Part two
Ten sighed and with a giggle started moving Nine's prosthetic arm. He was stuck in another boring meeting with a bunch of officials. She sat behind his desk with her headphones in. Supposedly she was listening to music. She wasn't, they weren't even connected to anything, the headphones were just for show but the only people besides Nine that knew that was Malcolm and Lexa. With an amused look, she moved his arm just a little bit again. The others had left two days ago and he still hadn't let her out. All she could do was hang with Lexa and all her technology, hang with Malcolm, explore his cabin, or lounge around his office. She still hadn't convinced him to let her loose on the academy. She'd stay on campus grounds. All she wanted was to be able to explore. Nine gave her a sideways look before turning back to the officials.
Yes? She mentally teased.
Do you mind? Nine replied.
Not really. When are you going to stop treating me like a child? Ella pestered.
Ella. Nine warned.
Nine, I'm thirteen! I thought you were the cool uncle? Ella argued.
Ella, it isn't as simple as letting you loose. You aren't a student here. You're just here with me until the others get back. Nine reminded.
Well, can I be a temporary one? It's gonna be weeks before they get back and I can't take pass off the Garde that long. Ella complained.
She saw Nine chuckled.
"Professor, are you paying attention?" The military looking guy inquired.
"Absolutely. I am fascinated by this topic." Nine mocked. She saw Lexa and Malcolm crack a grin. The therapist lady raised an eyebrow.
"You're fascinated by new academic testing methods?" The lady in charge of academics chuckled.
At that Ella let out laugh.
Ella. You're gonna get me in trouble. Nine mentally scolded.
Come on. When they take a breath ask them if I can temporarily participate. How much more begging is required? Ella argued.
No more begging but if John gets mad at me for throwing you into the academy, Nine started.
I'll handle him if such a thing happens. Ella finished.
Let me do the talking. No shenanigans. If asked a question answer respectfully. Nine pressed.
Relax. I'm not you. Ella teased.
"Professor Nine please pay attention. What do you think about increasing security?" The military dude demanded.
"I think increasing security will keep people from getting in but no matter what it isn't gonna keep kids in." Nine answered. Ella sighed.
Patience Ten. Nine mentally scolded.
She rolled her eyes at the use of her number.
"Then what do you suggest professor?" The military guy huffed.
"There is really nothing you can do to hold them in. They're teenagers who are practically grounded for their rest of their teenage lives." Nine argued.
The military guys face turned even redder. "Excuse me?" He demanded.
"What professor Nine means to say is that the event a few weeks ago is proof that you can't keep a bunch of teenagers with powers inside with a few human guards. Their legacies can be about anything. It's like trying to stop a flood with a strainer." Malcolm placated.
The military guy huffed. Ella smiled. Nine certainly hadn't changed.
"Any other pressing issues?" Nine questioned.
"I think we've covered them all." Lexa nodded. Malcolm smiled at her holding back a laugh.
"I have one more thing to bring up." Nine told them. Malcolm gave him a knowing look.
"Does it involve Ten who I guarantee is who's distracting you?" Lexa whispered to Nine.
He chuckled. "How many of you realize there's an extra person in the room?"
Lexa and Malcolm were first followed by the therapist lady. Ella had to laugh that the military guy looked at her like he was startled by her existence. The representative from Earth Garde raised an eyebrow at Nine. The academic lady nodded.
"Meet number Ten. Otherwise, known as Ella." Nine introduced.
Ella waved. She took out her headphones so they knew she was listening, not that she wasn't before. Most of them said hi to her. The military guy gave a gruff hello before glaring at Nine. The Earth Garde rep seemed to be intently staring at her. Almost like he was sizing her up. She ignored him.
"She will be staying here for a few weeks with us." Nine started.
"Where was she before?" The rep asked.
"Feel free to help me come up with a good lie whenever. They don't know about the runaway. Well, maybe the rep."
She knew Nine meant that thought for her. "How you want to play this pretty boy?"
He didn't reply so she beat him to the answer.
"With John Smith. I was part of the final battle. Just behind the scenes." Ella answered, standing up and walking over to the group.
"Why did he leave you here then?" The rep pressed.
Ella felt her phone vibrate and sneaked a peek at it. Lexa giving her permission to invade the guy's thoughts.
No. She mentally told Lexa.
She didn't like doing that. She didn't care if that helped she didn't like invading people's brains. Ella waited for Nine to answer.
"Four is off following a lead on something with some friends." Nine answered.
The best lie is one based on truth. She told Nine.
Learned from the best, haven't you? Nine teased.
"What lead?" The rep pressed.
"I wasn't told that." Nine cut off.
"But I was wondering if Ella could temporarily participate in the academy while she's here." Nine suggested. Ella could sense he was already preparing for military guy to blow a fuse.
"She'd still need to go through some academic testing." The academic lady replied.
She saw the therapist open her mouth but Ella sent her a mental message. I don't need my head examined.
Nine chuckled at the look on the woman's face.
"Did she just?" The therapist started.
"Yes, she did." Nine nodded. Ella smiled.
"I don't need to test her. Nine and I both know what she's capable of." Malcolm added. Ella chuckled.
