*****
“Listen, Allyson. These dimension powers we have are pretty incredible, but they aren’t all that we are,” Alternate Allyson was saying. “We each have a different set of skills and powers that aren’t based on dimensional energies, and we need to develop them, too.”
“I know, I know! But it is so cool to be able to travel wherever I want, whenever I want!” exclaimed Allyson, still giddy from the experiences of yesterday. Learning she could harness the energies between dimensions, dimension-skipping to Ireland, meeting heroes she’s only seen on TV and an actual Leprechaun! Even getting blown into the water when the crock of gold exploded was an amazing experience!
“Yes, that is fun. And very handy,” agreed Alternate-Allyson. “And you’ll get to do that a lot. Like today. You’re due at BADGE HQ in an hour to get equipped and trained in your powers, so just calm down and get ready.”
Allyson and Alternate-Allyson were currently floating in grey-space, a sort of interdimensional conference room that Allyson could generate to host other dimensional versions of herself and hold discussions or meetings. Alternate Allyson, the first alternate Allyson that spoke to her, was the only version she was currently familiar enough with to host in her grey-space.
It was funny, but calling her Allyson wasn’t confusing at all, and meeting a few of the others through Alt-Allyson was fascinating. They were all called Allyson, or Ally, or Alex, or Allen...yes, there were male version of her out there, too. But no matter what they were called, their names carried all the information about which dimension they belong to, so there was never any confusion. It probably had to do with the fact that since their communication was all mental, their sense of self was easily conveyed.
“Okay, let me get cleaned up and I’ll skip on over there....”
________________________________________
Appearing outside the main entrance to BADGE HQ in New Amsterdam, Allyson looked up at the imposing glass and steel structure.
“Okay, here we go....”
Pushing open the doors, she approached the reception desk, smiling at the young man behind the desk.
“Hi! I’m supposed to report for evaluation and training today,” she said nervously to Chet, according to his name tag.
Chet smiled and said, “Of course, please fill out these forms and bring them back to me and someone will be with you shortly.” He handed her a cracked and beaten clipboard with a daunting number of forms, all in fine print. And a pen, of course. A very plain, very ordinary, and very cheap black pen.
Chet saw her look at the pen and clipboard and then look at the surrounding lobby. The lobby was very modern with glass front, shiny steel girders, impressive sculptures, and high definition monitors everywhere. He knew what she was thinking and took some pity on the newbie.
“When we first opened and started working with heroes, we used computer tablets to do all our in-processing. However, the tablets kept getting broken by new heroes who didn’t know their own strength or melted because they couldn’t control their powers. Our administration budget just couldn’t handle the cost. So we went old school. They only thing that happens now is that people keep taking the pens.”
“Oh. Umm...thanks!” Allyson replied, embarrassed. She quietly went and sat in one of the lobby chairs to fill out her paperwork.
________________________________________
Dressed in an uncomfortably tight-fitting spandex suit festooned with sensors from head to toe, Allyson waited patiently for someone to tell her what to do. She was standing in the Evaluation room, where BADGE scientists analyze your powers so that BADGE has accurate knowledge about what you can and can’t do. It also allows them to design equipment and training regimens to help control and increase your powers. Or suppress the powers, if deemed necessary.
The Evaluation room was a large black walled room with various items scattered throughout. In the corner was a bench press machine used to measure strength. Next to that was a treadmill used to measure a hero’s foot speed. There was an area filled with objects of different shapes and sizes, from golf balls to 6’x6’ cubes. The equipment in this room could detect and evaluate a variety of different powers.
“OK, Crossroads, we’ve evaluated your dimensional powers,” said a voice from the speakers. Dr. Valers was the scientist in charge of her evaluation today and was observing everything from the control booth. “With training you’ll be able to do more than just travel by intra-dimensional transference, or ‘dimensional-skipping,’ as you call it. We will be happy to help you hone your abilities. From what we have recorded, you should be able to harness the interdimensional energies to perform a variety of tasks.”
