Rule 3: Don't Rely on Fate

"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart."

-Marcus Aurelius

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I'm sure you've all heard that one single choice you make will change your life forever. How that single point was pivotal for your entire life. But if I were to tell you that this was true, I would be lying. It's not a single event, but a series of smaller actions that trigger other things to happen. Lots and lots of smaller choices that a person makes. They seem insignificant at the time, trust me, I would know, but in the long run their endings come to pass.

The reality that people see is mailable and is forever changing. At any point in time, you could have make a small choice and gone down a different path than the one you've gone down today. Everything chances bits at a time, never being truly seen until it's become large enough.

A single drop of water running down a mountain side is insignificant at first, but when the rain comes, it will have been the foundation for a river.

That first drop of water for me must have been when I decided to stay at work late into the night. I could survive off of minimal sleep and be alright for about a week before needing serious rest to recuperate, so this action wasn't that big of a deal to me then. Only now when I look back on it do I see that this was the starting point.

The next drop of water was when, instead of doing my research, I decided to fill out the application sheet. My group had failed to pass the exam that would allow entrance into the field division earlier in the day, the digital simulation where Clarine made mistake after mistake mind you, so filling out the application and having get approved by the chief was the only other way. I had sent in one a few months before when I had finally gotten my hands on an form, but it had mysteriously vanished so I assumed it to have gotten lost on the way.

Name: Isle Hows

Current Employment: Science Division Supervisor of the Special Police Force

Current Residence: Command City, Xe Downing Street Apt 1342

Irregular Test: Cleared

Test Administered by: Tri Progress

Other relevant information was written down shortly after and when it was finished, I held it out in front of me to inspect it, checking to see if I missed anything and or some piece of information was wrong. Nothing wrong was written, and the only things missing were my parents' names. They were one of the many things about my childhood that I couldn't remember. That along with where I lived and what people I knew before the accident. I don't really know exactly what that accident was, but I know the end result was in my parents deaths. I never have quite gotten over the fact that I don't know how my own parents died. Over time it has become that itch in the back of my skull, the idea prodding at the edge of my conscience. The only word that comes to mind when I think of their deaths, is the word Irregular.

I shook my head in an attempt to rid my head of the poisonous thoughts currently clouding it. It was almost suffocating.

I set the application paper down and rubbed my aching temples with my thumbs. I could feel the fog slowly dissipate in my mind and the moon shine through. No, not the sun, but the moon. I've never really had a light in my life before, so over times I had just become accustomed to moonlight. As far as I was concerned, the light during night was the only kind of light I needed.

Another drop of water fell down the mountain side when I stood up. I wanted to get a coffee, but I normally didn't drink that overly caffeinated drink. I'd been told time and time again about the magical and rejuvenating properties that a good coffee had by Clarine, who just so happened to be a coffeeholic. The scientists in the lab only drank energy drinks and smoothies, so the nearest machine that spewed the hot caffeine-filled liquid was in the field division's area.

I gathered the application off the table on my way out, figuring that I would just walk it over since I was already headed there anyways. I slipped out of my office and closed the door behind me silently, as to not disturb anyone still up and working. To my surprise, there was not a single soul in sight. I shrugged it off. Not everyone worked late like I did.

Heading down the desert hallway reminded me of those scary horror games my parents had told me about when I was young. My thoughts paused. When had I know anything about my parents?

I was yanked out of my thoughts as a large group of people flooded the hallway. They were all dressed in their field gear that looked similar to the suits we wore in the simulation. They chatted loudly and I stepped aside to avoid getting trampled, mainly because they clearly weren't paying any attention. The males and females split off and headed in different directions, so I could only assume that they were heading to their designated changing rooms. Even with all the noise, I managed to catch bits and pieces of people's conversations.

"Villain 106 was nothing like I expected." One girl spoke to another.

"I know right? He's actually really cute too. That playful smirk nearly melted me." She replied.

It seemed to me that most of the girls were only talking about how cute he was and nothing about the danger that he could pose. With that in mind I listened to the male's side.

"I thought he would stay and fight but that coward ran." A male with a bright red mohawk passed and punched the palm of his other hand. "What a punk."

"I agree with you there. That trench coat really looked stupid on him too. I can't wait to punch that stupid smirk off his face."

After that male's comment I spotted Clarine, who had just entered the hallway, and grabbed her forearm, pulling her away from the crowd. "What happened on your mission Clarine?" I said it more like statement rather than a question.

"Um," she paused. "Well, Devastation destroyed two pharmaceuticals before we could reach his location. When we found him he said something like "sayonara" and turned a corner, disappearing into thin air. To me, it looks like he's got over half the police's girls falling for him even though he's a villain." She folded her arms and a pout formed on her face. "Now I've got even more competition."

I was about to comment that he was a villain and, while she was still in the police force, had no chance with him, when her choice of words clicked into my head. "Devastation? Is that what you're calling him now?" I scoffed. "As odd as that sounds, I don't think his actions upgrade his villain status to 'supervillain'."

Clarine sent her a playful glare, ignoring the latter of the two comments. "We're gonna start calling him Devastation because he called himself that first."

I raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you start letting the villains name themselves? I thought you gave them all their weird yet oddly accurate names."

