Powerless

By J.E. McKnight

Imagine living in a world where enhanced beings are the norm and those whose abilities are stolen, by means of a serum, are exiled to a designated island. Now
imagine you have become powerless but manage to escape exile.

This is what Blaze McPherson is faced with as a child – his ability having been stolen before it had ever been developed. As a growing number of citizens are
robbed of their abilities and sent to Institutional Island, Blaze feels he is the only one who is capable of taking down the people responsible. He creates an alter
ego to conceal his true identity to solve the mystery. And he must do this without getting killed or revealing his identity and being exiled – the necessary lying and
hiding become even more complicated when he gets involved with his childhood crush.

Can Blaze successfully save the people of Metro-Burg? How long can he keep his secret from his friends and family?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dream Write Publishing
• Release date: Apr 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781927510841

Book preview

Chapter One

University of Metro-Burg – April 1989

The faces of Thomas Chord’s fellow alumni, who returned to the school auditorium to follow him in his quest for a healthier Earth, stared up at him in wait of his inspirational words. He stood in front of them at his podium exactly as he had every Friday evening for the past month. His followers counted on his every word to guide them to success and a future safe for their children. The time was critical and their devotion to his cause depended solely on his speech.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It pleases me to see so many faces week after week. You will be pleased to hear our efforts have been successful. The more protests we have, the more awareness to our cause we deliver. Soon we will change the way people think about using energy. To that end, I have set up a demonstration at the Baker Street Warehouse. With our plan, it is believed we can reduce their energy levels by half. All we have to do is raise awareness in the general public so those who run the warehouse operations will be forced to change their ways! We will change our world!

Thomas’ audience stood and applauded his words. He always fed off their enthusiasm and loyalty. No matter what strengths he possessed or lack of energy he felt, he fed off them making him feel as if he could lift mountains. He waved at his followers and then turned and walked off stage.

As he entered the next room, Gary Kalvin and Jeremy Cage met him.

Great job, Thomas.

The two men extended their hands in appreciation and waited for the other man to leave.

Their mood sounds positive. Any chance they suspect our true intentions?

I do not believe this crowd to be smart enough to uncover any truths. But it is for safety sake that we never join the troops in the demonstrations, but delegate the responsibility onto someone more expendable and why our real names have never been disclosed. Jeremy grabbed a bottle of water from the table and took a long sip. Is everything set up for the warehouse demonstration?

Yes. Thomas will lead the party from the park to the warehouse. All the signs are nearly completed. I’ve arranged for everyone to meet Thomas in the park at 5:00 am on Monday morning. The group should arrive at the warehouse a good twenty minutes before it opens. The distraction they provide should be just enough to allow us to do what we need to do.

That’s great. With any luck we won’t need to fool around with this energy charade much longer.

Metro-Burg – October 20, 2008

Blaze McPherson flipped through the pages of the newest issue of his favourite comic book series. The hero on the cover wore orange and yellow leather tights and a magnificent cape flowing behind him as he exploded onto the scene from the Earth’s core. Blaze peered up from the brightly coloured pages to see if anyone had spotted him reading the book. The money in his pocket was given to him by his mom specifically for school lunch with just enough left over to buy some snacks at the convenience store. He knew his mom wouldn’t appreciate him wasting any more good money on comics and, if he did, he would starve when it came to lunch and he had no money for food.

The man behind the counter was too preoccupied serving the lineup of customers to pay any attention to one kid in the back of the store reading a comic book. All of his other friends seemed more interested in soda pop and salty snacks, but there was something fascinating within the glossy pages, which always drew him in.

Are you going to get something, Blaze, or are you just going to spend the whole time reading a kid’s book? We need to get to school soon. Jeff Fueller approached Blaze from behind and snapped the comic from his hands.

Hey! I was looking at that! Careful, I’m not sure I’m buying it.

Relax. I don’t get why you like these things anyway. What makes these guys any more special than a regular person? We all develop advanced abilities when we get older.

