Hero High 3: A New World

Andrew teleported to his lab. Wanting to get started right away he loaded a wall sized water screen and started drawing diagrams and symbols. About five minutes in he he felt a presence enter the school. Ben had obviously come back from his spiritual roadtrip. He shrugged and went back to his work. He wasn't going to let something as trivial as the school's leader returning distract him. The Elemental continued writing technical mumbo jumbo on the wall screen for nearly an hour before he decided to initiate phase two. He walked over the Blaze's lab and knocked on the door.
"What is it?" an irritable voice answered. Andrew grinned and opened the door.
"Hi, grumpy!" he said cheerfully. "Help me build a van."
"... Pardon?"
"I, want you, Blayze, to assist me in the building of a van." Andrew recited slowly, as though he were teaching a young child how to construct a sentence.
"I thought we were getting a week off work." Blayze sighed. "And last I checked, building a van falls under the category of 'work'."
"Don't be a spoilsport! this week off is so we can organize a new Strikeforce team."
"And you want this van to be their main transportation?" blayze asked skeptically. "Shouldn't you be, I don't know, organizing the team first?"
Andrew snorted. "Have you no sense of showmanship? We can't put a team together till the games run, can we? This van, on the other hand, we can do now, and we can unveil it when we announce the new team! It's a brilliant strategy!"
Blayze shook his head. Andrew always acted like an excited teenager when this happened. "So, let me get this straight."
"Yea.
"You want me to help you build a state of the art hero van?"
"Yup."
"With all the new features?"
"Uhuh."
"Shielding, invisibility, surveillance equipment, etc.?"
"The works!"
"For this brand new Strikeforce team?"
"Indeed."
"And you want a prototype ready by... the end of the week?"
"Well, maybe a few days earlier. It needs to be tested."
Blayze rolled his eyes. "We had better get to work then... " In truth, he was eager to build something new. He had been mulling a few ideas over in his head for the last month or so. It would be nice to see them realized, even if it was for a van, of all things.

“ Well Katt that was some show of skill. I don’t even think I can handle a level ten simulation alone and I’m half robot.” Tori spoke in the mic of the training room.

Katt slowly straighten up; pulling her hair into a ponytail while looking at all the robots she had turn into scrap metal. “ Yeah well my healing factor saved me a dozen times over. Besides when is Blyze going to upload a new course? “

“I havn’t a clue Katt but with the Hive now being defeated I’m almost sure we’ll see a simulation of a run down New York with Hive supers and what not. Any who. What do you think about the return of Aaron? Did you see that look on Lance face? I could swear it’s like he saw a ghost.”

“Right Tori. I think it serves them both right. Don’t get me wrong Jan is my girl and Lance is cool plus we all make mistakes; but the way they ended wasn’t right at all. Now question is how is Bonnie going to take it? Here you have Lance playing house with her and rock when he couldn’t do that with his own family. If you ask me I think we’re about to see a game of monkey in the middle and Lance is going to be the one in the middle. Anyway I’m done for today Tori. I’m head up to my room take a shower. Catch you later?”

“ Sure thing Katt. I need to see how Blyze is doing anyway.”

“So is uncle Ben still around?” Aaron asked as he and DJ came toward the teachers building.

“Mr. Mason has been gone on some voodoo hoodoo trip or something. I was hoping he’d be there during the mission in New York but when another dimension calls I guess you gotta go right? What’s it to you anyway? Your not the real Aaron.” DJ answered.

“ Well technically I am the real Aaron. I just also share my body with another version of me. Reason why I ask is because I suddenly just felt his mind come from this building.”

To say the Void was empty was to imply there was a language capable of describing it. Or so the being called Luminil reflected in infinite silence. It knew the words, if only from the humans it was capable of perceiving. From them it had taken its name, Lumen ex nihilo, Light from nothing. They thought they knew their benefactor, but the very name gave them away. They would rather destroy themselves than know the horror it represented. A punishment, was it, to be sent to the infinite emptyness?

Luminil turned its attention to the opening in its domain. Only open for moments; none would dare any longer if they knew, when Nothing could escape. Did they know? A human in one of the silent voids was rare indeed, and Luminil coveted any chance it could find. The man, if it was a man, had power. Old magics, old blood, perhaps not as Luminil knew them, but the touch of spirits was upon the man. The power was bound, simply but effectively.

