Remi/Season 2 pt 1

## Plot

### Fallout

Remi, along with Blyke, sustained injuries so bad that they had to be transferred to Wellston Hospital, where they stayed in room 403 to recover. Sometime later, Isen and Arlo came to visit them. They asked how Remi felt when she lost, and to her, it felt crappy. When Isen asks about Blyke's condition, Remi tells them about his situation and how he doesn't have a place to return to since John is his roommate. She then apologized to everyone for not listening to their warnings. Arlo comforts Remi and tells her to just focus on recovering, surprising her as she expected him to scold her. However, when Arlo told her he had a lot of things to say, she decided not to hear of it any more politely. She then asks him what their next course of action will be and he responds that they have no choice but to accept they've lost. While Remi was still against John's brutal methods, Arlo just asks her if she was gonna hospitalize herself again by challenging him, which Remi then denies. Arlo then tells her to let it go and left with Isen, telling Remi they'll come back tomorrow and to just focus on resting for now. After they left, Blyke suddenly tells Remi of his insecurities about being weak, which she can give no response for.

Remi and Blyke were eventually discharged from the hospital, and became the center of idle gossip upon their return to school. Isen regrettably informed the two that students had begun to capitalize on the fact that nobody knew who the real Joker was by impersonating him. Remi was appalled to hear that these fakes were attacking others, realizing that this was the opposite of what John was supposedly trying to accomplish. Seeing as how these impersonators were motivated by revenge, Remi surmised that the most likely targets were the ones who had made plenty of enemies.

### Responsibility

Remi set about stopping whatever Fake Joker attacks she came across. She intervened in one such incident when a Fake Joker was retaliating against a student who had once torn up his homework. Taking a neutral stance in the matter, she attempted to teach them both that their actions had consequences before making them apologize to each other. Despite Remi's intentions, her own actions would have dire consequences. The victim of this Joker attack was a reporter for the Wellston Weekly, and he would share the existence of Fake Jokers with the rest of the Press Team. Though Isen prevented them from publishing the story in the paper, the matter would not stay quiet. Thanks to a reporter posting a notice on bulletin boards around the school, everybody was made aware of the impersonators. Remi found herself in the Press Room trying to comfort Isen, who had failed to follow Arlo's orders to keep the matter completely under wraps as head of the press. She tried to assure him that she wouldn't let him come to any harm, but he wasn't confident in his chances. Sure enough Arlo burst into the room and verbally tore into Isen, totally ignoring Remi's attempts to calm him down. Isen eventually snapped at Arlo, saying that it was his own fault for expecting him to flawlessly fulfill a role he was not fit for. This bold statement stunned both Arlo and Remi, and Isen froze after realizing what he just said. Tranquil but furious, Arlo stated that Isen was qualified to be head, but he needed to assert himself as a leader in order to get his people to follow orders. Having said his peace, Arlo slammed the notice he brought with him on Isen's desk and stormed out. Remi had watched Arlo with unease, and was surprised to see Isen prostrate himself in terrified relief.

Joker attacks only grew worse as the days went on. Remi assigned Blyke and Isen to assist her in stopping as many attacks as they could. When she came across a trio of students concerned about these recent events, she asked if they had any suggestions on improving the state of things. With the three masks she collected, she met up with her friends at her dorm that night. Their combined efforts stopped eight attacks total that week. The trio knew full well that they were unprepared for the increase in attacks that was sure to come. Though Isen tried to take the blame for the news leak, Remi said they were all at fault as leaders for losing touch with half the school. Students were taking matters into their own hands because they lost trust in those in charge, so there was no choice but to rebuild that trust from scratch. Remi said they would need to get every top student on board, but her friends scoffed when she included John in that group. Blyke wanted nothing to do with him, while Isen reminded her that it this mess was his fault to begin with. Remi brought up their encounter, and wondered why John didn't try to help remedy a problem they both recognized. Isen surmised that John *may* have cared about wanting to make things better in the past, but it was folly to think that he's anything but his old, destructive self anymore.

