A petite woman with long white hair walked past the hedges, her hands at her side. She ale as a ghost with a pair of eerie meical eyes that whirred and spun in her head, glowing a brilliant hot pink. The blue sky shone overhead as the faint trickle of fountains filled the air. She was wearing a fitted thick turtleneck sweater, white, as usual, and a pair of thin white gloves. Her bck pants glittered a bit in the sunlight as she stepped past a rosebush. She smiled at the camera, her meical eyes twinkling with a mixture of mirth and passion. “Hi, I’m Sonya ovna,” she said, “It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these, hasn’t it?”

  She chuckled, “It’s gotten a little wild out there. It be scary at times. Even as things calm down in one way, another problem seems to just pop up,” she said with a shake of her head before tilting it with amusement, “Holy, doesn’t seem that much different from before, when you put it that way.”

  The view shifted and she walked over a small bridge across a narrow stream that passed through the garden, “Everyone’s asking the same questions; ‘What I do to help?’ ‘How do I protect my family?’ ‘What’s being done?’” she recited as she ran her fingers over a rose, she stopped and turo the camera again. “Right now we are in an unpreted era of flid ge. The world is more than it was before, and we all o do our part to make sure this era bees ohat uplift humanity into somethier.”

  She raised a hand to be someoowards her and six young people strode out from the sides. Tht, a blonde young man with pierg blue eyes and a sharp smile stepped out. He was apanied by a muscur girl with streaked bck hair and a brown haired young man with a thoughtful expression and violet eyes. Otom of the s, words appeared.

  OTISMost Promising Heroes, East Coast Training Camp

  CRUSADERMost Promising Heroes, East Coast Training Camp

  GRAVITICMost Promising Heroes, East Coast Training Camp

  From the left, a young woman stepped out with off-white eyes that seemed to flicker now and then, her bck hair held loose arouhin face. With her was a young man with steely gray hair and a toned body beh a tight fitted bck shirt. Finally, a dark haired boy with narrow eyes and a small smile teasing his lips stepped out as well, his gloved hands in his pockets. Their names appeared as well.

  EMost Promising Heroes, West Coast Training Camp

  MAGNUSMost Promising Heroes, West Coast Training Camp

  SYPHONMost Promising Heroes, West Coast Training Camp

  Sonya gestured to the six of them oher side, “These young people have stepped up, despite all the forces arrayed against them, and so you.”

  Otis ined his head, “That’s right, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. The first step towards bating viliny is knowing. The Pandora ittee rep ter is always open,” he said, “With your help we fight viliny at its sourd get help for those who are on the verge of doing something they may regret.”

  e flipped her hair bad put a hand on her hip, “We’re ting on you to help us. More and more people awaken powers every single day, and making sure that they know what they’re dealing with is important. There are facilities in every major city that provide education and assistance,” She said, “Awakening be scary, we’ve all gohrough it. Don’t gh it alone.”

  Crusader crossed her arms over her chest, “You always have the right to defend yourself and your family, whether you are light-touched or not. Whether it be a monster or a vilin, remember these steps. Call for a hero or the police if you . Prioritize your life and those around you and attempt to get away. If all else fails, fight back.”

  Magnus raised a ched fist, “Viliers where people look away,” he said firmly, “Don’t let it happen on your watch, you be a hero too. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is food people to do nothing. We’re all in this together.”

  Gravitic smiled, “Help us help you and together we make something incredible out of this new world we live in,” He said.

  Syphon straightened up and nodded, “And don’t fet, we’re always recruiting. If you think you have what it takes to join us, go to your Pandora ittee facility and sign up.”

  The six young heroes spoke up as one, “We’re waiting for you.”

  The camera tilted slightly and a statue appeared in the frame, a man standing with a kind smile on his fad his hand outstretched. “Together, we be the firestorm,” Sonya said off camera before the s went bck, “This message has been brought to you by the Pandora ittee.”

  Sonya sat ba her chair and beamed at the others in the room. “Great job guys,” She said brightly, sing the faces present. The six young heroes were all sitting with her as well as a few others. Marta stood a pace behind her, her hands resting politely at her p as usual. Across from them, standihe television, a woman in fshy e gsses wearing a red t-shirt and jeans beams at them all with barely cealed pride.

