Unlike the others in the lobby, Slim stepped through the door, took off his mask, and immediately walked down the hall toward the infirmary.
He was just as tired as the rest, but his steps were heavier than any of the other kids.
The blonde boy opened the door, seeing Biggie tossing a small red ball into the air repeatedly from his hospital bed.
"How'd it go?" Biggie caught the ball, looking at his friend in the doorway.
"The two of them got into it with an Officer. Vida and Bloom found them just in time." Slim dropped onto the seat next to the bed. The small boy turned and smiled towards his injured friend.
"How was it working with them?" Biggie asked.
"Fine. Chase is actually pretty skilled. Amora needs some work, but the brothers have some real talent." Slim nodded as Biggie's smile turned into a confused look.
"Those bunch of idiots…?" Biggie asked, his face contorting with every compliment Slim gave them.
"They're a pretty competent bunch, Bigs." Slim watched Biggie's expression carefully now that he'd started paying attention.
"I'll have to see for myself. Just-" Biggie's sentence was interrupted by a sound at the door. It opened slowly, revealing a cautious Hendrix.
"Um. Hi." Hendrix paused at the doorway. Slim looked down at his lap as Biggie's face twisted from confusion into anger.
"What the fuck do you want?" Biggie went back to throwing his small red ball into the air, his eyes trained on the toy.
"I… I wanted to apologize for what happened in the gym—" Hendrix's nervous apology was interrupted.
"Don't apologize. You're not sorry, and I'm not forgiving you. Once this leg heals, I'm kicking your ass, got it?!" Biggie squeezed the red ball in his palm, trying to keep his eyes off the pink-haired boy in an attempt to calm himself.
Slim noticed the sincerity behind Hendrix's expression. He had taken the attack at its emotional face value, never reconsidering the situation.
"Oh god. Did I come off rude to the others?" Slim questioned himself, twisting a finger through his wavy blonde hair. Slim realized he had subconsciously linked his mission partners to Hendrix
The blonde boy understood Biggie's viewpoint completely, though.
"I know I can't erase what I did, but I wanted to—" Hendrix had yet to finish a sentence.
"You broke my fucking knee! Just because our friends are buddy-buddy all of a sudden doesn't mean we are!" Biggie exclaimed.
Hendrix stared at the boy in the hospital bed. He could feel something boiling up in his chest, something he didn't like. He took a deep breath, "Alright. See you later, Slim." Hendrix made his way out of the infirmary.
Slim didn't say anything back. He held his head low, unsure of how to treat the boy. The door closed.
Biggie began to curse Hendrix under his breath as Slim thought to himself.
Hendrix walked down the hallway, ready to end the night in his bedroom. Molly turned the corner, her eyebrows raising as her eyes focused on the boy. She ran over to him, stopping just short of him.
"You alright…? It must've been a long walk back to the compound." Hendrix noticed the dried tears staining Molly's face. They must have lingered after her spiral in front of Officer Nine.
"I'm just glad you're alright. I know I wasn't much help, but… Leaving you alone was…" Molly's speech slowed as her eyes focused on her feet.
"It's alright. Whatever happened, it wouldn't have been your fault. Go to sleep, Molly. See you tomorrow." Hendrix let out a weak smile and nodded as Molly just looked at him. His emotions seemed to be an impossible puzzle to Molly. Hendrix passed her, seemingly oblivious to her staring.
Eventually, one by one, everyone fell into deep sleep, exhausted from the day's activities. They couldn't predict the surprise Jason had yet to tell them.
The next morning:
The seven friends were grouped up on a table eating breakfast. The chef had given them each an extra serving to celebrate their successful mission.
"News spreads quickly 'round here. Congrats, guys." The chef had said.
Hendrix had made it clear how sorry he was for the whole ordeal, apologizing profusely to each and every person involved. He had yet to visit Biggie a second time, though.
"...And then, I kicked him across the street! He crashed into his own car!" Kai's hand gestures were just as theatrical as his retelling of the mission. The group laughed, just as Taro began to support Kai's story with his own.
Akilah stared as Kai and Taro went back and forth about the details of the ordeal. She began to get sucked into her own psyche.
"What'll I say when it's my turn to tell the story? That I stared while Amora healed Slim? I just watched the whole thing go down. I'm so weak. I'm—" Akilah's train of thought was interrupted.
