For once, Huey arrived ten minutes early to the pick up zone situated at the edge of the campus.
Joint field assessment with Combat Legion.
"Great."
The other logistics students trickled in over the next few minutes. Suzie showed up first, Willy came next with Wheeler perched on his shoulder, then jonas walked up with Chirp hopping beside him and Tamara arrived last, already halfway through a protein bar.
"So what do you think they look like?" Willy asked, scanning the distance. "Probably covered in scars, right? Maybe one of them's missing an eye."
"One definitely has a mohawk," Jonas added. "There's always one with a mohawk."
"And unnecessary leather," Tamara said around her protein bar.
"Maybe they've even got a serial killer or two." Suzie muttered.
Then they heard it.
Obnoxious and loud laughter echoed across the pickup zone,
Five figures approached, and they looked nothing like what the logistics students had predicted.
The girl in front was talking with her hands, her robe somehow looking both regal and casual. Her dark bowl cut danced while she was explained something about food with religious passion.
"I'm telling you, toast the bread AFTER the mayo. Changes everything."
"That's disgusting," the massive guy next to her said. "The mayo gets warm and gross.".
Built like he could bench press 150, in sharp contrast to his face which held all the menace of a puppy.
"It's SUPPOSED to get warm, Brick!"
Behind them, grey-haired twins argued something about fish
Trailing slightly behind was Mira Veltman, purple-gray braids swaying, those pitch-black eyes with silver rings taking in everything.
And at the back was Josephine.
The moment their eyes met, a complicated air passed between them.
Huey lifted his hand and waved.
His face broke into the wettest, most awkward smile in human history.
Josephine's expression cycled through fifteen emotions before settling on confused relief.
She waved back with the exact same energy.
"Oh my god," Willy whispered. "That was sad to watch."
"Shut up."
The combat students were maybe twenty meters away when the conversations began to quiet
Huey noticed the shift immediately.
The way Brick slowed down his enthusiastic gestures.
How Kenna's smile became more fixed and the way the twins stopped arguing and started looking at each other.
They'd recognized him.
Willy tensed up beside him. "Here we go."
The combat students reached them, and the girl with buns waved enthusiastically.
"Hey! You must be the guys from logistics and support. I'm Kenna! That's Brick, those two idiots are Marco and Marlo, the quiet one is Mira and over there is Josephine!"
"Breathing, Kenna," Brick said gently. "Remember breathing."
"Right, Sorry. I get really excited to meet new people."
One of the twins, the one on the left leaned toward her sister and whispered something.
Both sets of eyes went to Huey, then quickly away.
Marco, the twin on the right, noticed and elbowed her sister sharply. Then she looked directly at Huey and extended her hand.
"Marco DiMarco. Looking forward to working with you all."
Her twin, Milo didn't offer her hand. She crossed her arms instead, her gray eyes assessing the logistics students, barely able to conceal the judgement behind them.
"Milo," she said flatly. Then, with a pointed look at Huey, "Interesting group you've got here."
"Milo," Marco warned quietly.
"What? I'm just saying."
Tamara leaned toward Huey. "These are the trained killers?"
Then Willy grabbed Huey's arm. "Bro."
"What?"
"Mira. She's staring at you."
Huey looked.
Mira's face had gone red, spreading from her cheeks down her neck.
"Why is she....."
"MMM, remember?"
The memory clicked.
Oh no.
Before Huey could process that disaster, movement near the entrance pulled everyone's attention.
Professor Giacomo approached with another man beside him.
General Marcus Toretti was tall, easily six-four, Weathered face, sharp eyes, and had to be pushing fifty.
Yet he was built like a twenty year old.
He wore a bright yellow suit. The jacket draped over his shoulders like a cape, revealing a white dress shirt and yellow vest underneath.
But the sleeves hung empty.
Both of them.
From the elbows down, nothing.
"Holy shit!" Jonas exclaimed
"That's General Toretti," Suzie whispered.
"Magister-ranked and runs Toretti Arms."
"A guy with no arms running an armed weapon company. How Ironic?" Tamara remarked.
The combat students didn't seem worried at all.
Kenna was still talking about sandwiches while Marco and Marlo had moved on to arguing about clouds.
Giacomo and Toretti stopped before the students.
"Good morning, everyone," Giacomo said. "I trust you're all prepared."
"Ready when you are, Professor," Chirped Kenna
Toretti let out a warm and genuine smile. "You're in good hands today. Well, metaphorically speaking."
Some combat students laughed.
Giacomo extended his hand for a handshake.
The logistics students tensed.
How was Toretti supposed to....
Pneuma spiked so suddenly the air shimmered.
From Toretti's right sleeve, energy erupted. Red and gold flames condensed into solid form, shaping a perfect arm from elbow to fingertips.
Toretti clasped Giacomo's hand.
"Pleasure as always, Lorenzo."
The arm dissolved immediately.
The logistics students stood frozen.
"With just his Pneuma" Suzie whispered. "That kind of control is insane."
Toretti chuckled. "Lost them in a Rift fifteen years ago. Turns out hands are optional with just the right amount of willpower."
The sound of Mechanical rotor blades shifted their attention.
The Arcanum helicarrier descended, its all black, sleek and angular body gleaming against the silver lion insignia on it's side.
It touched down fifty meters away, the hatch opened and Riva stepped out.
She spotted a dark suit and red tie to compliment her high top fade and athletic build.
Red eyes swept across the students, her smile doing the exact opposite of its intended purpose.
"Good morning, students. I'm Inspector Riva Landers of the Arcanum Division. I'll be supervising your assessment today."
Minutes later, the students emerged in their gear.
Logistics wore orange and white hazard suits while the combat students wore red and black tactical uniforms.
They assembled before Riva.
"Listen up," she said. "Today you'll collect samples, document reports, and handle any remaining Variants. You'll work across legion specializations."
She paused.
"Professors Giacomo and Toretti will not be accompanying us. You're under my supervision exclusively."
Giacomo's smile tightened. "That's..."
"Protocol." Riva displayed an official document. "Advanced evaluation requires minimal outside interference. Signed by Division Chief Santos herself."
Toretti's expression hardened. "Our students operate best with faculty oversight."
"I'm sure they'll adapt."
There was a Tense silence.
Giacomo sighed. "Very well. Take care of them."
"Of course." Riva turned to the students. "Board the carrier. We leave in five."
As students filed toward the helicarrier, Huey caught Riva's expression.
He met her eyes and his own turned cold.
Riva's confident expression never faded, but something just didn't sit right it.
Huey followed the others into the carrier, hoping to find out what that is.