"Well, this is quite the group that I managed to pick..." Sarah sighed as she looked over the approaching students.
"It's fine, Sarah. With some work, and a few adjustments, they will be a fine team." Ms. Holloway said.
"If you think I'm gonna go along with this, you're fucked in the head." Trevor said as he walked over. "I don't even know why I came to this shit show."
"Much as I hate to agree with Donnie Darko over there, I'm out too." Randy said. "Besides, I'm already on the football team. Plus, I'm a guy."
"Irrelevant." Ms. Holloway said. "Neither of those will prevent you from joining the squad. We just need to make a few...changes."
"What kind of changes could you possibly make?" Derek asked. "I mean, you said you weren't going to force us."
"And we won't." Sarah replied. "In a few minutes, you'll want to be on the team."
Jon and Karyn exchanged nervous glances at Sarah's statement. "You bring the stone, Jon?" Karyn asked quietly.
"No, I left it at home. I figured it would be too risky to bring it." Jon replied.
"Well, we need to get it and stop all of this." Karyn said. "I mean..."
"Ms. Black, if you would be so kind as to step forward." Ms. Holloway said. "We will begin the process with you, as you will take the least amount of work."
"I don't like the sound of that." Karyn said as she walked forward.
"Oh, shush Karyn." Sarah said. "Being a cheerleader is tough. We just need to change some things so that you're capable, physically and mentally."
Karyn glared at Sarah, but before she could say anything else, Ms. Holloway touched her forehead, her hand glowing lightly.
Karyn's expression shifted, leaving her staring blankly for a moment. When she finally snapped back to her senses, she shook her head and looked around.
"There you are, all set." Ms. Holloway said.
"Don't you feel better, Karyn?" Sarah asked.
Jon watched Karyn carefully, and saw that when she turned to respond to Sarah, her face no longer showed any malice. Instead, she regarded the head cheerleader...nicely.
"I feel...different." she said. "More...limber." she added, stretching a bit.
"And how do you feel about joining the squad now?" Ms. Holloway asked.
Karyn seemed to think it over for a moment. "Well...I guess I could at least try it out..." she said. "Even though I never really wanted to before."
"You messed with her head." Trevor said. "What kind of mind control bull shit are you trying to pull?"
"Not mind control, Mr. Blake. I merely altered her body so that she was capable of performing the routines, and opened her mind to the idea of cheerleading."
"Karyn...you okay?" Jon asked.
"I'm fine, Jon." Karyn responded in the same tone she always used when talking to him. She walked over to him, and whispered. "I can try it out, and we always have the stone as an out, since I doubt Ms. Holloway will really just let me walk away."
"Ms. Ferguson, if you would please. You are the next easiest to deal with."
Nadine squeaked as everyone looked at her. Jay patted her on the back. "I don't think you have much choice, Nadine." he said.
Nadine sighed and walked toward Ms. Holloway.
