. That’s the vibe. No cap."

"After spending ten days with your instructor, as well as other supers like yourself. Has there been any change in your thoughts of becoming or not becoming a superhero?"

"Man, I always wanted this. Always wanted to be a superhero. Nah, scratch that. I wanted to be HIM. And I don’t mean like I wanna be a dude, nah. I mean, I wanna be the GOAT, the greatest. And with this Baby Crew thing? I’m startin’ to believe we might really be it. Next Hope Guild? Yeah. I believe that deep."

[Tomoe Reynolds]

"So, how were your first ten days in the Academy?"

"Eventful."

"...And? What else can you tell me?"

"You should increase security."

"I’ll... pass that on. Have you made any friends already?"

"No."

"Wh—"

"But... I have a group I’m spending time with. That’s all I have to say about that."

"Does anyone stand out in your group of—in your group?"

"No."

"Wh—"

"That’s all I have to say about that."

"Are... you having fun in the Academy?"

"Yes."

"Really...? Why?"

"Because."

"...Okay. After spending ten days with your instructor, as well as other supers like yourself. Has there been any change in your thoughts of becoming or not becoming a superhero?"

"No."

"What does that mean? Do you want to be a superhero? Do you not want to be?"

"No."

[Victoria Valcourt]

"It’s been a long time. So, how are your first official ten days in the Academy? Finally."

"It’s much better than I thought it would be."

"I can see that. You’ve been smiling ever since you entered the room."

"I mean... I’ve been staying here for almost my entire life. No. This is my entire life. All this time I’ve been looking at them through the window and imagining what their lives are... but now I’m here. It’s... I’m really glad that I pushed through."

"I’m... glad you pushed through, too. Please, don’t ever do that again. Okay?"

"I won’t. I... I have many reasons to live now. Thank you to you and everyone who supported me. I guess, when you and the others were telling me to be a child and not worry too much. This is what you meant."

"I don’t think I even need to ask if you’ve made friends?"

"Hmn. The Baby Crew. We’ve really only known each other for less than a month, but I really feel like I belong. They’re... very dear to me. It’s just weird... I feel like I’ve known them for a very long time."

"And does anyone stand out from them?"

"Oh, hehe. Riley."

"Whiteking’s son? You don’t know how many students have told me about him, even those not belonging in your Baby Crew."

"I’d bet. He’s really special. And... and I don’t know. I guess he’s... well, you know. I really feel like we can be friends for a very long time. I want that to be the case."

"Am I detecting a little crush here?"

"What? No! S—is it... is it that obvious? Wait, no. Please don’t answer that. Oh no..."

"Haha. Okay, we’ll move on. I don’t think I need to ask this... but have you had fun?"

"Yes. A hundred percent. Yes."

"And what are your thoughts on becoming a superhero?"

"I... I think I’m going to stay with the Baby Crew. I know I owe a lot to Whiteking, and they wanted me to join the Hope Guild... but I want to stay with the Baby Crew, whatever that means. I don’t know yet. But... I’ll support their decision. I’ll become a support, like how all of you supported me."

[Hannah Ross]

"How were your first ten days in the Academy, Ms. Ross?"

"It’s okay. It’s been fun, I guess. Especially with my brother here. But, Ma’am... you need to amp up your security. People are dying, and I don’t think people really care all that much. Honestly, if you don’t mind me being a little too blunt, Ma’am, you shouldn’t force the students who don’t want to become superheroes to attend the afternoon classes. Their time would be better spent elsewhere."

"We’ll take that into consideration, Ms. Ross. And... have you made any friends?"

"Totally. I’m really glad I decided to enroll here. I was a little skeptical at first, but I think this place is good for my brother. It’s just... it needs to be safer for him. It needs to be safer for all of us. And yes, I did make friends, which I really didn’t expect. I feel like I’ve known these guys for years."

"Does anyone stand out in your group of friends?"

"Aside from my brother... I guess Gra—Gary? He puts on this tough but easygoing persona, and he could be very, very annoying sometimes. But I have a feeling that out of all of us, he’s... hiding the most pain? Our Dad taught us how to profile people, and Gary is... I feel like he’s... I don’t really know how to explain it. And I don’t wanna get into it too much."

"Are you having fun in the Academy?"

"Fuck yeah. Oh, shit. Sorry. Oh shi—sorry. Yes. I’ve been having a lot of fun in the short time I’ve been here. But again, I’d have more fun if I knew no one was going to die this week."

"...After spending ten days with your instructor, as well as other supers like yourself. Has there been any change in your thoughts of becoming or not becoming a superhero?"

"I’m open to any changes, but one thing’s for sure—I want to save more people now than I did before. And... not just save people, that’s not enough. I want to help them, truly help them. Being a superhero is just the title that comes along with it, I guess? It’s just a moniker. Saving them matters, but being there for them after is what truly makes the difference. I’m not... arrogant enough to think that I can change the world, but I want to do my part. You get me?"

[Gary/Gracey Gray]

"So... how were your first ten days in the Academy?"