What makes them special is they actually develop more than one ability in some supernatural way, like Molten, here. He was born from the combined DNA of several men, and then forged a life in the Earth’s core. He uses all his abilities to defend the planet instead of just using his abilities to get by in a mundane job or make his life easier. He makes a difference. Blaze grabbed the issue from his friend and flipped through to the last page he had looked at.

Look at the ridiculous costumes they wear.

They’re actually not that far off from what we all wear.

I’d never be caught in anything like that.

Think about it, Jeff, we all wear tight fitting clothes to make using whatever ability we get easier. My mom is a flier and she wears a tight leather flight suit, and my dad, as a speeder, wears a bicycle suit to cut down on wind resistance. How is that different from this? He pointed at the costume his favourite hero wore.

For one thing, I don’t remember ever seeing your mom and dad in capes.

The artists just exaggerate our realities. That’s all these books are. Look out the window at all those fliers out there and tell me their long coats don’t look like capes in the wind.

The two fifth graders peered out the window and stared at the busy sky as fliers streaked across while some flew up and merged with the traffic and others broke free from the crowd and landed in the street below. Jeff thought how much Blaze was right in his theory about the capes but he would never admit it to his friend.

Jeff, have you ever thought about which ability you think you’ll develop? The two boys stepped away from the window and Blaze put the comic book away.

Of course. I’d like to develop enhanced strength. I think it would be cool to be able to lift anything at all. Nobody would pick on you, ever.

Not me. I want to fly.

Like your mom? Really? You couldn’t come up with anything more original than that?

When I was younger, she would strap on my helmet and take me up into the sky. It’s such an incredible feeling. I’d love to be able to do that for real. She hasn’t taken me up in a few years because I’ve gotten too heavy. My parents have even bought a car for family trips or outings. If I developed the ability of flight, we wouldn’t ever have to drive.

I still think you should aim a little higher. Come on, let’s go see if Dale is ready to go.

Is Dale okay? He doesn’t seem himself lately.

His dad went on one of his time traveling missions a few days ago and hasn’t been seen since. He’s afraid his dad won’t be coming home.

Oh, my God, I didn’t know.

Not many people do. If I were you, I wouldn’t mention it.

Dale Brule stared blankly at the soda fountain with a large empty cup gripped in his hand. It seemed that whenever his dad transported himself through Time, he would feel the energy drain from his body. He barely ate or slept and he would easily lose his temper. He missed his father and worried he would never return home but, more than that, he felt angry at his father for leaving in the first place and making him feel that way and forcing his mom to be strong for their only son. It isn’t fair what he’s doing to her.

Hey, Dale, are you all right? Having trouble making up your mind? Blaze glanced down at the empty cup hovering over the soda drain and then he looked back up at his friend.

I’m fine, Blaze. Just thinking is all. Dale pushed his cup against one of the triggers and watched the liquid fill the cup. Blaze, too, watched the action, wondering if his selection was a conscious one or not.

The sound of a bell, indicating a new customer entering the building, caught Blaze’s attention and he looked up to see three girls his age walk through the door. He smiled as he recognized the girls from school. He felt the urge to go up and speak to Rebecca Jonson, the young blonde girl scanning the chips, but she would have to wait. The brunette girl, Emily Cantyn, and the object of Dale’s affections, was the one who really caught Blaze’s attention.

Hey, Dale, look over… whoa! Dale, dude, I think that cup is full enough. Blaze looked back down at the cup and watched the soda spilling over the edge.

Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess so. He pulled the cup away from the machine and snapped on a plastic lid.

You all right, man? Jeff turned away from the candy counter with a freshly filled bag of bulk gummy worms.

I already said I am fine. Can we just go?

Are you sure you want to leave? Look over there.

Both Dale and Jeff looked where Blaze pointed. Dale smiled and then glanced down at his cup.

I can’t go over there. She wouldn’t want to talk to me. Everybody at school just thinks I’m some kind of geek.

That might be a good thing. If you’re a geek – she must be, too. Nobody raises their hands to answer the teachers’ questions as much as the two of you.

Maybe. But I can’t do it today.

