Emily woke up a second before her alarm went off. Even before arriving at the Acropolis, she'd been accustomed to waking up early in the morning. The last two weeks might've been hell for the others, but this was nothing to her.
The digital alarm clock across the room beeped incessantly, the red numbers a tiny lighthouse in the darkness of the room. Her room. It had been a little over a month since the incident in the quarry with NEMESIS. A little over a month since her life changed forever. The Acropolis was practically her home now.
She could tell the others were homesick—especially Stella, Theo, and Oscar. They wouldn't stop talking about missing River Hill. Most of them spoke to their families on the phone constantly, updating them on their new lives. Emily had yet to speak to her parents. She planned on keeping it that way. They knew she was alive; that's all they needed to know.
It wasn't like they cared either way.
Across the dark room, her alarm kept beeping. She whistled, focusing the sonic energy from her vocal cords in its direction. The alarm's glass panel shattered, exposing the wiring and gears inside. The beeping stopped. She smiled.
She'd get a new one later. Atlas Corp. was a multi-billion-dollar entity. They could afford to splurge on multiple alarm clocks.
Yawning, she stretched her arms—which were sore from weight training and archery practice—and climbed out of bed. She staggered to the window on the other side of the room and pulled back the dark blue curtains. Their rooms were located on the upper level of the mountain hiding Atlas Corp's headquarters. They had a magnificent view of the lush pine forests outside and snowy mountain peaks in the distance. The sky was a midnight blue; the sun had yet to rise, but it would soon return to make its rounds.
She sighed.
When Director Shaw agreed to train her and the others as Atlas agents, she thought they got off lucky. After all, their stunt in Colorado could've gone way worse. She thought they'd gotten off with any punishment.
She was wrong.
Their training was more rigorous than anything she'd gone through—and her entire childhood was spent practicing multiple hobbies for hours on end under the watchful eye of her perfectionist father.
That was a walk in the park compared to what the Atlas instructors had them doing these past two weeks.
She trudged over to the mirror on her closet door. Her short, black hair was slightly matted, and bags hung under her dark eyes. She noticed her skin was paler than usual. There weren't many opportunities to get outside of the mountain. It wasn't like she had anywhere to go, though.
Besides, the training had its upsides. Her arms, legs, and stomach were more toned than ever before. She just wasn't sure if the agonizing muscle fatigue was worth it.
She ventured into her bathroom and turned the shower to her preferred temperature: scorching hot.
After standing under the burning water for a while, she cut it off and stepped outside. She changed into her bio-suit, grabbed her bow and quiver, and headed out to meet the others for the day's training session.
###
Chase was the first one there. He was always the first one there.
Emily was usually second. She could've been first if she wanted to. Ever since they started training, the blond showed up extra early to get his own sessions in. The Acropolis boasted a magnificent, state-of-the-art training facility that stayed open 24/7. They called it the Crucible. If Chase could sleep inside, he probably would.
It was located on a few levels above the Forge. Emily learned that the Atlas agents called the lower sections of the compound the Ares Division; it had everything they needed to prepare for battle.
The Crucible was the second largest space in the Acropolis, only losing out to the massive hangar. It included a shooting range, a weight room, a VR simulation center, and an extensive armory—amongst other things.
Emily frequented the shooting range. She was getting better at controlling her supersonic voice and mitigating the pain that came with it, but she still preferred to use her bow. It would never fail her.
She approached the huge rock wall occupying the entire back half of the main room. Chase stood with her back facing him, rubbing his chin as he examined the challenge ahead. Judging from the sweat glistening against his skin, he'd already given it a couple of tries.
Emily cleared her throat as she settled in beside him.
"Oh." He barely acknowledged her. "Morning, Emily."
She peered at the rock wall. It varied in height for different skill levels. Knowing Chase, he must've attempted the taller ones. "How many times did you fall?"
"Too many."
"You're going to tire yourself out before we even start."
He snorted. "I'm in peak shape. I've got stamina for days."
She rolled her eyes.
