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Meredith is still trying to cajole a name out of this new voice when Leo ran up to him and began speaking all in a rush. Mission in Germany? Oh God no; was he already late? His attempt with the athame and the resulting vision must have lasted longer than he'd realized! It certainly did not help that Meredith did not at all feel confident about going on his first, bona fide mission. He was only class C and much less useful than the other names he knew were joined together for this. Why would anyone send him?

Surely if he were not already being pulled along by Leonardo, Meredith would have made himself even more late by remaining planted where he was and shaking in his shoes. What could he hope to do on a mission? Just a simple gesture as Leonardo taking his hand could have ended in an untimely vision that could only serve to slow the team down.

Nearly tripping over his own feet at the pace Leonardo had set, Meredith decided the distraction of doubting himself was not one they could afford until they at least stopped running. "I'm sorry." He said sheepishly to Leonardo, as though he'd disappointed the older boy specifically by losing track of time. "I was distracted; it won't happen again." Through no fault of his own, Leonardo made Meredith feel inferior. But then, so did a lot of people. Another thought to be shelved for later; they had arrived at the fountain... amongst other people who made him feel inferior without any effort. This was going to be a long trip.

Meredith felt a surge of relief at the mention of new equipment. New equipment would have been touched by much, much fewer human hands. It would be very wonderful to work without being interrupted by seeing how someone who'd used the equipment three days ago was going to die violently twenty years in the future. To say the least, it was a very disrupting experience. "I am certain I may trust your judgment on what equipment we will need, Mr. Smith." Meredith replied to Draqx's feet. "Please excuse me; I left my pack in one of the research labs." Before his episode with the athame, he had been trying to do some last minute research. He had hoped to make himself better prepared. Being the last one actually ready to leave made that attempt somewhat laughable.

Not wanting to waste any more time than he already felt he had, Meredith turned on his heel and ran all the way back to the building. So much physical activity! Four years ago, when he'd first arrived, he would have certainly still been winded from the run out to the courtyard. But today he had things to do and no time left to do them in.

Meredith retrieved his pack quickly. It was not very heavy; unlike some of the others he did not have much use for extra props. Beyond the prerequisite clothing and emergency survival supplies, he carried only a couple extra pairs of gloves. He did not even need to change his casual clothing; he was hardly likely to be leaping between buildings and such. There was nothing to enhance his abilities either, dear god no. Even if he knew how to do such a thing, it was troublesome enough to control them at their current level.

Meredith rejoined the others a bit out of breath, but determined to pretend otherwise. At least the exertion had near erased the terror of his vision. "I am ready now, sir. Sorry." Meredith apologized compulsively, though even he had to admit that Mr. Smith had acted in no way to cause his nervousness.

Meredith nodded slowly, carefully thinking over what Mr. Smith had just said. In Meredith's experience, Draqx Smith often spoke in even more technical terms than he just had and so the boy made an effort to understand them. Still, there was no doubt that his technical knowledge was a far cry from that of the M.A.D. scientist. He hardly thought any opinion he might have would be anything new and unthought of to Mr. Smith. Meredith was totally in awe of the man, of course.

But silent, staring awe was hardly what Mr. Smith had asked for, was it? Perhaps it was all some sort of test. Of course someone like Mr. Smith didn't expect Meredith to be capable of anything he was not; that did not mean he did not have certain expectations in mind nonetheless. The thought made Meredith actually smile and look up at his teacher. When he thought of it that way, he did not feel so inadequate. "Yes, of course sir. I will have a look first thing."

Meredith was almost startled that someone with whom he was not familiar had spoken to him. He looked to Lucid, but lowered his eyes some when he learned the stranger was a teacher; a colleague of Mr. Smith's. "Oh... I do not think there is much to know about me, sir." Meredith did not think he could casually use Mr. Atray's given name if he tried, and so he did not. Teachers and other authority figures triggered the utmost respect in Meredith. "I came to the Syndicate only four years ago; I had not heard of it before then. In that time I have only achieved class C." Meredith bit his tongue before he could add that he, too was trying. He would have to do a lot more than just try; it hardly seemed worth it to make that excuse.

What else could he say? He was not going to waste Mr. Atray's time with pointless details about himself. Better to stick with something useful, knowledge that might have some worth in the future. "My Z gene allows me to read past and future events from objects I touch and also to communicate with the dead."

Meredith dared to look up again and even smiled. To him, four years seemed like such a long time to make what progress he had. But if Mr. Atray... Meredith tried once again to remind himself the man's name was Lucid. If Lucid... no, Mr. Atray was definitely easier. If Mr. Atray thought it an acceptable rate of improvement, perhaps it was not unreasonable for Meredith to consider that he was being a bit too hard on himself. Meredith wondered if he might aspire to be a teacher some day. He envied the position that likely only served to bore Lucid Atray.

"I am sure I can control it with more practice, sir. I mean... Mr. Lucid." Meredith struggled for a compromise. It was hardly his intent to 'bug' Mr. Atray. Perhaps in the far off future when he had the skill to call such a person his colleague, but not before then. "For now it suffices that I wear gloves when not intentionally activating my Z gene. I will be careful not to let it become an issue." Meredith assured, not wanting anyone to think he would become burdensome.

Leo smirked inwardly at Meredith's actions. He had played right into his hand, and that was an entirely good thing for Leo. For both of them, as Leo suspected. But, he didn't let Meredith realise this. He had been talking to Kiami when he came over to him. He sighed and slid his arm along Meredith's shoulders and chuckled loudly. "Don't worry. It's only Lucy. He's not worth your time to be nervous about." He swatted his hand in Lucid's direction, indicating Meredith to stop thinking about him. "Just loosen up and have some fun! I could fly you before we leave. Would you like that? I know your distace for skin contact, but flying is fun and forgiving on the soul. And remember all the times you promised you fly with me?" Leo said, nudging him a bit. He pulled his arm off of his shoulders and let his hand sway tauntingly, open for him to take it. "Just take off your glove, interlock your fingers with mine, and we'll go up." He said reassuringly. "C'mon. It'll be fun."

Meredith was about to defend his respect toward Mr. Atray when Kiami quite literally stepped in right on Leonardo's toes. "Between us two?" Meredith knew his complexion was showing his embarrassment again. Why was he embarrassed? It was just as simple as saying they were just friends. But even saying they were just friends seemed to imply Kiami might think they were more than that. Ah, he really needed to stop over thinking these things. "I don't know what you mean. Leonardo just wants me to fly with him." Meredith tries for nonchalant, but fails miserably and manages to look sheepish instead.

"But I really don't know if I ought to. Aren't you even the least bit worried I might see something?" Meredith did not often pick up visions directly from people, but there was still the chance and it worried him. But he had promised. Several times. And now he was just stalling; Leonardo had answered the very same question many times already. Meredith watched the hand that cajoled him to take it. He chewed his lower lip as he took off one glove and reached toward Leonardo's hand, but hesitated just before touching it.