Chapter 1: What is going on?
It felt like it was some kind of bad dream. A creature looking like it was made of gold, destroying the town. People screaming and running for their lives, the dust choking them with every breathe. Tommy saw it clearly from his position, taking cover in an alley some distance away from it, though he was still forced back by flying debris. He couldn't believe the sight. And part of him hoped Godzilla would be next, to come curb stomp the golden creature.
But what came next was not Godzilla. It was those robot animal things. They moved and roared like dinosaurs, yet had some serious bad ass weaponry on them. Tommy felt his heart race as they formed the line along the edge of the pit the creature had been digging. He felt genuine horror as they were pushed into the pit, thinking that if these strange things couldn't stop that thing, nothing would.
And lo and behold, whatever went into the pit came back stronger, since that huge robot had emerged, looking as though someone had pieced the bots together, and then it and the creature fought. But as Tommy watched he heard something else that got his attention.
"Help! Help Me!"
His gaze shot to his left, where he saw a little boy pinned down by a piece of debris. It looked like part of a thick telephone pole. The boy's leg was pinned underneath, and he was crying and frantically trying to free himself, but unable. Around the alley, there were still chunks of wreckage being kicked up and sent through, creating a very dangerous zone beyond the safety of the alleyway.
Tommy gazed at the child for a moment longer before his feet acted of their own accord. The boy's cries sparked something in him, and he would be damned if he was going to let it end this way. He began to sprint forward, toward the boy trapped. Around him, the wind was kicked up by the battle, but he stopped not once.
Inches in front of him, a chunk of concrete flew by, something that would cause most to stop. But Tommy was going to this boy, to hell with the hazards. And so he got to him, and squatted down. He looked at the boy, grimacing when he saw blood, and put on a brave face for him.
"Listen, when I lift this up, I need you to crawl as fast as you can!" He yelled, making sure the boy could hear. The boy whimpered in pain.
"But it hurts..." he cried. Tommy gave him a hard look.
"You need to crawl! Do you understand me!?"
It may have been harsh to say, but the situation in progress would not recognize age, gender, or disability. When Tommy got this log up, the boy would have to crawl for all he was worth away from it, because this log was not going to be lifted by himself and stay up for very long.
He placed his hands on the bottom and braced himself, nodding at the boy, and then threw himself into the lift, only to find it wouldn't bulge. The boy whimpered. Tommy snarled a curse.
"Hang on!"
He took several deep breathes, and tried again, and the log felt like it was about to life, but then fate decided otherwise, and the log didn't move. Tommy felt a surge of helplessness, grit his teeth against the pressure. The boy let out another whimper, and Tommy looked to his right to see the monster being wrapped up in the arms of the robotic fighter. It looked as though it was about to slam the creature down. And who knows the shock wave that would cause.
He looked back at the boy, who looked back at him with tears and pure fear in his eyes, and then let out a sharp cry. Something in Tommy snapped and he he grasped the log once more, lifting, and a scream ripped itself from him, and whatever effect his new effort had must have worked, for the log lifted a few feet, not much but just enough.
"Crawl! Crawl dammit!" Tommy screamed. The boy got the message and frantically scrambled away, Tommy noticing that his leg was hurt pretty badly and being dragged behind him. The moment he was clear, Tommy let go, and the log hit the ground with a thud. At the same time, the creature must have made contact, as the earth around them shook, and Tommy threw himself over the boy, shielding him from anything that might come falling down.
After a few heart pounding moments, Tommy decided that they were in the clear, and slowly unwrapped himself from the boy's figure. He looked up to see the robot thing standing over the remains of the golden creature, and cheers were starting to erupt from the crowd. Then he heard a woman yell something, and turned to see a woman running full tilt toward them. He stood up as the woman reached them, and threw herself to the ground, wrapping her arms around the boy.
"William, oh god!" she sobbed, holding him tight. Tommy suddenly felt uneasy and stepped away, the woman lifting her head for a moment and making contact through wet eyes.
She mouthed a thank you, and Tommy nodded, understanding if she couldn't form the words in her worry and relief. He slowly made his way toward the crowd gazing up at the savior, taking pictures and cheering. His body felt weak, the exertion of lifting the pole up by himself having maybe pulled a muscle or two. But he trudged onward, eager to get as close a look at this thing as he could.
It truly was huge. How big he could not tell, but it had to be a hundred feet at the very least, if not maybe more. Tommy stared up at it with just as much awe as anyone else, and wondered if there was a pilot for the thing. He couldn't tell from here, but he got a feeling that it wasn't automated. Eventually, it started to move, it's footsteps shaking the ground with each step. Tommy found himself chasing it as much as he could, until it had left the town proper and was gone over the mountains.
