Salty Encounter

***Date Finished'**:*

***Next Role-Play***: N/A

***Timeline***: 3033

***Setting***: Livingston County, New York, Core Rock Mine

***Characters Involved***:
* **Heroes**:
* **Villains**:
* **Other**:
* **Mentioned**:

## Foodchain

Deep in Livingstone Country, in New York State, the sounds of work could be heard. Outside and somewhat isolated from the main population was the largest salt mine in America, the Core Rock Mine. Every day the mine yielded tons of salt with a seemingly endless supply of minerals. The salt reached every place in America from this mine and probably many places outside America as well.

But today something strange and unexpected happened. Although it was a large mine owned by Fresh & Co. and had expensive mining machinery, that machinery was far too heavy and generally a mine that had not mined a single recorded source other than salt, so the interest in getting into a conflict was non-existent.

"Buhahaha!"

Until the day that a villain, Primitivo Botin, also known as "**Fire Flex**", with a few henchmen decided to attack the mine and took a few miners hostage and barricaded themselves in the mines. When the villain cut off communication, the last message he left was that he had attacked the mines, and it remained a complete mystery how the villain was able to get into the mines and why he had attacked them in the first place?

After the news left the higher-ups, the CEO himself, Fabian Saathoff, listened to the report of his workers. Reflecting on the situation, the man looked angry, something one expects when learning that one's wealth and workers are under attack by villains. But the news bearer could swear that he looked much more upset and angry, even for such a situation.

But that anger quickly dissipated before the CEO calmed down again.

"That settles it. We need to contact the heroes. This villain is way too much for a mere police force. This could also be an opportunity in this dry situation. Jerry. Find and contact few rookies heroes!"

Fabian exclaimed excitedly, confusing Jerry.

"Rookies? And only a few? Shouldn't we contact the Heroes Association to get rid of the problem quickly? After all, it's costing the company money every minute that goes by."

Jerry asked, honestly confused, but winced slightly when his boss burst out laughing.

"Jerry. Jerry. Jerry. We have a lot of other salt mines in operation and most of the salt goes into our warehouse for later sale. A few weeks won't hurt much. After all, I'm not a selfish man. So why shouldn't we use our bad luck to at least give the up-and-coming heroes a little luck, so they can be seen outside the Heroes Association? I think that's totally fair! Contact the rookie heroes! If they fail, we can call the Hero Association for veteran heroes!"

Fabian said excitedly, which confused Jerry even more, but he nodded his head to accomplish the task. Even though his reasoning sounded nice and somehow logical, he wondered if it wasn't way too weird, especially in a dry situation like this.

Rose sat in the cafetaria of what seemed to be a hero agency. With many rookies surrounding the area, talking to others, or eating, in such a place, it was rare for a single or even a group of rookies to be called into action. At least in the one she was in, that was. Most of the higher-class heroes there were well known and had far better success rates than any mere rookie. That's why she was confused to hear her name called from over her shoulder. She immediately stopped what she was doing. She turned to look in the direction of whoever called her. "Wvaht?" She mumbled the word. Being unable to speak normally with a mouth full of food.

She was looking at a suited man as he started walking up to her. He looked like he was rich, or from a company maybe. Quickly finishing what she had already eaten, Rose asked again. "What is it?" Speaking in a much more understandable way this time.

The man checked a small notebook he had with him. "Uh, miss, are you Rosema-" He asked, but before he could finish, he was interrupted by Rose. "Yes, yes, it's Hauntress, by the way. We use our hero names here."

Sighing at the comment, the man continued. "Very well... Hauntress, come with me, please." Rose took a look at her food, which she had yet to finish. "Ugh, fine," she groaned before picking up the foam tray and tossing it in a bin as she left with the man.

In a dojo, kneeing down upon the hard marble floor, sword lying by their side, Jack stayed there in deep meditation while in front of him layed a combat dummy. The air went still with silence, barely a sound or twitch be heard or seen from the young man’s silent pose. Minutes ticked by, but still nothing with sweat building over the young man’s brown, a droplet slowly trickled down his cheek, to his chin before leaving his skin all together.

Gravity took its effect as the sweat droplet flew towards the grow, the air around Jack grew colder. The feeling grew more and more until the water droplet left the world with a silent thud.

Like the signal from a starting gun, Jack’s eyes shot to life, his hand reaching like lightning towards the katana that layed barren beside him. In one swift motion of his hands, the blade immediately unsheathed, revealing its shining luster to the world before swiping downwards. A moment later, a wave of cooled air was unleashed forward, tearing through the space before it reached its target.

Sheathing his sword back in place, the boy released some steam from his lips before turning to his project. In front of him layed a different sight as under the wait of his attack, the training dummy stood frozen, but not just it also from the floors, ceiling, and even the wall behind it everything was frozen. Ice particles fluttering in the air, Jack had unleashed a devastating burst of ice.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Glancing over to the corner of the room, Jack would notice a finely suited man. His hands moving in a clapping motion, it seemed he had an unwanted audience.

“Amazing display there, Mr. Jack! That was quite the chilling display!”

The man exclaimed with excitement whilst still clapping. Meanwhile, Jack showed no interest in his words, just walking over to one of the benches in the room, he grabbed a towel before cleaning his sweat.

“What do you want.”

“Awww, don’t give me the cold shoulder! But seeing that you looking to get to the point let me do that. You Frosty have been called in for an oh-so-important mission and I’ve been called to bring you in to talk!” The man said speaking with a great level of enthusiasm, even going so far as to point with finger guns at the rookie.

“.......” Finishing up his wiping, he looked at the man with an eyebrow raised before letting off a smirk. “Hehe! Alright! Alright!” Getting back onto his feet, he grabbed his sword, stored it on his back, and then turned to the agent. “Shall we go, funny man?”

“Hahahaha! You really aren’t cold blooded! But yes, follow me!” Like a marching band leader, the suited gentleman made his way out leading the boy to their destination.

With this, the duo was driven through the cities for a while. Without much explanation, they finally arrived at a huge skyscraper emblazoned with the familiar Fresh & Co. logo. Led further and further up, the two up-and-coming heroes met themselves for the first time when they sat alone in a waiting room waiting for someone to call them.

Rose sat anxiously; she was excited to finally have a chance to prove herself as a hero. Even in such a professional environment, she just couldn't help herself. While Jack minded his own business. She began to use her quirk to phase into the ground. Disappearing completely from sight without anyone noticing. Then, just as Jack was at peace, she leaped up out of the ground in front of him. Yelling the word "BOO!" as she did, before beginning to laugh as she remained transperant.