The Adventures of Doctor Dweeb: Part 1 (Liam)

[Darius Pacholski]

Doctor Dweeb hustled towards the library, moving as fast as it was possible to move without actually running (a prefect running in the corridors? The irony was enough to ruin a man). He moved with an effortless gait that didn’t match his blocky build, but of course none of this was terribly important to note within the context of his mission. After all, when you are summoned to the library in the dead of night by your mentor, the very man that you so desperately wish to impress, you take no detours nor leisures.

Shuddering with nervous excitement, Darius Pacholski’s imagination ran wild with all the possible explanations for Liam’s call to assembly. A midnight training session was not unheard of when it came to Liam’s methods, but there was something different about this night. Perhaps it was the urgency in the commander’s voice when he called, or maybe it was in the ominous silence of the deserted and darkened hall, but Darius could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. He quickened his pace to a half-jog as a grin stretched tight across his lips.

Even in his excitement, Darius found it odd that he hadn’t run into any of his teammates yet. There was only one way to get to the library and Darius was positive that the others couldn’t have beaten him there. It was just as unlikely to expect that both of the girls were running late, and as the chi manipulator slowed to a stop before the library doors he was forced to conclude that this would be a solo mission. The grin on his face widened at the thought and he slipped his glasses up the bridge of his sweaty nose. Over the past few weeks he had grown to trust and respect his teammates, even if they didn’t get along so well on a personal level. The fact that they wouldn’t be there to watch his back sent a shiver up his spine, but the sensation was overridden by the excitement and determination to prove himself without the support of his comrades.

Squaring his shoulders, Darius lifted his chin and pulled a key from his pocket only to find that the library door was already unlocked. His pulse quickened as he drew the creaking door slowly open and slipped inside. The lights were off, but the light of the moon outside the room’s arching windows was enough to see by. Hulking shelves packed tight with books of all shapes and sizes formed a literary maze between egg-shell coloured walls. The musty scent of wood and aging paper met Darius’s nose as he padded across the carpet of the room, all of his senses alert for the slightest hint of movement. It was an expansive room, but the rows of shelves created a labyrinth of corners and niches behind which any number of dangers could lurk. Darius took steady breaths, marveling at how loud such a quiet thing could be when you’re alone in the dark, and waited with anxious impatience for the show to begin.

[Liam Dalton]

As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen - Winnie the Pooh

It was funny, that once again Liam would find irony within the pages of the children's story. He stilled remember the day Darius walked through door to Felicia's office, and asked about joining the team. Ever since, Liam had a gut feeling that he would be seeing a lot of him. Safe to say, the boy left a lasting impression on the two Prefects. Passing each of the requirements with flying colors, showcasing his intelligence and ambitious nature. He had even managed to score higher than Rei, a detail Liam planned on keeping a secret from both parties. Given their rivalry it was probably for the best. 

Which was part of the reason Liam had chosen Darius alone to accompany him. He didn't need the power duo trying to out-do each other in the middle of the night - the higher-ups made it crystal clear that they wanted this handled as quietly as possible. Something that Darius's chi manipulation was much more suited for. He just hoped the two girls wouldn't think of it as him playing favorites, and hold it against him. Pushing the thoughts away, he let loose a small sigh, it was time for him to step off of memory lane. Consequently that step had brought him right in-front of the library door. He took a moment to steel whatever anxiety he felt, before reviewing the specifics of the mission. 

Target's name: Blake Amos. Age: Eighteen. Grade: Senior.... ....Gift: Acid Manipulation. Wanted for assaulting Prefects under the cover of night.  

That last detail was the sole reason for the Government's hasty response. They wanted this little spark snuffed out as quickly, and quietly as possible. It would look bad on them if one teenager manged to keep killing their supposedly highly-trained-super-soldiers. Especially now they had gone unopposed for so long. After all, the "rebels" haven't been heard from since before he arrived, leaving many to wonder if the Battlefront even still existed. 

Battlefront. Every time the word ran through his thoughts, Liam felt a sharp pain in his head. This time wasn't any different. The Prefects expression contorted into a pained one as he stepped through the door. Doing his best to ignore the ache, Liam walked further into the maze of shelves and books. Only to hear the door open and shut a few moments later. Announcing the arrival of his partner.

