Chapter 3: When the web expands

Alicia calls Paul, Kris, and Q to discuss their abilities. At work, Alicia meets another person with powers, who is desperate to avoid hurting others.

Q knocked on Kris’s door before unlocking it herself. She stepped into the apartment cautiously, taking off her shoes. She looked around for Kris. Q walked down the hallway, opening Kris’s bedroom door slowly. She spotted a body underneath the sheets on the bed. “Kris?” Hazel said quietly.

            The lump shifted. Q hoped Kris was getting up, but Kris just curled up tighter. Q sighed and tiptoed to the bed, sitting down at the edge of it. She placed a hand on the lump; Kris grumbled and rolled away from her. “Come on,” Q said. “It wasn’t your fault, you know.”

            “You know, I don’t care what you say,” Kris mumbled. “It isn’t going to make me feel better.”

            “But you didn’t know you had poison…”

            “But I knew something was wrong,” Kris interjected sharply. “I noticed something was off, when I looked at my nails and saw the color changed…”

            “You couldn’t have known that it would be poison.”

            “But I still sunk my nails in him,” Kris said. “It felt like a… natural response. I was cornered, he had a hold on me, and I struck out, like some animal.”

            “Is that what you’re more concerned about?”

            “I hated that guy,” Kris answered. “But I shouldn’t have hurt him.”

            “So, you feel bad that you hurt him, killed him, but you don’t feel bad that he’s dead?”

            It was so quiet Q barely heard her answer, “No.”

            “But I don’t feel that he is dead,” Kris added, her voice louder. “Maybe, I’m in denial.”

            Q shrugged. “It’s possible.”

            Q stiffened as she heard knocking. Paul must be at the door. “We can finish talking about this later, if you want.”

            Kris sat up slowly and nodded. “Yeah, let’s not mention this to Paul, just yet.”

            “Kay,” Hazel responded, standing up.

            Q stood by the bed, waiting for Kris to get up. She rolled out of bed as Paul knocked again. Q grabbed Kris’s hand and pulled her out of the room, hurrying to get to the door. Kris tugged her hand out of Q hand, a look of wide-eyed fear passing across her face. Her hands curled into fist before she joined Q at the door. “Come in, come in,” Q greeted generously.

            Paul peeked around Hazel to see Kris. “Hey, are you okay?”

            “Yeah,” Kris answered. “I’m fine.”

            With a wrinkled forehead, Paul looked doubtful. He smiled anyway. He wrapped his arms around both girls’ shoulder and led them to the living room. “Let’s go sit on your couch and wait for this phone call.”

+++++

            Paul sat beside Kris, tapping his foot anxiously. Q stood close by, pacing. They were waiting for the call. Kris checked her watch. “It’s five thirty,” She commented. “How long does she work?”

            “Maybe she forgot about it,” Paul said. “Or perhaps, she threw away the cup before she wrote down your number.”

            “Or, she may not be interested,” Kris responded.

            Q stopped pacing and sat on the floor by Kris’s legs. She tried to reassure them. “It won’t be that bad if she doesn’t call. We wouldn’t be any less without her.”

            “Our team would be better with her,” Paul said.

            “Oh,” Kris said. “When did we become a team?”

            “When we picked up Q,” Paul answered. “Two is a duo, but three is a team.”

            Kris ran a hand through her hair. “And what are we going to do, as a team?” Kris challenged.

            “Be heroes!” Paul claimed, standing up and doing the cliché super hero pose.

            The dramatics drew a laugh from both girls. “Or we could just hang out as friends,” Paul added. “With powers.”

            “Friends with powers,” Q joked. “So much better than friends with benefits.”

            Their laughter was interrupted by ringing. Paul sat back down. It was Kris’s cellphone. Kris shushed the others and answered the call, noting that it was from an unknown number. “Hello? Kris here.”

            “Hi, Kris, it’s Alicia,” A woman said. “The woman from Callithump?”

            “I wouldn’t know, you didn’t say your name,” Kris replied. “Wait a second, I have my friends here. I’m going to put you on speakerphone.”

            Kris pressed the button and set the phone on her thigh. “Alright, can they hear me?” Alicia asked.

