Chapter 4

 Three years since their debut and T-K was still going strong for the most part. Stan Edgar CEO of Vought International and the superior of Madelyn Stillwell. Although he initially kept to himself while conducting business was sitting in his office while scrolling on a tablet containing the polls for the performances of members of both Teenage Kix and The Young Americans.

He noticed that only two members of Teenage Kix were maintaining steady numbers and keeping up with the brand that Vought provided competent supes. 

Reginald Franklin, better known as [The] A-Train or just Reggie is the third oldest on the team Teenage Kix after Big Game who is twenty-four this year, and Mesmer who is one year younger at twenty-three. At twenty-two he is one of the two rising stars with the highest fanbase among the young hero community, with there already being whispers and rumors of him being the natural replacement for the current speedster of The Seven Mister Marathon.

His replacing Mister Marathon wasn't farfetched in Stan's opinion considering the current speedster of The Seven was getting slower with age. And the boy was already close to him in speed and wasn't even in his prime yet. 

Stan scrolled down to the boy's list of recorded abilities from testing in the training facilities and labs. A-Train exhibits an extraordinarily efficient and rapid metabolism, a trait that distinguishes him from regular humans who typically utilize only about 25% of the caloric energy derived from consumed food. In his case, A-Train metabolizes an estimated 99.5% of the caloric energy content of foodstuffs. To sustain his high-energy lifestyle, especially during intense workout sessions, he requires a substantial calorie intake. In order to avoid passing out, A-Train consumes a staggering 3,000 calories per hour while exercising. Notably, to meet his daily energy needs, he indulges in vanilla milkshakes with extra whipped cream from Shake Shack, consuming a remarkable 30,000 calories each day.

A-Train possesses the extraordinary ability to move at inhuman speeds, rendering him a distorted blur of motion to observers. Each time he unleashes his superhuman speed, the breaking of the sound barrier produces a distinctive sonic boom, resembling the rapid sound associated with a high-velocity train (hence the name "A-Train"). This implies that he can effortlessly reach speeds around the speed of sound, approximately 767 miles per hour (1235 kilometers per hour). A-Train first discovered his remarkable power at the tender age of three when he successfully outran a bullet fired at him. It's worth noting that the speed of bullets varies widely based on caliber, ranging from 818 miles per hour (1316 kilometers per hour) for a .22 LR to 2075 miles per hour (3340 kilometers per hour) for a .50 BMG, making his accomplishment notably impressive regardless of the bullet type.

Accelerated Perception: A-Train possesses heightened reaction time and the ability to process information at a speed commensurate with his running speed. This enables him to perceive his surroundings while traveling at high velocities. When moving at rapid speeds, A-Train perceives the world around him as if it is standing still or in slow motion. Thanks to his accelerated brain processing speed and heightened perception, A-Train's reflexes reach superhuman levels, becoming more formidable the faster he moves. However, the direct tie between his reflexes and movement speed has occasionally led to vulnerabilities when facing opponents significantly slower than him as seen during a spar between him and Glacius.

 A-Train's physiology is adapted to the demands of high-speed running. His cardiovascular and respiratory systems are significantly more efficient than those of a typical human, allowing him to sustain prolonged periods of intense physical activity. His muscles operate without generating fatigue toxins, the byproducts of locomotion that ordinarily force the body to rest. Additionally, his metabolism has been enhanced to the extent that most of the calories he consumes are efficiently utilized rather than converted into fat, granting him the capacity to run for extended durations.

A-Train possesses superhuman strength, a great deal above what standard supes possess put far below the likes of his teammate Big Game who can lift over 100 tons with minimal effort. A-Train's body is specially adapted to endure the challenges of high-speed running. His joints are smoother, tendons possess the tensile strength of spring steel, and bones are composed of notably more durable calcium. A-Train can also endure the stresses of breaking the sound barrier, rapid acceleration/deceleration, and high-speed impacts with other individuals. However, his durability does have limits.

A-Train's body exhibits superior agility and flexibility beyond human capabilities. He can swiftly change direction while running without losing momentum. However, A-Train struggles to suddenly stop or alter his course, a limitation highlighted by the tragic incident of colliding with a mini Cooper during his first year. As a supe, A-Train possesses enhanced hearing capabilities beyond those of ordinary humans, allowing him to detect certain frequencies.

 A-Train benefits from a rapid healing factor, allowing him to swiftly recover from injuries. He was estimated to require six weeks for healing from a fractured femur he gained during an incident with a rogue supe in February of his second year with Teenage Kix. A-Train's heightened metabolism provides additional energy for cellular regeneration, contributing to his accelerated healing capabilities.

"The boy has potential no doubt and would be an asset to Vought and The Seven. But his ego and obsession with being the fastest could prove detrimental to his career and besmirch Vought's image. Perhaps some training from him will do the boy some good." mused Stan to himself.

He then scrolled the other member of Teenage Kix with the highest polls. Markus Drake better known as Glacius is the youngest member of Teenage Kix. Although he's only seventeen he stays at the top of the polls consistently. Some have stated that he would make a better addition to the seven than Lamplighter the resident pyrokinetic. On that, Edgar can wholeheartedly agree besides being too young currently Glacius was better than Lampligher in all aspects except experience. 

