Super Squad The Epic Saga Of Five Prodigies

The Scars She Hid From The World

REGINA MCBRIDE

The heavy iron gates of the Wilderness Correction Camp groaned as they released me after three years of state-sponsored hell. I stood on the dirt road, clutching a plastic bag that held my entire life, waiting for the family that claimed they sent me there for "rehab." My brother, Brady, picked me up in a luxury SUV only to throw me out onto a deserted highway in the middle of a brewing storm. He told me I was a "public relations nightmare" and that the rain might finally wash the "stink" of the camp off me. He drove away, leaving me to limp miles through the mud on a snapped ankle. When I finally dragged myself to our family estate, my mother didn't offer a hug; she gasped in horror because my muddy clothes were ruining her Italian marble. They didn't give me my old room back. Instead, they banished me to a moldy gardener’s shack and hired a "babysitter" to make sure I didn't embarrass them further. My sister, Kaleigh, stood there in white cashmere, pretending to cry while clinging to her fiancé, Ambrose—the man who had once been mine. They all treated me like a volatile junkie, refusing to acknowledge that Kaleigh was the one who planted the drugs in my bag three years ago. They wanted to believe I was broken so they wouldn't have to feel guilty about the "wellness retreat" that was actually a torture chamber. I sat in the dark of that shed, feeling the cooling gel on the cigarette burns that covered my arms, and realized they had made a fatal mistake. They thought they had erased me, but I had returned with a roadmap of scars and a hidden satellite phone. At dinner, I didn't beg for their love. I simply rolled up my sleeves and showed them the price of their silence. As the wine spilled and the lies crumbled, I sent a single text to the only person I trusted: "I'm in. Let them simmer." The hunt was finally on.

Modern Revenge Scheming

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Ignis POV

As I look out the window of the spaceship, many thoughts flood my mind... I'm worried, anxious, and a little nervous. Not because I'm worried about going to the academy or how I'll perform in class or combat trials. Not at all! After all, I had one of the strongest fighters in the universe as my mentor! She's also my mom! So that's not why I'm nervous... No, I know exactly why... I've never had an easy time making friends... I've never really fit in with anyone... It didn't help that Mom had me constantly moving around between planets when I was a kid... I mean when you're only on a planet for around six months before you move to another, how are you supposed to make friends? I don't think I'm socially awkward or anything, I've just never really had any friends...

I also wish I could've seen Mom more growing up... But I guess that's what happens when you're the Deputy Headmistress of a Sentinel Academy. You don't get to spend much time away... Mom constantly had me traveling all over the universe to stay with her friends, or "associates" as she called them... When I did see her we mostly just trained... and the people she always left me with trained me too... Since I could walk I've been trained to fight.. I guess that means I shouldn't have any problems in training...but Mom did stress not to be cocky once I get to the Academy... She said that the people I'll be training with from now on, or rather I guess my future classmates, have also been training their entire lives. Thing is though, they didn't have her, or her powerful friends, overseeing their training! But I know I have to be cautious, going in with a headstrong attitude thinking that I'm better than everyone will only accomplish me getting my face kicked in! So my plan at first is to just kind of hang back, keep a low profile, and observe... I mean, of course I want to make friends! I have to! Sentinels operate in teams after all, and I don't really want to be paired with people that I don't know or trust! I'm just not really sure how to make friends... Mom always just says to be yourself, so I guess I'll try that...

-Pilot: Hey kid, we're gonna be slowing down from light-speed soon, you're gonna need to take a seat.

-Ignis: Oh, yeah no problem!

I do as instructed and take a seat as I wait for us to exit light-speed. Soon enough we do and I can see the planet Viribus, home to the Viribus Sentinel Academy! So this is where Sentinels, the guardians of peace, are made huh?

Despite the more negative emotions, I'm also pretty excited! I know being a Sentinel is dangerous work.. I mean, obviously... Fighting monsters, demons, and powerful criminals from Deep Space isn't exactly what I call safe! But being born with enhanced abilities, having this opportunity, how could I not be excited!? This isn't something everyone gets the chance to do!

Finally, we touch down on the surface of Planet Viribus. Just glancing out the window of the ship I can see parts of the academy... There's a large sprawling courtyard lined with hedgerow upon hedgerow. The academy buildings themselves gleam under the planet's sun and it almost looks like a huge palace complex rather than an academy! The ramp to ship drops and I step out with my luggage... I see my mother, Minori, waiting for me with a blonde girl whom I assume is a student... My mother is a rather...well-endowed women with a slim figure... Her arms and legs are definitely toned, but not what you'd call big. If you just glanced at her you wouldn't think she's one of the strongest Sentinels in the universe, but you'd be sadly mistaken! She has magenta hair and eyes, but I didn't inherit either of those. She keeps her hair back in a messy ponytail with bangs that fall towards the right side of her head. She has a very gentle face, not the face of a warrior... The girl standing next to her has blonde hair that falls below her shoulders and is kept off her face with a blue headband. She's also wearing big glasses that look a little dopey, but honestly add a level of cuteness to her! This girl has a very innocent face and the biggest, bluest eyes I've ever seen! Neither of them is dressed in any official Viribus Academy clothing, I guess because classes haven't started yet. I step off the ramp and down in front of them...

-Minori: Hello son, it's been a while!

-Ignis: Oh hey Mom, it's good to see you.

I can't keep up this front! I haven't seen her in over a year, and as the only person I'm really close to, of course I'm happy to see her! Without saying another word I drop my bags and run straight into the biggest hug! She giggles at this...

-Minori: Well it's nice to see you've missed your mother! I've missed you too son, I wish I could have been there for you more, but I think now that you're gonna be around me every day, you may get tired of me...

-Ignis: I'd never get tired of you Mom!

My words come out muffled as she has my face smothered into her chest. Finally we separate from the hug and I look at the blonde girl. She has this look on her face like she's just seen the most heartwarming scene. She almost looks ready to tear up...

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