Terrance and Tessa stepped through the threshold of Dr. Hart's laboratory after being let in by some functionary, their eyes taking in the sleek, white walls adorned with glowing monitors displaying a complex array of data. The space was filled with what appeared to be futuristic scientific equipment and racks of servers, humming softly as they worked tirelessly to analyze something..

"Ah, Terrance, Tessa! Welcome!" Dr. Elizabeth Hart called out, her short, curly red hair bouncing as she hurried over to greet them. Her glasses perched on the edge of her nose, her brown eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm so glad you could come. I've been looking forward to meeting you both in person."

"Thanks for having us, Dr. Hart," Terrance said, offering a shy smile. His hazel eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail with an analytical curiosity. He felt his heart rate increase as he considered the possibilities that lay before him in this room.

"Please, call me Elizabeth," she insisted, waving them further into the lab. "I've been tracking down your story, Tessa, and reading up about the Council of Terrance ever since you called yesterday, and your powers are fascinating. I haven't got to study but one telepath, and their power was very limited. So, you're not alone, but each one power seems to be a least slightly unique, and I can't wait to learn more about yours and help you control it better. I know nothing about you Terrance, but with such a late power awakening, things should be interesting, so I want to help you, too."

Tessa grinned, her own hazel eyes lighting up at the mention of their powers. "We're just as curious as you are, Elizabeth. It's been a wild ride so far, but we're eager to get a better handle on what we can do."

"Absolutely," Terrance chimed in, his hands fidgeting in his pockets, squeezing his tiny plushie as he pondered the potential consequences of his newfound abilities. "I don't want to turn anything into a crystal or something by accident."

"Understandable!" Dr. Hart said with a chuckle. "But I have a feeling there's more to your power than just crystal transformation, Terrance. And with my guidance, we'll uncover the true potential of both of your abilities."

Terrance nodded, his mind already racing with questions and concerns. But as Tessa reached over and gently squeezed his arm, offering silent support and understanding, he found himself grounded by her presence.

"Then let's get started," Tessa said, her voice filled with determination. "We've got a lot to learn, and no time to waste."

"Indeed we do," Dr. Hart agreed, leading them further into the endless mysteries of her laboratory, eager to explore the untapped potential of their extraordinary powers.

Dr. Hart gestured toward a large, circular table surrounded by high-tech equipment and monitors displaying complex data. The sleek, modern space hummed with energy as they settled into their seats.

"Let's begin by discussing the nature of powers in general," Dr. Hart said, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "As you may already know, superhuman abilities can manifest in a multitude of ways on Earth-256, even more so than on Earth-255. However, your powers, Terrance's mystery ability and Tessa's psychic abilities, are particularly fascinating."

Terrance's gaze sharpened, his analytical mind hungry for information. He leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, fingers intertwined. "So, there's more to my power than just... turning things into crystal?"

"Absolutely," Dr. Hart replied, her voice filled with conviction. "My guess is that your power is at least some kind that, when properly controlled, could allow you to alter the properties of matter itself. Crystal transformation is only one aspect of it."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Terrance blinked, the magnitude of her words slowly sinking in. His thoughts raced, contemplating the implications of such a powerful ability. He glanced over at Tessa, who offered him a reassuring smile.

"Of course, each power is unique," Dr. Hart continued, her gaze shifting between Terrance and Tessa. "While your powers share some similarities with some I have studied, they also have distinct differences. Terrance, your power involves direct manipulation of the physical world, while Tessa's psychic abilities primarily deal with the realm of thoughts and emotions. I have some data sets to work with those, and I plan to start figuring out the limits of your abilities."

"Right," Tessa chimed in, her hazel eyes reflecting her determination. "And we both want to learn how to control our powers better, so we don't accidentally hurt anyone or cause any more... incidents."

Terrance winced at the memory, feeling a pang of guilt. He had to admit, the idea of gaining mastery over his newfound abilities was both thrilling and terrifying. He reached up to rub his temples, trying to alleviate some of the tension that had built up.

"Which is why we're here," Dr. Hart said softly, her gaze warm and understanding. "Together, we'll explore the intricacies of your powers and help you develop the skill set necessary to wield them responsibly."

"Thank you," Terrance murmured, his voice barely audible. But he knew it was more than just gratitude that filled him; it was hope, a glimmering, fragile thing that flickered in his chest like a candle flame. And with each word Dr. Hart spoke, the flame grew steadier, stronger.

The sleek, modern laboratory was a testament to Dr. Hart's dedication and expertise in her field. Terrance was pretty sure none of this equipment had existed on Earth prior to the connection to the multiverse. Terrance couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement as he took in his surroundings, knowing that this place held the key to unlocking the mysteries of his newfound abilities.

Tessa sat by Terrance, her hand gently resting on his arm, offering silent support and encouragement. He felt the warmth of her touch through the fabric of his shirt, grounding him amidst the whirlwind of emotions and information that threatened to sweep him away.

"Alright," Dr. Hart said, clapping her hands together with enthusiasm. "Let's dive right in, shall we?" She guided Terrance towards one machine in the lab, its array of sensors and readouts seeming to wink at him. "Terrance, the first thing we need to do is understand the nature of your powers. Focus, intention, and understanding the consequences of your actions are all crucial aspects of controlling any ability."

"Sounds like a therapy session," Tessa quipped with a grin, squeezing Terrance's arm gently. He couldn't help but smile back, appreciating her knack for lightening the mood.

"Indeed," Dr. Hart chuckled. "But let's focus on the task at hand. I've outlined some tests for you to try to figure out the extent of your power while I monitor your energy output and other relevant data. We'll start with something simple, like turning a small object into a different material, and then probably escalate the complexity of your manipulations. We'll take you to the test chamber for that. This machine is just going to do an initial scan of you."

Terrance nodded, doing his best to absorb the instructions and push aside any lingering doubts or fears. The machine let out a beep and then Terrance was guided towards another part of the lab. Dr. Hart took Terrance over to a door and opened it for him. He walked in and the door shut behind him with a pneumatic whoosh. He centered himself and walked over to the table in the room. As he stared at it, a little door hinged open and a platform raised a small rubber ball up.

"Okay, I'm ready," he said, taking a deep breath and focusing his gaze on the small rubber ball Dr. Hart had placed before him.

"Think about what this ball is made of. It is currently rubber. What does it feel like it could be?" Dr. Harts’ voice asked through a speaker.

Terrance tried to think about that, and all he could think of was the crystal he had made before.

He felt a tingling sensation in his fingers as he concentrated, willing the ball to transform into something else.

"Remember," Dr. Hart reminded him, her voice soothing, "focus and intention are key. Visualize what you want to happen and trust that your power will respond."

Terrance nodded, his brow furrowed with concentration. He closed his eyes, picturing the rubber ball morphing into a different material, something like the crystal he created before.

"Good," Dr. Hart encouraged, observing the monitors intently. "Now, do you feel anything? Try to push that thought at the ball."

Terrance followed the directions and felt the tingle in his fingers dissipate. The ball looked like it was now part rubber and part crystal.

"That was good for a first test. I'm going to run a quick analysis on this to see what you did to it. That may point to the direction of the next test," Dr. Hart's voice said.