Chapter 6

Fifteen minutes later and we had reached our last stop. "Is the blindfold really necessary?" Jay muttered. Before leaving her house I had made her change into non-descriptive clothes I had brought as well as a blindfolded voice modulated mask. She couldn't see a thing and nobody would recognise her voice or clothes.

"I told you, until we get to the cave you have to remain unknown. Also, we're here. Remember how I told you to act."

She switched on the modulator and a warbled voice that sounded nothing like her answered: "Be the robot, aye aye Captain." I shot a glare at her, momentarily forgetting she couldn't see. Huffing, I walk up to the door and knock three times, double checking that Jay was actually following me this time.

"Alright initiate, turn on the headphones now. We can't have you knowing who I'm talking to."

"That would imply we're recruiting someone I do actually know," She pointed out.

"Shut up and turn the music on, this isn't a joke." She sighed and turned on the music, flinching at the volume.

"Really," she complained. "Death metal?" She was trying to keep her voice quiet but it really isn't working. I snickered and watched the glass on the door, looking for the shape of a person. Less than a minute later just as I was about to knock again, the door swung open to reveal a little girl. Okay, sure, why not?

"Hey there," I said brightly. "My name is Chameleon, what's yours?"

The little girl stared at me for ten seconds straight before responding with "Sarah."

"Nice to meet you Sarah," I smiled. Why the hell is she answering the door? "Are your parents home?" She nodded and took my hand before taking off through the house. I quickly grabbed Jay and kicked the door closed behind us, barely managing to avoid the toys littering the foyer. That explains why a six year old answered the door. She tugged us through a hallway into the kitchen where a very stressed looking woman was flitting between two pots and a half made salad on the counter.

I cleared my throat. "Mrs. Budan?" She hummed a yes and I cleared my throat again. "Mrs. Budan, may I speak with you and your husband?" At this point she turned to face me, eyes going wide when she spotted my suit and Jay standing beside me.

"Jack honey!" She yelled, not taking her eyes off her daughter's new friends. "Can you and Quinn come here please!"

Thirty minutes later I was leaving the house with two disguised and blindfolded teens. I'm wasn't sure if this looked like a kidnapping. If it were just one of them I could fly them back to the cave. But two fully grown teenagers? No thanks, I was running low on energy. I usually didn't have to keep my wings on this long. Getting an idea I pulled out my phone, found the contact I was looking for and hit dial.

"Hey Hou," I started when she picked up. "I got two here, can you lend--" I heard a sort of sucking sound noise, like the bathtub when it finishes draining, and then something that could only be described as the opposite as that. I looked to my right and Houdini was standing there, pocketing her phone.

"You totally knew I was going to call," I muttered.

She shrugged. "Waya told us you were done and I can move the fastest from a standpoint. Which one do you want me to take?"

I pushed Jay towards her, hoping she didn't get motion sick easily. "Take her near a bathroom, just in case." I said. She saluted, then as fast as she was here she was gone.

I collected myself before taking off Quinn's mask. He blinked, disoriented by the sudden brightness and the sudden quiet. "My ears are ringing," he stated. His hair was standing up all over the place, and he ran his hand through it a couple times, not really fixing the problem.

"Yeah we can fix that," I glanced around. "Once we get to the cave. Weird question, are you afraid of heights?"

"Uh," he paused, very confused. "No?"

"Coolio, let's get going then. Hold on tight!" With that, I grabbed him under the arms and pushed off the ground, pumping my wings. In his shock his arms tightened around my neck, almost crushing it. This never gets old. As a kid I used to dream of my feet leaving the ground, my body twisting and turning through the clouds. I used to stare at the sky for hours. That's why I gave myself wings as soon as I could. They take a lot of energy, but it's so worth it.

Fifteen minutes later I landed on one of the mountain's overhangs. This is the outside entrance that most of the team knew about, Ang actually found it. Then proceeded to share it with the rest of the team because he can't keep a secret.

"Okay so you can know about this entrance, but nobody can see your face just yet so here's the mask. Don't worry," I reassured him seeing his apprehensive look. "No more country. The other recruits are keeping their masks on too. You can choose to reveal your identity if you wish, only Waya and I know your first and last name."