Time passed, and there seemed to be little chance for things at school to settle down. Remi collected enough masks to nearly fill an entire drawer. On a more positive note, she did manage to recruit some additional assistance. When she saw Holden yelling at a student for loitering in the halls, she pulled him aside to an empty classroom. She calmly chastised him for being an abrasive hall monitor when he could be inspiring admiration instead. She told him to stop spreading even more fear throughout the school and suggested that he lower his voice in the future. Though puzzled, Holden seemed to consider her words. Elaine was more receptive to putting an end to all this Joker nonsense, though Cecile unsurprisingly wanted nothing to do with doing good. Most astonishingly, Zeke told Remi he'd help anytime. The trio held another meeting at a local fast food joint. Blyke's mysterious increased appetite momentarily distracted his friends. When Remi brought it up, he claimed that it was just part of being a growing boy. With Blyke's mouth empty, their dismal meeting began. Isen reported that articles about retaliations against Jokers were being submitted to him all the time. Blyke mentioned his efforts. When Remi shared her efforts, her friends called her out for naively think that Zeke was trustworthy following his "godslayer stunt." She tried to say it couldn't hurt to try, but relented when Blyke and Isen demanded she give up. Blyke then pointed out that high-tiers in general were unlikely to help resolve a situation that barely affected them. Remi concurred, and said that their main focus should be on mending relations between the low and mid-tiers so that fewer Jokers would emerge. Blyke noted that simply talking to them one-on-one wasn't doing much, but Remi urged them to not lose hope that they'd figure something out. Isen didn't say much for the rest of the meeting.

With so much distracting her, Remi found herself running late to classes. During a rush one school day, she came across a student trying to pick up somebody injured. Remi approached and asked the struggling girl what was going on. The girl explained that she came across a Fake Joker who was knocked out after his bluff was called. She was trying to carry him to the infirmary, but she wasn't strong enough. Deciding to help them, Remi asked the girl to hold their books while she carried the failed Joker. They reached the infirmary, and Remi thanked Doctor Darren for all his help before the two of them exited the room. Remi realized that she never got the chance to make the girl's acquaintance, and asked for her name. The timid girl introduced herself as Evie. Remi noted that not many students these days were willing to lend a helping hand, and commended Evie for going out of her way to try. Remi was in for a surprise when Evie asked if she was feeling alright following the big battle with Joker. Remarking that Evie was the first person outside of her friend group to ask, she assured her that everyone made a full recovery. Remi took the opportunity to get another opinion of the school's current situation. Evie admitted that even if things weren't perfect before, it was easier to get around and find safe spaces from her many aggressors. But with the Fake Jokers, the safe zones were no more. Remi was sorry to hear this, and asked if she could get Evie's number so they could talk more about it later. After exchanging contact info, Remi resumed her mad rush to class.

### Safe House

Isen released a special expose that outed John as the original Joker. The next day, attacks had gone down to the point where Remi only had to stop one Joker in the morning. She noticed that this change left her free to get started on an important project.

Her exchange with Evie gave Remi a flash of inspiration. Instead of scattered spaces of safety throughout the school, there ought to be a large designated sanctuary, where students of all-ranks can hang out peacefully under the careful watch of high-tiers! She cornered a sleepy Blyke in the school library to share her idea. "Safe House", as she called it, would serve to provide much-needed relief from all the violence intensifying around school. With this club, the Royals could make further progress in bringing peace to Wellston. Blyke was on board with protecting innocent students, and the two got started on making the necessary arrangements. They first went to Keene, who approved of the idea and granted them the use of an empty classroom. The next step was advertising, so they went to see Isen. When they entered the Press Room, they found him trying to hide behind his desk. The very visible press head was relieved that they weren't who he was expected. He explained to them that he was on edge because the original Joker might be mad at him for revealing his identity in the newspaper. Blyke's promise to protect him didn't offer much confidence, though Remi's gratitude for his bravery brough some small comfort. After explaining the purpose of their visit, Isen promised to promote Safe House in the next edition of the Wellston Weekly.

