Alan and Courtney Dressel’s attempt at a peaceful, romantic evening was destroyed by the return of Terahertz. Recognizing her from her last raid on the school, the couple attempted to stop her themselves- only to be bested by the young woman.
Meanwhile, Coach Crag was still fuming after finding out that a member of his faculty had been carrying on an affair with a student. In light of the revelation Elemenoh brought (and returning to what the administration had been considering), Jetstream was put on probation and Blur demoted from the New Vindicators- making him nothing more than another super-powered student at the school.
Jetstream refused to accept the probation he had offered, unable to cope with the embarrassment that came with having her tryst with Blur exposed. Without saying her good-byes, Jetstream packed her things and left the school- her younger sisters leaving with her.
Meanwhile, Terahertz appeared in the medical bay and encountered Silverback. She revealed her face to the doctor and the simian was surprised to find Oscillator staring back at him. Terahertz went on to explain that the two of them were fractions of a more powerful being that had been divided months before by the Wanderers (Michuru Bradshaw and Chienne Bedford). By reabsorbing the comatose Oscillator into her, she would have enough power to fulfill her master’s wishes and revive Apocatastasis. Still, Silverback attempted to fight her off and was defeated himself… failing ultimately to protect the helpless Oscillator.
Abaddon had not sent Terahertz alone however. Jason Thorn, Vernon Schwartz and Joel Thompson attacked the students- catching them off-guard but posing little of a threat for the combined power of the New Vindicators.
Hearing the sounds of battle, Coach Crag and Miss Mist announced their determination to never bury another student again and commanded all students to the Wreck Room. Rushing there themselves, they were the first to arrive, only to meet Terahertz there.
With Oscillator’s power added to her own, Terahertz was strong enough to stand up to the former Vindicators. She toyed with them cruelly before the New Vindicators arrived, leading a charge of students into the room. Miss Mist’s unconscious body fell into the hall as the doors opened and the students watched in horror as Terahertz hovered over Coach Crag’s lifeless body. Enraged by her actions, the students themselves charged her and were handled even more easily than their teachers. Their lives were spared, however, by new arrivals…
Lodestone struck at Terahertz with the entirety of the Wreck Room, leading Anomaly, Deimos and Portal into the battle. Of the students and faculty, Frostbite and Fathom were still on their feet and joined the other four in fighting Terahertz. Though they did not managed to defeat her, they drove her off, leaving them with a bittersweet victory.
At Coach Crag’s funeral, many familiar faces returned. Atlanta returned from San Francisco and was enthusiastically greeted by John Black. Caliber, Anomaly and Tripper came from Alcatraz Island, bringing over the captive Doctor Splash and Professor Incendiary to permit them to pay their respects as well. As Lodestone stepped out of the line meandering past the casket, he laid eyes on Michuru’s arrival… and Chienne Bedford’s presence at his side. Rushing to her, ready to erupt, Chienne cut him off with an apology and stilled his tongue.
Hikari arrived after the funeral, telling the New Vindicators that this was just a shadow reaching from the darkness to come. He extended his offer to any willing to go with him- announcing his intent to train the willing to be soldiers prepared to fight. Amongst the students, Gabrielle, Dipole, Suicide King, Bluetooth, Renewal and Wilt left the school to join Hikari’s Next Vindicators. From amongst the faculty, Frostbite and Fathom left as well.
Hourglass took a leave of absence, taking her mother away from the place that held so many memories of her deceased husband. Given Jetstream’s departure, the New Vindicators squadron now found themselves without advisors and given Miss Mist’s mourning her husband, the New Vindicators Academy was left without a headmaster…
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