Chapter 75: Undercover

--Dale Fillion--

Dammit, this is bad.

            I'm not sure what's going on outside but I know it's bad. I could faintly hear the sounds of skirmish and explosions coming from the front gate. It was infuriating how my mind felt vigilant and cautious but I couldn't control any of my movement, down from my toes to my eyelids, it felt none was within my reach. I had been standing straight for an hour or two and felt the numbness in his leg and the sweat but I was forced to endure it all. The only thing I could do to past the time was to observe my surroundings.

             Kids my age were lined up at every side, taller men dressed in black were standing quietly around them while their backs faced them. They had brought me and few of my classmates along with Class S members and other few groups they encountered along the way to the Gym. While they waited there for a while, the groups were separated into three, one stayed at the gym, still kept in line and two of the other groups were being lead outside but in different directions. I was part of the one being sent outside, it would have been reassuring if I had at least someone I know around me even if it's Foax but no matter how much I was trained to stay calm, I couldn't held back the fast pace of my beating heart nor the fact I was more vulnerable than ever.

              Damn it Dale stay calm, you know there is help outside, I could only rely on them for now. Your job is to keep an eye on everything that would help put these guys down so snap out of it! I was reproaching myself.  I had make sure to suck up  every piece of information I could see and hear to the last detail, there was nothing that was much of significance but the way they formed their groups was bothering me. I couldn't quite get what they were aiming for, the place has already been surrounded so why press on controlling all the children here? What will they do and how will they get out? If I could just find a clue on any of that then it might help get Agent Hawk some insight.

              There were more or less than twenty of us in my group. I noticed the difference in treatment after being controlled, they gave little instructions and orders to us. The rings they had showed us before dimly shone blue while other rings I noticed were light green. I could bet they had different uses. 

              Just as my mind mulled over the facts, I failed to realize we had arrived at the courtyard where a few white vans were parked. The worst scenario came over me, thinking we were separated for a reason, and possibility number 1 would be kidnapping.

            This can't be right, they couldn't have gone to this trouble just to kidnap a few kids.

             Unless....we were only commentary prize.

            A man popped out from the back of one of the van, he started to converse to one of the armed men, probably discussing their plan. Unfortunately I could not hear anything. Soon one of them stopped and pointed to the other side. Curiously I tried to look but was reminded again I can't move. One of the guards walked toward the direction of question and not long after someone was shoved inside the line just next to me. I forced my eyes to look at my side as hard as I could, trying to catch a glimpse who it was. When I only saw the striking familiar red hair and the silver earring one would miss hidden behind it. I felt the dread of who it might be.

             Shit, shit, shit, shit! This had gone from bad to worse, Rick absolutely cannot be captured! If any of those people knew what his capable of, his life is as good as gone. That guy must have tried doing something reckless when I told him he should run the moment something like this happens. Damn it Rick, I have one job and you have to ruin it to the end, you prick! 

             I see...then I guess you wouldn't need saving from this prick.

              Had I had been in control of my body, I would have been choking from my own word and stared at him in shocked. Rick....are you…?

              Pretending to get captured? As a matter of fact I am. My mind descended into silence, finally I was speechless and I could imagine myself gawking. Come now, do you really think we would leave you on your own, you're practically useless without me. 

               I certainly am not, wait....back up....didn't you just say...we?

              Yes, he certainly said we. 

              Another voice came interjecting us, the voice was high and unfamiliar but her tone was certainly familiar to me. Certainly we weren't together when we got captured but...is it possible....Claudia?

              Bingo, we have a winner! Her voice beamed with the usual cheery tone of hers. Before my eyes, there was an extra guard standing next to the two previous ones. He looked like the typical well-built soldier, with trimmed black hair, a moustache connected to his beard, brown lips, upturned nose, and almond shape eyes. The man then turned briefly behind and as creepy as this might sound, he looked straight at me, smiled and winked while clicking his tongue.

              I felt the most frustrated man at that moment when I couldn't point out on my face that the supposedly 9 year old girl had become a black male soldier. Rick....is that your doing?

              Nope, that's just one of her abilities. 

               Abilities you say...what do you mean? Is she like you?

                I could hear the slight snort in his mind and made me imagine the kind of smirk he had on his face, she's way far from something like us Dale. 

               Before he could say anything more, the man who seemed to be Claudia grabbed both of the heads of her “colleague” and the two fell down to the ground. It went by smoothly and stealthily that everyone else failed to notice her actions. "Hey, two people suddenly fell unconscious here!" she yelled with her husky male voice. Others came warily to her side, examining the sudden collapse of the guards. Once they were occupied by them, she took that chance to put her hand over the few unguarded backs and put them to sleep. She may have gone overboard with the numbers since with only two out of six guards that were still awake were now aiming their gun on her with suspicious look.

              Then another unthinkable thing happened, just as one of them were about to use their ring, a high pitch sound similar to a screech, just like when you scratch your nails on a chalkboard, made everyone cringe. Something similar to crackles of electricity surrounded the disguised Claudia and with wave of her hand, it struck the four guards. The frequency of the sound changed and later on, all the kids in the area were knocked out excluding me.  

             "This ability.... is Stanley with you?" I noticed I could finally move my body voluntarily, I saw the exact smirk Rick wore as how I imagined it to be. 

               "It's great that you catch on fast, anyway...we have a lot of things to talk about but we should prioritize on---"

              "Duck!"

