Saint Joseph School

*After calling Sam and Bryan. Mana asked them both to meet him in a small part of Atlas Park to talk about the way hes been acting recently*

"Hey Sam Hello Bryan" He sits down after greeting them they do the same.
"Hey Mana C! Whats shaking?" Sam notics the mood felt from Mana and tries to lighten it a bit but it didnt work.
"Hello Mana. Good seeing you out and about. Your lillies are doing fine and still alive how are your other plants coming along?" Bryan sits next to Sam and leans against a tree
"They are dead" He says it in such a grave tone they both look at each other and back at him
"What? Why? What happened?" Sam asks
"I..I killed them..." He looks ashamed but who can really tell with someone with no real face?
"What? Why did you do that!?" they both said together "You love your plants! How could you do that?"
"I dont know! I just woke up one night from my recharge cycle and I saw them in my hands crushed" He stutters out"
"Wow are you okay?" Bryan askes but both him and Sam already know something is very wrong

"It all started at the Snowball Dance when joni showed up looking amazing and graceful as always. I was awe struck and couldnt speak. A few days later I heard she froze the guy at Icon's and almost got expelled. The I wanted to ask her out again waited for 2 days and 3 nights for her to show in OverBrook. After I finaly got to see I powered completely down no battery life at all I even had to update me internal clock and stuff. That was so embarassing... Then Joni and You came to see me as I was just coming out of the Hospital. I though I would get to finish the talk I had...droped from earlier. I was so wrong...."
He takes a pause to let them think this over and starts again.

"After telling me to leave her alone and that she wasnt worth the risk to my health I ran off and for lack of a better term shorted out. Since I powered down somethings been wrong with me....I cant figured it out. Im angry and hurt I know that but it shouldnt have had any major effects. Plug in and recharge and Im good as new right?"

"I dont know...I feel like hurting things....people..even Joe and Joni...Im scared...
I talked to Father and Zachary and Question Mark? to have a look over me and they both say I am functioning as normal but still..."

"I think something happened when I shut down...I think..my Crey programming was released....I-I dont want to hurt anyone....maybe I should just relax and stay away from everyone for a while..."

"You cant do that Mana you need to tell someone about this." Sam begins but Mana cuts her off "and say what!? Hey my Crey kill-all-heroes Programming is back but Im fine dont worry if somone disapperes suddenly I was just me"

Sam looked mildly hurt and Bryans mouth was open
"Oh god Sam Im sorry I didnt mean to snap at you...."
"Please...dont tell anyone...Expecaly Joni..." He hands Sam a small box with holes in it "Joes in there sleeping. I cant trust myself to hold on to him now I might do something horrible....." he left the sentence unfinished as they all knew what could happen.

"I need both of you to promise me something here and now." His tone serious and full of fear "If anything happens and I stop being me and start hurting people I need you to swear to me you WILL stop me no matter what."

"Wait do you mean..." Bryan started staring from Sam to Mana again

Looking them on the eyes he says "Yes. If I revert back to the Crey programming I want both of you to kill me.''

Bryan was appalled to hear his friend ask him to “kill” him…

“Mana, listen I think you need help.” He said sadly, “If something happens I promise to do everything I can to stop you but I won’t destroy you. Please, let’s get you feeling better, so we can get you through this.”

Bryan looked to Sam; he was visibly distressed; He tuned back to the android, “Don’t worry about the lilies, I’ll take care of them better than I do myself.” He chuckled nervously.

Later, after they had finished their conversation and Mana had left, presumably to be with his thoughts (but who could be sure now). Bryan asked Sammy what had happened between Joni and Mana. He had spoken with Mana about it before, but after hearing Samantha’s tale, he realized that Mana’s version had been decidedly different.

Bryan turned to Samantha, becoming very serious. “Well first thing’s first, you have to tell Joni what he said. I think too it may be time to let the nuns know what’s going on.” He looked around, making sure that Mana really had gone. “This is serious and I can’t have someone getting hurt when we could have stopped it. Besides, if Mana did hurt someone; he’d never be able to live with himself again.”

Bryan began to hover above Sam, still with a very serious demeanor. “You have to realize now Sammy, he has told the two of us what’s wrong, so in all likelihood, if he does go back to the Crey programming; He will probably come after us first.”

After wandering for what seemed like minutes was actually hours and was in fact more then a day. "why? What did I do wrong? Was there something buried in my sub-systems? I dont understand Ive run every program I have and I cant find it..."
"Warning Power Low Warning Power Low"

"Slag I guess I had better get back to the quad..." He lifts off and begins the flight home

~l~

1:13 am: Unit Mana Cannon Online
Function: Hero Combat and Termination
Target: Joni Jacobs aka Cryogene
Primary Powers: Ice control
Secondary Powers: Weather control
Other Powers: Meta-human leaping capabilities
Proceed with caution

15 minuts later as Joni lay sleeping in her bed a small noise is heard and she finds herself outside her room still in her PJs "hrm wha?" is all she can get out before she sees the outline of Mana
"Mana whats going on? What are doing?"

"Target confirmed: Joni Jacobs Code name: Cryogene. Target termination: Begining..."

"Mana! wait what!? NO!" Climbing up from ground she barely stands ready to fight. "is this because I told to stop trying to impress me??" she thinks? "No somethings wrong he doesnt sound normal"

"Target sighted: Attacking." Raising both arms he beings to unlease volly upon volly of energy in her direction. "N-no..Stop...J-Joni..r-r-RUN!!"

"WHAT? Why is he telling me to run if hes trying to kill me? Whats going on here?" She thinks Trying only to freez him in some ice or at least slow him down she is struck by a beam" "OW" She cries "wow I didnt think that would hurt that much" Trying to think clearly in her sleepy state and dodge Mana's beam attacks with her limbs stiff from being torn from her heated bed chamber she manages to freez one of his feet "alright got him now to try and run and get help"

Much to her surprize he stops firing at her,aims down and fires at his own leg with just enough force to break the ice
"Oh crud...not good"
"J-Joni...I c-cant s-stop...please.......run..." He sounds like hes fighting and crying all at once
"Whats wrong? Why are you doing this Mana?" She stands straight for a moment to truely confirm it is indeed Mana

"Its the Crey Programming...I told Sam and Bryan but I didnt want them to tell you. I-Im trying to hold it off.....god Joni...run...please...I cant hold it much longer....please...hurry..." Theres a loud crackel and suddenly Mana stops shaking and says :Unit Override Begin Capture of Target Cryogen."
With that He throws a small round object right at her and it explodes into a cloud of gas
She doesnt notic anything at first but begins to get slugish "Oh no...sleeeeep gaaass...." she mumbles before passing out. Wraping her in heating pads stored inside his legs he stands with her thrown over his shoulder

"Target Capture: Confirmed. New Target: Bryan Baxter Aka: Gravwarp"

It was getting late and Bryan had started worrying about Joni and Sammy. He hadn’t seen either of them out on patrol tonight, normally he wouldn’t have thought twice about it but after what Mana had said…

“I just have to speak with Detective Fish quick and I can head in to check on Mana.” He thought to himself as flew over Brickstown. A familiar chirp sounded in the boy’s ear, one of his friends had turned on their comm. Bryan looked at the small display, it showed that Mana was currently in the same part of the city.