“However, our sensors indicate that you have several powers that have become active through morphon exposure. We’ll want to get those evaluated, also, so you know how to use them and what to expect. This will also help you to identify other powers you may develop. Let’s begin.”
A pedestal with a glass orb rose out of the floor about 15 feet in front of her. “Please stay where you are. this is a target that will read and analyze the energies you will be directing at at.”
“Energies...?”
“Yes. Now close your eyes and picture the dimensional barrier you described to us. Can you see it?”
Allyson nodded and said, “Yes.”
“Good, now this maybe a little tricky, but if you can block out the visual input dimensional wall, you should be able to see other energies in that space. The sheer power of the dimensional energy blots out other energies so you can’t see them.”
Furrowing her brow, Allyson struggled to turn off image of the dimensional wall, but not the space where she sees it. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she was able to imagine the wall had a dimmer switch and was able to reduce the intensity of the wall. She began to see and sense other energies surrounding her in that space. She reached out to touch those energies and it felt different than the wild, chaotic energies of the barrier. It was strangely comforting feeling.
“Good, Crossroads,“ said Dr. Valers. Allyson opened her eyes and could see her reflected image in the wall in front of her. She was surrounded by a swirling, purple aura which didn’t even startle her. It felt right.
“Now focus all that energy into your hand and throw it at the orb.”
Allyson did as she was instructed, finding it easier than she thought. Her hand was enveloped in a bright purple glow and she thrust it towards the orb, awkwardly. Purple energy streamed from her hand, striking the base of the pedestal at the floor and fizzling out.
“Again, Crossroads,” Dr. Valers urged.
After what seemed like an eternity, Allyson was able to access this energy and accurately hit, not only the sensor, but a variety of targets both stationary and moving. Analysis indicated that the energy was classified as “mystical” energy, named that because they really don’t know where this energy comes from, but so called “magic users” like Krystal Fae or Aida have said they use the same energy to perform a variety of spells. Crossroads ability to use this energy did not mean she was a magic user, only that she can access whatever energies exist in the space between dimensions.
By this time, Allyson was drenched in sweat and felt absolutely drained. She wanted nothing more than to take a nap.
“Very good. With a little more practice it will be automatic. Let’s move on, “said Allyson’s personal taskmaster.
Allyson took a deep breath, hid her groan of frustration, and nodded briskly, as if she was eager to do more.
“Now we’ll test your defenses. The might of your mystic attack will mean nothing if you can’t take a hit. Glass cannons don’t last very long,” Dr. Valers stated. You have the ability to see the spaces between dimensions, which should mean that you can see into other dimensions. With the ability to see into higher dimensions, you can anticipate what your opponent will do before they do it by seeing its effect in those dimensions and reacting accordingly.”
What followed was a grueling session of meditation to be able to train her to see these higher dimensions, followed by learning to recognize what actions in our dimension had an effect in those dimensions and how to react to it. The meditation wasn’t bad, but seeing what actions had an effect in the higher dimensions entailed Allyson being attacked by robots, energy weapons, baseballs, etc. Learning to dodge those attacks was easy after the first hundred or so hits.
Allyson dragged herself to her feet using the chair next to her. It looked like a rickety old chair, but it sure felt sturdy when it hit her. Wiping the sweat from her face with the provided towel, she looked around at the room. It was now littered with balls, bats, knives, throwing stars, tables, chairs, car parts... scorch marks were everywhere from the energy blasts. Everything she saw was the result of what they had thrown at her to teach her to utilize what she saw in the higher dimensions and translate it into defensive actions. They called it her Nth Dimensional Senses and would be critical to her survival.
“Dr. Valers? Is it time for lunch, yet?” Allyson asked exhaustedly, ready for a break.
