011 ACQUIRING SUPERPOWERS?
"Is that superpower, what the hell?" Damen exclaimed with shock and surprise.
This was the first time he experienced meta powers in real life. Usually, meta humans were prohibited from using their powers in the city.
"Oh, that's one of our training chambers. Meta-humans go in to refine their powers," Dorin explained like using super powers was common in the gym.
Damen spun around to respond…he hadn't even noticed Dorin was behind him.
"You mean you can actually train superpowers here?" he asked, wide-eyed.
"Yes. What did you think our facilities here offered? Treadmills and weight benches?" Dorin smirked.
The pieces fell into place.
No wonder the daily pass was so expensive. This wasn't a regular gym at all…it was a training ground for Meta-humans.
"Is there a way I can learn these super powers?" Damen asked.
"Well, maybe… if your Meta score is above 1.0," she replied.
Damen stiffened.
He'd stolen plenty of Meta from Professor Gawdry, but he had never tested his own score. "Can I check if I qualify?"
"Of course. Our Meta-testing machines are free to use—they're included in the daily package."
Dorin led him to a vast room lined with sleek booths.
They reminded Damen of the machines his school used to measure students' Strength and Meta levels, but these looked far more advanced.
He stepped inside one.
The chamber whirred to life. Scanners swept across his body, prying into him like invisible hands, peeling away secrets he hadn't even known he carried. Then the machine powered down.
A glowing panel above the booth displayed his results:
Strength: 6.1
Meta: 1.1
Command: 0.3
Damen stared. He had no idea how to read them. "Uh… are these stats good?"
"Not bad at all, for a kid," Dorin said with a low whistle. "You must be one of those natural-born Metas."
"Natural-born?" Damen asked.
"Most people—ordinary people—score under 0.5. They need years of training and plenty of resources just to push that number higher. But you're already at 1.1. That's not something training alone can give, especially not at your age. You're a natural-born Meta."
"Really?" Damen said, though inside he already knew the truth…. Its due to the DemCoin app.
Stealing Meta from Professor Gawdry had given him that edge—at least a full point. Enough to pass as something special.
"So… can I start acquiring superpowers now?" he asked.
Dorin's smile faltered. "We do have machines that can imbue and train Meta abilities. But your Command score is too low. To grasp even the basics, you'd need at least a 1.0 in Command."
"I didn't realize Command score was useful. Even our school doesn't test it…isn't it something that tests leadership qualities?", Damen replied.
Dorin smiled again. "Command stat is not to be interpreted literally. It's true use is in the ability of meta humans to command their own meta abilities."
Damen knew now the Command attribute wasn't to command brutes or underlings. It was used to command Meta powers so they could be turned into superpowers.
Damen's shoulders sank. "I see. Thanks for telling me."
"Don't be discouraged, natural born Meta's do not need to train hard, they awaken their abilities in time…some people enjoyed a big jump in their scores after only a night's sleep… Your Command ability may be awakened sooner than you think," Dorin said warmly.
"Thanks"
"Explore the facility a bit more. You might find more surprises waiting for you," she added.
----
[Control Center of Heroes' Gym]
"Dorin, why did you give that boy an unlimited day pass? He doesn't even have an ID yet. How is he supposed to use our services?" asked a middle aged man, watching as Dorin stepped into the room lined with CCTV screens.
"Director Ambrone, I didn't expect to see you here today," she replied evenly.
"I was at the City Council on other business. I had some time, so I came to check in—only to see you hand a pass to the boy. That is highly against the regulations. I'd expect better from you…"
Dorin raised a brow. "You're here because the heir of the martyred twin Superheroes showed up at the city's desk, aren't you?"
Ambrone blinked. "Yes. That's exactly the matter. How did you know?"
"I happened to pass by the admin counters. I saw him flash two Heroes' Medals. Later, I made a few inquiries. Those medals belong to the twin Superheroes of Melrose City."
"And what does that have to do with you granting this boy unlimited access? Heroes' Gym is a classified training facility for the city's meta-humans, not a public club. What if he's a spy for the Alliance of Evolution?"
"He wouldn't be a spy…not if he's the son of Violet and Black," Dorin said calmly.
Ambrone's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean? Is that boy their son?" He paused, then added, "Even if that's true, he's still just an ordinary civilian. This facility is top secret."
Dorin's lips curved into a faint smile. "The child of two of the strongest Superheroes in the land is unlikely to be ordinary. Genetically speaking, mediocrity is… improbable."
Ambrone stroked his beard, thinking. "Very well. Keep an eye on him. We can't risk him falling into the Alliance's hands."
"Yes, Director," Dorin replied.
-----
Damen continued exploring the facilities of Heroes' Gym. It was nothing like a normal gym…this was a cutting-edge training ground built for meta-humans.
Every so often, he caught glimpses of recognizable heroes, the same ones who patrolled the city streets, some of them with their faces pasted on billboards and posters.
"If only I could train here… I wouldn't even need to bother with high school anymore", he thought.
When the tour ended, Damen returned to the front desk and handed the daily pass back to Dorin.
"Done already?" Dorin asked, tilting her head.
"The facilities are amazing," Damen admitted, "but I'm not ready for them yet."
"Don't worry," Dorin said reassuringly. "For a natural-born meta, awakening is only a matter of time." She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "When that moment comes, come see me. We can talk about a permanent membership."
Damen smiled faintly. "I will." With that, he turned and walked out, Dorin's gaze lingering on him until he was gone.
From behind a partition, a figure stepped into view.
"What are you really planning with that boy?" Director Ambrone asked, his tone sharp.
Dorin's expression didn't waver. "I'm simply keeping an eye out for the next hero… perhaps Superhero of our city. That is part of my job, isn't it, Director?"
Ambrone studied her for a long moment before giving a displeased nod. Without another word, he left.
Dorin gave him the middle finger after the director had left. "Bothersome Admin… eager to point fingers but useless in the field."
-----
There was a reason Damen left Heroes' Gym so quickly, even though his daily pass still had time left. He kept his pace brisk, almost hurried.
Then—tap. A hand landed on his shoulder.
"What?" Damen spun around, startled. "Am I caught?" the thought raced through his mind.
"Boy, are you following me?" the man behind him asked.
Damen recognized him instantly…he was one of the gym's patrons. Apparently, the man had noticed Damen trailing behind after leaving the gym.
"Following you? Why would I do that?" Damen asked, his face the picture of innocence.