Chapter 9: Das Experiment

The more I ponder about my powers and the impact they have had on my life, I think of both the positives and negatives. The more I think about the negatives, I think about how I might never have a normal life again. I fear that one day I might have to isolate myself from society, because I pose a danger to them and myself.

- Alyssa

The first procedure that Annie commenced with, was to do a full scan on my body. This was to determine and analysis whether my body structure and organs were functioning properly. The leotard I was wearing had various markers at the points where the sensors were attached to monitor and assess my body's condition.

I was briefed about the actual tests that seemed innocuous to me, but then I'm not a scientist. The first test I agreed to participate in I do think was the weirdest, and did sort of make me feel violated in some aspects. This test did require J.R.'s powers to make it happen, which would be to shrink himself and Ray to microscopic size. Once they were both microscopic size, they would be inserted into my body. Since I told Annie that I didn't like shots, we agreed that they would orally enter my body. Wanting to be considerate, I rinsed my mouth out with mouthwash before granting them.

I would be instructed to lie down on an infirmary bed, because my heart rate would increase if I was moving around all the time. This would be dangerous incase both J.R. and Ray entered my bloodstream and they were sucked into my heart.

The whole purpose of the operation was to install sensors in specific parts of my body, which would be used to monitor my biological condition and how it reacts when I use my powers. I understood why J.R. was key to the operation, but Ray I did question. Then I figured out he was selected to tag along, because of his military training as a navy seal. He must be a strong swimmer in order to swim in a place where 60% is water.

I was worried in case there was going to be pain (accidental or imperative), but I was going to have to brace myself and let J.R. and Ray complete the mission. The whole operation took 9 hours, but I was treated to watch TV to pass the time and maintain my sanity. J.R. and Ray extracted via a tear duct, where Annie lightly probed the tear duct with the end of a pipette. Before leaving the room, Annie held the end of the pipette on a glass slide under a microscope. Holding her eyes on the eyepiece, she removed the glass slide from the microscope and left the room.

Annie did return and explained that J.R. and Ray were being sterilised and asked to rest after a long strenuous mission. She told me that it was over for today and that the rest of the tests would be carried out tomorrow, and that I should have a rest.

I changed back into my casual clothes and made my way back to my room. On the way I saw J.R. and Ray socilaising in another room. I couldn't hear them, but judging from appearance (looking through a glass window) their conversation was lively and they probably talked about their little trip in me. Making that assumption that it was a topic they were discussing, did make me cringe, but I was curious to eavesdrop at the same time. Deciding not to, I walked away back to my room, hoping that when I am face to face with them again do they not bring it up.

The next day was more convenient for me, starting with a breakfast which was 100% vegetarian and much lighter eating. It consisted of pancakes, which I did enjoy and came to realise it was true that the Americans sure know how to cook.

Before I was asked to change my clothes, I met with Annie, Ray and J.R. in a private room where we sat around a large round wooden table. I needed to be briefed about what Annie had uncovered and what was essential for me to learn. As the wise man once said...'know thyself'.

The lights in the room dimmed and a holographic image flickered into life in the middle of the table. It showed a digital three-dimensional female figure which I assumed was me. Then the figure transformed into a skeleton and then veins, arteries, organs and other human tissue appearing in layers. I looked just like a skinless human, like the the diagrams displayed during science class, which I always did find unsettling whenever I looked at them.

Annie then operated the hologram by using her hands to touch holographic buttons which I could see floating in the air. It reminded me of the technology Tony Stark had in the Iron Man movie. I never was into Marvel, but I remembered watching it at one of my friend's house, when she was babysitting her little brother.

Annie made a window appear showing what looked like skin cells and explained that my molecules are able to merge together and mutate into a liquid form. I was then told that my ability to shape shift was a result of having telekinesis, which Annie would discuss once she finished her analysis on my ability to morph into liquid.

The way that Annie carried out her analysis was scientific like I had expected, but she had a way she explained everything in a way that wasn't too advanced or complicated for my own limited knowledge. The imagery and how she expressed each sentence was concise and straight to the point. I have to say she would have made a much better teacher than the one that I had at school, and I have no doubt that I would have got a higher GCSE in science had Annie been my science teacher.

