Beatrice Barlow's Story

The morning of Monday the 9th dawns bright and chilly, one of the colder days despite the time of year. Many might glance at the sky with a disgruntled frown, asking why the weather gods had decided to bring a winter breeze a month early. It could have been worse though, for it was only the wind that stirred leaves and sent the odd chill down pedestrians' backs. When out of the wind and in the sun, the weather seemed warmer, closer to the summer passed than the winter to come.

The city itself seems quiet, more peaceful than an large, thriving metropolis has a right to be. Yet, anyone knows that beneath that tranquil peace is sure to be the rumblings of crime, a common undercurrent found in any big city. Well, perhaps New York's crime stats were a bit lower than your average city. It did lay claim to a few prominent members of The Wardens, and was the secret home to The Warden's newest venture: The New Guardians, a group of younger heroes being trained to save the world.

A year has passed since the group was first formed, and since then their number has doubled as new recruits have been invited to join by the veteran Wardens. Within the last month, almost every member of the young heroes' group has received a scholarship (or invitation for those wealthy enough not to worry about money) to attend the prestigious Ascot Academy, a private school offering high school courses as well as college classes.

For those in the high school, a mandatory uniform sees all the students wearing a sea of white and navy. Thankfully, the university students are free to wear what they wish, provided it isn't too ostentatious. As the new day begins, school calls to our heroes, where they might temporarily put aside weapons and masks for pens and calculators... well, at least as long as trouble doesn't come calling.

The girl hit the ground with a dull thud, a grunt of suppressed pain squeezed from her lips as the wind was knocked from her lungs. Her shins stung, her hands were prickling from the slap of the mat, and various bruises were already sprouting across her dark skin, and yet she was pushing herself up with barely a frown.

"Isn't this child abuse or something?" Beatrice Barlow chirped up at her mentor, rolling her wrists slightly before crouching back into an anticipatory position, fists raised above her face. Rather than mimic her pose or respond to her teasing, Francis Leeds merely threw a towel at the teenager. His own towel was clutched in his other hand, wiping a thin layer of sweat off his face.

"Come on old man, one more round." Bea attempts to coerce her mentor, even though she knows better than anyone how frustratingly stubborn he can be.

"You have school starting soon" He replies, nodding towards the digital clock projected onto the wall of the manor's fitness centre. "I don't pay for you not to go."

Bea snorted and placed her hand over her heart, faking a regretful tone as she teases, "If only I've got one of those special scholarships, then you wouldn't have to pay a dime."

Francis Leeds merely raises an eyebrow at the girl's teasing, his lips quirking up in what might almost be considered a smirk. Someone who didn't know the man well might assume that his expression was unchanged, still that mask of blankness that The Shadow maintained at all times. Bea, however, could tell that this was Leeds' version of a smile, the equivalent of a normal person physically clutching their stomach in laughter. It was a victory, and she was sure as hell going to tell Dot about it when she did get to school.

As she grabbed her water bottle and took a refreshing gulp, Bea shook her head at her mentor, "You gonna drive me? Otherwise I might accidentally miss the bus."

Leeds merely straightened as he picked up his own bottle, flung his towel over his shoulder and proceeded to leave the training room, calling back over his shoulder, "I'll be leaving in fifteen minutes. Don't be late."

Twenty-five minutes later, after a hasty shower, pulling on her school uniform, and grabbing her school books, Bea finds herself seated in the passenger seat of Francis Leeds' favourite sports car as they pull into the entrance of Ascot Academy. The wrought iron gates were pulled wide, bracketed by solid columns of old brick decorated by climbing vines. The school itself has ivy climbing over the old building, the one that looks like it was plucked right out of 18th century Europe and plonked on the outskirts of New York city. The new building, hovering over the old, is new and sleek in comparison, and Beatrice knows from experience holds a hub of expensive tech that her wealthy mentor - among others - helped to fund.

The nine o'clock bell to signal the start of first period has already rung, no doubt the 8.50 bell telling students to get to class had already sounded too. Bea looked forward to the day she would be a college student, and didn't have to abide by the timetable those bells set. At least she didn't have to go to one of the other city schools where they started at some ungodly, even earlier hour.

