The days passed with few major events happening. There was training and classes, but little else. Conner gathered hardly any information, and Kimberly was beginning to get bored from having so little to do. That was about to change, however. 

Conner and Kimberly watched as the Danger Room transformed to suit the appearance of a high school gym. Kimberly was still fascinated by how the Danger Room could do that, but Conner was already unimpressed and had accepted it for what it could do. Then came the unexpected appearance of the doppelgangers. 

Kimberly merely charged forward, taking wide swings at her doppelganger, who was merely dodging her attacks with sidesteps and jumps backward. Then the doppelganger ducked under a punch, and delivered a punch itself to her stomach. Kimberly clutched her stomach as she took a step back, stunned, which gave the doppelganger enough time to deliver a kick to Kimberly's upper body, knocking her several feet away onto her back. Frustrated, Kimberly got back up to take her clone on again.

Meanwhile, Conner was staring at his doppelganger. His clone was one of the few, if not the only one, that did not rush in to attack the original. Watching a few of the other fights through his peripheral vision, Conner noted that the clones could use the original's powers, at least to a certain extent. Finally, Conner's doppelganger walked forward. Conner, wary of attacks, walked forward as well. The two stopped inches away from each other, neither one throwing a punch or anything. Finally, Conner's doppelganger spoke, "[color=0076a3]You think you're weak. You think you can't do anything without your friend.[/color]" Conner, unimpressed, responded, "[color=00aeef]A psychological attack? It's what I'd do if I was fighting myself, but you'll have to come up with better than that if you wanted to hurt me.[/color]" The clone smiled, continuing, "[color=0076a3]Very well. So, what CAN you do? Nothing, that's what. You believe that you're useless compared to everyone else, even Kimberly. You're the only abnormal in a world of abnormals. You can't shoot lightning. You don't have super strength. All you can do is leech off other people's powers, and you try to hide that by submerging yourself in academics and studies. In the end, you don't belong anywhere. Not with normal people who've shunned you. Not with these folk who don't understand you. Nowhere at all.[/color]" 

Conner sighed. "[color=00aeef]I came to terms with that a long time ago,[/color]" Conner said. "[color=00aeef]Every word you've said is true. My power is not like most others. Still, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and I am no exception. I will never surpass or even reach people physically, but I can do so intellectually. With that intellect, even if no place exists for me, I will simply make a place for myself. No one has to give one to me.[/color]" The doppelganger was silent for a moment, then asked, "[color=0076a3]Is that your answer?[/color]" Conner responded curtly, "[color=00aeef]It is.[/color]" "[color=0076a3]How cliche,[/color]" Conner's doppelganger said. "[color=0076a3]Still, it's probably the best answer for you.[/color]" Turning around, the doppelganger waved a hand dismissively and said, "[color=0076a3]I concede.[/color]"

With that done, Conner looked around to find Kimberly, and found her on the ground struggling, and failing, to escape the pin her doppelganger had on her. "[color=ed1c24]Ok, I give up![/color]" Kimberly said, and the clone got off her. "[color=9e0b0f]Maybe next time,[/color]" the doppelganger said mockingly before leaving.

"[color=00aeef]Well, that looked embarrassing,[/color]" Conner said as he extended a hand down to help Kimberly up. "[color=ed1c24]Hmph. How badly did you get beaten up?[/color]" Kimberly asked as she took Conner's hand. 

"[color=00aeef]I won,[/color]" Conner responded. 

"[color=ed1c24]You liar,[/color]" Kimberly said, glaring at Conner.

"[color=00aeef]Believe what you want,[/color]" Conner said, turning away.