After a few more moments of standing in bewildered silence, I took action, or as much action I could in my broken-down state. Shuffling back down towards the commotion I staggered to one of the suits who just got off the phone.

"Excuse me but uh, what will happen to Mr. Richards?" I questioned boldly.

He glanced at me in confusion, his attention split from talking on the phone and me.

"Eh? Scaddadle kid, go talk with one of the guys over there for instructions on what to do," he pointed to my right and scoffed as he turned and sauntered over to another suit who was on the phone as well.

I crinkled my nose in annoyance, of course, he wouldn't tell me anything, all I am in his eyes is a child. Although I guess I am, but that's not the point, it's the principle of not being rude. Shifting to face where he pointed a noticed a small group of people in similar black suits and ties, talking with the other kids who made it out.

After a quick sweep of the group I thankfully picked out Ashley, Julian, Jayden, Ana, and even Mack. Most of them looked relatively fine on physically, (outside of some small cuts) although each and every one of them had their shoulders hunched over. As if they were carrying a burden that threatened to flatten them out on the ground if they weren't strong enough to keep standing. With a small smile plastered on my face, I ambled towards the edge of the small group.

"What's poppin?" I asked softly, trying to bring up the mood.

But to no avail as when Ashley turned to face me her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks were shining. Julian turned as well, his wings seemed to be tucked into his back which explains how I didn't notice it earlier. Although he wasn't crying he still carried a haunted expression, something I didn't judge for a second due to what they just endured.

"These guys are talking to everyone who was inside, you should be called up soon as everyone is almost finished up," he answered softly.

I slowly nodded as I turned my attention to one of the men who was talking delicately with a sniffling dark-haired girl that I recognized to be the girl who could sparkle. A Super with a power that would seem relatively useless in real life (other than impressing people at parties) survived an ordeal that a world-renowned legend did not. Ah fate, thou art a heartless bitch, well if I believed in fate anywho.

"How's everyone holding up?" I murmured to Julian who was staring at Ashley being consoled by Ana.

It took a few moments for the question to get through to Julian before he responded.

"Well, as you can tell everyone is pretty down right now, how about you?" He responded.

I didn't want to tell him how I really felt because I really didn't know. I mean, I've already regarded the same people who escaped, who cried, who sat with fear struck in their hearts, as "they." As if I wasn't in the same boat with them, or rather I was, but I was on the poop deck while they were under the brig. I just really wasn't feeling it, maybe after a cold shower, I would.

"Peachy." I uttered back.

We stood like that for a while, Ana tried amalgamating Ashley streaks of rainbows that danced off her fingertips, but each color was muted, dulled, like seeing it in through dark sunglasses. Or maybe it was fine and it was just me who was seeing everything a little bit of a bleak tint.

"Is there anyone else who hasn't spoken?" One of the suits up front called out.

Everyone turned heads to see if there was anyone who hadn't, after a few seconds of contemplation I decided to go up. I mean, they were gonna find out that I was in there anyway, might as well rip off the band-aid now. I was curious as well and wanted to ask some questions of my own.

After catching his eyes he gestured for me to sit down in and asked, "And you are?"

"Chase Millers" I responded while I plopped myself into the seat.

I fidgeted with a bandage on my forearm while the man checked a clipboard that I didn't notice before. What was the point of calling out if there was anyone else if he had a list of names? If the list had our names on them anyway, after a few more tense seconds of waiting he finally looked up from his clipboard.

"So why don't you walk me through what happened Chase." His deep voice annunciated.

I took one more look at Ashley before steeling myself, if she could go through this so could I.

"Okay, it started when I walked into the training room to workout," I started.

I explained everything that happened in as accurate as possible, a tip that I took from watching cop shows, every detail matters to apprehend whatever criminal did whatever heinous deed. Although I may have embellished slightly on some accounts it was it was the same account really, I was just painted in a bit of a light shine. For I think if I thoroughly explained what I felt they might commission a therapist. Oddly enough I didn't stutter, I didn't cry, I didn't even blink when going over the deathly bits. Something told me I should've felt something, but all I felt was anxious.

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Throughout my whole spiel, the man (who did not give me his name) made some small notes on his clipboard and nodded faintly during some key parts of my recollection of events. All in all, it was much as I expected really.

"That's when I got to the surface" I ended with an anti-climactic flourish.

He said nothing as he reviewed his notes on his clipboard. For some reason, my heart was beating a little faster than normal as I waited.

"Is that the bronze guy that you mentioned earlier?" He said as he pointed behind me.

I followed his gaze until my eyes rested upon Bronzie, he was in worse shape than the last time I saw him, which was an achievement in itself. There were dents and intrusions n his metallic skin that countered my masterpiece in his chest. The clear crystal seemed to be much more ingrained than I had previously thought. Like veins, the crystal-like mineral spider-webbed from the core area of his heart. Maybe a small part of me should've felt horrified by what I've done but all I felt was pure satisfaction.

"And you admit to doing that to him?" He questioned further.

