Ewing, Vanguard, Multi, Spectre, Fatal, Boom, Houston, Madame Mummy, and Recovery Girl are gathered in U.A.’s conference room.

Boom: It seems the new rule forcing all students to attend class to stay in the tournament has fixed our attendance issues.

Spectre: Only temporarily. Their rebellious nature isn’t going to go away overnight.

Recovery Girl: I’ve never seen anything like this, such a vast majority of the students disregarding the rules of this establishment.

Multi: And we can’t punish all of them. That’s the whole school.

Vanguard: Yes… this is indeed a pressing issue. What are your thoughts, Principal Ewing?

Ewing thinks for a moment.

Ewing: Perhaps we should consider restricting the “ante portion” of the rules.

Vanguard: No, that’s an integral part of the tournament; it could cause another student mutiny if we change the rules.

Ewing: You’re right, Mr. Butler.

Fatal: Well, then, what should we do? It seems like we’re afraid of the students.

Madame Mummy: We are; there is no U.A. without them, and with the way they’re unified, they have power over us and our decisions.

Boom: So, what are we getting at here? Can’t we do anything?

Houston: Not right now; we must maintain peace for as long as possible, even if it means doing nothing.

Recovery Girl: The school’s reputation has taken a significant dive in the last year. If the press finds out we’ve lost control of the students, that could be the nail in this establishment’s coffin.

Everyone is silent.

Boom: On another note… where the hell have Walker and Adrian been these last few days?

Ewing: Last I was informed, they were both sick. Is that still the case, Rachel?

Fatal: Uh… yeah, of course! Nasty flu.

Ewing: I thought you said it was strep throat?

Fatal: Poor bastards got both…

Ewing: Right…

Vanguard looks suspicious.

Ewing: Anyway, we’ve agreed that it’s in our best interest to continue running the school as usual. We’ll come together again if a new development arises.

The teachers begin exiting the room and head their separate ways.

Vanguard: Ms. Fatal, wait for a moment.

Fatal: Hm? What is it?

Everyone besides Vanguard and Fatal has exited the room.

Vanguard: Where are Adrian and Walker, actually?

Fatal: I told you, they’re both sick.

Vanguard: I wasn’t asking.

Fatal: What do you m-

Vanguard removes his glove and places the Alpha Ring against Fatal’s forehead.

Vanguard: Tell me where Adrian and Walker are.

Fatal: They’re going to the location of the Alpha Ring to check if it is still in the Guardian’s possession.

Vanguard’s eyes widen.

Vanguard: THEY’RE WHAT?!

Vanguard runs out of the room.

Fatal: Wh- huh? Mr. Butler?

Vanguard hurries to his office.

Vanguard: (They could ruin everything!)

A plane soars over the Mojave Desert with its cargo ramp down. Inside the back, Walker and Adrian are both ready with parachutes and large backpacks.

Walker: How close are we going to drop to the Guardian?

Adrian: About 4 hours out.

Walker: Why so far?

Adrian: Guardians are told to act first and ask questions later. If you see someone approaching your home, put them in the ground, and if they’re still breathing, then you question them.

Walker: I see…

Adrian: Not to mention, we don’t want the pilot of this plane to know where the Guardian is.

Walker: So, you’re going off the assumption that Guardian is still there.

Adrian: Of course! I’m telling you, Walker, Battlin’ Boxer is going to be there, and he’s not going to be happy we’re visiting him.

Walker: Then you can blame me.

A light inside the back of the plane turns green.

Adrian: It’s time to jump!

Walker: Remember to pull your cord.

Walker leaps out of the plane and begins plummeting toward the sandy desert.

Adrian: Haha, very funny.

Adrian follows suit.

Adrian: (I sure hope that when we leave this desert, I’m the one saying, “I told you so.”)

Behind Class 2-A’s dorm, the girls have made significant progress with their tasks. Fatal arrives from her meeting.

Fatal: Well, well, well, look at what we have here.

Alexis is able to fold the paper ten times, Saige can smash one of her psychic constructs without becoming completely immobilized, Ash made Alden reach the baseball and bring it back before she drowned, Grace managed to balance the ball on her head for 15 minutes straight, Verity read the entire paper, and Blair coated five ice cubes in lava without melting them.

