So it's been a long while since I've been able to visit this story, but I've been in a bit of a rut lately. I'm home for the summer and the creative juices are flowing, though, so I'll try to make updates more regular. Thanks to all who read and please comment with any feedback. I hope you enjoy the return of Project Advancement. Here's the next Volume:

Firestarter 2: Project Advancement
Volume III: Fighters

Katie

It had been 2 years since they left Helena, Montana. That had been the beginning of some very intense times. Since then there had been so many changes, and not just to them. The whole world was in a state of chaos. Everything was thrown into a tailspin and Katie sometimes found herself asking how it could have gotten to this. She knew deep down, though, when they left Helena that things were going to get worse.

They had to stop the Shop. That had been the original concern. They had to put a stop to what the Shop was doing. It's how the whole thing began. Going from Shop to Shop they wandered growing, shrinking, and changing in numbers.

The world knew about them after the stuff in Helena. Things grew harder. Hiding became near impossible. Mostly because of Charlie's group. Charlie and her followers were not ready to hide anymore. They were actively working.

After Helena, Katie and her group stopped their Shop to Shop journey. As people became aware of the Shop's actions the kids being worked on were released from Shop laboratories around the country. However, they went into hospitals, confined to a limbo while everyone else decided what would happen. Charlie began her crusade to bring justice to all those hurt by the actions of the Shop. She began "freeing" all kids with powers. Focus changed to stopping Charlie, but it was hard to be ready for the kind of support Charlie gained. Some of the kids were really angry about what had happened. They were more than willing to help her.

Files found at locations of Shops still standing showed that in total 1500 kids had been taken off the streets and from orphanages to serve the experiments of the shop. Of them 114 were deemed successes, meaning they both lived and showed positive responses i.e. powers. There are currently suspected to be 100 or so left, counting the deaths of Harvey, Will, and Zach, as well as a few deaths occurring since then. Charlie's efforts paid off as she ended up with a team of more than half of all changed Shop kids. Attempts at stopping Charlie ended up in nothing more than 46 kids who want to stop Charlie or who simply want no part of this. The world has changed so much…

Charlie quickly went into action taking over. Not just getting revenge but completely taking over New York City with her team. Slowly spreading herself and her team around she has created a world led by Gods. Those are her words. Around the world the rest of humanity is filled with fear. Second class citizens. There is only one spot of hope now. Valentine, Katie, Kyle and their group are stationed in California. There they have been cornered. They continued to fight, and now there is a standstill. They cannot provoke a fight, and Charlie doesn't want to deal with them. All they have been able to do is establish this area as a safe haven. They have a sense of normalcy for the people in this new California. They have put their energy into creating this California, but things need to change if Charlie is to be stopped. Katie stood up and headed for Resistance Headquarters.

When they first started the Resistance they had to split up. Doing different things to get this new society going. Right now she was on her way to get a new assignment. As she walked into the lobby she heard a voice.

"Hi Katie, everyone's in Valentine's office." It was Liz. She was a secretary here, who had been rescued from attempts at mass genocide of normal people in Europe. They had tried to do this worldwide and fight Charlie head on, but that would only resort in more dead. She thought of this as she walked into Valentine's office. Inside she was greeted by the old gang. It had been a long while since they had all been together in one room. For so long they had seen each other only in occasional glances from far away. Except for Kyle, who had been working close with her.

"Hi Katie." It was Valentine, 20 years old now, just like her, a smile on his face that shone over the rest of his hollowing expression. This whole thing was aging them so much.

"Hi, guys." Katie answered back.

"We need to talk," began Ricky. "There's something big going on."

Valentine

When Katie walked in, his heart leaped. There had always been this unofficial thing between them that made things awkward. Especially now that they barely saw each other. As she sat down, he cleared his throat and tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

"Ricky's right," he began. "Something big is happening.

"Well obviously," said Kyle, "Otherwise we wouldn't all be here." They laughed, but only lightly, because they had all already realized this. They hardly saw each other. To be together like this could only mean big issues.

"Right. Well…" continued Valentine, "as we all know, we have had very little success in this thing we have going with Charlie. The only gain we have is this haven of California. We've managed to secure this one land mass, and with no airplanes going in and out, and with surveillance, not to mention the added help of the Sierra Nevada Range we have had few problems from Charlie and her group. However we all knew this was only a temporary fix. As long as we are not with Charlie she is going to view us as a threat."

There was a shared look of dread throughout the room.

"You mean she's coming?" asked Katie.

"Not exactly. We've had confirmed sightings of strange people working in the mountains. Rockslides and earthquakes have become more frequent and unexplained. We have a feeling that what Charlie is doing is trying to get to us. If she manages to get here she and her people can do more than just damage they will take over. Jennifer, Ricky, and I have been thinking about this for a long time and we've come up with a plan. As of now, we are cloaked by C.J. His ability to mess with radio signals and waves has it so they can't find us by radar or any other means, but the effects of this are minor when they already know where we are. All we have managed is to keep them out of our business and away from our information."

"Right well we can't really do much about that, can we?" asked Kyle.

"Well we have been planning this for a while. You and Katie have proven to be our best team here at the Resistance. There is a special assignment I have for you."

"Well if it's just an assignment why did we all need to show up?" Kyle asked.

"It's more than a mission," Ricky explained. "This mission may lead to a confrontation if Charlie really has men here. If she doesn't then this merely protects us from whenever she finally decides to come after us. On the chance of confrontation, though, a fight may await you. You are our best, and this is important for the safety of what we are trying to stop."

"Alright, so there may be a fight, but what will we be doing?" Katie asked.

"You will be going to Sierra Nevada's. We have a map for you in the lobby at Liz's desk. It will tell you exactly where to go. Take a team with you, and before you go visit Linda's lab. She has some things for you. At the Range… your aim is to set off a chain of explosives as well as use your powers. We think it best if—we think it's for the best if California was separated from the rest of the United States."

"We're going to blow off California?" Kyle asked in shock.

"We know it's extreme but we need to start working proactively and not just defensively. This is the first step."

There was a long pause before Katie spoke up. "Alright. When do we go?"

"Take the next few days to prepare. Leave in 3 days. That should be enough time."

They sat there for a long while and stared at each other. Together again, and just as quickly splitting up. "Well we have another meeting in a few minutes," said Ricky.

"Right." Answered Kyle. They all stood up and said goodbye and began to walk out.

"Valentine I—" began Katie, before Valentine interrupted.

"We'll talk when you come back. I promise." He said.

"Alright."

"Bye Katie."

"Bye."