Luminil appeared before the man, an Avatar in his own domain. Black tendrils twisted together in human form, unnaturally tall and thin. A face appeared, pure white and marred by cracks in its forms. It stood before the human, nearly invisible save the splintered grin.

"Welcome to nowhere, Shaman," Luminil said to Gray Wolf. "How might I serve you?"

This was not amusing in the least. Not only was he out magicked by his nephew who was practically a babe compared to himself, but he was also banished into some unknown dimension of silence. If he was able to speak, Gray Wolf would be swearing vehemently.

However, he couldn't deny Benjamin's impressive skill. It was just about 5 years ago that the two crossed paths for the first time and it was Gray Wolf that revealed to Benjamin the true origin of his powers. When they battle a while after that, Gray Wolf showed his estranged nephew mercy and spared his life after a rather quick battle of magicks. Seeing as the boy was so lacking in skill, Gray Wolf knocked Benjamin around a few times and told him that he would return when Ben was more prepared to face him. He wasn't expecting the boy to far exceed him, though. And that little case of bad judgement is what goto Gray Wolf here.

He was comtemplating how long the binding spell Ben placed on him would last when he was approached by a strange shade of a man. The darkness that emanated from the man was profound. It seemed to extend all over the realm, as if the man was a physical extension of the darkness and silence himself. He also felt something ancient that he couldn't place.

When the man spoke, Gray Wolf's soul seemed to shiver. Being a shaman afforded him the ability to discern spirits from creatures of another origin, so he knew instinctively that the creature was not a spirit. He had no idea what the man was. He had never encountered anything like it before. He was intrigued. But there was no way that he could respond to the man seeing as this was a realm of silence. True, he could form words but when he attempted to speak, no sound came from his mouth.

He cocked his head at the creature. Would it know what he was thinking? Did it know that he could not speak. That his power was bound by a power far greater than his own? Gray Wolf stood there, face-to-face with the creature in the midst of nothing.

"No sound," Luminil began again, seeing the man before it unable to speak. One of many properties the Void held, separate from the world of men. Luminil did not speak, as such. Its will was simply made known to those it wished. "No light," it continued, seemingly to itself, coupled with a slight gesture above, or what passed for it. No star shone it the darkness, not now, nor ever before. Luminil leaned down towards Gray Wolf, bringing its shattered visage down to his level. "No life." Suddenly, Luminil's figure was a short distance away, seemingly without crossing the space between. For a moment it was gone, only to return in a different spot. It threw up it's tendrils in mock defiance. "No escape."

Through with the display, Luminil was beside Gray Wolf again. "And then," it said simply, "there is us."

"I have seen humanity," Luminil said. "And I have seen a little of you." A dozen black tendril reached towards Gray Wolf, stopping just short of his body. "To get nowhere holds no challenge. It is the journey, the escape, that deserves praise. I am as trapped here as you are, Shaman."

"But you have power. Your student has power. It was he who bound it, and sent you to me, though I doubt he knows what he has done. The student surpassing the master, that is the mark of an excellent teacher. That is what I want you for." Luminil withdrew the tendrils, again reaching towards the sky. This was a gift, most unexpected, but it could be most useful, done correctly. "You know there are links between worlds. The Spirit World, even this place. I have one such for you."

Luminil straightened, then began to shrink, until it was nearly a head shorter than Gray Wolf. The darkness of its form twisted, coalescing into a whole. Tendrils coiled together and became one, forming hands and feet, and Luminil's bright face darkened into something human. He appeared to be a young boy, no older than 17, though the jet black darkness still covered his skin. "This one," Luminil said from the boy's body. "A boy by the name of Pryce. He, like your own student, links your world to mine. His power is quite potent, if it could be...unlocked. He must learn of his true power, and I believe you have ways."

Luminil's form shifted again, this time exploding into bright light, though it could not reach far beyond his form. In a moment, a young girl stood before Gray Wolf, her skin shining radiantly, almost painfully bright. "The girl limits him. Her mere presence keeps the power under his control. The link will never grow so long as she stays."

