The sun was just beginning to peek over the treetops when Grayson arrived at the forest front. There, waiting in various states of impatience, were his friends, each eyeing the surroundings with the same sense of disbelief and excitement. They knew something had changed, but the question lingered—what exactly?

"Well," Grayson said, breaking the silence, "guess we’re all here to figure out if yesterday was a one-time thing or… if we’ve actually got something."

Noah smirked, stretching his arms as if preparing for a sports event. "Let’s hope this turns out better than that blackout episode."

They found a small clearing shielded by thick trees where the morning light filtered in, casting patterns on the ground. It was the perfect spot to test things out without much risk of drawing attention.

"Okay, who’s up first?" Liam asked, grinning as he looked around at each of them. "Or should I say, who’s brave enough?"

Without waiting, Everett stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I’ve been feeling like static electricity’s coursing through me all morning. Might as well see if I can shock some sense into one of you."

The group laughed, but their chuckles quickly turned to surprise when Everett brushed his fingers against Noah’s shoulder and sent a tiny jolt through him.

“Ow!” Noah yelped, jumping back. He rubbed his shoulder, a look of startled amusement crossing his face. “Alright, lightning boy. You’ve got some juice.”

Everett beamed. “Told you I felt something. Just call me the human taser.”

Meanwhile, Liam crouched down, his eyes fixed on a small pile of dried leaves he’d gathered earlier. With a look of intense concentration, he extended his fingers toward the leaves. The others watched as a thin wisp of smoke began to rise. Slowly, a flame sparked, small but steady, casting a warm glow on Liam’s face.

"Campfire, anyone?" Liam grinned, looking up at the others, pride unmistakable on his face.

Grayson crossed his arms, eyebrows raised. "Not bad, pyromancer."

They went one by one, each testing out what they could do. Steven adjusted his glasses, focusing on a small cut he’d gotten the other day. In a few moments, his skin began to knit together, leaving only a faint scar.

“Whoa, impressive,” Tristan said, watching in awe. “It’s like you’ve got your own built-in first-aid kit.”

“I’d probably be out of a job if this becomes normal,” Steven joked, grinning as he examined the spot where the cut had healed.

Grayson observed each of them, a mix of pride and intrigue filling him. The possibilities of what they could do, and how much they could grow these powers, were thrilling.

Liam looked around, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Alright, enough showing off. Who’s up for a little game of tag? Let’s see who can actually use their skills to dodge.”

Noah immediately perked up, cracking his knuckles. “Oh, you’re so on, Liam. But don’t be surprised if you can’t keep up.”

Liam smirked, touching his fingertips together in a mock villainous pose. “Catch me if you can, fire dodgers!”

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With that, he bolted, weaving through the trees and daring anyone to catch him. The others scattered, laughter echoing through the forest as they each took off in pursuit. Grayson hung back for a moment, assessing his best approach.

Everett darted to the side, ducking behind a tree, and tried sneaking up on Liam from an angle. But just as he got close, Noah charged past him, his eyes wild with adrenaline.

“Rage mode, activate!” Noah shouted with a grin, his whole body surging forward with a sudden burst of speed, leaving Everett spinning in place. He dashed ahead, closing in on Liam, who looked over his shoulder with an expression of shock.

“No fair!” Liam called out, trying to zigzag around some fallen branches. But Noah was gaining fast, feet pounding like a drumbeat through the forest.

Grayson decided it was time to give his own ability a try. He concentrated, focusing on a spot just in front of Liam. That tingling, almost electric sensation spread through him, and in a flash, he felt his atoms disperse, his form fading in and out of existence as he teleported instantly to the targeted spot.

In a blink, Grayson reappeared right in front of Liam, arms crossed, grinning.

“Boo,” he said, and Liam skidded to a stop, breathless.

“What?!” Liam gasped, looking around to see if anyone else had seen. “Since when can you… teleport?!”

“Since, well… about five seconds ago, I think,” Grayson replied, trying to keep the casual cool in his voice. “Guess I win this round of tag.”

Before they could catch their breath, Noah barrelled through the trees and came to a halt next to them, grinning. “Looks like you’re not the only one with new moves, Grayson.”

Liam threw his hands up in mock defeat. “Great. Super-speed, teleportation—no one stands a chance against you two!”

The group laughed, energised by the fun and a growing sense of camaraderie. Even though they didn’t yet understand their powers fully, the forest rang with the sound of their playful shouts and laughter. There was no denying it: they were changing, and with each game, each new spark or burst of energy, they grew more confident in what they could do.

~ ~ ~

The group finally stopped near a fallen tree, breathless from their game of tag. They sprawled out on the soft forest floor, gazing up through the branches at patches of sky breaking through. The adrenaline was slowly wearing off, replaced by a pleasant exhaustion and an easy silence.

Noah, leaning back with his hands behind his head, was the first to break it. “So, I know we’re having a blast learning these powers, but… does anyone else wonder if we’re supposed to do something with them? Like, really do something?”

Everett gave a small nod, brushing a stray leaf off his shoulder. “Yeah. I mean, we’ve all heard the whispers. This tension between humans and the robots is getting worse. I heard the last skirmish was brutal.”

Liam looked around, a faint frown settling on his usually bright face. “We’re just kids, though. Can we really make a difference? I mean, sure, we have these powers, but we barely know how to control them.”

Grayson stayed quiet, listening to the others. He didn’t voice it, but part of him wondered if they’d already been pulled into something much bigger than a game of tag. The sudden awakening of their abilities, the strange blackout—none of it felt coincidental. The more he thought about it, the more it felt like they were being prepared for something.

“I think we might have to,” Steven said thoughtfully, adjusting his glasses. “Think about it. If we’re already learning these things, what if there’s a reason? Maybe it’s not just about survival. Maybe we’re… part of the solution.”

The others looked at him, each one digesting his words. Grayson could see the doubt, but also a spark of hope in their eyes. He couldn’t help but add, “Who knows? Maybe we’ll become something like guardians, fighting to keep everyone safe. Or we’ll at least try, right?”

“Right,” Noah replied, punching Grayson lightly on the shoulder. “Whatever it takes.”

“Hey, if it means we get to stop people from getting hurt, then count me in,” Liam added, his grin returning. “Besides, we’re a pretty unbeatable team.”

The conversation quieted again, but there was a new energy between them—a sense of purpose. They didn’t know how yet, but each of them seemed ready, or at least willing, to find out what role they could play in the war.