Powers was the tentative title to a social experiment story that I started writing in 2011. I was writing this story on my Facebook Notes (remember notes?) section and had asked people if they wanted to be in my story and what superpower they would want to have and I figured I would work in a bunch of people and their powers as the story progressed. I think I had a manuscript at one time with more than one Facebook friend in it, but the only copy I found was this version including one of my friends. Below is the version from July 2011 in mostly its original form, minus a few editorial changes.
The last thing I remember was having something come over me, it felt like it was two people subduing me from behind and blindfolding me. Struggling, I tried to do something, swinging my arms aimlessly, attempting to do something to free myself from their grasp. They are big men; I punch them and feel like I’ve hit stone. I give up; I’m not a big guy! I have no chances fighting with these guys, I guess I gotta just lean into it and see where they take me, maybe I can do something to get free when I’m away from these two hulking masses. They wrap the sack around my face and all I can see is the bright glare of the fabric staring at me in the face, backward words talking about Idaho and the Best potatoes in the US.
They grab both arms and I feel insignificant, their grasp reassures me that I couldn’t have done anything to fight them. They grab my arms and twist them behind my back, handcuffing them. Where did they get handcuffs I wonder, cops don’t do this so who would just go around handcuffing someone unless they had a few screws loose. I keep trying to listen to where they’re taking me. They drag me over towards the street from what it sounds, sliding the door from a van I suppose, and shoving me inside. There are no seats from where I’m lying. I feel the two giants climb in as the car sinks lower. I’m supposing there are seats in the back of this van, must have just removed the middle row, I can smell shoe leather beside this faint smell of potatoes from this sack they blindfolded me with, hence my presumption.
The car moves and I can feel each turn become an endless cycle, every so often a turn comes and excites me because this long drive becomes drone fast. Bumps, become what a dread, it seems like they’ve hit every pothole that there was to hit as I bump into the walls and the giant’s feet as they kick me away from them. What did I do to deserve this? Driving for ages it seems, I hear no conversation the whole ride. How can people be so quiet? You would think if someone kidnapped you, they would be taunting you or something. They know how screwed you are, why not make a mockery of it? Well, these guys didn’t, so I guess I was fortunate on that part.
“We’ve arrived.” I hear the driver finally exclaim after a long while of driving. He stops the car and I hear the window rolling down, he’s talking with another man from outside. The two exchange words about ‘the package’ and the man outside tells the driver he’s clear as he continues driving. Finally, we park, after what seems like an eternity of driving. They slide the door open and the men get out as they pull me by my constricted arm, dragging me out of the vehicle. They both grab my arms and drag my feet until I walk with them. Still blindfolded we walk a little ways and I hear automated doors opening and closing, sliding back and forth, moving their rivets and gears.
Finally, we stop again. I hear the driver walk away from us and some kind of scanning sound then a boop as if he got clearance or something. We walk again, such a hassle this is, being completely subdued and forced around. We stop again and I feel them reaching back for my arms, they undo the lock and remove the handcuffs then rip the sack off my face. Man, I feel so abused! My first vision is a man in a lab coat. This man isn’t too much taller than me, 6 something I’m figuring. He has dark hair and dark-rimmed glasses that make him look like he knows what he’s doing, but still is creeping me out since I have no clue where I am. I look around and lay eyes around this room, its round-shaped, walls all white except for a gray line wrapping around the room. I guess it’s for variety. Not much of it in this place so far. The man clears his throat and addresses me as I direct my attention from my curiosity to this guy who I guess I have to listen to now.
“Mr. Bogucki! So glad to have you here!” The man exclaims as he writes something on the clipboard he holds tightly as he speaks. “You may not know why you’re here, but we have found out there is something special about you and we are here to see if we can harness it and use it as a benefit to all mankind! With your help, we will be able to provide nourishment to millions of people and help others in ways we haven’t been able to help before. Will you join us in our mission?”
‘What is this guy talking about?’ I think to myself. I’m nothing special, and there’s nothing out of the ordinary, I don’t know what he’s talking about.
“…And if I say no?” I answer him back.
“Well, you see, there’s no opting out of this. That was a more rhetorical speech I was supposed to announce since we’ll be taking you into custody and removing all traces of your existence.”
Terrific, something from some Sci-Fi show or something. Now I have to become these guys’ lackey. This is just peachy, really, what did I do to deserve this?
“Gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to take our guest to the holding cells, that way our fine guest can get accommodated.”
“Sure thing boss” One of the hulking masses replies.
He looks like Stone Cold Steve Austin, the other one looks just as strong, if not built up even more. Bald guy too, both of them in black shirts. Yeah, I definitely couldn’t win against these guys. They grab me both by the arms and drag me down this long, narrow hallway.
It’s blue! What a freaking change from all this white all around me! I look to my right and there’s a large window that stretches with the hallway. Looking inside, it’s a huge cylindrical room with little chambers all plugged into sockets swirling around in levels around this room. Some of these are just empty doors; I imagine other people like me will be here when those rooms are needed. We walk to an elevator and go up several floors, exit, and walk into another white hallway. Go figure. Except this hallway is speckled with blue doors every couple of feet away from each other.
We walk down the corridor, it’s quiet, and the only thing that can be heard is the hum from the A/C vents as we approach a blue door with the number 21814. I guess that’s me as they shove me into this blank white room and slam the door behind me. There’s nothing in here except a camera that is surrounded by glass, I look next to me, I hear a faint pounding as see a guy throwing these shining yellow orbs at the camera and yelling. Garbed in an orange jumpsuit, kind of like a prison uniform with the numbers 21815 branded in black down his arm. I take a closer look and realize through the daze of my eventful day that it’s Trey Chambers!
“Trey!” I yell as I’m banging on the window/wall. “Trey!!”
Trey looks at the banging then runs over to the window/wall. “Hey! You’re stuck here too?” Trey yells, trying to make conversation through the muffling glass.
“Trey I can’t really understand you, speak louder!” I yell.
“What? My pants aren’t on fire!” Trey replies.
Trey nods his head and puts up one finger. He steps back then launches a yellow burst into the window/wall, smashing it to bits.