CHAPTER 3

General Thomas Loeb was even more impressive than Jasmine had seen him in the newspaper or on television. He wore a khaki military uniform, along with a cap. A dozen medals adorned his chest. The general was tall—no, tall was the wrong word. He was imposing. Confident. His beard was massive but well-trimmed and had traces of gray sprinkled in. Behind him were ten soldiers, different from the research center’s guards. You could tell from the look in their eyes that they had seen combat.

The general stopped in front of Biermann and shook his hand. Shortly afterward, he looked at the metahumans. The soldiers lined up to his side, half to his left and half to his right, and they saluted.

“You most likely already know me, but let me introduce myself. I am Thomas Loeb, the highest-ranking general in the army. Second only to Marshal Gessner. I expect respect and order during basic training. This course will be ten weeks long, and it will teach you everything you need to know before dealing with the MSA. and future endeavors. Any questions?”

Veronica raised her hand.

“You, go ahead.” He said.

“The MSA being the Metahuman Salvation Army?” She asked.

“Correct.”

“And what do you mean by ‘future endeavors’? Is there something we were not informed of?” Agnes added, frowning.

“I do not know what Marshal Gessner has planned for you. Anything else?” The general said dismissively.

Nobody raised their hand.

“Good. First thing’s first, I want basic introductions, and then a detailed description of your power along with a demonstration.” He said. “Unit 39, start setting up.”

The soldiers went back into the research facility, as did Biermann, and he pointed at Veronica.

“You first.”

“Veronica Fischer. Nineteen years old. I am invincible and I am stronger than normal humans.” She said while stepping forward.

“How invincible are we talking?” The general asked.

“I stepped on a mine three years ago and came out of it unscathed. I have also been shot a number of times.”

General Loeb then grabbed his handgun and pointed it at her. Jasmine gasped and dropped her water bottle on the ground. The others barely had time to process what was happening until a loud shot rang through the yard.

The bullet lodged itself against her forehead and fell to the ground. She didn’t look surprised, nor hurt.

“W—what the fuck!” Jasmine screamed out. “Are you crazy?!”

She couldn’t help herself. Her ears were ringing after the shot.

“No. I was just confirming what she said.” Loeb replied while holstering his gun. “Interesting. I hope you didn’t mind that?”

“Not at all. I do not feel pain.”

Jasmine looked around. Franz was as white as a ghost, but he said nothing. Agnes looked furious. If looks could kill, the general would be dead.

“Let me ask you this, Veronica. If you are this powerful, why are you still here? You could escape right now, and I wouldn’t be able to stop you.” He asked, his expression unchanging.

“To tell you the truth, general, I am looking for a distraction. Some government agents came to my parent’s farm, and I surrendered.”

“A distraction?”

“I am bored.”

That answer seemed to have taken the general off guard, but he continued.

“You.” He said while pointing at Franz.

“My name’s Franz Thomas. I’m twenty-one. I… I make wounds heal faster. Please don’t shoot yourself; plus, you would need to take the bullet out first.”

“I wasn’t going to do that. I am too important.”

“Don’t shoot the others either.”

“I won’t. How about a cut?”

“A cut would work.” He replied hurriedly. “But you don’t have anything to do that.”

“I don’t. I’ll take a look at it later when my men come back. You then.” He looked at Jasmine.

“I—I’m Jasmine Mertz, and I’m sixteen. I go invisible when I hold my breath.” She said, still shaking because of the gunshot.

Before the general even had a chance to ask, she held her breath, and her body disappeared. After ten seconds, she stopped.

“Could be useful, but that is a crippling limitation. What’s your longest time holding your breath?” He asked.

“I think it’s fifty seconds or so. Give or take.”

“That’s terrible. We’ll have to work on that extensively.”

Jasmine visibly deflated.

“And you?” He looked at Agnes.

“I’m Agnes. Just Agnes. I’m seventeen. I can turn into anyone as long as I’ve touched their hair, but I’d rather not show it.”

