 
### Person of Interest

By Philip Hartman

Copyright 2018 Philip Hartman  
Published by Philip Hartman at Smashwords

### Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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### Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1: The discovery

Chapter 2: The slow start

Chapter 3: The one

Chapter 4: The mistake

Chapter 5: The summer vacation

Chapter 6: The need

Chapter 7: The song

Chapter 8: The truth shall set you free

Chapter 9: The finals

Chapter 10: The idea

Chapter 11: The old wounds

Chapter 12: The gossiping

Chapter 13: The exchange student

Chapter 14: The apology

Chapter 15: The build-up

Chapter 16: The fight

Chapter 17: The half-truth

From the author

Other books by Philip Hartman

# Prologue

I have met the person, Paul Smith and I am the only one who knows his true identity.

The setting is a small town called Orkney, with 2000 or so inhabitants. Orkney is 15km from the city, not a very large city, but if you are used to Orkney it's pretty big. That city's name is Klerksdorp and all this is located in the North-West Province of South Africa (Central-top South Africa next to the Vaal River).

North-West is a dry-savannah province in South Africa, but there are no carnivores roaming freely in North-West (Lions do not walk in the streets). North-West has kind of wet summers and dry winters. This is the general climate in this area.

Orkney has three primary schools (grade 1-7) and one High School (grade 8-12). Schools start in January and ends in December. They work in quarters, not semesters. Klerksdorp has eight primary schools and six high schools. Orkney is a small miner's town and Klerksdorp is in the centre of the miner and farm towns in the surrounding area. During the Second Boer War (1899-1902), heavy fighting occurred in the area, which also housed two large concentration camps, one for Whites (centred on modern day Klerksdorp High School) and a separate one for Africans (situated in the area that is today the Ellaton and Neserhof suburbs). Woman and children (black and white) died in that concentration camps which forced the Boers to surrender.

# Chapter 1: The Event

Paul only sees red and destruction is the only thing going through his head. This is not the first time it happened and he doesn't care about the consequences. The other guys try to throw him off, but they only get thrown away; until Paul feels this enormous pressure. It is surrounding him: Pressing against his mind... his body... he has never felt anything like this before.

The pressure is getting so overwhelming for Paul that he returns to normal. The feeling of destruction is gone. At least he didn't pass out this time. A man appears before him, holding a large needle and emitting this enormous pressure. This pressure is some physical force living inside, it gets expressed to show power. Paul closes his eyes and calms himself. He lets this power all in: Running _it_ through his body.

And then he feels _it_.

He opens his eyes with a small grin. He only sees the man for a split second before the man disappears. Paul feels a sharp sting in his neck. It's the needle.

***

Paul Smith is a strange little boy. Not that he can lift cars or anything, but in his own world kind of strange. His mother, Maryann was getting very annoyed with him when she took him to school. He was always taking his time, looking into the sky as if he could see magical creatures flying around.

His father once told him he was born with a ball in his hands. Whenever there was cricket on TV, he wouldn't stop playing cricket outside and whenever there was rugby on TV, same thing occurred. Though rugby is the main sport in the area, he was a fan of soccer as well. He would round up all the kids from the block to play with him. He was very competitive, a control freak of some sort and couldn't stand losing.

He wasn't very fast at sprinting, nor very big build, nor very tall, but his hand-eye coordination was excellent and his agility not to bad either. It meant he was not good in athletics at all, which is the second biggest sport in the community. His best friend (Franco) and he played a lot of sports together during kindergarten and the start of primary school. Franco was exactly the same build as Paul. However, Franco had a long face, brown eyes and straight brown hair with a natural tanned skin. Paul's face was little more round, blue eyes and wavy blonde hair with a light skin that was a little tanned in the summer and not so much tanned in the winter. Franco was just as good as Paul in sports, but Franco was a faster sprinter.

Paul went through a quiet phase when his father walked out on him and his mother just after he turned 9 years old (Grade 3). His birthday is on the 18th of February. It was followed by his mother shutting herself out and then Paul shutting himself out. The boy who saw flying creatures was no more. In this time a new boy arrived at school that same year: Frikkie (pronounced: 'Fricky'). Frikkie was a bully to those who weren't considered 'cool' by him and the recent events made Paul a soft target. Frikkie was twice Paul's size, in length and width and a year older, because he was held back a year.

The rugby season started in March and Paul made the team quite easily. He was beginning to regain his old self, but all his friends, Franco included, were now Frikkie's friends and there were a mutual hatred between Frikkie and Paul. With the bit regained self-confidence Paul made some new friends, mostly African friends. Omega was known for his thick lips and Paul considered him as his side kick. Whenever he saw Frikkie coming he just gave his tuck shop money and bread to Omega. For some reason Frikkie ignored the African kids like they were ghosts.

As the years passed on Paul made some new friends and regained some old ones, but he knew that neither of them where that friend he could trust 100%. His mother also started speaking to him with more words than 'eat your food' or 'get ready for school'. She also got a good job to support them both. Frikkie and Paul were only staying outside of each other's way, but worked extremely well together when the played rugby or cricket together. Though they hated each other, they understood each other.

In grade 7 a new boy, named Rocco, came into school. Everyone thought he was Paul's cousin or something. They had the same features, except Rocco's blonde hair was straight and not wavy and he was a few centimetres taller. Frikkie didn't like him straight away. Paul and Rocco shared a mutual enemy and they became good friends during the year.

And as always there's a girl: Judy. Paul saw her as his female double. Almost all the girls were taller than him except for Judy. They both had blue eyes and blonde hair and she weren't taller than him. Paul was 3rd shortest from all the boys.

Paul made prefect in Grade 7 and Frikkie made head-boy. Paul was liked by the teachers and he was quite well known in school. Mostly because of his good manners and friendliness, and... sport also helped a bit. Frikkie was also liked by the teachers, because he was a good leader and everyone respected him.

Paul and Frikkie were getting along well until Paul invited some of the 'cool kids' (Judy and Rocco included) to his birthday party and Frikkie was not invited. After that the tension was thick between them, but Frikkie's head-boy status protected Paul, because there was lots of trouble with the head-girls throughout the year and Frikkie had to keep his pose.

Until now

Paul is playing soccer with his friend, Omega, during the second break. It is the last month of school. Paul sees Frikkie approaching with that smug smile of his. Paul knows today is the day: With only one month left of primary school... Frikkie doesn't care about his head-boy status anymore.  
"Can I play with?" Frikkie asks still smiling  
"Yeah, why not" Omega answers sounding nervous, but there is no way he is saying no to Frikkie.

Frikkie plays dirty: Tackling Paul after he passes or attempting to trip him while running towards the ball. Until Frikkie succeeds in tripping him and without thinking Paul stands and pushes Frikkie, who is about twice his size. Frikkie retaliates by hitting Paul on the cheek. Paul falls to the ground and stands up slowly while looking at Frikkie. Tears are about to form in his eyes.  
"Why don't you go call your daddy? Oh wait you can't" Frikkie says.  
A crowd begins to form and amongst them are Judy and Rocco. Paul can see everyone feeling sorry for him. Only thing going through Paul's head is that he doesn't want Judy to see him like this.  
Frikkie hits him again and he falls with his face in the dirt. Frikkie is making a fool out of him and he will not give Frikkie the satisfaction. Paul stands up again.

His face starts to get swollen and Frikkie says "Stay down you useless piece of shit", not sounding as full of himself anymore. Frikkie knows this is starting to look bad for him and hits him for the third time with full force: Hoping Paul will stay down, because he notices the people looking at him with disgust. Unfortunately for Frikkie, Paul didn't even hit the ground and is only looking away clenching his fists.

Paul's muscles looks as though it tightens and defines more than it should. A breeze forms around Paul for a mere second, then he turns around and hits Frikkie in the chest and the breeze shoots outwards. Nobody seems even to notice the breeze, because everyone is fixed on the fight and that punch from Paul. Frikkie holds his chest pain, he didn't see it coming, but then he gets stunned when he looks up and sees Paul's blue eyes turned blood red mixed with his facial expression only seeking destruction.

Frikkie recovers and swings at Paul out of anger because Paul hit him, but Paul's senses and strength has been magnified and everything seems slow motion to him. Paul deflects the shot with his left hand and gives Frikkie a massive right hand upper-cut that lifts Frikkie's feet off the ground and makes him fall on his back. Paul isn't himself anymore. His only desire is destruction.

Frikkie lies unconscious on his back, but Paul stands over his body. Just as he pulls back to hit him; he sees Judy's blue eyes, staring right through him. He sees the fear in her eyes. Paul notices what he's doing and everything: the rush, the heightened senses and the anger, it all turns to normal as he stops. He sees everyone staring silently at him with fear. He has an unbearable itch on his tailbone, taking over all his thoughts and distracts him, and just as he starts to scratch the itch everything turns black.

# Chapter 2: The slow start

Paul wakes up in a dark room. His eyes are still adjusting and his neck hurts from the needle injection. It is a thick square concrete room, with no windows, only small holes for air. There is one metal door in front of him, and he can't move. His arms are open with his wrists tied against the wall with a strange yellow glowing light. He can see right through it, ' _is it some kind of magic?'_ he thinks.

Through the small holes he hears the ocean. He can't be near his hometown anymore, because Orkney is in the middle of South Africa. He could be anywhere in the world.

He feels two energies approaching the door. One is exceptionally high. The door opens and Paul sees the man with the high energy and Paul can't help but get excited. The man begins to speak "Hello Paul Smith, I'm Michael. We meet again..."

***

Paul woke up in the hospital. He had a nightmare: He was running in an endless hall with doors on both sides in the hospital. Every time he opened a door there was someone staring at him and he felt an enormous pressure pressing against him until he closed the door again. It was rotating between three people he has never seen before. This continued until he opened a door and saw himself staring at him with red eyes instead of blue. Suddenly the red eyed Paul Smith made the scariest expression he had ever seen and then he attacked.

He was sitting with sweat all over his face. His mother, Maryann, stood next to him and asked if everything was okay.  
"Just a nightmare" Paul said and laid back on his bed  
"About what?" His mother asked, but Paul didn't feel like telling her and doesn't even know why she asked  
"Just some people staring at me" Paul answered. Maryann thought for a while, looking at Frikkie at the bed next to him, still asleep and then seems to lose interest  
"Can I get you anything from the vending machine" Maryann asked. Paul just wanted a Coke.

School after the fight was also a nightmare. People ignored him completely and those that were at the fight were afraid of him. Which hurt him most was that Judy was one of those who were afraid of him. Rocco and Omega were his only friends left, who both felt Frikkie got what he deserved.

Paul thought a lot about what happened, he still remembers everything from the fight: The surge of power he had: increasing his senses and strength, the feeling of total destruction towards Frikkie and everyone that was staring at him, until he looked into Judy's eyes. Paul didn't want to have that feeling of total destruction ever again. He was afraid of himself and what he could do in that state.

But something had awoken in him that day: He was yearning for that power he had while being in that state of destruction, the heightened senses and increased strength. Now he's got the taste of power and he wants more. It felt like as if he needed more power and was now starting to get agitated with the lack thereof.

Paul ended primary school and his grades were good. He was now much more positive, because after summer vacation it was a fresh start. During the summer vacation Paul and his only friend left, Rocco, became best of friends. They were inseparable. They played Xbox during the night and rode their bicycles during the day. With their bikes they visited a girl who lived near Rocco, named Marlize.

She was the same age as them, so she also started high school in a few weeks. Orkney had two primary schools and one High School. Marlize wasn't in the same primary school as Paul, so she didn't know of that incident and Paul started to like her. The three of them talked on the sidewalk for about an hour, until she was called inside to go eat dinner. Paul told her that he would see her at school.

Whenever Paul wasn't at Rocco's or vice versa, he had to feed the need for more power, which was woken. They had a punching bag at home. In the beginning he wasn't able to punch it for very long, but eventually he could punch it for at least an hour. He tried to regain the power he had that day and he only remembered being angry when _it_ triggered. He noticed that trying to be angry he punched the bag harder, but it wasn't real anger. Sometimes his mother and Rocco would irritate him, but he never got angry, because he doesn't have anger issues, in fact he was sort of a happy go lucky child, which made it harder for him to get really angry.

School started and Rocco stood by Paul even when his old primary school friends ignored him by being seen with Paul. Omega was the only kid from primary school who greeted him. Paul tried greeting Judy but he only got a "hey" from her with no eye contact. He was really happy to hear that Frikkie was bought by a school in Krugersdorp to play rugby for them. Paul and Rocco went to greet Marlize and her best friend, Carmen. Paul noticed Rocco looking at Carmen with a smile... that kind of smile Rocco has when he wants something.

Paul and Rocco tried sitting behind them in every class, but only managed to sit behind them in register class, Mathematics and English. The ignoring from the kids from the one school rubbed off on the other kids, but Marlize and Carmen was kind of popular so eventually it all balanced out and it seemed almost everyone forgot about that incident.

Paul still wasn't a very tall person, about 1.4 meters, but he made the athletics team, running the 100m- and 300m hurdles. He was more fit, because of the boxing, and even made it to the final heats with shot put and javelin. Paul tried using his 'power' by making himself angry before each throw and it worked. The teachers were a bit amazed, but some children looked suspiciously at him. Rocco also made the athletics team, with javelin. He was tall and fit, together with his straight blonde hair and blue eyes made him very popular with the ladies. Rocco wasn't bulky, but he had a natural javelin technique. Rocco was number 1 in javelin throw in the school and Paul was number 2 in both 100m- and 300m hurdles, with his old friend Franco beating him in both.

Everyone in the school's athletics team became friends. Being friends with seniors got you noticed in your own grade. Paul and Rocco were seen among the 'popular kids', especially Rocco. Paul didn't get jealous, he was happy for Rocco.

For the rest of the year Paul grew more confident. He was still a nice guy and everything, but the fame was beginning to get to his head. He wasn't a bully or anything, he was still friendly with the non-popular kids, but he did look down on them.

After athletics, he played rugby, which is the school's winter sport. He got into a lot of fights on the pitch. He only needed a small reason and then he started the fight, which was ironic since he was one of the smallest people on the pitch. He made the school's 1st tennis team, only being in grade 8, and he was the best batsmen and a pretty good bowler for their under 15 A cricket team (there wasn't a under 14 team, only u/15 A and u/15 B). High School Orkney wasn't a very large school.

Sport filled his 'need' unknowingly and he began to forget about his need and eventually stopped practicing to reach that power he had with the increased strength and senses.

Until summer vacation, because it meant no more sport and the 'need' was worse than ever.

# Chapter 3: The one

"You're the one who injected me with that needle, but this is my first time meeting you. So is the end?" Paul says to Michael  
"This is my second time meeting you and you have met my assistant Jakes? And no, this is only the beginning" says Michael.  
Paul glances at Jakes holding a remote control thing, like one used for a radio toy car  
"You can't keep me imprisoned forever" says Paul looking back at Michael  
"Actually we can, but there is no need to keep you imprisoned. Well that is when you decide to join us of course. You will eventually realise we are the good guys here"  
Paul gets angry and says with a heightened tone "That is bullshit! Good guys don't have to imprison good guys. I will never join you and I will break free!" and screams. Paul kicks against the wall and tries to break the 'magical' shackles holding him against the wall on his wrists. Michael remains calm, but Jakes looks at his remote control thing with a stunned face.

