22 It's Different at the Top

C-4's every movement seemed to be explosive and meant to overwhelm. For Jayce, he felt like he was a mere ant before him and it took all his will not to scurry away tail between his legs. C-4 gestured for them to sit and then placed the document he had been reading on the countertop behind him. Micu was the first to sit and Jenira quickly sat next to him.

Jayce and Ralnas exchanged glances and then sat down meekly. Neither wanted to incur the wrath of Micu so they would remain quiet as much as they could. Rather than fanboys they felt like little children who had been invited to the grown-up table.

C-4 pulled a different sheet of paper from a small stack on the table and examined it once over before taking three more copies and pushing four sheets before the foursome. Each stopped perfectly in front of the humans as though C-4 had them on a string. Micu glanced down and was surprised to see, "Offer letter" written in bold letters at the top of the paper.

"Here at team Nuke, we don't beat around the bush." C-4 smiled before nodding to Dynamite. " We have been informed of all of your potential scores thanks to the capability exam," Dynamite explained. "Since we're the first team to speak with you we want to come right out and say it. We'd like your whole squad to join our team. In the offer letters before you, we've laid out our initial offer." Dynamite picked up his copy of the offer and slid it under his watch. A large projection of the offer appeared on the window to their right.

"We are firm in our belief that most of the elite teams, if not all of them are going to try and sign you to their squads. We get to talk to you first so we're taking advantage." Dynamite flicked a switch on his glove and a laser pointer shot forth to highlight the areas he was speaking on.

Micu raised his hand, " Excuse me, Mr. Dynamite. But why would every team want to sign us?" The other three were also confused by this statement and were relieved that Micu had been the one to bring it up.

C-4 spoke up to answer this time. "Well, there's really three main factors, four if you stretch the facts slightly. One, you're human. This is a huge audience that so far hasn't really followed any team closely. Besides the wealthy humans who have formed their own teams there really isn't a certified "human" team. And those human founded teams are all lower level due to their size and history so it's not common for humans to really engage with those teams."

Micu nodded at this and looked to his teammates to make sure they also understood. Ralnas being well versed with all things related to these competitions was already vaguely aware of this. Having it spelled out for him was like a lightbulb going off in his head. Jayce and Jenira were worldly enough to understand the essential point that C-4 was trying to make. With your team, we will corner the human audience market. Nodding back to Micu they turned back to face C-4.

He had an amused expression on his face, "Now I thought you were the leader of the group Jayce but you are deferring to Micu?" Jayce was shocked that even C-4 knew his name and was unable to respond. Micu sighed softly, "Yes because he is a huge fanboy of yours and we are wary of him, and Ralnas for that matter, doing something embarrassing while we speak to you."

This caused riotous laughter from both of the elite team members. C-4's carefully crafted aura of fear fell away and his scaly eyes dripped with tears. They slowly regained their composure but the spell that had the four of them intimidated didn't return with it. C-4 seemed much looser and this matched the stories that they had heard more than the imposing reptile that had greeted them when they entered.

"Well, at least you're honest." C-4 wiped the last of his tears away and took a deep breath. "But covering for your teammate's weaknesses is a very sensible strategy. I expected no less from you Micu after reading the reports on you." He straightened his back, "Now back to why we want you. Two, being human you carry a lot of clout simply due to your race. No other race has won the competition more than one time, much less three times in a row. We aren't sure when the next grand tournament will occur but every team wants to have a human in their ranks when it does."

Jayce nodded but inside his mind was whirring. "Wait the grand competition doesn't occur after a set number of years?" He glanced out of the side of his eyes at his friends who seemed as confused as he felt.

Dynamite noticed this as well, "You four did go to school right?" They nodded quickly before Jenira spoke up. "But our school was in the human safe zone and was focused on teaching us how to be fighters as opposed to standard history and stuff like that." Dynamite and C-4 exchanged dubious glances.

"Okay humans, here is a quick history lesson. The Grand competition only occurs once the Overwatchers have decided that the time is right. The last one occurred six years after you humans had failed that planet, the one before took a whole 50 years before occurring, and the last one that was won by humans happened a staggering 177 years in between failed simulations. They get to decide when it is, which is why for most of the races here they have only existed in a world where humans have won every grand prize." Dynamite cast a gaze over the four humans in front of him, "So you see, that's why many of the things here in the CS are centered around humans. Counting the time while you were in the simulation and we watched you it's been almost 500 years in simulation time since another race has claimed the throne and gotten to try to reach the Overwatchers level for themselves."

