The Space Needle
The Space Needle
His first problem with going out in public was the information holograms. Gary saw one, so everyone must be able to see them. Until he learned to control them, Patrick would have to be careful what he touched. So far, mainly living and technological things brought them into being. Other than that, just the thought of the armor could make it activate.
He made his way down to the garage, unlocking his bike. The lock came up with screens as well, so he put it back quickly.
He picked up his bike, turning and mounting. He kicked off, shooting up the ramp to the world above.
It turned out that the world above was not as he left it. About a third of the people were walking backwards, and the the sidewalks themselves were grass covered turf. Things were very random.
He pedaled to the coffee shop, needing to talk to Andy. He got there just before they locked up. Andy was heading out, nearly colliding with Patrick.
"Oh! Hey buddy! What's going on? Other than the weird crap everywhere..."
Could Patrick tell Andy about the P.A.R.T.?
"Andy, can I trust you with something?" Andy was caught off-guard by the request.
"Of course you can! We've been friends for years! Tell me anything!"
"You won't believe me."
"Try me."
As Patrick drew in breath to reveal his new secret, he was grabbed from behind. His mouth covered by a sweaty hand, he was yanked into a alley. It didn't take him long to realize he was being mugged. He stopped struggling. His mind was clear, unlike the last time this had happened. As he was held at gunpoint, his mind was racing, considering options. He heard Andy hit the ground next to him.
The one with the gun jabbed it against Patrick's neck. On his skin.
What he read next made him laugh.
"Wow! You scared both of us with a empty gun?" The two men stumbled back as Patrick stood up. One tried to jump onto him, but Patrick shoved him back down. "Oh, no you don't!"
What he didn't know was that there was a third man behind him. He had managed to sneak up behind Andy, and now had a knife against his throat.
"Just put your wallet on the ground, and I'll let him go!"
Patrick turned. "That's my friend. Let him go."
"Put your wallet down!"
The plates emerged, forming over his entire body. "Let. Him. Go."
The man was sprinting behind the other two. Patrick disassembled the armor, walking to Andy.
"You ok?" Andy nodded, fear on his face.
"What did you just do?"
* * *
"So I'm supposed to believe you have amazing powers that you don't know how to control, and that you're going to use them to fix the city?"
"Andy, I don't believe most of it myself. But so far everything Tom said has been-"
Andy cut him off. "Who's Tom?"
"The machine inside me."
"Yeah right! There's no way a machine could just BECOME you just like that!" He snapped his fingers for emphasis.
Patrick turned down a alley between two restaurants. He formed Basic 2.
Andy gawked. "But...that's impossible! No way! And kinda gross! Doesn't it hurt?"
Patrick shook his head. "Not a bit. It feels completely natural." He retracted the plates. Andy shuddered. "Stop doing that!"
"Watch." Patrick pulled out his phone, the screens appearing again.
"What?! How?!"
"I keep telling you, I don't know! I wish I had some help..."
'You only had to ask.' Toms voice surprised Patrick.
"Tom! Where are you?"
'In your head, silly!' Andy looked like he thought Patrick was insane. He was talking to the air for crying out loud!
"Tom, I need help! What should I do?"
'First of all, you don't need to talk. Just think. And second, get to the tallest building you can find.'
He called back to Andy as he ran out of the alley. "Got to go! Talk later!"
* * *
The fare for visiting the observation deck of the space needle was forty dollars. Patrick forked over the cash, walking around the curved hallway to the yellow elevator. Stepping inside, he took note of the three other occupants, a young couple and a older man carrying a briefcase. The operator reminded them that their ears would pop, and to enjoy their visit. The ride took a little under a minute, and upon reaching the top, the doors snapped open with a hiss. Patrick made a beeline for the balcony. He opened the glass doors, and found himself gazing down at his city.
'Hey! No time for games! Look for that thing that came out of the sky!'
Patrick scanned the streets below. The grey forest was riddled with patches of confusion.
He couldn't see in much detail, but the people running and screaming around the city hall served as a pretty good clue.
'There! Don't move...' Patrick's vision jumped, zooming in on the building.
'Woah! Weird...'
'Hold still!...oh. I see him. Damn.'
'What? What is it?' The creature was sitting on the roof of the building, swinging his mismatched legs over the edge.
'His name is Discord. He's a draconiquis. And he most definitely should not be here. I see why this was a Directive 7.'
'Whats Directive 7? And who's Discord?' Patrick had more questions for each answer he got.
'Directive 7 means an M Class planet is threatened by a superior being or race. Discord is from the K intercept, a direct spawn of the Shadow. Being from a intercept weakens the matter around him. On top of that, his creation was an accident, random chance. It gave him the force of chaos. Those combined let him do anything he wants. He is the most second most random and chaotic being ever to exist! If he were to combine forces with the Pink One...*sigh*. Long story short, we are partially screwed.'
'Um, Tom?'
'What?'
'He's staring at me.'