Awake in Prefeton (Superpowers Char RP|IC, Signup, Open)

[Nachfolgia]

Allison Clark

Allison woke up to a coughing fit, like she was suffocating to death. Once she was able to take in a few solid breaths, she started to calm down. That didn't last long as she realized she was in her room. She quickly threw off the covers and sprang out of bed. Immediately her muscles began to ache, like she had an extreme workout the night before. Extending her arms out in front of her, Allison began to slowly touch things around her room to see if they were real.

" What the...? " Allison muttered, completely freaked out by what was going on. How did she get back into her room? She couldn't remember how she got there. All she could remember was the dance, the military gasing everyone, and...the monsters!! Those creatures had killed several of the students. While some parts were fuzzy, she still remembered fighting those horrid creatures. Her mind began to race as she tried to comprehend everything that happened and whether it was real. How her body was recovering suggested that Allison had some something the night prior.

Allison's memory crisis was interrupted by the sound of dishes clanking in the kitchen. Immediately on edge, Allison slowly walked from her room towards the kitchen, moving silently and ready to strike if needed. She peeked around the corner and saw her parents in the kitchen, eating breakfast. Relieved by their presence, Allison walked out from around the corner.

Her father, being the first to spot her, greeted her with a smile. " Good morning, sport! How are you feeling?"

" Sore..." Allison replied as she gently sat down at the table.

" I bet. You had one hell of a night." Her father said as he took a sip of his coffee.

" What happened? How did I get to my room?"

" Well you had a motorcycle accident on the way back from the dance and was knocked unconscious. You had to go to the hospital and was treated for a concussion. Thank God you didn't get seriously hurt." Her father explained.

" Motorcycle accident?" Allison said, looking oddly at her parents. " What are you talking about? The school was attacked... b-by these...creatures. Their were so many of them and people died. Me and my friends had to fight and...there was so much blood." Allison said, her pained expression telling how real it was for her.

" Oh honey..." Allison's mom chimed in. "...you probably just had a bad dream. I read in a health magazine that concussions can cause some vivid nightmares in some people, especially teenagers." Her mom said as she placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

" It wasn't a dream!!" Allison yelled as she slammed her fist on the table, causing a small crack to form. " It was real!! I could hear their screams. I could feel the bones of those things break as a killed them."

" Ok, honey...we believe you. Now eat your breakfast and get ready for school or you'll be late." Her mother replied, rather sarcastically.

" I'm not hungry. I'm going to school." Allison said as she stood up from the table and left the kitchen. She took a shower and got ready to leave. Without saying a word to her parents, she walked out the front door. She was too pissed at them to say goodbye. Walking outside, Allison spotted her motorcycle out in the the driveway. Upon inspection of the bike, she saw no damage on it whatsoever, nothing that indicated a crash.

She glared back at her house, suspicious of her parents now. She quickly put her helmet on and rode her motorcycle towards the school. The entire ride to school, Allison kept glaring at the sleeve of her leather jacket. The jacket sleeve still had the slash marks from when one of those creatures attacked her. It was just more physically evidence that what happened last night was real.

" What's going on?" Allison muttered to herself before speeding off down the road.

When she got to school, Allison didn't had time to talk to Nikolai and Atalia as a mandatory assembly was being called. She followed the crowd of students into the auditorium and took her seat. She caught a glimpse of Atalia in the corner, looking angry. She didn't see her at all the night prior, afraid that she had gotten killed early on. Allison was relieved that she was still alive, unlike many of her classmates that fair worse.

The assembly started as Principal Tefford addressed them. He was acting weird and was talking about how confused they all were. It was definitely an understatement as Allison had no answers for what happened. Allison became instantly suspicious of Tefford when he introduced a military officer to explain things to them.

Allison narrowed her eyes at the man, instantly distrusting of him. If she remembered correctly, it was the military that knocked them all out, making her believe that they were covering it up. She was shocked when the officer explained that it was because of an hallucination that had caused the students to go crazy and destroy the school and that it was caused by someone who laced the food or drinks.

Allison's thoughts immediately went to Atalia. She saw her spike the drinks with alcohol when she arrived to the dance. The more the thought about it though, the less it made sense. Allison didn't drink any of the punch and she still saw those things ravage the gym. They were definitely real to her as her knuckles were still bruised from the punching spree. Allison wasn't buying their explanation one bit, she know what she experienced.

" What a load of shit..." Allison muttered to herself, crossing her arms. She then glanced behind her to try and get a peak at Atalia's reaction. Hopefully she wasn't believing the lie.

[Union Princes]

Alis in Maine

Alis looked quite fish-dead sitting in her chair during the assembly. EIther through Major Kong’s intimidating presence, the monsters from last night, or both. The happy oblivious personality was replaced with suppressed catatonic expression. Whatever happened last night finally broke the camel’s back and Dr. Priddy was forced to have his daughter take sedatives. The house has experienced enough nightmares already.

“Don’t worry about Major Kong, Alis.” Cheshire yawned as he lazily sprawled on his owner’s lap during the assembly. He waited patiently for Alis to take the hint and give him bellyrubs. “In the end, he should be worried about us.”

He looked back at her face. The light has gone out of her green eyes. Dim. Broken. Empty. Like her very soul was elsewhere at this point in time.

“If this is a hangover from drinking that punch last night,” Cheshire purred, “Remind me to meet up with Atalia and spike her food with laxatives.”

No response.

He sighed. His sarcastic and half-serious remarks are falling on deaf ears now. Cheshire decided to use his own paws to drag Alis’s hand over his belly in order to send the message to her. That was enough to send a signal to her brain as her hand started to softly rub his belly.

[Talchyon]

The next morning
Kristen Lane

And then, it was morning. One almost expected to hear classical music such as Grieg playing in the background, with chirping blue birds and an iconic sunrise, as Kristen woke up. Yet her mind was racing almost as fast as she could run. Her leg muscles were sore, like she had competed in several cross country meets yesterday. And in her hands were splinters, from the flagpole she had jousted the creatures with. Those creatures! The fight! Her mind was a nervous wreck.

But her Mom seemed rather ordinary, talking about various errands she had that day as if nothing had happened. When Kristen asked her if she had waited up for her, her Mom basically had not. She had woken up earlier that morning and had been really tired from work lately. "Maybe she doesn't know," Kristen thought. Not she like wanted to tell her Mom right now what had happened the night before and why her hands had splinters in them. She was with her Mom now for a few more weeks, and then next weekend with her Dad again. Stupid custody agreement.

At school, Kristen sat in the assembly bewildered, first that the school looked pretty much clean, save for a few broken windows and a few other tell-tale traces. Then the assembly. The fact that a military officer was there ("Isn't a major a pretty high ranking guy in the army?", she thought to herself) was telling. But whatever it was, the major's sharp and crisp words seemed completely off. She had heard of politicians trying to deceive the general public. But to act like there hadn't been any of those purple creatures? Or that the students that died were actually still alive?

Or maybe Kristen had lost it and was completely certifiable.

As the major droned on and on, Kristen looked around at others she knew had been fighting. Allison didn't believe it. Neither did Nikolai. Neither did Cecil or Marcel or Murikami or Ascot. They remembered.

Kristen said to Marcel, "What the hell is going on here? It's like last night didn't even happen. We are definitely in the Twilight Zone..."

---

Rashaad Pennel

His dad had gone to work early, as usual. It was only Mom at home, scrambling to make sure his younger brothers and sister got their breakfasts and had their school forms signed appropriately. Rashaad didn't want to bother her.