He was just about to wave the younger male over, when he spotted something moving in the corner of his eye. Diving out of the way by the skin of his teeth, narrowing avoid a splash of acid that ate away at the floor where he once stood. Then without missing a beat, Liam snatched a book off of the floor, and flung it toward the source of the spray. Hitting his attacker with an audible thud, causing him to retreat back into the safety of the maze for now. "Please tell me that you managed to get a good look at him." Liam said hopefully to his trainee. Hoping that Darius would be able to give some insight with his Anatomical Intuition. 
 

[Darius Pacholski]

And begin it did. Darius had just caught a glimpse of Liam when the boy lurched out of the way, a silvery liquid splashing through the air and onto the floor. Out of instinct, the nerdy boy dropped back and into a defensive crouch as his head turned towards the source of the liquid. He adjusted his glasses and squinted through the half-light until he could make out the dim silhouette of a large boy. The prefect tilted his head to one side as he tried to get a good look at the guy, but before he could register so much as the boy’s blood pressure a book flew through the air and the student moved deeper into the shadows. Grimacing, he reported back, “that’s a negative, Ghost Rider.”

Darius leaned back on his heels but remained alert as he scanned the rows of books for any sign of movement. “Who is this guy, anyway?” he asked in a whisper. He couldn’t think of any students he knew that could spit acid, but, to be fair, he didn’t know many students at all. Training monopolised most of his day, and he spent his free time either ‘bonding’ with his teammates or studying. Now it seemed that having a social life could actually be beneficial when it came to his job. Networking with other students and learning information about the people who inhabited the island wouldn’t be a bad thing. Darius tucked the idea away in the back of his mind to bring up later, but even as he did so an ominous creaking filled the air. Puzzled, the prefect looked up just in time to see the bookshelf he was standing under slowly tip. Without making the conscious decision to do so, Darius’s body threw itself hard to one side just as the massive shelf fell forward with the kind of crash that rendered any idea of handling the job quietly obsolete.

Heart pounding, Darius skidded to a stop safely beyond the ruins of the bookshelf. His head snapped in the direction of the student and a grin found its way to his lips. The student, a beefy boy with a shaved head, turned tail and sprinted back into the depths of the maze, but it was too late. Darius had gotten a good look at the guy and a sudden influx of information flooded his mind. Everything from the boy’s bone structure to the rate at which his fingernails grew was laid out before the prefect, and as always, it took his breath away. Every subtle intricacy that made the boy a genetic individual mapped itself out in Darius’s mind. The intimacy of chemistry in action, living science, never failed to leave him in utter awe. How anything more complex than a single-celled organism could exist was nothing short of a miracle, and here he was gifted with the power to see all life’s secrets.

The nerd was so caught up in his admiration that he almost forgot he was on a mission. Shaking his head, he called out to Liam, “I got a visual on him this time. He’s a big guy, but if you can get me in close I think I know how to handle him.” Darius reviewed the boy’s biology in his head. He was in good health, eighteen years old, but that was hardly interesting. The structure of the boy’s mouth, however, was all wrong. Frowning, the chi-manipulator concluded that the boy’s acid was produced orally and spat at his enemies. Not very hygienic, but bacteria was the least of their worries. What was even more important were the bluish lines of chi that flowed and tangled around his thyroid glands, feeding into the abnormal sublingual sacs that the acid concentrated in. If Darius could block that meridian then the flow of chi to the acid sacs would be cut off and disabled, but hitting the wrong one could end in unpredictable disaster. Taking a deep breath, Darius leaned forward on his toes and prepared himself for the adventure that was about to unfold.

[Liam Dalton]

"We'll be friends forever won't we, Pooh?" Asked Piglet. "Even longer." Pooh answered. - Winnie the Pooh

Tentacle Boy dove out towards the floor. Narrowly missing the acidic spit by a hair with the grace of swan, and rolled into a crouch. From there he had launched his totally awesome projectile-book-counterattack (Copyrighted). Afterwards, his first action was to check on his trainee - his head snapped over to Darius's location liked a worried goose, and once he saw that Darius was unharmed he let a small sigh of relief. "Roger that, Young Blood." He gave a light-hearted chuckle as he picked himself up off the floor. "A rogue student named Blake Amos. He's been attacking Prefects at night." He stated matter-of-factually while walking over to Darius. Before a sudden realization hit him. 

