-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Lewis watched Liam walk away for a little while and then turned and began walking the opposite direction, to a stairwell. "Things have changed here, Connor," He said aloud, repeating his earlier words to Liam. "I think superheroes aren't just for comic books anymore."

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

"So I've gathered," Connor said with a wry look, thinking that kind of went without saying. He glanced down at his hands, remembering how the desks had gone flying when he'd thrown up his hands. He'd thought it was from the earthquake, but it hadn't been big enough to throw desks into the air.

"I think I have an ability too," he said quietly, glancing up at his father then.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Lewis turned to look at Connor. "What makes you think so?" Come to think of it, though, he thought that he might have an ability of his own-- to make people understand his logic. It was almost eerie, yet so wonderful, how quickly people were beginning to agree with him.

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Connor looked thoughtful. "I think I can . . . move thing with my mind . . ." He hesitated before lifting a hand and concentrating on a toppled side table in the hall. He frowned slightly and closed his eyes envisioning the table lifting into the air, not knowing if it was working or not. But sure enough, the table lifted slowly off the ground and into the air. Connor opened his eyes to watch, straining as it was taking a lot of effort. Finally he let it go with a soft gasp, watching as it crashed back to the ground. He stared down at his hand again, turning it over in front of him, wondering how in the world he'd done that, trying to understand the physics of it. But nothing made sense! Except perhaps that the radiation from the supernova had triggered a neurological response, allowing him to access the part of his brain he'd been unable to access before.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Day 1
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

"Right. I can do that." Liam waved over his shoulder at Dr. Dreyman as he walked away, a new sense of purpose in his steps. The people of Erbaine needed his help... desperately.

He wound through the hallways of his school, which were mostly empty, until he came upon a cluster of students standing by the entrance. He studied them for a moment, then tapped one of the guys on the shoulder. Liam vaguely knew him from geometry class, and Paul was his name, if Liam remembered correctly. Paul was surrounded by a bunch of girls that Liam barely recognized but didn't really know. They looked worried and in need of help. And it appeared as if Liam was just in time.

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

As the table levitated into the air, Lewis' eyes grew wide. He could scarcely believe it, but even more so, he could scarcely believe his good fortune. His own son had an incredible physical power. Certainly, Liam had agreed to help him, and he had some sort of power, but Lewis did not know what it was, or how best to use it. This he knew, and this he had the ability to control, at least in part. How could he best use this, use Connor?

"Connor, that's amazing. I thought that there might be some strange effects of the radiation, but I never thought..." He broke off, thinking hard. "Do you feel sick? Most mutations can become harmful." He paused, thinking some more. "If not, though....Connor, this city needs help. The government is weak, more so now than ever. We have supplies and tools. We've got you. We can help this city."

Wait--a nagging voice in the back of Lewis' mind said--this is your son. You can't just exploit him. Well, Lewis told the voice, I won't exploit him. He's my son, and if he wants to help, he may do so. I won't force him.

The voice quieted, and Lewis thought in wonder that his convincing power even worked on his conscience.

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

"What?" Connor said, glancing up at his dad sharply. "You want to use me as some sort of poster boy?" He frowned slightly, wiping the sweat from his forehead, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe his hand off and then his neck and ears before stuffing it back in his pocket.

"You can't use me like that, Dad. I'm your son, remember?" He couldn't believe his dad was talking like this. What if this power terrified him? Did his dad ever think of that? He had to admit that it would be handy to use, but he didn't want his dad to ask for his help just for his power. He wanted his dad to ask for his help because he wanted him there by his side. Not just some ability.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Lewis was taken aback by Connor's outburst, but he could see what was bothering Connor if he took the time to look. "Connor, I would never use you as a poster boy." He looked at his son intensely. "I would never use you. I want your help because you're my son and you're smart and brave. Powers are a plus, but if you didn't have them I'd want you all the same."

He looked away, out the window to the city, dark in the daytime because the lights were gone. "You don't have to help me, Connor. I'm asking you; you can say no."

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Connor stared at his dad, realizing he was right. Of course his father would never use him like that. His father loved him. For some reason all the fight went out of him and he realized he agreed with his dad.

"I'll help you," he said then finally, following his gaze out the window. "People are going to panic. We'll need to keep the peace. And my power can help with that."

P.S."Brooklyn!"

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Something inside of Lewis relaxed when Connor agreed to help--he'd been afraid that his son would say no--but something else tightened up. Had Connor just said yes because Lewis had been using some sort of persuasive power on him? That wasn't fair, really, not to his own son. How, though, could he turn it off, especially if he was trying to convince someone? He didn't know. He swallowed the unpleasant feeling and decided that it didn't matter. His son would stand behind him; that was the important thing.

