12 Final Effort

"Get back here Nova!" I try to fly after her as she breaks through the glass on the window, but her wind is stronger than before and I'm surrounded by it. It's whirling around me so fast nobody can hear me. I reach up to my earpiece, only to see that it's busted, probably from the wind. Shoot, now I can't call for reinforcements. What was it she shouted down before she broke the window? Oh yeah, she said she'll explain it later. Should I believe that she's not just trying to escape?

"Looking down, I realize she caught all the glass and swept it away so nobody got hurt, and she covered herself with a cloud, making it so all the looking eyes couldn't see her. She's a nuisance and a rebel, but she is smart. She doesn't want anybody to panic, and I'm assuming she has a good reason for it. I don't think she's planning on running away, if so, I don't think her cloud would still be there.

I look down to where everyone's standing, and they all appear to have recovered from the shock of the window breaking and went back to what they were doing before. The cloud begins to fade away, leaving only a small cloud that I assume she was lounging on. Regardless of the situation, she doesn't seem to like exerting herself too much. I don't know though, she can book it when she wants to. 

Although her attention appears to be divided, her wind barrier around me doesn't seem to be weakening at all. She really is something special. Even though she hasn't had any training, she's more talented from the start than any of the students I've ever trained. 

Suddenly, her cloud dissipates completely and she flies away from where she was sitting, a man in his twenties launched unconscious off the steel plating that framed the glass dome. Right before he falls off the edge completely, a girl around the same age darts out and catches him, faster than what I think could be humanly possible. She hands the man to another person sitting next to them, and then turns to Nova.

When did those three get up there? Was Nova really the only one who noticed three villains trying to break into the school? Looking around, I realize she really was the only person who noticed. The girl says something to Nova, then pounces at her, catlike features revealed. She's got a mutation oddity, one of the stronger ones by the look of it. She misses Nova, but grabs onto her leg with her tail and pulls her off her wind platform. Nova tries to shake her off, but the cat girl lunges at her again, digging her claws into Nova's back and biting her neck.

The two begin to fight in the air, but Nova clearly has the advantage. Eventually, the cat goes flying off of Nova's back, but her claws and fangs drag long gashes before letting go. Even though Nova won in the air, these villains are definitely stronger than her. 

The blonde dude catches her and sets her down next to the unconscious kid, and then turns to Nova. He begins to fire red lasers at her. She dodged the first one, but the second one came at her too quick for her to completely dodge. She turns and takes it in the leg, making sure it didn't hit her in a vital spot. That still probably hurts like hell, she's missing an entire piece of her leg. She continues to dodge, but she can't beat them. I see the realization dawn on her face, and then a determined expression sets in.

No Nova, don't do this. I try to break out again, but she's still keeping the barrier strong. Even in her weak condition, she's determined to not let me out. Nova, please don't die here.

***********

"Dammit, if I'm going down you are too!" I can feel my power fading, I'm losing too much blood. I feel myself getting lightheaded, I can't keep dodging or I'm gonna die and then all the people down below are gonna get hurt. I start building up the wind around me, the loose strands of my hair flying around my face. 

Blondie keeps shooting beams at me, but I can't afford to break my concentration to dodge. Luckily enough, the wind changes the course of the beams just enough that they don't hit any vital organs. He hit my leg, then my arm twice. I keep taking a barrage of beams, taking more and more damage.

I keep building up the wind, using as much power as I can draw out from myself. I create a cyclone of wind around me, letting it gain power and slowly reach towards the villains. I'm in the center of it, hair and clothes whirling all around me in the violent storm. I launch myself at the villains, trying to suck them into the storm. Blondie grabs the cat and the unconscious kid in one arm, and holds on to the edge that he created while trying to cut the iron plate. 

I fly closer to them, the wind getting stronger and stronger until he can't hold on anymore, sending them flying into the cyclone.

"Nyaa! This chick is crazy! Come on Apex, wake up! We need you right now!" I send them spiraling faster, struggling to control the cyclone. I try to move away from the building, but I can only make it a couple feet before I freeze up, the strain on my body too great. 

"Ugh, what's happening?"

"Finally you're awake! This chick just went crazy and created a giant storm, and we're trapped in it!"

"That weak girl? Really?"

"I'll explain it to you later just hurry up and get us out of here before she sends us flying or something ridiculous!"

"Fine, but you owe me!"

"If anything you owe me, nimrod!" After arguing a bit, the guy called Apex created a portal and before I could stop them, they went flying through it and disappeared. Damn, they got away.

My brain's so fuzzy, I can barely think. I feel my power sputtering out, and my eyelids feel heavy. I start to fall, tumbling through the air. As I'm falling, I take one last look at the people in the room below. They all felt the cyclone, and witnessed most of the exchange with the villains. At least they're safe, I smile knowing that I was at least able to help the students. My eyelids close, and with a gentle smile, I fade into unconsciousness while I plummet towards the earth.