HADES ANNUAL "FUN" RUN II

By Shinju Oe

RECAP


It’s 5 in the morning and the HADES Campus is already busy.  Students glare at each other, some are friends…some…are obviously not in good terms.  The last year event turned into a disaster as 2 students got killed and 52 injured.  The professors all wonder what’s in store for the coming hours.  Student volunteers prepared themselves for the worst, others don’t care.  All must participate despite knowing that things will be in chaos…  Why?  Cause no one wants to stay with Dr. Enkil for a whole day… ALONE.    

PART II

The students all clamored for the heat is unbearable.  Fallon Altair merely walked about followed by Abaven Shahe who is followed by a bunch of girls…who are followed by a couple of guys….and the crowd goes on.  Xenon, now registered, stared at the sky just beside the fountains that surround the area.  “They’ve got to be kidding me…  It’s like…50 degrees here….” 

The teachers have finished the last of the registrants and the twins are now packing up.  Kurt was assisted by Professor Maron Enkil who is glaring at the guys staring at Professor Kurt’s exposed legs.  He turned to her and tsked.  “Why the hell did you wear that?”

Kurt turned and walked away.  “It’s…HOT, Maron…  Do you expect me to wear overalls?”  She turned and gave him a questioning look.  “Well?”

Maron just gave her a blank expression and answered, “Just don’t get yourself in trouble.”  He then turned to face all the other students and gave them a warning glare.  When he’s sure Kurt can’t hear them, he smiled.  “Don’t even think about it…”  It was a warning, one that is so clear the students ran off.

Somewhere by the road where the FUN RUN will start, the Headmaster skipped joyously.  There has been no sign of any fight at all and it’s almost an hour.  “This is gonna be one of the most memorable years, right Dennis?”

Dennis Rondart nodded, following the headmaster whence he goes.  “Of course, headmaster.  I believe that you will prove to the world that these children can co-exist with each other…THUS, coexist with humans…”  As soon as he uttered the words, he saw a student running towards them.

“Headmaster, headmaster!!!”

Wood prepared for the worst.  So early…  Last year…it took them an hour and a half to start killing each other…  What is it now?  Someone hit someone on the head?  His face showed dread and fear.  “What is it?”

The student stopped to catch his breath and looked up.  “The food committee is in trouble.”

Headmaster Wood sighed.  “I thought it’s something else…well…  What is the problem?  I’m sure it’s nothing that Mr. Baga can’t handle…?”

“That’s the problem, headmaster…  He…kindda….”  The student whispered.  “…overdid the cooking…  He burned most of the food.  Stocks were also burnt.  We can’t order now, the shipping is schedule for next week.  Should we tell the students they won’t be eating lunch after the 3 mile run?”

The headmaster gasped.  “NO!  NEVER! DON’T EVEN BREATHE A WORD ABOUT THAT!”  He shouted. If the kids know they won’t be eating in the first stop…there’s going to be chaos.  He worriedly looked about. 

“Breathe about what?”  Kurt, Frank and Maron now approached the headmaster.  “So?  What is it?”  Kurt asked once more.  “What are you guys mumbling about?  Is there a problem?”

The headmaster turned to Dennis who simply smiled and answered, “Oh…there’s no problem at all Ms. Kurt.  We’re just discussing a little suggestion.”  He bowed and took the student with him.  They headed for the tents where the food is prepared for packaging.

“Is something wrong, headmaster?”  Frank observed the OBVIOUSLY disturbed professor.  “You’ve got to tell us before something bad happens.  Remember what happened last year?”

The headmaster covered his face.  Frank is right.  He has to tell the staff.  He turned to them and started, “I…well…”  His eyes saw the other students coming closer.  “AM JUST HAPPY THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING AS PLANNED!”  He exclaimed and hopped away from the 3 teachers.

“I’m telling you…he’s gone mental.”  Kurt shook her head slowly.  “I understand the stress…  If I am headmaster, it’s as easy as pie…”  She grinned at the students.  “There are two choice…  Live…or Die.”

“Stop it.”  Frank warned as she then looked towards the tents.  “Why don’t you check on Altair.  The run will start soon enough.  I’m going to check on the food committee.  I have a score to settle.  I have to get a decent breakfast.”  She saw her sister raise a brow.  “I’ll get you your grub.”

Kurt and Maron headed for the front lines where they found Fallon arguing with a sophomore.

“You better get in line, kid.”  Fallon warned, her clip board is pointed at the student.

“And you are?!  You’re not a teacher.”  He slapped the clipboard away.  “And you’re certainly NOT an Accel.  You’re a mere, Alter…”  He grinned.

Fallon ignored the racism.  “Please… Get. Back. In. Line.”

“Or what?” The Accel Sophomore teased.  “You can’t make me, Alter.  You’re a lab rat, that’s what you are…  Lower classes…  Insignificant~”  His words were cut off by a glass saber that shot through them.  He turned to find one of the instructors – Maron Enkil.  “Prof. Enkil.”

Maron stared at Fallon Altair who is unfazed and in a defending stance.  He looked back to the Accel.  “Whether she’s an Accel or a Verifier or a Professor or not…  She has an ID and is authorized to…”  He pushed the boy back using the marble who now turned to a stick. “Keep. You. In. Line.”  He punctuated and looked at all the students who have gathered to witness the commotion.  “GET IN LINE.”  He said in a firm voice.  The students immediately straightened.

“I’m sorry for not being able to handle it, sir.”  Fallon bowed.

“It’s nothing.  It’s good that you controlled your temper.”  Maron patted the student on the shoulder and saw Kurt walking to the other side.  “If it’s possible, get someone to help you…preferably, an Accel.”  He advised and left to check on the other classes. 

Fallon sighed and looked back at the student who taunted her.  He’s still glaring at her.  Damn…  The only Accel within this section is…  Her eyes traveled to Abaven Shahe who is at the other end of the line talking with girls.  No way…  She battled with herself.  No way in hell will I…  A push shook her from her reverie. 

“You’re lucky Professor Enkil is around…”  An Accel girl now mocked her.  “Stop staring at Abaven, you whore.”

Fallon straighten herself.  She is tall.  3 inches taller than the Accel who just taunted her.  “I’m sorry to disappoint you, miss.  I don’t think that ACCEL reaches my STANDARD.”  She grinned.  “Besides, we prefer someone with…Brains.”  The Accel delivered a move that might have injured her neck if she’s not gifted with good senses.  She caught the Accel’s wrists.  The girl has the ability to cast Ice.  “Careful…you’ll never know what hit you when it comes to us, Alters…”  She slowly melted the ice in the Accel’s hand careful not to harm her.  If she was permitted, she’d have thrown her a mile away.  “Now…get back in…”  A sudden kick distracted her.  She parried it with her arms for defense but she stepped back a few feet away.  The guy who bugged her earlier is not standing in front of her. 

“I told you, little alter…  You’re but DIRT in this Institute…”

TBC.