The Four rarely show up in class at the same time. When they do, we never know what to expect, but one of them always has a surprise—sometimes bad news, sometimes good.
It’s very difficult to tell them apart. Their masks aren’t identical, but the differences are subtle. Andy explained to me once that they are each named according to kung fu tradition by dan, which is like level of expertise. Kilodan, Teradan, Gigadan, and Megadan, the highest levels in the Mental Arts. Traditional kung fu skill is mostly physical, but the Psi Fighter’s power comes from her feelings. A master of the Mental Arts has reached the highest levels of compassion, kindness, and love. These are the most powerful of all emotions. And, I have to admit, the hardest for a teen to deal with. I tend to get wrapped up in bitterness, jealousy, and fear of spiders. Maybe it gets easier when you get older. Although I can’t imagine ever liking spiders.
Susie stood in the center of the training floor surrounded by The Four. She looked so tiny, but stood confidently in the midst of the Psi Fighters’ most powerful members. The Kilodan hovered beside her like a mother hen. A thick oak board dangled in front of her, suspended by a string. I tensed in my seat as my sister slowly extended her hand. Susie’s fingers shot out like tendrils and rested delicately on the board.
“Concentrate,” I said under my breath.
After what seemed an eternity, Susie’s hair poofed, her shoulders twitched, and the board exploded with an ear-shattering crack. Shards flew everywhere, and one landed in my lap. I squeezed it in my hand, overwhelmed with joy. The room was silent.
Suddenly the Kilodan stopped hovering and did the Curly Shuffle as his emotionless electronic voice hummed, “We have a winner.” Apparently this whole ordeal had loosened him up a bit.
“I did it!” Susie shouted, and joined the Kilodan in his dance.
Beethoven’s Fifth came blaring across the sound system, and Andy waltzed across the room to the beat. He stopped in front of me, held out his hand and bowed. “May I have this dance?”
“You can’t dance to this.”
“I,” Andy said, placing his hand over his heart, “can dance to anything. But, if you insist…” He pressed a button on his armor and “Save You Tonight” blasted.
“You’ve upgraded your iTunes library?”
“Expanding my horizons,” Andy said. “The sacrifices I make for you.”
The whole school jumped to its feet and began dancing. Andy leapt to the sparring floor and performed an extraordinary One Direction.
A gong rang, signifying the end of our little break. The Four bowed, and we returned the salute. The Four were usually very somber, but tonight they seemed as cheerful as emotionless people could be. Their masks were angelic like the rest of ours, but whereas mine and Andy’s had beautiful smiles and happy eyes, theirs were wide-eyed and completely unexpressive, like angels in deep thought. They all seemed tall, but I knew that was an illusion they somehow created when they were together. Their Mental Arts skills were so powerful they didn’t need Amplifiers.
The Kilodan stepped back, and the Megadan held up his hand. We all became quiet.
“It is no longer news to us,” he started, his voice completely without inflection, “that Nicolaitan has resurfaced after ten years. Some of you will recall the devastation he caused, and how Andor Manchild defeated him in single combat after he murdered the Morgan family. He escaped before we were able to end him.”
I touched Andy’s shoulder. He turned to me and smiled, but pain filled his eyes. He leaned close and put his arm around me.
“He, like we, does not show himself,” our masked leader continued. “Rather, Nicolaitan makes his presence known by his actions. Lynn and Susan have defeated his Knight, but you can be certain that he will continue to pursue his heinous mission to destroy us. He will terrorize innocents to draw us into the open. The drug ring has been rounded up, but we do not know the location of their production facilities. The police searched Old Torrents Labs but found nothing. The danger is not yet over. We are on full alert. Assignments will be made. Patrols must be established. If there are no questions, class dismissed.”
Wow. Short and to the point. That’s how The Four did things. The students filed out. I started for my changing closet when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“You did well,” the Kilodan said.
I’m pretty sure it was the Kilodan. They all look alike, and they all stood right behind me. “Thank you. I can’t believe Susie levitated. I always thought that was a myth.”
The Megadan stepped forward, hands behind his back. “It is a poor myth that doesn’t have some basis in truth.” He leaned toward me. “We are a myth, aren’t we?”
“More like a fairy tale. Does Psychedone 10 really enhance mental abilities, or is that just a myth, too?”
The Megadan’s mask let out a flatulent sound. “The Knights have always looked for an easy way. Always without success.”