His mind tried to comprehend all that had just happened, and as he did, he began to make his way home. Debris was everywhere, and he stopped to ponder the destruction several times. He shook his head, wondering just how long this would take to clean up. He passed a pile when he felt it.
A tug. Like a hand grasping his arm and stopping him. He didn't feel a physical tough. But it felt as though something stopped him cold and was redirecting him somewhere.
"What...?"
Over here...
He didn't hear a voice. He felt it. As though words had been spoken into his mind, his being. He looked around for something to indicate the sensation, but he was alone in the area. He felt an internal tug at him and his feet began to move of their own accord, toward a small pile of rubble near the sidewalk.
He leaned down and saw something hiding behind it. A circular, green, coin like object. He tilted his head slightly and picked it up, and suddenly his body felt a jolt, as though he had been struck by lightning. He opened his mouth in a silent gasp, and then it faded just as quickly. He took a gasping breathe and swallowed, forcing himself to sit for a moment.
He took several more deep breathes, and then looked at the object in his hand, wondering just what the hell did that. Was it the thing in his hand? What was that sensation that brought him over to the spot it lay? Why did he feel that jolt when he picked it up?
He was tempted to drop it right there and forget about it, but for some reason, he couldn't let go of it. Some part of him now seemed...connected somehow. What the hell was going on!?
And then the coin sparked a green light. Just for a second, and then it was gone. Tommy stared at it for a moment, trying to deduce if he had seen that right, and even shook the coin to see if it would do it again. When it didn't he put it in his pocket and decided to get out of there before anyone saw him and thought he was acting crazy, though after what had just happened, crazy might have just become the new normal...
-0-
Tommy's alarm clock rang out, and he groaned with annoyance. With a growl, he reached his hand out and tapped his alarm's snooze button, hoping to get a few more minutes of sleep. But instead of just turning it off, his clock decided to burst underneath his hand.
What the-!
He jolted up at the feeling and sound, his eyes instantly on the heap of destroyed alarm clock on his nightstand. His pulse quickened in surprise, and he looked from his hand back to his clock, now an unsalvageble wreck. He looked around his room in his daze, and then got up slowly, as if something could explode at any second.
Okay, that was really freaking weird. I just slapped my alarm clock and it smashed like it had a sledgehammer applied. There has to be some kind of reason for this...
He needed a bathroom right at this moment. His bladder was full and alarm clock or not, he needed to take a leak. He swallowed and made his way to his bathroom, hoping that the sound of the alarm's destruction did not catch anyone's ear. He did his business and as he was washing his hands, he looked up. And froze.
Tommy was always a very active guy. He had made a point of training himself at least a little each day, to the point when it felt as natural as eating or drinking. It was something that cleared his head. Gave him something to focus on, and forget the superfluity of life, to focus on improving himself. And he had always had a toned body from it, if he dared say so himself.
But not to this degree, not to the point where he could count each abdominal muscle on his stomach. That sure as hell was not like that yesterday. No, not a chance in hell he lost enough fat in one day to see a body like he was seeing in the mirror at that moment. he found his hand trailing over his stomach, opening his mouth slightly at the unfamiliar feeling, and swallowed.
Okay, this is weird. I suddenly have a six pack. I also look more built than I was yesterday. Did I have a late teen growth spurt? Yeah, that must have been it, right? I'm still growing aren't I? Okay, no, that can't be the case. Just what the hell is happening here!?
He closed his eyes tightly, and then opened them, and he was still looking the same. Okay, this was just too out of left field right now. He was just going to put on a shirt, and try to get his mind off this. And alarm clock being destroyed because he misjudged his hit, he could live with. This was something he needed to absorb first.
He packed his bags, and then made his way to his car, and started it up. His incident with the clock being fresh in his mind, he took care with his handling, the back of his mind telling him he might tear off the wheel if he was too rough. Better to take precaution with what his gut was saying at this point.
He pulled in to the school lot, and parked in the designated area, grateful he left home a little early to let himself gather his thoughts in his car for a few more minutes. He finally found himself entering his first class, Biology. Not his best subject, but at least it was more interesting than Math. To hell with Math...
He took his usual seat on the far left of the class, and forced himself to concentrate on the lesson itself, being relived to focus on something rather than let his mind wonder to that coin thing he found. Just what the hell was so damn...weird about it?