             "Exactly, wait....duck?" Rick didn't react fast enough so Dale had jump on him, pushing him down to the ground. He looked over with the world upside down to him three other men came over toward them. What baffled him though was that they attacked not with their guns, but with barrage of tree roots. The roots went past above them with speed comparable to a motorcycle. In other words, enough speed to throw you off a mile or so. Rick and I couldn't quite believe what they were seeing until Claudia was about to rush towards us when one of them tackled her with super speed, pushing her back with a groan. Claudia cursed for another speed freak coming after her and Rick couldn't help but cursed alongside with her, "Shit, I did not expect any of them to be espers!"

               "Unlucky for them, they're using it while I'm around." Another barrage of roots hurled towards them, Dale had only need to touch it and the root recoiled as it instantly wilted. The few men were surprised but they didn't let it held them back. Dale looked at his friend's face whose was only inches apart under him, "This is the part where you kick their ass."

              Rick snorted at his friend's demanding tone filled with sarcasm and rolled away from him. There was a shot of lightning from where the two had been, and they both looked up to see a brown haired man in his late 40s holding a visible white lightning on his hand and pose like how Zeus would with his lightning. His second attack didn't hit Rick, as he just swatted the lightning out of his way, shocking the assailant - in a different meaning. Rick smirked as his hand glowed with the same spark around it, "my turn" he whispered. He concentrated the sparks of electricity to his fingers and it went straight to his assailant like a white laser. He staggered from having the recoil of the shock. The assailant was holding back his screamed as he groaned loudly at his injure thigh that had blood oozing out. It felt like the pain of being shot, shock, and burned all at the same time.

               The other blond man was distracted from his injured comrade and failed to see the incoming third man that crashed toward him. When all three were on the ground, Rick used this chance to use the same trick they had on him and controlled all the weeds in the surrounding area, covering them up like a green mummy, he didn't forget to slit one of the weed to their rings and pulled it apart from them.

"You just love to show off you're better don't you?" 

              Rick shrugged, I knew he wasn't the type to feel superior toward others. However, when fight broke off, it's better to make sure the enemy knew where they stand against him. I felt a tug from my back and found Claudia- only taller and wearing an odd mask- smiling at the two of us. As much as I want to retort her current form, I could tell she was relieved to find us still safe and uninjured so I asked the main question that's been nagging on my head. "So, care to tell me what you've been up to this whole time?" 

#

--Claudia Robertson--

While Stanley and I were putting the unconscious group of people to their vans, they were tied up as well. I had Rick explain to Dale about what happened at the gate and about myself. I was reluctant to tell him but Rick assured me that he won't tell anyone and that we'll need him to know if we want him to lend his strength to the fullest. His argument was valid and I don't have anything to counter it. 

             Stanley made a satisfied smile looking at the clump of people tied inside the van and carefully closed it. I flinched when suddenly an outburst of laughter came from him, Rick must have told him the part where I'm playing the part of Wonder Owl. I was about to come up to them when my eyes wondered around the few children still unconscious on the ground, I started rubbing my forehead thinking the next best course of action. I could convince them to help me but it's best if I don't get too many kids involved since they are.....well, kids. 

              "Don't worry, I'll see to it that the authorities will keep them safe in their hands," before I knew it, Dale was already at my side. I raised an eyebrow at him, feeling suspicious of his words. Dale kept his business smile; he turned towards Stanley and asked in the most roundabout and effective way to walk away from us so we could talk. "I have a few connections outside the school, once we arrive at the rendezvous point, we could sneak out the kids to safety."

                "And how are we going to contact them when they are cut off from any signal in the school?"

                Dale pointed to his head, "My mind is connected with one of the FBI agents outside the school, I've been informing them my status but don't worry, I cut their connection temporarily so none of them should know about what Rick had told me....if it's true." Dale explained calmly but staggered at the last few words. He must have ignored my rounded gaze at him, my words got tuck and I was surely began to sweat nervously what his words were implying. 

               "Dale....who the heck are you?"

                Dale looked confused at my question but then made an 'oh' expression, "Rick hasn't told you?" Dale put his hand on his pocket and brought out a simple black wallet. I saw him opened it and the first thing that caught my eyes was his student card and a selfie photo of himself. Then he made a strange gesture, similar to when you're unlocking using a pattern lock on a smartphone and the photo began to disperse revealing a familiar symbol I would always see in crime shows and the student card became more of an identity card. "I should re-introduce myself now, I am Agent Dallen Garwick and I'm an undercover agent of this school." 

               This day just kept giving me surprises. 

Chapter 74: A Hero's Calling

Stanley Hummington remembers.

             It felt like a dream and he would have wished it was too. However, he was too smart for his own good, he knew it was reality and he knew he had killed a person with his own hands. Everything started with the strange group of men who suddenly came out brandishing their weapons, they later did something to us whom he himself didn't understand but it felt like his consciousness was pushed away. It dawned on him that he became similar to a puppet, listening to their words, not capable of fighting back. Then they made him kill people. He wasn't so sure he could believe he was living a reality. It felt like watching a movie in their perspective. However, Stanley remembers well.

             He had tried to cry many times or to even how a hint of remorse, but not even his face could match his deep scar being carved within. He knew he'll get nightmares from watching blood that sprout around him, he had enough and wanted to just close his eyes and think everything was a lie, but his body forced him to watch every single action he made and every second of it he cried for help.