“Why? I’ll volunteer.” General Loeb said. He tore a strand of hair from his head and handed it to her. “Do it.”

“It’s... painful for me. The changing process.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to bear it. Do it.”

Agnes sighed and grabbed his hair. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Jasmine looked at her, expecting a sudden change, but it wasn’t. Her body shook violently as she started moaning, then screaming. Her skin was visibly bubbling, and her voice was changing. She slowly grew to the general’s height, and her hair started changing color. By the time it was over, she was on her knees, panting. Her blue uniform stretched until it was practically skintight.

“Hm. The change is a little slow, but it’s an advantageous ability. Good. You can change back.”

Agnes groaned in Loeb’s voice.

“That’s it? It hurts to change back too, you know.” She replied with a glare. “If you want me to do anything else, now’s the time.”

“No. I am quite content, thank you.”

The girl proceeded to switch back to her original form, although she managed to stand.

“Damn… my uniform’s fucked now. I need a new one.”

“That will wait. I want you to split into groups of two and socialize. Call it a team-building exercise.” The general said while glancing at his watch. “In the meantime, I’ll be creating a specialized regiment for all of you, and you will have to follow it along with the default one. I’ll be back in… thirty minutes.”

Loeb made his way inside the building, leaving the group on their own. Jasmine looked around, wondering who her ‘partner’ would be, but Agnes grabbed her hand and lifted it into the air.

“I’ve got her. You guys go together.” She said, looking and Franz and Veronica.

They agreed and made their way to one of the fences.

“I don’t get why we can’t be together? Wouldn’t it be better to socialize as a group?” Jasmine asked.

“Aw. Do you not want to hang out with me? I’m crushed.”

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

“Chill out. I’m just pulling your leg.” Agnes said with a light chuckle. “So, what do you think about the psychopath?”

“The general? He’s… ruthless, I guess. He didn’t even hesitate to shoot Veronica.”

“Pff. See how little they care for us? Whatever, I’m over it.”

The conversation died down until Agnes perked up.

“Still can’t believe this is real. After all these years of abuse, now they say they need us. How rich.”

“The situation has improved, though. The Marshal stopped the camps.”

“Yeah, that’s great, but you can still get beaten to death for walking down the wrong street. Even in Adelind.”

“It’s only been a few months. I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.” Jasmine said, surprised at how confident she sounded. “But enough about that. Let’s talk about brighter things.”

Agnes paused and then smirked.

“Look at you, finally talking.”

“I’m… I’m not good at being in a group., and I’ve had bad times in the past. I usually just listen.”

“And yet you still didn’t want to be my partner. I could cry!” She said sarcastically. “But I get it. We all have our demons.”

Jasmine nodded.

“Any hobbies?” She asked.

Agnes erupted in laughter.

“You’re too much! I— I mean, hobbies?!”

“What do you mean?” Jasmine replied urgently.

“It’s just a funny question, is all. The most basic one. Might as well ask me what my favorite color is. But no, I haven’t really had time to do anything. Had to work a fuck ton not to starve.” She said, looking at the sky. Her leg was fidgeting.

“They let you work? I thought you couldn’t until the war ended.”

“Nah, they didn’t know I was a metahuman.”

“You didn’t register when they started to identify us?”

“Yeah, I did, but I hid from the government with my dad, but he got caught while trying to save me.”

“Ah. My condolences.”

Jasmine didn’t dare to ask about her dad any further.

“I wasn’t going to ask, but… were you? In a camp, I mean, since you registered. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“I was until the civil war ended. I would rather not talk about it, though.”

“Hm. Alright. Well, returning to the original question… fuck, I don’t even know how we got there. Hobbies, right? I liked to paint as a kid. Took art classes and everything, it was fun!”

“Painting? That kind of fits your aesthetic, I guess.”

Agnes froze.

“Sorry. Touchy subject?” Jasmine asked.

“Yes. But thank you. What about you? Your hobbies, I mean. I get to ask since you asked me.”

