Lilith kicks Houston, sending him flying through the air until he smacks into the facility's wall.

Houston: *groans*

Houston falls from the wall and smashes into the ground, knocking him out cold. A loud buzzer goes off, the city disappears, and the facility returns to normal. Lilith shrinks down and runs over to Silver.

Lilith: We did it!

Silver: Yeah… we did.

Later, The seven members of team A gather before Houston, Adrian, and Recovery Girl.

Zach: Good work out there, guys! It’s too bad I didn’t last long enough to help out more!

Karma: Me too. Once again, I was merely the sacrifice.

Gus: I would have traded places with you. I was just a distraction at the start… I didn’t even last five minutes.

Jace: At least your distraction didn’t involve your face getting smashed into the ground…

Lilith: But you agreed to it…

Jace: That doesn’t mean I was happy about it!

Silver: Everyone contributed to our victory, whether it was in a small or big way. Let’s just be happy we succeeded.

Everyone smiles, except Justus.

Justus: (He says that… but what did I do? Once again, I leave these training exercises questioning myself.)

Adrian clears his throat, they all turn their attention to him.

Adrian: Well, I have to say I’m impressed that you defeated Houston, but I’m sorry to tell you that you didn’t complete your mission.

Zach: Huh?

Silver: What?

Lilith: What do you mean?

Jace: Oh, come on! So, I got bitch slapped for nothing!

Adrian: Your goal was to find the safe house; defeating Houston was optional, so unless somebody found the safe house and didn’t say anything, you didn’t actually complete the task I gave you.

Karma: I guess he is right about that…

Zach: Oh, come on, we beat Mr. Houston. Isn’t that worth something?

Adrian: I’ll repeat, I’m impressed that you actually beat him, but you played into his hand by investing so much of your time into fighting him… which was detrimental to your overarching goal during your exercise.

Jace: Dang it…

Zach: So what were we supposed to do? Ignore him when he had us backed into a corner?

Houston: He’s more referring to the three members of your team who decided to interject near the end of the exercise rather than continue to look for the safe house.

Jace, Lilith, and Karma start sweating bullets.

Jace, Lilith, and Karma: (Oops...)

Adrian: Houston’s goal was to keep you from finding the safe house; his options to do that were either by knocking you out or by distracting you with a fight. Defeating him would have helped you immensely, allowing you to focus solely on finding the safe house, but you did it with almost no time left in the exercise, defeating the purpose.

Silver clenches his fist.

Silver: (Dammit…)

Adrian: Now, with all that said.

This piques everyone’s attention.

Adrian: Your final grade for this exercise will be a C. The teamwork and ingenuity you all showed were impressive; it allowed you to defeat a much stronger opponent even if he was restricted by training weights. But the lesson here is not to get caught up in the moment and focus on your mission. Now head back to the viewing room. Team B is up next.

Karma: Before that, I have a question.

Adrian: Yes, Karma?

Karma: Where was the safe house exactly? Jace, Lilith, and I searched everywhere for it.

Adrian: I’m glad you asked. You guys passed over it about 2 or 3 times.

Jace: Oh, come on!

Lilith: What? I’m sure we didn’t see a subway entrance anywhere!

Adrian: That’s because you were looking for the wrong kind of subway.

Everyone gets a look of realization.

Zach: Are.

Lilith: You.

Gus: Kidding.

Jace: ME!

Team A: You meant the restaurant Subway!

Adrian: Yup, and I’ll let you wallow on that in the viewing lounge, head on in.

Team A walks away with their heads held low.

Jace: *under breath* Stupid clue…

Adrian turns to Houston.

Adrian: Thanks for stopping by, Houston; you put on a good show.

Houston: No problem, old friend, they had more fight than I expected. Those weights are more inhibiting than I thought.

Adrian: Well, that’s what they’re for, after all.

Houston laughs.

Houston: It’s good to have you back.