              He had a sudden thought of his favorite TV series, the Animal Squad. He might have thought of them because anyone in his position would wish for a hero when they're in desperate need. Stanley wasn't that childish though, he knew they weren't real but the urge to seek a hero didn't washed away. It made him wished he was as strong as his heroes, maybe then he would have the strength to fight himself from this manipulation, but he started to think that fighting was pointless, that he could only give himself in.

              Then...she appeared. Stanley wasn't able to show his surprise on his face but he was in awe and disbelief, the clothes she wore were weird but he was more interested in the mask she wore. She briskly walked towards the mass of chaos in her aloof demeanor, snatching all eyes toward her. He knew from a glance who she was as she was one of his favorite hero of all time, but couldn't comprehend how or why Wonder Owl is here. In his mind he knew it's just a woman wearing a mask. He didn't care, in his heart he pleaded that she was the heroine that will save him. 

            Unwillingly, he moved his body as he and his friends charged to attack her, she was strong and slick as well, and uses strange power that none he ever seen before. She was pushing us back but their body would not stop rising despite the injury and pain, but much to his relief she didn't give up and kept pushing them. Stanley felt a sinking feeling of dread when he used his ability at point blank range at her after sneaking up on her. He never even knew he could muster that much strength and felt it was over for her, even he knew that sort of sound wave could do heavy damage or even may kill her. He was about to make the final blow with the rest when he felt a suffocating pain to his throat, he tried to breath as hard as it could but no matter what he did, nothing managed to get through his lungs as if something had clog his throat and he wasn't the only one. He knew he couldn't hold out much long as both his body and consciousness fell deep to darkness. 

             Stanley had finally rest his mind at peace, he thought he could wake up and everything would nothing be but a nightmare of his dramatic imagination.

"....he's not waking up, are you sure you healed him completely?" Stanley hoped the moment he wake up he would dash toward his mother for comfort, he wondered if he should share it with his friends but the dream was pretty gruesome.

"....don't worry, he did over used his ability and exhausted his body, his mind need as much rest as he could take..." Stanley's mind began to ponder at the unfamiliar voice he kept hearing, if it wasn't his parents or his annoying brother, then who was it? Stanley began to groan in reaction to the aches in his body, as he tried to wake, startling the two people around him. The evening sun was enough to blind him slightly before he could adjust his eyes to his surroundings. Once he got a good look, he tried processing his surroundings. 

             There was a shed made of glass on his left filled with greeneries and vegetables inside and around it, it took him a moment to realize it was the greenhouse. On his right was an alley between the school buildings that he knew led toward the animal coop, the sky was dyed a deep orange by the horizon, indicating that it was late, very late for him to still be in school. However, what took his attention was mostly and probably immediately was the former classmate he had few years ago, a woman with an owl mask he couldn't recognize at first, and the creepy heads sticking out from the ground with an unconscious (and dare he say stupid) look on their face. Okay....I love to know anyone could guess out what this scene meant Stanley quietly thought. 

            "Finally, you're awake!" exclaimed the masked woman. 

            Ignoring her as she was weird, Stanley then look towards at Rick who could explain to him what was happening.

"......Rick....." Stanley finally said. It was weird calling his name after most of the S Class started to ignore him per Foax request, or rather since he started ignoring him the rest had only followed suit. "....what happened...my memory is really shaky...ugh" he groaned some more as he tried hard to remember, Rick stayed quiet but he spotted him looking down with a grimace. Stanley followed his eyes to found his uniform all dirty with soil and blood. The white shirt has lost its color with a few rip and holes along with his blue checkered pants. The dream he had begun rushing back....it was no dream. 

            Stanley felt a sharp heavy churn in his stomach, he tumbled over and began to puke. Sadly it was long past lunch so he had nothing to puke out but the acid in his stomach. He heard the woman ordered Rick to do something which he compiled by reaching out his hand toward him. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" Rick halted his hand, surprised along with Claudia. They began to observed the trembling boy, he choked on his words he couldn't let out, and when they thought he finally was about to speak, he cried with a scream instead. 

            "WAAAAAAAAAA, MOMMY, UUUWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" 

              Claudia turned to Rick with a demanding look in her eyes which in response Rick only shrugged. While Stanley kept crying, Claudia and Rick had a few silent conversations before Rick sighed and forced his head to look him in the eye. Stanley was sure he had a horrible look on his face as he cried harder than any other, he was probably slobbering too and he could imagine his eyes round and red as it glistened so he didn't want to look at anybody, not like he had a choice. When he looked at Rick's eyes though, he felt himself calming down. His heartbeat slowed and his mind cleared. A fuzzy warm feeling bubbled inside him like, the same feeling he felt safe at his parents arms. The fear and pain still lingers, but letting the warm feeling overwhelmed him, he pushed the negative emotion away, and tried to gain sense of himself.  

             "You…what did you do?" Stanley forced his throat to speak his confusion.  

          “I manipulate your emotion, it’ll be temporarily, but it’s still better right?” Stanley looked down and slightly nodded, agreeing with him. "Besides if I hadn't, you'd kept bawling your eye out Hummington and we don't have time for that."

