Chapter 19: Chapter 19

As Theodore staggered to a stance still bearing the ringing tone that blared in his ears and squinting his eyes amidst the dusts that settled. He wondered how everything had happened so swift and disastrous.

He could start with The Trainer's sharp reflexes or Collins outrageous actions.

"Collins I swear you're the most idiotic person I've  ever met!" He yelled to no one in particular before coughing. His eyes inadvertently fell on Michael who wobbled amidst the dusts.

"You almost killed us!" Michael added whilst dusting off the dusts on his clothes. Collins suddenly coughed. There he was, laying flat on the sandy ground, wriggling in pain.

Theodore frowned instantly. If he hadn't been drained so badly, he would have smacked the teleporter back to the ground.

"Isn't that what The Trainer said? That we should go all out!" Collins defended as he arose. Brushing off his dusts that glued to his sweatshirt.

"By launching a bazooka towards everyone?!" Theodore ferociously spat out.

"Actually," The Trainer appeared behind his back with Lola hanging by his shoulders still dazed. "That was a MI-15 minimized Sonic blast encoded bazooka."

"Wait, how are you even alive?" Theodore quizzically sputtered. He remembered correctly, Collins aimed this Sonic blaster at The Trainer. But surprisingly he looked unfazed likewise Ariel. Who simply wore her headset back.

"Simply dodged." The Trainer smirked while Theodore frowned. How can someone just dodge a bazooka?!

"And fucking threw a grenade at me." Collins yelled against The Trainer's voice.

"Unlike you, I didn't plan on hurting anyone." The Trainer retorted.

"Well you asked us to go all out." Collins defended.

"Not damage anyone. You almost killed Lola." The Trainer pressured.

"Hello! He almost killed everyone." Marcus waved as he toned sarcastically. His body donned in a blissful shade of dust. "I knew this warmup thingy was a bad idea in the first place."

Theodore sighed as he stared in Lola's direction. Partly conscious. It vexed him she had to suffer for Collins mistake.

"Where the hell did you even get a Bazooka from?"

"No other place than Rivernea military quarters and I'm certain he stole it." The Trainer replied with disapproving looks while he handled Lola carefully.

"Technically," Collins wittily pointed out. "I borrowed the weapon." He gestured with both fingers. But it only angered Theodore more.

"So you teleported all the way to Rivernea just to blast all of us into the dusts." He growled.

"That's so cool!" Michael chirped.

"You better shut up, idiot." He threatened in an icy tone. "That was reckless and stupid of you, Collins!"

"That's your say. In my own defence, That blaster isn't capable of killing anyone." Collins smirked. Theodore heaved another sigh knowing it was pointless engaging in another argument.

Doctor Roberts suddenly arrived alongside Rita with his self driving car. The Doctor's bright countenance easily morphed into surprise awe.

"Let me guess," the Doctor stated once he approached them. "The Trainer asked you guys for a warmup but totally whooped your asses."

"That's not all!" Marcus blared. "Collins here launched a MI- shit bazooka at us. Look what it did to Lola."

"He's a wild goat if you ask me." Theodore remarked as he studied the orbital hole that dug amidst them.

"The Trainer asked us to go all out!" Collins briskly defended at Doctor Roberts glare.

"You know you could have simply used other weapons rather than stealing from Rivernea's military quarters." Doctor Roberts avowed.

"Technically, I borrowed it." Collins smugly protested. "And how are you so certain it was from Rivernea?!"

"That's because I built it and please stop visiting that continent!. Let's not dig into the fact about their current status." Doctor Roberts replied before facing The Trainer. "How's she?"

"Partly conscious." Theodore noticed the heavy concern that protruded with The Trainer's voice. At the same time, he wondered what attracted Lola to a man so icy looking.

"Alright, Rita please take care of her." Doctor Roberts muttered with a light sigh coming forth.

"No! I'll take care of her myself." The Trainer mused while Doctor Roberts hesitated for moments before accepting. They all watched in silence as the couple alighted into the vehicle.

"Now!" Doctor Roberts glanced across their faces with a renewed smile. "Shall we begin with training?" His words implied more of a statement than an approval.

