Lunch period finally rolled around and Shannon had her first introduction to the vast majority of the student body, the part without powers.  They seemed normal, in a Southern California tanned sort of way and she did her best to blend into the crowd as she waited in line at the cafeteria.  Taking up a tray, she laid silver and a napkin to one side then reached for a pre-made salad, the last on the line at that time.  A male hand caught her by the wrist.

“Mine,” a deep voice said.

Shannon looked up into the sneer of a jock, complete with letterman jacket and thuggish entourage.  She released the bowl and shied back.  Ern stepped between them and recovered the bowl.

“I believe she was here first,” he said quietly, his turquoise eyes locked on the jock’s.  The other stepped back, shock at the challenge.  As he started to lift a fist, Mr. Harding cleared his throat.

“Any problem?” he asked mildly.

“No, sir,” Ern said.  “None at all.”

Harding nodded and turned away.

The jock pointed his finger at Ern, “This isn’t over, squaw boy,” he growled.

Ern ignored him and turned to Shannon.

“Would you please join me, hlkin?”

Shannon blushed and smiled faintly.  Mal came up, stepping in front of the furious jock.

“Mind if I join you too?”  She asked.

“Okay,” Shannon agreed.

They finished their pass through the line and Mal led the way to a corner table, Ern bringing up the rear.  She sat and took a sip of her orange juice.  Ern waited for Shannon to be seated than sat beside her.

“I despise rude, arrogant jock assholes,” Mal said, her tone neutral.  “Not a good start for the first day is it?”  She smiled at Shannon.

          “No, I guess not,” she replied.

          Ern bowed his head and muttered something Shannon didn’t entirely catch, just something about ‘great mother’.

          Mal leaned forward to Shannon, “If you really want to be evil,” she said.  “Go over and drop that salad in the trash next to that guy’s table.”

          At first Shannon thought she was kidding but after studying her for a moment she discovered she wasn’t.

          “That would just make him madder,” Shannon said.

          “That’s the idea!” Mal grinned.

          “Not everything must be about one-upmanship, Mal,” Ern said quietly.

          “True,” she said peeling the top off a plain yogurt.  “But some people deserve it!”

          Shannon poured a container of Honey French dressing on her salad and started with a tomato.  Another thing she liked about California and San Diego besides the sun, the vegetables and fruits were fantastic, so different from the hothouse grown junk they got in Minnesota.

          “Where are you from, Shannon?” Mal asked.

          “Minneapolis,” she replied.  “You?”

          “York Harbor, Maine,” she said then looked at Ern.

          “A small village in southern Alaska,” he replied.

          “I guess we are all in for sunburns then,” Mal chuckled.  “What’s your father do?”

          Shannon looked up.

          “My dad is a homicide detective on the St. Paul Police Department, he’s the department captain,” she replied.

          “Wow, crime-fighting runs in the family,” Mal attacked an orange three times the size of her fist.  “My mom’s a professor of art and my dad’s a professor of English Lit.

          “My father is a fisherman and my mother carved wood,” Ern injected.

          “How did you end up here?” Shannon asked Ern.

          “Nature photographer,” he replied then took a bite of his sandwich.

          “You’re a nature photographer?” Mal asked, obviously interested.

          Ern shook his head.  “No, I was soaring with the eagles when a nature photographer got a picture of me.”

          Shannon sighed louder than she’d planned and both looked at her.

          “That must be great,” she said.  “Not the picture ... soaring with eagles.  I wish I could fly like that.”

          “There are no eagles here but perhaps I can take you up some time,” Ern offered.
          “Oh,” Shannon blushed.  “I can fly but not like you, with wings . . . I just sorta rocket around . . . “

          “The offer stands,” he said.

          “Hey,” someone called.  “Can we join in?”

          Mari and Rachel came up with their trays and plopped down at the table.

          “What are we talking about,” Mari asked.

          “Where everyone is from,” Mal replied.

          “Born in Moscow,” Mari said, pulling the top off her hamburger and dousing it with mustard.  “Russia, not the New York one.”

