Zero Shift: Second Gear: A Superhero Academy LitRPG, page 2
And Obsidian Coil would be its herald.
PRESENT DAY
The photograph was crisp. High resolution. Digital perfection that captured every detail of the target’s face.
Obsidian Coil studied it with clinical detachment. Young woman. Early twenties. Slavic features that might have been pretty if he cared about such things. But beauty was irrelevant. Only the mission mattered.
Rey Volkov. American citizen. Powered individual.
The surname meant nothing to him. Just another name on a list of targets to be eliminated. The conditioning had been thorough. Complete. Any connection to his former life had been burned away decades ago.
He memorized her face. Her height. Her weight. Her known associates. Her powers. Her weaknesses. Everything he would need to complete the assignment with maximum efficiency.
The others in her group were secondary targets. Useful for intelligence gathering. But she was the primary objective. The one his master wanted dead above all others.
Obsidian Coil didn’t question why. Questions were for those who lacked purpose. He had been given a mission. He would complete it. That was what he was made for.
He set the photograph aside and began preparing his equipment. Weapons. Surveillance gear. Travel documents. Everything he would need for a successful hunt.
The tentacles stirred beneath his skin. Eager. Hungry. They had been dormant too long. It was time to feed them.
Time to remind the world why Obsidian Coil was the perfect predator.
The girl in the photograph had no idea what was coming for her. Had no idea that her own blood had been turned against her. That family loyalty had been perverted into something monstrous.
She would learn soon enough.
They all would.
Obsidian Coil smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant expression. It was the smile of a shark that had caught the scent of blood in the water.
The hunt was about to begin.
CHAPTER ONE
Three days had passed since Rey dropped the bomb about the European exchange program, and I still couldn't wrap my head around how fast everything was moving. One minute we're all piled together in that ridiculously small bed, talking about the future like we had all the time in the world. The next minute, I'm standing in my dorm room stuffing sweaters into a suitcase while fog rolls through the valley outside my window like some kind of omen.
My Cerebral Interfaced chimed:
[NULLIFICATION FIELD: Baseline established. Range: feet. Duration: seconds. Note: Emotional stress and seasonality may affect power stability.]
The weather had turned overnight. Yesterday it was still warm enough for t-shirts, but this morning the Academy looked like something out of a gothic novel. Thick gray fog clung to the buildings, and the air had that crisp bite that meant fall was here whether we were ready or not. Perfect timing, considering we were about to spend six weeks in England, where apparently the weather was always shit.
"Evan, you're going to need more than two sweaters," Kira said from where she was sitting on my bed, sorting through a pile of clothes. She looked incredible in an oversized cream sweater that somehow made her pregnant belly look even more beautiful, paired with black leggings that hugged her legs in all the right places. The sweater was loose enough to be comfortable but fitted enough that I could see the curve of her breasts above the swell of our baby.
"I hate being cold," I muttered, grabbing another sweater from my closet. "Why couldn't they have an exchange program with somewhere warm? Like Hawaii?"
"Because Hawaii doesn't have centuries-old enhanced individual institutions," Rey said, not looking up from her own packing. She was wearing this red and white dress with brown accents that looked like something a Russian princess might wear in autumn. The colors made her dark hair look almost black, and the way the dress hugged her waist before flaring out at her hips was doing things to my concentration. "Besides, my father says the British Academy has some of the most advanced training programs in the world."
"Your father says a lot of things," Amara chimed in, emerging from my bathroom with a toiletry bag. She was channeling serious Clueless vibes in a yellow and brown plaid skirt that hit just above her knees, paired with a fitted brown sweater that showed off her curves. The whole outfit screamed expensive prep school, but on her it looked effortlessly sexy. "Doesn't mean they're all true."
"My father is a general in the Russian military," Rey shot back, but she was smiling. "He doesn't lie about things like this."
I watched them banter while I continued packing, still amazed that this was my life now. Six months ago, I was just another Academy student trying to figure out my powers. Now I had five incredible women who all somehow wanted to be with me, and we were about to embark on an international adventure that would probably end up being way more dangerous than anyone was letting on.
The door opened and Madeline walked in, looking like she'd stepped out of a Parisian fashion magazine. Her black wool coat was perfectly tailored, worn over what looked like a cashmere sweater and dark jeans that probably cost more than most people's rent. Everything about her screamed French sophistication, from her perfectly styled hair to her expensive boots. She was carrying a designer garment bag that looked like it weighed more than I did.
"Please tell me you're not planning to bring your entire wardrobe," I said, eyeing the bag.
"This is just my fall collection," she said with a straight face. "My winter clothes are being shipped separately."
"Jesus Christ, Madeline."
"What? We're going to be there for six weeks. I need options." She hung the garment bag in my closet like she owned the place, which, let's be honest, she kind of did. All of them did. "Besides, we'll be attending social events. I can't show up to a British Academy function looking like I shop at Target."
"Hey," Amara protested. "Target has some cute stuff."