For Rashaad, last night was a weird one. But this morning was weirder too. He could have sworn he had a gaping hole in his chest and half his forearm ripped off by those beasties. But this morning? Nothing. Not even a scratch. His body was fine.

His wheelchair, on the other hand... that was a little different. Sure, it still moved the same. Sure, it looked great - maybe even better than it had before. No scratches on it. Pristine in every way.

And that was proof enough.

Rashaad had carved his initials into his chairs the moment he got them. It was like a way to break in the new seat and make it less sterile. Because if this was going to be his ride, it had to join the club. Every chair had his mark on it, in a spot no one ever looked. On the inside of the lower portion of the cross frame, hidden by the wheel and a place no one ever really saw unless they were really searching for it. And lo and behold. Rashaad's chair that morning didn't have anything carved into them. No initials. No marker. Nothing. It was a brand new chair. Which meant that it wasn't the one he took to the dance last night. Oh, it was the same model and all. But it wasn't his. Somehow, someone had switched them.

At the school assembly, Rashaad saw an angry Atalia, and dropped his eyes. During the fight, he had gotten separated from her and hadn't even thought to check on her. Heck of a date he was. Maybe he could make it up to her.

Wheeling up to Atalia, Rashaad said, "Hey. I don't know what happened last night. I couldn't find you anywhere. All I know is that the Russian Doublemint twins pulled me out of the school and helped me from bleeding to death. Oh yeah, I was bleeding pretty bad... Not so bad now... Sorry if I was a sucky date. I'd still want to spend a normal night on a date with you when we're not having to fight off purple radioactive mutants or something."

[Dragos Bee]

Ascot Rider

Ascot woke up to a feeling of anger, a current of irritation underneath his brain. To test whether he still had his powers, he rotted a piece of tissue paper by touching it, then threw the resulting dust into the trash bin. Then he went to school, already having an inkling that the military covered it all up - Which they did. And the boy was afraid that people would actually believe their cover story.

After all, they cherished their normal lives - So did he, but not to the point of believing such an obvious lie. But he knew to keep his cards close to his chest this time, and so he did not join the others as they swarmed towards Atalia yet - That will come later. Instead, he chose to subtly listen to the conversations around him, knowing that he and the other kids with powers were now bound by a shared secret.

Enough thinking with tropes, enough trying to cause chaos in order to get a ‘result’. It was time to think as clearly and rationally as possible. What did he want, what did he have, and how can he use the latter to get the former?

He wanted answers as to what the military was doing, answers to what they knew about the powers they had - For it was certain that they knew. What was the best place to get information on what the military were doing? The base, or the Major? Hmm, the Major was a moving target, so the base, which he would be anyway...

[Lessoni]

Jack Brekker

Jack awoke with a start. He looked at his watch, and let out a deep sigh. He was most definitely gonna be late. After some cursory hygiene, he dashed out the door and hopped into his car, peeling out of the driveway at a frankly reckless speed. It was only when he was on the road that he remembered the events of the night before, the deaths and the military's subsequent entrance. He hoped they gave them some answers at school; it was driving him mad trying to figure out what had gone down.

"Many people," he continued, his voice raised in irritation if not outright anger, "Would be tempted to blame you. I am not going to do that. After we, finally, managed to placate the last of you we took a number of blood samples for diagnostic purposes and it would seem that a large number of you were infected with a novel hallucinogen. It is my belief that one of your number may have been responsible for administering it to the rest of you as I cannot believe that all of you, communally, could be so bloody stupid."

And his hopes were dashed by complete and utter bullshit. He'd watched people die. There was no way he would've hallucinated that. He didn't call it out, mainly because he wasn't batshit insane. Instead, he stayed quiet, looking around to see if there were any puzzled expressions in the crowd. He hoped dearly he wasn't wearing one himself.

[Europa Undivided]

The Brothers Sapohznik

Nikolai flung his eyes open, and he saw the golden light of the morning sun... The last thing he remembered was the military firing smoke grenades filled with sleeping gas at him and the others around, including his brother and father. He still vividly remembered how he had been such a comforter to that impulsive-as-hell freshman. He had always wanted to have a younger sibling, and it looked like that this Ascot was going to fulfil that wish in some capacity. Still, he was someone else's son, but that was enough for him.

Nikolai soon rose on his bed, noting how sore his right foot still was. Perhaps that explains why there was a cane leaned against the side of the bed.

He looked around, his eyes scanning for the tell tale white dyed hair his brother had. There he was, snoring on his bed on the other side of the room. "He's alright…", Nikolai thought to himself as he finally got out of the bed.

The voice of their mother soon resounded through the house, calling them for breakfast. She sounded calm, as always.

Nikita refused to wake up, just like always, and as usual, it fell to Nikolai to wake him up so that he doesn't run late. "Hey, Koala.", he said, shaking Nikita to wake him up. "Breakfast is in order."

Nikita opened his eyes, rubbing them with his sleeves I surely. "Huh… why are we…"

"We got sleeping-gassed.", Nikolai told him as Nikita lazily stepped out of his bed.

Nikita looked up and wrapped his arms around the back of Nikolai's neck, expecting him to do the effort of lifting him out of the bed. "Oh, right, ugh, friggin military сука."

"My foot is busted, Koala Sasha.", Nikolai told Nikita as he lightly stomped the cane. "And it looks like I got a cane just as Erika said I would."

"Ah… right.", Nikita said with realization as he did the milestone achievement of getting out of bed by himself.

As they ate breakfast, Nikolai waited for his dad to mention a word about last night's incident. There was nothing.

"Mütter.", He asked his mom in German. "Why does my foot struggle?"

"Mein Junge…", Maria Theresa answered. "You had an accident en route to the Harvest Ball. And now you're an old man."

Piotr looked at his wife. "Maria, what the hell. Our son still has my looks and your wit! He isn't an old man!"

"Well yes.", Maria nodded. "But that cane makes him look like one somewhat."

Piotr snorted. Apparently he didn't remember a thing.

Nikita tenses as the Major finished speaking. "Nikolai, where can I tell the government that it can kiss my arse?"

"Pardon, dorogoy?"

"These дураков are hiding something.", Nikita said, growling. "Nothing on this island is right!"

"Of course, nothing is normal anymore.", Nikolai replied as he saw the boy that was the monsters' first victim last night up and well. "He's alive. That alone is out of place."

The two of them were being aimless in their walk through the hallways now, talking and remarking about how horrible things have become. That was when Nikolai spotted Ascot being a shrimp in a shoal of tunas.

"Ascooooot.", Nikolai simply quipped as he moved towards the freshman with the cane. "How are you now? Crazy stuff last night, yeah?"

As this went on, Allison was soon nearing Nikita, but he, being his usual clumsy self, was essentially blocking her way...

[North Arkana]

Alis in Maine

Alis looked quite fish-dead sitting in her chair during the assembly. EIther through Major Kong’s intimidating presence, the monsters from last night, or both. The happy oblivious personality was replaced with suppressed catatonic expression. Whatever happened last night finally broke the camel’s back and Dr. Priddy was forced to have his daughter take sedatives. The house has experienced enough nightmares already.

“Don’t worry about Major Kong, Alis.” Cheshire yawned as he lazily sprawled on his owner’s lap during the assembly. He waited patiently for Alis to take the hint and give him bellyrubs. “In the end, he should be worried about us.”

He looked back at her face. The light has gone out of her green eyes. Dim. Broken. Empty. Like her very soul was elsewhere at this point in time.

