Kellen was far more relaxed now that he wasn’t the one who had to get any tests done. He let the others step into his seat, sitting back against the wall where Hill had remained the whole time.

Hill gave him a smile, and then offered him a lollipop. Kellen took it gratefully, Rhys settling down on one side of Kellen, his Dad taking his other side.

Kellen’s Mom was making sure that Jules and Charlie were set up to do their test, Taylor slipping back to the observation area while she left it in Kellen’s Mom’s capable hands.

Soon, Charlie was grinning ear from ear, excited to try the test out for himself.

"Do you think I have Esper powers too?" He asked and everyone relaxed. It was hard to be tense around someone as joyous as Charlie. He was too infectious, in a good way. Jules smiled at him, their expression soft in a kind way.

"Well, we’ll find out, won’t we?" They suggested and Charlie nodded. Kellen’s Mom made sure both of them were ready before Taylor started the countdown. Kellen sat, lollipop in mouth, Rhys’ arm around his shoulders as the two went through the guiding session.

It didn’t appear to go well. At least, not on Charlie’s side. Tragically, it was found out that Charlie did not have any Esper powers. He was a solid S Class Guide. Charlie looked pretty upset about it, not even the offered lollipop from Hill able to brighten his mood. There was a strange positive that came out of it.

Charlie and Jules had a rather high compatibility score. Not the same as Rhys and Kellen since theirs was out of the norm, but still high for the average. It was about 65%, and Jules seemed very surprised by that.

Charlie was in no state of mind to process that he had such a high match, and he hadn’t been raised as a traditional Guide. He had no idea that was a good score, or even what compatibility scores were. He was just upset that he wasn’t like Kellen.

Hill, who had thus far just been an observer and lollipop hander outer, offered to tag out with Charlie so that Jules could properly test their powers. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Jules agreed to the switch even if it was obvious to Kellen that they wanted either Kellen or Rhys. They kept stealing glances at the couple, their eyes big and pleading, but Kellen wasn’t moving. Tragically for them, Rhys was well taken care of by Kellen, and Kellen was not about to undress again to do another test. His hand was still shaking from the multiple tests he’d gone through. He thought he was holding up remarkably well given everything.

So, Hill it was.

Charlie came and sat in Hill’s spot, deflated. Kellen tried to comfort him, saying it was very important that he was a Guide and that there was nothing wrong with being just a Guide, but it didn’t seem to be comforting to him.

He clearly wanted to be just like Kellen and was having a hard time dealing with the fact that he wasn’t. Kellen also knew that he wasn’t in the right headspace to be able to support him in his feelings since he had to process his own, so he suggested that Rhys and Kellen shift over a spot. That way Kellen’s parents could swap with them and support the younger Guide.

Charlie looked like that was the last thing he wanted, but as soon as Kellen’s parents began to tend to the younger man, he relaxed. All of this happened while Hill and Jules faced off against each other in another test and this time the test did work.

Jules powers hadn’t changed that much, growing slightly, which was still an interesting thing to observe. It appeared that others could also grow their powers and Taylor explained that it probably had to do with the fact that Jules was constantly guiding Jax, a far less stable Esper that needed the powers of a good Guide.

Jules was just making sure that they matched their energy, while also taking care of themselves.

Kellen, even if he was a little bitter, was still fascinated by Jules. The fact that Rhys had been so cool about Kellen’s powers changing was because he already knew someone who was different and unique. It was fascinating to Kellen that both Rhys and Kellen had found someone who was different from the norm and had brought them somewhere safe.

In Rhys’ case, it was Jules. In Kellen’s, it was Carlos. Two very different people, but also two people who made it clear that powers kept evolving and changing. Now Kellen was also involved in that mix and he wasn’t sure if he was excited about all of the new research that would come from this, or afraid of what that meant for the world.

Why did their powers need to mutate again?

Kellen was fairly certain that Rhys was rubbing off on him. His skepticism at the very least was doing so.

The group was looking over the charts, all of them and comparing and contrasting them when a frantic knocking sounded on the door to the room. Taylor, who was busy chatting to Kellen’s Dad about the lines of Kellen’s and Jules charts, turned, puzzled.

The person on the other side only waited a second before flinging the door open, their chest rising and falling. They had clearly been running, and they didn’t even seem to notice the others in the room. That, or they knew who would be in here, and didn’t think it was important to keep this from them.

"He’s woken up." They declared. Kellen had no idea what they were talking about, but it took Taylor all of two seconds to realise what they were saying. Taylor gasped, hand flying to her mouth before she began to move across the floor.

