Tales from Richardson University

Hiding my mutation at Richardson University proved to be more of a challenge than I thought. I guess it goes without saying that I wouldn’t recommend having powers at a mutant task force agent training university.

During sparring, I wrapped gauze around my hands to ‘protect them,’ but electric sparks jumped and burned the material every time. After every match, I had to wrap my hands with gauze underneath my gloves. I never thought I’d be counting the days until my first semester at my dream university would be over, but this stupid mutation was proving me wrong. I just had to keep my grades up and not do anything to risk expulsion. Or worse.

Between sessions at Monday’s practice, I slipped right outside the gym’s doors, under the guise of needing to get more water, but I needed to wrap my hands. If people saw how much I used, they would’ve known something was up, and so I alternated gauze-wrapping in the gym and in the hallway. Through the window, Penelope Barnes and Trisha Hawkins sparred with each other. Penelope ducked right before Trisha’s leg flew over, giving Penelope the chance to swing at the leg Trisha balanced on. Watching them only reminded me what I would be up against if my mutation became public.

“Want any drinks, Jane?” A quiet yet confident voice asked behind me—one of the only people at this school who knew about the sparks that ran across my hands, and my heart hopped into a skip. Austin was the only other person who also had a mutation to hide. He stood at the vending machine a few feet away, rubbing coins between his fingertips. The university’s security cameras would’ve thought he was just taking time deciding what he wanted, but I knew better.

“That’s okay,” I said, continuing to work. “What’s up?” If whatever was going on between Austin and me had a label, I would’ve hated the no-dating policy at Richardson University, but we didn’t. At least it gave me an excuse to stay in my dorm on weekends to study. Top of my class, just like Grandma.

I wished we could’ve faced each other so I could see his blue eyes and handsome set of lips. Even though we never kissed, I almost tasted them, but I shoved the thought away. I couldn’t think like that. Risking a relationship was almost as bad as showing off my powers.

“I wanted to ask you something,” he said.

“What?” I asked, and even though a part of me wanted him to sweep me up with his words and lace his fingers through my hair, I hoped he would keep this conversation purely platonic. For both of our sakes.

“Garrett was passing around that he hijacked one of the AI mutant bots reserved for second-year students, and he’s going to bring it tonight to the stadium so us first-years can get some practice in. Would you want to go together?”

The warmth in my chest dissipated. “Oh,” I said, wrapping my hands. “I can’t go. It’s way too risky.”

“Everybody in our class is going Jane,” he repied. “And I’m not exaggerating. Garrett said the only one who hadn’t given an answer was you. They can’t expel everybody.”

I ripped off the roll of gauze to finish my set. “I’m sure admin will think of another way to punish us.” Not to mention, Grandma would have words with me. I’m already a disappointment to the family with the mutation—even if they didn’t know about it yet.

“Just…think about it,” Austin told me before I pushed the doors to the gym.

Wasting no time, I went over to my designated blue mat to do a few more stretches before my sparring partner got here. As I reached for my toes, another girl stepped onto the blue mat, and I recognized her dark gray Nike sneakers immediately.

“Weren’t you just sparring Trisha?” I asked Penelope without looking up.

“I wanted to get in a quick match before studying,” Penelope said. “I have plans tonight.”

Straightening out, I said, “Oh, right. Getting in some extra practice sounds like it would probably best for you.”

If I nicked her, her face wouldn’t say. She only beamed at me. “Yep! And then I told some of the guys I’d go get ice cream with them afterwards. You know Austin, right?”

I shoved down a bristle. “Banks? Yeah, I know him.”

“Good, I was about to say, I spotted him out the window by the vending machine when you were replacing your gauze for the fourth time today.”

“Wow, Pen, are you stalking me? I feel flattered.”

She shrugged. “What can I say? When you frequently disappear after every spar to go wrap your hands, it’s hard not to notice. Trisha and I were talking about it earlier. Why do you do that?”

“It’s better for my hands,” I told her—a quarter-truth.

She threw her hands in fists. Time to get started. “Uh-huh. Sure. It wouldn’t have to do with why you’re not going to the practice session tonight?” She threw the first punch, and I ducked. Sparks radiated off my hands.

“Nope, I’d prefer not go since Garrett stole school property, and we could get expelled.” I kicked in a low arc towards her legs.

She leaped over my kick. “You have nothing to worry about. Your grandma pulled strings for you to get here.” We circled each other on the mat. “I’m sure she could pull strings to keep you in,” she said with a sneer.

“She did not pull strings,” I said marching toward her, dropping the spar. “I got into the school the same as everybody else.”

“If that’s what you say, Kaminsky. If you don’t want to go fight some AI mutants, just say so.”

“That’s not it. I just don’t want to get in trouble,” I snapped as electricity continuously popped from my hands.

“Look,” Penelope said, putting her hands on her hips. “Everybody thinks you’re in because of your grandma. Why don’t you come fight tonight and prove them wrong?”

“Alright, fine, if you want me there so badly, I’ll go.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted it. Did I really care about what Penelope thought about me?

Apparently.

The practice session was at the old stadium about a mile away from campus. Austin and I jogged there to get our muscles warm.

“I’m glad you’re coming,” he breathed as we ran down the street towards the stadium.

“Thanks. Are you going to get ice cream with Penelope and them after?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. Would you want to come?”

