Sitting in their shoebox of a room, the boys both were just waking up. Jim had just finished journaling, which was good for processing emotions, and Randy had just got out of the shower.
Randy said, “I feel so refreshed.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. There is nothing like taking a shower to rejuvenate yourself.”
“Showers are okay.”
“What? Showers are the shit. What were you up to?”
“I was just journaling.”
“Cool. What was some of the stuff you journal about?”
“I can read an excerpt.”
“Why certainly.”
“I was destroyed when my powers manifested. I was a danger to myself and those around me. My mom, terrified of my powers and the danger I posed to my brother and sister, was at an impasse. It started when I broke a door, the one to my bedroom. I tripped and touched a hot kettle, which put a hole in the wall. The heat energy I absorbed was redirected.”
Randy sat down on his bed. Jim continued his speech.
“My mom reached out to my father. He told her he could help. He could assist me in controlling my powers. He told her the truth. She always thought that there was more to him than he let on.”
He digressed.
“I didn’t want to leave my mom, but my powers were out of my control. She didn’t have the ability to handle my situation. She was thinking about her other children.”
“So I went to live with my father.”
Randy turned to Jim. “That is understandable, Jim. Your dad being Bladefist, you are like the child of royalty.”
“I don’t know about that, Randy.”
“Bladefist is one of the premium warriors our society has. He was forged in combat on Laveria.”
“I guess.”
“Yay I walk through the valley in the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil because I am the baddest motherfucker in the valley.”
“Let’s get some breakfast.”
“Sure thing.”
Jim and Randy walked to the cafeteria getting in line. Jim surveyed the room. It was a long line.
The walls of the cafeteria were painted white. Bright sodium lights illuminated the room. Silver and gray lunch tables were filled with people eating their food, mostly children around Jim’s age.
Randy said, “Man, we came at the wrong time.”
Jim replied, “I guess you are right.”
“You had to talk.”
“Don’t blame me. You wanted to hear my journal entry.”
“Okay, old friend.”
Jim and Randy waited for their turn to choose their food. The process seemed to take forever. A second felt like a minute. One minute felt like an hour. The line was moving as slow as molasses coming out of a glass jar. Jim was getting impatient, like a four year old kid waiting for Christmas day.
“I can’t wait to get my grub on. How about you?” asked Randy.
Jim said, “I am hungry as well. I know what I want.”
“Which is?”
“Wait and see.”
“Come on! Tell me now!”
“Patience, buddy.”
“Sure, pal.”
The line moved.
“Finally,” said Randy.
“It seems like I haven’t eaten in forever,” said Jim.
“I agree with you on that.”
Then they got their trays, plates, and silverware. Jim got scrambled eggs and two pieces of french toast. He grabbed a container of strawberry jam. He poured himself two cups of orange juice.
“No apple juice?” asked Randy.
“Apple juice’s from concentrate.”
“So?”
“I hate juice from concentrate.”
“Why?”
“Because it is diluted with water.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. The company freezes the juice and adds water to it. It is stupid. I want pure juice, not some mixture.”
“I had no idea.”
“Now you know.”
Jim and Randy sat at a lunch table. Jim began eating his food. Randy, who got a Belgian waffle and two pieces of turkey bacon.
“Why turkey bacon?” asked Jim.
Randy answered, “It is healthier for you.”
“Really?”
“Pork bacon is red meat.”
“Interesting.”
“Yeah. I am trying to stay alive for as long as possible.”
“I got you.”
Jim spread the jam over his french toast. Randy had a lob of whipped cream on top of his Belgian waffle. He cut into it, enjoying every morsel.
“I need syrup.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
Jim rose from his seat and walked to the syrup serving station. He poured the syrup on the french toast. He came back to his seat and devoured his meal. The minute after the future consultant finished his last bite, an alarm went off. He stood up, ready for action.
Randy said, “An alarm.”
Jim, looking at Randy, replied, “I can see that.”
“We must have a few meteoroids approaching.”
Just then, James’ dad approached him.