  “K out of the park, this’ll wreat,” She said.

  “Thanks for taking on the job, Kerry, I know you’ve been busy,” Sonya said with a small smile. Kerry wasn’t someohat got the limelight very often, but she was still a valuable asset for Sonya. The Chief Marketing Manager of ASTA had been an indie director before Sonya had scooped her up during the rise of the pany in the year between Vegas and the first hero training camps.

  Kerry rubbed her nose and smirked, “Just doing what I do best, ma’am,” She said befng at the final person in the room. A man in a suit sitting on a small fold-out chair with a steely look in his eyes. A pin on his pel of a torch held over the earth marked him as a member of the Pandora ittee. “What’d you think, Jeremy?”

  Jeremy Locus was the new North Ameri representative for the ittee, “I’m sure Miss Mint will be happy with it,” He said with a nod, “It’ll resonate well, I’ll have it scheduled for first broadcast after the graduation ceremony,” He turo the young heroes in the room, “gratutions by the way. Especially you three from the East Camp, you stepped up even after the raid.”

  Sonya g the group and raised an eyebrow. From an outsider’s perspective she supposed that it was true how impressive the three of them in particur had e across. She, oher hand, knew better. It was no surprise to her that Otis would stay the course, of course he would. While he was a iving bastard he was not oo back down from a challenge. If anything, it was just another way for people to fawn over him. Lillian and Greg oher hand had the hearts of heroes, through and through. There was no doubt in her mind that they’d go far, it was holy a shame that only the top three from each camp could participate in this. Otherwise she had almost a dozen more she felt deserved the spotlight.

  “Thank you sir,” Otis said smoothly, a small smile creeping on his face. Sonya resisted the urge to shiver. “No vilins are going to make us back down, right?” He asked the other two.

  Lillian nodded vehemently in agreement before tilting her head to look at Sonya, “We’re… going to have a ce to see our folks before this airs, yeah? I’d like to expin my um…” She trailed off aured to her fad hair.

  Sonya barked out a ugh, “Actually! I was going to tell you this ter but since we’re here I might as well,” She crossed her legs and shifted ba her seat, “I’ve invited your families to the graduation ceremony. There’ll be a party the night before and they’ll get to have a tour of the facility, a little thank-you for their support and to celebrate your success.”

  Otis made a face but said nothing and Sonya didn’t aowledge it. Lillian oher hand tensed a little, “That’s tomorrow!” She blurted.

  Greg chuckled, “Somebody’s got a lot of expining to do!” He ughed.

  Lillian groaned and slumped in her seat as the other three soon-to-be graduates gave her odd looks. Syphon was the first to speak up, “What? The tats e with your ability or something?” He asked, pig at his fingernails as he looked her up and down.

  Sonya watched them as the versation meandered on from that point. While they’d met a few times during the brief filming of the ercial, this was the first time they were all sitting in the same room with nothing more to do than talk about things other than the ad. While the East Coast camp had seen a lot of unusual circumstahe West Coast camp was a more baseline experiehat hadn’t detracted from the results in any way, something that delighted her a great deal. Though it had triggered a bit of tension on the West side. She could sehe mixed feelings that they had towards their peers with all the attention they’d beeing.

  Not that it matters, she thought, petition is good and it’s not like they’ll be seeing one another very often in the immediate future.

  She brought her hands together in a noisy cp that drew everyone’s attention, “Alright! How about some lund then we’ll have Euclidia send us back to our camps, mm?” She said brightly, “We’ve got a lot to do and it seems like a few of us o get prepared to see family,” She teased, winking at Lillian who let out a sigh. Marta cleared her throat behind Sonya and she tittered out a ugh, gng back at her, “Oh let me have my fun,” She said and got to her feet, a big grin on her face. “Noants a burger?”

  –

  They stepped through the portal and bato the camp an hour or so ter. Lillian and Greg spoke quietly with one another as they walked towards the on building. It’d already been rebuilt, a rushed effort between ASTA and the Pandora ittee. Almost no signs of the fighting that had taken pce remaihough there were still scars here and there. The most notable was the pque set o the doors leading into the building, on it was a list of he young aspirants who had died trying to escape to the on building. She frowned briefly at the names befng towards Otis as he turo her.

