Jim took his first step into a larger world.
Leaving Anna from the mess hall for breakfast, it was time to go on patrol. Hugging her goodbye, he traveled with Randy to the elevator, neon lights illuminated their trail.
“I love you,” said Jim.
“I love you, too,” said Anna.
“Our future awaits,” said Randy.
“I know that’s right,” said Jim.
The elevator was a known variable. He had been inside plenty of times.
He was taking the elevator to the locker room to put on his patrol uniform: the one that official Protaru warriors wear. It had the symbol of his dad’s home planet on the back of the suit: A sword and a globe of blue and green. He put on green gauntlets and a sapphire chest plate. The rest of the uniform was grey fabric. The material was made of a nanowire composite material. It was as smooth as cotton but as tough as steel. It was also highly flame retardant. He put on a mask to cover his face. The mask was green like algae and blue like the ocean. He wore knee high boots the color of blueberries.
He saw his dad standing outside the locker room.
He was brimming with anticipation. He had never been on patrol before. It was his first time. He had been doing the Energy Lab training for a while now.
Ninety percent excited, ten percent scared, he was in a form of controlled chaos. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing up. It was game time. He felt like an athlete getting ready for a championship game.
Jim calmed his mind. He silenced his doubts. He was ready for combat. All of his life had been leading up to this. He felt this was an opportunity to prove himself. He was ready to set sail. He was up for the challenge.
He stood by his dad who was in his Bladefist uniform. His suit was composed of white and red plates, like a suit of armor. The chest plates were white as sour cream. The plates for the thighs and biceps were as white as freshly fallen snow. His helmet covered his entire skull. The eyes pierced the helmet with green lights, like emerald diodes. His boots and gauntlets were red like oxygenated blood.
His dad was the perfect picture of calm. He walked with a sense of swagger. Jim followed his dad, Bladefist, to the exterior of the base. Jim and his dad walked past the guard. The guard saw that they were going on a patrol run.
Now on the streets of New Laveria, standing outside the Protaru barracks, Bladefist turned to talk to Jim and pressed a button on his forearm.
“These buttons on your suit link you to Central Command.”
His father continued.
“The other buttons sync to your fellow Protaru.”
Half nervous, half manic Jim answered, “Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Awesome.”
“We are going to patrol an area of an eighteen block radius. Mostly from the rooftops. Because of our powers, we can jump really high. It gives us a good aerial view of the neighborhood.”
“Where do we start patrolling?”
“We are going to start nearby. Four blocks out.”
“This is awesome.”
“I know that you have been doing exercises at the Energy Lab for about a year now. I think you are ready for your first taste of actual combat. I think it is time to test how far you have come.”
“I am ready.”
“I think you are.”
Protecting Anna. His world. His sunrise on the darkest day. Protecting his family. Those individuals that were close to him. He knew he had it in him. He knew he had the mindset of a warrior. It was up to him now. He had to carry on his father’s legacy. His legacy.
They walked to the rooftops of the closest building to the Protaru barracks and stood on top.
“Time to sync our devices.”
“Understood.”
Jim pressed a button on his gauntlet, and the light on it turned green.
“Ready, Son?”
“You know it,”
“Try and keep up.”
Bladefist ran to the edge and jumped. His legs had enough force that he was able to land on the other side of the street.
Jim looked at his dad, half amazed, half terrified.
“Come on over.”
“Are you sure?” said Jim.
“I am waiting,” said Jim's father.
Jim ran at breakneck speed and jumped across the gap. He missed the landing. His hand caught on to the brick of the adjacent roof. He climbed onto the rooftop.
“I don't have to hold your hand, do I?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“Okay.”
“I can handle this.”
“Remember your training.”
“Right.”
“Don't doubt yourself.”
“Okay.”
Jim stood up and dusted himself off.
His dad jumped to the next building. Jim followed him. He made it this time.
“That's what I am talking ‘bout, Junior!”
“Thanks.”
“I knew you were my son.”
“Okay Dad.”
They were running on the rooftops guided by their immense lower body strength. Jumping like a kangaroo.
