FABRIZZIO
So, I decided to try to steal Ben's guitar and test my powers at the same time.
It didn't go well.

The first problem was that I can't quite stop time yet - I can only slow it down and speed it up.

The second problem was that I have a difficulty moving and maintaining the control at the same time. I mean, I look damn cool when I use my powers. The color drains from my body and I become a monochrome person...and in the right light I look actually chrome. It looks sweet (I got Honey to take a few picture of it for me too...)
Anyway, I went into his room, time slowed greatly, and I snuck in quickly and grabbed the case. I then got up and ran out. Ben noticed me and began to chase me...in slow motion.

This was where the third problem came into play. I stopped to laugh at his slow motion running...and lost control. Instead of returning time to normal, I accidently sped it up for him...and he hit me with a super fast punch.
I flew through the open door and hit the wall (in slow-mo again, thankfully) and then got up. Ben was chuckling. He said "Fabrizzio, I appreciate the effort you took, and I only have one thing to point out."
"And what might that be?"
"Next time you go to steal my guitar case," he said, "make sure the guitar is in it!" He pointed to his guitar, lying on his bed, right where Honey and I had left it before we went to take pictures.
* * *
BEN
It had been a few days since we had traveled into the Sptoeretlael. We had a fairly easy time keeping our secret just that - a secret. Amazingly enough, no time actually passed within the portal. We got out the exact time we went in...so to speak. I would figure that, if we were to stay in there for a longer amount of time, we would still age, but time wouldn't technically pass.

Large and difficult concept, I know.

Most of us didn't even try using our powers until late at night. Sure, many of us were curious, but we waited until no one else was around to experiment (except for Tim, who was shooting chains left and right. I wonder if he had any control...). The only one of us who could actually get away with using his power outside was Ojash, and he used it a lot. A few of us developed a knack for seeing through his illusions, but most everyone else at the college was fooled.
The only other person using her powers in broad daylight was my sister, who seemed to be organizing the vast legions of Ripon College squirrels into tiny little regiments and having fun with them. At first, one might think that a superpower that attracts cute animals and allows one to communicate with them would be useless. However, that quickly changes when one gets to Ripon and sees the massive squirrel army that my sister has amassed. Sometimes I wonder about her and her squirrels...

Speaking of powers, less than a week after our trip, everyone knew what their power was and had a descent grasp on it. Well, everyone except for Tyler. He still couldn't figure out his power for the life of him. However, he wasn't at a full loss. He was one of three people (and one robot) other than myself who knew what my power was, mainly because he was one of the few people who noticed that I caused the volcano to collapse (with Miss Raebel's help). In fact, Tyler seemed to be much more intuitive and much more observant than anyone else, at least since we got back from the future Earth. Not really a superpower, but helpful nonetheless.

I really felt we needed a place where we could all just practice our powers where no one would see and where no one could get hurt. I also felt that it would be useful to make some accessories to augment our new powers and abilities. However, the thing that I felt was most important (and on this, Murray, Tyler, Derek and many others agreed) was that we needed a way to control where the Sptoeretlael takes us. Being flung randomly from place to place may get a few things accomplished, but seems to lack any kind of plan. Now, I was sure that the Sptoeretlael had some built in mechanism for this (like its ways to easily get there and back and its cloaking ability) but I didn't really know how to activate it. For the time being, we wouldn't worry about it though. We had no need to go back into the portal. Still, I really wanted to control it.

"Shut up. You don't need to control it," Jenny said to me as I was thinking out loud on the fifth floor of Scott again. "The portal gave you powers to serve its needs. If it wanted you to control it, I imagine it would have given you a way."
"And what gives you so much insight on this matter?"
"I...I...I don't know. But I don't think you should be talking about controlling it."

For once, I agree with the girl. You shouldn't be acting like it is some thing to control.
You know what I mean. I mean control in the sense of not going to random places.
You go where the Sptoeretlael says you go. End of story.

I had to wonder why they were both so touchy on the subject. Then again, not actually knowing what either of them was, it was understandable that I didn't know.
I soon realized that, just like before, the secret of our expedition wasn't tightly sealed. And by soon, I mean as soon as I finished that little thought.

"BEN!!!!" Honey shouted, bursting in from the stairwell. If anyone was actually studying, they would have been noticeably shaken and irritated. "Why didn't you invite me to the portal?"
"Honey, shush please..."
"I should've been there," she said, as if I hadn't interjected. I actually doubt she heard me. "I could have been so helpful, and I would have made it so you got out much earlier."
Honey continued talking, but I tuned her out. "Ben," Jenny said while I was ignoring Honey, "you have some odd friends, don't you."
"Honey," I practically shouted to get her attention. Thank goodness no one was actually studying... "How did you find out that we even went somewhere?"

