The Games Heroes Play (4 page)

Captain Williams thought about this for a moment.  He knew it was possible that this was being exaggerated or misinterpreted by a soldier who feared for his position.  He also realized the possibility that this boy was as quick a learner as his older brother, and sent misleading images.  It was clear that the boy had been brutally beaten recently, and if he had been a speedster, it would have made far more sense for him to have used it then to save himself.  Still, in the case that the boy was a speedster or a reader, it would be good to know this information sooner rather than later. 

“Very well, soldier, we will keep an eye on the younger one.  His test is still years away however.  Right now we need to focus on the older boy.  In two days I will go pick him up; I will say he has been accepted, but that he needs to leave immediately in order to make the trip to the Academy.  This boy could be dangerous if he were left to his own devices with such ability.”

“If his ability keeps growing like this, he could be dangerous at the Academy as well.”

“Leave that to me, soldier.  I have plenty of experience keeping children distracted.”

CHAPTER 4

JAY BOARDED
A
small plane with just Captain Williams and two pilots.  Having been accepted late, he missed the flight with the rest of the new recruits.  Jay smiled to think about this.  It was not that he was happy to have missed the flight, but he did enjoy watching Donny figure things out.  The night of Jay’s second testing, him and Donny made bets as to when they would come back to get him.  Jay thought they would return the next day, since everyone knew the flight to the Academy left 3 days after the tests go through the area, and they would need to get him in time to make that flight.  Donny thought otherwise. 

“They’ll be back in two days
,”
Jay remembers Donny saying.

“Two days?  But that would be cutting it too close; they’d have to get me early in the morning in order for me to make the flight.”

“No, I think they’re going to let the plane leave without you.”

“Funny, Donny.  So now you don’t think I’m going at all?”  Jay had chided.

“Of course you’re going.  They sent a Captain and two full-fledged readers to test you that second time, and from what I can tell you proved your worth.  I think that’s the problem though, you showed yourself to be too good.  I think they’re going to let you think you were not accepted by waiting until after the flight leaves.  Then they will come that evening, and pretend it was a tough decision, and that they just decided you could handle it.”

“But how will I get to the Academy, if they accept me after the flight leaves?”

“They’ll find a way.”

Jay had known Donny would probably be correct, so the next morning they told their parents to expect Jay to be leaving the following night.  They were not happy with the boys’ expectations, but when the time did come as the boys said it would, the parents were ready. 

Donny had been right about almost every detail.  They came that evening, and just as Donny had predicted, they said his scores were not what they usually accepted, but that if he were willing to put in enough effort, he might be able to make it at the Academy.  The only surprise was for Captain Williams, when Jay said he was packed and ready to go.  He said his final goodbyes, and went with Captain Williams.

Then all at once Jay found himself on a plane to the Academy.  Despite there being only two passengers in the plane other than the pilots, Jay was still given a seat assignment.  He sat in the very back of the plane, while Captain Williams sat in the front just behind the pilots.  It
was not
a large plane, but it was big enough that he was clearly blocked off from the rest of the plane’s inhabitants.  Since he could not speak with any of them, he decided it would be a good time to practice his mind reading.  He focused on the pilot, trying to envision what his thoughts would be.

Nothing.
  Jay sat back, trying to relax and be calm. 
Nothing.
 
Maybe if I clear my head of my own thoughts
.  He tried this, and still, no pictures came into his mind.  Jay continued trying to read their minds, using different techniques and strategies, for the next hour of the flight before giving up. 
What’s making the difference? 
Jay wondered.  He was a little aggravated by its sudden appearances and disappearances.  He wanted them to just stay constant, so he could figure out how to sort through them, how to push them back when he needs to think for himself, and most of all how to bring them forward when he needed to.  The fact is
,
he has not had a
single picture since the day of his second test.  Jay began to doubt his abilities now. 
Was it a fluke?  Did I temporarily gain the powers, and now they’re gone?  What if they don’t return; what will I do at the Academy?
  Jay had heard the stories of people with the ability to mind read.  They all said that once it forms, it is there constantly for the rest of your life.  They said the trick is being able to decipher the pictures and identify them.  But for Jay, the pictures were not there constantly.  On the contrary, they were extremely sporadic. 
Even amongst mind readers I’m the defective one.