Fatal: Good… and what about Sydney?

Sydney is still balancing on the platform.

Fatal: Got a new answer?

Sydney: Fuck. You.

Fatal: I admire your commitment to being wrong.

Suddenly, Eve appears out of nowhere and careens toward Fatal.

Eve: I’ve got you now!

Fatal: Nope!

Fatal dodges, but Eve’s trajectory follows her.

Fatal: What?!

Eve collides with Fatal and grabs the hair clip.

Eve: I did it!

Fatal smiles.

Fatal: Good job; when did you get the chance to magnetize me?

Eve releases the magnetic pull, and both of them stand up.

Eve: I didn’t magnetize you. Look at the bottom of your shoe.

Fatal looks and sees a sticker.

Fatal: I see…

Eve: I magnetized that sticker and placed it down with the sticky side up. Once you unknowingly stepped on it, I had you!

Fatal laughs.

Fatal: Good work, Eve, very clever.

Eve: Thank you.

Fatal: Everyone, gather up!

The girls gather in front of Fatal.

Fatal: I want to congratulate most of you on making progress. I’m sure you all feel much stronger than you were a few days ago. We’ll call training off a bit early today, so you all can rest; next week, I’ll have something new in store for you... Something better.

Saige: Would we refer to it as “better?”

Fatal: You guys would call it worse.

All of the girls groan.

Fatal: Haha! Enjoy your weekend. Torture- I mean, “training” starts Monday.

Fatal leaves.

Eve: I think she gets some sick thrill from seeing us exhausted.

Blair: Eh, whatever; at least we get a half-day today. That’s something, right?

Ash: Yeah… something…

Ash heads inside by herself, looking distraught.

Sydney: What crawled up her butt and died?

Eve: Shut up, bitch! Ash, wait up!

Eve follows after Ash.

Sydney: Oh, come on! We were all thinking it!

Alexis: Some things are better left unsaid.

Alexis walks off.

Sydney: Since when was your class so depressed?

Blair: There were some… “controversies.”

Grace: Ooh! Like what?

Saige: It’s not really your business.

Sydney: Whatever. Come on, Grace and Verity, we need to return to the dorm immediately.

Verity: Right.

Grace: Fun!

Blair: Why “immediately?”

Sydney: It’s not really your business.

Sydney, Verity, and Grace head inside.

Blair: *sighs* I can’t say I’m a big fan of the mood around here lately.

Saige: Well, do you want to do something about it?

Blair: Hm?

Inside the 2-A dorm, Wes, Gus, Zach, Justus, Aaron, and Silver are all in the common area. There’s a tense air between Silver and Aaron.

Justus: *whispering to Wes* What happened between those two?

Wes: Uh… a fight?

Zach: Oh, so who won?

Wes: Not that kind of fight…

The eight girls enter, and the tension and awkward energy only increase.

Zach: H- hey… Sydney…

Sydney: Die.

Zach: *gulps*

Sydney, Grace, and Verity head for the door. Wes stands up and walks beside Verity.

Wes: Hey, look, I don’t know if I did something to offend you or what, but could you at least tell me what it is. It’s somehow creeping me out more that you’re suddenly ignoring me.

Verity: I’m not ignoring you.

Sydney, Verity, and Grace leave.

Wes: That… *sighs* doesn’t help…

Alexis avoids eye contact with Aaron. Eve looks uncomfortable. Ash starts heading for the stairs.

Justus: Ash! Wait.

Ash ignores Justus and continues forward.

Justus: (She’s been dodging me every day since we got back…)

Ash reaches the stairs when suddenly a pink translucent wall appears, blocking her.

Ash: Huh?

Saige: Okay, everyone, it’s time for us to chat.

Everyone looks at Saige, curious.

Zach: W- what is it, Saige-

Saige: Y’all a bunch of bitches.

Zach: W… what?

Saige: Listen up! Nobody is leaving this room until we’re all so close that we’re ready to have a fucking circle jerk!