“All seems calm tonight,” said Bladefist.
“Yeah, not a care in the world.”
Just then, Bladefist's gauntlet beeped like a carbon monoxide detector. Jim's did the same.
Bladefist said, “Finally, we got some action.”
“Wow, we finally do.”
“Stay close.”
“Will do.”
Bladefist pressed a button on his gauntlet, connecting him to Central Command.
“This is Bladefist, responding to a request.”
“We have a fire in your vicinity. Four people are trapped. They need assistance. We are asking all available Protaru to help Emergency services.
“We hear you loud and clear, Command. My Protaru Tenu and I will report to the scene right away.”
“Thank you, Bladefist. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.”
Bladefist pressed a button to stop the transmission. He pressed a button on his visor to direct him to the location of the disturbance.
“What’s a Protaru Tenu?” asked Jim.
“That’s the title for your designation. It is what you are.”
“I am a Protaru Tenu.”
“Yes, you are.
“Good to know.”
“Tap the button above your right ear to activate the GPS to the location of the call.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Jim tapped the button on his helmet.
Augmented reality showed up, guiding him to the location where the disturbance was occurring.
He saw an arrow on his visor. It was telling him to move left in four blocks. Jim and his dad were following the instructions to the letter.
Next, it said to go straight for two blocks. It then said turn right. Jim could see the smoke. They were getting close. Turn right in three blocks. Your destinations will be on the left.
Bladefist and Jim stopped on the rooftop across the street from the fire. He saw a Protaru using hydrokineses to battle the blaze.
One of Matt's family?
“Time to activate our infrared sensors,” said Bladefist.
“Are you sure we can do that?”
“Watch and learn.”
“Lead away.”
Bladefist pressed a button on top of his gauntlet.
“This button right here.”
Pointing to a large black button in between the ring finger and middle finger, his dad pressed it.
Jim followed suit.
Jim's entire field of view changed. He was seeing the world in a different way. The heat was all he could see. The fire was blazing across the street. But there was something else. Something different.
JIm could see the outlines of four figures, trapped on different levels of the building across the street.
“We got to get to them!” yelled Jim.
“In due time.”
“But.”
“Slow down. That's an order.”
“Okay.”
“Breathe.”
Jim took in a few deep breaths. He calmed himself and relaxed.
“You are no good to yourself and anyone else if you are tense and unfocused. Center yourself. Focus. Find your center.”
“Okay Dad.”
The inhaling and exhaling was meditative therapy for Jim.
“Now how do you feel?” asked Bladefist.
“Calmer.”
“Now, let's come up with a plan of attack.”
“Why certainly.”
“According to my sensors, there are two on the top floor, and one on the third floor, and one on the second floor.”
“Okay.”
“Can you verify that for me?”
“Sure.”
Looking through his visor, he could see four different life signatures. His dad was telling the truth.
“I can verify what you are saying is accurate..”
“Good.”
“What do we do next?”
“Let's get the top level individuals first.”
“Okay.”
“Then we can get to the other levels later.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Let's go!”
“Here we go!”
Jim and Bladefist jumped into the building through the window. The building was a towering inferno. Smoke was everywhere. It was hard to breathe. The suit could only do so much.
“This way, son!”
Jim followed his dad. The first victim was behind a door. The ceiling fell on top of Jim. He absorbed the heat from the fire and blasted his way out of the debris. He saw his dad on the ground. He picked him up, cradled his arm under his dad’s shoulder.
“Dad! Dad!” yelled Jim.
“I am here, Junior.”
“Okay. I need you.”
“Okay. I am right here.”
“Stay here.”
Jim placed his dad on the floor,
The fire was a raging inferno. Red flames painted the rooms. He absorbed the heat from the surrounding area. The energy was sucked into his body. The room became a little cooler. He used his absorbed energy to blast a small hole into the door, using it like a blowtorch. Using the hole to enter through the door, he walked into the room. He saw a woman in a beige nightgown.
“Are you okay?”
“I am fine but my daughter is in the other room! I am worried about her!”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
“Follow me.”
Jim and the women walked into the hall and stood there.
