Chapter 10:
A half an hour passed since one Raphael Sylla paid Cornelia a visit in the hospital. And it was a bit of a weird visit. As she sits in her bed, Cornelia replays the whole thing in her head.
Flashback
"Mr. Sylla?", Cornelia questioned surprised to see a teacher visit her.
"Hello, Ms. Hale.", Sylla said with a kind smile. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm doing okay.", Cornelia replies. "But what are you doing here? No offence."
"None taken. I just came by to see if you were alright.", Sylla answers. "Is it a crime for a teacher to worry about a student?", he asked with a grin.
"No. It just feels a bit weird seeing a teacher outside of school.", Cornelia replied. "First, Principal Knickerbocker came to see me and now you."
"It may seem weird, but we teacher do have a life outside of school.", Sylla said jokingly getting a smile out of Cornelia. "But it is getting late and I'm guessing that you do need your rest. So, I'll leave you to get it. I just came by to see if you were doing okay after what Lair and Vandom have done to you."
"I'm alright.", Cornelia said. "I mean it's not like they tried to kill me.", she said with a smile.
"Maybe so. But don't you find it strange how they act sometimes?", Sylla asked. "And not just them. There's also Cook, Lin, and Hart."
"What do you mean?", Cornelia questioned.
"It's just... Oh never mind. I think I'm just jumping to conclusions.", Sylla said. "But I will say this. This isn't the first time I've heard of Lair pulling a prank on a fellow student. This time she put someone in the hospital and got a fellow student in trouble with her. Next time it could be worse. I heard that you won't be pressing charges against Lair and Vandom."
"That's right.", Cornelia replied. "They didn't mean to hurt me."
"Maybe. But don't you think something should be done?", Sylla questioned. "Maybe someone should keep an unseen eye on them. Think about it. Good day, Ms. Hale. Get better soon.", he said before leaving the room with a confused Cornelia.
End Flashback
'If I didn't know any better, I'd think he knew about the Guardians.', Cornelia thought to herself.
"Weird.", Cornelia said to herself as she looked out of the window of her room.
"What's weird?"
Cornelia turned to see Micheal walking in the room with a rose in a small vase.
"Hey!", Cornelia said with a smile happy to see Micheal.
"Hey!", Micheal said as he sat the vase on the stand next to her bed. "I got this for you."
"Thanks.", Cornelia said as Micheal sat in the chair next to the bed. "So how did it got with Wreck 55?"
"You are looking at the new keyboard play of Wreck 55.", he said with a smile. "And Selece is their new drummer."
"That's great!", Cornelia said with a smile.
"Not only that, but we'll be playing at Angelo's pool party this Saturday!", Micheal said.
"Just got in the band and you have a gig already!", Cornelia replied. "I can't wait to hear you guys play!"
"Good!", Micheal said. "So how you holding up?"
"A lot better with you here.", she said with a smile that Micheal returned.
"Thank you, but seriously.", Micheal said. "How are you?"
"I'm okay.", Cornelia said. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not happy about what Irma and Will did. But I also know they didn't intend for me to end up here."
"True.", Micheal said. "But what they did was wrong either way. I still can't believe that Will would be involved in doing something like this. It's not like her."
"Well with Irma, all bets are off sometimes.", Cornelia replied.
"I take it that she's a piece of work.", Micheal said with a grin.
"And then some.", Cornelia grinned. "But I know that she got one heck of a punishment!"
"I'm thinking the same when it comes to Will, too.", Micheal replied. "I'm guessing we'll only be seeing them in school for a very long time."
"Enough talk about what happened., Cornelia said. "Let's talk about something else."
"What do you want to talk about?", Micheal asked.
"Well... Tell me more about you.", Cornelia said. "I know we told each other a few things about ourselves, but I'd like to know more about you."
"I'd like to know more about you, too.", Micheal said making Cornelia smile.
"Well, no time like the present.", Cornelia said.
And so the two of them spent their time talking until Micheal had to head home for dinner. Later that evening after having her dinner with her family, Taranee decided to have a telepathic chat with Will and Irma. But she also knew that Hay Lin, Alchemy, and Cassidy wanted to have a few words with them as well. So she created a link with all of them and...
'Will! Irma! I know you two aren't asleep!', she called out to them.
'Taranee?', Will questioned. 'Have you seen Cornelia? Is she okay?'