Luminil produced an object from nowhere, a small black crystal, floating nearby. It was cracked, and looked to be barely holding together. "This is all that the link between worlds has come to. I can do nothing with it, but the magic of dimensions may have such power." Luminil shifted once more, and the original dark figure returned. It saw that the man was still bound, and the binding was powerful magic. The mere fact it survived in the vacuum of the Void was a testament to that. It might have challenged Luminil's Avatar, were they in the mortal world, but here, in the very center of the Void's power, there was little Luminil could not destroy. "Do you understand, shaman? Speak now, while I have granted you that power. Tell me, can you escape?"

It was as if a locked door was opened to one knocking with all his might. Gray Wolf felt his power bend to his will. Instead of being pleased, the old man frowned deeply. To be out done by someone so young was simply beneath him. As much as he did not want to admit it, his nephew had him beat and rather swiftly at that.

There battle had not been that long but t did weaken Gray Wolf extensively. If that giant woman hadn't crushed him, he could only imagine what Benjamin would have done to him. The young one was able to seemingly effortlessly deflect or cancel out his spells and magicks altogether. That came as a great surprise to the shaman. One that proved totally detrimental for him.

Even though he was explicitly and obviously caught up in his thoughts, Gray Wolf heard and saw everything the strange apparition said and did. He was less than amused by his show. When told to speak, he cleared his throat and simply said, "Are you trying to impress me?"

"I could care less about two insignificant brats and I could care less about linking the worlds. That has nothing to do with me and I want nothing to do with it. My goals relate nothing to what you speak of. So my question is why are you soliciting me? You have the power to casually break a spell so pronounced yet you are unable to free yourself from this hell hole. That is more or less a contradiction to your power, is it not?"

Luminil's avatar shook slightly, as if in laughter, though no sound issued forth from it. The Shaman was not going to be an easy victim, and Luminil would not have it any other way. It had expected an outcome like this. The human had no stake in this affair, after all. A change of tactics might be in order. "Not one for theatrics, are you?" Luminil grinned.

"The Void is power beyond understanding, I'm afraid," Luminil began. "An empty universe with but one purpose: to consume all that it touches. Once one has entered, the plane cannot be escaped."

Luminil began to take on more subdued tone, his figure slumping visibly. "I must apologize for earlier, Shaman," Luminil lied. [b]"I thought intimidation the best course, and so endeavored to appear more powerful than I truly am." Once again, the small black crystal appeared, hovering around where the shoulder might have been on a human.

"It was not my power that broke the binding, but that of the Void," Luminil continued. "I have learned to...point it in the right direction, if you will. Maybe this power could be yours..." Luminil left the thought to linger in the darkness. Power, it knew, could be a compelling force indeed. Now the bait was laid, there was but one more task.

"I have no power of my own, to escape or otherwise," Luminil straightened, facing Gray Wolf again. "But you have the magic I lack, and you may use the link. The boy's link is our only hope of escape."

Gray Wolf eyed the ever changing creature with a rather expressionless gaze. "You say you have no power on your own, yet you are able to direct one you claim is so magnanimous. You stand here, changing form and shifting from one spot to another instantaneously. That is not power?" Gray Wolf casually waved the creature off.

"Do not insult my intelligence, please? You think I cannot feel the power you emanate? The ancientness of that power? Of yourself? To be perfectly honest, I get the sense that you are exponentially more powerful than I could ever hope to be? Deny it if you will but you would have to explain yourself if you do."

Skiptacularthon!

2 Days later...

"What's this thing supposed to be?" Said a tired and drained Andrew. He was in the Blayze's testing room - A large bunker that was built below their laboratories. Standing a few metres away was Blayze. He seemed reluctant to cross the gap between them. A gap which at the moment was full of shimmering air and nothing else.
"This is the van you wanted so much." The school's tech-expert replied."
"Don't tell me... It's invisible?"
Blayze snapped his fingers, and the the shimmering air suddenly vanished, leaving in its place a large gray vehicle. Its windows were tinted, so Andrew could only guess what was inside.. "You said this new team was for covert operations only, right?"
"I did."
"well, I figured, the best way to remain invisible was... Well, to be invisible. What do you think?"
"I think it needs a paint job."
Blayze gritted his teeth. He knew Andrew was goading him to reveal the secrets inside the truck. "The van's outer skin is made from nanotech - No need to fix what's broken. It doesn't need painting - it can be any colour or 'skin' you program it to be, including invisibility. It can also be used to write messages." Blayze drew a smilie face on the computer pad he was holding, and one appeared on the side of the van.
"I based the nanobots after the one's on Liam's suit, so it will be - "
Blaze was cut off when Andrew suddenly launched a blast of lightning at the van. It shook, but the electricity flowed around it like water, eventually dissipating.
" - Resistant to lightning and fire."Blayze continued, shaking his head.
"Interesting." Andrew noted. "Why didn't it fall over. That blast would have knocked a redwood down."
"Thought you'd ask. I used quantum locking."
"You're joking!"
"Nope. If my theory is correct, and it better damn well be, this van should always land on its wheels, no matter the circumstances."
"Crazy..."