Annie then operated the controls on the holographic touchscreen, which faded the holographic image of my body and highlighted my brain. The brain was lit up like a lightbulb with holographic wires sticking out and running down my body and limbs.

I found out that my brain worked like a powerful magnet, which explained my abilities in a complete nutshell. Because my brain produced magnetic fields, I was able to manipulate gravity and telekinetically move objects with my mind. My flight abilities were based on the same principle, using my telekinetic field to levitate myself up into the air and countering the pull of gravity. In other words, I could use my eyes to focus the magnetic fields I created, allowing me to move anything at my will. But that visual focus was also a limit as I had to actually see the object that I was manipulating, at least for now. I couldn't affect anything if I couldn't actually see it. I was still pretty helpless in the dark.

As for my morph and shapeshifting ability, those abilities derived from my telekinetic ability to break down my own body's molecules, transforming myself into a hydro-lady or even a shapeless puddle of liquid.

Annie concluded the short analysis and said that there was still more research and testing to be carried out before another meeting could be scheduled. I was relieved to learn that I was entitled to a brief break before participating in the next series of exercises scheduled for the rest of the day.

A number of the scheduled exercises seemed odd and I couldn't figure out what their purpose was, but the technicians all seemed to know their jobs. They weren't very chatty and had poor bedside manners but I didn't think it'd be polite to comment on that. Some of them even made comments about me, wondering if I was single or taken. These weren't the typical comments I was given back with the lads in England who were only out to get laid. Maybe it was my accent. A lot of Americans find a British accent classy and apparently some have a perverse fascination for English women. Back home everybody talks like me so my accent wasn't a big deal there.

I was again required to wear the special leotard and was escorted to a large hallway, which looked like an RAF hanger minus the planes. The spacious area would be needed for determining the capabilities and limits of my powers.

Annie stood behind what looked like a computer console, which I assumed she would use to monitor me and take down notes. Ray and J.R. also were in the room strictly as observers. They stood next to Annie and smiled at me, which did help ease my nervousness a little.

First I was tested to see how much I could deadlift with my TK. I knew that I could lift a small car and crush it into a cube, but this test was to determine whether I could lift something heavier than a car. The first object I was instructed to try to lift with my TK was an army lorry, which I could tell was well designed to hold army personal or supplies. I was able to lift the lorry all the way to the ceiling and then slowly rotate it. I was even able to start the engine or at least get the headlights on my zapping the lorry.

I decided to move the truck in different directions, but oops I got overconfident while having too much fun playing with the heavy piece of metal. The lorry crash landed to the ground, serves me right for showing off.

"Oops! Sorry," I said, turning slowly to look at Annie, Ray and J.R. observing me with shock on their faces.

Unfortunately the truck was the heaviest thing in their immediate possession to test my strength. That weight limit didn't matter to Anne, who had monitored my body's condition and gathered biometric data during my demonstration. She said that she would soon have all the results correlated and would then be able to give me a rough calculation of my limitations.

Another test was for me to switch on an electrical generator using my own electrical abilities. The test's purpose was to determine how much energy I could generate and how high the voltage was. Annie hurriedly told me when to stop when she noticed that the generator was overheating and was in danger of exploding.

I was then given several small electronic devices such as a mobile phone and I realised that I could recharge a phone at will, but I had to choke back on the power I produced to avoid damaging the devices. I'd fried the first couple of devices. It was like I was a walking charger, or in other words I was a walking breathing battery.

Another aspect of my electrical abilities was testing my dexterity with the electric projectile pulses I could shoot out of my fingertips. Ray took part in the exercise and manned a machine that shot out what I assumed were clay pigeons for skeet shooting, but they travelled so fast in the air that couldn't tell. I didn't always hit my clay target, but when I did, the target exploded into dust and gravel and rained down onto the floor.

