Ah, those first sentences had me confused for a second, thought this kid was brainwashed about what high school is really like. Hiding like that where others won't notice you, yikes, worse off than even I had it in school. Aaron Matthews, there is always someone who latches onto a 'kindred spirit' and won't let go. D'oh, can't even get this guy to call him Mike instead of Mikey, long uphill battle for respect.
Comicbook artist, nice. *smacks forehead* Stereotypes like Major Macho, and then Ms. Perfect, oh brother. At least Mike realizes how boring a character Major Macho is. And Mike is a cynic who believes anyone can be bought for the right price, ouch, what brought about this mindset. Ugh, creeps like Jackson Lewis make life horrible for kids just trying to pass the time until out of school. And big brother Brad takes care of the bully, but at a cost. You help family because it is right, not to be payed back in them doing your chores, etc.
An envelope slipped to a cop by the apartment manager, seeing things like this it is no wonder Mike has the mindset he does. His dad's philosophy on life certainly doesn't help. Eminent domain to steal people's homes, sickening. Dad, Harry Cook, and like Brad plus a schemer, poor Mike growing up around criminals and bullies.
Nothing but take-out and delivery, yikes, I have to have some homemade food. Strange pressure over his whole body, still feels odd after it passed, oh crud. A tether like sensation pulling him towards the restaurant, weird. And teleports right back to the restaurant, freaking out as he realizes what this means. Wonder why a tether sensation and specific location, can it be changed to a different point, guess I have to keep reading and hope for answers.
Oh crud, Mike is right, flying into a rage or being disowned would be better than his dad scheming of how to use his power for his own benefit. Hair changing color, lost weight, height gained and face looking off, too early to tell how he is changing yet. Ah, answers on how his teleportation works already, interesting variant with the anchor and tether.
Working on his comic and dad has a job for him. *alarm going off* Anchor in his bedroom as he goes off to deliver a package, never deliver a package without knowing what is inside! Two block limit on his tether, that limits it a lot. Okay, who did he sense those things about the guy about the door, some form of ESP obviously but wonder what it would be classed as.
Potent sense Mike has to know all those things. And can tell Mister Harper has superpowers and that they are dangerous, dang, even more impressive ability. Crud, diamonds and his dad tried to use fakes too, so Mister Harper wishes to send his dad a message using Mike. Dodging faster than expected but still hit by some shotgun pellets, ouch. Ah, didn't want them to know he could teleport, so waited until out of sight, smart. Wait, what! Does he have regeneration, seems like it based on the description. And is it somehow linked to his teleportation.
Ugh, his dad is smug about the whole thing, saying Harper doesn't even know who he really is, fake identity and multiple red herrings. He is going to get himself and Brad killed with this attitude. And yup, somehow healing/regen triggered when he teleports it seems. Okay, his special sense is very powerful, getting all that information about others, and he doesn't think he is hearing anyone's thoughts. Definitely a form of ESP and a potent form, knowing there is a gun locked up in one of the drawers of the teacher's desk.
Figuring out what he can sense with his powers is going to be a lot of trial and error. Mike doesn't realize how useful his powers are yet, plus his form of teleportation doesn't risk teleporting into an object accidently. Shot up the rope in gym like it was nothing, guessing he is an exemplar with the changes going on and now this. Great, Jenna Morton, classmate of theirs, is in Humanity First. Another thing for Mike to be afraid of.
And Aaron notices Mike looks different, oh boy. At least he gets Aaron to shut up about the 'possibility' of him being a mutant in public like that. Jackson showing up to bully him again, only for Mike to run, then trigger his tether to outside the school into some bushes, very smart kid. And confirmation that teleportation heals him, very useful.
Uh oh, figures out that teleporting also changes him some more each time. Danger sense triggers, knew Harper's men would be on the lookout for him. Had to teleport and leave the food behind, good to know that other limitation now. Blaming the guy who made the fake diamonds instead of his own stupid plan, ugh.
And his eyes have finally changed to a brilliant emerald green, oh boy, going to be much harder to hide he is a mutant now. Plus whites of right eye turned black, oh boy. Based on those eyes and his changes, he is somehow turning into his own character, Ms. Perfect. And Mike realizes it as well, all those changes unmistakable. And dad using him for another plan, he never learns.
Dang, wishing he had been rejected by his dad instead of being seen as a tool to use. Stealing diamonds from a thief who skimmed them from chain jewelry stores, that is just plain stupid. Fear of how others will treat him if they figure out he is turning into a girl, in his situation it could be worse or better depending on how his dad reacts. Looking forward to turning into Ms. Perfect, confused emotions, he is living a dream for some.