Bryan punched in his communicator number and began to speak to his friend. “Hey Mana, how’s it going buddy?” The response was silence disrupted by only a few seconds of static. “You there, Mana?” Again, no response.

Wait… he did hear something. A voice in the static… Bryan turned up the volume on his unit and listened closely.

“Brrr.. yannn… beeee… hinnnddd… youuuu.” A warning. It was Mana!

Bryan turned in time to see the brilliant bolt of energy slam directly into his chest. The blast took a lot out of him, but he could still fight. Bryan looked again at his attacker, he knew immediately who it was. Mana Cannon.

Gravwarp created a Singularity between himself and the android. It would buy him some time to think. Mana focused his next shot at the distortion. It was all Bryan needed to react. He focused for a moment and dramatically increased the gravity affecting the android. It was just enough to overcome his friend’s flight jets.

Mana began plummeting to the ground, but as Bryan gazed on, he saw another form falling too. “He had already captured one of the girls!” his mind screamed as he pushed himself through the air, willing the falling body to be lighter. With only yards to spare, he caught the limp form. It was Joni; still in her bed clothes but she was out cold, still alive but not responsive.

Bryan set the girl down upon the cold pavement, Joni’s eyes opened slightly as she felt the ground beneath her cool from her touch. “Mana..” she sighed. Bryan looked at her, “He’s dealing with my Singularity at the moment. We need to get you out of her Joni. We’re going to need help.” Bryan bent down to his communicator and activated Samantha’s code. She wasn’t responding but he left it on, if this went badly she would be able to find him.

“Mana…” Joni said again but as Bryan looked to her to comfort her, he saw a look of abject horror in her eyes. He turned and saw his friend standing a few feet from him, aiming his blaster at the young man’s head.

“Don’t do it, Mana.” Bryan said with frightening calmness and patience.

“I… I’mm… sorry…”

The blast hit Bryan dead center and he was sent sprawling across the busy street. From the haze that slipped over him before unconsciousness set in he heard one thing from the monster his friend had become.

"Target Capture: Confirmed. New Target: Samantha Douglas Aka: Blitzen"

On his belt, the communicator still silently rang...

“I hate caves.” Sam reminded Jase as she flopped down on the grass outside of what had moments ago been a Thorns hide out. The device was destroyed, and Paragon’s finest would be there soon to mop up any residuals.

“I hate Thorns.” He reminded her with a smile.

“Then it’s agreed.“ She said with a smile of her own. “Dante should write a sequel about…“ Before she had the chance to finish, her com started beeping. That was one of the many reasons she hated caves, half the time the com would cut out seeing as reception was pretty poor once you were a few layers deep in the ground.

The code red let her know it was an emergency from Bryan, so she cued his channel quickly, and leaned over to speak into the mic.

“Hey B, what’s with the red, big guy?” She gave him a few seconds to respond, picking herself back up off the grass, Jason giving her a concerned look as well. “Bryan, you there?” The request was met again with silence, not even the tell-tale sound of static meaning reception was disrupted. “He’s not answering.” She said, her eyes not hiding the worry she felt. Jason slid an arm around her shoulder reassuringly as she grabbed the GPS device from her backpack and entered Bryan’s code. “Bricks.” She said to Jason, who nodded in response. She keyed the mic again. “On my way, buddy- you sit tight.” As the pair headed towards the signal, she couldn’t help but hope it wasn’t Mana related.

“You have to realize now Sammy, he has told the two of us what’s wrong, so in all likelihood, if he does go back to the Crey programming; He will probably come after us first.”

Bryan’s words played out in her head as She and Jason headed towards his signal. She’d warned Joni that her best bet was to avoid Mana all together. She skipped the part about the plants, no need to make Jo any more nervous than she’d already be. “Mana’s going through a bunch of stuff upstairs in his head, and he’s just not acting himself. So just watch around him, all right?” Joni looked a little worried at the thought, so she’d assured her: “His feelings are hurt. People say goofy things when their feelings get hurt.”

“But Sam? Mana isn’t people.” Joni reminded her.

She and Jase touched down right near Bryan’s location and she spotted the boy right away. He was in a crumpled heap on the ground, lying close to the unconscious form of her roommate Joni. She carefully rolled Bryan on his back, and winced at the sight, his normally cheery face was bruised, burned and gashed, his glasses nowhere in sight. “Hold tight, B.” She whispered. “We’ll get you help, big guy.”

“She’s out, but breathing, how‘s he?” Jason asked, drawing in a breath as he saw Bryan and answered his own question. “Mana?” He followed up with. Sam shrugged, unsure but silently hoping it wasn’t.

They barely heard the electronic voice in the distance, answering their concerns.

“"Target confirmed: Samantha Douglas Code name: Blitzen. Target termination: Beginning..."

"This is puttin‘ a major damper on my day…" Sam muttered as she turned to fight, adding a louder: “You don’t want to do this, Bud.”

"Target sighted: Attacking." Raising his right arm, he found his target and braced himself, seemingly struggling to keep from firing. "Sam! …"Mana spit out, sounding like a talking toy who’s batteries had gone low. “Just… run!”

The blast hit harder than she expected, square in the midsection, knocking the girl backwards a few feet landing hard on her tail, but, she rationalized, that was the best he had, meaning the worst was over. Jason retaliated immediately with a sonic blast of his own, she could see him hovering protectively by their friends, with a determined look on his face. Mana raised both his hands in Jase’s direction, unleashing a volley of energy bursts towards the teen star, giving Sam the opportunity she needed to get close range. She stayed low and charged.

“Hey, behind you!” She taunted, punching his metallic shell in the back to get him to turn away from Jason, Bryan and Joni. The tall bot turned on her once again, raising his cannons.

“Target Acquired. Sam… I … don’t… want… to hurt you.” Mana struggled to say. A slight smirk crossed Sam’s face as adrenaline did it’s thing, her particles fusing up instantly as she stomped her left foot into the ground and raised her eyebrows. I'm a little tougher than I look she reminded herself.

“Just try it.” She warned, landing another punch this time in his midsection, before daring him to hit back, while keeping Jason in the corner of her eye. “C’mon, Let‘s see what you got, Robo-boy.” She antagonized, said anything to keep his attention her way while Jason rattled his circuits with sound waves. Mana swung wildly in her direction, his big metallic arm connecting with the side of her jaw making her squint her eyes shut, but she didn’t budge. It was more a psychological reaction. She knew it wouldn’t hurt, but she also didn’t need to see it coming. She sent her own punch his way, sending him staggering back a few feet. Once again, he turned his weapons towards Jason and Bryan, so again she gave him more than a tap to the back. “Lost your target, Tin Can?”

