A.N. I am SO sorry for those past few sorry excuses for chapters, I'll take them down right away! SORRY! (R&R!) Btw, I realize how stupid and boring this chappie is, I just felt I needed to give you some additional background info!

Mortimer and Anne went off on a mission the next day, leaving Alexis to "train," her body and her mind, interesting facts about the other super powers, such as their alliances, and grudges. Some interesting facts that she learned during the 20 day time period between her arrival and their return from a mission, were that The New Ottoman Empire was dealing in genetically manipulating genes so that they were more likely to have a stronger talent. They were taking the byproduct of the adolescent's "fooling around", and changing them, giving them wings, or altering their skin, making it stronger. They had a theory that a certain kind of metal could be used as a catalyst, and attempted fusing all different kinds to their skin. They still had to wait for another few years before they'd see which worked, but if it did. . . They had initially gotten information from Brazil, but they'd backed out of the deal when they realized that TNOE was working with already conscious humans, and Venezuela only did fetuses. Also, the "oh so mysterious TNOE" hadn't even attempted to make treaties with the animals. Venezuela was leading the genetic engineering of animals to change them back to non sentient, non-verbal animals, not to drop their status, but to give carnivores something to eat other then milk. Venezuela had also brought up the rights of the now sentient animals at the USP, (they couldn't be eaten, that would be cannibalism), and had suggested that they make their own nations. The animals themselves had decided against that, saying that without talent, they'd be attacked and destroyed quickly, deciding instead to take solace in their home countries. They had formed clans, with clan leaders being generally the most intelligent, and put down any of them who even suggested a world takeover. They were, fairly decidedly, not a threat. China was, as always, an enigma, not telling anything, not letting anything past their force field. Japan was still attempting to batter down that shield, and hadn't let the bombing phase them, although they still didn't know who did it. They were attempting to make the moon a 'no man's land', an international trading zone, if the super power was willing to pay a hefty sum, roughly one billion USPTUs, or 'spitters' as they were commonly known as, United Super Power Trade Unit, roughly one trillion dollars of 2000 C.E. The British had rushed aid to Japan after the bombing, and was still working on the Atlantic Tunnel, connecting the Americas and Europe, now much quicker work with the help of telekinetics, moving the material in quickly, and pyros, keeping the area dry. The United States was working on keeping their citizens happy, and were training talents as quickly as possible, they had the best talent to normal ration, roughly 1:4. Russia was bent on destroying as many things as possible, specifically satellites (a.n. the moon is a satellite, as are the moons of mars and Jupiter, silly. I don't mean like TV satellites. . .) and meteors. The French were allies with everyone, and had spies in every super power except China and TNOE. They couldn't manage to get one into the Clans, but didn't think they needed to.

I hate essays. . . Alexis thought, Must finish before 3:00! Gah! She heard a blipping in her ear, and thought, please excuse my dear aunt Sally.

A voice said, directly into her head, "Passwords excepted. Take call?"

"Aye."

Another voice said, "Hey, Alexis?"

"Well, duh," she subvocalized. Hmm, that voice sounds familiar. . .

"It's Mort,"

Ahh!

"And me and Anne just got back from our mission dealie. She's going to TK you up in . . . now."

Suddenly, as it always is with teleportation, she was in the other room. She quickly thought, Ali baba and the prince of thieves, closed the line. "Hello, Ma- Mort, and Anne. How did it go?"

"A failure. Our cover was blown because some one noticed Mort's flinching in large crowds, and his screams at a public execution." Anne shook her head, and stated, as if scolding a naughty child, "Bad perceptive Russians, bad!" Anne smiled, and patted Mort on the back, reassuringly. "He blames himself for it, but he couldn't do anything about it. Too bad he can't turn off his power." She sighed, and quoted, "But if wishes were horses, the poor would ride." Max looked slightly depressed, and moody, an oddity for him.

"Aye. Don't be too hard on yourself Max, you didn't mean to." Alexis smiled widely, and added, "besides, there'll always be other missions. Did you report to Command Center yet? Did you sustain any injuries?" it was hard, but she managed to refrain from

"Yes, and no. Anne TKed us out of there before we could get hurt." Mort managed a small smile, and said, "Our real reason for talking to you, was that we'd like to know if you'd join us on our next mission?"

"Sounds great!" Alexis was ecstatic, "Really?! That would be perfectly wonderful!"

"We have to introduce you to our friends first, because if you don't like them, then I doubt you'll like us." Anne smiled, and began walking out the door.

"Wait!" Mort grabbed Anne's arm, and said quietly, "Jake too?"

"Yes, Jake too. She may be able to help him." Anne turned back towards the door, and walked out.

Mort continued to hang on to her arm, and said, very quickly, "Do we really have to show her? She didn't know him before, and it might be depressing. . ."

Anne turned around, again, and said, "If she's willing to try to help, I'm willing to give her a chance. I know you don't enjoy visiting him, because it depresses you, but she didn't know him. It won't be as hard for her as it is for you! Besides, imagine if she could help him!" she smiled, broadly, faltering only a little bit, as if reminded momentarily of an unhappy thought. She then turned on her heels, and headed along the corridor.

Mort hung his head, and followed her reluctantly. Alexis looked confused, and followed the two of them down the hallway.

"Where are we? And who's Jake?"

"Oh, sorry. We're in the Dorms, second floor, and Jake's a friend of ours. We all went to this kind of elitist, snobby school, and he was one of our friends. Unbeknownst to us, he worked with the government, he was ESP sensitive, before the incident. We didn't know, until afterwards, though. He had small powers in TP, and TK, like most talents, but after the incident, they blossomed into their full potential. He could've been the ruler of the world, but. . ." Anne took a right, went down a flight of steps, and took a left, by the sign that said, 'Medical Ward'.

"But. . ?" Alexis inquired. This is getting interesting!

Anne gestured sadly right in front of them, "Well, look at him now."