               Rick turned toward Claudia and Stanley followed suit, when he comprehend the mask once more. His eyes started to light itself at the possibility of the hero he had been longing for come to his call. "Wonder Owl!" he jumped to her arms in a hug, Claudia was startled by the sudden contact and wasn't sure what to do. She had only been wearing a random mask but to think it had this effect on people, just how popular is this kids show anyway?  Claudia thought

             "hiks please...help me....hiks" hearing the small voice of his as he buried his face on her stomach, Claudia couldn't help but had her heart soften from his pleading voice. She closed her eyes and went into trances as she was in deep thoughts. She decided something really childish yet promising, for the child not to lose hope, she made a favor just for him. 

                She gently pushed him away, making him tense that she was going to refuse him, but then she stood up with both her hands on her hips and started laughing strangely as if she was making owl sound and laughing loudly at the same time. "Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho, off course I'll help you child, as long as Wonder Owl is here, she won't stop until all evil doers is defeated." Claudia crossed her arms then made the signature pose of Wonder Owl. Stanley eyes came alive and overcome his fear, replaced with awe and excitement. Claudia was glad she was wearing a mask because she could feel the heat going to her cheeks from total embarrassment and knew her face was fully flushed by now. She made a quick glance at Rick and not to her surprise, her anger flared. He was crouching with both his hand on his mouth and stomach, using all his will not to laugh, he even almost forgot to breath. 

                 Claudia cleared her throat and tried to sound as friendly and yet as serious as possible. "Now my young friend, this school as you know has been captured by an evil organization that tries to kidnapped all esper children and make them their slave." she said as she made it up along the way, "as much as I want to defeat them, sadly my friends had different mission so they could not help me today." Stanley began to look crestfallen, hearing she might not help because of the odds and he could understand. "HOWEVER, do not fear yet because even without my comrades, you can help save the school!" and Stanley immediately look up at her with clearly shocked look. 

                "Bu...but I....I can't...I'm still too weak to fight...." 

              "Dear me who said anything about fighting, a fist is not the only way to solve a problem is it not?" Stanley was silent but shook his head, "besides, you won't be alone in this one."

             "What do you mean?"

             "Clearly this situation is too much even for me, which is why I need not just you but all your friends who are Espers to unite and save the school along with me." Stanley blinked a few times, and looked away as he hesitated to help. Claudia noticed this and decided to drop the hero act and knelled until she was seeing him eye to eye. "Look I know this is scary and you've only woke up from a traumatizing experience, but a lot of kids is going through the same thing as you do and I seriously can't save them alone. I know I'm being ridiculous, trying to get you kids caught up in my attics, but please....lend me your strength." 

                 Being told such heartfelt and sincere words, Stanley wasn't sure how to respond but before he could answer Rick had barged in between them. "For the love of God just help her if you don't want to be a mind freak zombie again and if anything, we'll be there so man up!" Stanley had planned to accept to begin with, but he thought Rick had just to ruin it for him. Claudia held his hand which surprised him and slightly made him blushed as he felt how soft her hand was and although she had half her face hidden, her smile was enough to think of her as pretty.

Claudia got up and put up her hero gimmick once more, and with a confident laugh, "Now let us begin Operation Reuniting the S Force!" she said with her fist pump up in the air to hype herself. Stanley walked beside her and pumped his fist as well, followed by the same owl laugh she made. 

             S Force....really? Rick said telepathically with a smirk. 

             Shut up Rick, it's the best superhero group name I could think off!

Chapter 73: All Names should be Respected

"You look like you've been through hell." Rick pointed out my sorry and exhausted state.

           "Trust me, you haven't seen hell yet." I snorted at him. I could hear his voice but it was barely audible when it entered my damaged ear. I healed it fast by using mana manipulation, but the injury still sustained, looks like it still couldn't fully heal without using a potion.

              Rick must've seen me winced as I talked. He came up to me and made a deep cut on his finger and the blood quickly flowed out. "Drink it." he demanded. I looked at him half questioningly and thought for a moment that he’d hit his head. "I said I'm a sorcerer, not a vampire." I mumbled with annoyance.

            "Never crossed my mind, just hurry and suck it up, you'll understand."

             The doubt on my face hadn't gone away as I locked my eyes at the bloody finger he waved at me. The notion of sucking on his thumb was already revolting. "Damn it." I hissed and did as he told me. The taste of copper dyed my taste buds and I had to set aside my discomfort. Then the strange thing that happened was that my body began to feel warm and energized, the same feeling you had when you drink ginger ale excluding the bad aftertaste. The ringing in my ears, that had been going on for awhile stopped and the dizziness also left me. I blinked a few times before I retracted myself, I felt something different with my body, and after close inspection all my bruises were gone.

             "Okay you lost me, what kind of ability was that?"

             I looked at the wound on his finger that began to close by itself, "Regenerative Ability, it's not public knowledge but our blood can actually heal people." he explained. He mentioned something about 'public knowledge' which was peculiar but before I could ask, he had questioned me first. "So, care to tell me why you brought this guy?" Rick pointed out the young boy laying unconscious next to me.

We both then stared at the black haired boy, he had a light brown skin, and on his uniform, there was a blue sword pin on his collar, showing he was a 5th grader. His features were a small round nose, thick eyebrows, and a mole just behind his ear.

            How do I know the last detail? It's because he's part of Class S. His name is Stanley Hummington, and his ability is producing a range of sound waves. Yup, you guessed it, he's the little twerp that did a number on me.

              "Because we should figure out why they acted that way."

