Void Switch

Chapter 5: Welcome to the Family

The School is wild. three weeks before school is over and everyone is partying. Students arm wrestling, students dancing, cheerleaders cheering, many activities exploding in celebration. Robotics class is loud and wild. Everyone is in a massive lab, crafting their ideas for an upcoming final in 3 weeks. One student shocks himself trying to connect to wires together with his bare hands.

"Good job dumbass" rudely says female student.

"Hey be more careful in here ladies and gentlemen or I will dock you on how many times you mess up." the teacher says sternly.

Erich sits in the classroom with a 5ft box standing off to his side, next to a dry-erase-board with all his notes. He looks at his creation covered in a big silky blanket. Removing the cloth, he reveals a simple box made from light aluminum plates. He pushes a button on his computer. The box makes a ringing sound, in the center of the box, its smooth surface retracts in the shapes of triangles making an even bigger one about a foot in length. From the inside, a glowing softball sized sphere, shakes and discharges electricity that strikes small metal components around it. He raises his hand to the box. A smaller triangle forms on the top right corner of the box. He places a small metal ball inside. three robot claws grab hold of the ball. Looking back at the floating sphere, a flexible metal pipe snakes towards the sphere. The sphere pulses like a heart. The pipe retracts and the robot closes up. Pushing button again on his computer, the robot shuts off.

"Don't worry big guy, even if we don't pass the final, you will still be awesome. Why? Because you are going to be someone's new body" He says softly.

He pats the bot and covers it up. He runs over to a massive closet opening it, he rolls the robot inside and locks it up. Grabbing his backpack, he walks over to his teachers desk to turn in a flash drive for his little project. He walks out the classroom and puts on his new headphones. Its slick design much like the last one he wore before losing them in the alley, now a metallic silver that fades to red then yellow. The LED's on the sides of the headset, instead of rainbow colors waving in an upwards motion, they wave neon blue, green and purple. The hallways are packed with students signing school year books, getting free lemonade from small concession stands, teachers and students sharing their home brought meals, students sitting in the hallways studying, everyone having a great time of their lives. The bully who is now his friend calls for him through a group of students.

"Hey big dog, over here want to sign up?" Gabriel shouts waving for his attention.

Erich looks over and walks towards him. Many students are signing up for an activity called '3pm-5pm Rumble Mania'.

"Really?" Erich says disappointed.

"Come on dude, you stay building and being a nerd. Get out your comfort zone every now and then. Besides we still need our rematch." he says laughing while signing.

"You know you got lucky the last time."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say"

Erich grabs a pen and thinks for a moment, gathering his thoughts he signs his name. The bully shakes his hand and walks off. Erich walks around the school, looking at all the events and activities present.

"They really went all out this year. Not bad, its actually not boring, I will give them credit."

He walks through the schools front doors. He checks his phone and looks forward. The skies are populated by students flying, students parkouring over small walls, students with no abilities running up against students with speed. The football field roaring in the background, Tents set up with food from other families and small activities to participate in. Under a small over pass, he walks the long crosswalk, towards the parking lot. Students are laughing, a student juggling fire, a student in in the crowd eyeballs him. Erich does not even notice. The unknown, confused, points his fingers to his right. A woman on a ladder loses her balance and falls. Erich immediately catches her and continues walking. She thanks him in the background, Erich walks to a stand and grabs some food. He smells his plate and falls in love with it. He walks over to a table where his friends are seated.