Stand scrolled down to the results of the test from the Vought training facilities and labs.

Glacius is a supe endowed with the remarkable ability to reduce both his external and internal body temperature, emanating intense coldness from his body. In typical humans, the hypothalamus in the brain regulates body temperature, but Iceman possesses the unique capability to override this process through mental control, allowing him to lower his body temperature via an undisclosed internal mechanism. This ability transforms the latent thermal energies in and around his body into an unknown form of energy that is efficiently dissipated. An associated mutation renders his body tissues impervious to the effects of sub-zero temperatures.

During testing in a chamber designed to regulate heat and cold, it was discovered that Markus has the conscious ability to rapidly lower his body temperature from the standard 98.6 Fahrenheit to...Stan stopped reading for a second almost in disbelief of what the head scientist had written in his report...from the standard 98.6 Fahrenheit to absolute zero, a point where all molecular motion ceases, achieving this within a fraction of a second. His cold-generating power is extraordinary. Although this was just internal, with time and natural growth this feat can be replicated externally. P.S. - Physical contact with him in this state is not advised. 

As Glacius's body temperature decreases, the moisture in the surrounding air that comes into contact with him undergoes a similar reduction, contributing to the chilling effects of his powers. When lowering his body temperature, Glacius can see other beings via the heat signatures they give off because of the absence of heat around him. 

Markus possesses the extraordinary ability to generate, manipulate, and exert complete control over ice, snow, and cold temperatures. His power enables him to manipulate moisture, allowing him to freeze air moisture into incredibly durable ice. This ice can be shaped into any conceivable object, with the only restrictions being the limits of his imagination and the prevailing air temperature, which determines the duration his ice creations will remain frozen. Remarkably, Glacius doesn't need to physically handle the ice to shape it; he can direct the waves of coldness he emits to craft ice into desired forms.

Throughout testing, Markus has demonstrated his creative prowess by fashioning various constructs, including ice ladders, ice slides, ice shields, ice domes, ice bolts, ice blasts, ice beams, and an array of other ice-based formations. The versatility of his power allows him to adapt and create an extensive range of structures and offensive maneuvers with the frozen elements at his command.

Glacius also boasts above-average superhuman strength, durability, and endurance. Unfortunately, the full extent of his abilities could not be tested as the facility was not yet up to par to calculate how potent his current cryokinetic abilities are. Stan had a small smirk on his face. How could he not he had two golden gooses and only one came with problems.

Based on video feeds and entry logs from the training facilities in Vough he had an idea of the king of mentality Markus Drake possessed. A work ethic and drive that didn't allow him to be fully satisfied with his progress yet the young man still found time to do other things like read and play video games. And he didn't lack social skills he just preferred to remain silent if he had nothing to say. If the video feeds that show Popclaw visiting the young man's room late at night were taken into account. Then the young man had social skills when it suited him.

Stan placed the table down and called Madelyn to his office. She arrived within a few minutes. "Yes Sir"

"Put A-Train and Glacius on the priority list for this year's applicants to God U"

"Understood Sir but only them?"

Stann got up from his chair and gazed out the window with hands behind his back. "Mesmer is useless in a combat scenario. A fact he's proven time and time again these past few years." Madelyn nodded agreeing so far.

"Popclaw is descent enough but her abilities are dime a dozen and ever since landing the lead role in Terminal Beauty, his focus has either been on that or something else but not the tasks we've given her. It's only a matter of time before she falls, why prop her up even higher?" he said with a shrug. 

Madelyn pondered for a second but nodded again. Stan seeing her agreement also nodded. He enjoyed having competent staff who could see the bigger picture.

"And Big Game"

Stan Edgar in a rare show of emotion in front of someone else, snorted in derision before turning to Madelyn and giving her a deadpan look"Where should I start the drug addiction, the sexual assault charges from fans we've squashed to protect our image and his" Stan pause and chuckled"Or my personal favorite the footage of him having a bi-sexual orgy while high off his ass and quoting controversial, bordering on racial slurs. Need I go on?"

Madelyn sighed and gave a weary smile before shaking her head. Stan nodded and then sat down. "Besides we already have enough heavy hitters on the team and they both can fly" He interlocked his fingers while looking directly at Madelyn"I want A-Train and Glacius in God-U this new semester. I'll have Brink train them while they're there. With their abilities and experience, they'll graduate at least in the top three. Have Mister Marathon and Lamplighter retire by 2014, and have the world feel their absence. " He swiveled his chair to face the window and took in the view.

"When they graduate in 2015, two seats will be ready and waiting for the younger more competent versions of their predecessors." Madelyn nodded and headed out of the room. As she was about to walk out the door." And Madelyn" she paused and looked back.

"I won't forget who brought them to me," said Stan with his chair still facing the window.

Madelyn smiled happy that her efforts were being appreciated.

"Thank you, Sir"

"Hmm that will be all"