The Games Heroes Play (The Academy Trilogy)

by Joshua DeBenedetto

  “How do you know we’re working on applied material Monday?” Jay did not recall the professor mentioning that in class. He feels like he would have remembered something like that.

  “Open your notebook to the very first page.” Jay did as Michael suggested, and sure enough the first thing written on his notes from day one was the syllabus. Jay could see on the timeline that weeks four through six involved defense from each of the three power groups. It said that each day would touch on a different defensive maneuver, alternating between the groups being defended against.

  “Well that looks like fun.”

  “Yeah, right up your ally. I’ll be curious to see if any of their defense against the Prometheus tactics work against you. Maybe next week you can help me study.”

  Jay knew Michael said this out of jest, but he still felt uncomfortable talking about his ability. Ever since he learned that he was abnormal, even compared to the other Prometheus, he has been wondering why the power has developed differently for him. He made sure to block these thoughts as best he could from Michael. They hadn’t learned blocking thoughts in class yet, but he was able to figure out the basics of some minor blocks on his own. One thing he was surely getting out of class was that it was his best time to think. It seemed like his abilities thrived under pressure, when a professor was nearby waiting to see if he could do the task required of him. Unfortunately this did not seem to apply to the defensive maneuvers class. Jay wondered if this was in part due to a subconscious feeling that he did not need to prove himself as much to that professor since he was a Titan instead of a Prometheus.

  When they got back to the dormitory after studying, they noticed two signs posted on the door. The top one read: “Simulation Games Try-Outs: Next Friday by the Track”. There were three pictures surrounding the words; one of a Prometheus tripping a Hermes, one of a Hermes running circles around a Titan, and one of a Titan holding a Prometheus up by his shirt. Jay figured the pictures must have been drawn by a Titan, since even in the picture where the Titan was being bested it looked big and powerful. The second sign was written in hand writing. It simply said “Dorm room meeting, 7 o’clock.”

  CHAPTER 6

  AT 7 O’CLOCK on the dot, Duke stood up out of his bed and began to speak in a loud voice.

  “Ok, this meeting should not take very long, so if any of you are planning on meeting up with any cute Prometheus females after this, you can’t blame your tardiness on me.” Duke was a friendly guy, and Jay could see he enjoyed joking with “his first years”. Duke paused for laughter, but the group was too busy wondering what the meeting was about to laugh, and Duke himself was the only one to so much as chuckle. After an awkward moment, Duke continued.

  “As you can see from the sign on the door, there will be try-outs for the Simulation Games. First of all, I wanted to clarify the poster; it says ‘next Friday’, but it is not talking about tomorrow, it is referring to a week from tomorrow. I don’t want any of you showing up a week early and making yourselves look stupid. Second, I actually don’t want any of you showing up at all. I can’t forbid you from trying out, and I’m not trying to. I just want to warn you, since every year the older students enjoy going to the try outs and mocking the ambitious first years. I don’t care how good you are, you will not make a team your first year, and probably not your second either. That being said, I am required to explain the process to you anyways.”

  Jay could see that Duke was trying to speak as monotone as possible for the explanation to make it sound uninteresting, but the whole room listened intently nevertheless.

  “The simulation games are organized as a requirement for the advanced strategic leadership class, but it is considered a high achievement for any student to be on the winning team. Each student in the advanced strategic leadership class will organize a team of themselves and twenty other students to compete. The games will be single elimination tournament style, with the matchups randomly chosen. The winning team gets to face off against the teachers in an exhibition match. It’s actually pretty neat to hear the stories about that match, although the teachers always win…” Duke seemed to realize he was starting to get excited, and quickly changed back to his monotone voice. “The games are each unique scenarios. The teachers come up with them for the student games, and then one of those scenarios are randomly chosen to be used again in the exhibition match. I highly recommend trying out…in two or three more years.”

  With his speech given, Duke looked around the dorm room. To his dismay, all eyes were still looking intently back at him. He knew at least some of them would not listen to his advice. I warned them, and now it’s all up to them. Duke decided.

  Jay could not help but smile over the response to Duke’s speech. All the students were nodding their head, as if agreeing with Duke’s warnings, but yet every one of them wanted to try out. He did not need to look at individual thoughts to figure this out, his collage was full of the same things; almost all of them showed excitement and anticipation. Some were making plans to work extra hard this week to be ready, some were trying to read others minds to see if they would be willing to try out with them, and none were giving Duke’s words of warning any thought at all.

  There were only three groups of pictures that were deviating from this hesitant excitement. There were the pictures of the mini-collages that were constantly in his head. Whoever was reading him must not be interested in the games, he decided. Then there were Duke’s thoughts, which had already changed to his schedule for the next day, trying to decide if he could fit a workout in between morning classes and lunch. Jay had quickly realized he could easily read Duke’s thoughts without getting caught. He tried not to do it too often though, more out of respect than fear.

  Then there was Michael. He was thinking about the games, just like everyone else, but he was not thinking about tryouts this year, he was thinking about the next. I guess he’s not planning to try out this year, Jay thought.