  “Did you need something, Mister Mallory?” She asked, keeping her expression pleasant. It was still hard seeing him more and more often but she’d learo take some enjoyment out of it now and thee the visceral disgust that boiled in her gut. He was her most hated enemy, yet he was so close by.

  “I wao thank you, ma’am,” He said brightly, “For this opportunity.”

  She tilted her head to the left, “What oh are you thanking me for?” She asked, “You stepped up during the raid,” She said, Even though I know the only reason you did was to force my hand you little shit, “I hold mythics I sign with ASTA to a higher standard,” She said, “You met it,” She paused and tilted her head, “Are you sure about your ame though?”

  He blinked and pursed his lips, mulling the thought over for a moment, “I like Otis. I know it has nothing to do with Gilgamesh but…” He trailed off and shrugged, “I’m a fan of the cssics.”

  She examined his face for a moment before letting out a sigh, “Very well, enjoy your evening, Mister Mallory. I have high expectations for you iure.”

  He gri her and nodded, “I won’t disappoint you,” He said and walked away.

  Sonya watched him go aed her hands on her hips. She g Marta whose face betrayed nothing. The two of them waited for the walking apocalypse to slink bato the on building before she finally spoke, the portal arch sliding back down into the ground. She raised a hand and the air seemed to ripple for a moment, an illusion of silence ing around them and obsg their words, “Fug bastard,” She grumbled as she ran her fihrough her hair, “Updates?” She asked quietly.

  “’s made tact,” Marta said, “Kera is with him just in case our quarry does something drastic,” She smirked a little and Sonya gave her an approving wink, “He’ll send you a message as soon as they have a response,” she tinued befesturing to the area around them, “Everything for the ceremony is going acc to schedule.”

  Sonya’s lips pressed together, “I want a host of professors posted at the ceremony,” She said cooly, “If a single hint of that woman’s ilk es anywhere near it…” She trailed off and pushed down her bloodthirst.

  Marta ined her head, “It’ll be done,” She said before straightening, “Barry is doh the preparations, he’ll be ready wheime es, you have your army.”

  Sonya checked her nails and looked back at the building for a heartbeat, “Good,” She said and turned fully to Marta, “Has she made any further moves?”

  “Not yet, though we have observed her using new routes to supply her people,” Marta said.

  Sonya snorted, “I’m surprised she hasn’t retaliated with more force, though. Is she angling for a cold war?”

  “It’s possible,” Marta said thoughtfully, “Ever sihe raid she has been remarkably quiet,” she tinued, “It’s like she’s turned all of her focus inward towards her cult rather than putting much effort into recruiting and strengthening herself.”

  “Strange,” Sonya said, “If we weren’t having such a problem with sending spies her way I’d love to know what she to. Have Beyol keep an eye on it.”

  “Of course, Ma’am,” Marta said with a bow before straightening up, “You’ve been more eely, It’s good to see.”

  Sonya gri her and crossed her arms behind her back, “Ishtar told me to take on a vilin mi and I figure this is part of it. We’re doh the camp so it’s on to the step after all.” She said before starting to walk towards the on building.

  “You still haven’t figured it out? What she meant?” Marta asked o her.

  Sonya frowned, “Yeah, something’s missing but I just don’t uand what she’s expeg,” She said with a sigh, “It doesn’t matter. She’s me, I’ll figure it out. It feels like it’s oip of my tohough, which is frustrating.”

  “You’ll manage,” Marta agreed.

  “I always do,” She said with a breath and gnced up to see Bck Lotus standing on the baly, looking down at her. She smiled to herself, “That ercial is the first shot fired against Liberty, what es is going to be amusing,” She said and dismissed the illusion ed arouwo more figures stepped out to stand oher side of Bck Lotus, a brown haired woman in a blue set of robes and a red haired woman in a brown cardigan. She beamed up at them, Yes, I have just about everything I need.

  “Ladies!” She called, “Looking forward to the party?”