Chapter 1

After the fall of The DUP at the hands of the Conduit hero Delsin Rowe, humans and Conduits lived in relative peace. Of course there were people that used their powers for nefarious purposes. That simply can't be avoided. However, all Conduits were no longer blamed for the actions of those who couldn't responsibly handle their powers.

Most Conduits preferred to live their lives like normal everyday citizens, going to work, picking up groceries. Mundane things like that. Some chose to be heroes and save the innocent and, as mentioned before, some of them were just assholes. Anyway, Conduits are treated fairly now. Well as fair as humanity treats regular humans at least. Let's be honest, either way life is still gonna suck, everywhere you go there's some asshole who thinks he's better than you or wants something that isn't theirs. It's human nature.

But, I'm rambling at this point. This isn't a story about me, the Author, it's about two kids with powers like they could have only dreamed and what they choose to do with said powers. So, let's begin…

Our story begins in the cafeteria of a high school somewhere in America. I'm gonna be honest with you I don't want to name a specific location or city because then I'd have to learn the names of the streets and shit and I don't feel like all that. Call me lazy but that's just how it is. The name of the city, if you must know, is… fuck it, San Federico or some shit. Look you came here for a story and that's what I'm giving you, don't judge me.

… I'll just start over from the beginning.

Our story begins in the cafeteria of a high school in the city of San Federico. Particularly it begins with two students of said school, Xander Cross and Ryan Faraday, whose Conduit abilities have already awoken.

Xander's power is a little confusing, there's no real way to understand exactly what his power is called. He does a whole bunch of shit like, teleportation, telekinesis, enhanced reflexes, agility, mild super strength, and even controls different types of matter like sometimes its electricity or it's fire. It would seem as if he just does what he wants, but that's not true. I'll go deeper into how it all works later.

Yes, I just broke the fourth wall and told you what I'm gonna do. Deal with it.

Ryan's powers are much more reasonable and simple, he's an electrokinetic. He can store and utilize electricity. His powers are similar to Cole Macgrath's but a little more unique. He can of course use shit like electromagnetism to pick stuff up like it were telekinesis, but a few things he can do that Cole couldn't are;

He can control someone's movements by sending electrical signals from his mind to theirs and make their muscles move involuntarily. (It's not exactly controlling them, it's more like he's giving them a muscle spasm.)

He can fly in the same way that Macgrath could glide, except he is actually flying. He creates an electromagnetic field around his body that keeps him in the air indefinitely. (He also uses this power to jump incredibly high and far.)

He can travel through electrical grids by turning into pure electricity.

He can turn into static and go invisible.

He can communicate through radio waves.

The energy coursing through him also allows his mind to think at a rapid speed, making his reaction time faster..

Now, Ryan isn't aware of all of these abilities yet, but I like to explain shit ahead of time every once in awhile. Don't worry he'll use them eventually. Or maybe he'll use them now, I'm telling the story, fuck chronology.

Anyway, here's what's about to happen, I'm gonna describe how they look real fast. Then the dialogue and shit will start. Ok? Cool...

Xander is 5'11 and lean. That means he has some muscle definition but not to the point where he looks like he could eat a bear and fuck two girls at the same time. He's African American and his skin is light brown. Kinda like a caramel brown or something. He's wearing a red hoodie with the sleeves rolled up enough to show his forearms. The hoodie is zipped up halfway, showing the black t-shirt underneath with the word "AWESOME" on it in red lettering. His pants are black joggers, not the sweatpants type, with those stupid zippers on them that aren't even pockets, like why the fuck would you put zippers there if I can't put shit inside?... Anyway, his shoes are white and red and the laces are white.

Figured I should tell you the color of the laces so you could better imagine how they look. You're Welcome…

Ryan is the same height as Xander, give or take a few inches. He's a little more muscular but not that much. He's Caucasian with a nice tan. He's wearing jeans similar to Macgrath's in style and fit but without the Union Jack logo. Their colored dark denim blue faded. His shoes are black sneakers with white soles, made for running and climbing.

I figured I should put some space in between the paragraph. It just ain't look right... Anyway, his shirt is white with slightly darker shoulders and short sleeves. He has a black sling bag on his back with the strap going from right to left. He also wears gloves that are grey with a white center. He styled his outfit very heavily off of Cole Macgrath, who he admires for obvious reasons.

The two friends are sitting at a table in the middle of the busy cafeteria, opting to not eat lunch because school lunch tastes like dick on shit flavored bread.

"Dude I figured it out." Ryan said excitedly to his friend, reaching over and grabbing his shoulder. "We can start recording the stuff we do, put that shit online and boom! Fame and fortune baby, haha!"