  “Of course I’m trying out this year. I just don’t plan to make a team until next,” Michael responded with a smile, still looking at the floor. It had not occurred to Jay that Michael might be listening in on his thoughts as well.

  “Excuse me?” Michael and Jay looked up to see a confused and angry Duke looking over at Michael. Clearly Duke thought the comment had been directed at him. It made sense for him to think this too, since the room had been silent since Duke finished telling them about the games.

  Michael was not sure how to respond. With Michael’s silence, Duke continued. “Let me tell you something punk, you are not going to make a team, not this year, and not next. You know how I know? Because you are nothing. Nothing but a first year. There’s nothing special about you, and no reason why any team leader would pick you or any first year over a student who has experience. I hate little runts like you who think you’re all that. If you were any older I’d make you eat your words…”

  “Duke! Knock it off, he was talking to me!”

  It was difficult to tell who was more surprised by Jay’s outburst; Duke, Michael, or Jay himself. Duke was the first to shake off the silence.

  “If you ever tell me to knock it off again, I’ll knock your nose off, right off of your smug little face. That goes for you too, you little snake.” Duke turned and walked straight to his office, slamming the door behind him. Jay was really sorry for the events that just took place. He thought Duke was a really nice guy, who cared for how he and the rest of the first years fared in the school. Jay did not want to be at odds with him.

  It took Jay a moment to notice that Michael was also gone. One good thing about having the bed next to the bathroom, it was easy to slip away if one of them needed to be alone. Jay wished he had learned how to push pictures out of his head, so he could keep himself from eavesdropping on Michael’s tear stained thoughts.

  JAY FAILED BOTH of his defensive techniques tests the next day. He knew the material this time, but his thoughts could not help but wander, trying to think of some way of
straightening things out with Duke. Jay could see that Michael had also failed his defensive techniques test. They took that week’s test at the same time, and Jay could not help but notice that Michael was looking out the window the whole time. When the test was over, Jay noticed Michael go to put the cap back on his pen, only to realize the cap was still on. He had never actually gotten around to writing anything, so had never removed the cap in the first place. Michael walked out ahead of Jay, and Jay had to hurry to catch up.

  “Don’t let it bother you, Duke was just upset. It was a misunderstanding and it will all be forgotten before you know it.”

  “I don’t think it will be forgotten that quickly. A number of older kids have started calling me snake.” Michael would not look at Jay, but at least he was talking again. Jay decided it would be best to try to make light of the situation.

  “Well, you knew you’d get a nickname at some point. Personally I think it has a nice ring to it. Maybe we could negotiate for something a little more exciting, like viper or cobra.”

  Michael did not smile, but Jay could see a slight humor pass through one of his pictures. The instant he noticed it, however, it was gone. Michael stopped walking and turned to face Jay.

  “Can I ask you a question?” Michael asked Jay.

  “Of course.”

  “Why don’t you ever mind your own business?”

  This was not what Jay was expecting. The problem here is Duke, why would he be getting mad at me? Jay thought. He almost expected Michael to answer his thoughts, but after a few moments, Jay realized he had to respond.

  “I’m sorry if it seems like I am intruding right now, I was just trying to make you feel better.”

  “No, it’s not that, this conversation is fine. It’s fine because we can verbally tell each other what we want to say. It’s the fact that you are in my head right now. Why can’t you just let me have a few thoughts to myself?”

  “What are you talking about? I’m not trying to read your thoughts at all right now.”

  “Don’t lie to me Jay, I can feel you in here.”

  Jay was not sure how to respond. The fact that Michael had called him Jay proved to him that he was not messing around. He can feel me in there? Jay did not like the idea of this. If he can feel me intruding on his thoughts when they are merely a part of the collage, does everyone else think I’m trying to read their thoughts too? “I’m sorry, Michael. I’ve told you about the collage. That’s all it is right now, and you are mixed in there somewhere. I’m not looking at your pictures, so I am not consciously reading your mind; I guess I’m just taking in more than I want to. I don’t know how to shut it off.”

  Michael looked down at the floor. “I guess I just wanted to be alone for a few minutes last night, and I felt like you wouldn’t let me. You’re my best friend here, but sometimes I guess I get tired of constantly feeling you pulling my thoughts from my head.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it felt like that. Maybe we could do some independent research to learn how to better control the flow of thoughts? Maybe there is some sort of block that I can do to block myself or something.”

  Jay had meant this seriously, but Michael apparently found it slightly amusing, because a small smile showed up on his face. Jay continued, “and I give you permission to read my thoughts all you want. Seriously, we have all the same classes, we share a bunk bed, we eat all our meals together, why not just cut to the chase and share a mind altogether?”

  “Or maybe I can just pretend you are my conscience, checking to make sure I am staying pure in thought and deed.”

  “That could work too,” Jay put his arms up in imitation of a spirit, “Michael, this is your conscience speaking, forgive your friend for his inadvertent intrusions.”

  “Alright conscience, you’re forgiven,” Michael responded with a smile, “and my name’s not Michael, it’s Snake.”