“Son, we are on meteoroid debris duty.”
“Okay.”
“Get your space suit. We leave in ten minutes.”
“Sure, Dad.”
He had done meteoroid duty twice before. It was kinda annoying, but he was used to it. Jim emptied his tray and walked to the elevator. He took the elevator down to the dock level.
He walked to the dock area and grabbed a space suit from the locker room. He locked all of the pieces of the suit into places on his body. The parts snapped into place, like assembling a lego set. He put it on quite effortlessly. The suit was sturdy, but flexible at the same time. The chest piece was white and blue. The arms and legs were white as snow. The helmet had a clear visor so Jim could see, with the rest of the piece as white as sour cream. With his space suit on, he then walked to the gate. At the gate stood his dad, Bladefist, one of his dad's allies, Missile, and two other warriors, father and son, not sure of who they were.
“Now that everyone is here, we can get started,” said Bladefist.
Bladefist said, “I think we all know why we are here.”
“I could use a refresher,” said the boy.
The father smacked the son over the head.
“Don’t be a smart ass,” said the father.
“Okay, “ said the boy.
“Sorry, Bladefist. Please continue.”
Bladefist said, “Destroy the boulders and incoming debris so they can’t damage the station. We have our orders, so move out.”
Jim walked into the decompression chamber. Once it was sealed, the door to the outside of the station was opened.
They stepped outside. Gravity was different on the asteroid. It was weaker. Jim was trying to get his bearings.
Bladefist yelled, "Watch out, son!”
Missile shot a beam of energy at the incoming boulder. It fragmented into thousands of pieces.
“Good job!” said Bladefist.
Jim said, “I am missing out on the action!”
He saw a rock and jumped into the air. It must have been fifty feet into the air. He punched the rock with the full strength of his powers, breaking it into shattering pieces.
“Good job, son!” said Bladefist.
Jim said, “Thanks.”
“That was a good strike.”
Strike. Jim liked the way that sounded. It was a cool word.
Bladefist said, “Blast me, missile.”
Missile answered, “You asked for it, Jay.”
He shot Bladefist with the power of a two handed beam of red fire.
Bladefist’s body glowed with yellow energy. The blast created an energy aura that concentrated into Bladefist’s body. He shot out a yellow beam from his hands. Vaporizing any of the approaching rocks that were directed at the station.
Jim kept punching and jumping.
“We are doing good, guys. Keep up the good work!” said Bladefist.
The other two members were using energy to destroy the incoming debris. Jim had never seen that form of energy before. It was hard to describe. The color was as green as a leaf in the early spring. The shape was like a flame.
“That emerald fire is useful,” said Missile.
Bladefist said, “Yeah those Firdosians have useful powers.”
“I can’t disagree with that.”
Jim said, “That’s emerald fire?”
Bladefist turning to Jim said, “Yeah, that’s what it is called, son.”
Jim said, “How is that possible?”
“Back on Laveria, some people in the country of Firdosia developed the ability to project and manipulate a form of combustion that produces a green hue. Hence, the name Emerald fire.”
“Wow. The universe keeps getting weirder.”
“Welcome to my world.”
Just then, another incoming rock approached. This one was bigger than all the other previous projectiles combined.
“Let me punch it,” said Jim.
“Son, wait!” said Bladefist.
Jim jumped and punched with the full strength of his powers. He didn’t even make a dent. He felt a sharp pain in his hands.
Bladefist said, “That’s not going to work.”
Jim said, “I know that now.”
“Missile, Leaf Ray, and Leaf Ray’s son, Hit me and my son with all of your powers.”
“Why?” asked Missile.
“I think that will be the only way to stop this gigantic space rock.”
Missile answered, “Sure thing.”
Leaf Ray turned to his son.
“You ready?” asked Leaf Ray.
His son turned to him and said, “I got this, dad.”
Missile and the others fired beams of energy at the father and son. At first, it stung Jim like being pricked with a hypodermic needle, but as the energy absorbed into his cellular structure, he became energized.
