The Resolve of A Grunt

I looked at the second metallic heavy gate that had opened. Bright light came from outside into the room where the other grunts and I were currently standing. The light was so bright that I couldn't even see what the other side looked like, as if it was a "gate of light" that would lead you to another world. One thing I could feel from it was the rush of wind that burst into the room, as if the outside wind was blowing inside.

This... felt like déjà vu...

Everyone was focused on this newly opened gate that seemed to lead outside the secret lair of Max Brain, but I directed my attention back towards the mad scientist villain, Mad Star... or rather, her real name, Victoria. She noticed that I was staring at her. I then turned my stare into a glare, knowing deep down this so-called "orientation" was more than just that. Seeing my intense glare, she responded with the same mischievous smile that had been ingrained in my memory. That smile of hers confirmed my suspicion, and my glare became even more intense.

The mad scientist Victoria only giggled at my glare. Then, she began to announce to all the grunts who were still fixated on the light coming from the opened gate, "Well then... Let's begin our orientation, grunts," she started, a malicious grin appearing on her face, and then she simply ordered, "Go."

As if on cue, many of the grunts immediately dashed towards the opened gate... "What...?" I muttered in shock and awe at how fast they were running. They were running so fast, as if they were professional Olympic track-and-field runners. Hell, they might even be faster than those athletes. Was this one of her so-called 'enhancements'?

A few other grunts were as shocked as I was from witnessing their fellow grunts' speed, as if they also weren't aware of the enhancements that had been done to them. But many of them immediately joined in as well, running towards the light coming from the opened gate, following the other grunts that had made a head start. Slowly but surely, everyone started to run as well, and many of those who had started running entered and vanished into the "gate of light" to what I assumed was the outside world, leaving only a few of us grunts behind. Some of those notable few that I knew were Grunt No. 704 and No. 711.

Surprisingly, the fanboy grunt, Grunt No. 702, had already joined the others who had started running. Honestly, I could imagine that he was one of those people who rejoiced at the fact that they got a superpower, even if they were just going to be an expendable grunt for the villains.

We were all still staring at the backs of the leaving grunts, an awkward silence lingering...

Grunt No. 711 then looked at both me and No. 704, "Well, I better get going," she began, slowly starting to run while waving to us both, "see you on the other side~." She then promptly left towards the opened gate. We both watched as her back became smaller and smaller until she eventually vanished into the "gate of light." An awkward silence still lingered...

Grunt No. 704 and I both looked at each other, and then he turned toward the "gate of light" as well. "Well... catch you later, big guy," he said without looking back and then started running. He was also running quite fast like everyone else, quickly vanishing into the "gate of light." Eventually, one by one, all of the grunts had finally left the room, leaving me as the only person remaining... or so I thought.

I turned my head and found those white-coated scientists still on the raised platform stage, along with their squadron leader, the villainous scientist Victoria "Mad Star." She was still standing quite arrogantly on top of the stage, looking at me with an amused expression.

"You..." I muttered loudly, referring to her with a bit of venom in my tone as I threw another glare toward her. Again, she was not fazed by my snarling but instead giggled at it. Hearing her giggle only irked me more.

"What's the matter, Grunt No. 703?" Victoria asked with a fake tone of concern. She walked forward, closer to the edge of the stage. "Don't you want to join in with your fellow grunts?" she asked me, as she promptly and casually sat on the edge of the stage. I saw that some of her fellow underling scientists left the stage, presumably to monitor the other grunts who had gone ahead of me.

I ignored her fake concern. "What are you planning, woman?" I shot back. I was wary, of course, because I had been in almost this exact situation before, with a 'Witch' of a woman who had branded me with her so-called "token." Of course, it didn't end well for me, and here I was now with an entirely new and unfamiliar body in a world where superheroes and supervillains exist... while being just one of the expendable grunts of those supervillains.

It felt too much like a coincidence. I had a feeling if I had been one of those early runner grunts that had rushed to the "gate of light," I would have instead gotten myself killed yet again.

The mad scientist woman only giggled again at my question. "What are you talking about, Grunt No. 703? This is just a normal orientation for all of you newcomer loyal grunts~." She deflected my question by playing oblivious, while also provocatively showing off her sensual figure as she crossed her legs. Her evasive and taunting attitude really irked me to no end.

I looked back toward the "gate of light" that led to the world outside of the secret lair, contemplating its existence and what it meant for me. My choices were honestly quite limited, almost nonexistent even. I couldn't see myself escaping out of this secret lair of Max Brain unscathed. I didn't even know where this secret lair of his was located, and if that fictional (former) nation was any indication, then there was a possibility that this new world of superheroes vs. supervillains had an entirely different geography than Earth.

Trying to fight this scientist woman head-on was also an option... or not. She didn't show any sign of concern when I showed aggression toward her but instead found it amusing as she kept toying with me. Hearing about her reputation previously from the ramblings of Grunt No. 702 was even more concerning... if she could make an alternative nuclear bomb that had annihilated a whole nation's army, she might have other things in her arsenal that could evaporate me in an instant.

I didn't know what I was capable of in this new body of mine. Whatever that "token" the 'Witch' had given me was still a mystery. I could imagine that a bit of adrenaline might allow me to manifest whatever the hell this "token" was... or it might just be a literal nothing, and that 'Witch' had just been playing a cruel prank on me. Nothing was guaranteed here.

Even if I did manage to beat this mad scientist of a woman, Grunt No. 704 had said that Max Brain had other supervillains working for him, not to mention fighting THE Max Brain himself. Fighting unknown foes who were more than willing to NOT play by the book was not something I looked forward to.

So... trying to fight my way out of this Supervillain Empire/Company was not only the most complicated choice, but also, basically... a death flag all the way.

Then there was the last possible choice: being a good little grunt for these supervillains. The final option, and probably the safest choice among the previous two. I would have to follow all of their whims and orders while trying to survive as what I imagined being an expendable grunt. Hell, I might even try to win their favor. As long as I can survive long enough for another, safer option to pop up.

I just hoped that I wouldn't get assigned any dangerous, life-threatening tasks or have to do something that really disturbed my morals.

I hung my head low and inhaled the fresh air of the outside wind that came from the "gate of lights." Then... I exhaled loudly, creating a booming sound that echoed throughout this vast, dark, empty room.

"Oh my~," the mad scientist Victoria casually exclaimed in surprise. "Did you finally find your resolve, Grunt No. 703~?" she teasingly asked. I didn't bother looking at her expression, but I imagined she was showing the same-old, same-old mischievous smile of hers that would have irked me to no end.

"Yeah... I did," I simply answered her question. Then I readied myself to run and approach the "gate of lights" that had been beckoning me. My resolve was solid, and I had only one goal in mind right now...

"And I'm going to survive...!"