Heartbeat Institute for The Evolutionally Advanced || IC

[xPureAdorationx]

xx Hell xx
When I started this school I was ridiculed, criticized and hated. I started a school full of students who were my age and a school full of students and teachers people thought I couldn't control. Though they underestimated me. The world needed heroes. Who gave it to them? I did. I developed an elite team of crime fighting heroes. Why? Because I know how villains function, but even better I know how to control the uncontrollable.

I may seem like another pretty face or just another weakling, but images like that is what I want them to see. In the end I'll destroy anyone and everyone. These students. They can underestimate me all they want. When it comes down to it. They'll really regret their wrong doings. As for the teachers most of them know. I'm sure John has already had a little taste of what I can do and many of my lab partners know about the developing projects. I wasn't made headmistress of this school for nothing. Because here at Heartbeat I am it's pulse. Without Hell there wouldn't be a Heartbeat...

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xx John xx

I kept running my fingers over that scar thinking about the anger I saw in her eyes. She was so much worse than Liz. When I hit the wall she came towards me. I saw it with my own eyes. The dark wings of flame and all the fire around her. Her eyes they were filled with so much hate and all I could think of was that I was going to die. Then when I blacked out all I could hear was here sweet voice. The words she said...

Angels were never meant to kill. You will live, I promise you

I'll never forget those words. I'll probably never understand what they meant at all either.

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xx The Warden - Brenden Cross xx

The hardest part about being Warden is having to deal with Hell. When I first met her I wondered why they called her Hell. She had other names before like Synge, Helion and flame girl. Those all made sense, but hell? I thought hey that girl is pretty and there's no way she could be much trouble.

I was wrong. The second she stepped in with our first prisoner, I was sure I was definitely wrong. There she was burning up a storm our now paranoid prisoner crying his eyes out. This guy was a mass murderer and was crying because of a victoria secret model on fire. It was funny because she can propel her fire. She threw the guy at least fifty feet across the hall and he landed near me. This school year.... boy I wish those students luck

 

[nickdelight]

“What? I forgot to introduce myself? I’m Armel”

Armel walked out into the hallway and waited for Matt before walking. He looked around at the other doors wondering who the neighbours were. He made a mental note to remember to introduce himself and offer to help move boxes or other stuff. Looking at Matt, Armel thought about what was said earlier. He frowned and thought hard since he couldn’t remember spoiling any mystery. Then the faintest of memories crept up on him in the back of his mind and the words he said.

“Sorry about spoiling the mystery for you. I’ve honestly never read that book, just said it because it sounded funny.”

He smiled sheepishly then added, “Besides isn’t it the journey rather than the ending that makes a story a good story?”

Armel looked up and saw they were already at the coffee shop. He opened the door for Matt and smiled.

“You first Boss.”

 

[NiteCrowe]

I shrugged off his apology and followed him to the shop.

When he offered me to go in first, i was....slightly surprised...and so with a mental push, the door opened and i entered the Shop, ordered a Cappucino and sat down, waiting for Armel.

When he did finally sit down, I asked my first question, speaking for the first time since we left our room.

'So Mr Armel the Matter Changer, What brings you to Heartbeat High...'

 

[nickdelight]

Armel took a gulp of his ice coffee as he thought about Matt’s question. He had never really thought hard about why he wanted to come to the Hearbeat Insitute. When he had first heard about it from his mother he found the fact that it was a school for the evolutionary advanced appealing. It was a place where the other students wouldn’t be afraid of him just because he could do things they couldn’t, or worry if his powers went off accidentally.

“At first, I guess it’s just a place where I could belong, understand my powers better. But I now that I’m here I feel like there is so much more. I feel like I could make the world a better place.”

He looked around and smiled.

“Then again seeing a picture of the Headmistress was a big incentive as well.”

Armel laughed and looked at his roommate.

“What your story Matt?”

 

[NiteCrowe]

I ran my hand around his coffee cup, enjoying the warmth, and stared at it curiously.

What was my story.

'My Mum died giving birth to me, so my dad raised me. He was a cop, and I guess that you can tell by my accent, and english. My Dad helped me with my powers, as apparently my mum had similar powers. He died a year back, and I took up a life of crimefighting...'

I chuckle and take a gulp of my drink.

