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The stuffy little room felt exactly like an elementary school class room in a district where money was tight. The overly cheery posters, the stiff chairs that were clearly uncomfortable to everyone else. A lone fan, rattling with age, stirred the hot air, and dust motes swirled in the morning sun streaming through the window to illuminate the group of metas who had apparently volunteered to live here. The scent of cheap coffee hung in the air, since it had been made available to anyone who wanted it. Nicky had some in a tiny plastic cup, more out of something to do with her hands and mouth than for any sort of effect the beverage might have had. 

The group that had assembled was, for lack of any sort of unifying word, [i]strange[/i]. The girl who had told her off last night, Rose, sat primly, hands neatly folded and hair carelessly over one shoulder, looking like a princess without even trying. Nicky still didn't know if she should hate the girl or not after last night. Next to her was another girl, but this one, was the opposite of Rose in almost every way. Where Rose had muscle and tone from what Nicky knew was years of athletics practise, this girl was wasted and almost skeletal. Her hair was completely gone, growing only in stubble. A huge swathe of surgical stitches covered on temple and arched around the back of her head, and her eyes were only half open at best, though she was definitely awake. Rose had pushed her wheelchair in and then sat down next to her as if they were the best of friends, though they never exchanged a word.

Across from Nicole, next to the wheelchair, was a statue. That was the only word Nicky could find to describe the man. Facial features were hard to make out, but she guessed he was around the same age her dad had been. But where her dad had been tanned from days out in the sun, this man was, somehow, pale grey, patterned in swirls of darker lines. He had introduced himself as Marble, and she had to admit, the name fit. Aside from just looking (and sounding she had noted. He made [i]grinding[/i] noises) like he was made from his namesake, he was built like a boxer. His thin t-shirt and jeans did nothing to hide that.

Between him and the next person was what Nicky had assumed was the chair reserved for Crawford, and then there was Freddy. Nicky was a little grossed out by Freddy, and she doubted her inexperience in schooling her face was doing anything to cover it. Freddy was [i]enormous[/i] He took up two chairs. Rolls of fat covered everything, so much so that she couldn't see his knees. His short black hair and dense beard were neatly kept, and his eyes were kind, even when he looked her way. A little sad, perhaps. But Nicky was horrified by the [i]jiggling[/i], which happened every time he moved. She felt a little guilty, mostly because she assumed his powers had somehow caused or affected his weight, but she couldn't help herself. 

Two other chairs were present. Another empty on the other side of Freddy, and then the one next to her, which contained a tiny Japanese girl, wearing a gold kimono patterned with autumn leaves. Even including Freddy, this girl had the most shocking appearance, as she had fox ears instead of normal human ones, and a bundle of fox tails erupted from her rear. They writhed around in response to what seemed to be the girls mood, and they currently lashed in what Nicky could only guess was nervousness or excitement, if her experience with dogs was any indication. Her stark black hair was done into a series of elaborate knots that only [i]emphasised[/i] her strange ears, as well, as if she wanted to draw attention to them.

Megami, as she had introduced herself, was weird enough that Nicky edged in her seat towards the gap in chairs that separated herself and Rose. She wasn't exactly certain, but she suspected the gap was there because of the toss up last night. [i]Someone[/i] had been watching. That put her on edge and irritated her. Logically, they [i]had[/i] to have cameras to record stuff to study, but the fact that they didn't [i]tell[/i] her she was being recorded pissed her off.

Crawford walked in just as her mood was beginning to sour, wearing a green sweater vest over a cream coloured shirt and tan trousers, despite the heat. Apparently he was here in his “teacher” role instead of his scientist one. He paused as he looked around, then said, “Good morning, everyone. Charles, are you present?”

Nicky jumped when a voice echoed, as if from great distance, from the empty seat between Freddy and Marble. “Yes, Mr. Crawford, I am here.”

“Excellent! Well,” the older man said, taking what was apparently the [i]only[/i] open seat. “Let's begin, shall we? First off, we have a new member of the group, who I presume Rose has introduced?”

“Oh, no, Professor,” the girl said. “That would've been rude. I let everyone introduce themselves, as Nicole and myself have already had a spat.”

“I see.” Crawford fixed the pair of them with a rather disappointed look. I was hoping you two would be getting along, actually. You have rather complimentary powers.”

Nicky was about to snap out an answer when Rose cut her off. “Unfortunately, we both had some illusions about the other, but I think we've moved past it, haven't we?” She smiled sweetly at Nicky, but the younger girl got the warning that broaching the subject in group would not be tolerated. It was helped by and invisible nudge against her shoulder, just barely enough to move her.

[color=azure]“Yeah, yeah,”[/color] she said, sullenly nodding. [color=azure]“We're good.”[/color] mentally, she added, [color=azure][i]For now.[/i][/color]

“Alright, well, Since that seems to be working out, let's see if we can get up to speed on poer studies. Ah, sorry, Frederick.” Crawford looks at the fat man, whose round face filled with a smile.

“S'okay, Teach, it's funny.” Fred's voice was as thick as his body.

“Well, let's start with you, then, Frederick. Any increases or fluctuations?”

The man shook his head, chins wobbling. Nope. Still stuck at three hundred a second. I don't think I can break the sound barrier unless I drop some weight.” Nicky finally placed his accent as Georgian before her brain caught up to what he had sad. She [i]knew[/i] her eyes goggled, but she didn't care. [color=azure][i]Holy shit, he's a speedster!?[/i][/color]

“Well,” Crawford said, writing something down on his clipboard. He always seemed to have one of the damn things. “With the diet Doctor Grisham has set, we should see some changes soon, but I'd also like you to try lifting weights and some aerobics aside from running, which obviously isn't much exercise for you here even with your special treadmill. Any feelings you'd like to share with the group about your powers?”

