Chapter 307

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*- John*

This is the 307th episode of *unORDINARY*.

## Synopsis

At Wellston High, gossip mongers can't stop talking about no-shows Blyke, Remi, and Seraphina. They fear that the reasons range from the recent abductions to EMBER. John hears the chatter, but he has even more on his mind. It's been weeks since he and Seraphina used the recovery machine. If what she said is true, then the disabler should have taken hold again. But while his ability may not be at full power, it hasn't weakened any further. He wonders if there's something seriously wrong with him.

John puts the matter aside for the time being. The students in his self-defense class still need him. He wants them to pair up and continue the same drills he's had them doing since they enrolled. Wyatt pipes up and whines about wanting to break away from routine advance to ability stuff. Bad idea, John thinks, for a guy who can't even pull off a basic fighting stance. He reiterates that the room is to train their bodies without their abilities. He's interrupted AGAIN, this time by Dylan, who begs for the *teensiest* bit of leeway on that rule. Soon the whole class is demanding the expert course. Wyatt argues that it would be better training for the real world, where fights are never ability-free. John wonders how to show the group how they're just not ready for such lessons, and gets an idea. He walks right up to Wyatt and tells him he'll get some new practice alright. John's stern tone gets through to the class, and he asks the nervous acolyte to single out the one person he has the worst chance to beat ability-wise. Wyatt naturally points to the teacher, who sighs and says not to count him. The second-strongest person is Sherri, who John determines is a good fit for what he has in mind. But first, they have to find a big enough area for the two to fight it out. Wyatt can't believe what he hears. There is no way he can beat Sherri with his ability. John promises to prove him wrong.

The class assembles in a school courtyard. Up against Sherri, Wyatt's reduced to a nervous wreck. John encourages him to do his best, which Wyatt feels would have been to be quiet and obey when class started. Sherri, on the other hand, calmly waits as John tells them both to keep it clean for the demonstration match. When the fight starts, Sherri rushes towards her opponent with Vigor activated. Wyatt scrambles to counterattack with his Charge Shot ability, but Sherri easily moves out of the line of fire and strikes him down with one enhanced blow to the head. Wyatt complains that he knew it was going to end this way, because his attack is so easily avoidable to her. Sherri helps him to his feet and tells him not to be such a pessimist, while John tells him that he should have attempted something else if he knew his strategy would fail him. He copies Charge Shot and prepares to show him and the class how a little can go a long way.

Wyatt wonders what good his ability would be in this match up, Sherri feels quite different about her next fight. She's not confident having to face off against the Shadow King himself, and strives to play it safe. But unbeknownst to any of them, John is most nervous of all of having to be in a fight, even a friendly one. His old memories are still close to the surface, but he forces himself to just focus on teaching the lesson. He becomes aware of Sherri trying a jumping attack, which he feels is too impractical and show-offy. He dodges the attack, so Sherri tries to hit him with a jab. He parries the strike using a maneuver that the class recognizes as the one he's trying to teach them. As he does so, he starts charging a shot to use against Sherri. She realizes this and prepares to block it, confident that she could withstand it even if dodging such close quarters was impossible. But John holds on tight while knocking her off balance. Sherri falls to the ground and held in place, unable to resist the Charge Shot in any way. But John decides that he's made his point, and ends the lesson. The whole class is in awe, while John helps Sherri up. He tells the humbled Sherri to make sure she has a backup plan in case attacks from the air fail, or her opponent might figure out how to get the better of her.

John turns to the class and tells them he hopes they learned what he was trying to teach them: there's no looking down on the fundamentals. Practicing them for as long as he has allowed him to make the most of his ability, and the same could be true for them all. But they had to work hard until they got it right. Nobody could argue against this, so they all went back to the training room for their usual practice.

At the Bureau of Authority, Keon's Boss is about to hold a press conference. He greets the crowd of reporters before proceeding to address major issues. He tells the crowd that the Authorities have determined that the troubling disappearances were the work of Spectre. He describes how they're located all throughout the country, and that the Bureau will be focused primarily on dismantling the organization. The reporters begin questioning how the government will manage that when EMBER manages to continue its operations undisturbed. The head of the Bureau insists that the matter continues to be a top priority as well, but the media remain skeptical the rise of more criminal groups would be curbed with the Authorities' lack of progress. The chief says that talking about the headway their cases are making remains an impossibility, and urges the public to do their part and trust the Authorities with any problems that arise in their lives.

A remote control is hurled at a television broadcasting this report. It belongs to William, who is so angry about what he heard that he's added "Broke TV" to his list of problems. He hasn't been able to think straight since he read what Simon delivered. The Authorities never left him alone. They took Jane away from him, tortured John, and criminalized his very thoughts. All the while they disregarded clear threats to the people they were *supposed* to be protecting. William is most unwilling to allow the government to walk all over him and his family anymore, and draws inspiration from his wife to use his gifts to fight against the establishment.

One all-nighter later, and William puts the finishing touches on his latest work. When it's finally ready, he publishes online. No turning back now...

## Appearing Characters

* John
* Seraphina (flashback)
* ***Wyatt***
* Dylan
* **Sherri**
* *Keon's Boss*
* William H. Doe
* Jane (flashback)

## Appearing Abilities

* Aura Manipulation
* ***Charge Shot*** (natural; copied)
* ***Vigor***
* Channel Master (flashback)