"Come on, Frank, first period is gym and you know I don't need any help with that!" Bea sighs as the car grinds to a halt, attempting to do the impossible and convince Francis into doing something he's already refused her. "We could go get starbucks and I'd still be back in time for English."

"Out." Was all Leeds answered with as he leaned over and opened her door for her, raising his brows as he waited for the young girl to leave. Bea pulled a face and slid out of the car, petulantly poking her tongue out as Leeds closed the door and drove off with only a "Be good" in farewell.

Bea squared her shoulders and smoothed her skirt, resigning herself to the mind numbing dullness of playing volleyball for an hour. Truthfully, it wouldn't really be that bad. She had a few friends in the class and Bea was always fairly good at sports, but she'd still rather be wagging with Francis. Or Dot, maybe she should text Dot and...

Even as the thought crossed Bea's mind, something beeped. It wasn't the cellphone in her bag however, but the small device she kept in the thin belt hidden beneath her school blouse. Digging it out, Bea felt a grin spread across her face because she knew before she'd looked at the message and plugged in the ear piece what the beeping meant. The New Guardians were being called in on a mission. No school for the day!

---

"New Guardians, report to home base immediately. This is a priority mission, everyone is required." The Shadow's voice was brusque and business-like, leaving no room for questions. The broadcast no doubt going out to all the members of the young team.

"Yes, sir." Raphael Pavesi responded quietly, head down so as not to draw attention in the small lecture theatre, hand covering his mouth. The Italian, who had risen early for a lecture at Ascot, quickly packed up his items and pulled out of his row, ducking his head further as he slipped from the room. He waved vaguely at the one friend he had in the lecture, reminding himself to text her later to ask for notes.

Then, it was only a short walk to one two teleportation devices within the school. This one took the appearance of a supply closet, yet only the thumb print of one of the heroes would cause the door knob to unlock. To anyone else it would be mysteriously locked. Raf pulled it open now, hooking his bag securely over his shoulder as the door locked behind him and he was able to step up onto the large disc-like indents on the floor. The one beneath his feet glowed, a robotic voice calling out his name as it scanned his body and confirmed his identity,

"Aeolus. Member B-1-1."

Gritting his teeth, Raf watched as yellow light washed over his body, and suddenly he felt as if he were moving at the speed of light without actually moving an inch. Gravity weighed him down, his breath was pushed from his lungs, his finger tips sparked, and then as suddenly as it began he was standing on a similar pad, but in a much larger room. Really, the teleportation pads take less than the blink of an eye, but it always feels longer to Raf, who hates them. Yet, with time of the essence, he figured it would be better than flying to base.

The underground base has a simple layout. One main room in the centre is where most activities, training exercises, and mission hand-outs occur. Around the circular room are a few niches - one of which holds the teleportation pads, enough to transport the whole team in one go anywhere in the world. Directly across are automatic doors which lead to more training rooms, areas such as the gym and a small swimming pool, rooms for training powers, and more. Between that door and the teleportation pads are, on one side, doors leading to the large garage, while directly across from them are the doors leading to the communal living areas and bedrooms.

Raf heads towards the bedrooms now, rushing through the doors into a large living room with an extensive kitchen attached, and then through into a short corridor with bedrooms branching off. Some of the rooms are empty, as not every member chooses to live at base. Raf's room is the third on the right, a tidy, personal space which he rarely invites others into. He likes to hole up on his chair most nights to read a book. Today, however, he dumps his back, quickly pulls on his outfit and then heads back out to the main atrium.

His gloves activate with a through, inscribed, golden skin crawling over his hands. He flexes them as he comes to stand in front of The Shadow, nodding his greeting to the older hero while waiting for the rest of the team to join them.

It isn't long before the teleportation pads illuminate again, and as the robotic voice calls, "Dusk. Member B-0-1." , with a wide grin on her face steps the identified hero. She's in her uniform and grinning, holding back her energy as she comes over to The Shadow.