Xander grinned in amusement at his friend's enthusiasm. "Bro you really gotta chill with that. We don't have to be famous to save lives man. Besides people already know enough about us to know that we're out there looking over them." Xander said while absent-mindedly channeling electricity from one hand to the other.

"Hey all I'm saying is it would be really sweet to get some big time recognition for all the good we're doing. Yea, maybe the city knows our name, but the whole country could know. Maybe even the whole world." He drained the electricity from in between Xander's hands, earning a roll of the eyes from him before he continued, "Think about it, we'll be in the history books just like Cole and Delsin. We'll be on talk shows and shit, chicks'll be flocking to us like a 50% off sale at Always 21. That's the dream ain't it?" He reclined black with a sigh, his hands behind his head using electromagnetism to keep himself upright.

"You can record all you want, I'm not in it for the fame." Xander replied nobly.

"Yo X-Man! Come here for a second!" One of the other students called from across the room at Xander. He looked toward the source of the voice and saw that it was TJ Merlin who called him. TJ was one of the jocks of the school, but he's not a dick like you see in all the movies and stuff, he's a pretty chill dude.

Bursting into a cloud of smoke and ash, Xander dashed over the the teen's table. "What's up T?" Xander asked placing his hands on the table.

"I'm having another party this weekend, you should come. I would invite Sparky but I already know he'll be there regardless. You on the other hand? You never show up." TJ said, looking him in the eye as if to ask why.

Xander rubbed the back of his neck and looked away from the teen. "I'm just busy I guess. Plus you know me, I'm not really the party type of guy." He said giving air quotes when he said the word "party." His words were entirely true. He was always out and about looking for people to help so he didn't really have time to go to parties. And even if he wasn't saving people he probably still wouldn't go. Xander Cross is the kind of guy who likes to just sit back with a few friends a play some games or watch movies. He prefers simplicity and familiarity. There are too many unknowns at those parties and regardless of how often he saved people, he still didn't like meeting new people.

"I get it man, you're a hero. 'Justice never sleeps' and all that. But sometimes you gotta wind down and have some fun. Enjoy the little things y'know? Look, I'm only asking cause I know one person who would love it if you showed up." TJ said, leaving the sentence open as he looked across the cafeteria. Xander followed his eyes to where he saw a table full of teens laughing and eating, but his eyes locked onto one person in particular. A girl with long brunette hair tied into a ponytail. Eyes so bright and brown and her smile. Dear god, her smile. It was like God himself came down every morning and personally picked her teeth clean of anything that might even slightly dull the brightness. Even from this far away her beauty was impossible to ignore.

Xander realized he had been staring for quite some time and quickly turned around, his cheeks a light shade of red. "I'm pretty sure it won't matter to her if I show up or not." He said, tapping his thumb against each finger on his left hand channeling and dispersing electricity into each tip. It was a fidget that he always did when he was nervous or, in this case, embarrased.

TJ's body shook with laughter at the look on Xander's face. "Dude she is head over heels for you. I should know, she's my sister. Listen, there aren't a lot of guys I would trust with my sister. You know that. But you? You're a good man X, and I can tell by the way you look at her that you'll treat her right." He went silent for a few moments to see if Xander would say anything. When he didn't he sighed, and continued. "Just give it some thought ok? I guarantee you that she's just waiting for you to make the first move. She's just as shy as you when it comes to this shit. Come to the party man, you won't regret it." He stuck his fist out for a pound, which Xander returned and then turned around and headed back to his table.

He decided to simply walk back so he could think about what TJ said. As he walked he snuck glances at the girl. She was smiling and laughing with her friends, lighting up the whole room every time she opened her mouth. She looked over at him and for a split second they made eye contact before Xander averted his eyes, mentally smacking himself for getting caught. 'Nice going X, now you look like a creep.' He teleported back to his table and sat down across from Ryan who was busy making two tiny electric stick figures fight to the death.

"So what was that about?" Ryan asked once he sat down, never taking his eyes off the fight. As if he didn't already know which stick figure would win since he was the one controlling them.

"TJ's throwing another party on Saturday and he invited me. Says Melody is really hoping I'll show up. I just don't know man, like what if I fuck it up somehow? What if it turns we have zero shit in common and then she just loses all interest." He clutched the back of his head with both hands and put his forehead on the table in distress. "Fuck man! What do I do?" He asked his friend, and received no answer. He looked back up to see that he was still staring at the fighting stick figures. Grunting in annoyance, he constructed his own electric stick figure and promptly ended the fight with two electric arrows to their heads. Over top the fight the word "WINNER!" appeared.

