Okay, this is more an Experiment than anything, [to all those that don't know, this is a reworked chapter]

this will be an Experiment to see if it meets my own expectations. To everyone that [for whatever reason] decided to reread the old chapters, please tell me if you like this style more.

To all Newcomers, feel free to tell me as well.

All in all I don't know how Long it will take me to redo the entire Thing.

Thank you for reading. ^^

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[some time in the past]

"Hey Alexis come on smile once in a while. Your face will get wrinkles if you stay that serious all the time"

During school break me and my best friend Zoe where sitting next to each other eating. I had, like always decided to eat unhealthy, with my black hair held back into a pony tail I grinned down on the sweets I had brought from home, totally ignoring the sandwich I had made for myself.

"Oh shut it Zoe, I'll never get wrinkles, at least not until I turn 40"

Smiling I turn towards her. She was the most hyperactive girl you would be able find out there. 5 something feet tall, with blond hair that reaches her waist. She cares a lot about looks so she's pretty as well.... that is why she's always nagging at me for simple stuff as that. Well, I don't mind anyways. We've known each other since pre-school and as such we've been really close.

"Hey you two, have you heard the news?"

A new voice interrupts our thoughts. Sitting down next to us was our other friend Maxis mustering him I had to notice that he was wearing his sweaty gym wear. His short black hair was styled back and he was able to look stern and serious though he fooled around on a normal basis. With a frame like a tree he was one of the leading members of the Football team under the supervision of Mr. Heathrow, who was one of our gym teachers. Next to me Zoe wrinkled her nose at the supposed stench coming from our friend.

"Max, come on do you have to come here and strain our senses?"

With a smile to show that she was only joking she punched him into his side. With a just as teasing smile he makes waving gestures to let the smell drift more towards us two.

"There you go, enjoy it. It's not like any of you are doing much sport to begin with, so you might as well get your source of sweat from somewhere else."

I almost blurted out with laugher as I saw Zoe's disdain turning genuine. With one motion she pushes him away from her.

"Wow and here I thought you'd be able to grow up a little bit, thanks for proving me wrong. And you're just as bad as him Alexis, show some more pity, you're a girl too after all."

I hold up my hands as an apologetic gesture and shake my head.

"Zoe, it's you that's getting bothered, not me. Though both of you are kind of behaving like children."

Now it was my time to get pierced by a gaze from Zoe, although it quickly went back to normal as Maxis changed the direction of the conversation to one of his most favorite topics.

"Did any of you follow what happened in Michigan a few days ago?"

Sighing both of us lean against each other, of course we had. Maxis though was too caught up in his story to notice.

"The evil esper organization HALO was planning something at the coast of Lake Michigan, it almost turned into a catastrophe but the heroes from the Raiders showed up in time to stop them. Someone on the internet even got their hands onto some footage of their battle."

With admiration in his eyes he pulls out his smart phone, the display was cracked but he did not seem to mind for the most part. With quick motions he opens a tab in the internet, at the same time he gestured me and Zoe to look out for any potential teachers walking by. I could clearly see Zoe roll her eyes over the behavior of our friend but in the end none of us would want a staff member to find out Maxis was using his phone and we obeyed the unwritten rule of the school hall, shielding his hands from sight.

"Just look at that, how can people even accomplish these things?"

Almost shoving the display into our faces his expression remained engaged. After Zoe ripped the phone out of his grasp we were finally able to view what he had wanted to show us. Zoe's eyes widened in shock for a split second before returning to her normal one.

The video was shaky and clearly shot with the low definition camera of a cell phone. It showed the small buildings of a rainy town and the sea - probably Lake Michigan - in the distance. A gasp could be heard from beyond the screen as a tornado formed over the water engulfing a flying figure. Multiple lights shone through the muddy water and the entire structure suddenly collapsed with multiple shining orbs blasting outside from within. Inside a figure could be made out, though it seemed strangely distorted through the camera. But before the owner could further zoom in a nearby soldier holding a rifle shouted something towards the maker and ran towards him. Then the video ended with the last frames showing someone running through the sideways of the town.

Quickly snatching away his cell phone before any teacher could find it Maxis looks at us with anticipation.

"So? Awesome isn't it? The one creating the tornado was HALO's infamous 'Fluid' while the Raider's 'Flying Star' stopped him. Both of them are still incredibly powerful."

I shoot a quick look at my best friend, both of us did not share Maxis' sentiment of awe towards these people. Shaking her head Zoe was the first one to answer.

