Dimension shuffler

Chapter 3: Your heroes, everybody!

Paz slowed down upon entering the shack, allowing Stephen to not only stand up but also recover from their sprint. "This... is why... I don't like sports..." Stephen panted.

"Shhh!" Paz interrupted him. She peeked her head out from the metal plates and surveyed the surroundings. Nothing. Turning around she put her hand on what appeared to be a damaged fuse box. It flashed green in response and the floor of the shack started descending. Using their journey as an excuse to get some more information out of him, Paz questioned Stephen, "Okay, start talking."

Stephen sighed, "Well, seeing as you had the decency to kidnap me and you asked so nicely!" he responded sarcastically.

"I just saved your life, mister! Now spill it!" She smirked, "Or my blade could use it's famous interrogation techniques."

"If you say so. I'm Stephen. I don't know where I am or what I'm doing here. Happy now?"

"Look, if your not going to take me seriously, I have a friend who can find out everything about you."

"Be my guest." He responded, "There's nothing more to find out." Stephen turned around and grunted, clearly annoyed. The elevator beeped and came to a halt causing Stephen to comically fall down. Paz dragged him across the floor, also annoyed. "Is this your entire shtick? Dragging me like a rag doll?" She threw Stephen on the floor in front of her. Standing up, Stephen saw two figures in front of him.

The first was a boy with messy black hair. Within his hair was a pair of orange goggles, the lenses were clear. He wore a dark blue t-shirt and a green jacket which was unzipped. He also had orange jeans to match the goggles. Poking out from the right leg though was a metal foot composed of black and, you guessed it, orange metal. Upon his face was a friendly yet curious smile and, if the little robot dancing around him was any indication, he had a flair for robotics.

The other was another girl, much shorter than Paz and the other boy, with violet hair. She wore a long white dress which an accompanying hood. In fact, everything about her was bleak and pale. Even her skin looked like she had spent little time out in the sun but not so much as to appear unhealthy. The most distinctive feature she had though was her red eyes, much unlike anything Stephen had seen. Her face was the embodiment of loneliness and despair itself though she appeared to be more concealed than unhappy.

"I caught this stranger out by Meco village. He claims his name is Stephen and he doesn't know how he got here but I think he's lying." Paz informed the other two.

"So why'd you bring him back here?" The boy questioned Paz.

"Because his helmet thingy scanned me and knew who I was. That could be very dangerous if he isn't who he claims to be." She turned to the other girl, "Chico, do you mind checking if he's telling the truth?"

"Don't I get any say in this?" Stephen asked but was ignored.

"Hold still please and this won't hurt a bit." The girl Paz called 'Chico' closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. Stephen stood still, like he was asked, and felt sort of uncomfortable and anxious waiting for something to happen. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes again and gave Stephen a sort of uneasy look before turning back to her friends, "Fortunately Paz, you're wrong. He doesn't know anything more and his name really is Stephen." She turned to him, "You're afraid of dogs?"

"Maybe." Stephen said quickly and defensively, "The better question is, what did you just do to me?"

"Well seeing as you're not our enemy, we may as well introduce ourselves." Paz started, "I'm Paz, the founder of our operation. I apologise for dragging you across the floor though don't take that as any implication that I'll stop because it is, albeit, very funny."

"I'm Drez!" The boy piped up shaking Stephen's hand, "I do robotics and other stuff like that. I'm not really a 'field-guy' but I provide tactical support from back here. Oh! By the way, do you like my robot?" He held up the little robot, "I called him Toot." The robot let out a triumphant noise that sounded like it was being played on a kazoo and struck a pose.

Her quiet voice appeared from the silence that followed, "I-I'm Chico." She looked at her feet before whispering in Stephen's ear, "C-could I speak with you in the other room? Please?"

"Sure, I guess." Stephen responded and followed her through the doorway.

"Chico? Where are you going?" Paz asked.

"I just need to quickly ask him something, something private." She added.

In the next room, Chico looked around to make sure they were alone before talking. "Are you - I mean - Do you have powers like mine?"

"Powers? What powers?" Stephen asked curious.

Chico reached into a cabinet behind her and gave Stephen a file. It was labelled 'Test subject #045: Chico'

Chico continued, "I found out who you were because I was born with psychokinetic powers. I can control things or read minds just by focusing on it. It seems like a blessing but, in reality, I'm just making the best of a curse." Stephen gave her a look of sympathy but was eager to learn more. "I never knew my parents and, in my search to find them, I was taken in by a gentleman who learned of my abilities and offered to help me unlock and control them in to help me track them down. In actuality, he was using me to unlock some sort of power for himself. I was treated no better than a slab of meat. Fortunately, it did allow me to master my powers. I was freed when the power suddenly went out and I was saved by Paz, six months ago. I detected similar powers within you when I went through your thoughts."

Stephen thought back to what the old man told him. "I was told I'm supposed to have elemental powers if that's what you mean but I have no idea how to use them."

A look of hope crawled onto her previously distraught face, "Then how about I..." She paused momentarily. "-I teach you how to use them." She looked down to avoid eye contact.

"Sure!" Stephen smiled. Chico looked up and for the first time since he arrived (which was albeit ten minutes ago) she smiled.

"Really?" She asked in disbelief.

"Of course. If I'm stuck here, I may as well learn how to use my new abilities." Stephen's smile promptly left his face. "I'm stuck here..." He echoed himself.

"Don't worry." Chico tried to cheer him up, "You can stay here with us. I'm sure we'll find out how to get you home."

Stephen looked at her and smiled, "Thanks. And I'll keep an eye peeled for your parents. I'm sure this helmet will have some way to identify them."

Chico rushed back through to tell her friends the good news with Stephen being dragged behind her as if he were her brother and she had something exciting to show him. Stephen looked at his three new friends and saw them happy and laughing together like a family to which Stephen only hoped he could see his again.