***

This year's summer vacation was pretty much the same as last year's. Paul and Rocco visited each other less than last time, because Rocco and Carmen are together and she gets most of his attention now. It didn't bother him, because that meant more time for training. He didn't train for a specific sport or something like that. He had a need, almost like a drug. Ever since that fight with Frikkie he had the longing (or need) for more power. Paul's heart was good and his mind was pure. He didn't 'need' power for personal gain. His need isn't the power itself. His need is the process of achieving that power he had.  
That is why he is training. He tried in the first week of vacation not to train and to hope the _need_ goes away, but it only worsened it and he got agitated and grumpy and seemed on edge the whole time.

The other thing he enjoyed the vacation was hanging out with Marlize. Paul was so busy with sport last year (it fed the _need_ unknowingly) that he forgot about Marlize. Sure they talked a lot throughout the year when they got the chance, but they never got serious as both of them would've hoped.

During training Paul discovered when he focusses very hard on the muscle that needs to get the job done, that muscle gets stronger, and if he adds a bit of anger the muscle gets even stronger. Almost as if something was fuelling his muscles.

Everything was looking good for this year at school. Paul's mother got a raise, being a single mother and all she did a very good job raising Paul alone from the age of 9. But Paul's positivity quickly faded when it all started with the same way it did in grade 8. Most of the seniors with whom Paul was friends with are now out of school. Actually it was worse this time. He didn't have back-up because Rocco was with Carmen and Marlize was hanging out with Franco the whole time.

After a week it all settled down. Paul thought everything maybe was just in his head because he felt a bit lonely without Rocco and even Marlize. There it is: he really did like her. The athletics also started in the first week. He came second in both 100m- and 400m hurdles, beaten by Franco in both. Since kindergarten Paul and Franco where in competition with each other, but now they aren't as good friends as they were back then and it now turned into a rivalry. Paul also took it a bit personally... well because he was a bit jealous at Franco with all the time he spends with Marlize.

The next week after school had started, on Monday, the whole school knew (since it is a very small school) that Franco and Marlize were together, but Paul wasn't mad. In fact it was a bit of an eye opener: He blamed himself for not taking the chances when he had them and he then knew his feud with Franco was meaningless. But the eye opener did more harm to his loneliness. His feud made him forget about his loneliness, but now he is feeling worse than ever, like he is completely alone in this world.

After a month, in the middle of February just before Paul's birthday, Rocco asked Paul to come and visit. Rocco cried like a baby when he said he broke up with Carmen. Paul was sure it was the other way around, Rocco did indeed do the breaking up, but he felt a bit bad for feeling good about their breakup. Then Paul made a suggestion, knowing Rocco is in a fragile state of mind:  
"Why don't we get away from here? Orkney (the school) is too small, let's go to KHS (Klerksdorp High School) where we can start over". At first Rocco thought Paul was joking, but he did not joke. They managed to persuade their parents, because both of them actually wanted to go to KHS in the first place, but Paul had financial issues and Rocco stayed because of Paul.

Klerksdorp is a city 10km from Orkney and has 6 high schools. On Monday the 1st day at their new school, a school that has 4 times more children than Orkney, they waited in the principal's office to get the class schedules and their register class. They asked to be put in the same class and so they were both put in grade 9/3. There were 6 classes (9/1 to 9/6).

They stepped into the class and Paul only knew a guy named Tyran, he was in primary school with him and he completely and utterly destroyed everyone in half-life (an old FPS game which they LAN-ed) during computer class in primary school. He still had the same mop-top haircut with dark brown hair and large teeth. But he's not your usual gamer, he did MMA (mixed martial arts) as well and it is said that he was unbeatable.

Almost everyone sat around Paul and Rocco and asked questions... 'What sports do you do?' or 'Are you naughty? Cause we are' and 'What's your name?'... 'Where you from?' stuff like that. Everyone was friendly not knowing Paul's history with Frikkie (except for Tyran who did not really care). Paul wasn't very good with remembering names, but there was one name he forced himself not to forget: Jane.

If he heard her name he couldn't help smiling. When his mother asked him if he met any nice girls he couldn't help blushing. To be honest she wasn't the most beautiful girl in their grade, but there was just that something about her. She had green eyes, but exciting green eyes in a way. The eyes were green but against the pupil it turned brown and on the edges it was blue... but you had to look closely to have noticed it.

Jane was friendly and easy to talk to and they talked a lot since the day they met, about cars... girls, especially girls from school, Paul never knew if she was fishing for something or what. Jane had a boyfriend, Eugene, but Paul decided to wait. Paul fell in love with her like no one ever before and she was worth the wait.

He told Rocco, on a weekend while playing golf in Orkney, that he likes Jane and Rocco didn't reply to that. Paul noticed Rocco had that same look and smile he had when he first met Carmen.

# Chapter 4: The mistake

Paul starts giving out shockwaves. Dust falls from the concrete ceiling with each wave. Jakes shouts at Michael "His energy! At this rate... 450, 500, 550, 600... there is no stop to it!"  
Michael starts looking a bit more serious and says to Paul "It's no use, there is no way you can break those shackles around your wrists"  
Paul has a massive grin on his face and answers "Oh yeah? I finally understand how Energy works, and thanks to you... I think I can."

***

Paul and Rocco fitted in quite well into their new school. Everyone thought they were brothers and they even played along with the joke. It wasn't very hard, because they looked the same, only difference was length (Rocco was taller) type of blonde hair (Paul's was wavy and Rocco's was straight). Rocco also had a bit longer face, but that didn't matter with the hair and eye colour being the same.

Paul was still waiting patiently for Jane to break up with Eugene, but there was no luck so far. One good thing was that he and Jane got along quite well and they talked a lot during class time. Unfortunately for Paul so did she and Rocco, but it did look as though she preferred Paul's conversations over Rocco's.

Even though both of them were waiting patiently for the break up, both of them knew both of them were waiting patiently which caused an air of competition between them. Neither of them made dibz on her (dibz is a term used to signify that something that had no belonging is now yours before anyone else can take it) and both of them respected each other to have a fair chance at winning her over, and making a dibz would've been playing dirty.

School starts after the winter break. That means the cricket will be starting this quarter, Paul's favourite sport, because it challenges his senses the most. Paul rode the bus every day to school and his mother would fetch him at school after practice. But today is Monday and practice starts tomorrow, for every Tuesday and Thursday, which means he will be riding the bus.

Paul is waiting in the line in front of the bus to go home while the bus driver to stamp their tickets. He is very happy to hear that Jane and Eugene broke up over winter break, but he didn't really get the chance to talk to her today. And speaking of the devil she comes right to him.  
Paul says "Hey" with a smile because he can't believe his luck  
"How was your day?" Jane asks looking like she is on a mission  
"Quiet... not much happened, until now... Are you also on your way home?"  
"Yeah... I'm just waiting for my mom. Give me your phone..." Jane tells Paul and he gives her his phone wondering what she is up to. Paul sees her going to contacts and adding herself.  
"Text me" she says with a smile. When Paul reaches the front of the line with Jane still next to him and He says "I will definitely" trying not to smile too broad. He gives the ticket to the bus driver and hugs Jane goodbye.

Paul steps into the bus with the biggest smile ever. He sees Rocco sitting at the back of the bus and his little, but worth it, delay with Jane caused the seats to be full at the back. He decides to sit in the open seat next to Christoff. Paul and Christoff are gaming buddies. He gave Christoff 'Warcraft 3: Frozen Throne', which he got by Tyran, and the three of them have been LAN-ing DotA together a few times. Christoff is tall and lean with shaggy black hair and brown eyes. He is in the same grade as Paul, but not the same class, so they don't see much of each other during the day, and only sometimes on the bus  
"And now?" Christoff ask  
"What?" answers Paul with a big smile, failing to control it  
"That smile..." Christoff says  
"The love of my life just gave me her number the same moment I wanted to ask her" Paul answers  
"Man you're lucky, I wish that could happen to me someday"  
"It did happen to you... it still does happen to you... Isabella even told you she likes you to your face"  
"I know, it's complicated, but now for more important things. I want a rematch. I found a counter for Phantom Assassin (PA)"  
Paul shakes his head at Christoff and says "Like I said: I will never understand you. But since we are on this subject, I'll just search for PA counters online and practice with their counters, since we are going to play each other's counters"  
"You can do it, but you must play one game with PA, I've never been able to win you when you played with her" says Christoff  
"OK I'll do it. Did you bring me your external hard drive?"  
"Yes I have. Here it is" and Christoff gives his external to Paul.

Paul and Christoff talk about the movies and series on the external and then a little bit more DotA until Paul needs to get off at the bus stop.

Paul arrives home and plugs in the external to his computer. He browses through folders and then reaches the first folder he didn't open (saving the best for last), named 'Anime'. He opens it and sees two folders named 'Dragon Ball Z' and 'Bleach'. Paul remembers Dragon Ball Z from his childhood. It was one of the many cartoons he grew up with, like: Pokemon, Yu Gi Oh! and Totally Spies!  
Paul decided to watch DBZ again. He gets hooked from the first episode. He binge watches it until he goes to bed. Only stopped watching when he had to eat or go to the toilet.

The next day, after school, while walking towards the cricket nets, Paul sees Rocco and Jane talking. Jane ignored him the entire day and it made him very angry seeing her talk to Rocco, because he knows what Rocco's intentions are. She didn't even greet him this morning. Every time Paul sees Jane passing by he just wants to kick himself. ' _How could I have been so stupid? I had the perfect opportunity. And why is she like that? I only forgot to text her. Is that so bad?'_ he thinks.

Paul was quiet at cricket practice (for obvious reasons), which did not help him much in making a good impression, being new in the school and all. Luckily his skill did some of the talking. He has amazing reflexes and good strength. His bowling is fast and accurate. He hit the grade's best bowler 'out of the grounds' (if you can hit out of the grounds in the nets) when he was batting. After practice there were handshakes all-around and every one welcomed Paul.

Paul played rugby earlier the year for the u/15 B team and he made the third team in tennis. He is still one of the shortest in his grade, but very fit. People joke at him saying he must stop his constant training and start growing.

# Chapter 5: The summer vacation

"I must admit, you are very good at controlling your energy. That is why you must understand, coming with us will help you perfecting your energy" Michael says and Paul replies: "Go screw yourself".

Jakes looks a bit relieved looking at the remote and says "His energy stopped at 764" and Michael then says to Paul  
"Looks you've reached your limit, but I must say you are much closer to Jakes. Where did you find the energy to beat him?"  
Paul tenses up a bit after that question, but he is a bit relieved that they don't know the truth about his destructive state.  
He returns to his cocky smile and answers "For people who know something about something you don't know a lot about it. I merely increased my energy, what do you think will happen if I concentrate it into a single spot, or 2 spots for this matter?"

Paul's smile turns serious. He is hanging from the 2 shackles around his wrists with his feet still against the wall. Jakes looks at the remote stunned.  
He stutters "nine... nine... nine hundred... and –" when Paul kicks against the wall and breaks the shackles and jumps straight towards Jakes. Still in mid-air he hits Jakes straight through the wall next to the door.

Paul lands in front of the hole, noticing Jakes is still moving (he doesn't like Jakes at all, but is still glad that he isn't dead), he turns and sees Michael coming towards him with the intent to fight.

***

Paul made the under 15 A cricket team as opening batsmen. The team came 1st in North-West (the province where Klerksdorp is located) and lost in the finals against Waterkloof to come 2nd in the Tuks Series (the top 16 schools from the 5 provinces not touching the sea in South Africa). Paul was the leading run scorer for the season and he had the lowest economy rate in his bowling.

As the season progressed he was getting better and better with his batting and bowling, but practice didn't play the biggest part. After Paul got Dragon Ball Z from Christoff he watched all the episodes in one week. He was very intrigued by the series and noticed a lot of resemblances of the anime in his own life.  
Before he watched Dragon Ball Z, he trained with the punching bag, seeking more power and he got more power when he was angry, but Dragon Ball Z made him assume he has Energy and in his training he focussed rather on 'energy' than on anger.  
He used the episode where Gohan was teaching Videl to fly to help him understand energy. He came to the conclusion that by becoming angry he merely increased his energy. Now that he started focussing on his energy the results were much better. Not only can he focus the energy on the muscle that need to get the job done, he can now also focus it on his senses, like sight, smell and hearing.

It is not superhuman hearing, but there is a small difference. Like when playing Call of Duty online with his earphones and he increases his hearing, the sounds are clearer, not bunched together as noise, but every sound partitioned at its own frequency. And adding to that: When he focusses his energy, his general play also becomes better, with quicker reflexes. If one of the smarter players' aim is off, Paul will get him with his reflexes. Paul isn't really a very good CoD player because even though his reflexes are good, he constantly finds himself out of position.

That is also the reason he was getting better and better in the cricket season. He practiced focussing energy into his sight when he played cricket and that made him good at it, but his other senses still needs working. He tries to train focussing energy into his senses when he gets the chance, like in class when someone whispers he tries to listen or distinguishing all the different scents in the class.

That was about everything Paul did in his final quarter in grade 9. During spring break Rocco made his move on Jane, but much to Paul's sake she batted (rejected) him. Jane didn't really come between Paul and Rocco's friendship, but Paul wasn't sure if it still would've been the case if she didn't bat him. Paul thought Rocco had every right to go for Jane, since Paul missed his chance with her earlier in the year when he forgot to text her and she gave him the silent treatment. The main reason why it didn't get between their friendship was because Paul and Rocco where starting going in their own directions, as if both accepted that they will not be best friends forever, so there was no reason to put it between them because it would've only sped up the process.

But now it is summer vacation, December, 3 weeks before grade 10 starts and Paul is on vacation in Margate with his mother and her work friend's family. That means his good DotA buddy was with him on vacation, Christoff. Christoff had a little sister, but she has always, and always will be, Christoff's little sister.

"Let's swim!" Paul tells Christoff and takes of his shirt (he has a well-defined six pack)  
"I really don't want to" says Christoff. Paul notices that Christoff is a little bit self-conscious  
"If you don't come I'll carry you into the ocean" Paul says knowing Christoff won't refuse, because that will be even worse for him.

Christoff stands up and takes of his shirt (flat stomach, with a lean, but still there, six pack). He is taller than Paul, but not as fit. Paul did start to grow a bit, but was still rather short. At least he was taller than almost all the girls in his class.

"There are too many of them..." Christoff says  
"I know" Paul says knowing Christoff is talking about all the pretty girls on the beach.

They run into the ocean between the two flags the lifeguards put out. They swim and dive underneath the big waves. Paul tells Christoff they should go deeper and Christoff says "Sorry man, the stream is already getting too hard to handle". Paul goes deeper until he hears a whistle. The first thing that pops into his mind is shark. He turns around and sees the lifeguard pointing towards him. He notices he is the deepest in the ocean and the lifeguard wants him to come closer to shore. Paul gets a bit irritated by it, because the ocean is no challenge at all.