          “You don’t sound Russian,” Shannon observed.

          “Nah, I’m all-American, my dad was a diplomat and I was born there accidentally.”

          “How are you ‘accidentally’ born in Russia?” Mal asked.

          Mari shrugged, “I came three weeks early.”

          “I was born in an alley in New York,” Rachel announced.  “My mother had stopped by to see my dad in his box when I decided to show up.”

          The others at the table stared blankly at her then she laughed.

          “You guys are SO easy!” she crowed then straight-faced she added,  “Actually I was born in Utah, out on the Bonneville Salt Flats when my parents were crossing the country.  Their car was overheating and they couldn’t get any of the service stations to give them any water.  They said they had to truck it in and couldn’t spare even a gallon.  I think they were full of shit but there they were, miles and miles from a hospital or even a doctor and I decided to push my head out to see where the hell we were.”

          She attacked a cheeseburger and let the story sit there.  Mal gave her an incredulous look.  Rachel whipped her mouth on the back of her hand.

          “Really!” she said.  “It’s on my birth certificate, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.”

          “What do your parents do,” Shannon asked to ease past the story.

          Rachel shrugged.  “They grow pot up the in the mountains, ya know, a commune thing.”

          Mari had stopped eating and sat eyeing Rachel.

          “You told me your dad was a traveling salesman,” she said.

          “Yeah, that too, pot IS seasonal!”

          “So you grew up on a commune?” Mal asked.

          “Sometimes,” Rachel replied stuffing fries into her mouth.  “Sometimes I traveled with the old man, get a little on-the-road education.”

          “You said you beat up people?” Shannon said nervously.

          Rachel’s head bobbed.  “When they need it, not like I pick on people or nothing but I sure don’t let anyone push me around.  That’s why I took all them Kung Fu lessons.”

          “You took kung fu?” Shannon little surprised.  “Your dad let you do that?”

          She shrugged, “Why not?  Keep my ass from getting raped on the road.”  She finished her shake with the gurgle of an empty straw and set it down.  “I need another one.”  Bouncing to her feet she headed back into the line.

          The three girls at the table exchanged looks then Ern opened a ziplock bag of dried fruits and offered it around.  Only Mal accepted dropping a few bits of something into her yogurt and stirring.  The crash of a tray hitting the floor got their attention.

          The jock that had accosted Shannon stood facing Rachel holding his wrist, a tray of left-overs on the floor at his feet.  Ern rose and moved quietly up behind the two boys backing the jock.  Mari just leaned back and smiled.

          “What the fuck are you tryin’ to do, bitch?” the jock yelled.  “You broke my arm!”

          Rachel looked at him through hooded eyes.

          “Next time you grab my ass, you’ll be spitting up your balls,” she said.  Picking up her shake she sucked hard on the straw, smiling.  She gave the guy a little wave with her fingers then headed back to the table.  Ern faded back to join her.

          “Oh, the drama,” Mari said dramatically then giggled.

          “He grabbed you?” Shannon looked worried.

          “Actually, not quite,” Rachel said.  “I got to his arm just before he got hold of anything.  Pre-emptive strike.”  She smiled sweetly.

          Everyone in the cafeteria turned to the low driving thud of a bass as Belle entered.  She ignored the glares and picked up a tray.  Though Belle probably couldn’t hear a word over her earplugs, Shannon and the others heard someone over at the jock’s table muttering something about ‘ghetto’ and another word she’d never even thought to herself.  The little group at her table exchanged glances but it was the military guy, Mark Law that did something.

          He came in behind Belle and had stopped just inside the door as she moved on to get her food.  At the comment he stalked over to the table and, leaning on his knuckles, said sometime inaudible to the group at the table.

          “Do you understand me,” he growled to the jock and his buddies just loud enough for the rest of the room to hear.  “Now DO IT!”

