Chapter 5: Rapid Response Team
There was a commotion outside that brought everyone to the front door, the only view of the outside that was still available to them.
Military vehicles of all sorts were entering the academy compound, loaded with armed soldiers and police officers.
"{Students of Marimgar Academy, remain calm. We are from the government, and we are here to help.}"
Kalli chuckled, and a few of the boys snickered in amusement.
"Nope, that’s not a bad sign at all. But who are they even going to help? If they’re not dead, they likely already ran away."
Kalli shrugged, "Well, we’re still here. There are likely at least a few other classes who remained, or at least some students. Maybe in the other dorm buildings, or the basement of the Academy?
Those are both safe enough areas that people might have gone to them."
The soldiers and police climbed down from their vehicles and began to sweep the area, searching for survivors as well as threats.
"Don’t you think that this is a bit suspicious? I mean, the whole city is trashed, and they sent a whole team to us? If anything, you would think that we were low priority, compared to the apartments and office buildings that are on fire," one of the girls added.
"She has a point. Why here? And with so many people? They even brought tanks." Reggie added.
Something was definitely wrong with this situation.
A police officer in full tactical gear approached the door of the dorm, and froze in shock as he saw dozens of confused faces staring back at him.
"Students, are there casualties in there? How many survivors?"
"Class 1A is in here, there are twenty of us in all, I think." Kalli replied.
"Are there any other survivors?"
Kalli shrugged. "The notifications that appeared in the air said that there were fifteen full classes of survivors. Plus a few from other classes, but I think everyone ran away. We decided to shelter here in the dorms because our rooms have the things we need for the immediate future.
But everyone else ran out of the academy."
The cop sighed. "Dammit. We were hoping that the Academy was safe. The official dispatch informed us that it was an epicentre of awakening, and thought it might be alright."
"So, you know what’s going on?"
The cop nodded. "I was briefed. And you all will be too, as soon as they finish searching the school. Tell me, was there a fifteen-minute monster invasion inside? Or just outside?"
"They were inside the school. According to the messages, a lot of people died. But we really are going to need those answers from you." Kalli insisted.
The cop looked at his partner, who shrugged.
"Let us in, we can’t talk in the open."
Kalli turned the lock and opened the main door, letting the officers inside.
The students gathered around them as the doors were locked again, and the officers moved behind a solid wall, getting out of sight before beginning to speak.
"They haven’t told us everything, but apparently there is some sort of alien invasion starting tomorrow. They got a notification a month ago and didn’t take it seriously, then today there was another message that heroes were being chosen to defend the planet.
Right after that, the invasion started.
I don’t know how we’re supposed to know who the heroes are, or even all the details of what they’re defending the planet against. Only that the government says this spot has a group of them.
They called it a Hero Awakening.
Supposedly, they’re going to get superpowers or something. There are a few of the soldiers who got what they called a ’Warrior Class’, and they’re incredibly fast and strong, so I don’t think they’re lying."
Kalli looked at the class, who were much less reluctant to speak than they had been a moment ago.
If the phenomenon wasn’t just in the school, then they were unlikely to be held as lab rats. It also explained why the army had come here. They were looking for the ones who got Classes, and survived the warning invasion.
But more than that, the officer had said that it was only fifteen minutes of invasion. So while everyone was fleeing, the danger was already over.
A knock at the door told them that their time to talk freely was up, and a very insistent looking soldier was waiting for them to answer. He relaxed a little when the two cops moved back into sight, and he realized that the kids weren’t ignoring them for no reason. But he still looked tense.
Someone unlocked the door for them, and the solider entered.
"Have you identified the awakened Hero yet?" He asked.
"Oh, right. I got so caught up in the survival part, I forgot. Which one of you got the reward? The Class, or other benefit?"
Kalli frowned, and Reggie gave them all a strange look.
"We all did. Like, the entire class. Isn’t that how it worked? We were under the impression that everyone in the school got it, since none of us were left out."
"Have you talked to anyone else since the event?"
"Well, no. But many of them were moving way faster than normal humans, so I’m sure that some kids in the other classes got a class as well."
The soldier cussed quietly, then grabbed the radio on his vest.
"All units, track the departed students. Command, this is Charlie One requesting that we flag this as a mass awakening incident. We have firsthand reports that multiple students who fled the academy may have triggered the System activation."
"So, what’s next for us? From what I can see, the city is pretty trashed, and the notice on the wall said it’s getting worse tomorrow."
The soldier nodded. "We will be fortifying the academy as a stronghold against the invasion. It was upgraded to be environmentally friendly, nearly self-sustaining, and it has room for supplies to be brought in.
Please remain inside until we have the situation under control."
The police left with the soldier, and a message appeared in Kalli’s vision, shifting as she moved.
{Coordinator Class Quests Available}
{Option 1} have the heroes assist government troops in fortifying the school.
{Option 2} have the heroes prepare to defend themselves without the government troops.
{Reward} 72 hour protective barrier
