56k and they are at lunch.

Sam blinked a bit. “That is different, at my old school bags and extra books were not permitted in the class room, but not have the right books would get detention as would being late to class. Never mind the halls could be imposable to navigate. It was a bit rough at times. I keep getting surprised by the differences out here. It is a big change from Maine. I expected some of it, but there is more that I didn’t think of.” They started moving to the lockers, Sam was just sure that Erin had to be a bit upset at how slow she had to move, bit she wasn’t letting it show. Erin shook her head. “In that case you are more then a little lost. I spent six long months in one of the cities. I just do not see how anyone can stand to live in those bubbles, and then all those rules. I was very glad to get back home. Don’t worry you are not going to have to switch sides of the hall because the carpet changed color or what ever it was. I was in school there one week then my aunt agreed I would be better of studying at home. Don’t try and rush so. I am not worried about going slow. What is wrong with your leg? The way it is dragging a bit it is more then a growth spurt that is slowing it down.” Sam blushed a bit. “When I was younger one of my seizers was bad enough that I ended up out of the hospital bed and on the floor as the railing on the bed came undone. That caused an injury to my back and each bout makes it flare and leaves me a bit paralyzed for after tell it heals again. It is only that my Adsons heals the nerve that lets me walk, but I have to move so it heals it the right way.” She was scared to look at Erin as the fact that Adsons would heal here made it worse out east as it was another sign that she was one who was physically changed. It was bad enough to just have her brain work different but all one of ten would it make physical changes in, and most of those it was limited to the light eyes and abnormal heights. Those it would heal need extra watching as the healing could cause other abnormalities to form. Erin said. “Don’t worry no one here is going to think you are a monster just because you have on the stronger forms of it. I know they likely did in the east. They are scared of their own shadows out there. Here it isn’t that big of a deal. Even the mild forms do some healing, it has to or the changes it does wouldn’t work. It is just slower about it in the less invasive forms so it doesn’t get noticed as much. I bet it makes you hate to be touched. It does most when it is able to fast heal wounds. Do you get a warning to tell you to sit or are you just better at remembering to?” Sam blinked a bit, it was so strange and the girl was trying so hard to put her at easy, but there was trouble there as well. “My leg starts shaking. Touching only really brothers me when I am recovering from a bad spell, though I am always a bit more sensitive to it then my siblings. I can take my family most times but any others it hurts, though the doctors back east thought that was nuts. Out east we are told that the healing only happens with those most affected, and it was used is yet another reason I should be in a care house where I could be watched better for it meant I needed to be monitored more closely. The east is more scared of the changes that came from the plague as they have isolated themselves. They let the dark days teach them to leave in fear of the world, and have made no effort to understand how it was changed just to try and pretend they are safe from the changes. That, believe it or not, was a quote from my government text book. It also got me a month’s detention for repeating it in class, but I felt it was worth it.” Edith said. “I wonder how long it took them to change text books after you pointed out that was in them. Here we are this one is yours.” Sam said. “I think they likely just saw that chapter was removed from the books. East High didn’t spend money on books. It made do with ones the other high schools were getting rid of. We had not been assigned those pages, but I read every page of all my text books at least six times just so I had something to do. The school felt that reading was harmful for me so it was in some ways a relief that the year ended early for all I wish I hadn’t end up in the hospital.” She opened her locker and took out the extra books, still feeling a bit odd to being keeping her bag, but it would be easier then having to come back here all the time. Especially as her legs were. A boy said. “That must have been awful. I assure you that won’t happen here. If they see you looking bored you will soon find you have more work. So she is with us then?” Erin nodded. “Good, and I will take that bag. I told you I would be caring your books for you. Jon you have Erin’s? Don’t need her getting hurt when her legs give out.” Oh and I will get that bandage back to you later. It is in my locker.” Samantha shook her head. “I can get it, that is after I sit again for a bit. This leg is an irritation. Sorry, but when it starts shaking like that it will give out if I don’t sit a couple of minuets.” Erin said. “Nothing to apologize for there is some chairs right over here.” Samantha nodded and headed to it. To her shock the boys followed and the blond one made to take her bag as he had said. “Sam just why are you so sure