'Like you care!', came Alchemy's voice.
'We didn't mean to put her in the hospital!', Irma replied.
'But you did!', Cassidy snapped.
'How could you do something like that?', Hay Lin questioned sadly.
'Hay-Hay...', Irma said with guilt in her voice.
'No! No more Hay-Hay!', Hay Lin snapped. 'You've lost that privilege! You'll have to earn that back after this stunt, Irma Lair! Do you know that Cornelia is quitting because of what you did?'
'Quitting what?', Will questioned.
'Being a Guardian!', Cassidy said. 'Guess you got your wish, huh?'
'I'm not complaining.', Irma said.
'Irma!', Taranee yelled.
'What?', Irma questioned. 'She shouldn't be one of us in the first place! Elyon is the one who went behind our backs and asked to have her made a Guardian again in the first place! I'm sorry what I did put her in the hospital, but I'm glad she decided to quit!'
'I agree with Irma!', Will said. 'I'm sorry this all happened, but maybe now things can go back to normal with Cornelia quitting.'
'And what about me and Alchemy?', Cassidy questioned. 'You gonna try to get rid of us, too?'
'I have nothing against you two.', Will replied. 'Cornelia is the one I had a problem with.'
'And with her gone, the Oracle will find someone better to take her place.', Irma replied.
'You two are unbelievable!', Alchemy snapped.
'Caleb was no better!', Hay Lin replied.
'Hey! Why isn't he a part of this link?', Will questioned.
'He already had his say earlier today.', Taranee replied. 'I still don't know why you three hate Cornelia so much, but it has to stop before something worse happens.'
'I don't hate her.', Will replied. 'I just don't trust her seeing as it was Nerissa who use mind control to have her attack me. For all we know...'
'Nerissa could have left something in her head for her to attack you sometime in the near future.', all but Irma said. 'We know. We know.'
'If that was the case, then the Oracle wouldn't have made Cornelia a Guardian again, Will.', Taranee explained to Will.
'I don't want to take that chance, Taranee.', Will replied.
'She has a point there.', Irma said agreeing with Will. 'Better to be safe than sorry.'
'You know what? I can't take much more of this conversation!', Alchemy said. 'I'm out!'
'Me too!', Cassidy said.
'Same here!', Hay Lin said.
'Good night everyone.', Taranee said. 'And Will? Think about this. There's going to be a time where we might need Cornelia's help but we won't have it because she out of the group. How will you feel then?', she asked before cutting the link.
Will just laid in her bed thinking about what Taranee said.
'We'll do fine without her.', she thought to herself before going to sleep.
The next day, at school, the radio show went on like it normally did only with Martin running things. It went pretty well, but even Knickerbocker knew it was missing that certain flair. But she wasn't going to give Irma back her job of running the show after what she did. What Irma did was wrong and she had to be punished. So Knickerbocker decided to find someone to run the radio show who could put some flair into it. Just then a knock came at her office door.
"Come in.", she said welcoming whoever it was at the door.
The door opened to show Angelo walking in.
"Ah! Mr. Vanders.", Knickerbocker said. "What brings you here today during Lunch?"
"I just wanted to show you some of the things we, at the Newspaper Club, want to cover in the paper.", Angelo said as he handed Principal Knickerbocker a folder.
Knickerbocker opened the folder and skimmed over what was in it and was pleased with what she read. And it was then that an idea came to her.
"Mr. Vanders. I have a proposition for you.", Knickerbocker said to him.
Later that day, during Study Hall, all those that were in the Newspaper Club met in the room where the school's newspaper was to be made in. All but Angelo was there. But to everyone's surprise Martin, Uriah, and the Grumper Sisters were there as well.
"What are you guys doing here?", Alchemy asked Bess.
"No idea.", Bess replied.
"All we know is that Knickerbocker asked us to come here during Study Hall.", Martin explained.
Just then Angelo came into the room and sat in a chair.
"Where have you been?", Selece asked.
"Bathroom.", Angelo replied before he saw that those from K-SHIP were there. "Good. Everyone's here."
"What's going on? Why are we here?", Courtney asked referring to herself and those of K-SHIP.
"Well, believe it or not, Knickerbocker wants the Newspaper Club and K-Ship to join up.", Angelo explained.
"So in other words...", Uriah began to question.