"Yeah," I said hesitantly.

Maybe I should've pleaded the fifth or some crap like that, but it wasn't like I didn't do anything wrong. It was self-defense, but as I looked back at the man who seemed to be still alive due to all the paramedics around him it may look like I was the problem. Even if I put him on his deathbed, he was part of an attack on a government facility. I don't think he'd get any mercy. I hope he wouldn't at least.

He made some more notes on his stupid clipboard for a few seconds before looking at me once more.

"Okay, since you became a Super in the Greensdale Project I'm assuming you want to continue your journey to become a Hero?" He questioned once again.

I nodded in reply before he continued.

"Due to being part of the project you get to be automatically entered into the admission stage for the Academy, although how you do on that and if you succeed or flunk out is entirely up to you, as they will give you no special treatment." he went on in a practiced speech.

This time he leaned forward and said more sincerely "I hope you do well and succeed, there aren't many people who would fight back the way you did. Personally, I would give you a medal, but don't get a big head now okay?"

"Yeah okay, thank you," I answered sincerely.

He nodded once before turning his head to face the group that seemed to be dwindling slowly as parents arrived, "Anyone else?"

Taking my cue to leave I walked over to where Ashley, Julian, Ana, and Jayden were standing and talking amongst themselves. Their faint words faded away as I joined them, I didn't know if that was either a good sign or a bad one.

"What's sloshin around the bucket?" I jokingly asked hoping once again to no avail that I can bring up the mood.

I got various expression replies to this, Julian rolled his eyes, Ashley and Ana simply looked at the floor and Jayden. Jayden repeatedly dropped a rock from his hand and watched it fall to the floor as if it would share the secrets of the universe.

I tried again, "Uh, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for... before, ya know down there. I was just a little, high strung."

Julian patted me on the back with forgiveness (which I appreciated), Ana gave me a small supporting smile even though she didn't even see it, and Jayden kept playing with his rocks. The main reason I apologized had her eyes glued to the ground. Oh well, I'll talk to her in private.

Hopefully.

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I hated long lines, especially ones where everyone is anxious to leave.

"Uhm, just give me a minute, I know I have coin-purse in here somewhere" The women in front of me apologized while she rummaged in the goliath of a bag that hung around her shoulder.

After another minute of her rambling, I just couldn't take it anymore, "Here I got it," I said as I handed the five to pay for the two coffees that she ordered.

I could practically touch the relief that flooded through everyone in the line and the cashier as I handed him the five.

"Thank you so much," She said with a smile as she took her two coffees and left the building.

At least have your money ready to play with while you wait in a five-minute line, it's common courtesy. I glanced back at my partner who was sitting with a pained expression on his face, ugh another one? It's already five and I don't get paid by the hour, I quickly ordered my own double-coffee and paid the cashier. After collecting our coffees I sauntered over to join my partner at the table.

"Find anyone new?" I questioned hoping upon hope he would say no.

Since he didn't respond I started to blow on my coffee to cool it down as I waited. Due to the increase of the circle we have been finding more and more Supers for the Boss's plans, all thanks due to Alex. A powerful Sensor who could tell if someone was a Super in a radius of around five miles, and could store different auras and recognize old ones.

After what felt like an eternity he answered with "Yes, it's faint but powerful at the same time."

I sighed heavily as I stared longingly at my coffee that I would not be enjoying in peace.

"How far Alex?"

His eye twitched slightly before answering, "Maybe ten minutes? It's close."

He grabbed his cup before I lead the way to our sleek, black convertible, a car that seemed redundant to Alex but a luxury that I enjoyed, no needed, due to the Arizona heat.

It took actually twenty minutes to arrive at the location due to Alex's habitual way of not being able to tell directions. One point he was sure it was straight east, the next he is swearing up and down its north.

"You sure this's the place?" I asked slowly.

Although Alex has never been wrong this has been a first for both of us, and I wasn't dying to enter this place.

"Of course, I'm zeroing in now, just give me a minute," Alex answered as he led me into the cemetery.

We walked seemingly aimlessly around the graves and tombs for a few minutes, although it wasn't aimless to Alex. I wasn't here to help track potential Supers, I was here as the muscle. In case of any problems arrive that I need to... deal with.

"So how powerful would you say," I asked casually.

Without missing a beat of his incoherent walking he replied "I was hesitant at first to comment on it but as I come closer it's becoming more clear, this person, whoever he or she is, is powerful. Possibly an upper Class Two."

My jaw practically hit the ground at this news, an upper Class Two was as strong as it was rare, which is to say stupidly powerful. I was only a Class Four and I'm pretty influential around the community, the boss himself was a Class One which shows the strength of this individual. After a few more minutes he stopped in front of a tombstone, not a gardener or something that was working on the tombs.

"Uh, are you sure?" I asked as I stared at the tomb.

"Positive, better call for backup and for some shovels we're digging up a casket," Alex responded with no remorse as we both read the words on the stone.

Here lies Andre Millers

A boy with a smile that could light up the world.