CHAPTER 12 - GAME OVER

Emotions have always been complicated to me.

I guess almost everyone feels that way. It's something we all share but yet as simple as it gets at times, it also proves to be one of the most complicated things in the universe.

I've spent a greater amount of my life deciphering my emotions and what I want. It also helps to give an insight into the minds of people around me. They're a major influence in how I feel, so I think our emotions should be related, connected.

The reverse is also applicable if my ideas are true. That's been my justification for keeping my feelings bottled and sealed. I tell myself that I'm protecting myself. People won't be able to understand me and they wouldn't be able to predict my moves.

The girl I was staring at was the second person to shatter that concept. Maybe the third, Ein did notice me in a sea of capable Savants as someone he had to have on his side but Ein probably didn't know why. As for Laplace, I assume her ability must have helped in analyzing my character. But for Joule it was a total mystery.

"Did Laplace tell you about me or do you know who I was before the playground?".

Joule was about to fire a bolt of supercooled ice obtained from atmospheric moisture at an unsuspecting enemy unit that ventured too close to their fort. The question caught her off guard, the ice melted and the odd combo of a medieval armored soldier crouched behind a sniper in front of her was drenched. He didn't seem to pay much attention to it though.

"What if I said that the reason I am interested in you is because when I first saw you, I felt a spark?"

"You should be more aware of yourself, a pretty girl shouldn't say such misleading words to a boy."

"I'm being serious here."

Coulomb's eyes narrowed.

"You remember me from the other side, you knew who I was from the beginning, right?".

"I'm not going to answer that."

"That's like saying yes and didn't I answer all your questions honestly?".

"You only did that because you suspected I could tell if you lied."

Her dismissal of his attempt to gain her trust hurt him a little bit but he retained his bored look. The fact that she was half right helped to make it easy.

"I could have stayed silent."

"Yes, you could have."

"Can you really tell if I lie?", he asked, "If you can then, how does it work?".

"What do you think?".

"Yes, and change in body temperature."

She resumed her onslaught on enemy units.

"Not bad."

"Don't do that."

"What?".

"Now you're feigning ignorance. I pride myself on being a master when it comes to these things."

She gave him a puzzled look. This time, her frost javelin still hit it's mark.

"You gave an ambiguous answer which sounds like you're agreeing with me but all you stated was that you understood what I said."

"Can you start working, it's annoying doing this by myself?".

"It's not like you're running out of MP or anything."

"MP?".

"Not a gamer?", he looked disappointed, "Are you sure we knew each other, or were you just some stalker?".

The soldier got drenched again. However he didn't act like nothing happened, his shivering betrayed the temperature of the water. He turned to ask for permission to change.

The literal inferno silenced him and he decided that he'd dry soon if she kept it up.

"Stalker?".

Joule's cold voice was barely audible due to the flames that had begun to make quick work of the tower's rocks.

"I apologize. I said something I shouldn't have."

"Huh?".

She was confused by his sudden change. He apologized too quickly and sounded so honest she could not really tell if he was.

"Then how did you know me, you don't strike me as the type of person who wouldn't have the courage to say what she thinks."

"You were already taken. I couldn't do anything."

Now this is getting interesting.

He took a guess. Her irritation gave him a pretty decent idea.

"Laplace?".

She smirked after a short pause that felt like eons to him.

She never did mention anything like that though.

"Laplace didn't even know about you till you got involved with Atlantis."

Atlantis?

No, that's unimportant.

Don't get distracted.

"Then do you remember who?".

"Why are you so interested?".

Yeah, why?

It's not like she's in the Playground and I did forget about her so she's not someone important to me.

"She's actually in the Playground. Closer than you think. I thought you knew."

"I don't have any memories of anyone in particular. Just hazy impressions of people. I know I had a sister. I know she had a dog that died young. I know I went to school and I know my classes. I remember I had friends, but I don't remember any of these people as people. Just as..... I can't really explain it. It's like someone told me about them, not like I personally knew them."

Joule looked at him with pity. As usual, her expression was short-lived. She quickly smiled.

"Schrodinger."

"What about her?".

"Ugh...".

Laplace groaned and returned to her job. Coulomb took his weapon and crouched beside the drenched soldier. He apologized for the trouble Laplace caused him and set his right eye on the scope.

He could now see all forms of electromagnetic radiation plus he accelerated the bullets using electromagnetic fields he generated. He was confident that he could hit anyone on the field no matter where they hid.

