Allo! I mostly did this bit to get my mind of TP for a bit so my mind
would be fresh when I started on it again. Either that or else not write.
^_-
I included the seed idea and what I've don of the Puck story.
Always looking for people willing to write their own, I'm used to powerful
chars, but I'd like the normal, low, medium, abilities reflected too. ;)
C+C welcome!

| Twister (also known as Darren Steffler ;)
| 		     e-mail at twister@tendo-dojo.ranma.net
| Big Heapum Fan of: Ranma 1/2, Bubblegum Crisis, Dirty Pair, Gundam, and
| 		     the rest of the known anime universe.

Power Point

     At the start of the 1980's a physicist by the name of Trebor
Young came upon an oddity in one of his experiments related to the
understanding the forces of electromagnetism. He knew he was not a
genius, or even very good, in his profession, but he had a dogged
determination into discovering the truth of whatever fascinated
him.
     This oddity did, for he could not immediately discover why he
was getting his results, there were no errors, and because the
machinery was his and unique, he couldn't compare the results with
anything. 
     For whenever he came close to his machine, it registered a
flux in the electromagnetic field. As too with anyone else that
came too close. None of the animals he brought to the machine
produced these results; only humans. Also, no measure of insulation
prevented the flux, which should have been impossible for it was a
minor flux and should have been stopped. Eventually, over the
period of a year, the problem consumed him and became his primary
focus, much to the annoyance to his colleges.
     But by the mid-80's, the computational powers of computers had
increased tremendously and with access to some of the best
supercomputers he slipped in a few theories to test. To say that
Young was slowly dropping into insanity would not be accurate; he
was consumed with his Flux but had learned to hide it so no one
suspected. Indeed, his work improved as his mind became keener,
throwing out the stray thoughts that hinder most peoples work.
Wilder and more complex his theory became, until only Young
understood his own invented brand of mathematics.
     On August 23, 1990, something clicked and Young, despite his
by-now brilliant theories known only to himself, was stunned. The
even more powerful supercomputers verified what they could, but the
excited physicist needed proof.
     But not at the place he worked.
     He sold everything he owned, and moved to North Dakota where
he bought an isolated house near the small town of Hardpoint.
     For almost ten years he worked in his basement, often
communicating via modem for new theories that might help his own.
There were few.
     What Young thought he had discovered was the effects of the
human soul. And with his theories, believed he could, possibly,
increase his soul's power! He didn't know what would happen, but at
this point he didn't care.
     On December 31, 1999, at 11:30pm he started the machine he had
created. Half and hour later, and feeling he was introducing a new
millennium for humanity, Trebor Young smiled with great
satisfaction and turned on his creation with himself in the center
of effect.

     Most of this information was sent to various scientists via e-
mail by Dr. Young himself that very night, if he had not we would
not have known the reasons for the disaster that fell upon the late
physicist and the other victims of his thoughtless action.
     By several means, satellites, terrified eye witnesses, etc. we
definitely know the physical effects that occurred after the device
was triggered: A grey sphere grew from where the doctor last stood,
and completely enveloped the house within milliseconds. It remained
a sphere until it was half a mile in radius, then it stopped
expanding vertically but continued horizontally, and hit Hardpoint.
     Hardpoint had a population of about 5,000 people. By the time
the sphere stopped expanding only about 1,000 survivors remained.
The area of effect had grown at a consistent rate until it began
claiming victims, then it slowed as more and more people entered
it, but not slow enough. Until it consumed a certain amount of
people, it only slowed to just faster than the average human could
run. 
     Then stopped cold, leaving the horrified survivors, who had
been celebrating the new millennium, staring at a vast, gray, oval
sphere that had wiped out most of their community. 
     It existed for approximately a day. 
     The town and the surrounding area were evacuated before then.
And a good thing they were, for when the bubble imploded, it left
only hard vacuum behind in the large area it had once occupied. It
destroyed the rest of the town and the shockwave deafening, even
twenty miles away.
     Why it stopped in the first place is unknown, but there are
many theories. The most popular was that the sphere was the bloated
'soul' of Dr. Young, changed into something no one had never seen
before or believed possible. The energies that 'inflated' the
sphere, and thus the growth, were from that another dimension
hinted to in Dr. Young's last e-mail. The mass it consumed was
irrelevant, however, the people of Hardpoint were not. It
assimilated their 'souls' into itself, slowing the expansion. A
compelling argument was the way the sphere seemed to reach for the
town. When it imploded, all the mass became the same form of energy
as the sphere was made of and 'exploded' into another plane of
being, one which is being tentatively explored by a few people who
have been affected by the only side-effect known to be caused by
the tragedy at Hardpoint.
     For around the globe, on every New Years since that day, a
very few people...change. Mostly around North America, why is
uncertain, but no area of the globe is untouched. More changed when
the sphere was created, but a few more appear every New Years.
     These people, and there is no telling who will be affected,
gain abilities that sound straight out of the comic books, or old
myths and legends.
     One of those affected took momentary control over all TV
signals and made an announcement to 'label' those with different
power levels. He never did so again, the strain was too much and
exhausted his energies past the point of recovery. Unfortunately,
these names have stuck so everyone today uses them. 
     Lowest level are the 'slights': people who do not change and
gain very low-power abilities and can usually remain undetected. 
     Medium level are the 'avatars': these people change into a
semi-energy form, usually somewhat close to their own, and they do
not age while in this other form. The more powerful of these people
can use some of their power while still 'normal' but normally
change to do so.
     High levels belong to two sub-classes: 'Demi-gods' and 'Gods'.
     Both share this: their human form alters(Demis only slightly),
and are believed to be immortal. Demi-gods are very powerful, in
one case several avatars ganged up on a Federal agent who had
become a Demi. They lost quickly.
     The Gods are almost another class entirely. Powerful to the
extreme and thankfully, very, very rare. Those affected are almost
not human anymore, and you can normally tell if someone is a God on
close inspection, unless they take percautions. They can even give
lower-class powers to others, but this is highly unusual. No one,
except perhaps another God, can take on an medium-class or
experienced God.
     It is said that only a God can take on a God. I believe it
after witnessing the destruction Henry Jones, aka the AntiChrist,
unleashed and he was new to his powers as well. Fortunately, the
normally neutral and somewhat mischievous Canadian God, Puck(as in
Shakespeare) helped with the problem, being more experienced with
his own powers but never using them at the needed level until then.
Several law enforcement Demi's helped him, and the job was over
before the few other Gods who cared came. Puck's only complaint was
that people were calling him Oberon or Loki as a result of the
AntiChrist's death. In his favor, he didn't have much choice over
the matter.
     With their powers so varied and so wildly different in
strength, it has been hard for laws to be drawn up for these
affected individuals. Like Puck once said after the AntiChrist
issue, "Laws? LAWS?? HAHAHAHAHA! Sure, sure! Just remember, all you
government officials, you may become a Slight or even a God
yourself next year. I suggest being very, very careful in your
discriminations; you may piss yourself off later if you don't!"
     It was a valid point, however scarcastically he phrased it.
And amazingly the politicians took it to heart, letting people
adjust to the fact that some people posess these powers now. Most
Points(the general name for the afflicted) are trying to fit into
society, some are the usual abberations in human nature. The ones
with the most trouble are Avatars, but even they seem to be getting
along.    
     There is normally little overall trouble with the Point-
affected. The Demi's and, more importantly, the Gods do not want
people to fear them overmuch and, if they have to, enforce the
peace if things get rough in their territories and there is Point
involvement. 
     When that does occur, despite their oft-different methods,
they are very effective.
     In the first few years, however, things were very chaotic...

Title - Puck

PART ONE

     Erik hid a grin as he calmly walked away, hearing outraged
shrieks coming from the home economics classroom's doorway. I
wonder why they're so upset, he chuckled to himself, Robbie hadn't
morphed the long-distance pictures too much. Jason had taken them
when they had had a pool party this summer at the stuck-up
Jennifer's. Some bursts of laughter told him the boys at least
appreciated the summer pictures as winter holidays were almost at
hand. He swung into an empty room where his fellow pranksters were
muffling their laughter.
     "Mission is a success, Commander?" the red-headed Rob
chuckled.
     "Most definitely," Erik replied formally, making the two crack
up again. He had a way of making anything he said sound funny or
deadly serious when he chose and he was doing the latter now. "The
payload was delivered without a hitch and the enemy base is in
complete chaos." He grinned. "Not to mention spitting nails of the
titanium variety."
     "Jennifer will not be pleased if she finds out who did it. As
if she didn't have a good idea already," Jason warned but Erik
waved the worry away.
     "Nobody knows your long-distance hobby and I don't know anyone
else with that sort of camera. Besides, everyone knows I don't do
two things like this two days in a row." He smiled smugly as if
saying they were fools to think he'd let himself be that
predictable. "I've always waited a few weeks before the next. I can
protest that someone else did it as I walked by to frame me, it's
crude and not my style at all." Rob chuckled.
     "What isn't?" he commented wryly. "And get away with it as
usual. Haveta admit, Erik, you liven things up around here."
     Erik shrugged innocently. "Someone has to," he said before
turning around for the door. "I'd better look the 'heinous act'
before anyone comments on my absence." He waved and left to the
sound of their chuckles.