Smart, researched his powers online, yet he thinks that ESP power isn't that powerful, seems pretty strong to me. Robbing a jewelry store chain's flagship store, his dad and Marco are insane! I doubt Harper will take a payoff and just forget how Mike embarrassed him by escaping. Oh boy, a woman with powers targeting the same place, their plan just hit someone else's.
Great, tries to warn his dad about the woman, only his dad to say he doesn't care what he thinks and hang up on him. Simple snatch and grab, they forgot to account for local superheroes. Windswept had been watching the store as well, waiting for thieves. Flipping off a hero and running in another direction after making a tether, Mike has guts. Whoa, saying that to Windswept, that isn't guts, that is cocky. And leaves behind a confused Windswept, driven into a life of crime by his dad, poor Mike.
Dad gone all morning to sort things out with Harper, Mike worried, betting it didn't go as planned. Changing at that rate, I doubt he can hide it for even another week at this rate. Ah, conflicting emotions about the changes once more, I'm surprised that Brad hasn't noticed yet and picked on Mike about it. Brad trying to bully him into doing his chores, nothing more than a thug. Heh, at least Brad realizes he needs to make a deal and pay.
And Brad is dense, starting to look like a chick just because of long hair. Harper isn't a problem anymore, I don't like the way his dad phrased that. Plus Marco being a problem now, just digging Mike deeper and deeper alongside him. Why that casino, especially with all those armed men around? Mister Corvas, Mister Harper there and Mike can get a more general sense of what his power is now, and Marco is dead.
And a man and woman with powers there as well, this isn't looking good. His dad is making him take the fall for the jewelry store robbery, the scum! Blaming him for stopping what would have been a 10 million payoff for a later job. Bring them his son and they would let him live, his dad is a true coward. Pulls his tether and leaves his dad behind to die, broke Mike's heart by betraying him after all he put up with.
Shot and running away in pain, tricking them with a tether set before going down an alley to help his escape plus heal. And Mike starts to learn just how much stronger and faster than before he is, that thug is going to be in pain. Another tether to escape and heal some more, kid is going to be truly dangerous when he learn the strengths, weaknesses and limits of his powers. Great, only one place to go where he might be safe after what happened.
Wonder where the shed is he slept in, well outfitted for camping. Staying in a shed at Aaron's place, guess it helps to have a friend like him. Aaron staring at chest and turning red, awkward. Not telling Aaron what happened, except he is turning into a girl and thinks he is an exemplar. A month at most for complete change, fast transformation for a changeling. Really limited teleportation but I haven't heard of any other teleporter who heals when they teleport.
Ah, filling in Aaron with vague details on the whole story. Fearing Corvas has the police on the payroll or getting caught in a fight between them. Almost looks like Ms. Perfect's daughter, two parts having different emotions about his changes. Dress like a girl for a disguise, borrowing Aaron's sister's clothes, hope this works. If anyone thinks that is Mike looking like that, they either have superpowers to see through disguises or noticed the changes he was going through before. Michelle, cute name. Not able to go home, Aaron's parents home, teleport back to the shed, now the hard part of what to do next.
People watching to use his ESP power, practicing to figure out what information he gets since it isn't random. Doodad, an alumni of Whateley Academy, a lot of details picked up that time by Mike's ESP power. Having to lie to a cop and still getting talked to about being too young to be wandering around on her own. Having to teleport away from a protective cop with a daughter just a little younger than Mike, at least it was for a good reason.
At least Mike realizes how stupid a teleport snatch would be. Ugh, guy his dad's age pinching his ass, just sick. Store owner who beats his girlfriend and too cheap to buy real security cameras except to cover the cash register. Whelp, sounds like he is getting robbed. Ah, another limit of her teleportation we've seen but have more details now, can't carry much and has to be close to her body.
And Mike/Michelle likes the nail polish, definitely no problem with the changes except that nagging voice. White Diamond in the area, teleports and somehow White Diamond is right in front of Michelle, tries to run only for White Diamond to appear in front of her appear. Punching her like hitting a brick wall, and knocked out with a stun gun, oh boy.
Wakes up naked in a hotel room, changed even more into a girl than before. Dressed again and figures out she is at the Arch, White Diamond coming in and leading her out to meet someone, the other supervillain who had been in Corvas' office. D'oh! White Diamond locked onto his warper power and can find Michelle anywhere now. Adam Dupree aka Focus, Martina Simmons aka White Diamond.
