The Power of English

Written by Theodore Getson Lim

Once upon a time, not long ago, there was a scientist who worked in a hidden lab deep within the city to create a machine that could give an individual power. He was doing this due to the fact that the city of Micropolis is slowly being destroyed by Dr. Sense and Hyperbully for the past month. One would notice that they seem to be purposely making very slow progress. This can be explained by the fact that Dr. Sense and Prof. Paradox were once apprentices of a great scientist. This scientist made the original machine that gave Dr. Sense and Prof. Paradox’s powers. But then, Dr. Sense, overwhelmed by the amazement of the power he has received, used it against his master. His powers are complete control of the senses. He took away his master’s sense of responsibility, making his master just stand there, not knowing that he has the responsibility to save his work as Dr. Sense began to steal all his research. Prof. Paradox, gaining the power of enhanced intelligence, anticipated this and he ran away, along with the important research of their master. Dr. Sense, enraged as he realized this, took away their master’s life.

Several years later, Prof. Paradox, now with a set of apprentices, began to rebuild the machine with the help of the research he got from his former master. Recently, two of his three assistants have received their own powers. One has received the power to shape shift into any metaphor he thinks or hears of. Prof. Paradox decided to call him Metaphor for identity purposes. His other assistant gained the power to personify any person, including their powers. But the stronger the power, the faster she wears down. Prof. Paradox decided to call her Personification. His final assistant, Neil Pearce, is about to enter the machine shortly…

Neil felt incredibly tense as he entered the machine that will give him powers. The machine was cylindrical in shape and it just has enough space to let him wriggle a bit. He knew that once the machine whirrs to life, he would be injected with a certain chemical by the machine that will change the structure of his brain, enhancing certain parts to give him powers based on where he is strongest. He knew that the powers are English related since Prof. Paradox made sure it is one of the lessons taught in the English subject.

“It will help if you stop being tensed up.” He heard the Prof’s voice outside the machine.

“I would if the injections pierce less painfully.’ Neil answered as he remembered how much Metaphor seemed like he was about to faint because of the pain.

“Be a man will you?” Prof. Paradox laughed.

A second later, he felt an agonizing pain on his spine.

He began to holler in pain as the chemical entered his body. After several minutes of this, he stood there, breathing heavily, eyes half closed.

Then there was an explosion that rocked the whole lab. A gaping hole on the wall appeared as two figures entered.

“There you are, old friend,” Dr. Sense said.

“I wouldn’t say that if I were you,” Prof. Paradox answered.

“Apparently, I just did.” Dr. Sense answered as he gestured for his companion, Hyperbully, to attack the group. Metaphor suddenly became made of metal. Neil began wondering what metaphor he thought of to actually transform into that form but he immediately gave up for he was too exhausted.

Hyperbully stood 10 feet tall, and everything except his mental capacity is exaggerated. Metaphor’s now metallic fist slammed against Hyperbully’s face. Hyperbully, staggered away, but he seemed unfazed by the punch. This time, Hyperbully punched Metaphor, sending him flying across the room. He stopped as he crashed on the wall. The metal protected him and he simply stood up again.

Personification now took the form of Dr. Sense, taking away Hyperbully’s sense of sight, but the force it took her to do it made her black out. Hyperbully, enraged by why he can’t see, immediately assumed Dr. Sense caused this.

“Give my eyesight back to me, Sense!” he bellowed. “I will get you for this!”

“I did not do-“

Prof. Paradox, sensing the opportunity, ran to tackle Dr. Sense as he was momentarily distracted. They began to wrestle on the floor as Metaphor, now in good reach of Hyperbully, began blowing punches on Hyperbully. Hyperbully, without his eyesight, simply punched the air as he attempted to land a blow on Metaphor.

Neil watched all of this as he stood near a screen near the machine, studying what power it has given him. It simply said “Name any object and you will see.”

“Cheesecake” Neil said as he was shocked to see a cheesecake appear in front of him.

An idea formed in his head.

“Metaphor! Get Personification out of here!”

Metaphor, reluctantly agreeing, ran and picked up Personification and went out of the building. He suddenly became aware that the Prof. Paradox and Dr. Sense are nowhere to be seen.

He decided to take his chances, he walked towards the exit, and as he was about to leave, looked back at Hyperbully, staggering around blindly.

“Grenade just a foot away from him,” Neil said.

A few seconds later, only Hyperbully’s ashes remain.

But Neil didn’t get a chance to celebrate. Metaphor came to him and said, “Dr. Sense has the Prof.”



FIN