3 downed soldiers later, it hit him.

Oh...

That's what she meant.

Wait, what?

"What the heck is that?".

Joule was surprised at how dense he was and was about to ask him what he was going to do with that information when the centre tower collapsed in a cloud of dust. It was perfectly timed and executed, all of the soldiers around it were crushed by the rubble.

"What's Ein planning this time?".

Joule caught his mumur and hoped she never had to fight against the twins who he suspected were responsible for the destruction of the tower.

A second later the shockwaves from the destruction reached them and chaos was born.

===================================

"To think even Newton couldn't destroy the tower. A really powerful Savant must be protecting that tower."

"It's not like she was serious about it."

Schrodinger wasn't protecting Newton, she was just stating a fact to Laplace. Newton had only blew a gentle puff of air at the tower.

"She huffed and puffed, but she could not bring the house down."

Stein's jab had no effect on Newton.

"Your lack of knowledge of things everyone should know is scary. What kind of life did you live before the Playground?".

Stein's concern did the trick.

"I didn't know that you were so eager to meet death. I'd be glad to direct you to his doorstep."

She replied sweetly. Stein hid his discomfort by switching his attention to his brother and faking enthusiasm.

"Ein, let's handle this."

"Mmmn."

Stein activated one of his new abilities. He literally tore a rift in space-time with his fingernail. He held his brother's left hand with his and placed his right through the rift. His hand came out of another portal in front of their opponent's tower around the middle.

Normally, contact based abilities like Newton's were severely handicapped by the rules. However, the rules let you extend up to your elbow and knees out of your tower. Perfectly set up for this loophole.

"Ready?".

It was an unnecessary question. Even their contact was unnecessary. They could now borrow their abilities as long as their Efferent Zones overlapped and they were currently at a meter range for their EZ. So as long as they stayed within 2 meters of each other they could share abilities and also use their shared abilities. Matter - to - energy conversion should be possible without having to hold hands.

Mmmn.

The tower appeared to shake slightly and then became stable shortly after.

They're really strong, whoever it is.

"Why can't Newton break it?".

Schrodinger's question was a bolt out of the blue as usual.

"She's the Savant with the greatest Strength we've seen so far, she should be able to handle anything."

"Doesn't that just mean that she's not the strongest like we thought?".

Stein thought her logic was faulty.

"No, the reason we thought she'd be the strongest was because she was the only one who didn't get her inherent ability. Sure, it has been proven several times but that premise is the what fuels the belief. "

Ein's idea was easily accepted as the most reasonable but Newton decimated it.

"I have gravity manipulation now, didn't I say before?".

"Who said you could get it?", Stein gave her his most intimidating stare, "Now, you're useless."

"I didn't have a choice!",she replied hotly and continued in barely a whisper, "We didn't get to pick our abilities."

Seems she took that one to heart. Stein was just messing around though.

"I still think she can break it."

"Schrodinger....".

"Stein, open a portal."

"What?".

Ein opened one himself and gestured to Newton. Schrodinger was surprised that he was going along with her idea.

Newton brought out her panel and sighed. Then she brought 2 items out of her storage.

Stein tried to grab them but he missed and only succeeded in making her drop them. His goal was to get a clear look at the items, so he counted it as his victory.

After a few seconds of deliberation, they all came to the same conclusion. The items were actually one, a pair of gauntlets.

"Is that... Are those teddy bear fists?".

"Shut up, I didn't pick the design."

It was definitely the rounded limb common to teddy bears and old cartoon characters. The colour and texture added weight to the conclusion. Definitely cotton too.

Stein laughed and tried to pick one up. His amusement died when he tried to move it and it didn't budge at all.

He froze for a few seconds.

Someone is trolling me.

Maybe it shares similarities to a certain hammer.

Ein.... Thanks.

Stein gave up and hid behind his brother. Newton had a smug look that would have killed him if he saw it.

She equipped the gauntlets and stood in front of the portal.

"Whoa, the weight of that thing keeps increasing."

The triplet's who had been silently watching their antics turned to Laplace in sync.

"900 tonnes!... And climbing! "

"Newton, you're overdoing it. Just stop."

"I have to take it out in one hit. I have to make sure. You're the one who believes I can so just watch me, okay?".

"A million! ".

"Still not enough."

Newton's ability finally started taking it's toll on her. She didn't appear to be in pain, her hair just stood straight like she was electrified and her frilly clothes were stiff.