“Keep going!” yelled Bladefist.
Energy filled Jim’s body.
The aura didn’t disappear.
Bladefist said, “That rock is getting closer.”
Leaf Ray said, “I know.”
“Now stop!” replied Bladefist
Leaf Ray’s son dropped to the ground from exhaustion.
“You ready, Junior?” asked Bladefist.
With confidence, Bladefist’s son said, “Yeah, let’s kick this asteroid’s ass.”
“On the count of three.”
“Right.”
“One, two, three!”
From his hands, Jim projected a yellow beam of pure energy at the asteroid the same time his father did. At first it slowed down.
“Keep going, Junior!” yelled Bladefist.
Jim dug deep. He released an even bigger stream of energy.
“Don’t stop now!”
The beams penetrated the incoming stone, which began to fracture.
“We are almost there!”
The rock exploded shooting pebbles everywhere, which were falling like snow.
Jim knelt to the ground and put a hand over his chest. His vision blurred. Everything faded to black..
Jim woke up in the infirmary. Randy was sitting right next to him in a metal chair.
White light shone through the room. Jim was sitting on a gurney with metal legs that crisscrossed from side to side. Sensors were attached to his chest and arms.
“You are up!” said Randy.
“Hey.”
“Jim is back awake.”
James Sr. walked into the room.
James Sr had a sense of relief that his son was now conscious.
James’ dad said, “Nice to see you back among the living.”
“What happened?”
“You and I stopped the final huge rock from damaging the station.”
“So we did it.”
“Yeah, we did.”
“Good.”
“I can see your training is paying off.”
“I guess it is.”
“I am exhausted.”
“Get some sleep. Your training continues tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
His dad left the room.
Randy said, “Anna visited you as well.”
“She did?”
“Yep.”
“How long was I out?”
“Eight hours.”
“That long?”
“Yeah. That long.”
“Man, I didn’t know it was for that long.”
“Your body absorbed a lot of energy.”
“I know.”
“Probably more than it had ever done before.”
“You are right about that.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
“You may enter.”
A female entered the room. The girl he had a crush on.
“Hey, Anna.”
“I was just coming by to check in on you again.”
“Thanks.”
“I got done with work early and wanted to see if you were okay.”
“I am fine.”
“Look at the time,” mentioned Randy.
“I don’t even know what time it is.”
“It is around 2000 hours.”
“That late!”
“Yeah. I am going to get going. I will leave you two alone.”
“Why?”
“I gotta get ready for training tomorrow.”
“Okay. That sounds fine.”
Randy and Jim did a handshake, a wiggle of the tips of their fingers, and then a fist bump, which was like a personal greeting. It was their unique greeting for each other.
“Later Randy.”
“Bye, Jim.”
Randy exited from the room.
“Please, pull up a chair.”
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Anna grabbed a chair from the table by the window. She moved it to Jim’s bed.
Sitting down on a chair, Anna said, “That was an impressive use of power.”
“What?” replied Jim.
“You and Bladefist took out the largest rock all by yourselves.”
“We had help from the others.”
“I know, but your powers stopped the largest rock.”
“True.”
“I am glad I met you.”
“I am glad to have met you too.”
“So, do you have all your dad’s powers?”
“Yeah. I got them all.”
“It must be hard, having those powers.”
“A few months ago, it was terrifying.”
“I can only imagine.”
“I have been training everyday for the last five months.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, sometimes, my dad and I train twice a day.”
“Two A Days?”
“Yeah.”
“That sounds brutal.”
“It can be.”
“But it seems to me that your training is paying off.”
“I guess you can say that.”
“That is not a guess.”
“Okay.”
“I gotta get going.”
“Okay.”
“I will see you tomorrow.”
“Yep!”
Anna gave Jim the biggest hug. Jim could feel a surge of energy rush through him. She left the room.
Jim shut the light out and tried to get some sleep.
He woke up. It was a new day. He felt refreshed and rejuvenated. His life had come together. He loved seeing Anna.