"They're clearly overdoing it, what do you think happened with the surrounding area? And I doubt that anyone has figured out HALO's goal yet haven't they?"

I had to agree with her, seeing the catastrophe these people could cause I felt only pity. Averting my eyes I stare into the distance not really focusing on anything, then I voice my thoughts without really directing them at anyone in person.

"Why can't espers just live their normal life? I'm sure they'd be much happier not doing any of that crap and rather spending time with friends ignoring their power."

Zoe's eyes instantly squint at what I had said but her expression quickly turns soft as she hits me on the back of my head.

"That's the slacker and skipper talking out of you, just shut up and let the sophisticated members of society-. Ehm. Just let us two talk."

I saw behind her joking facade and notice the hidden rebuke thrown at me. Sighing I shut my mouth and listen to the conversation of my friends.

Can't a girl just talk freely once in a while? She's right though.

"I've known you long enough Maxis that you probably won't shut up for at least another 10 minutes so just talk it out, I'll keep your company."

He didn't seem to have cared about what the two of us said and simply went on with sparks of awe in his eyes.

"To answer your question Zoe, no. No information regarding HALO's goal was published and I doubt that it ever will be. But the government was able to catch two of HALO's members, though it was all thanks to the Raiders intrusion. Luckily they got away again."

He leans back on the bench while snatching some of the treats out of my lunchbox. Only sighing I let him be, it had almost become an unwritten rule that we shared our food with each other. It was still my blonde friend that answered him again though, she mustered Maxis with her grey eyes before finally giving in.

"Didn't the military have some powerful espers stationed there? I mean they do have a strike team don't they? I thought some of them would step in too."

Maxis only shakes his head while seemingly enjoying my food.

"They only seemed to have had a small amount of forces at that location during that time. 'Fluid' is really strong after all so from what I could gather they did not want to sacrifice any of their operatives without the chance of succeeding."

So they just sacrificed their citizen?

Without asking my question out loud I take my sweets out of Maxis reach and simply keep the attitude of the silent bystander. Zoe sighs while slowly concentrating on her food again somehow managing to keep her hair away from it.

"Max, why are you so obsessed with all of this? We're in a normal school so this shouldn't concern us too much. Pretty much none of the powerful organizations around the world care too much about the normal humans."

He seems to stop for one moment before giving Zoe a weird look.

"Do you really think so? With Arthus Welten, the Fallen and HALO all committing various crimes do you really think that we shouldn't concern ourselves with this? Any one of them do not fare kindly with us normals, only the Raiders seem to try to help the helpless citizen around here. And the military? They only seem to care about defending the land, not the people."

He sneers once then gestures around the room, as if to symbolize our weakness.

"If the Event had transformed me I wouldn't just sit around on my ass doing nothing, I'd at least try to help people."

Now both me and Zoe show clear disdain in our eyes as we turn towards Maxis, I was about to throw something at him but Zoe was faster. With a bored sounding voice starts talking.

"So Max? And what if you had gotten an absolutely useless power? What then? Would you simply let the government take you away from your home, your family? They'd treat you like a criminal simply due to your DNA. And without power you'd be useless to them."

He laughs again and smiles at Zoe, to him it all seemed like a mind game between the two of them.

"Esper power is not limited by the nature of the ability itself, everything can be turned into something deadly. You all know the example from the military and the Fallen. How else would you explain that? We've all seen what they are able to do, clearly they both are able to manipulate electricity but their control is at a different level so one of them is ranked higher. Even with a useless power I would still train to become formidable. A-"

With a sharp gesture I stop both of them while showing the most annoyed expression I could muster.

"Could both of you just stop talking about that freaking subject? Maxis, you're no esper so drop it, maybe you might change in the future but it's not very probable. Zoe you too, stop provoking him, the Event is in the past. If anyone of us ever manifests the military will take them away so please just stop disputing about things that will undoubtedly lead to a sad future."

I seemed to have hit a nerve as both of them close their mouths looking at me apolitically. While Zoe just nodded in silence and concentrating on getting rid of her food Maxis quickly apologized. With one hand he scratched his head out of guilt.

"Sorry Alexis, I didn't mean to, I don't know why I kept going with the subject. I'm just fasci-"

I know I know, nobody is mad at you.

I drift away with my thoughts again and simply shove my remaining food into his direction. Instantly closing his mouth Maxis grabbed my lunchbox and plundered it's insides. I felt like I was training a dog how to behave but was soon interrupted by the school bell. Leaving my box with the two of them I stand up and move away from my friends. Before leaving the vicinity I could hear Zoe shout from behind me in joking desperation.