             "Did it ever cross your mind what would happen if he wakes up?"

            I turned my head toward the scene behind him, there it was,  5 men wearing camouflaged clothes or at least that's what Rick had told me, seeing as they were buried to the ground up to their necks. I swear when I got here, the first thought that came to my mind was that he had decapitated their heads and placed them by the greenhouse, using them as decorations like creepy gnomes. "I think it'll be fine as long as they stayed buried."

            "Don't looked so relax yet there's still the chance they aren't the only ones who could make mind controlled fre-" Rick began to cut off when he felt the uncomfortably long stare I was giving. Rick began to fidget, asking if he had something on his face with his usual but unintentional glare.

             "No...I was just thinking, this isn't your first experience in this type of situation, right? I should have known, since you didn't look different when you-" forced people to kill each other, is what I had in mind but there's no way I could say it. It had been on the back of my mind but only now did it dawn on me, Rick was more than he was letting on. I also knew I had hit a soft spot, seeing him look away and his hand scratching his right arm, a basic reaction when you're hiding something.

            "Can we talk about that later, right now isn't the time..." Rick trailed off.

             This time, it was me who mustered a glare, "then promise you'll tell me."

              "Claudia..." and that is when Rick made the most unfair face he could possibly make. He pouted.

               Seriously! You'd never imagine a strong guy like Rick would easily show any signs of weakness, and there at that moment, he had the saddest look I had ever seen in this life. Plus with his face still young and boyish, it tripled his cuteness (which I never thought was possible, I mean he could look cute), making my heart vulnerable. No one warned me about this, that look is tugging my feels!

               No Claudia, don't lose! We're in the same boat and once this is over, like hell I’ll let him jump off and swim away before I get some answers. I crept close to him until our faces were inches apart, I gave him a stern face and emphasized every syllable I let out, with my pinky dangling between us, "PRO-MISE-ME!" Rick went back to his usual expression and turned his eyes away, he bit his lip, before he could let out a frustrated ‘okay’. I kept my eyes locked on him while occasionally eyeing my cold and lonely pinky finger. Rick rolled his eyes but reluctantly gave his pinky with a clicking tongue and we locked fingers for a while. "Good" I sighed. I felt a little bad seeing he didn't want to talk about it that much, but I got the feeling that I'll find out sooner or later.

             And sometimes...there are things better known sooner, than before it is too late.

            Rick coughed for my complete attention, "Back to our topic, how are we going to know what controls them?"

             I then cocked my head with my eyes closed, I bit my lip and I was thinking hard. What was this out of place feeling and odd I’ve been having. "That got me thinking, why are they doing this?"

              "I don't know, they're terrorists, they do whatever they want for the sake of their psycho reasoning."

             "No...what I meant is what good does it make creating a riot with only a few children? Why can't they just use all the students they had on hand or better yet use it on someone with a stronger ability? I mean no matter how strong a kid can be, they're just kids."

            Rick eyes sharpened, thinking through my words, "Either the device they have, only works on certain ages or we have something that differentiates us from others." I nodded at him, accepting his reasoning. When both of us were lost in our own train of thoughts, we were late to notice that one of the men had awoken and forced his way out of the ground, he must have had crazy muscles to do that. My eyes widened when he was already one step away from us, "Rick look out!" I cried.

            The man held out his arm and faced his palm toward us, a dim light shone at the back of his black gloved hand and he then laughed like a maniac, as if he had accomplish something, "Aahahahaaha, now obey my orders you little son of a bi--" before he could say any more, Rick had ran at him with crazy speed and kicked the guy in the groin. The man face froze in his maniacal laugh, small tears began to form in one his eyes and slowly, he fell to his knees with lost strength. "Why....," he mumbled softly, "why didn't it work....damn it!" Rick came up behind him and held the man’s left arm in position, he took off his black glove and saw a peculiar green ring. Rick yanked it off as well, while the poor man was still holding his 'son', he tried to protest. Rick touched his shoulder, using whatever abilities he had, and again the man was buried up to his neck.

             "Well, good news is we can't seem to be controlled like the rest of them." I wistfully said.

             "Which adds the question; what make us different..." Rick paused for a bit and continued, "Actually since I know you're not an esper, the effect might not be to the extent to you, though that is still just a possibility, but what makes me different?"

            "Uggh, so many questions damn it!" I growled. "Can't things be easier and just go to the part where we kick all their asses!?" I burst out with my fist raised.

            "Can you fight an army of mind controlled zombie espers then?" I paused for a bit with my arms still outstretched to the sky. I let myself fall to my knees then the rest of the body followed with my face flat on the ground and I made the loudest groan I could muster. "Don't feel so down Claudia, at least we got one lead." I looked up at him curiously on what he meant then his eyes turned toward the man still whimpering because of his buried 'son'.

#

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahaha.....hahaha" after giving him some time to suck up from his pain, the two of us began to start our interrogation.  He began to laugh loudly, as if we had made the funniest joke of a lifetime but then he ended the laugh dryly. He was a dark tanned man with a thin hair growing out of his after shaved head, he had a really big shiny forehead so that I might have been able to see my reflection on it, he had up-turned nose and his eye brows were thin and they were barely visible, he also had a light beard and moustache around his light brown lips.  "You think...you kids...honestly believe I would talk to you.....it's been a long time since I had a laugh. I'll tell you this though, you'll never get a word from me."