“If this is a hangover from drinking that punch last night,” Cheshire purred, “Remind me to meet up with Atalia and spike her food with laxatives.”

No response.

He sighed. His sarcastic and half-serious remarks are falling on deaf ears now. Cheshire decided to use his own paws to drag Alis’s hand over his belly in order to send the message to her. That was enough to send a signal to her brain as her hand started to softly rub his belly.

Maya Shimizu

Shimizu Maya, or as officially known for the time being, Maya Shimizu, felt as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders after the events of the dance she'd reluctantly attended. It had been an unusual choice for her, to willingly go to such a social event, but being alone with her thoughts, especially with recent events, had been suffocating.

”There are other people with powers.”

It was a simple thought. A relieving thought. One which almost outweighed the new burden which had presented itself. They were all in danger. A plague on the mainland? A perfectly believable event. Potential pandemics were common in the modern era. Strange monsters attacking a group of students? That was an entirely different story, especially with what seemed to be targeted amnesia among the people Maya had tried to glean information from prior to the assembly.

That apparent amnesia is why the senior year student found herself figuratively prowling the aftermath of the assembly, looking for anyone who clearly still remembered the events of the dance. Truth be told, it was easy enough to spot some, but for the most part they're already surrounded by friends. Which left one very easy target to attempt to discuss what happened with, the girl sitting by herself in a seemingly catatonic state. Maya recognizes her as a regular at the library, and decides that as good an excuse as any to approach.

"In case you have any doubts..." Maya says. a bit haltingly upon first approaching the girl. "I remember what happened last night, and I think you do also. And we're not the only ones."

She takes a moment to glance around, looking out for any teachers or military personnel.

"We need to talk. Alone."

[Theyra]

Connor Vale

How did I end here and where is the cut on my arm? Connor thought as he slowly awoke from his bed. Visibly confusion as he did not remember coming home last night and he brushed his hand over where the cut should be on his arm. Nothing was there, nothing to indicate that he had been scratched at all. That healed way too fast to be normal and last he checked, his powers do not cover rapid healing. Connor tried to remember the last thing that happened last night and all he could remember was helping another student out of the gym and then the military showed up and... blank. Did the military have something to do with this? It seemed like it now that he thought about it. Before he could think more, Connor heard his mother call him to get up and get ready for school. He obeyed and got up and got himself ready for school. Connor wondered what school is going to be like after what happened at the dance and where those creatures came from.

What did the military do last night? Connor thought as he stood there listening to the Major's lies. Anger growing inside him, his face showing no sign of it. There was no novel hallucinogen, small furry creatures come into the gym and attacked everyone. Connor remembered that he did not drink or even ate anything at the dance. The creatures appeared before he could so it can't be that he hallucinated them. The gym still showed signs of the attack but, no blood or bodies. People were attacked and the military is trying to cover it up. Connor knew better than to speak up, it would just make him seem crazy or would just make him a target for the military that someone was not drinking the cool-aid. There was nothing he could do about that and that part of it both angered him and made it seem hopeless that they were going to get away with this. Fricking liers, Connor wondered if anyone else remembered the truth as he looked around the room. He can't be the only one the knew the truth if not then Connor may go mad.

[Fegun]

The next morning
Kristen Lane

And then, it was morning. One almost expected to hear classical music such as Grieg playing in the background, with chirping blue birds and an iconic sunrise, as Kristen woke up. Yet her mind was racing almost as fast as she could run. Her leg muscles were sore, like she had competed in several cross country meets yesterday. And in her hands were splinters, from the flagpole she had jousted the creatures with. Those creatures! The fight! Her mind was a nervous wreck.

But her Mom seemed rather ordinary, talking about various errands she had that day as if nothing had happened. When Kristen asked her if she had waited up for her, her Mom basically had not. She had woken up earlier that morning and had been really tired from work lately. "Maybe she doesn't know," Kristen thought. Not she like wanted to tell her Mom right now what had happened the night before and why her hands had splinters in them. She was with her Mom now for a few more weeks, and then next weekend with her Dad again. Stupid custody agreement.

At school, Kristen sat in the assembly bewildered, first that the school looked pretty much clean, save for a few broken windows and a few other tell-tale traces. Then the assembly. The fact that a military officer was there ("Isn't a major a pretty high ranking guy in the army?", she thought to herself) was telling. But whatever it was, the major's sharp and crisp words seemed completely off. She had heard of politicians trying to deceive the general public. But to act like there hadn't been any of those purple creatures? Or that the students that died were actually still alive?

Or maybe Kristen had lost it and was completely certifiable.

As the major droned on and on, Kristen looked around at others she knew had been fighting. Allison didn't believe it. Neither did Nikolai. Neither did Cecil or Marcel or Murikami or Ascot. They remembered.

Kristen said to Marcel, "What the hell is going on here? It's like last night didn't even happen. We are definitely in the Twilight Zone..."

Marcel

Marcel shot up in a cold sweat grabbing onto the tight skin of his chest to ground himself in reality. His curtains were closed, the birds sung praises to the morning light, and the smell of food wafted throughout his room. The first thought that he had was that nightmare was too real, he believed in his heart that if he lied to himself hard enough he would believe it. Repeating the notion that it was all a dream, he brushed his teeth with a sore arm, then he stumbled in the shower from his aching heel, and finally, as if his whole body protested the deception, he spilled his plate of cold breakfast from the severe shaking that wracked his body. He decided that he wasn’t very hungry anyway.
Marcel shoved his hands into his pockets a constant warmth emanating between his lungs and throat as if he’d drank the old bourbon that his grandfather had back in Baltimore. He shook away the blurry thoughts that kept reminding him of the night before and smoke emanating from his lips.

The burning suffocation of his lungs and more importantly how others had been exhibiting the same symptoms. He wanted to write it all off as a nightmare, a fever dream, a drug trip but the air of the school convinced him otherwise. He took easy steps into the building trying to hide the gimp of his heel and the strain his normally slightly heavy backpack was putting on his tall frame.

His eyes scanned everything lazily trying to make out any noticeable differences but everything seemed off and calm. Like he was the only crazy person who believed his hallucinations to be real. The immediate assembly that morning did not assuage his fear as this military figure he could care less about poured frigid water right onto his thoughts. He was ready to just accept everything the Major said until Kristen came up to him. Her words were an instant relief the tall teen releasing a breath he didn’t even know he was holding. “I’m just glad I ain’t trippin. For a second I thought my brain was on some shit” He whispered a chuckle back and smiled. “I don’t know what’s going either, I’ll be honest. I’m just happy I’m alive, that you’re alive and that again I ain’t got some side effects.”

[Dyelli Beybi]

Atalia Bayer

Rashaad Pennel

...

At the school assembly, Rashaad saw an angry Atalia, and dropped his eyes. During the fight, he had gotten separated from her and hadn't even thought to check on her. Heck of a date he was. Maybe he could make it up to her.

Wheeling up to Atalia, Rashaad said, "Hey. I don't know what happened last night. I couldn't find you anywhere. All I know is that the Russian Doublemint twins pulled me out of the school and helped me from bleeding to death. Oh yeah, I was bleeding pretty bad... Not so bad now... Sorry if I was a sucky date. I'd still want to spend a normal night on a date with you when we're not having to fight off purple radioactive mutants or something."