With the first club meeting scheduled in a few days, Remi and Blyke set to work making preparations in Room 224. Remi stood on a stack of desks to hang up a welcome banner at the top of the window. She silently "spoke to" the late Rei, sadly remarking that all the hard work he put into Wellston as a king of peace didn't last. Running the school all alone was a struggle for both him and Arlo afterwards. But she reflects on everything she learned about what low-tiers go through, and affirms that she'll take his vision further with the support of her friends. The promise to do good by Rei suddenly gets overtaken by her argument with John coming to mind. The vivid memory of his insult to Rei's legacy broke her concentration and made her stumble. The desk stack toppled as she fell backwards. Luckily, Blyke reacted in time and safely caught her, and blasted away the falling furniture with a technique she had never seen before. Remi thanked Blyke for the assist before inquiring about the surprising demonstration of his ability. Blyke claimed that it was just something he picked up while training against others, and the impressed Remi suggested they spar sometime to measure his improvement. Blyke awkwardly agreed to that motion, and left to find someone to help clean up the mess he made saving her. Remi was glad to see her friend regaining the confidence he lost after his defeats.

Later that day, John revealed his true strength to the school following a challenge made by Zeke.  After mopping the floor with his opponents again, John officially declared himself King of Wellston.

Naturally, Remi was aware of this turn of events, but she and Blyke preoccupied themselves the following day with the continued setup of Safe House. Busy as they were, they had time to welcome the visitors that stopped by. It was Isen, with Arlo and Seraphina in tow. Remi welcomed the newcomers and eagerly went over the preparations they made. She then asked Isen about his task to advertise the club in the Wellston Weekly. When he replied that he was fired from his post, she shot a glance at Arlo. He was quick to remind them that he was no longer in charge. Remi remarked that John certainly didn't take his time, but Blyke rebutted that the Joker thing was a slow burn. Arlo then asked Remi to clarification on the flier she prepared. This led to him asking what she ultimately hoped to accomplish with the club. After a general overview of Safe House's purpose, Remi spoke of how her biggest concern was the negative influence John seemed to emanate. She hoped that the gatherings that would take place in this room would lead to peace and understanding throughout the student body. Remi admitted that it sounded less corny in her head, but Seraphina lauded her efforts. The grateful Remi couldn't help but beam at such support. Isen announced that he could still promote the club even if he was no longer had access to the newspaper. He asked to see Remi's flier, but he gazed at the one he was given with a most disapproving look. After a moment of silence, he insisted on redoing the whole thing. Remi was astonished to see him get it done so quickly. When the rest of the group left to start putting up the fliers, Arlo and Remi remained behind in the room. She asked him if he was really doing alright after losing the title he was remarkably attached to. Arlo assured her that, while he didn't feel great, there was a weight off his shoulders. Being bossed around behind the scenes by an ill-tempered coward was the worst experience of his life. Now that he no longer had to pretend he was still in charge, he was free to focus on personal matters. Remi was glad that Arlo was on the same page as her. Remi admitted that she thought he could use a break from the throne after two and a half years. She promised to work even harder to fulfill her responsibilities as the standing Queen. Arlo clarified he wasn't going to disappear, and that they ought to depend on each other. Isen then burst in on this touching moment and urged them to get a move on with those filers.

When the time came for the King and Queen to customarily appoint the new Jack, Arlo pulled Remi aside to advise her. Suspecting that John would want to keep him out of positions of authority, Arlo urged Remi not to vouch for him. Remi agreed to go along with whatever John wanted, but made it clear that she was only going to do so for the sake of Arlo taking it slow. She met with John, who grumbled about her punctuality. After apologizing for being a student who had classes to attend, the meeting proceeded as expected, with Cecile being restored as the Jack. But when Remi asked if she could leave, John insisted they talk about her project. He pulled out a Safe House flier and demanded to know what she was up to. Specifically, why this club of former Royals was being formed so soon after he claimed the throne. As she was pelted with the crumpled-up flier, Remi denied the allegations that they were attempting to subvert his authority, and informed John that their goal was to curb the widespread violence the two of them debated not long ago. She named several influential participants who were going to ensure it was run smoothly, none of whom inspired confidence in John. Remi invited John to join her cause, only to be rejected and fall under fire from a verbal assault. John, seemingly unprovoked, mocked her claims of seeking peaceful resolution by calling Safe House a room where useless losers would go to hang out. Trying her best to mind her temper, Remi brought up their previous one-on-one again. John told her then that the violence in school was the fault of the high-rankers. Yet he stood before her now criticizing her efforts to rectify that very issue. Remi asked John what it would take to appease him. He answered that garbage like her and her friends would never be able to appease him. Having predicted such and answer, Remi then dared John to show the "garbage" how to fix problems. She told him that now that his ranking was public, he could no longer pretend that it was beyond his power to pitch in. John continued to deny that problem resolution in the new hierarchy was his responsibility. Remi told him that a leader who did nothing but play the blame game was the biggest hypocrite of all. John warned her to watch what she said, but she asserted that she would proceed with Safe House regardless of his disapproval. As she walked towards the exit, John vowed that Safe House would fail and she would finally see just how out of her depth she was. Once outside, Remi reflected that no matter what their objective was, John was unlikely to ever be a team player.

