My Mind says no but my body must go

I know I tried thinking about what my next move should be but my body was already running to the Avenger’s League. Oh well, even if I don’t get in now I can still see where I’m at. It’s also not like it means I can’t start being a hero. Actually don’t pretty much all heroes start out in the streets by themselves. Most anyways.

Maybe, just maybe I’m trying to make excuses to myself for what I’m going to do anyways. Nah.

I remember to try to greet people, and have gotten been getting a bit less XP. Not that I’ve been GETTING less, it is just that some girls weren’t giving me any. That is a problem for future me though. Hmm Future Me could be a good name… Nah. Well maybe? no. Future me wouldn’t appreciate it I think.

I walk into Stark Tower, and can’t help but gawk. I guess big corporations or whatever might have fancy large lounges like this, but I wouldn’t know, the best I’ve been in was Empire state, and that was from like the 30s and the lobby was for tourists and shops. I then use the urge to fact check myself to instead refocus on my goal.

I walk up to the receptionist, “Hi, uhh. I’d like to um, for the sign ups.”

She nodded and responded as I note my 10xp and let it go. Wow even the receptionist is above average.”… or hero?”

Huh? Oh, “Uh a hero” I swear it was just a glance… I better be more careful with that.

She looked like she expected that answer “Take the elevator to the basement, next test batch should be starting soon.” She waves towards the security guard near the elevator who nods at me… or her… or us. He nods.

I hit the button and as I wait for the elevator I just look around the lobby. Now that I’m here I’m getting a bit nervous. Then as I’m looking at the door another guy runs through the door in a costume, but I don’t recognize him. The costume, well if it is one, I never considered myself very fashion smart but wearing a bandanna so that it covers your head to slightly below your eyes with two holes cut out along with a different color covering your mouth like a bandito does not seem like a good fashion choice (they were red and blue… which I know of course I just felt some need to point it out… to myself). And all black long pants and shirt with some kind of leather wrappings on his hands, what else could it be?

Anyways Bandito (Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to remember any other name for you) looked around the lobby then ran to the receptionist which she after a few seconds waves towards us. He must be here for the exams… A COSTUME! I should have thought of that, I am totally unprepared, shit.

As I am going through my self recriminations the elevator dings and I can only sigh and go on the elevator. On the bright side, he will probably need to get another costume because he looks more like a villain than a hero. He runs into the elevator after me and the guard inside looks us over.

“Are both of you here for the hero examinations?”

“Yeah, well I am”

“Obviously” Bamdito says.

I don’t feel so bad about his name now. The guard seemed unperturbed and inserted his key to get the elevator down to the basement.

After a silent ride down, the door opens on at the basement.

The basement.

The basement?

Damn this is more like a warehouse. Or an airplane hangar. And guess where airplanes don’t fly? Underground.

There is are computers lined up with a couple people typing away, I guess we start here? After recovering my wits I go to the nearest empty seat and check the screen. It looks like a general information application for my name and address. I hope I wasn’t supposed to bring official documents or something.

I see someone insert their license into the card reader, so I do the same, and my information quickly fills the screen. Picture and name.

John Doe is this you?

I select yes and then have to answer more questions, and once I’m done my card is returned to me.

It leaves me with a message to “Go to the Fitness Grounds to start your examination.” I quickly make my way there following the signs.

I see the Flash and Starfire talking casually around some workout equipment. She looks even better in person than… cartoon. Some part of me seems strangely relieved at this realization. As much as I want to say hello, not only is she much more intimidating, I don’t think I can just interrupt a conversation like that quite yet. That and I can feel a boner coming on so I quickly pay very close attention to where I’m going, like it’s very important, because… well it is?

I finally arrive at some double doors, behind which I see a large group of people lifting weights and an obstacle course, along with a gymnastics… set? And people are monitoring or perhaps scoring would be a better word the people working out.

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.

I look around for a free reviewer and once I spot the closest one I take a big breath and walk towards him then Bandito rushes ahead of me and… steals my reviewer. He IS a bandit! But rather than whining which would probably not look good on my test, I seek out the next review. I walk up to her, “Hello, I’m here for th-”

“If you can lift that weight above your head we can start your test.” She said while looking at her phone and another 10xp notification goes by.

I get the strange feeling not many make it past the first test. But I do wish she was a bit more professional, but I guess if I had to deal with people failing on the first test over and over, and bunch of them probably aren’t polite about it, well no reason to prove I deserve her attitude. I look at the bench machine. I am definitely stronger at level 2 and I should be able to do this. I glance quickly at my status.