"This should have been covered in the file I had sent to your room..." He trailed off near the end. It wasn't like Darius to ignore an important document, especially if it was from himself. However, he soon after he slapped the palm of his hand against his forehead. "Kia never brought it to you did she?" He muttered under his breath as he walked along side his partner. The first thing he was gonna do after this mission was give Kia a firm talking to. The girl seriously needed to be taught a lesson about priorities. He just hoped that the little-blonde-girl didn't start crying. Though it did explained Darius's haste to get here once Liam had called him. 

However, even while Liam's mind was musing over how he should discipline the young girl, he made sure to keep a constant awareness of his surroundings. He had faith in his reflexes and training, but it was that exact same training that told him to keep on his toes. More so for Darius's sake than his own. Liam wasn't quiet ready to leave the Cinnamon Rolls by themselves just yet. He didn't want to take that kind of risk, not that he knew if he ever would be. Then just like Darius, he heard the creaking, signaling that the bookshelf was about to come crashing down. However, unlike the glasses wearing Prefect, Liam's response was different. His protective streak taking over, Liam caught it by the top shelf as the books fell in-front of him. His muscles straining as he held up the large wooden structure, causing Rc cells to flood his body to increase his physical capabilities slightly. The excitement in his body causing his Red Eyes to appear - his iris turning red, and the sclera black with red veins across the eye and into the skin around the eye

"Are you okay?" He said through pants, his chest raising up and down as his body took in more oxygen to compensate for the surge of Rc cells that had entered his body. His red hues glowing in the dimly lit room. "Sounds like a plan." He said in a hush tone. His breathing still a little uneasy as he walked into the maze, and quietly snuck around the room. It probably would have been easier if he had used his Kagune, but Darius needed some actual experience in the field. Not mention that Liam disliked using his abilities, especially in-front of others.

With Darius hopefully in-tow behind him, Liam soon found their target. The surprise on the man's face clear as Liam dashed forward, and aimed a solid punch at the boy's face, shattering his nose. Afterwards Liam quickly followed up by swiping at his forehead, cutting his skin. "What kind of swing was that?!" The rogue mocked. "Just the right kind above the eyes. The kind that bleeds." Liam stated matter-of-factually as blood started to run down into Blake's eyes. Affecting his vision as he swung angrily at Liam. Liam gracefully blocked each of his attackers punches before slamming his fists onto the side of his head, hitting his ears. Hard. Disorienting him so that Liam could follow up quickly. He jab his fingers into the boy's right shoulder. Grabbing his muscles and nerves before slightly twisting them, causing his arm to go limp. "Was that a tickle!?" He screamed in rage. "That was a nerve bundle in your deltoid. Might not have hurt, but you won't be using that arm for a while."

Upon hearing this, something within the young man snapped, and in a fit of rage he shot out a stream of acid at both Liam and Darius. The dual-haired Prefect quickly jumped out of the way. "I guess we need to drop the bass." He said to Darius, chuckling as he did. Finding his own pun to be rather funny. 

[Darius Pacholski]

At the mention of the file, Darius offered his commander a quizzical look. He hadn’t received any such file, and a moment later he understood why as Liam noted that it was Kia’s responsibility to deliver it. Darius opened his mouth to retort, but fell silent as the bookshelf threatened to flatten him. Without warning, the prefect’s body lurched out of the way just as Liam stepped in to catch the falling shelf. Adrenaline ran hot through Darius’s body but he kept a level-head. Peering through the maze of shelves, he got a good look at his target for the first time. “Just fine,” he answered Liam with a grin. Doctor Dweeb’s gaze flickered to his commander for a split-second and he did a double take. His grin faltered and his eyebrows knitted together with concern. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but there was a sudden, distinct difference about Liam’s appearance. His eyes had taken on an evil sort of presence. The whites darkened to black and the irises-- typically a rich and innocent brown-- glowed in a demonic shade of red.