"A billion tonnes.", Laplace said breathless.

To think my brother has been taking punches from those devastating fists.

Ein hugged his brother who was crouched behind him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize what you've been going through."

"This seems to be as far as I can go."

"3 billion tonnes is already overkill."

Newton didn't bother with niceties this time. She threw a real punch despite the comical effect it had with her gauntlets.

The tower didn't appear to take any damage.

Then the entire field resonated with the sound of a tower crashing and dust scattered all around, creating a smokescreen.

"That's weird, the dust came from the direction of the centre to...".

"No way, did she destroy everything?".

Beta and Gamma's words shook everyone who heard them.

The dust cleared after a few seconds to reveal the tower behind them was still standing.

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

Then the target tower was revealed shortly after.

" Huh".

" So the towers are indestructible?"

"Did not see that one coming."

Ein, Stein and Schrodinger immediately got together and began thinking about how to get their opponents if they couldn't break the towers.

"Something definitely got destroyed and where did the dust come from ?", Alpha asked.

Laplace pointed at the center tower. Or at least what remained of it.

"Oh!".

"Ah!".

"Wow!".

"Damn!".

"Snap!".

"That's not all, all units died from the shockwave, even those in the towers were affected because they stood too close to openings. Also all Conquest soldiers are dead and 4 Savants on the top of the towers died from the force of the blast. Three are injured badly and 10 are unconscious from the concussion."

Laplace's status report made everyone unconsciously back away from Newton.

"Good thing I redirected the force of the blast, some people here might have died.", she said brightly without noting that the distance between her and her allies were increasing gradually.

"How do we win now?".

As if in answer to the question, the clouds formed Jolly's skull and eyepatch face.

"Um.... Due to unforseen circumstances....", there was a sharp intake of air and the sound of paper rustling probably from being tossed away which could explain his bored voice," Why did you have to do this?".

"Must your team always make things complicated?".

"Have a little pity on the organizer, would you?".

No one had any words to say to the mad skull. They quietly let him continue his rant at the team who caused the destruction.

After a while he resumed with a calmer but still very irritated expression and voice.

"So, as things are, the game can no longer proceed and since the number of Savants have been cut down by death, injury and loss of consciousness, the remaining 24 are free to proceed to any Floor. I added an item which grants you direct access to any floor of your choice. As some of you may have noticed, the 2nd Floor is ideal for setting up a HQ. Good luck."

As the clouds returned to their original shape, the Savants heard murmurs of how it was his fault and his promise to make objects crucial to the game indestructible.

That was impossible for this game but no one pointed it out. The Conquest soldiers couldn't be indestructible and he could have just disqualified everyone for losing all their units.

"How convenient, let's go back to the 2nd Floor."

"We can meet up with Coulomb and help him get up."

"Actually, I noticed something when scouting for damage. Coulomb and Joule are here. Together."

Schrodinger and Laplace recovered first from the shock caused by the contrast in action and character from Newton.

"The movement restrictions are gone, Einstein, take us to them."

"You're the last person I'd take orders from.", Ein replied to Alpha with a deadpan look.

=====================================

"I've been cheated by the skeleton. That's why he eagerly offered such a wonderful item. He planned to give us all along. To think I risked my life for this."

"All your weapons were destroyed by the blast too..."

"Damn, that's almost 90% of my weapons gone."

"There's an anomaly here, the temperature of that place just disappeared."

"Disappeared?".

"I can't sense any heat there."

The sudden change in topic didn't surprise him. He looked at where she pointed and immediately a pitch black distortion appeared in that location.

"Stein."

As Coulomb guessed, Stein, Ein, Laplace, Schrodinger, Newton, Alpha, Beta and Gamma came through the portal.

"Looks like the gang's all here."

"We're not your team mates."

The triplet's cooly countered Schrodinger in sync.

"Let's go down, I'll explain everything in my house. You're free to come if you want, Edison."

Coulomb used his gold card to call for a cylinder. They all entered (Beta and Gamma had to drag their brother) and Coulomb wondered how the size of the cylinder always appeared to be just about right from the inside everytime. The cylinder dropped as the useless thoughts dispersed.

"Don't you feel like we're forgetting something?".

Gamma's voice broke the weird silence in the cylinder.

==========================================

"They just left."

"What do we do, greet them?".

