By the time we landed at our final destination, I’d filled three barf bags. My blue skin had a certain green tinge to it, and I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking. The whole time I struggled to keep from damaging anything but twenty-four hours is a long time to be stuck on a plane. Still, only my seat was broken, and not too badly.

“You did really well,” Harding assured me as he helped guide me off the plane. “You used the lavatory five times and didn’t break anything.”

“I was a bit busy throwing up to do much else,” I pointed out.

“Yes, well, I’ve seen people grab the bowl and rip it off its mountings because they were a bit busy throwing up as well. You’re doing good.”

“Mmm,” I mumbled as I felt my stomach clench and threaten to be sick all over again.

“Almost there,” Kira assured me, rubbing my back with her hand.

I was the only passenger besides Kira and Harding on the plane after we left Virginia. The two of them sat near me but didn’t crowd, partly, I assumed, because I was throwing up and dry heaving so often. Now that we were back on the ground I could feel my stomach relaxing and the terrible nausea I’d been suffering under began to pass.

The airport, it turned out, was on the far side of the island from the Cane Center. The complex of buildings that made up the Cane Center were nestled in a valley so that there was no clear view of the ocean and a tall, sturdy security fence enclosed the campus.

“Supers monitor the boundary,” Harding said as we drove through the first of three checkpoints.

“They have to catch anyone that often?” I asked.

“Mostly just homesick kids,” Harding shrugged. “It’s honestly not that common, though, from what I hear. They do a good job here at the Cane Center at taking care of everyone.”

If that was true, which I was inclined to believe Harding, then I didn’t have much to worry about. I’d be here for a few weeks, maybe a month or two, and then I’d be back home. That was my hope, anyway.

The second and third checkpoints weren’t anything special and soon we were pulling up to the main entrance of the central building.

“This is Cane Hall,” Harding said. “All the administrative offices are in here, as well as the cafeteria, library, and medical.”

“They have healers here more powerful than me,” Kira added.

“How often are they needed?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” Kira admitted, “but no one’s died or been permanently injured.”

That was a relief to hear. I was admittedly worried to be in such close proximity with other, dangerous supers, not wanting to get injured myself no matter how durable Harding said I was. My recent experience flying had taught me that there were still things that could make me miserable beyond just physical pain.

As we walked up to Cane Hall, a middle-aged woman came out to greet us.

“Welcome to the Cane Center,” she said, beaming. “I’m Director March, I oversee everything that goes on here at the Cane Center. I’ve heard so much about you, Misha, and we’re excited to have you here with us. I understand you’re quite strong, so I’ll forego shaking your hand, but please let me know if there’s ever anything you need.”

She turned and waved for us to follow. We did and Director March led us into Cane Hall.

“Everyone is assigned a counselor that you’ll have access to at any time of the day or night. They’re here to answer any of your questions, listen to your concerns or complaints, and to generally be your support while you’re here. You’ll meet your counselor in at the end of our little tour of Cane Hall. They’ll then take you around the campus and get you situated in your dorm.”

She took us passed the main entrance hall which branched three ways.

“Directly ahead is the library,” Director March pointed. “There are books for your studies but also for your own personal reading. There are also movies and video games that you can check out. To our left is the medical hall where any injuries or mishaps are taken care of by our team of excellent healers.”

Director March handed me a lanyard that had an ID badge already on it.

“There’s a small button on the ID,” she explained, “if you press it, then a healer will be dispatched to you immediately. Our healers can fix just about everything so don’t hesitate to call for their assistance. And remember, you’re here to learn to control your powers. We expect that there will be accidents and no one is punished for accidents here.

“To our right is the cafeteria. Meal times set in your schedule. Do you have any special dietary needs?”

I shook my head.

“Very good. I know some times strength can also require a certain diet to maintain but sounds like you’re one of the rather exceptional ones.”

“She is,” Harding half laughed. “I think she might be stronger than Chiro.”

“I saw that in your report,” Director March nodded. “Quite exciting.”

She didn’t sound very excited to me and I glanced back at Harding who was frowning until he caught me looking at him and he smoothed his expression.

Rather than go into any of the three aforementioned wings of Cane Hall, Director March led us to a staircase just outside the library and took us up to the second floor which was far less open and more like a regular office building with a central hallway flanked by offices on either side.

“And here’s your counselor’s office, Doctor Whimborn,” Director March said and pointed to the open door to my left. “We’ll leave you here to get to know him. Your bag has already been taken to your dorm so no need to worry about that. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

Doctor Whimborn was standing in the doorway into his office. He was a round man with a thick beard that was graying down the middle and throughout his mustache. He smiled at me and nodded in greeting.

“There are those who call me Tim,” he said with a delayed chuckle. When I didn’t seem to get the joke he sighed and his shoulders sagged. “No one gets that reference anymore. Anyway, you can call me Tim, or Timothy, or Doctor Whimborn, or Mister Whimborn, or whatever you like.”

Already, Director March, Kira, and Harding were walking back down the stairs leaving me alone with Doctor Whimborn.

“Come in and let’s chat for a minute. Then we can get you to your dorm where so you can unpack.”

I followed him into his office, though it was set up to look more like a living room with couches and even a recliner. He sat on the far couch, leaving me the choice of the other couch or the recliner. I chose the recliner.

“How was your flight?” he asked.

“Terrible. I was sick the whole time.”

“Yes, I heard you didn’t react to the medications or to Kira.”

I nodded.

“Did you get any sleep at all on the plane?”

“A few hours.”

“You must be exhausted. I’ll make sure to keep this brief so you can get to bed as soon as possible.”

“I’m alright,” I assured him. “I’m mostly just hungry.”

“Then I’ll make sure we swing by the kitchens on our way out of Cane Hall so you can snag a little something to munch on.”