The late night talk left Liam exhausted the next morning. No real surprise given how long the conversation had gone. Even with his pounding headache Liam would do it again if he had the chance. Talks with Mel always left him grounded. She had a magic about her that put even the most complicated topics into perspective.

They’d spent much of the night discussing Liam’s future. What to expect in the coming interviews and the merits of each team. At the end of the call Liam wasn’t sure how the interviews would go, but was okay with that. He knew that they’d all bring opportunities. They may look different from each other, yet none was a bad choice.

After a quick breakfast Liam headed back to the academy. His first interview was with the LA team and it went just as Ms. Hartwell suggested. As soon as he was settled in the team said they wanted him. Then they explained what he’d do for them. Most of it was work creating devices and public relations campaigns. Neither were things Liam was opposed to and they could be very useful for his career, but the team made it sound like that was all he’d do. When he pushed about going on patrols, they said it was out of the question. When he’d gained more experience, there was a possibility, but not before his apprenticeship was complete. As someone who’s strength lay in the workshop, that’s where he would spend his time. It was good Ms. Hartwell had blunted that blow when she mentioned it yesterday, or the sting would’ve been much worse. Taking a cue from his conversation with his sister Liam left the interview and prepared for the next meeting.

After the first interview Liam was quick to find the location of the second and was currently waiting for it to start. He hoped the New York team was more receptive to his ideas. What was the point being a Hero if you were forced to stay in the back, never out there stopping the criminals?

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, the door to the next interview opened. From inside he heard a firm voice say, “Please come in.”

Just treat this like any other conversation Liam reminded himself. The New York team wanted him to join them, he wanted to join their team, all they needed to do was agree on a simple request. This interview would go much better than the first. He was sure they would understand what he wanted and welcome him in.

As Liam walked into the brightly lit room, he spotted three people sitting on the far side. A small wooden table between them. All three were in some form of disguise. It was customary for Heroes interacting with people outside their team to do so in disguise or costume. For safety reasons, people in the Hero business kept their personal identity and Hero identity separate. The easiest way to do that was to make sure only a select few knew their true identity. As such, they wouldn’t meet people without their masks on until after they were sure you could be trusted.

Even though he graduated, Liam still wasn’t technically a Hero yet. Only after he started the apprenticeship, would he gain the title. So he wasn’t afforded the same level of anonymity as the Heroes. Throughout his time at the academy it had never been a big deal to him. The staff were some of the best former Heroes out there so they would keep his identity safe. And any student caught leaking information would go to prison and have their memories wiped so they weren’t an issue.

Because of all the precautions Liam never felt like his identity was in danger. But now, facing these masked Heroes he wished he could disguise himself. It wasn’t fear that drove the desire. No, like his teachers, Liam knew the three people in front of him wouldn’t betray his identity to outsiders. Instead it was a desire to fit in that drove his want for a mask. Belonging to a team and knowing they were always behind him was something he was desperate to find. The lack of a mask was a clear sign he wasn’t there yet.

Once the door shut behind him, the three figures rose in unison. Arranging themselves in a V formation. The man in the middle was protected on either side by the other two Heroes. They weren’t afraid of him or trying to pick a fight. No, they subconsciously arranged themselves in a way to protect each other. This was a hint of what awaited him when he joined a team. Companionship built from the struggles endured together.

As Liam looked over the three he recognized all of them by both name and reputation. The first to speak was the man in the middle. He was short and lean, as he moved his every action carried with it a hint of great speed and strength. He wore a simple blue mask covering the upper portion of his face. The rest of his outfit matched the mask for its simplicity. A blue blazer with black slacks. On his chest was the team’s symbol, the skyline of New York City, emblazoned in blue on a field of black. This wasn’t the man’s costume, instead he dressed in something a little more comfortable today. The man said, “My name is Clipper and I’m one of the team leads of The Blue Guardians.”

Liam introduced himself as he shook Clipper’s extended hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Clipper, I’m Source.”

“The pleasure’s all mine. I also have the honor of introducing Ten-Eight and Leather Leaf,” Clipper said as he gestured to the women on either side of him. “And discussing the opportunity of you joining the Blue Guardians.”

