Stonebrook School
Zack was speaking with Kai. Kai held his grin, "Really?"
Zack replied, "Please, this is confidential. She told me not to tell you her whereabouts. She lost her powers; but now Aehr wants to meet up with her. I don't trust them, but I still feel she should give this a chance; perhaps they can help get her ability back."
Kai frowned, "Zack, you should know better; Aehr can't be trusted. But still, I'll take on her location and meet up with her; thanks for telling me."
Kai ran to his dormitory, packed his bag, and left thinking, "Mei is truly alive and here, hang on, I'm coming."
---
Fred's Apartment
Kai opened the door and saw Mei. Tears bubbled in his eyes. "Mei, Mei, is it truly you?" He fell on his knees. Mei walked towards him and cleaned his eyes, "Missed me?"
Kai smiled and hugged her tightly, "We thought you had gone... for good."
Mei patted his back, "I'm stronger than that. I thought you understood that statement."
Kai smiled again, "Well, you have a lot to explain to me; where you were all this while and..."
Mei placed her hands on his lips, "I will answer them, but the main thing I can only tell you for now is I truly died, but not fully... you know I don't know how to put it. Then I stayed in a realm still created by me till now. What I don't understand is...
"In the realm, I had my abilities, but now they're dormant."
They later sat on the couch and continued talking with each other.
"I guess Zack wouldn't keep his mouth shut."
Kai chuckled, "Yeah, he told me you're back, but he didn't want to expose that. He said the Aehr wants to meet up with you..."
Kai thought, "She may not even know who the hell is Aehr."
Mei held her grin, "They want to meet me?"
Kai stammered, "Wait, you know them?"
Mei nodded, "Uh uh... the doc explained all that changed since I left, a lot..."
Kai smiled, "It will be nice, you can finally step out and see everyone."
Mei quickly replied, "I know but it feels too fast... no doubt Zack is capable but it feels too easy."
Footsteps were heard.
It was Elizabeth. Elizabeth moved towards them and said, "Then it might be worth taking some precautions. Request to meet up in a public place... maybe the cafe."
Elizabeth crossed her arms and continued, "That way, there can be witnesses around. This is Aehr after all; we don't know what kind of strings they can pull."
Mei frowned, "Yeah."
Kai looked at Mei and thought, "Shit, that's right, I didn't even think of that. Mei is probably under much stress, she just got back."
Kelvin at the back was drinking coffee. Elizabeth turned to him and said, "Kelvin and I can come along."
"We will keep an eye on the area."
Kai was still thinking, "I can't afford to lose her again."
He spoke up, "Uhmm, I wanna come too."
But Elizabeth held his shoulder, "Kai, since that VIREX attack, your abilities if not kept at rest for now may become dormant. Same goes for Mei, since she arrived her abilities were shut down. If the need be, there is an emergency, Kelvin can teleport both of us. It's best you stay."
Kai became sad, he thought, "Why is it always like this."
Mei stared at him, but the door slam got their attention. It was Fred. He came out yawning. When he saw Kai, he screamed, "Mei... Kai is here!"
Mei chuckled, "It's okay Fred, Zack told him."
Fred frowned, "That bird will chirp this to everyone."
Kai stood up, "Fred, how long did you know about this?"
Fred frowned, "Follow me."
Kai followed along. Fred said, "I've been working on that amplifier Gwen saw on Lila, and I was able to prepare a formula, so you are going to..."
Kai picked up the bottle and drank it.
Fred got pissed, "What the fuck, I didn't say you can take it yet!"
Kai huffed, "Honestly I didn't hear a word you said, but you wanted me to drink it, right?"
Fred held his face, "Yeah... do you feel any different?"
Kai looked at his leg, turned his back, then faced Fred, "Nope."
---
Later
Kai and Mei sat in the dryer room. Mei sighed, "I don't even know what it's like being outside anymore."
But Kai didn't answer. Mei tapped him, "Kai."
"Huh?" Mei smiled, "Lost in thought?"
Kai sighed, "Mei, have you seen a book online named Mind Cultivation Psychic Path?"
Mei remembered, "You're worried about Jin?"
Kai wavered and said, "I know Jin. He knows how to take care of himself. I just haven't heard from him for a while now, that's all."
Mei moved closer to Kai and held his hands, "We can skip school next week and go visit him."
Kai smiled, "I'm in."
As they carried the clothes out, Fred popped out his face. Kai, in shock, yelled, "What the hell, man?"
Fred stood still and said, "So... is the mixture taking effect?"
Kai looked at his body again and said, "Uhmm, same as before."
Fred stroked his grin, "It doesn't make sense, it's been over an hour, the effects should have kicked in by now."
---
Later...
Kai and Mei were folding the clothes. Fred came in, "What about now?"
Kai sighed, "Nope."
Mei and Kai sat down with Kelvin to eat pizza. Fred was watching them from the kitchen. Kai whispered to Mei, "He's gonna burn a hole into my back."
Fred yelled, "Now?"
Kai sighed again, "Look doc, it's not working, okay?"
Fred folded his arms and sighed, "Ses, the amplifier is not potent enough. I'll need to do a stronger mixture and research."
Kai stood up and waved at Elizabeth and Mei, "Okay, I got to go now, before they find out I'm not in the dormitory."
Kelvin held Kai. Mei smiled and waved at him, "When next we see, it will be in school."
A teardrop fell from Kai's eyes, "I'm just happy you're alive."
Vanish!
They disappeared away.
---
That night
Elizabeth turned on the bed, she could not feel Fred. She stood up and went to the living room. She folded her arms and sighed.
Fred heard the noise and turned, "Oh, it's you."
Elizabeth walked towards him and kissed him, "I know you want to find a cure for Mei and Kai, but if you stay up this late, you will catch a fever."
Blush formed on his face.
She went back to the room, "Don't be so hard on yourself."
"I know you will figure things out."
Fred smiled.
--