“Target Identified.” He repeated, causing another look of determination to cross her face. “Terminating."

Deciding Jason was the easier threat to nullify, He turns to him and fires sleep grenades in a wide arch causing him to run and dodge at the same time. Firing his repulsor beams and hits home with a direct hit to Jasons chest knocking him to the ground and into the gas.

"Sam..." Is all he says before passing out

"Now ya gone and done it Tin Can..You cant keep hurting my friends. You hurt Bryan and Joni and now Jase. The gloves are off now." With that she focuses and begins to fly full speed toward Mana fists first.

Flying to the side she hits him with only a glancing blow causing him to spin slightly as she turns around for another shot

"S-Sam....Stop me!! I-I cant control myself anymore...." Raising his arms he aims a sleep grenade at her. "Oh no you dont" Slamming into him full speed she grabs his arm grips and pulls hard, ripping it from his joint
"Damage assesment: Minor. Continue Assult: Afirmative"
"Sam...I-Im not me....Please....itss set my...System override in progress: Target Confirmed: Engaging"

Thinking "Whats been set?" I dont know what your up to but I will stop you Mana" Tossing his arm aside she sets for another inpact of his Beam weapons. Bracing her arms she takes it head on. After the beams hit she makes a dash him landing a solid hit to his helmet cracking it.
"Sam...Please....Im going to explode!! System Override failure S-system d-d-ammage...Core overload commenced....."

"What?! Your going to self destruct on me? Not cool pal not cool!" Throwing Mana to the ground she pins him. Pummeling him she trying to force him to shut down but to no avail. "Why *Wam* wont *wam* you *wam* stop Wam wam wam* Mana?"

"Kill me-me-me! H-H-urry!......Sam...KILL ME NOW!!!!!" He screams up at her while his body responds by aiming his remaining arm at her face.

"Darn you Mana! Why are you making me do this!?" Pulling back she clasps her hands together and rams them through his chest hitting the concret under them both.
Sparks fly and Mana's body twitches wildy and Sam is thrown clear.
"S-s-system-tem tem D-d-damage: Se-se-sevier.....Self d-d-d-destruct-uct-uct term-terminated-ed...."

Running to his now prone form Sam looks over what she has been forced to do. "Im sorry Mana...." Pulling back she makes a fist "t-thank y-y-you-ou-ou Sam-sam-sam......f-f-forgive-ive me-me-e-e...." are the last words uttered before she slams her fist into his head shatering his face plate and denting his head into the ground.

At Mana's Home in the company of Zachary Magnus and Robert Divinity
Mana was brought there by Sam after Bryan, Joni and Jason were taken to the Brickstown medical Center where Samantha now waits watching over her friends

Waking up in a small lab Dr. Magnus and Dr. Divinity both stare down at him.
"Look" Dr. Divinity say pointing at Mana
"Oh good hes on line again" Dr. Magnus replies
"Wha..? Im...alive....But Sam..." Mana stutters
Sighing heavely "Crushed your body, your Core and, your head."
Magnus responds heavely.

"Oh god....what what did I DO!?" the Horror in Mana's metalic voice is utterly clear

"You were stupid, reckless and most of all irrisponsible!" Divinity shouts
"Now now Robert the boys been through alot lately" Magnus calms his friend
"True but even he should have known better then this. Someone could have been hurt or killed Zach you know that!" Divinity stares down at Mana with a cold look never before seen to android
"I-I-I.....Im so sorry!" Cries Mana "What!? Whats wrong with me! I cant move!"
"Of course not your body was broken. Your arm was torn off by that Douglas girl and your chest has a hole the size of a melon in it!! Of course you can move your just a head!" Divinity points to the wall where Mana's body is held up on racks being repaired by small droids.
"Oh slag!!! N-no!! What happened!?" Mana demands.

"long story short when you ran out of power the fire walls keeping the Crey programs in lock down stoped working" Magnus begins "from there on you and it had a tug of war for your body and mind"
"And instead of coming to US you thought you would handle it on your own." Divinity finishes

"Oh....Im....theres no possible way to redeem myself for this...why didnt you just let me die? Im a monster..." Mana begins to sob but cant hide it
"No your a teenager and didnt know better." Divinity leans down to Mana's head and speaks in a gental voice "Mana you are my son and I love you as if you were a real human child to me" patting him on the head he contenues "But you must remember that we are a family and can help you. What did you think we would do once we found out?"

"I...I thought you shut me down forever..and...and destroy me..." Looking from Divinity to Magnus he says "Im just a machine to everyone...something built to kill....I didnt want them to find out I was having problems....I knew what was happening to me I just wanted to fix it myself....."

"Well you made a bad choice Mana" Magnus says "Ms Jacobs was frozen solid and took hours to regain her mobility. Mr Baxter was burned and had fairly bad fractures from where you shot him. Ms Douglas and her male friend were least hurt due to the gas and her "talents"
"Where did you get that sleep gas by the way Mana?" Divinity jumps in asking "that was very powerful stuff. How did you manage to get some?"

"I um...I made it with the remaining plants I had samples of..." He stutters out

"Ah..and Why did you make it?" Magnus askes

"Because if I couldnt stop myself I could at least try to make myself not kill them till someone stoped me.." he tries to turn away but cant so he stops trying

"Oh for.." Divinity starts
"ANYWAY" contenuing Magnus stops his friend a pat on the shoulders "Your lucky she missed your hard drive and main frame Mana or you would really be dead. She did however mostly crush your Core."
"Which we took and tried to fix and couldnt by the way!" Divinity stated
"But we were able to modify it. We call it Spark" Holding a small glass tube up a bright glowing spark floats in the center
"W-why? why didnt you just let me die!!" Mana cries "Im a horrible person....Im a horrible machine....just kill me...."
Divinity pulls back and slap Mana in the head nearly knocking him off the table
"You shut up!" he shouts this time sounding truely angry "You stupid stupid child!! I built you! I designed every circut every chip and every weld!! You are MY Creation!!" getting ready to slap Mana again Mana closes his optics "And I love you...." Embracing Mana's head Divinity says "I know what you were built for and Im sorry that is my burden alone to carry. But you are my son and always will be. What you did was foolish and reckless and you could have killed your friends."
"What he means Mana is your our family and we are yours. Trust us to care for you no matter what you are." Magnus pats Mana's head "Your body will be repaired in the morning. But the true task is talking with your peers and asking forgiveness from them."

Mana is unable to speak and simply cries into Divinity's chest

Bryan’s eyes fluttered open. His face was yellow on one side; the bruise was the last remaining trace of his crushed eye socket and broken cheekbone. The wonders of the Paragon City Medical system in action.

He looked about the room, still groggy from the pain medication; he knew he was in a hospital. Which one was the question? He heard a male voice say, “He’s waking up.” Bryan couldn’t place the speaker.