“Same thing as always, Teach. Disappointed I can't move faster.”

“Hmmm.” Crawford made another note, and then turned to face the empty chair. “Charles? Any luck with your project?”

The boy with the ghost voice (Nicky assumed it was a boy, judging by the youthful tone) spoke up. “Yeah, actually! I could show you!”

Nicky wondered how an invisible person was going to “show” anything, but was shocked into silence [i]again[/i] when the boy flickered into existence. His image wasn't steady, was mostly transparent, and had no colour, but even through all of that, two things were painfully obvious. One, he couldn't be any older than her, and maybe even younger with how skinny he was, and two, he was [i]completely[/i] nude. Crawford made a harrumphing noise as the boy disappeared again. 

“I would appreciate it if you would start wearing clothing, Charles. But the progress is good. Is that as long as you can hold it?”

“Yes, professor,” came the echoey reply. “Any longer and my skin starts to burn, which is also why I don't wear clothes.”

“Have you talked to the doctor about that?”

“Well...uhh...”

Crawford made another note. “Why not, Charles?”

“Well....she's a [i]girl[/i], Professor.”

Nicky could almost [i]hear[/i] the embarrassment in Charles's voice. Crawford had to hide a smile. “Well, she is [i]also[/i] a professional, Charles. I don't think you have anything to be particularly ashamed of. Make sure you bring up your skin, we might have something that can help. I am sure we'd all like to see more of you around here.”

The group laughed, and then Crawford looked to Marble. “Any changes, Harry?”

“No.” His voice was [i]beyond[/i] gravelly. Nicky thought of boulders knocking together.

“Hmm. Well, you and Nicole have something in common, perhaps you two can talk later.”

“Okay.” Nicky doubted they were going to talk much at all with his repsonses, but she looked at Crawford questioningly.

He caught the look and made a little 'o' with his mouth. “Of course, Nicole, terribly sorry. Harry has the same sensation loss you do, though he also lost his sense of smell. Perhaps the two of you could brainstorm about how to overcome the problem.” Turning from her, he looked at the wheelchair bound girl, who Nicky realised she had never gotten a name for.

“Rose, how are you feeling today?”

Nicky's whole world dropped away in shock for a moment as she looked from the girl in the wheelchair to the one next to her. The healthy Rose gave her a wink before addressing the question.

“The pain's okay, I guess. Could be better or worse. Still don't have any mobility right now, and I would [i]kill[/i] for the ability to eat even a piece of bread. But clarity is at one hundred, and I still haven't found a limit to how long I can stay out.”

Crawford made [i]yet another[/i] note. Nicky was beginning to hate that clipboard. “Good, good. I would like to see you in more than out, of course, but I like that you are staying so positive, Rose.”

The healthy Rose shrugged, and both bodies smiled, though the wheelchair version was delayed and weak. “Well, it can only get better from here, right?”

All eyes were suddenly on her, and she felt her face flame with embarrassment. She hadn't been the center of attention like this since before the explosion, and-

[i]Screams sounded in her ears. The rush of gas from a broken line. The taste of ashes in her mouth. Burning plastic and meat mixed in the air, a horrible smell. She couldn't see because the bricks were all over her face[/i].

Breathing hard, she caught herself before she fell out of her chair, but it was a near thing. The empty cup rolled away from her as her vision came back to reality. Slowly, words came back into her hearing.

-kay? Nicole, can you hear me? You're okay, you're safe.” Crawford's voice. Hands on her own, she could see them. Older, definitely Crawford. She looked up and saw Rose and Megami flanking him as he crouched in front of her, all three with worried expressions. She shook her head, trying to clear away the cobwebs of illusion from her head.

[color=azure]“Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. I...I got lost.”[/color]

Crawford nodded, slowly letting go and standing up. He motioned to the two girls and all of them returned to their seats before he addressed the group.

“As you can see, not everyone has as happy a story, something I have been telling you about for a while now. Please let Nicole adjust at her own pace, and do not ask prying questions. I will only tell you that she is just as special as the rest of you, in her own way.” Turning to her, Crawford asked, “Are you okay to answer a few general questions about how you're doing in front of the group?”

Just at that moment, Nicky actually felt like the man could have asked her to jump off a building and she would've done it. He had cut off her fear of being cornered and pestered thoroughly. She mutely nodded, biting at her lip.

“Okay. Any change in your hunger? Or sleep?”

She shook her head. [color=azure]“No. Still not hungry. And I'm still never tired. I don't even remember what dreams are like any more.”[/color]

Crawford nodded. “I expected as much. Unfortunately, it may be best, at present, that you don't sleep. As much as subconscious healing might be good for you, it could also be overwhelming. I'll talk to you more about a plan later, one on one.” Finally, he turned to Megami.

“Is there anything you'd like to add, Megami-[i]sama[/i]?”

The girl said something in rapid fire Japanese, and Crawford nodded. “I thought so. I will ask for your help later, if that is agreeable?”

“[i]Hai.[/i]”

“Very good. Okay, I think some of us are probably done for this morning. If anyone wants to ask me something right now, please do, otherwise we'll convene this afternoon for the best part of Tuesdays: The Showoffs!”