A/N: Just to let everyone know I'm not changing Warren. He's still going to be surly and rude, however the fact that he's drawn to Marina, and she to him, is going to be a plot point. What I'm working up to is a reveal on why each of them seems to do things that their personalities normally wouldn't do. Eh, it's a work in progress, but I LOVE the feedback. I will never have any problem with anyone telling me what they think of what I'm writing. Even if they think it stinks, or is the best story ever. (as if). I love you all!

I woke up in the school infirmary. I think these people thought everything could be fixed in the school infirmary. I felt like I'd been run over by a stampede of wild buffalo. Not that I truly know what that feels like, but it sounds painful and I was in pain. Someone was brushing the hair off of my forehead with a soothing hand. I knew that touch. They'd brought my parents up here. I was glad. I definitely needed some Mommy time. I opened my eyes slowly and found Mom sitting to my right.

"Oh baby." She whispered. Her voice was sort of quivering.

"I'm okay Mom." I murmured. At least I thought I was okay. I hadn't really moved yet. To be perfectly honest I was scared to.

"Well little girl you certainly gave everyone a scare." Nurse Spex practically cackled.

"I didn't mean to." I mumbled. It wasn't as if I'd purposely asked to be viciously attacked.

The elderly nurse patted my hand. "I know dear, but let's go over your injuries before everyone gets all caught up in the storytelling." She grabbed something next to her and started speaking again. "Okay, so you have a mild concussion, that'll cause quite a bit of a headache for the next few days. Two broken ribs, several lacerations on your arms and legs, your left wrist is sprained, and you have a nasty black eye."

"Wow." I said numbly. Part of me was surprised to hear everything and part of me expected more. "How're my friends?"

The nurse had moved away so my Mom filled me in. "Layla and Magenta are fine although I think Layla broke a nail when she punched that girl out. Zach broke his nose, but that was when he slipped on Ethan and skidded into a wall. Will and Warren had a few cuts and bruises but are fine."

"And Deke and Steffi?"

"Those two are currently in one of the containment detention rooms. Your father, Principal Powers, and Mr. Stronghold are with them now."

I suddenly remembered, "Oh my gosh, is Max okay?"

"He'll be okay." She was frowning. "He broke his right arm, and is pretty banged up, but he's awake and has already headed home."

"Why are you frowning?"

"That boy is just creepy." She shivered. "I don't know what it was about him. I'm certainly grateful that he helped you, but there was just something in his eyes."

"I know exactly what you mean Mom." I reassured her. "I don't hang out with Max for a reason you know." I sat up slowly ignoring the slightly dizzy feeling that I was having. "Did everyone else go home?" That thought depressed me. I mean, I couldn't blame them if they had, but…

"Are you crazy?" Layla said from the doorway. "As if we would just leave you here before we could talk to you. We came here together, and we'll leave here together. That is if it's okay with your parents."

"That's fine Layla. She's almost safer with you all than she is with me." My mom joked. Mom stood up and kissed my cheek. "I'm going to check on your father, and maybe have a few words of my own with those two nasty little jerks." I think my mom is the only person alive who can make the word jerk sound like profanity. I love the woman.

"How are you feeling?" Layla asked as she perched.

"Not so good." I told her with a slight wince as I tried to reposition myself.

"Gosh Marina, you scared us. After we dealt with Steffi and Deke you were just lying there unconscious. Warren went ballistic when you dropped to the ground. Those two are lucky to be alive." Layla babbled.

"I'm just lucky that you guys came out when you did." I sighed.

Layla blinked at me. "Marina, you called us."

"What?"

"We've all talked about it. We were all just getting back to the table. Warren was looking worried. We heard you. It was like your voice in our heads. We all heard the same thing. It was totally weird. You just said help. Warren headed straight for the doors. I haven't seen the boy move that fast since he kept trying to get away from us Freshman year."

"I remember when I got angry I started thinking about you guys wishing you would come out. I couldn't understand why no one could hear the explosions."