"And what exactly is she capable of?" The military guy spoke coldly.
Nine gave Ella a warning look.
You're no fun. She mentally huffed.
Getting under his skin is my job. Nine answered.
"Telepathy, telekinesis, Aeternus, precognition, and Dreyen," Malcolm answered the guy.
"What's the third one?" He huffed.
"Ella?" Malcolm inquired. She smiled.
"Let me demonstrate."
Then she shrank. As a seven-year-old she walked over and climbed on Nine's lap. The rep and therapist looked stunned.
"Aeternus I don't consider a legacy though. I've had it forever." She shrugged.
"What's dreyen?" The rep asked. Nine chuckled. Ella climbed off of him and returned to her own age.
"Nine?" She smirked.
He chuckled and made a harmless file on the coffee table float with his telekinesis. Ella touched him and he dropped the file. He tried moving it again but Ella was still touching him. She released him and sat down on the ground at the end of the couch.
"Legacy cancellation." She answered.
The military guy looked at her in awe. "There's actually a legacy that cancels out legacies?" He questioned in amazement.
"Yep," Ella answered.
"She likes to use it as a defense mechanism." Nine added.
"Seems fair. She can level a playing field." The therapist replied.
"Does she have to touch someone for it to work?" The military guy asked. Suddenly fascinated by her abilities.
"Wouldn't you like to know." Nine quipped. He clapped his hands.
"So is she allowed to be temporarily enrolled?" Nine questioned.
"I don't see why not." The academic lady shrugged.
The therapist nodded in agreement.
"Will she be in the dorms or with you?" The rep asked.
"Ella?" Nine passed the question along.
"I'll stay with you. I'm only here for a few weeks." She shrugged.
"Excellent." The rep nodded. Everyone had said yes except the military guy.
"Nonviolent legacies. She can stay." He huffed. Then they dismissed.
Nonviolent? Ella mentally questioned Nine.
It means they aren't gonna worry about you blowing up the place. Don't worry. He still hasn't learned his lesson from Isabela. Nine reassured.
Everyone except the academic lady, Lexa, and Malcolm had left.
Oh? Did he get proven wrong by another nonviolent legacy? Ella asked.
I'll tell you tonight all about it. I think Susan is waiting for you. Nine answered.
"So do you go to school?" Susan asked motioning to the door. Ella grabbed her backpack and followed her out.
"No. Before it was too dangerous and now John thinks I'm just fine without." She told the woman. Nine chuckled and shut the door behind them. Ella was lying. She went to a small village school where John and Marina live.
"Now down to business. I felt my phone vibrate." Nine replied pulling it out of his pocket.
"I could feel it." Lexa teased.
"Lexa, can we video chat our friends in the Midwest?" Nine questioned.
"No problem," Lexa replied. She started typing away on her computer.
"We are live in three, two, one." She announced. Sam appeared on the wall monitor. He hissed in pain.
"That does hurt ya know." He complained.
"Quit being such a baby." They heard Six huff.
"Problems?" Nine smirked.
"Technology actually bit me today." He huffed.
"Burned not bit." Six corrected from off screen.
"Where are the others?" Nine asked.
"Next room. One moment." Sam added. He turned his head sideways and seemed to focus on something intently.
"John!" He called. They heard Six groan.
"Help." He whimpered. Nine heard Marina chuckled off screen.
"I'm coming technology wiz." She replied. Suddenly they saw the back of Marina's head.
"Hold still." She teased.
Suddenly their view changed.
"Hey, guys!" John greeted. He had snagged the phone.
"So what's the good or bad news?" Malcolm asked.
"Well, she doesn't shapeshift. She has to change her appearance just like the rest of us." Six answered appearing behind John.
"We found no Loralite on the property," John added.
"We think she isn't alone. There are two slept in beds." Marina commented off screen.
"And she's got some serious tech skills," Sam replied sounding dismayed.
"So nothing solid?" Nine sighed.
"Nope. She used an assumed identity and her funds come from stealing other people's credit card info. There is nothing here to tell us one word about her or where she went." John answered.
"Got give her props for being resourceful." Nine quipped. Lexa chuckled.
"But she's got some control on her telekinesis. She launched a whole armory of kitchen knives at the agents when they barged in. It looks like she launched them all at once. Has to be twenty knives lodged in the doorway." Six added.
"We know why she's on the run yet?" Malcolm questioned. Nine couldn't help but pfft Malcolm.
"Look at some of these kids when they arrive. They want nothing to do with us. Obviously, she managed to outsmart them before being stuffed on a plane." Nine explained like it was obvious.
"I would never believe some people wouldn't want to be apart of this." Sam mocked from off camera. Six rolled her eyes.
"How's Ella? Can I see her?" John asked.
"Ella is fine Johnny. My friend Susan head of academics took her for some academic testing. If you want I'll have her call you tonight." Nine suggested.
"Academic testing?" John nervously questioned.
"Hey all she needs to do is that and she's golden until you folks find this girl. Ella just wanted to be able to participate instead of being cooped up all day. She's thirteen John she'll be fine. If someone harms her I'll punch their lights out. Okay?" Nine questioned.