Minutes later, Andre and Stella arrived. They had a few minutes before training started. But it was always better to get there early. Being late came with steep repercussions.
"Please tell me Theo and Oscar didn't oversleep again," Stella grumbled while tying her long hair into a ponytail.
"You know they did," Andre said.
She folded her arms as she faced the entrance of the Crucible. "They're always running late."
Emily mirrored her vision, waiting for the two boys to arrive. While the group prepared to start, with or without them, Stella took it upon herself to start stretching. She reached for her toes, and Emily couldn't help but stare. No matter how much Emily may have despised the girl, she couldn't help but admire her.
It was a curse.
Her bio-suit hugged her athletic frame. Her bronze skin always seemed to glow. Emily tried to avert her gaze but couldn't. Eventually, Stella noticed. She flashed her perfect teeth in a smile. Emily dropped her eyes to the floor, her face burning like wildfire.
"Good morning, Emi," Stella said.
Emily scowled. "You don't get to call me that anymore."
The girl used to call her that all the time. Back when everything was normal. Back when they were still friends. She used to welcome the nickname. But 'Emi' didn't exist anymore. Emily murdered her and dumped the body.
Stella frowned. "Sorry. I just thought—"
Emily tuned her out.
She hated how Stella made her feel. The girl made her feel too many emotions—and she'd never been any good at those. Years ago, she remembered how her heart fluttered whenever she was around her ex-best friend. Nowadays, she just wanted to punch her in the face whenever she spoke.
Emily vowed never to forgive her for what she did. Even now, she could hear the snide comments of her peers as she moved through the halls. She could feel the judging stares whenever she walked around town. The jokes and insults eventually lessened, but the scars they left remained.
They'd never go away.
Sometimes, Emily couldn't remember why she was friends with Stella in the first place. They were the exact opposite. Perhaps that's why they'd been drawn to each other.
But their connection was gone.
It wasn't coming back.
Yet, Emily couldn't seem to shake her deep-rooted feelings for Stella.
Fortunately, the sound of combat boots thundering against the floor of the Crucible yanked her out of her thoughts. Everyone's worst nightmare had entered the room. The four of them present stood at attention as Agent Ashley Strong approached them. He was flanked by two of their regular instructors, the three of them clad in their Atlas gear.
Agent Strong was the harbinger of exhaustion, agony, and discipline.
"One…two…three…four…" Agent Strong lowered his shades, revealing his beady eyes. He squinted at the young Primes. "Where're the other two?"
No one answered. If Emily had to bet, Theo and Oscar were still asleep in their rooms. They had two minutes until they were officially late.
And Agent Strong loathed tardiness.
Emily wasn't scared of anything except her own feelings, but the man wasn't anything to scoff at. Bulging muscles pressed his tight quarter-zip. His blue-tinted aviator glasses framed his squarish face. The light from the ceiling shined atop his polished, bald head. He stood an inch or two below Andre's height—but the assortment of military tattoos and battle scars adorning his arms and neck gave him a much more menacing appearance.
"They've got a minute left before you're all running laps," he barked.
"They're on their way," Stella retorted quickly. Her brow furrowed. "I hope."
Behind her, she saw Andre lean over to Chase, a tiny grin etched into his stony face. "Five bucks says they don't make it."
Chase shook his hand. "They'll make it."
Emily simply shook her head at them both and folded her arms. She tapped her foot against the stone floor, counting down the seconds until the boys arrived. If they were late, they all were going to suffer. She wasn't in the mood to run extra laps. Theo and Oscar were going to have to deal with more than laps and Agent Strong if they didn't get to the Crucible in time.
Agent Strong held out the stopwatch hanging from his neck. She could hear the ticking from deep inside the device. Her lip curled.
Right on cue, a streak of silver and black zoomed into the room. Theo materialized beside their training instructors. His curly hair settled around him. Moments later, Oscar sprinted into the room. Sweat clung to his forehead. After joining the group, he doubled over, wheezing for air.
Training had not been kind to him.
Agent Strong grabbed a grinning Theo by the scruff of his neck. The smile melted off his face. "You're late."