“Well, this is going to sound weird, but…” She paused.

“But…?”

“I like to steal things. Gives me a rush. I’d mostly steal for food and water but sometimes… Can’t help myself.”

“Oh shit. What’d you take?”

“Jewelry mostly, but also books to read on the road sometimes. I sold most of it for cash, though.”

“Damn, you little rebel. That’s cool.”

Jasmine smiled slightly.

“Well, I bet all those store owners wouldn’t say the same thing.”

“Screw ‘em. My turn to ask a question now! And not some boring one like yours.” Agnes said while winking at her. “If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?”

“It depends. Can I speak the language?”

“Hm… sure, let’s give you a freebie.”

“Saveria, then.”

“Come on, that’s such a basic answer! Literally, every metahuman would say that. Somewhere else.”

“Well, they treat us like humans there, so yeah, everyone would say that. But I guess I’d go to Yukre then. Nice weather, nice beaches, nice food.”

“True, that sounds nice. Although I don’t know about nice weather, I don’t think I’d be able to stand the heat.” She paused to think. “I’d go to Estevere and climb the Wynstalls.”

“Die trying to climb the highest mountain? Kind of dumb if you ask me.”

“You just can’t comprehend how cool I am.” She answered Smugly. “Anyways, your turn—”

Agnes was interrupted by Franz and Veronica making their way towards them. Jasmine looked at them, and she noticed a look on the man’s face. Frustration? Veronica looked unphased as always.

“Hey losers, it’s groups of twos.” Agnes said. “What’s wrong?” She continued after noticing Franz was upset.

“Meh. Why don’t you try talking to her? She’ll make you feel like crap.” He answered.

“I am only honest. Honesty is a quality.” Veronica said.

“Sometimes, yeah. Sometimes you don’t want to be too honest, or you might hurt someone.”

“I apologize if I hurt you, Franz. I will be more careful in the future.”

Franz raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Oh. Thank you. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect that.”

“Yeah yeah, whatever. You interrupted our talk, so scram. I finally got her to open up.” Agnes said while gesturing toward me. “Don’t ruin it.”

“I’m… I’m right here, you know?” Jasmine said while fidgeting her fingers.

“Yeah, I know. Anyways shoo!” Agnes exclaimed while waving her hand.

“Now, where were we? Ah yes, I was going to ask you, what was the first time you stole like?”

Jasmine proceeded to tell Agnes about how she had stolen candy from a department store as a child, and she’d gotten instantly busted by her parents after she walked out. Agnes didn’t hesitate to make fun of her. Jasmine enjoyed speaking to someone like her after so long, even in these circumstances. They kept making small talk for the next twenty minutes, where the girl learned that Agnes had an awful taste in music and shows.

“I’d kill to go to a cinema right now.” She said. “It’s been too long.”

Jasmine nodded as General Loeb and four of his men made their way outside again. The mood instantly worsened, and Agnes’ slight smile turned into a scowl. The general gestured to come toward him, so they did.

“Here. One for each of you.” He said as he handed each one of them a piece of paper.

Jasmine thanked him and looked at hers. On top of the page, there was a section called ‘Oxygen Retention Training’. She had expected this after his comments.

“Let’s see…” she muttered as she skimmed the page. “‘Practice holding breath every day for extended periods of time’… ‘relaxation exercises’… ‘panic control’… this doesn’t sound too bad.”

Below the personalized training regiment, there was a summary of what they’d learn during these ten weeks. Jasmine also skimmed that and saw teamwork, close combat, shooting, discipline… nothing out of the ordinary. She looked at Agnes. The girl’s skin was pale and she was breathing hard. Franz didn’t seem too worried, and Veronica was still reading.

“You start right now, and you’ll be working every day. First thing’s first, start stretching. These two,” He said while pointing at two of his soldiers, “will show you how to do it properly. After that, I want you to do two laps around the facility.”

“You mean the yard?” Franz asked.

“No, I mean all of Dilliers research center.”