     Erik calculated things correctly and he didn't get blamed for
the prank. Jennifer and her Snoot-Group had torn the pictures off
before he reappeared on the scene asking what was going on. A few
people HAD seen him do it but he knew they had no love for Jennifer
and her crew. She had accused him but his sally that it wasn't his
style at all stopped the blame from touching him before it started.
They never did find who did it, much to the black-haired Jennifer's
ire and continual vigilance for the culprit.
     This was his last year of high school and Erik wondered what
he should focus on in University as winter holidays came. He was
intelligent, nobody argued with that, had slightly pale blonde hair
and sky blue eyes, an average face and body. He wasn't buffed but
kept in decent shape. His personality was his best asset, as most
of the girls he had dated occasionally told him. He had a wry wit
and made them feel special even if he didn't stay with one for
long. 
     His parents wondered who he had got his sharp humour from. His
father, Donald Clay, was a police inspector who was methodical in
everything but didn't share his son's humorous streak, he did
chuckle occasionally and look bemused at some of the stories of his
offspring's antics. He didn't think it was criminal behaviour; Erik
was too intelligent for the criminal class he usually dealt with
and had his father's morals deeply ingrained in him. No one really
got hurt, and his victims were the ones who deserved it most, or so
Donald eventually found out in the end. 
     His mother, Amanda Clay, was a potterer/sculptor and the
basement had a room dedicated to her work. The irony of her
acquired last name didn't escape her. She was sunny in disposition
and cheered his father when work depressed him, his father never
failed to be amazed at how his gloom never wore her down-it seemed
to make her more sunny as if to counteract his discouragement with
the system. But unlike him, she suspected she knew where Erik had
gotten his wit from.
     She loved shakespeare. And at an early age she had read A
Midsummer's Night Dream to him. He hadn't liked it overmuch but for
one character, Puck. Amanda had said the Puck had a clever mind and
a taste for doing good, if in his own mischievous manner. Erik had
taken that to heart as some things will for children, not to be the
Puck, but to emulate him. He'd forgotten that event being too young
to recall the specifics but Amanda hadn't and marvelled the effect
that event had had on her child.
     And due to Fate, it would have an even more powerful effect on
him on New Years day.

     Erik yawned as he got into the kitchen just before noon, he'd
come home late after a friend's party for the new millennium. To
his surprise, both his parents were glued to the television,
watching CNN. He came over to them, puzzled. 
     "What's up?" he asked. His father turned a grave face to him.
     "Something terrible happened in a North Dakota town down south
and killed thousands of people, or so the media says. Nobody's
quite sure."
     "Look!" Amanda gasped and Erik turned to the television. The
screen was showing the town now as it was being evacuated. What had
made his mother gasp was the giant, grey dome that appeared to have
swallowed most of the buildings. The thing was enormous! Erik
stared and gulped.
     "What could've made that??" he asked, but both parents shook
their heads mutely. The phone rang and he numbly went to answer it.
"Hello?"
     "Erik! Man, have you turned on the tube?!" Robbie's excited
voice babbled from the receiver.
     "Just now, yeah," he confirmed. "That thing looks damn spooky
to me."
     "You ain't heard the half of it! The guy who did it posted a
really large post to the newsgroups on the internet. I even got a
copy of it before the government managed to wipe it off. This guy
was seriously cracked, Erik. What small part I could understand
says he tried to enlarge his soul. He did THAT alright. Jesus! Took
out most of that town with him too!"
     "The dome was made because he enlarged his soul?" Erik said
sceptically. My parents looked at me, startled, when I said that.
"Yeah, this guy was cracked. Give me a copy of his post later?"
     "Sure thing. Man, this is so sci-fi it's scary."
     "As long as it doesn't turn into a B-class horror flick," Erik
retorted, getting nervous silence in reply. "I'll see you tomorrow,
Rob. We're both going to be busy today, I suspect." He agreed and
I hung up. After Erik told his folks what his friend had said, his
father turned back to the television.
     "Whatever this scientist did, it definitely had an effect," he
commented.
     No one could deny that.
     
     They were glued to the television as the town was evacuated
and remote cameras set up. It was a media event like the gulf war
had been save this was more close to home than most would've liked.
More friends called for both Erik and his folks all day. His father
was called in, just in case some nuts tried anything, so only he
and his mother saw what happened around ten o'clock.
     The remote cameras saw the dome vanish instantly and the
effects were quickly felt as nothing but vacuum remained. The
closer cameras were destroyed as the station automatically switched
to the ones further away. We stared numbly as what remained of the
town was flattened by the massive implosion, it made a sound like
a thunderclap after a few seconds as a violent windstorm was
created.
     "Dear Lord," Amanda whispered.
     Erik just watched numbly as events unfolded, but he started
feeling a prickling sensation all over which he eventually could
not ignore. He tried scratching but it didn't help, neither did
rubbing his skin. His mother noticed and looked at him in concern.
     "Is something wrong, Erik?" she asked him.
     "I don't know," he replied with a grimace. "I feel pins and
needles all over me all of a sudden." He blinked and looked at the
TV. "Maybe that thing did it; making some people itchy. You think?"
She looked scared and worried so Erik tried to reassure her. "It'll
probably pass, like static or something similar. I'll take a shower
and," he yawned, suddenly tired, "go to bed. I'm still recovering
from the party." Amanda stood and hugged him for comfort before he
left. She stared after him, feeling an odd dread and...
     Expectation?

ERIK'S VIEW...
     
     I hated the prickly sensation on my skin and the shower only
made things worse somehow. But I was tired and collapsed on my bed.
I was very quickly asleep, surprising actually, considering the
feeling kept going and should've made relaxation impossible.
     I would've had even more trouble if I had known what I would
wake up to the next morning.
     Later, Mom and Dad told me events before the discovery. Dad
had come back around seven a.m. the next day, tired and beat even
if nothing had really warranted his attention. He was told by Mom,
who had stayed up all night, about my itchiness and he became
concerned. They both went upstairs to my room to get more
information from me about the itch, but when they came into my dark
room and turned on the bedside light, they got the shock of their
lives.
     I normally sleep on my back which made the changes easy to
see. My hair had grown long, a little past my shoulders, and
changed to a brighter yellow. The face my parents knew so well was
now more angular and slightly leaner with arched eyebrows. Hawk
nose, reddish lips that were slightly thinner, and higher
cheekbones. When Dad, shocked, pulled the covers off of me he saw
that I had grown in length and my frame thinner; my PJs were short
on me now. My hands were long and elegant and skin now milk white,
rather than my usual dusky rose. To top everything off, when Mom
brushed my hair out of the way they saw my ears were pointed like
a Star Trek vulcan's would be but more delicate.
     Their activity stirred me at last and I blinked, showing deep
blue eyes. The stunned expression on their faces made me frown.
     "What? I wet the bed or something?" I growled, not being an
early riser. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, then frowned deeper.
"What the heck...?" I muttered, still not awake yet but feeling a
drag on my head that shouldn't have been there.
     "Son, maybe you should..." Dad started to say but he was too
late.
     With now widened eyes, I felt my longer hair with shaking
hands and brushed my altered ear. I gulped and traced the points I
now possessed. Then I took a better look at my hands, flipping them
over and over, hardly believing that they were mine. I swallowed.
     "I guess that itch was a little more serious after all," I
said with a weak voice. "What do I look like?" I asked my parents.
     Mom sat on my bed, and brushed a trembling hand through my
silky hair with awe and fear in her eyes. "An elf, Erik. You look
like an elf."
     I may have been not a little terrified but I was damned if I
would panic like most people. "Better than a troll," I chuckled. "I
wonder if I'm not the only one," I wondered, trying to take my mind
off my own problem, and my Dad's face grew grim as I said that,
even as concerned as he was for me, he realized the problems this
would cause for others more likely to panic.
     "I hope not, son. I pray not."