### Evolution

Remi had lunch with Isen on the weekend preceding the opening of Safe House. They bought some extra burgers to take back to Blyke, who was sleeping in. Isen marched into their dorm and forcibly roused his slumbering roommate, which led to another argument. Remi found herself wondering how these two managed to remain roommates. As she was handing him his food, Remi noticed the large scar across Blyke's face. When she pointed it out, Blyke hastily explained that he got it from being a klutz. Isen lol'd, but Remi believed that there was something she was missing.

### Tyrants

Remi and Blyke were all set for the grand opening of their club. But Isen bore bad news in the form of the day's newspaper. In it was a warning to the school from John, who swore emnity to all who joined the club. While her friends vocally expressed their outrage, Remi silently worried that John's warning was actually a promise he intended to keep.

Miraculously, Room 224 was filled with people who were interested in joining despite John's warning. Elated at the results, Remi began a big speech. She assured everybody present that despite recent events getting out of hand, Safe House could be relied on as a sanctuary for all who needed a respite. Promising that the peace would always be kept by herself or her high-ranking friends, Remi proceeded to give an overview of club resources and activities, which had come to include laptops! She finished by inviting everybody to stick around or come back the next day, and made herself available for any questions.

At that moment, Zeke entered the room. Though surprised, Remi extended a friendly invitation for him to take part. She was rudely turned down by the Godslayer, who then announced that anybody who seriously considered joining would have to give him their name. Remi couldn't believe that John could be so brazen. She watched as students started to leave, suddenly crushed by the realization that the new King didn't make empty threats. Remi decided that Zeke poisoning her club with such fear was the last straw. She commanded him to get out. He smugly protested that she wasn't upholding the promise that all were welcome in her little club. With one finger, Remi zapped the smile right off his face. When he was on his knees, Remi warned him not to test her patience any further. She announced that she would take her oath to provide a haven for students seriously, for she believed that it was everybody's right to give peace a chance at least once. And if keeping that oath meant booting out other students who insisted on being threats, then she would. Remi told Zeke that he was going to leave immediately, and that his desire for a list of names would never be fulfilled. Zeke's departure seemed to do the trick, as the other students were reassured that she would always look out for them.

Thanks to her pulling victory from the jaws of defeat, Remi and her two best mates decided to celebrate at their favorite fast food joint. They kicked things off with a toast, but a somber Blyke pointed out that Zeke's intrusion meant that they couldn't afford to let their guard down. Remi agreed, but she hoped that the effort they put into achieving Safe House's goal would appeal to the student body and inspire them. The group's attention was caught by a news bulletin being run on the TV mounted in the corner. There were two new vigilantes sighted fighting crime in Grasshill. While one was an unknown, the other apparently went by "Nobody". Interviews and footage revealed that the latter vigilante was somebody who Remi thought she knew very well: Blyke. The Newcaster gave a play-by-play while footage of the fight against the criminal was run, compounding the reality that if it weren't for some incredibly lucky breaks, Blyke would have been killed. Remi shivered as she watched, and when it was over, she stood up and excused herself. She ran out, ignoring Blyke's attempts to explain himself.