Samantha needs help? As she is just starting I know she hasn’t had to be picked up yet.” Sam said. “It is a primitive measure as shaky as she is it is clear she is not long out of the hospital and so doesn’t need the add weight anymore than you do.” Samantha looked at the boy startled. So this was Sam Robbles was it? He didn’t look much like his father, but that would explain a bit his barring and manor. Still might as well get it dealt with. She was not going to be treated as though she would break! She moved her bag out of his reach and shook her head. “Sir, I thank you for the offer, but I will keep my bag. I might have a bit of a wobble but I am perfectly able to carry my own books. I will not let my twin get away with carrying my bag little own some stranger. The books do not increase the time I spend sitting.” Sam shook his head. “As I thought another stubborn one. Fine keep them, but I will be watching you.” Erin laughed. “You worry too much and just who carried your books? You weren’t out long before school started, and you were stuck out east for a bit. I bet it was fun being in their hospital.” Sam nodded. “I was out three months before school started, which was long enough that I was moving fine. For all I was in there four months as it was such a mess. It was awful, not only did they give me Homerblat they kept mixing up my medicines, they were way understaffed. I don’t know how anyone makes it out there. I would have been out in half time if they hadn’t messed it up so much, and made it worse.” He noticed Samantha looking at him so said. “I was out east last year, it was an experience I am glad I don’t have to worry about repeating.” Samantha said. “I am sure it was. I still find it hard to believe you don’t use Homerblat out here. At least the fact that it is no longer effective on me is the problem it was before we moved. It was a bit of mess for me this last time, my allergies and the fact the Homerblat wasn’t working led to an extra long stay. Of course it didn’t help any that the first hospital mixed up my medications with another’s and so gave me ones I am allergic to. Generally they are not that bad, but Rock Creek happened to have a server shortage of nurses trained to work with Adsons. At least it meant the Government was covering all the bills that time.” she stood up to test her leg then nodded and picked up her bag. “All right I am good to walk some more, for you are.” The others stood up and they started walking. Sam said. “They gave you medications it was know you were allergic to? Just how? I know the government hospitals are under staffed but I didn’t think it would be that bad.” Samantha said. “They normally aren’t, that bad. I am not sure what was going on but they were late getting the stickers on the door to my room and I happen to be allergic to half of the commonly used medicines. It helped once they got the stickers up. The still messed up, but at least the ones I was allergic to didn’t make it in. The medications are sorted first by name then room number, so likely they were so rushed they put them out of order on the cart and didn’t double check the labels.” Sam shook his head wonder how to ask why she had moved out here. “Come out here has to be a big change. It has to be odd on you not to have the fences around as it was for me to have them.” Samantha smiled. “The lack of fences I was as prepared for as I could be. Truly it isn’t that freighting. I am a bit shocked by how much room there is at times and don’t know that I will ever get tired of looking at the sky, but it wasn’t as scary as I thought. It is all the other things that scare me. Like shopping or the thought of riding a bus. Even now I am checking the posters for gang tags to tell me where I should be. It is the lack of that guidance that I find scary. Still I am glad your father needed a new groundskeeper and was willing to take a chance and higher someone from the east. If we hadn’t of been able to come out here they would have been forced to put me in a care house so they could find work.” She had to fight not to laugh at the expression on his face. Clearly he had no idea who she was. Sam shook his head. “No Fair! Not at all. Just how did I not meet you Ms. Robbles? Where were you hiding? And laughing at me doesn’t help.” Samantha might have made it but Erin and the other boy who had Erin’s back were looking so confused she just couldn’t help it. “What did I say about laughing?” Samantha pointed at the other two so he would see why she was laughing. He looked and smiled. “Well yes I guess they do make it hard not to laugh. Still it isn’t fair you knew me and I didn’t you. Care to explain?” Once Samantha had caught her breath she said. “Well I heard about you from Will, but I had no idea who you were until Erin said your name. They must have not troubled to tell you about me, and I was still waiting to be released from the hospital when they came out here to get the house set up. It was a mess and a half.” Sam said. “Well don’t you worry any we will see you are feeling at home soon. Now come on before Mrs. Marten comes out to see why we are laughing and forgets what she was intended to have us do.” The other boy said. “Wait, perhaps we should linger a bit and see if it is possible.” Erin shook her head. “No, it is too early in the year. Wait until they start