               "We'll see if you'll talk or not, we do have 4 other candidates in line." I said with a light smile. "Now, how about you tell us your name so that we at least know what to call you."

                The man expression changed, he became silent and he remained glaring at us with his dead pan eyes. He might have wanted to look intimidating but it's not really scary with your head sticking out of the ground. "All right then, we'll just call you Dick then, Dick is a good name right? A perfect name for you, right, Dick?" The man kept his poker face on in silence, on the other hand I saw Rick beside me, on his face a smile crept up.

               "Guess you won't make this easy, huh Dick?" Rick pointed out.

               "You did kick Dick, so I guess he is in a bad mood."

                "Hey, don't blame me, Dick practically wanted to be kicked after that stunt of his."

                "But shouldn't it be off limits? Poor Dick might not be able to have a child in the future."

                 "He'll be fine, look how tough Dick is."

                "SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH ALREADY!" Dick burst out with a loud voice. We didn't flinch but we did get to hear his all-out voice. "You think you'll get away with this? Once I get my hands on you, I'll sew your mouths shut, break your little fingers slowly and have you plead for mercy!"

              "Wow, Dick is really angry, what happen to 'not saying a word'?" I mockingly said.

               "Don't call me by that stupid name you overgrown brat!"

               I gasp with an exaggerated expression, my hand was over my mouth and I had my eyes widen. "Now you're being disrespectful to the name, apologize to all Dicks in the world!"

               "All right joke's over." I looked at Rick who said so and my cheeks began to puff. He turned to look at me as well and with a smirk he asked, "Do you want to to do the honor?"

            

              "Nah, I'll let you handle this."

               Rick nodded, he turned his eyes on Dick and with a soft touch to his forehead, I could see that Rick is using one of his abilities. "Tell me how you control them?" he asked to test the skill. Dick started to open his mouth, he instantly looked surprised and shut it, but he began to struggle against whether he had to talk or not. Finally he resigned and spoke in a forced manner. "The...the ring...it allows us to access your brain and communicate with it, our words are like suggestions but with the conciousness block, they can't consider the suggestion and will immediately process the suggestion into action...is what the Boss told us."

              "You said the ring is only capable of giving suggestion, how do you block their conciousness?"

              "There is a separate device for that, we rig....few of the rings so.... only a few are capable of blocking their brains."

            Rick rested his chin on his hand, he pondered his words and tried to make sense of it. "You said you rig some of the ring, does that mean there is a main device that solely works on blocking?"

            "......yes"

             We both looked at each other and with that one look we knew we were thinking the same thing. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

               "Find the Boss, steal the device, and save the school?”

                Rick smiled at my answer then he turned towards Dick to question for more details. Once he was done, he got up and massaged his neck. "Are you done brat?" Dick hissed.

              Rick kept massaging his neck, ignoring him. Once he was done, he made a hard and quick kick at his head, knocking Dick out. It looked awfully painful, so I winced involuntarily at the sudden brutal attack, I think he might get a concussion. 

             "Yes we are. Now, stay down."

Chapter 72: Descending....Wonder Owl!

 Agent Hawk arrived at the back gate as soon as he could, the police were trying everything to hold back from kids climbing and forcing to open the gate with their shields. However, with only around 14 children they had though they were held in custody, they were using their powers rampantly without regards to their health and stamina. Those kids vary in age and were small, but they’re out of control use of powers are not something to take lightly. One of them was trying to blast the gate with explosion he made, a telekinesist that tries to crush the police outside with cars, another made a few carbon copy so they could climb themselves over the gate, there were a few behind them still distracting the unit that infiltrated the school.

             His face showed obvious surprise as he saw his college, Jeremy Ferd and walked beside him. Seeing him smirking at the wild scene in front of him ticked him off. "This is no joke, if those kids were let loose outside, lots of people will get hurt before we take them to custody again."

             "IF we could take them in custody, I'm sure things will get harder if we want to capture them alive. We could kill them but then the press would spread our horrible ways and the public will lash us out until someone has to take the fall."

            "Not helping Ferd...what should we do now, if we slightly open the gate, I'm afraid of what will happen if few of them came out."

            "I know what you mean but this one of the times where you need to make hard decision Hawk, one of those kids could easily fight back 10 armed adults and we as heck never expected we'd be fighting children so you better prepare the trigger if it comes to that."

              "I'll make sure that won't happen and that should go the same for you."

             "I like to use my power Hawk, but if you want to let most of the kids go cripple then I'll go when you give me the sign."

             Hawk curled his lips, "Get your team ready Ferd, under no circumstances will you use your power on them, just lead your damn team and get them in custody, do I make myself clear?!"

             Without letting his smile fade he answered to Hawk, "Loud and clear Sir."

             I was about to gather the team to explain the game plan I had in mind when the unexpected happen. "Hey someone is there!" the two of us turned our attention, but not just us, even the children that was banging the gates stopped when they look behind. It took everyone surprised, the grounds fell to silence. When you find a woman, there shouldn't have been nothing out of ordinary of her that caught all our attention if it weren't for the weird mask she was wearing.

She walked slowly toward the closest child and touched his head, maybe because she didn't have any malice in her action, the boy was late to react and suddenly fell on his knee. My heart almost stop, thinking she killed him with just a touch but then I saw his chest, gently going up and down indicating he was only a sleep. The others, still confused at the sudden appearance of this mysterious character.  

