Back To Earth

Loca stood beside the doorway of the sleek DMX aircraft, observing as the students filed in with surprising calmness and order. Everyone with their bags dropped them off at the little luggage compartment at the rear of the DMX. As the last of them found their seats, Loca couldn't help but chuckle to himself at their unsuspecting behavior.

Inside the cockpit, Leo sat in silent disbelief at the sudden influx of passengers. He couldn't understand how the aircraft could contain so many people at once since it was a small one. Well, Loca, had deftly maneuvered a lever in the cockpit before coming down, causing the rear of the plane to extend and reveal a hidden compartment filled with additional seats that seamlessly emerged from the aircraft's frame. Leo was awed when he looked behind him to find that the DMX has lengthened to about twice it's size.

Outside, at one corner of the field, the six staff of the academy was watching the kids go. "They are so troublesome, but I'm gonna miss them," Paola Rosa said, faking a sob. The other teachers didn't say anything. Rosa was the only woman among the staff, but she seems to be the most feared. Nobody dared counter her words.

As soon as the last student jumped in, Loca effortlessly leapt into his designated pilot seat, fumbled with some keys and buttons, and the familiar hum of the engine signaling the beginning of their journey. Leo couldn't help but marvel at Loca's expertise and the aircraft's hidden capabilities.

As it took off, Leo wondered if this was an airplane or an helicopter. From the little he knew of aviation back on earth, planes have to taxi down a long runway before they could take off, but copters don't need runways since they can just ride in the air due to their rotating blades. Now this DMX aircraft was built like a typical airplane on earth, but it doesn't need a runway to fly. It just rises like a copter.

Another of its distinctive features is the disappearance of its wings as soon as it lands. The wings fold in automatically anytime it touches the ground. But after take-off, immediately after reaching a certain altitude in the sky, the wings come out again, definitely to maintain balance.

The engine roared to life with a powerful rumble, propelling the aircraft upward and into the deep blue sky. Loca's skilled hands guided the plane effortlessly through the air, his eyes focused on the horizon ahead. The students inside the cabin gazed out the windows in wonder, their excitement visible as they embarked on this journey back home.

As the DMX aircraft soared higher and higher, leaving the ground below in a blur of speed, Leo found himself in awe of Loca's piloting skills. The once cramped cockpit now felt alive with the energy of the students and the hum of the engine.

The journey only lasted an hour before they started their descent. "Strap up, kids. We are about to land. Your quirks won't help you if you get a lump for hitting your head on the cabin walls."

Leo chuckled silently at the warning. Still, the students did not say anything. This baffled Leo a lot because he expected the kids to have turned this journey to a bitter one. Are these not the students that attacked him and Loca just because Loca announced their departure? Leo couldn't shake off the feeling that they are up to something.

The plane's wheels screeched against the gravelly runway as it touched down in front of a solitary building protruding from an endless stretch of dry, blue land. The building is dome-shaped, standing solid like an ant hill in the middle of a desert.

A flurry of dust filled the air, swirling in chaotic patterns as the aircraft came to a stop. Loca, pulled a lever and the doors opened down to form a stairs for the students are alight. He got down himself, and with a determined stride, he led the way towards the mysterious structure.

The students, adrenaline coursing through their veins, hastily grabbed their bags and hurried to catch up with Loca. As they approached the building, their eyes widened at the sight of two imposing giant guards armed with large plasma guns standing sentinel at the entrance. The tension in the air was almost visible as Loca exchanged silent words with the guards, a subtle communication that seemed to have a deep understanding underlying it. With a final nod from one of the guards, Loca gestured for the students to enter, his eyes reflecting a blend of caution and determination.

Leo, who hasn't made any friends yet but a few enemies, lingered behind, taking in the surroundings before eventually following the others into the building.

Inside, the atmosphere was cool and sterile. But as big as this inside of this done structure is, there was nothing inside. Nothing but a machine covered in a thick black wrapper. Loca yanked the thick clothing off, and out emerged a...

"A portal machine, yes. Let me give you kids a brief history as I set this to work."