Theodore heaved another sigh as they underwent the normal underground routine transportation. But this time, Doctor Roberts walked up to the Elevator that had refused to open for a month now. It didn't surprise him much as the elevator pinged open. While they travelled in silence, he reviewed the five buttons which sported various colors clueless. He was also puzzled how far they were beneath the ground. The gym room was thirty feet below, certainly this new grounds was perhaps sixty.

The doors pinged open, revealing a tastefully furnished apartment.

"This is your stop guys." Doctor Roberts excitedly avowed. Collins and Michael were first to jet into the room. Theodore rolled his eyes choosing not to bother what Doctor Roberts was up too.

"Except you, Theodore." The Doctor held him back while the Elevator pinged closed. Leaving only both of them travelling another metres downwards.

"Aren't you scared of this underground thingy?" He queried as the elevator solemnly halted.

"Are you?" Doctor Roberts beamed a smile before the door pinged open yet again. This time, they were greeted by a forest. So he thought at first.

"What is this place?" He asked as they strode amidst the loamy grounds and twigs. If Doctor Roberts didn't find it creepy, he did. Firstly, they were far deep underground and secondly, he was in an artificial forest. Just like the ones in Rivernea.

"This, will be your training room." Doctor Roberts uttered in a grand gesture.

"Oh great." He rolled his eyes. The others gets a beautifully furnished apartment but his was a forest.

"It is a stimulated forest room with a mild percentage anti-matter degeneration device that reduces the exergy negativity efficiency of your body matter."

"I'm not Albert Einstein, Doctor Roberts." Theodore blared, already weary about the amount of incomprehensive words the Doctor sputtered.

Doctor Roberts giggled.

"Like I said before, this is an artificial forest with an inbuilt device that reduces the efficiency of your powers by a mild percent."

He glared at the Doctor, loathing why he hadn't explained in a layman language before.

"Why did you build a room that dampens my powers efficiency?"

"Very simple," Doctor Roberts chirped. "So that when you get outside, you become more powerful."

He heaved a sigh as he toured about the room.

"So how am I going to train?"

"Your powers are quite fascinating and complex, Theodore. You have superspeed, heightened senses, fast healing and abilities to connect with animals under the cat and dog families.

But it comes with a disturbing weakness, which is what I want to focus on." Doctor Roberts uttered. "You become animalistic after twenty minutes of usage."

"So how do you plan on teaching that aspect?" He asked, his gaze fixated to the Doctor.

Doctor Roberts wore a tiny smile and an expression he couldn't quite decipher.

"I've noticed one secret you use in activating your powers."

"Which is?"

"Focus." Doctor Roberts proudly ascertained and indeed he was right. His powers require lots of concentration before they could be activated.

"Tell me, Theodore," the Doctor's voice tousled his thoughts. "What happens before you turn berserk?"

He stared into the Doctor's eyes for minutes before aiming at the loamy grounds.

"When I use my powers, rather than diminish, it builds up. It gradually reaches a point where it overwhelms me. It makes me loose focus and it feels like I'm sinking into an ocean of darkness."

Doctor Roberts hummed.

"Have you considered the possibility that if you maintain your focus regardless of the pressure, perhaps you can contain your animalistic side?"

"It's too risky, Doctor Roberts. The power gets too much, like it explodes throughout my body. As if I'm being possessed by a demon. It's just not possible." He affirmed but solely out of fear. The last time he had tried extending his limits, he had almost killed Bruno.

"We shall test that theory out then." The Doctor answered. "You see, in this forest." He gestured. "There's a buzzing fly somewhere, I want you to find it."

Theodore stared in disbelief.

"Doctor Roberts you know that's not possible!. It would take time for me to even notice the littlest sound and by then, my animalistic side will set in." He voiced in a tone that hinted heavy doses of fear.

"I'm testing your limits and don't worry," Doctor Roberts heaved a light sigh. "This room is more than capable of containing your dangerous side."

"I'm telling you, Doctor Roberts. You don't wanna see my other side." Theodore calmly explained hoping the Doctor would succumb to his point of view.