     After I had stared into the bathroom mirror, digesting the
change that had occurred, we soon found out from the news that I
had been far from the only victim. People all over had experienced
changes of an unusual nature and not all the same way as one
reporter on CNN summarized:
     "To those who have just tuned in, I shall recap the last few
days amazing events. After a terrible tragedy in Hardpoint, North
Dakota, there have been people all over the world reporting strange
powers and changes in their bodies. It seems no coincidence that
these people all felt something at almost the exact same time the
enormous dome of Hardpoint vanished, leaving a crater behind. These
reports are more frequent nearer the town but all nations seem to
have been afflicted in some way.
     "Some who haven't changed at all can do things you would
expect a stage magician to do; these are the most frequent. Next
are those who seem to flicker into another body entirely before
returning to their normal state, these people claim to be able to
do this in an increasingly longer duration now than their first
time. These are rarer than the first group. Then there are those
who actually changed physically." My family and I paid closer
attention to this. "The changes are not extreme for most but all
have had their appearance altered to some degree. These seem to be
developing abilities as time passes but the final strength of those
powers is unknown. All appear to have some measure of increased
strength. This group appears to be the rarest yet."
     "Boy, I guess I'm lucky then," I muttered. Mom hushed me.
     "The people afflicted are totally random. Race, profession,
intelligence, or place of occurrence, nothing appears to have made
a difference. It is this reporter's opinion that the police will
have a lot to do over the next few months to calm things down.
Edward Daniels, CNN, signing off." Dad turned off the TV so we
could assimilate the information.
     "You know," I said, musing. "I do feel something. Kind of a
feeling in me, growing. Really odd."
     "Puck!" Mom blurted. Dad and I turned to her and stared, she
in turn stared at my features. "I've always privately thought that
the shakespeare story, A Midsummer's Night Dream, that I told you
when you were young had influenced you a lot, especially the
character of Puck."
     I blinked as that memory returned to me. "You think that's why
I look like this?"
     "Could be," my father mused thoughtfully. "What did you
personally think Puck was like?" he asked me.
     "I think I confused him a bit with the King of the Elves
actually." I grinned at Mom's resigned expression. "I was into
comic book heros at the time too so I'd made him into something of
a mischievous, magical hero that could do a lot to villains. Using
his wits, magic, and mighty sword to defeat bad guys and all that.
It didn't last long."
     "It appears to have been long enough," Dad mused, looking at
my elvish form. I had to laugh.
     "Beware, vile villains! I am the magnificent Puck! Alakazam!"
I cried, thrusting a palm up. The puff of fire and white smoke that
burst from it frightened me as much as my folks. "Okay," I said
slowly, "I guess more than my body changed." My laugh was more
nervous now as I turned my palm to stare at it.

     Mom wanted to take me to a hospital but I flatly said no. I
finally convinced her when I asked her if a hospital could really
do anything for me at this point in time. She had to say no but
looked so worried that I hugged her to reassure her. Gently after
the initial start; that reporter was right about increased strength
for Mom squeaked a protest when I put more pressure on her than I
realized.
     "Sorry," I apologized. 
     "That's all right, Erik." She sighed reluctantly. "I suppose
it means you're still in good health."
     Dad kept his own opinion on the hospital matter, but I think
he agreed with me. I also think he realized, as I did, that going
to the hospital meant possibly undesirable media attention. What he
suggested instead, practical and methodical as ever, was that I try
to control whatever powers that I had gained before I did something
accidently.
     So for the next three days I stayed in the house, mostly
trying to find some way I could leave without attracting attention
BEFORE I attracted attention by NOT leaving. Rob and Jason often
called me on the phone but fortunately they were too excited by
what was going on in the world that they were glued to the TV and
Newsgroups. I did the same as I was more involved in the matter and
kept me informed. For those afflicted, their powers were becoming
stronger. It was happening at wildly different rates but everyone
agreed, they were increasing. I felt it too and told Dad everything
that felt differently.
     But whatever had occurred, I couldn't say I didn't enjoy the
power I had gained to a degree. Everything I tried came from what
I imagined of my old hero Puck, but it tired me while astonishing
myself and my family.
     For I could fly! Well... it was floating at the moment; it
took a lot of concentration to get even a few feet off the ground. 
     My strength increased as well; I could lift Dad without too
much strain, but reports were coming in of others doing more.
     An... awareness also came to my attention. It occurred when I
tried doing that fire and smoke trick again and faintly sensed my
energies flowing when it occurred.
     Which led to an exploration of my, hopefully, greatest
ability: spells.
     I tried doing all sorts of things but I couldn't; I just knew
it was beyond my power and ability - for now. But the one thing I
COULD do was illusion, and that I began to explore with great
enthusiasm, seeing its potential. Minor illusion spells didn't take
a lot of power, just concentration and practice.
     My mother soon found me in the kitchen, seated on one of the
chairs and frowning at two apples on the dining table.
     "Erik? What are you doing?" she asked curiously, still getting
used to my new body. I smiled up at her.
     "Working on an experiment. Could you pick up these apples?" I
said offhandedly. Mom tried, but her hand passed through the first
one she reached for. She jerked it back, wide-eyed, like it was a
snake but she saw me trying to suppress my laughter and relaxed
into an angry state, directed at me.
     "Erik!" I dropped my amusement under her glare and gave a
sheepish shrug.
     "Sorry, Mom." I sighed in frustration as I returned my gaze to
the false apple. "Actually, I'd hoped you would appear to grab it."
Mom shook her head and came closer to me, peering at the red twins.
     "They don't look the same," she offered.
     "Oh, I already did that," I explained as I turned at her, "but
I'm working on differences and realism now." Mom gasped as
something occurred to her.
     "Could you make yourself look..." she hesitated, "..normal?" 
     "I tried, Mom," I ran a hand thought my long hair, "but I'm
not quite strong enough for a illusion that big yet. Maybe in a few
days I will." Then I frowned again, with a different thought.
     Mom saw this and became concerned. "Erik? What is it?" I
looked her with a seriousness in my eyes that I doubt she'd seen
often and despite my changed appearance, I could tell she saw Dad's
solemn eyes.
     "Dad's been worried for days, and I just realized why." I
paused as Mom drew closer. "I had thought that people would cause
damage with these powers in the initial first week, but they can't
if most are still weak like I am. It will be perhaps two to three
weeks before any start to be able to do much real damage." My face
turned grim; I was a policeman's son so I had a fair idea what
people on the wrong side of the law might do with suddenly acquired
powers. Mom looked concerned and afraid, for my father will be
facing those who do. I reached a decision.
     "I'm going to need help."

AUTHOR'S VIEW...