"She put me in charge of both.", Angelo answered.
"Whoa!", Elyon said.
"Why you", Taranee asked.
"Well...", Angelo began to say while scratching the back of his head. "She got a hold of my files from Fadden Hill and saw how well, I ran the school newspaper with Selece and Micheal..."
"And figured the same could be done here.", Hay Lin finished.
"Pretty much.", Angelo said. "And after thinking about it, I figured that it can be done if we all work together."
"So what ideas do you have?", Martin asked.
"Well, what ideas do you all have?", Angelo asked. "If we're going to do this, then we all are going to have to pitch in. We can cover all kinds of things. Not just stuff in school. But stuff in the city and around the world. From sports to tech. Between the paper and the radio show, we can do a lot."
"So who's doing what?", Hay Lin asked.
"Well, I figure that we can play to our strengths. That way we can't really go wrong.", Angelo explained. "Like Bess and Courtney can still do their gossip thing. But now I'd like you guys to do the celebraty gossip. Any gossip and news about celebrates, TV, and movies. You find it, you can tell it on the radio show and we can print it in the paper. As long as it isn't to adult. Also, celebrate birthdays."
"Deal!", both Grumpers said smiling.
"Hay Lin. You're good with fashion so I'm letting you do things on any and all fashion that you can find.", Angelo said to his future cousin. "We just need to find you a partner."
"How about Cornelia?", Micheal suggested. "She's into fashion."
"Oh! She can even do a thing on any sales at the mall!", Hay Lin suggested. "Trust me when I say that she knows her sales!"
"Fair enough.", Angelo said. "Hay Lin and Cornelia will do fashion and sales. Now as for sports, I'm giving that job to Micheal, Uriah, and Cassidy. High school, middle school, college, pro league, minor league, pee wee league. Male or female. You find it, we'll roll with . Also, athlete's birthdays."
"How about wrestling?", Uriah questioned.
"WWE or TNA!", Angelo said. "You get it, we roll with it!"
"Sweet!", Uriah said.
"What about sports in other countries?", Cassidy asked. "I'd like to do a few stories about some."
"Make it a nice one and it's in the paper.", Angelo said getting a nod from Cassidy. "Now I need someone to do stuff on tech."
"That would be Martin.", Alchemy replied.
"I do know my tech.", Martin said jokingly.
"Then you're the man for the job.", Angelo said. "Anything from the newest TV, computer, games, phone, whatever. You find it, we print it and let you talk about it on the radio. And Alchemy will be your partner.", he said surprising the girl.
"Me?", Alchemy questioned.
"Yeah.", Angelo said. "I feel that a female perspective on tech is a good thing. In other words you can break down what Martin is saying for those who don't get what Martin is talking about."
"Gotcha!", Alchemy said.
"Elyon, Drake, and Aldern. I'd like you three to work on Heatherfield.", he said confusing everyone there.
"Heatherfield?", Elyon questioned.
"You know. The history of the place.", Angelo explained. "Any landmarks and people of importance. Find out where some of our fellow students like to hang out when they're not in school. Whether it's at a skate park or the park. A diner or the mall. You find it and write about it, it's in the paper and if we can, let you talk about it on the show."
"This could be fun.", Aldern replied.
"Selece and Taranee. I want you two to do current events.", Angelo said. "From things in our school to stuff around the world. You find it, it gets printed."
"Question.", Taranee said. "How do you plan on getting all of this on the radio show? The newspaper I can see it happening. But the radio show?"
"Well, the radio show air in the morning, during Lunch and Study Hall and at the end of school.", Martin replied. "There's plenty of time to talk about any of the stuff we report."
"Plus we won't be giving a full story on the show. We'll just be giving a brief statement about it and telling people to find out more in the next edition of the school paper.", Angelo explained. "Which we can do two a week, if we can pull it off."
"Two?", Alchemy questioned.
"Yeah.", Selece said. "One on Tuesday for what happens on the weekend. And one on Friday for anything that happens between Monday and Thursday."
"Trust me when I say that it can be done.", Micheal replied.
"As long as we work together, it can be.", Angelo said. "So, you all up for this or what?"
"I'm in!", Hay Lin said.
"Me, too!", said a hopeful Taranee.
"What about the rest of you?", Angelo asked to which everyone nodded. "Cool!"
