It was the end of the first set of the Academy. The school did not follow the 9 weeks program or semester-based curriculum. Two months straight of classes besides Sunday. The only day of freedom.
It was Military Training of each branch styled in it. Which sucked ass. Coupled with regular school crap, enough to breed the must strung out set of teens Max ever met. Which sucked.
August and September ended quickly. The first-week break was in two days. The only good thing, Max cultivation recovered quickly. His Wrath and Diligence grew strong and powerful. A lot of people found themselves really hurt trying to haze him.
The Instructors had no complaints. It was the first time Max had done stuff like this in a long time.
Shining made the Instructor's look good. Which kept them off his back. One or two that were dirtbags, found themselves on the ground with broken fingers and a headache that would drive them to kill themselves eventually.
Nobody told them to take the mobs money. Or that of the Court of Owls.
"Wayne!" Instructor Cain called out. Yeah, David Cain. He was supposed to be dead. But he survived the attack. Slightly injured, he took a job at the Academy while he recovered. He had a strange obsession with Max.
Pushing him to his limits and smiling everytime he succeeded. Much to the annoyance of the others.
"Commander Cain." Max popped to the line. "Cadet Wayne, reporting."
"Good response time. A phone call for you." Cain and the other instructor watched as he answered the phone. His body turned to keep them both in his peripheral.
Max listen to the other person talk. It was a bunch a nonsense of someone posing as a family member or one of his friends. They were good, but Max knew better. His people were told not to send him messages. Give to those who could send messages mentally easy instead.
"Have a nice day." Max hung up the phone. Stopping before leaving the room. Cain held his hand up. "Yes, Commander?"
"Cadet Wayne, what do you plan on doing for the break?"
"Personal businuess." Max answered smoothly. "My business Commander."
"Still have that attitude." The other instructor still carried a grudge. Lieutenant Puckett was an ass.
His fingers were still broken from when Max caught him going a little to far with another cadet. The other cadet was not grateful and didn't come forward to back the incident either. Max was made to PT harder for it. He would not help that cadet again. "Maybe we should cancel your week off?"
"You could try." Max grinned looking at him defiant. The others couldnt hear anyway. The office was slightly creepy that way. "If that will be all.."
"Cadet Wayne!" Commander Cain bellowed. "To the toe line, give me a 100!" Max rolled his eyes at him. "Make that 200. Diamond push-ups at that!" His anger was genuine. Every attempt to get to know Max was pushed away or outright met with a flippant remark.
"Understood Commander." Max left the room and went to the toe line. Starting on his push ups as soon as he got there. Voicing them out loudly for the entire barracks to hear.
The toe line was just the line in front of the racks. The place they lined up in the morning after fixing their beds.
The others were used to seeing this. They said nothing not wanting to get involved as well. They learned to keep quiet the first year they were here. Max's rack buddy, was none other than Floyd Lawton. Who did not like Max.
The Floyd Lawton next to him, was the Floyd that killed his brother by mistake. He was trying to kill his father. His mother asked the boys to do so. Genevieve Pitt Lawton was a high society bitch. George Lawton, his father couldn't keep it in his pants and caused all sorts of problems. So two pathetic parents.
The reason Floyd didn't like Max, was because he was here because of him. The Court of Owls that his father belonged to as a low member, did not survive the arrests. Which the officers found out about the incident with his brother.
The father took a plea deal. Taking all the money leaving Genevieve with nothing. The spiteful woman kicked out Floyd instantly. Still upset the good son, Edward Lawton was dead. The judge came down harshly when they picked him up. Military Academy then the service for at least four years. That was the deal.
Max finished the pushups and recovered. Lawton chilled in the bottom rack not saying a word. They were the top squad with the highest marks. In all fields. So they received a little leeway. History class was the only thing they had left. And the instructor was sick.
Max relaxed in the top bunk. Barely having sweat. The room was constantly cold. Which worked fine for him. The calm would not last, however.
Commander Cain came out barking.
"Line up! We are going out!" Everyone hopped to. Lining up by height. "Move it!" They left pretty quickly. So quickly, most didn't notice Lieutenant Puckett remained behind.
Lt.Puckett placed something in Max's rack. Trying to get him in trouble. The very moment he finished, the said item was removed and placed in the opposite rack. Which happened to be that of John Corbin.
A little magic at work. The spell was a weak one.
John Corbin later becomes Metallo. A hated foe of Superman and a love interest of Lois Lane at one point. He was the third male here that Max was dealing with.
Only good thing, was that he was the Superman Animated series one. So not to bad. Well if Max was able to talk with the young man. He was very.. standoffish. Forced here after getting in trouble at his last school.
.
The Run-
.
The march was a long one. Over 2 hours around campus 5 times. They only stopped due to medical reasons. Everyone was drinking water or just resting. Max was leaned against a tree. Mentally talking with John.
'No, it sucks as to be expected. But it is a good place to get stronger. Well, would have been, if we sent a few of the others here. A few instructors needed to be dealt with.' Max eyed the students looking for potential recruits still. 'How are things for you? Studying more?'
'Yes.' John responded a little annoyed. His mom got on his case, and now Max did. 'Zatanna is no help. Doesn't even come by since I scored low on my last midterm. I made a bloody b. A b!'
'Yeah, that I can agree with you on that. Long as it is not d's who cares really.' Max looked at a squad of females that passed by. 'Hit them with the, I am trying. Or come up with something that is important they both would like.'
One female caught his attention. Vicki Vale was here. Her green eyes and red hair did not help in the identify of which version she was. She was nice enough having talked with her a few times.
'Yeah. Anyway, you still coming home this weekend right?' John looked at the others moving about listfully in the condo. They were poorly motivated. 'It is really.. bad here.'
