• Chapter 13
    Calm B4 the Storm

    Acqua regained an awareness of the surrounding area, the other class mates following slowly behind.
    Miss Hikari was flustered but not to the point of being steamed, she stretched as if she just woke up from a cat nap. The sweet short cake was melted beyond recognition.

    “Is it me or does anyone else feel exhausted?” Acqua murmured as she cleared her brow.

    “I’m hot unusually so to add,” Airisu huffed tugging sweat drenched school uniform, revealing the curves of her body. Wolf turned away out of respect, and then gasped.

    “Hold up! Hero’s Missin’,” He blurted out, as he took a head count of the class.

    “You’re right Wolf, and I have an Idea as to what happened,” Acqua replied taking out a piece of paper where Hero’s armoured outfit had been.

    ‘Materials: The finest weather resistant fabrics ever produced. Will keep the user warm in the coldest, frozen tundra and cool in the scorching heated infernos,’ she read from the paper.

    “That explains how he wasn’t affected by the sudden spike in heat, however that doesn’t explain as to where he is now,” Airisu stated as she compiled the evidence.

    “I have a hunch that he’s fine on his own right now, any who class you’d better head for your next lessons,” Miss Hikari reassured her students.

    “Yes Hikari-Sensei,” the students unanimously agreed as the bell rang.

    The group left their homeroom, some remaining groggy others recovering from exhaustion.

    “Alright, I guess we go on through the day as if Hero were still here,” Wolf sarcastically stated.

    “Something still is unsettling about his sudden disappearance,” Acqua fidgeted with her fingers pursuing a thought.

    “Acqua, Hero’s fine, if a gigantic paper crane cannot take him out. At this rate nothing will,” Airisu Stated while patted Acqua’s shoulder.

    “Hero is strong, he’s proven that several times over, and a while ago,” Luna added as she quietly followed behind.

    “Hey ladies, Why ya lookin’ so glum,” Shouted a voice from the group. Acqua shifted from her grim mood to a state of aggravation in an instant.

    “Kaiser what the Hell do you want from me now? If it’s a date, you’re up s**t creek without a paddle,” She spoke with the utmost obvious malice.

    “Calm down chicky-poo, He wasn’t talkin’ ta you, hes was aimin’ for that hotty over there,” Stated a second voice as he winked and pointed to Airisu. Airisu huffed, disregarding the comment entirely.

    “You’re only digging a grave for yourself there boy,” She sighed, “Ritsu if I were you, I’d be running real fast,” She concluded.

    “Nonsense girly, Hey wait ain’t one of ya’s miss~,” Ritsu was cut off as Acqua’s left hook connected with the right side of his face, Sending him sprawling through the rest of the hall and tumbling down the stairwell at an unrecognizable speed.

    “Can’t say I didn’t warn you,” Airisu smugly stated.

    “My friend is right, all the ladies are here,” Kaiser concludes Ritsu’s statement and proceeds with a head count. “But of the things are missing from your little group, the shrimp. Where is he I’m getting hungry,” He pointed out.

    “Hero was here, however went home due to a small fever and a minor heat shock. Our homeroom lost its AC for a little bit and he already wasn’t feeling all that well,” Luna spoke up with an obviously false statement.

    Luna and Acqua glanced at each other; Acqua gave a nod of reassurance.

    “She’s right, with the incident that occurred the other day, Hero’s torso hadn’t fully healed quite yet,” Acqua stated, putting some truth to Luna’s reasoning.

    “So the boy’s sick and his wings are clipped, therefore you are looking after his studies for him,” Kaiser made the assumption to the information that was provided to him.

    “Pretty much Kaiser, now if you’ll excuse us, some of us are in need to get to the next class on time,” Wolf snorted, having been fed up with the interrogation.

    “Yeah, yeah I gotcha, outta your hair I go. Hey ladies I’ll catch you later,” Kaiser stated as he dismissed him self from the interaction with the group. He ran down the hall and into the stair well to fetch a dazed Ritsu.

    Ringing of class bells came to a halt as everyone took their respective seats. However Wolf seemed uneasy, of course he usually gets this way after tolerating knuckleheads such as Kaiser and Ritsu. This though was worse over than usual, Picking up ends and odds of a phone conversation that Ritsu received before they entered the class. This had Wolf thinking on Hero’s where about and safety, a new first for him.