"I told that young man, Liam, to tell people that we have supplies at our house. That'll be a start." He nodded. "It was a good idea to stock all of that, Connor." He paused, thinking some more. "Next, we should talk to the people; I've got plans drawn up for how life could go on without electricity, and volunteers could help with that." He frowned for a moment, unpleasant thoughts coming into his mind. "So long as the government doesn't interfere."

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Connor nodded. "Well, by now I'm pretty sure the government have figured out we were right and will come crawling to us for help." He grinned a small, devilish grin. "We'll be more powerful than the government! Maybe you could even be nominated and win as President!"

A hungry gleam entered Connor's eyes at the thought of having so much power. Because of course as President his dad would change the law and make it so only heirs could become the next President. And then after his father died, he would become President. And would rule the world basically. That was a very intriguing and tempting notion.

P.S."Brooklyn!"

Day 2, Noon, Palisade National Park, Camp Watzmilion

Previously...“Jenny, thanks for being my friend. If Daddy can get the car going, we might go back home to Parksville. I’ll miss you when we go.”

"I know, it's been fun. But you know, we need to get to Parksville too. We don't live there, but it's on our way. Maybe if he does fix the car we could come with you that far."

While Jenny spoke, a thought occurred to Volt. "The car won't go because it's engine has been damaged. But what about the rest of it?" Volt knew next to nothing about cars, but he knew someone who did. He walked over in Dan's direction. His paw still hurt a little, but it seemed to be healing very well. "Maybe that's another power of mine?" But he brushed the thought aside as he reached Dan and Angie. "Excuse me Dan, mind if I ask a few questions?" If his guess was right...

-Day 1-
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine

Lewis gave a small smile. "Don't get too ambitious here. We've got to start with the people in our own town. It's all we can do, really, without electricity, or media...but it's a start." He took a deep breath and looked around the building, messy from the destructive waves. "We don't want to spread ourselves too thin, anyways."

He looked around and saw a stairwell leading to the ground floor. Funny, how he'd thought that somehow it would disappear along with everything else that was normal. "We should head home. That's where the people will be; that's where we can begin."

He began to walk to the stairwell, resolute and filled with conviction that even though everything had changed, it had changed for the better. He would make it so.

- Day 2 -
Judicia, Erbaine
Judicia Zoo

"I don't care what you say, Mr. Heeks! Now that the zoo is a total mess, we need as much funds as possible! If you don't get rid of our star penguin's mate and egg, I'll do it myself! Understand?"

Mr. Heeks, a zookeeper, slowly and sadly nodded his head. It was a miracle that none of the animals had escaped, but there was still a lot of damage. Zoo manager Ed Irons was enraged, because he wanted money for anything except to fix problems. So, he made some lazy excuse that Paxton would be their money-making hero, and yet that wouldn't be if he was taking care of his mate and soon-to-hatch child.

A few zookeepers headed out to the penguin exhibit. Pax, who had recovered from his earlier struggle, was sharing a fish with his mate Starlight, who sat on their egg. Although better from yesterday, he was still moving around awkwardly. Something wasn't exactly right with him, but everyone was too busy to notice.

"Quick, grab her!" Mr. Heeks and the other zookeepers carefully but quickly snatched Starlight and her egg from the nest. With a cage in tow, they placed them into it, locked it tight, and started taking her away. Pax blankly watched as the cage was placed into a van. "Sorry, Pax," Heeks sighed. "But Mr. Irons wants them out of here. Hopefully, you'll forget about this, right?"

But for the first time in his life, Paxton could remember. No one knew he could, and he wasn't smart enough to know it either. Starlight's kidnapping kept playing through his tiny mind, though, and he could still imagine her and the egg clearly. Squawking in misery, he curled up in his nest. Pax had, unknown to himself, gained his first emotion: sadness.

Day 1
Capitol University
Judicia, Erbaine
Previous post about the Byrne Family

Professor Ryan Byrne groaned. His head ached like it had never ached before, and he felt bewildered, sort of lost. What had just happened? What day was it? What was he doing in his office, lying on the floor by his desk?

Ryan staggered to his feet, and looked at his computer. It was off. In fact, all the power seemed to be off. What? was all he could think.

Suddenly his mind felt a wave of emotion, tossing and crashing and overwhelming him. He felt fear, confusion, and shock, but it wasn't his own. Panic, pain. What was all this? His own panic and fear began to rise, and the pain of ll these emotions seared his mind. He fell to the floor, helpless, clutching his head. HELP! his mind shouted.

Ryan moaned in pain, trying to block out the crowded emotions. Slowly he understood that these were the emotions of other people that he could feel. He feel a nearby man's elation and inner turmoil, and then a young man with the older man, surprise, then slight anger. A girl's embarrassment, a woman's anger, a student's confusion.

Then among all the various emotions he felt two presences, frantic and concerned, but familiar. Sean and Emma! They were coming for him, to make sure he was all right! And then he realized what had happened, and one word pulsed through his mind: Supernova.