Contest #48 winner 🏆

Primum Nil Nocere

Submitted into Contest #48 in response to: Write about someone who has a superpower.... view prompt

204 comments

Fantasy High School Teens & Young Adult

The big day had finally arrived at the School for Gifted Children, and the dean practically kowtowed from his own office.

The staff and a coterie of New York’s most influential parents were ecstatic to host their esteemed guest, the one and only Dr. Warren Albright. He looked as though he’d stepped out of the glossy author photo from one of his best-selling books. His hair was chestnut brown with frost touched temples and his voice had the nourishing warmth of a fireplace in winter. He used his power to diagnose latent super-abilities to set young people on the path to greatness. Dr. Albright was much more than a mentor.

He was a guidance counselor.

He could hear the children and their minders outside in the hallway, waiting for their date with destiny. They were all overachievers, but not all were from privileged backgrounds. The Albright Scholarship had scouted them from every walk of life. Born with rare conditions, they had beaten the odds to make it this far, and now they were hoping to win the lottery. Early assessment, career planning and connections were all key factors in the success of famous superheroes.

Dr. Albright set his pipe in the dean’s paper clip bin, adjusted the sleeves of his barleycorn tweed jacket, and then announced to the Headmistress, “Let us begin.”

The first candidate was ushered in. He was a chubby boy in a tight navy sport coat. If he was anxious, it didn’t show on his plump cheeks. He practically bounced into the room. Dr. Albright glanced down at the boy’s academic transcript.

“Good morning, Oscar. It is so good to meet you.”

Oscar hopped into the chair opposite. “Yeah! You too.”

“As I’m sure you’ve been told, I will be assessing your latent powers today. We will be discussing issues above and beyond the clinical baseline diagnosis. Are you ready?”

“Um….”

“It’s not painful, I promise.”

Oscar’s smile brightened and he shrugged. “Yeah! I’m ready.”

Dr. Albright leaned in and tented his fingers, absorbing information with his exquisitely refined power.

“Teleportation.”

Oscar’s jaw dropped. “What? No way. Really?”

“I have known a few teleporters in my day. It is a rare and incredible gift.”

Dr. Albright scanned through Oscar’s academic record.

“How is your math? I see that you have performed well in most of your other subjects.”

“I love learning languages, and I’m a total anthropology geek. I’m into history and art…I am just so pumped to start teleporting. I want to see the whole world!”

Dr. Albright reached for his pipe and then left it. He had cleaned and emptied it before arriving, as there was no smoking allowed in the school.

“Seeing the world is certainly a laudable goal, Oscar. For earthbound people, like me, the world is terra firma, the one thing we can trust. If I close my eyes and fall backwards, I know that the earth will be there to catch me. When you begin traveling at advanced speeds, however, you encounter a harsh reality; the planet is always moving. As we speak, it is rotating at nearly one thousand miles per hour, while traveling around the sun at approximately sixty-seven thousand miles per hour.”

Oscar looked confused.

Dr. Albright continued. “The earth also moves at different speeds at different latitudes, so if you were to teleport to the wrong place, at the wrong angle, you would hit the earth incredibly fast and hard, or else miss it entirely. If you found yourself too high up in the atmosphere, or god forbid, in outer space, you might succumb to decompression sickness, hypoxia, and hypothermia before you could reorient yourself well enough to teleport home.”

“Wait…are you saying that teleportation is impossible?”

“Of course not! It is even relatively safe, so long as you have a perfect grasp of angular velocity, navigation, orbital mechanics, and so on. Once you have absolute confidence in your calculations, I would still advise that you stay close to the surface, however. Most of the world is covered in water, so if you don’t mind getting wet every now and then, you’ll be fine. Needless to say, the rest of the planet is covered with mountains, trees, buildings, people…perhaps it would be prudent to limit travel to your direct line of sight. And take care not to startle anyone; you never know who may have a heart condition that will drop dead from surprise.”

Oscar’s buoyant cheeks deflated.

“Chin up, son. There are plenty of other ways to see the world. You could be a pilot,” He paused to double-check Oscar’s grades, “…or possibly a flight attendant.”

Oscar shuffled to the opposite door, carefully placing one foot in front of the other.

The next candidate strode in. He was the oldest of the group, a young man with a burgundy button down and a gold silk bow tie. He extended a firm handshake. “I’m Marcus Hill. It is an honor to meet you, Dr. Albright.”