'It wasn't what I expected, I had to grow up quickly and learn to control my powers, and to cope with seeing things an eighteen year old shouldn't. Basically I should have being having fun but I didn't. Anyway, eventually i heard of this place and applied to teach, but despite my experience i was told by our dear headmistress, whom is only several months older than me, that i was too young, and so I became a Pulse student instead.'

I paused and let a grin come to my face, 'Woah, talk about blabbering on haha.'

 

[xPureAdorationx]

xx Hell xx [I've already used up my three NPCs. Warden, John and the Senior Student Arctic]
I looked at my watch to see that it was only lunchtime. How I hated how slow these days went. I walked off in the direction of the coffee shop my nerves already to a point of boiling. By the time I was at the Heartbeat Coffee shop I was already in flames. Some of the older students the seniors were used to this. So they simply chuckled and murmered things about their memories as Freshmans. I had to stop about a foot away from the counter to make sure I didn't set anything on fire. Luckily one of the seniors knew how to calm me down. How to subdue the flames enough that I would control it.

Arctic came within a foot of me and used his powers to create a gust of cold wind around me. I closed my eyes and the flames disappeared.

"Thanks Lloyd." I say softly.

"Freshmans...." Lloyd scoffed and sat back down with the Senior girls he was chatting with.

I walked up to the counter and waited. They knew my usual. In moments a medium carmel lite was in my hands. I sat down alone and sipped away at the frozen drink. The coffee soothing my nerves.

 

[nickdelight]

Armel smiled at Matt’s statement.

“It was deep man, real deep. It’s refreshing to know that I’m not sharing the room with a laconic tough guy.”

Armel finished his coffee and pushed his cup aside. He shouldn’t have been surprised to hear that his roommate was a crime fighter, this whole campus was full of them, but he was. Given his experience with crime fighters was limited, but he had met some while working for his father. Those “superheroes” weren’t so reserved. He mentally made a face as he remembered how long that photo shoot took.

“Anyway you said you’re a pulse student? Interesting, have you started your special training or gone on missions yet?”

When the temperature rose in the coffee shop Armel looked at the door and wasn’t surprised to see the place was now being heated by Helen. He wondered what student could've pissed her off now and hoped it wasn’t him. It was with interest that he watched an obviously popular student cool Helen down. Armel thought that it’d be good to have that one on his side the next time he pissed off Helen; if only to quickly put out the flames so he doesn’t end up a pile of ashes.

Armel looked over at Matt and grinned.

“There’s Mistress Hell, what say we invite her over?”

He didn’t wait for his friend to reply before he stood up and walked over to the Headmistress. He smiled and pointed to an empty chair at the table he had just come from.

“Mistress Hell, looks like you had a tough day eh? Would you like to come over to our table over there? I find the best way to relieve stress is not to shoot off, but to have good company. Matt, my roommate over there is a great listener and I’m… well you know me.”

He smiled sweetly and hoped he wasn’t going to get flamed.

 

[NiteCrowe]

I took a gulp from my drink, considering Armel's words...He obviously hadn't made the cut then...

I was about to answer when the room got warmer, and I knew instinctively that our dear headmistress had entered the building, and grunted in annoyance as Artic, or should I say teacher's pet, helped her stop burning.

The next sentence that came from Armel's mouth surprised him and he hadn't even had chance to answer before he'd left and offered and invitation.

 

[xPureAdorationx]

xx Hell xx

As headmistress I had to be nice. I had to play nice and I had to like all of the students. As headmistress that was extrememly hard, because I hated freshmans. With all my heart. Arctic I had hated ever since he joined the school, but he gained my better judgement. I sat down with the two students. I had already known Matt because he was one of the members of my Pulse team. I also clearly remembered that he was one of the younger ranks that resented Arctic. That didn't bother me though. It was a natural thing. Arctic was as cocky as anyone could get.

I'm in control....I'm in control...No flames can exist without my control.. I had to keep thinking this to myself in case I decided to set someone on flame by accident.

"I know who he is Armel. He's one of my trainees on the pulse team." I take another sip of coffee. This conversation would either end in ashes or I'd kill myself just to save me from it.

"At the end of today. It will be signified by last bell about two hours from now. You will join me for detention Armel."

