Earthbound: Simple Gifts







Kent ran his finger across the sleek metal of what Mr. Saturn had called the "Phase Distorter Alpha".
    From Kent' knowledge of what precicely an alpha version was, that didn't instill a great deal of confidence in the young man.
    "And this thing'll take us to where we need to go?"
    "Yes! Diing!"
    Kent sighed. This was going to be a very, very long trip. He closed - and locked - the door to his Skyline. He was keeping it at a friend's house he had in Oregon.
    Of course, Kent still had the keys.
    Kent stopped and appeared to try to catch his balance.
    "Kent? You okay?" Adam asked.
    "I dunno. . .I just felt something. . .like a. . ."
    "A great disturbance in the force," Kelly said, then snickered.
    "Sadly, yes." Kent said. "That's the only way I can describe it."
    "What?" Kelly asked.
    "Okay, when people have energy, they give off a certain amount of an aura, and when someone's energy changes or something significant happens to them, you feel it."
    "So. . .what did you feel?" Adam asked.
    "I felt like Colin just kinda. . .dropped off the face of the planet."
    "We must hurry! Boing! Chosen four in danger! Diiing!" Mr. Saturn motioned to the Phase Distorter.
    Kent shrugged his broadsword higher onto his back and stepped into the Phase Distorter. "Nothin' to it but to do it. Let's kick it, little dude!"
    Adam and Kelly hopped in. Mr. Saturn sat. . .stood. . .whatever it was he did, in front of a console. "Here we go! Ding!"
    
    Ness rubbed the back of his head. His memory was fuzzy, but the last thing he remembered was going to the hotel.
    But he was decidedly not in a hotel.
    The Sunset Hotel line was known for their soft, coushy beds. To Ness, it felt like he was laying on a bed of rocks. He went to step off the bed. . .
    Just to realize that he was sleeping on a bed of rocks.
    It all came back to Ness. They followed that woman into the hotel room. . .then Colin launched himself at some of the zombies that ambushed them. . .then Paula and himself were knocked out.
    And here they were.
    Ness noticed a spot on the back of his head where his hair was sticky. He looked around to try and find Paula. She appeared to be in a similarly unconsious state, still wearing Colin's letterman's.
    She stirred, and looked up at Ness with her big, bright green eyes.
    "Ugh. . .did Colin ditch us, or did he hop into autopilot?"
    "Autopilot." Ness said. "Dunno why I didn't use psi hammer. . ."
    "Too late now." Paula said, and stood up. In the back of her head, her hair was matted with blood.
    She must have been hit pretty hard.
    "Is the door locked?"
    "Huh? Oh. . ."
    Ness walked over to the door and checked it. It was locked tight.
    "Locked."
    Paula sighed, and dropped down to her knees.
    "Don't worry, Paula. We'll be fine."
    Paula closed her eyes.
    