          For a long moment everyone stared, only Belle obvious to the drama going on behind her.  Then the jock stood and opened his mouth to speak but Law stopped him by holding up a finger.  Stepping over to Belle, he moved to intercept her progress.  She snatched her earplugs out and glared up at him.

          “Whatchu WANT?” She demanded.

          Law didn’t flinch unlike half the room.  He gestured over to the standing jock.

          “He has something to say to you,” he said.

          Belle turned and glared at the young man.   “What?”

          It looked like it hurt for the guy to find his voice but at last he said “I apologized for my rude and insensitive comment of a moment ago.”

          “Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout,” Belle said suspiciously.

          “I believe to repeat the comment would be a further insult,” Law said, his eyes on the jock.  “Suffice it to say what he said was extremely rude.”

          Belle stared at the jock hard, realizing what the comment must have entailed then without a word turned back to picking out her food.

          Shannon looked at the others at the table.

          “Wow,” said Mari.  “I didn’t think he’d be the one to say something.”

          “Me either,” Mal agreed.

          “What did he say to that guy?” Shannon wondered aloud.

          “I hope it involved a lot of violence!” Rachel grinned.

          “You prefer a physical answer to such problems,” Ern said quietly.

          “Hell yeah!” Rachel expostulated.  “Some people don’t learn unless you beat it into them!”

          “So a broken arm wasn’t enough,” Mal gave Rachel a considering look.

          “It ain’t broke,” she replied.  “He didn’t start cryin’!”

          Belle carried her tray over to the adjacent table and sat, once more engrossed in her music.  From a pocket she pulled a small notebook and began marking in it before even taking a bite.  So intent was she that it took several minutes for her to notice Charlie Sentara had joined her.

          “Whatchu want, cholo?” she demanded.

          “Homie gotta want sumin’?”

          Mark Law took a seat across the table from Belle without a word.

          “Whatchu do that fo,” she asked as she yanked the ear buds out.

          “No one talks about anyone on MY team like that,” Law said and took a bite of his sandwich.

          “Hey, I ain’t on YOUR team,” Belle replied glaring at him.

          “Regardless of what you may think,” Law said.  “We are a team and we must protect and defend each other.  If that means standing up for one another, then I will be the first on my feet.  I expect each of you to do that same.”

          Cari, last into the cafeteria, save Q, took the seat beside Mark.

          “He’s right,” she said.  “We may not want it to be us-against-them, but it will always be that way.”

          “Whatchu know about us-against-them?”  Belle demanded.  “You probly some rich bitch that grew up on yo daddy’s ranch!  Whatchu know about anything?”

          “You’re right, Belle, I grew up on my rich daddy’s ranch and you’re right I can have no idea what it’s like growing up in your world,” Carin leaned across the table.  “But I am going to find out, aren’t I?  How about you help us all understand what it is to be the minority because we are all part of the smallest minority on the planet now.”

          For the first time Mark Law actually looked at Carin.  He nodded slightly.

          “She’s right, Belle,” he said.  “You are probably the only one of us that really knows what it is like.”

          Belle looked at the two of them, eyes narrowed.

          “You wanna know what it’s like to poor and black?” she said.  “It sucks!”

          “You have been given a great gift,” Ern began to Shannon’s surprise.  “You now have an opportunity to help all people, do not let the past cloud the future.”

          “Whatchu know ‘bout it?” Belle shot back.

          Ern gave her a long level stare and said nothing.

          “Hey,” Charlie Sentara broke in.  “I ain’t ‘xactly top a the food chain either, chica.”

          “Nor is Ern,” Shannon added.  Her mouth popped closed comically as she realized she’d spoken.

          Mari chuckled softly.

          “We’re the world’s new politically incorrect minority,” she said.  “We’re all from very different backgrounds and we’re all different colors but we have something in common like nobody else.”

          Rachel leaned in and in a sepulchral tone said “We’re dum dee dum!  Metas!”

          “What all this boils down to is this,” Mal said.  “We have to stick together like no other group in this school.”