Adrian: Thanks. (I’m glad someone feels that way…)

Houston: Anyway, I’m off to see how my class performed against Walker.

Recovery Girl: I guess I should come too.

Houston: Wh- why?

Recovery Girl: You know why Houston…

Houston and Recovery Girl leave, Adrian and Team A return to the viewing lounge, and Team B assembles in the center.

Aaron: I wonder what task Adrian has for us.

Alexis: It’ll be something teamwork-oriented, that’s for sure.

Angel: Yeah, so we’ll have to stick together as much as possible.

Hayze: That’s probably a little easier said than done. These tasks are usually designed to separate us from the start; I can’t imagine this will be any different.

Saige: You’re so dramatic, Hayzey. We can’t plan for what we can’t plan for, so we might as well not worry about it.

Angel: Aren’t you being a little too lax?

Saige: Oh, I’m being “lax?”

Saige points at Jake, who is taking a nap.

Angel: I guess that’s fair…

Hayze: Looks like we’re already down to six…

Blair walks over to Jake and kicks his head.

Blair: Wake up, you idiot!

Jake holds his head in pain.

Jake: Owie…

Aaron: *whispering* Blair seems a little angry.

Blair: I HEARD THAT!

Angel: Oops…

Blair: I’m not angry. I’m just ready for whatever this new teacher throws at me; bring it on!

An intense light blares as a holographic pitch-black mineshaft appears around them. Nobody can see a thing.

Blair: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Hayze’s eyes change to red. He lights a small fire in his hand and looks around for his teammates.

Hayze: Guys? Aaron, Blair? Angel, Alexis?… Jake?

Saige: Why was I last!

Hayze: I was hoping you weren’t here.

Saige: You know you’d miss me.

Hayze: It looks like we’re in some sort of mineshaft.

Saige: Yeah… and by the looks of it, we ended up in a different shaft than everyone else.

Hayze: Of course we did…

Aaron transforms his arm into a flamethrower and emits a small flame. Alexis and Angel are both there with him.

Aaron: Damn, it’s dark.

Angel: I wasn’t expecting anything like this…

Alexis: Hayze? Blair? Saige? … Jake?

Angel: It looks like we got separated.

Alexis: Just like we planned…

Aaron: Eh, it could be worse.

Blair is screaming at the top of her lungs. She makes a magma bubble in her palm that emits a small light.

Blair: Oh… god… I’m alone…

Jake: I’m here.

Blair: I’M ALONE!

Blair is shaking.

Jake: Are- are you okay?

Blair: I’m… I’m… I’m fine!

Jake: Are you… afraid of the dark or something?

Blair: No! Where would you get a stupid idea like that from!

Jake: Because you started screaming the second the lights went out…

Blair: That was… I was startled! Yeah, that’s right! It was a momentary thing; I’m okay now.

Jake: Right… well I’m gonna go now…

Blair: What? Why!

Jake: Because I kind of don’t want to be around you…

Blair: Why!

Jake: Because you kicked me in the head…

Blair: Oh, that… that was an accident!

Jake: It didn’t seem like it.

Blair: I’m sorry, okay! Just please don’t leave me alone in the dark.

Jake: Hm… okay, but under one condition.

Blair: W- what’s that?

Jake: What’s my name?

Blair: What?

Jake: What’s my name? I want to see if you know it.

Blair: Of course, I know your name!

Jake: Then what is it?

Blair goes quiet.

Blair: Does it start with a ‘B’?

Jake teleports away.

Blair: Oh god…

An intercom sounds that all 7 students can hear.

Adrian: *through intercom* I’ll make this short and simple: Your goal is to make it out of the mine, a.k.a. find the exit. If just one of you makes it, you all pass.

The intercom turns off.

Angel: I guess we should get on the move.

Aaron: Yeah, I’ll lead the way.

The three start walking through the mineshaft.

Angel: It’ll be pretty hard to fight in the dark. We’re gonna have to figure something out.