     The trio who arrived at Erik's house on the morning of the
fifth were understandably puzzled. Rob and Jason could understand
themselves, but Erik had asked them to bring Robbie's older sister, 
Anne, along, which puzzled them to no end.
     Anne was a even tempered sort of person and was on good terms
with her younger brother. The unusual request was a curiosity that
she ruefully knew Erik had counted on to lure her here. The reason
was probably to do with her passion for making her own clothes, she
did a lot of unique designs for others that paid well. For her
brother's friend had sometimes asked unusual details about clothing
and her help in making some rather bizarre items for their pranks.
Erik wasn't a dumb kid, she thought amusedly after remembering the
completed pranks in their entirety, you couldn't call him that.
     As it was winter, she used her car to get them all to erik's
house and was greeted by Erik's smiling mother. She said her son
was in the basement on the computer and waiting for them as they
kicked off snow and untied shoes.
     Erik's basement was mostly a large room with a separation
between it and the furnace and laundry room. His computer was
located on a desk at the far end. As the three stomped down the
stairs, spying a figure seated in the computer's chair, Jason said,
"Yo, Erik! We're here, so what's with the mystery already?"      
     The figure in the chair swivelled around with a grave air. Rob
and Jason froze, bug-eyed, while Anne gasped aloud and covered her
mouth with her hands as she stared. Erik broke out laughing as they
stared at him, the sight of an elf in robe and slippers must've
been something.
     "I'll give you three guesses, Jason, and the first two don't
count!" he chortled, then sobered a little but still keeping his
smile. "That dome thing hit me pretty hard appearance-wise. What do
you think?" He stood and spread his arms gracefully for their
benefit.
     "Hooooooly shit, Erik," Rob said, stunned as he looked at
Erik's new body, "is that really YOU??"
     "No, I'm the Easter bunny in disguise," Erik shot back,
irritated. "And I've come for all the eggs you stole." He strode to
stand in front of his friend and mimed a couple of slaps to Rob's
face. "Yes, it's me, numbskull!" He turned to bow at Rob's still-
staring sister. "And oh, thanks for coming, Anne, I need help big
time. My clothes don't fit anymore and, while the robe and slippers
ARE fetching," she giggled at his arched eyebrow, Erik's new
appearance made it much more effective, "I prefer pants."
     "My God," she whispered, looking me up and down, "you really
do look like an elf." Then a kindled fire began to shine in her
eyes. "I've never made clothes for elves before; this could be
interesting." Erik couldn't believe it, she actually licked her
lips at the notion.
     "Uh oh, Sis," Rob groaned. "You have that 'experiment with
clothes' look in your eyes again."
     "Do you blame me?" she retorted, not stopping her studied
examination of the new elf's body.
     "Nooooo...." he admitted slowly. "Not really. I just hope you
know what you've done, Erik."
     "I'll survive," Erik said dryly. Jason spoke up then for the
first time. He didn't bother commenting on Erik's new look.
     "Why did you call us all here, Erik, besides for Anne's help?"
     "I had to show someone, guys, as school's tomorrow. I'll be
able to make an illusion to make myself look normal but I wanted
you to know."
     "Illusion?" Jason asked with interest, then smacked himself.
"Oh yes! All those who changed on New Years have powers. I forgot."
     "I doubt you will later," Erik said ominously. The three
looked apprehensive now. "I wouldn't worry about myself, but those
who were hit were hit RANDOMLY. That includes people you wouldn't
want to HAVE powers, and while mine aren't much right now, they're
still growing. I estimate a few weeks before some people decide to
'play around,' unless the power growth stops and I'm not taking
bets on that. Life is far too unfair for that to occur."
     "Wait a minute," Jason said, looking at me as if I was crazy.
"You aren't going to actually try and FIGHT these people, are you?!
Your dad won't let you do that!" Erik sighed, walked up to his
friend, and calmly picked Jason up with both hands at the waist. He
let his startled and slightly shaken friend down after a moment had
passed.
     "Jason, my parents are the ones who gave me my morals, and I
stand up to them, even if they are in my own way. I won't go out
unless it becomes obscenely obvious that the police cannot handle
matters." Erik grinned. "Besides, some afflicted may be in the
police department so I might not need to at all. But no one is
experienced with this, guys. So that makes those who practice the
most the experts."
     Rob spoke up. "Er... I have a personal theory as well."
Everyone looked at him so he went on. "Does it sound reasonable
that the most common type of afflicted will have the weakest
powers, while the rarest have the strongest?" Erik looked
thoughtful.
     "Perhaps. That does sound sensible, but I suppose we'll see."
He looked startled when Anne produced a tape measure and started
checking his measurements. She grinned impishly up at his bemused
glace downwards as she started at his waist.
     "No time like the present, milord."
     "Puck," he corrected, "not 'milord.'" That made her stop.
     "Puck???" she exclaimed in disbelief. "As in Robin
Goodfellow??" He shrugged.
     "When I was I kid I sort of did the usual kid hero-
overpowering with him after my mom read that story. That's my
theory why I look like this." Anne looked pained, she'd liked that
play, and resolutely went back to measuring the elf.
     "Never mind," was her flat comment. Rob and Jason shrugged at
each other, confused.

ERIK'S VIEW...

     I'd never been this nervous going to school before but as I
walked into my first class I relaxed as no one noticed anything
odd. Anne had done a rush job for a shirt and pants and I was
greatful for them. My shoes were a little short right now but I
managed. Rob and Jason were surprised at my normal appearence and
surpressed their chuckles when I winked at them.
     Of course the main gossip at the school was what had happened
at New Years. Winnipeg was one of the closest cities to Hardpoint,
thus a higher concentration of people in one place, which had been
near the border, and it appeared to have affected more people in my
city and others nearby than anywhere else in the world. Perhaps the
dome's effect had been drawn to the North Pole. Who knew?
     In any case, people were talking about others who had gotten
small powers, people able to change into another body with powers
for a few minutes and then back, and the rarest of all, a change of
the person him/herself and then stuck with it. I kept an
interested, but normal face, though all this. However, I did make
a sour face at one piece of news.
     There was no justice in the world. Jennifer, leader of the
Snoot-Group, was one of the ones who could become another form for
a time. Oh well, at least they wouldn't pick on others who could
now, I thought. Sadly, this was not the case I found at lunchtime.
     Well, I HAVE been wrong before. Rarely, but it happens.
     Rob, Jason, and I walked into the school cafateria to find a
crowd around a grade ten girl by the name of Cindy. I knew that
because I'd played a trick on a girl who'd been verbally sniping
the short, cute, and very shy girl with short red hair and
freckles. The problem was that her red hair was now long, curly,
and completely unable to hide the long sheep horns that grew high
on her forehead and curled around the sides of her head. It made
her quite attractive really, in an exotic sort of way perhaps, but
those horns framed her locks rather nicely. She looked a little
thinner too, but the red on her face was pure embarrassment as she
tried to eat her lunch.
     "Hey, Miss Sheep! You look like you need to be sheared!" one
of Jennifer's crew jeered. Cindy hunched deeper and I decided to
break things up before things got ugly. I wedged my way through the
crowd, my friends following close behind.
     "All right, all right, sarcasm crew's here. Break it up," I
told everyone when I reached the clear space around the girl's
back. My own reputation was well established in the school and
people started going. Jennifer wouldn't let it go that easily
though.
     "What's your problem, Prankman?" she sneered, using a kickname
for me I didn't like much and she knew that fact well. 
     "Ease off, Jennifer. I hear you've changed too, so why pick on
Cindy here?" I saw the girl turn beside me to stare at Jennifer,
who had flushed, in surprise.
     "At least I don't look like a sheep when I change!" she
retorted.  
     "That's ewe, sheep is plural. Get your insults right at
least." My curiousity got the better of me then. "What DO you
change into?"
     She smiled wickedly and her body shimmered for a half-second,
then stabilized into a semi-naked form. Christ, she wore only a
toga and sandals, which showed off her even more shapely form to
devestating effect. Her straight, raven hair went down to the
middle of her tanned thighs. The face was still hers, but there was
something about it that made it appear she was probing your very
soul. She smirked as she posed, throwing her hair back.
     "How do you like THIS? I..." her voice died and she stared at
me in combined shock and surprise. "I... can tell if someone is
lying to me or not when... I'm like this." The males of the room
were drooling at her but she kept her eyes on me, and I had a
sinking feeling why. She shimmered back to normal, still staring at
me in disbelief.
     "Hm," I said calmly. "Must be fun. And for MY demonstraion I
call apon my able, or is that unable, assistant Robbie!" Rob hammed
it up, bowing, people cheering him as they laughed. I whispered in
Cindy's ear and she reluctantly stood up to stand face-to-face with
Rob, who was over a foot taller than her. I nodded and she gripped
his waist with both hands. 
     And lifted him with a little effort.
     Needless to say, my audience was a little surprised. "In case
you people haven't heard," I said dryly as Cindy kept the grinning
Rob in the air, "those people with their bodies changed always get
a sizable strength increase. Er... Rob gets airsick easily so you'd
better put him down, Cindy." There was more laughter as she just
dropped him in her hurry and he stumbled a bit from the fall.
"C'mon, guys, let's monopolize this pretty girl's conversation."
     "But... but..." she said weakly as I gently led her back to
her seat and we sat all around her. "But I look freakish," she
finished quietly.
     Jason snorted. "Well, at least you've got better equipment to
fend people off."
     "I don't know, Cindy, people have worn fruit bowls on their
heads, and gotten away with it. Now THAT'S weird. Besides, they
make you look more attractive in a way," I mused.
     "Huh, you're right, Erik," Rob agreed after a few seconds
study.
     "You... really think so?" she asked timidly. Our emphatic nods
got a warm, stunning smile out of her and I think she claimed
Jason's heart with that smile for he just stared at her when she
did. She noticed and ducked her head with a blush.
     "Say," I said to Rob with a grin, "did I see a guy with wings
and a bow and arrow just pass by?" Near oblivious Rob just blinked
at me in confusion while Jason and Cathy blushed together this
time. I chuckled.
     "I guess not."

     Cathy didn't know about her powers until later when she played
her flute in the school band, or so I heard from Jason. Her playing
seemed to come a little more natually to her now, and the whole
band seemed to feel the same way whenever she played. The music
teacher was confused about all this until only the flutes played
and he winnowed the cause down to a very surprised red-head. Poor
Cathy was tired after for her power, while subtle, was weak still. 
     Still, she was happier what her 'curse' also had a gift, and
one that she liked, and liked a lot.