He sat tall on the edge of his chair.

Dr. Albright opened his file.

“It seems like you’re ready, Marcus.”

Marcus’s knees bounced and he clasped his hands. “Yes sir. I was born ready.”

Dr. Albright closed his eyes and nodded.

“Pyrogenesis.”

Marcus leaned back and covered his mouth. “Fire powers? For real?” He grinned and brought his hands back together. “Okay, okay. That’s what’s up.”

Dr. Albright absentmindedly touched his pipe again.

“I understand that fire can be a very alluring force, but it must command your respect. As an exercise, I would like to present you with some of the most common scenarios that require heroes. Earthquakes, plane crashes, industrial accidents, terrorism, riots…do any of those situations seem like they would be improved with fire?”

The teenager’s face tightened. “I’ll be a solution, not a problem. I’ll train until I’m world class.”

“I’m sure you would, Marcus, but there is a reason why police officers and doctors don’t carry flamethrowers. The military no longer uses them either. Not because they are cruel and indiscriminate, which of course they are, but because they are not deemed particularly effective.”

“With all due respect, Dr. Albright, I wouldn’t be a random guy lugging a heavy flame thrower, spraying fire everywhere. If this power is a part of me I would have total control. I would use it intelligently.”

“Intelligence and control are not words usually associated with fire. Do you remember the Tulare Complex Fire? I suppose it was before your time. It was one of the worst wildfires in this hemisphere. Thousands of homes, a hundred civilians, dozens of firefighters, countless animals…reduced to ash, all by a kid with a lighter. Fire season gets longer and deadlier every year, Marcus. By the time your power manifests, it may even be year round.”

Marcus threw his hands up. “So what am I supposed to do?”

“Don’t worry. There is a place for you. There are shipping vessels in the arctic that still have to contend with the shifting ice pack. I have no doubt that they would be thrilled to have someone like you aboard.”

Marcus nodded and slunk out through the other door.

The next candidate, a lanky girl with dirty blond hair and large green eyes, waved as she entered. “Hi! I’m Allison.”

She had a refreshingly open face and an aroma of fresh cut grass. Dr. Albright wouldn’t be surprised if she had grass stains on her jeans. She sat down and swung her legs.

“So?” She dragged the word out with a wily smile, as though she’d caught him holding a present behind his back.

“Yes, let me get right to it.”

He extended his palm and pursed his lips.

“You have the latent ability to speak with animals.”

Alison squealed and jumped out of her chair. “Ohmygodohmygod! I knew it! Best power ever!”

He gestured for her to sit down. She bounced in her chair as if it were a jeep on safari.

“Tell me, Alison…are you a vegetarian?”

She cocked her head to one side. “I like vegetables.”

“Yes, but do you only like vegetables?”

“I love animals, if that’s what you mean.”

Dr. Albright put his palms on the desk. “Do you eat meat?”

“Only chicken and bacon. And fish. Oh, I guess I like turkey, but not like, all the time.”

“I see. That will probably change once your power becomes active. I would strongly recommend that you move as far as possible from any industrial farms, slaughter houses, or animal shelters before that time.”

“Does this mean I can be an animal doctor?”

“As long as you keep your grades up, I am confident that you will make a fine veterinarian.”

She bounced from the room, eager to tell everyone about her exciting future. Dr. Albright closed her file.

“Please send in the next candidate.”

A slim boy efficiently crossed the room and sat down. He stared at Dr. Albright through his square glasses.

“Good morning, David.” He tapped the boy’s transcript. “I must say, your academic achievements are outstanding.”

David blinked and adjusted his glasses. The light shimmered off his dark hair, which had nearly been combed and gelled into a helmet.

“Feel free to talk or ask questions.”

The boy waited quietly.

Dr. Albright moved on with his assessment. He repressed a shiver.

“Mr. Kwan, you have the latent ability to project energy from your eyes.”

The boy paused, about to readjust his glasses.

“This will be hard to hear, so I will deal with the facts plainly. Your eyes are weapons. If you decide to use your powers in war time, to uphold the law, or even in self-defense, you will have to look directly at your enemies. There will be no fog of war. You will witness exactly what you have done, and it will not be pretty.”

The boy nodded slowly for him to continue.

