Disclaimer: I don't own.

Author Note: Yes, I know, it's been awhile. But in my defense my computer broke- well, technically it still worked but typing was a hassle…anyway, everything's hunky dory now, so I'm back to writing. My other stories should be updated sometime this month as well. This one was almost complete before the incident, which is why it got done first.

Okay, I'm going to try something new, because that's what this story is all about; trying new things. And I want to play a game…I like playing games. I've hidden a quote in this story from my new favorite T.V series. Whoever finds and states what show it's from first, gets a prize. The winner will get to have their "9" oc make a cameo appearance in this fic, humanized with a supper power of their choice. Or, if they don't like that idea, they can have a one shot of their choosing. If this goes well, I might do it again. So happy hunting! ;)

P.S: songs DON'T count!

Edit: We have a winner: Beachcat! the answer was, "Welcome to the Deep End, Little one." from Caprica.

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Brace Yourself

Chapter 3

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"cuz your hot an' your cold, your hmm dum hum hmm…" Kelly hummed absentmindedly as she dug a jar of peanut butter out of the cabinet and lathered up a slice of bread. Friday…her first Friday back. This was going to prove interesting.

She ran a finger over the butter knife and licked it clean, not wanting to waist any of the sticky goodness. "… It's black and it white, We fight and break up, we kiss and make up…" the knife clattered loudly in the sink. "Yeah…out of all of the songs to get stuck in my head, it had to be that one…"

"Keeeellllly! Are you home?!"

She groaned at her mother's call. "Speak of the devil….sort of…"

"Oh, there you are." Her mom strode into the small kitchen and draped herself over the counter. She was absolutely gorgeous, with long flowing blonde hair, a perfect complexion and a charming smile. That was her mom, alright, Ms. super model wannabe. "Why don't we go out and do something tonight, Hm?"

Kelly put the jar back in its proper place and without turning around asked in a Deadpanned voice, "Did Nathan dump you?"

"Heavens no! What makes you think that?"

Kelly rolled her eyes at her mom's over dramatic response. "That tends to be the pattern…"

"I was just thinking that It's been so long since we had a girl's night out."

Kelly folded her piece of bread over, grabbed her bag off of the kitchen chair and walked at a quick pace for the front door. "It's Friday."

Unfortunately, her mom followed. "Exactly! Time to celebrate the weekend; Don't' have to worry about school or work-"

"My youth group? I'm heading over there right now, actually. And don't even ask about Saturday. I have a match tomorrow- Bye!" To make the end of the conversation clear, she slammed the door in her mom's face.

Oh, she gave her points for trying, but she had her own life. And it didn't involve her mom trying to relive her glory days through her.

She took a bite out of her sandwich and made her way down the street to the twins' house.

As Kelly came to the house at the end of the cul-de-sac, she could hear someone, most likely their grandmother, from inside the house shout, "Just forget it! You're just making a bigger mess! Out, out!"

She smiled at the two hooded teens that came racing out of the front door. "Have you ever gone a day without causing trouble?"

They shrugged in unison and fell into step behind her. Three cul-de-sacs down was the street Jeb's house was on. Parked in front of the window to the den were two bikes. Both Caleb and Andrew lived farther away and had to ride to the provider's house.

Kelly let herself in. Mr. A was expecting them and the two older men were probably busy making preparations. She shoved the last bit of sandwich into her mouth, flung her bag onto the only couch in the small living room and dug a water bottle out. She took a quick swing from it and hurried down the hall to the den.

The den had originally been a garage, but Mr. Anderson had it converted because his living room wasn't very spacious and visitors were often running back and forth through it.

The twins immediately rushed to Agatha's cage and tried to coax the rat out.

Kelly smiled at the sight of Andrew talking quietly to Ace. She ran up and playfully jabbed Andrew in the shoulder, "So you showed up after all!"

He shoved her back, "I'm just here for Harold's cooking."

Jeb paced by the room, hollering, "Blake! Get out here you lazy no good…probably playing those stupid video games again…" he backtracked and yelled at the twins, "Put Agatha back in her cage! You know better!"

Izzy quickly put the mouse away, and smiled innocently. The doorbell rang, and Mr. A quickly shoved the box he was carrying into Ian's hands and went to get the door. Ian placed the box in its hiding spot in the hidden cabinet of the T.V stand and went to hang his head out of the den's doorway with the others.

"What are you doing here?!"

"What? I can't stop by to visit my old teachers?" A tall young woman stood in the doorway. She had black hair that caressed over her shoulders and was wearing a knitted blue poncho with white frills.

"Not unannounced, you can't!" Jeb shouted, "And what is with the bags?"

She raised one of the bags, "Groceries."

Jeb snatched it from her, "I told you before, I'm not an invalid yet! I can buy my own food, thank you very much!"

She shrugged, and took that as an invitation to step out of the door way and into the house. "It's not for you. Harold asked for it."

Mr. Anderson paled at what he found in the bag. "Please don't tell me this is all cake mix…"

She shrugged again, "No, there's brownie mix and chocolate chips and other stuff for cookies too."

