"An IQ test." The students asked. Now even Machi was confused beyond belief.
Round 2 consisted of a test. Intellectual Quotient test. Unlike the past where you'd answer simple questions and then you'd be given a number, nowadays, you'd be put through a simulation.
In here, "powers don't exist." Zac revealed. As the leader of the research team, he was the one to help engineer the tech needed for this. "The 50 of you that remain will automatically be placed in the TSA but we need to know how your mind functions..." Machi didn't pay attention, remembering the conversation he had with his mother the day before, and knew he'd be undergoing an IQ test but not in this manner.
"You want to know what?" Machi asked.
"Your IQ." Ever said. "You are beyond intelligent Machi. We need to know that compared to a scale. But it is clear it changes from day to day."
"If I get a high score, can I not go to school?" He asked.
"No."
"If you get over 200." Zac said. "It isn't like you can study."
"Deal."
Ever sighed and Jo chuckled before looking to Dawson who had a worried look on his face. "What?"
"Nothing." He said before leaving.
***
"Machi Harkness, Sua Wylan, Mira Hogwood, Sol Muster, June Hope, you will be the first 5 to enter the simulations." Everyone began muttering as the only level 4 in the group was Mira Hogwood. Lord Hogwood of Ashmire's adoptive daughter. And then you had level 2 Machi Harkness. The scale of raw power was wide.
"Don't try too hard Harkness. Your mind will fry." People yelled before he saw Zac's reassuring face and he got in that chair. "If you fail you'll be brought back. Though the shock affects if you die in there may transfer over."
As they all entered, their simulations were displayed. All displaying the level they were at.
Currently, the average for the city. 76.
**
"Why did I start in my room?" Three asked but Machi and Mira were able to realise that the simulation adapted to their memories.
"Ok so this is my room from this morning. The calendar says its todays date," he looked at the clock before hearing a loud crash outside, "what the hell?"
As he opened the door, he was revealed to be in the jungle. "Mission: survive."
Machi found that ironic but when he heard more crashing, he turned around and blinked.
"Oh good god WHY?!" He yelled and wondered if he was actually living hell. He had no clue how to survive this and everyone looked to one another outside of the simulation.
Seeing his mother and Zac run towards him, he ran.
-
"Ummm..."
"The simulation uses the strongest people you've encountered that are in our database." Zac chuckled. Looking at the other screens, he noticed that they were all at 89 now.
Ever went red and Dawson watched Machi closely. But then the screen beeped for Machi.
"130?!" People yelled. Rocco chuckled and Zac looked to the boy in the chair and noticed how he already had a plan. "Mom uses electricity. This should work. Now... how to get her riled up... logically she would have the same tics as real Mom." Zac tried to hold in his laughter and Ever didn't know whether to be impressed or embarrassed by her own son calling out her hatred for paperwork and using that to set off her anger. The thought had sparks running down her hair and Jo chuckled. "Really is your son."
The entire area was covered in electricity and she electrocuted Zac and he vanished from the simulation. "Ouch."
Sua was removed after she was unable to beat the beast. IQ of 102.
Sol was removed after he failed at obtaining a crystal. IQ of 98.
June was removed after she lost against her brother. IQ of 113.
"Machi is at 148 now. Damn defeating you made him grow." Anne teased. But she saw nothing but pride in his face. "God you're smitten."
Mira was facing Hogwood and she knew she couldn't beat him. But she tried and ended up being defeated and had an IQ of 151. Thinking she was the highest, she wondered why the next group wasn't called. Why the simulations didn't end. "Machi Harkness is the last one remaining. He's almost defeated Evermore with just his mind." Kai said as he removed the gear from her.
'How? Wasn't he only a level 2.' But looking at the screen, she noticed that he was up close to her.
"See this is a simulation. But no simulation can override a parents feelings." He waved and Evermore disappeared. "That's cheating." People yelled.
"Knowing your opponents weakness is not cheating." Hogwood yelled. Everyone remained silent as they watched the screens. But what happened next?
"Look who has arrived to save his son."
