Paranormal

by
Nathan C. Weber

    As I walked sown the grand gallery plaza of the institute, I marveled at the sheer size and ornateness of the main building. I ascended the massive step and entered the huge double doors decorated in the baroque style...

    At least, that's what I wanted to believe. Actually, the building was in the industrial district of town. The "institute" consisted of a few run down warehouses, no doubt rented out strictly because no one ever hangs out around here. I walked to the front of the largest warehouse building. Above the large truck entrance was a wooden sign with the words "Psychic Science Institute" neatly lettered across it. I still had vague ideas about whether or not I was actually doing the right thing, but considering the events that occurred in the past, I realized that I had nothing to lose. My biggest concern was that these institute people would be major quacks and lunatics, in which case I would have nothing to gain, either.

    I looked down at my feet to see if Myxczy was still with me. A small lizard-like creature with tiny antennae and a big, pointed beak of a nose stood clinging to my calf. He looked up at me with those big, shiny, bulbous, black eyes of his. Apparently, he was aware of my uncertainty, and quite frankly, he shared the sentiment. He began to chirp and warble like a red-breasted robin. Strangely enough, I understood him.

    "Don't worry, Myxczy," I said giving him a comforting pat. "Nobody's gonna lay so much as a glove on you. I'll see to that."

    I remember when I first met Myxczy. I was sitting in my room reading a book on paranormal events, when out of thin air he appeared. Naturally, my first reaction was to scream. I leapt of the bed and ran for the door. It was then I noticed that he was more scared of me than I was of him, especially since he dashed under my comforter and shivered madly. I decided to try and make my acquaintance instead of calling the cops. I touched the quivering mass under the cover. He immediately shrieked and tried to run away, but I was able to scoop him up into my arms. I slowly peeled the cover off of him and gave him my best smile. He was still shivering and even whimpering a little. He was really scared. I cuddled him gently and took him to the kitchen for something to eat, although I had no idea what he ate.

    He was like no creature I had ever seen before. I was quite sure he didn't come from Earth. He had a round little pot-belly and huge, shiny, black eyes. He had two fingers and a thumb on each hand with sharp little claws. Despite that, he never used them against me though I had no doubt they could cause some damage. His legs were like those of an upright dinosaur, except that on his three little toes he had suction cups instead of claws. Two little antennae twitched every now and then on top of his bald little head. Though he looked like a lizard, his skin was smooth and warm to the touch.

    I looked in the fridge and was disappointed at what I saw. There wasn't anything in there except raw vegetables. I decided to give it a try, however. Much to my surprise, the little critter let into those vegetables with as much relish as a dog would attack a steak. Soon, I had an empty refrigerator and an alien lizard sitting on my counter chirping away happily. I smiled at him.

    "I wish I could understand what you were saying."

    As soon as I spoke the words, a little, high pitched voice rang out.

    <Thank you for the meal. It's been a while since I had anything to eat.>

    I was taken aback.

    "Did you say that?"

    The lizard leapt back in surprise. Obviously, he could now understand me as well. After a few preliminary introductions, we began to get to know each other. We've been close friends ever since.

    I started to open the door and stopped short. I looked down at Myxczy. "Just to be on the safe side, you'd better camouflage yourself."

    Myxczy nodded vigorously in agreement, and after twitching his antennae a few times, he gradually became invisible. I opened the door and let Myxczy in first. I could just make out the distorted colors his body pigments produced as they adjusted to the change in background. I entered the building. Inside was an amalgamation of homemade electronic equipment haphazardly put together. Several young college students were running around in lab coats checking monitors and graph machines. One of the students noticed me and walked over with an outstretched hand.

    "Hi, I'm Sparky. You must be Wendy Stouffer." He had a heavy Tennessee accent.

    "That's me."

    "Glad you could stop by," he beamed, shaking my hand firmly. "You said that you wanted to learn something about psychic phenomena. Well, first I can show you around, then we can talk in my office."

    I looked about nervously. "Could we have that talk first. There's something important I need to talk to you about."

    His smile dimmed a bit. "Uh, sure. This way."

    We went to a small room which contained a small desk with a lamp, a computer, and piles of printer sheets strewn about in every direction.