The voice helped Bryan regain more of his senses. He could see others surrounding his bed. He could not make out their faces, not at first. The closest few came to him the easiest. The soft loving touch on his hand, gently avoiding his IV, was Nennya; he knew it without asking. The figure by his head was Sammy, with Jason parked right behind her, standing affectionately together.

Bryan opened his mouth, to speak. “Is Joni ok?” he squeaked out through his dry lips. Sammy’s voice came to him through the haze. “She’s fine, big guy. You did good.” He smiled.

Eddie's voice was the next he heard, it was clearer than the rest as he spoke telepathically to Bryan. “You’ve been in the hospital for two days now. The doctors had to manually align the bones in your right arm and hand. They were crushed to severely for the Auto-Doc to regenerate it that quickly. You’ll be fine”

He smiled again to the gathered friends. “Does this mean I’ll be able to play the violin?” Jason laughed, “Roomie, I didn’t know you played.” A dry laughed escaped Bryan tired throat, “I couldn’t, but wouldn’t it be great if I could now.” He chuckled to himself and returned to his sleep.

His friends would forgive him for the bad Three Stooges joke; he was under medication after all.

Joni wandered in several minutes later and joined the others, fresh from a couple hours thawing in the hospital's frostbite treatment room. She hadn't taken any injuries serious enough to require much more than that -- the sole advantage to being caught sleepy and low-temperature was that Mana hadn't needed to use much force to subdue her. But getting herself frozen solid was more than bad enough...

She looked over the shoulders of the others at the sleeping Bryan. "How's he--" Everyone jumped. "...sorry, didn't mean to surprise you all. How's Bryan doing?"

"He's going to be fine, Jo." Sam smiled. "How about you?"

"Still a little foggy..." She hugged herself protectively. "Did I remember correctly? It was...?"

She hesitated to voice the accusation, so Jason finished for her. "It was Mana. We're still not completely sure why, but all signs point to activation of some dormant programming he was carrying. ...Sam wound up having to smash most of his frame."

"I dropped what was left off with the guys who built his body," Sam added. "I'm... not sure if they'll be able to fix him completely or not."

Joni's ears dropped. "Did... I have anything to do with it?"

Jason blinked. "What? No! What got that into your head?"

"This all started when I told him I was ending it with him... God help me, I break everything I touch..."

"Hey, hey!" Sam seized her roommate by the shoulders. "Something was wrong with Mana well before that. And it wasn't your fault, and it wasn't his fault either. It just happened, okay?"

Joni whimpered chilled tears. "It's gotta be someone's fault... Mana's demolished 'nd Bryan's nearly got killed tryin'a save me 'nd I woke up 'n couldn' move... I ne'er wan'ed..."

The rest of her words degenerated into incoherent sobs. Sam just pulled her in close and let her cry it out.

"Not anyone's fault?" Nennya said, still holding Bryan's hand. Her voice, thought quiet, had the intensity of a scream. "Not anyone's fault? I beg to differ. Look at Bryan's arm. Look at it! Mana did that."

"It was his programming," Sam protested. "It's not his fault."

"Don't hand me that. He's a person. He has a will. He failed to exercise that will. And his friends paid the price. It's disgusting." Gently, very gently, she moved away from Bryan and came over to Joni and Sam. She took Joni's hands in her own, her expression strange and fierce.

"It's worse than a broken bone for you, Joni, because you feel responsible. Don't wear it, Joni. You didn't fail; Mana failed." She looked around the room at the people assembled there. "That's the worst fault of the human race--people do evil things, and their victims blame themselves. Don't anybody do that here. Cry about the trauma of being abducted, cry about Bryan's broken bones, but don't cry for Mana." She wiped her own eyes, smearing her vision, and found her way to the corridor by instinct.

She analyzed her feelings, pulling out a few kleenexes from the nurses' station to cry into. They were angry tears; she was angry. Was it a passionate anger or a logical one? She meandered to the phone banks, deciding it was both.

She dialed a complex number into the phone, with a Rogue Isles prefix. She waited for her brother to answer.

Sam figured Bryan had enough company, and was glad that he was showing he’d be okay. She even laughed at his corny joke, mostly because in the severity of the moment, it caught her off guard. But then again, that was B.

She tugged on Jason’s hand, nodding to the door, and he took the cue, saying a curt goodnight to everyone in the room. Once outside, he slid his arm around her shoulder, and she wrapped both of hers around his waist, leaning her head against his chest and hugging him tightly as they walked down the hall to the elevator.

It’s not Mana’s fault? She rolled her eyes, not knowing what the hell possessed her to say that. Of course it was Mana’s fault, programming or not. Maybe she just defended him because that’s what she figured everyone wanted to hear… like how she took him “home.” Truth be told, she didn’t. She hadn't noticed the small device blinking, most likely some sort of “black box" recovery device like they have on airplanes. That's probably how they found him. Let all the kings horses and all the kings men try to put that back together.

But they did find him, and took him back to the lab, so why not? She wasn’t a killer, and she didn’t want that stigma. It was self-defense, defense of her friends. She'd do it again if need be. Sure Mana seemed like a good guy beforehand, but then he turned. When a dog goes rabid, there’s only one thing to do- you put it down. Maybe none of them ever seen Old Yeller.

But enough had been enough, it was time to go, time to start getting over. They were still standing, that was the most important part.

She hugged Jason again in the elevator, and he slightly winced, but assured her he’d be fine, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

"I saw you get hit, and fall, and I didn't know if..." She didn't want to finish the sentence.

"I'm a little tougher than I look." He said with a wink, causing her to smile as well.

"Yeah, but I don't know what he shot you with, and you said..." She looked at him worridly. "We should tell someone, have you checked out..."

"I'm fine Sam, really."

“Thank you.” She said, burying her face in his chest. “For being there, for being here, but mostly, for being okay.”

Jason made his way back to his dorm after saying his goodnights to everyone. Bryan and Nix had gone to spend a little time together after the whole incident with Mana. Joni and Sam went to talk some too. Jason was just looking forward to hitting the showers and getting some rest.

He got into the room, said his greetings to Jake and looked over at Bryan’s impeccably kept side of the room, and grinned. Bryan had gotten the worst of things, with the arm and all, but had Nix to keep his spirits up. He was concerned about her though, she’d seemed to take the whole thing hard, but at the core of the issue, she was right. Maybe the programming did make him do those things, but Mana had to know that that programming was there, and didn’t say anything until it was almost too late. He agreed with her, there was too much a lack of responsibility with people. They had a thousand other things to blame besides themselves.

He reached out to grab a towel and shower kit, when something wet hit his arm. Looking down, he saw drops of blood, and reached up to wipe his nose. His fingers came away slick, the red fluid coating the fingertips. “Great…just Great”

“What’s wrong, Jason?” Jake asked putting down the book he was reading.

“Nothing, just a damn nosebleed.”

Jake looked up, and his face registered shock, “Crap, Jase, it’s more than that.” Jake started to move towards his roommate. Jason’s nose was bleeding, but that wasn’t the worst of it, his eyes were deep red, and small tears of blood were leaking from the corners of his eyes. Then came the pain. Almost enough to double him over, it felt like someone had a fist in his guts and was twisting.