"Target is fine for casual wear," Madeline said diplomatically. "But we're representing the North American Academy. We need to look the part."
Sophia appeared in the doorway like she'd been summoned by the mention of proper representation. She was wearing her Academy uniform dress in black and silver, but somehow she made the standard-issue outfit look elegant and sophisticated. The way the dress hugged her athletic frame and the confident way she carried herself reminded me why she intimidated half the student body.
"Are we discussing wardrobe choices?" she asked, stepping into the room. "Because I've prepared a comprehensive packing list based on British weather patterns and social expectations."
"Of course you have," I said, grinning at her. "Did you also research the optimal thread count for British bedsheets?"
"Actually, yes. Egyptian cotton, minimum 400 thread count. Anything less is barbaric." She said it with such seriousness that I couldn't tell if she was joking.
"You're all insane," I said, but I was smiling. This was what I'd missed most during the chaos of the last few months – just being together, talking about normal stuff like packing and clothes and thread counts.
"Says the man who owns twelve identical black t-shirts," Kira pointed out.
"They're not identical. Some of them are slightly different shades of black."
"Oh, well, that changes everything," Rey said sarcastically.
I was about to defend my fashion choices when Amara pulled out a small black bag from her suitcase. "Speaking of packing essentials," she said with a mischievous grin, "I thought we should discuss what we're bringing for... recreational activities."
The temperature in the room seemed to spike about ten degrees. Kira raised an eyebrow, Madeline looked intrigued, and Sophia actually blushed slightly.
"Recreational activities?" I asked, though I had a pretty good idea where this was going.
"Well, we're going to be sharing rooms," Amara said innocently. "And it's going to be six weeks. I just want to make sure we're... prepared for all contingencies."
She unzipped the bag and started pulling out items that made my brain short-circuit. Silk ties, a small leather paddle, something that looked suspiciously like handcuffs but was probably way more expensive.
"Amara," Kira said, but she was laughing. "You can't just pack a BDSM kit like it's a first aid kit."
"Why not? It's basically the same thing. Preparation for emergencies."
"What kind of emergencies require silk ties?" Sophia asked, though she was leaning forward to get a better look.
"The best kind," Madeline said with a wicked smile. She reached into her own bag and pulled out a small silk pouch. "I brought a few things too. French lingerie, mostly. I thought Evan might appreciate the cultural exchange."
My mouth went dry as she opened the pouch and showed us a glimpse of black lace that looked like it cost more than my tuition.
"This is not helping me concentrate on packing," I said.
"Good," Rey said, moving closer to me. "You're too tense about this trip anyway. Maybe you need to relax a little."
She was right, and I hated that she was right. Ever since Dr. Farnsworth had explained the real purpose of the exchange program – the collar testing, the power suppression research – I'd been wound tighter than a spring. The idea of being used as a test subject for government technology didn't exactly fill me with warm fuzzy feelings.
But watching my girls plan for our trip, seeing how excited they were, how they were all working together to make sure we had everything we needed... it reminded me that this wasn't just about the testing. This was about us, about our relationship, about the life we were building together.
"You know what I love about this?" I said, gesturing to all of them scattered around my room with their clothes and bags and ridiculous packing lists.
"What?" Kira asked.
"Six months ago, if someone had told me I'd be in a relationship with five incredibly gorgeous women, who all somehow get along and actually like each other, I would have laughed in their face. And now..." I shrugged. "Now I can't imagine my life any other way."
"Aww," Amara said, batting her eyelashes. "Are you getting sentimental on us?"
"Maybe a little."
"Good," Sophia said firmly. "Because we're all in this together. Whatever happens in England, whatever they want to test or study or analyze, we're a team. All of us."
"Damn right we are," Rey said. "And if anyone tries to mess with our family, they're going to regret it."
The word 'family' hit me harder than I expected. That's what we were, wasn't it? Not just a relationship or a group of friends, but an actual family. Chosen family, maybe, but family all the same.
"Speaking of family," Madeline said, "has anyone talked to Jason about packing? Because knowing him, he's probably planning to bring nothing but comic books and that ridiculous leather jacket."
"He's in his room packing right now," I said. "Or at least, he's supposed to be… For all I know, he's reorganizing his movie collection for the hundredth time."
"Someone should check on him," Sophia said. "Make sure he's bringing appropriate clothes for British weather."
"I'll do it later," I said. "Right now I'm more concerned about fitting all this stuff in my suitcase."
"That's what you get for waiting until the last minute," Kira said, but she was smiling. She stood up from the bed, one hand on her lower back, and I immediately moved to help her.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine. The baby's just getting heavier." She leaned into me, and I wrapped my arms around her, careful of her belly. "I'm going to miss you so much."
"It's only six weeks."
"Six weeks is a long time when you're pregnant. What if something happens? What if the baby comes early?"
"Gabriel will be here," I said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "And Dr. Farnsworth promised that if there's any emergency, they'll get me home immediately. Private jet, no questions asked."
"Promise me you'll be careful," she said quietly. "I know this isn't just a school trip. I can see it in your eyes. You're worried about something."
