The next day, they undertook the written assessment, all semblance of their previous action-packed activities drained by the text scrolling up their screens, accompanied by a series of mouse clicks and tapping keyboards. The written assessment was divided into four sections. In the first section, ethical scenarios, Ella was presented with a situation where she witnessed a criminal stealing a priceless artifact from a museum.
‘… No civilians were harmed during the robbery, but apprehending the criminal could cause collateral damage and potential injury to innocent bystanders. How would you approach this situation?’
Her solution came easily. Identify the criminal as thoroughly as possible while tailing him until he reaches a secluded location. Thereupon, all hell breaks loose. A notable section she disliked was the open-ended essay, which asked her to elaborate on the challenges she expected to face as a superhero. How she planned to overcome these challenges and maintain her commitment to upholding justice and protecting the innocent. It all seemed to contradict her purpose of finding Killer Cell and evoking in him a small sense of what she felt at the Radiant Tower. Apart from her sole driving goal, did she have the determination and commitment to be a hero? That was a question she couldn’t answer truthfully at the moment.
A day later, Synapse stood before them by the entrance of the holohabitat, her silent ape robot looming behind her, while a contingent of agents flanked her sides.
“The agenda for today is power mastery,” Synapse declared, her voice devoid of any unnecessary flourish. “This parameter is divided into two sections: power demonstration and power application. Your objective is to simply illustrate a foundational understanding of your abilities. Avoid gratuitous displays of power. Control is paramount. Upon entry into the enclosure, proceed to your designated section. Please note, the questionnaire you submitted yesterday, coupled with the data collected during the obstacle course, has informed the tailored parameters for each unique ability.” A subtle twitch of her lips, barely registering as a smile, momentarily softened her austere features. “Regardless of the outcomes, every individual present has my respect.”
As they poured into the holohabitat like water, she took in the changed environment. The tall spires looming in the distance with giant nets draped over them only two days prior were gone, replaced by a massive training area that stretched as far as she could see. Holographic walls, displaying each participant’s name, sectioned off the floor into smaller, personal test areas. She followed the wave of superhumans down the narrow pathway in the middle as some peeled off to enter their test areas.
Her test area was further down, and from what she gathered, it was on the larger side. A familiar face greeted her as she walked around the translucent holographic fence to the narrow opening into the space. As soon as she passed the boundary, the fence closed behind her.
Ivarsson offered a handshake. “Soon you’ll be the one giving the orders here.”
She giggled, taking the agent’s hand. “That’s fine by me. It’s about time someone beautiful takes the helm.”
“Careful now.” Ivarsson arched an eyebrow, lips curling upward. “I’m still in charge.”
Then the agent stood aside to let her take in the entire test area. The blue holographic walls had risen considerably, now touching the ceiling of the enclosure. L-shaped, her enclosure spotted weighted balls of various sizes attached to chains and a bird cage holding a cockatoo with its distinct pure white feathers on the shorter end. On the longer side, there was a clear patch of land ending in a small pool.
Once she was acquainted with her environment, Ivarsson guided her through the power demonstration. First, she lifted the heaviest weighted ball composed of steel above her head to demonstrate her strength. It made little sense to her, seeing what she had already accomplished during the strength test.
Afterward, Ivarsson mentioned random animals and she would transform into that animal. In keeping with her assigned domain, she had no difficulty assuming any animal called upon, be it ostriches, antelopes, capybaras, hedgehogs, and even ridiculous transformations like dragonflies and various ant species. She truly had it all. Even oysters, which unnerved her because of their lack of a brain. Therefore, she had to depend exclusively on her nervous system to accomplish anything, lacking the senses of sight and smell. How she even managed to change back escaped her understanding.
Never again, she shuddered.
“Hmm.” Ivarsson tapped into her tablet after an hour of extensive transformations. “How are you feeling, Ms. Nkanga?”
She shrugged. “Fine, I guess.”
“So no signs of exhaustion, power degradation…” Ivarsson muttered, clearly typing a report, before looking up with an impressed nod. “I must say, Ella. You continue to exceed my expectations. You have an extensive array of powerful abilities at no cost. I have not seen one drawback since I have examined you. Do you understand how ridiculously rare that is? It’s almost like you were allowed to dictate what exact powers you wanted.”
She gulped, a faint smile spreading across her lips. If only Ivarsson knew.
Ivarsson went to get the bird cage and then held the metal enclosure by the handle attached to its top. “Now, you will demonstrate your understanding of animal language.”
She rested her hands on her hips, slightly annoyed now that she gazed at the bird with rapt attention. “Okay, how would you even know if I am bullshitting or telling the truth? Also, whose idea was it to stick the bird in that cage? It’s clearly too small for the bird. Can’t you read its body language?”
“Hm. Good points all across the board.” Ivarsson glanced down at the sad bird. “It’s been in the cage for hours. I can see why its mood would be sour.”
“Release it please,” she requested, and Ivarsson obliged.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
After Ivarsson unlocked the gate, the cockatoo waddled across the floor in a flamboyant gait toward her while stretching its wings.
She crouched to meet the bird. “What’s your name, little guy?”
The bird froze, its beady eyes reassessing her in a new light. “Repeat what you just said. I thought I heard you speaking my language for a second there.”
“Yeah, I did. So what’s your name?”
“So it’s true?” The cockatoo gazed upon her with reverie, the long feathered crest atop its head rising. “It is really true. Unbelievable.” Then the bird bowed its head. “You can call me Theo. My previous owner gave me that name and I intend to carry it till death.”
“Theo, what a lovely name. Mine is Ella. So what exactly were you talking about? What is true?”