"Of course I won't be here while you turn berserk." Doctor Roberts chuckled. "But you will remain here until you find that fly and I don't care if it takes you a month." Theodore stared dumbfounded as the Doctor's faced easily switched to sternness.

"Wait a minute, you can't lock me up here for a month!" Theodore growled. "This is violation of my contract!"

The Doctor smirked. "Your Contract also states that The Shining can extend your working hours depending on matter urgency." He paused.

"Which is why you should better get searching." The Doctor muttered while he returned to the elevator which pinged open. "Hasta la Vista." He grinned sheepishly as a parting note.

Theodore heaved another heavy sigh as he reviewed the dimly lit room. Bizarre was an understatement for this training but he knew Doctor Roberts too well. So rather than spend days fuming in a stimulated forest he threaded to the center. Sitting on the bare ground as he activated his powers.

He sealed his  eyes shut while tiny orange waves started to spread out from his body. Encompassing a few metres in the room.

The whispery air that streamed across his face, the chirping of crickets and the tweeting of birds. He could feel them all but not the buzzing fly. As he continued in his focus, a memory inadvertently played.

-------

He alighted from his Black Mercedes S class only to be greeted by a skyscraper. His company. He adjusted his dashing black suit briefly before threading into the building. The reception filled with several people donning formal attires and touring about with their own business.

"Good morning sir!" Linda, his personal assistant chirped anxiously as she joined him hastily.

"Morning, Linda." He greeted with a tiny smile as they strode towards an elevator.

"You're late sir," she cautiously muttered. "The board of directors as well as Mr. Scholes are in the executives room."

He nodded as the Elevator travelled upwards.

"I had some issues to deal with." He replied nonchalantly. "Do something for me, will you?" He briefly glimpsed at her before stepping out of the lift. Walking briskly towards the meeting room.

"Cancel my schedules for today."

"I'm sorry sir but you have an appointment with Mr. Damian and after you have a dinner meeting with the Williams. They're very important people!" Linda uttered agitatedly.

"I have to be somewhere with Kim today. You know how crazy she can be." He mumbled while she nodded in understanding. "Even this partnership deal, I'm looking to seal it within five minutes."

"Five minutes?!!" Linda screeched. "Sir, we're talking about a mult-"

She immediately retained silence as he clicked the door open. Revealing a vast assortment of gentlemen and ladies seated around the long rectangular table. He noticed the relief as their gazes fell on him.

"Pardon my lateness, gentlemen." He muttered courteously as he slipped to his swivel chair. With his gaze fixated at the smiley face of Mr. Scholes, CEO of Scholes enterprises limited.

"Now that we're complete, shall we begin the introduction?" One of his directors mumbled. "This is--"

"Please we can save the formalities for later." He cut him short as he glazed at his watch briefly. "Let's get straight to the point." He paused observing the mumblings that pitched amidst the room.

"Mr. Scholes, you seek a partnership deal with us for reasons I don't care. But according to the stock markets, your shares are doing relatively low and sealing a deal with my company can do you a great favour. So here's my proposal," he eloquently stated while he checked his watch repeatedly. "I'll take sixty percent of the profits, do you agree?" He asked with his gaze solely on Mr. Scholes who busied himself exchanging whispery talks with his officials.

"I think that's fair." Mr. Scholes admitted with a tiny smile gracing his lips.

"Then we have a deal!" He grinned and the others nodded in agreement. "Every other formalities will be handled by Mr. Bush. I shall take my leave now." He arose and sharply exited the room alongside Linda.

"I told you five minutes was all I needed." He muttered beside her as they travelled downwards in the elevator.

"But don't you think they might find your actions not so welcoming sir?" She asked as they both threaded in the reception where a German Shepherd dog ran wildly. He watched in bemusement as the securities ran agitatedly too. Screaming,

"Everybody take cover!!"

But before he could react, a turbulent explosion rocked the building and the next minute slipped into darkness.

His eyes snapped open, sweats were already breaking on his face, his breaths came out quick and unsteady while he felt the powers within overwhelm his entirety. This was what he tried avoiding, the animalistic side of him. He tried calming himself with Doctor Roberts words but failed horribly. And when he couldn't take it anymore, he inadvertently succumbed to his monstrous side. The ocean of darkness.