"Akilah!" Amora shook her friend's shoulder, bringing her back to earth.
"I know you love me, but you don't have to stare." Kai smiled at the girl.
"Ugh! Will you stop with that?!" Akilah reeled back as the rest of the group started to laugh.
The girl quickly slipped back into her head as the subject of conversation switched off of her.
"Maybe… Maybe I shouldn't go on these mission-things. I might get somebody killed. I'm too weak to rely on." Akilah's mind began to spiral. She stared down at her plate as her thoughts raced.
"And what do we have here?" Jason walked over to the table of teens, a clipboard in hand, "Boy, do I have something to tell y'all."
The red-head sat the clipboard onto the table, pointing an image at the top. The children leaned in with curiosity.
"Tokyo State Prison. Thirty-two civilians were arrested last night on charges of heresy for questioning about the situation with Hendrix," Jason glided his finger across the paper.
Hendrix's expression changed as he lowered his head. The shame of the situation rushed back to him like a tidal wave. Jason noticed.
"It's not your fault. People should know the truth about Spirit," Jason nodded before turning back to the paper, "Officer Nine'll be in Osaka for the next two weeks, which leaves a perfect opportunity for a prison break. If we stop the charges before they are convicted, their families won't be sent to the slums, and we can protect the convicted under threat of a more public altercation."
"Are you saying we're going on another mission?!" Chase's eyes lit up. Taro and Kai's eyes followed suit.
"Not necessarily." Jason chuckled. He pointed to the bottom of the page, "I only send three to four rebels out at a time, just in case the Correctional Forces find the compound."
Jason's reasoning made sense to the kids. They looked at each other, asking themselves who Jason would pick for this assignment.
"I asked Slim if he was up to join the team, but he's decided to lay off of the missions until Biggie's healed. I know who I want, if you guys are up for it. Akilah, Amora, Vida, are you guys willing to do this?" Jason turned to the three girls, who sat on one side of the table.
They looked at each other in surprise.
"Me?" Akilah pointed at herself. Her face twisted into a confused look that read as if her worldview had been flipped upside down.
The red-head with the clipboard chuckled, "Yes! You guys! I know the three of you are the perfect fit for the job. Are y'all up to it?" Jason awaited an answer.
"Yes!" Vida and Amora exclaimed. Akilah nodded softly, catching Jason's attention.
"Alright, then it's settled! Also, since this is only your second mission, I'm having a veteran go with y'all. He's the only adult in this compound who still uses Spirit besides Alex and Bloom." Jason turned towards an approaching figure.
His long dreadlocks were tied in a ponytail, while his nose sported a stretched septum. Hendrix recognized him instantly.
"You're the-" Hendrix pointed with surprise.
"Yeah, I'm the guy from the record store! I spend most of my time running the shop, so I rarely come back to the compound. Not even Molly remembered me when you guys visited." Hardy chuckled. He turned to the rest of the kids, "Hi! The name's Hardy. Jason tells me I'll be going on the mission with you three." The man with the dreadlocks turned to the three girls, who smiled back.
"Alright, then it's settled. A week from now, you guys'll head out on a mission to break thirty-two civilians out of Tokyo State Prison." Jason grabbed his clipboard, turning to walk away.
He paused, turning back as he remembered something.
"Oh, and one more thing. Akilah, can I talk to ya for a second?" Jason asked. Akilah stood up, her expression twisting in surprise.
Her friends let out an ooh in an attempt at teasing her. She snickered as she walked off with Jason.
They walked into the gymnasium, the giant room was completely empty.
"When I listened to your friends' stories, I didn't hear a lot about your part during the mission yesterday." Jason's words made Akilah's heart sink. It seemed as though her self-image was being hammered into her chest.
"But, during your sparring match, I saw a bunch of potential. I wanna help you shine on your own, so I'm gonna give you a present." Jason walked to the other side of the gym, unlocking a door that led to a large closet.
Akilah was just as confused as the moment she was picked for the upcoming mission.
"I have… Potential? What does he mean by a present? What could make me 'shine on my own'?!" Akilah's mind filled with questions as Jason turned around.
He walked back towards the girl holding a long, black box. Akilah had no idea what was inside.