  AS EXPECTED, DEFENSIVE Tactics class was much more interesting to Jay that Monday. They were working on defending against Hermes, and students were being paired up in groups of three, one Hermes with two non-Hermes. The Hermes would tap one of the others repeatedly in different spots, as if they were attacking them. The one being “attacked” would defend their vital areas and wait for a moment when the Hermes would slow. The third person would watch and give critiques at the end of the exercise, then they would switch places and the Hermes would go after the one who had previously been watching. The teacher had given them a few techniques to try, some involving distracting the Hermes, and some involving getting them off their feet to be stopped by gravity’s effects.

  When it was Jay’s turn to be attacked, he decided to try a technique using gravity. He took a low position in a crouch, blocking his face and abdomen from the Hermes, but making sure he could still watch the Hermes. The exercise began, and Jay saw the Hermes look towards him. The Hermes suddenly dashed over to Jay and moved in for a tap on his shoulder. Jay instinctively crouched a little further, and to the surprise of both him and the Hermes, he dodged the tap. The Hermes was immediately caught off balance, stumbling past Jay. Jay realized this was the position to finish the technique, so he grabbed one of the Hermes flailing arms in his left hand, scooped up the Hermes legs with his right hand, and suspended the Hermes in the air.

  “Stop,” the teacher called to the class. He walked over to where Jay stood. “Put your classmate down.”

  Jay looked down and noticed that the Hermes was still suspended in his arms. He had been so surprised at how quickly the technique had worked that he had forgotten to finish the move by pinning the Hermes on the ground. Jay quickly let the boy back onto his feet.

  “How many touches were landed before the attack was stopped?” the teacher asked the Titan who was observing the maneuver.

  “None sir, the larger Hermes stopped the smaller Hermes before the first touch,” the Titan responded.

  “Oh, are you a Hermes? I have in my records that you’re a Prometheus,” the teacher asked Jay.

  “No sir, your records are correct, I am a Prometheus,” Jay responded. He did not like that the whole class was watching them.

  “Is it true that the Hermes did not get any touches on you?” the teacher asked.

  “NO!” The Hermes chimed in, before Jay could respond. “I definitely landed a few before being stopped.”

  Jay was about to correct the boy, but thought better of it. He had embarrassed him enough with stopping him so fast; he decided not to make the situation any tenser.

  “Still, that was impressive how quickly the stop was accomplished. The one critique I have for you Jay is that you did not finish the move. The Hermes had an arm free, and with their accelerated speed, a single free arm could spell damage for you, especially since both your arms were tied. Other than this, it was quite impressive. Ok, everyone, same partners one more time.”

  Jay could see how fired up the Hermes was now. He knew the Hermes would not go easy on him again. Jay crouched down into the same position, and got ready for the attack. The Hermes immediately moved around back, and began tapping at him, hard. After a few touches on the back, the Hermes began moving around the side. The Hermes took an unexpected jab to Jay’s side, causing him to twist slightly. The twist caused Jay’s face to rise from the protection of his arms, and both Jay and the Hermes noticed it immediately. The Hermes swung at Jay’s face, but Jay lifted his arm and blocked the attack. That was lucky. Jay thought to himself. The lift exposed Jay’s stomach, and the Hermes went for that, but Jay blocked it once again. Why isn’t he moving faster? Jay saw another attack coming, this time not just a tap but a full-fledged swing, which Jay dodged with a quick move of his head. Jay realized he was no longer crouching, but standing fully upright. In this position, the Hermes should be able to finish him easily. Another swing, another block. Am I moving faster than him? Jay thought with amazement. He noticed that the other fights had all stopped, and everyone was watching them now. I have to end this. Jay decided. The next swing the Hermes took
at Jay’s face, Jay caught the boy’s hand and swung him around, so that the arm was being twisted behind his back. The boy tried to kick out at him with his leg, but Jay caught this in the other arm. It was finished, the Hermes was completely immobilized.

  “Class dismissed,” was all the teacher could think to say. Nobody moved. Jay let go of the Hermes’s leg so he could put it down, then let go of the arm. The Hermes clearly wanted to attack Jay, but with the whole class and the teacher watching, he refrained.

  “I said class dismissed!” the teacher roared. When a Titan yells, everybody listens. The class all grabbed their belongings and began filing out of the room. “Jay, you stay here,” the teacher called out.

  Once the other students had left, with Michael being the last to leave the room and giving a final look back at Jay before stepping out, the teacher walked menacingly over to where Jay stood. For a moment Jay thought the teacher was going to attack him, but he knew the teacher would know better than that. “Do you know how much trouble you are in?” He growled down at Jay.

  “No sir, I don’t,” Jay responded honestly.

  “Lying to a professor is serious. This school can be dangerous if left unchecked, and you brought danger into this classroom. This was supposed to be a defensive exercise, not an exhibition fight between Hermes.”

  “But I am not a Hermes, I am a Prome…”

  “You are a Hermes, I saw you move! Don’t lie to me as if I am some sort of idiot!”

  “No, sir, I do not believe you are an idiot. But if you check the records, I am here as a Prometheus. I am in the Prometheus dorm, and I am taking all Prometheus classes.”