Day of rest

[ACMItM: Memories - Movie Version]

The next day at school was strangely lonely for Joule again. Uiharu was doing Judgement work to try and figure out the details of what happened last night and Saten was still in the hospital.

She had woken up though, Joule had talked with her one the phone this morning. After school was done she would head to the hospital to meet up with everyone.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Joule zoned back in to what the teacher was talking about. It was a class on AIM theory but slightly more advanced then the lessons earlier in the year. There were no level 0s in the class which seemed like a waste because it could help a level zero advance in their development.

The teacher had got out a collection of AIM Diffusion Field readers and had passed them out. They were to experiment with our powers and record the results.

Joule noted her 'Baseline' level first, the level of her field when she wasn't using her power. The readers weren't the most sensitive but they were enough to do a rough gauge of her field strength.

She then teamed up with another telepath in the class and messured their level when working together. The numbers were near identical but Joule's was slightly higher. The teacher was able to explain that result simply.

"Two telepaths who are trying to talk to each other will naturally tune their levels to match each other so they don't cause issues. In cases where that tuning doesn't happen it can hurt people. On those without the ability the output will differ as a single telepath needs to hold the connection." She then offered herself to show off the effect and the fellow telepath held the reader as Joule sent a quick message. The reading was indeed higher.

Joule didn't try anything too big in the lesson but at the end she asked the teacher if she could borrow the reader to experiment with friends. The teacher was unsure at first and said she would have to make a call first to see if it was okay.

Joule hung around as the rest of the class filed out and the teacher made the call. Eventually the teacher called her over.

"You can take it but you have to promise some things; record every result you check for and what the situation is when you do. Next, you need to warn people if you want to check their field strength. In addition, if you break the reader you will need to pay for it."

Joule agreed and placed the reader in it's case. That case then went in her school bag and she left the room.

Lunch passed and so did the afternoon lessons. Joule left school with a spring in her step and headed off to the hospital. She had hoped that GV would come with her but he left the other way as he was still looking into what happened in his own way.

At the hospital she met up with everyone and headed up to Saten's room.

Saten herself looked bored as all of them arrived but her face lit up when she saw them.

"It's been really dull, they didn't allow me to listen to music or look at bright screens." Saten explained.

They all chatted normally for a moment before Saten brought up the important question.

"So what actually happened yesterday?"

Kuroko nodded to Uiharu "I got the quick version from Uiharu this morning but this does seem to be quite a thing."

Misaka just sighed "I haven't been told anything yet. I would appreciate it if someone could give me the basics?"

Uiharu nodded and went over the basics again. After Misaka and Kuroko had left, they were attacked by a group of mages and then saved by some sort of security group from Academy City."

"Magic?" Misaka questioned "What like waving around wands and speaking latin?"

"Are you sure they weren't Espers?" Kuroko followed up Misaka's question.

Joule nodded "You remember the nun named Index? When we met her at the end of August a golem was used against us and the girl could make it's attacks miss by speaking. That doesn't sound like any sort of ability I've heard of, both for the golem and for taking control away from it."

Misaka sat in thought as Kuroko frowned and asked "So, are we just believing magic is the answer, are we just saying 'A wizard did it'?"

Uiharu shook her head "I'm still not sure, abilities can become strange if awakened naturally rather than by using ability development. I have heard about Espers who needed 'Magic words' and there are definately Espers who use props to aim their power."

Misaka nodded "That could be right, Mental Out needs to use remotes after all. Why couldn't another Esper use a stick."

Lumen whispered quietly then "Ask about AIM readings."

"What?" Joule didn't quite get what Lumen had meant. Saten had noticed Joule speak though.

"Penny for your thoughts Joule?"

Joule looked at the ceiling for a moment as she tried "Nothing concrete, I was just wondering if the mages would give of readable AIM fields."

Kuroko nodded "That would be a good way to disprove their 'Magic' Story, the issue is getting a reader. They tend to cost a bit."

"Actually, I got one from school today." Joule admitted.

Shocked silence filled the room as Joule pulled out the AIM reader.

"Cool, could we try it now?" Saten asked in slight awe. She probably wanted to know how strong her ability was.

Joule nodded but said "We should check with a doctor to make sure that it's fine for you. What if you're not meant to use your ability."

Saten coughed before quietly mentioning "I've actually already been told I shouldn't try it."

Uiharu frowned at her before turning to Joule "Let's not use it, I don't want to leave Saten out when we test ourselves. Saten was due to be released this evening anyway, they could have a study party and try it out then.

Joule agreed with a smile and they all went back to small talk.

End of chapter.

Just a small break. Day two has very little for team Railgun.

Actually day two is just short period.