"Hey Alexis?! Please don't leave me with alone with him, he's eating too much!"

With a grin I walk out of the cafeteria and head towards our classroom. On my way there I meet multiple of my other friends, though they where only my school comrades to be honest. Surprisingly enough I seemed to be the first student to actually arrive at my location. The only ones that populated the room where my teacher and two unknown students. I mustered them warily, they looked quite abnormal, at least from my perspective. One of them was a girl with moderate height and piercing blue eyes, she was wearing a normal set of jeans with a green top. The truly weird part about her though was her hair.

Who'd want to have hair like that anyways? I mean come on, freaking pink?

The other was a boy with a stern look on his face that was only strengthened by his business like look, black hair and grey eyes. While the girl seemed amused and had an air of arrogance the boy seemed to detest the very thought of being here with in this school.

Doesn't matter anyways. Let's just igno-

My thoughts get interrupted as our teacher -Mrs B. Lair. - seems to have noticed me.

"Miss Mercer, why do I get the impression that you always come early to leave early?"

Of course she was asking me about my habit of pretty much fleeing from her class.

Hmmmm, that might be because this is absolutely true.

I didn't speak out loud and simply sat down looking at the blackboard, always try to avoid the interest of the teachers, you'll have an easier life that way. Sadly it was not that easy to do this while I was the only one in class, tilting her head Mrs B. Lair silently talks to the two teenagers before finally looking back at me.

"Alexis, how about you do us both a favor and take care of these two exchange students, they'll be here for a few weeks and since you'll get sidetracked anyways I want you to show them around."

A free day of school? I'm down.

I put on the nicest smile I can manage and step towards the girl, extending my hand I introduce myself.

"Hello you two, welcome to Jamestown High. The name is Alexis Mercer, seems like I've been appointed as your guide. Let's get along."

Acceptable performance, I've done better. But it should do t feign some interest for them.

Returning my kindness back at me the girl took my hand and gave me a dazzling smile. Her handshake seemed a bit too strong for my liking.

"Hi Alexis, nice to meet you. My friends call me Lane and this is Alfred, he can be a bit unsociable but he's a nice guy."

I send a side glance to the boy who tried his best to ignore me, not that I cared though. I throw my bag over my shoulder and motion the two of them to follow me outside. Just when we were about to leave the other students finally arrived, including Zoe. She puffed her cheeks at me in played anger while shoving my lunchbox into my stomach.

"Really, you traitor. You left me alone with him and even gave him your food so he wouldn't follow you around, that's low. And where are you going now? Class is about to start."

I take my now plundered box out of her hand and poked her forehead with my finger.

"Don't worry about it Zoe, I'm simply showing some exchange students around."

The I got close to her ear and whispered with mockery.

"Of course I would never try to use this opportunity to skip school would I? Doesn't matter, gotta go, see you later."

She just looked at me with astonishment, her expression stuck between slight contempt and a slight grin. Then she just shook her head and waved me away. With that our ways parted again and after the hallway had emptied I finally talk to the two exchange students behind me.

"So? What'll it be, I can show you the entire school ground but I think it'd like to know if you want to see anything first?"

Since I get no answer I turn around, only to see the two of them muttering to each other while ignoring me.

Brats.

I know I was not much older than them but it simply infuriated me to not be taken notice of like this. I could barely make out a sound but the whispering still reached my ears.

"Lv3 ... don't know ... maybe lv4?"

Losing my patience I clear my throat until they finally look at me. With a twitching eye and clear annoyance in my expression I once more ask them with the nicest voice I could manage.

"Hey you two, please don't ignore me like that, I asked you what you wanted to see. If you want to ignore me, fine. But at least tell me you don't need me then, so I can enjoy my day off okay?"

The boys eyes turn dark and he sneers at me.

"Now really? Why would we need your help? We know this building's interior design, don't worry about such trivial things as us not finding our classes or the cafeteria. And please be my guest and leave, I doubt you would even profit from the education your parents are able to provide you with."

What?!

Dumbfounded I open my mouth halfway to throw something back at his arrogant face and I can feel one of eyelids twitching again.

Who does this guy think he is?

I recover my composure quickly enough and simply put up a fake smile while bowing sarcastically.

"As you say."

Then I was finished with the two of them and simply charged away. I could make out shards of their conversation, what did they mean with "Also" and "different but same as the other"?

Who cares, time to skip some classes.