I was worried about a lot of things, actually. The collar testing was just the beginning. Dr. Farnsworth had been vague about the details, but I got the impression that the British government's interest in my abilities went beyond simple academic curiosity. And then there were the terrorist attacks happening across Europe – Barcelona, Munich, Rome. The news was calling the perpetrators followers of "Cataclysm," and the footage of the destruction he left behind was nightmare fuel.
But I couldn't tell Kira any of that. She had enough to worry about with the pregnancy.
"I'll be careful," I promised. "And I'll call you every day. Multiple times a day, probably."
"Good. Because if you don't, I'm flying to England myself, pregnancy be damned."
"That's my girl," Rey said approvingly. "Threaten international incidents. I like it."
"Oh, speaking of travel arrangements," Amara said, "Felix is driving us to the airport tomorrow morning. He said to be ready by six AM sharp, and he's not waiting for anyone who's late."
"Felix is driving?" I asked. "As in Honey Badger, Felix?"
"The one and only. Apparently he volunteered when he heard about the trip. Said something about wanting to make sure we got there in one piece."
That was... actually kind of sweet. Felix wasn't exactly known for his warm and fuzzy side, but he'd always looked out for the students in his own gruff way.
"Six AM," Sophia said, making a note on what looked like a detailed itinerary. "That means we need to be downstairs with our luggage by 5:45 to account for loading time."
"Jesus, Sophia, it's not a military operation."
"Isn't it?" she asked seriously. "We're representing our Academy, our country, and our enhanced individual community. If that's not worth military-level planning, I don't know what is."
She had a point, even if I didn't want to admit it. This trip was bigger than just the six of us going to school in England. We were walking into a political situation that none of us fully understood, and the stakes were higher than anyone was saying out loud.
But looking around at my girls – Kira with her protective hand on her belly, Amara with her mischievous smile, Madeline with her effortless elegance, Rey with her fierce determination, Sophia with her careful planning – I felt something I hadn't felt in months.
Hope.
Whatever we were walking into, whatever the British government wanted from me, whatever dangers were waiting for us across the Atlantic, we'd face them together. And that made all the difference.
"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together. "Let's finish packing. We've got a plane to catch tomorrow, and apparently Felix doesn't wait for anyone."
"Damn right he doesn't," came a gruff voice from the hallway. "And if any of you are late, you're walking to the airport."
Felix appeared in the doorway, looking like he'd just stepped out of a biker bar. Leather jacket, worn jeans, and an expression that suggested he'd rather be anywhere else.
"Just wanted to make sure you kids knew the drill," he said. "Six AM sharp. Bags loaded and ready to go. And for the love of all that's holy, don't pack like you're moving to England permanently."
He looked pointedly at Madeline's garment bag.
"This is just my fall collection," she said defensively.
"Your fall collection is bigger than most people's entire wardrobes."
"Quality over quantity, Felix."
"Quantity over sanity, more like." He shook his head. "Six AM. Don't make me come looking for you."
And with that cheerful threat, he disappeared back down the hallway.
"I love that man," Rey said. "He's like the grumpy uncle we never knew we needed."
"He's going to make sure we get there safely," Sophia said. "That's what matters."
"Plus, he's probably the only person at this Academy who could actually intimidate British customs officials," Amara added.
I laughed, imagining Felix staring down some poor customs agent who dared to question our luggage. It would probably be the highlight of his day.
"Alright," I said, looking around at the organized chaos of our packing. "I think we're as ready as we're going to be."
“Are you ready?” Kira asked, not much more than a whisper, her fingers curling around mine.
She looked tired, but there was a steadiness in the line of her jaw, the way she balanced one hand at the small of her back—as if holding herself together for the both of us.
My eyes went to her belly, the slight rise beneath her shirt, proof of the child we’d made. I thought about England, about what kind of trouble or test or madness might be waiting across the water.
And then my gaze ran over the rest of them: my other partners, the people I’d chosen, the ones I’d bled and fought beside. Call it a family, call it a thrown-together team. Either way, I wasn’t going in alone.
I steadied my grip and caught Kira’s gaze. “Yeah,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze. “I’m ready.”
CHAPTER TWO
The alarm went off at 5:30 AM, which should be illegal on any day that doesn’t involve a life-or-death emergency. I rolled out of bed feeling like I’d been hit by a truck, grabbed the first clothes I could find, and stumbled toward the lobby with my suitcase bumping behind me like a reluctant dog.
The Academy was still wrapped in that thick fog from yesterday, making everything look like a scene from a horror movie. The kind where teenagers go on a trip and only half of them come back. Real encouraging thoughts for 5:45 in the morning.
I wasn’t the first one downstairs, which shouldn’t have surprised me. Sophia was already there with her matching luggage arranged in perfect formation, checking items off what looked like a laminated checklist. Because of course she had a laminated checklist.
“Morning,” I mumbled, setting my bag down next to hers.
“Good morning, Evan. Did you remember to pack your international adapter? British outlets are different from American ones.”