Okay, no rush, dude. Let’s just pay for our stuff and get to school. Jeff held up his bag to punctuate his point and then turned toward the front of the store.

You go ahead. I’m going to get some blue fish. They’re Rebecca’s favourite. Blaze said heading away from his friends.

Why don’t you talk to her instead of secretly leaving gummies on her desk?

It’s all a part of my plan, Jeff.

Whatever, man.

Jeff and Dale stepped into the back of the line with their purchases, while Blaze carefully picked out the best looking blue fish from the bin. The bell above the door rang again, catching Blaze’s attention – this time it wasn’t a group of attractive girls entering the store but a large man in tight black leather with a large skull printed on the back and a balaclava covering his face. Blaze’s heart raced as he watched the man step in front of Jeff, raise his hand, and hold it out to the clerk. The tips of the man’s fingers glowed blue. An enhanced energy blast. Blaze ducked behind the counter and peered around the corner. His heart raced. He wished he could protect his friends and, most of all, Rebecca. However, with his abilities years from development, there was no chance he could do anything against an energy blast. He hated the helplessness he felt as he watched the clerk open the cash register. The only adult in the store and he obviously does not have a more powerful ability than the thief standing before him.

Jeff’s heart pounded. He pushed his sweaty hand against Dale’s chest, forcing him back from the situation. Just as Blaze had, Jeff noticed the clerk’s submission, but he could not allow a bully to force his way into a store of kids and endanger every one of them. He had to act quickly. If he waited too long the crook would escape with the money or some poor kid would get a blast of energy to the chest. If he acted too hastily, he or someone else might be needlessly killed. He shook the fear from his head, wound up, and swung his arm at the man’s ribs, planting a well-executed punch; sending the crook flying through the glass doors of the building.

Jeff and the rest of the witnesses in the store stared in amazement at the unconscious man sprawled out on the sidewalk. His hand twitched uncontrollably as blue sparks shot up randomly from his fingertips until the only thing rising from his hand were tendrils of smoke. The hero of the moment slowly turned his attention from the man he threw, with no effort, through a door to his seemingly below average hands. He dropped to his knees as the world around him spun and he could no longer hold up his own weight. The attention he received from a grateful store clerk and the other young witnesses came through to him as garbled noise. He squinted at the bright light and massaged his forehead.

Blaze stood and watched his friend sit, oblivious to the constant adoration he was receiving. The young boy clutching a bag of blue fish was well aware of his friend’s attention, especially from the one girl in school he liked. He dropped the bag and headed straight for the door, making sure not to look Rebecca in the eye. So focused on blocking out everything around him he couldn’t hear his crush calling out to him. He opened the broken door, careful of the glass that continued to fall. He stepped over the unconscious form and ran off to grab some fresh air in a more private setting. Some hero I turned out to be. I bet I’d be braver than Jeff, if I had his strength. I’d certainly handle it better than he is. How can he have his ability already?

Chapter Two

Monday April 1989 – 5:45 am

The pinks, purples, and oranges lined the horizon announcing the arrival of the morning sun. Jeremy and Gary’s protesters started arriving with Thomas ten minutes earlier. The morning crew would start pulling into the parking lot in the next few minutes when they would be harassed by dozens of volunteers in an attempt to keep the workers from doing their jobs and forcing the employers to reconsider their energy usage.

The protestors were already tired and restless by the time the first car attempted to pull into the parking lot. A horde of men and women carrying signs rushed the vehicle like hungry zombies attempting to feed on fresh flesh.

The sound of sirens filled the air long before the red and blue lights came up over the hill. The protestors backed away from the car, but lined up against the fence, prohibiting entry. The man from the car exited his vehicle and approached the crowd. What is the meaning of this? Who is in charge here?

Two police cars pulled up to the curb and two officers from each car exited. Sir, please get back in your car. We will take care of this from here.

One week later

Institutional Island Mainland Ferry Docks

A dusty van approached the security gate. The guard on duty watched the vehicle come to a stop just short of the mechanical arm prohibiting entry. The dirt-covered van was becoming a more familiar sight than the correctional services transport van that usually showed up with recently convicted criminals who would spend the rest of their lives on the island, away from the general population of the mainland cities and towns.