At least Focus is giving Michelle the opportunity to 'make things right'. Dad still alive but badly beaten up, only because of Mister Harper. And White Diamond using sign language, wonder why, is it because she can't speak or what. Tell Mister Corvas Michael Cook is dead once he agrees to the job, oh boy, deeper and deeper. Well, White Diamond can hear, but still haven't seen her speak once yet. And setting up power testing, was pound to happen sooner or later.
Ouch, minor GSD that affects her vocal cords so she can't talk, not talked since she was Michelle's age, kind of feel sorry for White Diamond now. Ah, teleportation with a thick fog like effect, plus left poor Michelle nauseous, ouch. Long drive with someone who can't talk, yikes. Ah, a power mimic who can only copy certain kinds of warper powers, interesting. Building like that for a hidden lab, always useful to not stand out.
Crimson hair, eyepatch, and tie-dyed lab coat, oh boy, devisor is my guess. Doctor Betty aka the former Nightmare Nurse. Blue oranges, the humanity! Exemplar 3, capable of lifting well over four hundred pounds, dang. Dang, ESP is no longer a secret, environmental awareness with elements of psychometry and a danger sense thrown in. Warper 3, Esper 2, plus teleportation more versatile than previously thought but not by much. Still a good mix of abilities. What is Doctor Betty laughing about, plus collecting blood samples, that is beyond creepy.
Ouch, up to a B cup already. Learning American Sign Language, memorized a lot of it in one night, impressive. Nice to have new clothes that fit. Practicing sign language with White Diamond, wondering if White Diamond was driven into her life of crime. Oh boy, White Diamond has plans for Michelle, salon visit and hair styling here we come.
"IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A WOMAN, YOU MUST LEARN TO TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR APPEARANCE. YOUR HAIR IS ATTROCIOUS."
Just knew it was something like that.
A lecture on proper hair care and maintenance, at least she is learning new things. A hair style similar to Ms. Perfect's, should have known. A manicure and more shopping, White Diamond throwing her into the deep end of being a female and Michelle loves it. A bomb in the car and a creep with powers and a gun, great. Increased density and one of 3 warper powers she has semi-permanently copied, nice.
Oh boy, an idiot after a bounty on White Diamond's head, gets up with a broken arm for his trouble so far. Yikes, dematerialize the ground and then rematerialize it right around the guy, deadly move White Diamond has. Reminded Michelle that even though she is nice to her, she is still dealing with a supervillain.
And the trip was also about power testing, figures. Oh boy, testing her fighting abilities now, what does Focus have planned. Focus is an energizer, with a codename like that I was expecting something else. Gather nearby energy and focus it into a single spot, that is probably a lot more dangerous than it sounds. Sparring with Focus and White Diamond, good learning experience.
And blowing a kiss at her own reflection, hehe. Corvas and Harper there, yikes, at least they don't recognize her. Saying she is Leah and a new intern, oh boy, if they figure out she teleports the same way Mike did this will cause a lot of trouble. Dealing with Corvas must be a pain, man seems to have a temper and is short-sighted. Harper looking at Michelle like that, ewwwww. A codename to use on the job to hide her identity, going simple with Tether, nice choice.
A black cat suit and mask, oh boy, that will get Michelle attention. Tech Head, either gadgeteer or devisor with cybernetic eye and plug in jacks, nervous around attractive women, must be hard in his line of business. Imp turned down this job, wonder what year this is set in, as we have seen dates but no year yet. A vault owned by Doctor Hansel Averton aka Doctor Avarice, what could they be after in there. Ah, just a storage cache and not have to deal with him directly.
Ah, making a point for the Syndicate since Doctor Averice owes them a lot of money and hasn't payed yet. Isolated security systems that can't be remotely hacked, figures he is smarter than the average criminal. Canary to detect any security threats, ouch, tough job. Security cameras and electrified fence, would think it would be something more lethal. Okay, yeah, parked cars that are weapon systems in disguise, that is more like it. Cars that split open to reveal Gatling guns, yikes.
Nice way to take out all the car-Gatling gun traps. Ability to turn things intangible, misread what happened in the scene with the guy earlier, that is a much more powerful ability. Dang, all those cars, anyone robbing the place would be tempted. Dang, more traps than expected inside the vault. And Doctor Avarice values his collections more than paying back his debts, good grief. A pile of platinum bars, can see what Focus wanted to hit this place.
Ack, having to distract superheroes with a ranged stun gun, poor Tether just can't catch a break. Windswept and Cast Iron, a guy with a Dynamorph, oh boy. And even Star Spangled Woman, this isn't good. Oh boy, thinking everyone in the government is corrupt and little difference between his dad and politicians. Actually holding her own with the help of the drones.