“The world needs soldiers and protectors, I won’t deny that. Your skills will be highly valued, and if you choose that life, I know you will perform admirably.” Dr. Albright’s eyes flicked away. “The larger issue here is with civilian life. Once people learn of your ability, it is unlikely that they will ever make eye contact with you again. They may not even go near you, for fear that you may sneeze or get startled and unleash a sudden bolt of lethal energy. Beyond the risks of the battlefield and almost guaranteed PTSD, you will return to a life of alienation and loneliness.”

David’s face remained neutral, but strands of his black hair broke free from their orderly shell and his glasses had begun to fog up.

“I am terribly sorry to be the bearer of such bad news, David, but there are…options.”

After decades of research and great expense, The Albright Foundation had developed a treatment that permanently sent superpowers into complete remission. They provided this service freely for those with dangerous or unwanted abilities.

David Kwan rose wearily, like a prisoner yoked with a great weight.

“Thank you for your honesty, Doctor.”

He left without looking back and stepped into the hall, where his severe looking parents waited expectantly.

Dr. Albright watched him leave with a twinge of relief. He slid David’s folder to a separate pile and then signaled to the dean that he needed a break.

He took his pipe outside to the rose garden. The parents and administrators watched him pack his pipe. They were nervous and eager for answers, but they had the decorum not to impose upon his solitude.

He struck a match and sipped the stem of his pipe until the sweet tobacco smoldered. He considered all of the kids that he never had a chance to counsel, those ignorant, reckless youths that had grown to become infamous criminals; Commodore Chaos, Laughing Skull, King Psycho, Pain Eater. He puffed and exhaled a smoky sigh of deep satisfaction.

None of them had snuffed out as many superheroes as Dr. Albright.

June 26, 2020 20:13

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204 comments

Zilla Babbitt
13:50 Jul 10, 2020

I love the complete normalcy of the opening paragraphs. Sure, a superhero scholarship. But what's great is that Dr. Albright is partly correct... and is still a villain because he is one sided and only speaks of the bad. Detailed, layered. Deserved win!

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Jeff C. Carter
20:36 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks, Zilla!

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Zilla Babbitt
14:29 Jul 20, 2020

You're so welcome! This is one of the stories I've come back to read because it's just hard for me to understand the meaning and message-- this has so many layers and meaningful pushes. Well done!

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13:06 Jul 10, 2020

Congratulations on your win Jeff! What a unique way to tell a story of the superpowers we've all heard of before. Also, what a reality check! We often think of having superpowers as a win-win situation but you've balanced that out for us. I wonder what's the downside to Dr. Albright's power. I think I see a bit of it in the way he seemed egotistical in the end. I do now believe that a power like his is necessary and useful in such cases, but I'd hope it wouldn't eventually get the best of him.

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Jeff C. Carter
20:43 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks, Ms C. A side-story about the drawbacks of his power is a neat idea. He's certainly no fun at parties.

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Eva Csaki
23:28 Jul 11, 2020

That last sentence is absolutely one of the most poignant and satisfying ending sentences ever. Congratulations on your win! This is a stellar concept and you absolutely deserve the win!

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Jeff C. Carter
19:17 Jul 12, 2020

Thanks, Eva!

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Neomi Shah
18:29 Jul 11, 2020

Amazing story! I loved the application of scientific facts in the story and also the downsides of each superpower. People often consider having superpowers as a wonderful thing and a blessing but your reality check into the cons of having superpowers was amazing and very much true to reality and actual problems. Also, the portrayal of Dr. Albright as a villain was truly intelligent and unexpected. The villain is almost always depicted as the obvious bad guy never considering that a villain can be sweet and nice and still have selfish inten...

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Jeff C. Carter
19:28 Jul 12, 2020

Thanks Neomi!

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23:14 Dec 11, 2020

Oh, cool! I love how in the end, doctor Albright is making more villains than heroes by not actually giving them training! The prompt simply said "superpower" but you took this to a whole other level! You deserve a thousand followers, just because of this. Now you have one more, at least!

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Jeff C. Carter
04:40 Dec 28, 2020

Thanks, Emmie!

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14:29 Dec 28, 2020

I like the sort of semi-superhero genre, where characters have superpowers but they aren't really superheroes. This kind of fits that genre, and you can hardly find anything that does, these days. Really good!

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Akshat .
14:15 Jul 24, 2020

I loved reading this story! I wanted to go on and on with Dr. Albright's appointments, but sadly, as always, all stories must end. The ending was really mysterious!