Atalia's initial hostile glare very quickly softened. Rashaad had been hurt as well. He was the only person who had even remembered they'd left her behind, though in truth she couldn't really blame him for that if he had been injured as well. She wanted to tell him it was okay, but being in the hall. It was okay in the daytime, but even so the memories... she could still feel the pain, "Can we go outside?" she asked, "This hall... it urgh... it's all too fresh at the moment."

Once they were outside Atalia began to feel a calmer. She closed her eyes, taking a couple of deep breaths, then made a bee line for the nearest bench and table set that nobody was using. She sat down, cross-legged, facing away from the table so that Rashaad could wheel up to her, "After that crap about someone slipping everyone a hallucinogenic mickey I think I've ended up with a bulls-eye drawn on my back. Last week someone was throwing my food around just for kicks; God knows what they'll do this week."

"You know," she added, lowering her voice, "I was probably a minute or two from dying in there. One of those little monsters had torn my belly open like a fat man with a bag of chips," she shuddered, despite the facetious tone she was taking, "There isn't even a scar. I checked. What was worse than being snacked on by a pack of laughing furby-weasel-monsters though is everyone forgot about me in there. I'm supposed to be Miss Popularity, but when push came to shove everyone looked out for their actual friends and Atalia got left for the monsters," she smiled, the sad smile of someone who had been forced to remove her rose tinted spectacles and confront the world as it really was, "Are you sure you still want to go out with me? I think I've been downgraded a bit on the 'catch' rankings."

"If you are," she added teasingly, a flash of the old Atalia, "I am particularly vulnerable at the moment and it would definitely be a good moment to take advantage of me. For my part, I could do with being taken advantage of; it would help to take my mind off things."

[Union Princes]

Maya Shimizu
"In case you have any doubts..." Maya says. a bit haltingly upon first approaching the girl. "I remember what happened last night, and I think you do also. And we're not the only ones."

She takes a moment to glance around, looking out for any teachers or military personnel.

"We need to talk. Alone."

Alis in Maine

Before Alis could speak up when her eyes slowing moved over to look at Maya, Cheshire beat her to the punch. "Preferably in the Girl's bathroom with me accompanying you two." he groaned as he enjoyed the soft belly rub that his owner was giving him. "What do you say, Alis?"

"They're not real...." She whispered blankly. "It cant be real."

"She says yes." Cheshire answered for her while Alis continue to mumble to herself. "Care to lead the way?"

[North Arkana]

[

Alis in Maine

Before Alis could speak up when her eyes slowing moved over to look at Maya, Cheshire beat her to the punch. "Preferably in the Girl's bathroom with me accompanying you two." he groaned as he enjoyed the soft belly rub that his owner was giving him. "What do you say, Alis?"

"They're not real...." She whispered blankly. "It cant be real."

"She says yes." Cheshire answered for her while Alis continue to mumble to herself. "Care to lead the way?"

Maya Shimizu

If Maya hadn't already known about powers, she'd have been caught off guard by the talking cat, but having already experienced quite a bit weirdness already, the rolls with the punches.

"All right then, bakeneko, follow me. We need to talk about what's been happening, and how to move forward with all this... maybe try to figure out if we should link up with others like us..."

It's at this moment that Maya realizes she might recognize the girl she had approached, and asks for confirmation as she begins making her way toward the doors to head to bathroom.

"Aren't you Doctor Priddy's daughter?"

[Nachfolgia]

Allison Clark

After the bullshit assembly was concluded, Allison tried to find Atalia. If any of the other students saw Atalia spiked the punch at the ball, they might come after her. Some of the non athletes might talk bad about her, but the jocks might get physical with her. That was a situation Allison would not allow and with her ability, she would be the only one to stop them.

With the influx of students leaving the assembly, Allison lost Atalia once she went through the double doors into the hallway. Not wanting to just shove her way through the crowd and possibly hurt someone, Allison began to leap over the rows of seats towards the door.

" Excuse me, coming through!" Allison called out as she inevitably had to push herself through the door. Unknown to her, she had accidentally knocked a nerdy kid into the wall as she pushed through.

In the hallway, Allison looked around for Atalia. Jumping up and down, she tried to get abetter view to spot Atalia. She was already taller than most of the other kids, but that extra foot and a half helped out even more. Unable to spot her friend in the hallway, Allison followed the flow of students down the hall to try and catch up. Passing by one of the doors to the outside, Allison caught a glimpse of Atalia.

Doubling back, she saw her sitting outside with Rashaad, another student she remembered had some kind of powers. She noticed that they were having a serious talk with him, based on their facial expressions. Allison slowly cracked the door to listen in on their conversation. That's when she heard Atalia's anger at the situation, believing that everyone had left her behind. Feeling a mixture of sadness and anger, Allison lashed out irrationally and threw the door open.

" What are you talking about, Atalia?! I went back in there to get everyone a chance to get out. When I didn't see you, I thought you had gotten out." Allison said as she sat down next to Atalia. " You're like my best friend Atalia...I would never leave you." The look on her face let Atalia know how hurt she felt.

[Dyelli Beybi]

Allison Clark

...

" What are you talking about, Atalia?! I went back in there to get everyone a chance to get out. When I didn't see you, I thought you had gotten out." Allison said as she sat down next to Atalia. " You're like my best friend Atalia...I would never leave you." The look on her face let Atalia know how hurt she felt.

"I..." Atalia looked confused, still wounded, but confused and like she really needed to hear what Allison had to say, "... I'm sorry," she said, looking a little deflated, "Someone knocked me over and I think I disappeared for a bit; if I stayed in the shadows and didn't move the monsters couldn't see me. Like all those people at the beach who were doing strange things. Nothing particularly odd had happened to me until then. I guess I freaked out a bit and tried to hide, but when it looked like everyone was clearing out rather than trying to hold the doors shut, I tried to scurry out and as soon as I moved the pink things spotted me."

She paused, taking a deep, steadying breath. She was still visibly distraught after what had happened to her the night before, "I'm sorry," Atalia repeated, "I shouldn't go blaming other people; I just felt so alone."

She leaned her head against Allison's shoulder, "Thank you. And thank you for not assuming I slipped everyone some kind of super-LSD. I imagine I'm going to have to watch my back for the next little while."

[Nachfolgia]

"I..." Atalia looked confused, still wounded, but confused and like she really needed to hear what Allison had to say, "... I'm sorry," she said, looking a little deflated, "Someone knocked me over and I think I disappeared for a bit; if I stayed in the shadows and didn't move the monsters couldn't see me. Like all those people at the beach who were doing strange things. Nothing particularly odd had happened to me until then. I guess I freaked out a bit and tried to hide, but when it looked like everyone was clearing out rather than trying to hold the doors shut, I tried to scurry out and as soon as I moved the pink things spotted me."

She paused, taking a deep, steadying breath. She was still visibly distraught after what had happened to her the night before, "I'm sorry," Atalia repeated, "I shouldn't go blaming other people; I just felt so alone."

She leaned her head against Allison's shoulder, "Thank you. And thank you for not assuming I slipped everyone some kind of super-LSD. I imagine I'm going to have to watch my back for the next little while."

" Nah, I know it's not your fault. " Allison said as she wrapped one arm around Atalia in a hug.

" I didn't even drink the punch and still saw those things. I didn't get hurt by them, but my body aches like I did four rounds in the octagon and they tore my favorite jacket." She said, showing Atalia her torn sleeve. " Those things were real."

" Besides..." She took her arm away from around Atalia's shoulder. " ...if any asshole tried to confront you, I'll make them see the error of their ways." Allison grinned as she punched the palm of her hand. " What say we all go find the twins? I'm sure they got your back as well. You in, Rashaad?" Allison asked.