“Lunch? It’s past dinner time, Crossroads. Didn’t they tell you this would be an all-day event with no breaks? We need to not only measure your power levels, but your stamina and power levels over time.”
“Oh. No they didn’t,” Allyson ground out in frustration.
“I do apologize. I assume with the entire hullabaloo over what happened in Ireland, they simply forgot to mention it,” Dr. Valers said in a placating tone.
“Oh, believe me, I understand. But perhaps, since this is a standard event for new heroes,you could, perhaps, put that in the written material you hand out to those invited to be evaluated?” Allyson said heatedly.
“Yes, outstanding idea! We’ll do that!” said Dr. Valers enthusiastically. “Now, for the final set of tests. We’ll be testing your movement abilities. Aside from your intra-dimensional transfer ability, of course.”
“Oh, of course,” Allyson sarcastically replied, which the good doctor completely missed.
“Our data on you indicates that you should be able to fly, or at least levitate or hover in mid-air, “ said Dr. Valers.
“Excuse me? How does your data tell you something I have never done? I mean, the Nth Dimensioal Senses are extrapolation of my dimensional powers and the Mystic Might is just me accessing other energies that exist in the interdimensional spaces, but flying? Am I growing wings or something?” Allyson tried to look behind her at her back.
“No, of course you’re not growing wings,” Dr. Vlaers scoffed. Then he paused looking at the data readouts. “At least, not yet....”
“What?!” exclaimed Allyson
“No, what I mean is that your energy emittance profile seems to include some sort of anti-graviton particle emission, you should be able to harness that to levitate, as if you were as light as air,” said Dr. Valers. With training you may be able to actually fly through the air at high speeds, but that depends on how much of the particles you end up being able to output.”
Allyson stood still for a moment and closed her eyes. Utilizing the meditation and concentration techniques they already taught her to harness her Nth Dimensional Senses, she began to concentrate on rising into the air. She blocked out everything. The sounds of the equipment in the room, Dr. Valer’s voice droning on, the sound of the ventilation system – they all fell away and disappeared from her thoughts. All that Allyson thought about was being as light as air, of floating and reaching the ceiling.
Feeling no change after several minutes of concentration that left her sweating, she opened her eyes and looked at Dr. Valer’s in the control booth. “What am I doing wrong? How do I access these graviton particles?”
Dr. Valer smiled and looked directly at Allyson, “They are called ‘anti-graviton’ particles and you access exactly like you are right now.”
Allyson blinked in confusion at Dr. Valer’s words. “What do you mean? I haven’t done anything yet! I’m still stuck on the ground like my feet are nailed here.” As she said this, Allyson looked at her feet. That’s when she realized she wasn’t on the ground anymore. She was actually about 40 feet in the air, directly across to the control booth within touching distance of the ceiling.
She inhaled sharply and wobbled a bit, but stabilized quickly. Trying to move, Allyson turned awkwardly in the air, unsure of how to maneuver, but getting better by the minute. She wasn’t able to fly, yet. It was more like swimming than flying, and swimming badly at that. But it was something she never imagined before and it was exhilarating!
Practicing levitating, landing, and moving in air for the next hour, Allyson didn’t realize how late it was until Dr. Valer finally broke through to her.
“You have made excellent progress for your first day, Crossroads. How about I treat you to a late dinner in the HQ Commissary?”
Dropping to the floor, Allyson realized she was exhausted, and completely ravenous. “Oh, yes! That would be great, I’m starving!”
“Of course you are! Expending the amount of energy in learning and controlling your powers you did burned an incredible amount of calories. You can do something like that and not be hungry. Although sometimes you won’t feel hungry after exertion like that, you need to force yourself to eat before your body starts to consume itself to feed your powers. Why don’t you head towards the locker rooms and get changed and we’ll meet up in my office just down the hall?”
“Thank you, Doctor! I’ll see you in a few minutes!” Allyson exited the Evaluation Room feeling like she might just be able to be a hero and help someone.
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