There was debris blocking the door.
“Stand back,” said Jim.
Jim punched the door. It wouldn't budge. Absorbing heat from the surrounding area, he blasted the door with his yellow energy.
The door fractured. He punched and moved the door out of the way. There was a 10 month old baby girl wearing a pink gown sitting in a crib crying. Jim walked into the room and absorbed the ambient heat. His energy absorption powers were coming in handy. He walked to the crib and lifted the girl out of the crib. Walking outside of the room, he handed the girl to her mother.
“Alyssa!” cried the woman.
His dad was standing up. The floor they were on was as dry as ash.
The woman said, “Thank you, Protaru.”
Jim responded, “You are welcome.”
His dad dropped to his knees.
“I got you, Dad.”
“I am sorry, Son.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Some Protaru I am.”
“We are a team.”
He carried his dad on his back, and the woman in his arms, with the woman cradling the infant in her bosom.
He walked to the window, and he jumped out of the building to the ground.
He placed the woman and her infant child on the ground. His dad, half awake, half asleep, laid on the ground.
“Is that Bladefist?” asked an emergency technician.
.
Jim said, “Yeah, he might have a concussion. It might have to be looked at.“
“Who are you?” asked the technician.
“I am a Protaru Tenu”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Awesome.”
“Stand back.”
“Why?”
“I am about to take out this fire.”
“What? That is impossible.
“I can do it. Not a problem.”
“You know how much energy that is? That is impossible.”
“Watch me.”
Jim used all the training he had done since arriving at New Laveria. He absorbed the heat from the inferno. It took him about three minutes. He had done this amount once or twice in the energy lab. During those times he had done it, he buckled under the amount of energy.. He was always up for a challenge. He lived for it. His cells were being charged. His hands were glowing with energy the color of lemons.
Now to redirect it. He shaped it into a ball of yellow light the size of a minivan. He knelt to his knees. The light faded away like the sun after a sunset.
The emergency responder said, “That was amazing!”
“Thanks,” said Jim.
“Are you okay?” said the technician after rushing over to Jim.
“I am okay.”
“Let me look at you.”
“I am fine.”
“I have never seen such a display of power like that in my entire life of fourteen years on the force,” said the other responder.
“How did you do that?” asked the first responder.
“Bladefist is my dad.”
“Bladefist has a son?”
“Yes.”
“Let me check you out. It is the least we can do after you put out the fire.”
“Okay. You convinced me.”
The technician walked with Jim to the emergency vehicle.
The woman walked up to Jim. The other trapped individuals walked out of the apartment building. More emergency services arrived on the scene. Some Protaru were blocking off the scene.
Jim sat in the back of an ambulance-like vehicle. The vehicle had no wheels, just bars in their location hovering in the air. Medical scanning equipment and supplies were in the inside of the vehicle. The vehicle was the color of roses with a green triangle on both sides.
“Thank you for saving me and my daughter, Alyssa. You are a hero.”
Jim replied, “Just doing my job.”
“We owe you our lives.”
“Really, it was okay.”
Jim vision blurred for thirty seconds.
“Are you okay?” asked the technician inspecting Jim.
Jim answered, “I am fine.”
Bladefist was checked out. So was Jim. Randy arrived on scene. They were in the back of an ambulance being scanned for any health anomalies.
“Hey, buddy!” said Randy.
“What’s up, man?” asked Jim.
“Looks like I missed all the fun.”
“I was just doing my job. I was using my training.”
“You absorbed a whole fire's worth of energy.”
“Yeah, I did.”
“Fourteen months of Energy Lab training was pretty useful, today.”
“Yeah, it was.”
“That was no ordinary feet.”
“I know.”
“That was an impressive feat of power.”
“That’s what I am told.”
“And you are being so modest about it.”
“It is what my dad taught me.”
“Which is?”
“Don’t brag about your powers, it makes you sound arrogant.”
“Really.”
“Yeah.”
“But it is so badass.”
“I don't want to be arrogant.”
“Okay, buddy.”
The EMT looked over Jim’s body, scanning his body with a stylus.