[Talchyon]

Outside at the table
Rashaad Pennel

Atalia Bayer

Atalia's initial hostile glare very quickly softened. Rashaad had been hurt as well. He was the only person who had even remembered they'd left her behind, though in truth she couldn't really blame him for that if he had been injured as well. She wanted to tell him it was okay, but being in the hall. It was okay in the daytime, but even so the memories... she could still feel the pain, "Can we go outside?" she asked, "This hall... it urgh... it's all too fresh at the moment."

Once they were outside Atalia began to feel a calmer. She closed her eyes, taking a couple of deep breaths, then made a bee line for the nearest bench and table set that nobody was using. She sat down, cross-legged, facing away from the table so that Rashaad could wheel up to her, "After that crap about someone slipping everyone a hallucinogenic mickey I think I've ended up with a bulls-eye drawn on my back. Last week someone was throwing my food around just for kicks; God knows what they'll do this week."

"You know," she added, lowering her voice, "I was probably a minute or two from dying in there. One of those little monsters had torn my belly open like a fat man with a bag of chips," she shuddered, despite the facetious tone she was taking, "There isn't even a scar. I checked. What was worse than being snacked on by a pack of laughing furby-weasel-monsters though is everyone forgot about me in there. I'm supposed to be Miss Popularity, but when push came to shove everyone looked out for their actual friends and Atalia got left for the monsters," she smiled, the sad smile of someone who had been forced to remove her rose tinted spectacles and confront the world as it really was, "Are you sure you still want to go out with me? I think I've been downgraded a bit on the 'catch' rankings."

"If you are," she added teasingly, a flash of the old Atalia, "I am particularly vulnerable at the moment and it would definitely be a good moment to take advantage of me. For my part, I could do with being taken advantage of; it would help to take my mind off things."

Rashaad was torn between emotions. First, that Atalia had almost been vivisected. Second, that she - like he - was perfectly fine in terms of the same physical health they had been in when they went to the dance last night, despite the reality of those purple mutants. And third, that she actually liked him enough to go out again. He started to get a serious look, then a confused look, and then a big smile.

And Mr. Cassanova was gonna break out into the best line he could at the time. He was all charm. All charisma. All manly personality, and she was going to swoon into his arms.

"Well, you know,..." And that's all he got to say, before he was rudely interrupted and his dreams of a second date -actually, a real date since this one didn't really count - with Atalia.

Allison Clark

" What are you talking about, Atalia?! I went back in there to get everyone a chance to get out. When I didn't see you, I thought you had gotten out." Allison said as she sat down next to Atalia. " You're like my best friend Atalia...I would never leave you." The look on her face let Atalia know how hurt she felt.

[

"I..." Atalia looked confused, still wounded, but confused and like she really needed to hear what Allison had to say, "... I'm sorry," she said, looking a little deflated, "Someone knocked me over and I think I disappeared for a bit; if I stayed in the shadows and didn't move the monsters couldn't see me. Like all those people at the beach who were doing strange things. Nothing particularly odd had happened to me until then. I guess I freaked out a bit and tried to hide, but when it looked like everyone was clearing out rather than trying to hold the doors shut, I tried to scurry out and as soon as I moved the pink things spotted me."

She paused, taking a deep, steadying breath. She was still visibly distraught after what had happened to her the night before, "I'm sorry," Atalia repeated, "I shouldn't go blaming other people; I just felt so alone."

She leaned her head against Allison's shoulder, "Thank you. And thank you for not assuming I slipped everyone some kind of super-LSD. I imagine I'm going to have to watch my back for the next little while."

" Nah, I know it's not your fault. " Allison said as she wrapped one arm around Atalia in a hug.

" I didn't even drink the punch and still saw those things. I didn't get hurt by them, but my body aches like I did four rounds in the octagon and they tore my favorite jacket." She said, showing Atalia her torn sleeve. " Those things were real."

" Besides..." She took her arm away from around Atalia's shoulder. " ...if any asshole tried to confront you, I'll make them see the error of their ways." Allison grinned as she punched the palm of her hand. " What say we all go find the twins? I'm sure they got your back as well. You in, Rashaad?" Allison asked.

Rashaad felt his best pick-up lines obliterating in his head. The sense of charisma and charm was melting away, leaving in its puddles a sad and frustrated astonishment. Oh, you did not just pick this time to come and start your side conversation when I was about to land a second date with a pretty girl.

Rashaad had his mouth open and his arms out, bent at the elbow, jutting out from his waist. "Wait. Just, wait. Atalia, I take it she and you are friends, right? 'Cause if she's not, she picked a really bad time to interrupt us. We were in the middle of something?"

Breathing out his pent up frustration, Rashaad knew that there was no way he could pick up where Atalia had left off at first. The spell was broken. The moment was lost. The opportunity wasted. And he was left without a date coming up soon. And he painfully knew then how some people, like Allison, just will never pick up on certain social cues.

"So you guys want to take off and find the Russian Doublemint Twins? I guess. Shrug. Might as well thank which of those guys saved me last night. And show them my brand new chair, fresh without a scratch and without the personal mark I always carve into it. My sig, if you know what I'm talking about? Yeah, somehow not only did these guys mess with our minds, but they also had the make and model of my chair and a nice new replacement."

And then to Atalia, "Hey, maybe we can continue our conversation later. And the answer is yes, if you're serious."

---

After the assembly, inside the gym
Kristen Lane

Marcel

His eyes scanned everything lazily trying to make out any noticeable differences but everything seemed off and calm. Like he was the only crazy person who believed his hallucinations to be real. The immediate assembly that morning did not assuage his fear as this military figure he could care less about poured frigid water right onto his thoughts. He was ready to just accept everything the Major said until Kristen came up to him. Her words were an instant relief the tall teen releasing a breath he didn’t even know he was holding. “I’m just glad I ain’t trippin. For a second I thought my brain was on some shit” He whispered a chuckle back and smiled. “I don’t know what’s going either, I’ll be honest. I’m just happy I’m alive, that you’re alive and that again I ain’t got some side effects.”

Kristen nodded at what Marcel said, aware others might be watching. Granted, many of them were breaking up into their own little cliques, or getting their things ready and starting to head out. So they might not be paying attention. The major up there was at ease, chatting with the principal. The major looked serious, but Kristen guessed that that was pretty much his natural look and nothing was at all different about his demeanor. The principal looked harried. That was pretty much normal too.

"Marcel, something is up. Everyone else is acting like a bunch of brainwashed lemmings who don't know anything, except... and I don't think it's just us who know what really happened. But we have to lay low for right now. Because that major scares me. If they can brainwash a whole school in a single night, and clean up the way they did in a short amount of time leaving only a few traces, then who knows what else they can do."

Looking around, Kristen noticed that the American flag she had been jousting with was just as it had been before, an ordinary patriotic symbol on a pole that looked relatively worn from school usage over the years. But the window on the ceiling of the gym. That was different "And there are traces of last night they didn't get to. Like that window up there that is still broken from last night, and was fine yesterday in gym class. Don't be too obvious that you're looking at it. But Marcel, we need to find out who else is acting like they don't believe the major. After the fight scene we saw last night? I'm guessing we start with those who were doing some of the... unusual... things we can do."

