I...havent gotten any reviews in ages. Its kinda depressing.

On the bright side, i start school today! YAY! I live in New Zealand, and we dont start school until February. So we get like 6-7 weeks off school, causing us to become excited for school, if only to stop being bored.

ENJOY

Transcendence Rebels

Chapter 12

"Okay, new recruits. Gather round." Stan ordered, and they obeyed. He eyed the soldier suspiciously before continuing. "I'm Stan, this is my brother Ford, and our niece and nephew Mabel and Alcor are the leaders." He gestured to each of them as Ford stared at him. Stan ignored him. "We also have McGucket and Soos, our technicians, Wendy, our soldier, and Lavendyr, our spy. State your name, age, weaknesses and strengths." They boy stepped forward.

"I'm Marcus Plax, age 12." He began nervously. "I'm not very good at combat, but I'm an excellent hacker and technician." Stan nodded.

"Technician and hacker. Next person." The white girl of the two friends spoke. (Not being racist)

"Hi, I'm Vereyu Young, and I'm seventeen years old, as is my best friend Kalizhir Inur, or just Kali for short. I know crossbow and bowstaff, as well as some tracking thanks to Kali. She doesn't say much, so I'll do hers, if you don't mind. She knows longbow and tracking, and a small amount of staff-fighting." Stan nodded again.

"Kali, scout. Vereyu, soldier."

"Qual Dixy, twenty. My family has magic in their blood, something that I have. I'm also a master of stealth."

"Also scout. Now the ex-soldier." Stan ordered flatly.

"Dominic Gold, or Dom, twenty-nine. As you all know, I'm an ex-soldier for Gideon." Silence. He crossed his arms. "So I'm familiar in all areas."

"Soldier." Now Stan went quiet and Ford spoke up.

"Okay, Kali and Vereyu bunk, and Qual and Dom bunk. Marcus, you got top with Lav or bottom with Soos. Your choice. If you need clothes, we got supplies in the cupboards by the beds. If you want a weapon, claim one from the training space. If you want to complain, tell it to Alcor or Mabel. Training and watch rosters will be put up shortly. No-one but me, Stan, Mabel, and possibly Dom know how to use a gun, so you're all going to learn. First mission will be announced when planned." Knowing a dismal when they heard one, they grabbed new clothes, claimed new weapons, and set their stuff on their assigned beds. Ford grabbed Stan's shoulder and began to talk to him furiously. Lavendyr went to sharpen her current arrows as Kali and Vereyu started chatting like teens. Heck, even Wendy joined them.

Marcus being Marcus, the boy chose the top bed of Lavendyr's bunk. He approached, and the spy dumped her quiver on the top bed, glaring at him.

"This one's taken, kiddo." There was sorrow in her eyes as she said it.

"But Ford said-" Marcus began.

"Ford was wrong. Soos is a nice guy. You should take that one." She turned away. Marcus, remembering Ford's instructions, went to Alcor, who was re-wrapping his bandages again.

"Hey, Alcor? Lavendyr won't let me on her bunk." He complained.

Alcor ignored him, but watched him from under lowered brows.

"Alcor?" The demon stood.

"Just leave it, kid. It's better that way." He told Marcus, before walking away. The boy frowned, and noticed Wendy striding towards him from the teens.

"What's their problem?" He asked. She put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's their tale to tell, Marcus. Separate tales, but theirs." He nodded slowly in understanding.

"Alcor! Lav! You're on first watch!" Stan yelled. Marcus was even more confused as Lavendyr grabbed her crossbow and quiver, and they both walked out, staves in hand.

"If they're anti-social, why do they pair together?" Now Soos walked up.

"Sometimes, those who are lost are saved, not by those who know the way, but by those who are lost with them." He advised.

"That's deep, man." Wendy remarked.

"I know dudes. My wisdom is both a blessing, and a curse." Soos chuckled. Marcus stared, awed that they could joke about something so serious. Soos noticed him. "Come on, dude. I won't push you away. If it makes you feel any better, I'll go on the bottom and you can have the top." He said with a smile. Marcus mumbled his thanks, and the duo got to work moving the man-baby's stuff.

When they were done, Ford approached them.

"Marcus. You say you're good with gadgets. Why don't you join me, McGucket and Soos in the workroom tomorrow morning?" Instantly the boy perked up.

"Yes, please! See you there, sir!" Ford chuckled.

"There's no need to call me 'sir.'" And with that, he walked off.

"See? He's not so bad." Soos told Marcus.

"Yeah." Suddenly Soos clapped his forehead, remembering something.

"Oh, dude! I'm supposed to be preparing dinner tonight!" He rushed to the small kitchen area. Seeing how stressed he was, he spoke.