“I am unable to see any health irregularities in you at this time,” said the technician.
Bladefist said, “What about me?”
“You have a concussion. You might want to take it easy for a few hours, but you should be alright as well.”
“So we can get out of here.”
“Yes, I am giving you both a clean bill of health.”
Bladefist and Jim stepped out of the ambulance and walked down the mud brown paved street.
“I got us a ride home. If you want it,” said Randy.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Dad?”
“Yes, Junior?”
“Are we still on patrol?”
“Hold that thought.”
Bladefist got on his gauntlet, opening up a connection to Central Command.
“Command. Come in, Command.”
“This is Command, loud and clear.”
“This is Bladefist. I am clocking out.”
“We read you, Bladefist. Please fill out your incident report at your earliest convenience.”
“Thank you, Command.”
“Thank you, Bladefist.”
Bladefist pressed a button to end the transmission.
“Now we are off duty.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You are welcome, Son.”
“You heard the man. I am officially off duty.”
“I just got off and heard you were nearby.”
“You wanted to check up on me?”
“Yes.”
”That was nice of you.”
“What do you want to do?”
“I want to see Anna.”
“Well, I want to eat.”
“I could go for some food.”
“Is it time to hit the cafe?”
“I was thinking of hitting a food truck and eating in my room.”
“No cafeteria?”
“Not today. We just went this morning.”
“Tonight could be Chicago cuisine night.”
“Not interested.”
“I will catch you later.”
“I will catch a ride with you back to base.”
“What about the food truck?”.
“There has to be some nearby.”
Bladefist, Jim, and Randy took a vehicle driven by a nameless Protaru back to base.
The drive was about five minutes. The guard at the entrance scanned all of the passengers and let them into the base.
They dropped them off at the front door. Jim walked to the locker room and removed his battle suit. He pressed a button on the side of the right gauntlet, contracting the suit like an umbrella after being used during a heavy thunderstorm. The entire suit was now contained in a blue and green bracelet.
This suit is really useful. I am glad it was able to protect me.
He placed the bracelet in his locker. Closing the locker, he changed back into his street clothes and walked to a nearby food truck and bought a bowl of Laverian turkey chili. He walked to the base, being scanned again. He took his food back to his room and opened his dinner. He was all by himself. Randy had gone to dinner at the mess hall.
He grabbed his plastic spork, opened his saltine crackers and poured it over his stew. He dug into it. Enjoying every morsel.
He got a call from someone. He checked his computer. It was Anna. The love of his life. His future wife.
He clicked the accept button. He looked into her gorgeous amber eyes. They were highlights of gray in them as well.
“Hey, Jim.”
“Hey, you hot mama.”
“Jim.”
Her face turned red.
“What have you been up to lately?” asked Anna.
“I went out on patrol for the first time.”
“That is where you went.”
“Yep.”
“How was it?”
“It was intense.”
“Really.”
“Yes.”
“What made it intense?”
“I went into a raging inferno with my dad.”
“Why were you with your dad?”
“It was his patrol. He was showing me the ropes.”
“Oh.”
“Really.”
“Yep.”
“It was testing my training.”
“Please continue.”
Jim told the story of how he got into the building and rescued the woman and her daughter. He absorbed the heat from the fire and converted it into light energy. He said that his vision blurred. He got the checkup and was okay to return to duty.
“That's scary,” said Anna.
“How so?” inquired Jim.
“You had a building fall on you. You could have died. Can’t you absorb energy?”
“Yes, but I can’t absorb kinetic energy. It has to be free.”
“Okay.”
“I came out okay.”
“That’s not the point!”
Tears were falling down Anna's eyes.
Jim said, “Babe. I am okay. I have been training for a few years now.”
“I worry so much about you. Will I see you again? Will someone alert me to say you have fallen in battle? I get knots in my stomach just thinking about it.”
“I am a Protaru Tenu. I want to do this. I want to protect people. Protect you. It is who I am.”
“I want to support you. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“You love me?”
“Yeah. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I can't imagine my life without you.”
“Me either, babe.”
