Chapter 28: Learn To Learn

 

Kai sits on the living room couch as he stressfully stares at a failed paper for his Leadership assignment. Zeke walks up to the couch from behind saying hey, before leaning over it to see Kai's paper.

 

Zeke: Still bothered by that paper, huh?

Kai: Of course I am! I have to be good at leading us when we become professionals!

Zeke: You don't have to think about it too hard. Shouldn't you just copy Captain John?

Kai: Nah, I'd rather try and just do it my way, you know?

Zeke: Doesn't hurt to ask, still.

Kai: I guess…

 

Ano and Saiko walk down the stairs.

 

Saiko: Captain John said he's taking us out on our patrol in just a few. Everyone ready?

Zeke: Let me go get my shoes!

Ano: You made sure you wore those special socks so you weren't generating electricity all day again, right?

 

As Zeke walks by Ano and Saiko, their hair raises a little into the air.

 

Zeke: Oh, uh. Oops.

Ano: And now we have this to deal with.

 

The 2 follow Zeke upstairs.

 

Saiko: It'll be fast to fix, don't worry.

Ano: You're one to talk, you have Thread.

 

Kai is left alone with Talin in the living room.

 

Talin: You know, I agree with Zeke about the assignment.

Kai: What?

Talin: It wouldn't hurt to ask Captain John for pointers. You'll never get past some things without help.

Kai: I mean, I know that's true. But-

Talin: But? What else is there to discuss?

Kai: Well, aren't you Mr. know it all?

Talin: I suppose I have to be with you.

 

The 2 notice Captain John walking down the stairs.

 

Captain John: Uh… where is everyone?

Kai: Zeke walked around the house without his charge-resistant socks.

Captain John: Ugh. Y'know, If they're gonna make those things for Electricity Power users, the least they can do is wear 'em.

Kai: Yeah, I guess.

Captain John: Hm? What's wrong, kid? You look a little distracted.

Kai: Well… uh… I- er… I failed this assignment in my Guardianship class, about leadership. And I was kinda wondering if you could give me some pointers before I retake it?

Captain John: Oh, uh. I guess. I am supposed to help with that sort of stuff, too. *Under his breath* Even though tutors exist.

Kai: What?

Captain John: It's nothing. I'll try and help, kiddo.

 

The night goes by smoothly as Team Aura perform simple tasks for the city, such as stopping someone's attempt at stealing a car, helping an old lady with bad memory find her apartment, and Kai and Saiko drop by Lenny's Literature to pick up new books and tell him how they're doing. They're ecstatic to hear Lenny's been accepted into the new beginner's division of his dream job, now that their company rules on Aura have been reworked.

 

2 guys in a small fountain park start to get into a fight bringing out their Syncs, luckily Team Aura is near the scene.

 

Guy #1: You really wanna to do this, man!?

Guy #2: You caught me on a bad night, dick!

Captain John: *from afar* Hey! You 2!

 

The 2 awkwardly look over to the man shouting at them with 4 kids standing around him.

 

Guy #1: W-what!?

Captain John: What are you fighting about?

Guy #2: None of your business!

Guy #1: Woah, wait. I've seen them before. A few months ago at a bar, I think. That tall guy kicked the crap out of some drunk guys!

Guy #2: So!? You aren't walking away from this!

Guy #1: Listen to me, I think he's a Guardian!

Guy #2: Then you better hope he comes over here!

Captain John: Okay, so. What you'd wanna do in this situation-

Saiko: Captain John, they're going back to getting ready to fight each other.

Captain John: No- no, we'll deal with that in a minute- See, first you have to subdue the two of them quickly. Then, you have to start asking questions like "who started what".

 

Zeke and Saiko quickly dash over to the 2, and pin them to the ground.

 

Captain John: Okay, now ask the questions!

…

Saiko: He said this guy accidentally caused him to trip himself!

Captain John: Tell:em to just apologize and watch where he's going next time!

Ano: He can't just figure that out on his own?

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Captain John: Some people just kinda think with rage first. You'll get used to it.

 

Saiko and Zeke walk back over to the others.

 

Captain John: Well, I think it's time for a quick break.

 

The 5 hop in Captain John's SUV and soon enough, they park in front of a convenience store

 

They all step out and meet on one side of the vehicle. He hands Ano Saiko and Zeke a few bucks.

 

Captain John: You kids go and buy some snacks. But make sure you get a good balance of healthy and junk stuff.

Saiko: Want anything specific?

Captain John: Nah, just get whatever.

 

The 3 turn around and head into the store. Captain John nudges Kai to follow him, and the 2 walk up to the building. But Captain John light hole's them up to the roof, and the 2 sit on the edge of it.