    "Jeff. . ."
    The young blonde boy stirred.
    "Jeff. . .I am a friend you've never met before. . .my name is Paula. . ."
    "Real funny. Ha ha ha." Jeff muttered, turning over in his bed to attempt to block out the girls in the other dorm. They were teasing him again!
    "Jeff. . .I am a friend you've never met before. . .my name is Paula. . .you must go south, to Threed. Jeff. . .you're the only one who can save us. Please. . ."
    Jeff sat up and looked at his friend, Tony, in the other bed. "I wish those girls would just shut up."
    Tony looked over at Jeff. "I didn't hear anything."
    Jeff looked at Tony. He slipped his glasses on, turned on the lights, and began searching behind his dresser, bed, and anything else that could house a speaker.
    After all, it wouldn't be hard for a Snow Wood student to hook up a speaker into a room and drive an unpopular student insane.
    Jeff sighed. This was just plain weird. Was he hearing voices?
    Maybe. . .maybe somebody in Threed really did need his help. . .
    "Tony, why don't you try to get back to sleep. I've. . .I've got some business to take care of."
    Tony looked at Jeff. "What's wrong? You can tell me."
    "I've. . .I've gotta go somewhere."
    "At one in the morning? Where?" Tony's face sank. "I get it. . .you're not coming back. . ."
    "I might be." Jeff said. "Just go back to sleep."
    "No way." Tony said. "We're friends. I'm gonna help you."
    Jeff sighed. Tony's mind was obviously set.
    "Okay. Let's head out."
    Silently, the two Snow Wood Boarding School students snuck out of their dorms far past cerfew. The penalties would be astounding if they got caught.
    If.
    Jeff and Tony were the school champions of the outlandish paintballing team. They could move in and out unseen.
    Slowly, they walked down the stairs, taking them to the floor level. As they tip-toed past rooms, Jeff spotted the dean of the school walking down the hall.
    Quick as lightning, they boys were hauled into a room.
    "Hurry up and get under my desk!"
    Not questioning who barked the orders, they did as they were told. Just as they got nestled behind the desk, the dean walked into the room.
    "Good evening, Maxwell."
    "Good evening, Dean Marshall." The teacher who'd saved their skin said to the dean. "What brings you to this wing of the building this evening?"
    "Just making my rounds. Tell me, did you see a couple of students come in here?"
    "Can't say that I have," Maxwell said, walking up to his desk, finishing a couple of calculations. He then opened a cupboard and started pulling out some chemicals. "Then again, when I'm engrossed in something, the four horsemen could ride here and I'd be oblivious. Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Marshall, I'll be conducting a very intricate experiment. Even the slightest error could blow this entire wing up. So, unless you want to buy another science wing for Snow Wood, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
    "Ceartanly, Maxwell." Marshall said. "Umm. . .good luck with your experiment."
    "Thank you." Maxwell said as the dean walked out of the room. Maxwell let out a sigh of relief. "Okay, boys, you're safe."
    "Thanks, Maxwell. You really saved our skins." Jeff said.
    "No problem." The firey haired teacher said. "I used to do some sneaking out myself in my Snow Wood days."
    "That's not suprising." Tony said.
    Maxwell smiled. "So, what's up?"
    "I've gotta get to Threed."
    "Threed!?" Maxwell asked, suprised. "That's. . .that's a looong ways away."
    "I know. But I need to get there."
    Maxwell smiled. "Alright. It's cold out there, so look around in the lockers for something you might be able to use."
    Maxwell handed Jeff a key that was so horribly bent, it didn't look like it would work.
    "Erm. . ."
    "Oh. Try this. I call this 'The machine that lets you use bent keys'."
    "Erm. . .why not just call it the bad key machine?"
    "I suppose that would work," Maxwell said, handing Jeff a device. "Open the chamber in the top, then stick the narrow end into the keyhole. The door should open right up."
    Jeff nodded. "Thanks, Maxwell. I'll be back, trust me."
    "Good to hear. Now, get going. The dean'll be back any minute."
    Jeff nodded. "Alright. See 'ya later."
    "Yeah."
    Jeff and Tony went into the next room, the locker room. The only things of interest was a broken pop gun and a warm padded hat. He took both, and donned his coat and mittens from his own locker. Tony and Jeff walked outside.
    Jeff just looked at the tall, gothic gate.
    "It's too tall for me to jump."
    Shivering, Tony dropped onto his hands and knees. "Hurry up. . .use me to climb up. . .man, it's cold. . ."
    Jeff quickly complied, stepped onto his friend's back, and jumped over the gate.
    Tony stood up. "Alright, Jeff. You're on your own. Best friends forever?"
    Jeff nodded. "Best friends forever."
    Tony smiled and walked back inside. Jeff smiled himself and turned around.
    "How touching. . ."
    Jeff looked up to see three a strange man. He was wearing a black trenchcoat, had a fedora shading his face, and saw a sword strapped to his back.
    "Wh. . .who're you?" Jeff asked, pulling his air gun from his belt.
    The man flipped his fedora up, revealing sparkling brown eyes. "My name's Kent. Kent Hartmann. My friends are here to help you. . ."
    Two other men walked out from the trees, one in a leather tunic sprouting daggers everywhere and a sword across his back, the other wearing a black tux.
    Jeff looked at the troupe. . .
    And laughed.
    He laughed 'till he snorted.
    Then he laughed some more.
    "Man. . .you guys look. . .wierd." Jeff said.
    Kent hmph'ed indignantly.. "James Bond, over here, is Kelly. Our other guy is Adam. And keep in mind, we don't have to help you."
    "Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I could use a hand, though. . .I have no idea where to go from here."
    Kent smiled. "I think we can help 'ya with that. . ."

    Paula could see her own breath. She was shivering, despite Colin's jacket wrapped around her body.
    "Why's it so cold down here?" Ness asked.
    "Beyond me." Paula replied. "Do you have anything burnable in your pack? We could start a fire. . ."
    "No ventilation. We'd die of smoke inhalation."
    "Oh." Paula said. "I wonder how Colin's doing. . ."
    "Who knows. Maybe he's on his way to save us right now. Maybe. . .he was captured."
    "Doesn't sound like Colin. I doubt he'd get himself captured."
    "Stuff happens. he coulda been."
    "I don't want to think that." Paula said.
    "I know why," Ness said, smiling in the dark subterranian room. "You like him."
    Paula said nothing, just smiled in embarrasment. "Is it that obvious?"
    "Pretty close." Ness said. "Then again, it's not every day a girl runs into the Colin Strife, y'know?"
    "I suppose you're right. Still, I can't help but wonder if he's okay. . ."

    Jeff held fast to Kent's wrist as he jumped.
    And jump he did.
    "Hold on tight!" Kent warned as they soared over the treeline, well over Lake Tess, and almost to Stonehenge.
    Rather, they landed right next to a building labeled "Lab".
    "Holy crap! That was a blast!" Jeff exclaimed.
    "I know." Kent said, a smile adorning his face. "Well. . .here's your destination. I need to get Adam and Kelly to Saturn Valley. Have fun."
    With that, Kent dissapeared in a flutter of black.
    Cautiously, Jeff opened the door to the building and walked in.
    "Hello?"
    An aging man looked over at Jeff.
    "Oh, my. . .are you. . .are you Jeff?"
    "Yeah. . .dad?"
    "Jeff?"
    The two ran to eachother and hugged.
    "Oh, it's been ten years, hasn't it?" Dr. Andonuts asked. "Oh, it's been so long. . ."
    "I know." Jeff said as they let go of eachother. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to chat. I need to get to Threed."
    "Yes, yes, I know." Dr. Andonuts said. "I've prepared something for you. . . the Sky Runner. It'll take you straight to Threed. You don't even need to worry about landing it."
    "Wicked," Jeff said.
    "Alright, Jeff. It's time you took off. Let's get together in another ten years or so."
    Jeff nodded, and walked over to the Sky Runner, that looked a lot like a UFO.
    "Well. . .dad. . .I'll see you later."
    Jeff stepped into the Sky Runner.