"So, Strike Force did pretty well in New York? Even after the heroes got there," Ben asked Jordan. When he returned to the school two days ago, Ben didn't see anyone but Katt and Andy. He spoke to Andrew, Jordan and Julian but he told them that he wanted to spend some time with his family and that he'd get back with them in a couple of days. And today was the day.

He'd already talked to Julian. And the things Ben were told were more than alarming. He'd have to inform the rest of the heroes and SF on those matters but for now, he was hearing about the Hive mission. "They really took charge. They requested help, like, a day after they got there but considering how bad things actually were, that was a good call.

"Everyone except me, Katt and Tori went and the Ghost Squad helped out, too. I'm pretty sure the GO told you all about that." Jordan filled Ben in on all the details, including Lance's return, Rock's reempowerment, Liam's and Leon's predicament, and the new residents at the school. He even told Ben about what was said by the two military brass that took over the Hive cleanup.

"Well that is a lot to deal with," Ben exhaled. He knew that he'd be behind on his responsibilities in the human world once he returned but he wasn't counting on being in the Spirit world for over six months and he definitely was not expecting all of that to happen in just a few short days.

"Thank you for the update, Jordan. Apparently, I have my work cut out for me." Ben left the demigod's office thinking about who he should talk to next. He certainly had a variety of choices. He decided to go look for Andrew and see if he had any information for him.

(slight godmod - sorry)

When Ben reached the underground testing area, the sound of loud banging and crashing, as well as an odd crackling noise could be heard. The door opened, and there they were - Blayze and Andrew, laying into the brand new van with everything they had. Andrew with blasts of lightning, Blayze with fire. The van was being thrown this way and that by the two teachers, making a huge racket. Despite the beating it was receiving, the van appeared undamaged, and true to Blayze's word, it always found a way to land back on its wheels.
"believe me now?" Blayze asked, in a 'I told you so' voice.
"Yea, yea." Andrew replied. He turned around. "Oh hey Ben. Just testing out the new toy. Hows it going?"

Ben slowly walked into the testing area with a suppressed looked of amusement. "I am fine, in spite of the distressing news both Jordan and Julian just gave me." He stopped next to the tank-like van, sizing it up. "Why do we have a new toy? And why does it look luke it could survive an explosion?"

Edit

The foccer game was in two short days and Greg was fuming. Practice was well underway and he was reduced to simply watching from the bleachers. Unanticipated blasts of lightning wouldn't sit well on a field with a big metallic ball and other students chasing after said ball. He couldn't wait until he had complete control over his powers and emotions.

Not that Greg wasn't putting in the effort. He was training with his personal teacher as often as he could and he was getting better. Storm clouds didn't gather when he was sad anymore. Thunder no longer rumbled when he was pissed. He didn't blast a hole in the wall when he sneezed. At least not as often.

He was reserved to the fact that he might never have complete control over the weather and often thought that he was just able to influence it. Either way, Greg was okay with that so long as he didn't harm anyone on accident. He would gracefully take sitting in the bleachers in stride if it meant that no one would get fried because of him. Luckily for him, however, that Sam girl wasn't gonna be playing in this game either. That made him smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Uriah was ecstatic. He finally gathered up the courage to ask Clara out. She smiled and said that she was waiting on him to ask her out since she first met him. They would be attending the foccer game on Friday together and then going out to the movies after that. How lucky was he that his parents just sent him two hundred dollars two days ago.

