Charlotte Powers 1: Power Down Page 3

  Wait, that wouldn't be good at all. That would mean that me going into the world would actually CREATE supervillains, which ... oh, rats, I think I just got what Dad's been trying to tell me about balance and everything. Um. But anyway, I'm not going to Green Grove as a superhero, I'm going as a normal girl attending school. That's DEFINITELY not something supervillains rise up against, right? The very idea is ridiculous, 'supervillains rise to challenge ordinary schoolgirls', no no no, certainly not. I'm just going to have to be very good about not using my powers, it'll be tough but I know I'm up to the challenge!

  ...

  Come on, intercom, buzz already, I'm ready, come on come on come on, I could barely sleep last night, I was so excited, also I probably had too many sweets at my going-away party and got kind of hyper playing games, I knocked over the same lamp twice in five minutes. Luckily I wasn't using my super-strength at the time or I could've sent it straight out the window, that would've been embarrassing (although at the same time kind of cool). Control is very important, Mum always says that learning to not use your powers is the most important part of training. With my super-strength I hardly ever have it 'on', otherwise I'd probably do a lot of damage around the house, it comes in handy when you're tidying up, though, being able to lift heavy things to let Botler clean underneath and that kind of stuff. I use my super-agility all the time, though. I guess I have to admit this, I'm naturally kind of a little clumsy, I fall over a lot and drop things, but with my super-agility I can just turn 'falling' into 'an awesome flip' and I've never actually dropped something, if you define 'dropping something' as 'letting it touch the floor'. I always catch it before it can hit the ground. Phase-shifting is easy not to use, of course, I only oh my goodness that's the intercom it's time! It's time I'm going I'm going I'm going yay! Next time I write in this journal I'll be in Green Grove, probably neck-deep in adventure!

  xx48.11.01 / 16:09 / Monday

  Okay. So kind of a lot has happened since my last entry. I'm not sure why the date's skipped ahead a couple of days, but that's probably the LEAST weird thing to happen today. Yes, it's just one day since Daniel teleported me to Green Grove, even though it feels like way longer. Probably it's better to start at the beginning, I think I need to sort things out for myself as much as anything.

  It started out fine, I said goodbye to everyone and there were Hugs and a few Tears, then I made sure all my things were ready to be sent and I hadn't forgotten anything, then I got into the teleporter, and everyone said goodbye one last time, and then Daniel activated the teleporter and everything went black. I don't mean I lost consciousness, I was VERY aware of everything that was happening, I was falling really slowly through something I couldn't really see, kind of tumbling, and then I saw a lot of green and brown and I was suddenly a dozen metres underground. This is actually pretty scary when it happens, I tried it at home when I was younger, not stopping myself from falling through the floor until it went completely over my head.

  Definitely JUST once, though.

  The problem with letting yourself fall through the ground completely (apart from not being able to see or hear anything or, y'know, BREATHE) is that it gets really hard to pull yourself back out—once you're deep enough that you can't reach 'out' of the ground, I mean. You can't reach up and make your hand go in-phase again and pull yourself out like that, and if you're out-of-phase then interacting with anything in-phase is difficult if not impossible. What you have to do, then, is very carefully adjust the balance between in-phase and out-of-phase until you get kind of a 'grip' on the solid ground you're stuck in, and use that 'grip' to pull yourself up a little, and then adjust yourself again, and again, and again, gaining an inch at a time until you can get your hand up out of the ground and pull yourself up properly. It takes ages and it's exhausting, I think it must have taken me at least two minutes to struggle my way back up to the surface—that might not sound like a lot but remember also that I was holding my breath the entire time. No air underground, right? And being out-of-phase always makes me a little breathless anyway, so by the time I'd gotten myself out and was just lying on the ground I was pretty spent. My bags suddenly popping into existence in the air above and falling on me I REALLY could have done without, but oh well. At least I got my clothes and guitar.

