Chapter 3 Z.A.A.C. Initiative

Zhia’s POV

We finally reach our destination, the training grounds. I decide to go last.

Selene volunteers immediately. At the nod from Fury, she begins riddling the targets with bullets and hitting the exact centers every time. She slices its head off with a stream of solid fire, making all of us duck for dear life. She twists, turns, and dodges pretended enemy attacks. Eventually, Fury stopped her, jerking his head towards Bellatrix, and she step forwards.

Bellatrix attacks with only fire and her fists. She slices, pounds, and beats the target so hard that it needs to be replaced. Twice. Her hair snaps around her head as she slithers like a snake up to the target and punches until the sweat pours down her cheeks and the remaining dummy looks like it's been run over by a truck.

It is my turn, so I decide to make a show. In a millisecond, my katanas are out, slicing off limbs and decapitating the plastic and Kevlar dummy. Then I concentrate, feeling the currents of air in the vents and use the pent-up air pressure. I clench a fist and angrily crush the rest of the dummies in the room. I turn around to find everyone gaping at me. Even Selene and Bellatrix.

“Wow, I didn’t know you could do that, Zhia!” gasps Selene.

Fury glares at us for a minute and then simply states, “Ok, you pass." He turns to Iron Man and orders, "Tony, take them to your mansion.”

Tony looks surprised, like he isn't used to being given orders. He starts to protest, “But we didn’t discuss--”

I crush a remaining dummy under my foot and cut him off with a ferocious death glare. He wisely changes his mind and finishes, “...But I think it would be a very good addition!”

I smile and turn away. I just made Tony Stark shut up. Not many kids my age can say that. Well. Not any kids my age. Behind my back, I get the feeling he is just standing there, gaping.

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Selene’s POV

Zhia smirks and turns to walk away. Iron Man just opens his mouth and gasps like a fish. Any dignity he had is immediately gone. I love it when she does that, it’s just hysterical.

We arrive at Tony’s mansion 5 hours later. It's so much bigger than the Walmart we were hiding out in. I'm awestruck, and believe me, I've seen enough awe-inspiring stuff to shock Indiana Jones. Xavier would love to see this... and Mici… I suddenly can't help thinking about everyone I left, who I miss SO MUCH. Well, apart from the zombies. I can totally do without zombies for a while.

I am so tired… no, scratch that. I am totally exhausted. Everything is spinning. Is everything usually spinning? I whisper, “Ya know, I need to take a nap...” and collapse on the floor.

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Bellatrix’s POV

Selene crumples. She looks like she's asleep. Poor Selene, she must be exhausted. Now that I think about it, I am too. But I can't rest, I need to get Selene to a room, she can't just lie there. Unfortunately, Selene burns out faster after using her powers, (which is why she doesn't really use them all that often as I do). I look at Zhia and she nods. We pick her up, and Zhia yells over to Tony, “Where do we take her?” He just shrugs and walks off. Jerk. I guess he's still sore that Fury didn't consult him. We follow. Suddenly, Selene gasps, jumps up, whacks me with her elbow in the face, and spins around and kicks Zhia in the side. Well, she woke up.

“What the heck?!” I half yell and half choke out through my bloody nose.

“Oops,” Selene replies, with a half grin on her face.

Zhia just stands there, waiting for me to get up, annoyed. Maybe the wind was knocked out of her, but then she must've managed to get up immediately. What the heck?! Selene is the best of the best when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. She shouldn't be standing right now! It doesn't really make me any less wary of her, and she's already freaked me out enough at the training area.

“Look, are you just going to stand there, or are you going to find your rooms?" Tony drawls. Oh, I could just KILL him. 

"Come on, guys!" Zhia says, and walks off.

Still ticked off, I turn my attention back to Zhia as we walk.

How did she stand that kick? Selene has had years of training in battle, that should have hurt. A lot. Heck, I've been training with Selene from pretty much the start, and I couldn't take that hit so well. Who is this girl Zhia, really?

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  Zhia's POV

 They just stare at me. I don't blame them... they don’t know about my past. Well, I’ll have to tell them sooner or later. I realize that now's definitely a bad time, so I'll make it "later". I decide to play it cool.

"Come on, guys!” I walk off, trying not to look weird. I guess I should have at least acted hurt… I think I freaked them out.

They wait for a minute, sharing a confused look, then rush after me.

They have a lot to learn about me.