Eary turned around. At the top of the stairs was a guy in a white tank and blue jeans. The black beanie was all the identification Eary needed.

"Luke," Eary erupted, breaking from his group to run up the stairs to the young man.

At the last step, he launched himself forward. Luke opened his arms, catching the young man. The two held each other tightly. They were brothers. Eary felt it in his heart. He was sure Luke did, too. Luke questioned,

"Are you ok?" Eary replied through tears. "Yeah, My friends helped me."

Luke looked down at the two girls as they ascended the steps.

"Appreciated," Luke said, still holding on to the boy.

Alice smirked.

"No problem. I'm Alice. This is Mei, " she said, pointing to Mei. I'm Luke. I can't thank you enough," Luke stated as he finished consoling the boy. Sakile and I found a security room. It's not safe out here. We should all head back there and figure out our next steps out of this place."

Mote appeared on Luke's shoulder. "Hey, now we're talkin' here, a plan!"

Startled, Luke jumped." Oh, hey, Mote. Can I get you not to appear like that in the future?"

Mote snarked back." I'll try, but no promises, boss!"

Luke led the group through several corridors until they reached a small room. Luke knocked. A moment later, a boy Eary had not seen before opened up. He was very tall, at about 6'4. He had brown skin and dark brown eyes. Curly black hair extended above his head in wild waves. His attire suggested that of an athlete from some high school. He was garbed in green gear and dedicated to "The Eagles."

Luke greeted the young man. "Calvin! Hey, I got 'em." Luke said as he passed the boy with Eary and the others following suit.

Inside, Sakile was stationed at what looked like a security panel for the facility. Sakile greeted them,

"Hey, little guy! I'm glad to see you're ok!"

"Sakile, you're ok! That's wonderful!" Eary chimed back.

Sakile let out a belly laugh.

"I wouldn't worry about me, little man." Eary smiled happily.

A look of confusion flashed across Eary's face.

"So what happened to you two,; he asked. Luke answered,

"Remember my lock picks? I had 'em on me when they grabbed us. After waking up, I used them to get the bracelets off and out of our cells." Luke coolly explained.

"Yeah! And you were freakin' out, man. Ha-ha! We had to open every damn door lookin' for you, bro." Sakile said.

Eary lit up as he stared in admiration of his maybe brother.

"So you risked it all for your little brother?"

Alice and Mei together awed in adoration.

"Nope! Nope!" Luke corrected the two. "He's a kid I rescued earlier today. It was an accident. I just met him."

Eary gasped, "But I know you are! And you know you are, too. I can feel it!"

Alice looked over at Eary in bewilderment. "What the fuck are you talking about? You don't even know this guy?!" She stated harshly.

"It's fine. Really. Eary has a missing brother and is having a hard day." Luke said defensively.

"But Luke..." Eary whined.

"Buddy... I don't know what to tell you." Luke paused for a moment. "You probably don't want me for a brother anyway." He teased.

Eary sobbed quietly, then forced a hug on the man. Eary pleaded through his tears,

"Please just go get a D.N.A. test or fingerprints. Please!" Eary begged.

Luke looked at Sakile, giving Luke a disapproving head shake,

"Ok, Ok. Maybe I will look into it after this is all over. Alright?"

Eary nodded in compliance and happily wiped away his tears.

After the emotional exchange, the six weary youths took a seat. Sakile sat at the security station; a menagerie of display monitors and lit-up buttons illuminated the space behind him. Everyone huddled together around Sakile as he took an authoritarian approach.

"Alright, let's go around the room, introduce ourselves, and state our powers. Let's start with you, little guy." Sakile said, gesturing in Eary's direction.

Eary nodded in compliance.

"Well, I'm Earhart Olson. That's O.L.S.O.N Olson." He started looking at Luke.

The group had a laugh while Luke smiled and nodded. Eary continued,

"You can call me Eary for short. I'm from Toronto, Canada, where I live with my mom, dad, and twin brother Josh, although we're not identical." He hesitated for a moment. Given the circumstances, he had never talked about his powers with anyone before today except for Mote.

