Chapter 277

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> *Let's discuss our terms.*
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*- Orrin to the survivors.*

This is the 277th episode of *unORDINARY*.

## Synopsis

Seraphina and John are sleeping off an exhausting ordeal, to the relief of Leilah. She watches over them, with Darren at her side. He asks her for a word at this late hour.

Darren expresses his concern over two teenagers fighting against some evil mastermind. Leilah pointedly reminds him that they were nearly assassinated while minding their own business. Darren chafes that the fight chose them rather than the other way around. His hand is embraced by Leilah, who tells him that he's well within his rights to resume turning his back on her and the rest of Spectre. She would even work to cover his tracks so that he wouldn't be disturbed ever again. But Darren asks if John and Seraphina would spend the rest of their lives relying on a machine to fend off killers. He's told that it would be the case until another, more permanent solution is found. When asked how long that would take, Leilah admits that she doesn't see it happening soon. She swears to resolve it when the time does come, but Darren is not reassured.

Elsewhere, in an unmarked building, another late-night meeting commences. Three abductees with bags on their heads are forced on their knees. One of them is Rein, Queen of Agwin High School. She struggles to comprehend where she is and why she cannot activate her ability and free herself from some measly ropes. Next to her are two young men she doesn't recognize. And before the three is their host, Orrin. He begins to tell them why he had them brought here, and demonstrates that he knows that each of them went from being the strongest in their respective regions to powerless captives. The purple-haired fellow in the middle speaks out, uninterested in knowing the details of how they all got here. Ignoring the outburst, Orrin offers to give them all their power back in exchange for their assistance. The loudmouth refuses to compromise, and threatens to end Orrin if he doesn't restore his ability. After a moment's pause, Orrin tells the trio that he'll sportingly free them from the bonds they're in, and tells the present agent to untie them. Purple-hair can't believe that the guy freed them. Orrin resumes his proposition, but the angry one prefers to make Orrin pay for all his mistakes. He charges at him and prepares to strike. Nonchalantly, Orrin activates his ability.

The hothead's violent streak is instantly quelled when he drops to his knees, as though a will stronger than his own commanded him to do so. The other two captives don't understand what could have stopped him in his tracks, but the terrifying truth begins to dawn on the fallen fellow. Orrin tells him that he's got no patience for youngsters who think that having a bit of power over others enables them to tune him out. He then forces the other two to get on their feet, giving them a taste of true helplessness. They march towards their fellow captive and grab him. Rein restrains him while he's throttled by the red-haired abductee. Orrin watches contentedly as the three carry on, unable to help themselves. It ends only when the neck of the purple-haired young man snaps. He falls to the floor. The other two, now freed from Orrin's control, look in horror at the corpse their hands made. Having made his point, the executive resumes extending his offer.

With no one the wiser to his demise, the purple-haired Wellston University student is the subject of a missing persons report the following morning. The broadcast is heard on a car radio by the driver and his passenger: Arlo. The driver shudders at the news, hoping that the Authorities put a stop to EMBER before scared family become victims. Arlo knows that EMBER's preferred high-tier victims moonlight as superheroes, but verbally seconds the man's hopes for an end to the madness. But he didn't have time to worry too much about that today. The time to take his first steps into his future were drawing ever nearer.

Arlo soon reaches his destination: the Wellston Bureau of Authority. With his best suit on and his credentials under his arm, he climbs the steps and enters the building. After signing in and getting his guest pass, Arlo sits in the waiting area. Kassandra walks by and they greet each other as old friends. He tells her that he expects to walk out of there as an intern. Kassandra wishes him luck before returning to her business, though Arlo is sure he won't need any. He's then told by a woman that Dimitri is ready to speak with him now.

## Appearing Characters

* Seraphina
* John
* Darren
* Leilah
* Rein
* ***Melvin***
* ***Unnamed Captive***
* Agent 23
* Orrin
* Newscaster
* ***Cab Driver***
* Arlo
* ***Wellston Bureau Receptionist***
* Kassandra
* ***Green-Haired Authorities Employee***