 

Captain John: So… you might wanna be the one to start this.

Kai: Okay, so. Obviously I failed the assignment in my-

Captain John: Yeah, I got that part. Skip to the part that's the root of the issue.

Kai: What do you mean?

Captain John: I mean, like, what answers did you put? The questions are supposed to be simple, right?

Kai: Oh, um. It was just stuff like "What would you do in a scenario where you had to recover all your teammates and retreat?" And "If you had to choose 2 of your teammates on this type of mission, who would you pick?". And I honestly just wrote stuff like "I'd have to ask them first before making any big decisions".

Captain John: Well… that's not genuinely a bad answer. But, you do have to consider the parts of being a Guardian that require decisions at the snap of a finger. Though… I don't blame you for struggling, those are pretty weird questions to ask a rookie.

Kai: I guess I'm just worried if I really do become the leader of the team,

we stay a team when we become professionals, I won't have what it takes.

Captain John: Have you guys decided on that?

Kai: We're all pretty much on board with staying a team, but we still wanna keep other options open, in case something comes up.

Captain John: Well, you have time. Besides, you don't have to be a leader type Guardian.

Kai: …I'm not even sure what type of Guardian I'm supposed to be.

Captain John: Elaborate on that.

Kai: … Ever since the Anti-Guardian thing, I can't help but think… There are Guardians out there who actually do bad stuff that goes against being a Guardian. And, being a Guardian doesn't just mean saving people from obvious danger. I wanna help people and protect the ones I care about, but… I guess I was just caught off guard.

Captain John: … To be honest with you, kid. Yeah, there's a couple of bad eggs in the brigade.

Kai: Then, why hasn't anyone done anything about it!?

Captain John: I'm not sure, but I guess they're either just corrupted after they enroll, or have a good poker face. Either way, it's obviously affecting your mind on what you think being a Guardian is. Along with the other thing.

Kai: Yeah…

Captain John: Well… maybe take a step back. Why did you want to become a Guardian in the first place?

Kai: Huh? Oh, well… it's a touchy subject.

Captain John: We have time.

Kai: Well… how do I put this… At first, I just wanted to become a Guardian to do the stuff this action show character I liked did, because I thought it was cool… but… I also did it because I wanted to prove my mom wrong.

Captain John: You're okay talking about her?

Kai: For now, I guess. It's just… My goal slowly changed to wanting to protect my family and friends. But, becoming a professional Guardian would mean that everything she's ever called or told me was wrong. She always made it clear she favored Ano over me and I just wanted so badly to prove her wrong…

Captain John: Have you ever talked to Ano about this?

Kai: No, I don't wanna bother him about it. She loved him, not me. And I don't think either of us wanna remember that.

Captain John: You know he's seeing a guidance counselor with Hera about their past stuff, right?

Kai: Yeah, but he said he's just doing it because he got in a fight with someone who picked on me. He doesn't really think there's anything to talk about.

Captain John: Well… I think it's good to set goals for yourself beyond your upbringing, heh, believe me. But, it's not the healthiest way to go about things.

Kai: What else should I do?

Captain John: Hm… Think about your plans right now. What do you wanna do when you become a professional Guardian?

Kai: Um. Keep protecting my loved ones. Make a world where Anti-Guardians don't have to exist… Mainly, I wanna get the freedom to figure out who Talin and Xaylan is.

Captain John: Boom, focus on that stuff instead. Become the type of Guardian you yourself can be. Big goals you gotta achieve, there.

Kai: …Hey, yeah! You're right! That does sound better!

Captain John: See? Already helpin'

Talin: It supposes putting trust in your comrades was well rewarded again. Or is that just me being a know It all?

Kai: With the way you're talking, you're not helping your case.

Talin: Well, in any case. I'm flattered you put me at the top of your to do list.

Kai: When did you ever leave the top?

Talin: As soon as you realized the book you left me on top of was important enough to yank from under me and let me smack onto the desk!

Kai: I keep saying sorry for that!

 

The 2 chuckle at each other.

 

Captain John: Y'know… I wonder if we're ever gonna get to hear that man talk.

Kai: He'll be ready for that day, I'm sure.

Talin: Yes, I definitely will. But until then, you're not a bad wall to endlessly talk to.

Kai: Okay, strict guy.

 

The 2 notice the other kids have been sitting around the car sharing snacks with each other, knowing their friend and the Captain were in an important discussion.

 

Captain John: Hey! Save some for us!

 

Captain John hops off from the roof.

 

Kai: Wait up!

 

Kai follows, and they join the rest of the team on the break. With Kai and Captain John sharing a soft fist bump with each other.

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