"Can't believe this is what they expect us to work with." Elena said as she looked over the files again, speaking more to herself than to her fellow Overseer, Aleka. Of course, she was relieved that she had a chance to get off of a life sentence, but she thought they would give her more than this group of misfits. She was told that the first couple Metas that entered the project would be highly experimental, but this bordered on ridiculous. Elena sighed deeply, closing the files and sinking back into her chair.
"At least we're getting a former CIA agent. He might not be completely helpless. The boxer might be handle himself too. And at least the kids have all killed someone. I mean, even though most of them weren't on purpose it's good to know they're somewhat capable." She nodded slowly, trying to convince herself. She toyed with the black rosary wrapped around her right hand, seeking comfort in the dark prayer beads. A man wearing a suit and sunglasses silently drifted into the room.
"They're beginning to arrive." He said, no recognizable emotion on his face. Elena sighed once more, getting out of her seat. She looked towards Aleka.
"Let's get this show on the road."Elena and Aleka were chosen as the first two Overseers charged with leading the Metas "fortunate enough" to be apart of Project Redemption. They had been at the Institute, a secret government base that even the president didn't know the location of, for about a month to prepare for the first batch of super powered hoodlums to arrive for training. They themselves had been extensively prepped and given every possible fact on their team. It almost worried Elena that most of her new squad members lacked any real training, but then she'd remind herself that there was a time that even she had no real skills. She'd also remind herself that if she couldn't make them a proper unit, all of them, including herself, would be killed in combat or sent back to their various prisons.
They reached what resembled a large empty warehouse where their new friends were waiting for them, each flanked by prison guards or soldiers.
"Hello everyone." Elena greeted with a small pleasant smile.
"I'm Elena Estrella and this lovely creature to my right is Aleka Bellacour. We'll be your Overseers for the time you're a participant in Project Redemption."She took several steps towards them, the sound of her expensive heels echoing across the room.
"If you don't know what that means, it means we're in the same boat as you and we'll be leading this merry band of Metas." Her rosary dangled from her fingers, making small circles as she spoke.
"We've all been chosen to create a taskforce that will be assigned high risk missions considered too dangerous for the government's more valued agents." Elena could feel some of the guards and agents in the room tensed up. She could practically smell how uncomfortable the truth made them.
"For the next several weeks, you will receive training like never before. We will push your physical and mental limits so that you won't die as soon as we're faced with conflict. Then we'll be reviewed by a board of high profile military personnel who will approve us to move forward or disband us and shut down the program altogether."She smiled at them, running her eyes over the five individuals in front of her. They were a rather good looking group.
"Welcome to the A Team. And by the way, the A stands for Anonymous, because according to the government, we no longer exist." More tension. More anxiety. More guilt. Elena shook her head and her hand went to the back of her neck.
"Every member of this unit has had a small device implanted in the back of their neck. It will act as a tracker, a communicator, and also a powerful explosive. If you try to escape, disobey an order, or get captured, your head will be blown clean off. As far as I know, none of us will survive something like that. Not even you Tin Man." She winked at the broad tall man, whose size contrasted greatly with the rest of the taskforce.
"Questions, anyone?"The ride to the Institute had been a long, awkward, and silent ride for Paris. Not because he felt awkward or because he didn't feel comfortable talking, but because a something resembling a high tech metal muzzle was placed over his mouth. His eyes were shielded by a dark visor that he could barely see with. Almost every inch of his skin was covered by the horribly tacky orange plastic of his modified prison jumpsuit. He chuckled inwardly. His guards had really learned not to take any chances. Paris was somewhat surprised that he managed to seduce three guards before the prison started to take extra precautions.
'This is some bullshit.' he thought as they road along. If the visor and that monster of a prison uniform wasn't enough, he was riding with his favorite four guards to mess with and his muzzle prevented him from making a single snide comment. There was no witty banter or sexual innuendos to keep them all occupied until he arrived at the James Bond Training Center. Well, he knew it had another name, but that's what Paris called it.
They arrived and he was escorted into a large building, similar in appearance to some sort of warehouse where a big drug deal would go down. This was so freaking cool. He felt like one of those cop dramas on T.V. There was four other people in the room and all of them just happened to be extremely attractive. He smiled thinly behind the muzzle. This would be a fun time. There was an exotic looking young girl with what looked like a cat tail, a handsome boy around Paris' age, a very official thirty something year old man, and a large man who could probably snap someone in half. It made him giddy.
Two women walked in, the energy in the room instantly shifting. One of them came forward, obviously latin, and spoke with extreme confidence and honesty. Paris found it incredibly sexy. The other woman was grunge chic with glasses and dreadlocks. 'Beautiful'. he thought. What a selection of flavors for him to try. The latina, Elena, asked if there were any questions. Paris' handcuffed hands shot up as he jumped up and down, resembling a student eager to answer their teacher's question.
Elena looked at the guards.
"Take off the muzzle." They reluctantly agreed, swiping an access key through the back of the slip of metal. He gasped, a large goofy smile on his face.
"Thank God." He laughed, dramatically stretching his lips.
"Did you have a question?" Elena asked, a suspicious gleam in her eyes telling Paris that she read his profile.
"Yessum. I was wondering if I'd have to wear this shit all the time, because it sucks major balls." Elena laughed.
"Paris, right? Aren't you the one who convinced a group of his guards to assault their commanding officer?" Paris grinned mischievously.
"Assault is a very harsh way to put it. If we're gonna be a team, we have to trust each other, right?" "No." Elena said abruptly.
"Take off his visor." "Yesssss." Paris said, his already large grin somehow spreading.