META THETA PI

Episode 104: "Seth Says"

Xander dodged the flying disc, but then took control of it with his mind before it could hit anything. Instead, he redirected it back toward his adversary. The disc flew through the air between them, until Max took control of it with his mind.

The difference was that Max grabbed the disc even before it had reached him. He flung the disc back at Xander. From the outside, it looked as if they were playing frisbee without using their hands. But in reality, Xander was sharpening his telekinatic ability.

Xander shot the disc back toward Max, who then caught it in his hand with a little help of his own ability. "Yeah, it definitely works better in here." Max said, looking around the huge underground room. "And you're already improving."

Xander half-jokingly bowed to his master like in the kung-fu movies. "I think I could get used to that." Max replied. Xander and Max made their way to the big circular exit. But before they reached it, Chris joined them from that same doorway.

Once they had escaped the underground lair, they returned and found out some things. The huge room they were currently in used to be a hangar. But now with the space left vacant of any aircraft, it wasn't anymore. Now it was the perfect spot for practicing abilities.

"Hey Xan. I've been looking for you." Chris said. "Wanna see something cool?"

"Sure." Xander replied.

"See ya." Max told them. "I've got to rest before my three o'clock." Max smiled, then made his way through the hallway behind Chris. The lair also had a room with multiple beds. Max was likely heading there.

Xander followed Chris through the same hallway, but instead made their way to the elevator. Once it opened, they walked inside and watched as the doors closed. Chris then opened a hidden panel next to the doors by pressing on it. Behind it was a keypad. Xander then watched as Chris entered the four-digit code 1-9-4-7.

"Don't know what's so special about nineteen forty-seven." Chris muttered.

All at once, a whole different set of doors opened in the elevator, opposite the ones that had just closed. "Cool." Xander said as he walked into the new room beyond.

"Told ya." Chris replied and followed. "This room looks like a genetics lab. Past members must've been as curious as we were about where our power comes from."

Xander looked around the room. The black metal walls had been painted white in here. He could tell because over the years some of the paint had begun to chip off. Four huge glass tubes stood at the far end of the room. One of them was broken and had a huge opening on its side.

A few long metal tables stood near the center of the room. On one, the creature-turned-woman that they had encountered laid silently. Fortunately, her body was covered by a sheet now. At the closest table, a blonde woman their age sat in front of a laptop computer.

Upon noticing she had visitors, the woman stood and walked over to them. "Xander Peirson, this is Jennifer Reed." Chris said and smiled. "She's our resident genetics expert."

Jennifer gave Chris a brief glare that perhaps insinuated that their relationship went beyond the professional. She then reached out her hand and Xander shook it.

"So... what'd you want me to see?" Chris asked.

"Oh. Yeah. Right." Jennifer said, then returned to her computer. She tapped a few keys, then turned it toward Chris and Xander. "This is.. this woman's DNA. It's very similar to our own. She seems to have this.. Metagene as well. Her transformation could very well be her ability."

"Wow." Xander said. Just as he was getting used to other people with abilities like his, he learns something that changes everything. "Is she still alive?"

"That's something I can't explain yet." Jennifer replied. "She seems to be in some sort of coma."

"Hmm." was all that Xander said.

"Thanks for the update." Chris said ans smiled at her.

Xander saw them exchange looks and suddenly felt very out of place. He looked at his watch. "Crap. I gotta get to class." Xander then ran back toward the elevator.

A few moments later, Chris realized he had forgotten to tell him something. "Xander, wait--!" He turned and called. But it was too late. Xander was already gone.

---

Seth hurried to his room after class in order to pick up some of the stolen money he had taken from Violet's father. He felt like going out somewhere fancy for lunch today. But upon reaching his room, he noticed that he wasn't alone. His roommate Brad Kwan was there. Damnit. Seth couldn't just pull the hidden bag of money out right in front of him. Instead, he went over to his desk and sat down in its chair.

"Hey Seth?" Brad called from his bed.

Seth spun around in his chair and faced him. "Yeah?"

"You came in pretty late a couple nights ago. Are you okay?" Brad asked.

"Sure I am." Seth replied.

"Well, I only ask because.. I saw something that looked like blood on your clothes." Brad said.

Seth tried not to let his worry show. He had raped and murdered Violet that night. Looking back, Seth really didn't know what had gotten into him. He had regretted what he had done, even though it had made him rich. Yet a small dark and twisted part of him deep inside had loved every second of it. And wanted more.

Seth tried his best to cover his tracks, all the while concentrating his powers of persuasion. "I-- I got into a fight with someone. But it was their blood, not mine." Seth explained.

"Oh. Okay." Brad said. He completely believed what Seth had just said, but he didn't know why. "So... going to the party?"

---

"Party? What party?" Xander asked.

"The Meta House party. Tomorrow night. Don't tell me you haven't heard." Kyle told him.

"Okay. I won't." Xander replied. He walked past him and sat down at his desk. "I don't think I can go anyway. I need to study."

