Part One: Jay's Story- Chapter Ten: That Whole Thing with Wilson (and a new friend)

In the two weeks that I’ve been at S.W.O.R.D, I’ve gotten settled in pretty well. So far I haven’t risked hacking into their system, in case someone notices and puts two and two together. It helps that most of the day I’m either training or following the specific schedule that was given to me within the first couple days of me officially being part of S.W.O.R.D.

7:30 - Algebra 2

8: 35 - Chemistry

9:40 - Battle Training

10: 45 - History (Hero/Villain History)

11: 50 - Lunch Hour

1:00 - Visology 101

2:05 - Archery Technique

3:10 - Geography

A bit different than your typical school schedule, but this is S.W.O.R.D. You can’t really expect them not to train us. My only complaint, really, is math first thing in the morning. Whoever’s in charge must’ve really done their research, because my classes pick up right where I left off at the S.O.S. (yes, we did school at the S.O.S. too).

It’s just after school. I set my few sheets of homework on my desk and flip open my computer. Darting to the door, I make sure it’s closed and locked. Then I return to my computer and type in the source code that will take me to the S.W.O.R.D file firewalls. I’m through them in minutes, thanks to my hacking training from the S.O.S. I sift through the classified files, looking for information that would be useful to Darklight and Darknight. I find a few documents of interest and download them to the USB drive that my short sword turns into. Yes, it can download files as well as turn into a weapon. Darkling helped me figure it out.

A flash of green catches my eye. Wilson, Agent 12’s half-osprey, half-lion companion, is staring at me through my window. He disappears, a flash of brown feathers sweeping across the window as he flies off. “Shoot,” I mutter. As fast as I can, I cover my tracks, deleting every hint that I was ever in the files. Then I pull up the first game I can think of and slip the USB drive into my pocket. Thinking fast, I run over, unlock my door, then run back and click on the game.

When Peregrinator, Agent 12, Sparrowhawk, and Swift burst into my room, Wilson just behind them in the hall, I’m halfway through a level of Google Snake. Swift gives me a weird look.

“Um, Wilson told me you were hacking into S.W.O.R.D’s network?” Peregrinator says, rubbing the back of her neck.

“Not sure what he’s talking about,” I reply. “I’ve been playing games online since I got out of school. Though I did see Wilson at the window. He’s not very sneaky.”

Wilson mutters something in a foreign language. “Uh, well, he didn’t see you playing a game…” Agent 12 interjects.

“He must’ve been mistaken. You can check my computer if you want,” I offer. “I have nothing to hide.” I’m half hoping they take the bait. There’s nothing on the computer that shouldn’t be there. I’m that good.

Peregrinator shakes her head. “No, that’s okay. Sorry to bother you.” She exchanges a glance with Agent 12.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I should probably get started on my homework,” I quip, shooing them out the door and closing my computer.

As soon as the door shuts behind them, I breathe a sigh of relief. That was close. I need to be more careful from now on. Starting with closing my windows before I get onto official S.W.O.R.D documents. Setting my computer aside, I attempt to focus on my homework. I find myself staring at the same problem for ten minutes, barely registering it. I’m too restless to sit still after what just happened. I might as well check out the training room. Leaving the sheets of homework on my desk, I exit my room and start down the hall. Uh... which way did they say the training rooms were again? I’d been doodling most of the orientation.

“Hey, are you new here?” I turn to see a S.W.O.R.D hero, a boy who looks a few years younger than me (maybe twelve or thirteen?), standing in the hall behind me. They shut the door that presumably leads to their room behind them.

“Yeah, I haven’t been here long. Could you show me where the training rooms are?” I ask.

“Sure thing.” He starts down the hall. “I’m Dove by the way. At least, that’s my alias.”

“Dove?” I raise my eyebrows, trying not to laugh. “Isn’t that a bit--”

“Girly?” He finishes, laughing a little himself. “Yeah, a bit. I’m not the one who chose it, S.W.O.R.D got tired of me trying to find my own name, but I’m keeping it for now.” Dove leads me down the hall. “Training room’s this way.”

“Who exactly in S.W.O.R.D gave you a name that symbolizes peace?” I have to ask. Most of S.W.O.R.D isn’t exactly promoting peace, they’re just promoting getting rid of villains.

“Oh, that was Karen’s idea.” He notes my confused look. “She’s a friend of mine, Richard Oswald’s daughter.”

“Your friend is the daughter of S.W.O.R.D’s leader?” I gasp. Everyone knows who Richard Oswald (aka Fortitudo) is. He’s been running S.W.O.R.D for years since its founder Gregory Linn was killed by Darknight.

“She isn’t my only friend,” Dove mutters, not seeming to understand why that’s such a big deal. “She’s really more like a sister though. We grew up here together. Us and Raven.” Seeing my confusion, he clarifies. “Raven’s parents were S.W.O.R.D heroes, but they were killed in a battle against one of I.I.E.M.’s villains. People are saying it was Darknight. Raven was there, but she doesn't remember much, because of the trauma. Apparently, she was five or six at the time. She was really close to them.” Sadness -- and maybe jealousy? -- flashes across his face, only for a moment. “Anyway, she was basically adopted by S.W.O.R.D, same as I was when I was a baby.” Well, that explains the jealousy. He never got to know his parents, probably doesn’t even know who they were. Raven was raised by her parents, even for those first short years of her life.

“Do you think you could introduce me to them?” I ask.

Dove’s face lights up (not literally). “Yeah, of course! They’re probably in the training room right now, or at least Raven is.”

A question comes to me. “Is Raven her alias or her real name?”

“Alias. Her real name is probably on the files, but besides that, no one knows it. She doesn’t talk much about her past.”

“That’s understandable. Her memories of her parents are probably painful to think about, and her name kind of counts as one,” I point out. Dove nods in agreement. I’m guessing he’s had the same thoughts before.

“Well, here’s the training room. I was actually on my way here anyway,” he says with a chuckle. “In case you were worried about taking up my time.”

“This probably sounds callous, but the thought never crossed my mind,” I admit with a sheepish grin. We both laugh. “Shall we? I’m interested to meet your friend, and maybe I can introduce you to some of mine.” I wouldn’t call Peregrinator, Swift, Agent 12, and Sparrowhawk my friends, necessarily, but while I’m here… it wouldn’t hurt to try and reconnect. And maybe… just maybe… part of me wishes things could go back to how they were. Just the four of us, Mandy, Morgan, Kyndra, and me.

I push the thoughts out of my mind as the doors to the training room swing open.

Reviews

[Jay_Bluefire]

Second sentence: Replace 'Also, I had' with 'I'd also'
Capitalize 'french' in the paragraph starting with Wilson the Slated Seahawk Griffin
Paragraph starting "Sure, I'll come.": replace 'pocked' with pocket in like the third-to-last sentence

[Locke Redwyne (night sys)]

ok thanks :)