Jayce's mouth dropped to the floor. "How do we not remember any of this?" Dynamite looked at him with a smirk, "Do you think the Overwatchers want to share their throne with anyone? The three of them have been sabotaging simulations for as long as the universe has been in existence." C-4 nodded sadly. "You humans have come the closest so far, somehow you always get a person with negative ten potential right before the Grand competition starts." He looked Jayce dead in the eyes causing Jayce to involuntarily shiver.

"That's the third reason we want you to sign with us. We'll provide your team with everything you could need, especially explosives and guns. If you win the grand prize only your race gets to leave this damned place but if you are on our team we would become a team that could proudly show our faces anywhere for the rest of our existence." His desire for redemption hung off his shoulders like a cloak.

Jayce thought about how he would feel if the only trophy that he had was one that carried with it the most shame. He could vaguely understand this desire from C-4 and sympathized with him greatly. Just as he was about to say as much Micu spoke up. "So what you're saying is that you suspect that the next grand prize is about to be announced? And you want us on your team so that if we win it you'll be able to stand taller than your rivals?"

C-4 nodded slowly, "In so many words, yes. But look, we still have no idea when the grand competition will happen. You're only 16 and for humans, that's still very young. It could not occur until you're 25, 35, or even 50 maybe even not at all honestly. We just don't know but we're willing to gamble with you and commit to having you on our team as long as your physically able to compete.

Dynamite piped up noticing that competitive streak in his boss start to return. "Look, the main details are spelled out in the offer letter. You sign with us for the standard life commitment and we will guarantee housing, food, training, and a very generous salary. We don't expect you to make your decision right now, don't stress." He smiled and his green tongue licked his lips quickly, "But we would really like to win the elite team competition with you regardless of the grand competition."

C-4 stood and extended a scaly hand to Micu, " Micu it was a pleasure to meet you and your team." He shot a wink at Jayce before continuing. "If you accept our offer just sign the paper and it will instantly transfer to my desk. I think the deadline to commit to a team is two days after the final results of the capability exam." He released his grip and was about to sit when a thought struck him. "Oh, and no matter how well or poorly you do in the following exam we will not be retracting our offer. We believe in you Chiron's Chosen." His reptilian smile still was unnerving but far less than when they had first walked into the room.

Dynamite stood and bowed to them before sitting again and pulling open his watches text messages and lazily replying. Jayce looked at the others and was about to start walking out when Jenira grabbed his arm. "Mr. C-4, Mr. Dynamite we are so honored to have met you and for your generous offer." Jenira bowed gracefully to them. "We do have one request before we go though."

The two perked up and looked at them, "Oh?" Jenira straightened and there was a slight pink tinge to her cheeks. "Could we get a picture with you two...?"

The two smiled the kind of smile professional athletes quickly learn how to make. "Of course!" Dynamite had already controlled one of the drones in the room to swivel around to take their picture. Ralnas almost fainted from excitement and Jayce quickly moved to support him. The two fanboys quickly shot over to stand next to their idols. Micu and Jenira walked far more casually rolling their eyes. C-4's voice boomed out, "Everyone say team Nuke!"

The picture was sent to their watches and the four exited the room to waves from C-4 and Dynamite. Nitro was waiting outside for them. He smiled and all four hands extended to shake their hands. "So what do you think? We going to get to hang out and blow more stuff up together?"

Micu diplomatically answered, " I won't make any promises Nitro, but we're certainly interested in your team." Nitro nodded, "It was too much to hope for a yes right away wasn't it?" He laughed at himself before showing them to the exit.

Boarding the same taxi that had brought them here Ralnas and Jayce were still lost in daydreams of fighting alongside C-4, and the rest of their heroes from team Nuke. Jenira pinched them both and then smiled. "Shape up you two! We're about to enter a tiger's den. Leon Roberts is definitely going to be a harder interview than that one was." Rubbing his cheek Jayce looked out the window as the night started to fall. "Bring it on," he said happily.