Oscar lifted a finger after he caught his breath. "Actually, we're…" He checked the digital clock on the wall. Emily watched it hit six o'clock. "We're right on time."
"C-Can you let me go now?" Theo offered the man a sheepish smile.
Agent Strong released the vise-like grip around his neck. "Fall in."
"Alright, alright—"
"Alright?" The agent lifted a thick brow.
"Er, y-yes, sir!" Theo scrambled into line with the others.
Chase and Andre laughed until they came under fire from the man's glare. They stiffened immediately, not daring to look him in the eye. Emily did her best to mask her own smile.
Agent Strong was introduced as the previous commander of Atlas Corp's covert agent division. He'd recently stepped away from field work, which allowed Director Shaw to place him in charge of their development.
He took his job very seriously.
"So," Chase began, clasping his hands behind his bar, "what's on the agenda for today, sir?" He looked like an army cadet. Emily scoffed. Sometimes she forgot he was a military brat.
"Glad you asked." Agent Strong smirked. Emily frowned. "I think you all are gonna like this one. He motioned toward the simulation arena, which they had yet to use since they started training. "Follow me."
The group exchanged wary glances.
Readjusting the bow and quiver hanging from her shoulder, Emily swallowed hard before trailing behind the man.
###
Agent Strong lied.
She most definitely didn't like "this one".
The curses flying from her mouth would've made a seasoned sailor scrub her mouth with soap. Grimacing, she ducked behind a burning car—or, at least, the projection of one. A cobalt blast of energy soared over her head, frying the ends of her hair. She cursed again.
The simulation room was designed to prepare Atlas agents for field missions. It possessed the ability to generate environments with hologram and virtual reality technology. The entire auditorium-like room was fitted with projectors and panels that created images and whatever setting the operators could program into the system. For this exercise, Agent Strong instructed them to turn the simulation room into a war-torn city being ravaged by TITANs—state-of-the-art robots used for advanced training procedures—that were currently taking on the appearance of futuristic androids with glowing arm cannons.
The TITANs were programmed with every fighting style known to man and fitted with bionic limbs capable of transforming into various weapon types. Not to mention their processing speed and intellect. They were practically the perfect weapons.
Why don't Atlas just use these things to take down NEMESIS?
She peeked around her cover. Chase and Andre were tanking the bots together, hammering away with their fists. With Chase's amplified strength and impenetrable skin, paired with Andre's ability to copy the extremely durable material of the TITANs, they were able to make quick work of a pair of them.
"TITANs one and seven have been eliminated. Eight TITANs remaining," the simulation arena technician announced over the intercom.
I guess that answers my question.
As impressive as the bots were, they weren't a match for superpowered individuals.
Emily notched a purple-tipped arrow at one of the remaining TITANs scattered around the fabricated city. Atlas Corp's engineers had given her an assortment of arrows to practice with—ranging from sonic to electric to incendiary.
The sonic ones were her favorite.
Exhaling, she released the arrow. It screamed as it hurtled through the air. She could feel its vibrations shifting the air before it found its mark in the back of a nearby TITAN. The sonic arrowhead exploded, releasing a wave of rippling energy. The bot toppled to the ground in an explosion of sound, metal, and sparks.
"TITAN two has been eliminated. Seven TITANs remaining."
Emily admired her handiwork. She'd been taught not to admire her accomplishments; there was always another mountain to climb. So climb she did. She glanced over her shoulder to see Oscar cowering behind a crumbling wall. Every couple of seconds, he'd attempt to throw his fire at one of the robots. Every time, he stopped himself.
The TITANs were encroaching on his position. Emily rolled her eyes in annoyance.
She slid across the ground, dodging blasts from the robots and letting off a few sonic rings from her mouth. Despite all this being a simulation, she'd be damned if Oscar was the reason why they didn't win.
When she appeared at his side, he yelped and nearly burned her to a crisp.
"Calm down," she hissed.
"Sorry," he muttered. He grabbed two fistfuls of his hair. "I…I don't know why I can't do it. They're not even real." He groaned. The fiery glow in his palms died. Pathetic smoke curled from his fingers.