He went to visit Leon in the infirmary earlier today. Strike Force's leader was stable but still unconscious. Tech made a device that was able to predict when Leon was about to release a shockwave and form some kind of protective field around him that would absorb the blast. No one told him why Leon's powers were out of whack but Uriah had a feeling that it had something to do with the nanites that were now bonded to his arm.

He figured that someone would be trying to figure it all out as they were working on both Leon and Liam. Uriah thought the best he could do was come visit as often as he could and show his support the best way he knew how. He knee they'd both get better. They had to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Caleb was bored. No classes for an entire week sounded like a little slice of heaven the moment the subject was broached but now that he was in the midst of it, he was ready for it to be over. The fact that there were no missions to carry out was another surprising bummer. After what they just went through last week, Caleb was shocked at himself for wanting to be back out in the field so soon. His leader was unconscious and a good chunk of civilians were dead.

He couldn't say anything to Uriah because he would find a way to steer the conversation to him and Clara. He was happy for his friend but that didn't mean that he wanted to hear about his love life all the time. And Naomi was so busy getting reacclimated to the school and catching back up with the teachers, he barely got to see her. What Caleb needed was something that was able to hold his attention until classes restarted or SF was called to duty. But what?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naomi thought the new school was awesome. It had something for everyone. Various sports areas; workout centers; more dorms; a bigger and better training facility. Even the two cafeterias had better food. She didn't know how to take the fact that the government was involved in everything at the school but she had to admit that their collective pockets made this place what it is. At least material wise.

She was also visiting the teachers. She saw most of them in NY so she started with Jordan, Katt and Tori. Tori was excited to hear about everything that happened after she graduated from the school and was visibly disappointed that Naomi couldn't offer anything interesting other than a few vigilante stories.

When she went to see Katt, they spoke a little longer and she challenged Naomi to a duel of skill. Laughing at first, the former student saw the seriousness in the teacher's eyes and quickly changed the subject to her and Ben. Apparently, the Dean had been on one of his magical journeys and only recently returned. Andy was doing fine and more than likely would want to know all about her boring escapades in the Big Apple.

Jordan, the strong silent type kept it short and sweet. He was happy to see her; they talked about the various students and age range and; weather or not shed try to join the heroes team.

She went to visit Liam and Leon later and sat with them for a while before going to catch up with the other teahers. After that, she went to find Caleb. They hadn't really had a chance to hang since returning to the school and they had a lot of catching up to do. While she was looking for him, she happened into DJ and a very much alive Aaron.

The latter explained who and what he was and that only served to confuse Naomi even further. She simply stated that it was good to see him alive, or back and asked if he could point her in the right direction of Caleb and then she was on her way.

Originally posted by The Big O
Ben slowly walked into the testing area with a suppressed looked of amusement. "I am fine, in spite of the distressing news both Jordan and Julian just gave me." He stopped next to the tank-like van, sizing it up. "Why do we have a new toy? And why does it look look it could survive an explosion?"

Ben crossed his arms as he thought about what Andrew was saying. He always had a plan and they were always well thought out. He couldn't remember the last time Andrew led the team wrong. He had a lot of questions but he said, "I think it is a great idea. But considering Julian's approval has already been given, how is the team going to operate in secrecy? The government would be on top of us at the crack of a whip with the way they sniff around here."