Clipper was third in command of the New York team. In a team with over twenty active Heroes and an additional few in reserve that was a big honor. Liam was grateful the Blue Guardian had sent someone with that level of seniority to the interview. The LA team, he’d met with earlier, sent their three newest members. This was a different level of commitment from the New York team. That could be a sign they would listen to his request.

With most Heroes being secretive about their powers Liam wasn’t sure of the exact abilities of those in front of him. But he’d done research on their team and made a few guesses. The man in the middle was known for his speed. Being at least seven or eight times faster than the average person with the strength of a bodybuilder. While his skills weren’t the flashiest they could be quite useful in a fight. Liam found a few recordings showing exactly that.

After greeting Clipper, Liam shifted his focus to Ten-Eight who was standing to the right. She wore a plain blue mask, similar in design to Clipper’s, covering the upper part of her face. Her black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. She’d chosen to come to the meeting in a sleek dress. It was an elegant thing, clinging to Ten-Eight’s shoulders before falling down her athletic frame. A deep midnight blue with accents of silver towards her feet. Slits on the sides of the dress showed far more leg than most would be comfortable with. But Ten-Eight stood their acting oblivious to her chosen attire’s affect on others. Liam could only assume the outfit was designed to draw attention and entice emotion which was fitting given her power.

Ten-Eight was an emotionalist, a person with the ability to perceive or manipulate emotions. It was hard to tell if she had the ability to do both, but Liam’s research into the Blue Guardians suggested just that. While emotionalist was a wide ranging power set, it appeared that Ten-Eight could both change people’s emotions and heighten them. Her ability to change people’s moods had diffused several intense situations. With Liam’s understanding of her power it made sense she was on the interview team. While she wouldn’t be allowed to use her ability to influence him. Just being able to tell what he was feeling could be a big boon for their team.

After shaking Ten-Eight’s hand Liam turned to Leather Leaf, the last of the Blue Guardians in the room, and introduced himself. She was a walking pile of dark fabric. Where Ten-Eight had forgone her costume and wore an elegant dress Leather Leaf had embraced her Hero identity and was in full Hero attire. She encased herself from head to toe in a mass of moving fabric. As she stood there, the fabric swirled around her. Blues twisting with blacks as one piece of fabric replaced the next. The swirling mass gave off a mesmerizing feeling as if you were watching something dancing just beneath the surface.

Unlike the other two she didn’t make any move to shake his hand or otherwise greet him. In fact Liam couldn’t even see her eyes in the mass of cloth. Noticing Liam’s confusion Clipper commented, “Please don’t be offended. This is how she greets everyone.”

“It’s fine, I’m not offended at all,” Liam said. Why would he be offended by how she greeted people? He was trying to get on her good side after all, so he couldn’t afford to be upset about something so trivial.

As Leather Leaf’s costume suggested she had the ability to control fabric. More specifically, she had the ability to control wool. The videos showing her using that ability suggested she could significantly increase the strength of wool. While her ability didn’t seem that amazing at first, the practical uses of it were numerous. Add in Leather Leaf’s ability to make dozens of individual strands dance to her will and the power became one to be feared.

As Liam finished greeting the members of the Blue Guardians, Clipper motioned for everyone to take their seats. After settling in Ten-Eight spoke first, her voice was soft as silk, “Those were some impressive moves last night. I especially liked the tennis ball. I was wondering what your specialty is?”

Liam thought for a moment. He hadn’t found his specialty yet. He wasn’t embarrassed by that, it just meant he needed to keep searching. Most techies eventually found one area where they excelled. Every aspect of that part of technology coming easier for them. Whether that be communications, robotics, materials or any number of different fields.

“I’ve yet to find one,” Liam said.

“Most Techies don’t find it until later in life. It’s understandable you haven’t found yours yet. Though I can promise you, if you join our team we’ll help you uncover it.”

Liam liked the sentiment in that. However, he didn’t think it’d be as easy as she implied. As a kid he created hundreds of different things, but never found that mystical invention. One that was easier or better than all the rest. Instead everything felt similar. He knew what he wanted to create and the work to make it happen. It was the challenge of the work that was his favorite part. Sure thinking of something new was fun and finishing a project was always great, but neither came close to when he was building. The simple joy of moving from design to prototype was something he’d felt nowhere else. It was in those moments he was most appreciative of his techie power.

Falling out of his thoughts Liam noticed Ten-Eight staring at him from behind her mask. Gauging his reaction and the emotions they brought.