"Should'a just gone to starbucks." She teases her mentor, and Raf isn't sure, but he thinks... he thinks he just saw the Shadow almost smile.

Shadow remained as impassive as ever as each member of the New Guardians trooped in, face revealing nothing. Usually, these debriefs took place over the large screen he stood in front of, the communication device standing taller than he was and presenting several smaller screens surrounding a much larger one in the centre. There was a direct link to The Warden’s base, where a video conference could be set up with the flick of a button. That is where Shadow would usually be, standing stiffly in front of The Warden’s screen rather than watching for the young heroes to congregate. Today, however, he had been in the neighbourhood.

The older hero watches patiently and silently, merely inclining his head when greeted by various members or remaining impassive as others filtered in. He watched and assessed as the group gathered, noting who went to stand with who, the way some glanced at their feet or nervously said hello to the whole group. None of these children, young adults – as his mentee would remind him – were his enemy, but no knowledge, no matter how small, was ever wasted.

“So, what’s the mission, boss?” Dusk quips cheerfully, eagerness to act telling by the way she was lightly shifting from foot to foot.

Shadow glanced at those gathered, noted the few who weren’t here yet, and then came to a decision. Those who were late would have to sit out, time was of the essence. Without a word, Shadow turned towards the monitor behind him, fingers lightly tapping a few of the keys and bringing up the familiar face of a local news reporter. Dusk groaned behind Shadow, and the older hero felt the tips of his mouth quirk up slightly in amusement. Shadow well knew her frustration that the reporter constantly mangled her hero name.

On the screen, Hapley was speaking to the camera while a small square image in the corner of the television revealed the focus of his segment.

“Terror in Tunisia! The villain known as Echo has been sighted in the African nation, sending the country and its neighbours into panic as his drones move across the border.” The screen shifted from Perd’s chubby jowls to a shot of a Tunisian city. It looked like a war zone; buildings were crumbling and engulfed in flame, civilians were fleeing in terror as small, robotic humanoid-drones slowly marched through the streets. Behind them, leading the small army of deadly robots, came a robotic creation that stood as tall as the eight storey building it had just crushed beneath metal hands. Though unable to see within the giant robot’s insides, the villain known as Echo would be inside, controlling the devastation from the relative safety of his robotic walls. As the scene continued, the giant robot, an intimidating vision of black and grey steel, turned in its tracks, its arm stretching out, hand opening to reveal some sort of weapon. A flash of light, and suddenly another building was destroyed.

“I’m receiving word that-… yes! Steel comet has arrived.” Perd’s voice announced just as flash of grey streaked through the sky, a powerful sword glinting in his hand as the British hero brought it down on the still outstretched hand. With a sickening crunch the metallic limb was split almost in half.

The image froze as Shadow paused it, his gaze returning to the keyboard as he typed in a few more commands.

“Please tell me we’re going to take on Echo!” Dusk gasped, excitement lacing through her small body. She’d been longing to take on the asshole again since the last time they’d met – when he’d called her ‘that Shadow brat’ and then laughed as she’d angrily corrected him. Why couldn’t anyone get her name right?

Rather than answer his protegee, Shadow merely hit another key and brought up a satellite image of a lone, seemingly innocuous building, followed by schematics for the same construction.

“No! Shadow, please.” Dusk moaned pre-emptively, recognising the logo barely showing on a corner of the building on screen; a steel and black wasp imposed on a dark shield. Across from Dusk, Aeolus shifted restlessly, frowning slightly at the image on screen. He didn’t recognise the insignia on the building, but then again, he hadn’t been at this game as long Dusk, nor did he have The Shadow as his mentor.

“Wasp Labs, two hours from Echo’s position, currently being evacuated of most staff. We’ve been watching various labs for months-…” -Shadow ignored the loud huff coming from his protegee, who had spent countless boring days on recon at one of the American Wasp labs, and continued- “…and we’re certain that this one is hiding something of importance. Usually, with the number of civilians on staff a mission such as this would be difficult, however with the evacuation, the facilities will either be empty or...”