'Yeah. They might be trying to sabotage me to stay.' Max rolled his head about. A few of the others lining back up already. 'I will leave a magical copy to come back if I have to. The people here are not that important really. I mean they are really good. But way to much effort. Oh, has Lady Shiva answered about how Caine lived?'
'Nope.'
'Well, get on that when you have time. I rather they not go dark on us. Nyssa should be able to shed some light as well.' Max ended the transmission. Commander Caine came back over. 'What nonsense does he have planned next?'
"Alright cadets.." Cain's voice boomed over. The females were still getting water. Which was fine since it was a separate squad. "We are going to do the obstacle course. Between both squads."
"The hell we will." Corbin muttered. It was loud enough that Cain arched an eyebrow at him. "Commander Cain, we are tired. And this is past what is tolerable."
The squads nodding their heads except Max. The females doing the same. On closer look, they were put through some things as well. A lot of grass stains on their clothes. And grass in their hair.
"Do you all agree to that?" Cain looked them all over. Stopping on Max who said nothing. "Cadet Wayne, how about you?"
"Commander, what is the question?" Max's response earned a few chuckles from the females. As well as the female's instructors. Commander Lang, and Lieutenant Olsen. Two people Max knew nothing about.
"Do you agree with the statement that this is intolerable?" Cain grinned.
"No."
"Ah hell!" Lawton next to him cursed. He turned to strike Max. "You make things so blasted difficult!" His first punch and second punch missed Max. They did however hit the other Cadet to the side of Max.
"Damn it man!" A brawl started amongst the males. Max weaved out of formation. Watching from the side like it did not concern him. "Shit!"
"Looks like your squad is undisciplined." Commander Lang said. She eyed Max who stood at attention like a bystander. "Cadet Wayne, you look peaceful on the sideline."
"Of course Commander Lang. Not my fault he lost his cool." Max responded neutrally. He had know idea what she was getting up to.
"They are your squad mates." Lt.Olsen said. Max did not respond to that. "A bit of a loner. Figures. Spoiled rich kid."
"Lt.Olsen!" Commander Cain was about to get on her but Commander Lang beat him to it. "That was not called for at all."
"Yes, mam." Lt.Lang responded slightly apologetic. She gave Max a once over and couldn't help but shiver slightly. His eyes were smoldering in controlled anger. "I am sure Cadet Wayne took no offense."
"Is that true Cadet Wayne?" Commander Cain asked. For some reason, he felt this would be a good chance to find out how Max would act. "Lt.Olsen insulted you and does not seem apologetic. How does that make you feel?"
"Lt.Olsen is worthless." Max's posture changed slightly. His attitude with it. "She is just a bottom based bitch that barks when she can. Not cut for a command that is for sure. In the ring, I beat her like the bitch she is. With one arm. No, that is not right. No arms."
"Cadet Wayne!" Cain was the only one not stunned from his response. The males stopped fighting and the females just looked shocked. Lt.Olsen just stared at him. Slightly shivering from the look of loathing Max sent her way. "300 one hand push ups! If you do not finish them, the whole squad will run till they drop!"
"Understood Commander Cain." Max got started sounding off as he went. 'That outburst, felt really good.' Spirit energy coursing through his body uncontrolled.
'She hit your Pride hard so easily. To many people present. To much energy flowing off them.' Atlas gave his assessment. 'Corbin's energy washed over you to easy. You may need to cut back a little. You have more than enough for what you need for now.'
Max and Atlas continued to converse as he did the push ups. The instructors started conversing.
"Sorry about that Lt.Olsen." Cain said. "But it was necessary. First time he lashed out verbally since arriving. Had us worried he was some kind of nutjob."
"Yeah.. I bet." Lt.Olsen said nothing as she moved back to the females. The look Max gave her still lingering. 'That look was unnatural. Freaky even. This assignment sucks.'
"One thing has been confirmed. The cadets are defintely to stressed." Commander Lane said. "No need to keep this up. She turned to her squad. "Line up, and head back. Double time it!"
"You might be right." Cain said. He knew they were all pushed beyond their limits mentally and physically. This was the first time he got to Max. Which was something he savored. "Gonna give them a free day tomorrow. Maybe that will give them some perspective."
The two watched as Max kept doing the push ups. His sweat on the ground few in number. His arm trembling. But more from rage than anything. The moment he finished, Cain was on him.
"Cadet Wayne!" Cain barked getting a passing squad's attention. "You said some disrespectful things to Lt.Olsen. You have the choice of apologizing formally or.."
The squad tensed up. The few times this was offered it always ended badly.
"..loose your week."
"Yeah, no." Max said calmly. "I will not apologize to her and I will get my leave. You can count on that."
"Oh, plan on sneaking out?"
"Gonna walk out and take the bus the same as everyone else." Max said simply. "Who is gonna stop me? You? I will break you like a kit kat bar."His voice provoking as rage built up. Finding an outlet at the first chance. "How about we do it here and now?" Max was ok with getting expelled.
"Heh!" Cain chuckled. But he would not get what he wanted today.
"That is enough cadet." Commander Lane said. She was suprised the change in his attitude. Vastly different from what her niece told her.
"You are in the way, Commander Lane." Max said. He moved to a more open spot. "Stand aside or you might get hurt."
"Man you are a brat?" Lane looked at Cain who smiled like a kid in a candy store. "This is not the place for something like this at all. If he is willing to spar with an actual instructor, the legal issue.."
"Is none existent. My guardian will defintely agree to it." Max grinned as his blood started pumping. Cain was a top martial artist and cold blooded killer. Fighting him would be a great experience. He just had to hold back to keep from ending it to quick. "I hope he does not disappoint me."