It was quite the distance from the restaurant before Blyke managed to get Remi's attention. He barely managed to get out an apology after her tear-filled eyes pierced his soul. After pointing out the injuries he lied about, Remi reminded Blyke that it was his idea that they face danger together *and* that they quit when their combined strength wasn't enough. When she stressed how deep his hypocrisy cut her, Blyke apologized again. He admitted that his losses to Joker made him desperate to quickly evolve into somebody who wasn't useless. Remi didn't accept this excuse, bringing up the fact that she lost a brother to that way of life. The worst part about it all was that it was a secret then too. She painfully states that not a day has gone by where she wishes that she had caught on, so that she might have at least done *anything* that might have saved Rei. Deeply ashamed, Blyke swore he was sorry for making her angry. Remi told him that she was *scared*, not angry, and pulled him into a tight embrace. She couldn't bear the thought of suddenly losing someone she cherished a second time. Blyke, putting his hands on her shoulders, promised she wouldn't. At that moment, Isen caught up with the two, sore about having to pay for everybody's drinks. Remi apologized, and Isen calmed down long enough to check to see if she was okay. He then took a turn to admonish Blyke for his recklessness. Remi did her best to restore peacful relations between them, adding that Blyke already promised to put vigilantism behind him for good. Isen wasn't convinced that mattered anymore, as EMBER could still come after Blyke after seeing him on television. Blyke was certain that a "nobody" like him could avoid notice if he just didn't draw attention any further. Remi hoped he was right.

The next day, Remi rushed over to Safe House as soon as she was finished with a test. She was warmly greeted by everybody there, including the Arlo. When asked how his block as supervisor went, he told her that people tended to behave in his presence. It was a disconcerting relief at best. He asked her for a moment of her time. He told her of his plans to meet up with his aunt later that day, and asked if she wanted to tag along to meet such an esteemed member of the Authorities (and maybe get some answers about Rei). Remi was a little startled by the offer. But she took him up on it, and they set off when school let out.

While en route, Remi became nervous at the prospect of meeting someone from the Authorities after a while, but Arlo assured her that his aunt was cool. Remi expressed her gratitude for this opportunity. Arlo told her that it was fortunate that he also needed answers. They meet up with Valerie almost immediately after entering the cafe. During a familial exchange of pleasantries, Remi realized that she felt uneasy, and not just because she was in an unfamiliar land of giants. She just couldn't shake the feeling as if she has seen Val somewhere before. When they sat down to drink she narrated the story of Rei's death at Val's behest, and how she received no update from the Authorities on his case in spite of their promises. While prefacing her reply with condolences, Val openly denounced Rei's choice of becoming a vigilante in a hauntingly familiar way. It was at this point that Remi realized why she thought Val was familiar. Her height, face, eyes voice all matched that of Volcan, the woman who nearly killed her when she was a vigilante! Remi stood up and exclaimed "YOU!" in harsh fury whilst looking at Valerie in angry disbelief. Cool as can be, Valerie asked what seemed to be the trouble. The surprised Arlo tried to get Remi to settle down. She excused herself, and went to the restroom to calm down from revelation.

While there, she used the sink to throw water on her face. A tumult of thoughts poured into her brain. She mentally crosschecked all the similarities between Volcan and Valerie. This led to the to the most profound question of all: If the Authorities and EMBER were connected, then why did they kill Rei? Was it merely for being a vigilante? With this possibility at the forefront of her mind, Remi headed back to the table.

Remi and Valerie cordially put the former's outburst behind them before resuming their discussion. Faced with the possibility of speaking with a bitter enemy, Remi tried to pry information about why the public never got so much as a promising progress report. When Valerie cited that she couldn't share confidential information of the sort, Remi couldn't conceal her bitter disappointment. Valerie noticed her frustration, and tried to appear sympathetic with Remi, remarking that her brother sounded like a fine individual. But then she continued to mock vigilantism, saying that the best way to make an impact was to act in accordance with the Authorities by being responsible citizens. And should Remi focus on her studies and train while staying out of trouble, she too could work as a member of their esteemed team. Armed with the truth she learned as X-Rei, Remi said that the Authorities worked too slowly and have outright ignored several pressing matters such as abuse of power in numerous low-tier districts. Valerie tried to excuse these oversights by saying that there were many cases the Authorities faced daily, and that they had to prioritize the major cases.