Machi turned around and saw him face to face with his father. Zac and Kai could only stare at the screen as the other scientist scrambled to figure out what was going on. And since this was based off of memories as well as an adapted simulation to test intellect, Evermore wondered if these were memories Rebus recorded when he was born - but he had no chip that all children are given when they're born - considering Freed attacked the birthing location Ever was in.
"Give me my son Freed." Rylan darkly spoke as his power began to grow. Machi watched. Just watched. "Your son seems so weak. Just being born from two powerful people. I guess you and Evermore can't try for more if you're dead."
Evermore watched as Machi lived the day his father died. And she could see it broke him deeply. It was hard to watch and she wanted to pull the plug. But Machi stayed.
"How does Rebus have anything on you?"
Machi asked brokenly. No tears were seen. That... was a good question. How did Rebus know of Freed? This was a third person perspective. He turned around and saw a face. "Dawson?" Jo was shocked by the revelation he had watched the whole fight. As Rylan took his final breath, saving his son, Dawson was released and Freed left.
"What the hell?!" Dawson yelled.
"I had to," Rylan said weakly as he held his son with a hole through his chest, "you had to witness it. Your memory of this fight will prove fruitful in the future. You saw how he fought."
"If you didn't keep me in statis I--"
Rylan shook his head and handed Machi to him. "T-Take him to Ever... tell her.. his name is Machi Kilgore Harkness."
But as he shut his eyes, Dawson held the baby in one hand and his friend in the other.
"Honestly I didn't think you'd see it." Machi turned around and noticed he was in a white plane. "Felt good reliving that." Freed. But it was prerecorded - as though he predicted this occurring. Machi reaching this plane, this simulation. "Oh, I knew Dawson was watching. Don't care."
"Why… how the hell are you here?" Machi snapped.
"Me? Well... I'm just an interpretation of that. Or not. Setting wheels in motion y'know. I shall reveal one thing Machi Kilgore Harkness. Your mind isn't that special compared to what you could do."
Zac stopped the simulation and Machi remained in the chair.
"IQ of 217." The voice said and everyone just looked to the boy who just watched a simulation of his father's death.
"Kiddo-"
"I don't have to go to school anymore." He smiled. Behind it, was anger and confusion.
***
"Why did his points increase just by watching? Did he figure something out through that simulation?" Anne asked. She was wondering this while the leaders of the cities were talking about who this Freed character was. As for Dawson...
"He's not saying a word." Zac sighed. Jo watched him from behind the glass before she walked in to see her husband she hadn't spoken to properly since his arrival home. He was in an interrogation room, considering he was now a subject to questioning about the fight that killed Rylan and made her son fatherless.
"I'm not going to ask why." She said as she sat down and looked to his bandages. "But you don't really think revenge is going to do anything right? I mean, look, Freed was an unknown to us then and is an unknown to us now-"
"I wasn't chasing him for revenge."
Oh Jo knew this. The man she married wasn't that stupid. "I wasn't chasing him period. I happened to... come across him when searching for something."
"Something?" Jo asked.
Seeing how he went silent, she sighed and got up, leaving the room. Zac tried to talk to her but she brushed him off and left the building altogether. It hurt like shit to Jo. She didn't think he would be like this after everything. She felt like throwing up, knowing that she was stuck in this position with her husband.
***
"He's asleep." Ever said as Zac walked in. "I had an escort pick up his friend Rocco." Feeling a pair of arms circle her, she was pulled into a hug and as much as she loved this, she wondered why.
Sitting on the couch, they looked at the screen and wondered what now. That seemed to be a frequent question more so now than ever before. "Dawson won't say a word. Not even to Jo."
Ever doubted that. Even though Dawson was an oddball, and he was a very... closed off character, he wholeheartedly trusted Jo. But also was protective of her, out of love. He went against his own beliefs and admitted his own feelings and even married her. "He needs time," Ever hummed, "to assimilate back into not bring on guard."
Zac looked at the clock and noticed it was way past midnight. "I don't think I want an early morning tomorrow." He yawned before getting up.
But the early morning they didn't want ended up happening. Evermore was the leader, with work to attend to. Zac was the escort for the leaders that were staying in Academy City. Let the busy day begin.