I'm sure matt knew quite well what I did to students in detention. They were to fight me or one of the pulse students in the simulation chamber. Not one student has won. Mainly because all of them were freshmans without training. They didnt' know my tactics nor the extent of my powers. So now it was up to met to teach Armel a lesson about entering Stroke pen..

"So Matt would you like to volunteer to take my place in Armel's detention today or will I have the pleasure?"

 

[CountV]

After finally getting rid of the parents and the students I decided to go to get some tea.. There was never a decent tea at the cafeteria, I always had to just ask for hot water and take the herbs myself.

I walk in and see that it’s crowded… oh my luck. Hoping nobody notices me, or actually hoping nobody comes to bug me I make my way and request the hot water.

As I turn around I notice the headmistress with two students... now this is new... they are going to get on her nerves and someone will have to put out a fire.

"Hurry with that water please"

 

[NiteCrowe]

I smiled politely as Mistres Hell joined us and raised an eyebrow as i realised several things...

Firstly; Armel had detention, hence the band.

The other were ignored though, as I listened casually to what was said.

Boy, Armel was going to be in for a hard time...

I look up at her Question, 'If you don't mind, headmistress, i'd like to take on Armel in his detention.'

I knew i hadn't told him exactly what my powers were and I knew that if I used a small bit of deception, I could fool him into thinking my powers were purely telekinetic.

Mind you, I was also a proficient fighter, so even if he did figure my powers out, he'd be in for a tough time.

 

[nickdelight]

Armel was pleased that Helen had decided to join them. She was nice and less distant than other authority figures. Yet personally there was a high wall that kept her aloof. There was something similar in Matt. Armel wondered if it was part of the pulse training to detach your self from everything and those around you. If that was the case then he doubted he’d make it since it was his nature to wear his heart on his sleeve. It was also his nature to act the daring fool, but that was a way of getting attention.

“Wow detention already Mistress Hell? You must like me or something to remember me personally.”

It seemed he was now learning more of the consequences of his failed venture earlier on. He was intrigued; Helen asking Matt to take her place signified it wasn’t going to the usual type of detention. Armel scratched his chin as he speculated over what the definition of detention meant.

Armel looked back and forth at the two other people at his table.

“If you’ll excuse me but what is detention going to be? I thought it was just me sitting at a desk listening to the clock tick and maybe cough just to have something to do. I don’t like surprises.”

 

[xPureAdorationx]

I looked at both of them and listened to my Empathy. Matt had no secrets to hide. Plus if he had failed me and gone easy on Armel then I would personally chat with him myself. Though Matt was one of my favorites because he did what I asked. Plus this was training for him as well. He needed to learn how to fight off the most unpredictable attacks. Material changers were a bit easier, but they were close enough to shapeshifters. Shapshifters, They were one of the worst in the changing business.

"Actually Armel you're just like every other student in my agenda. Detention, suspensions and expulsions I deal with personally. Expelled students are thrown into the penitentiary or sent home it all depends on the offense. As for suspensions. They spend it in solitary confinement at Stroke. It's not fun. As for detentions that you will find out very soon. I'm sorry about surprising you, but you decided to try and surprise my guards."

I turned my attention to Matt and smiled.

"I'm glad. I'll have another student or myself take care of Armel tomorrow and then I'll assign others for the rest of the week. He tried sneaking into Stroke. My punishment is less harsh then Warden's. If you keep this up Matt you'll be up there with Arctic."

I sipped down more of the frozen drink and felt both their emotions carefully, being an empath was the most important part of my powers. Again it helped me guess what was going to happen next.

 

[NiteCrowe]

The fact that my answer to take the headmistress's place had surprised Armel, was obvious. This was even further proved by the questions he asked.

And to be honest, I think he was shocked even more when Hell answered him.

The her attention turned to me. Listening I nodded, ruefully. So he tried sneaking into Stroke, that was definitly a bad move.

Then she said something that surprised even me a little. Artic was a Cocky fool, and to be honest there wasn't any room for it in what we did. As for power, I doubted i'd that i'd ever come close to matching him. Not that I wanted to, I simply wanted to be at my best, as that would be the best way for me to help others, rather than tiring myself out proving myself over and over again. Becuas eif i wanted to beat Artic, thats what it would take.