Frowning, Darius trailed behind his commander as they moved at a steady pace deeper into the maze. The prefect’s mind bubbled with questions that he couldn’t ask and he struggled to return his focus to the mission. The uncanny silence of the empty library pressed down on them as they wound through its towering shelves. Darius felt his pulse quicken the deeper they moved into the room, and the further they got from the exit. It seemed every flickering shadow and quiet creak of settling wood would reveal a new enemy for him to face. But no such villain appeared, and mere moments later they stumbled across their target. Without a word, Liam launched himself head-on at the student and the boy’s nose snapped with a crunch that turned Darius’s stomach. Ruby blood sprayed from the boy’s nose and spattered his shirt, but Liam kept swinging and the student fought back.

Hanging back, Darius bounced on the balls of his feet and watched the brawl. He prepared himself to jump in the moment an opportunity presented itself, but he couldn’t help the feeling of revulsion that under-laid his excitement. Every blow reminded Darius that training was over. He stared with morbid fascination as Liam, the gentle commander he thought he knew, stood over his brutalised opponent. The commander panted but grinned with the thrill of a fight, his tattooed knuckles stained red with the boy’s blood. He shouted insults at the student until the boy snapped and spat a spray of acid at his face. Liam ducked out of the way and chuckled at his own pun, but Darius found little humour in the situation. Silent, he slipped into the spot Liam had occupied just moments before and faced the raging student. The boy barred his teeth and lashed out with his one good arm, but Darius remained calm. Dodging the blow with ease, he jammed his thumb into the joint of the boy’s shoulder. The arm fell limp at the student’s side at once and he shouted and cursed with rage. Darius drew a deep breath and side-stepped a kick from the student before reaching out to position his thumb and forefinger on either side of the boy’s throat. He squeezed without hesitation.

A wet, gurgling sound escaped from the student’s throat and his eyes stretched wide as he scrambled backwards into the wall. “Don’t panic,” Darius told the frantic boy, “I just put a temporary block on your power, but you need to come with us now. If you continue to resist we’ll have to take you in by force.” Darius glanced at Liam for approval before turning his focus back to the boy’s bloody face. He frowned and noted the swelling that was already starting to distort his features despite the defiance still shining in his eyes. A pang of sadness swept through the prefect’s gut, but he stifled it and remembered his training. This boy was dangerous, and it was his job to protect his peers. At last Blake, cornered and powerless, dropped his gaze in defeat and Darius let out a long sigh of relief. Doctor Dweeb turned to Liam and asked in a tired voice, “Are we done now?”

[Liam Dalton]

Liam let out a sigh of relief when the younger boy responded to his question - confirming that he hadn't been wounded during the crash. Though Liam made sure to give him and quick look over just in-case. The concern in his eyes fading once he confirmed for himself that Darius wasn't hurt. It was a relief, but it seemed Darius didn't go entirely unaffected. When the boy did his double take, Liam shifted his gaze away from the boy almost guiltily before speaking in a murmur. "I'm glad that you're okay." His words might have been hushed, but they still held the sincerity that Liam was known for. He then moved forward, leading the way through the maze of books with his chest moving up and down. The change in color would revert back until awhile later, or now if Liam willed it. But the young leader couldn't afford to give up the added bonus that accompanied them. He just wished he had the courage to explain it to Darius. Right now just wasn't the time. 

This single thought kept Liam's focus sharp like the edge of a razor. The desire to avoid the topic causing him to put every ounce of his attention onto his surroundings, and the mission to help him ignore the awkward tension in the air. Though, admittedly he didn't know it was solely on his side. Luckily for him, they managed to find their target sooner than later. Jumping on the chance to settle the matter as quickly as possible. Liam began his assault - using precise blows, and banter to both disorient, and limit Blake's moves. All without severely hurting the Prefect Hunter. Each one of Liam's attack meant to teach Darius how to win a fight without using the brutalize tactics the Prefects preferred to teach. 

Although, if the trainee had been paying close attention, he might have seen that each of Liam's blows/words seemed to cause Liam's eyes to glow brighter. As if the excitement he felt deep down was growing, and becoming increasingly more difficult to suppress. The warmth of his foes blood on his knuckles acting like a fuel for this sudden fire in him. However, he soon found himself switched with Darius who quickly dispatched off the rogue with his abilities. "....." He remained silent as Darius explained what had happened. A proud smile forming on his lips as the boy handled the situation. The trainer gave his nod of approval before he walked up next to Darius. His eyes changing back to normal as he cuffed the defeated Blake, and put a mask over his mouth to prevent him from shooting acid at them should Darius's block wear off.  