"What?!" Kyle exclaimed. "Come on, you're got to come. Just think of it. Girls, beer, girls, music... girls."

"Sounds great. But I've really got to pass this test next week." Xander explained. "I'm also a bit behind due to the whole getting-trapped-in-a-secret-underground-lair-and-almost-getting-killed thing."

"Ah. Sucks." Kyle said.

"Definitely." Xander muttered.

---

The next night, Seth came out of his room and found that the party was already in full swing. He manuevered his way through the busy hallway abd made his way downstairs. He then looked around at all the hot girls. "So many to choose from..." Seth thought to himself.

Seth then set his sights on two girls who were talking to each other in the common room and approached them. "Hi there." he said, interrupting their conversation.

One of the girls turned toward him. "Uh, hi." she said.

Seth wanted both of these girls. But before he used his ability against them, he decided that he'd rather start slow. No use getting in the main event right away. "Kiss me." Seth told the first girl.

She closed the gap betwee nthem, then her lips met Seth's in a passionate kiss. Once their lips parted, Seth noticed that the other girl had quite a confused look on her face.

"It's okay. You can kiss me too." Seth told the second girl.

The second girl then approached Seth and gave him a passionate kiss of her own. Seth then looked at both girls and smiled. He knew what came next.

"Now kiss each other." Seth told them both. And before he could even finish the command, the two girls' lips met in a passionate kiss. Then their arms came up and wrapped around each others' bodies.

As the hardcore girl-on-girl make-out session began getting other partygoers' attention, Seth slipped away in order to find his next victim.

---

Xander sat at his desk, reading a textbook. All the while, he tried his best to ignore the loud music pumping away downstairs. The party was tempting, but he had to stay diligent. He couldn't let his grades go south.

Xander was about to consult his notes when his cell phone beeped. He reached and picked it up, discovering that was a new text message. It was from Chris.

C'mon, join the party. You can study on any other night.

"You have a point." Xander muttered. No. No. He couldn't. "But.. I must study."

"Why?" a female voice asked.

Xander quickly turned his chair in the direction of the voice. And he found Kyla standing before him. He stood up right away. The beautiful yet mysterious girl had told him where to find the underground lair. "We could have died down there." Xander told her.

"No, you wouldn't have." Kyla said and smiled.

"How do you know that?" Xander asked her. She had sounded like she really believed it.

"I just did." Kyla replied. She smiled, then looked at Xander and got an emotional look on her face. In fact, she looked close to tears.

Xander noticed this. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing." Kyla replied quickly. "Nothing."

---

Seth continued his search for just the right girl. Most of the girls he had seen so far had been very attractive. But none of them had what he was looking for tonight.

When Seth heard the first moan, he paused. And when he heard the second, he went to the nearest door and peeked inside. What he found surprised him quite a bit.

One of the girls that he had persuaded earlier was now laying on a bed completely naked with her legs spread wide open. She moaned in pleasure. The other girl now had her head between her legs, kissing a completely different set of lips.

Seth got very aroused and couldn't look away. The second girl slipped her tongue deeper in the first girl's pussy and she moaned even louder.

Seth surmised that perhaps his power was working better than expected. Maybe he could-- No. He had to keep looking. Seth had to find the perfect gir-- Ah, screw it. Seth smiled, slipped inside and closed the door behind him.

---

Brad Kwan sneaked back into his room. Idiot. It's a party. You have to be prepared for these things, he thought to himself. He walked over to his desk drawer, pulled out a few condoms and put them into his pocket. He was about to leave when he noticed something poking out from under Seth's bed.

Brad walked over and pulled the one hundred dollar bill the rest of the way out from under the bed. He then pulled the bed sheet away and saw an open duffle bag. He pulled it out a little and saw it was loaded with more of them. Where had Seth had gotten all this money?

The door clicked closed behind Brad and he quickly turned around. Seth stood there. "Where did you--" Brad began.

"Curiosity killed the cat, Brad." Seth told him. "And now it will kill you too."

Brad got a little frightened now. "How--"

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Seth interrupted. He slowly began approaching Brad as he kept backing up. But Brad stopped once he bumped into Seth's nightstand. Seth then pulled out a knife and placed it in Brad's hand. "Here. Have this. And slit your throat." Seth then picked up his duffle bag and made sure to be away from him before the blood flowed.

Against his will, Brad slowly raised the knife to his throat. The whole time he tried to pull it away. But he could not. The knife quickly ran across his neck and blood spurted out and onto the floor. Brad then stumbled to stay standing and soon fell to the floor as well.

Seth zipped up his bag and carefully exited the room. He'd have to find a better hiding place for this money. Then he'd come back to hide the body.

---

Xander tried to keep studying as Kyla kept looking over his shoulder and making him nervous. He had never really had a girlfriend before. At least any that ever got serious anyway. Xander tried to ignore the fact that his nervousness around girls was partly why he was really avoiding the party. "So... what brings you to... here?" Xander asked.