            “Loud and clear,” Paul responded. “Hello, querida, I’m Paul, Kris’s friend that she mentioned.”

            “I wouldn’t know. She didn’t say your name.”

            Q laughed. “Who’s that?” Alicia asked, giggling.

            “I’m Q!” Q said. “I’m Kris’s other friend, her only other friend.”

            “Hey,” Kris protested.

            “Ladies,” Paul said. “We are not here to rag on each other. We’re here to talk to Alicia.”

            They nodded. “So, Alicia, describe your power,” Paul continued.

            “Well, my power first happened after the earthquake. I was holding a candy bar and it melted when I told it to.”

            “Yes, Kris told me about that, but how would you define your power.”

            Alicia’s clothes rustled as she audibly shrugged. “I talk, give commands, and things respond.”

            “Cool,” Q chirped. “That sounds like a nice power.”

            “What’s your power, Q?” Alicia asked.

            “I can transform into other people,” Q replied. “But I don’t know how it works just yet. I can’t really control it, which is why I’m stuck at Kris’s apartment.”

            “Why Kris’s apartment?”

            “Because I don’t have any memories.” Q sobered up for a moment. “I don’t know where I lived before Orange Day, or who is was.”

            The room and phone were quiet until Alicia muttered, “Heavy.”

            Q nodded, but Alicia couldn’t tell. Paul took this as an indicator to get back on topic. “So, now that you have impressed the panel of judges, we welcome you to join our team. What do you say?”

            “Yes?” Alicia said confused. “I didn’t think I’d be joining a team or anything.”

            “Well,” Paul conceded. “We aren’t a team, yet. Not until we practice using our powers.”

            “I can at least do that,” Alicia said. “When?”

            “This weekend.”

            “Where?” Kris spoke up. “We can’t practice in my apartment.”

            Paul thought about it. “I have the perfect place. It is downtown, but very isolated, surrounded by woods…”

            Kris quirked an eyebrow and told him to get on with it. “Aspen Springs Park,” Paul declared. “It’s the best place, and if we go there after dark, no one would know what we are doing.”

            Kris and Q looked at each other, having a silent conversation. Alicia interjected, “That sounds great! Saturday around eight pm?”

            “Sounds like a date,” Paul responded.

            Alicia laughed. “Bye guys.”

            “Bye Alicia.”

            Kris waited for her to hang up. Once Alicia did, Kris looked at Paul and Q. “Well, we’ve done it,” Kris said halfheartedly. “Found a fourth member and set up a practice date. What else do we need?”

            Paul slowly started to do jazz hands before declaring, “Costumes!”

            Kris unabashedly glared at Paul. “Get out,” Kris said.

            Paul frowned. “No, I’m very serious.”

            “And I’m very serious,” Kris said, standing up. “Get out.”

            Paul held his hands up in defeat and walked to the door. He stopped and turned around. “But, wait didn’t you want-”

            “Get out!”

            Paul left. Kris flopped back on the couch. She suddenly started laughing. Q glanced at her, with a questioning look. “I’m sorry,” Kris got out, wheezing and tearing up. “It’s just… so f*****g crazy.”

            Q reached out and touched her arm. “What’s crazy?”

            “Uh, superheroes?” Kris replied sarcastically. “I mean we talked about this already.”

            Clapping once, Q put on a smile as she came up with something. “Let’s pro and con this out.”

            “What?”

            “Let list some positives and negatives about being a superhero,” Q answered. “It helps me make decisions.”

            Kris sat up, placing her hands on her knees. “Okay, um, positive,” She started. “I got new friends that I can hang out with.”

            “Nice!”

            “But, negative: I could get hurt.”

            Q countered, “Positive: you get to help people.”

            Kris snorted and looked at Q from the corner of her eyes, overall unimpressed. “Negative: I could hurt someone.”

            “Positive: it allows you to go outside and get fresh air.”

            “Negative: it is time consuming.”

            “Positive: it can help you control your abilities.”

            “More like help you control yours,” Kris retorted. “Mine don’t seem to do anything unless I want them too.”

            “Rude,” Q said with a cheeky grin. “You could still learn something from practices your powers.”

