Chapter 293

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> *We decided it's just best to tell each other what's going on.*
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*- Blyke*

This is the 293rd episode of *unORDINARY*.

## Synopsis

Late at night, there is much ongoing speculation within a certain dorm. Blyke looks at the sorry state of the pants he got back, wondering what sort of conflict could have left them so tattered. John lies in bed with the manuscript his father gave him during his visit, trying to figure out how in the world those two managed to snag their own copy of Unordinary. The only ones daring enough to keep one are vigilantes. It's an unbelievable notion, yet they certainly talk the talk...

The next morning, John wakes up. He comes across Blyke getting ready for school. Blyke tries to go about his business, but John stops him with a point-blank question: were he and his posse vigilantes? Blyke gives up trying to put one past him, and offers to tell John in exchange for some details about Spectre.

After school, Remi and Isen enter Blyke's dorm. Isen is irate that his friend not only looked inside the book, but actually got caught with it in her possession. Remi can't apologize enough. When they open the door to Blyke's room, they see John and Seraphina had already arrived. Now that everybody was here, business could commence. After Blyke tells his friends of the deal he worked out, he and John briefly argue about who should go first. Seraphina steps in and says that she and John wouldn't mind talking first. She tells of the ability recovery machine with which Spectre used to ensure the compliance of those they disabled. She then details of how they planned to steal it, and how John destroyed it when one of the leaders thwarted their scheme. Long story short, the duo were only half-recovered, and they need to replace a certain jacket they couldn't retrieve.

Isen points out that it would still take a beast to meet the both of them halfway. John says that their heist would have worked if not for the other side's ability converters. Remi asks what those are, and is told that it allows one to hold an extra ability (a purple claw, in their case). This was the key to solving the puzzle of how Valerie could use Barrier and still be Volcan! Remi informs everybody that EMBER has undoubtedly been making use of the same converter to grant their agents burning claws to cover their tracks. John immediately asks how the trio managed to find this out about EMBER when the Authorities haven't even released any reports on the terrorists. Seraphina realizes that John was still behind on recent events, but Blyke fills him in on how the media's deliberately been mum on how the Authorities worked in tandem with EMBER. Adding to John's shock was Isen describing how such drastic measures were taken because the vigilantes pissed off the government with their popularity throughout the weaker districts they cleaned up. First their death squads go after the big names, then they air their smear campaign to discredit the whole movement.

John still doesn't understand why the trio went through with their misadventure knowing the danger. Remi reveals that she was driven by the memory of her murdered brother, the vigilante X-Static. Blyke and Isen were helping her discover the truth about his death. As for the book, it belonged to the late hero. John numbly recalls Remi mentioning her brother before, and how he harshly mocked her faith in him as a former King. If he had known he had been spitting on the memory of the very X-Static whose heroism he praised...

As Seraphina looks on at her suddenly silent friend, Remi asks them not to rat them out for possessing the book. Seraphina replies that it would be very hypocritical of them to do so, seeing as how they've both read Unordinary before. The trio can't believe their ears, and Blyke asks how *they* managed to acquire it. John claims to have loaned Seraphina his own "purchased" copy of the book. Seraphina chooses to play along for now, and says that her suspension was the start of her punishment for being caught with it herself. There is still more in store for her, but it was put on hold because the Authorities wouldn't bother dealing with somebody powerless.

Blyke asks how long they'll maintain what little of their strength they recovered. John answers the effects will last for the rest of the week, at best. That isn't much time to find another means of recovery. Remi guesses that it would take Spectre more than one machine to keep high-tiers in line, but Seraphina doubts another is in their current reach, even if they knew where they were. Isen asks if they've got a connection with somebody who can help in that area. Seraphina shares a knowing look with John and says they know one guy.

At Wellston University, the exam scores are in. Kayden braces himself for the moment of truth. To his relief, he scored a 94. He takes a moment to appreciate the help he got from Darren. Kuyo congratulates him on earning the same score as him, and Kayden decides to celebrate the occasion with drinks after class. Kuyo would like nothing more than some time together with him, and offers to buy the first round.

## Appearing Characters

* Remi
* Blyke
* John
* Isen
* Seraphina
* Arlo (flashback)
* Kayden
* Kuyo