Jay realized there was not much he could do right then about his mind reading ability.  He realized that if he could not practice his mind reading, he might as well get some rest. 
After all, I doubt I’ll be able to sleep once I arrive at the Academy.

“WELCOME TO THE Academy.”

Jay was surprised at how well he had slept on the plane ride.  He hadn’t woken up until after they had landed, and he was still a little shaky on what was going on.  Captain Williams’ welcome had snapped him back to attention.  Jay looked around, taking in his first sight of the legendary place where heroes are made.  The runway for the planes was out in front of the school, so he was able to get an amazing opening view of the main building.  Jay knew this was probably planned, since everyone who arrived at the Academy did so by plane. 
Give them an opening view to remember,
Jay thought to himself. 

In his amazement at the glory of the Academy, he failed to notice that another plane had landed, and its two passengers were approaching where Captain Williams and Jay stood.  Jay
did not
so much see them approach as felt them come near.  He felt energized and light; better than he had ever felt in his life. 

“I’m glad to see I’m not the only person still gawking at it.”

Jay was surprised to hear a female voice, and especially one from right next to him. 
Where did she come from!?

“Sorry to startle you, I’m
Zahrah
.”  The girl spoke excitedly with a big smile across her face.  Jay could tell she was of Middle Eastern origin, and her outfit told him she was most likely Muslim.  It was surprising to see someone so covered up on such a warm day.  Jay decided he liked the look.

“My name is Jay.  So you’re new here too, are you a mind reader?”  He figured this would make the most sense.  The pictures he’d seen of the strength people showed they were easy to spot, and he assumed the speedsters would be jumping off the walls. 
A wrong assumption.

“No, I’m a Hermes.”

“A Hermes?”

“Oh, sorry, I move quickly…what do you call it? Oh yes, you call us speedsters, right?”

“Wow, I’ve never met a speedster before.  Why do you call them Hermes?”

“It is not I that calls us Hermes, that’s the name the school gives us.  There are different terms for the quick, the strong, and the smart depending on where you are on the world.  Here at the Academy, they use the names of ancient Greek deities.  Lieutenant Johnson told me that on
the plane.”  She motioned over to the woman who was now speaking with Captain Williams; or speaking
to
, as it appeared to be more appropriate to say. 
So not all of them ignore the students.

“What’s the name for the mind readers?” 

“They call those who can see into others’ minds Prometheus.  So that’s what you are?  Wow, that is a very rare gift.  What am I thinking about right now?”

Jay was a little embarrassed that his ability to read minds was still not showing up.  He decided the best thing to do was to make light of the situation.  “You are thinking that mind reading is a rare gift, and are wondering if I can see what you’re thinking right now.”  To his relief she found the joke funny.  He decided it was alright to continue.  “Actually, I’m not very good yet.  I’m still learning how to use it.”

“That’s ok; I guess that’s why you’re here.”

At that moment Captain Williams and Lieutenant Johnson came over to the two of them.  Captain Williams addressed Jay immediately, “Lieutenant Johnson will show you both around the school and tell you what you can expect from these next few days.”  Without any sign of a goodbye, he turned and marched off towards the school.

Lieutenant Johnson looked nice enough.  She was friendlier than Captain Williams, but still maintained a professional demeanor.  “Jay, did you have your meal early or late in your flight?”

“Excuse me?”  Jay
was not
sure what Lieutenant Johnson was talking about.

“Your lunch on the plane; did you just finish, or would you be willing to have an early dinner?  Hermes
tend
to eat more meals than most, and it has been a few hours since we have had ours.”

