Power (Book 1 in SRMTHFG Series)

8

We land on a small planet. It's brown and there are strange buildings and vehicles. Yep, it's abandoned.

"Don't we need masks? Like, spacesuits or anything?" I ask, worried.

"No,"Gibson says. "The oxygen levels in the atmosphere here are equivalent to those on Shuggazoom. This planet is quite the equivalent to it, in fact, if it wasn't for-" he looks at Chiro and clears his throat. "Well, outside, now!"

The pods open and we go down a hallway to an escape hatch. We're so far off the ground!

"Guys... what about the elevator?!"

"I said the oxygen here is the same," Gibson laughs, "not the gravity!" Everyone but Chiro, Jinmay and I jump out.

"Are you coming?" I ask.

"Chiro hasn't been to Fay in a while," Jinmay says. "It'll take him some time to get ready to leave."

"Okay. See you then, I guess." I look down. I've fallen to the ground so many times before.

I'm still not used to it.

I step out and drift to the ground. It isn't too fast or slow. Is this what it feels like to astronauts when they go on the moon?

"Alright, Chelsea," Nova says. "Let's go to one of the more clear areas here."

"This place looks like everyone just... disappeared. Look, there are chairs pushed out and cars in the middle of the street." The monkeys look down.

"Oh! Oh! I know!" Otto says. "Why doesn't she try starting one of these vehicles?"

"Good idea," Antauri says. "They haven't been used in years. Go on, Chelsea."

I pick out a bright purple hover car. The door won't budge. I grab the handle and start to pull as hard as I can. It opens. I sit inside.

"Go ahead," Otto says.

"You know, like we said earlier, you used to have a certain song you'd have to sing and use your powers with," Nova says. "Can you remember it?"

I close my eyes. "A song..." My head starts to hurt. I cringe in the pain, but I let it come. I shut the door back and take a deep breath.

"Listen to my voice; do my command
You cannot resist this task at hand
My words encircle you and force you to hear
It matters not if you are far or near
Now, my words are the only thing you see
Forget everything else and listen to me
Listen to my voice, do my command
You cannot resist this task at hand."

I sing until the end of the verse and open my eyes. "Car, you will now start without fail. You will listen to me, every part and nail. Take me where I want to go; no matter if it's high, no matter if it's low." The engine starts smoothly.

"Good, child," a dark and brooding voice laughs. "The filthy monkeys would applaud if they were not still in such a trance."