Linh stepped out of the late February heat and into the crisp, cool air of the building lobby. It should have been a relief, but the cold just made the icy grip of nerves on her heart worse.
The lobby was cold, professional and classy. Pristine white marble floors, columns reaching up to the ornate ceiling, a single curved desk guarding the elevators. Linh felt extremely out of place as she adjusted her school blazer and moved in. The garment had been stifling outdoors, but she was glad she had worn it to conceal the goosebumps she felt all over her arms.
Linh approached the desk, shoes impossibly loud on the tiled floors, the only sound in the room aside from the gurgling of the water feature on the side wall. At the desk sat the only other person in the lobby, an extremely professional looking woman who was tapping away at her fancy, touch screen keyboard.
“Umm, excuse me?” Linh said, as she approached the woman. She looked up from the screen, and plastered on a professional smile, one that said politely “I am busy, piss off.”
“Can I help you ma’am?” The receptionist asked, taking in Linh’s uniform with calculating eyes. Linh suspected that she came up wanting.
Linh swallowed. “I’m Mai-Linh? I had an appointment at 3:30?”
The receptionist made a sound like she didn't believe Linh, but checked her screen. She did a double take at what she saw there, and she turned back to Linh, looking her up and down.
“Mai-Linh Le?” the woman asked, with just the hint of surprise in her voice.
“Uh, yes, at 3:30,” Linh confirmed, and the receptionist frowned a little.
Linh blushed. Wearing her uniform may have been a mistake. Linh quickly pulled out her school ID, and showed it to the woman. She examined it, compared it to what was on her screen, and seemed to inwardly shrug.
“Of course, welcome, Miss Le,” she said. “Please, take a seat, someone will be down to get you in a moment.”
Linh nodded, and moved away, leaving the woman to pick up a phone, probably to call through that Linh was here. Linh took a seat in one of the plush chairs set to one side of the room. She felt absolutely tiny, legs swinging, feet not reaching the floor, the cold, empty lobby around her. Across the room a huge logo was plastered across the wall. A shield with a single star and a stylised wave adorning it. Below it were the words “Pacific Vanguard”.
The Pacific Vanguard were the Oceania Branch of the global Super Hero team. The other day, when Linh had been called to the office, she had almost fainted when instead of being greeted by a very angry principal and an even angrier mother, it had been Beacon waiting for her.
The Beacon. The man was a legend. One of the most capable heroes on the planet, leader of the regional hero division. The real deal. He had also apparently seen the footage from Mr Cheng’s store and had been impressed. Impressed. By Linh.
She had no idea how to respond when he had offered her a position as a sidekick with the Vanguard. She simply hadn't been prepared for such an offer. She was even less prepared to have her Mother show up and refuse that offer, and instead demand that Linh instead be given a full time position as the team’s newest rookie. A full time paid position.
It was, Linh reflected, quite likely the coolest thing she had ever seen. Her tiny mother making demands of the most powerful man in the hemisphere, and Beacon just… folding. No one resisted her mother.
Linh’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it out to see a message from Jazz.
“Is he hot?” Her best friend had written. Linh rolled her eyes.
“I haven't met him yet.” Linh replied, grinning despite herself.
“Send me photos,” Jazz responded.
Linh was about to respond that she wasn't about to just demand selfies when the elevator opened and Beacon strolled out. He wasn't in his uniform, instead dressed in business casual, but he wore it like armour nonetheless. He spotted Linh, and smiled.
“Sure, whatever,” Linh snapped off before scrambling to her feet and smoothing her skirt. She wasn't nervous, she was just about to have her abilities assessed by her biggest role model. And meet his team. Meet her team. Assuming she didn't screw this up.
Fighting the urge to be sick, she made her way over to him, where he was waiting for her. He greeted her with a handshake, his massive hand absolutely dwarfing hers.
“Mai-Linh, glad you could make it,” he said, jovially. He ushered her into the elevator, and the doors slid shut with a hiss, the receptionist looking after them curiously.
“How would you prefer to be addressed while you are here?” he asked suddenly, and Linh looked up at him, surprised.
“Umm, what do you mean?” She replied unsure what he was asking her.
“Would you prefer to use your codename while on premises? I know that some heroes prefer that.”
“Oh.” Linh hadn’t considered that. Was she supposed to know what people's names were? What if she got it wrong?
“Umm, Linh is fine,” she said, and he nodded.
“Linh it is,” he agreed. “Now, today is mostly just paperwork and admin. We’ll record your abilities, stamp some forms then you can meet the team.”