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Jeff C. Carter
20:04 Jul 24, 2020

Thanks Akshat, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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Grace Kejo
19:00 Jul 10, 2020

I thought the story was interesting since the very beginning but the last line really shook me. I sided with Dr. Albright and his observations at first but the last li e changed everything. Totally deserved win! 👌👌

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Jeff C. Carter
20:44 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks Grace!

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Karen Kinley
17:33 Jul 10, 2020

Enthralling, descriptive, in the moment prose! What a unique twist on the theme. Loved the brevity. You didn't overstate one detail. Everything was just in the right place in this story. Well done. Well deserved win. I look forward to reading more. You are an excellent story teller!

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Jeff C. Carter
20:39 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks Karen! I can post a link to some short stories or my superhero novel, if you're looking forward to more. Thanks again!

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Karen Kinley
15:43 Jul 11, 2020

Would love to read more!!

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Jeff C. Carter
19:23 Jul 12, 2020

Thanks Karen, that's awesome! You can buy it here: Amzn.com/B07BZHZ86P or sample it here: http://eepurl.com/gcRTgn Much appreciated!

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Sierra Butler
16:36 Jul 10, 2020

I love the plot twist at the end!! So unexpected. Great job!!

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Jeff C. Carter
20:40 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks Sierra!

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Lindsey W
16:18 Jul 10, 2020

This was so great! A well deserved win, I love how we don't really know Albright's intentions until the last sentence

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Jeff C. Carter
20:40 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks Lindsay!

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Megan Sutherland
23:26 Aug 28, 2020

I really liked this story, Jeff! It reminds me of the Umbrella Academy. Have you ever watched it? It's on Netflix. Would you mind coming and checking out my page? I would appreciate any feedback you may have. Thanks!

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Keerththan 😀
14:14 Jul 18, 2020

Great story. Good character shaping of dr. Warren Albright.

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Jeff C. Carter
19:19 Jul 20, 2020

Thanks!

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Tina Laing
13:05 Jul 13, 2020

Congrats! On your win and a great story. Keep up the good work.

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Jeff C. Carter
19:38 Jul 13, 2020

Thanks!

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Jonathan Blaauw
15:32 Jul 11, 2020

Brilliant story! Brilliant! I remember from the cartoons as a kid, X-Men kind of dealt with the issue of the drawbacks of superpowers (haven't really kept up with the movies, but I'm sure they do the same), and your story had a similar feel. But you've put a refreshing new spin on it. I'm just not sure Dr. Albright is the bad guy though, despite your closing line. Stories are all open to interpretation, of course, but the way I see it, he's just telling it to the kids like it is. Destroying their hopes and dreams with a dose of realit...

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Jeff C. Carter
18:09 Jul 11, 2020

Thanks Jonathan, There is a nod to the X-Men with the name of the school. Reality and gravity are indeed harsh mistresses.

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Shivani Manocha
12:41 Jul 11, 2020

Very well-written. You have a talent for characterization. The way Dr. Albright's character develops throughout the story to reach the climax is amazing. Really glad to have read your work.

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Jeff C. Carter
18:10 Jul 11, 2020

Thank you, Shivani!

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Delano Mighty
00:39 Jul 11, 2020

I absolutely love the twist ending! Expertly constructed, impeccable word choices. Congrats on the win!

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Spider Baby
17:44 Jul 10, 2020

nice title, it was very effective c:

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Jeff C. Carter
20:37 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks Spider Baby!

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Jewels 🌊🐅
17:42 Jul 10, 2020

This Story! So amazing, and I can't wait for more of your stories :D

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Jeff C. Carter
20:38 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks Juliette. I can post a link to my superhero novel, if you can't wait for more.

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Jewels 🌊🐅
15:59 Jul 16, 2020

Thanks! I love superheros, Video games, etc. Also, If you could be so kind and go read my first story, "Our Treehouse" that would be great! Thanks :D

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P. Jean
17:34 Jul 10, 2020

Faultless....you have superhero abilities with words. The ending was superb!

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Jeff C. Carter
20:38 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks P.Jean !

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Caryn K
17:28 Jul 10, 2020

Excellent story, so creative! Congratulations!

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Jeff C. Carter
20:39 Jul 10, 2020

Thanks Caryn!

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