He knew several of the classmates in this one. Kimberly Hart, the once crown queen of the school sat near the front. He honestly didn't care much for her and her attitude, especially after word got out about what she had done to her friend. That was just plain messed up, but she didn't bother me, so he made no move for or against her. Interestingly though, he did notice her attitude with others had improved since she started going to detention on Saturday morning. Maybe it really was that effective.
Another, who sat a little closer to him, Trini Kwan was her name, or so he thought. She rarely ever spoke, and clearly did not seem to be a people person. And he could respect that. He himself was not much of one either. She kept to herself, and he gave her space so long as she would give him his.
The teacher finished his lesson, and he packed his bag and left for the next class, and then lunch after that. He ate simple fare, some fruit and carrots with some water, and then read until the next class, Math. He walked in, and took his seat, wishing that math was something living, so that he may kill it with fire.
It was not that he was bad at it, but the endless series of numbers and equations made him almost cry in boredom. Seriously, where was he going to be using algebra in the real world. It felt like a sadist system designed to torture young people into submission. But he dutifully did the work assigned him when needed, if just to get it over with.
It was with grateful eagerness he left at the bell. Now was the time for conditioning for track and field. He had made the team last year, being sort of middle of the pack when it came to performance. He knew he wouldn't be able to compete with the fastest guys on the team, but that didn't stop him from enjoying the thrill of the events. He changed out in the locker room and began warm ups with the rest of the team, making ready to do some sprints for speed development.
He watched the first several groups go, each sprinting forward about 100 yards and then jogging back. Finally the coach yelled for his group to take position. He made his way quickly and made ready. When the coach blew his whistle, he began to sprint forward, not feeling any different than any other time he had done this. But something was most certainly different.
When he finally realized it, he was a good distance ahead of the finish line, and the other runners behind him where slowing down in their pace as they stared at him in mid run, amazed at the speed they had just witnessed. And Tommy himself looked at how far he had ran and how fast he had eaten the distance up. He was frozen in shock, not sure how to explain what had just happened.
The coach had his whistle still in his mouth, but it dropped from his lips as they opened in startled observation. Tommy gulped and started to jog back, realizing that his jog was about as fast as a normal run, despite feeling like just a jog to him. In no time he was back to the starting line, the others eventually coming in as well. All around him were amazed faces, some with their mouths slightly open like the coach.
"I uh...been doing a lot of training. On my own time. A lot," Tommy said, hoping he sounded confident. He wasn't, since he had done nothing more than was given by the coach. There was no way that he improved that fast in a short time. No unless...
The incident this morning with his alarm clock. That might not have been a freak accident. Could something have happened to him? What was suddenly different? He tried to blow it off as coolly as possible, and shrugged.
"Just training coach," he said. The coach snapped out of hi stupor and nodded, a slight grin appearing on his face.
"Now that is what I call motivation! See boys? This is what being consistent can do for ya'. Now next group, on the line!"
The group continued in this way for a while, and when it was time for Tommy to make another sprint, everyone seemed eager to see if he would do it again. Tommy knew he couldn't fake it and make it look natural, not after what everyone had just watched him do. So he did the same thing he felt he had done the last time, this time making notes, and sure enough, the world was passing by him much faster than the way it did when he was sprinting last month.
He almost prayed they would believe his story of training. It was the most he could do in so few seconds to create a story. They eventually were told to report over to the weight room for weight training. Tommy breathed a quiet sigh. If he really was different, and somehow stronger as well, then he felt he could fake being only slightly stronger if anything, much better.
They would do the basics for weights. Squats, Deadlift, Bench Press, and several other exercises. Tommy went to the squat rack, another teammate assigned to spot him, and remembered that his best was 200. He decided to give that a shot, and loaded the bar accordingly. His spotter chuckled, and told him to be careful, as lifting your max this early in the conditioning phase could be problematic. Tommy just nodded and his spotter took position. Tommy hefted the weight off the rack and dropped his legs, slowly to experiment.
He made a mental note before he began to not make it look as if it was any easier, hence being slow in his descent. While he managed to keep his face looking like he was working hard, his mind raced a mile a minute when the realization hit him that he really was going to have to put in an effort to make a show. Because that max weight that felt hard only a month ago now felt like an empty bar. He did seven more reps just to keep the facade going, and the racked it, motioning for his spotter to have his turn.
Mother of God. So smashing my clock this morning wasn't a fluke after all. Just what the hell happened to me?
Then he noticed something in his pocket. His brow furrowed as he reached in and felt it, and then a look of shock overtook him. It felt like the coin. The thing that he had found right after the fight. It felt as though it were in his shorts pocket. But how? He hadn't put it in there, as far as he knew. He thought it was still in his room. How-?