As Liam was debating how to answer Ten-Eight’s offer Clipper spoke up, “Well, it’s not an issue if you don’t have a focus. All that means is you’re well rounded. But as Ten-Eight was suggesting if you join the Blue Guardians we’ll help you find any hidden specialty you might have.”

The simple honesty of their offer lifted Liam’s spirits. This was looking like a better team by the second.

“That’d be great,” Liam said. As an apprentice he would get a stipend. Paid by the government. But funding support from the team wasn’t as common. And the Blue Guardians were offering just that. Even if the amount was small, it’d still dwarf what he got now.

“Let’s not beat around the bush, we know you’re busy with graduation. And I’m sure you’ve been given several offers already. But let me tell you why New York is the best place for you,” Clipper said. This was changing from an interview to a sales pitch. “The Blue Guardians are one of the original Hero teams of the United States. With over twenty active and reserve Heroes currently on the roster and almost a hundred alumni. Joining the team will give you direct access to all of that stored knowledge. But not only does the team have a proud history, we protect New York City, the Empire City. The crowning jewel of the country. Do you like plays, we have Broadway. What about sports, we have a team in every major sport. Maybe you like museums, we have dozens of them. You name it and New York City can deliver.”

All of those perks sounded amazing. Liam would love the chance to wander the halls of the famous museums. He could spend days in those places. With everything to do in New York City, down time would be easy to fill. But was that enough for him? Before last night’s call, Liam would’ve jumped at the opportunity, regardless of where they put him. But after his talk with his sister he had a better idea of what he needed.

“We want you on the team. You finished the Hero academy with a higher ranking than any techie ever has. What do we have to do to get you to join our team?” Clipper asked.

And there it was, Liam’s chance to tell them what he wanted. It was great they were so straight forward about the process. Hopefully their desire to have him on the team was enough for them to accommodate his request.

“I’ll sign, right now, if you can make one promise,” Liam said. “I want to go on patrols.”

Clipper didn’t answer right away. He looked at his companions first. Whether he was looking for guidance or input Liam wasn’t sure. As neither of the women gave any hint to what was passing between them. Finally, after a few moments of silent deliberation Clipper turned back and said, “We want you on the team, Source. And after you gain some experience we can talk about patrols. But to start you’ll be helping more at headquarters. Don’t think of it as hiding. Instead focus on all the people you’d help from there. Far more than you could outside on the streets. Just think of all the good you’ll do for the city, all the lives your creations will save.”

This was the warning Ms. Hartwell had given him. And a repeat of the first interview. Once Liam heard he would stay at the base, he knew this wouldn’t work. He couldn’t be hiding in the back when people needed him. Regardless of how Clipper sugar coated it.

Before Laim could think of a response Ten-Eight said, “It seems like you won’t accept our offer without patrol time. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to do that.” Was he that easy to read? Even with Ten-Eight’s power, she shouldn’t be able to read that much into his emotions. At least not this fast, right? Or maybe it was something that came from years of practice. She continued, “But know that every other team will give you the same deal. No one wants to be responsible for getting a techie killed.”

Liam could try to argue with her. Say it was his decision to make and they wouldn’t be responsible if he got hurt. But even before he tried, he knew it wouldn’t work. The LA team already said the same thing. They would not change their minds. At least not now. Maybe he could keep this offer open and talk to his sister again?

“Would it be possible for me to take a few days to think about this? I want to go over it with my family first,” Liam said.

“Of course. The offer will stay on the table, at least for a few days,” Clipper replied.

The rest of the interview was Clipper explaining the advantages of joining the New York team. The man could talk. He would’ve been a great salesman if he didn’t pick up the Hero game. Clipper described the feel of the city, the different boroughs, how the team interacted with them, and some of the former team members who still lived in the area. All of it sounded great. Yet Liam knew he wouldn’t be able to enjoy it if he wasn’t allowed to be an active Hero like the rest of the team.

Once the interview ended Liam bid farewell to the Blue Guardians. Promising to give their proposal more thought. Next he headed towards the last interview, this one with Ms. Hartwell’s backup team. The day had been going as she expected, much to Liam’s dismay. At this point he half wished her predictions would continue. At least that way he would find a team that wanted him to fight. Even if the team had a history like The Hunt had.

