Power Pack
Issue #20 – Mind Over Wolves
Goodrich Junior High
"Hey, Kat, wait up," Franklin called out as he ran down the hall.
"What do you want, I have to get to study hall," Kat said trying to avoid Franklin.
"I just wanted to say hi. Been so quiet since Alex and Jesse went on their honeymoon," Franklin said trying to keep up with Kat.
"Yeah, but we don't always need to be going off and looking for bad guys. We've lives too, or at least most of us do," Kat said as they headed down to the lower level of the school.
"Well, since things have quieted down, have you given any more thought to investigating the weird basement with wolves here at school?" Franklin asked as Kat suddenly stopped.
"Franklin, let it go. There is nothing going on here," Kat said glaring at him.
"Yes there is and you know it. You're just to chicken to help me find and go into the basement," Franklin said with a taunting tone.
"I am not," Kat said.
"Are too," Franklin argued.
"You're so childish, Franklin," Kat said as she turned and walked away.
Franklin was about to call after her when something caught the corner of his eye. He looked over and wedged behind the edge of a locker was a bluish looking stone. Franklin bent down and quickly picked it up. The blue stone felt so warm and yet very cool at the same time. It was way too cool to just toss away so he decided to keep it and check it out later when he got home. He looked up when he heard Kat call him a childish baby.
"Kat, quit calling me names," Franklin called out to her.
"I didn't say anything to you," Kat said as she stopped and turned around.
"Yes you did, don't lie. I heard you," Franklin said as he started walking towards to her.
"You are losing it," Kat said with irritation.
"You know, Kat, sometimes you can make me so," Franklin started to say when he heard a faint howling noise.
"So what?" Kat said staring at him.
"Didn't you hear that?" Franklin asked looking around.
"Hear what?" Kat asked.
"Wolves howling," Franklin said with a whisper.
"You are definitely," Kat began to say when a series of howls came from all around them.
"There, you heard it," Franklin said with excitement.
"I didn't hear anything," Kat said quietly.
"Liar, I know you did. I can see it in your eyes," Franklin challenged as a wolf's howls sounded again causing Kat to jump.
"Fine, I hear it," Kat said glaring at Franklin.
"I wonder where it's coming from?" Franklin asked as he tried to pinpoint the location of the howls.
As the howls got a little louder and more frequent, the two younger members of Power Pack noticed that the lights in the hallway started to grow dim. Kat gasped as she heard the sound of wolves' claws clicking upon the floor. It was obvious that there were a pack of wolves headed their way, but from where they could not tell. Franklin and Kat both looked at each other and shouted, "Costume On," in unison.
Kat was basked in a bright yellow light while Franklin was covered in psionic energy. With the light show ended Kat was standing in her yellow and orange costume and Franklin was in his purple costume. Kat was now the Energizer as Franklin was now Psi Lad. Energizer quickly began to disintegrate the trashcan next to her so she would be powered up and ready to let loose when the time arrived. Psi Lad squeezed his hand tight as he prepared to hurl his psi blasts since his dream form would do no good at this point. Then he had a thought.
"Franklin, now is not the time to take a nap," Energizer said as she noticed her teammate leaning against the wall with his eyes closed.
"We have to run, now," Franklin said as he suddenly jumped awake.
"Why, how many wolves did you see?" Energizer asked looking toward the direction of the wolves.
"It's not that, it's what's following behind them," Psi Lad said with fear.
"What is it?" Energizer asked growing a little scared herself.
"I don't know, but when I sent my dream form over there I was behind the wolves. At the far end of the hall, this thing came around the corner and just as it made eye contact I was forced back here from fright," Psi Lad said as he tugged at Energizers sleeve and moved in the direction away from the wolves.
"Is it me or does this hallway seem different?" Energizer asked as she looked around.
"I can feel a tad bit of psi sensitivity here. I think whatever that thing is it's altering our perceptions of our surroundings," Psi Lad said as he squeezed the stone in his hand tight wishing for a way out.
"Franklin, there's a door right there," Energizer said as they both suddenly noticed a door to their right.