Everyone stares at Saige, dumbfounded.

Silver: Saige is right.

Gus: Gross…

Silver: Not that, you idiot. We have a crisis on our hands, and we’re allowing personal issues with one another to get in the way of helping our friends.

Aaron: *scoffs* You’re one to talk.

Silver: I said “we,” didn’t I?

Eve: It’s not my fault nobody around here is trustworthy.

Ash: You’re one to talk.

Eve: What?!

Saige: HEY! SHUT UP!

Everyone looks at Saige again, surprised by her tone.

Blair: I don’t think I’ve ever seen you mad before…

Saige: Yeah, I’m pissed because I have to be the adult here! Do you guys realize how stupid that is? Me? An adult?! Now, we’re going to go around and air out everyone’s dirty laundry. This is no time for us to be dealing with petty nonsense.

Saige points at Eve.

Saige: Eve! What’s your problem!

Eve: Wh- I- why me in particular!

Saige: Everyone will have a turn; I just picked you first! Now, go before I get mad...der!

Eve: *frustrated grunt* Zach was fraternizing with the enemy!

Zach: What?!

Blair: He was working with the Vanguard?

Eve: No! That bitch, Sydney!

Alexis: She’s our enemy?

Eve: Shut up, Alexis! You’re the one who started all of this!

Alexis: *grunts* But… I…

Saige: One at a time, Eve. So, you’re saying that Zach got down and dirty with the skank named Sydney.

Eve: Weird way to phrase that, but yeah.

Saige: Zach! What say you?

Zach: Hey! She’s the one who made out with me!

Eve: Out of the blue? Yeah right!

Justus: But that’s what you did to me.

Everyone gasps.

Eve: W- that was different! I couldn’t control myself!

Ash: Harlot!

Silver: I think I’m noticing a trend here…

Blair: Yeah… that’s the same thing Alexis said when she kissed Silver…

Alexis: Yeah, it was like my body acted on its own.

Saige: Was it the same feeling for you, Eve?

Eve: Yeah, exactly.

Silver: And I imagine if we asked Sydney, she’d say the same thing.

Saige: Things are starting to make some sense now…

Aaron looks at Alexis.

Aaron: So, you really didn’t mean to do it?

Alexis: No, never.

Aaron: Okay… I believe you.

Aaron turns to Silver.

Aaron: You’re still annoying, but I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.

Silver: It’s alright.

Ash: I’m also sorry, Eve.

Eve: Don’t worry, I understand, and I’m sorry, Z-

Saige: We can do the whole apology tour later. We need to figure out what the hell caused all of this.

Justus: Or who…

Everyone is silent for a moment.

Blair: I have a vague idea.

Saige: Shoot.

Blair: All of the “major” Vanguard members seem to have a tarot card associated with them and gain a power based on that card’s meaning. Lilith is the Empress, which means fertility and growth, and she can grow things now.

Alexis: If I know my tarot correctly, there’s a lovers card, right?

Blair: Yes, there is, and I’d bet anything the wielder of that card is responsible for this.

Zach: But who could that be?

Saige: We know it’s not Jace, Lilith, or Karma.

Silver: Which leaves Isaiah and Angel.

Demetri: Isaiah is the temperance.

Everyone turns to Demetri.

Demetri: What? What are you looking at?

Alexis: We’re surprised you’re helping.

Eve: Yeah, all you ever do lately is mope.

Ash: It’s pretty sad.

Demetri: Geez, remind me not to talk again.

Silver: Okay, then Angel’s our guy. I’ll go track him down and get to the bottom of this.

Eve: Count me in; I have a bone to pick with him.

Aaron: Me too.

Silver: Okay, we’ll head out now. Blair, you seem to know a bit about tarot. Could you gather some information on the rest of the cards and who they may belong to while we’re gone?

Blair: Yeah, I can.

Alexis: I’ll help too.

Silver: Good. Everyone else should stay here and try to formulate strategies for handling the Vanguard; it’s time for us to get our act together.

Everyone: Right.

Silver: Let’s head out, Eve and Aaron.

Silver, Eve, and Aaron depart.