    Meanwhile back over at O.N.E Hero was alive and well, sort of.

    “Okay Mr. Aiyami, you are now proceeding to the final stage of your testing,” Theo announced over the intercom.

    ‘FINAL STAGE COMMENCING,’ Testa’s computerized voiced stated the obvious. Down from the observation room stood Hero in the massive chamber that was the testing facility, being eager and impulsive.

    “Sweet Level Up,” Hero replied, having long forgotten why he was brought here in the first place.

    “Mr. Aiyami please will you take this seriously as these studies will provide vital information to your future being,” Theo once again boomed over the intercom system.

    Hero set into stance, wielding a standard blade for combat purposes. Through out the tests he became more proficient with it.

    “Yeah okay let’s get this thing started,” he twirled his blade and signalled that he was ready to begin. The wall opened up, revealing two mechanical arms. “This is it,” He questioned, soon after a large number of machinery spread along the wall. “I stand corrected,” Hero trailed off as he gazed upon what were now tons of fire power mixed with a couple of well aimed lasers and several hundred thousand rounds of ammunition. This sparked a sense of anticipation and adrenaline through out himself.

    “Let’s begin,” Theo announced over the intercom. Rounds upon rounds were fired at Hero as he snapped into action, deflecting what he could that came his way.

    “Now this is what I’m talking about,” He grinned with the widest grin is face could contain. A minor hum sounded, coming from the wall, his eyes widened. The lasers began charging power, it was now a ‘destroy or be vaporized’ situation.
    Still deflecting, the rounds showed no damage to the surrounding area. However a deflected shell pierced an open gas line and had been leaking for the past few minutes.

    Hero brim with excitement had maxed out his adrenaline, he snapped his fingers as a strange energy surged through him, a power within him awoken once again, but this time in more control.

    “Let’s Rock,” He stated with a recomposed confidence and stature. Snapping his fingers once again caused a spark, in turn a flame igniting within his palm.

    “KABOOM,” The entire area exploded, the gas leak mixed with the flame in Hero’s hand. Smoke quickly covered the testing chamber as Theo scrambled for the button to start the fan system.

    “What the HELL was that,” He shouted aloud. The motor of the fans roared loudly and smoke began to dissipate slowly. “Hero, Hero are you okay,” He questioned over the intercom system. As the final clouds of smoke cleared and the fans came to a slow hum, they revealed Hero sitting on his flat on his a** rubbing his head, and behind him a completely charred firing system.

    “Yeah,” Hero replied with a shout, “I’m okay, no idea what happened though, did I pass,” he asked, though unaware to the extent of the damage that he caused behind him.

    With a sigh of relief the fans came to a halt,

    “Yes Hero, the test is complete, take a look behind you and see for your self,” Theo answered.
    Hero turned around to gander at the damaged system, and was stunned at the destruction.

    “I-i-i did th-that,” He asked stumbling over his own words, his eyes and mouth jarred open in astonishment.

    “Indeed Hero that was all you, and as the tests have proven you are the heir to the Legacy. Only stronger you will become from here on out. Also as promised I will let you go back home freely. Just know that we will be monitoring your progress,” Theo explained.
    Hero stood up and dusted himself off.

    “Very well, I’m guessing what went on here stays here,” Hero questioned as he exited the newly demolished testing chamber to the observation room upstairs.

    “Yes, no one must know of our operation or organization,” Theo confirmed.

    “I’m good with that, but you know if this Legacy stuff is as big as you say it is. Sooner or later everyone will eventually know about it,” Hero stated.

    “I am fully aware of that and the potential situations, and possible circumstances,” Theo Acknowledged.

    “Great, now that’s clear, how ‘bout showing me the way out of this labyrinth you call a base,” He asked.
    Theo gave a slight nod and lead Hero through a doorway.


    Chills tingled through both Acqua’s and Luna’s spines. They gave each other a look.

    “He’s okay,” they spoke aloud in unison. Airisu and Wolf each raised an eyebrow then clued in with a sigh of satisfaction.

    “A storm’s a brewing, and it’s not my doing. But things are definitely going to be more interesting,” Acqua concluded.
    Nods from everyone else notified the unanimous thought of ‘yes it will be.’

    End Chapter 13
    Calm B4 the Storm