And I just wasn't like that. I was like my dad, a beat cop through and through, I had no aspirations for leadership at all.

And I definitly wasn't going to go easy on Armel, far from it...

 

[nickdelight]

Arnel patted the centre of his chest and hung his head, feigning hurt.

“And here I thought I was special, oh well.”

He looked over at Matt and gave him a thumbs up. Whoever Arctic was he was someone Helen thought highly of. He was glad that his roommate got some recognition; their conversation earlier had shown that he resented not getting the chance to teach.

“Way to go Matt. Hey if I keep screwing up and you just kick my ass – you’ll be teacher’s pet in no time. The only flaw in this nearly flawless plan is that I need to get my ass kicked.”

He pretended to wince and shook his hand in a gesture like getting his fingers burnt.

“On second thought lets not get my assed kicked, I’m sure there’s someone else’s you could do that to and I’ll be right there to help you out.”

He decided he needed another coffee and got up. He saw the dapper man clothed all in white waiting at the counter. He smiled at the man and placed his order. He hummed while he waited looking around, paying closer attention to the group of seniors from earlier. When his coffee finally arrived he gratefully took the cup in both hands and took a gulp, it scaled his tongue and his throat burnt but the feeling more than the coffee jolted him a bit. It seemed that the power nap hadn’t helped much he was still feeling fatigued. But he was a trooper and had done bouts without sleep. He just hoped he wouldn’t have to use his powers.

Armel sat back down and smiled at Helen and Matt. He took a sip this time from his coffee then remembered.

“Damn sorry you two I forgot to ask if you wanted something.”

He smiled and dug into his pocket.

“May I offer either of you a drink?”

 

[xPureAdorationx]

xx Hell xx
I shook my head. I never took drinks from students. Last time one of them tried to play a nasty trick. I had the Warden fly him up and hang the kid upside down on the flagpole. That made him learn his lesson. A small grin tugged at the corner of my lips.

"Well Armel you're more right than you know." I chuckle taking the last sip of coffee. I concentrated on the cup and it burst into flames.

"Not bio degradable so I burn them." When I was finished there was nothing left, but a singe mark on the table. Clarisse knew how to deal with it she didn't mind.

"Matt Armel come with me. I'll take you to the simulation room. After all detention is for an hour and there are no classes anyway. Detention can be earlier."

I motioned them to follow me to the Pulse training center. Students could got there to work out, but they could never go into the simulation room. One because it was offlimits and too because it was guarded by our computer.

 

[nickdelight]

“Did I just see the Headmistress smile? I wonder what it could’ve been that amused her so?”

Armel threw back his drink draining it to the dregs. He followed Helen and threw the cup away on the way to the door. He regretted that he couldn’t turn it into something more biodegradable. If he survived this lesson he’d have talk to the owner about being more eco-friendly. He would also have to ask if the coffee was fair trade.

When they got to the training centre Armel was intrigued. His training involved the most rudimentary of places. He was lucky if there was anything more advanced than a treadmill in the places he’d been in. His natural curiosity wanted to touch all the buttons just to see what they would do and he hoped that maybe there’d be some cool weapons, preferable not aimed at him.

While he looked around, unable to focus on anyone thing, trying to take in everything he asked,“So what is this place and what does it do? Can I come here anytime?”

 

[xPureAdorationx]

xx Hell xx
I waved my hand over the sensor as I created flames. It was a power detector. It was basic identification, but higher leveled scanning down to the very genes that creat the power. If it didn't match the simulation alarm went off. You couldn't access the room without it.

"This is the Pulse Simulation room. This is where my elite team Trains."I sighed realizing twenty questions was going to be necessary if this kid was trying to stay out of trouble.

"No after detention or before it, you're not allowed in this room ever unless under any of the pulse supervision. This is another off limits place."

I didn't bother explaining the security cameras and alarms, plus the access sensor. I didn't really care if he made the mistake of trying to sneak in. I enjoyed punishing my daring students. Daring is what gets most heroes killed. I teach them about strategy and of course I do teach them about how to be daring in a smart way.

"Computer simulation desert..." I command and the computer responds. In moments a realistic and reactive desert is around us. My heels sink slightly in the sand though I pay no attention to it. I walk out skillfully and sit behind the thick bullet proof glass and simulation panels. I sit down to monitor the beginning of Detention. I press a button and speak into a mic which allows me to speak with the students within simulation.