  Anyway, after I'd recovered (it didn't take so long, I recover quick!) I got up and looked around. It wasn't exactly what I expected. Daniel and Dad said I'd 'land' near Uncle's house, apparently he lives in a little hut on the edge of a forest—I mean, this WAS a forest, there was no doubt about that, but something about it all seemed ... 'off'.

  I guess I should try to describe it. Basically, I was in a big clearing in the middle of a forest. The trees were really different to the ones at home, much thicker and taller and with gnarly old branches. The grass around where I'd landed (or hit and gone straight through to be accurate) was all flat and weird, like it was made of plastic and had been burnt. Kind of melty. The dirt was really hard and dry and dark too. Maybe that's just how things are here? I don't have a lot of experience to fall back on. I've never even been into the jungle back home. But I've watched a lot of TV shows and documentaries and that kind of stuff and nothing on any of those looked anything like this. Maybe it was the teleportation that did it. I don't see how, but then I never understand even ten percent of Daniel's explanations so maybe, who knows.

  Away from where I'd arrived there were a lot of tire tracks in the ground, from big vehicles I guess, like trucks. These led out of the clearing through a kind of rough path through the trees, so I decided to follow that. After all, vehicles need roads, and roads lead places, right? Carrying all my stuff was kind of awkward, positioning everything was tricky. Eventually, though, I got it all together and started off down the path.

  Before I reached the road I heard something coming towards me—it turned out to be a little four-wheel motorbike thing. At first I thought the guy riding it might be Uncle but then he took his helmet and goggles off and he definitely wasn't.

  "Did you just arrive?" he asked. He sounded kind of suspicious of me.

  "Yes," I said. I didn't have much choice—honesty curse!—but I figured maybe this was someone who knew Uncle anyway. "I'm supposed to be going to the academy—"

  "Oh!" he said. He didn't sound at all suspicious now, he sounded really happy. "Another latecomer, good. The head mentioned we might be getting some. Okay, you'll have to walk into town, the last bus went out more than a week ago, but it's not too far. Just turn right once you reach the road, you'll get there before noon."

  Okay, so at this point I was starting to think that maybe something weird was going on, but at the same time I was pretty much having the best time of my life so I didn't really think much about it.

  Anyway, after about an hour of walking I got to the town. I kind of wanted to use my super-agility to run there, but I figured someone might be watching. Better safe than sorry, right? Using your powers when you think no one's watching is a rookie mistake, definitely not one that I'm going to make. I have to get used to not using my powers anyway, now's as good a time as any to start. In fact, I'm going to make a pledge; I SHALL NOT use my powers unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. Anyway, I could see the sun over the mountains to my right by the time I got to the town, and there was definitely enough light to read the sign beside the road.

  Weird Thing #1: This town isn't Green Grove. According to the sign, it's called Emerald Hill. At the time I thought that maybe they'd just changed the name. Later I found out that they hadn't. I'm in Emerald Hill, not Green Grove. Nobody here has even HEARD of a town called Green Grove. I'm in the wrong place.

  Thanks, Daniel.

  Well, actually that 'thanks' isn't entirely sarcastic. So I'm in the wrong place, that's kind of good in a way. After all, I landed on my feet with the academy—ah, getting ahead of myself, though. One thing at a time, Charlotte, one thing at a time!

  Okay, so I'm standing on the road leading into Emerald Hill, which is kind of pretty a
nd green and not too big and not too small, and I'm looking at the sign and thinking, okay, something weird is going on here. I should call home, just in case.

  Weird Thing #2: There's no greater net access here, I can only get local nets with my Opal. That means I can't call home, I can't even send email.

  At this point I'm more excited than scared or nervous, though. I'm alone. I'm alone! Just me, Charlotte Powers against the world, this is really a chance to prove that I'm every bit the hero I know I can be—and to prove that the world IS ready for me!

  Getting ahead of myself again. I guess I can kind of skip going into town, I think people thought I was a bit weird, the way I was, y'know, grinning around at everything like some kind of clueless idiot. I mean, I've gone through the simulations in the training room, I've visited pretty much ALL the major cities—New Trent, Ostron, Powerstone, Jonestown—but actually BEING in a REAL town with REAL people, it's SO different. I could smell everything! The things I heard weren't just recorded street noise, they were actually happening RIGHT THEN! And anything COULD happen, at any moment a group of thugs could leap out at me!