AUTHOR'S VIEW...

     By herself, Jennifer cornered Erik after school on his way
home. She knew his usual route and when he turned into a back lane,
there she was.
     "All right," she said, looking directly into his eyes. "Why
did you look the way you did?" Erik sighed; his illusion hadn't
been good enough to fool her other form's power.
     "Not everyone shows off, Jennifer," I said quietly. "Even
though I would've been quite the splash with my new look, wouldn't
I?" I smiled crookedly at her wide-eyed look that I had admitted
it. "No, I'm waiting, because other people in this city who are far
more unsavory than you or I ALSO have our growing powers, Jennifer.
I'm being cautious, and if you CAN hear and see the truth in your
other form I'd be careful too. Some people don't want the truth
known, Jennifer," I said in total honesty, "so be very cafeful."
She was pale, understanding a few of my reasons for hiding. "Maybe
I'll go public as myself later, but only if I feel ready. For
now..." I concentrated and floated around her with a chesire smile.
"The Puck is just getting ready for our changing world. See you
tomorrow, Jennifer."
     Erik walked away with her staring after him, the raven haired
girl's thoughts whirling in confusion, the hidden elf's words
making her suddenly unsure of herself. At least Erik hoped so, if
she became more cautious...
     All the better.

PART TWO - PUCK IN PLAY

ERIK'S VIEW...

     Damn, damn, damn, and DAMN!!!
     My worst fears were tossed out the window and replaced with
even graver ones. Around eleven days after the initial changes my
power levels jumped, and jumped a lot to my dismay. I heard similar
stories at school with those who had a second form and with Cathy,
who was the only one in my city area who had changed like me. The
first, least powerful group stopped their power increase at that
time.
     But Jennifer could stay in her form for almost two hours now,
instead of ten minutes! And she confessed to me secretly that her
powers of truth seeking had grown as well. And Cathy could now play
in band practice without fear now; her ability now appeared to help
students learn music at an increased rate so the music teacher, and
the entire band, were very happy with her. Her and Jason were
starting to become a fast item as well. Those horns of hers made me
think of the 'randy as a goat' phrase and I wondered about those
two. 
     As for myself...
     I could actually, truly fly now. Mom and Dad were a little
startled when I woke up one morning and felt strong enough to fly
to breakfast. I didn't realize the jump until I woke up fully and
told my father about it.
     "I don't like that piece of news one bit," he sighed, and I
agreed with him.
     I could do more with illusions now as that 'sense' of mine was
stronger and allowed for more control. I even made myself
invisible, but when I moved my shape rippled like a Predator cloak,
obviously needing more work. I began experimenting with more than
illusion too, expanding my abilities. One priority was a protection
spell to shield myself or others. I felt I would need it.
     I was sure I was around the power level I had imagined for
Puck in my youth, but it was like that was merely the mould which
was expanding as my power grew.
     As it did for others.
     For the incidents I had been expecting began happening.

     Minor note: Winnipeg weather is not conducive to 'crime
fighting,' I thought on the fifteenth as I shivered. I stood on a
ledge of a building during one of my fair city's cold snaps. And a
record-breaking -42 degrees celsius as well. While my body was more
durable now, I thought my pointy ears would fall off as I stood in
the getup Anne had made for me.
     I had to admit, she did good work. And the cape was a REAL
plus at the moment.
     "Heat spell," I muttered, "Next time I practice, I make a heat
spell. Don't forget the damned heat spell."
     The cape was a dark blue and just the right weight. A gold
stitched, slightly lighter blue shirt with tasteful and rather
beautiful designs matched well with the matching, rather snug as
well, pants. The high black boots she had dug up that were tied to
the legs were a nice addition. Where Anne had gotten the belt, he
didn't know, but the silver and golden metals that twined into it
looked very well made. The dark blue gloves helped with the chill
and I wore the cloak's hood over my head. It was created more to
fit my elf appearence than to fight crime with but I figured it
would do. I wasn't planning to go full time on this bit.
     The action below was heating up though. An apparent twobody
person had shouted his intentions to blow up downtown with his new
powers an hour ago. Nutcase. His power was anything BUT nuts as his
body became a silvery metal form, T-1000 style, and projected beams
of not inconciquencal power from his eyes. Bullets bounced off that
reflective skin. I didn't want to become a vigilante if I could
help it so I watched, wincing at times, as the confrontation went
on.
     The police had some people change on the force too, however,
and one had just arrived on the scene. My eyes were keener so I saw
him become a... cowboy?? Good grief, was my bemused thought.
     However ridiculous, he materialized a lasso and tossed with
uncanny accuracy and speed towards the felon. It slipped around the
guy perfectly and the grinning cop started dragging him in.
     He should've ducked behind an object or something. The villain
of this drama tried breaking out of the rope but couldn't, even his
eyebeams couldn't hurt it. The cop-cowboy was another matter, and
a beam hit him in the shoulder making him cry out in pain and the
rope vanished as he collapsed. The silver guy laughed crazily when
freed.
     "Stupid cops! You cannot defeat the RAY MAN!!" he screeched in
a tinny voice.
     "Ray Man?" I muttered disbelievingly. "You've got to be
kidding." I shook my head sadly. "Our education dollars at work
here." I sighed and raised my hand. "I just CAN'T let a stupid
asshole like this guy win." My hand crackled with energy and I let
fly a lightning bolt towards him. My aim was a little off: I hit
his foot. 
     Well, maybe it wasn't off by THAT much. Ray Man???
     "Arrggghhh!!!" the idiot screamed in pain after my bolt left
his foot smoking a little. He hopped and clutched it in his silver
hands as he cursed. To give him credit, he recovered fast and sent
a beam to the spot I had been standing at a few seconds ago. Like
many people would say, I'm not stupid. This guy also tossed beams
around like nothing, he had to run out of steam soon. 
     As my previous position exploded, I launched another bolt.
     To the other foot. 
     He screamed again and was literally hopping mad, or more
accurately, hopping AND mad. I'm sure the police must've been
enjoying this since he had injured one of theirs. I had gone back
to my old position to loose the bolt but he must have seen my
distorted form as I left. His retaliatory beam hit me in the lower
arm and hurt like fucking hell. My yell of pain accompanied my fall
to earth as my concentration for flying was shot. I made an attempt
to slow before I landed and only winded myself when I hit a car
roof, denting it. My cloak spell was a self-sustaining spell so it
was still going.
     "You fucking bastard!" the so-called 'Ray Man' spat hatefully.
"You hurt me, you shifty fucker!"
     I slid off the car roof in some considerable pain and decided
to talk for a moment to catch my breath. I dropped the cloak spell
and stood tall. I then pulled back my hood with my good arm and the
guy gratefully acted startled. "If we're going to be calling
ourselves names you may as well call me Puck," I said calmly as I
could.
     "Puck?? PUCK??!?! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!" he laughed loudly. "Stupid
name for an asshole who looks like a sonavabitchin elf!"
     "If you READ you'd know it makes perfect sense," I shot back
and smiled as a semi-transparent sphere surrounded me.
     "Fucker!" he cried angrily and shot a beam at me but the
shield spell held. Energy diffused wildly from the hit location,
much to my satisfaction and his increasing rage.
     "Now 'Ray Man'..." I mused as if to myself. "That has such a
lack of... intelligence about it." He screamed and fired again,
twice, but I sustained the spell which would have otherwise have
collapsed after the first beam of the volley. I raised a crackling
hand as I smiled grimly. "That's three times. I'd better even
things up, yes?" I slammed three lightning bolts into his stomach,
left shoulder, and right kneecap in quick succession. It also left
him falling on his face in screaming pain before reverting back to
his human form. He just didn't have the energy to sustain his
'other self' anymore, but he sure had to have had a considerable
store at the beginning. I looked around and saw shattered glass,
concrete, and cars and shook my head at the waste.
     I stayed where I was in case he was playing possum, I doubted
it but cunning sometimes made up for intelligence. Finally, I
dropped the shield and went over to him. Turning him over I saw
that his lightning burns were no longer there. Handy, I thought,
feeling my own throbbing arm. I waved to the police and they rushed
over to handcuff the unconscious guy as I backed away to give them
room.
     "I highly suggest someone find out how to prevent him from
changing and doing this again," I suggested as they lifted him up.
"Like holding his face in a position that will hurt himself or do
nothing and with something that won't change with him like his
clothes do." One of the officers, the cowboy I realized, came up to
me and looked me over.
     "Nice work, son," he said in a drawl, looking rather
regretful, "but we'll need you to come with us. If you'll change
into your original body, please?"
     "Why do I need to come with you? And you ARE looking at it; we
don't all switch and heal instantly, you know," I said, a little
more frostily than I intended, my arm HURT! He looked surprised,
then sighed.
     "Sorry, son. I didn't realize. But we do need to know who you
are and your statement."
     "Look," I began, "I'm NOT a 'super hero.' I helped out because
I was EXPECTING this to happen sometime. It was BOUND to happen
with all the different kinds of people affected, and most of those
tempted to USE it. After tonight I can hope that they realize they
can't just do that and I can save myself injury." I winced as my
arm throbbed. "I now realize I couldn't let that guy just keep
going until he ran out of juice because that would've meant others
could do the same thing, police or no police. This is the first
case of this sort in Winnipeg, and maybe in the world. You have
enough to book him, and KEEP him booked. That sets a precedent, so
make it stick for that nut or there'll be even more trouble than
what will happen now.
     "And realize this: we are still increasing in power, the first
level has stopped but I don't know when the second, your's, will.
The first was eleven days, you may be longer or shorter, and then
I MAY experience another increase of power." The officer's eyes
widened at this. "I just don't know, but that's my best guess. I
want to keep order in the city, officer. But you'll have a hard
time of it, damage and life-wise, without more backup. Most
offenders will be the first and second levels because there are far
more of them than the rarer third."
     "And what do we do if a third level like you goes rogue?" he
asked me.
     "After a second power increase? I'm not sure," I admitted.
"But I'd keep the possibly in mind." I hopped up and hovered in the
air in front of the now-amazed officer. "And pray," I added before
gliding into the sky, cloak ruffling behind me, and, with a ripple,
vanishing.