.
The medical staff came in. The nurse came in and checked his vitals. She was average height for a woman and looked like she was in her twenties. Her frame was as thin as a pencil. She wore blue scrubs and her brown hair was in a bun. She had skin that was the color of sand on the beach. She had green eyes with specks of blue in them.
Jim said, “Give me some good news, doc.”
“I am not your doctor. Just the medical staff.”
“Okay, my bad.”
“The doctor will be in shortly.”
“Fine with me.”
“I will get the attending physician.”
“Thanks.”
“Not a problem.”
The nurse got the doctor, who came in a minute later. He had a long white lab coat, and he was wearing green scrubs. He had tan skin and a lot of five o clock shadow. He was fairly tall.
“How are you feeling, James?”
“I feel great.”
“Your vitals are steady. You absorbed a lot of energy.”
“I know.”
“Any other person would have probably died from that amount.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but you are not every other person, are you?”
“I guess not.”
The doctor took out a flashlight pen after putting down a touchscreen computer tablet. He walked over and shone the light in Jim’s eyes.
“Look at me.”
“Sure thing, doc.”
“Yeah, you are healthy enough for duty.”
“Thanks.”
“I will sign your discharge papers.”
“Great!”
An hour later, Jim walked out of the infirmary, which was in the same building as his room. He walked back to his room. He grabbed a towel, left the room, and took a shower. The day was just beginning, but he felt like it had been taken away from him. There was no time to do anything. He felt like he was cramming to finish a math test without studying before taking it..
Stepping out of the shower, he wrapped a towel around his torso and traversed to his room, water dripping from his body. Opening the door, he placed a pair of boxer briefs on his body, followed by a pair of tan khakis and a green long sleeve t-shirt with blue stripes. He put on his boots.
Randy turned over in his bed.
Randy sat up.
“Hey, sleepy head.”
“Hey, man.”
“Morning to you, sir.”
“Ready to get some breakfast?”
“You better believe it.”
“I need to take a shower.”
“I just took one.”
“Cool.”
“I can wait.”
“Thanks, man.”
“No probs.”
Randy grabbed a towel and shower gel from the top of his dresser.
“I will be quick.”
“I hope so.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.”
“It didn't sound like nothing.”
“I am just really hungry.”
“Okay, man.”
Randy headed out of the room.
Jim grabbed his laptop and began a journal entry in his diary.
“Yesterday, I stopped rogue meteoroids from annihilating the station. My father and I were joined by three other individuals. Two of them used a power I had never seen before. My dad called it emerald fire. It was crazy. It burned like a flame, but was the color of a leaf. I continue my training. My dad is really putting me through the paces. I am struggling with controlling the energy my body absorbs. It is hard but fun. I also am getting a handle on my strength. Absorbing energy is easier. Redirecting is what is hard. My strength is hard to control. I am getting better at controlling my powers.”
“I saw Anna yesterday when I was in the infirmary. She is so hot. I would love to date her. Even if we don’t end up together, she is a good friend. This path I am walking on is hard. Learning to use my powers. Becoming a protector. I have never done anything so difficult in my entire life.”
Randy came back into the room. He took off the towel, but he had boxers underneath.
Randy put on a pair of black joggers and a blue hooded sweatshirt.
“You ready, Jim?”
“I was born ready.”
“Okay, tough guy.”
“You better believe it.”
“Let’s go get some food.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Jim and Randy walked to the mess hall, taking the elevator to get there. The mess hall, located in the building that Jim and Randy lived in, was above the floor of their room. The building was a base for Laverian warriors. It was built into the landscape of the asteroid. Some of the floors were underneath the surface of the rock. The warriors lived and worked in the same location. Some staff lived off the warriors' residency..
“We made it!” said Randy.
“I see,” said Jim.
Jim opened the door to the mess hall.
“Why thank you, my good man,” said Randy.
“Why certainly.”
Randy walked into the mess, and Jim followed right behind them. It looked the same as it did yesterday. They grabbed their trays.