Gaku had woke up to a nice day lifting up from his bed he took a deep breath and hopped in his shower washing away his sleep. after finishing he brushed his teeth and put on a blue sleeveless sweat suit version of his many of the same outfits. Afterwards Gaku waved to his guitar and bass seeing as he couldn't bring them along today. Gaku then made his way outside to the yard where he started his exercise consisting of running around the school and every 10 minutes he would stop to do 100 push ups. 2 hours later after completing his last set of push ups ending him up next to the foccer field and felt like he needed some practice. In truth he was looking forward to seeing all his new friends along with his favorite teacher Mr. Brok who he still owed punishment to. Gaku walked up to the foccer shed rummaging through it found a ball launcher which he dumped foccer balls in and carried it to the field. Gaku placed it down and pointed it at the goal positioning it and then pushing the delayed start timer giving him enough time to get ready inside the goal ready to defend. A small group of girls were walking by when they recognized Gaku from the beginning of the school party where he played in front of the whole school. They thought he was cute and sat down in the stands watching him and one of them seemed very nervous. Gaku took a deep breath focusing himself waiting for the metal heavy foccer ball to come flying at him at high speeds. In an instant the launcher shot the first ball with huge force towards him. Gaku twisted his body downward towards the left turning himself into a backwards spin kick connecting his foot to the ball. Gakus kick pushed flung the ball past the launcher and into the ground burying it in a small crater. Gaku had to control where he was blocking seeing as he didn't have the force field for the foccer field and that people where around. His kick alone had the girls in aw but he payed them no mind staying focused. this time the machine sped up shooting two balls at him. This forced Gaku to us his hands, touching the first ball with his right hand at a 90 degree angle redirecting it towards the second ball knocking them both out of the wayand on to the ground. This continued for an hour and a half till he ran out of balls and at the same time wanted to see his friends and his teacher. Gaku started to pick up the foccer balls and the launcher carrying them back to the foccer shed. After he put every thing away he turned from the shed and was confronted by the nervous girl that was on the bleachers with her friends holding a towel. She gave him the towel to wipe his face after practicing hard, she gave off a nervous look like she wanted to say something but was hard to do. Gaku excepted the towel and wiped his face. "Grazie for the towel and your name is" "Hi um ah my name is M.... Mary" "Ciao Mary what a beautiful name how may I help you today" "W... Well in truth um.... I....I ... I like you W... Will you go out with me" Gaku was shocked to hear this it was the first time a girl had confessed to him but he knew that he couldn't return her feelings seeing as he liked someone else, but he knew he had to let her down gently. " Mary I'm sorry I wish i could say the same but it seems i can't I am interested in someone right now. But don't beat yourself up or feel sad guy's like me are every where and I know you will find someone way better then me that feels the same way about you. But one thing I can do is be your friend if thats okay." The girl looked crushed but recovered from Gakus words she still seemed sad from his answer but was a little happy. "Sure I'd Like that" Gaku smiled and then walked out of the area looking around for Mr. Brok

Originally posted by The Big O
Ben crossed his arms as he thought about what Andrew was saying. He always had a plan and they were always well thought out. He couldn't remember the last time Andrew led the team wrong. He had a lot of questions but he said, "I think it is a great idea. But considering Julian's approval has already been given, how is the team going to operate in secrecy? The government would be on top of us at the crack of a whip with the way they sniff around here."

Originally posted by Regelion1
"Grazie for the towel and your name is" "Hi um ah my name is M.... Mary" "Ciao Mary what a beautiful name how may I help you today" "W... Well in truth um.... I....I ... I like you W... Will you go out with me" Gaku was shocked to hear this it was the first time a girl had confessed to him but he knew that he couldn't return her feelings seeing as he liked someone else, but he knew he had to let her down gently. " Mary I'm sorry I wish i could say the same but it seems i can't I am interested in someone right now. But don't beat yourself up or feel sad guy's like me are every where and I know you will find someone way better then me that feels the same way about you. But one thing I can do is be your friend if thats okay." The girl looked crushed but recovered from Gakus words she still seemed sad from his answer but was a little happy. "Sure I'd Like that" Gaku smiled and then walked out of the area looking around for Mr. Brok

Vincent raised an eyebrow at what he had just witnessed. He had kept himself hidden, not wanting to disturb the kid who was training. He had wanted the ball shooter, but there was only one, and it was being used. When the flustered girl and the boy walked off, he moved from his hiding place and to the shed. He grabbed the ball shooter and balls, creating extra golden hands to carry the lot to the pitch for him as he started stretching. After about ten minutes of this, he started his training.
Vincent placed one golden hand on the the shooter, and it started aiming it in random directions. As it fired, the teen did his best to try and get each ball and put it through the nearest goal as they flew all over the pitch. He was mostly successful. After two full minutes of this display, he had only missed five balls. It was tiring work, but he had to keep going if he wanted to win. After a five minute break, Vincent began his next exercise, he summoned all four of his robotic knights - Something he had spent the last two days working on. They stood there, glimmering in the sunlight, waiting for their instructions. Vincent got a pair of foccer balls from the pile and placed them on the ground. "I want you to try and take these from me. The usual stuff," he told his knights, and they creaked a response. Almost immediately they leaped at him, one after the other, as Vincent himself darted away, dribbling both balls at once. They were faster and stronger than he was, and it took all of his skill to keep the two balls out of their reach.
After a full ten minutes of this, vincent was spent. He managed one final leap high into the air with his golden feet, taking the balls with him. There was a huge racket, as all four knights crashed into each other below him. "D-Dismissed," he panted, and they all disappeared in a flash, just as he touched down, the foccer balls rolling away from him. He fell onto his back and just lay there, catching his breath. He was definitely improving. In fact, it was only a matter of time before he would not only reach his limitations, but surpass them.

