Later that day, after the four members discussed with the scientist their findings in Brandon, the members have dispersed to do their own business.

Kailer is back in his spot at the countertop in his laboratory with his safety goggles, bandana, latex gloves, and laboratory coat. In his gloved hands is a volumetric flask filled with clear liquid bearing a purple shine.

Behind the flask, its owner has awe-filled eyes at it. "I think I just created a super power," he mutters to himself. He narrows his eyes. "I wanna see if it works…" He stays still for a few moments before his eyes light up. "I got it!"

In an instant, he disappears in a flash of blue energy, leaving his flask behind on the countertop.

---

BLAM!

The puck slams into the boards, whizzing off into the corner and plopping onto the ice.

From the blue line, Michael is following it with his narrowed eyes. He is now has an addition to his outfit with skater skates, gloves, and his stick.

He nabs another puck from the pile near his skates and cradles it with his eyes on the net decked with corner targets. He launches the puck at the left top corner.

The puck smashes into the target, shattering it, and dives into the net.

"Wooo!!!" Michael raises his gloved hands and stick in the air, celebrating. He then starts going around in small circles in a groovy fashion while singing to himself: "Amazing…Mikey, as epic as a skater can be! Amazing…Mikey—!"

"Cramarossa…!"

Michael immediately halts his celebration and sharply faces where his name was called from.

Standing in the penalty box patiently with his safety goggles, bandana, and laboratory coat is Kailer.

"Doc!" Michael rushes up to him and brakes by the doorway. "What’s up?" He leans against his stick while giving him a smirk.

"I bear great news," Kailer tells him with a grin.

His eyebrows shoot up. "Really?" They then fall as he gives him a skeptical expression. "Or are you bluffing again?"

"Nope—" Kailer shakes his head with his eyes closed. "—I am serious this time: I need you to try out powers I have made."

"Which type of powers?"

"Extraordinary powers." Kailer peers to his right and left, before leaning closer to the new member.

The scientist then whispers to him, "Powers beyond your wildest dreams. Powers that are better than all of ours combined. I just need to test it on you to make sure they’re viable."

Michael straightens up with an excited look. "Oh yeah! Let’s go!" He then steps into the penalty box, sits on the bench, and begins taking off his skates.

---

A few minutes later, the two are back in Kailer’s laboratory. Michael is lying on the patient table right of the countertop. He has an uncertain expression on his face with his fingers interlaced over his stomach.

"Ummm…" Michael darts his eyes. "…so what happened with you not wanting to ruin the team powers?"

Promptly, Kailer steps into his view, busy focusing on extracting the liquid from the flask’s thin top into a syringe.

"I actually made that up as an excuse to not give you powers," the scientist explains, looking at his work. "I really didn’t want to. But now that I have created this formula that took me ages" —he glances down at him— "I can!"

He begins pulling the syringe out from the flask. "But I chose you because with your powers, which aren’t too powerful—no offense—you have room to hold even more and better powers."

Michael scrunches his eyebrows at him. "And you’re just telling me this now?"

Kailer has now exchanged his flash for his small, blue gun, loading the syringe into the back of the device.

"I didn’t want to put your hopes up, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a success. But so far, it looks wonderful." He then holds the gun up in the air with one hand as its sides light up white with a whirring sound.

Michael eyes him with concern. "So, how’s this gonna go?"

Kailer lowers his gun with his eyes on it. "Just like the mock test from last time, but this time, the needle will go into you." He then lowers his eyes gravely at his guinea pig. "And I must warn you, you will feel strange at first."

"Anything to get powers. I’m pain-tolerant." He flashes him a grin.

"That is great. I like your determination." The scientist peers at his gun and flicks it. "One condition."

Michael groans while rolling his eyes. "What?"

Kailer gazes down at him. "I am impressed by how you did not tell a single soul about your ‘powers.’ And I expect you to do the same with these. ESPECIALLY these." He holds up his gun parallel to his head.

"I will." He nods against the soft cover of the table. "You got my word like last time."

"Great." Kailer steps up to him. He then rolls his patient’s sleeve up, revealing his arm’s bare skin, and presses the gun’s muzzle against it. "You’re ready?"