"I even have a story for the radio show on Monday and the Tuesday paper.", Taranee said. "Your pool party this Saturday!"
"Hmmmmm...", Angelo said thinking about it. "Why not? Go for it. Besides. I already know two people you can interview there."
"Who?", Selece asked.
"Will and Irma.", Angelo said.
"Say what?", Elyon questioned. "I thought they were grounded by their parents!"
"Oh, they are.", Angelo said. "It's just that coming to my pool party is part of their punishment."
"How is going to a party a punishment?", Hay Lin questioned.
"Because they'll have to not only face Hale but all the students that think low about them.", Uriah explained. "They'll be at a party where no one wants to talk with them."
"Whoa!", Cassidy said. "That is a good punishment!"
"I'll say.", Selece said.
"How did you find this out, Angelo?", Taranee asked.
"Well, my family is good friends with the Vandoms.", Angelo explained. "So, yesterday Ms. Vandom called my Uncle John and they, along with the Lairs decided to have Will and Irma go to the party. Even if they have to be dragged there kicking and screaming."
"I've got to see how this turns out!", Uriah said with a smirk.
"I'm just glad there's enough room in the my backyard to put up our special slide., Angelo replied.
"Special slide?", Martin questioned.
"Oh! It's wicked!", Micheal said. "We took three Slip 'n' Slides that start at the top of a ladder surrounded by a few bails of hay. You then slide down the slide that leads to a ramp which you fly off and into a nice size wading pool."
"Sounds fun!", Hay Lin said getting excited.
"Trust me, it is!", Selece said.
"Enouph talk about the party. We have sixteen minutes left of Study Hall.", Angelo said. "Let's do some brainstorming on any ideas for the paper and radio show."
And so, for the last sixteen minutes of Study Hall they thought up some ideas for the paper and radio show. Meanwhile, at the Lair home, Irma wasn't having the time of her life out of school. It all started last night after dinner when her father came and took the plugs to her game systems, along with the plug to her computer followed by her regular phone and handheld games. He then told her that along with TV, radio time ended at 8:30. And this morning her mother gave her a list of things to do around the house while she went to spend sometime with some friends. First, she had to clean her room. Then she had to vacuum the hallway of the second floor followed by the floors of the Living Room, Dining Room and Den. Then she had to sweep and mop the Kitchen and Bathroom followed by taking out the trash and dusting off some furniture. But right now she was taking a break for lunch.
"Aw, man!", she said as she sat in a chair to relax for a bit. "I'm glad I only have to do this today.", she said before a frown grew on her face. But then again, I'll be working at the police station tomorrow. And I know dad go easy on me. Aw, man! This sucks!"
Just then, Will teleported into the room surprising Irma.
"Whoa!", Irma said as she jumped. "Geez, Red! You nearly scared the crap out of me!"
"Sorry.", Will said taking a seat on the couch. "But I had to get out of the apartment! My mom has called every hour on the hour just to make sure I don't sneak out. She has me cleaning all but her bedroom! So with a little quintessence power, I was able to clean the place easy."
"What about your mom?", Irma questioned.
"I made an Astral Drop and had given her enough memories to be me until I return.", Will explained. "You wanna go have some fun in Meridian?", she asked as she pulled out the Heart of Kandrakar.
"I would, but I have to finish cleaning the Kitchen and dusting off some furniture.", Irma replied.
"Then let's Guardian up and get the job done faster!", Will said making Irma smile.
"I like how you think, Red!", Irma said as she got to her feet and closed the curtains. "Hit me with the juice!"
"Guardians Quintessence and Water, Unite!", Will said transforming her and Irma into their Guardian forms.
"Water!", Irma said transforming into her Guardian form.
"Quintessence!", Will said transforming into her Guardian form.
Once transformed, Irma was able to use her water power to clean the Kitchen and Bathroom floors quickly while Will dusted the furniture that needed dusting. Soon they were done and ready to go.
"And now for your Astral Drop.", Will said as she transformed her and Irma back to normal. "Pord Lartsa!", she said as she held the Heart up in front of Irma.
Within seconds, an Astral Drop of Irma was made with enough memories to act like Irma. Seeing this, Will opened a fold to Metamoor which she and Irma went through quickly. Once the fold closed, Astral Irma went to watch some TV seeing as there was nothing to do. As for Will and Irma, once on Metamoor they saw they were in the palace of the Meridian Kingdom.
