A couple years ago, some day in 2014.
——
Valerie and her adoptive siblings were all standing in a line, shoulder to shoulder. Inside their martial arts training room, wearing the proper attire. Along with their trainer, Pogo.
"Just because, something is right in front of you. Does not mean.." Pogo spoke
He was walking behind the Sparrows, carrying a stick. He tapped Alphonso with it.
"Hey" Alphonso said
"It is within reach" Pogo continued
He continued to walk behind the seven sparrows.
"There is always something in the way" Pogo added
He walked out in front of the seven.
"Sometimes it is your opponent" Pogo said
Jayme and Ben made their way to the front, a bell was in between the two. Sloane and Valerie moving a bit to fill in the spots while Marcus, Alphonso, and Fei stayed in place. Pogo walked to stand on the side.
"Sometimes it is yourself" Pogo added
Jayme and Ben bowed to each other before standing back up straight. The two got ready in their fighting positions.
"Start the match!" Pogo spoke in Japanese
Jayme and Ben began to fight, blocking moves, kicking one another, grunting, everything. Kneeing one another, punching. They had switched sides but continued fighting one another. Jayme jumped right before Ben could knock her over with his legs. Ducking another one of his kicks.
She did the same to him but he was able to dodge it too. Ben was close to getting the bell, but Jayme yanked him back swinging him. Causing Jayme to almost be able to reach it. The two fought, Ben flipped Jayme over causing her to land on the ground.
She stood up, the other siblings were growing a bit worried. Ben attacked Jayme with one of his tentacles, knocking her down once again. Jayme spat her venom at Ben but his tentacle swung it away, nearly hitting Marcus and Fei.
Jayme kept dodging Ben's tentacles causing it to break something, in one of those attempts. Suddenly , Ben wrapped Jayme in his tentacles, taking away her ability to break free from the grip.
"You're gonna tap out or pass out. It's your choice" Ben said
Jayme's responses were muffled. The others were growing worried.
"Hey, it's your life" Ben spat
Ben tightened the grip.
"Ben! That's enough! Let her go!" Sloane pleaded
"Ben! Stop it you asshole!" Valerie exclaimed
Ben didn't care and continued to tighten the grip.
"Jayme. Jayme come on just, tap out" Alphonso said
"I'm afraid there's no tapping out in the real world, children" Reginald spoke
They all turned their attention to him, regaining their straight posture.
"That's enough!" Pogo called
"No!" Reginald objected
They looked at him with shock.
"Jayme will let us know when she's had enough" He said
They saw Jayme pick up a piece of wood from the broken furniture and stab the tentacle with it, causing Ben to wail in pain. She panted and hit the bell with her foot, kicking it far.
"Suck it, squid boy" Jayme said
"Bravo" Reginald congratulated
Ben walked out like a sore loser and was furious he lost.
"Remember Children, we never know what we're truly capable of, until we're forced to confront our own extinction" Reginald spoke
"And as their sensei, it is my job to make sure they never have to" Pogo added
"Then you overestimate yourself" Reginald stated
The two looked at each other.
"Children leave us" Reginald stated
They all walked out, Marcus leaving the door. They all went to their rooms to change. A few moments later they were now all aligned in the same order, this time with sad faces. Except Ben, he never showed emotions.
Pogo was leaving the academy, he was Valerie's only friend. Valerie couldn't help but cry. He stopped at Marcus, handing him a box. Marcus opened it and saw it filled with small jars with pill like things.
Pogo left the academy, closing the door behind him. That was the last of Pogo that they've heard. Valerie couldn't anymore, she ran to her room. Locking the door, crying for the rest of the day.
——
Present Day
——
"I don't tattoo children" Pogo said
"Swell, we're not here for the ink. We're here because we have a mutual friend, Sir Reginald Hargreeves" Five answered
"Whatever he wants I'm not interested" Pogo replied
"I don't think you understand, we're two of his children. I'm his child from another timeline" Five explained
Pogo stopped what he was doing and looked at the two.
