User:Acinonyx2/Random Filler Piece

I ran upstairs and grabbed a giant volume on Changoloy titled Complications of the Change, barely stopping to think. Somehow the connection between me and Duma had been blown out; I didn't know why, but I knew because my mind was severed, like a part of me had been excised, a part of me that I had happened to like very, very much. But more important was Nikki. If the worst would happen, Duma would disappear and reappear close to me; like my kind, he was a coward.

Scanning through the pages of Encyclopedia of Powers, I stopped at prechange ability manifestation. Norm shifting was classified as an ability. So, for that matter, was an ability called anticipation. It was possible- the ability was rare- that the feathers and changes had been hallucinations caused by premature ability manifestation. The Change had occured during her time in norm form, and had been completed rapidly. I couldn't be certain, but it seemed likely. If it was true, then I would be looking forward to reading her DNA and getting inside one of her cells.

I held my hand up, and focused. I saw, not saw, my cells turn to metal, become hard and impervious. I grinned. That Vietnam vet from Heroes had nothing on me- partially metallicized arm my foot; it would take a lot to seperate arm from body.

I shook my head and forced myself back on task. Gathering up the book and getting another titled Index of Powers, I stuffed both in a book bag and watched in satisfaction as the bag, Imbuned by a friend with a kind of telekinesis, moved up and next to me. And it fell. I tried to turn to metal. It didn't work. I swore mentally. An anti-power field? Seriously?

I had heard of such things- a case in Kenya, another in Brazil- but they were supposed to be really, really rare, and anyone who had one was considered extremely dangerous, because they could manipulate it to widen extensively and only block the powers of some individuals. It would be perfect for a criminal. More likely that this was another function of the Inducer Sphere- a blocking of powers. The bag was almost certainly going to be more vulnerable to it than I was.

Walking north, I carefully monitored how crazy I felt, then used the information to find roughly where the Sphere was. Five minutes later, I was behind my house.

Snarling as the Sphere affected me to even greater extents, I brought my tail up in happiness as my shovel clanged up against metal. Rapidly uncovering the device, I looked upon the object that had caused me grief- and then brought the shovel on it, shattering it to pieces. Dave could look at the remains later; I had better things to do, like finding Nikki.

At least, that was what I thought until two white wolves stepped out of the house, growling. They were my parents, but at the same time were definitely not. If the Inducer Sphere affects me, I reasoned, it most likely affects my parents. In case I needed any further proof, my father opened a mental attack, sending my brain into overdrive. Or, rather, he attempted to. My brain was currently capable of piecing together exactly how an organism's entire genome would make them develop. Overloading it was not possible.

It did, however, make me less prepared for my mother's attack, which took the form of a wolf leaping at me, force-coated claws extended. I rolled out of the way. Mom picked herself off the ground and growled at me, then stopped, confusion appearing on her face. "What the hell am I doing out here? By the way, son, your idea of a meal exploded." I cut my eyes from side to side.

"You don't remember?" I asked timidly, still a bit scared. They both shook their heads. I tried to lie, which I wasn't good at. "Well, you, um, kind of came out here to tell me that the microwave meal exploded, but you both tripped and hit your heads. You should go to the hospital." They both stared at me.

"You aren't a good lier, Jonothan." He was calling me by my name, which never failed to irritate me.

"Blaze."

"That isn't the name we gave you." I twitched my tail angrily.

"Jonothan is wide and clunky. Blaze is not; it is narrow and fast. I am narrow and fast." My mother forced me to get back to thte point.

"What happened?" she said, growling- but not at me, at whatever had done this. "You need to tell us." I closed my eyes, resigned.

"Oh, we're being attacked by extradimensional aliens who spread the Plague and are trying to kill us all so they can take over. That thing over there," I said, gesturing with the shovel, "is an Inducer Sphere and drives you nutso." I opened my eyes and looked at my parents. They were both staring at me. "What?"

"I liked the story about us tripping better," my father said. My mother agreed.

"Should we confine him to his room to make sure he doesn't get himself killed?" I reacted instantly.

"No," I said loudly. And then... well, I don't quite understand it. But space seemed to warp, and I fell into darkness. It wasn't me. It was like Duma had made me vanish to keep me from being locked up.

Having another side that could do this wasn't going to be fun.