"Hey, do you want me to help?" Marcus offered. Soos seemed to relax.

"Thanks dude. You're a life saver." He sounded grateful. Marcus figured it was because the man-baby wasn't that great at cooking, or that more hands ment faster work.

As Dom and Qual finished making their beds, the ex-soldier stated a conversation.

"So. You know magic." Not a question.

"Yeah." Qual replied.

"Can you show me some?" He asked.

"Well, it's more stuff like illusion or invisibility, but..." He opened his palm, and a tiny life-sized sparrow pecked his fingers, an illusion so life-like it seemed real. Dom whistled appreciatively. Qual closed his hand again, and the bird dissapeared.

"That's...amazing." Dom remarked.

"I know. Now what about you? What are you good at?" Dom sighed.

"A lot of things, stuff they forced me to learn." He began to list off different things. "There's bowstaff, shooting pistols, rifles and machine guns, archery, cross and long, and hand-to-hand combat. Hunting and tracking, all terrains, and reading maps. Technology, hacking, not that I was any good at it. Poisons, medicines, and edible plants, but they didn't enforce those that much. And...I think that's about it. It was only over a month ago, but they act fast. I lived in Washington. They relocated me here three days ago."

"Woah."

"Yeah. It's a lot." Dom shrugged. "I guess it's lucky I know those things when I'm here."

"Why did you join the military anyway?" Qual asked. The soldier looked down.

"When they conscripted me into the army, I refused." He said quietly, almost whispering. "They took my daughter and killed her. She was only two." Qual put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Dominic looked up into kind eyes.

"Hey, I had a similar experience. When they found out I had magic after the Transcendence, they enslaved my entire family. I was the only one left in Gravity Falls." Dom's eyes widened. He didn't know there was still slavery in the world.

Someone swore, and the two looked infront of them to see the best friends staring at them.

"I didn't know your grudges went so deep." Vereyu remarked, blue eyes wide. "And we thought ours was pitiful."

"And what would that be?" Qual asked.

"Kali didn't grow up like us. She came from an old native American tribe that died out the day of the Transcendence. I just suffered from oppression like everyone else." She explained.

Qual glanced around, and noticed that the rebel leader Mabel looked exactly like Alcor, but with longer hair. They were twins. A thought struck him.

"Hey, anyone know what's up with Alcor?" He asked. Dom and Vereyu exchanged glances.

"Wendy says that the Transcendence was caused by this dream demon called Bill Cipher dying. Alcor killed him, and absorbed his powers, becoming a demon in the process. He and Mabel were still really close, but a week later, his humanity overpowered the demon, turning him physical. After that, he became more reclusive. He still has his powers though." Vereyu explained.

"Ah. That explains why he was able to shield and teleport us." Dominic remarked. Qual frowned.

"What about the burns?"

"When he turned physical, Mabel gripped his arms. They don't know why, but it burned him. Apparently he can heal them, but he chooses not to for reasons he refuses to share." Vereyu replied.

"What about Lavendyr?" Dom asked.

"Wendy said that her story was worse, and she wouldn't tell me. Apparently that kid Marcus was wondering the same thing." She added, jerking a thumb at the young hacker. "I wonder what his deal was." Qual shrugged.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure he'll share it in his own time."

"Are you kidding me Stan!?" Ford whispered fiercely.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He replied calmly as the older twins sat down to dinner. It wasn't much, considering that they were rebels and had little access to food. There was jerky and dried fish, potatoes and carrots they found in the pantry, and canned tomatoes.

"They're just kids, Stanley, let alone rebel leaders." He struggled to keep his voice down, although they were seated at a table far away from the other rebels. Honestly, their dining room greatly resembled a mess hall.

"Oh, shut it, point-dexter. You're just mad I didn't consult you first." He dug into his food.

"Of course I'm mad you didn't tell me first!" Stan put down his knife and fork, before turning to his twin.

"Just go with it, Ford. You and I know better than anyone that they're ready for this."

"They're twelve-" Ford began.

"And have matured incredibly in the last month and a half. Think about it Ford, Dipper, I mean Alcor, has become quiet and reclusive. That shift between human to demon to something in between has changed him. Mabel's just as bad. She's not wearing her sweaters anymore, and although her personality hasn't changed, she's because more solemn. And something's going on with her, but she's not sharing it with us.

"They are not yet mature-"

"Have you even seen them do something irresponsible in the past month? They need this, Ford, not for us, but for them." Ford stared at him.

"Fine. But I'm still not happy with this." He grumbled.

Yes! I managed to do a longer chapter! (By about 400 words. ;( its not much) Let me know what you think about the characters backstories.