The Clash

Mr. Harper was amazed by the strength displayed by Alexis. He examined the metal plate that he was working on and then made an offer to Alexis, "Why don't you work for me rather than just sitting around, waiting for Natalia to finish her work?"

Natalia immediately came to the rescue. "Mr. Harper, she is not an engineer. She is a pilot. Why do you need another part-timer when you already have me?"

Mr. Harper was still awestruck by Alexis and was trying his best to convince both of the girls. He enthusiastically replied to Natalia, "Didn't you see what she just did? I've never seen a girl who is as strong and skilled as her."

He shifted his gaze towards Alexis and continued, "I could always use more help. And I'll pay you well. Why would you waste your time just sitting around when you can earn some points?"

Alexis contemplated for a while and then found Mr. Harper's offer to be exciting. Initially, she had planned to do revisions for her final assessment. But she just found out that along with her other super human abilities; her memory power had also accelerated at an amazing rate. She could memorize everything within few hours if she wanted to.

So, Alexis gladly accepted Mr. Harper's offer, "I can always expand my skillsets. What do you want me to do next, Mr. Harper?"

"Whoa! Are you sure about this, Alexis?" Natalia was quite shocked when Alexis accepted to work.

Alexis gave Natalia a confirming smile and simply replied, "Yes. I'm sure."

Harper picked up a drill and cleared his throat to say, "Okay ladies, why don't we get back to work?" Natalia got back to fixing a wire of the core engine.

Harper picked up the straightened metal plate and put it at the side of the core engine that Natalia was working on. "Alexis, I think you are strong enough to hold this plate right here. Give me a hand, will you?"

Alexis went over to Harper's side and held the metal with ease "Is this okay? Is it in place?"

Harper nodded and started the drill. "Yeah, I'll fix it back in its place." Then he picked up some nuts and bolts and started to fasten them.

With the three of them working together, they were able to repair the core engine in no time. Mr. Harper examined the engine with a huge smile of satisfaction on his face. "And… it is ready for sale. Good job girls!"

They carried the engine to the storage room and safely locked the door behind them. Natalia went to the locker room to get changed while Alexis was scanning the different models and spare parts of the spaceships in the junkyard.

After some time Natalia came outside and the girls waved goodbye to Mr. Harper. "Goodbye Mr. Harper!"

"It's good to be back. See you on Monday." Natalia shouted from the main gate.

"It's good to have you back. See you on Monday, both of you." Mr. Harper shouted back while waving at the girls.

Alexis and Natalia started to walk towards their home. After a few hours of work, Natalia was a bit exhausted but Alexis was as fresh as morning dew. Despite doing all the heavy lifting, Alexis was not exhausted at all.

Natalia glanced at Alexis and commented, "I see that someone's stamina has shot up." Then she asked through her heavy breathing, "I don't understand one thing. Why did you agree to work though?"

A smirk appeared on Alexis's face. She seemed to be impressed with herself. "Well, it so happens that I also have super memory. I memorized theories of two subjects within 45 minutes. So, rather than goofing around I thought it would be best to learn something new."

A murmur slipped through Natalia's mouth, "Jackpot!" Then she turned to Alexis with envious look on her face, "I wish I had that kind of power. Not others, just this one - super memory. Life would be so much easier." She exhaled sharply and continued walking.

Then Natalia was excited all of a sudden. "So, how many abilities have you discovered till now?"

"I've not counted." Alexis scrunched her brows and started to think.

"Let's count then." Natalia said with even more enthusiasm and then started to count on her fingers "First of all, you can fly. You catch fire… I don't know if it can be counted as ability but let's count it for now. You have super healing, super strength, and super memory. What else?"

Alexis shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I think that's it."

"For now…" Natalia gave an exaggerated nod before speaking again, "That means you have five abilities in total. If you find something new, tell me ASAP."

"Okay, Your Highness." Alexis pretended to bow to Natalia.