  Well, maybe not. I'm not naive, I know that kind of thing doesn't really happen that much in small towns like this one. Even so, knowing that it COULD—or that something else surprising and new could happen—is VERY thrilling.

  Anyway. Eventually I got to the academy, it wasn't hard to find—I asked about ten different people where it was, though, talking to people is amazing! They all sound different and they all gave me different directions, I mean they were the SAME directions, OBVIOUSLY, to the same place, but the way they gave them—I'm rambling, aren't I, sorry. The academy—Emerald Hill Academy—is huge, it has a big administration building near the entrance and this big wide stone courtyard thing, and most of the school buildings are clustered around that, all made of this nice yellow-gold stone and kind of 'sleek'-looking, and there's a big sports stadium field thing at the back and a swimming pool near that and this gymnasium complex and then up against the hills are the student apartments. That's where I am now, in my apartment—MY apartment!—writing this, but I'm getting ahead of myself AGAIN.

  I went to the admin building, because I figured, well, one school is just as good as another, right? This one looks good, this town seems fine, and even if Uncle isn't around to help me out, well ... so much the better, really. I want to do things on my own, I want freedom! I kind of remember Uncle being this hard-nosed old special forces military guy so probably it'll be more fun by myself. Once I get greater net access I can call Mum and Dad and maybe switch to Green Grove depending on how things are going ... well, I'll deal with that later. For now I'm here! In Emerald Hill! At Emerald Hill Academy! Getting in was really easy, I just filled in some forms and answered some questions, nobody mentioned money until I brought it up then guess what? It's free! To anyone! It wouldn't have been a problem even if it wasn't free, Mum and Dad are kind of rich, but still, it's kind of nice. Maybe a good 'sign of things to come'?

  Anyway. I didn't get to go to class today because I arrived too late, but I saw some of the students walking around. Also, guess what? There's a UNIFORM! It's pretty cute, actually, a creamy brown 'milk tea' blouse and skirt with white, what should I call it, 'trim' maybe, with a cute wide white bow in front of the collar and the school logo on the right pocket (it's a green emerald over a burgundy shield, pretty neat). I'm wearing it right now, even though I really don't need to.

  My apartment's pretty nice too, it's one of a block of eight, four on the ground, four above. Mine is the second one from the stairs above, C-6. C for Charlotte, another good sign! There are eight apartment blocks like this in total, I guess quite a few students live on-campus. (On-campus? Is that the right term? I'm too excited to care!) Inside it's a little poky but not bad, it's clean and uncluttered and has furniture already, a little kitchen and a teeny-tiny little bathroom. The bedroom is basically just a bed and a desk and a cupboard, although it does have a charger compatible with Opal (I was a little worried about that, Opals aren't so popular these days and mine is quite an old model). The floors are polished wood and the walls are kind of an off-white, with wooden ... 'borders'?

  Anyway, I should stop describing my new uniform and new apartment and start thinking about things seriously. Maybe I'll make myself a cup of tea and then come back. (There's tea in the cupboard! And biscuits! And milk in the fridge!)

  ...

  Okay, I've calmed down a bit now. I actually went for a little walk as well, back to the admin office to check something. Yes, the date IS November 1st. Opal must have reset itself to the local time. Except how can that work? I entered the teleporter on October 30th, and I came out the other side on November 1st. I skipped an entire day! Maybe time zones? At least I know the correct local date, and that it's Monday today.

  Well, anyway, I suppose I have more important things to think about, like how to make a splash at my entrance scene tomorrow. I have to make a strong first impression, that's a given. If I don't then I'll just fade into the crowds and become just another face, there are over a thousand students at this school, I definitely want to stand out!

  "But Charlotte," you may be thinking, "aren't you supposed to be creating a Public Identity for yourself? Shouldn't you be trying to blend in with everyone else?"