pilling up the assignments, then we can test it.” Samantha looked at the three of them and wondered just what Mr. White had led her to getting involved with. This was looking to be an interesting year. “Come on.” She opened the door next to her and lead the way in Samantha found herself sitting with them. That class wasn’t bad. It was a bit slow but a lot better then any other class she had been in. The other boy, who Samantha had found out, was John, said. “All right that’s done. on to Mr. Philp and Lit. It is up stairs, so Samantha are you alright with an elevator?” Samantha blinked. “Well I have only been in them in the hospital so I don’t really know. However I don’t know why I wouldn’t be.” John said. “All right then come on and we will see. If it spooks you to much you and I can take the stairs when we have to come down for lunch. The other two are not allowed to yet. Sam doesn’t see the steps right and Erin’s legs will not let her climb. So why haven’t you been in an elevator?” He started walking, and Samantha was again struck by how much easier it was to get though the halls here, but she did wonder how much of that was do to the others that she with. How would it be when she was expected to find her way though them alone? Samantha said. “There was none in the low class buildings and the few office buildings I went in that had them there were none for those with Adsons. There were strict rules about who could go where. All of which you would find irritating, but have grown up with it I just expect it.” John shook his head Sam said. “Really there were. We could ignore most of them as they put us as high class, but there were some very silly rules that I had follow do to Adsons. They act like it is contagious. Now then we had best sit a bit before we get in the elevator, just to be safe.” Erin nodded and made for the chairs near the elevator. “You are luck Sam, my family was classified as middle and it was a nightmare trying to get around. I just gave up going anyplace without one of my cousins with me because I just couldn’t keep it straight. I was so glad to get out of there. I am so glad I didn’t end up in the hospital. So do they think you will have to go another round Sam?” Sam shook his head. “I am officially a four, but had the fourth round before they sent me home. Or so it looks like now. With the way that junk mess you up it is hard to tell, but I am clear of it and it was a small exposure so they think it is good.” John said. “So did you ever work out how you all are related?” Sam said. “Dad doesn’t know if we are or if it is just a fluke. I think can get it on the next round up. It isn’t that long of trip so you should be rested enough.” The got up and went to wait for it as it was heading down already. Samantha said. “My Dad said he did ask granddad and was told that he though he might have an Uncle that came out this way. Then granddad went into how he had better not be looking at anything out here and so he found out nothing more. However we think that Granddad meant it was his Uncle not dads, which would make it not to long after you all joined the Empire as I know my great grand parents were in the service at that time.” Sam said. “I will have to see if Uncle Saul can tell me my great grandfather’s name. That is once he takes time to check his messages. Like Dad has already sent him a dozen asking if there was family in the east. He keeps the family records, but is also very hard to contact. He is one of them that keeps up the wild man myth. I do hope he turns up for.” Samantha smiled as they got into the elevator. “In that case my brothers would love to hear about him. We are doing our best to so alarm our relatives that at least a few will come out to check on us. I think we are making head way with a few.” I am sure my older brother will be out, though he is saying that one of his teachers is talking about having them travel west to get a better view of the stars, which he will get, but it isn’t likely that anyone would ask that a first year student that is still getting clearance to study Astronomy to take a trip out to the wilds.” The others laughed. Erin said. “I am sure we can all help, I might just find something to shock my relives with as well. It is fun to let them see what they are missing.” Samantha nodded. “And it is easy to alarm mine as it is all new to them. Heck I managed to upset my brother just by telling him some of my classes. I am expecting him to call around noon to see what I am doing.” They laughed and head into the class room, they were late, but the teacher just nodded at them and went on with the class. That set the tone for the rest of the class then it was lunch time. Samantha got in line with the others wondering just what this school’s food would be like. At least she would be allowed in the lunch room so right there it was better then East had been. As she had to eat in the gym and either bring something from home or make do with what was on offer in the ricked cart that was set in there for them. Often she had just skipped lunch, which wasn’t good with her medications. She was amazed when she got up to where she could see the food, it was pizza and it wasn’t just a bit of old chess on a hard crust, but real pizza that actually looked good, and there was more then one kind as well as salad and juice or milk.