Two months later, the Commander, Annelise, Cory, and the others are back in Montana. The Commander calls all of them into the room.

  Annelise: What is it?

  The Commander smiles: Come outside.

  The group heads outside. The Commander places his hand in the grass. Immediately, glowing blue veins begin to emerge from the ground. The glow then travels across the entire landscape. Ethan stares at his skin for a second. Everyone’s skin is glowing blue. Then, the glowing ceases.

  Commander: This is my gift for everyone on Earth, and every intelligent being in this universe. They can choose to keep the gift, or they can cease to use it and it will dissipate. Yet, the gift will never fully leave them. They may revive it in themselves if they wish.

  Cory: What if they choose not to revive it?

  Commander: Then it will not return to them, and it will not be passed down to their children. Yet, some of their later descendants may have the gift.

  Annelise begins to feel warmth welling up within her. She feels the awe and wonder of the people around her as her own emotions. Annelise can see through the Commander’s eyes and feel his intense joy and nervousness.

  Commander: Will you keep your gift, Annelise? There will be times when it may be very painful for you. Still, there will be many times when the gift will bring you much joy.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Annelise nods: I’ll keep it.

  She hugs the Commander.

  Commander: Each of your gifts is two-fold. Everyone who keeps their gifts will have two abilities.

  Tyler: Whoa! Check this out!

  He touches the ground and it begins to shake.

  Cory: Alright, Tyler. I was hoping to have my house intact today.

  Tyler lifts his hands from the ground. He then stretches his arm out and the dewdrops float off of the grass.

  Susanna touches a scar on a nearby plant and it seals itself.

  Susanna: Wow! Can I do that to humans, too?

  The Commander nods: You can, but only to injuries that are not life-threatening. You can also poison with your touch, if need be. Do not worry. You will be able to control your poison.

  Susanna: Awesome!

  Levi figures out that he can run at around 300 miles per hour, and turn forward and back in time by two minutes.

  Annelise looks over at Cory, who is bending metal with his mind. She comes and sits by him.

  Cory: You scared me!

  Annelise laughs: I’m sorry.

  Cory: So, you have three powers while we have two, huh?

  Annelise: I think so.

  Cory smiles: I think that means I was right about you, Annie.

  Annelise: About what?

  Cory: You are truly as special as I knew you were when I first met you.

  The Commander sits down beside them.

  Annelise: So, what happens now?

  Commander: Now, we wait for those who kept their gifts.

  Cory: How will they find us?

  Commander: They will not find us. We will find them.

  End of Issue 1