"Fabrizzio told me." She began talking again, but I heard none of it. I headed down the stairs and went straight to Fabrizzio's room...but he wasn't there. He was in my room, playing my guitar and wearing my sunglasses.
"It figures," I sighed. "Fabrizzio, why did you tell Honey?" I asked, with Honey just now getting to my room as well. I think she finally stopped talking.
"Well, after Tim told Kyle, I figured we were all allowed to tell someone..."
"And why would you...wait...Tim told Kyle? Damnitall!"
"Hey, if it makes it any better," he said, following me as I headed for Tim's room, "I only told Honey and I don't think anyone told anyone else." I then heard him mutter under his breath "and if they did, they'll have to deal with your wrath."
"Damn straight. I thought we were trying to keep this low-key." I entered Tim's room without even knocking. Sure enough, he was in there with Kyle, showing off his power. "I guess I was wrong," I said, glaring at Tim.
"Hey, you never said we couldn't tell people," Tim said, standing up while defending himself.
"Yes, I did. Quite clearly, actually. Murray can do a playback." Fabrizzio fetched Murray, and we plugged him into Tim's TV.

MURRAY
Video Playback...
We were in the ruins with Sptoeretlael again. Ben touched the hieroglyphic and we shot up into the message center of the Pub. We were about to disperse, then Ben shouted, "Hey, remember, keep this on the DL. We don't want to tell anyone about this, you hear me? Not until we know more. KEEP IT QUIET!"
Everyone made some sort of affirmative notion, than we went our separate ways.
End Playback.

BEN
"Told you." Tim looked at me.
"Okay," he said, "I guess you did. That doesn't mean I heard it!"
"So you just weren't paying attention when I said something important?"
"I guess...hey, don't turn this on me. I wouldn't have done it if..."
"Lemme guess, if someone else hadn't done it first."
"Yeah...I heard JoHanna and Lori told Ashton..."
"And how does that make it right?" I complained, leaving the room in a huff. I guess I had some business in Tri now.
As I walked down the hall, Fabrizzio's roommate Charles came out of their room. "What's all the commotion about?" he asked.
"You guys might as well tell him, not like it is that much of a secret anymore," I said, heading to my room to grab a few things and then heading out. Before I left, I leaned into Fabrizzio's room, where he, Charles, Honey and Murray all were. "I'm calling a meeting of EVERYONE tonight. Spread the word ONLY TO THOSE WHO ALREADY KNOW!" I headed down the stairs, muttering under my breath.

When I got to their common room in Tri, I wasn't at all surprised to see that - apart from Lori, JoHanna and Ashton - Tyler, Derek and Casey were in there too. "Hey Ben," Derek said, noticing me right as I walked in. "We were just about to call you and ask if you could come over here."
"Really now? And for what reason?" I responded, a small amount of anger in my voice.
"Oh, we just wanted to talk..."
Great, I thought, just great. Derek was up all night again. He always sounds like he is drunk when he goes without sleep.
"About what..."
"You know, the portal..."
"You mean the Sptoeretlael."
"Ben," Tyler said, "if you think Derek is going to pronounce that in his sleep deprived state [score one point for me, I thought], then you have another thing coming."

"True... So what about the Sptoeretlael did you wish to talk about?"
"Well," JoHanna said, "for starters, we accidently told Ashton." She waved innocently. "I hope you don't mind."
"Well," I started.
"Oh, great," Derek interrupted, "here comes a disapproving rant."
"You know me," I said. "Anyway, I would have been fine, if it was just one person. Quite frankly, 19 is an odd number." I paused. "Figuratively speaking, I mean."
"Wait, there are only 18 of us..." Tyler said.
Damn. I have to remember to leave Jenny out of my count.
"That's what I meant, 18. Anyway, I wouldn't have minded if it was just one more person, but because of this, we have at least four more, Ashton included, and maybe more."

"Really?" Tyler said. "How did we cause this?"
"Well, word got out that you informed Ashton, which led to Tim telling Kyle, which led to Fabrizzio telling Honey and Charles, his roommate."
"That," Casey said, "would be my fault. I may have let it slip to Tim that we told Ashton...but I never meant for him to tell Kyle!"
I paused. I didn't know if it was Casey's fault, chiefly because part of me believed that Derek, in his sleep deprived state, would have easily told his roommate Tim that they had told Ashton. However, I didn't feel the need to push it. "Anyway, we have four more for the group, maybe even more as well. Who knows who else told someone?"
"Actually," Casey said, "me and Rachel kinda told Becky about it too..."