Getting in line, they saw the selection. Slightly different from yesterday.
Randy said, “No french toast?”
Jim responded, “I guess not.”
“This whomps.”
“They have Belgian waffles.”
“I see.”
“I am just going to get a few pieces of turkey bacon.”
“I think I will too.”
“I am getting an omelet this time.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
Jim walked to the omelet station: a machine that had buttons and a tray attached to a compartment. There were several options for customizing the meal, including the ability to use only egg whites. The machine was the size of an easy bake oven, but was the color of mustard and the shape of a football. He pressed a few buttons and out of the machine came a mushroom, ham and tomato omelet.
Jim's stomach was gurgling. He was feeling lightheaded. He realized he had not eaten today.
Then he walked into the dining area. He saw his dad, who was eating with Missile and Randy’s father.
Jim walked past them to the way back of the room. He sat down where Randy was already sitting.
Turning to Jim, Randy said, “Wow, that omelet looks delicious.”
“I know.”
“All I got was scrambled eggs and bacon.”
“That looks good too.”
Jim began eating his food. Randy ate his bacon first. He drank his lemonade intermittently. They both finished their food quickly.
“That has to be a record.”
“Yeah, I guess we were both hungry.”
“Destroying the boulders really took it out of me.”
“I have been training so hard.”
“Me too.”
“I can take your tray.”
“Please and thank you!”
Randy grabbed the trays and walked toward the discard place. Jim’s dad walked up to Jim’s table.
Jim's father said, “Good to see you are up and at ‘em.”
Jim, turning to his father, said, “Yeah, it is good to be better.”
“We start your daily training in five minutes.”
“Okay.”
“Get ready.”
“I will be.”
Jim sat at his table. Randy returned. He was carrying a cup of apple juice.
“Apple juice?” asked Jim.
“Yeah. What?” said Randy.
“It is probably from concentrate.”
“It tastes delicious.”
“I will give you a pass.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
Five minutes passed.
Walking over to Jim's table, Jim's dad said, “Training time.”
Jim said, “Okay.”
Randy’s dad walked up to the table.
Randy's dad said, “Time to go, son.”
Randy responded, “I know, Dad.”
Randy turned to Jim.
“I will see you later, Jim.”
“For sure.”
Randy and his dad left the room. Jim went with his father and walked down to the elevator. Descending into darkness, he was preparing himself for the day’s lesson. They reached the lower levels of the base.
Jim and his dad walked into the training area. It was as big as a stadium, but looked more like an underground cavern. There were stations and consoles across the area. Each station had a specific purpose.
Jim's dad said, “Let’s do some warm ups.”
“Sure.”
Jim and his dad did some stretching. Extended his muscles, trying to improve circulation. They did that for around five minutes. Then his dad pressed a button on the console. Some boulders came out of the ground.
“What’s first?” asked Jim.
“I am going to throw these giant stones at you and your job is to deflect or destroy them.”
“Is that all?”
“That is just the first exercise.”
“Okay.”
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
“Here we go.”
James Sr lifted the first boulder and threw it in Jim’s direction. Jim made a fist and punched it in the center of its mass.
The boulder shattered when it met Jim’s fist.
“Good job.”
“Thanks.”
His dad launched another one at him. Jim was focused and kicked the rock with the full force of his body, launching it back at his dad. His dad blasted it with an energy beam.
“How did you do that?”
“I always have spare energy to use just in case there is nothing to absorb and redirect.”
“Cool! Can you teach me how to do that?”
“In due time, you will learn this as well.”
“Awesome.”
“Let’s continue our session.”
Jim’s dad pressed the button again, making two more rocks appear. He lifted the next rock, launching it at his son. Jim punched the rock. Rocks kept being thrown, and Jim kept shattering them.
“You did good.”
“Thanks.”
“Now let’s kick it up a notch.”
“Okay.”
“I am going to throw two boulders at a time.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Isn’t that a lot?”
“I think you can handle it.”
“Are you sure?”
“What’s our motto?”