I don't have time for this.
She smacked him upside the head. Startled, he blinked while rubbing the side of his skull. "Ay cabrón. What the hell was that for—"
She stuck a black-painted fingernail in his face. "Get your shit together. Now. We all have our issues with our powers, alright? Mine literally hurts me to use. You don't see me being a pussy about it." She loaded another arrow and dispatched a creeping TITAN. Seven left to go. "Get out there and help us fight."
Oscar stuttered as he tried to argue. Then, he stopped. "You're right. God, I know you're right. It's just…" He shook his head. He rolled the muscles in his neck and shook his hands out. "Never mind. I got this. I got this."
Emily watched him step out from their hiding spots with his hands held out. A TITAN sprinted away from Theo, who zipped around the battlefield trying his best to keep them occupied. The robot lifted its cannons, the loud whirring sounds from its mechanisms growing closer with every step.
"Oscar…"
Emily wanted him to be brave, not stupid. Those things were still capable of hurting them.
He ignored her.
As Oscar stepped forward, his brown irises were consumed by a bright, orange light until they resembled miniature flames. Soon, red-hot fire poured from his palms before coiling around his forearms. With his jaw set, he pointed his hands at the TITAN. Before the machine could move or shoot first, it was assaulted by a blazing stream of fire.
The bot staggered backward, trying its best to block the flames.
Oscar upped the temperature.
Emily couldn't help but watch with widened eyes. The heat pouring from the boy slapped her across the face. Sweat dripped down her face.
The TITAN cried out, the sound akin to a car engine dying. It fell onto its back, the white-painted metal bubbling like boiling tar.
Oscar turned toward her as his fire died down. "Woah." He marveled at his own hands.
Emily nodded slowly. "Woah."
"TITAN five has been eliminated. Six TITANs remaining."
Eliminated was quite an understatement. Annihilated was much more fitting. Across the simulated battlefield, Stella defeated TITANs six and eight, leaving four left to fight. Moments later, the artificial intelligence system announced that TITANs six and eight had been defeated as well, leaving four left for them to fight.
Emily watched Stella take on another robot. She spun her steel bō staff—her chosen weapon. It was imbued with glowing, yellow energy that she used to ward off the blue beams shooting from the TITAN's cannon-arms. Her beautiful face strained as she struggled to dodge its attacks.
As much as she enjoyed seeing Stella struggle—which was a rare occurence—something deep inside her black heart compelled scream at the TITAN. So, she did.
She ignored the burning sensation assaulting her esophagus as the sonic rings ripped across the floor. They slammed into the robot, knocking it over, giving Stella time to catch her breath.
"Thank you!" she chirped. Only she could still look beautiful while sweating profusely.
Emily nodded curtly. She tried to fight the blush creeping along her pale cheeks. Stop it.
Once the remaining TITANs were dealt with, the ruined city around them began to fade away, giving way to the blinding white panels of the simulation arena. The only evidence of their battle was the fallen robots throughout the battlefield.
Agent Strong and two other instructors emerged from the arena's control room. The man's aviator glasses sat atop his head. Emily was sure he slept with them on.
A rush of air brushed her side. Beside her, Theo whipped out his inhaler and took a puff. He blew a strand of his coily hair out of his face and turned towards her. His eyes darted around like ping pong balls.
"What a rush, right?!"
She ignored him. She'd grown accustomed to his energetic outbursts.
As Agent Strong approached them, Emily could tell something was off. Chase jogged over to them with his eyebrows raised.
"What's up? Did we do it wrong?" Oscar rubbed the back of his neck. "Maybe I could've gone a little easier with the fuego—"
"Everyone's needed at the hangar," Agent Strong interrupted. "Right now."
Andre and Stella joined the rest of the group, looking just as confused as everyone else.
"Are we training upstairs?" Stella inquired.
Agent Strong shook his head. "Training's over."
The six young Primes exchanged wary glances.
"It's Apex," the man continued, his voice low. He put his sunglasses back over his eyes. "He's here."