Aaron finds an electric lamp hanging from one of the wood support beams.

Aaron: Looks like the power is off. If we find the switch, we can light up this whole mine.

Alexis: We should keep going forward and see if we find any signs that can point us in the right direction.

Angel: Yeah, that’s probably our best option.

Aaron: It’s our only option, unfortunately.

Hayze walks through the mineshaft, with Saige following along.

Hayze: You might want to stay close. If we get separated, you won’t have any light.

Saige grabs onto Hayze’s arm.

Saige: Awwwww, you’re worried about me.

Hayze: *sighs* Can you stop doing that?

Saige: Doing what?

Hayze: Calling me “Hayzey” and acting like we’re super close. You’re giving people the wrong idea.

Saige gets a sly look.

Saige: What “wrong idea?”

Hayze: That we’re friends.

Saige: Wow.

Hayze: Wow, what?

Saige: Nothing, just amazed by something.

Hayze: Huh?

Saige: Enough about that. I think we should continue our conversation from last night.

Hayze: I’d rather not. I gave you my answer.

Saige: Yes, and I’m not satisfied with it.

Hayze: Well, that’s too bad.

Saige: I have to say, going against your own best interest due to your own pride is among one of the stupider things I’ve ever seen someone do. I thought you were supposed to be smart.

Hayze: I told you, I can handle this myself. I don’t need your attention.

Saige huffs in frustration.

Saige: Well, when you lose control again, don’t come crying to me, Mr. Unbothered.

Hayze: You think I don’t care about what happened on the mountain?

Saige: No, I don’t think you care enough.

Hayze stops walking.

Hayze: Why won’t you accept that I don’t want your help? Whatever is going on with me, I can handle it myself!

Saige: You see what you said right there? “Whatever is going on” that’s the problem. You’re making important decisions without the slightest understanding of what you’re talking about! I won’t accept that you don’t want my help because you’re making the wrong choice. Don’t get mad at me because I’m looking out for you more than you are, got that?

Hayze is silent for a moment.

Saige: No response?

Hayze: Look… You seem like a nice and talented girl, and that’s why I don’t want your help.

Saige: W- what…

Hayze: Let’s just keep going. We need to find-

Hayze takes a step and hits a tripwire. Suddenly, a trap door opens beneath him, he falls down the hole, leaving Saige alone in the dark.

Saige: Hayze!

Saige starts to hear mysterious laughter.

Saige: Well, that’s just ominous…

Spectre appears in front of Saige and tries to punch her, but she grabs his arm.

Spectre: How can you see me in this darkness?

Saige: I don’t need light to hear your footsteps.

Spectre: Very clever.

Spectre uses his other hand to break Saige’s grip; he takes a few steps back.

Spectre: But you shouldn’t have informed me you are relying on sound to make counterattacks.

Saige: You know, you really should have gone after him instead of me.

Spectre: I like your confidence, but you’re all alone, and you’re in the dark. You don’t stand a chance. Don’t worry, though; I’ll make this quick.

Spectre phases into the wall.

Saige: (The Phantom Hero: Spectre, his quirk: Phase Shifting, he can phase through any inanimate object. He also has tasers installed into the gauntlets of his suit. So it’s no surprise to see him in a dark environment like this. He’s in his element here.)

Spectre starts to appear above Saige.

Saige: (Despite how powerful his ability is on paper… he has a significant weakness that’s pretty easy for someone like me to exploit.)

Spectre attempts to electrocute Saige, but a pink translucent pad appears on Saige’s neck, blocking the attack.

Spectre: What? How?

Saige grabs Spectre’s arm, rips him out of the ceiling, and throws him against the wall.

Saige: Like I said, you really should have gone after Hayze first.

Spectre: How did you know I was attacking? I didn’t make a sound.