He took the mask and I led him down the narrow stairs to the fourth floor. The meeting was being held on the first floor, and to conserve energy I opted for the elevator. It was then that I realized I'd forgotten something. "The blindfold can come off now actually, here pass it." He pulled off the mask and handed it over and I pulled the blindfold out before passing it back.

With an almost silent ding the elevator doors slid open and the two of us set off. The first floor was the biggest. Wide hallways, high ceiling rooms, and the bigger kitchen. All the bedrooms were on the third floor, and two of the lounges, plus the second kitchen. The second floor was anything and everything training related. The fourth floor was basically one giant lounge. The first floor was more formal. The Briefing Room, the main kitchen, a dining room, and the Hall of Memories; which was home to the Wall of the Fallen.

Walking into the kitchen I immediately spotted Legion, standing beside a bowl of pasta. Yes! "My man, my dude, my favourite person in the whole entire world," I cajoled, making my way over to him

"Yes it's for you," he said smiling at my antics. "And yes, it's fettuccine alfredo."

"Oh my god I actually love you." I practically skipped over to the food, leaving a very confused initiate trailing behind me. Legion can take this one. I needed my pasta. Now.

"Chameleon needs to keep her energy up," I heard him quietly explain. I started to lead them to the Briefing Room, digging in. "If she doesn't, her shifting will fade."

Speaking of shifting, I think it's time for a change. Mid walk my legs and arms lengthened. My torso stretched, and my facial features grew more angular. My chest went flat, and then my body settled. This also never got old. My suit changed with me, and I made my cape longer, getting rid of my wings.

I pushed the door open, the team glancing up at me and glancing away at the sight of me with a full meal. I took my seat, and Legion pointed out where Quinn should sit before taking his seat beside me.

"Welcome initiates," Waya started. "Thank you for joining us today. Thank you Metallic Fire and Chameleon for dealing with the parents.

Met coughed, his face cringing at the sound of is full name. He also made that choice when he was younger, and he very much regretted it. "I'd just like to point out that I beat her back," he said, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah because you only had one, plus they're not a teen. You got the easy job."

Who I assume was Jacob snapped his head to me. "Wait, Chameleon is a she?" Oh boy, here we go. This was my least favourite part of the recruitment.

Thankfully, Legion knew the drill. "Just use whatever pronouns you want for Chameleon; we don't know anything about her. Literally nothing. Not even her gender. She's been here the longest, even the Director doesn't know who she is."

I didn't bother to add to that. I needed water.I stood up but was instantly pulled back into my seat by Houdini. Before I could even protest or explain she was handing me a water bottle. Between Houdini, Geronimo and I nobody on this team ever went thirsty, hungry or hurt for too long. Speaking of hurt.

"Mo," I piped up. "My two need your fancy fingers."

She groaned. "Stop with the loud music already." She stood and walked over to Jay and Quinn. "Where does it hurt?" They both pointed to their ears and Jay pointed at her stomach; and Geronimo set off, fixing them up.

Twenty minutes later, the three were fully briefed on how things worked around here. "Now," I said finally taking some responsibility. I was also finished my pasta so I couldn't avoid it any longer.

"All of you are going to get a partner, a suit, a name, and a sponsor. I'm den mother, Houdini and Geronimo know almost as much as I do, so if your sponsor isn't around ask us anything you need. Your sponsor is actually your partner. This person is going to be your new best friend. You're going to know everything about each other, especially your strengths and weaknesses." I tuned to the middle members. "Who wants who?"

Met, no surprise, went for Jacob. Their powers balanced each other out perfectly. Ang, bless him, took Quinn. And Oracle, well apparently he knew all of this weeks ago. He chose Jay.

"If you would like to keep your name a secret, you should choose a codename now so we don't keep referring to you as numbers."

Jacob raised his hand and I nodded at him. "I was thinking Pluto?" He said softly. Met smiled.

"Pluto it is," I smiled. "What about you two?" I asked Jay and Quinn.

Jay answered first. "Phoenix?" she asked.

I nodded. "Sounds good. What about you?" We all looked at Quinn. He looked surprised at all the attention suddenly being on him, and I could see him start to panic.

"Uhh, Mazus..." he trailed off, the end turning up like a question. I raised my eyebrows.

"Are you sure you want to go with that?" He steeled himself and nodded, his decision made.

"Mazus it is then." I clapped once and smiled. "Okay, time for hide and seek!"