Q-Tip(KOTLC) {Completed}

8

The girls all woke up at the same time and Janessa went to her own room to change, before joining the group at the gazebo for breakfast, walking in on Keefe, with uncharacteristically flat, unsettled hair, yelling at Mr Forkle after he had dismissed his idea of going to Gethen.

"No. Aren't you guys sick of being treated like their little puppets? Go here. Read this. Wait for this. Eat this." Keefe whacked his bowl, knocking it off the table.

"I know you're upset—" Della began.

"No, I'm just tired of being ignored. This is a good plan. Dex and Fitz agreed." Keefe interrupted, causing both boys to shift in their seats.

"It does seem like it might work." Fitz said.

"I've only heard the last part of this conversation, but this seems like a good enough plan to me. It would probably work." Janessa said.

"I never said it wouldn't." Mr Forkle stood and placed his hand on Keefe's shoulder. "But we've been over this with your plans about Exillium. Just because a plan might work does not make it worth the risk. I understand your desire to bring something positive from everything that's happened. One should never rely on their enemies to give them hope."

"I don't care about my mom—"

"Yes you do. As you should. And, I wouldn't count your mother out yet, though I cannot base this on evidence."

Keefe snorted. "You say that like it's a good thing. Yay—she's alive so she can keep being evil!"

"Evil is better than dead, Mr Sencen. Evil can change. Though neither is in your power."

"Nothing's in my power— that's the problem."

Mr Forkle reassured Keefe of his importance to the Black Swan, but Keefe only replied "Whatever" and returned to the boys' house.

Sophie rose to follow, but Mr Forkle stopped her, telling her give him space.

Janessa spent the day working with Dex, knowing Sophie, Biana, and Fitz had to work on their own abilities, which she couldn't help them with, having him teach her some technology basics, like the properties of different metals as wires and how the most basic Elvin technology worked.

"You know, surprisingly, this reminds a lot of the human chemistry and physics I learned before I came here, except this is a lot more complicated, and also more accurate. So, you just naturally know and understand this? That's so awesome!" Janessa commented.

"It's not that cool, Nessie. Not like any other ability." He mumbled.

Janessa gaped at him. "First of all, Technopathy is the coolest ability! Sure, you don't control fire, or read minds, but you're in complete control and you're not violating anyone's privacy. Your ability won't take control of you and you get to make incredible things that no one else understands. Second of all, Nessie?"

Dex blushed. "Sorry, it just came out, I guess."

"No, I like it. Nessie's what my brother used to call me." Janessa grinned sadly at him. "Now, how does this work?" Janessa asked, scooting closer.

Dex proceeded to explain every element of the registry pendant, including how the balefire's refraction through the crystal and reflection off the silver hoop created a certain signal that was distinct for every pendant.

"You know, I often forget how much the Lost Cities used to rely on my ability." Janessa pondered over the balefire.

"Nothing's all bad, some things are just different and hard to control, so that scares people." Dex said.

"It scares me." Janessa confessed.

"You shouldn't be scared of your ability. Just do what you can to make the world a better place, whether that uses your ability or not." Dex replied.

Janessa hugged him, not noticing his bright blush. "Thanks, Dex. I'm really glad you're one of my friends."

Dex later moved on to explaining how everything let off a distinct type of energy which could be manipulated depending on its form and the materials around it. Janessa eagerly devoured the information, making connections with other inventions she'd seen before. Dex beamed at the attention, more than a little flustered, and by the end of the day, without having realized how much time had passed, Janessa was able to recreate some simple inventions.

When they went to dinner to meet the others, they noticed that Keefe wasn't there. Though Janessa was no Empath, she could see Sophie was itching to go find him and talk to him.

Janessa dragged Sophie and Biana away before Sophie could verbally attack Keefe, and plopped them down on her bed.

"How was training for you guys today?" Janessa asked the two girls.

"It was good! I can hold my vanishing for a whole minute longer now!" Biana replied excitedly.

Sophie shrugged. "It was fine."

"How was working with Dex?" Biana asked teasingly. "You were with him all day, you know."

Janessa rolled her eyes. "It was really interesting. I learned something I didn't know about my ability, which was really inspiring. Dex helped me realize it."

Sophie furrowed her brows. "What is your ability? I just realized I don't know that."

Janessa froze, realizing her mistake. "I'm t-talentless."

"But you just said you had one." Biana wondered confusedly.

"I meant about my talentless-ness." Janessa sighed after a moment, not wanting to lie. "Please don't hate me."

"What?" The two other girls asked.

"Just promise you won't hate me right away." Janessa pleaded.

"Fine, I guess." They answered.

Janessa took a deep breath. "I'm a pyrokinetic."

"Oh." Biana said in a small voice.

Janessa heard Sophie take a deep breath then say "You don't get to choose your ability. This... doesn't change anything."

"Really? Keefe and Dex freaked out a little when I first told them, but came around after a moment. I hate my ability, especially because there's no one to teach me how to control it so I don't accidentally hurt anyone. I'm always scared if I get too angry, I'll do something I regret." Janessa's eyes were wide and shiny with unshed tears.

Biana and Sophie both wrapped an arm around Janessa and she hugged them back gladly. "I'm really glad I chose to stay when I heard you were coming."

"Well, I'm glad you like us, because we're not going anywhere." Biana teased.