Paul's whole swim is spoiled and both he and Christoff are finished swimming. As they dry themselves Paul says "We need to achieve something this vacation"  
"What about Jane?" Christoff asks knowing what Paul meant  
"What about her?"  
"She's still ignoring you?"  
"No, but she began talking to me when I was doing good with the cricket and things and was starting to hang out with the more popular kids, now I'm suddenly good enough" Paul explains  
Christoff frowns and says "You are very ignorant to think that, you know... You know she isn't like that"  
Paul feels like he's been stabbed, but not in the back, right in the heart, because he knows it's the truth. Paul is a bit mad at himself for thinking that.  
Paul begins to speak and says "Christoff you are truly a great friend you know that?"  
And Chirstoff says "Thank you. Now... let's go play soccer with those guys over there, I'm a bit cold from the swim"  
"OK" Paul says and sees 4 guys playing beach soccer. _'That is a bit unlike him'_ he thinks.

While walking towards them Christoff says "When we're done ask them if we can sit with them" and Paul looks around and sees a half-tent close to where they are playing beach soccer. Inside the tent are 5 girls and 4 open towels lying on the floor next to them. Paul smiles at knowing what Christoff's hidden agenda is. Christoff blushes slightly when he sees the direction at what Paul is smiling. Paul says "I'll try, but there's only one extra..."  
"Let's just first get there, then we worry about the minor details" Chirstoff replies.

"Hey! Can we join?" Paul asks and the one guy says "Sure". All four of them are fit and tall, they don't seem to be in school anymore. Paul and Christoff are put in opposite teams. Paul introduces himself to his team and they do the same while shaking hands. Their names are Dean and Timothy. While playing Paul learned the others names and all of their ages. Their names are Armandt and Kyle and all of them are 19 years of age, turning 20 next year. All of them is alsp first year students at the North-West University from the Potchefstroom campus, about 40 km from Klerksdorp.

Kyle says "OK, Golden ball!" (Which means: last goal wins). Christoff was unexpectedly good at soccer which made it an even game. Paul made a brilliant solo move and scored the final goal. There was cheering and high fives all around in Paul's team, but everyone smiled, as it was only a game. While shaking the hands of the other team Paul asks "Listen, Christoff and I are sitting there like loners, do you mind us joining you?"  
Kyle smiles "Only if you play with us in the soccer tournament this afternoon, it so happens we need to be six a side"  
Christoff says, over smiling a bit, "That's a deal"

Once they reach the tent they get introduced to the 5 girls that are having a moderate size hubbly (Hookah) with 2 pipes going. One of the girls seems younger than the rest and seems a bit more distant than the others. "Do you want a smoke?" one of the girls asks  
"No thanks" Paul answers and Christoff says "Sure, but I've never smoked hubbly before". Christoff takes a puff and begins to cough and everyone laughs at him. The girl says "You need to breath it in, don't suck, breath".

"I'm just going to get our towels" Paul says. When he returns Christoff is sitting in the middle of the older college ladies, he got the hand of smoking hubbly. Paul sits next to the girl that seems younger. She has blue eyes and blonde hair. The other guys are talking to each other.  
"Don't you smoke hubbly?" she asks  
"I've never tried it" Paul answers  
"Me neither" she says and asks "How old are you?"  
"15, turning 16 next year, February, you?" Paul asks  
"14, turning 15... I'm Alison by the way" and holds out her hand  
he shakes her hand while smiling at her and says "I'm Paul, I like your name name..."  
"Thank you. Why don't you want to smoke hubbly?"  
Paul answers "I don't really know, I just don't feel like it. Why don't you smoke hubbly?" still maintaining eye contact and smiling. She has a beautiful smile.  
"I do... but now I also don't feel like it" Alison says  
"Well, since we have the same feelings, I heard there's a band playing tonight on the beach. Do you want to come to the show with me?"  
"Yeah, why not" she says, smiling and blushing a little bit. Paul's face feels very warm and he hopes he is not blushing.  
"So where are you from?" Paul asks  
"Potch..." says Jane not sure if Paul would know where it is  
"Oh, I'm from Klerksdorp, or rather Orkney, have you ever been in Orkney?"  
Then Kyle stands up and says "Looks like the tournament is about to start, let's go sign up"  
Paul stands up to go with them and tells Alison "OK see you soon" not feeling like playing soccer at the moment.

# Chapter 6: The need

Michael swings with his right fist. Paul moves to the side, but Michael's foot is already coming with a swirling kick. Michael is too fast for Paul and he kicks him against the wall. Paul falls to the ground and senses a concentrated energy orb coming at him. Paul creates his own energy orb at the last moment. It's not enough to stop Michael's, but enough to lessen its power.

"A golden orb, interesting... You are a natural fighter" Michael says. Michael's orb was blue. Paul is smiling, but he knows he used most of his energy to keep up with Michael. He is enjoying the thrill of the fight maybe too much.  
"I can see how much you like to fight, when you come with us you can fight every day" Michael says.

Jakes stands at the hole next to the door, staggering a bit and then Michael says to him "call Kayobi. Tell him it is time to enforce plan B."

***

' _This band is not too bad...' I tell Alison looking into her eyes. Trying not to show how nervous I am. We are lying on the blanket I brought with me. There's cement rows for chairs where people can sit and behind it elevated grass looking towards the stage. We are lying on the grass, listening at the rock band music of 'Outlaws' playing in the background. But we are not looking at the band, we are looking into each other's eyes. We are getting closer to each other, slowly, until we are less than 5cm from each other. I tuck her long blonde hair behind her ear and hold the side of her head. I close my eyes and her soft sweet lips touches mine. We—'_

"Paul!" Miss Smith shouts (His mathematics teacher, no relation) "Do you know where you are?"  
"I'm at school" Paul answers and Miss Smith tells him  
"Solve the problem I've written on the board!"  
Paul looks at it. He sees that he must first factorize the problem when Christoff whispers to him from the chair behind him "it's x is smaller than minus 3 or larger than 2"  
Paul sees Christoff's answer is correct and answers "x is larger than minus 3 and smaller than 2!"  
"You are both wrong" Miss Smith says  
"Actually Christoff was right" Paul explains "I deliberately gave the wrong answer, trying not to blow Christoff's cover and–" and then Rocco adds from the other side of the class  
"Surely Ma'am, Christoff is never wrong"

There is slight laughter in class, even Miss Smith has a small grin on her face, but Paul only sees Jane, sitting next to him on his right, smiling at him. Paul looks back over his right shoulder at Christoff, he makes sure Jane will hear what he has to say and says "Thank you, but I knew that was the answer, you didn't have to tell me"  
Christoff whispers "OK sorry, I—" and looks up behind Paul with a scared look on his face.  
_'Oh shit'_ Paul thinks and turns back around, smiling while biting his teeth.  
"Are you too good for math or something?" Miss Smith asks  
"Something Ma'am" Paul answers and there's laughter again, except for Christoff who is holding his hand over his face, staring at the table, shaking his head.  
"5 points detention for not paying attention in class, 10 points for back chatting, you as well as Rocco, and 10 points for disturbing the class. And since you are so good enough at math you'll know that gives you 25 points which means you will be sitting detention this Friday" Miss Smith says and the whole class is quiet.  
But the silence is broke by Rocco saying "Ma'am that gives him a total of 50 for the day, so far, and that means detention for 2 Fridays in a row then". The class now laughs at Paul and he feels a bit warm around the ears. Miss Smith only stares at him with concern.

The bell rings for break and Paul is back into his good summer vacation dreaming mood. While everyone packs their stuff back in their bags Jane asks Paul "Where have been during class since school started?"  
She smiles and Paul answers "Still on vacation" and he can't hold his smile while looking in the distance.

They walk out of class together and Jane asks him "What's her name?"  
Paul looks shocked thinking _'Is it that obvious'_ but says "What do you mean?"  
Paul knows he can't lie to Jane, she has always seen right through him and then he answers "Alison"  
"And are you two together? " she asks  
"Ah no, we decided there we won't be doing the long distance relationship thing" Paul answers, even though 30 minutes isn't that long distance, but honestly Paul just didn't feel going through all that trouble and petrol is quite expensive in South Africa.

They walk to the bottom of the stairs and just as they were about to go their separate ways Paul asks "Jane, its Valentine's, I mean... would you like to be my valentine and go to the Valentine's Ball with me?"  
"Rocco already asked me and I said yes... I'm sorry"  
Paul smiles to hide his disappointment, sadness and anger, and says "It's okay, and I thought I will be asking a bit too early. I mean it's 3 weeks till valentine's day, but see you later" Paul is really getting kind of angry.  
"I'm really sorry" Jane says meaning every word of it, but Paul just shakes his head and says "it's okay" and turns around and walks away.

While sitting on bus home, waiting for everyone to climb in, Paul tells Christoff everything about that conversation he had with Jane. At that moment Rocco comes and asks Paul, looking a little smug, "Do you have a valentine yet?"  
Paul answers "No" but he doesn't look at Rocco  
"I heard you asked Jane" Rocco says  
Paul now looks at Rocco trying to keep his cool "Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't know you already asked her"  
Rocco smiles and says "No, I'm sorry man" and walks away with a sense of victory.  
Paul's fuse is blown and he stands up and says "There's no need for you to be a dick about it!"  
The whole bus turns quiet and Rocco says "And what are you going to do about it? Ever since you became friends with... him (looking at Christoff), you've become a bit of a loser, playing your little computer games"  
Paul has this uncontrollable need to just hit Rocco, but Paul pushes him instead and says "His name is Christoff and I remember you playing our little computer games with us. At least I don't have to be fake like you have to when my friends are around".

Rocco throws a right hook at Paul, but Paul catches it with his left hand, turns Rocco's arm around, as if there was no resistance and hits him with a right cross below his eye. Rocco falls on the bus floor. He stands up and his eye is already starting to get swollen.

Rocco touches his eye with his fingertips. He then holds his right arm that Paul turned and is clearly hurt. He looks at Paul silenced and the bus driver gets in and yells "You two! Get out of the bus! I will report this to the principle first thing tomorrow morning!"

They climb out of the bus and Rocco says to Paul "I am sorry. How did it happen to us?"  
Paul answers "Girls..."  
"We kept our mutual feelings for Jane too quiet" Rocco says  
"Yeah well... we both had a fair chance" Paul says  
"I'm sorry for my attitude back there in the bus" Rocco says  
"And I'm sorry for hitting you, your eye looks really bad" Paul says smiling  
"Forget my eye, my arm you twisted is what's hurting the most".  
Paul looks at Rocco's arm thinking that he needs to keep his emotions in check because it caused him to use a bit of Energy which gave him the power to turn Rocco's arm like it was nothing.

They wait on the sidewalk for their parents to arrive  
"Your mother will be angry..." Rocco says  
"She will, I had a fight at school and was kicked of the bus. Yep, she won't like that..."  
"You don't have to tell her about the fight"  
"I think telling her I missed the bus will be worse than the truth" Paul says truthfully.  
Rocco's face turns a bit serious when he says "Speaking of truth, the reason I was such an arse is because Jane came to me and asked me if she could rather go to the Valentines Ball with you, I told her its ok. I don't know why I acted the way I did on the bus. To be honest I was angry and I wasn't thinking. I figured she'll tell you tomorrow in anyways and the rest is now history. I'm sorry"  
Paul knows this was maybe the best thing that could've happen to their friendship, ending it or fixing it, and says "I'm sorry too" meaning every word of it and at that moment his mother arrives, looking very angry.

# Chapter 7: The song

"What's plan B?" Paul asks  
"The plan we have, should you break the shackles deciding not to come with us" Michael answers  
"Sorry for ruining plan A" Paul says  
"No worries. We knew that there was a possibility that we are going to have to apply plan B"

Paul and Michael are staring at each other. Paul tries to waste some time to restore some of his Energy. Jakes reaches his remote lying on the floor. He looks at it, Michael looks curiously at Jakes and then Jakes says "350."

Michael smiles at Paul and says "No wonder you're just standing there"  
Paul laughs softly and says "Jakes! Tune that thing on Michael!" and Jakes does as he's told.  
Jakes looks a bit shocked and says "370! How is it possible? You are much stronger than him" while looking at Michael.

Michael smiles of amazement and says "You knew you had less Energy than me, but you let me waste mine while preserving yours... not just a good fighter, but a smart fighter as well!"  
Paul smiles, he likes the acknowledgement, "I would say thank you, but you are the enemy. Jakes, tune that thing back on me!"  
Jakes does it and his eyes opens widely "its 400, but how?" _'What is taking Kayobi so long?'_ he thinks.

You can hear the fear in Jakes' voice, but Michael still looks calm. Paul is still not attacking even when he can beat both of them now.  
"You can sense our energies, can't you? That is how you knew I was wasting mine and... also why you are not finishing us off" Michael says  
Paul nods and Jakes looks confused, he does not know what they mean.  
Michael notices Jakes' confusion and says "Don't worry Jakes, he can sense Kayobi's energy coming"

***

Paul and his mother, Maryann, stop at Jane's home. Paul climbs out of the car and knocks on the door. While waiting Paul fixes his tie and pulls his suit even. Jane's father opens the door. Paul's heart skips a beat, he didn't expect her father. _And he is big._  
"Hello Sir!" Paul says  
"Be back at 10!" her father says  
Paul smiles and says "12?!"  
Jane's father almost smiles and says "10" but keeps up the act  
"11?" Paul asks  
"10 and that's my final offer" says Jane's father  
"10 o'clock it will be Sir" Paul says knowing there is no changing his mind and Jane's father truly smiles for the first time.

They shake hands and Jane's father makes way for her. She looks beautiful, but Paul waits until half way between her father and his mother to tell her "You look... beautiful". She blushes a bit and Paul also feels his ears getting warm.

The drive to school was quiet, probably because Paul is actually very nervous. His mother made a remark by saying she could not believe Paul actually asked someone. They both just smiled at each other. They smile because of the amount of trouble it took for them to be going to the Valentine's ball together. Not only was it the troubles with Rocco, but the troubles that came afterwards. Jane was mad at Paul for hitting Rocco and because she was mad at him he decided to be mad at her for dropping Rocco for him, he's reasoning was: if she could leave Rocco that easy how could he know she won't leave him that easily, but they didn't use very nice words. One would have thought they will hate each other after this. But once they've put aside their hard-headedness and sat down and Jane explained she dropped Rocco because she actually wanted to go with Paul and she knew that if he asked her eventually that she would've dropped Rocco. Paul explained that he didn't hit Rocco because of him going with her, but because Rocco was insulting him and Christoff and he had to protect their honour.

They've put everything that had happened in the past and now they are only focussing on the now, which is: Valentine's Ball.

They enter the school hall. The tables are neatly placed, with red and white table cloths. There's a dance floor in the middle and they play classical music as everyone enters. They go sit at their table number. Each table has four seats and the other couple is already waiting there: Rocco and Jolene. Jolene is Jane's best friend.