"You did a good job." Liam said as they walked back out of the library. A kind smile on his face as he looked over at the boy. "You're gonna become an exceptional Prefect, and adult." His words completely honest, as if Liam seriously believed that it would happen. Then a moment later they came to the door where a squad of Prefects came to pick up Blake, and take him away. Giving them his thanks, Liam then turned around to face Darius. His brown colored having dissolved due to the effects of the Rc cells. Revealing his bright Sapphire blue hues.  

[Darius Pacholski]

Subdued, Darius hung back without a word and watched as Liam cuffed and muzzled the student. There was a quiet, contemplative look about the young prefect as his mind replayed the events of the evening. Everything had gone as well as anyone could expect, and neither Darius nor his commander suffered any injuries. But, even so, Doctor Dweeb wasn’t celebrating. His blue eyes wandered in Liam’s direction and the slightest hint of a frown moulded itself on his doughy face. Even his commander’s compliment couldn’t shake him from his concern. “Thanks,” he murmured, rubbing the back of his head as they walked the captured student into the hall.

As they waited outside the library, Liam complimented the boy once again and Darius ducked his head. He felt his face flush and he hoped that Liam would overlook the redness in the dark. “Thanks, Commander. Um. . .” the arrival of the prefects cut him short. There was a quiet exchange of greetings and a rustling of papers as Liam and the prefects spoke. Blake tugged at his restraints but to no avail. Throughout the commotion, Darius remained silent and hung back, watching with a troubled frown. At long last, Liam signed Blake over to the others and they shuffled off once more. Now that they were alone, Darius blinked up into his commander's remarkable blue eyes.

Cocking his head to one side in confusion, Darius's eyebrows knitted together as he studied the young man before him. The chi manipulator was certain that Liam’s eyes were brown, and he pressed his lips together as his brain scrambled for an explanation. Maybe it was the lighting? No, he decided, the differences were too distinct. What would cause someone’s eyes to change like that? It dawned on him then that he didn’t know what Liam’s powers were. The commander never mentioned them, and he didn’t use them during training or even in their fight with Blake. Of course, Darius relented, there could be a logical explanation for it. Maybe Liam’s powers weren’t combative or useful in training. It was possible, but the strangeness of it wasn’t something he could ignore.

Darius tucked the mystery into the back of his mind for now. He needed more evidence before he could confront Liam. The temptation to sneak a peek at the boy’s anatomy was almost overwhelming, but out of respect for his commander’s privacy he resisted the urge. Instead, Darius turned his thoughts back to the fight. His stomach churned as he remembered the clean snap of Blake’s nose and the excited energy that rolled off of Liam during the fight. It contradicted the commander’s usual gentleness in a way Darius never expected from his boss. Scene by scene, Darius pulled the night apart in search of clues.

“Li-- I mean, Commander?” Darius spoke up, “Am I dismissed? We have to be up early for training.” He raised a hand to rub his eye behind his glasses. The night wasn’t sitting well with the prefect and he needed space to think. It seemed sleeping would not be on the agenda for the evening. There was something rotten at Ashford, and although the night was ending for Doctor Dweeb and his companions, the adventure was only just beginning.

[Liam Dalton]

Everything had gone better than expected - Liam and Darius both were going to walk away without any injuries. It was a flawless victory, but Liam could tell that it felt hollow for his trainee. Darius was keeping quiet, hanging back, and not responding to the compliments the usual way. Typically the younger Prefect would have responded much more pridefully. It ate away at the back of the young man's mind, but he ignored it. Darius was free to his own thought, and Liam wasn't going to press out of respect for his partner. If the Chi Manipulator wanted to share his thoughts, then he would be there for him. Until then, Liam would give him his space. After all, the squad leader was also keeping his fair share of secrets.

"Hm?" Perking up whenever Darius asked to be dismissed, Liam gave a soft sigh before smiling gently. "You are dismissed Darius." He said softly as he scratched the back of his head. While his other hand waved good-bye to the young man.