"He's all yours Matt.." I say sitting and watching what was to come.

 

[NiteCrowe]

I simply nodded and rose with the others, glad that I had actually picked up my fun balls before coming out.

Ahh, the fun balls...Wooden balls with an Iron centre. Makes it look like I am purely telekinetic.

Which was part of my plan.

As we walked along, my mind was on tactics to use against Armel, I knew his power, he didn't fully know mine, and I was a proficient fighter.

Yeah, I wouldn't go easy on him, that wasn't my type, but it'd be better than him going up against Artic or Hell.

The most he'd get from me is bloddied, bruised and perhaps a broken bone or two...which in honesty was a lot better than getting Neumonia, Frostbite and Burnt...

 

[NiteCrowe]

As the simulation began I was glad for a few reasons.

A) The Desert would slow him down but not me...Not when i could hover an inch above it.

Concentrating, I took control of the wafer thing iron plates in the soles of my shoes and without smiling or grinning I rose slightly off the ground.

I wouldn't smile or take pleasure in this, i'm not that sadistic.

Still watching him, I reach into my pocket and pull out five of the ten funballs I had with me and lifted them out of my hand so that they hovered infront of me.

I concentrated on them, and slowly they began to spin and move around.

Then I pushed, and they flew off at Armel in different directions, each at about the half the speed of a bullet.

I was sure he'd be able to avoid one, or even two, but i very much doubted he'd be able to avoid all five.

 

[nickdelight]

Armel chuckled, detention was going to be a lot more fun than he expected, much more real than he liked. He watched the simulation room suddenly take on the appearance of desert and suddenly the steady foothold he had was shifting under fine grains of sand. He was impressed.

Armel took off his shirt and ripped it at the seams. He wrapped the remains of his shirt around his head and face, a crude turban and mask. He took a deep breathe and quickly stretched his muscles, watching Matt warily, waiting to see if he would make a move. From his pocket he took out the ball he was playing with earlier and began rolling it in his hand. He quickly turned his head towards the glass panel and waved to Helen, giving her a big smile as well. When he looked back at Matt he felt rather than saw the balls. The beating of his heart got louder and the adrenaline began to pump.

Quickly, Armel grabbed the ball with his other hand and seemed to stretch the ball out in a long flat piece of rubber. He wished there had been some time to put in some finer details in the shield but it would serve its purpose. Just as he had the shield ready, the first ball came for him, his instincts took over and he whacked it away. A second ball hit him in the back, causing him to cough hard. A third hit him on the thigh causing his leg to feel funny. Armel gritted his teeth feeling sand crunch between them. He hated deserts, because he hated eating sand all the time. Ignoring the numb sensation in his leg Armel whacked another ball that was aimed for his head and turned his shield into a plastics board. He hopped onto his board and kicked off, speeding towards Matt, making an erratic zigzag as he switched from left to right. He felt a ball whiz past, clipping his hair. Armel kicked off really hard closing the distance. When they were less than two metres apart, Armel yelled, “Nothing personal, Boss.” He leapt off his board and threw a left hook/right hook combination at Matt.

 

[NiteCrowe]

Matt was impressed by his use of a shield, and even more impressed by the use of the board.

He still wouldn't grin, he'd never take pleasure in such a thing, but was glad for the fact that he had placed trace elements of ferrous material in all his clothes.

As Armel went to punch him, He pulled himself backwards a metre out of his immeadiate reach, and as Armel was now openely vulnerable, the balls, already quite close, zoomed in quickly aiming for five places, the black of the head, the back of his legs and his mid back.

Surely he wouldn't be able to avoid every one of them.

 

[nickdelight]

Armel panted from the effort of throwing those punches and having it miss. His senses were heightened, time seemed to slow. The cloth of his mask was moist and clung to his lips as it rose and fell with every breath. Sand mixed with his sweat clinging to his body as second skin that crackled with every move no matter how small.