Saige: (I guess he took our talk to heart.) Alright, everyone looks like we’ve got work to do.

Hayze, Tobias, Romeo, Gavin, Bruno, and Alec are gathered outside U.A. stadium.

Alec: Why are we here now? The girls won’t finish training for another few hours.

Hayze: They wrapped up earlier than expected, so we can get started now.

Bruno: It’s probably better this way; more Vanguard activity means a much larger distraction.

Hayze: Indeed.

Romeo: This had better be a good plan! I’m going to be pissed if it backfires!

Nobody responds.

Alec: This had better be a good plan! I’m going to be pissed if it backfires!

Romeo: Hey!

Hayze: This can only fall through if Alec messes up.

Alec: Oh yeah? Well, he’d better not- HEY, FUCK YOU!

Hayze: I mean, I guess Grace, Tobias, or Bruno could cause problems if they don’t do their jobs right, but I have faith in them.

Alec: You have more faith in the masochist than me!

Tobias: Aren’t you also a masochist?

Alec: Yeah… but it’s not a sexual thing like that weird bitch.

Grace: *from afar* Did someone say weird bitch?

Hayze: Good, they’re here.

Verity, Grace, and Sydney arrive and join the group.

Sydney: So, what’s the plan?

Hayze: No time for pleasantries?

Sydney: Shut up.

Grace gets in Hayze’s face.

Grace: Tell me I get to fight!

Hayze: Uh… you do, don’t worry.

Grace: Yay!

Hayze: Okay, but before I explain what we’ll be doing, we need to pick a target. This plan is designed to purify only one person. Tobias, you mentioned having someone in mind, right?

Tobias: Yes, I believe Killian is our best option.

Hayze: I agree.

Sydney: Why are we going through all this trouble to save Killian only?

Hayze: Because these Vanguard guys are tough, we need to play it safe and not bite off more than we can chew. Not to mention that we, in theory, only need one person.

Verity: Why is that?

Hayze: Once we bring Killian back to our side, he’ll come with a ton of new information on the Vanguard’s inner workings, including potentially the identity of the person responsible for all of this.

Verity: That makes sense.

Hayze: Today marks the first battle in our war against the Vanguard. We have to win, I don’t mean to apply added pressure, but failure isn’t an option.

Alec: I don’t know the first thing about failure.

Tobias: 1. Don’t be Alec.

Gavin: Now you do.

Alec: WHAT THE FUCK?!

Romeo: Haha, fuck Alec. Am I right, guys?

Alec slices Romeo’s cheek with his scythe.

Romeo: Ah! What the hell?!

Alec licks the blood.

Romeo: Oh no...

Alec: I hope my job involves A LOT of combat.

Hayze: It does.

Romeo: OH, NO!

Hayze: Alright, listen up, guys.

Adrian and Walker drudge through the desert sands.

Adrian: *groans* These packs are heavy as hell.

Walker: We need the supplies inside; they’re essential for survival.

Adrian: I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy carrying them.

Walker: Fair.

Adrian: I still think this will end up being a big waste of time.

Walker: Certainty is not a waste.

Adrian: Whatever you say…

Inside Battlin’ Boxer’s desert home, a woman is sitting in a chair, smoking a cigarette in dim light. She’s wearing a camo cap and has large muscles.

Woman: Nothing like nicotine to start the morning.

Suddenly, her satellite phone begins ringing. Her expression intensifies; she picks up the phone and clears her throat.

Woman: *in Battlin’ Boxer’s voice* Hello, Ewing.

Vanguard: *phone* Weaver.

Weaver lowers her guard.

Weaver: Yes, Master.

Vanguard: *phone* Two heroes, The Copycat and Phantom Walker, are headed your way.

Weaver: I’m already aware; I’ve been following air traffic and radio communications. I knew two “skydivers” had entered my vicinity. I was waiting for my traps to take care of them.

Vanguard: *phone* Your traps won’t be enough for those two; they’re incredibly powerful heroes.

Weaver: What do you want me to do?

Vanguard: *phone* Eliminate them.

Weaver stands up and approaches a briefcase. She opens it up, revealing a disassembled Barrett .50 cal.