Ignoring Arlo's attempt to get her to settle down, Remi continued to argue. Questioning why the authorities do not work with the vigilantes if they have common goals. Even if Valerie is on point saying that the vigilantes are impulsive people who only fix surface issues, they still do something beneficial. Val coldly says that not all vigilantes may have benevolent intentions like Rei. Some may fall into greed. Remi stands up again and yells that all vigilantes deserve a chance to make a difference. Val looks at Remi in cold bewilderment. Arlo cut this heated debate short by asking his aunt for a moment alone with Remi. In another section of the Cafe, Arlo scolded Remi for using his gracious invitation to cause a scene. Remi fired back, saying that she couldn't tolerate Val trash-talking Rei. Arlo reiterated Valerie's words about there being a lot of crime to deal with, so Remi should stop being so miffed that the world isn't revolving around her family's issues. He ordered Remi to apologize to Val when they get back. Remi refused to do so without being told him what his aunt's ability is, much to Arlo's surprise. He answered her that it was a Barrier, the hereditary ability of their family. Remi was perplexed, as Volcan's ability was something else entirely.

With her suspicions seemingly devoid of credibility, Remi conceded to own up to her actions. She apologized for losing her temper, and stated that it would probably be for the best if she called it a day and returned to Wellston. Valerie told Remi not too stressed over such an understandably personal subject. She assured her that she'd personally ask her colleagues about Rei's death. Remi thanked her and bid them farewell, hiding a look of suspicion after turning her back. Despite Arlo's information, Remi remained skeptical of what Valerie appeared to be.

When class out early the next day, Remi rushed over to Safe House. The good mood she was in faltered when she walked into the room and saw a conflict escalating in the absence of a supervisor. She stepped in and asked what was going on. The girl haughtily described how she was told to leave the club by the boy she was arguing with. The boy explained that the girl, having punched him with no provocation the week before, was a clear threat to the other members. Remi shushed them both and said that for the good of Safe House, the rules stood, even though there was little chance of members making amends over past grudges. The boy asked what the point there was in getting along within club boundaries if the girl could still come after him at any other place. Remi sighed, and told everybody that she was under the impression that they joined Safe House because they were all in agreement that there was too much violence in school. Thus, they had no business contributing to a problem they were trying to avoid. Thanks to Remi reminding everbody of the reason Safe House was founded, the confrontational girl backed down, and the situation was diffused.

As soon as her shift as supervisor was over, Remi sought out the guy who flaked on Safe House duty: Arlo. As soon as she caught sight of him in the hallway, she walked up behind him and kicked him. She told him off for not being there to prevent the fight from breaking out. Arlo's apology for forgetting didn't sit well with her, and she made those feelings clear by saying that matters of importance never slipped his mind before. Arlo asked her if she wouldn't be better off striving to build herself up instead of wasting time on the club. Disconcerted by this query, Remi firmly replied with a no. She went on to add that if she enjoyed her club work, then it wasn't a waste of time. Arlo said this made sense on a technical level. It occured to Remi that this change in attitude came about just after the trip to the cafe. She asked Arlo if the words he spoke to her came from his aunt. He took offense to the insinuation, and insisted that he changed his mind of his own accord. He then turned the question around and asked why Remi seemed so dedcated to casting a negative light on Valerie. Remi thought to herself how Valerie might have killed Rei while under the guise of Volcan. Fearing that Arlo would have a worse reaction to a flimsy accusation against his family, Remi said that she wouldn't speak ill again. She said that she would get on finding a replacement supervisor for his block if he was serious about leaving. Arlo thought this was the ideal solution, and the dismayed Remi watched as he turned his back on her and walked away.

The next time she visited the guys at their dorm, Remi was "treated" to the sight of Blyke wailing in despair over his sorry circumstances. How was it that their vigilante activities only got attention when it wasn't wanted? Isen speculated that it had to do with the fact that the news had no interest in anything that didn't support their anti-vigilante stance, such as the high points Blyke claimed to have during his misadventures in Grasshill. Remi wondered to herself whether the media was being negatively influenced by the combined forces of EMBER and the Authorities. Blyke then mentioned that he forgot to fill them in on something he aqcuired from the criminals that night. He went to the closet and pulled out two vials. He explained that they contained Ability Amplifiers. According to "Ponytail", using them granted a 50% power boost for two hours. Isen remarked that he could become more powerful than Arlo if he used it, and then suggested that the drug might be even useful in dealing with John. Remi did not find the idea amusing, but Blyke was more fervent about it. He warned his friends that the amplifiers had severe side effects, and put them away. Remi certainly did not expect Blyke to have such an outburst over the matter.