Michael cracks a massive grin. "Just give it to me, man."

Kailer then pushes the trigger.

Immediately, Michael's eyes fly open as he feels a sharp pinch against his arm.

“Ack!” he cries out.

The uncomfortable feeling quickly goes away, yet another one takes place:

A powerful surge bursts from inside Michael’s arm and rushes down, filling up his entire body. It twists, turns, and swirls inside of him, accommodating to him.

Outside, Michael is taking in sharp breaths as his body tenses and stiffens, bracing himself against the fuzzy, rushing movement whirling around inside him.

Next to him, Kailer eyes him with anticipation, holding his breath for the worst to come.

Then the surge dies down, tingling throughout him as it disappears.

Michael instantly lets out a heavy gasp, his body relaxing. He stares wide-eyed at the ceiling with sweat running down his face.

"What was that?" he huffs out heavily.

Kailer resumes breathing normally as well. "That was your body adapting to the new solution." He places the gun behind him on the island. "It appears it worked."

Michael is stupefied, his eyes lost aimed upward. "I feel so weird."

"I warned you." The scientist clasps his hands behind his back. "Tell me when everything settles down."

Michael closes his eyes, mentally getting his mind back in focus. He then opens his eyes, feeling himself no longer in a daze, but more connected to himself. "Okay…" He flexes and retracts his fingers against the bed. "I think I’m fine."

"You think?" he hears Kailer asking him.

Michael pulls himself up to a sitting position and peers at him. "Yeah. I’m fine."

"Good." He steps back with a nod. "Let’s test out the new abilities."

"Which are…?"

Kailer holds out his hand toward the other side of the laboratory. "Find out and see."

Michael stares ahead, making out the grey-coloured wall in the dark.

Suddenly, the wall begins to sag as it dribbles itself in a liquified state onto the ground, as if too much paint has been brushed on it.

Kailer gapes at the melting wall with wide eyes. He then peers to the island near him, spotting it wilting and dripping its edges toward the ground. He peers all around his laboratory, noticing that everything is melting into a liquid state.

"Cramarossa…!" Kailer hisses with trepidation.

Michael blinks at his surname, breaking his concentration.


In an instant, the whole laboratory pulls itself back together into its normal solidified form.

With a surprised expression, Kailer spins to his experiment. "Did you witness that?" He points to the room.

"Everything was…" Michael peers at him. "…drooping."

The scientist reaches out to the island and swipes his finger against its edge, feeling its usual hard touch. "That is...acceptable, considering the powers I aimed to create." He turns back to him.

Michael has bewildered eyes on him. "Which are…?"

"Physics Distortion."

He immediately straightens up with shock. "Physics Distortion? Like you’re saying that I can distort physics?"

"Yes, if the power is a success." Kailer looks back at his laboratory. "From the looks of it, it is."

"So, what else can I distort?" he hears Michael asking. "That seems really broad."

He turns back to him. "Anything." He shrugs. "That’s all it means."

Michael peers around the room, wondering what else to test his powers on. He spots the volumetric flask Kailer recently placed on the island. He focuses his supernatural abilities on it, mentally taking command over it.

The flask instantly flies off the island, plunging toward the ground.

Kailer’s eyes fly open at the sight. "NO—!"

The flask plops onto the floor horizontally, immediately staying motionless without inertia. The liquid stays motionless against the bottom of the object as if it is still standing upright.

The scientist eyes the fallen and intact flask with shock. He gradually bends over and takes it into his hands.

He inspects it while straightening himself up. "Blinkin' knickers… I swore it was going to shatter…"

From the patient table, Michael darts his eyes, scrambling to find out another way to use his powers. "Ummm…" He spots a blanket hanging over the bamboo divider tucked behind the patient bed.

Michael snatches the blanket, faces the island in front of him, and casts the cloth out at it.

The blanket expands itself in the air and softly lands on the island, covering it with the appearance of an air hockey table.

Kailer makes an amused expression at the new object in his room. "Spectacular!" He swipes his hands on the air hockey table’s edge, feeling its solidity.