Two hundred piercing eyes stared at Loca as he fiddled with the chest-level machine. "After the attack on Earth, Luxus started to seek a way to travel to Earth faster in case of similar occurrence, but there was no headway. Not until a man traversed into our universe and precisely landed on Luxus. He said his name was Robert Eno. According to him, he has been observing the multiverse for a while now searching for one precious thing to complete his experiments— a concentrated sample of Synogen gas.

He said his brother was the greatest inventor in the whole multiverse, so he would provide us a plan for building a portal that makes one suddenly appear at a set location. The Luxus leaders considered his request for while and concluded that the deal was worth it. So, they allowed Robert Eno fill his gas tank to the brim with concentrated Synogen gas, and even take one of our mutated plants that breaths out the gas for us. He then disappeared never to be seen again... So here we are with a portal machine that enables you travel many light years through space without even taking more than two steps. This technology would have been advanced and would have come in handy when the Xollante attacked. We could have joined forces with Earth and sent those monsters flying back to their planet."

After his conclusion, he pressed a little switch and the machine started a soft vibration. "Step back," Loca warned the students that were pressed close to the machine.

Out of the portal machine came a strange swirling blue energy. It started forming and shifting the space around where it formed. It grew larger and larger till it has covered almost half of the round dome too. There were short gasps from most female students, and a few hard breathing from some cowardly boys.

"The portal already has an outlet on earth which I have confirmed to be set. Dear earthlings, you only need to take a step into the portal and the next step will be on earth's brown soil. Do not fear at all. It does no harm. And please be reminded, Earth's atmosphere is now safe for mutants like you. You won't breath in pure oxygen any longer since it has all been combined with Synogen. Have a safe travel."

To confirm his encouraging words, he dipped his right hand into the portal. The hand went in deep but it didn't show on the other side. He pulled it back out and showed his palms to the students. "See? It's safe. Who will go first?"

The first volunteer was a female. Her steps bounced as she walked forward. She tied her long blond hair in a ponytail and stepped casually into the portal like she has done it before. The others were awed.

"Woah, that was a cold one," Loca told himself. A notification showed on the machine in a somewhat digital format.

[ONE PORTAL TRAVEL TO EARTH SUCCESSFUL]

That was when the others decided to make their own move too. They all rushed forward, eager to show their fearlessness. Everyone pushed forward except Leo. He was standing alone behind them all, watching with dreary eyes and thinking of the coming challenges he'd face on earth.

"C'mon, chicken. Let's go. Are you scared of a little swirling circle?"

Leo looked up to see who was calling him, and he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that it was the boy that had attacked him with fire balls in the assemblage back at the academy. He stood waiting while scratching his red hair, scattering it even further. Leo hesitated at first, but decided to walk to him. He doesn't want to appear cowardly in front of a boy his age.

"That's right, chicken. Let's move. See you on the other side." the boy ran into the portal after giving Leo a threatening stare one last time. Leo was the last one remaining.

"Well, Leo. I guess this is where we part," Loca said with a wide smile. "remember why you're going back home. You must make every moment count. Rediscover that powerful quirk, rise up the rank, and one day burn the Xollante race. I'm rooting for you."

Leo stared glum-faced at Loca. He really didn't want to leave Luxus anymore, but he had to do it. "Thank you, Mr Loca. Thank you for everything."

"You're welcome, Leo. It's my pleasure," he bowed curtly, mimicking the earthling's popular gesture.

"Will I ever see you again, Mr Loca?"

"You may, if I have an assignment on Earth." Loca then dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a thin blue device. It was the bubble maker he was fond of. "Take this, and make good use of it. It might not appear very effective but you can hide it under your shirt and pretend you have a bubble-forming quirk. It will keep you away from being bullied. Just remember to charge it at intervals."

Leo smiled as he collected the device from Loca. "Thank you once again, Mr Loca."

"It's not Mr Loca. It's just Loca."

"Okay, Mr Luxus," Leo said finally as he took his first step towards the portal.

"It's not Mr Luxus either. Just Loca," was the last thing he heard before the portal swallowed him.