    "So," started Sparky as he sat down at the desk, "what can I do you for?"

    I looked down at my feet for a moment in order to compose my thoughts.

    "I believe I have strong psychic abilities. I was hoping the institute could help me understand them."

    Sparky's eyes twinkled with pleasure, and he straightened his posture. "Miss Stouffer, the Institute would be more than tickled to help you out. What makes you think you have psychic abilities?"

    I looked around the room. "This."

    I lifted my left hand and the computer floated effortlessly into the air as if it had been designed strictly for that purpose. With my right hand, I shuffled and gathered all of the printer paper into a nice neat pile on the desk. For added effect, I lifted both of my legs off of the floor and folded them in the lotus position while my body still maintained it's position - three feet above the floor. Finally, I set the computer back on the desk and floated to the nearest vacant chair and settled there.

    "What do you think of that?"

    When I looked at Sparky, he was pale, almost white as a ghost. At first, I thought he was dead until he let out a held breath in a forceful blast.

    "Holy sh..."

    He didn't finish, probably remembering that there was a lady present. But what a lady! It took him a while to regain his composure, and even then he still looked flustered.

    "So, can you help me," I asked hopefully.

    Sparky could do nothing but stare in shock. Obviously, this was something a little bigger than he expected.

* * *

    Scanner looked at the oscillator again.

    "This is too weird."

    His Australian accent was very heavy.

    "What is it," I asked trying not to break my concentration on the five hundred pound weight that I had been levitating for the last hour.

    "You were registerin' on the screen when you first started, albeit a little 'igh, but now the power ratio is too 'igh for the scanner to read anymore." He puffed out a sigh of perplexity. "We'd better stop before we blow the equipment. That won't do the budget much good, now would it?"

    I gently eased the weight back down on the table before me. We had been doing tests like this for hours. Quite frankly, I knew I could do more, much more. However, the folks at the institute believed that it was best to start small and slowly work up so that they could record any appreciable change. It was a sound theory, and it was well founded in common sense, but I was anxious to learn what my limits were.

    An aggravated cry came from one of the adjoining lab rooms. "Who the hell ate my sandwich?" A student came storming out into the main hall holding a shredded paper bag. Upon seeing the evidence I knew who was responsible. I stood up a glanced around the room.

    "Myxczy, come here!"

    Scanner looked up. "What'd you say, Love?"

    Immediately a bouncing glob of colors and patterns bounded into my arms and molded itself into the familiar grayish-green, lizard-like form. Myxczy blinked innocently at me.

    "I know you were hungry," I scolded softly, "but you didn't have to eat someone else's food. It's impolite."

    Myxczy responded with a soft whimper and those big puppy dog eyes of his. Meanwhile, Scanner was near a conniption fit.

    "What the bloody blue 'ell is that!?"

    "You don't have to yell," I said sourly. "This is Myxczy. He's my... familiar."

    "You some kinda sorceress or somethin'?"

    "I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me."

    Nonplused, Scanner ran his fingers through his hair. Finally, he let out a breath and asked, "So, where did 'e come from."

    My brow furrowed a bit. "I'm not sure. I think he's from another dimension. What's more, I think I brought him here. I just don't know how."

    Myxczy rocked himself in my arms humming show tunes.

    "That's amazin'," said Scanner. "Is 'e sentient?"

    "He's smarter than I am," I admitted. "And a bit more mischievous, too," I added while poking him teasingly in the stomach. Myxczy giggled like a baby. He always was ticklish.

    Sparky walked into the lab with a clipboard.

    "Alright, let's see how we're do-What the heck is that in your arms?"

    Scanner turned to Sparky. "It's an intelligent being from another dimension. Isn't this great?"

    Sparky studied Myxczy closely, skeptical at first. Finally, he too realized that Myxczy was genuine.

    "Incredible! We've got to study this little guy."

    "Nothing doing."

    "What? But..."

    I stared Sparky down. "You lay so much as a finger on him, and I'll show you my pyrotechnic abilities by spontaneously combusting your boxer shorts. You got me?"