Again he felt the balls coming towards him and this time he didn’t have his shield. As he landed from his leap earlier he dropped to his knees, his hands spread out to brace himself against the impact of the fall. He quickly turned around and slapped his hands hard into the sand concentrating on changing the sand before him into a mixture of ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, and zinc. He pulled his hands out of the mixture and spat in it. He leapt as hard as his quickly tiring body could take him, his heart firing off at a rapid pace, not only from the exertion but because he knew what was going to happen.

The sand exploded with a bright flash of light. The force of the explosion had knocked the balls off course and pushed him further than he could’ve leapt in these soft conditions. A huge plume of dust and smoke filled the air and created a screen between Matt and himself. Hot sand rained down on him, singeing his exposed skin. He rolled onto his back and got up. He had the biggest grin on his face as he remembered the last time he had done that trick, though he had never made so much of the compound. He had no time to admire the small crater his little explosion had left in the sand, as he sprinted towards Matt coming through the smoke screen like nightmare charger.

 

[xPureAdorationx]

xx Hell xx [This other NPC will be somewhat of a switch off between the Warden and such. He's kind of a necessary character]

I was quite amused with this show of skill. Matt had obviously been working on all his skills through and through and Armel was doing quite well for a first time detention student. The others simply gave up ending up in the infirmiry with Skeltra. Skeltra was a natural healer. Using her skills she could heal a small cut with a simple touch of her hand. As for deep gashes it only took a few minutes. When it came to life threating gashes now those took at least an hour to heal. Thanks to her half our pulse team survived my very...harsh training.

After this session was over I'd send both boys to her healing touch. Nothing was not healable under her touch. Though students with uncurable diseases served as a very hard challenge for Skeltra. It took years for her to heal just one with cancer. It seemed as though whatever entity created our world made sure that we still faced turmoils. As for sessions with Arctic tomorrow...I was quite sure Armel would really be in for it. Arctic was related to me by marriage. Somewhat of a step-brother if you will. I've known him for quite a while and sparring was our favorite past time with one another.

He had learned much about fighting with me which of course made him the star of the student body of Pulse and Heartbeat. Though no one really knew our past. Arctic when it came to undertrained students was untouchable. He could even keep up at least an hour with the warden or myself. Poor Armel would be really in for it tomorrow. Though for now I would give him a taste of what was in store. Matt was in the higher ranks of pulse. Though along with at least three other students he was up against Arctic. As for the teachers of our unique team they still outranked the students due to years of experience and combat.

Though there are only three left of the original team. Myself, Brenden [Warden] and Annihilation. The three that were the heart of Heartbeat. We were the three that would possibly always out rank everyone else. I myself over trained and I had a secret. The Warden had super human powers with a weakness only one weakness no one really knew. As for Annihilation. She spends most of her years inside Stroke. She doesn't like the outside world and what she can do. Annihilation came to us from space. She doesn't know anything of her origin and looks nothing like a human.

Her real name is Anukara Minua. Though she takes on the name annihilation. Her power consists of controlling natural elements. Fire, Water, Earth and Air. Those were the only ones we knew. Though it seemed that she could create natural disasters with a twirl of her finger. When she came to us she was a kind of liquid metal. She took the form of whatever she wished. We figured out that she was female because the only creatures she mimicked were of the female species. She speaks no english or a language that we can understand. Though she has her ways of communicating. The few times she is seen is when we need her the most. Then she takes my form. Therefore most people mistake her for me. Which is of course in her delight.

What makes us so special? Each of us are the last of our kind. At least Warden and I are, but as for Anukara we do not know.

 

[NiteCrowe]

I grunted as sand suddenly flew into my face, and it quickly took me a second to realise that I was vulnerable becuase i couldn't see, and Armel probably knew that as well.

And so I propelled myself upwards and was soon several metres above the 'sandstorm'.

Unfortuantly the Sand contained no ferrous material, which was probably why Hell chose it.

But that was also be useful...it meant that there would only be one place down there with ferrous metals present.

Armel's bloodstream.

Still not grinning, I reached out and found him. He was moving around, looking for me no doubt. I knew I had to be careful, If you played around too much with the bodies iron, bad things could happen.

So I decided to manipulate as little metal as i could. say for example...the metal present in a little finger.

Concentrating Hard, with sweat beginning to appear on my forehead, I reached out and took control of the trace iron in his little finger of the left hand....

...and severed it completely off.


I just hoped he didn't play guitar.