Jason stumbled to the corner of his desk, hands feeling clublike as he sprayed papers off the edges, reaching for his cell phone, which was charging. It was getting worse. He was having trouble breathing. His vision swam, as he punched down hard on the speed dial.

“Hey, Jason, how’s the boy wonder?” Doug’s voice sounded tinny to the young star.

“Doug…need help. Something chemical….At school.” Jason gasped out the words in quick succession.

“In the dorm?” Jason heard the sound of a door slamming. Doug leaving wherever he was.

“Yeah…Hard to breathe, Doug.” Jason wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, not surprised to see dark colored blood coming away. “Bleeding.” He looked back at Jake, who came up to support the young star, taking the phone from his hands.

Jason heard the high test engine turn over, as Doug started the car, “You keep yourself moving, and keep talking to me, kid, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Hey, this is Jake, his roommate, what’s going on?.” Jason’s breaths were coming in wheezing gasps, as Jake practically carried Jason.

Doug explained as he sped through the light traffic, not worrying about the police. He knew he had to get to Jason quickly, and before any conventional life saving agencies did. It was one of the reasons the Berenzhin’s had him moved close to the school. Jason’s father had told him, after the accident that had caused Jason’s change that he’d react severely to seemingly normal chemicals introduced into his system. He told Jake to keep Jason moving around, to not let him rest or lose consciousness. “We have to get him to his father, Dr. B’s about the only one that can help him now.”

“I think I may be able to help.” Jake told Doug.

“Hey kid, anything you can do to help, just no chemicals!” Doug warned.

Jake nodded, and then concentrated on helping his friend. A soft green glow surrounded the both of them, and Jake could sense the conflict going on between Jason’s altered metabolism, and the chemicals that the sleep gas had introduced in his system. Minutes passed and Jake strained under the concentration, sweat pouring now from his brow as he kept Jason moving, and also worked on sensing what was wrong. Jake realized he couldn’t stop the process outright, but with a slight shift he was able to block the receptors that allowed the attack on Jason’s system to continue unabated. It was temporary, Jake knew, but it would buy them time to save Jason’s life. He held the phone up to his ear, “He’s stable, but you better hurry!”

“Oh, shit, the school’s not going to like this.” Doug ran his 69 Dodge Charger through the open gateway, across the grounds right up to the dorms. Leaving the engine running he ran through the small group of onlookers to the dorm entrance, and raced up to Jason’s room ignoring the protests of the reception area clerks. He threw open the door, and saw Jake supporting the slumped form of Jason, doing his best to keep Jason moving as Doug asked of him earlier. “Oh, Christ, kid, c’mon!” Jason’s face was almost grey under the streaks of blood that came from his eyes, nose and mouth, giving him the look of some macabre clown. Doug slid under the free arm and hoisted Jason up, hooking fingers into the kid’s belt loops. Hustling back outside, he and Jake placed Jason in the passenger’s side of the car. Doug leapt the hood, sliding back behind the wheel. Jake slid onto the bench seat behind Jason, and Doug made to speed away. The wheels spat gravel as Doug sped off, heading towards the lab where Dr. Berenzhin worked.

Samantha Douglas heard the rumble of the big block engine, and looked out the window. It wasn’t normal for any vehicle to get this close to the dorms, not to mention one that sounded like that. She spotted the midnight blue Charger, just as Doug piled Jason into the car. She didn’t even think about it before she flew out the open window and landed in front of the car, just as it reached the gateway. Brakes locked, and the car came to a screeching halt. Doug yelled out the window, “If you’re coming Samantha, get in the car, but be quick about it!”
Sam darted to the side door and slid in beside Jake in the cramped backseat.

Once underway, Doug unrolled a small med kit, “Blue for breathing” Doug intoned and indicated a blue ringed epi-pen. Sam grabbed the pen, and Doug looked at Jason “Sorry kid, this is gonna hurt.” And nodded. Sam drove the point of the needle into Jason’s thigh, releasing the chemical cocktail that Dr. B had come up with into Jason’s bloodstream, eliciting a grunt of protest from Jason.

The injection worked though. In a few short seconds Jason’s breathing started to ease, and Jason’s head lolled in Sam’s direction, a hint of the old smile on his bloody face, as he took in his friends. “What do you think, good look for my new tour? Get the goth crowd?” Jason coughed, spitting up more blood.

“Take it easy kid, we’ll be to your Dad’s lab soon.”

2 Weeks later......[taken from ingame RPing]

[Comm] Mana Cannon: H-hello..everyone....
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Hello Tiffany
[Comm]Tiffany Seagler: whats up tonight?
[Comm] Mana Cannon: Um....are you all busy or can I talk with you for a few?
[Comm] Mana Cannon: ...if you are its okay...
[Comm]Voritex: ...Go ahead Mana.
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Could we all met in Overbrook?
[Comm]Voritex: Most of us are already here.
[Comm] Mana Cannon: I...uh....would like to explain myself....for um...everything...
[Comm](Saint Joseph School) Voritex: Just get down here.
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Not make an excuse!
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Just explain...
[Comm]Centaurian: We're all pretty much in Overbrook Mana
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Im on my way...
ANGELIC FLAME: I forgot mine...but it didn't stop weed.
Wild Weed: *looks at Mana as he lands* wow you is fly me is not like heights me no not like to fly me think
Tiffany Seagler: hey Mana buddy
Firetastic: *looks at mana*
Mana Cannon: Hey....all...
Firetastic: Mana?
Voritex: Errr... Thanks.
Centaurian: Hi Mana!
Firetastic: you ok?
Voritex: I think.
ANGELIC FLAME: Hi Mana
Mana Cannon: I will be.....
Wild Weed: hello there me is say hi to you Mana
Mana Cannon: *looks shocked* Wild...thats a...rather revealing outfit your wearing...
Tiffany Seagler: if she went with him she musta not minded
Firetastic: not that kinda hitting
Firetastic: flirting
*Wild Weed stomps on Mana's foot trying to see if visor opens up in to a trash can*
ANGELIC FLAME i need to dry off and change clothes
Firetastic: *laughs*
Mana Cannon hops "ow ow ow"
Voritex: Sorry Nate. I've already got my eyes on someone else.
Wild Weed: me is only checking
Nate Harper: I'm seeing good gossip... But I won't butt in... Not in this state of mind...
Mana Cannon: Um..so if I could have a few minutes of all your time....
Nox Veratis: Sure.
Firetastic: where did Joni go?
Nate Harper: I don't see why not...
Tiffany Seagler glances over at Nick and grins shyly
Voritex: ...
*Wild Weed pokes Fire with finger*
Voritex: Hiding solves nothing.
Mana Cannon: Errm....I know I havent been myself...
Firetastic: *pushes weed under*
*Mana Cannon looks around wishing he could just run away*
*Tiffany Seagler grins*
Voritex: Guys, let Mana talk.
Mana Cannon: If this is a bad time its okay i can go...
Tiffany Seagler: nooo Mana we're listening
Nox Veratis: Mana, it's ok. Say what you want to say.
Nate Harper: No... Mana.... Continue...
Wild Weed: *cough cough* tee hee even though me no breath air is funny to act like me breath water