"Man, it's locked," Franklin said tugging and pushing at the door.
"Too late to worry about that now, we've got company," Energizer said as they turned around and saw a dozen wolves round the corner and charge right at them.
University Campus – Student Dorms
"Jack, shouldn't you be in class?" Julie asked as she waited for the popcorn to finish popping in the microwave.
"Professor cancelled due to the flu and I didn't feel like driving all the way home yet. With Alex and Jesse out of state and Kat in school I thought I'd come by and say hi to my dear older sister," Jack said smiling as he rested on Julie's bed.
"Admit it, you're only here to check out my new roommate," Julie said as the bell sounded and she removed the hot plump bag.
"I'm not. Really, Jules, I'm hurt. Can't a brother come see his sister without the third degree?" Jack asked jumping up and snagging the bag from her hands.
"Whatever, freak. Well, she won't be back for awhile. She has back to back classes all afternoon," Julie said.
"Julie, I can't help it that my favorite sister just happens to have a roommate that I might run into when I come visit," Jack said tossing the half empty bag of popcorn back to his sister.
"She's too smart for you," Julie teased.
"She's got a great personality," Jack tossed back.
"She's too old for you," Julie glared at her brother.
"She's hot," Jack smirked.
"You're terrible," Julie laughed as she threw the rest of the popcorn at her brother.
Jack laughed and started to brush the popcorn off of him when there came a knock at the door. Jack looked over at his sister as she shrugged and went to the door. Julie glanced out the peephole and saw the face of her RA and what looked like someone behind her. Julie quickly opened the door and waved at an older girl with long red hair and a face full of freckles. Julie smiled as she greeted her RA.
"Hey there, Sally. What's up?" Julie asked.
"Hi, Julie, I'm just making the rounds to check on everyone to see how they're doing. I was sad to hear your dorm mate from last year dropped out but I hope your new roommate is working out," Sally said.
"Yeah, she's great. Haven't had any problems, except keeping my little brother away," Julie smiled as she felt a kernel hit the back of her head.
"That's good to hear. I also wanted to introduce you to someone. The University has hired additional security patrol for all the dorms on campus. I want you to meet Adam, he's been assigned to our dorm unit," Sally said stepping aside.
Julie gasped as she lost her breath at the sight of Adam. The man was absolutely gorgeous. He had blond wavy hair with a nice tan, an almost bronze to golden orange tint to it. He had very smooth skin except for a faint scar in the middle of his forehead. Even with the loose clothes, Julie could tell he was very well built. She guessed him to be in his upper twenties but his intense eyes made him seem like he was far older than he looked. Julie finally took a breath as the man stepped forward.
"Hi, I'm Adam. A pleasure to meet you," Adam said extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you too," Julie said taking his hand in hers.
Time seemed to stand still as the man held her hand tight and glared into her eyes. Like he was searching her soul with every passing second. After what seemed like eternity, Adam released his grip and stepped back with what seemed like disappointment allowing Sally to step up again. Julie rubbed her hand with her other hand as she tried to take her eyes off the man she had just met.
"Take care Julie, and if you need any thing or have any problems feel free to let me know or contact Adam here," Sally said as she and Adam moved on to the next room.
"Nice meeting you," Julie said waving after the golden god.
"How pathetic are you?' Jack laughed as Julie went to close the door and found resistance.
Julie and Jack looked over in surprise as their mother, Margaret Power caught the door and pushed her way into the room. "Shouldn't you be in class?" Margaret asked.
"That's my cue, later sis," Jack laughed as he moved toward the window, looked around and then vanished in a puff of smoke.
"I wish he wouldn't do that," Julie said as she crossed over and closed her window.
"Who was the man with Sally?" Margaret asked.
"Oh, him? He's our new dorm security," Julie said and then looked over at her mom. "What brings you here?"
"I was cleaning the house when I discovered you forgot a few things," Margaret said as she held up a bag of Julie's things in one hand and a locket with a purple stone in it.
"Oh thanks, I was wondering what I did with that," Julie said grabbing her things and quickly putting the locket around her neck.