            “Okay, but negative: what if someone finds out?”

            “Personally, I would be really impressed by someone that can fly.”

            Q’s warm gaze wore on Kris’s pessimism. “Alright, I’ll see where this takes me for now.”

            Q patted her hand. “If it’s too much you can always stop.”

            Kris nodded and stood up. She stretched before saying, “I’m getting back in bed now.”

+++++

            When Alicia walked into Callithump Coffee the next day, she wasn’t surprised to see Kris at the counter. “Hey Kris,” Alicia said, approaching the counter. “Can I have a double espresso on ice?”

            Kris smiled. “Hi, Alicia,” She responded. “Of course.”

            Alicia handed her the two fifty, and Kris put it in the register. A minute later, Kris handed Alicia her drink. Alicia hovered instead of leaving. Her hesitation drew Kris’s interest as she leaned on the counter near Alicia. “How many people have you seen,” She asked quietly. “With powers?

            Kris held up her hand to count, one, two, three, four, plus that guy who was on fire in Molly’s restaurant. “Five at least,” Kris answered. “But, then again, it has only been two days. I’m sure I’ll see plenty more.”

            Alicia shifted her cup in her hands, her eyes fixed on the movement. “What should I do if I come across someone?”

            Kris shrugged. “It’s up to you. If the guy seems really interested in figuring his s**t out, give me a call.”

            Alicia nodded like that was a decent solution. “Okay, I can do that,” Alicia said. “You wouldn’t mind?”

            “No,” Kris replied, running a hand through her hair. “I wouldn’t mind talking to you again.”

            Alicia smiled. “Good, I like talking to you.”

            Kris smiled goofily as Alicia checked the time. “Oh, I’m going to be late to work.”

            Alicia started backing away. “Bye, Alicia, see you Saturday,” Kris said.

            “If I don’t see you sooner,” Alicia called back.

+++++

            Kattegat Institute, made of steel, sophistication, and science, loomed in front of Theo. Theo walked past a fountain that formed shapes using minute static electricity. It formed the shape of the Institute’s emblem, something akin to a trident, when he walked past it. Two glass doors slid open as he entered the building. Built like a cathedral, the ceiling soaring above him, well lit by a plethora of windows; that was only the lobby of the Institute. Thankfully, it was only as far as he needed to go.

            Theo approached the front desk, an expanse of white, reflective plastic. No one was behind it. Looking around, he realized that the entire lobby was devoid of life. He spotted a plain service bell and tapped it a few times. “Coming!” He heard from the hallway behind the desk.

            A woman appeared in a red button-up; attached to the shirt was a name tag, saying “Alicia.” Theo glanced at it and smiled politely at the woman. She smiled back. “Hello, sir,” She said. “How may I help you?”

            “Hello, Miss Alicia,” The man said. “I’m here to turn myself over to the researchers here.”

            Alicia leaned on the counter, her face wrinkling with confusion. “What do you mean?”

            Theo glanced around, apprehensive. “Ever since the earthquake, I’ve been having these strange… incidents.”

            Alicia’s eyes widened with understanding. “Sir, what has happened in these incidents?”

            Theo stared at his hands as he answered, “My hands have been glowing and shooting out lasers, or something.”

            “I see,” Alicia said.

            Alicia picked up a notepad, and pen, writing down Kris’s number from memory. “I don’t know what you think researchers here can do for you…” She trailed off, hoping he would say.

            “I was hoping that they could explain it,” The man replied. “Or, hoping that my powers could fill in some blanks for them.”

            “I strongly suggest that you do not look for answers here,” Alicia said. “They do not know how to help you just yet. They are doing small scale, non-human research at this time.”

            The man opened his mouth to disagree, or maybe beg, but Alicia cut him off, “They will request human test subjects when they are ready and have concrete hypotheses.”

            The man looked disheartened, but he nodded in acceptance. “Thank you, miss.”

            Alicia stopped him with a hand. “The Kattegat Institute does not know how to help you. However, I do know a couple of people, who are doing some independent research on the topic.”

            “What exactly are they researching?”