"Hey, spot me man?" his partner asked. Tommy shook his head from the stupor and got ready to grab the bar in case something went wrong. He would have to focus on faking his way through weightlifting before trying to find out how this thing had followed him here. His partner did his reps and Tommy went again twice more, finishing the squats, before moving to the deadlifts.
He put his old max on as well, and once again was able to fake his way through three sets of lifts, though this time, he was getting some looks. Clearly, he wasn't able to fake this one as much as with the squats. Before long, he was sent to the bench press. Tommy felt the urge to go just a little heavier than his max this time. Why, he did not know, but a surge of pride went through him, as though part of him was getting tired of faking it. And Tommy found it too much to hold, and so he loaded an extra plate on each end beyond his original max, telling his spotter that he was going for a new record.
His spotter took his position, and Tommy grasped the bar, and took several deep breathes, before lifting the bar off the rings. Sure enough, it was far too easier than it should have been to do so, and he held the bar at the fully extended position before slowly lowering it, making a show out of breathing in to take up air, despite the weight not feeling nearly as heavy as it should. Then he pushed out.
Aw, SHIT!
He pushed up way more than he wanted to, and the bar flung itself up with his arms still attached. He actually lifted himself off the bench, his upper half being airborne for a moment, before slapping back down on the bench. His spotter took a step back in surprise, and Tommy frantically tried to think of a way to talk his way out of this. If they saw he was so much stronger when he accidentally benched pressed ore than his max effortlessly, then surely they could tell he might have been faking the other exercises.
"I uh...just got a really big rush I guess," he said, instantly cursing himself to hell for it, knowing just how lame an excuse that was, and knowing he really didn't have a good one to give anyway. His spotter shook his head and seemed to think for a reason, before resuming his position, though he didn't seem convinced at all, and Tommy knew he wouldn't be. But he focused on slowly lowering and raising the bar, though he didn't try to fake it nearly as much.
After the weights, they showered, and Tommy tried to drown out the voices of his teammates, that to his surprise he could hear very well despite all the shower head spraying, and them whispering. Was his hearing enhanced as well? They were all talking about what he had done on the track earlier and his weightlifting, implying that his spotter hadn't been the only one that saw him accidentally put too much strength to the bar. But Tommy tried to ignore them and get it over with, so he could just go home and try to figure out what the hell was going on.
As he got in his car, he reached into his pocket and pulled it out. Yes, it was there, in his pocket when he was sure he had left it at home. That strange green circular object. Or maybe he should just call it a coin for short. And for a brief second, he though he saw it glimmer that green glow again, but he growled in his throat.
"How are you in my pocket? I left you at home," he said to it. What was this thing, that could follow him school from home? Maybe it was time to say something about it? This thig could be dangerous. But then the coin glowed again, and this time, he saw the glow clearly.
Something sparked in Tommy, and a smile spread across his face as he pocketed the coin and started his car, preparing to head for home. He was suddenly ready for a good meal and relaxation time at home, his anxiety evaporating, as though the coin somehow took away his anxiety over it. Part of him was still wondering what the hell just happened, but the sensation was too good for Tommy to acknowledge.
His mother was at home, and he greeted her accordingly. He went to his room, putting the coin on his desk, and gave it a grin before turning on his computer to check his email and Facebook before killing time on some games. God, he felt good right now.
When he was ready for bed, he spat out the paste in his mouth after brushing, and looked into the mirror. For a brief moment, he saw his eyes flash green, the same as the coin, but he did not care. He grinned widely and went to his room to lay in the bed, feeling on top of the world. He felt tomorrow would be a very good day...
-0-
He woke up feeling more refreshed than he had in a long time. Part of him knew how bizarre this was. Something was not right, yet he couldn't bring himself to let it in. He was walking on sunshine, and nothing was going to stop him now. Nothing, and no one.
His mom made breakfast, just a simple toast and milk, and Tommy ate it up, giving his mom a peck on the cheek. She looked at him for a moment.
"You're awfully happy this morning," she said. Tommy just shrugged.
"I had a good nights sleep. It does wonders sometimes."
"Well, have a good day then, dear."
"I plan to," he replied as he closed the door. Hoping in his car, he drove to school, possibly breaking speed limits, but giving not a care in the wind. He looked in the mirror again and saw the same green flash, but it again had no effect on his attitude. He felt the coin again in his pocket, despite leaving it at home, and decided that whatever it was, it could stay for now. It might have just become a new good luck charm for him.