Saige: That time, I used basic deduction skills. You’re an extremely experienced pro hero that relies on a gadget like a taser to immobilize your opponents. That means you know exactly which areas of the body a taser is most effective on, and you target those areas when you’re looking to deal a finishing blow. Thus, the hips or the neck area are your most likely targets. I knew my neck would be easier for you to reach, so I readied my guard for your strike.

Spectre: Hmm, very impressive. I guess I should have started with someone else.

Spectre phases into the ground.

Saige: (Spectre can’t phase through humans, so in a hand-to-hand combat situation, he’s pretty much a fish out of water.)

A pink translucent flashlight appears in Saige’s hand.

Adrian: (Saige Neidert, Quirk: Psychic Construct, she can use psychic energy to materialize weapons and tools or other uses, but if those constructs are broken or destroyed, she suffers a terrible headache. It’s a powerful ability for a powerful girl.)

Saige searches for the trapdoor Hayze fell through.

Saige: (I guess I shouldn’t have pushed him so hard. I have to remember that we barely know each other… he doesn’t trust me. I’ve been trying to skip steps. I need to start taking things slow and get him to understand why I’m so persistent.)

Aaron, Alexis, and Angel are at a fork in the mineshaft.

Angel: Well, this is tough.

Alexis: Anyone know how mine shafts work?

Aaron: I feel like the right path would have to be the correct way to go.

Alexis: Any reason?

Aaron: Right is right?

Alexis: Of course, that’s why…

Aaron takes exception to Alexis’ tone.

Aaron: Is something wrong?

Alexis: It’s nothing, Aaron, just ignore me.

Aaron: No, just tell me if I’m being a dick.

Alexis: *sighs* During Team A’s exercise, you commented about being stronger than Justus and Silver, then when Wes questioned it, you hurt him. Do you actually think you’re stronger than them?

Aaron: Well… I never got the chance to fight either of them. So…

Angel: Should… should I go… or?

Aaron: Do you think I am?

Alexis: No.

Aaron: And why’s that?

Angel starts looking around.

Angel: Do you guys hear that?

Alexis: You talk a lot about being strong and trying to be number 1, but I guess I just…

Aaron: Just what?

The sound gets louder.

Angel: Do you guys seriously not hear that?

Alexis: I think back to when we fought that guy out in the woods, we threw everything at him, and he just took it all like it was nothing… I felt powerless, and I know you did too.

Aaron: Maybe… but what’s that got to do with anything?

The sound gets even louder.

Angel: Guys, seriously!

Alexis: If you want to be number 1, you have to at least be the strongest amongst the class, and when you say something like “I’m stronger than Silver and Justus,” it makes me think you think you’re already there when you’re not.

Aaron: Of course, I want to be number 1. That’s always been one of my goals as a hero. Why are you saying all of this, though?

Alexis: Because I know you can be better than Silver and Justus someday, I just was worried that you weren’t trying as hard because you already thought you were.

Angel: Guys…

A minecart rolls between Aaron and Alexis and slams into Angel, carrying him away.

Angel: GUYYYYYYYS!

Aaron: Worried, eh?

Alexis: Shut up; I’ve seen your potential firsthand. I don’t want overconfidence and cockiness to put that to waste.

Aaron: Well, don’t worry about me. I’ll catch up to those guys soon enough.

Suddenly Aaron’s neck gets tased, he falls to his knees in pain.

Alexis: Aaron!

Aaron: AHHHHH! What the hell was that?

Spectre appears behind Aaron and Alexis.

Aaron: Mr. Spectre? You’re who we’re up against?

Spectre: The fact that the minecart thing worked…

Aaron and Alexis: What minecart?

Spectre is dumbfounded.

Alexis: Are you alright, Aaron?

Aaron: Yeah… he got me good, so it’s a little hard to move. Where the hell did Angel go?

Alexis: I don’t know; he must have ditched us.

Aaron: Selfish bastard.

Elsewhere, Angel is crushed against a wall by the minecart.

Angel: *groans* Ow…

Alexis makes a symbol with her hand.

Alexis: You’ve made a big mistake. Detonate!