            Alicia took a breath as she thought of how to phrase it. “If the powers caused by Orange Day can be controlled by the person who possesses them.”

            He looked doubtful, unsure if it was a cause he could help. “If it makes you feel any better, they are testing themselves as well,” Alicia added.

            His eyebrows rose. “Really?”

            She nodded before reaching into her bag. “Can I call them, and inform them that you will be joining us?”

            “Yes, please,” He responded eagerly.

            “What’s your name?”

            Alicia took her cellphone out of her bag. She dialed Kris’s number. He answered while it rang, “I’m Theodore Lightner.” 

            Kris answered after a few rings, grumbling, “I’m at work right now.”

            Alicia smiled at Theodore. “I am aware that you are busy,” Alicia replied. “But, I have found another subject for you. A Theodore Lightner will be joining the study.”

            “What the hell code language are you talking?”

            “I will give you the rest of the details later,” Alicia said. “Do you mind if I give him your phone number, so he can call and ask for more information?”

            Kris may or may not have caught on, but she was willing to trust Alicia’s judgment. “Sure, why not.”

            “Alright then, thank you for your time,” Alicia said, hanging up. “She is very excited to hear about you. The first session of the study is going to take place in Aspen Spring Park, Saturday at 8 pm. Is that an acceptable time for you?”

            “Yeah,” Theo answered. “You mentioned a phone number?”

            “Yes.” Alicia handed him the sticky note. “This is Kris’s number; she isn’t the lead researcher, that’s Paul. But, she can tell you anything you need to know.”

            He nodded, smiling. “Thank you.”

            Alicia mimicked his overly polite smile. He turned to go, and Alicia watched him leave. Once he was out the door, Alicia redialed Kris. She answered, “Let me guess, he’s gone and now you need to explain your intricate tale to me before he calls me up asking about it.”

            “Yes,” Alicia said, hoping Kris wouldn’t mind.

            “Fine, lay it on me.”

+++++

            Alicia hurried from behind the front desk back to her job in front of heavy machinery. The refrigerator-sized machine she was using today was responsible for channeling atoms into beams. The use of this machine had yet to be explained to Alicia as well as she would’ve liked. However, all that mattered to Dr. Pagel, the researcher she worked with, was that Alicia turned on the machine whenever he told her to.

            “Turn on the Particle Wave Converter,” Dr. Pagel instructed, placing a plant in line with the machine’s beam.

            Pagel backed up quickly, stepping behind an observational wall. At least five feet from the plant, it was made of thick steel with a small, reinforced glass window. He watched as the plant shriveled and died. “Minute alpha particle radiation still results in death,” Pagel commented, scribbling down something on a clipboard. “Why?”

            “Because the laws of physics, rather biology, haven’t changed?” Alicia replied. “DNA degradation leads to cell death.”

            “Yes, why haven’t they?” Pagel asked as the machine shut down. He appeared from behind the wall and stalked up to the plant. Examining it, he continued, “I have seen physics being defied by people… random people on the streets.”

            “I don’t think this is an accurate recreation, then,” Alicia said.

            “But, it is,” Pagel replied testily. “Analysis of the orange clouds concluded that it was raining alpha particles, amongst chemicals. The alpha particles fell unseen and irradiated the entire population of Kattegat. However, weird things occurred, not bodies dropping like flies as to be expected due to radiation poisoning. But, bodies that can fly and spontaneously combust and produce energy beams.”

            “That was humans,” Alicia countered. “This is a plant.”

            “It isn’t safe to put a human in front of the Particle Wave Conductor.”

            Alicia paused, thinking of her new friends. “Even someone who can fly or shoot energy beams?”

            “Like the man who visited the front desk today?” Pagel suggested.

            Alicia froze for a second before looking down at the machine. She was uneasily checking the helium levels when she quietly answered, “Yes.”

            Pagel walked over to the machine. He patiently waited for Alicia to make eye contact. When she did, he said, “What you told the man was correct. We are not conducting experiments on humans at this time.”

            “However, I would like to conduct some,” He continued. “Off the books.”

            “I would need subjects, of course, people who can defy physics, do impossible things. That man…”

            Realizing this was as good a time as any, Alicia started, “Sir, I need to tell you something.”