Weaver: Understood.

Jace, Lilith, Killian, Angel, Isaiah, Tyson, and Karma have gathered a large army of Vanguard students at the center of campus.

Jace: Today marks a new hunt; The Magician will lead some of you to battle against the third-year hero students, be sure to assimilate every last one of them into our ranks.

Vanguard Students: Yessir!

Jace: Magician?

Tyson steps forward.

Tyson: I’ll take all first-year hero students and third-years with me. Come on!

The students break off and begin following Tyson toward Class 3-A and 3-B’s dorms.

Jace: Good…

Killian laughs.

Killian: Those bastards don’t stand a chance against us.

Karma: No, they don’t.

Jace: The rest of you have your assignments; Moon and Chariot will maintain patrols.

Angel spreads his wings.

Angel: It is about time I wreaked more havoc on our former classmates.

Suddenly, Angel gets hit upside the head by a beanbag.

Angel: AHHH!

Isaiah: Huh?

Lilith: What the hell?

They all look in the direction of the shot, spotting Aaron, Silver, and Eve standing nearby.

Silver: Aaron, I told you not to do that!

Aaron: Oops.

Jace laughs.

Jace: So, you three have decided to join us finally? Smart move.

Silver: We’re here to let you know that we figured out what Angel was up to, so you can stop trying to mess with our heads.

Angel: You figured it out that fast?!

Aaron: It wasn’t hard once we compared notes.

Silver: Aaron, you had no idea, so I wouldn’t be talking.

Aaron: Fuck you!

Jace starts clapping.

Jace: You’re doing a great job of showing how “unified” you are.

Aaron: Yeah, and you’re doing a great Wes impression.

Killian: Ha, because he’s stupid.

Jace: Chariot!

Killian: What? Just because we’re both in the Vanguard doesn’t mean I like you now.

Jace: Whatever. You three were foolish to come here when we have an army. Vanguard! Seize them!

The 2nd-year Vanguard students surround Aaron, Silver, and Eve.

Silver: I think you’ve forgotten who you’re talking to.

Jace: Hm?

Aaron transforms his arm into a grenade launcher and fires a flashbang at the ground, blinding the Vanguard members as the three escape to cover.

Jace: AHHH! DAMMIT!

Aaron, Silver, and Eve hide in the bushes.

Aaron: What was the point of this again?

Silver: To get confirmation that Angel was messing with us, I didn’t expect him to hand it to us so easily, though.

Aaron: Yeah… I guess joining the Vanguard took some of his smarts.

Silver: Aaron, you’ll have to be on Anti-Air duty from now on. Angel can’t be allowed to keep this up.

Aaron: Sounds fun.

Silver: Come on, let’s head back.

Aaron: Right.

The three sneak off as the Vanguard regains their vision.

Jace: WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?!

Killian: No clue.

Isaiah: They couldn’t have gotten far.

Jace: Chariot! Moon! Take a strike force and find them! NOW!

Karma: Right!

Karma and Killian take a squad of 20 Vanguard members and leave.

Jace: Lovers assist Empress and Temperance in their tasks. I’ll be back at Headquarters.

Jace leaves.

Lilith: He’s pissy.

Isaiah: He just wants the Vanguard’s expansion to continue.

Angel: As do all of us.

Lilith turns to the remaining Vanguard grunts.

Lilith: The rest of you fan out and hunt down anyone who isn’t among us!

Vanguard Grunts: Yes, ma’am!

The grunts leave.

Lilith: Alright, it’s time for our hunt to begin. Lovers, search for the target and alert us when you find her.

Angel: Will do.

Angel takes flight. Isaiah begins meditating.

Lilith: What are you doing?

Isaiah: Preparing for when we’re called upon.

Lilith: *scoffs* Weirdo.

Karma and Killian lead their squad, searching for Silver, Aaron, and Eve.

Killian: Where the hell could they have gone?!

Karma: I don’t know, but when we find them, we’ll-

Romeo: *from afar* HELP!

Karma: Huh?

They both look to see Romeo hanging from a tree branch by his underwear.