Ray even gave me some friendly advice to help achieve better accuracy. Okay Ray didn't have my ability to shoot electricity from his fingertips but he had lots of experience with shooting various weapons. The underlying principles were similar. He told me to stop holding my breath as I shot. Simply breathe normally, stay focused and try to stay relaxed. His advice worked and I began to hit targets more frequently.

The final test was to determine how high I could fly, the velocity, and also how my body responded at high altitude conditions. The last time that I flew in England I was level with the cloudbanks. J.R. had suggested that altitude limit so I could remain undercover from any unwanted observers.

This time I was led outside for the altitude test. The Californian weather was nice and warm but I was told to get changed into a flight suit, which added more to the humidity I was suffering while wearing the leotard. I also had to wear a mask, which consisted of goggles and a respirator. Already I begun to sweat, I need a shower after this. Ray made sure it was fixed on tightly so it does fly off due to the velocity I would be flying at.

Annie was cautious and I was also given a parachute in case I lost consciousness and plummeted to the ground. I thought that a chute would be useless if I was unconscious to deploy it but didn't say it aloud. I was feeling confident and not too concerned about whether that would happen.

I was instructed to leap high in the air but to stop immediately at any altitude should I begin to feel any affects of losing consciousness. Don't take unnecessary risks. I was finally going to use what I would consider my favourite power, but this time I was going to go higher than I've ever been before.

I shot up into the sky like a rocket and tore through the clouds. I was accelerating at a very fast rate like a jet or even a space rocket as I ascended into the clear blue sky. While fixing my eyes on the blue sky, I noticed the bright blue sky got darker the colder it got.

I could immediately feel my skin getting cold, like walking out of a warm house into a cold winter night, the coldest winter it could ever be where I could tolerate it.

Despite these slight discomforts I gazed out into what I knew was the outer stratosphere, open space. I could see the myriad stars scattered in the blackness, lighting so bright like Christmas lights except they radiated more brightly. Hmm, no twinkling at this height.

"Alyssa… Alyssa… come in Alyssa," crackled what sounded like Ray's voice on the radio.

"Alyssa here. Yeah, I'm okay," I responded.

"You've been up for _ minutes. It's time to come back to Earth."

"Okay, preparing for reentry."

As much as I wanted to stay and look at the magnificent sight that only astronauts get to see and experience with their own eyes, I knew I should return not only to not keep Ray and Annie waiting but also for my own safety.

I rotated my body and caught a quick glimpse of the globe. Yep, it was indeed round. Aristotle would be jealous, knowing that I was able to prove his theory about the world being round. After a brief pause to admire how beautiful the globe looked from the outside, I telekinetically dived and tried to retrace my previous flight path.

As I descended down to earth faster than a stone would drop, I could no longer feel my own skin because of how cold it was. I sure hoped I didn't get frostbite and mutilate my own face. As the ground swelled under me I could see a large landscape of a hanger and three small humanoid figures. I assumed that I correctly found my landing point. I slowed my descent and made a soft landing, almost collapsing to the ground because of the sudden decelleration. I was still numb and couldn't feel my skin because of how cold it had been up there and I was relieved when I found out that my skin was still intact. I had not sustained any physical damage as a result of the low temperature exposure.

In regards to controlling my powers, that was kind of out of Annie's hands. All she could do was analyze my biometric data and then give me the scientific explanations. Ray was assigned to teach me some techniques to train my body and mind. I assumed that Ray would teach me how to fight since he's a Navy Seal, but to my surprise his training exercises were less physical and more mental and spiritual.

We carried out these training exercises in a small gym which was usually accessible to the employees on their breaks, but it was booked and reserved for our own training session. The first thing Ray taught me was meditation theory and how important it was to relax your mind and body to relieve any stress and negative thoughts. I was never a troubled person but meditation still made me feel afresh and composed.

Ray also taught me breathing techniques and said that they might be able to help me to suppress the inadvertent use of my TK. I made myself sneeze while I used all of what Ray had taught me. Nothing in the room was affected by either my TK energy or my electricity when I sneezed.

Today was the day I would be flying back to the UK, but not without taking care of some last minute details such as my official debriefing and the filling of a couple of forms and surveys.