I put my forehead in my hands and sighed. "Why do I have to be the one in charge? Why me, the one no one listens to?"
"Well," Jenny responded, "maybe it is because you are so smart, or maybe because you are the only one who can handle it."
"Somehow, I doubt that..."
"What was that?" Tyler asked, looking at me oddly.
"Nothing, I was just talking to myself." It was true, after all. I heard Sethos chuckle at the thought.
"Are you sure? You've been acting a bit odd recently..."

"Yes, well, that is partially because it is my fault that everyone now has superpowers that they can use to kill each other, and some sort of evil may be after us all soon, and all of this is my fault, but other than that I'm fine."
With that, I got up and left the room. "Hey," I heard Derek shout after me, "we still want to talk about more stuff." It was too late. I was ignoring them, on my way out of their room and toward Rachel and Becky's room. I then walked into an invisible wall that covered the door, created by Derek's power. "It may have been dubbed ultimate defense," he said, "but that isn't all it can be used for. This thick barrier will keep you in here."
"Thick barrier, eh?" I said. I paused and felt for it. I touched it. "Yep, it does seem thick. I wonder how sturdy it is..." I focused for a second and snapped, and the barrier, although invisible, shattered into tiny pieces. It was an audible shattering too, and then I said, "not very stable. You may want to work on that." I proceeded on my way to Rachel and Becky's room.

I knocked on Rachel and Becky's door and heard a voice other then one of theirs saying come in. I opened the door and, much to my surprise (in a sheerly sarcastic tense), Ashley was in the room with them.
"Hey exploding snap kid," Ashley said as I entered. I paused. "I take it that you," I said, turning to Rachel, "told them about the portal?"
"Well," Rachel said, "Casey told Becky...and I had to tell Ashley. You're lucky I didn't tell anyone else."
"Yeah, that's for sure," I muttered. Again, Jenny laughed at me.
"Hey," Rachel said, "you should be happy for me. I figured out your power. Normally, I'm not that observant."
"I knew you figured out my power. I knew that you were one of about five people paying attention when I made the volcano implode by having Meghan use her powers on me. I congratulate you for being one of the few people paying attention when everyone should have been."
"Wow," Becky said, "you really are sarcastic, aren't you."
"Yes," Rachel said, "he really is."
"Why no, I'm never sarcastic..."
That earned me another punch from Rachel. My arm started to develop a bruise...
I began to walk out of the room. "Feel free to tell them whatever Rachel. There'll be a meeting tonight, around 8ish, outside probably. We have around five or six new people, but it's not to explain things..."
"Aye aye captain."
I went back to my room, making sure everyone got the message.

Having no clue how long the meeting would last, I decided to take a nap beforehand, so that I had all the time we would need for the meeting and then homework afterwards. I quickly fell asleep after setting my alarm.
I was in a dark environment, and I was almost weightless. Other than myself and a lone figure a short ways away, there was nothing there. I thought it was a dream, but it didn't really feel like one.
The figure began walking toward me (which slightly confused me, seeing as I couldn't even begin to figure out how to move in this weightless space, let alone walk on a non-existent floor.

"Don't worry about it," the figure said. I recognized the voice in seconds - it was Sethos. "I don't have much time here."
"So you do have a body..."
"Only in your mind, which is where we are right now...well, in a way."
"My mind is an empty place of darkness?"
"Only this small portion. If you think of the mind as a Mansion, this is a closet."
"Oh, okay. Why have you brought me here?"
"I want to give you the little bit of insight I can. I have been reading your thoughts and I want to tell you that they are wrong about me. I am not an evil spirit, I am not a part of you, and I am certainly not the Sptoeretlael or one of its protectors, like yourself."
"Normally I'd ask how I could trust you, but this seems pretty believable, considering we are floating in my mind..."
"Yes, well...not really. You are asleep. I am just hacking into your dreams."
"Ah...fun..."
"Yes, endlessly so. Anyway, I cannot tell you what I am, for the rules I must adhere to forbid it. However, you are right to assume that I have your best interests and the portal's best interests at heart, not one or the other."
"What are you?"
"When time comes, it will be revealed. Don't worry. Next time you visit the portal, I am sure you'll see a clue."
"One last thing...what exactly is Jenny then?"
"The girl? She is not what I am...and while I have an idea, I am not sure enough to convey it..."