Michael has a thrilled look at his creation. "This is so cool…" He gazes up at the scientist, softening his look. "But how can I use any of this for battling?"

Kailer faces him and begins listing the ways with his fingers. "You can distort your target. You can sustain yourself through harsh environments. You can conjure attacks, I believe."

"Hmmm…" Michael holds his hand out in front of him and extends it.

Immediately, his hand glows golden with sparks spraying out of it. Golden and white ribbons of energy spring from his hand, hovering majestically above it.

"Whoa-hoh!" Michael excitedly rotates his wrist.

The ribbons quickly swirl around his wrist along with the sparks in the shape of a tornado.

"Sweet!!!"

Kailer nods his head with fascinated eyes on the energy. "Indeed, doode!"

Michael then holds his other hand out next to his radiant hand.

Immediately, the ribbons fly over to his hand, brightening it up and twirling around it as well as its user revolves both wrists.

He peers up at the scientist. "Can I hit anything?"

Kailer tilts his head. "If you fix it."

With that, Michael pulls his hands near his ears, turning them into fists, then snaps his arms out, releasing a thick blast of golden and white energy.

The energy strikes the wall on the other side, eating it up as if it is fire.

"Whoa!" Michael quickly retracts the energy, staring at the damage he created.

The wall now bears a crumbling hole with sear marks. Yet in an instant, it fixes itself, covering the hole and the scorch marks with a putty texture.

Kailer’s eyebrows shoot up at the sight. "Amazing!" He turns back to Michael. "There ‘s much more you can do with those powers, but that’s something to learn on your own. And if you want me to accompany you, don’t hesitate to call for me."

He gives him a mighty big grin. "Thanks!" He then pulls back the energy into his hands, ceasing the glowing, and stands up with exhilaration.

"This is so awesome!" Michael then quickly drops his face as realization comes across his mind. "Ugh!" He cranes his head back. "If only I can show them to everyone."

"You can’t," he hears Kailer state.

Michael straightens himself, peering at him with a pleading expression. "But why?"

Kailer takes in a deep breath, appearing hesitant with shifty eyes. "What I’m doing...is what I’d consider illegal." He holds his gaze at him. "I really don’t want to interfere with the founders’ chosen powers."

"So, I can’t show them to anyone?" He holds his hands out from his sides. "I can’t use them at all?"

"You can, just only in front of me." Kailer places his hand on his chest. "And I guess I’ll let it slip in a case of an emergency if NONE of us can use our powers or are not present for whatever reason. But that I believe wouldn’t occur." He adjusts the collar of his coat before dropping his hands back on his sides.

Michael lets out a reluctant huff. "Okay. At least I got cool powers. Maybe we can tell about them to the founders?"

"Maybe." Kailer begins walking back to his work station. "Not now though." He settles on his stool, facing him. "We have lots on our plate."

"And I can’t help?" he cries out, throwing his hands in the air. "Maybe I can reveal whoever’s doing this to the arenas now that I can distort physics!"

Kailer eyes him. "Do you know how to?"

"Ummm…" He rubs his stubble-lined chin while peering up. "…let me see, let me see…" He then drops his hands to his slides and closes his eyes while scrunching his face in an attempt to concentrate on his powers.

Yet after a passing moment, he relaxes, letting out a disappointed groan. "Ahhhck…"

Kailer has a slight frown on him while drumming his fingers against the countertop. "Not on the master level yet, I supposed."

"Yeah…" He then grimaces as a sharp pain flies through his head. "Ow…" He scratches his head. "I gotta work on manipulating things I can’t see."

He then begins shuffling backward, keeping eye contact with the scientist. "But thanks, Yamma Mamma." He gives him a quick wave. "I guess I can call you ‘Kswizzy’ since you like that name, eh?"

Kailer’s face lights up. "Yes! It’s super cool, doode!" He gives him a sweet grin.

"Alright! Thanks, Kswizzy!" He then twirls around and prances through the doorway, pulling the door behind him.

Yet the door halts ajar and Michael pokes his head through it. "And I won’t tell a single soul."

Notes