Chapter 8: Just a Warm Up
Franks form was receding down the hall with his two thugs trailing behind him. Whatever had been said to him was apparently more important than dealing with someone who challenged his authority. There where only two things it could be a territorial problem or someone that he was afraid of. It didn't matter too much to me right now. What was more important was getting four of the five home. As I turned my attention back to the others they gotten just a little bit ahead of me in the hallway. I picked up the pace in my stride and caught the tail end of Garrick and Uriel consoling the other three.
"---trying to get under your skin. It's what he does."
"I wish I could just shut him up." Penelope sighed.
"And why can't you?" I chimed in genuinely curious as to why they let themselves be treated that way.
"He's one of the top tier Alpha's of the city. Part of the Ten Fingers of God. No way we can fight him. His thugs are pretty good too," Uriel pointed out with the voice of someone who's already committed to the idea of defeat.
"Ten Fingers of God. That sounds like a dangerous name." The image that those words conjured was definitely not one to be taken light of. "Who are they exactly."
"That's right important information about the city is kept from the public as best as possible to prevent villain takeovers." Garrick claimed. This news at least explained why all I knew about the city was basic information of the Athena district. That it was a collection of schools for training superheros, keeping track of Alpha powered people, and helped Alphas that didn't want to be heroes adapt to society. "The Ten Fingers of God are the ten strongest Alpha's in the city."
"The Head Student Council are members of that group. So is Frank, Director Winona and Liliana, They're powers are no joke. That's why we were so amazed at how you defeated Liliana so quickly." Darcy explained with a a little awe in her voice.
I had known that the principal was powerful same with the council and Liliana. But I hadn't known they were considered the top of the city. When I think back on it it did seem like the council members were holding back. "I don't know If that's all that impressive. My powers are just a bad match for what she used."
"You may be right. Regardless you better watch out Frank doesn't take well to rejection." Uriel warned with little voice inflection.
"I'm not that worried about it." After all power isn't everything. I know I can hold my own even if the council had gone all out. Not because my powers are strong but because my skills are. "Anyway, here we are at the entrance. Should we call a cab for you guys."
"Th-th-thanks but we already have someone to take us back." Dean spoke up finally. He seemed slightly shaken at what had been happening earlier.
"It's okay to be afraid just don't let it control you." I told him in parting. I didn't know why but it seemed the right thing to say.
"S-s-sure. Th-th-thanks."
"See ya tomorrow Little rebel."
"Good evening and be careful or whatever."
"I'll DEFINITELY beat you next Time Gar."
As we saw them off outside the doors the feeling of being watched returned to me. This time however I followed the direction. Again I saw a silhouette in the windows that seemed to be watching me. The window in question was on the fourth floor. I attempted to be careful of my gaze so that the figure didn't get spooked and mad my way back inside. Garrick was saying something but I tuned him out trying to sort out the days events and the new information I had gained.
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By the time I came to the sun was had yet to rise. My new home -which didn't look much different from the tiny apartment I used to live in- consisted of a Murphy bed bookcase combo, a corner desk, a small dresser and a pull up bar station. Not seeing the need to change my routine I decided to open the day with a dozen sets of push ups, pull ups, sit ups and hanging crunches after stretching for a bit. Opening the closet that had been filled in nearly the exact same set up as my old place I changed into a charcoal black tank top, steel grey jogger pants and a steel grey hooded sweatshirt.
When I left my room I could hear Garrick snoring through the walls of his room. I grabbed a water bottle and my keys and left the apartment. Upon leaving the complex I used my one of my two powers and made set of sunglasses with two functions. One was to record my surroundings to playback later for danger assessment and the other was a digital route over lay. Much like a video game while wearing these I could see a programmed route along with a distance tracker.
Normally I would to a fifteen mile jog every day. The city was over ten times that. I would be spending each day jogging in segments in order to familiarize myself with each district and area. Today I'd just start in the residential or Hestia district.
This was one of the larger border districts in the city and as one would expect for what it functioned for It was mostly dorms, apartments and family homes. The homes were near the outermost edge of both the district and the city followed by the dorms and finally the apartments being the closest to the center of the city.
About halfway through the course I had plotted out I had neared the apartment section passing by an alleyway. An explosion of dust and debris burst out before me with a human body being propelled backward out of the alley. I went on full alert ready to spring into combat mode should the need arise as I went to check the man's pulse.
'Good he's still alive.' I thought to myself. My trained reflexes kicked in a second later as two more forms came hurtling toward me. The farthest one was chasing the other and the nearest was leaping backward. Instictively I rolled forward out of the way.
It was obvious that they were fighting. They both looked about my age or younger which meant that they were students. "IF YA THINK YA CAN COME ON MY TURF AND CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR ME AN MY CREW YOU GOT ANOTHER THINK COMMIN'!" shouted the first figure that had come out of the alley. A male judging by the baritone gravel that came from his throat. He had a massive greatsword resting on his shoulder. The sword looked like some sort of demonic weapon. All that he wore however was a tank top and athletes pants. His hair was trimmed short in an almost military fashion.
"Your turf? Well I fail to see you're name on anything here. Wait... what was your name again...bastard sword" came a very feminine voice that sounded charming. However the cruel smile and look in her eyes told an entirely different story. "I just came to play."
"The name is Derrick and I'm done with your games."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone