[centre][H1][SUP][COLOR=#3795CC][I]G E M I N I[/I][/COLOR][/SUP][/H1][/centre] [hr] Thom couldn’t move as the brick burst through the window. He had seen this particular memory many a time, but it still hit him like a train every time he relived it. Thom’s gathered family and friends let out the same yelp as the anti-semitic action that changed his life happened again. The shock of this experience once again released Ezra from his dormant state. The energy twin burst forth from the body of the thirteen year old Thom, shocking everyone in attendance at the sight of this mutant power. Thom’s eyes locked onto Ezra, the physical twin begging in his mind to escape from this repeated event. After what felt like several minutes, Thom finally got his body to move, turning away from his family and dashing out of the room. Only to wake up in a jolt on an unfamiliar bed. For a few seconds he wondered if this was the bed in his new apartment in Paris, which was essentially still an unfamiliar bed. But a quick glance around the room, Thom’s still droopy from sleep, showed that this was somewhere else. As Thom looked all around the room in confusion, he finally noticed that Ezra was floating above him near the ceiling. Apparently releasing him in a dream released him in real life. But as Thom looked at his energy twin, he realized that Ezra was asleep while separated from Thom. This had only a handful of times in the past, as it usually required both twins allowing the release. [COLOR=#3795CC]“Ezra?”[/COLOR] Thom muttered, his mouth still dry from a deep sleep. An almost unnoticeable shift appeared on Ezra’s head. Most people wouldn’t be able to notice it as Ezra appeared as static like energy. But Thom had been around his brother long enough to be able to notice the slight variation in Ezra’s energy. His body stiffening before a challenge, the faintest of smiles, or right now the opening of his eyes. [COLOR=#5381B0]“Huh? Thom, where are we?”[/COLOR] asked the ethereal voice of Ezra, [COLOR=#5381B0]“And what are you wearing?”[/COLOR] Thom changed his gaze from the ceiling back down to his bed. Sure enough, Thom was wearing a set of simple white colored shirt and pants. They immediately reminded Thom of hospital clothing. Anxiety rushed through Thom’s body. [COLOR=#3795CC]“Were we in an accident?”[/COLOR] questioned Thom, scanning his body for any kind of mark, [COLOR=#3795CC]“Do you remember anything Ezra?”[/COLOR] With a frown that only Thom could notice, Ezra replied, [COLOR=#5381B0]“Last thing I recall is us returning to the apartment in Paris after the busker festival. I don’t remember anything of us being hurt or sick.”[/COLOR] [COLOR=SILVER]“I can confirm that neither of you are injured or sick,”[/COLOR] said a voice coming from the corner of the room. Thom whipped out of bed, seeing a small metal sphere floating closer to his bed. Ezra immediately positioned himself in-between Thom and the sphere, energy crackling in his hands. [COLOR=#5381B0]“We’ve seen one too many sci-fi movies to know not to trust the mysterious robot,”[/COLOR] Ezra stated. [COLOR=#3795CC]“Or it could just be a Stark drone?”[/COLOR] theorized Thom, [COLOR=#3795CC]“I’ve heard that they are quite widespread now.”[/COLOR] [COLOR=SILVER]“I can confirm that I am neither a mysterious robot or a Stark drone,”[/COLOR] the sphere stated, [COLOR=SILVER]“I am a proprietary design of Istituto Nova per Giovani Eccezionali. I am to be your assistant while you study here.”[/COLOR] The mention of the Istituto Nova caused some of the fog to lift within Thom’s mind. He remembered just arriving in Paris, going to the apartment he rented, only to find an invitation. While he had never heard of the school before, it seems that they had heard quite a deal about Thom. It was the offer to train with and perfect his mutant powers that hooked Thom and Ezra. The notion of mastering his powers brought back thoughts of wanting to join Alpha Flight, of Guardian telling him he wasn’t ready. Thom’s musings were cut short by the sound of a chime. Glancing over to the nightstand next to his bed, Thom found his phone. Sure enough it had gotten a text. The thing was it didn’t show that it was from anyone. The text itself just consisted of a video. The video itself was of Thom, clearly back in Paris, consenting for the Istituto staff to drug him so that he couldn’t remember the way to the school. As the video finished, Thom looked over to the sphere assistant, more understanding evident in his eyes. [COLOR=#3795CC]“So I guess we’re starting at a new school,”[/COLOR] said Thom to Ezra, [COLOR=#3795CC]“Should be interesting since everyone else is a mutant.”[/COLOR] [COLOR=SILVER]“Yes, your classmates are mutants as well,”[/COLOR] explained the sphere, [COLOR=SILVER]“And you will meet them very soon. A meeting is happening down the hall for which you are required to attend. But before that, feel free to shower and change. You will find the washroom and closet fully stocked for your needs.”[/COLOR] [COLOR=#3795CC]“Great, cause I feel grimy,”[/COLOR] said Thom as he got out of bed, [COLOR=#3795CC]“Would you mind returning Ezra?”[/COLOR] Ezra nodded, though again only Thom would be able to notice it, before flying back into Thom’s body. The recombined twins then entered the washroom, peeling off the white shirt and pants. Thom then found the shower to be state of the art, with things like temperature controls and different water pressures. It was a far cry from the small apartment in Paris he had rented, where the washroom hadn’t been updated in several decades. After an intense scrubbing, Thom finally felt clean enough to present himself. Wrapped in a towel, Thom opened the closet, only to find it comprised of his own clothing. Like everything that had been in his apartment. Deciding not to question it, Thom through on a dark red turtleneck and a pair of gray jeans. After styling his hair somewhat in the mirror, Thom turned to the robot assistant. [COLOR=#3795CC]“So where exactly are we going?”[/COLOR] asked Thom. The sphere replied by giving a simple set of instructions. Apparently the meeting room wasn’t so far away. Thanking the little floating robot, Thom left his quarters. Following the assistant bot’s directions exactly, Thom came upon a room full of what looked to be other students. Initially, Thom was wondering what there powers could be, until he saw a four-armed girl. Which probably meant her powers were having four arms. [COLOR=#5381B0]<>[/COLOR] said Ezra telepathically to Thom, [COLOR=#5381B0]<>[/COLOR] [COLOR=#3795CC]<>[/COLOR] Thom replied in his mind, [COLOR=#3795CC]<>[/COLOR] Thom then made a distinctive decision to not look at anyone, instead diverting his eyes to look at the door to the room. Whoever was supposed to officiate this meeting had yet to arrive.