Meltdown PT 1

Posted on Thu Dec 15th, 2022 @ 5:29am by Jaclyn Morrison & Unawakened Kai Irving & Head Mistress Absynthe "Syn" Drake & Carter McMillian

Mission: Drake Academy
Location: Jaclyn and Kai's Dorm Room
Timeline: Current

Jac waved Kai to grab a shower first and watched the younger teenager happily head off to her new room to gather clothes and toiletries. The one thing Jac could say about Monica was that she had not been stingy with those sorts of things. It was the only good thing Jac could say.

Jac herself retreated into her new room and sat down on the bed. Artemis came in and jumped up beside her on the bed. Jac looped an arm around the puppy and raised her gaze to the mirror that was situated above the dresser. Standing up slowly she moved to face the mirror and stared for the first time fully into her new eye and face. Her left eye had changed from Blue to a black pupil with a pale grey circle around it on a fully white iris and sclera. There was a pale blue lighting scar that traced its way up her neck from her shoulder and past her ear and into her hair line on the left-hand side. Jac felt her breath hitch, and she closed her eyes and reopened them and yet the image did not change. She clenched her fists at her side.

She had never been vain about her appearance, in fact her step mother would claim she was neglectful but she knew what she had, and when she could she would dress appropriately. There would be no more of that, now. Her eyes were now different and her skin marred.

Jaclyn staggered back to the bed as the ramifications flooded her mind. There would be no more going under the radar. When she had thought it was just her hair, she could have handled that, the arms and hands were... easier to hide, hence the hoodie, but this, her face, she was unable to hide. And where would she be able to go where people would not stare at her scar and her eye? No where.

She had plans. Well had, had plans. To go to LA, finish highschool, join a tech company. Create her own programs and video games. This was not in the plan. She curled up on the bed as her mind whirled and tears began to flow. She clenched her eyes tightly and because of this, she didn’t realise what was happening around her.

Artemis however did and scampered from the room.

Kai came out of the bathroom, dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top with her hair dripping down her back to find Artemis on the floor by the main door, staring into Jaclyn’s room.

Kai looked into the room and stumbled back towards the main door.

Jaclyn lay curled up, hovering several centimetres above the bed, and surrounded by rainbow lights and ... small bits of metal. The metal bits were morphing into different shapes and Jac’s eyes were tightly shut as she curled in on herself and it was clear to Kai that she was sobbing, not that she could hear her - Jac’s powers were not that loud but they seemed to be dampening the sound around her.

Kai turned and darted out into the corridor and began calling out “HELP! Someone! Anyone!” She was panicking herself and was lost as to where she should go to get assistance. Artemis followed her into the hall yapping loudly to get people’s attention.

Several doors opened and a few students poked their heads out. Carter was one of them. Seeing that it was Kai calling for help, he reacted quickly, moving quickly to her side. "What's wrong, Kai?" He asked, concern filling his voice.

Kai turned to him and then pointed into their room. “Jaclyn... she is,... going glowy again!”

Carter's eyes widened slightly. Turningto the closest student, he said, "Go get the Headmistress, Now!"

The boy nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Carter turned back to Kai. "Show me,” he said gently as he followed her back into the room she and Jac now shared.

Jaclyn’s powers were cocooning her and the metal bits were morphing into sharp points or into blobs it was hard to tell, but the girl within was obviously crying, tears were on her cheeks and her shoulders shook.

When they got back inside, and Carter saw what was happening, his training kicked in. "Kai, take Artemis and get out in the hall. The rooms are designed to protect the rest of the students in case something like this happens, but your room hasn't been programmed yet. It'll just seal up completely and I don't want you or Artemis to get hurt. I'm sure Jaclyn wouldn't either."

“What about you?” the 13 year old asked

"I'll be alright. I have my own armour to protect me." That said, a second skin of black nano armour started to move from the cuffs of his gloves to cover him fully. In seconds, he was nearly fully covered, save for the top of his head, which was now ignited like a torch, his mouth and lower jaw were also exposed, as were his eyes, which glowed bright green. "Now go!"

She nodded and scurried back out into the hall with Artemis and moved down it a bit as instructed.

Once Kai and the puppy were clear, Carter spoke aloud. "Alice, connect with the dorm computer and seal this room. Only instructors should be allowed inside."