            Pagel went quiet. He nodded, urging her to go on. “I need to,” Alicia said, “To come out to you-”

            Pagel laughed. “You don’t need to come out,” Pagel interrupted. “I know you’re bi.”

            “No, that’s not it,” Alicia replied snappily. “I have powers… like the man from the front desk.”

            Pagel’s face went slack. His mouth was open a while before words came out of it. “What? How? Why?” Pagel paused. “What can you do?”

            Alicia touched the Particle Wave Conductor. “Off,” She commanded.

            The machine responded by turning off. Alicia turned to Pagel and touched his tie. “Make it blue,” Alicia ordered.

            The tie complied, turning dark blue. Pagel was wide-eyed. “That’s amazing!”

            She smiled. "Yeah, and it's fun too."

            Pagel paced for a minute. He walked over to a metal counter, turning dramatically to face her. “I need a sample,” Pagel said, serious, but excited.

            “Of my DNA, I presume?”

            “Yes, maybe a skin sample and blood,” Pagel rambled, clearly lost in his thoughts. “But DNA would do for now.”

            “Cheek swab?” Alicia asked to clarify, moving to the stainless-steel counter.

            “That would do,” Pagel replied, opening a drawer and taking out a cotton swab.

            He handed it to her before pulling out a sample bag. Alicia rubbed the inside of her cheek. She placed the swab in the open bag Pagel held out. He sealed it shut and wrote on the bag, tagging it with name and date. “I’ll get this to the lab,” Pagel said. “At best, we can get the results tomorrow.”

            “Do you think something has happened to my genes?” Alicia asked.

            “I don’t know,” Pagel answered. “Hypothetically, anything your body does is expressed in your genes or a result of tumors, which expresses things from mutated genes.”

            “Radiation can cause tumors,” Alicia said.

            “Not instantaneously,” Pagel retorted. “Genes, on the other hand, can be flipped off and on like a switch. A dose of radiation could trigger a gene.”

            “And once a gene is on, RNA is coded, proteins produced, and so on,” Pagel continued. “Until the body has changed, usually minutely, to maintain homeostasis.”

            “Maybe, the powers are an attempt to maintain homeostasis,” Alicia responded. “That would mean they won’t last.”

            “Unless the need to return to homeostasis is still present,” Pagel finished.

            Alicia turned away, walking out of the lab. Pagel reluctantly followed her. In the wide Institute hallway had a wall of windows. Alicia pointed at the clouds. “The cause is still present, so the powers won’t go away anytime soon.”

            Pagel looked concerned like weights held down his shoulders. “That isn’t good. No judgment,” Pagel added, holding up a hand. “But not everybody will be able to control their powers, and some may use them for… personal gain.”

            “I know,” Alicia replied. “That’s why I need to tell you something else.”

            Pagel focused on her as she said, “I’ve met a couple of people who are like me. They want to get control over their powers and become a superhero team.”

            “Vigilantes?” Pagel clarified wryly.

            Alicia nodded, amused. “Yes, but I don’t think Paul knows the difference. Anyway, he plans on taking care of your proposed problem.”

            Pagel looked doubtful. Alicia wasn’t surprised that he was suspicious of a bunch of civilians trying to stop crime. He said, “Perhaps, it is fortunate that you have… both these channels of knowledge attainment. You can help both of them, be a middle man.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “You can tell me about your friends’ powers and how they progress, a discrete longitudinal study. While, we can analyze the scientific data you collected, and you can relay it to your friends.”

            “Why don’t you just meet them?”

            “Perhaps I could, in time,” Pagel answered. “I would like to find concrete evidence of… anything first.”

            Alicia accepted his response and changed topics. She wanted to get back on track, finding the origin of the powers. “Our first working theory is the homeostasis theory.”

            “Yes, sure,” Pagel responded dismissively. “Our first should be the most ridiculous. Developing powers in an attempt to maintain homeostasis in the body.”

            “Powers could be a way of releasing radiation that people have been exposed to,” Alicia explained.

            “What about people who haven’t developed powers?”

            “They’re ticking time bombs,” Alicia replied with a shrug. “They will either die of radiation sickness or they will suddenly gain powers.”