Romeo: PLEASE HELP ME! MY BASTARD CLASSMATES LEFT ME HERE LIKE THIS!

The group walks up to Romeo.

Killian: Man, you’re pathetic.

Karma: Do we even want him?

Romeo: Huh?!

Killian: No, trust me, he’s a waste. You, with the stupid hair!

Stupid Hair Vanguard Member: Yessir!

Killian: Fetch me a bat.

Stupid Hair Vanguard Member: Yessir!

Romeo: WHAT?!

Killian: Let’s have some fun!

Gavin: YEAH!

Killian: That’s the spirit! Wh- wait…

Gavin emerges from behind the tree and runs into the crowd of Vanguard students, crop dusting them with goofy gas.

Gavin: ASS GAS!

Killian: Dammit! It was a trap!

Karma: Don’t inhale any of it!

Killian and Karma leap out of the gas cloud, but their grunts are entirely engulfed, and they begin acting like morons.

Killian: *frustrated grunt* SHIT! FUCK YOU, GAVIN!

Gavin: ASS GAS!

Killian: WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, I’LL-

Karma: Chariot! Look out!

Killian dodges as Alec’s scythe whizzes by his face.

Alec: Ah… almost had him!

Killian: It’s a damn ambush!

Gavin’s Goofy Gas clears, revealing that Karma and Killian are surrounded by Alec, Hayze, Grace, Gavin, and Tobias.

Karma: Hayze! I should have known you’d be behind this.

Hayze: You didn’t even know what was going on until 5 seconds ago.

Killian: Shut the hell up! If you think ganging up on us will work, you’ve got another thing coming.

Hayze steps forward and cracks his knuckles.

Hayze: Ganging up? I’ll fight you all alone; these guys are just here to spectate.

Killian: *frustrated grunt* Cocky little bastard! You can’t take me!

Hayze: If I recall correctly, our last fight ended with me kicking your ass so hard you didn’t even have time to fight back.

Killian: N- No, it didn’t!

Grace: Yeah, it did.

Tobias: Mhm.

Gavin: Yup.

Alec: Pretty much.

Romeo: Yeah.

Karma: I agree.

Killian: WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?!

Karma: Truth, you got your ass handed to you.

Killian: *extremely loud frustrated grunt* OH YEAH?! THEN I’LL HAPPILY TAKE THIS GUY DOWN NOW!

Hayze: Alright, then, let’s fight.

Killian: LET’S GO!

Hayze: One second, I’ve gotta take a dump first.

Hayze starts running away.

Killian: Wh… GET BACK HERE!

Killian starts chasing after Hayze.

Karma: Chariot! Wait!

Karma tries to stop Killian, but Tobias, Alec, and Grace surround her.

Alec: You’re not going anywhere.

Grace: Not without getting through us.

Karma: *frustrated grunt*

Verity watches Karma from the school’s rooftop with Bruno at her side. She has an earpiece.

Verity: *into earpiece* She’s planning to strike at you, Tobias.

Karma throws a right hook at Tobias, but he easily blocks it.

Karma: What the?!

Tobias punches Karma in the chest and knocks her to her knees.

Karma: Damn you!

Hayze runs through the campus with Killian hot on his tail and gaining ground on him.

Hayze: (Good, he took the bait.)

Killian: Quit running and fight me!

Hayze: I thought you were some kind of speed demon! If you wanted to catch me, why can’t you?

Killian: *frustrated grunt* If that’s what you want me to do, then no way!

Hayze: (What a dumbass…)

Hayze takes a turn and runs into U.A. Stadium.

Killian: (The stadium?)

Killian follows Hayze inside but loses track of him immediately.

Killian: (Where did he run off to? How did he get out of my sight so quickly?)

Killian approaches the entrance to the arena.

Killian: *grunts* (What, does he want to live through the Sports Festival again?)

Killian opens the doors and walks into the empty arena.

Killian: Listen here, bastard! I’m going to find you, and when I do, I’ll-

Sydney: Beat the shit out of you?

Killian: Huh?

Killian turns around to see Sydney standing in the seats above the arena.

Killian: Sydney? What are you doing here?