Kristen had been wanting to talk to Marcel since last night. The tall, gangly newcomer had seemed like one of the druggie crowd when he had first moved in and she wasn't in that clique at all. But last night, as she was racing around with a shattered flagpole in her hands, she noticed Marcel and saw the smoke coming from him. And the thought stuck in her mind, "What's the chances of two of us emitting fumes? He with his smoke, and me with my exhaust from my jets?" Which is why, she said to him, "I don't know what you do exactly, but I saw the smoke last night. And I was emitting quite a lot of smoke - well, more like exhaust fumes - as I was running around. You probably noticed me too. Honestly, I was kind of hard to miss. I bet people will be seeking me out who remember last night." And Kristen looked somewhat thoughtful.

[Dyelli Beybi]

Atalia Bayer

Outside at the table
Rashaad Pennel

[spoiler=She actually wants to go out with me again]

Atalia Bayer

...

Rashaad had his mouth open and his arms out, bent at the elbow, jutting out from his waist. "Wait. Just, wait. Atalia, I take it she and you are friends, right? 'Cause if she's not, she picked a really bad time to interrupt us. We were in the middle of something?"

Breathing out his pent up frustration, Rashaad knew that there was no way he could pick up where Atalia had left off at first. The spell was broken. The moment was lost. The opportunity wasted. And he was left without a date coming up soon. And he painfully knew then how some people, like Allison, just will never pick up on certain social cues.

"So you guys want to take off and find the Russian Doublemint Twins? I guess. Shrug. Might as well thank which of those guys saved me last night. And show them my brand new chair, fresh without a scratch and without the personal mark I always carve into it. My sig, if you know what I'm talking about? Yeah, somehow not only did these guys mess with our minds, but they also had the make and model of my chair and a nice new replacement."

And then to Atalia, "Hey, maybe we can continue our conversation later. And the answer is yes, if you're serious."

Atalia had picked up on Rashaad's disappointment at Allison's interruption. She got it, but she also needed to know who her friends were at the moment; her world had been rocked on its foundations and she needed to make time for the people who cared about her, friends as well as those who were becoming more than friends. That being said, she also was not going to let Rashaad get away that easily. She wanted, no, needed that date more than she suspected he realised... on top of which Atalia was used to getting her own way, "Not so fast!" She leaned across, taking hold of the push-rings of Rashaad's wheelchair, which also meant she drew herself quite a bit closer to him, her back arched to keep herself upright, "I'm really hoping that before we go looking for Abbott and Costello, that you're going to ask me out; I'm pretty certain that was on the cards when Allison showed up and I was definitely going to say 'yes'."

"If not," she shrugged, glancing towards Allison, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, "Well, obviously, I'll be disappointed and embarrassed in front of my friend, but I'm not going to play hard-to-get and risk missing out on what I want."

'Embarrassed' didn't seem all that likely.

[Union Princes]

Maya Shimizu

If Maya hadn't already known about powers, she'd have been caught off guard by the talking cat, but having already experienced quite a bit weirdness already, the rolls with the punches.

"All right then, bakeneko, follow me. We need to talk about what's been happening, and how to move forward with all this... maybe try to figure out if we should link up with others like us..."

It's at this moment that Maya realizes she might recognize the girl she had approached, and asks for confirmation as she begins making her way toward the doors to head to bathroom.

"Aren't you Doctor Priddy's daughter?"

Alis in Maine

The droopy head of Alis shot straight back up at the mention of her father's name. "Y-yes." she replied in a monotone voice after recovering from the initial shock. She blindly followed the Maya like a sheep to a slaughterhouse towards the girls' bathroom.

"Why do you ask?" Cheshire inquires as he continued to be cuddled in his owners arms. "You're a patient of his?"

[Dragos Bee]

Ascot Rider

Ascot said to Nikolai and Jack, “I am troubled. Let’s go to the library to try and discuss -”

Then Atalia and Allison arrived where they were, along with Rashaad. A nod from Ascot as he tried to assess how to make use of this new opportunity, even as part of him fumed for some unknown reason. Some reason connected to his arrogance and inability to deal with failure, it seemed. He did not want anyone else to get Nikolai and Jack’s attention, he did not want anyone to take leadership of the efforts to rally the superpowered students except himself. This pride was burning, and if left unchecked, it could lead to his downfall - He had been rescued from said downfall twice already, and he did not intend to test fate for a third time.

So he opted for a controlled release, to acknowledge his arrogance and desire for control even though it would earn him the loathing of others, others whom he perceived to be looking for the same things. And so when Atalia, Allison, and Rashaad met with the twins and Jack, he looked at all of them and said, “They said they’re watching us - Let’s go someplace with bookshelves to make their job just a mite harder.”

There was a grim intensity in his voice, the tone of a young man who had something important dangled before him and then taken away at the last moment. It would probably rankle with Rashaad, but Ascot had to do it to prevent something worse from happening. And so the boy led the way to the library, fuming all the while except when he glanced at Jack, during which his expression relaxed and something of the old Ascot returned.

After having led the Sapozniks and whoever followed them into a secluded alcove of books, Ascot said, “I am feeling grim today. Apologies for my tone and for acting beyond my current age, but this pisses me off. Principal Tefford, Major Kong, and the Military Base know something, and they aren’t telling. So either we’re stuck waiting for some invisible experiment to move further, or we ‘take steps’ to find out exactly who knows what.”

A pause, “And by that, we have three or four options to gain info about what exactly do the adults know. Two are illegal and inadvisable, and the third needs your help, Rashaad - Ask your father if he can help us get a tour of the military base on Preferton.”

A second pause as Ascot tilted his head to his right, “Alternatively, we corner President Tefford while he is alone and gently ask him about what he knows. This is dangerous, especially as we’re also assuming our Good Principal has no powers himself despite being able to hear Cheshire, or that he can be easily intimidated by numbers and superior physical strength.”

Yet another halt, before Ascot continued, “And speaking of the cat, we need to secure custody or possession of that feline as hearing him is one of the ‘marks’ of having powers. We also need to make sure that everyone with powers that we know of is accounted for and that other groups of superpowered folk we come across do not act at cross-purposes. But that can come after we ask Principal Tefford what exactly is happening or after we secure a promise of a tour of the military base in Prefer Isle. That, or if we can get another plan - Do you guys have another plan?”

Then he looked at Atalia/Tali. “Sorry for any arrogance, but you mentioned having strange dreams during the beach party, right? If so, can you tell me about them? All of them, leaving no detail behind?”

[North Arkana]

Alis in Maine

The droopy head of Alis shot straight back up at the mention of her father's name. "Y-yes." she replied in a monotone voice after recovering from the initial shock. She blindly followed the Maya like a sheep to a slaughterhouse towards the girls' bathroom.

"Why do you ask?" Cheshire inquires as he continued to be cuddled in his owners arms. "You're a patient of his?"

Maya Shimizu

The bathroom isn't too far from the auditorium, and Maya is already pushing open the door as she responds to Alis.

"Eh, you could say that," Maya answers with a shrug. "I've had appointments with him at the hospital before, mostly relating to stuff due to pretty much living by myself."

Maya leans against one of the sinks where she can keep an eye on the door if it opens while they're talking.

"In any case, I mostly just want a chance to ask you some questions. Mostly about just how many people are already caught up in this mess with us, but also in regards to seeing if some sort of cooperative network can be created. We're all out of our depth here, and I can only see things getting worse from here on out."