"So, no Guardian forms?", Irma questioned.
"Why?", Will questioned. "There's no danger."
"Good point.", Irma said as they walked through the palace halls. "So, why are we here in the palace?"
"You're finally here!"
Irma and Will looked to see Caleb walking up to them. With a smile on her face, Will ran up to Caleb and jumped into his arms and gave him a kiss that he returned.
"Sorry I'm late.", Will said as Caleb set her down. "But I figured that Irma would want to come here too."
"That's okay.", Caleb said before looking at Irma. "Hey, Irma."
"What's up, Rebel-Boy!", Irma said to Caleb. "I take it Will made an Astral Drop of you, too."
"I did it this morning when he came by after mom left for work. I then opened a fold to Metamoor for him.", Will explained.
"And I have a nice lunch set of.", Caleb said as he led the to the Dining Hall. "I can have an extra plate set up for Irma. After all, you were the only one that was with us when it came to us not wanting Cornelia being a Guardian."
"And now she's quitting!", Irma said happily. "We need to celebrate!"
"That's when this lunch is for.", Caleb said. "But don't tell Elyon's parents as well as Raythor and Vathek."
"Gotcha!", Irma said. as they entered the Dining Hall to eat.
Back on Earth, John Vanders along with Donald and Hanna Robertson were in Simutech working on their microchip. They had ran some more test on their self-driving cars, trucks, and vans and were quite happy with the results. And right now they were testing the chip with computers and TVs.
"Looks like the chip works well at making the computers faster.", Donald said checking the test results.
"And the TVs are a lot clearer with the HD.", Hanna replied. "And the voice activation we're working on is doing great as well!"
"If things keep going this well, we may be able to start working on testing the chip on medical equipment.", John said seeing the results of their test just as Riddle came walking into the room.
"And how are things going, my friends?", he asked.
"Very well, Riddle.", Hanna said with a smile. "The chip is making our computers here run better and faster! And it's making the voice activation for the TVs possible."
"Excellent!", Riddle said happy with their progress. "I overheard you talking about testing the chip with medical equipment."
"Yes.", John said. "We want to see how well they can work with heart monitors. And if we do it right, we'll have a device that can contact doctors and nurses before a person has a heart attack in the hospital."
"A noble cause indeed.", Riddle replied. "I wish you luck in you testing.", he said as he checked his watch. "If you'll excuse me, I have other duties to attend to.", he said as he headed out of the room.
"One more thing, Riddle.", John said as he walked up to him. "I'm having a housewarming party, this Friday at 6:30. I'd like it if you'd come. See it as a chance to relax and meet other people."
"We'd also like for you to come to our housewarming party this Saturday at 12:30.", Hanna said to Riddle.
"If nothing comes up, I'll be there.", Riddle said with a kind smile.
"Good!", John said. "Here's my address.", he said as he handed Riddle a piece of paper with his address on it.
"And here's ours.", Hanna said doing the same.
"Thank you.", Riddle said. "I'll see you soon.", he said before leaving the room.
"I wonder what he does when he's not here.", Hanna questioned.
"He is with the FBI, Dear.", Donald replied. "For all we know, we may be investigating something big."
"You never know.", John said as they went back to work on their test.
As for Riddle, he was leaving the building with a smile on his face as he went to a black Sedan where there was a driver waiting for him as he got in the car. Once in the car, the driver began to drive off to where Riddle told him to drive.
"Things are going very well.", Riddle said to himself. "Vanders and the Robertsons are doing the test we need to improve the robot soldiers. That voice activation sound promising. Very promising indeed. Hollens will be happy to hear about it.", he said as the car drove to the penthouse where he knew Hollens would be at. "Now we just have to get this Heart Hollens talks about. From what he tells us, it'll give us the power to make our robots stronger than what they already are. And with them we can take a foothold on that Meridian Kingdom. And then who knows where we can go from there!", he said as a smirk grew on his face.
A/N: Look like Angelo and the others are ready to get things started with the school newspaper and the radio show. And while they're doing that, Will, Irma, and Caleb are celebrating Cornelia quitting the Guardians. Now that's low! And to make matters worse, Riddle has plans for what John, Donald, and Hanna are working on. Things don't look good for our heroes. Not one bit.
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