     I got yelled at when I got home, all of it Mom as she quickly
pulled off my shirt to look at my painfully throbbing arm, tears of
worry in her eyes. Dad wasn't there as he was still out because of
that idiot.
     "WHY did you do this, Erik?!" Mom cried as she applied
disinfectant to my extremely burned forearm, me wincing at the
sting. "This was just plain STUPID!"
     "You're right, it was," I sighed. "If I'd put a shield up I
could've kept blasting him till he dropped without a scratch.
Unless he had hit the supporting wall."
     "This whole business was stupid!" Mom cried at me.
     "I had to show those people with the power that others with
the power could and would fight them if they did something like
this, not just the cops. Some still won't care. Mom, if someone
like him had appeared in a crowded mall, and if didn't go, he
killed everyone in the mall, how would you feel if I was one of
those killed in the crowd? I went and acted because I had to." I
paused. "And also because of that name. 'Ray Man'??" I shook my
head again at that title. "Personally, I hope I don't have to, but
I doubt it."
     Mom looked at me for a long time, biting her bottom lip. "I
just don't want to lose you, Erik," she whispered as she finished
bandaging my arm. I slowly hugged her and she wrapped her arms
around me tightly.
     "Hey," I said with love, "the Puck never loses."

AUTHOR'S VIEW...

     Erik found that he healed more rapidly as his arm repaired
itself several times faster than normal. Another blessing.
     The incident, 'Ray Man', and Puck made the newspapers the next
day, causing considerable uproar. Some crazy photographer who had
actually stayed close to the action even got a photo of Erik flying
off. Cameras weren't affected by the illusion so it was clear. The
cop-cowboy had even repeated my arguments to the reporter so as to
get my words to the general public, I heard from Dad that the
cowboy got in a little trouble for that.
     The hubbub around school was considerable, there was even talk
of the school going around to the affected and recording what they
could do. Anything that was to be done would take months to even
begin though. Erik and Jason wasn't terribly worried about Cathy,
her music talents were purely educational and non-harmful. Erik
jokingly told Jennifer to be careful not to be drafted into jury
duty and got a frown back. With that talent of hers, that old O.J.
Simpson trial probably would've ended in a few days rather than a
few months. It was kids like that fellow who used a water
controlling power to drench some girls that people worried about.
     The first level powers could be worrisome too. Some burglar
had been going around the city and opening normal house locks at
will, literally. He got too cocky and got caught, but it was a good
example.
     A far grimmer one was Toronto. Seventy-eight killed, four
hundred wounded by shrapnel when a lunatic like Ray Man who could
blow up objects at a distance went on a rampage. Police finally
shot him when they found him; his face had no mouth in his second
form, and, unlike Ray Man, he wasn't bulletproof. Thus, it was
discovered the hard way that if you died in your second form, you
died period.
     Erik, with a warmth spell, often went flying invisible over
the city. It was good practice as his power increased steadily. It
was semi-rare, but he was sometimes he actually found crimes being
committed.

     "Come on, you whore!" a brown-skinned, burly man slapped a
heavily made up, crying woman who was on the snowy ground with
three other men around him in the shadowy, sheltered alleyway,
breath frosty in the cooling night air. "I know you're the one so
don't you fucking hold out on me! Fucking shifter, think you too
good for me?"
     "I c-can't!" she protested weakly. "N-not like..." She was cut
off in mid sentence by another slap.
     "Ah, hell with it," one of the standing men said. "Let's just
our rocks off in her and leave the..." A chilling laugh made him
stop and he whirled to the alley's exits, his fellows pulling out
guns while he took out a knife. "What the fuck was that?" he
whispered angrily.
     A form silently, eerily, shuffled out of the darkness, wearing
a long black robe and holding a pole with a long, curved blade. The
head rose and the men around the woman felt their neck hairs stand
on end. For it was a skull looking out from the hood.
     The Grim Reaper.
     Death.
     The men shot at the figure in panic but it didn't even slow
the thing down as it advanced. The woman began to scream as the man
on her leapt off to back away in a panic. Then the Reaper shifted
position and gripped the scythe tightly in it's bony hands. It made
a few, deadly silent swings of the gleaming blade.
     That did it, the four men ran in terror out of the alley while
the woman stumbled away from the Reaper in terror.
     "Well, that worked well, didn't it?" a voice laughed out
behind her and she whirled around to look. She gaped at the person
who called himself the Puck. "Okay, Reapie," he chuckled,
"disappear." The spectral apparition vanished instantly making the
woman gape even more. 
     Erik knelt by the woman and looked her over. "You okay?" She
nodded, wide-eyed. "You want to get out of here before those shots
attract attention?" She nodded again, more frantically. "All right
then," he said and before she could protest, he picked her up and
then FLEW straight up to land on the roof before she could even
scream. "What's your name?"
     "G-Gail," she stuttered, then realized the air around him was
toasty warm. "H-How do you keep warm like this?"
     "Heat spell. Need it for this cold when flying." 
     "Thanks... thanks for the rescue, not many would care to save
a hooker from rape," she said a little bitterly. Gail was loosing
her chill from the ground as he kept holding her in his arms. "Dumb
bastard didn't realize I couldn't shift for him."
     Erik was startled at that. "Shift? Why would he care about
that?" He noticed she was looking at him quite carefully now and
beginning to smile. She was starting to feel that now-familiar, and
delightful, sensation again as the Puck held her. Gail knew well
what it meant.
     "Because he's a man, if a scumball, are you?" Gail teased and
reached up to trace a suddenly sensitive ear, making him start.
Something was making him feel aroused but didn't think it could be
Gail, well, she wasn't unattractive but it was hardly the place to
make out.
     "Ah... I'm more elf now."
     "Oh?" She smiled widely now. "Then our meeting is perfect."
     "Eh?!"
     Her form shifted and suddenly Erik found himself holding a
naked woman who was radiating a sensual fire that made his blood
suddenly pound. Her form was voluptuous and lips sinful as she
smiled at his startled look. "I can only shift if I'm with a
male... I... like!" she said, slowly and teasingly tapping his
straight nose. "And that's why I call myself Nymph." She giggled as
she caressed his ear again and this time the desire from the touch
was increased.
     "So... er... your power is... uh... pleasure?" he asked as he
lay Gail on the snowy roof, making her squeal in shocked surprise
and delight. She wrapped arms around him and kissed him deeply. He
was starting to respond when she broke off the kiss.
     "That's right, elf," she breathed, placing his gloved hand on
a breast and smiling.
     Erik smiled back, figuring it was the right place after all,
and cast heat and illusion spells around the two of them. "Guess
resisting is a lost cause," he commented as his eyes drank in her
beauty. She started to help him take his clothes off eagerly.
     He had never known just how much his endurance had improved
until that night.