The guard knew the approaching van meant that, inside, there was a poor individual robbed of all his abilities. The laws of the civilized world indicated those without enhanced abilities would be banished to Institutional Island, where no being with abilities was allowed to step foot. The island was originally set up to house the prison, but since people began losing their abilities, houses and commercial facilities were set up for use by average citizens. Since the rise in population of the island, towns and cities grew more and more. The sight of the van was never a good one for the ferry guards.

The driver of the van rolled down his window as the guard approached the vehicle. How are you doing, Henry? Dr. Sam Germaine leaned against the window with the appropriate paperwork in hand.

I’d be a lot better if you didn’t bring me any more residents for the island, Doc.

You and me both, Henry. I remember when I would only come here once or twice a year. It seems now I have a couple drop offs every three or four months. Something needs to stop. The police believe it has something to do with a gang or organization, but nobody is taking responsibility for it.

Gang related? Have they found any ties to the victims and any local gangs?

No, Henry. Not yet, but the investigation continues. I think an organization is the most likely culprit. Anyway, I’m sure everyone is waiting on the other side to register this young man into the island population.

Okay, do you have his paperwork, Doc?

Yes. Here is his registration card and his medical forms disclosing my findings and the changes in his cells, indicating the irreversible depletion of his abilities.

Thanks, Doc. Now, if you’ll just get the back door, our escort will take him to the ferry. I’ll make sure his paperwork is updated. Henry peeked at the registration card. Teleportation? Fascinating ability. It’s a shame to lose such a useful one as that.

And if someone doesn’t put a stop to this soon, or prevent the serum from making it onto the streets, we’re going to see more and more of this kind of thing in the future. Dr. Germaine exited his van and went to the back to open the double doors to release his passenger into the guard’s custody. He climbed into the back of his van and reached for the passenger’s restraints. The man, in his late thirties, was not a danger to himself or those around him but the law required such restraints for transportation to protect those who would be transferring him from one place to the next until he finally ended up at his new home on the island. Dr. Sam Germaine followed his passenger out of the van where he passed him off to the guard at the gate. He watched, with a heavy heart, the man who had such promise in Metro-Burg – now, with his lack of abilities, he was no longer safe within society. Dr. Germaine did not know what the living conditions on the island were really like, as he was never permitted to enter. Though he was always curious to learn how those he delivered to the island would spend the rest of their lives, he knew it truly didn’t matter. Thrust from their old lives and into new ones where they would have to adjust and carve out new careers and a completely new existence without the abilities that may have helped them in previous years.

The dock stretched out before the man who was about to embrace his new life. In reality, the dock was not much more than fifty feet, but it may as well have been fifty miles for the new Institutional Island resident. He walked slowly, taking in the sights of fliers soaring with the birds and of the tall downtown skyscrapers lining the horizon, the sounds of speeders whooshing back and forth to the city. The scent of the ocean water greeted him the closer he got to the end of the dock. The smells brought him back to when he was a kid playing down at the beach with his parents or various girlfriends when he was a little older. It reminded him of the first time he met his wife. The memories going through his mind normally brought him happiness; on this day, it brought nothing but misery as he was forever saying goodbye to that world.

The ferry docked and Henry guided the man into the line of escorted prisoners awaiting their final ferry ride across the ocean to their new home on Institutional Island.

Metro-Burg Elementary School – October 2008

All right, class, can anybody tell me what Institutional Island is and why we have it? Mrs. Travers stared out at her classroom of fifth graders. Not a single sound escaped their young mouths but their minds more than made up for their quiet voices. The inane thoughts of twenty-five students thinking at once was almost too much for the mind reader. It was circumstances, such as these, that used to cause her terrible headaches and nosebleeds when she was younger and just learning to focus her ability. She panned the room, concentrating on one mind at a time, hoping to find one student who knew the answer to her question. She prayed she would dig up what she searched for amongst those she hoped were too shy to raise their hands. One by one, she came up empty, finding only secret crushes, plans for the weekend, or fantasy-full daydreams.

