Chapter 20: Chapter 20

The Elevator pinged open and Collins stepped into the dimly lit vast room alongside Doctor Roberts. He reviewed the room carefully, noticing nothing but emptiness.

"I could have asked what is this place you've brought me to but then," he paused as he glanced towards the smiley face of the Doctor.

"You're Doctor Roberts. The eccentric billionaire."

"This is a quassimotech encrypted wall equipped with lasers and a twenty percent anti-matter degeneration dampener." The Doctor grandly gestured as they toured about the perfectly modeled room. The walls were seamless and cool to the touch and at the same time, he wondered what invention the quassimotech was.

"Quassimotech," he muttered. "What does this tech do?"

Doctor Roberts simply grinned. "With time, you'll know."

Collins rolled his eyes at that statement. It always found some way in irking a part of him.

"So in other words, this is my training room." He dropped his hands from the wall as he faced Doctor Roberts. "Equipped with highly torturous lasers." He remarked sarcastically.

"Indeed." The Doctor nodded.

"I can't wait till six months is over." He rolled his eyes yet again while he creased his arms against his chest.

"Trust me, it will come sooner than expected." Doctor Roberts chattered. "Now let's talk about your powers. I recall you saying that, you have no weakness?"

"Of course." Collins affirmed while he slipped his hands into his jean pockets. Doctor Roberts heaved a light sigh before picking snail pace about the room.

"Every person that exhibits one power or the other due to the explosion has either a weakness, limitation or a defect." The Doctor proudly avowed.

"Don't be so sure, Old man." Collins quickly pointed out.

"It's a fact because the negative matter that courses through you and the others veins didn't fully bond with your cells." Doctor Roberts approached him with his accustomed smile.

He arched an eyebrow in confusion.

"What could have happened if it bonded fully?"

The Doctor heaved a light sigh as he slipped his hands into his lab coat pocket.

"You, as well as the others will probably be dead by now."

"What do you mean?" He queried.

"The same negative energies you have is what wiped out half of humanity. It's like poison to us and at hundred percent bondage with our cells, it kills. That's why you have limitations or should I say, using your powers extremely can kill you." The Doctor explained but his heart thumped. The power he had dedicated so much love too could one day be his end.

"You should consider yourself lucky."

"So what if I have a weakness, what's the solution?" He asked as their eyes bonded.

"Why don't we start out with you demonstrating your powers and then we can detect your weakness."

He hesitated for minutes, feeling the need to question Doctor Roberts endearing eyes.

"Why do even need to find a weakness? I mean isn't this supposed to be training to be better."

Doctor Roberts giggled.

"It's better you know your weakness and work on it rather than let the enemy use it against you."

"Fine, where do we start?" He asked with a sigh birthing next. Doctor Roberts grinned but it only irked him.

"What happens when you teleport?" The Doctor solemnly questioned.

"Telewarp!, Point of correction." He responded dryly.

"We both know that's not a thing."

"Just like Quassimotech isn't a thing." Collins retorted.

"Fair enough, now let's return to the basics." Doctor Roberts answered. "What happens when you telewarp?"

Collins heaved an heavy sigh as he started to tour slowly around the Doctor.

"It starts in my stomach. It gradually builds up like you're filling a balloon with helium. And when it reaches peak level, I simply picture whatever I have in my mind."

"And that's it?"

"Nope." He chattered. "Then I'm suddenly in a small wooden house filled with so much memories of places I've been too or had a glimpse of. It has two doors. The entrance door and the exit door that leads to my destination."

"And Voila, you've completed your teleportation process." Doctor Roberts finished for him. "Impressive."

"That's not all." He uttered while the Doctor arched his eyebrow.

"I can also warp out portals."

"Show me." Doctor Roberts answered but Collins could easily notice the excitement booming in his eyes.

He heaved an inaudible sigh before slipping out his Droyphone from his pocket.

"Watch carefully." He said while he briskly calculated the amount of energy creating a small portal would require. He steadied his breaths and let the power build inside him. Once it peaked, he flung his phone high in the air and it disappeared through a small shady orange portal.

"Where did it go?" Doctor Roberts asked in surprise awe as the portal diminished. Collins gleamed a smile before looking upwards. Another portal of the same size appeared and his phone landed in his hands back.

"Now I understand why you call it Telewarping." They both chuckled. "How do you do that?"

"It's much more easier than teleporting. I simply imagine where I want my portals to be and voila." He proudly asserted.

"No wonder, your stealing skills are so perfect." Doctor Roberts remarked. He scoffed. "So onto the next part. Have you ever teleported with someone else or perhaps teleported a person alone?"

"No." He replied. Over the years, he had gone on several adventurous schemes with his powers but not given Doctor Roberts idea a thought. "But it sure sounds fun to do."

"Why don't we test that theory out." Doctor Roberts grinned while he laughed mockingly.

"Honestly, the only place I dream of putting you is the Zoo."

"I didn't know you hate me that much but thankfully, I'm not going to be your test subject." Doctor Roberts sarcastically toned before the elevator pinged open. Revealing a mesmerizing young lady dressed in fitted black uniform like The Trainer. Except she wasn't heavily loaded with weapons like The Trainer.

"Who's she?" He queried, secretly admiring her sternness and slender frame.

Doctor Roberts heaved a light sigh.

"Our test subject." Collins smiled mischievously, already battling for words wooing enough.

"And before you start thinking fantastical romance with her, she's lesbian. So please focus."

Collins eyes exclaimed as those taunting words phased through his ears. It was like a part of him had dried out and his most reserved smile he had worn shrunk immediately.

"Collins, this is Mira, one of my special guards."

"Hi." She said courteously in a soft voice but Collins shrugged her off. Loathing the fact that he had no chance of a small romance story with a charming lady.

"Alright then, let's begin." Doctor Roberts interjected. "How about you both teleport to the other side of the room?" Doctor Roberts beamed a smile at their faces as he gestured.

"Let's just get this over with already." Collins rolled his eyes before grabbing the lady's wrist gently. He sealed his eyes shut trying to build his powers which he was failing at. It felt like an extra weight had been added onto him.

"You can't?" Doctor Roberts voice tousled his focus. He didn't want the Doctor to tag this as a weakness. Hence, he pressured harder. Grabbing her wrist tightly and forcing his veins to glow a bright streamline of orange. The lady gasped but he wavered not regardless. Teleporting to the edge of the room should be an easy task.

When his powers finally peaked, he briskly imagined the edge of the room before sinking into the portal alongside her.

Collins yelled as he fell through an unexpected portal and into the sandy grounds. He groaned whilst cursing underneath his breath for the pain that shot through his body.

His nostrils picked the scents of dry grass and his eyes mirrored the brown grasses surrounding him under the bright sun. Which was nightmarishly hot. He heard a roar. One so powerful and vicious. He quickly arose and his eyes widened in horror.

This wasn't the edge of the room nor the training grounds itself. It was a forest where he was surrounded by predators. Lions, viciously baring their canines and stealthily threading towards him.

"Oh crap!"