Jim put the laptop computer on his twin size bed, taking it off the nightstand.
Jim said, “I will be careful when I am out on patrol.”
“Thank you, honey.”
“I am getting stronger. My practice at the Energy Lab is paying off.”
“The Energy Lab?”
“Yeah.”
“You're training there, right?”
“Exactly.”
“I have gone through so much stuff these past years. Learning about my powers. The quarry. Now the Energy Lab. Patrol is just an extension of that. I have been training for what seems like for so long. I am ready to take the next step.”
“Okay, Jay. I just want you to promise me one thing.”
“Anything for you.”
“You will always be safe.”
“Okay.”
“I want you to say it.”
“What?”
“Tell me you will always be safe.”
“Okay.”
“Say it.”
“I will always be safe.”
“Thank you, Jim.”
She heard her little brother in the other room.
“I love you, Jim Williams.”
“I love you, Anna Harvaky.”
“That is my kid brother. I got to go.”
“Okay, babe.”
“I will talk to you tomorrow. Maybe in the morning?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The window on his computer closed.
Jim opened a word document app. He was going to start writing in his journal.
“A new day has dawned. I went on my first ever patrol. A fire was raging, but was no match for the fire in my soul. I kicked its ass. I rescued a mother and her infant daughter.”
“I also went to the max with my powers. I absorbed a bunch of heat. It was a good training lesson. I carried my dad over my shoulders and the woman in my arms.”
“It was intense. I handled it like a pro. Hopefully this is the beginning of something special. My time as a Protaru Tenu is starting to take off. I am up for the challenge.”
“The Energy Lab is awesome. I love it now. At first, it was scary. It was daunting. Now it feels like breathing. My dad made the right choice to continue my training there. There is stuff I can do now that would not be possible if I stayed in the quarry. That was the best choice for developing my powers that my dad could have made. I am glad he made it.”
Just then the door opened.
“Hey Randy,” said Jim.
“Hey Jim.”
“How are you doing?”
“I am good.”
“That is good to hear.”
“I got something to tell you.”
“Let me finish my journaling.”
“Okay, buddy.”
“Thanks.”
Jim finished the daily entry.
“This path I am on is not easy, but it is the only one I can walk. It is my own personal path. A path of a Protaru.”
The computer slammed shut.
Jim saw that Randy had the biggest grin on his face. He was really happy, looking as if he had won the lottery.
“Now, Randy. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“I got a girlfriend.”
“Congrats!”
“Yeah. I know.”
“Welcome to the club.”
“We decided to make it official in the last hour. We even defined the relationship.”
“You did that.”
“Yes, we did.”
“Good for you.”
“I am now no longer single.”
“What is this lucky woman’s name?”
“Helena.”
“Like Batman’s daughter.”
“I know. Huntress.”
“Does she have powers like us?”
“I don’t think so. Her dad is a councilman for the city.”
“Cool.”
“How did you meet her?”
“Through Anna.”
“Anna?”
“Their moms are best friends.”
“Wow.”
“That is amazing.”
“I just finished talking to her.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe we can go on a double date sometime.”
“I would love that.”
“I will talk to Helena and you can talk to Anna.”
“For sure.”
“I am going to hop in the shower.”
“You do you.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.”
With that, Randy grabbed some clothes out of the dresser on his side of the room and grabbed a bar of soap along with a towel.
“Enjoy your shower.”
“You better believe it.”
Randy left the room. Jim fell asleep. He dreamed about Anna. He saw Dania. He had not seen her in years. He saw them on two different stone pillars.
A man in a hooded black cloak said, “Choose.”
“What do you mean?” asked Jim.
“I didn’t stutter.”
“Okay.”
Jim pointed to Anna. He didn’t care about Dania anymore. She was his past. Anna was his future. His present. Lightning started to strike. He used his training from the energy lab to absorb the energy. He concentrated it into his cellular matrix. He then released a great beam of yellow energy into the sky.
“You saved me,” said Anna.
“All in a day’s work,” replied Jim.
They kissed.
Jim woke up.
“Brunch in fifteen minutes?” asked Randy.