"My powers are force fields, healing, and a 'sometimes useful' white fire." He paused for a moment and considered his recent electrifying ability. "And just a bit ago, bolts of electricity."

Luke interrupted, "What? You got a new power?"

"Sure did! Right in time to save Mote, too!" Eary cheerily chimed back.

"What's Mote," Sakile asked.

Mote materialized and flew into the center of the room in a burst of blue light, making sure to draw attention. The little Moteling announced,

"That would be me."

Sakile and Calvin were noticeably shaken by the creature's sudden appearance. While Alice, Mei, and Luke smiled. From the corner of the room, Calvin inquired,

"What is that thing?"

Still hovering in the air, Mote replied, "Watch who ya call a 'that,' pal! I'm a Moteling."

"What's a Moteling?" Calvin, in astonishment, asked.

Mote shrugged as he quickly explained his past to everyone; Calvin continued,

"You don't remember?" Mote nodded somberly.

"It's true, I don't remember anything before that. I know there are others like me out there, but for now, it's just me and Eary." Mote said, flying to his companion's shoulder.

The two smiled at each other in deep respect until Mote cheerily stated,

"Eary's kinda like my sidekick."

Eary's jaw dropped as Mote continued,

"And I taught 'em everything he knows. My powers are little force fields and small healing sparkle showers." He grinned. "Thank you!" He then disappeared in a flash of blue light.

Eary called out, "Hey, you little jerk! Get back here!"

Luke chuckled at the spectacle.

"Hi everyone, I'm Luke Preston, from Detroit, Michigan. I live alone and run an auto body shop. My power is super speed." Luke stated with restraint.

Eary asked curiously. "So what about your past?"

Luke paused, causing Sakile to interrupt,

"We were in foster care together until we were thirteen. Then we just went to a friend's and never returned." Luke and Sakile started laughing.

"That's so sweet! It's like you're brothers." Mei said.

"The more the merrier, shoot," Sakile stated happily.

"I'm sure my parents will love you!" Eary reassured.

Sakile began to respond, but Luke broke the conversation by speaking over the chatter,

"Why don't you go next, Sakile."

"Alright. Hey all! I'm Sakile Johnson. And I'm the most badass mother fucka' around!"

Everyone started laughing.

"You wish!" Luke said jokingly over the laughing crowd.

As the revelry slowed, he continued,

"Nah, Nah, but seriously. I'm 20 years old. I grew up with my boy Luke there."  Sakile gestured towards Luke. I'm in college right now, going for my B.A. in computer science, and I work as a security guard for a mall. My girl Kali and I have been together since high school. My superpower is makin' energy swords!" Sakile stated in youthful enthusiasm as he pulled out a guard's baton he had collected during his escape.

"I charge it up like this..." The baton erupted in blue light. The very same is true of Eary's healing powers.

"...and blow shit up, I smack with it!" He said as he waved the baton around.

"Wow, it's like you're an enchanter," Mei commented with kooky enthusiasm.

"Well... Fuck! I never thought about it that way before. Yeah, I kinda am." Sakile replied as he looked at Mei. "So what's your story?"

"Oh, hi! My name is Mei, Mei Wong." She said coyly. "A little about me. I'm 16 years old, and when I was three, my family immigrated to the United States from China for a better life." She stated bluntly. "I am a professionally trained gymnast; I have been training for the Olympics since I was 6. I live with my family, my mother, father, and two sisters." Her voice began to tremble as thoughts of her family raced across her face, then she cleared her throat. "So, I'm not going to die here!" Mei said with strong resolve. "My power is that I can create and control fire. I can also use my power in gymnastics. I've been practicing that for the last two years." She stated passionately.

"Hey," Luke announced to the group. "So, how long has everyone had their powers?"

Sakile interrupted,

"Luke and I, for example, have had ours for about four years."

Alice spoke up, "Same."

The group erupted in unison. "

Yeah, me too."

"Yep!"

Alice commanded the group. "Ok!" She paused as the group looked in her direction. "So we know we've all had our powers for four years. But does anyone remember the exact date of their activation?" Alice asked.

