Starlight Recruited by Special Selection

Maeve, Black Noir, The Deep, Translucent.

Hmm, Azu only saw three of them.

"Translucent, put some clothes on before you come back." Azu spoke with his eyes closed.

An embarrassed voice came from empty space. "Yes, boss."

A moment later, Translucent walked in after getting dressed.

Maeve was the first to ask, "Why did you call us together?"

Azu tapped his phone, and two figures appeared on the command center screen.

"Princess Frost."

"Livewire."

"They're the new members I picked for The Seven. I'll meet them later and test their abilities myself."

The Deep said with a fawning expression, "Anyone you pick must be the best, boss. I vote in favor with both hands."

Azu said unhurriedly, "I wasn't asking for your opinion. I was informing you."

The Deep hit a soft wall. He smiled awkwardly, nodded, and straightened his posture.

Maeve shrugged. "If it's just a notification, you could've sent us a text."

"Yes, which is why I called you here for something else."

Azu stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and faced the window. "Next, I'm going to overhaul The Seven. The worthy stay; the unworthy go."

"In other words, anyone who doesn't meet the standards can only be asked to get the hell out!"

The Deep and Translucent exchanged looks involuntarily.

Black Noir did not move at all.

Maeve frowned. "What exactly does this overhaul mean?"

"Remaking The Seven."

"I'm going to give this team a new life."

Azu turned around with a smile at the corner of his mouth. "The reborn Seven won't make movies, issue announcements, go on tours, endorse products, or attend any events."

"We'll return to our roots—to the actual work of superheroes, to the role of being heroes."

Everyone looked confused. Except for Black Noir; his helmet concealed his expression.

"Perhaps you've all forgotten that you're superheroes."

"You've all grown used to the company's arrangements."

"You've all become accustomed to reading scripts and putting on shows for the cameras."

"I say enough."

"Yes, enough."

"We won't be clowns anymore. We won't be the company's puppets on strings."

"We'll return to our roots. Vought must do what it should have done long ago: serve us, serve the heroes, instead of making us into goddamn idols and stars!"

Azu smiled faintly. "So, starting today, I'll be assessing all of you."

"I'm going to build a true heroic team—an elite force that obeys my orders, not a bunch of Supers celebrities waiting for their next appearance."

He looked at Maeve. "Of course, Maeve doesn't need an assessment. I trust her abilities."

The Deep timidly raised a hand. "Boss, then what will our assessments be?"

"Don't worry. I'll test you in the fields you're best at."

Azu pointed at The Deep. "For example, you. I'll face you in the sea."

Then he pointed at Black Noir. "We'll meet on the battlefield."

Finally, he pointed at Translucent. "I'll play a game of hide-and-seek with you."

"Ashley will notify you later of the specific time and place."

Azu braced both hands on the table, leaned forward, and smiled. "I only hope you remember one thing: I'm serious."

"If you think I'm joking, then I only hope you can still laugh in the end."

"Meeting adjourned."

"Oh, right."

Azu looked at Translucent. "If I find out you've been peeping in the ladies' restroom again, believe me, I'll skin you alive."

"That isn't a metaphor."

A sheen of fine sweat appeared on Translucent's forehead. "I understand, boss."

Azu waved a hand.

Everyone except Maeve left first.

In the hallway, Translucent whispered, "Has he gone crazy?"

"Making the company serve us?"

"What makes him think the company would be willing to do that?"

The Deep glanced at him. "You'd better not talk nonsense."

Then he hurried away.

When he reached his room, The Deep took out his phone and made a call.

A moment later, he said, "Mr. Edgar, this is The Deep. I have something to report."

Inside The Seven's command center.

Maeve stood up and spread her hands. "So, this is the company's new plan?"

"A secret reality show?"

Azu smiled. "It's my plan, dear Maeve. Don't you want to be a real hero, like you once did?"

"What I'm doing now is removing our shackles and making us real heroes. Don't you like that?"

Maeve narrowed her eyes but gave no response.

Azu walked over to her. "If you have time tonight, we can have an honest talk. Then you'll know I'm not joking."

Maeve shrugged. "We'll see."

She walked toward the door, then stopped and turned back. "Thanks for letting me pass directly. You know, I rather need this job."

Azu smiled and nodded.

*

*

*

"Annie, over here."

Donna waved anxiously, urging her daughter Annie, who wore a white combat suit trimmed in yellow, to hurry over.

"Did something happen, Mom?" Annie had strikingly beautiful features. Youthful innocence still lingered on her young face, while her eyes shone brightly.

Donna said anxiously, "There must have been some kind of mistake. Go in and talk to them."

Starlight looked baffled. "What mistake? What am I supposed to say?"

"They eliminated you."

Donna pointed at the office ahead. "I just heard someone from the committee say that you were eliminated, Annie."

Starlight said in disbelief, "That's impossible. They said after the last round that I had a very good chance of making the finals."

"I thought so too, which is why I'm thinking there must have been some mistake."

"Anyway, hurry inside and see if there's anything that can still be salvaged."

Donna pushed her daughter toward the office. Inside, several committee members were discussing something. When they saw Donna and her daughter enter, one member immediately said,

"Sorry, this isn't a place you're allowed to enter."

Donna quickly said, "This is my daughter, Starlight. She performed so outstandingly—why did you eliminate her?"

The committee members immediately looked awkward.

Starlight froze. "So it's true? I was eliminated?"

One committee member coughed. "We're very sorry, Miss Annie."

"You were excellent. Truly."

"But..."

Donna cried anxiously, "Why eliminate her? Did she do something wrong? We'll fix it, we'll fix it!"

"Mom." Starlight tugged at her mother, not wanting her to embarrass herself like this.

The committee member could only say, "In any case, we're very sorry."

"Please leave."

After leaving the office, Donna still could not accept the reality.

Instead, Starlight comforted her. "Mom, it's okay. I can enter again next year."

Donna shook her head. "There won't be another opportunity this good."

Just then, a group of people in black suits approached. The man in front asked, "Are you Miss Annie?"

Annie looked up. "I am."

The man nodded. "I'm from Vought. I'm pleased to inform you, Miss Annie, that you've been specially recruited into The Seven."