For the most part, Mrs. Travers did not hold onto much hope for the majority of the students. She knew they all knew the answer, but getting them to pay attention was a challenge all on its own. There were only two students she could normally count on who willingly participated in the discussion. Emily Cantyn was usually eager to give an answer, but she, too, was focusing her attentions on the other know-it-all student, Dale Brule. She knew Dale felt the same for Emily, as she’d seen it in his mind several times before but today he and Blaze McPherson were both focusing their minds on their resentment for their fellow classmate and owner of the empty desk between them.

Is there something you boys would like to share? She focused her attention in Blaze and Dale’s direction. Every eye in the classroom was now leering at the two boys. The inattentive ramblings that had filled the room earlier changed and now focused on one subject – the judgement and ridicule of Blaze and Dale.

No, Ma’am. Blaze sat back in his chair and placed his hands neatly on top of his desk.

No, Ma’am, Dale parroted.

Mrs. Travers smiled. She always found it interesting that her students always resorted to lies and obedience when called out on their inner thoughts. They all knew she could tell what their true thoughts were and they would never get away with false testimony.

Are you going to tell me what problem you are having with Jeff Fueller or am I going to have to read it from your minds?

He’s a jerk! At this point, Blaze was no longer shy about stating his true feelings. Why bother trying to hide from a mind reader? Maybe if I wore a lead balaclava all the time, she wouldn’t be able to read my mind.

What do you mean, he’s a jerk? I thought he was your friend.

He hasn’t acted like much of a friend lately. Not since everyone started calling him the prodigy.

Well, he kind of is a prodigy, guys. He’s the youngest person ever to develop enhanced abilities. And he seems to be using those abilities to help people.

I know. But it’s bad enough for him to develop enhanced strength – did he have to get cammo ability, as well?

I’m sure this attitude of his won’t last. He’s just getting used to his abilities and the fame that comes with being a prodigy. Stick by him and you’ll see the friend you used to know again. In the meantime, I think this would be a good opportunity to talk about some of the abilities all of you will grow up to develop as you mature. Mrs. Travers headed to the white board and made three columns. Can any of you tell me what the three categories of enhanced abilities are?

Emily was the first to raise her hand although she kept glancing over in Dale’s direction, hoping he would notice her and he’d be impressed by her brain. The teacher acknowledged the young lady, pleased to have the eagerness back in her top student.

The three categories are Physical, Mental, and Sensory. Of course, some of the abilities are arguably in the wrong category depending on whom you ask. And then there are those that can be labeled into more than one category.

Very good, Emily. Can anyone give me three examples of a physical ability?

Dale was the next to raise his hand. When the teacher called on him, he confidently and enthusiastically answered her. They are enhanced strength, flight, and enhanced speed. Some abilities such as heat vision have been attributed to being either physical or sensory but it could even be mental.

That’s very good, Dale. Mrs. Travers looked out into the rest of her class. Her two best students were answering all her questions; she needed answers from another student. She had to challenge their minds; not just feed the egos of her brightest. Amongst all the boys and girls keeping notes or, at least, pretending to, one boy looked as if he was staring off into space. Blaze! When you come back down to Earth, can you give me an example of some sensory abilities?

Uh, yeah, um, enhanced senses?

And examples of those are?

Um, well, there’s enhanced taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight.

Good. But what about the abilities that go beyond just heightened senses?

You mean like enhanced breath, x-ray vision, and heat vision?

Don’t be stupid, Blaze! A boy in the far back of the classroom Mrs. Travers never believed paid attention openly ridiculed Blaze.

Kyle! We do not use that word in this classroom.

I only meant Dale just finished saying these abilities weren’t fully classified in any one category.

Maybe not, Kyle. However, Blaze isn’t wrong, either. Whether our senses, or our physical bodies, or our minds control these abilities, the abilities are actually activated by our eyes, our mouths, and other parts of our bodies. That just leaves the mental. Anybody? Both Dale and Emily raised their hands. The teacher, however, was more interested in those who weren’t as eager.