"Another timeline?" Pogo questioned
"As crazy as it sounds, you and I have met before. Back in 1963, when you were a diaper wearing in dire need of a manicure. I don't know if you remember but I have a scar to prove it" Five stated
The boy revealed the scar, Pogo was cleaning up then turned to them once more.
"If what you're saying is true, I'd be talking to a man well into his sixties. Now if you'll excuse me, I've had a very long day" Pogo said
He was beginning to walk away.
"Pogo, you need to listen to us- well mostly him" Valerie pleased
They stepped forward but were circled by the other people inside the room.
"Time to go home to mommy, lil kids" One spoke
"Or what?" Five said
He spacial jumped Valerie and himself out of the circle, causing them to appear outside. Catching a glimpse of Pogo leaving on his motorcycle. They ran.
"Shit" Five cursed
He looked at Valerie
"Can you draw us a motorcycle?" He asked
"With paper? Yes. Without? No" Valerie sighed
Five groaned and grabbed her hand.
"Hey! We need your bike, it's an emergency" Five said
"I think you have me confused with who gives a shit" The guy replied
"Give me the bike or else" Five threatened
The guy sped off.
"Okay" Five sighed
He spacial jumped the two once more, this time they pushed the guy off. Five was now driving the bike, Valerie clinging on to him and so the chase for Pogo began.
"We've been going for hours! I'm starving" Valerie groaned
"Relax, earlier at night you were screaming your lungs out" Five said
"That's because I've never touched a boy and was freaking out, what if you get hard or something" Valerie stated
"Whatever" Five sighed
It was now daytime, they finally stopped in front of a trailer home. Five stood the bike, the two got off. There was a woman out front reading a book and smoking a cigarette.
"Can I help you?" She asked
The two walked up, a few distance away.
"Need a word with Pogo" Five answered
"Ain't no Pogo here, pumpkins" She said
"Okay" Five said
The two walked up closer to her causing the woman to stand up.
"So i suggest you get your asses off my property, before I call a truant officer" She threatened
"I got this" Valerie said
She was about to grab the book when they heard a voice.
"It's okay Tammy, let the boy and girl in" Pogo spoke
The two headed inside. Pogo was on the table taking what seemed like a shot. Tammy went inside too, Valerie and Five sat in front of Pogo.
"You're either dumb or desperate, which is it?" Pogo said
"You tell me" Five replied
Five placed his piece of flesh out on the table. Pogo picked it up.
"That looks like my work but I never did that tattoo" Pogo examined
He threw it back down.
"Not yet you haven't, he cut it off his 100 year old self" Valerie explained
"Ah, so desperate it is" Pogo snickered
"You would be too if you knew the entire universe were at stake" Valerie replied
"Don't remember you being quite sassy. So it's happened" Pogo replied
Pogo pulled something out and showed it to the two.
"Ah here it is, look familiar?" He asked
Five compared his skin to the page.
"Reggie was obsessed with these symbols, it's a sigil. A symbol thought to have magical powers" Pogo explained
"Dad believed in science facts, I didn't respect much about the old man but I respected that" Five sighed
"Hoo-ha was that his thing" Valerie smiled
"It's gotta have a rational meaning" Five mentioned
"I don't know but he referred to it as Project Oblivion" Pogo announced
Valerie was curious, she was never close to her adoptive father.
"This project, I need to know more" Five said
"It was a kamikaze mission, he was preparing the sparrow children with the expectation they might never return" Pogo said
Valerie let out a shaky breath, remembering said event.
"That's why I gave the children those pills, to keep him safe from him" Pogo explained
"All this time-" Valerie mumbled
"Well my druggie brother just got him sober, go figure" Five spoke
"Then project oblivion is starting again, and you are all in danger" Pogo warned
Valerie was worried, she knew she wouldn't have gone on the mission either way, but why would she have been trained if she wasn't going? The men finished their glass.
"Then I should probably get that ink, complete the loop" Five said
The two got up
"Are you sure?" Pogo asked
"Oh, I don't think destiny cares whether I am or not" Five answered
"Bitch is cruel, ain't she?" Tammy spoke
Five began to take off his blazer. Tammy got up from where she was sitting, Five took her spot and began to undo his tie.
"Well then, let's get this started" Pogo said