The first thing on the schedule was a briefing with Annie on her full analysis of my abilities. What I should be made aware of and how it might affect my everyday life?

Once again Annie used the holographic projector to display the full analysis of my mutation and power capabilities. I was told that I had accelerated healing as a side aspect of my morphing ability, which enabled me to quickly repair damaged skin cells. My skin was also able to withstand lower temperatures than normal, but in regards to high temperatures I would dehydrate faster than the average human. This meant I would have to consume far more water than the average person, otherwise I could risk evaporation and unable to materialise.

One thing that thrilled me but at the same time concerned me was that my hydraulic abilities would result in me ageing more slowly than a normal human. Would my friends and closest family, even my boyfriend, notice and remark on the difference when I get older? When I'm 50 I might still have the appearance of a 30 year old woman. Maybe they would only question what my secret was to maintain my youthful looks and not suspect that I have superhuman abilities? It's not like I was planning to disclose my age to everyone. Well, given all the water that I'd be drinking constantly maybe I could claim it was due to well-moisurising.

I did ask Annie about my reproductive organs and if I could bear children or if they might inherit my own powers. Annie was uncertain because she had not examined that possibility, but she asked that I inform her should I get myself pregnant. Having children wasn't something I often thought about, because I knew how much of a burden they could be.

I was taken to see the center's director and had a final meeting with him and Annie. Dr. Filkins was a middle aged clean-cut man with broad shoulders and a sullen facial expression. Not once did he lift a smile from his wide thin lips. He just nodded in approval whenever I agreed with him or noted that I understood everything that he had said.

The director placed a small wooden box on the table solemnly. I opened it and found a high-tech looking wristwatch. The watch had a square screen with no buttons underneath, instead they were along the sides. I was asked to wear the device is at all times in order to be kept under surveillance. The 'watch' would also help accumulate further biometric data and record any alterations that my body might go through and could also be used for communication. In other words, it was like an Apple watch, not that I was ever inclined to get one because they are so expensive; but it was nice to have a device that resembled one.

I left the room with the new watch but without exchanging a handshake, since he did not offer me his. I guess he wasn't a handshake type of person.

"So how did you enjoy your stay?" asked Annie.

"I really enjoyed myself, thank you, it was nice to come all this way and visit the States for the first time. I really enjoyed my hotel room and the other privileges I was offered"

"It was my pleasure, Alyssa, I'm so glad you enjoyed our hospitality."

I lowered my voice. "I have to be honest. I do feel more confident to blend into society without causing accidental damage, but I also feel uneasy that I'm under constant surveillance."

Annie looked concerned. "You don't need to feel threatened, Alyssa. I don't like the idea of invading someone else's privacy either but it's in order to protect and help our test subjects. We need to make sure they do not become a danger to society."

"I know, but I'm still wondering how I can keep a secret like this, let alone live a normal life."

"You have to try, Alyssa. My sister Alex tried so hard to keep her powers a secret but then she tried to do it alone. It resulted in her getting into so many difficult situations. Unlike her, you now have professional support. You just need to have more confidence in yourself and have fun with your abilities, just like Alex tried to. Just so long as you don't hurt anybody."

"I guess you're right, I would like to have a little fun with my powers. I just have to use them in moderation."

"That's more like it. The Aristotelian mean. Everything in moderation so you don't overdo it and become reckless."

"I'm wondering whether I should tell my parents, friends or even my boyfriend about my powers, or if I'm going to be forced to hide them?"

"You can't go telling so many people! Alex knew someone who found out about her powers and he spilled the beans and told Atron, which endangered my sister and my parents. Not everyone can keep a secret, keep that in mind."

"I will, Annie. Thank you so much for helping me." I smiled with upmost glee.

"You're welcome, Alyssa, thank you for your visit and please visit us again soon!" smiled Annie.

We hugged each other while Ray stood beside his car waiting patiently for me.

"Now go, your chauffeur awaits." joked Annie.

I laughed and skipped over to Ray holding the door for me as I could hear Annie's voice behind me.

"Have a safe flight, in both modes."

To be continued…