Six elbowed John.
"Fine." He sighed.
"Good boy." Six patted him on the back.
"Good luck." Nine replied.
"We're gonna need it!" Sam called. Nine chuckled as Lexa closed them out.
"So how on earth do you track an untrackable girl?" She asked.
"Find out how Earth Garde is tracking her." Malcolm suggested. Lexa smiled. They weren't gonna ask. She had other ways of finding things out.
John accidentally let out a yawn while he was sneaking through the academy. They had been in Belmont for two weeks before giving up and they'd just gotten back. Nine had told him that Ella would probably be at the training center and told him how to get to it. It was a large open field surrounded by a safety net. There were a few different groups of teens practicing their abilities. Then he saw her wrestling with an African boy that looked stronger than her. Three girls and boy stood watching.
"Come on don't let her beat you!" Nigel cheered.
"Come on Ella!" The American girl cheered. John chuckled. Ella was underneath him trying to gain the upper hand.
"Do you surrender?" The boy chuckled.
"Never." Ella stubbornly replied. She grabbed a rock from the ground and it started glowing red. While he was still staring at it she squirmed out from under him. Then she launched herself onto him and placed one knee on the small of his back.
"Surrender?" She taunted.
"That's a new trick." The boy replied.
She pressed her knee in some more.
"I surrender!" He exclaimed. The four teens watching all laughed.
"Why didn't it blow up?" He asked as she rolled off.
"I don't blow things up. It's called dreyen. Legacy cancellation." Ella chuckled sitting in the grass watching the boy. He sat up and rubbed his back.
"That's gonna bruise." He frowned.
"Man of steel not used to being human?" Ella teased.
The American girl chuckled and offered the boy a hand. Ella bounced up as well. John figured now was a good time to reveal himself. He tapped on Ella's shoulder while her friends stared at him in awe.
"Boo," John whispered. Ella let out a squeal of joy.
"John!" She screamed turning to hug him tight.
"Hey, Ella. How's the academy treating you?" He inquired.
"It's wonderful John." Ella smiled.
"But. Not as much fun as hanging with you." Ella added. John laughed. Then she realized her new friends were staring at him.
"John this is Taylor, Isabela, and Ran." She introduced.
"I believe we've met before." John smiled shaking Taylor's hand. He shook hands with the South American girl and then the Oriental. He remembered Ran from Patience Creek.
"This is Nigel and Kopano." She chuckled pointing to the two boys. John also remembered Nigel from Patience Creek. They both were called LANEs back then. Then Human Garde became a less derogatory term for his kind. The African boy, who still had his mouth open, he assumed was Kopano.
"Kopano?" Ella and Taylor both questioned.
"Sorry." He blinked and shook his head. Ella smiled and sent John a private message.
Any luck?
Nada. Sam got fried by the tech. Six discovered your typical fugitive items. I found nothing. Marina thinks we got two targets instead of one. He replied in her head.
Two runaways? Ella questioned.
Lexa is on it. We're here until the next lead. John sighed.
Where ya living then? Do they have a faculty house just for you? Ella teased.
"You folks talking about anything good?" Nigel smirked.
"I'll be back for dinner," Ella reassured. She and John started walking away.
"Well Nine hasn't passed it by the others but we're being put in the dorms. One for boys one for girls." John replied.
"And I still sleep in Nine's cabin I presume." Ella finished.
"Nope. You, my friend, get to share a dorm with Six and Marina." John smiled putting an arm around her.
"Awesome!" She cheered.
"Go get your stuff and I'll go find the girls." John chuckled.
"See you later revered hero," Ella called. John rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Nine!" Lexa exclaimed charging into the gym.
Ella had decided to join her friends in their early morning training session with Nine. She knew it was a punishment for them but she didn't mind. Nine had offered to let her join these early sessions. Today he was going to let her run the obstacles course today. All her new friends had been through it already and either won or got their butts kicked. Lexa's appearance though interrupted them.
"What is it?" Nine asked turning away from them.
"How fast can we round up the Garde and ship them off?" She questioned tapping away on her tablet. Ella perked up at that.
"A few minutes why?" Nine raised an eyebrow at Lexa.
"Nigel?" She called. He stepped forward and Ella noticed the early morning noise was suddenly muffled.
"Our friend has been targeted. Rosemary Heights, New York." Lexa explained.
"Gone?" He questioned.
"Probably. Unless you got an instant way of getting there." Lexa answered.
"It's only been three weeks since her last sighting," Ella argued. Lexa eyed his students.
"My office. After this." He nodded.
"Can I?" Ella questioned. Nine chuckled.
"If you can make it."
She grinned.
"So I've been promised a run through the obstacle course?" She questioned.
"Don't get overconfident. The computer will adapt to your abilities." Nine warned.
"Marina on standby?" Ella questioned. The American girl chuckled.
"Nope, we got Taylor on stand by." He replied. Ella turned to look at the girl.
"My was that hard to cover up." Taylor sighed in relief. "Healer, guilty as charged." She admitted.
"Bring it, Stanley." Ella giggled.