Mana Cannon: I know you all must know by now what I did to Bryan Joni and Sam and Jase....
Nate Harper: Sadly... Yes...
Mana Cannon: I make no excuses
Mana Cannon: When I stayed out waiting for Joni I lost ALL power
Mana Cannon: Including the power that keep dormant programs asleep...
Mana Cannon: I did not know I had any crey programming in me at first
Mana Cannon: Apperently before I was taken from them Father hidden, he had blocked and firewalled all the programming they had thus far put into me
Mana Cannon: I did not know this
Wild Weed: oh me is sorry Mana
Mana Cannon: So after I shut down and came back online they were activated
Mana Cannon: at first I thought it was just the after effects of the power down
Wild Weed: *sniff* me is sad
Mana Cannon: like staying up late and being cranky because of it for you all
Mana Cannon: I found out about It after I woke up from my recharge cycle having killed my plants during the night
ANGELIC FLAME: darn those crey!
Mana Cannon: I ran a full system check...
Wild Weed: WHAT!
Mana Cannon: I thought I could block it again
Firetastic: Easy Weed
Firetastic: Hes ok now

[Comm]Wild Weed: um... you is kill them all
[Comm]Mana Cannon: .....yes...
*Wild Weed runs from away from Mana*

Mana Cannon: I tried....so hard....
Mana Cannon: I told Sam and Bryan hoping they could keep joni away from me
Mana Cannon: The program knew...ME and everything about me
Mana Cannon: Who I was, who knew, who I liked...

[Comm] Wild Weed: sniff me is not think it fair
[Comm] Wild Weed: that is not fair plants is no hurt you

Firetastic: *looks around* where the hell did she go?
Centaurian: Aruba most likely
Voritex: She's blowing off steam it sounds like.

Mana Cannon: After it took over it wanyed to eliminate them first because after that I wouldnt have any reason to function
Mana Cannon: It was right....
Mana Cannon: I have nothing with out friends...
*Voritex glances at Nick*
Mana Cannon: But when it went after Joni it was all I could do to keep it from killing her...
Mana Cannon: I was too weak to stop it completly
ANGELIC FLAME: oh Mana........

[Comm] Firetastic: Weed? whered you go hun?
[Comm] Wild Weed: me is no want to go near Mana he is hate plants. me is playing pinball.

Mana Cannon: Having her at least frozen she would be out of It line of fire....I knew she would hate that....I betrayed that weakness to It
Mana Cannon: I..pathetic

[Comm] Wild Weed: Ah! what is you mean tilt? Me is no hit you too hard
[Comm] Centaurian: Weed... your com button is stuck on
[Comm]Tiffany Seagler: you need more quarters Weed? I have a few if ya do.

Mana Cannon: After that It went after Bryan knowing he was my best friend....
Mana Cannon: Again I fought It...and lost...

[Comm] Firetastic: I got her
[Comm]Tiffany Seagler: ok
[Comm] Firetastic: she'll be fine

Mana Cannon: Then Sam showed up and I knew if anyone could kill me it was her...
Mana Cannon: It knew this too
Mana Cannon: So It started my selfdestruct timer...
Mana Cannon: Sam....did kill me...
Mana Cannon: She crushed my Core, which is basically everything that I am
*Tiffany Seagler listens sadly*
Mana Cannon: After Father and Dr. Magnus...fixed me...
Mana Cannon: I was rebuilt..
Mana Cannon: I can truthfully say I do not know if I have any more of It in me...
Mana Cannon: I lost most of it with my Core. But I was rebuilt with what they named a Spark
Mana Cannon: I know...some of you wont trust me again...
Mana Cannon: And theres nothing I can do make things up to Sam, Jase, Bryan, and most of all Joni...
Centaurian: Dude... I know about fried circuits... fired one myself last night
Mana Cannon: Her I wanted to protect the most....I caused her so much grief...
Centaurian: I think you were a victum too Mana
Mana Cannon: No Im not...
Mana Cannon: I knew what It was 2 days before It attacked everone..
Centaurian: I still say that it was controlling you then.... in small ways... making you NOT seek help
*ANGELIC FLAME looks at Mana shocked*
Mana Cannon: No it wasnt I could have
Mana Cannon: I should have gone to someone...
Mana Cannon: I was just afraid....if I told the school they would get me away from there forever...and I would lose....everything..
Mana Cannon: And if I told Father...he would want to take me apart to try and fix me...
Mana Cannon: I am sorry my weakness caused so much pain...
[Comm] Firetastic: well folks im gona run off to bed, weed is ok i think just Mana lay low around her for a bit ok?
[Comm] Mana Cannon: I..uh....okay....

Voritex: Mana....
Tiffany Seagler: Hes your dad right? parents dont take their kids apart dude.. *looks sympathetically at mana* they get them help
Mana Cannon: I uh...thats the only way he could have helped...
Mana Cannon: I am just a machine after all...
Voritex: ...
ANGELIC FLAME: oh,......I need to sit down.......

[Comm]Stoned Tank Too: what happened to wild?

Mana Cannon: It had all of you targeted next...
ANGELIC FLAME: my head is still spining,.........i don't know what to say...
Mana Cannon: everyone in the school I knew or liked...

[Comm] Centaurian: Nothing... she just heard Mana killed his plants and she paniced

Mana Cannon: I...um..

[Comm]Stoned Tank Too: Oh

Mana Cannon: I knew if it took over that was that and It had to be destroyed...
Tiffany Seagler: Isnt there a way he could override your systems without taking you apart?

[Comm] Mana Cannon: .....sorry...Wild...

Mana Cannon: No. Only I could do that and I wasnt strong enough to fight It...
[Coalition] (Saint Joseph School) Gravwarp: Hi everyone!
[Comm] Arthur Hadrian: Hey Bryan!
[Comm]Voritex: Hey Byran.
[Comm] ANGELIC FLAME: Hi Bryan
[Comm]Cryogene: Bryan! You out of the hospital yet?
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Um...*low tone* hey bryan...
[Comm]Nox Veratis: Hi Bryan.

*Voritex pats Mana on the shoulder again*

[Comm]Mana Cannon: *clicks off comm at Joni's voice*

[Comm]Gravwarp: Hi Joni. Yeah! I signed myself out this afternoon

Mana Cannon: I know I was wrong and Im sorry....

[Comm]Gravwarp: Hey Nick. Thanks everyone for the visits

Mana Cannon: If you all want it I will leave St. Josephs....
*Centaurian smacks Mana's back*
Centaurian: OUCH!!

[Comm]Tiffany Seagler: Hi Bryan
[Comm]Nox Veratis: NP. Soon as I heard.