Suddenly a bunch of paper bombs in the mineshaft start lighting up.

Spectre: What? A trap?

Alexis: You didn’t think we were dumb enough to just be wandering through this tunnel without a plan, did you?

The bombs start to detonate, caving in that part of the tunnel. Aaron and Alexis escape the blast by running down the right corridor.

Aaron: Looks like it was a good idea to leave that bomb bread crumb trail.

Alexis: Yeah… but unless that blast knocked him out…

Spectre appears in front of them.

Spectre: It was a clever idea. It’s just too bad you’re up against me.

Alexis: That will happen…

Spectre lunges at Alexis.

Spectre: Ladies first!

Aaron pushes Alexis back and takes Spectre’s electrified punch to the face, knocking him to the ground.

Alexis: Aaron!

Aaron tries to get up but can’t. His eye starts twitching.

Aaron: (What the hell! I’m trying to move my legs, but my eye is twitching!)

Spectre: I see that you’re feeling the aftereffects of my scramble shock attack!

Aaron: What’s going on!

Spectre: Your nervous system is scrambled for a few minutes if it makes contact with the head. The electrical impulses in your brain are out of whack. Trying to move your arm could move your left thumb, for example. You’re essentially immobilized!

Aaron: (Shit!)

Spectre walks over Aaron and approaches Alexis.

Spectre: One down, one to go.

Alexis tries to punch Spectre, but he grabs her hand.

Spectre: Sorry, but no cigar.

Alexis has a paper bomb rolled up her sleeve.

Alexis: (I could take him down right now, but I can’t risk injuring Aaron too if Spectre manages to escape.)

Spectre: If you want to win, you’re going to have to be smarter than just throwing random punches, you know? Perhaps you could use something you learned during your internship?

Alexis: All I learned was that cowboys aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.

Spectre: W… what?

Spectre starts to twist Alexis’ wrist; she winces in pain.

Spectre: Give up now!

Alexis: (What do I do?)

Suddenly Spectre gets bean bagged in the back, he falls to the ground stunned. Alexis looks at Aaron, who transformed his arm into a bean bag gun.

Alexis: How did you?

Aaron: It’s called trial and error. I just kept trying to move random parts of my body until I found the one that pulls the trigger.

Spectre: *grunts* Exhaustive Search… It's not clever, but it worked. Good job.

Aaron: Run, Alexis, I’ll hold him off, find Hayze, Blair, and Saige.

Alexis: What, but what about you?

Aaron: I’ll slow you down in my current state. Just go!

Alexis: Right!

Alexis starts running.

Aaron: Wait!

Alexis: What?

Aaron holds out his flame.

Aaron: Need a light?

Alexis: Very funny.

Alexis holds out a piece of paper that Aaron ignites.

Aaron: Maybe I’m not as strong as Justus or Silver, but I’m definitely more heroic.

Alexis runs away. Spectre starts to get up.

Spectre: I guess I’ll finish you off!

Spectre charges at Aaron, Aaron shoots a bean bag at Spectre, but he dodges.

Aaron: (Damn!)

Spectre jumps into the air, and spin kicks Aaron in the face, knocking him out.

Spectre: I’ve got to catch up to her before she gets too far.

Spectre runs off after Alexis. Elsewhere Hayze picks himself up off the ground.

Hayze: *groans* What the hell happened?

Hayze remembers tripping over the wire.

Hayze: Oh right…

Hayze slams his fist into the ground.

Hayze: I can’t believe I fell for such a stupid trap because I let her distract me! I’m a fucking idiot!

Hayze stands up and leans against the wall; his eyes start to glow.

Hayze: That chick is starting to piss me off. Why doesn’t she understand that I don’t want her help!

Voice: (Maybe it’s because she’s not telling you everything.)

Hayze: Huh… I guess I didn’t think about that- wait a second...

Hayze’s eyes widen. He starts looking around frantically.

Hayze: Who the hell said that!