We kept on running. Why would Austin hang out with Penelope? Sure, she was competent and everything, but she wasn’t nice. To me, at least. However, what I really wondered was why he didn’t invite me? Again, I had to push that idea aside. “I have to work on a lab report for Dr. Everett. I don’t think I can go.”

“Well, if you change your mind,” he told me. “Let me know.”

“I will.” But I seriously doubted it.

The old stadium lacked surveillance equipment which was why Garrett brought the AI bot here. However, there was a sound system which blared some Aersosmith. I still couldn’t believe I came. Even though I had the qualifications to be here, I needed to keep up with what everybody else was doing. My classmates lined the first few rows of the bleachers, all getting ready for a fight with the AI mutant. Austin and I sat onto the first rows with our backpacks, and I took out my gauze and gloves as I took in the other people in the stadium.

“There’s some extra people,” I noted. “Who the—”

“Ten bucks a ticket,” Austin answered.

For the first time since I found out about my mutation, my hand flew to my face to stifle a laugh. “What is this? The WWE? Why would people care to watch us?”

“C’mom, if you had a chance to watch a scheduled mutant fight, you wouldn’t go?” He asked.

“Not if I had homework to do. This feels illegal.”

“If it makes you feel any better, Garrett said he’s going to split the proceeds to everybody.”

I pursed my lips, registering his statement. “Okay.” I went to the sign-in sheet to reserve Austin and my places to fight the AI mutant.

Victor Ramirez was first on the list, and he strutted into the center of the sandy pit to meet Garrett. The latter clasped his hands together and said into his mic, “Hey everybody! Welcome to the first of what I hope is many live training rounds. Thank you to everybody who’s watching, and thank you to all my classmates. All the proceeds will be spread equally amongst all the participating students because—” he clicked his tongue. “This school ain’t cheap.”

As the crowd laughed, Garrett left as he waived his hand, and an AI mutant came to meet Victor in the middle. I’d seen one before already, but their realism still shocked me. Something about it was unnerving, and I couldn’t tell what. It (or she?) introduced herself by shooting fire out her hands.

As the crowd jeered, I muttered, “Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be.”

Victor rolled out the way and in a smith motion, circled around and kicked the AI bot in the head. AI mutants lack pain receptors, and so she spun and swung at Victor, who again dodged. They went on like that until Victor won by pinning the AI mutant to the floor, holding her arms to the side. She writhed and squirmed, trying to get out of Victor’s grip, but all I could see was my face on the AI bot.

Once the AI bot had been reset, Trisha went up. This time, the bot could shoot ice out her hands.

Austin shifted in his seat. If everything went wrong and people discovered our mutations, he would be that ice mutant who Trisha was fighting. Hands on the bleachers, I inched mine over to his.

His fingers brushed mine, and for a moment, nothing else mattered. No school security system. We both had mutations, but we were in this together. In a few short months, it’d the semester would be over, and we could have a break from this craziness.

The issue began when Trisha tripped on her own feet, something atypical for future mutant task force agents. The bot had been relentless as Trisha scurried to the edge of the sandy pit.

The AI bot froze in place, neck twitching and a spark coming from underneath her chin.

“I think something’s wrong,” she cried.

But I don’t think anybody heard her.

However, everybody did hear when a high pitch emitted from the AI bot, and we all slammed our hands over our ears.

“No wonder Garrett stole it. It’s glitchy!” Austin shouted.

I couldn’t speak. It was so loud, I couldn’t focus. Sparks shot from my hands, and a burning sensation radiated further up my arms. This had never happened before, and I crumpled to the ground, still able to see the frozen AI bot. Trisha was gone at that point.

The AI bot’s neck began to act as a propeller, whirling her head around and shooting lasers out of the eyes.

Screaming filled the stadium, and Austin pulled at my arm to run. As much training as we had, being in a situation was a whole other thing. We couldn’t make it out of here. Who were we kidding? We were all going to—

A surge emitted from my heart. That would be the only way to describe it. Electricity radiated all over my body, but everything else: the screaming, the lasers, everything stopped. Except for the bot in the center of the stadium who had lasers slowly leaving her eyes.

So this was what the sparks from my hands became? I looked around at all the people in the room. If they knew what I was about to do, they’d string me up and make me fight them in an arena ten bucks a person.

But I had no choice. No doubt, I would shock whatever I touched so I took my boxing gloves and make shifted those as an insulator. I picked up Austin first, who was surprisingly light. Maybe there was more to this ability than I thought. Since I had no idea how far the lasers would go, I went ahead and took him all the way back to the edge of campus, right out of view of the campus’ cameras. I did the same thing for everybody else.

I felt like I had a bunch of pixie sticks in my bloodstream—I don’t know if I had ever felt so good. Physically. People were going to have so many questions after this, and I was going to have to pretend I knew nothing. I hated lying.

After I brought everybody out the stadium, I went ahead and powered off the mutant bot. To be safe, I dissembled it.

I ran back on campus, the electricity popping off my body lighting up my path. Few spots on campus lacked a camera, and so I chose my dorm’s bathroom, bringing a change of clothes with me just in case. I sat on the tiles, thinking of how Austin was fine. My classmates were fine too. I was okay…

If the security cameras were able to pick up high speed footage, then I wouldn’t, but that would be a tomorrow issue. When I shut my eyes, a crushing sensation pushed me to the ground, and I gasped for air. The hum of the dorm’s AC turned on, and I knew I was back to reality.

Sleep overtook me as me and my singed outfit curled on the bathroom tiles. Tomorrow would be its own story.