Mana Cannon: I dont desurve to be there....

[Comm]Gravwarp: Hi Tiff

Centaurian: Ouch

[Comm]Wild Weed: me is like this spot is cool and refreshing

Voritex: Mana, leaving won't help you.
Mana Cannon: Its not me I care about anymore
Mana Cannon: I betrayed all of you
Mana Cannon: I...
Voritex: Your going to make me do something drastic Mana...
Mana Cannon: I should have died....I did die...but I didnt...
ANGELIC FLAME: after what has happend, it may be the easy way out,...but it's not the right decision.
ANGELIC FLAME: we can help you

[Comm]Cryogene: They released me this morning... sorry I didn't stay longer, but Miss Gemini wanted me to meet with the counselor again.
[Comm]Gravwarp: Don't worry about it... I'm... I'm just glad you're ok Joni.

Mana Cannon: Why...?
Mana Cannon: I almost killed you all!!
Mana Cannon: Sams the hero not me!
Voritex: No one said your a hero Mana.
Nox Veratis: Sam's great. I'm not going to worry about it.
Voritex: But your not a villain either.
Mana Cannon: She should have finished the job...
[Comm]Cryogene: ...thanks.... glad you didn't get killed trying to rescue me.
[Comm]Gravwarp: *laughs* me too.
ANGELIC FLAME: she must still believe in you
Voritex: Did you expect her too? Are you out of your mind? She's your FRIEND.
*Arthur Hadrian waves*
Arthur Hadrian: Hi, guys.
Voritex waves at arthur
*Tiffany Seagler waves at Arthur*
Nox Veratis: Vor, you don't know Sammy if that's what you think.
Mana Cannon: It all started because Joni said yes to the dance and I felt special...
*Mana looks down at the ground*
Mana Cannon: I tried to repay it and ended up hurting Joni and then....
Centaurian: Hi
ANGELIC FLAME: Hi Arthur
Mana Cannon: Hi....
Mana Cannon: What I did was stupid and foolish!
Voritex: Welcome to life...
Mana Cannon: I accept all blame and punishment
Tiffany Seagler: everyone makes mistakes Mana...
Mana Cannon: This mistake almost cost Bryan his life!
Centaurian: Mana why can't you just accept that we... well most of us don't blame you?
Voritex: Well, apologize to him. He's right there.
*Mana turns to see Bryan has been floating a few yards away*
Mana Cannon: I..I..didnt see him...
Mana Cannon: I...Im not his friend anymore...
Mana Cannon: I dont deserve to be...
*Mana Cannon looks away from Bryan*
Gravwarp: Mana...
Gravwarp: I know it wasn't you
Gravwarp: Sorry I didn't come right over
*Centaurian stops Mana from backing up*
Voritex: You know Mana, I won't let you run from this
Mana Cannon: ....
Mana Cannon: why dont you all hate me!?
Gravwarp: I just wanted to listen a little.
Mana Cannon: I did a horrible thing!
*Arthur Hadrian scratches head uncomfortably*
Voritex: Becasue we're Heroes.
Voritex: We don't hate.
Mana Cannon: And I betrayed you!
Gravwarp: I forgive you Mana.
Mana Cannon: Bryan...I...
ANGELIC FLAME: hero's stick together no matter what.
*Centaurian grins at Mana*
Mana Cannon: Im no hero....
Tiffany Seagler: Im no hero by anymeans... Im 17 years old.... Im a kid stuck in school like every other kid
Voritex: Hell, Manticore Shot Statesmen, and last time I checked, he was still in the Freedom Phalanx.
ANGELIC FLAME: we still believe in you Mana...we know you can beat this with our help.
Mana Cannon: Im less then 2 years old Im an infant to you all....
Voritex: Mana...
*Voritex sighs*
Voritex: Ok, I tried it the Dr. Phil way.
Mana Cannon: I was built to kill you all and I almost did...
Centaurian: Well Pluto is 56 and Vor is still going on a date with her
*Mana Cannon face vizor twitches*
Voritex: Best damn 56 year old on the planet. and Don't bring up dates.
ANGELIC FLAME: 56,...really,...i mean thats sweet.
Voritex: Mana. I apologize in advance.
Voritex: What the hell is wrong with you?
Voritex: WE FORGIVE YOU!
*Mana Cannon looks at Voritex and winces*
Mana Cannon: I...
Voritex: The only road block you have left is you.
Voritex: and trust me, it's a doozy of a road block.
Mana Cannon: .....
Centaurian: I was just saying age is kinda...realative with this bunch
Centaurian: I could bang on his head...knock the losse screw tight or something
Voritex: We can't cross it for you. But we will certainly help you over it.

Voritex: Right Guys?
Mana Cannon: Thank you all.....so much...
Tiffany Seagler nods yes
Centaurian: Um... duh
*ANGELIC FLAME gives a thumbs up*
Mana Cannon sits down and starts crying "thank you all...."
*ANGELIC FLAME pats Mana on shoulder*...your gonna be ok.

[Comm]Mana Cannon: *clicks on comm* Bryan....Im so sorry....
[Comm]Gravwarp: Mana... I was serious. I'm not mad. I've forgiven you.
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Th-thank you......
[Comm] Mana Cannon: *nervous static laugh* Um....well you do still owe me for that Lilly you took......how about you get well soon and we can call it even...?
[Comm]Gravwarp: Deal

*Centaurian smiles*
Centaurian: I like happy endings

Tiffany Seagler: besides Mana... if you leave... whos gonna play Tiffany the ghost slayer with me? *grins*
Centaurian: Things are really simple most of the time...
*Nox Veratis laughs*
*ANGELIC FLAME giggles*
*Arthur Hadrian winces mildly at the axe*
Mana Cannon looks at Tiffany with a mild fearful look
Centaurian: People just gotta relax... chill I think is the word

Mana Cannon: I promise to make a new garden for you Wild...
A*rthur Hadrian Looks down to Weed*
Wild Weed: you is no kill your new plant friends
Centaurian: Wow... Weed now that is a good look...
ANGELIC FLAME: i think she'd like that.
Mana Cannon sees Wild for the first time...
Arthur Hadrian: Whoa! You....snuck up on me...
Mana Cannon: I didnt mean to scare you...
Wild Weed: tee hee me was hiding behind you

Voritex: It's ok Buddy. Come on.
Mana Cannon: .......
Arthur Hadrian: er....
Wild Weed: you is tall
Voritex: Oil's on me tonight.

Mana Cannon: Heh....new body...
Wild Weed: yes is real me
Mana Cannon: I dont need Oil...
Centaurian: You look very pretty as you... better then as human
Wild Weed: me is only proon self for others
*Centaurian kneels down to look weed in the eye*
Centaurian: Is that the real you weed?
Centaurian: You should stay this way
Centaurian: In my humble opinion. Be you weed.. it's always best
Voritex: ...Well, then lets go get some pizza. I'm starving.
Wild Weed: then me is no fit in
Voritex: You two wanna come?
Centaurian: Yea you do

Mana Cannon: Um...Sam and Jase.....dont want to see me....again....so if soeone would tell them for me....