     All over the world, more incidents happened as people began to
discover and become more confident in their abilities. Those
affected in warring third world countries began fighting amongst
themselves, believing this new power was to help decide their
conflicts. Casualties escalated when powers clashed.
     With a oil-baron's slave harem, one mistreated lady decided to
leave and left her footmarks on her former owner, literally, for
she was living fire at the time, before escaping and returning to
her home country. On the flip side, another sheik quickly found out
a third-level woman who could shape shift into any female form she
wanted and asked her to marry him. She accepted. A good deal for
the sheik for she was a one-woman harem, and from all reports the
two truly did fall in love with each other.
     A new Jack the Ripper surfaced in London, a first level who
could hide in fog, at least until he met a certain prostitute with
a feline cast to her features. Things got messy; the woman
complained about the blood on her three-inch-long fingerclaws,
which were razor sharp and able to cut though steel, after.
     Some transformations were not all pleasant, especially for
some who had permanently changed bodies like Erik. One man gained
so much muscle he could barely move, and there was a woman with a
similar problem with skin like flexible marble, but it seemed to be
getting easier for her to move as her power increased while the man
kept bulking up.
     Things in North America heated up, the usual sides formed for
control or freedom of those affected and as they were people in all
walks of life it was a difficult issue. There was at least one in
all nationalities, all races, and all political debates. It was
natural for people to panic, these events were slowly adjusting the
normal lifestyle of countries.
     Erik's presence in Winnipeg helped, but he couldn't go out of
town, and he knew he just didn't have the power to do so.
     Until February the 2nd. Groundhog Day.
     That was when the next increase of power happened.
     It was like the difference between the firsts and the seconds.
One day Erik was on par or slightly greater than the seconds he was
occasionally fought to keep order, the next it wasn't even funny.
And people noticed when on next day he creamed a lightning throwing
maniac. He'd got hit, but it merely stung a bit. His own
unintentionally powerful bolt blinded some people and overloaded
the poor idiot into unconsciousness. Spectators noticed Erik's
surprised and startled look at his hands before he left.

ERIK'S VIEW...

     This was getting scary, I thought as I lay on my bed at home.
I took down that second level fellow far too easily. I knew that I
had gotten stronger but now I'm like a second-level fighting a
first! I suppose the second form people will stop increasing their
growth now, which is a relief. But the thirds... At least there are
fewer of them but these new power levels might make things
difficult.
     Not only that, I had still gained power after the first boost,
slowly, but it was a sizable amount.
     Ten days for the firsts.
     A little over twenty days later and the seconds finished at
thirty-some days.
     If the pattern continued, it meant the thirds had over forty
days more to go, over a month. Over a month to become even more
powerful.
     Life was not easy.

     Things settled down when the fact that the third level
affected could usually trample a second level head-to-head now got
around. I certainly would do so if anyone went nuts. Mom was
happier now at least; if a lightning bolt that could shatter stone
couldn't hurt me much, neither could the average bullet. 
     I had improved my invisibility even before the boost so there
wasn't much change there. I flew much faster and if I carried
anyone I made a shield for wind protection. My shields I learned to
shape and could make them unseen, more powerful too. As for spells
and illusions... I tried to expand my knowledge of spells beyond
the few I had created for battle with seconds. I fiddled with
transformations slightly more because of the inclusion of that in
Shakespeare's play, I found I had a talent for it. My illusions
were getting better and more complex. Jennifer couldn't even see
the real me anymore. 
     A new thing that came to me was that I started sensing those
who had power as well as my own. Compared to Cathy, who didn't seem
to have the same ability, and myself, Jennifer was a small campfire
to our leaping bonfires. As for the red-head, the increase of power
only made her and the others better, making the band instructor
almost bowing before her in worship. It didn't go to her head,
bless her tender heart.
     The leader of the Snoot-Group seemed to be subtly pursuing me
for some reason. I guess I knew why, I did look handsome as an elf
and my power WAS growing pretty strong. It might also have
something to do with the fact that she now had a pretty good idea
when someone was lying to her, even in her normal body. I was
usually honest when it came to her and her friends still weren't,
that must've grated on her nerves something fierce.