"So this week off stuff is great, isn't it," Simon asked Tori. The two met up near the cafeteria and decided to grab lunch together. Ever since Tori was turned into a cyborg a few years ago, Simon wasn't sure if she even ate anymore. He never saw her snack on anything. She didn't even want any Snickers when Simon offered her some a few days ago and he thought a crime in itself. Who didn't like Snickers?

But as of right now, he was concerned about how to get enough food on his tray. Tori grabbed another tray and carried his extra food for him. She remarked, "I don't know how someone as skinny as you could eat as much as you do and not gain a pound. Most of the females here hate you for that, you know?"

"Its a product of great genes," he shrugged as he shoved a spoonful of pudding in his mouth. "Being part Shadow creature affords me a high metabolism considering the boosted physical capabilities we have."

And that's how their conversation went for an hour and a half. They spent the entire time getting caught up with each other. Simon felt like the teachers could spend a little more tine with each other. Considering how long they all have been working together, he didn't feel as if he really knew his teammates. Of course he and Ben were close. They've been best friends since they were just students at the school.

He also knew that Tori, Katt and Janet hung out together. Everyone knew that wherever you found Blayze, Tech wasn't far away. Now that Bonnie was on the hero team and both Lance and Aaron were back, a lot of the others were sort of walking on eggshells around that quartet. Both Bonnie and Lance were kinda of the black sheeps of the team. Simon didn't think that was fair but it wasn't his business and he couldn't make everyone get along with each other. He could only handle himself.

He'd been playing with the idea of asking Ben if the hero team could go on a retreat together. They needed to get reaquainted with each other. How could they expect to teach all of the people at the school how to harness their abilities and assimilate into as normal a life as possible if they weren't setting an example. Sure, things were going okay right now but the new school had only recently opened its doors. Everybody was still getting acclimated to everything.

But he wondered how things would be at the end of the school year. Would things really work out well enough so more schools could be built? Andrew's wife, Jane, was doing everything in her power to make sure the various governments involved were upholding their end of the deal. She dropped in every once in a while to inform Ben and Julian of the progress and spend time with Andrew and the others.

As they were leaving the caf, Simon was wondering when he would next get to spend some time with Tori, or anyone else from that matter.

Sam's day start as usual, meditation, jogging and breakfast. After her morning routine she headed down to the foc/cer field to see the other kids practice, one or more of them might be her new team mate so she thought it was a good idea to see them in action. Sam took her usual spot on the bleachers a roll down from Greg, she noticed he was also watching the players practice a lot and it looked like he wanted to play. They had talk a couple times but only small talk like the weather or something. Sam waved at the boy then looked down at the field to see Gaku finish up his practice, he was pretty impressive he had lots of stamina and he was pretty good with controlling the ball. When he walked away with the girl she noticed Vincent come out of nowhere and take the field. She watched him practice and as usual he put on a good show, he was certainly good at foc/cer but was that the extent of his talent, how was he in a fight? She would have to find out some time. Then out the corner of her eye she noticed the speed demon herself enter the field making a B line for Vincent.

Zero stopped one of the balls from rolling and kicked it up into the air and started juggling it. She was only able to do this after days of practice and many visits to Sam to heal her legs. Now it was cake to kick the ball and but she still had to be careful not to hit it too hard and break her bone. "Aww your already done? come on you have to play target for me." Zero said. She had grown a liking to Vincent after only a few days of knowing him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daniel Springfield made his way from the schools library to the cafeteria. The wizard was spending a lot of his stay at the school reading and catching up on things he missed after he had left the school years ago. His nose was in a book so he didn't see the two teachers walking away from the cafeteria and almost slammed right into them but fortunately he was able to dance around the two but accidently dropped his book, the spellcaster hurried and bent to pick his book up. "Oh, so very sorry, I wasn't looking were I was going," he said not yet looking up at the two.