Regardless of what happened next Liam needed another chat with his sister. Maybe she could help sort through all of this.

As Liam reached the final interview the room’s door swung open. An electronic voice calling out from inside, “Liam, interview with The Hunt.”

Walking into the room, at first glance, it looked identical to the last two. With one glaring difference. In both of the previous rooms three Hero’s had greeted him. In this room he was instead met by a single masked face displayed on a computer screen.

“So you wanted to apprentice with The Hunt?” the face on the screen asked. The man, Liam corrected as he heard the voice, was wearing a golden headdress. With wings arching back on either side of the helm, as if it was ready to launch itself into the air. The top of the man’s face to the back of his head was covered in golden feathers. They parted to make two holes around his eyes. The bottom of his face was covered in a thick brown beard.

This must be a member of The Hunt, Liam thought. He didn’t have time to look up the team last night, his call to his sister to blame for that. The only thing he knew about them was from the news over the last few years. With the air time they got, that was still a decent amount of information.

Looking at the man on the screen Liam could understand the team’s name. Even through the camera he could feel the man measuring him. Deciding if Liam was a predator or prey. And Liam had the distinct feeling he didn’t want to be this man’s prey.

“Ms. Hartwell suggested your team. She said our goals may align,” Liam said in his most confident voice. Hoping the Hero didn’t see through it to the unease just under the surface.

“Oh did she now. That tricky old fox,” the stern faced man mumbled to himself. “Now where are my manners, the name’s Ullr, leader and creator of The Hunt,” the man, Ullr said.

What an interesting name Liam thought. If he remembered correctly, Ullr came from Norse mythology. He was the god of the hunt. Which seemed to match this man’s personality and the team’s name perfectly.

“It’s nice to meet you Ullr, my name’s Source.”

“The pleasure’s mine. Now, you said you wanted to join our team? We could use the help, but I have to ask, why aren’t you applying for the big name teams? With your rank and skills I’m sure they’re dying to get their hands on you.”

The man went straight to the point. And Liam followed suit. Best to figure out if this team would work from the get go.

“Well, I’ll be honest with you, they do. Except there’s a catch. I want to be on patrol. Not boxed up in a workshop like the other teams want,” Liam said. It was time to see if Ms. Hartwell’s streak would continue or if she misread this team.

Ullr looked at Liam for a moment. His face an unreadable mask before he spoke again, “Why wouldn’t you be on the streets? Every member of The Hunt pulls their weight. No slackers on this team.”

It almost looked like Ullr was hurt by the thought of Liam being told to stay in the back. Like that was a personal affront to him. The idea of a Hero not facing down Cowls was unthinkable to the man.

“Don’t worry, I’m no slacker. It’s just the other teams said I’d be more helpful back at base.”

“We can’t afford that. If you want to join, we’ll have you. I’m sure you know what happened to us so you can understand why we need everyone doing their part,” Ullr said. Leaving nothing to question.

“I understand. This is the opportunity I’ve been looking for,” Liam said. And it was. This team wasn’t taking away his chance at patrols. They wanted to make sure he was an active part of them. If they gave him that chance he had to take it.

“Then let me be the first to welcome you to The Hunt,” Ullr said. His face brightened into a smile for the first time since they met.

That was easy, Liam thought. If he wanted to join the team, they would have him. Clearly The Hunt’s recovery process was still taking much of their time. And some new hands would be appreciated. That could be a good thing for him. If everyone saw him on patrols during his apprenticeship, then they’d expect the same after it ended. Giving him some leverage if he wanted to move on to a bigger team.

“Thanks. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the team.”

“Glad to hear it. Sorry we couldn’t be there today. We didn’t expect anyone to apply for our team,” Ullr said. “I know our talk was short, but I have to go, the team’s about to head out. Being short staffed means we spend a lot of time on patrol. I hope you’re ready for that.”

Time on patrol was all Liam was asking for. If they gave him a little extra that was a bonus as far as he was concerned. After saying their goodbyes Ullr hung up, to go run off and help the team. Liam also took his leave. Three interviews down and all he could think of was how good it was Ms. Hartwell made this suggestion. He’d have to send her something as a thank you.

As Liam walked home, he gave Mel another call, filling her in on everything that happened. The Hunt was a great opportunity, he had to make the most of it. Now all he had to do was find out a little more about his new team.