(How the hell did that happen? One will ask themselves. Let's face it: Rocco was tall and attractive, with loads of confidence, he could almost pick up any girl he'd like. Jolene, I wouldn't say smarter, but she studied harder than Jane, so she did better with her grades, but other than that she's always been in the shadow of Jane, so if Rocco, the 'cooler' one of the two brothers, will ask her... why she will say no? Why Rocco asked her, no-one knows.)

So they sat together during dinner. Rocco had his full attention on Jolene. Paul doubted Rocco's intentions at first, but now he is sure Rocco has accepted Paul being with Jane, the love of Paul's life.

Though Paul and Jane aren't together yet as... boyfriend and girlfriend, but they are together at the valentine's ball and after they made peace, their chemistry leading to the valentine's ball was growing each day...

After dinner the music started and everyone danced and was having a good time. Paul and Jane went to sit at their table to rest for a bit and Rocco was sitting there alone. Jolene was dancing with someone else, but it didn't bother him. Paul also wasn't the only guy Jane danced with. Everyone was just having a good time and Paul didn't want to be that jealous type of guy, and they weren't officially together. They sat at the table, nothing to say until Rocco said, "let's arm wrestle!" and Paul couldn't back down in front of Jane, but he thought Rocco had forgotten that Paul turned Rocco's arm around as if it was nothing when they fought on the bus. Rocco was suspecting something and Paul wasn't sure what he should do: whether he should win or lose...

Paul was getting good results with the energy concept since he watched Dragon Ball Z and the day on the bus proved it. He can make himself stronger, which is why he can decide to win or to lose. Rocco was taller, had bigger and had more defined muscles than Paul. Sure Paul was in great shape with his boxing training and everything, but Rocco went to the gym and was stronger than Paul (if Paul didn't 'make' himself stronger).

After weighing his options Paul decided to lose, and that he did. Rocco asked him how did he twist his arm in the bus and Paul just answered he was angry and adrenaline kicked it, it was the only reasonable explanation. Jane wasn't disappointed, she expected Paul to lose, so everything was good and Paul made the right decision.

It was a strange thing to do at a ball, but they were just sitting there, taking a break and that has obviously been on Rocco's mind for a while and he just wanted some answers.

After the arm wrestle they danced again for a while and then sat down for a while again. Rocco and Jolene were dancing again. Until the DJ said "Last song! men grab your valentine and ladies, go dance with your man!" The song began to play, it was: You and Me by Lifehouse, and Paul stood beside her and held out his hand. Jane took at and they went to dance floor. He holds her tight and looks her in the eyes. They enter the chorus and both of them blush a bit. On the end of the second chorus, where the song goes: _'I can't keep my eyes off of you"_ , they stare into each other's eyes, soul meets soul, their hearts beat the same, her dark green eyes shouting at him to come closer. He accepts this challenge and gets closer, not taking his eyes off of hers'. For a moment she pauses, he has a fright, he is uncertain on what to do, but then she locks in with a kiss. Time has stopped, Paul and Jane together at last, the kiss he has been waiting for. They forget everyone around while swirling to the beat of the music. It is just him and her and all other people, with nothing to do...

And nothing to lose.

# Chapter 8: The truth shall set you free

Ironically, the door next the hole opens. An Asian man, in his 50s steps in.  
"Hello Paul, nice to finally meet you" Kayobi says. Paul doesn't reply. The joke's over and everyone got serious.  
"You can come the easy way... or the hard way" Kayobi says when Michael opens a silver suitcase and takes out a needle. It is the second time Paul have seen that needle in Michael's hands. Luckily for Paul, he's not afraid of needles.

Michael stands behind Paul and just as the needle enters Paul's next Michael whispers "I'm sorry". It was real contempt which made Paul afraid... and then Paul sees black.

***

Paul visits Jane almost every weekend since the valentine's ball and it's nearing the end of the 1st quarter. Sometimes they just talk and other times the watch a movie... well sort of. Paul's grades have gone a bit down and his mother has been threatening him about not taking him to see Jane unless his grades start improving.

His free time is spent on 2 things: During the week and sometimes on weekends he feeds his need on the boxing bag (he is now in his 4th boxing bag this year, he punched holes in the previous bags) and of course the second thing he does in his free time is spend it with Jane. He tried going on without 'practicing', but that made him on edge, jumpy and short tempered, so it was better for him to 'practice'. But the boxing bag is beginning to fulfil the need less and less.

The mall is just across the street from the High School. Jane and Paul is sitting at the Wimpy, drinking some milkshakes. Both of them drink chocolate milkshakes. Half way through the milkshake Paul starts feeling a pressure in the air. It is a warm wave pressing against him. He looks around, but everyone looks normal.  
"Is everything OK?" Jane asks  
"Yes, everything's fine, just had a quick head ache..." Paul says. He can't tell her the truth, because he doesn't know the truth himself.  
"You've been having lots of those lately. Maybe you should go to the doctor" Jane says looking a bit worried. But it's true... it's not the first time Paul felt this pressure and he didn't think Jane noticed.  
"I will ask my mom to make an appointment" Paul says.

They walk back to school after they drank their milkshakes. That is when Paul sees _him_ : A man with a large remote controller in his hands, with a radio toy car on the side walk. The car is not moving and he is standing between them and the school entrance. The man is completely out of place in his surroundings and Paul feels the pressure more and more the closer he gets to him. He holds Jane's hand tight and she sees him staring at that man. Jane is starting to get afraid herself, but Paul is not afraid. His need is also pressing him more than ever; in fact he is getting thrilled. He just wants to hit him in the face and start fight to see what that man's got.

They are 6 steps from the man and Paul feels the pressure in the air more intensely now. _'Is this what energy feels like'_ Paul thinks as they approach him. Two steps away they look at each other and Paul greets him with a "Hey" and a small smile.  
The man extends his hand and says "Hi, I'm Jakes" with a broad smile.  
Paul shakes his hand and feels pure... power... or rather Energy flowing up his arm, almost like an electric shock and says "I'm Paul".

They walk past him and Paul looks back and sees Jakes calling someone on his old flip- phone. Paul focusses his Energy on his hearing and tries listening in on Jake's conversation. "Hello Michael! there's..." then Jakes looks at the remote controller thing in his hands and continues "never mind, talk later". Paul looks in front of him, thinking very hard.

Paul waits for Jane's mother to fetch her and after that he waits for his mother. Paul texts Christoff as soon as he gets into his mother's car.  
"Can you drop me off at Christoff's?" Paul asks his mother  
"Who's going to pay for the petrol?"  
"Take it off my allowance at the end of the month, please, he asked me to come and help him with some homework" Paul tries not to smile, but he always smiles when he is lying  
"OK, call me when I should pick you up" Maryann says. She is very lenient with Paul. In almost everything.

While at Christoff's house Paul tells Chirstoff "Hey, thank you for seeing me on such short notice"  
Christoff replies "No problem, what's so urgent?"  
"I'll tell you in private" Paul answers.

After greeting Christoff's parents and drinking some coffee with them they go to the back yard to 'feed the dogs' which they do, but just to cover for their private conversation. Christoff's parents are very... controlling, they weren't sure if his parents would eavesdrop when they were talking in Christoff's room.

"I need your advice" Paul says  
"You've got a girlfriend, why would you need my advice?" Christoff asks  
"Because you are smart and I need to know what you think"  
"Ok, what is it?"  
"There's a man following me, he's been following me for a while now"  
"Seriously? A man is following you? Why?"  
Paul inhales and exhales deeply and says "You know Dragon Ball Z?" Christoff listens with great interest because he heard Dragon Ball Z.  
"Well what would you say if I tell you it's true?" Paul says and Christoff gives out a forced laugh and Paul smiles. Then Paul continues:  
"Not the story, but the concept... Energy... and that man who's been following me is sensing my Energy with this device, almost like a scouter, but he holds it in his hands like a remote"  
Paul can see Chirstoff doesn't believe him, how could he? Paul just told him Dragon Ball Z is kind of true.

Paul looks at Christoff and Christoff tries to hold in his laugh and says "You have Energy" but then he sees Paul is serious.  
"How can I prove it to you?" Paul asks  
"I don't know? Fly or make a Kamehameha wave" Christoff says mockingly and waits for Paul's reply  
"Well... I can't..." Paul says and Christoff looks like he's thinking 'that's what I thought'.  
But then Paul says "I'm not that good with Energy yet, I've been practicing for years now, but I can use it to make myself stronger... remember when I fought with Rocco on the bus and I turned his arm?" Paul sees Christoff does remember it and then he also adds "I can also focus my energy on my senses, that's how I am so good with Cricket, I focus my energy on my sight and the ball comes as if it is slow motion. Go around the corner and whisper something only you will hear and I will tell you what you said"

Christoff goes around the corner and comes back. Paul smiles at Christoff, but Christoff remains neutral.  
"Isabella does have pretty legs" Paul says and Christoff blushes a bit.  
"you should ask her out" Paul says  
then Christoff says "OK, lucky guess. Last test... jump on the roof!"

Paul looks up at the roof, steps a bit closer and focusses all his Energy into his legs. He's never done it before, but he knows he can. He jumps and lands on the roof, turns and looks at Christoff smiling. He jumps off the roof and Christoff says "You've got to teach me! It is freaking cool!"  
"Shhhh! I will, though it will be difficult, but I'll try. Maybe it will even help me understand _it_ better. Now, do you believe me?"  
Christoff answers "Yes!"

Christoff is too excited, but Paul is happy that he could share it with someone.

"Are you going to tell Jane?" Christoff asks  
"No, I can't"  
"Why not?"  
"In primary school I liked this one girl and I got into a fight with this big guy. And that was the first time I realised I had a special power, though that day was strange, I had no control over my power and I just wanted to hurt him, but I still felt the power. She never talked to me after seeing me with that power".  
"I'm sorry man. I know it must be hard not to tell her, and thank you for telling me and trusting me. Keeping a secret like that can be lonely and I will always be by your side. You don't have to tell her now, it's not like you disappear every now and then to save the day and make up some lame excuses, or do you?"  
Paul smiles "No I don't"  
"Why not?"  
"Why should I?"  
"Like uncle Ben said: 'with great power comes great responsibility' and you have the power to save people's lives, how could you not do that?"  
"I don't think I'm strong enough and even if I were, what gives me the right to decide who should be saved and not, because I won't be able to save everybody. And let's face it, our country is corrupt, should I go do something about that too? Take out the corrupt leaders?"  
Christoff knows he's right in that aspect but Paul can feel he has a big part to play in this earth's fate one day, he does have the power and it will only grow, but that is not today.

"What can you tell me about that guy that's been following you?" Christoff asks  
"His name is Jakes"  
"How do you know his name?"  
"He told me. Now listen, ever since I fought with Rocco in the bus I felt this strange aura around me the whole time. It's a warm thick, it's hard to describe, and it is pressuring me, almost as if it is suffocating me, but it doesn't. I think it's his Energy and it is a lot stronger than mine"  
"That will explain why it is suffocating you, and us who can't sense Energy doesn't feel that pressure" Christoff says  
Paul smiles "I knew I came to the right person. But I met him today, he was at school, after Jane and I drank milkshakes. He was standing there and I noticed that he was the source of that pressure, or Energy I felt"  
"How do you know that he senses you with that remote thing?" Christoff asks  
"After we made contact he was calling someone, so I focussed my Energy on my hearing, thus increasing my Energy. He looked down on the remote thing and said: 'call you back later' and hung up"  
"So there is more than one guy interested in you. What are you going to do?"  
"Stop with my training, lay low for a while with my Energy and see if he is still following me"  
"That is the only thing you can do now, but you know, if they are interested in you, you can't hide forever, you are only buying time. Can you sense my Energy?" Christoff asks  
"No I can't"  
"And do you need to increase your Energy to sense Jakes' Energy?"  
"Saying it out loud sounds weird, I can't even do either of those things very well, but no, I don't need to 'increase' my Energy to sense Jakes'"  
"Well that's what we can do when you are not training, focus on sensing energy, until you can sense mine and then we can go on from there" Christoff says  
"For now let's go back inside and do our homework, before we need to give some 'lame excuses' to what we are doing in the dark together."

# Chapter 9: The finals

The cricket season starts in the 3rd quarter and Paul is very happy about that. He's been very anxious and short tempered lately and needed something more challenging than a boxing bag. Even though he never shouts or hits anything when the need is high, he does hold his breath and clenches his fists just to calm down. Jane and Maryann are starting to notice. Miss Smith threatened him that she will call his mother to find out what is wrong, because he pays no attention in class and his grades are beginning to show it.

At cricket practice everyone greets him and is very excited for the season to start. The first week is trails to be placed in the A- or B- team. The school is also excited about the team, because they've done extremely well last year and they are expecting them to play in the nationals this year.

Paul, being the second receiving opening batsmen starts batting in the nets with the other opening batsmen of last year. Paul struggles. Everyone has grown since last year. They bowl faster and more accurately and Paul can't use his Energy this time. Though he still is a natural ball player and does hit a few good drives and doesn't get bowled. He still didn't live up to expectation with the batting.

Bowling was good, or better at least. He is still fit and strong from all the practice he did and bowling was more technique than anything, so he sent the balls straight and fast.

As practice progressed during the week the teams were beginning to form. Paul made the first team, but he moved down from opening batsmen to number 7, which was bad for Paul actually, because like any other person: he doesn't like losing, and your 6,7 and 8 batsmen are your backup batsmen if the top order fails, which means in a losing game, he will be forced to use his Energy in order to win.

After school he practiced cricket then went home and ate lunch. After lunch he went to Christoff to do "homework" and weekends he went to Jane or the other way around, she visited him.

Paul and Jane's relationship is in a good place. Even though Paul is edgy, being with Jane calms him and he only gets mad when Eugene, Jane's ex, gives problems. Eugene wants Jane back, but he doesn't get the message. Usually Paul would just let it go and let time sort it out, but lately he wants to be the one to give Eugene the message instead of Jane.

Nearing the end of the 3th quarter they play cricket against High School Rustenburg, the largest school in the province. It is the North-West finals and Klerksdorp is batting second. Rustenburg put up a good total to chase. The top order batsmen fail to score runs and the day that Paul feared has come. He didn't need to use his Energy for the entire season. He was starting to find his form without needing _it_. He even took his team home once, but this time is different. Rustenburg is good and Klerksdorp is far behind.

The batsmen meet each other in middle of the crease for the final over. Only thing Paul can think about is should he or should he not. Jakes' Energy couldn't be felt for a few weeks now and it seems that the laying low plan has been working.

One over remaining and six runs needed to win. Nine wickets have fallen, but Paul is at the receiving end. It's a bad ball, but Paul doesn't connect with it sweetly and they only make a single. The number 11 batsmen face the bowler. He swings and misses two balls. The third ball is a top edge, but the ball lands in safety and they make another single. Two balls remaining and 4 runs needed to win. Both teams are standing on the edge of the boundary. Some players are chewing their nails. The team that wins today wins North-West and qualifies for the Nationals.

