ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 35: The Rise of Aruka The Healer

Chapter 35

The Rise of Aruka The Healer

Alexa herself was busy. After being escorted by Mr. Mackie to the main office. Alexa was promptly taken to a back room filled with different costumes.

“Hello. We haven’t met yet, but I am Ms. Peacock, the principal here at Dawning Light.” Ms. Peacock said with a bow. Ms. Peacock was average height, with a formerly lean body that slowly gave to the wrinkles of old time and age. Her hair was a majestic silver that seemed to accentuate her face. Up this close it was plain to see that she had a dazzling smile.

Alexa’s eyes went wide with recognition in a second.

“Yes, I see I do not need to introduce myself that way, which is good. That is also part of why I don’t normally do introductions. Too much of a chance of people recognizing me. Not so much with the younger generation, they seem mostly fixated on the big ones like Pulsar, Chronos III, or Fuego IV. But your parents’ generation, they always had one or two who recognized me. That’s why I mostly stay back here, until needed.”

Alexa nodded.

Recognition flashed in Ms. Peacock’s eyes. “I think it’s very admirable that you are following this path, despite what happened to you. That is very brave.”

“Is it brave, if you can’t actually feel fear?” Alexa asked.

At that, Ms. Peacock just leaned in closely. “I don’t think you believe that for a second. I think you know good and well what fear is. People as motivated as you to constantly improve, they don’t keep that drive if life is perfect. They keep that drive if they are trying to outrun the past.”

A slight pause filled the room.

“But enough of that. What you are about to do now could be considered the first step of your Super career. As such, we here at the school have a program set up. One where we give you a generic outfit and mask that can be modified within reason.” Ms. Peacock said, gesturing to the rows of racks of leather clothes behind her.

“Everything from a mask, to boots, to a body suit will be provided. Know that once you take the suit, it will be yours until the day you graduate. After this moment, this suit will be part of your personally identifiable information, and something that must be carried on you, at all times, while on campus. Even when you leave, you need to keep it with you.”

“Know that in addition to keeping it on you, others cannot know that you have it. It needs to be a secret. The easiest solution is a secret compartment to your backpack. Another option is to always wear the base components, and then put on the parts you are missing. This however is an option we wish to avoid, as it can often produce a rotting stench. No one wants to be near the boy or girl who has a bad case of suit rot.”

Alexa nodded in agreement.

“For you, being a healer. I would recommend the white leather, we have quite a few shapes and sizes. They do stretch, but quite frankly we don’t often get students to be your height and healers. So we really only have the generic mold that we can use to generate a form fitting shell. The only definition will be one that your body naturally provides. There are of course extra protections for sensitive areas, to prevent possible wear and tear.”

Alexa nodded.

She looked at all the nice leather suits, then dropped her gaze. “What colors do you have in my size?”

“We have most of the standard combat colors, black, red, purple. Colors that can help you blend in at night.”

Alexa nodded.

“Can I go with black?”

“For a healer?” Ms. Peacock found herself asking. Then she paused, “well I guess it makes since. You won’t just be a healer. Also, your…” She trailed off as she realized she might be getting a bit too personal with the student.

A short time later, Alexa chose a sleek black uniform that had multiple tiny plates woven throughout for protection. The plates and the overall design gave the suit a sleek black look.

Once the size was confirmed, and Alexa signed for the uniform, it was hers. This was when she began modifying freely. Over the center of her chest and back, she drew a red Healer’s cross that was surrounded by a white shadowing to help it stand out even more from the rest of the uniform. Then to link the front and the back, a cloud like pattern was made for the crosses to rest upon. In all it was very artistically done, and Ms. Peacock was impressed by the look.

While the enchanted spray paint was drying, Ms. Peacock evaluated the work by going around the suit that was draped over a mannequin for this process.

“Very good. May I ask why you did it down the center?” Ms. Peacock asked.

“If I am going to be giving people a target, I don’t want it to be over my heart.”

Ms. Peacock just nodded her approval at the rationale.

“So now, I will ask you one of the toughest questions. Have you thought about a name?”

Alexa nodded. “Aruka.”

“Hebrew? I didn’t know.” Ms. Peacock said.

Alexa just stood there because there was no real question given. At least no question that she could decipher from that statement.

“Now if I am not mistaken. Aruka means: to restore, to restore to health, and to recover? Is that right?”

Alexa nodded.

Thinking about the name, Ms. Peacock nodded her agreement. “I like it, very fitting.”

After a few more minutes, the quick drying spray paint dried, leaving behind a fully formed healer’s outfit. A healer in black. Not something Ms. Peacock had ever envisioned, but here they were.

“Now, your mask should be something that allows people to relate to you easier. Some choose a mask that covers the eyes but displays the mouth. Others have one that shows both the eyes and the mouth. What do you see as being your most linking quality to people?”

Alexa for her part just stared, not quite knowing how to answer.

“Right, your eyes. Definitely, your eyes.” Ms. Peacock said.

Then with that, the two went and did a quick search of masks, until they found one that both fit, and would help hide Alexa’s blond birthmark.

“Your top knot of blond hair will be a clear marker of who you really are, should it ever show. As such I recommend either cutting those hairs short or finding a cap that will help protect your secret. The last thing you want is for your children or family members to be caught up in the crossfires of a feud gone wrong.” No sooner had Ms. Peacock said those words, than she turned to see Alexa.

“Oh, I am so sorry. I didn’t even take into account your own stat…”

“No, it is fine. Also, it is something that I do need to consider.” Alexa said coldly.