"No problem. I've never seem the locket before, is that new?" Margaret asked.
"Yeah, my new roommate gave it to me," Julie lied.
"Well, that was nice of her. Well, care to join me for dinner?" Margaret asked as Julie grabbed her coat and followed her mom out the door.
As they headed towards the elevator, a movement caught Julie's eye. She glanced and saw the door to the stairwell close. Julie hadn't caught who it was but it was probably another student. The thing that had taken her back was she could have sworn whoever it was appeared to have had green hair. Julie shrugged her shoulders and stepped into the elevator with her mom. This was college and there were all kinds of people that went here and they all had different styles. Julie touched the ground level button and watched as the elevator closed in front of her.
Goodrich Junior High
"I could use a little help here," Energizer said as she did all she could to keep the wolves back with her energy balls.
"My psi blasts don't seem to have a lot of effect on them and I can't get this door open," Franklin said in a panic.
"Well we better come up with something because I'm almost out of juice and they'll be all over us and I don't fell like being dog chow," Energizer said as she sent off more energy balls.
"Oh no," Psi Lad whispered as he saw an odd figure come around the corner.
"Franklin, we're in trouble here," Kat said as she began to shake at the sight of what must be the wolves' master.
Franklin dropped to his knees and pressed his palms to his face, covering his eyes. He almost forgot he had the stone in his hand until he felt it pushing between his palm and face. He could hear Kat shouting at him for help but fear had begun to over take him. He began to repeat over and over for them to go away and felt his anger rise as heat generated on his face. With great force, Franklin jumped to his feet and dropped his hands and glared at the wolves.
"I wish you all would just stop!" Franklin shouted as he felt a weird sensation flow through him.
"Franklin, how did you?" Kat asked as she stared from Franklin to the wolves and back.
Franklin shrugged his shoulders as he looked at the wolves. They had all come to a complete stop and just sat there staring at them. Their eyes were all glowing blue as they seemed to wait their next order. Franklin glanced past the wolves and saw their master charging down the hall with greet speed, eyes glowing red. Franklin knew that they would be done if he got anywhere near them. He glanced back at the wolves and then drew on his new found energy.
"Get him!" Franklin shouted as the wolves all turned and attacked their master.
"I didn't know you could do that?" Kat asked as she watched the new battle down the hall begin.
"Neither did I. My parents were always afraid my powers would come back and develop again. We better get out of here while we can," Franklin suggested as he realized he had lost his stone and sighed.
"Allow me," Kat said now that she had the time to make their big escape.
She began to disintegrate the door. Once it was gone, glowing bright with energy, she and Franklin darted up the stairs. They could hear the wolves and the screams of their master coming form behind them. At one moment she thought she heard the voice shout out threats to find and kill them. Kat didn't have time to focus on it for they had come to another door that was locked. With all her energy she sent off an energy ball that destroyed the door. She grabbed Franklin's hand and stepped through to freedom.
"Kat, why weren't you in class and why are you holding Franklin's hand?" Tracy Silverspoon asked.
"What?" Kat asked in surprise.
She suddenly realized she was now standing in a hallway full of students and her best friends Tracy and Marci were standing in front of her. She and Franklin glanced behind them and saw that the shattered door was gone and that directly behind them were a perfect row of lockers and that they were in their regular school clothes. Kat didn't know what had just happened but it now appeared it had all been a dream and now she stood here next to Franklin holding his…
"Eww!" Kat shouted as she tore her hand form Franklin's hand.
"Kat, what happened?" Franklin began to ask.
"I don't know, but quit hitting on me," Kat said as she quickly stormed off down the hall.
"Hey, nice try Romeo," Tracey laughed as she followed after Kat.
"Yeah, but at least he's got some cool looking colored contacts," Marci said winking at Franklin before she chased off after the other two.
"I don't wear contact. What just happened?" Franklin whispered as he headed down the other end of the hall still feeling a weird sensation tugging at the back of his mind.
Next: Issue #21 – Reality Time
Authors Note: The New Brotherhood: Blood Ties #1 is now posted.