Two balls remaining and the bowler starts with his run up. It is a Yorker, too good for Paul to play, he only blocks it. Last ball: It's another Yorker but it is now or never. Paul swings and the bails are flying from the wickets. The Rustenburg reserves run onto the field and the disappointment in the Klerksdorp team is high. Only consolation prize will be if they win the Super 16.

Paul walks off the field and apologizes to the team. They are not angry at him; he still made the most runs in the team. Then Paul feels that pressure again, but _it_ is not the same as _it_ was last time he felt _it_. He looks to the other side of the field and sees a man, Jakes, standing there, smiling. Jakes were playing him the fool.

Paul is very angry. When he gets home he throws his cricket bag. He throws everything from his desk. His mother comes rushing in "What's wrong?" she asks, also looking angry at Paul throwing stuff around  
"I don't know, you tell me?"  
His mother looks down, half sadden "What happened?" she asks when looking up, "We lost!"  
"But you can't always win" she says  
"I know, but... but I'm so... it is hard to explain. I just want to hit something, but I can't!"  
"Why not, it's been months since you practiced with the punching bag, go hit out your frustrations"  
"But why? Why do you... let me punch that thing? No normal kid does that, but I have to... Why?!"  
"You seemed to like it, I'll be a bad mom if I stop you from doing something that you like"  
"I don't like it" Paul says with tears forming in his eyes "But I have to..."  
His mother hugs him and whispers in his ear "I'm sorry" also crying with her son.

# Chapter 10: The idea

The day after they lost the cricket is Friday, and also the last day of school before spring-break starts. After school Paul goes to Christoff before going to Jane. He tells him everything that happened.  
"I just should've won us the match and get done with it" Paul says  
"Have you ever thought it's unfair for you to do sports?" Christoff asks  
"No... I know I have the advantage, but I'm not doing it for the glory, I'm doing it for myself, to practice"  
"If you say so" Christoff says and Paul gets angry  
"What's that supposed to mean?" Paul asks  
Christoff frowns "Nothing, geeze, get a grip!"  
And Paul replies "That's the problem! I can't do what I have to do and it's all been for nothing, he's still following me and probably thought yesterday will be the day I will use _it_ again"  
"Did you 'sense' him?" Christoff asks  
"Yes, but yesterday was different. Before it was only pressure, but yesterday it felt unique, as if it was his, it was giving out its own... colour... I knew straight away it was Jakes"  
"You know what that means?" Christoff asks  
"What?  
"Our training is working!" Christoff says smiling  
"You are right, it working!" Paul says, also smiling.

"Something's been bothering me" Christoff says  
"What is it?" Paul asks  
"I've been watching some Dragon Ball Z lately and there are a lot of resemblance between you and... the story. For instance... Energy: You can increase your energy by focusing _it_ on your senses and muscles, making you stronger. During our training I did a lot of research on energy and the theories are there. You are living prove of it and Dragon Ball Z is prove that someone, believed or knew, Energy can be enhanced to create super... or rather out of the ordinary strong humans. And the writer Akira Toriyama is also sketchy... he forgets everything that happened in the story, almost as if someone else was giving him the story and did you notice the inconsistencies between each saga? I think someone with knowledge of Energy was feeding Akira with the story and the inconsistencies and forgetfulness is because the person stopped feeding him the story before the story was done"  
"Interesting theory, but I'm sure it's just a coincidence. Dragon Ball Z can't be based on the truth" Paul says  
"Of course not, do you see any dinosaurs roaming free in the wild? But every legend is based on some truth and there is definitely some truth in Dragon Ball Z. But why don't you go ask him?" Christoff asks  
"Don't be stupid" Paul says  
"I'm serious. You know our school does exchange students with German schools... Why don't you do it privately with someone in Japan, and once you are in Japan you can arrange a meeting with him. And then you can see if Jakes can follow you to another continent when your Energy is low. So you'd only have to arrange the Japan trip without breaking your daily routine so he doesn't get suspicious"  
"It's possible, but persuading my mother will be tough and it is expensive" Paul says  
"Listen, your mother is strangely, considering that she is a single mother, very care free with you, and look at this website"  
"I thought you didn't have internet"  
"No, _I don't have internet_ , but I hacked the neighbour's Wi-Fi. Now, it is about foreign exchange students with Japanese students and it is legitimate. I'll text you the link and take this flash drive and run the exe on it. It's an app I've written that will automatically hack the strongest WIFI signal in the area, and try the 'next hot-spot' button if it fails... it should work. Read through everything on the website and prepare persuading your mom"  
"That I will do and imagine the experience... in the land of Anime. Why don't you come with me?" Paul asks  
"I already asked my parents... they said no..."

Paul and Christoff do a quick half hour meditation together before he goes to Jane. Paul focusses on sensing Christoff's Energy while Christoff focusses on increasing his. Neither of them has been successful thus far. Paul, it seems, only manages to 'sense' Energies that's extremely high, like Jakes'. Paul have noticed that the pressure wasn't as large as it always felt and even though the meditation had no results in sensing Christoff's Energy, he had been feeling that he understands Energy more and that when he does increase _it_ again someday it will be something special.

Meditation calms Paul and that need for power. It is much better than the punching bag for calming his need. That's why they meditate before going to Jane, because he's still nervous when he goes to visit her and being nervous with that need not being fed can become disastrous. The first time he didn't meditate he completely pressed in the 'Off button' in the car radio, because the song was irritating him. He doesn't like rave music and most Pop music; he feels most songs of late have no depth. His favourite decade would be the sixties.

Jane lives in Klerksdorp in the 'good' part of the city. Almost all of the houses in South-Africa have yards, so that is no strange thing. But Jane lives in a double story house and her room has its own balcony. Her parents are very nice and they like Paul. He can talk about rugby with her dad and talk about food with her mother, because Paul cooks a lot of food for him and his mother, because she is a working single mother.

Paul and Jane sit together during breaks at school. They text to each other when they wake up and text again when they go to bed at night and whenever time they feel like it. Weekends are when they spend real face to face time together. Almost every weekend, except for the weekends Jane has family visiting; then it is family time. Her parents said after a year they will also consider him as part of the family. They do often joke about it. Paul didn't mind, because that meant more meditating. Christoff gets bored quickly and go plays DotA after a while, but Paul can go on for hours.

It has become a routine. Paul arrives at about 4, because they eat lunch at 3. Greets her parents and they talk in the living room for about a half-hour to an hour. Then her parents leave to their bedroom and Paul and Jane would just talk or watch a movie in the living room. They cuddle and he would kiss her every now and then during a movie and if the movie is boring they would make out. Jane always chooses the movie and oddly enough it isn't the chick flicks that are the boring ones. If Jane starts to cry in a chick flick Paul can't help but also cry and that is why he hates chick flicks. One: Because he cries and two: Because they aren't boring.

Paul has just been in Jane's room twice and both times they sat on the balcony, looked at the stars and talked about the universe and life as we know it. Paul loves Jane and has enormous respect for her. He truly cares for her and that is why he is taking things slowly. He wants their relationship to be perfect for both of them on an emotional level along the way.

# Chapter 11: The old wounds

Paul has been 'clean' for about a year now, ever since practicing with Christoff. Its grade 11 and everyone's heads are shaved. It is school tradition, made by the students, to shave their heads when they go into grade 11. Paul, with usually too long blonde wavy hair, now already has 10 mm long hair. A week of school has passed and Paul's hair as already long enough for people to say that he didn't even cut his hair, but he did, it just grows very fast. He gets some trouble from the teachers because his hair is usually over his ears and too long. Paul is a hairy guy: He already has chest hairs and lots of facial hair and he needs to shave everyday not to get in trouble. It is a bit strange for people with blonde hair.

Without the mop on his head Paul noticed he was very taller. He has grown quite a lot during grade 10 and especially during the summer vacation before the start of grade 11. He is 1.7 meters now. Jane stands as tall as his nose, but most girls are fully grown at that age and she's been standing still for quite some time, so there isn't hope for her to get taller.

There is a new girl in school, turning the heads of all the boys: Judy. Yes, the same Judy from primary school, which brings back some memories for Paul. She is just as beautiful as she was in primary school and Paul wonders why she is in High School Klerksdorp. He has absolutely no feelings left for her, Jane is the one and only, but with Paul's luck she's in his class.

Paul greets her and she gets a small freight, looks at him and continues to her chair.  
Jane asks "Who's that?" at least he has some luck with class placements being in the same class as Jane  
"Her name is Judy, she's a girl from my primary school"  
"Did you have a rough brake up or something?" Jane jokes, but actually wants to know  
"No, we were only together for a weekend then she broke up with me, so I really don't know what her problem is"  
Jane laughs softly "A weekend?"  
Paul laughs "Yeah I actually bribed her with a chocolate at a school dance on the Friday and the Monday she broke up with me... I didn't know you actually have to actually talk to your girlfriend. Back then I thought you just buy them presents on their birthday and on Valentine's Day".

Rocco also noticed Judy ignoring him and spoke loudly; to make sure Judy could hear "This brings back memories". Rocco and Paul are still good friends. Even though they don't have the same interests anymore, they still got that old friendship bond connecting them.  
But then Jane asks "What memories?"  
Paul answers, feeling kind of sad "The reason I left Orkney, she wasn't the only one who ignored me there"  
"Why? What happened?" Jane asks  
"I got into a fight in primary school and the guy was unconscious after I beat him and since then everyone from Orkney doesn't like me"  
Rocco moves his chair right next to Paul and Jane's table and says "But that guy was twice his size, which were kind of scary, this guy (aiming at Paul with his eyes) has never lost a fight, he's got some special fighting skills"  
Paul can see Christoff, sitting in front of them, smiling as his ears lifted up and he completely froze as he eavesdrops.  
Jane says "I didn't know you fight"  
"It's because he doesn't fight, he has a punching bag at home, that's the closest he gets to fighting, he practiced a lot on that thing when we were younger" Rocco says  
"Where's the punching bag? I've never seen it" Jane asks  
Christoff is still frozen, Paul knows he's listening this whole thing, and Paul says "I took it down last year, it was getting boring"  
"Yeah! After years punching a bag, it sure would get boring, (Rocco looks at Jane) all those muscles he has, he got from just punching that bag, I nagged him to come to the gym with me, but he has never once put his feet in a gym"  
"That's kind of amazing" Jane says looking at Paul.

They talk until the bell rings. Everyone goes in their separate directions for their next class, except for Christoff, who says "I think you haven't lost any fight because you had an unfair Energy advantage"  
"Yeah I saw you laughing your ass off in class, but I'll see you in class, I just quickly want to talk to Judy"

Paul turns around and runs after Judy. He catches up to her, taps her shoulder and says "Hey!"  
She turns and starts walking faster. Paul runs and stops in front of her.  
She stops and asks "What do you want?"  
Paul gets serious "To know why"  
"Why what?" Judy asks and continues walking  
Paul walks next to her "Why doesn't anyone from Orkney like me? I was just a fight"  
"It wasn't just a fight, freak"  
They stop. Paul feels crushed. He didn't expect anyone thinking he was a freak. He doesn't know what to say. He can see Judy feels bad for saying it  
"I was there" Judy says  
"I remember, you..."  
"Then you should know why everyone thought that"  
Paul starts feeling some anger inside him "How? Because I got some adrenaline rush when someone was hitting me, and I managed to hit him unconscious..." Paul says  
Judy shows real contempt in her eyes and says "You don't know..."  
"Know what?" Paul asks, not knowing what she means  
"It wasn't just some adrenaline rush. It was something... indescribable. Your muscles tightened and defined like nothing I've ever seen, it was insane, and when you turned around your eyes were red, you know the blue part... it was red. It was like some demon was inside you and we all thought you were going to kill him"  
Paul is shocked. _'Is that what it was like?'_ he thinks. Judy sees the shock in his face, she feels bad for everyone for being unfair to him and says "I'm sorry"  
Paul has tears in his eyes. He was also unconscious right after his demon came fourth. He didn't know he was about to kill him. All he can remember from that day is the feeling of intense power and... destruction. _Do I have a demon inside me, giving me this power that need for fighting and the ability to enhance my Energy?_

' _Am I evil?'_

# Chapter 12: The gossiping

Paul wakes up after the second needle shot in a square orange room. He waits for his eyes to adjust. The room has orange see through walls with an orange prison like door. The room is very big. Outside are some buildings, green grass and a spherical blue shield around the whole place. This place is big... very big.

There is something wrong. Paul doesn't feel his Energy or any other Energy. He turns and observes his surroundings until something catches his eye: Two men, flying 200m up in the air, fighting up in the distance. He is amazed by it. Flying was his dream since he learnt about enhancing Energy, but with Jakes following him around for two years he was too afraid to practice. _'Once I get out of here I will learn to fly'_ he thinks.

Paul tries powering up, but nothing happens. He sees Kayobi and Michael approaching the door. They enter and Kayobi says "Ahh you're up. You've been asleep for 3 days. This is the Anti-Energy room and welcome to the Academy".

***

Paul told Christoff about what Judy said. Christoff where disappointed, he really did like the Dragon Ball Z theory, this meant he will never be able to increase his Energy. On the bright side, they are all just theories and the plan is still the same: Lay low with the Energy and go to Japan to see if Jakes is still following him.

The Valentine's Ball

Paul and Jane share a table with Christoff and Isabella. Yes, Christoff finally got the courage to ask her. This is a big moment for Christoff and that's why Paul wants to be there. Jolene, Jane's friend, sit's at the table next to them, this time not with Rocco. Everything worked out nicely.

Everyone is having a good time as the night proceeds. Paul has two left feet when it comes to dancing, but that doesn't stop him from trying. Christoff got his first kiss quite early in the night and not on the last dance as Paul did.

While eating the food prepared for the night Paul notices Eugene looking at their direction and whispering to his friend. They laugh the whole time. Christoff notices it too and sees Paul biting his teeth. Paul looks at Christoff and they stare at each other. No words have to be said and Christoff shakes his head. Paul shows with is index finger and thumb 'only a little bit'. Christoff just looks at Paul meaning 'Do what you want, but I did warn you'.

Paul looks at Eugene and for the first time in a year he will—  
"Leave them alone, tonight is our night" Jane says  
"Leave who alone?" Paul asks, but he knows that she knows he knows what she is talking about.  
Jane just looks at him and Paul says "OK! OK! Sorry" and Paul gives his full attention to Jane, but Paul couldn't help notice the small smile of victory that Christoff has.

It is the last song of the night. Paul and Jane are locked in each other's eyes. No words are being spoken. They are in perfect harmony. The song ends and they hold hands and walks towards their table to get their stuff. Miss Smith appears in front of them and says "Glad to know you two abided the rules this time"  
"Did Ma'am just looked at us the whole time?" Paul asks jokingly  
"Yes, we can't let the same thing happen like last time and I was anxiously waiting for it to happen."  
"Sorry to disappoint Ma'am, but if you wanted a show you should've probably looked at Christoff"  
"I know, I did see them actually, but poor Christoff, you'll never know if that's the last kiss he'll ever get"  
They laugh and say good night to each other.