Sydney leaps down beside Killian.

Sydney: That should be pretty obvious.

Killian: What? You want to fight me?

Sydney punches Killian in the nose.

Killian: AH! WHAT THE FUCK! I THINK YOU BROKE IT!

Sydney: Never insinuate that you’re better than me again. After Tobias and potentially Grace, nobody in our class stands a chance against me.

Killian: Maybe that was true before, but now that I’ve seen the light, I’m stronger than you, Grace, and Tobias by a mile! None of you can take m-

Sydney punches Killian in the nose again.

Killian: AHHH!

Sydney: Did the light show you how to dodge?

Killian: *frustrated grunt* You bitch! You’re going down!

Hayze enters the viewing room, and Ivy is sitting at the controls.

Hayze: Is everything ready?

Ivy: Yeah, it looks like they’re about to fight.

Hayze: Good. As soon as they do, boot up the simulation.

Ivy: I will. Are you sure this will work?

Hayze: Yeah, Sydney will take care of Killian.

Ivy: It’s not that I don’t trust or believe you, but wouldn’t it be wiser for you or me to fight him?

Hayze: You can’t fight because you’re not a student here, so you’re not in the tournament. And I think it’s better for Sydney to fight him instead of me.

Ivy: Huh? Why’s that?

Hayze: You’ll see.

Killian wipes the blood from his nose.

Killian: How many points are you putting up?

Sydney holds up her S.S. Badge.

Sydney: As you can see, I have yet to fight in this tournament, so I only have my 3 points.

Killian: Fine, then we’ll each put up 2.

Sydney: No, we’re both going all in.

Killian: What! Are you crazy! I have 83 points! Like, I’m wagering those against your measly 3!

Sydney: Oh, so you’re afraid you’ll lose?

Killian: *grunts*

Sydney: Funny how bravado goes out the window when you have to put your money where your mouth is. But I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re scared of losing to a girl.

Killian: I’M NOT SCARED!

Sydney: My offer, take it or leave it.

Killian hesitates.

Killian: Fine! But when you lose, you’re joining the Vanguard!

Sydney: And when you’re on the ground crying like a little bitch, you’ll leave the Vanguard.

Killian: Like hell, I will!

Sydney: Do we have a deal?

Killian: HELL YEAH!

Killian begins transforming into his Werewolf form.

Sydney: (He’s really worked up to use that form so quickly.)

Ivy begins typing on the keyboard.

Ivy: Beginning simulation.

Suddenly, the arena transforms into a glacial plain.

Killian: What the-

Sydney fires a barrage of icicles into Killian’s chest and arms.

Killian: AHHH!

Sydney: The fight starts now.

Killian: This wasn’t in the rules!

Sydney: There are no rules.

Killian: Wh- that’s bull-

Sydney elbows Killian in the chest, knocking him back and sliding on the ice.

Sydney: Complain a little louder; I couldn’t hear you.

Killian slowly starts getting up.

Killian: Lucky sho-

Killian slips and falls on his butt.

Killian: AHH!

Sydney: (I can’t believe that idiot gave me such a simple task.)

Ivy and Hayze watch the fight from inside the control room.

Ivy: I’m not familiar with these classmates of yours. How powerful are they exactly?

Hayze: Sydney and Killian are pretty tough; I’d say usually they’re about evenly matched. Killian’s got an ego, but he’s not stupid. He knows his Werewolf form is necessary to win, and he should have the edge with his new Vanguard abilities.

Ivy: And that’s why we’re using this holographic field to give her an advantage?

Hayze: Yup, the name of Killian’s game is speed, and he’ll be slipping and falling all over this ice while Sydney’s water attacks freeze into deadly icicles.

Ivy: And once she beats him, we’ll have freed him from the Vanguard.

Hayze: Yup.

Hayze stands up and starts walking away.

Hayze: I’m going to keep guard out front; we don’t want anyone interrupting this fight. You keep an eye on them and make sure nothing goes south.

Ivy: Right.

Hayze leaves.

Hayze: (We got lucky that Killian was only with Karma, she shouldn’t be much of an issue for Tobias, Alec, and Grace.)