Natalia broke into laughter and so did Alexis. After goofing around for some time, they reached P-98 Street and soon reached Alexis's home. Alexis opened the door to her house and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to come inside?"

"It's already late, and I'm tired. I'll see you on Monday. I'll come to your hearing."

"Okay then. Goodnight Nat!" Alexis said while entering her home.

"Goodnight!" Natalia started to head towards her home.

Melissa was getting ready for her night duty when she heard Alexis opening the door. Alexis used to return straight to her home after finishing her classes, and if she did go somewhere else, she would at least call Melissa and let her know where she was. So Melissa decided to ask Alexis where she was before she went to the hospital.

She went upstairs and knocked at the door but Alexis did not answer. She leaned in closer to the door, and along with Alexis she also heard the voice of a boy. "Did she bring someone over?" Melissa thought to herself and before she realized it, she had already opened the door to her daughter's room.

And to her surprise, there was a familiar boy with emerald green eyes who was standing in front of Alexis.

Alexis was nervous when Melissa barged into her room like that. "Mom, what are you doing coming in like that?" She complained in an agitated tone.

"Oh, I'm sorry honey. I didn't know you had a guest." Melissa didn't know how to react since this was the first time that Alexis had brought a boy over.

Alexis turned towards Vorian and smiled nervously. "Will you give us some time? I'll get back to you soon."

"Sure! No problem!" Vorian said with a smile and then he vanished into thin air.

Melissa was shocked to see Vorian vanish right in front of her eyes. "Wait, how did he…? Where did he go?" she exclaimed.

Alexis was not ready to have a conversation with her mother yet, so she just replied in a monotonous voice, "He was not technically here. That was just his hologram. Can we please talk later?"

But Melissa was not ready to leave the matter so she just continued, "With my night duties we keep missing each other." She looked at the watch and said, "I still have half an hour left before my duty starts. Can't we talk for some time?"

Though Alexis was disappointed with her mother right now, she didn't want to be rude so she pursed her lips and said, "Go on then."

Melissa was happy that she had made some other friends except Natalia. So she was delighted. "Isn't that the same gentleman who brought you to the hospital?"

"Yes."

"What is his name? Is he your boyfriend?" Melissa was dying to know everything about the gentleman that was present in her daughter's room a few moments ago.

"Vorian Zadoc. And yes, he is my boyfriend." Alexis replied in a monotone.

Melissa was delighted to hear this and she lovingly held Alexis's hands. "Lexi, why didn't you tell me sooner? That is so wonderful."

Melissa thought for a while and then continued, "Vorian? That is quite a peculiar name. And I don't think I've ever heard that surname till now."

Alexis was now starting to get irritated by her mother's interrogation. "That might be because he is not from earth."

Melissa's expression turned neutral when she heard that Vorian was not from earth. "Oh! Where is he from?"

"C-31"

Melissa dropped Alexis's hands as she was aghast when she heard the planet's name. She clenched the sides of the dress she was wearing. The jolly expression on her face died down as if Alexis just re-opened her old wound and all Alexis could see was pure rage on her mother's face.

Melissa mumbled to herself, "I should have known when I saw those green eyes." She then gave a cold look to Alexis and ordered her in a very stern voice, "I want you to stop seeing him, right now!"

Alexis could not believe her mother's sudden change in behavior. She scoffed and folded her arms defensively. "And why is that, if I may ask?"

Melissa raised her voice and yelled at Alexis, "Because I don't like inhabitants of C-31."

Alexis was now starting to get provoked by her mother's illogical demands. "What? What did they ever do to you, for you to hate them so much?"

Alexis tried to remind her mother just how happy she was a moment ago. "Besides, you liked Vorian until you knew that he was from C-31. He even saved my life. If it wasn't for him, I might have already been dead. So, why does it matter which planet he is from?"

Melissa roared on top of her voice, "Because your father is from that same filthy planet."