Someone the President's Office squeezed in at the last minute

The excitement from the relay game had not quite faded when the activity room door slid open without warning.

Supervisor Carter from Public Relations stood outside, looking somewhat awkward.

He had a boy who looked about seven in tow. He unceremoniously pushed the boy into the room, then gave Lynn an ingratiating smile.

"Director Lynn, sorry to interrupt your class. This is someone the President's Office squeezed in at the last minute. Apparently, Public Relations thinks the Vanguard Camp's current membership isn't varied enough and needs a little more... uh, diversity."

Lynn frowned slightly and set down his coffee cup, his gaze settling on the newcomer.

The boy wore a slightly tight green long-sleeved shirt, his soft hair plastered to his scalp. There was a dampness about him, as though he spent all his time soaking in water.

Most striking of all was the clear, round plastic bowl he clutched tightly against his chest. It was more than half full of water, with a red goldfish inside slowly blowing bubbles.

"His name is Kevin. His abilities are... communicating with aquatic animals and breathing underwater."

After that dry introduction, Carter seemed so afraid Lynn would refuse to take him that he hurriedly added, "His file has already been transferred to you. I'll get back to work, then."

With that, Carter slipped away without so much as looking back, faster even than Reggie had run in the relay.

The activity room fell silent for a few seconds.

The four children, along with John, all stared at the new arrival holding the fishbowl.

Lynn looked at the boy's face, timid yet trying hard to look cool, and felt amused.

How could he fail to recognize the future "The Deep," a character who was both sleazy and handsome?

"Hello."

Kevin swallowed and did his best to puff out his scrawny chest, trying to look imposing. "My name is Kevin, the future King of the Seven Seas. This is my brother, Charlie."

He raised the plastic fishbowl, and the goldfish named Charlie obligingly blew two bubbles.

Reggie was the first to give in to his curiosity. He circled Kevin twice and poked the plastic bowl. "Can he talk? What's he saying right now?"

The moment someone engaged with him, Kevin perked up.

With great ceremony, he pressed his ear against the bowl, closed his eyes, and listened for two seconds before translating earnestly. "Charlie says he thinks the carpet here is an ugly color, and he wants a double cheeseburger."

Tommy, who was sitting on the sofa, could not hold back a snort of laughter. "How could a fish eat a burger? Your brother must be an idiot."

"Don't insult my brother!"

Kevin grew agitated, his face turning red as he tried to rush over and argue with Tommy.

But he had forgotten that, after all his time spent around pools, the nonslip soles of his shoes had long since worn smooth.

The instant he took a step forward, his foot slipped. He let out a comical cry of surprise and flailed in midair a couple of times before landing flat on his face with a solid smack.

The plastic fishbowl flew out of his hands as well, tracing an arc through the air.

"My Charlie!" Kevin shouted in despair from the floor.

Just as the bowl was about to smash against the hard floor, a blur flashed past.

John did not even stand up. He merely leaned forward slightly in his chair and caught the water-filled bowl securely with one hand.

The water inside swayed only twice, without spilling a single drop.

John looked at the dazed goldfish in the bowl, then at Kevin sprawled on the floor with a hole scuffed through his trousers. A trace of speechlessness flickered in his azure eyes.

This was the new member the company had shoved on them?

He was even clumsier than a clown at an amusement park.

But John remembered what Lynn had said about "teamwork" and "inclusion."

He stood up and carried the bowl over to Kevin, looking down at him.

"Your brother's fine, future King of the Seven Seas."

There was undisguised teasing in John's voice as he held out the bowl.

Kevin scrambled to his feet and took it. Looking at the blond, blue-eyed older boy before him, so perfect he hardly seemed real, his embarrassment instantly turned to admiration.

During his days in Area B, the stronger test subjects had often bullied him for his useless abilities. No one had ever caught his fishbowl for him.

"Th-thank you. Charlie says you're a good person."

Kevin stammered the words.

"I didn't see Charlie open his mouth just now."

John raised an eyebrow.

"We're communicating through deep-level brain waves. It's a secret of the ocean."

Kevin spouted this nonsense with a perfectly straight face, making Annie cover her mouth and giggle beside them.

Although this little fellow named Kevin had little use for his abilities, his utterly natural gift for comedy brought a good deal of life to the Vanguard Camp.

A team always needed someone like that, someone who could not only liven things up but also give everyone something to enjoy amid grueling training.

"All right, now that everyone's acquainted, Kevin will be one of us from now on."

Lynn clapped his hands to draw the children's attention. "But Kevin, you're not allowed to splash water around in the activity room. If your brother Charlie wants a burger, you can find some breadcrumbs in the kitchen instead."

Clutching the bowl, Kevin hurriedly nodded over and over, then obediently found a spot near the corner and sat down.

Reggie clearly had no intention of leaving this amusing newcomer alone. He leaned over and asked quietly, "Besides burgers, does your fish ever ask to watch TV?"

Kevin was just about to do a little boasting when he saw John watching them with the hint of a smile. He immediately ducked his head, muttered something under his breath, and pretended to focus intently on the goldfish in the water.

The atmosphere in the activity room relaxed again. Sunlight fell on Kevin's green clothes, making him look a little comical yet perfectly at home.

Lynn got up and walked to a storage cabinet at the side, intending to get a few dry towels for the newcomer to dry his hair.

The midday sunlight warmed the activity room, and soon it was time for lunch.

Rather than have the company cafeteria deliver those standardized nutritious meals that smelled of vitamin tablets, Lynn wheeled in a food cart himself.

On it were ham and cheese sandwiches he had made himself, freshly baked potato wedges, and a large pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice.

As soon as the aroma spread, the children gathered around with cheers.

Even the newly arrived Kevin could not help sniffing, his eyes fixed on the cart.

He had spent so long in the downstairs pool area eating specially formulated seaweed nutrient mush every day. When had he ever smelled food this good?

"Line up. Reggie, don't push."

John stood beside the cart, handing out plates and food to everyone like an experienced team leader.

Reggie obediently slowed down and took away a plate of sandwiches filled with thick slices of beef.

Annie received her favorite egg sandwiches and sweetly thanked John.

When Kevin's turn came, he rubbed his hands together a little nervously and asked quietly, "John, can I have a little extra bread? Charlie says he's hungry too."