NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 22: Imagine Our Surprise
CHAPTER 22: Imagine Our Surprise
The morning sun filtered through the windows of the nearly empty dormitory room as Atlas waited for the recruits to gather. It was move-in day, and the excitement was everywhere. However, as the minutes ticked by, Atlas’s anticipation slowly turned to concern. Only fourteen out of the fifteen recruits had shown up, ready to start the next phase of their journey. The empty space left by Chantelle, one of the more promising recruits, it was glaringly obvious.
Atlas exchanged a glance with Alicia, who was frowning as she counted the heads. “I didn’t think anyone would bail after just one night,” she murmured.
“Neither did I,” Atlas replied, his voice tinged with surprise. He was about to send someone to check on Chantelle when his phone rang. It was her.
“Hey, Atlas,” Chantelle’s voice came through, sounding both apologetic and firm. “I’m really sorry to do this, but I’m not going to be able to move into the dorms.”
Atlas’s brows knitted together. “What happened? We thought you would be all in.”
“I was. I mean, I am, but… Last night was the Magic Dragons reunion concert. My daughter Sharia and I bought tickets months ago. You know, before all this started.” There was a pause, and Atlas could almost hear the struggle in her voice. “It just made me realize what I’d be giving up—time with her, especially now when she’s at such an important age. I can’t be away from her like this, not for two whole years.”
Atlas sighed, understanding washing over him. “I get it, Chantelle. Family’s important, and I respect that. But you know why we’re doing this, right?” He was thinking that for Chantelle, if she got portaled, she would be dealing with way harsher conditions.
“Yeah,” she said, a hint of regret in her tone. “But I just can’t do it. I love the idea of quitting my job as a janitor and doing something for myself, but not at the cost of my relationship with Sharia. I have to put her first.”
Atlas nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “It’s a tough call, but I appreciate you being upfront about it. If anything changes, you know where to find us.”
“Thanks, Atlas. And good luck with everything.”
After hanging up, Atlas shared the news with Alicia and the rest of the recruits. “Chantelle’s out,” he said simply. “She’s got her reasons, and we’ve got to respect that.”
Alicia nodded in understanding. “So, fouteen it is.” Including John as an assistant coach, the actual fighting team was thirteen recruits.
Atlas took a deep breath and rallied the team. “All right, let’s get moving. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today. We’ll be going to each of your places, one by one, to help you move into the new dorms.”
It would have been far more efficient to split up and handle the moves separately, but Atlas had a reason for this approach. He wanted to build camaraderie from day one, to reinforce the idea that they were a team, not just a collection of individuals. The goal was to create a unit—a real one, where everyone supported each other. His new unit, “The Portal Crushers,” was all about teamwork, unity, and trust, values that would be essential for the challenges ahead. He would be damned if he let another weasel like Clark or Shaniqua in.
As they piled into a couple of minivans, Atlas paired himself with Wang Bo, one of the new recruits from China. They were loading up boxes at Bo’s apartment when Atlas called out to him.
“Hey, Wang.”
Wang Bo looked over his shoulder, a hint of confusion on his face. “Actually, it’s Wang Bo,” he corrected gently.
“Oh, right,” Atlas replied, mentally kicking himself. Being half Chinese and half Latino—what he jokingly referred to as a “Chino”—he understood the nuances of Chinese naming conventions. He knew that Wang was the family name, and Bo was his given name. But in the rush of the day, he’d defaulted to the Western habit of addressing people by their first names.
“My bad, Wang Bo. You know, you might get more sponsorship offers if you put an English version of your name out there,” Atlas suggested.
Wang Bo tilted his head, considering the idea. “What do you think?”
Atlas grinned. “Well, what name would you want?”
Wang Bo’s face lit up with a mischievous smile. “I’ve always wanted to be called ‘Eternal Emperor Who Smashes Through Heaven.’”
Atlas chuckled. “That’s… not exactly what I had in mind. Maybe something a little shorter?”