Jay learned two things from this comment.  First, he learned that Lieutenant Johnson was a Hermes; a speedster, just like
Zahrah
.  Second, he learned that the ever gracious Captain Williams had never given him a lunch.  “It has been a while since lunch for me also, and I would be happy to begin our tour at the dining hall.”

Lieutenant Johnson smiled, and began to lead them in the direction of the main building of the school.  She began at a normal pace, but
Zahrah
walked a little faster than the two of them.  Jay sped up in order to walk between the two, but Lieutenant Johnson apparently took this as a sign that they could go faster, and she sped up as well.  Before long, the three of them began weaving through the crowds at a much faster than normal pace towards the dining hall.  Lieutenant Johnson was constantly checking to make sure Jay was staying with them, but since he was, they continued with the pace.  It was not very long before they reached the dining hall. 

“I’m glad to see you’re in shape, Jay.  It will certainly help in the physical part of your classes
,”
Lieutenant Johnson said after they had gotten their food and sat down at a table.  Neither Lieutenant Johnson nor
Zahrah
were out of breath, and to his surprise, neither was Jay.  He was thankful that he did not have an asthma attack from their dash to the dining hall.  Jay realized he needed to be a little more careful, since an asthma attack on his first day would not be the impression he wanted to give of himself.

“Oh, I’m so sorry; I did not mean to walk so fast, I guess I am just excited
,”
Zahrah
said, clearly embarrassed.

“Don’t worry about it, I kept up, and we were able to get to the food faster.  Let’s just take the rest of the tour a little slower
,”
Jay said with a reassuring smile.  He did not want
Zahrah
to feel bad, but he also did not want to dash about for the rest of the tour. 

“Ok, how about you set the pace for the rest of the day?” 
Zahrah
proposed.

“Sounds good to me
,”
Jay responded.  They began to eat.  Jay had taken a little more food than normal, and at first he wondered if he would be able to eat it all.  A moment later he looked down and realized he had eaten the whole lot, and was still hungry. He looked up, and both Lieutenant Johnson and
Zahrah
had also finished their food, and were getting up for second helpings.

“Feel free to get more food, if you are still hungry
,”
Lieutenant Johnson mentioned, before she sped off to replenish her own plate.  Jay normally would have stopped after one plate, but today he felt different.  He felt energized, abnormally awake, and in need
of
much more to eat.  He got up for more food, but only took half a plate more.  He sat down before either of them were back, and decided to just nibble at this plate.  Within a moment, his “nibbling” had finished off the plate.  He got up for more.  This time he threw caution to the wind, filling his plate as high as he could.  He arrived back at the table to see the others were finishing up their plates.  Jay set in, and before long, his plate was once again emptied.  He looked up and realized the other two were watching him.

“If I
did not
know any better,
I would
think you were a Hermes yourself
,”
Lieutenant Johnson said jokingly to him.  Jay decided he had had enough to eat.  They cleared their places and left the dining hall to continue with the tour.  Jay set the pace, but it was still a dash. 
I’m too excited to walk slowly,
Jay decided.  The Academy was huge, and there was much to see, but Jay hardly noticed the buildings at all.  What amazed him most were the people.  He quickly realized he could tell a person by the speed of their walk.  Those who walked fast were the Hermes, those who walked regular must be the Prometheus, and those who walked slowly were the muscle.

“What are the strong people called here?”  Jay asked Lieutenant Johnson.

“They are the Titans
,”
She responded.

The name fit them.  They walked slowly, but they were enormous.  Most were not any taller than the rest (although a few did stand above the other Titans) but they looked like they were solid muscle.  No wonder he had heard them referred simply as “muscles” growing up. 

Jay began to watch those who were walking normally, those whom he suspected were his fellow Prometheus. 
So they can read minds, just like me
, Jay thought.  As he said this, it occurred to him that he, once again, could see the pictures.  They were different this time though; instead of a stream of larger photos, he saw a collage of millions of small ones.  They were difficult to make out.  As he looked from person to person, he realized certain pictures got larger while he looked at one person, while others were larger while he looked at someone else. 
Those must be their thoughts,
Jay reasoned.