     Trouble occurred on the tenth. 
     The three of us guys and Cathy had taken to walking home from
school. A couple of blocks away from it however, two odd looking
people were waiting for us. Unfortunately, we knew who they were
for, like Cathy and most others, they were thirds who had revealed
themselves to the public eye. I, being more involved with matters
and my Dad's information, knew even more.
     One was Jonny 'Chain' Steel, age 22. African, afro cut,
slightly paler than most, he had been a happy, relatively fit young
man. Now, he was an unsatisfied negro who had been dealt a bad deck
when his folks were killed in one of the few but bloody inter-gang
shootings that had occurred in 1998. With the loss of his family,
he had fallen into depression, then bouts of rage that surfaced
with more and more frequency. One such had cost him his job as he
dropped out of University. New Years had stuck him like the final
blow of a long series of blows when his hands enlarged to three
times their normal size. But his mood improved as his power
increased. His grip was unbreakable, such was the strength in his
hands and he could crush metal and bone with equal ease at this
point. His overall strength was better than the average third as
well. On the first boost he found he could create energy chains in
his hands and could control them with his will very well.
     The second was Oscar Polinski, age 54. Prematurely white hair,
and slightly wrinkled face on a wiry frame before his change.
Despite my disbelief, he was a postal worker. Average life, average
job, until January 1st. I was surprised he was here at all. The
change had hit only the man's eyes at the time but I noticed he
looked ten to fifteen years younger than he should, they now held
only energy swirls, dizzying to look at so he wore shades all the
time. I wasn't sure what his power was, but it usually matched a
person's physical changes. (Suddenly materializing a gun and
shooting everyone in sight, perhaps? No, no, no... Be serious,
Erik.)
     Both were ignoring us guys and staring intently at Cathy, who
shyly ducked behind Jason after a moment. The black third looked us
over disdainfully and waved one of his huge hands.
     "Get out of here, punks. We only want to talk to the girl." 
     Cathy gripped Jason's arm in fright. I stepped back and took
Rob with me.
     "Uh... We'll see you in a bit, Jason," I said, and only my
long time friends and fellow pranksters Jason and Rob heard the
subtle message in my words. I ran away, Robbie following me around
a fence corner into a back lane where he almost rammed into me.
"Get to a phone and call the police, Rob," I told him. "I'm going
back as someone a little more famous."
     "Gotcha!" he said quickly before running off. After I made
sure no one was looking, my own form vanished.
     Nothing had happened in my absence. Jonny was upset at Cathy's
insistence to keep Jason around, Oscar looked uncertain on how to
deal with it.
     "I said GO, kid!" Chain said angrily and pulled a massive hand
to slap my friend away. That got a surprising response from the
short red-head as she moved to block the slap.
     "Don't you DARE!" she shouted furiously, eyes blazing. Her
curled horns started vibrating with a high pitched hum that
surprised everyone save Cathy, who was glaring at the man who had
threatened her boyfriend. I noticed a wavering in the air above her
head and suspected anything she butted with her head wouldn't be
lasting long. The ominous hum made Chain back off so she calmed
down and her horns went back to normal. She looked surprised.
     "I was wondering when you'd show a red-head's temper," Jason
murmured quietly to her. "Thanks, Cat."
     "Very well, let the boy stay," Oscar decided and Jonny backed
off, "this won't take long to say."
     "Oh good," I said as I dropped from the hover I'd been in and
quickly reappeared, using an illusion of my usual get-up. "I get so
bored with long speeches," I said flippantly, walking closer to my
friends as everyone save Jason stared at me.
     "How did YOU find out about this?" Chain demanded, to which I
responded with a smile.
     "With MY broad range of spells?" I scoffed. "Easily.
Especially since I suspected something would happen after our
second boost in power. You were the most likely anyway, Mr. Steel,
to do something." I was lying through my teeth but I figured they'd
buy it. While I should have, it's not my job to babysit others with
powers all the time.
     "Easy, Jonny," Oscar soothed, placing a restraining hand on
Chain's shoulder. "At least we don't need to find him." He turned
to address me and Cathy. "Jonny and I have been thinking of
organizing some kind of group composed of those changed like we
four have been. You've seen the news, people doing horrible things
with these powers and normals," that sounded alarm bells through
me, "have started to become afraid of our kind."
     "'Our kind'?" I said. "We're still human, even if," I coughed
politely since I was the most obviously inhuman of the four, "some
don't quite look it anymore."
     "Yeah?" Chain sneered. "Well, I don't want to be part of the
'normal' society! Look!" he said forcefully and those glowing
golden chains formed in his big hands. "Is THIS fucking normal?
Oscar and I, we want to band together and get some kind of system
going before the damn normals start slapping laws down on us. The
ones who got only them wimpy powers and didn't change, people don't
care 'cause a lot got hit that way. The seconds they worry more
about but only a little more than some guys who go nuts and blow up
some bus or something. They can still look normal all the time if
they want. Us, one the other hand, don't have a choice! We're gonna
be the most powerful of the bunch and most, like me and the girl,
can't hide that. We'll be the minority with superpowers so we'll be
the ones most feared."
     "Not unless we give them reason," Cathy murmured softly. But
I frowned, predicting the response to that.
     "Girl, people don't NEED reason to fear something," Chain said
forcefully. "They'll turn, oh you may be hot stuff now, but they'll
turn against you in the end."
     "Except we're not much of a minority," I commented, "and the
first and second level affected will fight something like what you
fear. And so will their families and friends. Too many people in
too many areas of society have been hit and they won't want those
kinds of laws. If we try to band together into some kind of elite
group this early we will create EXACTLY the focus people in power,
who would fear us, need to turn the public against those who
changed and didn't have a choice. It is far too soon for anything
like that and I would be very opposed that kind of band."
     Chain snarled and whipped one of his glowing chains at me,
intending to wrap me up in it. It only wrapped around the close
shield I had erected around myself. I had been fighting people with
powers for weeks so I had been ready, he hadn't. I pointed at the
ground beneith him and it exploded with considerable force, fire
erupting from below Chain's feet. It was enough to toss him high
with a howl of pain and his chain vanished from around me.
     Oscar didn't approve. His power manifisted and the world spun
dizzyingly around me and I collapsed to my knees as my balance
became shot to hell. I heard Cathy and Jason moaning to as Oscar
didn't have much fine control yet and affected everybody. I managed
a lesser lightning bolt, hoping to stun him, but it veered crazily
around the man's body. Apparently, he distorted matter and energy
around himself for his own kind of protection.
     Fine, I thought, resisting the urge to hurl as I closed my
eyes, which helped immensely. Two can play this game. I cast a very
large and powerful illusion over the area where we were and I
didn't need to look for this one. But I did when I heard startled
and frightened oaths from two men.
     We all stood on nothing, saw nothing save stars, and
everything was black. Space. I myself saw the real world imposed on
my illusion but everyone else saw only my illusion which I
controlled with my will.
     "Hard to disorient someone when they can do the same to you,
isn't it?" I said as I 'stood' in their eyes. They were wobbling as
all visual clues were substituted with few, new, and unhelpful
ones. We were in a park area so no one else was bothered by the
effect. I helped a frightened Cathy and spooked Jason up and turned
to the lurching men, grimly.
     "Join, or else? Not a wise choice to give to one who named
himself after a trickster, guys." I pointed to the two and 'space'
seemed to start swallowing them whole. It wasn't real and they
managed to struggle successfully as their power rendered them more
immune than normal folks, but it was unnerving all the same. My
grasp on physical delusion was shaky but for this is was
sufficient. "My specialty is illusion, and while it may not sound
like much, it can be devastating is done properly. And I've been
practicing." My voice turned cold. "You've made your message very
clear, so now hear mine: forget this group idea for a while. Maybe
others will try elsewhere, but I hope not in Canada. And if I hear
you trying in the next year, ESPECIALLY 'persuading' others like
you tried here, I will be very, very angry. This is not a threat.
This is a fact. Good day," I finished curtly and I turned to help
my friends leave the illusion's area of effect, ignoring the two
third's cries for help.
     Eventually, we got out and the two with me sighed, relieved,
to be free of the illusion of space. Cathy hugged Jason, lightly,
and turned her head to me. "Thank you."
     "No problem for a friend, Cathy," I said, and grinned as I
shimmered back into my old self, putting my illusion back up. Her
jaw dropped and her eyes widened as she realized who 'The Puck'
really was. "Rob went to phone the cops so we should expect company
soon." Jason nodded, then sighed in relief.
     "Thanks, Erik," he said and winced when Cathy hugged him
tighter but in shocked irritation this time.
     "You knew?!?" she demanded.
     "Hey, it's HIS life, Cathy," he pleaded as she frowned up at
him. "I hoped he would tell you though." He relaxed as Cathy
released him and looked down, embarrassed.
     "I'm sorry, you're right," she murmured, red-faced. Jason
rolled his eyes in exasperation and hugged her in his turn.
     "I never thanked you for defending me," he said softly in her
ear. She blushed harder and wrapped her arms around him in return.
He lifted her head up with a soft sigh. "You should look up more,
Cat."
     "What? I thought you liked the horns," I commented with a
grin. They gave me a glare and I merely smiled.
     Turning back to themselves, they looked into each others eyes
and their faces drew closer together, lips ready.
     "Randy as goats, I'd say, but the second set of knockers don't
match," I remarked, I'd meant to think it but it slipped out. I
slapped a hand over my mouth but it was too late. Cathy's eyes
snapped open and she released Jason instantly, turning to me with
that red-head's temper showing on her face again.
     Uh oh.
     "Errrrrriiiiikkkkk!!!" she growled, stamping towards me as I
backed up nervously. People had walked into the park so I couldn't
simply disappear and fly away.
     "It slipped out!" I protested weakly as she advanced on me.
"Slip of the tongue! You know, that sort of thing." She wasn't
listening so I turned and started running around the park, Cathy
hot on my heels.
     The sight had Jason whooping with laughter as the cops came.

     Later that day...
     "WHAT are you doing NOW, Erik??" Jason said with extreme
disbelief as he stared at me. He had come into my basement to find
me hanging upside down, wrapped with the cord that I hung from.
     "Still can't get that darn Indian Rope Trick right," I sighed
as I swung gently from side to side. "Could you untie me?" He came
up to me and placed a hand on my rope-encased side with a bemused
look.
     "Mind telling me how? Hey," he frowned, "you can fly can't
you?"
     "Quite right."
     Jason started violently when the real me spoke from behind
him. He looked back and forth between me and the illusion with a
comical look. He patted the fake me then hesitantly came over and
poked my chest. "Glah??" 
     I laughed and my other self vanished. "Sorry, Jason, I needed
to test my new illusion. It makes you think you actually touch it
instead of passing through. Works better than that stunt with those
two earlier today. Uh..." I looked at Jason nervously. "She's not
mad at me still, is she?"
     "A little," he admitted, "but she knows you have a warped
sense of humour at times, and saving her from that confrontation
helped a lot too. It wasn't a nice thing to say, Erik," he said
evenly.
     "I know, I know," I admitted with a sigh. "I really am sorry
about it. I know what she means to you," I eyed him, "even after a
month and a half." Jason rubbed his head.
     "Yeah, surprised us too," he admitted in his turn. I grinned.
     "I just hope you can keep up once you do get to that
certain... stage." He flushed but he turned worried. "Oh, don't
look like that," I groaned. "If you have problems, come to me.
Maybe I can whip up a spell for you or find someone who can do it
better. If I'm right, don't worry about it." He nodded with relief.
     "Thanks, Erik," he said gratefully. "And what about your love
life? I hear Jennifer's on your tail and she knows about you."
     "Well... She does look nice," I admitted, "but it wouldn't
last long. We think too differently. Oh yeah, did you hear the
recent news?" I snickered a little.
     "What news?"
     "I checked on the alt.hardpoint.facts newsgroup when I got
back. Apparently some studies have been going on with the two-form
people. You know that their power forms don't transmit damage to
their original bodies, right?" Jason nodded. "Well, the same goes
for germs and sex. The germs can enter their bodies, but don't
effect them and get destroyed when they shift back. Women can't get
pregnant in the second form or get transmissible diseases. Behold!"
I cried as a stunned Jason digested the news. "The birth of the
ultimate contraceptive! Even if they have a disease in their old
body, it don't appear in the second, germ-free one. Driving the
scientists crazy." I smirked. "And doctors panting for knowledgable
two-form assistants for really hazardous illnesses."
     "What about the thirds?" Jason asked, but I shook my head.
     "Hard to tell with that change. Almost all our skins are too
tough too be sure, our powers make things difficult, and there are
far fewer willing to spend weeks in a hospital being a guinea pig.
Good luck stopping them too." I looked up and mused my thoughts
aloud. "I suspect we may be at the very least more disease-
resistant, or totally immune disease. Sex... We'll have to see, but
we might still be able to have kids because our bodies aren't the
energy forms of the seconds. What they'd look like is a big if.
Though," I added, trying to dispell Jason's worries again, "in my
case I may have half-elves for kids."
     We had a good laugh at that joke.