            “Alright, suppose this hypothesis is true,” Pagel said, crossing his arms with a smirk forming on his face. “How can we prove it?”

            “Test radiation levels as I use my powers. If the radiation in my body decreases as the radiation outside of my body increases as I use my powers, then it proves that powers release radiation from the body.”

            “Good,” Pagel said with a nod. “You’ll make a brilliant scientist yet. Unfortunately, we would have to sign out a Geiger counter.”

            Pagel checked his pocket watch. “And storage closed an hour ago.”

            Alicia waved it off. “That’s okay, sir, we can test it tomorrow. For now, I have a friend to call and a home to get to.”

            “Yes, you’re right,” Pagel said tiredly. “It’s past working hours. You may go, but tomorrow you must tell me about your friends and their powers.”

            Alicia turned to go. “Yes sir. Have a good day, sir.”

            “You too,” Pagel replied, heading back toward the lab.

            Alicia walked down the hallway, turning to the front desk where her bag was hidden in a drawer. Grabbing her bag, she left the building. Alicia pulled out her phone and dialed Kris’s number. “Hey, Kris?”

            “Okay,” Kris huffed. “This is getting ridiculous. Three times? You must be quite enamored.”

            Alicia walked to her car. “All my calls are business calls,” Alicia retorted. “If you think I’m calling you for fun, you have a high opinion of yourself.”

            “You know I’m teasing, right?” Kris said in a quiet voice.

            Alicia smiled, opening her door and sitting in the driver’s seat. “I’m teasing too. The new news is that the scientist I work for is interested in researching powers without telling the higher-ups. We’ve already been spit balling and came up with an idea.”

            “Is that a good thing?”

            “Yes,” Alicia said excitedly. “It means we can figure out some things about our powers like where they come from and if we can suddenly stop having them. Or if we can truly control them, but that’s where you come in.”

            “Ah, me and my ‘experiment’?”

            “Yes, it will be essential to solving the puzzle that is our powers.”

            “It makes the Saturday session more important. Do you think Theodore will be okay with this once he figures it out?”

            “I hope so,” Alicia answered. “His powers seem to be the dangerous sort.”

            “Yeah, I have a feeling a lot of ours will be,” Kris muttered.

+++++

          Rehearsals kept Tae late into the night. It was well past the appropriate time to be out and about unless you were heading to a bar. Tae walked home briskly with his head down. He had been hoping to get something to drink at a tea shop nearby, but the small place had closed hours ago. “I really should talk to Felicia about sticking to the schedule,” Tae muttered.

            Tae pulled up his hood as it started to rain. Tae spotted another person slowly walking towards him. She seemed happy while tipping her head up to feel the rain. She swung her bag as she walked her bouncy steps. Watching her, Tae noticed a person approaching her from behind. Tae tensed.

            The person sped up and snatched the woman’s bag. The person ran right past Tae, shouldering him out of the way, as the woman shouted, “Stop!”

            Tae pivoted and pursued him, pushing aside the fatigue from a long day. The person ran into an alleyway. They stopped and looked around. It was a dead end. Catching up, Tae cut off their only exit. “Hand over the bag,” He said calmly.

             The robber chuckled. “To you, shorty?”

            Tae raised a hand toward the sky, while slowly exhaling. Lightning shot out of his hand towards the sky, blending in perfectly with the rainstorm. Booming thunder came no less than a second later, driving the robber to duck and cover their head. “Let’s try that again,” Tae said, lowering his hand.

            They squeaked, cowering. The robber threw the bag at Tae and bolted by him. Tae placed the bag on his shoulder while pumping a fist in a subtle expression of triumph. He walked back to the main road to find the woman. She had moved closer since he last saw, standing by a pub a few storefronts away. “I got your bag back for you,” Tae said, politely handing her the bag.

            “Thank you,” The woman replied, beaming. “I can’t believe a total stranger would do that for me.”

            Rubbing the back of his neck, Tae simply commented, “How could I not? I know what’s it’s like to have a rough day. I’m glad I could help.”

            Tae smiled as the woman thanked him again. He waved goodbye and kept walking.