“Ah, you truly are unaware.” The cockatoo smiled, a slight change in his expression she could only catch because of her powers. “Then allow Theo to bestow this vital knowledge upon you. Months ago, rumors spread like wind-borne pollen of a messiah descending to Earth to liberate the animals. I was quite social then, so I heard the news from birds that came across the river. They spoke of a featherless one, powerful beyond measure, with our language upon her tongue.” Theo hopped with excitement. “Is it you? No, forgive my doubtfulness. I know it is. You resemble the featherless one foretold, and I can sense the golden warmth you emanate.”
She stood upright, directing a sidelong glance at Ivarsson, who rapidly tapped at her tablet. Then her mind pondered about what the cockatoo had stated. If a rumor spread about her from Jersey to wherever this base was located, then it had to originate from her strongest point of contact with the animals—Chatterbox and Fluffernut. She would have a talk with them when she next saw the bluejays.
As for the prophecy about her liberating the animals, what did that even entail? Freeing animals from zoos and amusement parks to take them where exactly? The only plausible thing she could do was to find a sanctuary for any animal whose habitat was encroached on by humans. But that was in the distant future when she had climbed out of the financial hole she dug for herself. Plus, she had other pressing matters to attend to, like finding Killer Cell.
Afterward, she applied her power, performing outstandingly in any real-world scenario Ivarsson introduced. However, she did so, detached from reality, her mind in turmoil about what her place in this world was. She was the goddess of animals and the hunt. But besides the title and the accompanying powers, what truly defined her as a goddess? As far as she was concerned, so far she had been a goddess in name only. Nevertheless, at the end of her power mastery assessment, she deemed that revelation satisfactory for now. She would find her place, eventually.
As their small group, consisting of Bohdan, Sasha, Kylara, Jamal, and Ella, embarked on their usual return journey back to Hermosville through the portal, Sasha came up with an idea.
“Why don’t we go out tonight and celebrate? We need to let off some steam from this daily monotony?”
“Celebrate what,” Bohdan said. “Like my old folks used to say, never count your chickens before they hatch. You should know that, Sasha. Have you forgotten flunking the physical aptitude so soon?”
Jamal and Kylara laughed.
“Ah come on!” Sasha whined. “I got over half the marks. You should see my physics grades from high school. That’s what you call flunking. Come on Ella. Back me up here. And Kylara, why are you laughing? You were failing just as much as me.”
“I’m on your side, Sasha,” Ella said, smiling. “Bohdan’s just a big bully. We girls have got to stick together. I think we should go to an Indian restaurant. I’m dying for some fried rice.”
“Oh.” Kylara’s ears perked up at the mention of food.
Everyone agreed with her suggestion, so they took a train to Southside Haven. They then walked a path she was all too familiar with from her childhood, whispers of nostalgia gracing her skin. She hoped that the restaurant—where she used to take Jalen many years ago—was still there at the end of the street.
When they reached their destination, a warm and inviting facade adorned with intricate wooden carvings and a colorful awning above the entrance, she gazed up at the once bright wooden signage, now weathered from time, which read Spice Haven.
The door struck a bell as they entered the empty restaurant. Still, everything looked as she remembered, only appearing smaller than imagined. Spicy aromas enticed them, drawing them deeper into the restaurant.
“Nice.” Bohdan wrapped a heavy arm around her shoulder. “From the scent alone, I can tell that you recommended a good place.”
She blushed.
Just then, a middle-aged woman, brown-skinned with jet-black hair, came in from the kitchen, while cleaning her hand with a towel.
The woman smiled, beckoning to a large table that could seat all five of them. Then the woman squinted as they crossed eyes. “Ella? Is that you?”
She nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Patel.”
They both drew near each other and embraced in a tight hug.
“How long’s it been?” the woman asked when they at last separated.
“About fifteen years, give or take. So how has business been, Mrs. Patel? I don’t see Papa or Ayesha around.”
The woman waved a displeased hand. “Call me Priya, please. You are a grown woman now. I banished my husband to the hospital, seeing as he would rather die working than get his foot fixed. Ayesha went off to college in Queens two years ago. Anyway, enough talk about me. You and your friends came here to eat. What can I get for you? The usual?”
“Yes, please.”
Then Priya flipped a notepad open and took their orders before returning to the kitchen, only to come out minutes later with a tray of appetizers.
“Samosas, paneer tikka, and vegetable pakoras,” Priya said, dropping the hefty bowls of appetizers on their table. “All on the house, so feel free to eat to your heart’s content.”
“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” she said.
“Nonsense. You either eat it now or it goes to waste at the end of the day, anyway. The rampant killings in the city have forced people indoors this past week, so business has been slow.”
“Rampant killings.” Jamal parroted.
“Yes. People are disappearing everywhere. Earlier today, my daughter sent me a video circulating on the internet. Wouldn’t recommend watching it. It was the most gruesome and vile thing I had ever seen.” Priya shuddered in disgust. “Sorry, I’ll leave you to eat now.”
As she left, Jamal fired up his phone.
“You are looking for the video?” Ella inquired.
“I have to know what is happening,” he said.
They fell silent, Bohdan and Kylara locked in an eating contest. At first, the big guy shot into the lead, consuming many samosas at once. But as soon as Kylara savored how delicious the snacks were, she trounced Bohdan, even going as far as to levitate the snacks in a long line, all destined to her mouth.
“Jesus!” Sasha noted. “Girl, you eat like a starved bear coming out of hibernation. Save some for the rest of us!”
“Found it.”
They turned to Jamal, who blanched from something on his phone. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ.” Then Jamal looked up at her. “Seems your brother was dead on.”