[Europa Undivided]

Nikolai and Nikita

Nikolai was quick to follow Ascot into the hidden corner of the library that the younger boy had indicated to be a good place for hiding from whoever the hell was watching them. However, now that he was slightly handicapped at the right leg, he moved slower than everyone else in the group except maybe for Rashaad, who had it way, way worse than him. Still, Nikita was still there to make sure he was well adjusted to the life of a cane wielding, partially handicapped person, ready to catch him if he accidentally toppled over. Thankfully, he did not.

As Ascot revealed his suspicions and plans, Nikolai was the first to nod in agreement. "Nothing in this island makes sense anymore. My dad has no memory of the incident last night, and you can be sure as heck that nobody injected a drug that induces hallucinations of purple glowing dogs that tear people apart."

"Which therefore logically follows to the conclusion that the Principal and the military are hiding something, and it has something to do with the strange abilities that we have gained in the last few days.", Nikita followed up. "As for the cat..."

"I'd rather not steal Alis' feline companion.", Nikolai said, wiping his brow although there wasn't any sweat. "We can ask her nicely about her British cat."

Erika Panzerlied

Erika was confused. Very confused. She could still remember her ready to use bandages running out at the influx of wounded people out of the school hall, and the gas canisters... Filled with sleeping gas.

"Lies. All lies.", she muttered to herself as the assembly concluded. One of her brown eyes followed the major suspiciously; apparently, these people were hiding something from them. The world has gone insane with the plague and the economy was being beaten by it, but this island? It has become a place where nothing is right and nothing is what it seems. First, there are those people that died last night; they were fine now. Second, it would appear that other people had powers like her. She had seen the aura of frost that emanated from Nikolai when he had come out of the hall. She had witnessed one of monsters getting thrown out of the windows at such a great speed that it was impossible that a normal person did it.

She could tell that there were others. Confused faces could be seen in the assembly; they probably remembered what happened because they were undergoing super puberty. However, everyone else was swell with this...

"This is madness.", she muttered to herself as she walked around in the library while reading a copy of the Fourteen Points by the late president Woodrow Wilson. "Both this and this whole island... Insane!"

As she read the Fourteen Points, she would accidentally step into the accolade of books that Ascot and those he invited were sequestered inside.

"Vladimir?", she said, addressing Nikolai be his second name. "When did you get a cane?"

"Fraü Erika.", Nikita spoke in the stead of his brother. "You were the one that promised to get him one."

"I don't know, that isn't one of the kinds that we make.", Erika confided. "Anyway, was I interrupting something? I can go if... Umm... Do you remember anything strange from last night? Purple things included?"

[Nachfolgia]

Atalia Bayer



Atalia had picked up on Rashaad's disappointment at Allison's interruption. She got it, but she also needed to know who her friends were at the moment; her world had been rocked on its foundations and she needed to make time for the people who cared about her, friends as well as those who were becoming more than friends. That being said, she also was not going to let Rashaad get away that easily. She wanted, no, needed that date more than she suspected he realised... on top of which Atalia was used to getting her own way, "Not so fast!" She leaned across, taking hold of the push-rings of Rashaad's wheelchair, which also meant she drew herself quite a bit closer to him, her back arched to keep herself upright, "I'm really hoping that before we go looking for Abbott and Costello, that you're going to ask me out; I'm pretty certain that was on the cards when Allison showed up and I was definitely going to say 'yes'."

"If not," she shrugged, glancing towards Allison, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, "Well, obviously, I'll be disappointed and embarrassed in front of my friend, but I'm not going to play hard-to-get and risk missing out on what I want."

'Embarrassed' didn't seem all that likely.

Allison glanced a hard look at Rashaad, reacting poorly to his rude demeanor. She was completely oblivious to why the wheelchair bound boy was so angry. Did he not like her? Possible jealousy because of her strength and popularity? Maybe he was always rude and he was lashing out because she was nearby. Whatever the reason behind his rudeness, Allison was going to have to be wary of him for now on.

When Atalia spoke about dating, everything clicked for Allison. She had been oblivious to the fact that Rashaad was trying to ask her best friend out and she was in the way of that. She was the one being rude and interrupting their conversation. She was too worried about Atalia thinking she got abandoned that she didn’t realize what was happening in the moment.

” Oh? Oh!!” Allison quickly stood up from the ground, grinning nervously. “ I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you two were having a moment. I’ll wait inside and give you some privacy. “ Allison said as she conducted a hasty retreat inside.

[Talchyon]

Rashaad Pennel

Atalia Bayer



Atalia had picked up on Rashaad's disappointment at Allison's interruption. She got it, but she also needed to know who her friends were at the moment; her world had been rocked on its foundations and she needed to make time for the people who cared about her, friends as well as those who were becoming more than friends. That being said, she also was not going to let Rashaad get away that easily. She wanted, no, needed that date more than she suspected he realised... on top of which Atalia was used to getting her own way, "Not so fast!" She leaned across, taking hold of the push-rings of Rashaad's wheelchair, which also meant she drew herself quite a bit closer to him, her back arched to keep herself upright, "I'm really hoping that before we go looking for Abbott and Costello, that you're going to ask me out; I'm pretty certain that was on the cards when Allison showed up and I was definitely going to say 'yes'."

"If not," she shrugged, glancing towards Allison, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, "Well, obviously, I'll be disappointed and embarrassed in front of my friend, but I'm not going to play hard-to-get and risk missing out on what I want."

'Embarrassed' didn't seem all that likely.

Allison glanced a hard look at Rashaad, reacting poorly to his rude demeanor. She was completely oblivious to why the wheelchair bound boy was so angry. Did he not like her? Possible jealousy because of her strength and popularity? Maybe he was always rude and he was lashing out because she was nearby. Whatever the reason behind his rudeness, Allison was going to have to be wary of him for now on.

When Atalia spoke about dating, everything clicked for Allison. She had been oblivious to the fact that Rashaad was trying to ask her best friend out and she was in the way of that. She was the one being rude and interrupting their conversation. She was too worried about Atalia thinking she got abandoned that she didn’t realize what was happening in the moment.

” Oh? Oh!!” Allison quickly stood up from the ground, grinning nervously. “ I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you two were having a moment. I’ll wait inside and give you some privacy. “ Allison said as she conducted a hasty retreat inside.

Rashaad didn't know what to think. He had lost the moment, only to find the moment somehow returning full blast. He was taken aback for a minute and tried to come up with the right words to Atalia, failing miserably and only coming up with, "Uh. So, Friday then?"

That being settled, they decided to join Allison back inside. And bumped into the one of the twins and another guy. Apparently they knew him.

Ascot Rider

Ascot said to Nikolai and Jack, “I am troubled. Let’s go to the library to try and discuss -”

Then Atalia and Allison arrived where they were, along with Rashaad. A nod from Ascot as he tried to assess how to make use of this new opportunity, even as part of him fumed for some unknown reason. Some reason connected to his arrogance and inability to deal with failure, it seemed. He did not want anyone else to get Nikolai and Jack’s attention, he did not want anyone to take leadership of the efforts to rally the superpowered students except himself. This pride was burning, and if left unchecked, it could lead to his downfall - He had been rescued from said downfall twice already, and he did not intend to test fate for a third time.

So he opted for a controlled release, to acknowledge his arrogance and desire for control even though it would earn him the loathing of others, others whom he perceived to be looking for the same things. And so when Atalia, Allison, and Rashaad met with the twins and Jack, he looked at all of them and said, “They said they’re watching us - Let’s go someplace with bookshelves to make their job just a mite harder.”