He pulled into the lot, about half filled, and again waited in his car, listening to music until it was time to go in for class. The classes passed as usual, and I even felt more relaxed in Math than usual. I noticed both Kimberly and Trini giving me a look, which was out of the ordinary, but I didn't feel the need to look back.
At lunch, he was eating when I felt breathe against the back of my neck. he looked behind me and my good mood was suddenly gone. Behind him was Skull, one of the school bullies. His raggedy blonde hair was astray as usual, and he grinned down at Tommy with that same predatory smile, as though he was some juicy plumb to be plucked. What gave him the idea that he could take him was beyond him, as Tommy was in far better shape than he ever was. But bullies never were known for intelligence.
"Hey there Tommy boy. Whatcha eatin'?" he slurred.
"That's none of your business, death breathe," Tommy said, his nose cringing with the rancid smell he was getting when he spoke. He chuckled.
"Well, how about I fix it with some of your grub?" he said.
How dare he talk to you like that!
He heard the voice from my somewhere in his mind, and he knew he didn't know where exactly. He actually didn't really hear it. He more or less felt it. As though something was speaking in a language he didn't understand, and suddenly did. But he agreed with it. If Skull tried to do what he thought he was about to do...
And he did. He reached over to try and take one of his carrots. Tommy was not going to allow that to stand. He grabbed his wrist and squeezed. Usually, someone would grasp it very hard to stop them. But part of him seemed to know that this weak little rat dodn't need much. So he squeezed just enough to get his attention.
His eyes widened when he realized that all control over his hand was now gone. Tommy glared at him from his seat, turning his body to face him entirely.
"Don't, for even a second, try and take my food again. Do you understand?" he asked. Skull didn't reply, only kept trying to free his hand. Suddenly, he threw a punch at Tommy's face, and he instinctively threw his head to the side, dodging the attack. He didn't even know that was coming. It was as if instinct seized him and knew exactly what to do.
How dare he! He deserves to be punished for such insolence!
He couldn't agree more. His other hand snapped up, and instead of a punch or slap, as he heard he got in detention, his hand grasped his throat and squeezed. Skull's mouth opened in a wheeze, and his other hand fought frantically to try and pry Tommy's fingers off his throat. But it was to no avail.
Tommy gazed at him with cold eyes. Some part of him was screaming at him to stop, saying that this wasn't right. That this wasn't him. But something else, much more powerful was in control right now, and it was proclaiming that this wretch was getting what was coming to him. Tommy squeezed just a little tighter. All eyes were on Skull's predicament, and suddenly a loud voice screamed in his ear.
"Stop this right now!"
It was his Track Coach. He reached forward and grasped Tommy's hands, and this time, he let go, knowing when he had gone too far. Skull stepped back in a daze, breathing hard, and even stumbled over his own feet onto his butt, coughing and wheezing. Coach glared at Tommy for a moment.
"Get to the office. Now!" he ordered, and Tommy complied. What had just happened? Why had he done that? Sure Skull was a prick that needed to be taught a hard lesson, but did he actually just choke him out? If the Coach had not broken through the haze, would he have killed Skull? He walked dutifully to the office, already dreading the possible outcomes.
-0-
Detention. That was what he had been given. Detention for a month. Tommy supposed it could be far worse, but since Skull was universally disliked, he supposed that was the reason, especially as Skull had initiated the whole thing. But Tommy's actions spoke loudly, and so he accepted the rather light punishment rather than try to test fate.
He set down his books and took off his coat, laying it around his chair. He sat there other students filing in gradually. He was not surprised to find Kimberly Hart there, after punching her Ex. Trini Kwan was a surprise, but he didn't react. Jason Lee Scott, the fallen star was also expected, and Billy Cranston, the guy who blew up his locker was there as well. Tommy had to admit, that was pretty awesome to see though. There was an asian kid that Tommy didn't know, though he had seen him a few times.
As he sat there, his mind played back to the events that had led him here, and he felt a warm glow in his pocket. He reached in and took out the coin, still wondering how the hell it could be following him around and again saw the flicker of green. He closed his grip on it, suddenly feeling weird. It was still some time before detention actually started, so he got up and went to the bathroom. He stared at himself in the mirror for a moment, just gazing into his own eyes. He once again saw his eyes flicker green.
"What the hell is going on...?" he wondered out loud. And that was when he heard the boom, and the bathroom vibrated...
So, there is chapter 2. I hope it was a good read. Please leave a review and let me know of any concerns. After reviewing the film several more times online, I am making several assumptions. Please advise if I am missing something. Otherwise, I hope you are all enjoying it so far. Until we meet again.
-RWBRyan