Level 2: 1080/2000 Exp (Human)

I’ve passed the halfway mark.

I lie down on the bench and give the bar an experimental lift. With quite a bit of effort I am able to lift it and I set it back. “Uhh how much does this weigh?”

“225”

Well, maybe this won’t be so easy…. NO! I can’t think like that. I just need to push past my limits. Even if I am not exactly sure on what my limits are. I just do more! A few deep breaths and I feel ready. I lift the bar and position it to start the reps.

1..

“Do as many as you can, you can decide your own sets and reps.”

I can’t even bring myself to respond mentally. 2…

3..

…

6… I start to feel it, not the good it but THAT it, I quickly set the weight, oh right barbell. Meh weight is good enough. I recover what I can.

“Are you done? If not you only have 30 seconds you can rest between sets. 12 left.”

“Of course I’m still going!” I declare, then mentally ask myself why I declared that.

1..

…

5…

I put the bar back with a huff.

“Try to keep reps per set the same.”

“They were… I just had an experimental rep last set.” I felt bad for lying, so I decide that first one was an experimental rep. I just didn’t realize it at the time.

“That’s not a thing… whatever, you got 15 more seconds.”

The next set I am barely able to get the 5 and put the bar back as my arms flop down unable to resist the might of gravity.

“You done?”

… “Yes.” I can’t even lie to myself at this point.

“Ok, well I guess we can do the next step, obstacle course or gymnastics area?” She asks.

“Uhh, I think obstacle course.” I don’t see myself being able to use my arms in any decent fashion in the next few days much less minutes.

“Ok just go through what you can, you can skip obstacles but it will penalize your score.” She tells me. “Begin when you are ready. Don’t make me wait though.”

What the hell? So begin when I’m ready or start now? You’re sending mixed signals lady! I nevertheless wait a minute or two, and spend that time stretching so it isn’t like I’m just waiting.

Well the running parts were easy and I was able to get enough momentum to propel me to the top of the first wall. I did went through the first several obstacles pretty easily. But then the difficulty started increasing where I needed to climb balance and dodge. Luckily I don’t remember much because I took a blow to the head so I really only remember me doing decently. But I think it’s safe to say I failed this test.

“You failed. Well to be honest you didn’t do too bad, just not up to par.” She cruelly tells me. Ok not cruelly, but would a bit of tact hurt? “However..” I look up with hope. “You can get a staff position… maybe. Do you have any skills?” I pause. At first disappointed and irritated but then I realize I do need to find a job, I’ve only gotten one meal so far but 5k won’t last me that long. Especially in NYC. But I do want to be a hero. As for skills, well before I transported here I was a… a…

My family was…

…

I feel a bit of panic well up as I know I remember my previous life as well as movies and superhero stuff I don’t remember what I was good at, my grades were like or any jobs or the names of my family. I remember their faces.

I recover myself more quickly than I would expect and reign in my panic and mentally etch my family faces into my mind, I might not remember their names but I will remember them. My mental recovery probably has to do with whatever caused my mental blocks. But since it is definitely helping me out right now I won’t mess with it, but I don’t know what my skills are…

If you can’t lie Truth! “Honestly, uhh I don’t know. To be frank I don’t remember much of my life before this morning, I mean I remember my families faces but not their names, I can even remember interactions we’ve had. I don’t remember what I was good at in school or any jobs I’ve had. I’m not even sure if I lived in New York. I didn’t even realize this until just now, and I think I’m packing away the panic I can feel trying to build to deal with later but the worry of where I will be able to find a job is worrying me.”

She looks at me worriedly, actually looking at me, like she was just going through the motions before. “I’ll be honest, that is very suspicious and we will have to run some tests, medical, psychic, mystic, and whatever we can think of after that before we will move forward with letting you be associated with us whether it is a hero or staff, as I do believe you but you could be a sleeper or some kind of trap set for us. But on the other hand, these tests could help you regain your memories, and even if not, if the tests don’t raise any alarms we may still offer you a job if only to keep an eye on you, But you would be able to get training and work experience if that turns out to be the case. Of course you don’t have to do any of the tests but if that is the case we will prefer to keep our distance of you in case you do turn out to be some kind of unknowing trojan horse. It may seem harsh but I hope you understand.” She says then gives a tight smile.

I do understand, and honestly it is good news because now I have an option and opportunity. But it seems like a temporary fix, as you do want to be a hero.