Hayze taps on his earpiece.

Hayze: Verity, do you have eyes on any of the other Vanguard lieutenants?

Verity: *earpiece* I have yet to learn where Jace or Angel are, but Isaiah and Lilith are lounging around not far from Tobias and the others.

Hayze: “Lounging?”

Verity: Yes, they’re doing nothing; I’m unsure if they’ve noticed what’s happening.

Hayze: Hm… Gavin, why don’t you head over to them and ensure they don’t cause any trouble.

Gavin: *earpiece* Smells good.

Hayze exits the stadium and stands guard.

Hayze: (Nothing can go wrong as long as we stick to the plan.)

Back at Class 2-A’s dorm, Saige, Ash, Justus, Zach, Demetri, Gus, and Wes are sitting in the common area. Saige passes out notepads to everyone.

Saige: Okay, so we’re fielding all ideas here; there are no bad suggestions, go!

Gus: What if we tried becoming friends with them again?

Saige: There are some bad suggestions.

Gus: *sobs*

Ash: Wouldn’t it be wise to try having Justus, Aaron, or Silver fight someone like Lilith? Blair defeated her in the tournament, so I’m sure any of them could.

Zach: Hey… yeah! And once we save Lilith, she could tell us all of the Vanguard’s secrets.

Justus: It’s not that simple; the Vanguard will only accept a challenge they know they can win. Unless we could trick them, and I doubt we could do that to Lilith or Jace, maybe Killian, though.

Saige: It would still be too risky unless we were playing with a stacked deck. If Justus fought Killian and somehow lost, the Vanguard’s power would increase substantially. We’d only damage our cause.

Gus: Well, we have to try something, right? You’re making it sound like it’s too risky to do anything!

Demetri: We could try feeding them Gus’ cooking.

Gus: Oh, come on…

Saige: No matter what we decide, we’ll be taking a risk, but it needs to be worth the reward, no matter what.

Wes stands up and starts walking away.

Wes: You guys keep going; I’m just gonna get a breath of fresh air.

Demetri: You won’t be missed.

Zach: Coming from you, dude, really?

Demetri: Shut up.

Wes steps outside the dorm; Alden is crying on the steps.

Wes: (I’ve gotta pull my weight around here, but how? I’m not as strong as Justus or Saige. Fusing with Aaron is powerful, but we only get 30 minutes. Besides, I don’t want to rely on fusion all the time. It seems like a-) WILL YOU STOP CRYING SO DAMN LOUD!

Alden: No…

Wes: Hold on, one second.

Wes goes inside and grabs the sword Hayze gave him.

Wes: I could use some practice.

Alden: What are you gonna do?!

Wes: I don’t know, that’s what practice is for.

Alden: AHHHHHH!

Alden runs away.

Wes: HEY! GET BACK HERE, WES! Oh… oh god, that’s… huh. I probably should do something about that, huh?

Wes spots Angel flying toward the dorm.

Wes: (Angel? Is he back to be a dick again?)

Suddenly, Angel turns sharply and starts heading toward the main building.

Wes: (What? That’s strange; why did he do that?)

Angel smiles as he pulls out his cell phone.

Angel: Lilith, I’ve spotted her, and she’s only got one bodyguard.

Lilith turns to Isaiah.

Lilith: Come, we have a golden opportunity.

Isaiah: Perfect.

Out in the desert, Adrian lags behind Walker.

Walker: Pick up the pace.

Adrian: I need water!

Walker: Then get some.

Adrian: IT’S IN YOUR PACK!

Walker: Then pick up the pace.

Adrian: I need water!

Walker: Then get some.

Adrian: *frustrated grunt* I SWEAR TO GOD!

Unbeknownst to Adrian and Walker, Weaver is lying atop a sand dune, watching them through the scope of her sniper rifle.

Weaver: (Let’s see, which one should I kill first?)

Weaver aims at Adrian.

Weaver: (Looks like the desert is getting the better of him, which means…)

Weaver scopes in on Walker’s head.

Weaver: (Goodbye.)

Weaver fires the shot.

Weaver: Target down.