The four of them wait outside the school hall for their parents to arrive. Christoff's parents arrive. Paul and Jane says good bye to Christoff and Isabella. Then they wait for Paul's mother to arrive. Paul sees Eugene again, across the street pointing in their direction and laughing with his friends. Jane sees it too and gets angry at herself.  
"Let me just go talk to them" Paul says  
"OK, but I'm coming with you"

Paul and Jane arrive and Eugene and his friends gets quiet.  
"What is your problem?" Jane asks  
Eugene's friends laugh and Eugene says "Nothing"  
"I know you are sad about losing Jane, but can you just man up and stop making up stories about us and move on" Paul says  
Eugene feels provoked and says "What stories?" and steps closer to Paul  
Paul looks him in the eyes without fear and says "I don't care what stories you make up, just stop it, you are not proving anything. You are like a little boy who got his toy taken from him."

Eugene's face turns red and he pushes Paul. He is a few centimetres taller than Paul, but Paul is a lot fitter and in shape. A crowd begins to form around them. Jane tells Paul just to leave, but Paul can't leave now. He wants to humiliate Eugene in front of his friends and in front of everyone. Paul notices among the crowd is Rocco and Judy. Standing five or six persons from each other, but he notices Judy is a bit afraid but still curious. He winks at her with a smile to put her at ease. Eugene pushes him again and says "C'mon time for you to man up". Eugene doesn't understand why Paul is so calm.  
Jane is pulling Paul's arm saying "Just leave him"  
Paul looks Jane in the eyes and says "Trust me" and walks up to Eugene. They stand in the centre of the crowd with some comments like "Hit him!" and "Fight! Fight! Fight!"  
"Give me your best shot!" Eugene says acting tough  
Paul smiles at him and says "Eugene... I have nothing to prove" Paul turns and walks away.

Paul hears Eugene's footsteps coming closer. A normal human would not be able to have heard it with all the noise from the crowd but Paul is no normal human. The last step is a bit harder than the rest. Paul increases his Energy and turns around. He sees Eugene's fist coming in slow motion and connects Paul on the cheek below the eye. Paul turns with no sign of pain and faces Eugene holding his hand in pain, something might be broken.  
"You can hit me again if you want" And turns his other cheek.  
Eugene just stares at Paul. After a few seconds Paul turns, takes Jane's hand and starts walking back to the spot they were standing. One of Eugene's friends shouts "Coward!" at Paul, but Paul just looks at Jane with a smile. Jane is touching Paul's cheek where he was hit, but there is no mark and no sign that it is going to get swollen. The crowd starts disappearing when only Eugene and his friends and Rocco are left. Eugene and Rocco stare at Paul as Paul and Jane walk away.

Paul's mother arrives. Paul opens the door for Jane. Once they're both in the car Maryann drives to take Jane home.  
"How was your evening" Maryann asks while driving  
"It was fun" Paul says  
"Paul and my ex had a bit of a falling out right now" Jane says  
"You didn't fight, did you Paul?" Maryann asks seriously  
"No mom, I didn't" Paul says in a bored tone  
"Good, what happened?"  
"We just talked" Paul answers

They arrive at Jane's home. Paul walks her to the door.  
"I can't believe one incident spoiled the whole night" Paul says  
"No it didn't, I'm proud of you" Jane says and Paul looks at her in a manner of 'please explain'  
"For a moment there I thought you wanted to fight, but you handled it well. Thank you for not fighting"  
"I wanted to, but I wouldn't fight, because you didn't want me to. I really wanted this night to be perfect"  
"Then lets end it perfect" Jane says and they lock in with a kiss under the moonlight.

The door opens and it is a bit awkward. Paul says good bye to Jane and thanks Jane's mother for waiting a bit longer before opening the door.

Paul climbs back in the car and they drive back home to Orkney. It is a quiet drive. Then Paul senses Jakes' Energy. _It_ is in the air and coming at them. When it is close Paul looks out of the window next to him. He sees a dark figure pass in front of the moon. He looks in the direction _it_ is traveling until he can't sense _it_ anymore. Paul gets a jolt of fear in his spine and _thinks 'Just how strong is he? He can even fly. I have to get to Japan.'_

# Chapter 13: The exchange student

"...welcome to the Academy" Kayobi says  
Paul just looks at him, wanting more information  
"The Academy for Evolved Humans. It is a home for all the people like us, like you, to be themselves: People who learned how to enhance Energy. This goes back hundreds of years, and all the knowledge about _it_ we have is stored in a library for everyone to use and learn. It has no secret section. Here no secrets are kept" says Kayobi with a business like smile, that irritates the hell out of Paul  
"Saying that you keep no secrets just tells me the opposite" Paul says  
"Sure everybody have their own personal secrets, but when it comes to Energy there are no secrets" says Kayobi, still smiling.

After a pause Paul says "So this is the end, I'm never leaving this place"  
"This isn't as bad as you make it sound, here you can fight every single day of your life and grow to be a better fighter" Kayobi says and Paul now really starts to get irritated  
"Why do you want me be here so badly, why can't I just be on my own in my little town in South Africa?" asks Paul with a voice starting to get angry.  
"Because you are 17 years old, already strong enough to be a Captain here, like Michael, and I don't know if you have noticed, but everyone here is at least in their thirties or older, some even almost a hundred years old. We look young because our energy keeps us young, why do you think some people look good for their age? Our cells age slower, but before you, our youngest to join was 33 years old, which makes you special"  
"You know what? This shield around the academy just tells me you are keeping something out, or something inside, what are you hiding? And take that smug smile of your face!"

***

Paul the exchange student... Paul is smart, though his report card doesn't do his intelligence much justice. Paul is a good problem solver, analysing and finding solutions; naturally he is good at math and science. He can pass all his subjects without studying and when he does study, he gets a distinction, but that rarely happens. Most of his time is spent elsewhere and his mother doesn't seem to mind that his grades aren't as good as it should be. He had always wondered why she was so care free with him...

The Japanese family waits for him at the airport. Paul searches for his name and sees a man, a bit shorter than him, holding his name written on a piece of carton, next to a girl also looking around. Paul goes to them and says "Konichiwa, I'm Paul Smith"  
They smile at him and says "Welcome to Japan"

The Japanese family's hospitality is very great. The girl's name is Ichi and her father's name is Hanashiro. Hanashiro is also a single parent. His wife died in a car accident when Ichi was 6 years old. Ichi and Paul is the same age, both are 17 years old.

"Is there anything specific things you want to do in Japan?" Hanashiro asks  
"Well there is actually two things, is it possible for me to maybe meet with Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball Z is my favourite childhood story ever and I also would like some training in martial arts, I am very interested in the art"  
"I can teach you karate, Ichi and I can help you with it and I might just be able to arrange a meeting with Akira Toriyama for you"

The school is an International English school, so there is no need for him to learn Japanese very quickly and most of the teachers are Americans or other countries, but all of them speak with an American accent. Paul is the centre of attraction at the school with his blonde hair and blue eyes. Even though he is out of the ordinary there, is he the perfect example of a Westerner and the Japanese girls like it.

Paul is a quiet guy, so he just remains his usual quiet self and is friendly to everyone who greets him and wants talks to him. Some girls give their numbers to him, but he tells them straight forward they shouldn't expect anything more than a friendship with a foreign South African. They only girl Paul talks to is Ichi.

Ichi is a kind, shy girl. They will talk to each other at school about the work they are doing and during break he will sit with her and her friends and listen how they talk about... well from what he could make out, is boys and clothing. They will speak English for a while and out of habit switch to Japanese, and then they will notice Paul is in nowhere land and talk English for a while until habit kicks in again.

After school Paul and Ichi will practice karate with Hanashiro. Ichi has her orange belt in karate and she would help him a lot in practice, which made them grew kind of close, maybe too close. Hanashiro's first lesson was making Paul understand that karate is not just a fighting technique, but a lifestyle. It is the way you walk, the way you speak, the way you do things: Discipline.

Paul had a tough time passing the first test. He understood the whole lifestyle thing, but when Hanashiro asked him why he wants to learn to fight, each answer Paul gave was a lie and each time Hanashiro knew.  
"Why do you want to learn how to fight?" Hanashiro asked  
"I don't want to learn how to fight, I want to learn karate" Paul answered  
"Hmmm, you just gave me the answer I wanted to hear. When I showed you some of the basics earlier I saw that you know how to punch, but your body was tense. Karate is a flow, it is balance, yin and yang"  
"And that is what I want to learn" Paul said  
"There are billions of people in the world, why do you, out of all the billions of people 'want' to learn it on a Japanese trip as a foreign student?"  
"Because I need to... and I promise, it is not to hurt some bully back in South Africa or something, it's something inside me, that needs calming" Paul answered.  
"Now I will teach you karate" says Hanashiro

And that is how it began and they've been training every day since. The trip is only 3 weeks long and then Ichi will come to South Africa with him for 3 weeks. He was almost in his old routine like back at home: School-Training-Jane. Paul would Skype with Jane late at night to catch her in the afternoon.

The day before the last day of the trip Hanashiro arranged the meeting with Akira Toriyama. They arrive at his house and greet them friendly. They enter and Akira makes them some tea.  
"So another Dragon Ball Z fan" Akira says  
"Yes, I'm actually quite obsessed" says Paul  
"And he doesn't fight too bad himself" Hanashiro says  
"Oh you do Martial Arts?" asks Akira  
"Started three weeks ago" Paul says jokingly  
"And he is a natural, as if he is born to do it" adds Hanashiro  
"Oh maybe you should go fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament" Akira jokes  
"That would be fun, do you think I'll be able to beat Mr Satan?"  
They laugh and then Akira asks "So what do you want to know?"  
"Who's the real writer of DBZ?" Paul asks and the tone gets serious  
Akira looks shocked at that question and Paul laughs  
"I have a friend back home who has a theory, a good one too, that you didn't write DBZ, and I want to get the facts straight from your mouth, so that I can tell him he is wrong"  
Akira laughs, but he does look a bit uncomfortable, and says "Sure, what do you want to know?"  
"I think you have answered these questions too much, so let me first explain my friend's theory. He believes your concept of Energy is too accurate on how it really works. It is believed that you can use Chi to strengthen yourself, but DBZ tells us you need to enhance your Energy in order to gain power. The point is you know too much of the truth, and then there's your legitimacy, you forget everything and the story is inconsistent, almost as if is someone else's story. Someone who knows about Energy and was feeding you the story. Anyways, that is his theory"

"It is an interesting theory, but the truth is: I am forgetful... and I am the creator of Dragon Ball is all me, except for the fillers and GT"

Akira is lying and Paul knows it. If someone just accused you of not being the creator of something you created you would've been furious, instead Akira seems on edge. Even Hanashiro seems mad at Paul for accusing Akira for not being the creator.

"Thank you for your time Mr Toriyama" Hanashiro says and stands up  
"Wait! One last thing" Paul looks at Hanashiro and then at Akira Toriyama and says "I can enhance my Energy. There are other people who can do it too and they are following me. I can sense them. They didn't follow me to Japan as far as I know, but I really need to know the truth".

Akira thinks and after a few seconds he says Akira says "Please sit. I will tell you everything, but this must remain a secret. A man named Takeshi came to me and said he had a story the world must know. He told me everything from where Goku landed on earth until the Boo saga. We started production and he helped me with the episodes. After we finished the Frieza saga he disappeared and I had to finish the rest by only remembering what he told me in the beginning. I couldn't remember everything"  
"How did he convince you to tell the story?" Paul asks  
"He showed me his Energy" Akira answers  
"And how much of it is true?" Paul asks  
"Everything. He said it's all based on a true story" Akira answers  
"How can it all be true? There's no proof that Goku existed" Paul says  
"I asked him the same question and all he said was that he wasn't allowed to tell me"  
"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"  
"Just caution. If you ever cross paths with Takeshi don't trust him, he's got a sly look in his eye and he is very, very strong"  
"Thank you" Paul says and Hanashiro looks shocked at what he just heard.

They stand up and Akira walks them outside. They greet each other and now it is time to head home. To South Africa.

At the airport just before departing Hanashiro says to Paul "I've sensed you've had something different about you. I don't know if we will ever meet again, but as your Sensei I just want to say you have a great power in you, make me proud to be your Sensei"  
Paul puts his hands together, says "Arigato gozaimasu" and bends his head and body.

Hanashiro greets his daughter and Paul and Ichi leave for South Africa.

# Chapter 14: The apology

Kayobi turns serious knowing the business-like approach he had was failing.  
Kayobi starts speaking in a bored tone "The orb around the academy is a shield. Impossible to break and there is only one exit and one can only exit with permission. The shield not only acts as a shield, but no energy can be picked up from the outside and vice versa The reason for the shield is to hide our energies and our existence from the rest of the word. Imagine how the world would feel if there are 264 super heroes running around enforcing their own will, all from different countries, cultures and believes. I can only think of the chaos it will cause. The leaders of the world know of this place and a secret contract has been drawn. We will not meddle in their affairs and they will not meddle in ours. We may recruit who we want and they may not stop us. They can war as much as they want and we will not stop them."  
Kayobi draws a breath and continues with the same tone "Where we currently are is called the anti-energy room. This room equals everyone's energy inside it to 50 and the rest of the energy is absorbed into the walls making it stronger. Now... I have told you everything I want to tell you. This is what's going to happen"

***

After Paul Smith returned he didn't sense Jakes at all, which made him nervous. The silence was eating him up inside. Jane waited for him at the airport along with his mother. It was a silent ride home. After Jane heard that Paul and Ichi were practicing karate together she got angry. The tension in the air was thick all the way home. When Jane was dropped off Paul wanted to walk her to the door, but she said it was OK and left, only saying good-bye to Paul's mom. Which made matters worse is that Maryann was also angry at Paul, because she was under the impression Ichi was a guy and she was 100% on Jane's side. Though Paul didn't think he had done anything wrong, because simply he didn't. He had no desire to be in a relationship with Ichi and they were just friends.

Jane didn't talk to him the entire 3 weeks when Ichi was there. Everyone thought it was over between him and Jane. Jolene even became very friendly with Paul, but he was not interested. Which made matters worse Rocco became very friendly with Jane and she didn't seem to mind. People were beginning to think Paul and Ichi found love oversees, because they were together the whole time. Paul didn't like the spotlight at all: Everyone pointing at him, whispering behind his back. Even though he could've easily try and hear what they were saying, it was not hard to assume it was about him dropping Jane for a girl he met oversees. Paul isn't a guy who gets mad easily, but what was frustrating him is that he couldn't even tell Jane the truth and with all these rumours going around, he wasn't sure what she was thinking. He just wanted her to know there isn't and never was anything between them and the only reason he's spending so much time with her at school is because he was the only friend she had here in South Africa and she did the same for him in Japan.