Jeb turned and hollered, "HAROLD!"

Harold popped out of the kitchen. "You yelled?"

"What is the meaning of this!" Jeb shook the bag for emphasis.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"This!" Jeb shook the bag again. "Why did you get Becky into delivering groceries?"

He smiled, "Well, I was low on supplies and she offered to pick them up for me on her way here."

Becky pulled out a package from one of the bags. "Surprise! I wanted to deliver this personally." She walked up to Ace and offered it to him. She smirked as he stared at the brown package bag in confusion and announced, "Welcome to the deep end, little one."

She gave farewell to Jebadiah and left promptly. The provider huffed, and went to into the den to find Ace still starring at the package. "Well? Are you going to open it anytime today?"

As 9 tore the package open, 5 asked, "Who was that?"

"Becky? She's the other provider for this area. Used to be one of my own." Jeb went to the T.V stand, took his box out, and sat it on the couch.

9 held up the contents of the package, and the black cloth unfolded to revel it to be a hoodie.

"Let's see it, go and put it on," Prompted Harold excitedly.

9 quickly threw it on and pulled the zipper up half way.

Jeb nodded his approval. "You're officially registered, now."

Ace's hand brushed over the brown patch, "What's the 9 for?"

"Easy identification," Mr. A answered as he opened his box and laid out the bands that were inside it, "Your full number is 0625- the area, JA01-your provider, U18y- your…position if you will, and finely you -AH09. Most will only ask for the last number."

"I believe we're ready to begin…" Jeb saw Harold trying to sneak away and snapped at him, "Don't think I'm done with you yet! And would you get that no good son of mine? Stupid boy is probably rotting his brains away."

The provider looked over the group, his gaze falling on Kelly."You're up first, brat."

She rolled her eyes, but obediently stepped forward and let Jebahdiah switch out the bands on her arm. "You don't have any broken limbs so I assume you've been keeping out of trouble?"

Kelly just nodded.

"What does he mean?" Ace whispered to Andrew, who had been kind enough to offer help as needed.

"See, people with a speed power have to be able to make snap decisions and keep up with the speed of their bodies. Otherwise, You'll hit a lot of tree branches and walls. And if she's at her top speed when it happens? Well, full body casts are hard to explain to parents." He flinched at the idea.

Harold reentered the room then, with Blake in tow.

Jeb picked his next victim, "Caleb, your next."

The artist's eyes went wide in surprise and he shook his head in protest.

"We don't have time for your games Caleb! Get over here now."

Caleb flinched and looked around the room wildly for a hiding place.

Harold, ever a saint, offered, "Jeb, let me take him into the room and check his equipment. It will be easier for him when---"

"No," Jeb snapped back, "He has better control than any other seer that I've had the misfortune to provide for and you know it. I'm not going to baby him anymore. It's about time that he's gotten over this ridiculous fear." He turned back to the darker skinned boy, "Get over here."

Caleb hung his head and quickly went to Mr. Anderson's side. The old man pushed him into the arm chair and grabbed his arm. "No compilations?" The provider removed the old orange band and replaced it with a new one.

"N…no sir," Caleb stuttered.

"He can see the future," Kelly offered Ace helpfully.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, he doesn't like doing it around people though, it's too distracting. We almost lost him once." Kelly whispered sadly.

Andrew added, "There hasn't been a seer yet that hasn't gone off the deep end. They're hopeful that he'll be the first."

Caleb flinched when Jeb walked behind the arm chair and brought a hand to either side of his head. The provider berated him halfheartedly, "For heaven's sakes you silly boy, relax. You act as if this is your first time." When Caleb didn't calm down he added, "This is the only warning you're getting."

Caleb closed his eyes and breathed deeply, in and out. Jeb waited until the fifth inhale to move. Ace was surprised when Jeb pulled up a metal ring that had been hidden under Caleb's hair.

Mr. Anderson gave it a quick look over and placed it back. "It's in working order. Actually, I've been trying to order you something a bit more comfortable and discrete. They're a pain to get a hold of, but we wouldn't have to worry so much about you getting caught or damaging it so it'd be worth the hassle."

Caleb quickly got out of the way and joined Kelly and the others.

"Hey, M…Mr. Anderson? Can I…" Andrew tried to ask, but was cut off.

"No."

"But I…"

"No!" Mr. A snapped, "You're not allowed to touch any of my house appliances and you know it!"

" …I was going to ask If I could get a drink." Andrew finally managed to get out.

He blinked at the eye patched teen. "Why are you even asking? You know where the fridge is, go get it yourself." Jeb reconsidered and said, "get up here first."

Mr. Anderson slapped a new orange band on him and allowed him to go into the kitchen.

"Technopathic," Kelly said, "except he doesn't really have the know-how for most electronics and ends up blowing them up. I feel real sorry for him. After having to make up all of those excuses for his burns, his parents started thinking he's a pyro or something. Poor Andrew never gets a break," she let out a sigh.