“Ahh,” Linh said nervously, “What is the power test exactly?”
Beacon looked down and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Oh nothing fancy, just lifting weights and doing pushups while the Doctor pokes you with a stick," he said.
Linh nodded, and he patted her on the shoulder.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said, “we just need your abilities on file so we can track growth and arrange any gear or training you may need.”
The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slid open to reveal a room that Linh could only describe as sterile. The opulence of the lobby was replaced by simple, clean tiles and polished walls. A few pot plants and tasteful pieces of art added some life to the space, but the whole space just screamed “Hospital”.
Beacon led her to a large sliding door and pressed his thumb to a pad.
“We’ll get you keyed into the system when we're done here,” he explained, and Linh nodded.
The door opened, and the two of them stepped inside to a large lab. It was filled with all sorts of equipment, most of which Linh couldn't even guess the function of. Except the treadmill. That one was pretty obvious.
“Doctor, I have your test subject for you,” he called, and a moment later a woman emerged from the depths of the lab.
She was tall, but not as tall as Jazz, and dressed in a lacy black blouse tucked into a sleek pencil skirt. A white coat hung open over the ensemble, paired with practical heels and a touch of tasteful jewelry. The Doctor carried herself with a calm, polished professionalism that made Linh feel even smaller than usual. She found herself double checking her uniform under the calculating gaze of the woman.
“Linh, this is the Doctor. Doctor, may I introduce Mai-Linh Le,” Beacon introduced, and the Doctor held out her hand to Linh. Linh shook it, noting how firm the woman’s grip was.
“Umm, hello,” she said, and the Doctor inclined her head.
“A pleasure,” she said. “Beacon had nice things to say about you.”
“Oh,” Linh said, blushing at the idea that Beacon of all people was saying nice things about her.
“That said,” the Doctor continued, “I have my reservations about approving a girl of your age for field work.”
Linh flinched.
“However, I agreed to reserve that judgement until after the results of this examination,” the Doctor finished, turning to retrieve a tablet from a nearby counter. She tapped away for a moment, before guiding Linh to a corner.
“Please step onto that platform,” she said, and Linh obliged, noticing the cameras pointed at her, and feeling a rush of nerves.
“We will begin with your transformation, please,” the Doctor said.
Linh blushed again, “Umm, here?”
“Unless you’d rather go out into the street,” the Doctor said dryly, and Linh shook her head.
“No, it's okay. Do you want me to do it now?”
“Whenever you are ready,” Doc said dryly, and Linh took a deep breath to center herself.
Her transformation had seemed like a great idea when her eight year old self was making the pact with her guardian spirit, but now? Now she felt ridiculous, especially with Beacon and a sophisticated woman watching her.
“Here it goes,” she muttered.
Linh took one more breath, then hopped into her pose.
“Moonlight flows, Jade Rabbit shows!” She shouted, launching into her twirl, ignoring the slight snort of amusement from the watching adults. She spun, glowing, and when the light faded Linh was gone, replaced by the Jade Rabbit.
“Adorable,” the Doctor said, amused, “Are the motto and pose necessary?”
“Umm, yes,” Linh explained, “It's part of the deal.”
“Deal?” Beacon asked, and Linh flushed.
“I can't say more,” she apologised, “It's a sacred bloodline thing.”
To her surprise Beacon and the Doctor simply nodded.
“That's not uncommon,” Doc explained, seeing Linh’s confusion, “Legacy powers often come with conditions.”
“So now what?” Linh asked, eager to change the subject.
“Now,” Beacon replied, “I leave you ladies to it. I have a meeting to get to. Call me when you’re done.”
The second part was directed to the Doctor, who nodded her agreement, and Linh watched as he left, leaving her alone with the intimidating woman. She wasn't sure if it was the upcoming test, or the way she looked at Linh like a problem to be solved that had Linh so nervous, but her stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies.
The tests started simple enough, treadmill, basic lifts, a few diagnostic readings. Linh hadn’t really tested herself like this before. She knew she was strong, but she didn’t know how strong.
The Doctor didn’t say much. Just raised an eyebrow now and then, and made notes on her tablet. Linh wasn’t sure if that was a good sign.
Her speed wasn't amazing, at least not in terms of running, there simply wasn't enough space for her to break into the bounding gait she needed to hit top speed. It was jumping where Linh excelled, crossing the lab in a blur that left the Doctor quietly impressed. There was only so much they could do in the confines of the lab however, and the Doctor simply made a note to test it in the field at a later date.