Eary immediately responded, "I do! It was January 3rd, four years ago."

"Mine was August 12th." Mei recounted,

"March 1st, here." Luke raised his hand slightly.

"June 20th," Sakile added.

"I'm February 17th," Alice stated, pressing her hand to her chest.

"Hey, Mr. Quiet over there. You're named Calvin, right?" Alice quizzed the kid in green standing in the corner.

"Ah yeah, heh." Calvin shyly replied.

He stepped forward into the light.

"His height would dwarf even Ephraim!" Eary thought as he stood to his right.

"Hi, I'm Calvin Briggs. I'm 16 years old and activated May 7th." Calvin paused and stared at the group.

"What else can you tell us about yourself?" Mei said encouragingly.

"Well, I love playing hockey," Calvin gushed, "I live with my mom, and I control the wind." Calvin immediately stepped back.

"How about your dad?" Mei asked, concerned.

Calvin's expression dropped.

"Uh, well, there's not much to tell. He passed away. It's a sensitive subject." Calvin said dismissively.

"Ok. I'm sorry." Mei compassionately lamented.

"It's ok, really. Don't feel too sorry for me." Calvin said, smiling shyly at Mei.

Alice interrupted the moment. "So, what can you do with wind?" She asked breezily.

"I can make it blow really hard, even indoors. I guess that's it." Calvin shrugged.

"I'm not judging; I just want an accurate idea of what we can do. Knowing everyone's abilities would be super helpful in gettin' out of this place." Alice said.

Calvin perked up. "Ok, you're last then."

Alice smiled. "Naturally."

"Hey everyone, I'm Alice Pickering." She coolly stated. "I'm 18, but I've lived more than most 50-year-olds." She said, folding her arms, "I'm from Los Angeles."

"How is it you've lived so much?" Luke interrupted skeptically.

"I've been traveling around the world most of my life with my mother, Madeline Pickering. So I've found myself in a few jams before."

"Oh, your mother is that reporter. How does that prepare you?" Luke remarked condescendingly.

Alice glared back.

"I don't know, man. I've been taken to interviews with many dangerous people. My mother would leave my brother and me alone, surrounded by these people. Do you know the life skills you need to develop to navigate that crap?"

Eary burst into the argument, "It's true, Luke! Alice is the toughest of us three by far."

Luke studied Alice.

"I'm sorry. I also just wanna know who I'm dealing with." Luke lamented.

"Look, I get it," Alice stated, returning her attention to the group. "I have telekinesis and telepathy, and I'm great at both. Ok, so now that we know what we can do. We need a plan for getting out of here. More than just rushing in. There are a lot more soldiers up ahead."

Sakile added, "We know. There are too many of them. We've been that way; we need to go around." Sakile said bluntly, "I've been checking the security cameras, and I think I've found a path out."

He pointed at a series of monitors, each with very few soldiers on each.

"If we go this way, we shouldn't have to fight too many. And you can see the outside from this hanger door. That's our way out of this mess," Sakile instructed.

"That's awesome!" Mei squealed, clutching her hands in mock prayer.

"This could work!" Calvin added.

The whole group felt a sense of relief. All except Eary. Who had grown quiet over other concerns?

"There is something out there." He stated ominously amongst the sighs of relief.

"What'd ya mean, little guy?" Sakile inquired.

"Mote and I fought something before. It was some sort of creation made of parts." Eary admitted, "But the one I saw was humanoid; this one was far from it."

He took a deep breath; remembering the creature's body made him shudder as Eary continued detailing the account.

"It was made of many different human body parts and was highly resistant to our powers. We knocked it out but heard it getting up, so we ran."

Eary looked at Sakile with uneasiness and uncertainty.

Sakile nodded reassuringly. "This place is fucking crazy; there is no doubt about that. Since you have the healing powers and shields, I want you to stay in the middle of our formation. Alright?"

Eary nodded back. "Ok, Sakile. Thank you!" he said, a faint smile adorning his face.

After the plans were set, the group begrudgingly opened the door to the security room. Unsure of their futures, they bravely set out to regain their freedom.