Aeolus leaned in slightly as Shadow pressed another button, and a slightly blurry, pixilated image appeared on screen. It was the same facility, only various trucks and cars had shifted position in the carpark. The image zoomed in to a pair of figures entering the building, a tall, lithe male glancing arrogantly over his shoulder and a slim woman beside him, staring resolutely forward.

“…guarded by criminals. Ricochet and Esfir Vasile were spotted entering the facility three days ago.” Shadow continued, naming the pixilated pair on screen, “We have yet to determine why they were there, or whether they’ve returned since. But, given the lack of civilians at the labs, we won’t get another opportunity to strike. Your mission is a three-pronged strike. Team alpha; Aeolus, Yuki, Quantum, Sigil, and Knockout, you’ll be coming in from the south and drawing any remaining guards from the building. Team beta; Patriot, Aether, Golden Girl, and Menon, you’ll approach from the north…”

Bea snickered quietly as Shadow announced the teams and shifted over so that she could elbow Dot gently, muttering under her breath, “Remember that last fic Claudia wrote? About alphas and betas?”

Shadow continued, “…Team gamma; Dusk, Ghost, Interstellar, and Fever, you’ll be entering the facility covertly to gather intel.” Shadow shifted to the map of the area and indicated the points from which he wanted each team to arrive, “Objectives for alpha and beta are the same, draw hostile enemy fire and create cover for gamma team to enter the facility. If Ricochet and Vasile or any of their associates are inside, we’ll need alpha and beta to draw them out before gamma go in. Gamma, your only mission is to collect information.”

Dusk held her hands up in a defensive position as Shadow directed the last warning to her, “Observe, collect info, got it boss.”

Shadow didn’t react to his mentee, merely typed in a series of commands to the communication table before telling those gathered, “The necessary details have been sent to your personal devices. You have ten minutes to gather what you need before the teleportation devices will take you to the drop off zone. From there, you’ll be on foot to the destination. You’ll have two hours maximum. Work together, and do not disappoint me.”

Aeolus nodded as the brief came to a close, and glanced across at the four individuals in his team. Though he was always one of the quieter ones of the team, he held respect for all of those within the New Guardians, and was prepared to push through his natural reticence in order to prepare for a meeting.

“Shall we come up with a plan?” He inquired to any of alpha that were listening, before pulling out a slim cellphone from the only pocket on his tight uniform. Raf opened up Shadow’s message and quickly scanned over the basic information sent to him and his team. It was enough to give them insight into the area, without overwhelming them with facts that they wouldn’t need.

Without a formal farewell, Shadow left the young heroes to ready themselves, heading towards the teleportation devices. He’d only gone a few paces before halting as Dusk cut him off,

“You’re going to fight Echo?” She guessed, shifting to walk with her mentor towards the alcove housing the teleportation pads. Shadow didn’t respond, but Dusk knew him well enough to be confident in her assumption, “You going to tell me what they’ve got in that lab?”

“You don’t already know?” Shadow responded with the slightest, teasing arch to his eyebrow. Bea pulled a face, biting back a scowl as she watched the tall man type in the coordinates for his destination and step onto the closest pad, “Did I ever tell you that patience is a virtue?”

Bea parted her lips to respond, incredulous that Shadow had just teased her, twice. She’d spent the dullest days watching a nearer set of Wasp labs, to no avail. Now, knowing that something was obviously happening in this foreign lab had her itching with curiosity to find out. If Shadow wouldn’t tell her, she sure as hell was going to give the stealth mission her all to find out just what was within the lab’s secretive walls.

“I’m so ready for this.” Dusk grinned as she turned back towards her comrades, raising her wrist and tapping on the small digital screen attached to her uniform. A miniature blueprint of the facilities appeared, showing several stories above ground, and at least two basement levels. Security locks, restricted corridors, secret rooms… whatever they found would pose – hopefully – new and exciting challenges. Feeling her grin widen, Dusk glanced at the others on team gamma, “This is going to be so much fun.”