However, a girl who saw her friend suddenly collapse charged at her with a yell, the girl let out a great sound wave which normally could knock out adults, instead though the sound wave began to diminish until no sound was heard even while she's still yelling. The masked woman grabbed her hand that charged at her and touched her forehead again before she fell asleep as well.

            More and more of the children began to see her as a threat, they began to charge at one all at once but Hawk could see she was smirking. One with super speed got to her first, but then the boy's leg looked like it was tugged back before he slip, he would have fell head first if she hadn't broken his fall and touch his head as well. They began to hesitate to get closer to her but started to try attacking at the same time from a distance. Agent Hawk began to walk closer to the gate, worried but mostly curious at the black haired girl. He watched as she raised her hand and the earth began to crack beneath them, and a row of rocks sprouted from the crevice, locking their feet.

             The children tried to squirm out of their way but to no avail, one girl who had telekinesis crushed the rock with her mind and began to concentrate all the rock and pebbles around her, lifting it and began to flung them in bombardment. Those rocks and pebbles flew like bullets, but her effort looked like a jock that every attack that should have hit began to deflect, as if a barrier...no, Agent Hawk had seen this, this is the effect of another telekinesist deflecting her attacks, only stronger and better. She used this chance to knee her in the gut, the girl couldn't scream or fight in deviance because the moment she recoiled, the masked woman put her hand on her and the same thing happen again.

            At this rate, she'll be done with them one at a time. Though Hawk. He train of thoughts was broken when the situation was kicking up a notch. The kids that were supposed to be knocked out slowly got up, they were staggering but they had their eyes on her. Her face was hidden but I could tell she was surprised, she hadn't expected they'd wake up so soon. They surrounded her and they look like they were about to attack together.

The blond boy that was first to be knocked out, turned invisible and the woman began to cringe as she hold her stomach in pain, the girl that had telekenisis started to gather the same dust and pebble around but instead of attacking her, she created a kind of whirlwind around her. The boy who could use apportation, began to free himself along with his friends,  they all gathered around the woman and jumped into the battle.

         However, when she let down the whirlwind, the only one there was the boy who got hit by their attacks. The masked woman was nowhere to be seen, actually, everyone was preoccupied by their showy attacks that they failed to notice the girl that appeared suddenly beside the gate. Everyone other than Agent Hawk that it. He examined her while he was close, half her face was hidden by a gold owl-shaped owl but he could instinctively tell she was still young. Her mouth moved and he could make out the sentence 'Nice safe, Rick' and while she had them on their back, she spread her hand toward them.

            "I have to be rough for this, [Shock]"

               Sparks began to fly, followed by a weird crackle sound surrounding them. All the kids began to scream in pain as flashes of light surround them. Each of them fell to the ground and stopped moving. The masked girl turn toward the authorities, her emerald eyes glimmered through her mask. There was a slight flicker in her eyes when she saw him, but then spoke with her hard voice "Get the medics, I lowered my power but they should be tr--"

            "Behind you!"

            The moment she turned around, a wave blast hit her, throwing her off balance and her back crashed into the gate. Claudia gritted her teeth as she tried regaining her stance but she couldn't, the speedy kid brought a boy to her side and the moment he touched her, she felt the immense force pushing her down. She tried getting up, but it was no use, she was too heavy. She screamed in pain every time she forced herself to stand but it was no use. They thought she was done for but then the earth under them began to shift and random boulders started popping out, splitting them from her. [Air Barrier]

            Speedy tried to ram on her but he hit a wall in midair, he tried banging whatever it is standing between them but to no avail. Claudia felt it was creepy to see them looked expressionless when their actions looked desperate. "Damn it, why can't they just stay in place?" Claudia wasn't sure what she should do, she can't hurt them too badly, but every time she knock them down they got up, it frustrates her. Her face fell to her hand until someone called out to her behind the gate.

            "They're being mind-controlled." Everyone who heard his words turned to him, Claudia also looked at him questioningly, "a device was said to have been used on them, forcing them to pull out their maximum capabilities of their brain. If nothing is done then it won't be unlikely to say they'll go brain dead." soft nervous murmur enveloped them, but Agent Hawk paid no heed and continued. "Anyway, this device isn't something come out on the fly, someone has done research on it  and maybe making a test run with them. That's why there are two ways to fight this."

             "Let me guess, either find the ones that's controlling them or destroy the device that controls them."

            "Exactly," Agent Hawk turned to one of the officer and pointed at him. "You, find anyone with Clairvoyance or any sensing ability, there's a chance this device has an area limit when controlling them."

            "No need, already found them." the barrier faded quickly since Claudia didn't maintain it with her mana. Before she could take on the children's bombard attacks, she yelled as loud as she could, hoping her backup would hear her. "INSIDE THE GREENHOUSE!" she roared into his direction. Claudia got up and decided to face head on with their abilities. As swiftly as she could, she managed to counter their ability one by one in a short span of time.

             Claudia focused and predicted where the speedy kid would hit her, they were kids so their attacks were quite simple and straight forward. She pushed his side away by her elbow, knocking him out of balance. She took this chance to grab his collar and threw him toward the person close to him. They both landed to the ground and struggled to get up.