“How about ‘Celestial emperor who smashes the heavens?”
Atlas shook his head, laughing. “Still not quite it. How about just ‘Bo’? It’s simple, it’s strong, and it’s you.”
Wang Bo grinned back. “I guess that works. But if I ever win a championship, I’m totally adding ’Celestial Emperor’ to the title.”
“Deal,” Atlas said, clapping him on the back. As they continued loading boxes into the van, Atlas asked, “So, where are you from originally?”
“Shanghai,” Wang Bo responded, carefully placing a box in the backseat.
“I love the soup dumplings there. How are you liking it here so far?”
Wang Bo smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. “I love it. Thanks for the opportunity. It’s not easy to leave home, but this feels like the right move.”
“I’m glad to have you on the team,” Atlas said sincerely. “You’re going to fit right in.”
As they arrived at the dorms, the group began unloading their things and moving them into the building. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the kind of banter and laughter that comes from a group of people who are slowly becoming friends.
“I’ve always wanted to experience college life, like it’s shown on American TV,” Wang Bo said, as he carried a box up the stairs.
“Oh yeah?” Atlas replied with a grin. “What’s the appeal?”
“Will we be sneaking out at night and raiding the girls’ rooms?” Wang Bo asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Isabella, who was carrying a suitcase, laughed. “It’s all mixed on the floors, so no, I don’t think so.”
“Plus, I think the girls can kick your ass,” Kingsley added with a smirk.
“If someone interrupts my sleep schedule, I will kick their ass,” Barbara chimed in, her tone serious. Barbara was training in the gym during the day and taking supplemental online medical courses at night. She had been a first-year resident in the ER before taking this trial opportunity.
“Noted,” Wang Bo said, pretending to take mental notes. “So no sneaking out, no panty raids, and no interrupting Barbara’s sleep. Got it.”
They all shared a laugh as they continued settling into their new living spaces. Despite the dorms being a temporary home, there was an undeniable energy in the air—a sense of new beginnings.
By the time evening rolled around, everyone was mostly unpacked and ready to relax. Atlas found himself sitting in the common area, reflecting on the day’s events. The dorms felt oddly comforting, like the start of a new chapter, even if it wasn’t exactly what he’d envisioned for his team.
“Dorm life, huh?” Atlas mused aloud.
“Yeah, who would’ve thought?” Alicia said, dropping onto the couch beside him. “It’s kind of funny, really. Like we’re a bunch of college kids again.”
“Except with more way more muscle and fewer all-nighters,” Atlas replied with a chuckle.
“We can still party at night,” said Wang Bo, “The celestial emperor could try spin the bottle, like shown on tv.”
“Speak for yourself,” Barbara said, passing by with her laptop. “I’ve got medical labs to study for after dinner.”
“Don’t remind me,” Atlas groaned. “I haven’t missed school one bit.”
“Yeah, but at least we don’t have to worry about dorm parties getting out of hand,” Kingsley added, joining the conversation.
“True,” Alicia agreed. “But who’s to say we can’t throw our own party once we settle in? A little celebration wouldn’t hurt.”
“Only if we don’t wake up Barbara,” Wang Bo said, grinning.
Barbara shot him a mock glare. “Exactly. You wake me up, and I’m coming for you.”
The playful banter continued, a reminder that even though they were training for something far more intense than college, it didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy the lighter moments.
As the night wore on and the team began to disperse to their rooms, Atlas took one last look around the common area. It was filled with people he trusted, people who were committed to the same goal. He felt a surge of pride in what they were building together.
They might not have Chantelle, and the road ahead would undoubtedly be tough, but in that moment, Atlas knew they were ready. Ready to face whatever challenges came their way, as a team.
And with that thought, he headed to his room, knowing that tomorrow would bring new obstacles, but also new opportunities. Whatever happened next, he was confident they would tackle it together.
*Team building by stuffing a dozen people into a moving van, check*, thought Atlas.
---