Ryan snap out of his trance and looked at his friend in surprise. "Aww dude it was just getting good." He whined slumping down dejectedly.

"I'm trying to ask you for advice and all you care about is a fight between two stick people that you're controlling?!" He yelled in frustration.

"Ahh, y'see the trick is to forget that you're controlling it cause then it's like-"

"Ryan!" Xander yelled cutting him off. "I don't give a shit! What should I do about the party man!?"

Ryan seemed lost in thought as he tried to remember what party his friend was talking about. "Oooh right, the party… Yea you should definitely go. It's gonna be tops fuckin bloopy. Listen, I like being a hero just as much as the next superpowered asshole, but shit man, you can't let that get in the way of your social life." He said lifting a quarter in the air with electromagnetism and rolling it around.

Xander sighed in defeat, realizing that both Ryan and TJ were totally right. He has to relax at some point. Even if a party filled with a bunch of people wasn't exactly his idea of relaxing. "Fine, I'll go to the party."

"Sweet cause here comes Melody, and I'm sure she's about to ask you the same question." He said with a devilish smile.

Xander looked up and sure enough, she was making her way over to their table. Her black jeans clung tightly to her body showing off her slender frame. Melody might be a rather petite girl but by no means was she pencil thin. She got them hips that don't quit and an ass to match. Her blue t-shirt was cut low exposing just enough cleavage to get your imagination going and your heartbeat racing. As she walked over to them Xander's mind went into hyper drive and the world around him seemed to slow down. "Shit what do I do?" He asked Ryan who was the only other person who he could actually speak to at this speed, since they both have enhanced perception.

"Just be cool dude, don't freak out, don't start rambling just go with the flow. Break the ice by telling her she looks nice and give her one of those smooth guy smiles that I know you practice in the mirror." He advised his friend who gave him a look of gratitude, before he realized that he knew about his pep talks with his mirror.

"How did you-" He started but was cut off.

"Later. Focus."

The world went back to normal as they stopped focusing and Melody had reached the table. "Hey Xander. Hey Ryan." She said, in that sweet voice that was like the most beautiful song Xander had ever heard.

"What's crackin Mel?" Ryan said as if he wasn't talking to the most perfect girl in the world. At least that's what she was in Xander's world anyway.

"Oh nothing much…" She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear as she looked at the ground awkwardly.

Ryan got the hint and smoothly made up some excuse to leave. "Oh hey look at that my uh… thing is um… yea I should probably go deal with that. Bye." He said with a wide grin and disappeared into static.

A few moments of silence transpired before Xander attempted to break the ice by saying, "I like your shirt, it uh… suits you." He kept a friendly smile on the outside but inside he put a gun to his head a blew his brains out.

She smiled warmly at the compliment. "Oh uh, thanks it's one of my favorites… So, I saw you talking to my brother and I was wondering… if he... y'know invited you to the party?"

"Yea he told me about it. I think I can make time for it." He said trying to sound relaxed like it wasn't that big of a deal.

The smile on her face widened and her eyes sparkled in excitement. "Really?! I-I mean that's-uh that's great. I was hoping you'd be there. N-not for me, but y'know just because you're always saving people and stuff it seems like you don't take any time to just enjoy life." She stuttered her cheeks turning a light shade of crimson. "But, I'll uh… I'll see you on Saturday right?"

"Definitely." Xander confirmed with a smile. She smiled back and then awkwardly stepped backwards before turning around and walking back to her friends. Once she was gone Xander released a breath he didn't know he was holding and let his face meet the table, thankful for his Conduit resiliency allowing him to take the hit with barely any pain.

"Dude nice job!" He heard from very close by, making him jump in surprise and bang his knees under the table.

"What the Fuck? Ryan get out my phone." He scolded, pulling the device out of his pocket. A line of electricity shot out of the phone and formed into the shape of the boy.

He was smiling widely just like he always does. It's a miracle his face hasn't broken off. "Heh, sorry. I couldn't resist. But seriously, you saw the way she was blushing and shit? She's all yours man, all you gotta do it go for it."

"Yea I get it I just-" Xander started but was cut off by a loud voice over the intercom.

"Xander Cross and Ryan Faraday please report to the principal's office. Xander Cross and Ryan Faraday to the principal's office." The voice said. It was the principal obviously. All eyes in the cafeteria went straight to their table, they all knew what this meant. Something Conduit related was going down.

"Shit. What now?" Xander said as he looked around at the people staring at them.

"Let's find out amigo." Ryan said before disappearing into a trail of electricity and entering into the lights. Xander followed suit and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Both teens headed toward the principal's office.

To be continued...