"We'll see them soon, there's no point. The number of Savants keeps dropping, it's inevitable."

The boy left the girls he was speaking with and went to the injured girl and the girl kneeling next to her. Both were surrounded by a green glow.

"Don't come too close, you'll disturb the process."

The injured girl replied with a lot of difficulty when she saw his pained face.

"The healer takes priority. If she died, we'd all be dead and the other two needed to be healed first since I don't have any abilities."

He brushed his fluffy afro with his fingers. He made the decision when his ability was triggered and his skin hardened, it happened too quickly so he couldn't control it. He just made the most of it by protecting their healer with his body.

"We're going down, but we're going to avoid contact with that team for as long as we can. They're nothing but trouble."

"But you won't lose to them."

"It's not about him. He can't lose to anyone."

One of the girls behind him spoke but the other corrected her. She was right. It was always about protecting his team from the beginning. He claimed it was because he couldn't die but they were beginning to doubt that. The four girls silently swore not to be a burden.

The head of the sixth member who was hiding in the tower appeared from the trapdoor. His body was still below the floor.

"Why do you assume that you all passed, he said the injured were eliminated."

"We took this test as a team, I think we should also pass or fail as a team."

"How naive, I'm done here. Pleasure working with you".

The boy with large glasses disappeared into the tower and soon a cylinder dropped through the tower leaving Darwin to his thoughts again.

Darwin was aware of how they felt and he didn't want to ruin their determination.

A Savant who can only control electricity, one who can only control water, one who's only good for healing and worse one with no abilities.

But they're my team and I'll protect them.

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"I've got information on all the people in the picture".

Marie left Rodney to the android (dubbed Andy by her) and stood behind Sam as he ran through several pages on his laptop.

"First, your brother went to the same school with the twins. Isabel also did but she graduated a year before and was literally already on the fast track of Mueller College. As for Becky, she's an adopted child of Michael and Thea. There's hardly any info on them due to that incident ".

Marie knew what he spoke of. Michael was accused of being heartless because of a statement he made and he didn't run any charities despite his wealth.

However someone close to him revealed that he was sponsoring almost a thousand children's education and had adopted several of them. Since it was done in secret, everyone assumed there was more he was hiding and the issue died when he implored the media to leave the children alone.

"Kathryn Reed, that's a troublesome one. She's the adopted daughter of Oscar and Kimberly Reed".

"Senator Reed?".

"Yup. The very same. And he's projected to be the next President."

"Zimmerman must have been influencing his rise as part of his plan to obtain autonomy."

"It sounds evil when you put it that way."

"Because it is!... Just how many people are under his control?".

"Best not to think about that."

She took his advice.

"Isabel, Gabriel and Raphael must have been friends with Tom "

"Isabel's actually his girlfriend".

"Oh..... He had a girlfriend, huh?".

Sam found her reaction amusing and decided to land the killing blow.

"Yeah, from the pictures I see on her Facebook, they've known each other for at least two years. Probably from when he started high-school."

"How did you..... Nevermind.From the beginning.... Was this erased or was it something I never knew?".

She was starting to lose her sanity. Sam realized that he had gone too far. He switched to a different subject.

"The twins moved here this year. They were in the same class but it appears that they didn't interact with your brother in school. Or with anyone for that matter. They barely attended school. Model students we got here."

"I'd never let Tom associate with people like that!".

"Oh, they have stellar grades though."

"....".

"And Raphael is quite the sportsman. Basketball ace and captain of the Tennis team too. Gabriel also seems to be part of several student associations and he's the vice-president of the Student Council. Impressive feats for people who barely show up for class."

"I do remember Tom suddenly wanting to play Tennis and accept the President's position in the chess club 5 months ago. Could it have been their influence? ".

"So at least 5 months ago. Thanks, you just narrowed my search."

"I'll keep trying to remember anything useful."

"This is..... 4 months ago, they disappeared. All four of them. There's absolutely no reference or pictures or anything. And Isabel seems to be an avid photographer. Strange."

"Could they have gotten involved with the Playground from then."

"It's probably Atlantis.", Andy spoke.

Marie assumed he was inactive because he said he wanted to recover his energy and would return when Rodney was awake. Also his glassy eyed stare coupled with the immobility...

Rodney!.

Marie returned to his side and noticed he was stirring.

"The Playground's gonna be a hit."

Marie was first taken aback by Rodney's choice of words. Then she processed the meaning of the words.

"What?".

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