Ready When You Are

Karl flexed the hand. The device strapped to his wrist blinked green, its tiny screen cold against his skin.

Ryker circled him. His gray hair stuck out wild, his face set in focus, like he didn't get a good amount of sleep.

"Alright, kid," he said. "Let's start simple. Shift. Pick something. A deer, maybe?"

Karl nodded. He took a breath. "Okay." His blue eyes narrowed. He clenched his fists and his chest tightened. He willed it to happen. His body shuddered. This was new, but he had to try.

Antlers sprouted fast, scraping the air. His legs stretched and his hooves clacked down. He was soon a deer.

"Got it," he grunted. His voice came out warped and unrecognizable through the shift. Shifters could speak even in their turned form, so why was he finding it difficult?

Ryker stepped closer. "Good. Hold it. How does it feel?" He glanced at the device. The light pulsed faster now.

Karl swayed. "Heavy," he said, finding a way around speaking clearly. "It feels like I'm fighting it."

His hooves slipped and sparks crackled from his hands. Lightning zapped out wildly, almost meeting Ryker. It hit a shelf instead. A bottle shattered and glass rained down.

Karl cursed loudly. "Shit!" His form snapped back. He stumbled and was human again.

Ryker ducked the sparks. He laughed. "Damn, kid! You're a live wire. What triggered that?"

Karl rubbed his wrist. The device beeped shrill. "I don't know. It just… slipped out." He frowned. "Can't you tell from that thing?" He lifted his arm. The screen flashed numbers, spiking red.

Ryker squinted at it. "Yeah. Energy's all over. Shifting spiked it, and then the lightning blew it up. Do you feel that pull? Like it's yanking you?"

Karl nodded slowly. "Yeah. Like it's dragging me somewhere else." He paced a step. "What do I do? How do I stop it?"

Ryker scratched his scar. "Focus. Pick one thing. Lock on it. Try again. Deer only this time. No fireworks." He pointed to the the space Karl had formerly stood in. "Go and try again."

Karl exhaled hard. He closed his eyes. His body tensed. Antlers pushed out again and his frame shifted. He stood as a deer, trembling.

"Okay," he muttered. "I'm holding it." His voice shook. A gust of wind swirled suddenly. It knocked a crate over.

He flinched. A fire flickered in his palms. "No, no, no!" He dropped the shift as flames sputtered out. He staggered back. "Why's it doing that?"

Ryker grabbed the device. He checked it quickly. "Spikes again. The wind hit right after the shift. Fire tagged along. You're leaking, kid. Your core is too fractured." He set it down. "Have you tried another ability? Not shifting this time, maybe fire alone?"

Karl wiped sweat from his brow. "Never thought to since they all come at once." He paused. "Should I try now?"

Ryker grinned. "Yeah. Fire. Aim it there." He jerked his head to a steel drum in the corner. "Small. Controlled. You can do that, right?"

Karl swallowed. "Maybe." He raised his hands. He focused hard. Heat prickled his skin. A flame sparked, dancing in his palm.

"Got it!" He grinned. Before he was done giving himself a thumbs-up, lightning cracked out and struck the drum.

He jumped back with a yelp, "Damn it! Not again!"

Ryker laughed louder. "You're a mess, Karl! But that's progress. Fire first, then the zap. The device says it is peaking less wild." He clapped Karl's shoulder. "What'd you feel that time?"

Karl shook his hands out. "Like it's fighting me. Fire wanted out, but the rest pushed too." He frowned. "Can we really tame it?"

Ryker opened his mouth to speak but a loud knock cut him off. He tensed. His eyes narrowed. "Get in there," he hissed. He pointed to a partitioned corner, a curtain of patched tarp. "Now."

Karl froze. "Who's that?" His voice dropped low. His heart thudded.

Ryker shoved him gently. "Move. I don't know yet."

Karl ducked behind the tarp. His breath hitched. He peeked through a slit as the door creaked open. Two figures stepped in—rogues, rough and lean.

One had a shaved head with tattoos curling up his neck. The other chewed something and spat on the floor. Their coats were heavy and worn out, hinting at a life outdoors.

Tattoo stepped in first. "Ryker, you old dog," he rasped, grinning wide. "Still holed up with your toys?" He glanced around. His tattoos gleamed under the bottle lights. "How d'you manage it? All these machines, and still no damsel to warm your bed?"

Spitter chuckled. He spat again on the floor. "Yeah. You got a mech girlfriend stashed somewhere?"

Ryker leaned on the workbench and smirked. If there was anything he knew about these two, it was that they were always going to tease him.

"Damsels are trouble and machines don't nag." He paused. His eyes glinted. "Besides, my wrench keeps me warm, and has better curves than your last date, Tattoo."

Tattoo barked a laugh. "Fair enough!" He looked around the space, eyeing every piece he could find. "Ryker. Heard you're around. Seen a kid? Tall, dark hair. Word is out that he's got crazy powers. Fire, shifting, all that noise."

Ryker leaned casually on the workbench. "Nah. No kids here. Just me and my junk." He waved a hand. "You chasing ghost stories now?"

Spitter squinted. "Word is spreading fast. Someone saw him down here. You sure?" He stepped closer, his boots scraping the floor and sending panic waves into Karl who was still in hiding.

Ryker shrugged. "Sure as I'm standing. The Underbelly is full of rumors. Probably some drunk shifter showing off." He shrugged. "You wasting time or what?"

Tattoo glared. "Better not be lying, Ryker." He turned and started for the door with his partner.

Immediately the door slammed shut and Karl slipped from the partition. His face was pale. "They're looking for me." He began to pace around the workspace. "Word is out already? How did it spread so quickly?"

Ryker locked the door. "Scavengers talk. That fight you had? Someone saw. Tongues wag down here." He rubbed his jaw. "You're hot, kid. Too hot."

Karl stopped pacing and spun on Ryker. "Am I bringing you trouble? Huh? Do you want me gone?" He held his breath, his eyes widened. "What does this mean for you?"

Ryker raised a hand. "Calm down. Trouble is my trade. You're fine here." He paused. "But we need to stay off the grid. No popping out, no flashing powers outside. Got it?"

Karl nodded slowly. "Yeah. Got it." He ran a hand through his hair. "What about them? Are they coming back?"

Ryker shrugged. "Maybe. Rogues don't quit easily. But they're fishing. There is no proof yet." He pointed to the device. "We will keep practicing. Are you still in?"

Karl exhaled. This wasn't how he planned to spend his week, but right now, there was no choice. All other plans before his crazy core eruption were now cancelled.

"Yeah. Let's do it." Karl flexed his hands. "What's next? Fire again?"

Ryker grinned. "Yes, fire. Then we push it. See how far you hold before it cracks." He stepped back. "Ready when you are, kid."

Karl squared his shoulders. "Okay. Let's go." He raised his hand and prepared for the chaos.