“Williams men aren’t quitters.”
“That’s right. So what are you going to do?”
“Not give up.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay.”
“Get ready.”
“Okay.”
His dad began throwing two boulders at a time. Jim started to feel overwhelmed. His dad could see he was nervous.
“Focus, Junior.”
“I am trying.”
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
Jim calmed his mind and focused his body. He let muscle memory take over.
He punched the incoming projectiles. He was using his fists.
“Don’t forget to change it up a little.”
“Why?”
“If your enemies can predict your movements, you lose your advantage. You have to keep them guessing.”
“Okay.”
That made sense, Jim thought to himself. Boulder after boulder launched at him. He was smashing each of them with ease. He got into a flow. He soon found his rhythm. Crushing and disintegrating each boulder.
“Good job.”
“Thanks.”
“How do you feel?”
“Exhausted.”
“Let’s take a ten minute break.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, you have been working hard. You deserve to give yourself some time to recuperate.”
“Thanks.”
“No, problem.”
Jim walked over to a bench and just laid on it. His mind was racing. His thoughts were moving pretty fast. He saw his dad drink some water out of a bottle. Ten minutes had gone by.
“Ready to start training again?”
“Yeah.”
“Get some water first.”
“I am fine.”
“You need to stay hydrated.”
“Okay, dad.”
Jim walked over to the nearest water fountain and took a few gulps of precious water. It tasted delicious like ambrosia from the gods.
Walking over to the line, he became ready for his next lesson.
“I am going to increase it to three stones.”
“Okay.”
“Get ready.”
“I will.”
“Here we go.”
Jim’s dad let them fly. Jim stepped up to the challenge. He punched and kicked with all his might. He missed a few, but he didn’t give up.
“You are doing great, Junior.”
“Okay, dad.”
He was getting exhausted.
“Don’t give up. What are we?”
“We are Williams men.”
“And Williams men do what?”
“We don’t give up.”
“I can’t hear you.”
“We aren’t quitters.”
“What was that?”
“We are not quitters!”
“That’s what I want to hear.”
“Okay.”
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Brighten up.”
“I am exhausted. I can barely stand.”
“What time is it?”
“It looks like it’s 1600 hours.”
“It is that late.”
“I guess so.”
“We are done for the day.”
“Thank god.”
“We did some good work. You should be proud.”
“I feel like shit.”
“Watch the language.”
“Sorry.”
“You can hop in the shower.”
“I am too tired to stand.”
“I guess you can go back to your room.”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
“I love the sound of that.”
Jim and his father departed from the cavernous depths of the base. His father shut off the lights, leaving only darkness visible.
James Sr. pressed the button for his son’s floor. Transporting the two through the structure, Muscle fatigue set in for Jim. Finally they arrived at Jim’s floor. With the door opening, Jim started walking out of the compartment.
Jim's dad said, “I will see you bright and early tomorrow.”
“You bet.”
“You did a good job today. You should be proud of yourself.”
“I guess.”
“You didn’t quit. That is what matters.”
“I definitely didn’t quit.”
“You should pat yourself on the back.”
“I don’t want to do anything but sleep.”
“Take it easy.”
“I will.”
James headed down the hallway to his room. Opening the door, he saw that his roommate wasn’t there.
Randy must still be training.
He dropped on his bed. He sunk into sleep, letting himself be taken away into a deep slumber.
He was half awake, half asleep. He began to tune out the world around him. His thoughts slowed down. His body became soft. Now it was just time to recuperate. Time to sleep.
He heard footsteps walking down the hall. That didn’t even break his concentration.
The door opened.
Randy.
Jim didn’t even have enough energy to talk to him. The weight of his heavy eyes and exhaustion had completely decimated him.
Eyes now closed. He drifted into sleep. Getting ready to dream.
The last two days were brutal. Destroying a rock as big as a skyscraper. The training with his father. They were all an intense ordeal. Sleeping was the only peace he had. That and thinking about Anna. He hoped he would have good dreams. Dream time.