"Of course," his suit's onboard computer replied in an Australian accent. A few beats later, a bulkhead door slid shut sealing them from the hall, and the windows were covered by blast shudders. "Done."

"Thank you," Carter replied as he started towards Jaclyn’s room. "Stand by for full encapsulation, just in case."

"Understood," the AI replied.

Stepping into the threshold of Jaclyn’s room, Carter called out to her, using the amplifiers of his suit to break through the null field. "Jaclyn? Can you hear me?" His voice was calm and compassionate.

She could hear something but it was not enough to penetrate her panic or the sound her own powers were generating in her own ears. The metal bits were spinning faster and starting to blur.

Seeing that he wasn't getting through to her, Carter closed his eyes and concentrated on his mother, using the lessons she had taught him on how to contact her in an emergency. He wasn't telepathic, but he knew that she could always hear his thoughts if he concentrated on her. ~Mom! Get to Jaclyn’s room, now!~

An alarm caused Syn to look up at her computer screen, an eyebrow arching over one draconic eye with concern. “Student dorm emergency protocols activated. Emergency Team Alpha deployed,” came across the speakers, just as she was hit by another type of emergency call.

The diminutive dragon-lady hopped off of her tall office chair and made her way to the door. She quickly responded to Carter, letting him know that she was on her way and to be careful. She then gave orders to the AI, OG, that was linked to all of the academy’s systems, “Evacuate all students in that wing and lock it down. I’m enroute.”

“Aye, Aye, Captain!” OG snapped off.

Syn shook her head at the strange AI that she had managed to befriend. She never really knew what to expect from OG, but it kept things interesting. Everyone knew the drill. It wasn’t like this was a new occurrence around Drake’s Academy. Still, time was of the essence and she wasted no time in getting to the dorms.

Kai however didn’t know the drill, and sat hunkered down with Artemis in the hallway, ignoring people as they ran past.

Inside the room, Jaclyn was not able to focus, the panic, pain, fear and numerous other emotions filled her mind and her powers were going out of control. Not to the same extent as the night before but still wild. And yet, they were not expanding past the bed on which she had been sitting, they were centred around Jaclyn.

To his credit, Carter kept his cool, as he continued to gently melt the growing shell that was forming around Jaclyn. He didn't know if she'd be able to breathe if the shell solidified. As he worked he attempted to move closer to her, his nanosuit AI giving him warnings about her growing power.

"Jacky," he spoke again, not even realising he had used a nickname variant for her name. He was solely focused on getting to her and keeping her safe.

By the time that Syn reached the dorms, most of the chaos had been calmed and students were leaving in an organised manner. As she hurried by she would wave at the students that called her name, and encourage them to keep moving. When she reached the door that had been sealed, she noticed Kai and Artemis huddled on the ground.

She leaned down and offered the girl her hand, saying calmly, “I need you to go to the cafeteria with one of the house attendants, little one. Come with me.”

Kai looked up at her. And then she nodded and allowed herself to be helped up, still cradling the dog, which was surprisingly calm in Kai’s arms despite everything going on. “Carter went into the room.” Kai told Syn.

“I know. I am in contact with him,” Syn said, not bothering to explain how. She took her towards the emergency exit and approached a friendly looking blonde woman with bright blue eyes. “This is Kai. She is new here and doesn’t know the ropes.”

The young blonde turned and smiled at Kai, offering her hand, “I’m Cece, and I’m one of the assistant house mothers. Will you come with me? We’re just gonna go hang out in the cafeteria for a bit.”

Kai glanced back towards the room and then at Cece. “Okay,” she said dubiously but she allowed the woman to lead her out. As she did so she placed Artemis on the ground and the puppy kept close to Kai as they walked and followed the group.

Once Kai and Artemis were led away, Syn turned and hurried back to the room that was locked down. “OG, let me in.”

The heavy shielding slid back into a normal looking wall and the door unlocked. The small woman entered and the door locked, and the shielding slid back into place. It didn’t take Syn long to figure out where to head, and she approached Carter, laying a hand on his arm. “Wait in the living room,” she told him, then stepped into the room with the panicking young meta.

Carter felt his mother's presence before she entered the dorm room. At her direction, he ceased using his powers and moved away, giving her room to do what she needed to, though staying close by in case she needed his assistance.

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~TBC~