“You better believe it.”
“You better hop in the shower.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
Jim grabbed a towel and some shower gel. He walked to the bathroom. He walked to the nearest shower stall on his floor. Pressing a button, a stream of water collided with Jim’s chest. He finished the session in about five minutes.
Coming back to his room, he put on a long sleeve grey t-shirt, a pair of blue jogging pants and black socks with combat boots.
He also put on a blue windbreaker jacket.
“You ready buddy?” asked Randy.
“Yeah, let's head out.”
Jim and Randy left their room, heading for the Protaru mess hall.
“Is it Chicago Cuisine night today?” asked Jim.
“I think that is only for dinner.”
“Oh, okay. My bad.”
“You are good.”
“I can’t wait to get my grub on. How about you?”
“I am going to chow down as well.”
They stepped off the elevator and walked to the cafeteria. Reaching the room, Jim got in the omelet line, and Randy grabbed a Belgian waffle and French Toast sticks.
His mom used to make him tomato and mushroom omelets before he went to school. They reminded him of home. He missed his mom and siblings so much. He had a new life now, the life of a Protaru Tenu.
Once Randy and Jim got their food, they grabbed a beverage to drink. Jim got orange juice not from concentrate, and Randy grabbed apple cider. Walking to the dining area, they saw Matt and Sam. Matt’s brother was not with them.
Randy and Jim sat down at the table.
“Where is Daryl?” asked Jim.
Matt said, “He is at home sick.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“He will be fine.”
“How bad is it?”
“Not that bad.”
Randy asked, “What does he have?”
“Laverian Shingles.”
“Man, I hope he is okay,” said Randy.
“I got it when I was around his age,” said Matt.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I turned out fine,” said Matt.
“That’s good to know,” said Jim.
“That’s a positive outlook,” mentioned Randy
Matt continued, “I only had it for a few weeks, and then I was a-okay.”
Jim said, “That’s good to hear.”
“There’s hope for your brother,” said Randy.
“I am not too worried about him. He will get through it. Of this, I am certain.”
Jim, eating his mushroom and tomato omelet, started to think about his family back on Earth.
His brother and sister. Would he see them again? How were they doing? What were they up to?
“I haven’t seen my family on Earth in forever,” said Jim.
“I can’t imagine,” said Matt.
Sam said, “My parents passed.”
“Really?” asked Jim.
“Yeah, I live with my older brother.”
“Wow. That’s rough,” replied Randy.
“He is a Protaru,” said Sam.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did they pass?”
“Sure, Jim. I can tell you.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
“They were both injured in the battles that destroyed Laveria.”
“Sorry for your loss.”
“Yeah. They both went into comas and passed away years later.”
“That sounds horrible,” said Jim.
“I went to see a therapist.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, therapy helped me grieve.”
Jim could see the hurt and pain on Sam’s face as he talked about it. He felt so bad for Sam. Losing his parents. He couldn’t imagine the daily pain that Sam went through.
He was thankful for his parents. Both of them. His father for his guidance. His mom for her support.
Jim replied, “Well, at least it helps.”
“I am getting another cup of apple cider,” said Randy.
“Don’t let us stop you,” said Jim.
“Yeah, go on along,” mentioned Sam.
“I will be right back.”
Jim, turning to Sam, said, “I always forget that you are older than me.”
“Time happens differently on the Asteroid, remember?” said Sam.
“That too.”
“I will see you guys later,” said Matt.
“What adventure are you off to?” asked Sam.
“Yeah, inquiring minds want to know,” said Jim.
“I got to go on Patrol.”
“I thought I saw your father when I was on patrol the other day,” said Jim.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Why not?”
“I have a lot of cousins as well. They have the power of hydrokinesis as well.”
“Wow.”
“Yep.”
“I had no idea.”
“Now you know.”
“Yes, I do.”
Matt took his tray and departed from the table.
“Later, guys.”
“Peace,” said Jim.
“Bye, man,” responded Sam.
Randy came back and sat down with two cups of apple cider.
“Two?” asked Sam.
“Yep.”
“Why two?” asked Sam.