Even more terrible things befell the Safe House. John and Zeke initiated a direct attack on Room 224 when the club was in session. It was halted thanks to the efforts of Blyke, Isen, and Headmaster Vaughn. But Blyke's violations of school regulations was found out thanks to him being found in possession of the amplifiers.

### Square One

Remi only learned of the incident well after it was over. She was next seen waiting outside Vaughn's office waiting for Blyke to emerge after expaining himself. When he walked out, she asked him how it went. He said that it better than he expected. The news that he could still help out with Safe House before facing his punishment was a great relief. Blyke told Remi that his greatest worry at the moment was that she would be mad at him going back on his promise to not do anything stupid by bringing the amplifier to school. Remi assured him that her greatest disappointment was in her own ignorance. She apologized for not taking the time to comprehend the scars of his defeats were more than just physical. Remi capped off their discussion by saying that Blyke had proven that his strength needed no amplifiers, which brought out a smile on his face.

People were still talking about John's attack the week after it happened. Remi listened as people made cutting remarks on how the unsafe the "Safe" House turned out to be. What's more, club membership dropped drastically as a result. When Remi arrived at Room 224 for her supervising shift, she stood outside the door and gazed somberly at the looseleaf sign for a while. With a heavy sigh, she stepped inside. Sure enough, the classroom was virtually lifeless. When the two who were there gave her a friendly wave, she put on a brave smile and returned the gesture. Seeing the club lose so much support made Remi die a little inside. But that changed when she turned her head and saw somebody who actually rejoined: Arlo, the last student she expected to see return. She approached him and asked why he was back. He claimed that he simply chose to spend his free time in the club, which she thanked him for. Her smile couldn't hide her pain from him, so he asked what was on her mind. They went outside, and Remi said that after everything that's happened, she felt that Arlo may have been right about her not thinking realistically. Arlo urged her to disregard his earlier sentiments. He said that something like this would not slow her down, especially since those loyal to Safe House still needed her. The appearance of this new, kind Arlo puzzled Remi. He finished by saying that for the sake of this struggling club, she should think less about who gave up and more on the vision she wanted to bring to life. Remi noticed that, like her, Arlo was advocating positive thinking while hiding a deep pain. She asked him to share whatever was weighing on his mind. To her shock, Arlo asked her if she had known about how the Authorities were dealing with individuals like Rei. She answered that she was painfully aware. Arlo apologized for turning a blind eye to her pain, and said the truth he recently learned would take some time to fully sink in. He urged her one last time to fight to keep Safe House alive. He promised to help her every step of the way.

Arlo's return gave many ex-members of Safe House confidence to rejoin. Remi was elated. She wanted to make the best of the situation by hosting some sort of outdoor event for their members, but wondered if she was getting ahead of herself. She met up with Arlo so he could weigh in on the idea. He was open to it, provided she got Keene's permission first. Remi was about to do just that when their path was blocked by John and Zeke, and the former's eyes were glowing. The sight of them made her unnerved and more than a little bitter. But Arlo moved her behind him to ask John what he wanted. Arlo's return to Safe House was once more rousing paranoia within John. But Arlo denied the insinuation of plotting to use the club as a means of dethroning John, and said that he had moved on. John demanded to know how Arlo could just move on after upending someone's life. Arlo replied that John's retribution left him with nothing, so he had to start fresh. Arlo also told John off for not owning up to his share of the damage he inflicted on his own life before he and Remi began to walk away. But John restrained Arlo with Conjure: Vines, proving he was still unwilling to simply agree to disagree. Arlo fruitlessly tried to reason with him.

