AS A KID, you grew up with a very controlled life.

Reginald Hargreeves took you and seven other unplanned, extraordinary children under his wing because he knew you all possessed something special— a spontaneous gift. You underwent a multitude of tests to try to pinpoint what made you unique, but it turned out you were unique in a different, unconventional way.

You seemed to lack a special ability.

Everyone had specified training time and you rarely saw any of the other kids. Not that you remembered much from such a young age, but you would have appeared to be the most spoiled of the bunch because you needed to remain occupied.

Pogo sometimes watched over you, and then Grace when the robotic nanny was created. You had an array of toys that had accumulated from birthdays, but nothing seemed to interest you more than paper, markers, and crayons. Regardless, it was ensured that you were kept out of the way.

When you were about four years old, you began having time to spend with Viktor. You didn't think much of it, merely excited to have someone to hang around with that wasn't during the quiet confines of mealtime. You considered him a lifelong friend; you barely had any childhood memories without him.

You remember being told that the two of you were alike; you were both powerless.

You grew up with as normal a life as you could at the Academy, unlike the others, who worked with their unnatural skills. Hargreeves gave you a profound education and that's what you centered your time on. You were able to talk with Viktor during your allotted leisure time, too, and you soon came to the realization that you only had each other.

No matter how hard you tried to get close to the others, they only looked down on you. Wouldn't spare you a second of their time. They took after Hargreeves in that way.

That was how you lived your life as the years continued on. You could only catch snippets of the others' bustling lives, but you knew that each of them had their own personal struggles and values. From what you could gather, though, the one thing you had in common was a secret rebellion against your father. After all, you were still only kids.

As you grew —together, yet separated— there was no doubt that that would eventually connect you all.