Layla was nodding at me. "Yeah, turns out Deke's little bombs come with their own noise dampeners. Seems he's been hiding a lot of his abilities because Steffi told him to." She leaned in closer to me. "They're in BIG trouble now."

I almost laughed. They almost kill me and all she can say is big trouble. "I wonder how I called you? I don't have powers like that. I KNOW I don't have powers like that."

"That's quite the mystery isn't it?" Principal Powers said from the doorway. She strode into the room and I could feel her worry for me. "There are several occurrences manifesting themselves in your particular group Marina. Some sort of mental link, new powers showing up, put that in with your array of abilities and we have a lot of unanswered questions."

Layla continued to stare at me. "Marina, we're all developing new powers. Not just Magenta or Zach. All of us who hang out together. I did the rain thing, Magenta did the new form. Zach can illuminate other objects, and Ethan is actually starting to shape his melting into small objects." Her voice was starting to get excited, but I was getting freaked out. "Warren almost flew and Will seems to be getting some type of sonic boom power. Coach is ticked off about that."

"I've brought in a specialist to work with you all." Principal Powers said with a smile in her voice. "It seems that the group of you together have formed something bigger than what we normally handle." The door opened and the man who'd exuded so much power previously strode into the room. "Marina, Layla, meet John Ramsey, also known as Prophet."

I managed to stifle my gasp, but Layla did not. Of course we'd heard of Prophet. He only headed the most well known super group in North America. Most heroes chose to run solo, however on occasion there were some of them that joined together to form such a group. The League of Defenders was one of the biggest and best. It was still active. Wow, Prophet right here at Sky High. In the infirmary with yours truly. Wow.

"It's a pleasure to meet you ladies." He told us in a strong voice. It was pleasant to listen to him, and he had a slight accent that I couldn't quite place. I think maybe English, but not real sure.

"John is going to be working with you, all of you, for the next few weeks."

"I'd like to evaluate you to see if you really are forming a linked group."

Okay, so now I was really confused. "But don't you actively seek out a group?"

Layla must have agreed. "Yeah, I mean, we've never even talked about that stuff."

Prophet cleared his throat before speaking again. "Normally, yes, that is the way it works." He started slowly. "However, there has been at least one instance where a unit formed unknowingly. If you'll give me the chance I'll tell you all about it. I've already talked to the others and they've agreed, albeit some of them are reluctant." This made me smile. "Are you willing?"

"I'm more than willing to find out more, because to be perfectly honest I really have no idea what's going on or what you're talking about at this point." I told him bluntly.

He chuckled warmly. "We'll start Monday. For now I'll take my leave."

He left the room pretty quickly, and my other friends passed him coming into the room. The only aura which I really saw was the deep red one. "Hi guys, thanks for coming to my rescue." I said softly.

They were all murmuring excitedly. "Can you believe it Marina? We might be part of a super group!" Zach practically squealed.

"I can't believe the Prophet is going to teach us." Magenta sighed. "He's gorgeous."

I laughed. Yep, these were my friends.

"When are they springing you?" Will asked.

"Any minute now." I was starting to feel odd. Was Warren ignoring me? He hadn't said a word since coming into the room. No, I was not going to be one of those girls that's always worrying about whether the guy is interested. "I guess my dress was torched huh?"

"Um, yeah it was gone." Layla said hesitantly. "We got your gym clothes for you."

"By the way Marina, you have awesome legs." Zach said in an awed tone. A low growl and the sound of cracking knuckles came from where Warren sat. "Um, I think I'm gonna wait outside for you guys."

Magenta sighed. "I'll go to. I'm glad you're okay Marina. You gave us quite the scare."

Everyone filed out of the room except for Warren. He still hadn't said a word and I was starting to get nervous. "So, thanks for coming out there." I said hesitantly.

And with that one statement he exploded. "What the hell were you doing out there by yourself Marina!"