    Sparky merely blinked at first. Finally, he realized that it was no idle threat as he watched his pencil light up like a cigarette lighter. "S-sure," he managed to stutter and put the flame out in Scanner's coffee.

    "'Ey!!!"

* * *

    Since they had become aware of my pyrotechnics, they decided to test that next. They tested temperature limits. I could reach 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. We lost a table and singed some leg hairs with that one. Then they tested my range. Basically, I could start a flame anywhere within my field of vision; but the farther away the spot, the more I had to concentrate. Sparky believed that if my field of vision were limitless, my range would be as well. I doubted it, personally.

    "You know, things would go a lot smoother if you told us what you know you can do already," said Scanner.

    I thought for a moment. "Well, let's see. So far, I know I can lift really heavy objects. The heaviest thing I've ever lifted was an oil tanker; but I didn't lift it too high, or I'd scare the dickens out of the crew. And I can create a force field around myself. I tried it for going under water, but once I submerged myself (which wasn't easy), I ran out of oxygen rather quickly. That wasn't much fun."

    "I should say not," remarked Scanner, shaking his head and smiling.

    "Um...hmm...Oh, yeah! I can make myself invisible."

    "Really? That amazing," beamed Scanner. "We'll 'ave to see 'ow that works. 'O knows? Maybe we'll find a way to make other things invisible."

    "Maybe," intoned Sparky. He was unhappy about something, but I couldn't quite fathom what.

    Upon returning to the institute, we worked on the invisibility problem. According to Sparky, I generate my force field so that it refracts light at a ninety degree angle, which essentially allows the light to go around me and come out the other side. As I move, there is a slight refraction distortion, but it's almost imperceptible. All I know is that it's a great way to dodge lecherous advances. Later that evening, the others opted to go home and try more tests later. I told them that I was only free on weekends. They were a little disappointed, but they took the information in stride.

    "'Ey," called Scanner running after me. "You need a lift 'ome?"

    I considered the darkness outside. "Sure," I returned smiling. "You know, a city like this can be dangerous at night for a girl."

    "Yeah, especially with someone like you lurkin' about," he chided.

    I pretended to be insulted. Scanner merely laughed.

    "Com'on, Myxczy," I called out. "We're going home."

    Myxczy came sprinting across the floor and took his usual position padding beside me like a lap dog. We went out to the side of the main building where Scanner had parked his car. We all piled in and were soon on our way.

* * *

    At home, I sat back and watched television while Myxczy sat in the large bean bag chair reading a text on advance physics. He was absolutely fascinated by science. I didn't know if it was because it was different than what he was used to or just interesting all around. I had heard that it is possible for physical laws to be slightly different in other dimensions.

    I got up and switched off the TV. Myxczy looked up and chirped questioningly.

    "There's nothing interesting on tonight," I replied. I looked at his book. "That any good?"

    <It's a bit simplistic, but interesting nonetheless. I'm an expert in biology, so I'm not familiar with the physical disciplines.>

    I smiled. "That's okay. I'm totally clueless, so you're one up on me. I got a D in that class. I guess science wasn't my thing."

    Myxczy cocked his head.

    <How come you wouldn't let those scientists study me? Some of the tests you were doing seemed like fun, actually.>

    I sighed. "The tests they'd perform on you would no doubt involve blood and skin samples. There's no way I'm going to let them inflict any kind of pain on you."

    Myxczy watched me carefully.

    "Besides," I continued, "they're better off not knowing. I don't think they're ready to learn about other dimensions just yet."

<You may be right.> Myxczy closed his book. <What about that Scanner fellow. He seemed to like you.>

    A smirk crossed my face. "Noticed, did you?"

    <Are you going to mate with him?>

    "Myxczy!" I cried half shocked, half amused.

    He seemed to shrink a bit. <Sorry, I didn't realize that was a conversational taboo.>

    I scratched between his antennae. "Silly! Humans don't have to mate like animals. We can do what we want, when we want."

    <Ohhh,> he replied, sounding as if the secret of the universe had been suddenly revealed to him.

    "Tell you what," I started cheerfully, "let's play a game of three-dimensional chess. If you let me win, I'll get you a book on human biology."

    <You're on!> Myxczy chirped gleefully.

END

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