Christoff, the only guy who knows the full story, were with Isabella the whole time, so it really was just him and Ichi the whole time. Paul managed to persuade Christoff to play cricket in the 3rd quarter of the year. He had a mean leg-spin, but not accurate enough. Both Paul, Christoff and Rocco made 2nd team, which were good because there were 3 teams for their age, because the grade 11s and 12s are put together and Paul couldn't use any powers, otherwise he might have made the 1st team. Paul used the practices to talk to Christoff about what Akira Toriyama said. That made Christoff very happy to know that there is a very big possibility that energy enhancement is possible and it wasn't just some demon inside of Paul... though there is still the red eye demon thing, but it seems impossible to find the answer to that.

Paul is on his way to Jane. His mother is taking him, Maryann also wants him make peace with her, because he is really miserable. It is Sunday afternoon. Paul said good-bye to Ichi yesterday at Johannesburg International Airport.

They arrive at Jane's and Paul knocks on their front door. Jane's mother opens the door and says "She's not here" and closes the door. Paul turns around and sees his mother waving, gesturing he must turn around and try again. And that he does. This time Jane's father opens the door, Paul has always been a bit afraid of him, he says "What do you want?"  
"I-I want to talk to Jane please" answers Paul  
"Didn't you hear my wife? She is not here!" says Jane's father, starting to get angry  
And at that moment Paul turns around sees his mother drives away, turns back and gets a door shut to his face.  
He tries figuring out a plan, either he can go sit at their pavement, wait for Jane to return, but he's sure she's at home (her family is big on... well big family dinners on Sundays), and hopefully she sees his determination and let him in.  
He walks to the pavement, looks back (no one is peaking through the windows), and decides he is not going to wait on the pavement, because her whole family is too stubborn, Jane included, to let him in. Eventually he starts walking down the street until he is 3 houses down from Jane's and out of sight. He sneaks into the 1st house's yard; there is no fence in front. This is going to be hard: He is in brought daylight and mostly everyone is at home on a Sunday. He sneaks into the back yard and sees a TV through the window with a man and woman fixed to it. He sneaked to the end of the yard and takes cover between the trees as he progresses to the 2nd house. The yards are divided by 2 meter high walls. Paul puts his hands on the wall and slowly climbs over the wall with no sound.  
He noticed the owners of the house, next to Jane's house, aren't at home when he passed it, so if he passes this one it will be easy all the way to Jane's house.  
Paul sneaks again when suddenly a big-fat-shirtless-man-with-a-bull-dog-tattoo-on-his-shoulder comes running out of the house with an camo coated paintball gun shouting: "What do think you're doing!" It all happens very fast when Paul decides he will not use his energy and make a run for it. He hears 4 shots go off and feels a pain on his upper leg, his ribs and his neck, all happening on his left side as he runs and quickly jumps-climbs over the wall. He lands gives a sigh of relieve and sees two full grown German Shepherds running at him. He has a shorter way to the opposite wall that the dogs, but German Shepherds are fast. He powers up, there is no way he is going to be bitten by a dog today. He matches their speed and they are unable to cut him off and Paul jumps with one hand over the 2 meter wall.

Finally he is in Jane's yard, and it doesn't look like anyone noticed. He didn't think of a plan further then this and returns his energy to normal. He picks up a few small rocks, very small rocks, and walks to the middle of the yard, throws a rock against Jane's glass door at her balcony. But it makes a loud clack and Paul hears movement in the house, it is now or never. He already used his energy today: He might as well do it again and jumps on the balcony. Climbs over the little fence on the edge and Jane opens the door and gets a small fright when she sees him up there and asks "How did you... What happened to you?"  
But with his energy still enhanced he hears footsteps of 2 people coming up the staircase. It stopped in front of Jane's door, but they did not open. _'Well this is going to be awkward'_ he thinks and turns his energy to normal again when he hears a small giggle behind the door.  
"What happened to you?" She asks, starting to get mad, thinking he ignored her, but she doesn't have a clue her parents is standing behind the door  
Paul sees she is starting to get mad, but her question shows otherwise. Paul gets a small grin on his face and says "I took a bullet for you" and holds his right hand on the left side of his neck where he was shot. It is sore there and he looks at his hand, now full of red paint.  
Jane also smiles, but she battles, because she is still angry at him and says "You took three... What do you want?" in a cold tone  
"You sound like your... uhm (remembering he's outside the door)... you're angry... uhm... I just want to you to hear me out, then I'll leave... just through the front door please"  
Jane doesn't lighten up, still angry  
"You have one minute" she says  
"One minute?!"  
"59, 58, 57—"  
"OK-OK!" Paul speaks very fast "It never crossed my mind to tell you about Ichi, because there was nothing going on between us. I had no guilty feelings because there was nothing to feel guilty of. I never thought of her as anything more as a friend, because the only thing I could think of was returning home to you!"  
She smiles and a tear runs down her cheek  
"And it only took me 30 seconds" Paul says  
She smiles again and now battles with tears of joy instead of anger. Paul steps in front of Jane looks her in the eyes. The smile wins the battle and he takes her left hand with his left. He presses her hand, against his heart, indicating this is where she belongs. Their eyes are still locked. He holds her neck with his right hand and they kiss. The sweetest most- hard to explain- kiss he ever had. They retreat after a while and Jane lets go her left hand and feels the paint in her neck, Paul still is looking into her eyes. She breaks eye contact looking at the paint on her fingertips  
"You did that on purpose" she says jokingly. Holding hands again Paul says loudly, looking at the door, "OK you can come in now!"  
There stands Jane's mother and her father behind her looking like they are about to laugh, red in the face.  
Jane's mother looks at Paul and says "When you walked away we thought it was over between you two, but then we heard the neighbour scream, then the next door neighbour's dogs barking and growling, you are lucky not to have been bitten"  
Paul just smiles knowing that it wasn't any luck at all.  
"Would you two like anything to drink"  
Both of them shake their heads to a 'no' and wait for her parents to close the door behind them.  
With the door closed Paul says "I just want to text my mom and tell her she doesn't have to come back in an hour and let her know that I'll tell her when she can come and fetch me."

# Chapter 15: The build-up

"You really don't have a choice in the matter" says Kayobi "I was right, they didn't listen to me, now we have a teen with his own free-will, if only we took you back then, you would've grew up in the academy and we wouldn't have the problem we have today"  
Paul puts 2 and 2 together, 'have they been following me forever?'.  
"Don't worry" Kayobi continues "we won't make the same mistake again if it ever happens, but you are at least 'special' and the first minor we had to recruit. That brings me to my other point. The police and the whole town of Orkney are searching for you as we speak, it would've been ok, but that message you sent to your friend Christoff made things difficult. Your SAPD think it is nothing, but there is another organization that knows it isn't and they are forcing us to let you go until you are no longer a minor. "

***

Paul and Jane wait outside on the sidewalk for Maryann to arrive. After a while they see the car come and they bade each other good-night. The car stops and Paul climbs in saying good-night to Jane once more. Jane greets Maryann and waits on the sidewalk until the car is out of sight.

On their way home to Orkney, Paul feels the pressure again, but a much larger one. His karate training in Japan which helped with his discipline and increasing his ability to control his energy a bit (he noticed when jumping walls earlier) and he noticed his meditation were better as well. He could pick up faint energies, though not figure out who's or where it's coming from, but he was getting better. Paul relaxes himself in the car, completely shutting out his mother asking how his day was as she smiled when she saw the paint on him.

He concentrates on the big energy. The pressure decreases, turning into warmth, and Paul realise it is more than one energy, coming in his direction, but still far, very far. Amongst the Energies he can sense Jakes'. This is the first time he sensed Jake since his return from Japan and he can't believe the distance he picked up the energy. Paul is smiling a bit, knowing he has become stronger, but how much? He still doesn't know, but he has an idea he will find out tonight. Seven, yes, seven people coming right at him is not a good sign.

They arrive home. His mother looks a bit worried at Paul, Paul being quiet all the way home, even after he and Jane have just made up.  
"What's wrong?" asks Maryann as they climb out the car  
"I'm just going for a little walk" says Paul sensing the energies are getting close  
"OK sure" says Maryann without petition, which Paul finds a bit strange, but he walks out of the yard anyways.

He takes a right out of the yard and then a left down the road. He takes out his phone and types a text message:

Hey Christoff... Jane and I made up, but that's not why I'm texting you... Jakes and bunch of other Energies are coming my way, I don't know what's going to happen, but you have to promise me, whatever happens, you won't tell my mother or Jane or anyone the truth.

He sends it. A minute later still walking Christoff replies:

Hey Paul... I promise I won't tell anyone your secret, but what will happen to you? I am worried...

Paul enters the industrial area and takes another right at the end of the street. There are some workshops on his right and an empty field on his left. He replies to Christoff's message:

Thanks for promising and I know the idea of Energies coming at me seems bad, but I've got a feeling I'll be OK. They are very close. This will be my last message.

Paul hits send and takes a left into the field. There are no lights, but he focusses some energy into his sight and is able to see where he is going. The grass is as tall as his chest. He is a bit afraid of snakes in this tall grass, but that thought quickly goes away when Jakes and six other guys emerge in front of him.

Paul looks at Jakes with a straight face and Jakes looks around at his surroundings.  
Finally Jakes looks at Paul and says "Interesting meeting place. Looks like you had fun today. I take it you won't come easy since we are meeting out here"  
The other six guys smile and Paul says "I'm not going anywhere"  
The six guys, looking like they are in their thirties, or forties, but very fit and muscular, are now rubbing their hands, stretching their arms and necks, looking very excited, except for one. He is holding a remote thing and looks calm, almost bored, as if he has much better things to do than this.  
"Did you enjoy your trip to Japan?" asks Jakes  
Paul is not stunned by this question and remains silent  
"You see—"explains Jakes "We realised your energy wasn't as high anymore the moment I came close to you. I do not know how, but you manage to know I was following you. So I decided to meet you, outside your school, you remember?—"  
After a pause Jakes continues "But that only made you want to use your energy even less. That is when I decided to taunt you, trying to make you mad and forcing you to increase it out of anger. After you lost the cricket I was sure, but you still didn't increase your energy. Michael was starting to put pressure on me for results. Then we learned you were going to Japan... Oh we have our ways, and that made me excited, thinking you will finally increase your energy thinking you slipped us going to Japan. And once again, you failed to produce, until today. Michael was telling me to come and get you right after your arrival in Japan, but I told him, just a few more weeks, just lay low for a few more weeks and it worked"  
The six guys looks admiringly at Jakes, except for the one, who now yawns.  
Paul also getting a bit bored, wondering and asking "Why was it so important for me to increase my energy?"  
"You got our attention when you were 13 years old, a few months from turning 14. When nothing was happening we thought it was a hoax, but our sensors where still pointed on you. Michael said you were our mission. We had no work for more than a year, which were fun, when our sensor showed your energy increased slightly. We studied the sensor and your energy increased until we went to investigate, which made you unique. We recorded your highest energy as 75 before you decreased your energy permanently to a normal human: Between 40 and 60. You being the youngest ever to be recruited were interesting and we were ordered by Michael to investigate you first and find out how high your energy can go. I was very curious, that is why I prolonged our request of taking you in. And then you registered a 91 today and that was our queue to come and get you. We flew straight away"

Paul is a bit shocked at learning that he had been watched since he was 13 years old. _'That fight with Frikkie'_ he thinks, _'that is what got their attention'_. Jakes gives him some time to take at all in then Paul says "I saw you fly past me once after the Valentine's ball... Your base, or whatever, must be very far to take you around 8 hours to get here. Who is Michael?"  
"My superior, you will meet him very soon, but enough chat. I am very glad you came here out of sight, which means you will not come without a fight and we will be able to measure the full capacity of your Energy" says Jakes very confidently, but he's right, Paul will not come without a fight and he will put a fist in that confident smug face of Jakes.

Jakes looks at the guy on the far right, who seems a bit less bored now, and says "Ralph, give me that scouter and Larry—" now looking at his far left "You're up first—" he faces Paul and looks at the remote "now.. Larry you are on 84, Paul you are on 62... Ok fight!"

With that Larry dashes forward

# Chapter 16: The fight

"Like Michael has said: We are not the bad guys here, just watch what you send on your phone, because your network provider must give your history to the police, should you go missing" Kayobi says  
"So I am going home until I'm eighteen, which is only a few months... I am telling you now, I won't come easy" Paul says but Kayobi looks bored again  
"Yeah, free-will and freedom and everything, but no, we are also forced to make you finish school—"  
"What if I fail?" Paul says, smiling  
Kayobi doesn't think it's funny "Then you would not have finished school for the rest of your life. Yes, when you come it is for life" and for the first time Kayobi feels a bit sympathetic. All the other recruits were at least in their 30s, 40s or 50s, they had a bit of life, Paul's will be taken away when it just begun.  
"There are some rules however. We will remove our watch on you and give you your last bit of freedom, should you run, we will find you, but you already knew that. But with that freedom comes a bit of responsibility: you are not allowed to be a hero, or villain, if you want, and it wouldn't achieve much, since it is the other organization's idea in the first place and believe me you don't want them angry. Do you understand?" Kayobi says

***

Larry dashes forward and Paul increases his energy just in time to dodge the attack. Larry doesn't give Paul enough time to gather all his energy, but Paul still manage to finish it with a single shot in the gut.

Paul now gathers all his energy and Jakes says "Now that's more like it! Energy level 200! I hope it's ok to send two at once: just to speed things up a bit."  
Two guys stand on either side of Paul and Paul takes his fighting stance he learnt from Hanashiro. Those two have fear in their eyes, but they are more afraid of Jakes and attacks together from both ends. Paul dashes to the side with a large leap and is surprised how slow they react to the dash. _'Am I really that fast'_ he thinks.  
They eventually catch up and Paul only defends. They don't manage to land a single blow. Paul dodges a shot, grabs the arm and throws him into his partner. They stand up slowly, both are hurt. Paul dashes at the one with the lowest energy and he falls to the ground in pain saying "This guy is too fast, we can't touch him!" Paul is surprised at his speed and their slow reactions. This is the highest his energy has ever been.

"Sam, replace Daniel, he's out" Jakes says. There are now 5 left including Jakes. Once again Paul goes straight after the weaker one, but Sam can follow his movements and holds him around his ribs. Sam's partner is quick to react and hits Paul in the stomach and follows up in his face. Paul grabs Sam's wrists and Sam's partner pulls back for the third shot. Paul focuses all his energy into his legs and opens up Sam's arms and jumps. Sam gets a shot in the face from his partner.  
Everyone laughs at Sam, but Sam looks at Paul about three stories high coming down, not knowing how to land or control himself in the air, and gives him a massive upper-cut.