"Since the villain was really hot. I mean, even you would check him out." She leaned in closer with a smirk crawling onto her face. "And we both know you find every boy- except one- not to your liking."

I scowled and leaned away from her. Placing a hand on her forehead, I pushed her away. "Whatever you say Clarine."

I glanced around, finally seeing that the large crowd of bustling people was gone, leaving the room barren. Claine noticed me glancing around and gasped. "Oh no! I have to go or else my teammates will kill me!" She sprinted towards the girls changing room, pausing only once to turn and give a quick wave. "See you Isle!"

Drip.

I could have stopped her and asked for directions to the coffee machine like any other female (because for some reason males feel the need to not receive help), but stopped myself because I didn't want her to get in trouble, so I let her run off. Now the entire hallway was engulfed in silence once more. It was even a little eerie.

So, without any clear direction of where I was going, I headed off hoping that I was headed the right way. Lights on the ceiling flickered as I passed, as if it were warning me to turn back. It silently urged me to not stay the course. I obviously didn't know what was in store for me, but no possible hallucinations of lights talking to me could deter me from talking the next turn.

As I did, I paused. There were voices on the other side of the door on my left, ones I just happened to recognize. One was the Chief and the other was the one and only Axel. They were in a heated discussion about something, but the flames weren't hot enough to be an argument. I pressed my ear against the wall and listened, just like my training taught me.

"Look, I understand that this is your final delicious, but don't you think it's a bit to early to let this guy into our kids." Axel spoke. Or at least that's what I thought he said. It was hard to tell because the door muffled the sounds.

There was a long sigh, probably from the Chief, before the talking ensued. "He's been doing great work on his own, so just think how much better he would be doing with our help." I raised my at his comment. Who was "he"?

"I know Chief, it's just..." Axel trailed off, possibly composing his thoughts. Then again I was pretty sure he didn't have any  to begin with. "I understand your decision, and it makes sense, believe me. The only issue is that there will probably be resistance from the head of a certain Science Division." I blinked. He was talking about me.

"Then we don't tell her."

I felt my heart drop and my anger rise. Another secret to be kept. The Chief always played the game of 'Who can keep the secret from the Science Division'. Well you know what? I say no more. With this thought, I strained my ears to hear better.

"Well this isn't the type of thing you can keep a secret." Axel fought for me. Since when did he do that?

"We just have to keep her ignorant until he arrives and is integrated fully. That way she cannot object to his joining us." The Chief stated firmly with no room for debate.

"But Chief-" Axel was cut off.

"Enough. This is the end of our discussion." The Chief almost sounded frustrated. "Now go prepare for Silver Bolt to arrive."

Silver Bolt. There was something familiar about that name. I'd heard it recently. But where? Then it came flooding back to me. He was the only Superhero that had shown up in the god forsaken Command City. He was the only Irregular who claimed to be good. Frankly, I thought that whole "I'm a good Irregular" act was just that, an act.

Drip.

I could have hidden away to not let the Chief and Axel know I was listening, but I didn't. As my blood began to boil, I stood up and pushed open the door with a furious expression on my face. Axel, who was standing in front of the chief's desk, stood startled in front of me like he wasn't expecting me to show, and behind him the Chief looked stunned.

I folded my arms with the application still in my hands and tapped my foot rapidly against the floor. Any person who could see or hear would know I was agitated. "Was there something else you perhaps didn't want to tell me?" The look on my face must have been scary because Axel took a few steps back. "You were going to let an Irregular, good or bad, into the Special Police force." I glared at the pair. "What's your excuse?" They stayed silent, both clearly fumbling for a response. I took this opportunity to continue. "Our goal is to punish Irregulars and to never allow one into our ranks. That why we even get tested for it by Tri Progress." If I could glare harder than I already was, I did. "Right? Or was that all for not."

Axel quickly regained his confidence posture. "Of course that's right, but the force has to evolve. More and more people with superpowers are showing up out of the blue, so if we can't get stronger, we will become the ones to die." He took a step towards her. "Adding an Irregular is the best way to fight other Irregulars. This allows the force to be on a more even playing field when fighting. We could even learn more about Irregulars from Silver Bolt."

Isle raised her nose in disgust. "Can you really trust one supposedly good Irregular amongst one hundred bad?" That had Axel at a loss for words, which didn't happen often so she took a few silent seconds to relish in her accomplishment before continuing. "Don't you realize how much danger you will be putting everyone here in? How much damage this could cause if you allow an Irregular in? Lives would be in danger, not just the police force but innocent ones too." That seemed to grab his attention.

Even though I could tell he was hiding something behind his eyes, he hardened his features. "The Chief has chosen to trust Silver Bolt and let him into our association. That decision is final." I felt my anger flare. Just a moment ago, he too seemed to doubt trusting the Irregular. Now he was just following orders.

Drip.

I could have stayed and argued my point, but that would have been fruitless. So instead, I stormed out of the room, slamming the doors behind me so hard the bounced back open. I felt like ramming my fist into a wall. I couldn't believe they didn't trust me enough to tell me something so big. If I had to guess, they trusted that Irregular more than they trusted me.

I stormed down the hallway back towards the labs, the coffee that was supposed to be grabbed, long forgotten.