  The answer to that is, of course not! What I'm doing here is creating a Public Identity, it's a very important tool in a superhero's ... toolkit, I guess. Toolbelt? Arsenal is for weapons ... anyway, my point is that a Public Identity doesn't have to be buttoned-down and straight and boring, it just has to hide the fact that you're actually a superhero. Being popular and respected and loved by all doesn't make for a bad Public Identity, quite the opposite! The purpose of a Public Identity is simply to hide your Secret Identity—and who would suspect that Charlotte Powers, darling of Emerald Hill Academy is actually [whatever my superhero name turns out to be]!

  So. Big entrance. Amazing first impression. I can't use my powers, so I can't be super awesome, but there's nothing stopping me from being regular awesome. I just have to be, y'know, subdued about things. People without super-agility can flip off walls, right? That's always impressive. And jamming out a killer guitar solo is something lots of people can do. But how many people can pull off an awesome guitar solo WHILE flipping off a wall? Not many I bet!

  Okay, that sounds good. Tomorrow morning I'll clip on my portable amp, plug in Fender, tear down one of the school corridors while blasting out some killer riffs, run up the wall at the end, flip off, land awesomely with a perfectly timed power chord and be instantly super-popular.

  I can't WAIT until tomorrow.

  xx48.11.02 / 12:23 / Tuesday

  Today was, without question, the worst day of my life. I was laughed at, shouted at, pushed around, SPAT ON, reprimanded by the school staff and had my guitar confiscated.

  But none of that even compares to this next thing. It's the worst thing that's ever happened to me, the worst thing that ever COULD happen to me, just the worst thing in the history of all worst things throughout all the ages of history:

  MY POWERS ARE GONE.

  All of them. COMPLETELY. No more super-strength, no more phase-shifting, and no more super-agility. I'm just ... just NOTHING now! You know something else? Getting hurt HURTS!

  I suppose I should start at the beginning. I don't really want to but I feel kind of compelled. Besides, what else do I have now that my powers are gone? Just me and my Opal, alone against the world, recording the daily life of a no-power nothing.

  So depressed.

  Okay. So. The morning. My amazing entrance scene. It started off okay—I leapt into the open doorway of the main corridor with a blazing power chord, an Em for Emtrance (I know that's awful but the mood I'm in I kind of WANT 'awful'). My portable amp didn't put out quite the amazing sound that I wanted, but at least people were looking at me. I stepped through the doorway with a simple Em to G to Am progression, then as I began increasing my pace down the hallway a
nd people started to move out of my way I cut into my solo, just simple to begin with but building towards awesomeness as I broke into a run ...

  And someone TRIPPED me.

  Seriously.

  Now, if I'd had my super-agility then I would've turned the fall into a kind of awesome flip, I might have even twisted in mid-air to run along the lockers for a bit or something, I don't know, I didn't get the chance to do ANYTHING because like I already mentioned MY POWERS ARE GONE.

  So what actually happened is I fell flat on my face. On to my nose, actually. That's when I discovered my super-strength was gone, and with it the associated super-toughness, because it felt like the front of my face had exploded. I've never been hurt before, super-toughness is a secondary power, sometimes called an 'intrinsic', so normally it's 'on' all the time, but now that MY POWERS ARE GONE I felt everything.

  Pain SUCKS. Seriously, it's the WORST. How do normal people stand it? I felt like I was gonna die! For what seemed like hours I couldn't do anything except lie there. Maybe I was making some kind of pitiful sound, I don't know. When I eventually managed to pick myself up I realised two things—first, that there was a huge pool of sticky red blood where my face had been pressed against the floor. Gross and weird and it almost made me throw up, especially since it got all in my hair too. My second realisation was even worse: everyone was laughing at me. Like, REALLY laughing. Like, POINTING and laughing. At me. AT me. Not just laughing, either, some horrible person actually SPAT at me, on to my arm.

  I'm trying to resist this honesty curse so hard right now, I really am. I want to just stop writing but I can't. I have to put this down.