I looked down and saw Sam below me. She was looking up.

"Um, Lindy?" she said, her voice trembling. "Your legs don't usually stretch that far, right?" I shook my head, slowly, staring. I felt the urge to try something, just like that first day last week. When I made my first elastic.

I reached out and closed the door.

I was halfway across the room.

Sam tossed the rock onto the bed, and I immediately shrunk down. I tried to stretch, but it didn't work. I stared at Sam.

"I think we've found your power," I whispered, just loud enough so she could hear it. She ran out of the room, the door flying open

My thoughts tossed around. From Sam had some power to what was her power to what did the rock do to how the flip did I manage to stretch that far to was that actually Sam's power or did it work for every non-powered and everything in between. It didn't settle, even when I put the rock back in the sock and sat on my bed for an hour, thinking over that couple of minutes.

Mr Hart would know.

I thought about going to see him, but had no idea where he was. Did he stay in the school on weekends? Would he be in his office, in the training gym? His room? I would have to wait until I saw him next.

So it was time to go see him.

I checked the gym first, but nobody was there. It was empty, quiet. I left for Mr. Hart's room right after, but when I walked on the door no one answered.

I started to think that he wasn't around when the door flew open.

"Yes?" said Mr. Hart.

"Can we talk? About... You know what?" He glanced around the hall before beckoning me in and closing the door. His room was simple, kind of like ours except with less beds. And less windows. And actually possessions scattered around. And maybe a bit smaller.

Basically, it was mostly different.

Mr. Hart sat down on one chair and I hesitated, wondering if I should sit down or not. He nodded, and I did.

"What were you wondering? About it?"

"Sam saw it. And when she did, something happened."

He sighed. "I thought I told you not to show anyone. Then we never would have had the problem of Sam learning her power. The swear you did on your power doesn't actually mean anything, by the way."

My mouth fell open. "You knew? About her power? You knew the rock would give her power and you didn't say anything?" Mr. Hart sat up straighter, eyes blazing for a moment before he regained his usual calmness.

"I couldn't risk it. You have no idea what the Executives would do with such power. The ability to strengthen a Super's powers... It's rare. But so, so useful. A power such as, say, Dakota's, which is fairly useless, could be turned into something that could destroy the world. If you let that fall into the wrong hands, well, to put it bluntly, we could be doomed. Now do you understand?"

"So why keep it from Sam?" I asked. "If she has that much potential, why not tell her about it?"

"And allow her to possibly seek out the rock? If she's on the Executive's side... I don't think I need to tell you what could happen."

"Who are the Executives?"

"Miss. Demi didn't tell you?" Mr. Hart said. "They're the Super's Government. Which, of course means, that the current government isn't exactly very friendly. Especially to subs."

I frowned. "What do they have against subs? We aren't usually a threat."

"And that's exactly why they hate you. You're useless."

"Gee, thanks for the inspiring message."

"What I mean is that they don't know what to do with you, so they stick you on some lousy patrol while the full-timers get to save the world. We, however, could use you."

"And who exactly is this we?"

"The Rebel Group. I don't really know our name yet. Those of us who actually care about the subs. And we're looking for recruits. Would you like to join? We have resources, we have people on the inside such as myself, we have a passionate leader who's a sub himself."

I smiled. "Actually, I might have already been recruited."