And Focus shows up to help, and Star Spangled Woman is annoyed at Tether for shooting her repeatedly even though it doesn't harm her. Taunting the heroes, plus Focus is right, don't want a rep as a hero killer. Blowing up the van to distract from their real escape, clever though costly. And in the back of the moving van driven by Tech Head, well thought out means of escape. Grrr, testing how Tether deals with hostile heroes even though it wasn't needed, Focus is too manipulative.
Enjoying being hot, definitely a change from most changelings this early into their transformation. Heading to Sacramento now, wonder if she will drop in on Aaron one last time. Whoa, debt cleared and a $10k bonus as well for how well the job went. Corvas there and armed, with Harper and some goons, demanding all of the take from the job. Crud, White Diamond out cold thanks to Harper.
And Corvas and Harper are acting like a bunch of mobster thugs, saying Focus stole from them by going after Doctor Avarice's vault without them in on it. Unprofessional scum like this need to be put out of operation. Corvas planning to murder them in a sound-proof room, ugh. Whoa, smaller tethers to pull objects to herself, that is major. Stun gun to Corvas and one goon, another with a body slam into the wall, dang. And Harper is unaffected, dang.
Focus back in action, blast Harper, blast the goon who gets back up to a smear on the wall, yikes. Don't cross Focus. Great, escape with White Diamond, only for 3 guards to show up and only one taken down. Having White Diamond play possum, shot in the in thigh while trying to lead them away, only to teleport right back by White Diamond and take both goons down. I know the higher the exemplar level the fast they can learn, but Michelle is learning things very fast.
Yikes, White Diamond awake but moving slowly and a bit unstable, Harper coming up badly burned in several spots but with Focus in his right hand, tough bugger. Harper was augmented by a devisor, but it cut his lifespan by two decades, he is nuts. Maximum density and pounding on Harper, White Diamond shows more power than before. Oh boy, taking one of the goons guns to shoot up Corvas and using a tether to put some distance between them, Michelle is getting a bit reckless.
Only for Focus to kill Corvas with an energy blast, greed will get you in the end. Yikes, killing Harper that way, just brutal. White Diamond thinks they lost everything, in a car about to make their escape, lost clothes and bonus for Michelle. Yet she tethered by suitcase full of cash and brought it to them, so not a total loss. Surviving Corvas, Harper and his goons, I would be happy to get out of that alive.
At a safe house and recovering, Focus having cracked ribs from the fight, they all got banged up bad. Great, Corvas' replacement wishing to kill them to prove he can deal with threats to his power. Oh boy, Focus is trying to recruit Tether to help them on jobs in exchange for setting her up at Whateley Academy. Wanting trained operative who owes him a favor or two, plus finder's fee if she does contract work for the Syndicate.
Oh boy, envying Ms. Perfect for her ability to do whatever she wanted, regardless of rules or other people's opinions. And that type of thinking about how the world works, due to his upbringing and everyone he has been exposed to he thinks everyone has things they want and will do whatever it takes to get them. And she takes the deal, oh boy, hope Tether doesn't regret this later.
Spare key to the apartment hidden in the broom closet on the floor below theirs, with no apartment number on it, sneaky. The place a mess in such a short amount of time, someone having gone through his drawings and comic book pages, uh oh. Even waiting around to confront Brad with how much she has changed. Brad is actually happy his younger sibling is alive, despite how much she has changed.
And their dad lied about what happened to Brad, saying he tried to save Mike from Corvas and that Mike had been killed. Hearing the truth and Brad knows that is more like their dad. Revealing Corvas was shot, Harper not a problem anymore, one handed curl with a bar intended for both arms at once, Michelle has grown a lot more confident. Well, that was more emotional and caring from Brad then expected, probably the last they will see each other.
And visiting Aaron, his mom more shocked to see a pretty girl visiting her son. Telling the tale of what happened after they last saw each other, finding out Michelle is there to say goodbye.
"You don't owe me anything," Aaron protested. "We're friends. You should always help friends..."
Too close, no kissing just to say goodbye, that would be cruel. And at least White Diamond knows how hard saying good bye is.
Arriving at Whateley Academy and Poe Cottage on October 27th. Telling Michelle about their being other changelings in Poe, having to keep the secret of Poe for the safety of everyone there. Roomed with another changeling, Jennifer, who is a teleporter as well. D'oh, GSD not exemplar, poor kid. Whoa, she is roomed with Twist, didn't see that coming. Wait, it is 2001, they are class of 2005, didn't see this coming. Knew Twist was a graduate of Whateley but still. Interesting backstory for who is probably a supervillain by the time the class of 2010 show up.
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