His voice was getting very faint, and an odd beeping was heard in the background. I recognized it immediately. It was my alarm. I woke up. I sighed and reflected on what he said before grabbing my coat and heading out to meet the others.
* * *
Being that we had such a large amount of people, we were outside on the union lawn. It was around 8 pm, and it was just now getting fully dark in the sky. Everyone had made it on time (which I was very happy about) and so I began. I addressed the group in a quiet but assertive voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am a tad annoyed right now, but I am going to put that aside for the moment. We have been granted a large responsibility here. We have knowledge that other people may never get, and why? Because we were lucky enough to stumble across this portal."
"Well," Kyle said, "some of us didn't stumble across this portal. Some of us don't have these amazing powers the rest of you have."
"Having these powers is indeed a great thing Kyle," I responded, "but it is also a burden. We have to use our powers responsibly, be sure we don't hurt anyone with them, and all the other things that come with being super powered in a world that isn't used to that.
"Besides," I continued, "the portal granted us these powers and who's to say it won't take them away? It granted us these powers to defend itself against some sort of ultimate evil that was going to manifest itself. We are truly lucky this evil hasn't appeared yet. I'd feel horrible if something happened to any of you because of a discovery I made..."
"Ben," Tyler said, "we all made the choice to come here, and we all made the choice to be a part of this expedition. We all realize the risks, so you shouldn't feel like it is on only your shoulders."
"I know, but it just feels as if a foul wind is blowing."

Almost on cue, a foul wind did begin to blow, figuratively speaking of course. There was a thump behind me, and I heard Jenny shout in my ear. "Watch out!" Luckily, I jumped back right before a cage came up and ensnared everyone but myself. This was no ordinary cage though, for it appeared to be made of shadow.
"Missssster Ranesss, I take it," hissed a voice from behind me. I turned and saw a humanoid being. I say humanoid because he obviously wasn't a human - he was made of shadow.
"Who wants to know," I asked.
"My name isss unimportant, for I am merely a ssservant. I have been sssent here to kidnap you and you friendssss, but obviousssly thisss will be a more difficult tasssk than antisssipated."
"A servant for whom?"
"That doesssn't matter. Now, sssurender, before your friendssss pay the prisssse."

I looked at the cage. I doubted it could hold them for long, but there was a lot I didn't know yet, and I didn't want to risk it.
"That cage," said the creature, noticing my eyeing of it, "draninsss the powersss of thosssse behind itssss barssss. They cannot essscape, and neither can you."
I sighed. "Of course," I muttered, "now the crazy people have to appear."
"Yep," Jenny responded, "That'ssss life."
"That's not funny..."
"Really? I thought it was."
"Ssssilence," the shadowy creature hissed. "Now choossse - sssurender or die!"

I looked at the cage again. "Just run," Fabrizzio shouted. "Well get out of this."
"Don't listen to him," I heard Tim shout. "Rescue us!!!"
I then heard him grunt, as if he was elbowed. "Just run," Fabrizzio shouted again. "Live to fight another day."
I sighed again. I really didn't like these situations. I didn't like all the pressure being on me. It made me feel like everyone was depending on me, whether true or not. I just didn't like it.
"Don't even think about running," the creature hissed. "I'll kill your friendsss if you even try it."

I glared at the creature. "Don't even threaten that you filthy putrid sack of crap," I said, my mood changing immediately. I think everyone noticed. "When you threaten my friends, that puts you in a place you don't want to be."
"Jussst try me," he hissed in response. He ran at me, but I just looked at his steps, and timed it properly. At the right moment, I snapped, and the ground beneath where he was stepping exploded and he shot up into the air, a surprised look in his sockets. With another snap, the ground beneath my feet exploded too, and I shot up into the air as well. However, I was prepared for I had planned this. I aimed myself properly and shot above him. I brought my foot down to kick him into the ground, snapping as I did to fuse my kick with a micro-explosion. He shot into the ground with ten times the force he shot up. There was a sickly crack as he hit the ground. He got up, shaken but still able to move, amazingly enough. I snapped to cushion my fall with a soft explosion. He ran at me again, but I had had enough. I snapped on last time, and caused a large explosion inside of his chest. The shadows that created him splattered everywhere, revealing nothing more than a few dark organs that I guess were a heart and a brain. His shadows slowly crawled back to his barely there figure, and they recreated his body, though it was barely together and grotesquely misshapen.

"I sssupossse you won thisss round, Missster Ranesss. Be warned - my massster will sssend me back, and othersss as well." His voice then twisted into a deep dark bellow, and the hissing of the s's was gone. "This is not the last of us..." he said, disappearing with the shadows of the cage going with him.

Everyone ran out of the now non-existent cage, some thanking me, some asking if I was alright, some telling me I was stupid for fighting, and some complimenting my powers. "Everyone," I said, making my voice boom in the night, "this is why I said to keep it on the DL. Look how everyone was just all put in jeopardy tonight. All because of what..."
I was cut off by Rachel, who punched me in the arm and said "Shut up Ben. We don't want to be lectured at this hour."
Tyler chuckled. "She has a point there, Mister Ranes. Can't we just call it a night?"
I sighed. "Fine." I turned to everyone and shouted "Dismissed!"

Updated: 10/25/09 3:46 PM Log in to comment! | Share this!