There was a grim intensity in his voice, the tone of a young man who had something important dangled before him and then taken away at the last moment. It would probably rankle with Rashaad, but Ascot had to do it to prevent something worse from happening. And so the boy led the way to the library, fuming all the while except when he glanced at Jack, during which his expression relaxed and something of the old Ascot returned.

Rashaad listened to the serious younger guy. A freshman by the size and voice. Had to be. But Rashaad wasn't phased. Lot of reason to be bothered by the events of last night, and the major's presentation this morning. He simply shrugged at what Ascot said, and didn't say anything when they made their way to the library.

After having led the Sapozniks and whoever followed them into a secluded alcove of books, Ascot said, “I am feeling grim today. Apologies for my tone and for acting beyond my current age, but this pisses me off. Principal Tefford, Major Kong, and the Military Base know something, and they aren’t telling. So either we’re stuck waiting for some invisible experiment to move further, or we ‘take steps’ to find out exactly who knows what.”

A pause, “And by that, we have three or four options to gain info about what exactly do the adults know. Two are illegal and inadvisable, and the third needs your help, Rashaad - Ask your father if he can help us get a tour of the military base on Preferton.”

A second pause as Ascot tilted his head to his right, “Alternatively, we corner President Tefford while he is alone and gently ask him about what he knows. This is dangerous, especially as we’re also assuming our Good Principal has no powers himself despite being able to hear Cheshire, or that he can be easily intimidated by numbers and superior physical strength.”

Yet another halt, before Ascot continued, “And speaking of the cat, we need to secure custody or possession of that feline as hearing him is one of the ‘marks’ of having powers. We also need to make sure that everyone with powers that we know of is accounted for and that other groups of superpowered folk we come across do not act at cross-purposes. But that can come after we ask Principal Tefford what exactly is happening or after we secure a promise of a tour of the military base in Prefer Isle. That, or if we can get another plan - Do you guys have another plan?”

Then he looked at Atalia/Tali. “Sorry for any arrogance, but you mentioned having strange dreams during the beach party, right? If so, can you tell me about them? All of them, leaving no detail behind?”

Rashaad heard the plans of the guy. To be sure, a lot of it had balls. "As for dad, I'll ask for a tour. Can't hurt. But I doubt he'd let us all in on a tour. Only I might get in and maybe only someone wanting to go out for JROTC or something... Maybe Allison here. She could pass for that. I on the other hand would go because I was always wanting to be in the military before my accident. Dad might be able to arrange some kind of tour for Allison and I."

"Plan B, though? Asking the principal? That's crazy, man. Either he knows nothing, and it only raises suspicions against us. Or he knows something, and puts a target on whoever's back that asks him. No, we can't ask him. But maybe we can spy. Anyone you know good with hacking into computers? Enough to read his emails? And if not that, do we have anyone else we know that could get in a place undetected, who could eavesdrop on Mr. Tef's day?" Rashaad certainly wasn't going to volunteer Atalia to do her invisibility trick and risk her neck, but he was looking straight at her with a smile on his face.

[Fegun]

Kristen nodded at what Marcel said, aware others might be watching. Granted, many of them were breaking up into their own little cliques, or getting their things ready and starting to head out. So they might not be paying attention. The major up there was at ease, chatting with the principal. The major looked serious, but Kristen guessed that that was pretty much his natural look and nothing was at all different about his demeanor. The principal looked harried. That was pretty much normal too.

"Marcel, something is up. Everyone else is acting like a bunch of brainwashed lemmings who don't know anything, except... and I don't think it's just us who know what really happened. But we have to lay low for right now. Because that major scares me. If they can brainwash a whole school in a single night, and clean up the way they did in a short amount of time leaving only a few traces, then who knows what else they can do."

Looking around, Kristen noticed that the American flag she had been jousting with was just as it had been before, an ordinary patriotic symbol on a pole that looked relatively worn from school usage over the years. But the window on the ceiling of the gym. That was different "And there are traces of last night they didn't get to. Like that window up there that is still broken from last night, and was fine yesterday in gym class. Don't be too obvious that you're looking at it. But Marcel, we need to find out who else is acting like they don't believe the major. After the fight scene we saw last night? I'm guessing we start with those who were doing some of the... unusual... things we can do."

Kristen had been wanting to talk to Marcel since last night. The tall, gangly newcomer had seemed like one of the druggie crowd when he had first moved in and she wasn't in that clique at all. But last night, as she was racing around with a shattered flagpole in her hands, she noticed Marcel and saw the smoke coming from him. And the thought stuck in her mind, "What's the chances of two of us emitting fumes? He with his smoke, and me with my exhaust from my jets?" Which is why, she said to him, "I don't know what you do exactly, but I saw the smoke last night. And I was emitting quite a lot of smoke - well, more like exhaust fumes - as I was running around. You probably noticed me too. Honestly, I was kind of hard to miss. I bet people will be seeking me out who remember last night." And Kristen looked somewhat thoughtful.

Marcel

Marcel following her spoken thoughts with waves of expressions. Some hums of agreement, a snap of revelation, and nods of understanding. After all, was said and done however the only reaction he managed was the awkward locking together of his now very interesting hands and a tired grin. “So, gon’ preface this with an I hear you and this all very importante, but…” His palms came together with the pause and the bob of his head. “Like ya know, that’s a lot of work shawty. Already, after all this info, I’m still getting over the fact we both smokin’…” His eyes squinted as the words became distasteful on his tongue. “I mean like, emitin’ smoke, smoke powers…weird stuff. That’s wild!” still dissatisfied with his words he finished by deciding to act more than average for once. “Look, I don’t fit criteria for intelligence, radiant student, or even mediocre namean. My clothes are wrinkled to hell, I legitimately breathe smoke, but I’m not looking for trouble.” His tone was a quiet and even false conviction that masked his fear.
“I want answers too, but right now it’s just like you said ‘lay low’ plus you’re going too fast, too much thinkan’. So how about we take this one step, nah tiptoes at a time because first I want to if god is ever gonna let me live a normal life again, dos I saw what you did last night and you kinda scare ‘like damn I shouldn’t cross your shit’, and tres last night I almost died if no one came back to fight. I think we all could’ve died and then I wake up with no injuries, a hazy memory and an assembly spits in my face. Now I gotta face the system to find some answers to some crazy sickness that I don’t even want! ” He slouched and took a deep breath wondering if his vision would just turn black again. It didn’t leave him to rub his cheek again with humiliation. He realized his voice had raised on the sentence making palm his eyes in disappointment.

[Union Princes]

Maya Shimizu

The bathroom isn't too far from the auditorium, and Maya is already pushing open the door as she responds to Alis.

"Eh, you could say that," Maya answers with a shrug. "I've had appointments with him at the hospital before, mostly relating to stuff due to pretty much living by myself."

Maya leans against one of the sinks where she can keep an eye on the door if it opens while they're talking.

"In any case, I mostly just want a chance to ask you some questions. Mostly about just how many people are already caught up in this mess with us, but also in regards to seeing if some sort of cooperative network can be created. We're all out of our depth here, and I can only see things getting worse from here on out."

Alis in Maine

"Saying that this is a mess is an understatement." Cheshire corrected as he hopped off of Alis's embrace to make a new home in the bathroom sink. His owner quitely washed her hands in the background in an unoccupied sink. "Dr. Priddy drugged his daughter on sedatives, the military has declared martial law in a country that became independent from the British crown because of their qualms with martial law, and Principal Tefford seems to forget that Alis got a doctor's note that I am her emotional support animal and allowed to be in school."

"But enough about me." Cheshire yawned, "What's the questions you have on your mind?"