          “We have been thrown together, like any military unit,” Mark added.  “And we have only each other to rely on.  One day, Belle, one of us will be asking for your help and it will be a matter of life or death.  One day you’ll be the one asking for our help.  We have to be confident, beyond any possible shadow of a doubt that we will be there for each other and that includes the little things like that asshole calling one of us names.”

          “But we can’t show out powers,” Caryn said to Mark.  “You aren’t always going to be around for something like that.”

          “If he is not, I will be,” Ern said

          “Or me,” added Rachel with a huge grin.  “’member, I like to beat up people!”

          “You have no reason to trust us, Belle,” Mal said.  “That will come with time but for now understand that we have got to have you back, in all things.”

          “Soon as I ain’t in sight you all gonna forget about me like . . .” Belle started.

          “No chance of that!” Charlie cut in.  “I gonna keep both eyes on your fine ass.”

          He moved so fast to avoid Belle’s backhand that for a moment she stare at him in disbelief.

          “Gonna have ta do better’n that you wanna hit me!” he grinned at her.

          Mark Law was scanning the room.  Satisfied no one had noticed he glared at Sentara.

          “You will not use your powers out here, Charlie,” he growled.

          “Carlos, man, Carlos!”

          “Whatever, no more of that shit, got it?!”

          “Reflexes, man, can’t help it!” Charlie said with a grin.

          “Mark,” Carin’s voice cut in.

          Law looked up and spotted the jock heading their way, his gang in tow.  He had probably gotten fed up with the ribbing his friends had been giving him and at last decided to do something.

          “So you think you’re hot shit?” he said to Law.  “Meet me after school and prove it!  The cove at 3:30, if you got the guts.”

          “I thought your arm was broke,” Rachel said sweetly.

          The jock poked a finger in her face and said “I’ll take care of you later!”

          Shannon could see Rachel struggling to resist the urge to grab the digit and break it.

          “How about at 3:31, after Mark pounds you into the sand like a tent peg?” she offered.  “Or would you rather it be at 3:29 so you’ll have a whole 55 seconds to wake up for your bout with Mark?”

          This stunned the guy into speechlessness, red faced he turned and stalked out of the cafeteria.

          “55 seconds?” Mari said to Rachel with a grin.

          “You’re right,” Rachel replied.  “More like 58 seconds.”

          “You can beat him in TWO seconds?”  Shannon asked, incredulous.

          Rachel looked smug.  “Two hits,” she said.  “Me hitting him and him hitting the ground.”

          “You’re not going to fight him,” Mark said sternly.  “It’s not exactly normal for a 120 pound girl to beat up a 245 jock.”

          “Like HELL it ain’t,” Rachel grinned and cracked her knuckles.  “Wanna try me, soldier boy?”

          Shannon realized the room was empty save for their little group.

          “We gotta get to class,” Shannon said, standing.

          “Actually,” Mr. Harding said as he approached.  “Your class schedule is very flexible.  Right now, the important thing is what just happened in here.”

          “Whatchu mean,” Belle narrowed her eyes and thinned her lips.

          “Team building is more important now that anything you can learn in class,” Harding replied.  “And as long as that is happening, I would rather not break up the flow with such mundane things as math.”

          “You saw and heard what happened, sir?” Law asked.

          Harding nodded.

          “Weren’t you supposed to stop stuff like that?” Carin asked hotly.

          “The idea is to leave you alone to handle your own encounters.  If anything had gotten out of hand, then I would have stepped in but you handle it very well, Mr. Law.”  Mr. Harding put a hand on Mark’s shoulder.  “Though making him apologize might have been a little heavy handed.  I fear it might come back to haunt you.”

          “Nothing we can’t handle, sir,” Mark assured him.

          “Well, since this session seems to have been interrupted after all, it might be best if we get back to class,” Harding turned and headed for the classroom.

          “What about this cove thing?” Rachel asked still grinning.  “You gonna whip his ass?”

          Law gave her a level stare.

          “We are supposed to be superheroes, champions of the American people, this does not include whipping their ass,” he said.

          Rachel shrugged “If you say so ...”