Power (Book 1 in SRMTHFG Series)

3 - Memories

"She's here!" the yellow monkey says excitedly.

"See!" the greenish one from the circle says. "I told you guys I got it right this time!"

The blue one sighs. "Otto, Nova, I told you she can't remember yet. There's only a 2 percent chance that-"

"It's still a chance, Gibson," the red monkey says. "Cut her some slack." He turned towards me and speaks slowly. "Can. You. Understand. Me?"

"Sparks," the black one warns, "she might not-"

"Yes," I say. They all look at me in shock. I look at the blue monkey. "You're Gibson? The green one said your name before he shoved me through that portal-circle thing."

Gibson stutters at first before glaring at the green one. "I- the statistics stated that- oh, no matter. What did Otto say, exactly?"

I purse my lips. "He said, 'Come on, Gibson!' " The blue monkey laughs.

"Oh-ho, Otto, do you not trust my scientific creations? We did need the Portable Teleportation Marble; after all, a motor bike couldn't possibly make the trip to Earth and back in time." The green monkey frowns and crosses his arms, looking away.

The black one clears his throat. "Anyways," he says, glancing at the two monkeys, "it is wonderful and amazing that you are already remembering. What all can you remember?"

I frown. "I-I don't understand."

He puts his hand to his chin and thinks for a moment. "Hmm... what came to your mind when you arrived?"

"Oh, that," I say. "When I came, I felt like I remembered this place from somewhere, then later I-" Now I have to stop and think of how to put my thoughts into words. I point at Chiro. "Chiro," I say, then spread my arms out. "Shugazoom."

At that moment, a little pain comes in my forehead. I close my eyes and hold my head. I didn't want to admit before, but when I remember 'Chiro' and 'Shuggazoom,' the same thing happened.

"What's wrong?" the blue monkey asks.

"It's... my head hurts," I say. "Every time I remember something."

"What did you just remember?"

I point at the black monkey. "Black, Antauri; yellow, Nova; red, SPRX-77, or Sparx; blue, Gibson; green, Otto." I frown and hold my head again.

"Orange, Mandarin."

Everyone gasps, then a silence falls over the room. I rub my temples.

"It's like... someone doesn't want me to 'remember' anything."