<Sophie's POV> GUYS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CHAPTER- although no sokeefe yet.

Nervously, I run down the stairs to face the council. I constantly remind myself that they're now on our side and I can trust them.

They sit neatly in a row against the big couches in the crystalline living room. The Collective lingers uncertainly near the brick fireplace, whispering among themselves.

Grady and Edaline hover at the doorway, looking relieved when they see me and Fitz supporting Keefe up gently by his arms and frogamarching him to the white recliner in the corner

"Ah, Ms Foster," Councillor Emery steps forward, sweeping his dark locks behind his ears, "We have heard of your... predicaments," he glances pointedly at Keefe, who stares fixtatedly at the floor.

"Keefe is well again, and there's no need to worry about him," I firmly reassure them, before glaring at the collective, who I had trusted not to say anything about Keefe.

"Good, it would be no benefit to lose the most powerful Empath," Councillor Alina smoothes her caramel coloured hair and purses her lips loftily, then sneering at me slightly

Emery clears his throat, his dark eyes glistening at Alina, then he continues, "Well, Ms Foster, we've thought it best that you reform Team Valiant and go on this expedition,"

"One moment!" Mr Forkle raises his voice, "As I have informed you, Ms Foster here has.. ah.. manifested a new ability, and she will need to stay... isolated for the time being,"

Councillor Terik limps forward, "I'm sure we could arrange for a technopath to fix a gadget that helps her cancel the strong emotions,"

"Right, but since this ability is uncalled for, I'm afraid it may damage her." Forkle retorts with a frown.

"No harm in trying," Terik chides, and that settles it.

Oralie flashes me a sympathetically put in smile, and I find myself smiling back. Then I switch it of in awareness. Orange injuredly looks away. I clench my fists, forcing myself to believe she's faking sympathy, and she just wants to not hold a grudge.

"What about the matter about Mr Endal?" Brontes clipped voice sharpens the air. The room falls silent.

"Well, it won't do to just stand around. Besides, Team Valiant is nothing without him!" Bronte says, glaring round at us all, as if daring us to contradict him.

"Our leads are very few, Councillor. We right now have a search team that is looking for clues in the last seen location of him. " Granite informs them.

"Well, why don't we join them. No harm in getting our hands dirty?" Bronte surprises us with his suggestion.

Emerys mouth opens and closes uncertainly a few times but contents himself with just a nod and shrug.

"I'd rather not, and I have other things to do," Councillor Zarina says, Clarette, Velia, and Liora nod alongside her in unison. Creepy... eeeeesh.

"Whoever doesn't want to follow me, the collective, Mr Sencen, Vacker, and Ms Foster to search, leap away.

Zarina, Liora, Alina, Velia, Noland, and Clarette all leap away.

"Oralie, take Sophie to our technopath to get her neutraliser. The rest... follow the collective," Bronte orders.

I stand open-mouthed as Oralie makes her way towards me, her light blue dress swishing and swirling airily, looking perfect on her - of course, duh.

"No no no no no," I back away, muttering.

"It's alright, Foster," Keefe sends me peace, gripping my hand.

I detect tension radiating off Oralie, and almost smirk at that, and linger on the thought of giving her a hard time.

Edaline and Grady smile at me, unaware of my feelings, and leap away to the search site.

"Good luck, Sophie," Keefe and Fitz say in unison, squeezing my shoulders and heading off to the rest of the group.

"Thanks. Though really, shortest meeting ever, and I hate this, so I'll need your luck," I whisper to them as they leave.

They laugh and leap away.

"Hello, Sophie," Oralie twinkles at me, with a trying smile that really makes my bursting point pulse furiously. I can feel her nervousness, hopefulness, optimism, and perseverance wavering slightly as I ignore her.

"Uhh, okay, let's just get on with it," I avoid eye contact and dig out my pathfinder, holding it up to the light as she resignedly tells me the angles for pathfinding.

As I leap away in a flash of light, I see her sober expression, exaggerated sigh, and her slight pout on that dramatic face of hers. Councillor Lyingcurls.

'Just ignore her. You hate her. She ruined your life, Sophie Elizabeth Ruewen-Foster!' My brain yells at me, but my heart heaves a sigh. A sigh to forgive and forget and... eventually just become.. something sort of a family. I guess I just want biological parents THAT bad.

***

The Councillors' personal technopath is definitely more organised than Tinker, the Black Swans technopath. There is 100% no trace of evidence that multiple interfering gremlins live in the office. And everything is spotless and clean... except for the huge table in the corner that flaunts a variety of many different corks, screws, metals, and scraps. Sort of the desk that Dex would be thriving in, having a field day making unjunkish junk out of junk.

A tall willowy elf appears behind a shelf embossed with the words 'Metal Scraps from Hephaestus Scrap Dump'. She had on lab goggles and a spotless lab coat, although I'm not sure what that has to do with technopathy. Her twisted black bun and pinched face gave her the unpleasant look of someone that just swallowed a lemon whole- seeds and all. But of course, being an elf, she had to be pretty.  

She steepled her fingers at her crimson lips and flashed a very obviously ingenuine smile at Oralie, "What can I do for you today, your honour," She mockingly said those words, "What a surprise! I didn't expect you.." She completely ignored me. 

Oralie grimaced, "We need a strong emotion canceller that neutralises all waves of emotions that empaths can usually detect,"

The sour lemon elf widens her eyes momentarily, mutters something that sounds like 'Onto us'. Then she remembers herself, nods at Oralie agreeingly and scurries off towards the shelves. 

Suspicious, Councillor Oralie and I exchange a look, but not before remembering the awkwardness. 

She fidgets with her perfect golden curls and fingers and twirls them. Then she takes a deep breath, looks round quickly then says, "Sophie. We can't keep this up any longer. You may not want me to be your mum, but I am, flesh and blood." she lowers her voice, registering my stunned expression, "At least talk to me. I know Edaline Ruewen and Emma Foster were more of a mum than I could ever be, but I'm still here. And I'm sorry, so could you PLEASE just try?"

I stiffen at her words and avert my gaze to the floor, battling furiously internally, "I- um- well...." I stutter, then whisper, "O- okay..."

As if she had a death wish, Oralie scoops me up into a heavily flower scented hug. I awkwardly pat her back, counting to three, then squirm back. Oralie smoothens out her skirt and cocks her head to the side to glance at the elf over the shelves, who, as I can make out, stays weirdly still, mutters something continually and after a few moments- she sharply glances over. I take a step back.

"Who is she?" I murmur to Oralie, who looks worried.

"She was recommended to us as a new official technopath, since our old technopath retired. Her name is Nuvera," she unsurely replies, still not looking at me.

I shudder, "Is it me, or is she suspicious?"

Oralie purses her lips sternly, hand going round my shoulder protectively, "It's not you,"