Strength? That one surprised both of them. Linh deadlifted the human-rated weights like they were gym bags, and managed to shift some of the heavier-grade metal when she used her legs. Not “Bench press a tank” territory, but she could probably shift one if she kicked it hard enough, or throw a motorcycle at someone.
“You're compact, and your strength is concentrated in your legs,” the Doctor remarked, “Quite the explosive combination.”
“Well,” Linh said, “I am a rabbit,” and was pleased to get the hint of a smirk out of the professional woman.
“Indeed you are,” the Doc agreed.
Then came the tests the Doctor had clearly been anticipating, her actual powers.
The Doctor put Linh through the wringer, tested the strength, durability and elasticity of her silken sleeves, as well as their reach and speed. She also demonstrated the handful of martial techniques Linh had mastered, including her teleport. Linh blushed a little when the Doctor complimented her on the aesthetics of her abilities, making a comment about how Linh will be popular. Linh had never considered that she might end up with fans, and the idea filled her with dread.
It was when the Doctor picked up a scalpel that Linh became uncomfortable however.
“Let's test your durability and regeneration,” she said, and Linh swallowed.
“Okay, how do we do that?” She asked nervously.
“First, I want to see your ability to heal others,” the Doctor said, and before Linh could react, the woman had rolled up one of sleeves and dragged the scalpel across the back of her own arm. She held it up for Linh, a small line of blood marring her otherwise smooth skin.
“If you would please demonstrate,” the Doctor asked, ignoring both the blood running down her arm and Linh’s incredulous stare.
Linh rushed forward, circling and channeling her power. It was a lot easier than when she was trying to save Mr Cheng, but it was still not something she was particularly skilled at. Regardless, she soon had the wound closing, the Doctor watching, fascinated.
“Crude, but effective,” the Doctor remarked, moving to clean her arm. Linh watched her, slightly unnerved. This woman was… intense.
The Doctor washed both her arm and the scalpel, then turned to Linh, tapping a few notes into her tablet.
“Now, your turn,” she said, advancing on Linh, scalpel raised threateningly.
“Umm,” Linh said, taking a step back, before the Doctor stopped, laughing. She put the scalpel down on a bench, and instead gestured to a device in the corner, some boxy machine with a hole in the side.
“We’ll use the machine,” the Doctor said, smiling. Linh flushed as the woman guided her over to the machine, and leaned forward to position Linh’s arm in the opening. Linh averted her eyes as she realised this placed the Doctor’s chest right next to her face.
“This will tickle,” the Doctor explained, straightening to move to one side of the device. She pushed a few buttons, and Linh felt a few pricks on her arm as the machine got to work. The Doctor watched the machine’s readout with a raised eyebrow.
“Impressive,” she said, “Your durability isn't remarkable, but your regeneration is top level. What's the worst injury you have sustained?”
“Umm, I was hit by a truck once?” Linh offered, wincing a little at the memory. Safe to say, she hadn't played in traffic again after that particular incident.
“How long were you incapacitated for?” Doc asked.
“A few hours maybe?” Linh guessed, “I’m not entirely sure. I don't really remember, and I wasn't transformed at the time, so I wasn't as tough.”
The Doctor made a few notes.
“Interesting, so you don't need to be transformed to regenerate? How about your other abilities.”
“Umm, so I am a little stronger and faster than I should be,” Linh explained, “But anything Chi related requires the transformation.”
The Doctor nodded, and moved around to unstrap Linh. As she did so, the door behind them slid open, and Beacon entered, eyes landing on the two women.
“How is the test going?” He asked, and the Doctor picked up her tablet, tapped away for a moment, before handing it to him.
“Just finished. There are a few follow ups to do in the field, but we have what we need for now,” she told him.
Beacon took the tablet and scrolled through for a moment. “Not bad,” he said, and the Doctor nodded.
“I will approve her for field work,” she said, before turning to look at Linh.
“Provided she avoids being hit by any trucks,” she added, and Linh flushed.
Still, she had been approved! That was awesome!
Beacon stepped forward, clapping a hand to her shoulder.
“Excellent,” he said. “Can I take her now?”
The Doctor nodded. “We're done here.”
Beacon looked down at Linh, “Ready to meet the team?”
Linh paled, her joy at being approved fading. She had almost forgotten about that part.
“Should I change back?” she asked, and Beacon shrugged.
“That depends, would you rather meet them in your school uniform?” He asked.
Linh froze.
No, no she did not.