Paul drops a few metres from Sam and stands up slowly with blood in his mouth. Jakes looks at his remote and says "Wow, 212! How do you do that? You're getting injured but your energy increases, amazing!"  
It is not really that amazing. Paul's understanding, or rather feeling, of energy just gets better as he is surrounded by all these Energies. Paul knows it and wonders why they don't.  
Paul smiles with his bloody mouth, he's enjoying this perhaps too much. They pause for a small breather. All the fighters are catching their breaths, but Sam's partner looks exhausted, which gives Paul a plan. Without delaying too much, Paul attacks, going straight at Sam. Sam ready's himself but Paul dashes to the side when he got close, away from Sam's partner. Paul's plan is working: Sam is following him and his partner can't keep up, it is 1 on 1. Paul acts as if he is on the defence, retreating the whole time, keeping the fight a way from Sam's partner. Now and then Paul will put in a shot just so that Sam couldn't get a sniff of Paul's plan. Paul sees an opening and jabs Sam twice in the face followed by a right hand in the stomach. Sam's partner is too far and Paul finishes it with a roundhouse kick. Sam's partner stops with fear when Paul turns towards him. Sam is lying on his stomach, spitting blood, struggling to get up.

"Alex! Come here! Now it is time for the real fight to begin. Thomas it is your turn" says Jakes and looks at Paul who is smiling  
"You seem to be enjoying yourself. You love fighting: I can see it in your eyes. You can't go without it. I personally hate fighting, but I've never seen anyone love it as much as you do"

Thomas takes his fighting stance and Jakes says "I'm sorry Paul, but your fight ends here. Thomas' energy level is at 225 and either way, if you do manage to pull out a win here, there is no getting past Ralph here" aiming at the calm guy with the small grin. He doesn't grin because of the complement, but because this supposed to be boring recruitment turned out to be exciting.

As Paul and Thomas fight the other down fighters are starting to get up and Ralph is helping them. Neither of them manages to land a shot. Paul feels a bit tired the longer this fight lasts the less he stands a chance of beating Thomas. Thomas is stretching out the fight, making Paul tired, conserving his own energy. Paul knows he is busy losing and he can't keep up for much longer.  
Paul gets hit in the face on purpose and falls to the ground. It was a very hard hit. He stands up very slowly, buying some time to think. All the fighters have been fighting fair and Paul knows Thomas won't attack him while he is down.

Paul closes his eyes and takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. He is calming himself and remembers all the training he had with Hanashiro and meditating with Christoff. He feels the warmth of the energy waves from Thomas, Ralph and Jakes pressing against him. Then he feels his own, he still has some left in the tank. Paul stands up and brings forth all the energy he has at once. A strong shockwave erupts around Paul, ripping some grass out of the ground and shooting small rocks away from him. Paul has a serious look in his eyes. A circular wind forms around him, rotating upwards, and blowing his hair out of his face, which gives him an even more menacing look.

"Nice show" says Jakes and looks down at his remote. At that same time Paul suddenly appears, almost in the blink of an eye, in front of Thomas, hits him in the stomach and Thomas fall like a sack to the ground.

"How do you do it? Where do you keep getting energy from? You really are a special case. Its 300" says Jakes and Paul doesn't know the answers. He's always been able to increase energy to the muscle or senses that needed _it_ and through meditation and practice he can now feel it better. Paul actually can't understand why they can't.

Ralph steps forth with a small grin on his face and says "I can't believe it has come this far, but I won't complain"  
"So you like fighting too?" Paul asks  
"No, not really, I had better things to do" Ralph answers  
"OK! Enough chit-chat and Ralph... please make it quick; we've already taken too much time. With an energy level of 330 you should be able to do it" says Jakes  
"It's only numbers to me! And it didn't help the previous guy." says Paul and takes a fighting stance, but he can sense Ralph is stronger. Paul doesn't know how he will get stronger than this, he still doesn't understand energy as well as he should, he feels there is still some room for improvement, but he doesn't know how.

Ralph takes a fighting stance when suddenly a blue light hits him in the chest and Paul is shot 50 metres back! Paul is deeply injured. It felt as if the energy was tearing off his flesh as it tried penetrating him while driving him backwards. Paul's energy withstood it and absorbed a lot off punch from the blue light, but Paul also lost Energy in the process.

Jakes looks at the remote and smiles confidently. Paul stands up slowly and the wind is forming around him again, but this time Paul is smiling as well. Jakes is baffled, looks at the remote and then asks  
"What are you smiling about? You lost Energy"  
At which Paul answers looking at Ralph "This was the first energy orb I've ever faced... and felt. Pure energy in a physical form, concentrated in one place"  
Paul draws back his hands, together to his right, and a small bright golden light begins to form in his hands. Ralph catches Paul's drift: One final attack with everything put in it, and does the same. A blue light begins to form Ralph's hands. Both of the orbs grow to the size of their hands and a sharp golden and blue light shines through their fingers. Jakes' eyes looks like it's about to fall out when he looks at the remote. He looks up again and a scream follows from both men with the orbs that shoot towards each other.  
It is now big energies beaming off at each other, looking like it is fed more energy from the user's hands. The grass is being burnt away into nothing as the energies are traveling towards each other. The wind around Paul is now also blowing harder and Ralph has wind blowing around him as well.  
Gold and blue connects and a massive shockwaves erupts from meeting point. A massive crater is formed below: all the rocks and grass has been incinerated and the crater only consists of dirt that has not touched the giant spherical orb, on half blue, the other half golden and an orange ring in the middle.

Paul's energy stream overpowers Ralph's until Ralph's are no more. Ralph gets shot backwards out of sight, more than a hundred meters.

Paul is breathing hard, this took a lot out of him.  
"470, that is where your energy maxed, but now it is down to 158. I will now finish you, so that we could get out of here, all these lights might have drawn some attention. Though we are deep in the fields and close to the industrial area, I do not want to take any chances" Jakes says and dashes forward. He's too fast for Paul: He didn't even see him. At his current energy he should have at least seen something, but this guy is insane. Jakes hits him in the stomach and Paul fumbles over. Paul knows Jakes energy is enormous, he can feel it, but his strength and speed is just too insane, he can't do anything about it. He now knows how poor Larry, Daniel and Alex must've felt.

Then Paul gets a kick in the face. He falls with his face in the dust. Jakes didn't even give him the chance to stand up. Then Paul gets a kick in his ribs and turns on his side. And another kick in his stomach and turns on his back. The other guys tell Jakes to stop, but Jakes is their superior. Paul sees Jakes standing over him. It is a blur, he can't concentrate or anything, because of the pain.  
"What were you trying to achieve tonight, you know you never stood a chance!" says Jakes and Paul seems to find some words  
"I already achieved more than I hoped. At least I didn't kick the guys I beat when they were down"

Jakes gets angry, shouts, pulls back his fist and comes down at Paul's face when suddenly Paul's fist comes up, while sitting up and dodging Jakes' fist, and connects on Jakes' jaw. Jakes swirls twice in the air and lands on his back. But the moment he touches ground Paul is already on him, pressing with his knee in his chest.  
Jakes only sees red eyes in front of him, cutting through his soul.  
Paul's expression is emotionless. He hits him and the ground shakes at the shot and a small crater is formed around Jakes' head. This time there is no Judy to save Jakes.

Paul only sees red and destruction is the only think going through his head. It has happened before, but he doesn't care of the consequences. The other guys try to throw him off, but they only get thrown away. Suddenly Paul feels this enormous pressure. It is all around him: Pressing against his mind... his body... he has never felt anything like this before.

The pressure is so strong that he returns to normal. The feeling of destruction is gone. At least he didn't pass out this time. A man appears before him, holding a large needle and emitting this enormous pressure. Paul closes his eyes and calms himself. He lets _it_ all in: Running _it_ through his body.

And then he feels _it_.

He opens his eyes with a small grin. He only sees the man for a split second before the man disappears. Paul feels a sharp sting in his neck. It's the needle.

# Chapter 17: The half-truth

"Ok, so I have one year to prepare and say my good-byes?" Paul asks, he hasn't given in just yet and while he has the opportunity to go home he will take it. Now he has a year to figure out a plan.  
"Yes, and we will send a brochure to your mother as a cover, we are indeed an academy, but it will be better if everyone knows you are never coming back" says Kayobi.

Michael enters the room with the silver case. He takes out the needle and something else: he holds it in his hand with a fist.  
Kayobi speaks "When you wake up, tell everyone the truth: you were abducted, you were held in a concrete room near the ocean, you can even give us our real names and descriptions. We beat you when you weren't cooperative and we wanted you for child trafficking and you don't know why we let you go"

Michael stands behind Paul and slips the thing he was holding in Paul's pocket when he injects the needle. Paul is conscious for a bit and sees Kayobi exiting the room, looks at Michael who says "until we meet again" and everything goes black.

Paul hears a dog barking. Drool is dripping on his face. The sun is very sharp. A man shouts "We've found him!" and a man with a blue uniform appears above him who then shouts "He's alive!" He bends over blocking the sun a bit and asks "All you alright?"  
Paul nods. He actually is fine, only his neck hurts a bit from the third needle shot, but that's that.

The policeman says something over his radio and doesn't notice Paul standing up. When Paul is up he tries to stop him telling him he must rest and wait for an ambulance, but he sees his mother running at him, crying and also runs towards her. He hugs her telling her he's ok and she cries on his shoulder. He looks around and sees that nearly the whole school and a whole crowd of people he's never seen before were searching the field alongside the police and police dogs. He doesn't know how long he's been away.  
Then he sees Jane and her parents not too far away, giving him and his mother space. Jane and her mother are crying and her father remains strong, but he is glad that Paul is safe and home.  
Then he sees Christoff, his sister and Isabella with Christoff's parents, only his mother is crying. Christoff is smiling, remembering Paul's message that said he has a feeling he will be ok. Rocco, his father and his stepmother also came to search. Paul doesn't know if everyone here were expecting to find him dead or alive.

The police man comes and says "Sorry Ma'am, but your son needs to be cleared at the ambulance and we need to talk to him.  
She lets Paul go and then he says, smiling, "Can I just greet everyone then I will be right over"  
The policeman nods and Paul walks towards Jane. She also runs and hugs him. Now it is her turn to cry on his shoulder. He tells her he's ok over and over again, meaning it each time. He didn't really have time to think about home when he was 'abducted'. He was asleep most of the time and when he was awake his mind shut everything about home out and was only thinking about getting free.

Christoff and Rocco arrive and Jane lets go after a while. She returns to her parents and Paul gives both his friends a firm handshake and a slap on the back. Rocco looks a bit tense, too afraid to ask, but Paul answers him "I will tell you guys everything, just know that I'm ok, physically and emotionally" and Rocco eases up a bit. They seem unable to find words when Paul says "I have to go the ambulance for my check-up. Talk to you guys later" and nods at Christoff who hasn't said a word: he knows he cannot ask his questions in front of Rocco.

Paul arrives at the ambulance. Everyone is staring at him, but he is just happy to be home and isn't bothered by it.  
"Are you ok?" asks the nurse with concern  
"Yes, everything is fine" says Paul and it makes the nurse even more concerned  
"Your clothes look torn and burnt, almost like the grass in this field, are you sure you are ok?"  
Paul nods and the nurse starts her check-up  
"It is strange indeed, with clothes like that one would've thought you'd be close to death, but you really are fine, only a few cuts and bruises, but nothing serious. I wonder what happened here" she says looking at the field. From the ambulance it looks like a normal a field, but they have obviously found the crater and everything a few hundred metres deeper the field  
"I have no idea" Paul says while standing up to goes to the policeman, but the nurse just looks at him curiously.

Paul goes to the policeman and the policeman says "Are you ready?"  
And Paul answers "Yes"  
"Good. It may be hard, but tell me everything what happened since you went to you girlfriend seven days ago?" says the policeman with real softness in his voice  
"Seven days?" asks Paul and the policeman can't believe how calm Paul is, he expected some signs of trauma, but there were none  
"Yes seven days" answers the policeman  
"They injected me with this needle that kept me asleep for a few days at a time"  
"OK" says the policeman and starts writing in his notebook "So start from the beginning"  
"Uhm my mom took me to my girlfriend's house, so that I can make peace with her, she was mad at me because of this other girl from Japan... Uhm... I was an exchange student, I don't know if that will help. Her parents wouldn't let me see her so I went through the neighbours' yards and that is how I got shot with a paintball gun (explaining the paint on his clothes). So I jumped on her balcony and made peace. At about 6 or 7 my mom fetched me from Jane's house. Nothing strange happened in the car ride. I then went for a walk, I do it sometimes and I was texting to my friend Christoff, we were LARPing, that is—"  
"Live Action Role Playing" completes the policeman the sentence "Your friend told me" he explains himself  
Paul can't help but smile a bit and continues "Yeah me and Christoff were LARPing that Friday and we just completed it through the text messages, when out of nowhere three men came at me and forced me to walk into the field: that is how my clothes got torn and got the bruises. That is when I was injected with the needle. I woke up in a concrete room and only two of the three were there, Jakes and Michael were their names. I was tied against the wall. They told me that I will be going with them and each time I said no they would hit me, nothing more than that happened to me. They injected me again. When I woke up the third guy was there, Kayobi, he was Asian, he was calm and told me they are going to sell me and that is all he said. I got injected again and woke up here"  
"You are very lucky" says the policeman and Paul is serious for the first time, he had to go through all those memories again and be reminded he will only have a year until he must return permanently to them.  
"That will be all. We will contact you if we have some follow up questions, but everything looks fine"  
"Thank you" says Paul and returns to his mother and friends and girlfriend.

He told them everything he told the policeman and Christoff nodded in agreement when he was talking about the LARPing. Paul was glad to hear his and Christoff's version adds up. After that everyone who was there came to greet Paul and Paul would thank them for coming to search for him.

When it was time to go home Paul said to Christoff "I will see you later" then mouthed to him 'and tell you everything'. Christoff understood and nodded his head.

In the car ride home Paul remembered that Michael slipped something in his pocket. He takes it out and holds it in his open hand. He can't believe his eyes and thinks to himself _'no way'._ Maryann also sees it and says "It was the Academy, wasn't it?"

###

# From the author

I, Philip Hartman, am a Math and Science student at the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. I study in, and speak Afrikaans, because it is my home language. That is why there will be some terms and sayings that might find itself in the series which will be better understood by Afrikaans people. I try to search for and fix these Afrikaans sayings, but obviously it's hard for me to find, because I don't see anything wrong with them.

To be honest, I am not the best writer there is, but I do see myself as a good story teller and in this series I have filled the story with rich lore and depth in the universe waiting to be discovered by you and to be put into words by me. If you've come this far you probably noticed the lore it is based on. The reason I don't see this as fan-fiction is because the lore and laws of this version is not the same. I believe mine is better and much more consistent and has much more depth, so a lot of things to look forward to.

This series will contain 6 to 9 books which will all be free to download. I really only want my story to be read and hopefully enjoyed by many. If you want to support me and motivate me by putting my studies aside and put more attention in continuing the story, please purchase the short stories. The short stories don't and won't contain any information needed to understand things happening in the main series. What the short stories do contain is more depth to the environment and characters (and some teasers of what's to come).

Thank you for reading the book and if you liked it, please tell your friends about it and encourage them to download it.

# Other books by Philip Hartman

The viewpoint of Christoff (Short story)

The moment this is written The viewpoint of Christoff is the only other book out. Please look out for the following books coming:

Book 2 of the Paul Smith Series

The viewpoint of Ferdi Smith (Short story)