"This is going to be so much fun!" Dusk mutters again as she gravitates towards the other members of team gamma, her gazing memorising the layout of the Wasp facility, noting various Bea-sized vents to climb through, counting exits, and already planning a route into the bowels of the building. Shadow had kindly marked various parts of the facility - security measures, a communication room, and most importantly the general area their target occupied, whatever said target was. It would be up to Team Gamma to navigate their way there, overcoming any obstacles marked on the blueprint and any which differed from the holographic plans before her. Beatrice had been on more than one mission where carefully laid plans had had to be altered at the last minute thanks to previously unknown rooms and building layouts offering up surprises. It was more fun like that, really.

While open fighting such as team alpha and beta would be undertaking might appeal to the young hero at times - there was nothing more exhilarating than throwing yourself at opponents and triumphantly knocking them unconscious - the task of infiltration and information recovery was much more Dusk's speed. She nodded in welcome to Täuschung, before her gaze came to rest upon the hacking genius standing with them. Dusk nodded her understanding at Ghost's request, before cocking her head and listening to Fever. There were a lot of variables in their mission; what if there were guards not drawn outside the facility to fight? What if the layout was different? What if Ricochet or Vasile happened to be guarding their target? Yet, the New Guardians had trained for situations like this, and Dusk had been training since she was a kid to take on the unknown. Okay, technically Shadow believed in entering situations where you knew as much intel as possible, but he'd taught her to think on her feet. Bea doubts she'd be standing her today if she hadn't learned.

"Ghost pretty much got it in one." Dusk chirped at Tauschung with a grin, "Shadow should have sent you information. We'll be infiltrating Wasp labs to get some mysterious thing, and then getting out before whoever runs Wasp labs can call for reinforcements." Dusk nods towards the screens of the communication desk that Shadow had just been using. On one of the smaller screens the live action fight between Echo and several Wardens was still on going. "Shadow wants us to get in and out quickly while the rest of the world is watching that."

Putting a small red mark on Dusk's version of the facility blueprints, she pointed to the blinking light that now hung over one of the facility's entrances; a small, back door which would hopefully offer the easiest and least noticeable entrance inside. "I reckon we go inside here, find Ghost her server room, Fever somewhere secure to pass out, and then continue down to our target." Dusk suggested happily, even as other possible plans appeared and were waved away in her head, "Ghost, you think you'll be able to get into their security system too? Mess with the cameras and locked doors? Then Fever's guard can helps us get into anywhere else. Tauschung, do you think you can cast illusions over us? Block us from view of anyone walking by? Maybe even keep Fever's body under and illusion depending on the distance? Should mean we can get in and out without being seen. Hopefully."

Dusk was aware that she was rambling, offering up suggestions that might all turn to nothing when they reach their destination. But, she was excited. "We run into any guards inside, I'll try and take 'em out first, but ideally we'll be able to avoid them."

Dusk's hands patted down her utility belt, double checking that any and all tools necessary for espionage were in place, not to mention the compartment of chocolate buttons she'd packed a few days ago to 'keep her energy up'. Shadow had thought them unnecessary. Clearly he'd never been on a mission with cramps.

"Ghost, you think you can keep out comms open while we're in there? Dusk checked the time, 2 minutes left until departure. The hero smiled at her teammates, possessing every confidence that together they'd be able to get in and out with no problems. "Anyone wanna add anything else?"

Ten minutes ticked by quickly when planning and plotting for a mission. As the timer ticked down the last minute, the New Guardians finished any last second preparations needed for battle. As per Shadow's instructions - those spoken and the more individual plans sent to each member's personal device - the various teams would be transported to the perimeter of Wasp Laps. Team alpha and beta would leave first, alpha arriving just south of the facility's entrance and pushing their way through security to draw out any remaining guards from the main entrance, while team beta would find themselves teleported just north of the labs and taking the second entrance as their target. A few minutes later team gamma were set to depart, arriving to the west of the facility, where the easiest path into the facility had been mapped out by Shadow and - hopefully - reinforced during the ten minute planning session.