Eventually they found a mask that had a lot of padding on top, with hidden air vents on the side.

“These are a lifesaver. A quick pull down can close these vents for keeping in heat during winter. But then a slight tug up, can open the vents allowing more air to go through.” Ms. Peacock said, gesturing at the hidden grooves that appeared and disappeared quickly.

In the end Alexa went with the veil look. This was a look inspired by middle eastern designs, where the eyes shown in a straight slit, with little more. There was a cloth that hid her mouth, which was good as her normal features were often considered neutral at best. The magnetic veil allowed for her to cover her mouth, while allowing her words to sound natural.

With that, finally done. Ms. Peacock herself took Alexa over to the hospital.

At first everyone was concerned by the appearance of a tall super in black leather. But eased by Ms. Peacock, or as many referred to her as the legendary Athena, Alexa was quickly accepted.

Alexa first made her way to the ICU.

Since this was a feel-good story, a number of nurses and staff members were already recording the incident.

“The rise of a new hero.” One said.

“What is her name again?”

“Aruka.” Ms. Peacock offered, as she made sure to stay a few feet back, so she wasn’t part of the limelight.

Knock, knock.

“Greetings. I am Aruka, a super in training. I have come to ask if you would like me to heal you?” Alexa asked an old man, who was hooked up to several machines that monitored his vitals.

“Of course, I would like to be healed. I am in the hospital, after all. Why else would I even be here?”

Alexa nodded.

Healing.

Most cameras couldn’t catch the burst of green magic that shot out from Alexa’s hand. Again, the gesture was not needed, but she knew she would need to do something. Unless she did something, no one would expect the process to have happened, otherwise.

With her task complete, she turned to leave.

“What? Where are you going? I thought you would…” Was all the man managed to get out, before he paused. “What the?”

With that, he reached up and touched his chest.

Beep-ping.

His electrocardiogram began beeping happily. “Why, it is a miracle. Little girl come back. I want to marry you.”

The man said, a glowing smile filling his normally cantankerous face.

But Alexa was already onto the next patient. The nurses went in groups. Some following Alexa, who seemed to be on a sprinter’s pace to clear out the entire hospital of patients. Meanwhile a few others filmed the patient to make sure the patient actually recovered.

So many people were live streaming that the event caught the attention of the local news.

Of course, by the point the news team came, Alexa had already moved her way down to the children’s wing. Where Alexa was standing with a paper tiara on her head, while a dozen children began running around the tall girl like she was the world’s greatest playground.

Alexa herself smiled an act that was obvious in her eyes, the way they shifted upward ever so slightly at the sight of the once immobile children. Now the children were given a chance to run around freely.

“This is Tri-State One, your number one source for all things related to the tri-state region. I am your host, Don Wright, here on site, at the St. Anthony’s Hospital just outside of Dawning Light High School, where so much of our taxpayer dollars go. And I am here to show that the school is doing good on its promise. To provide supers who are dedicated to improving society and the world around them. Today, we have one of the newest supers in training, who spent the better part of today going around healing critically ill children. Please will you tell us your name?”

The overly charismatic news anchor said, as he shoved a microphone into Alexa’s mouth as if it was a want to tell all your secrets. For most it was just that, a magic wand that got most to divulge too much about themselves. That however did not seem to be the case for this newest veiled hero dressed in black.

“Aruka.”

“Aruka, I don’t believe I have heard that one before. You say you are a healer?”

“I didn’t.”

There was a pause, as the host looked lost. Fortunately, Ms. Peacock saw the confusion and managed to come in to overshadow her newest student.

“Aruka is one of our most promising Healercandidates to date. That said she is correct, she didn’t say she is a healer, because she has not been board certified. Though we did want to get her out to help in the community, as soon as possible.”

Don reached up to touch his ear. “I am just hearing now that Aruka, on her first day as a healer healed fifty-seven people, including the dozen or so children that are now climbing over her.”

With that, the camera panned over, to show Alexa holding out her arms, then raising four kids up on each arm. One kid happily rolled forward and back between her legs. While two hugged her, and one sat making an assortment of paper jewelry for her to wear.

“That is correct.” Ms. Peacock said for Aruka, who was otherwise distracted.

“I saw some of the livestream videos on the way here and I don’t think they did the process justice. We have a request to film one more healing, if at all possible.” Don asked.

They all turned to Alexa. “Any more children?”

“No, that was all of the children.” A nurse spoke up.

Hearing that, Alexa nodded. “Then I would like to go back and sleep.”

Laughing.

No one was used to supers, let alone supers in training being so honest.

“I dare say you have earned a rest, after today. We are done here today, but next week?” Ms. Peacock asked.

Alexa nodded.

“Next Tuesday, we will be back for another round.”

With that, the crew got a heartfelt shot of twelve happy and now healthy children hugging Aruka. Then Don managed to get the moment that both Aruka and Ms. Peacock left the hospital.

“That was something special.” A nurse said.

“How so?” Don asked, feeling that there was cinematic gold here, if he just asked the right questions.

“I have seen a lot of healers come and go. But none that could heal two entire floors worth of the most critically ill. That was a miracle.”

“A miracle healer?” Don said.

The nurse nodded her agreement. “A miracle healer.”

“That’s right, you heard it here. A miracle healer, and we will bring you exclusive coverage of what transpires next, next Tuesday.” Don said, knowing that he would be drawing in ratings.

His statements of course, would have much further reaching effects, than he could have ever hoped to achieve.