Second Random 1x1 Board?

[Raven]

"There were these long metal bits that all at once injected stuff into your arms for several minutes. It almost felt like syrup," Ryan explained. "It felt awful."

[Gifted]

"I guess that's why they put us out." Zoey laughed. "But you're okay now, right?"

[Raven]

"I don't think I'll ever eat syrup again, but other than that, yeah," Ryan said,cracking a smile. "I'm Ryan, by the way."

[Gifted]

"Zoey. What about you two? What're your names?" Zoey asked.

[Raven]

"Aaric," he answered, shortly.

Kailen looked up at her from his mp3 player. "Kailen. What I'm wondering is how we were the best five kids across an entire country."

[Gifted]

"Who knows? Where're you from?" Zoey asked.

Just then Xander came back up, with a carefully composed Katiyana following behind. "Good afternoon." She said with a smile.

[Raven]

Kailen looked at them, neglecting to answer Zoey's question now that Xander was there. He may have made up with his parents a while ago, but he still didn't care for most adults. "Who're you?" he asked Xander. It was supposed to be a team of five, and there weren't supposed to be adults.

Aaric extended a hand to Kat. "Aaric, that's Kailen, Ryan, and Zoey."

[Gifted]

"This is Katiyana." Xander was trying to get their attention by answering both questions at once. "I'm Xander Xavier. For those of you who didn't already hear this once, it's my job to make sure you all know what the hell you're doin'. And I got one thing to say before we start." He surveyed the five teenagers carefully. "I refuse to put up with any of your high-and mighty crap. You are a team. You all better fucking act like it, because if any one of you tries to get it into your head to act like you're better than any fucking other I will carve out your eyeballs with this sword and make you wear them on a necklace. Understand?"

[Raven]

Aaric dropped his hand. "Yes, sir." He recognized Xander as a superior even if he didn't like it. Ryan just nodded. He wasn't about to test the man, especially when he had no reason to, but his eyes looked Xander over yet again, still not sure whether or not he was the kind of man he wanted to associate with.

Kailen, on the other hand, stood up a little taller. "What qualifications do you have for that job?" he challenged.

[Gifted]

Xader was actually quite surprised it was Kailen who was giving him lip. He'd expected Aaric to say something. "Kailen, correct? You aren't the first stupid kids who've been at this party. Believe me, if I had my choice, none of you would be here. As it is, if anything happens to you morons it's my ass on the line. I'm here to make sure you know what the hell you're doing and I will not hesitate to tear one of you a new asshole to stop you from slitting each others throats. And if you think I'm fucking joking then go ahead, test my patience."

[Raven]

"That didn't answer my question," Kailen said. "The fact that you are in charge of us was delivered before, and we get that you're going to cause us bodily harm if we do something you don't like. I asked what your qualifications were. Why should we listen to you just because you said it? I'm not saying I'm particularly eager to go around causing discord between us, but how do we know you aren't going to get us killed?"

[Gifted]

"You want qualifications? Kid, I been working at this base for the last ten years. I managed the last set of kids who were a hell of a lot more dangerous than you. You ask me for qualifications? Wait until you been out in the field for five fucking minutes and you'll realize there ain't know 'qualifications'. You all were picked because the higher ups thought you could handle the responsibility. A responsibility that no one in the world has successfully handled before. What're yourqualifications?" His hand fell to the handle of his sword and his one eye flashed dangerously.

[Raven]

"That's exactly what I was just wondering myself," Kailen said. "Why is it out of the entire country we got picked? Don't get me wrong, this is pretty cool, but the only real requirements were that both us and our parents agreed to have it done, and that we weren't too old. I can't really fight and I can't say that I'm the most trusting of authority... But with all due respect, sir," he glanced at Aaric, "We're the ones who are going to go out and put our lives in your hands. I think that gives me the right to know what makes you think we should listen to a word you have to say. If you've been working here as long as you say... That means last time, you failed. That's not a great track record, and I'd like to live long enough to actually be legally allowed do stuff. So if you can't answer, I'm not particularly inclined to listen to you. At least it hasn't been proven that we can't do our job."

[Gifted]

"If it were my choice, none of you would be here. This whole project ought to have been shut down. But the goddamn suits decided to give it another go. You ask me why you? I don't have a single fucking idea. I wasn't the one who got to chose. I was handed your files and told you were the kids I was managing this time. Those invasive over-the-top background If you want to try to manage on your own, you can be my fucking guest, but quite frankly I do not want to have to tell five more sets of parents that their son or daughter has gotten themselves killed. I could talk to you about credentials and promotions and paperwork to the extent I don't think you stupid kids would understand half of what I said. But quite frankly, it's all bullshit. The fact is no one else replaced me because no one else knows what needs to be done. You all might be children but you forfeited any right to be treated like children when you agreed to become heroes. I'm qualified because I know what needs to be done to keep you in line, and I'm not afraid to do it. And I'm qualified because I'm the only person here who still remembers all eight of their names." Xander looked like he was seriously going to make good on his threat if Kailen challenged him any further. "Is that good enough for you, smartass?"

[Raven]

"It answers my question," Kailen responded calmly, but his eyes didn't leave Xander. The man was better than nothing, but he didn't care for the response.
Ryan spoke up, trying to pull some of Xander's attention and anger from Kailen. "Have you gotten a power?"