She turned her heels and while facing a green colored gas that was obviously speaking 'Breath me and die'. The gas however changed color and billowed unnaturally fast as it spread towards them. They began to cough hard enough and when they started to move toward her, their pace slowed and eventually stop. Their stance showed that they had qualm on moving but they were unable to.

            Hawk might thought himself as crazy thinking the woman had the power to change the property of the gas that would paralyze their nerves and spread it. It was an absurd thought but not impossible nonetheless. They were still a few who could move though, the telekenisist girl jumped and flung  herself at the woman, Claudia flicked her hand and a light flashes in front of her, slowing her pace to cover her eyes. Claudia used this chance to put her hand on her head and chanted a new spell she made few minutes ago.

            [Blind]

             With that, her power was sealed for the moment. Once she shoved her away, a boy emerged in her view. He screamed right in front of her and Claudia couldn't dodge fast enough against the horrid sound wave. The waves came in rounds with blows hitting her every second, the pain accumulated and that gave her immense pain she never felt before. She took a few step back and fell on her back, her ears were bleeding, and her eyes wide from shock. Her body felt oozy and as much as she wanted to get up, her hands and feet felt like jelly, as if she had lost her balance.

              Such injury could heal easily, but it would still take time.

             Thinking they've had her, all those who could move began to surround her. Not knowing that as long as Claudia could speak, they will regret going against her. When one by one, they had surrounded her, Claudia started whispering a chant, but she never got the chance to do it, the children began to act strange. They were holding their neck while gasping, their arms flail around as if searching for air.  The children started collapsing with one another, they all began tear up and drool began to break from their mouth.  Claudia cut her chant, her eyes widen in wonder on what happened, her eyes stopped at a peculiar woman at the other side of the gate. 

             Among the lines of men, she was the only woman there wearing casual cloth. She didn't look like she belong there but she noticed the men eyed her with respect. She had a pale skin so white that you might think it was colorless, her blue eyes glared at her coldly, she also had a pale blond hair cut just above her shoulder with streaking blue line behind her ears.  She was holding out her thumb and index finger, making a pinching form. This is her doing?

             "ENOUGH!" cried the man beside her. Claudia noticed the man that she talked to had certain authority. The woman widens her hand and Claudia noticed the heavy inhale her surroundings had took. She wasn't calm yet, she healed her ear as much as she could, took her stance and waited. Few seconds past as she waited intently. 

             They didn't got up. 

              Claudia could finally take a breather, the gate opened up and a group of people began to pour through the school's gate. Most of them were wearing white uniform, one she thought must have been the medic. One of them also came up to her, he wanted her to sit down so he could examine her, but Claudia refuses with a gesture. She would have walked away quietly if Agent Hawk and the pale woman didn't stand in her way. Claudia was already uncomfortable standing with that expressionless woman, she didn't want to get tangled up with someone of her past to add with it. 

           "I have a lot of questions for you Miss..."

            "And I don't have the time to answer you." she said with a slight growl in her tone. She couldn't help if she was rude, she had her butt kick by a bunch of kids that hadn’t even reach their puberty, got her ear smashed, and she met one of the people in her 'Never to Meet in this Life List' of course she'd be in a bad mood. 

            Hawk wanted to rebuke her, but before he got the chance. Claudia slip out another piece of paper and at the same time she crumples it, she disappeared.  Hawk blinked in surprise, the woman left as suddenly as she appeared. It was then that Ferd started to laugh aloud that almost everyone turned to look at him. "What's so funny?" Hawk asked. 

             Ferd wiped his teary eyes, he turned his phone to face him and asked him to watch the video recently posted. Hawk felt annoyed that  he could easily use their time to make videos out of all things while they risked their life, but it's not like his words would go anywhere. He clicked the sideway triangle, the background was blur but the character in the video was serene. There was BGM of one of those action movies, below it were comments that kept popping out, commenting the video. 

'dude, is that who I think it is?'

'hahahaha, she's wearing Wonder Owl's mask'

'Really, she's masking as Wonder Owl from Animal Squad in a school that’s facing  terrorism, talk about crazy'

'WONDER OWL ARRIVE!!!'

'Seriously, if she wants to mask as her, she should at least get better cloth'

'is no one going comment about her freaking weird ability, esper shouldn't have more than three!"

'You must be new, obviously you haven't seen enough strangeness'

'I only care the ass kicking, too bad she got her ass kick instead hahahaha'

'Talk about a failed hero, she couldn't even beat kids'

'don't forget she was outnumbered and they were espers, oh wait...you did'

'at least she's strong enough to kick all your lousy butt' 

                "Wonder Owl, what's that?" Ferd opened another tab in his phone and showed Hawk the trailer of one of the most popular cartoon currently airing, Animal Squad. 

               "We just got saved by an animated superhero, now isn't that hilarious?" 

               Apparently, Hawk didn't find it funny at all as he continued to frown. He turned toward the men who was helping the medic, pick up all the injured children. One of them came to him, reporting of the situation. “Sir, 13 children all in our custody. Most are injured but nothing fatal”

                “I see, good work but make sure when you treat them you put up the brain jam device to their max output, we don’t want them to wreak havoc again.” The man nodded and quickly turned tails. Hawk silently observed his surrounding and noticed the hard-to-spot surveillance camera just behind the tree. Were they watching this? Was all to this moment part of their plan? Hawk walked toward his college, hoping to recollect his thought and think of his next step, but stop and lifted his head at a sudden thought. “Wasn’t there 14 of them?”