Voritex: Handled.
Voritex: I'll tell her.
Mana Cannon: Maybe...Sam will talk to Joni for me...
*ANGELIC FLAME kneels down to get a better look at Wild Weed*
ANGELIC FLAME: your still cute weed
Wild Weed: *blushes a brighter orange* you is just say that

Centaurian: Why? For what reason would we just say that?
Mana Cannon: Ive..uh....taken enough of your time tonight....thanks all....
Centaurian: look at the way you sparkle
Voritex: Going back to the dorms?
Centaurian: And your flower
Tiffany Seagler: everything will work out Mana youll see.. just give it time
Wild Weed: me is not know all me is knowing is people is tell me to trim thorns and cut leafs off me self so me is doing too fit in
Mana Cannon: Wild....none of us "fit in"

[Comm]Jade Rooster: Evening, guys!

Centaurian: Mana where I come from... we don't ruin healthy plants

[Comm]Arthur Hadrian: Yo, Jade!
[Comm]Gravwarp: Hi Roo
[Comm]Cryogene: Hey Roo...
[Comm]Mana Cannon: Err...hello Jade...
[Comm]Wild Weed: me is say hi to Jade
[Comm]Jade Rooster: Howzit goin'?
[Comm]Nox Veratis: Hi Roo!
[Comm]Tiffany Seagler: hi Roo
[Coalition] Mana Cannon: *hears Joni's voice again and clicks off comm*
Centaurian: here weed look at my "bathing" suit. See? Just me.
*Voritex takes out his comm and flies off*
Mana Cannon: Um...uh Wild...
Wild Weed: wow you is have no pants tee hee just like me
Mana Cannon: I may have some...err plant food you might find helpful....
[Comm]Voritex: Ok, I just watched Mana turn his Comm off, And now, Your all going to get an earful.
[Comm]Jade Rooster: ..Huh?
*Wild Weed hugs Mana*
*Mana Cannon is started but returns the hug*
Wild Weed: me is love you Mana but me is scared because you is kill my kind
Mana Cannon: I....Im sorry...Wild...
[CommVoritex: Everyone knows about the entire fiasco by now, and if you don't forgive me for not going into detail about it. But I have this to say.
[Comm]Voritex: Not one of you understands what he just went through.
[Comm] Christopher Casey: *sounds unsure* Did I come in at a bad time?
Wild Weed: is reason why me Family no like humans they is no try to talk to them first they is shoot first and ask questions later and so the DE no trust humans
Arthur Hadrian: Well, see you folks around.
Arthur Hadrian waves
Centaurian: Later
Mana Cannon: Um...bye..
Wild Weed: good night Arthur
[Comm]Voritex: Unless of course, your like him, or me. Becasue as far as I know, There's only a few of us in the school who were built as WEAPONS.
ANGELIC FLAME: nite
Nox Veratis: Sounds like a good time to get going.
Wild Weed: bye Nox
ANGELIC FLAME: yes,..i'm beat to
Centaurian: Bye
Nox Veratis: Bye Weed.
[Coalition] (Saint Joseph School) Cryogene: *click*
Wild Weed: who is beat you me is get them for you
[Comm] Christopher Casey: I'm Italian-- the only weapons we make are Beretta... *chuckles nervously*
[Comm] (Saint Joseph School) Gravwarp: *click*
ANGELIC FLAME smiles at weed
ANGELIC FLAME: good nite weed,..get lots of sunshine.
[Comm] (Saint Joseph School) Jade Rooster: Izzat it?
Wild Weed: me is hope you is having a good night Angelic
Wild Weed: if any of you is needing me help just ask ok
ANGELIC FLAME: i did,..but i think i'm still a little wet.
Wild Weed: tee hee
ANGELIC FLAME giggle
[Comm] (Saint Joseph School) Voritex: Mana sat at that Tub and poured his heart out. So please, for the love of whatever God you whorship, rememember the Mana that spends his days rescuing the rest of us from early retirement.
[Comm] (Saint Joseph School) Voritex: Enjoy the rest of your night.
[Comm] (Saint Joseph School) Voritex: *click*

((OOC)) Sorry for UBER long post

Poor Mana. Sam rolled her eyes hearing that for what seemed like the thousandth time since he came back. Yes, yes he felt bad, he felt horrible, and as Abe put it, he’s depressed, so depressed he wants to shut himself down forever. And? She kicked hard at the tail of her skateboard thinking back on the conversation.

“I wrote him off, Abe.” She’d replied. “I thought I did shut him down forever, and I said my good-byes then.”

“He needs his friends, Sam.” He’d pushed.

“Then let him turn to them.” She replied with a shrug. “I’m done.” She’d been avoiding Voritex since too. It was bad enough Mana was back on campus. You could bet if it were Eddie or someone who lost it and tried to take out Bryan, hurting Joni and Jason in the process, Eddie would be in the Zigg. But then again, it’s different, because Mana can just be reprogrammed. Good as new, right? But who’s to say it won’t happen again? That he won’t get some glitch or hang up or something and start targeting them? She thought back to the opening scene of that movie- RoboCop. They developed some robot or android, or electronic, thing. During the demonstration, the prototype glitches, and terminated one of the backers. And if that happened? Unlike Mana, none of them could be rebuilt. What if he had self destructed, if she couldn’t stop it in time? Apparently, he had enough firepower to punch a hole in the world, and hey, maybe he could’ve been put back together after that, which is all well and good- for Mana. On the other hand, her father would be getting a mass card from the staff of St. Joes, and poor Mana would have to live with that. But at least he would get to “live.”

She figured she could deal with him on a professional level- they were bound to get set out on some of the same jobs, they were close in security level. But even that, he’s gotta go and bring up Joe, his bug. She rolled her eyes again. Okay, it was his pet, the praying mantis, she said she’d keep an eye on him, but then she really didn’t think he’d be coming back, and it wouldn’t eat. She looked online and it said to feed them crickets and some sorta worms, so she did, and it wouldn’t eat. He didn’t tell her it was genetically altered, and only ate leaves. So she’d released it into the atrium in school to give it at least a fighting chance. Now he was practically demanding that she go find it? Maybe if he was so concerned, he should go look himself, she rationalized. But again, he goes crying about poor Joe and now she felt like the big bad wolf for not leaving the thing in a shoe box and watching it slowly starve.

Vig talking to her about it was the final straw. She meant well, Sam tried to tell herself, and great, she was on “her” side, but it was one more let’s-rehash-it session that Sam would rather have done without. "Next time" was what she kept repeating. If they're so all fired worried about a next time, then why would they put him back together? The whole thing made her head hurt, so she smiled and nodded politely a lot, thinking that next time, she'd do what she was still regretting not doing this time. She'd tell someone at the school or the PPD, who knew he was a weapon, knew what he was capable of, and knew how to knock poor Mana offline for good.