Chapter 7

Lots and lots of strange faces. She felt like a little fish in a big pond, luckily she sighted Justin the guy from earlier. And he had not been unfriendly.

'Hey Suzanne!' he waved at her. She stood by him. 'Hey! What's going on?' she asked.

He smiled. 'Nothing much. The instructor was just briefing us on the rules of this place and explaining the different rankings of a hero. And Slads like us too. Besides where'd you run off to?' he asked.

Suzanne scratched her head. 'Umn....Sorry I kinda got mixed up in all the excitement of arriving here. I guess I just kind of ran off.' Justin laughed warmly.

'No worries. Besides what did you do to that blondie over there? The girl from the bus?' he pointed discreetly so she wouldn't see him. 'She's been glaring at you every two minutes since you ran in.' 

Suzanne had a good idea of who it might be. 

'Does she oogle at a blue-haired guy every ten seconds?' she asked, head tilted to her right. Justin looked surprised. 'Yeah! You know about that too?!' 

Suzanne sighed and nodded. 'Yeah...,' she replied with a groan. 

Justin laughed. 'Silence please,' the instructor cautioned.

Justins' laughter died down when he received a stern glance from the instructor. The man flipped open a document.

'As you know no one can survive without another to rely on; the hero league has decided to group you all into foursomes as a squad.' 

Everyone's attention was gained. 

He continued, a bit pleased. 'This has been the way things has been since way back in the days. You tend to bond with your teammates at the end of the day.' 

Someone raised a hand but he waved it away.

'No questions now please. Let me end the talk.' 

The hand went down.

'Each squad would have a supervisor who is part of ranking B. As I've explained earlier on, there are five rankings, irrespective of what category you belong in.' 

'We have the Shades, our topmost agents. They are a little different from Hero league corps as they are...extra special. They are only dispatched on urgent duties and the most risky missions. It's rare to see them here as they have a different training facility.' 

Someone yawned.

He continued, undisturbed.'Those of you who show extra-ordinary potential would be trained on that level. Then there are the A-ranks too.' 

'Then we have the B-ranks. The B-ranking is a very tough position to get to and those that are there take on dangerous situations and handle the training of the Slads too.' 

'He's going all the way to E-ranks?!' Suzanne whispered, alarmed. She was already worn out. Justin stifled a laughter. 'Yeah...' 

She groaned.

'The C-ranks are the ones whose district is out of the city. They take on external missions, missions that require traveling and going to dangerous places.' 

'The D-ranks stay within the district. They handle everything internal.'

The instructor went on. 'And we have the E-ranks. They go on casual missions. Missions that earn money for the hero league. And also they carry relevant messages from the top politicians and from anyone important.' 

'So we are E-ranks?' Annabelle asked despite his instruction not to ask any question. 

He frowned but replied anyway. 'No. You are Slads. The beginner's level. Namely all what you do basically is train, increase your skills and learn to be independent and have a strong teamwork.' 

'Foundation is the most important key,' he added. 

'Now I'll continue,' he shot Annabelle a nasty look. 'You'll be grouped right now according to how your abilities flow with your team. This is from the headquarters, so no complaints if you please.' 

'Squad 1..,' he started.

'I hope we end up in the same squad Suzanne,' Justin said. 'Yeah me too,' she smiled sweetly at him. 

The ones who had been grouped were in a separate corner arguing or getting along with their new team mates. 

'Squad 4, Justin Carter, Annabelle Clarence, Edward Rin, Wallis Timber.' 

Justin's face fell. 'Gee...I'm with the mean girl.' 'Cheer up, Justin! She's not that....' the word 'mean' refused to roll off her tongue. Suzanne refused to lie to him, she knew that Annabelle was meaner than mean.

'I mean you'll be fine,' she tried again, unsuccessfully.

'Carter join up with your Squad now please, time's ticking,' the instructor said. Justin put up a brave front and walked up to meet his team. 

Suzanne watched him give them a little wave and felt pity for him. It sucks to be on Annabelle's team. 

'Squad 10, Ryan Zintez,' most of the girls' ears perked up. Who'd get to be his 'lucky' team mates?

Annabelle huffed. 'Seems I'm stuck with you losers...' she moaned, eyeing her group members. Justin rolled his eyes. What a drama queen! 

'Ethan Joan, Andrew Frankstin....,' the instructor continued with the grouping, oblivious to the dissatisfaction the 'headquarters grouping list has caused in some groups.

Suzanne laughed at the newest group list, which she had silently christened 'the team of the century', for the group members were completely opposites, all of them!

'And Suzanne O'Izzy!' 

The instructor went on calling other groups but Suzanne froze for the second time that day.

Her eyes travelled to where they all stood. Andrew, looking bored as he skimmed through a small book, Ethan glaring at Ryan who didn't bother to acknowledge him but looked the other way.

The only thought that could come to her mind was...

Those guys?!