“I felt one was not enough.”
Jim said, “Okay.”
“Go big or go home,” said Sam.
Randy said, “Thanks buddy.”
Sam remarked, “No, problem, friend.”
“Time for me to get started on these cups.”
“Don’t let us stop you,” said Jim.
Randy began drinking his first cup.
“Where did Matt go?” asked Randy.
“He went on patrol,” said Sam.
“On patrol?” asked Randy.
“Yeah. On patrol,” said Sam.
“Have you ever been on patrol yet, Sam?” asked Jim.
“Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“I have not gotten a good handle on my powers.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Randy.”
“What are your powers?”
“I can fly and generate electricity.”
“Woah! That is so cool!” said Randy.
Jim said, “Those are cool powers.”
“I can also manipulate electricity to a certain degree.”
“So you are like that video game?” asked Jim.
“Which one?”
Jim said, “You know, Infamous.”
“Kind of.”
Randy added, “Actually, you are like Electro from the Spider-Man comics.”
“That too.”
Jim asked, “What is taking you so long to master your powers?”
Sam had a stressed look on his face. He looked highly under duress.
“I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Okay, I won’t budge or pry.”
“What time is it?” asked Sam.
“It is 900 hours.”
“I got to get going,” said Sam.
“Me too,” said Jim.
“You guys and your busy schedules,” said Randy.
“I got to meet my brother for a training lesson. Where do you have to be?” asked Sam.
“I have to go to the Energy lab for training,” answered Jim.
“I have to go there too!” said Sam.
“Well, we can walk there together.”
“I will see you fellas later. I am going to talk to my girlfriend,” said Randy.
“You have a girlfriend?” asked Sam.
“Yeah. I do,” answered Randy.
“Now both of you guys are not single.”
“Yeah,” answered both Jim and Randy.
“My life blows,” said Sam.
“No it doesn’t,” said Randy.
“Your life is great,” said Jim.
“I can’t control my powers and I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Jim said, “That will come in time.”
“Yeah, what Jim said. You will get there.”
“I don’t know,” said Sam.
“Let’s get going,” said Jim.
“Right. We don’t want to be late.”
Jim, with his empty plate and tray, deposited them at the conveyor belt, allowing the staff to clean them. Sam was right behind him.
“You ready?” asked Jim.
“Yeah. I need this. I need to get a handle on my electric powers if I am ever going to become a Protaru.”
“You got this. I believe in you.”
“Thanks man. I just need to believe in myself.”
Jim and Sam walked out of the mess hall. They took the elevator to the floor the Energy Lab was on. Sam was tapping his left foot rapidly. Jim could sense something was wrong. Jim was around the same height as Sam, just a half inch shorter. Sam had grown taller than Jim. Jim had been taller just a year ago.
“Are you okay?” asked Jim.
“Not really,” said Sam.
“What is wrong?”
“I am kind of nervous,” said Sam.
“You should be fine,” answered Jim.
“What if they can’t help me?”
“If they can’t help you, then you are in no better shape than when you started.”
“Thanks, Jim.”
“You are welcome, buddy.”
“You are a good friend.”
“So are you.”
“Bladefist is a total badass.”
“That is what they say.”
“He is intimidating.”
“I know. I have big shoes to fill.”
The elevator opened.
“This is our stop.”
Jim and Sam departed from the transport. They walked past the collection of rooms and offices. They finally reached two big blue metallic doors.
“Are you ready?” asked Jim.
“Yeah, I am.”
Jim opened the doors. Jim and Sam went inside.
“How can I help you?” asked the attendant.
“I am here for my training session,” said Jim.
“Simon,” said Sam.
“Hey, little bro.”
Simon walked over to Sam and Jim. Simon was as tall as Jim. Sam was a little taller than the both of them. Simon was stockier than Sam. Jim could tell they were brothers. Simon was a little darker than Sam by a few shades.
“Jim, you can follow me. Someone else will be with you shortly, Sam and Simon Walters,” said the attendant.
“Later, Sam.”
“Peace, man.”
Jim went through the doors ready to begin his training lesson.