"They did? Just him?" Taylor confirmed and the researcher gave a slightly hysterical smile.

"It seems like a few others are stirring too, but he’s awake. He hasn’t spoken yet, but the brain scans are showing good signs. His eyes are confused, but clear." Kellen’s Dad was the one who gasped, hand flying to his mouth.

"A-Are you talking about the poisoned members?" He asked and Kellen felt his heart freeze. Someone had woken up?

Kellen jerked his gaze towards the researcher or medical attendant and watched as they nodded. They just looked so happy that Kellen’s heart squeezed.

"Go." Kellen told Taylor, encouraging her. Kellen then glanced at Hill and Rhys. "All of you. Go!" Kellen ordered and Taylor didn’t need more prompting. She raced off, but Hill and Rhys hesitated.

"You could come." Rhys told him and Kellen shook his head. If it was who he thought it was, it was an Esper he hadn’t had as many interactions with. They would feel better if their leaders were there with them. If it was any of the Guides waking up, they would have looked at Kellen more.

He just knew.

"You deserve to have the first little bit with them. If more of them wake up, just text me or my Dad. We’ll stay here, let you guys have some time with them, and go over the charts." Kellen told him. Rhys looked conflicted for a minute, but Kellen wouldn’t let him.

Kellen pulled him close, kissing him to the surprise of Rhys, while Kellen stared at him lovingly.

"Go, Rhys. Be there when your people need you." Rhys swallowed thickly at Kellen’s words, before he nodded. He stole another kiss, a grin on his lips now that he could do that, before he left with Hill. Neither of them needed directions. Kellen was sure everyone in the room outside of Jules knew exactly where each member of the group who had been sucked into the gate were resting.

Kellen’s parents were holding onto each other silently. Kellen, when he glanced at them, could see the longing in their gaze. It was clear that they wanted that to be Gwen. Kellen knew it, hell, even Charlie knew it.

However, Kellen knew that the poison that was affecting Gwen was harsher, and meaner than the poison that had taken everyone else out. Gwen would be the last one to wake up, but Kellen hoped that it wasn’t by much. A few weeks or less would be ideal.

He knew that if she had been awake during this transition he probably would have more love and light as well as humour in the whole situation. He didn’t want her to be asleep for much longer either.

In fact, he knew that she would be pissed that Kellen went overseas without her. Another thing that her big brother had done without her. Kellen felt a small, bitter smile cross his lips before he turned his back on that thought.

He turned his attention back to the charts before them, Charlie and Jules glancing at him, and then his parents.

"Let’s keep looking." Kellen said softly. "They’ll let us know if anything unusual happens." He said, sliding his gaze to the two who had helped them as well. He gave them a nod, giving them permission to join the rest. They would need their eyes to gather as much information as they could. Especially if they worked at the Center.

They probably saw a lot of charts in their day to day life. They might see some discrepancies in the charts, even if they didn’t often see S Class charts.

Kellen only allowed himself one deep breath to center himself, before he got back to work. The excitement upon hearing that someone had woken up, and that others were following was euphoric, but he had other things to focus on as well. His body’s changes were important, just as important as those who were waking up.

He could see them later.

Jules was a surprising comfort in the moment. With Kellen’s parents lost in their own thoughts for a moment, and Charlie being rather inexperienced but enthusiastic, Kellen found that it was Jules’ insights that proved to be the most interesting.

Jules noticed that Kellen and Jules had the reverse situation. They were an S Class Esper, and Kellen was an S Class Guide. Kellen wasn’t sure why that was so important until Jules pointed out that both of their secondary abilities continued to grow. They were both able to be measured and were consistently growing. In fact, Jules was on the cusp of becoming an A Class Guide.

Kellen did find that interesting and wondered, out loud, if that had to do with the fact that they both put themselves in harm’s way and thus had to continue to grow.

Jules thought it was an interesting theory, and since they had been reading up on what was going on in the Guild, suggested that before they send out the next round of Field Guides to the front lines that they have them measured by the machine. Check to see if there were any changes, along with any Guides who were going in a normal capacity.

Kellen thought it was a rather intriguing idea, since most Guides and Espers didn’t get retested. They agreed to bring it up to Rhys once the seriousness of the moment had passed. Kellen also knew that his Field Guides would be excited to test this theory out. Most of them were C and B Class.

They would be delighted if they were going on up in Class, just like Kellen had been.