"Alright twiddle dee and twiddle dumb, let's see the damage you've done this time." Mr. A was not impressed with their body art. "What part of expensive equipment don't you get?! Wash this crap off!" The twins stuck their tongues out at him in defiance. After exchanging their orange bands, Mr. Anderson ripped the extra band that was on their arms off.

Suddenly the twins snapped to each other, as if an invisible force had pulled on them. They struggled to separate, but to no avail.

"Magnetic," Caleb explained this time, "but, one's positive and the other's negative. So...this happens."

Jeb thrust the bands at them and turned to his son. "Blake, take them into the kitchen and see to it that they clean up." The large boy chuckled mincingly and hauled the twins up, yanked them apart, and flung them over either shoulder. Blake grabbed the rat cage as he passed by when it wobbled unsteadily in an attempt to fallow them.

Ace shook his head in disbelief. All this time he thought he had issues…

Jeb looked around at his remaining victims, his gaze landing on Ace. "Alright new boy, get up here."

Ace tensely moved to the arm chair. "That band is good for a few more days, but I'm going to replace it with a fully charged one anyway." The provider switched the bands and booted him out of the chair.

Andrew came back with the twins, who had to be pried from the sink and had several magnets attached to them (courtesy of Blake) just in time to see Jeb turn on Harold.

"You! What do you think you were doing sneaking behind my back! You don't need that many sweets at your age! You'll rot your teeth out!"

"It isn't like I eat it all myself, and I have dentures!"

"I wonder why?!"

"Don't you just love it when they act like an old married couple?" Kelly chirped happily.

"They aren't really married, though, are they?" Caleb asked as he continued to watch the old men bicker.

"I've been wondering that myself, actually." Andrew admitted, "Harold does live here, but they don't share a room."

They all tilted their heads in the same direction in thought.

Friday evening at Jebaidiah Anderson's house; good times.

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A small boy by the name of Bryce sat sadly in the corner of his dad's home office, cradling his pet mouse.

It wasn't right, though. The mouse wasn't moving, wasn't breathing. He asked his father to fix his little mouse, he knew his daddy could, but his dad told him no, that it wasn't right. Then his father had rushed out to meet someone important and commanded him to stay in the study and be quiet.

Bryce didn't understand though. The mouse didn't disserve to be dead. It had been a good mouse and kept him happy when father was busy, or when he wasn't allowed to play with his baby brother.

So, cupping the cold little body in his hands, he took a deep breath, filled the air entrapped in his lungs with his essence, and slowly released it over the mouse.

Bryce cheered in joy as his little friend twitched back to life.

"That is quite a talent you have, young man."

Bryce quickly stood and hid behind his father's desk. Guests weren't allowed up stairs, and Bryce wasn't supposed to be seen.

The stranger turned and smirked at his father standing in the doorway, out of breath. "You never told me you had a son."

"My family life is none of your concern!"

"It is when you've been hiding a child with potential. I should have you arrested for such treason. Luckily for you though, scientist, you're of no use to me behind bars."

Soldier's hands grabbed Bryce, dragged him away, kicking and screaming, reaching out for his father…

He didn't like the chancellor. The man came to his small white room and demanded so much for him.

"Bring this man back to life!"

"Make him stronger, make him evincible!"

"Give me the ultimate soldier."

It always took so much energy out of him…too much…but he knew, any day now, his father would come for him. He had heard rumors of the rebels. He knew his dad had to be behind it, only he had the power and wisdom to pull it off.

He was coming….

He never came.

It had been years, so many years. Others were freed, others were saved.

But no one ever came for him.

His dad didn't care about him anymore. The only one that cared was the chancellor. He was the only one that visited anymore, after he killed the guards over and over again.

Only the chancellor could subdue him.

How Brice hated that man. Both him and his father. It was their faults! They disserved to suffer! One Day! …

One…

Day….

"Master?"

"Hm?" He looked up from his desk, to see his cat beast standing in the doorway.

Marco gave a polite bow, "I'm sorry for disturbing you, master, I just wanted to inform you that we're leaving soon."

The bony man waved for him to come closer. "Come here, Marco."

The beast man took an obedient step forward.

His master waved his hand again. "Closer…" Another few steps… "Closer…"

Marco stood uncertainly next to his master. Mr. Fabulous was a very quirky man, but he had never acted like this before!

Bryce Fabulous looked him over, contemplating something. Marco forced his ears to stay upright and asked, "….Sir?"

Making up his mind, his master grabbed his head and forced it into his lap. Startled, Marco tried to pull away, but his head was held tightly as his master started to stroke him. Marco had to stop himself from struggling. The last thing he wanted was for his master to get irritated with him while he was still clutching his head.

"One day soon, they will suffer."

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Author Note: (insert mad laughter) *gasp* Oh…my goodness…lol….now I have images of the fabrication machine holding the cat beast and stroking it stuck in my head; Because there is something evil about having a cat in your lap while you stroke it. I've tried it before. It really will make you feel very evil indeed. Add a mischievous grin and a few deep laughs, and people will run away in fear.

…I'm…not quite sure if that works with cat men….poor Marco…^^:

We should see more of their world next chapter…hopefully.