John began his assault on the ensnared Arlo by firing large thorns at him. Arlo did not protect himself with a Barrier, lest it get copied. Remi knew that the only way they could win was to not fight back, and asked Arlo if he could free himself from the vines. No such luck, as John was simply too powerful. He urged her to leave him behind, but she refused. Despite her willngness to fight by his side, Remi was surprised was John preemptively aimed another barrage of thorns at her. She was cut despite her evasive manuvers. With freeing Arlo as her top priority, Remi activated her ability and rushed through a hail of thorns in order to zap John. Though she succeeded in her endeavor, her attack made John angrier and stronger. He aimed his fingers at Arlo and charged up a bolt of lightning. When Remi realized the danger, she stepped in the line of fire. She insisted to the concerned Arlo that she could ground the electricity, and called for a retreat. But John used vines to ensare her, leaving the two right back where they started. Arlo called for John to show her mercy, which he refused. The projectiles he was firing were now coursing with electricity, but Arlo stepped in and took the worst of it.

As they were preoccupied with that attack, John was already executing another from up above. He shouted that Arlo couldn't hide his Barrier forever, and rained down even more electric vines. Arlo proved him right by putting up a protective dome around himself and Remi. The reflective damage done made the vines holding Remi vanish. But John's true goal was achieved: he gained a fourth ability with which to devastate his targets. The two worked together to fend off high voltage and brute strength as best as they could. Desperate to stall, Remi tried reasoning again. She said that they didn't want to fight, which John still didn't believe was anything other than a feeble attempt to avoid an enemy that they used to push around. Remi insisted that their sympathy for the strife he and others suffered was sincere, as was their mission to make the school peaceful with Safe House. But even though she swore that she and her friends weren't his enemies, John kept up the attack. He just kept denouncing them as self-righteous, which Remi called out as the pot calling the kettle black. Straight to John's face, Remi said that he was the one exacerbating the cycle of abuse and preventing anybody from trying to stop it. John resorted to volume and force as his main agrument, and finally managed to shatter the Barrier with another barrage of electric vines. Arlo's pain was horrifying enough for Remi, but one look at John damning them signaled that the worst was yet to come. In one swift motion, John fired the coup de grace. But Remi and Arlo were behind John the instant the attack should have hit its mark. Confusion was abounds until somebody told John that she wanted to speak to him.

Remi was stunned to see that it was Seraphina, at full strength once more, who had saved them. John spoke barbed words to the Ace, who did not abide to his command to step aside so that he could grind Remi and Arlo into dust. When Seraphina instructed the two to get to safety, Remi's first instinct was to vow to fight by her side. Arlo stopped her before she could even make the offer, and told her that they could best help Seraphina by getting out of her way. Resigned to this logic, Remi did as she was asked. John tried to prevent them from escaping, but Seraphina took action to ensure they got away. When they reached the infirmary, Doc was busy treating other patients. When her turn came, she complimented Darren on his proficiency, and tried to get him to open up on why he wanted to become a nurse. The doc preferred to remain a closed book, which left her quite flummoxed. Vaughn and Keene then entered with Seraphina and John, both in bad shape after their fight. As Darren blew his top, Remi and Arlo stared rather coldly at John, who clearly lost the will to even argue.

That day, John was punished with a suspension. Shortly afterward, so was Blyke, and Darren's departure left Wellston without three familiar faces. Remi would find that the need for the infirmary remained constant. So when Darren's replacement took over, the members of Safe House escorted any injured students her way. One day, Alden's friend broke his leg during a fight, so Remi carried his books and had another club member help him to the infirmary. Upon arriving, Remi encountered John. She didn't give him too much of her time, and left without so much as welcoming him back.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 157
2. ↑ Chapter 160
3. ↑ Chapter 163
4. ↑ Chapter 164
5. ↑ Chapter 166
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chapter 176
7. ↑ Chapter 172
8. ↑ Chapter 178
9. ↑ Chapter 186
10. ↑ Chapter 187
11. ↑ Chapter 188
12. ↑ Chapter 191
13. ↑ Chapter 192
14. ↑ Chapter 199
15. ↑ Chapter 201
16. ↑ Chapter 202
17. ↑ Chapter 203
18. ↑ Chapter 204
19. ↑ Chapter 205
20. ↑ Chapter 206
21. ↑ Chapter 218
22. ↑ Chapter 219
23. ↑ Chapter 220
24. ↑ Chapter 221
25. ↑ Chapter 222
26. ↑ Chapter 223
27. ↑ Chapter 225
28. ↑ Chapter 234