As the deadline to leave came, team alpha stepped up to the teleportation pads. Aeolus gave his teammates a nod before Dusk, at the teleportation device's control pad, tapped in the coordinates. With a flash of light, Aeolus felt his body being hurtled through space as the transport technology pulled him halfway across the globe in the blink of an eye. He would have clenched his fists if he'd had time to do so. As it was, his boots were landing on the quickly set up receptor teleportation pads seconds after his departure, his team appearing beside him in the same moment. As Raf caught his breathe - he hated the teleportation devices, he took a moment to assess his surroundings.

It was warm, a pleasant 25 C (77 F), with the lightest breeze ruffling his hair (that would change). To one side of him ran a lonely road through a sparse covering of trees. Hills stood in the distance and the odd homestead, open to the mid-afternoon sun. He wondered if that was where Echo was wrecking havoc with his robots?

To the other side sat Wasp labs; a high-tech facility that gleamed with the prosperity of well-funded research. The lone road lead through tall security gates, a lone station to the side of the road no doubt for screening arriving individuals before cars were diverted to a car park on the other side of the metal fence. Beyond that was the small collection of buildings which made up the lab. None reached higher than a few stories. They were square, flashy things which utilised modern architecture and a combination of shining metal and brick. Alpha were closest to the first building, where a set of large glass doors marked the official entrance. A small fountain and courtyard decorated front of the entrance, though it was nothing ostentatious.

What Aeolus noted as he took in the building was the odd scattering of patrolling security guards, guns sitting happily at their hips. He sighted three from where he stood - one walking from the carpark towards the south-east fence, the other two by the building entrance. The carpark was mostly empty too, a good sign to indicate that most of the civilian staff had no doubt left already.

"Andiamo. Let's go." Raf said, taking a step towards the labs. There was no need for stealth here, not when his team's mission was to distract. With a grin, Raf flexed his hands and, making sure he wasn't too close to any team mates, called on the winds. The engravings in his gloves gleamed as they tugged at the air, sweeping the soft breeze into something fiercer, collecting dry leaves and dust as it swirled and wrapped around Raf. Aeolus took a leaping step and the wind caught up, propelling him up and over the fence in a graceful arch. He had no doubt that the rest of his team right beside him.

He landed with a thud on the concrete of the parking lot, knees bending to absorb the impact, head turning slightly to glance behind him at his team. Straightening, Rafael held his hand parallel to the ground, calling on the winds again. They came in a burst; a tight ball of fierce winds which flew towards the nearest parked car and sent it flying into it's neighbour several spaces down. There was no explosion (sadly), but a flying car would serve a good initial distraction to signal Wasp Lab's guards that they were about to have a fight on their hands.



From the other side of the facility - where team beta were arriving - they would find no lone road, but rather a simple fence dictating the facility's boundaries. Beyond that, shipping containers lined one side of the immediate grounds, beside the locked containers stood a smaller carpark, no doubt for the executives of the lab, though only one car sat in its assigned spot. The other half of grounds before the buildings was taken up by grass and the odd picnic table. Apparently, the back of the facility was often used as a lunch station for the facility's employees. The second entrance was also often used by the bosses, and here too a few guards were stationed. Even from the other side of the grounds, the sound of screeching metal from a thrown car could be heard.



Team gamma were the last to arrive, their landing position to the west hidden from view of the labs by a thick collection of trees pressed against the lab's fence. Bea blinked at the bright sun, already digging through her belt for the small wire cutting device she kept stashed there. Once through the fence they had the shortest distance to cross (a small stretch of grass) before reaching a small door on the side of the building. From there, if the blueprints they'd been provided with were accurate, Dusk and her team could find somewhere for Fever to lie and get Ghost to the servers. Then, Dusk was determined to find her way through the twisting labyrinth of underground hallways to their target.

"Can you cast an illusion over us when we're through the fence?" Dusk asked Tauschung over her shoulder as he brought the hand-held wire cutter to the fence and cut through the first diamond of metal. A grin stretched across Bea's face, fuck yes, this is what she lived for.