"Um, I have something to do." Kyla replied. "But I don't what to talk about that."

"Oookay." was all that Xander said, then got back to work.

After a long silence, Kyla finally spoke again. "Okay, I might as well tell you. I'm.. from the future."

That got Xander to stop what he was doing right away. "What?!" He stood and stared at Kyla.

"I came here to save your life." Kyla explained. "You were killed in the future."

"Wow." Xander replied. If he wasn't currently residing in a house full of super-powered post-teens and grew up enjoying science fiction movies, he might not have believed her. "By who? When?"

"I can't tell you. I've been instructed to do this on my own." Kyla said. "I have inherited the Metagene, just like you. It's where my ability to time travel comes from."

"Cool." Xander muttered.

"Someone's coming." Kyla said, then immediately disappeared. Barely a second or two later, the door behind her opened.

Cassie walked in and noticed the look on Xander's face. "What's up? You look like you've seen a ghost." she told him.

"Um.." Xander started, but then chose to change the subject. "So you're here to try and drag me downstairs?"

"C'mon. I'll dance with you." Cassie said.

Xander found that offer tempting, especially due to the dress she was wearing. But.. he couldn't. "Sorry. I.. need to study." Xander told her.

"Fine. But if you change your mind, you know where I'll be." Cassie sighed and left the room.

---

Once Seth got everything Brad-wise taken care of, he rejoined the party and began his search again. His eyes soon fell on a very beautiful girl as she entered someone's room. He then placed his ear close to the door and listened in on Xander and Cassie's conversation. Cassie was really cute. And Xander was a real idiot for passing up a chance to dance with her.

Seth quickly moved aside upon hearing someone was coming. He then leaned up against the wall and acted normal as Cassie exited the room.

"Xander's loss is my gain." Seth muttered under his breath. He then followed Cassie down the hallway. Cassie wanted a dance and Seth decided that he will give her one.

---

"Xander." Kyla's voice called from behind Xander.

Xander stopped studying once again, closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I'll never get in any useful studying in at this rate." he moaned.

"I'm sorry, but it's an emergency." Kyla said.

"What is it?" Xander asked once he turned around, towards her.

"When I led you to the underground lair, I didn't think about all the ways it could change the timeline. You would be partying right now instead of studying. You would've danced with Cassie. And she wouldn't be in danger right now." Kyla explained.

Xander jumped up from his chair. "Danger?" Xander asked. "What's happening?"

"Seth Ryland is planning to rape her tonight. In this house. You must stop him." Kyla told him. But before she could even finish what she was saying, Xander ran to the door and out into the hallway.

"Cassie!" Xander called through the crowded hallway. When then was no answer, Xander quickly began searching the rooms one by one.

---

Seth cornered Cassie in a darkened bedroom and began to work his magic. He looked her up and down with a dirty look. Cassie was disgusted and suddenly wished she were more covered up.

"You're so beautiful, but so much of it is covered by clothes." Seth said. "Take off that dress."

A couple tears formed in Cassie's eyes as she slowly reached up and pulled the dress's straps off her shoulders. She then slipped it down over her bra and hips. The dress fell to the floor, leaving Cassie in her bra and panties.

"Nice." Seth said. He then approached her, ready to begin.

Xander burst into the room and saw what was going on. "Stop!" Xander yelled. Before Seth could concentrate his ability on him, Xander used his ability to throw Seth against a wall.

While still concentrating to keep Seth restrained, Xander turned to Cassie. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Cassie quickly slipped her dress back on, then muttered "Yeah."

Xander turned back to Seth. "This is over." Xander told him defiantly. "Chris has called the police. They're on their way."

In reply, Seth laughed. "I'll use my ability on you. I'll use my ability on them. Everyone will be eating out of my ha--"

Xander concentrated his ability further and forced Seth's mouth shut. "No. You won't." Xander said and smiled.

---

Xander stood in Meta house's front lawn and watched as Seth was placed in the police car. He sighed in relief.

"Again, I'm sorry. I didn't know it would turn out like this." Kyla told him.

Xander was once again surprised to find Kyla standing next to him. "You've got to stop spooking me like that." he said.

"Don't worry. I will." Kyla said.

"You're leaving?" Xander asked.

"Yes." Kyla told him and smiled. "I must go. Now. Goodbye."

"Wait!" Xander exclaimed. He then turned and noticed that Kyla was already gone. He frowned upon realizing he wasn't able to say goodbye himself. Then he wondered if he would ever see her again. Xander watched as the police car drove away with Seth inside.

Josh, Seth's brother, walked up to Xander. "I knew him all my life." he said. "Or at least I thought I did."

Xander walked back into the house. With the police's arrival, the party broke up quickly. A lot of people left, some still stood outside. Xander entered the near-empty-but-trashed living room and collapsed onto the couch. The power usage had worn him out enough that he didn't notice that he wasn't alone on the couch.

"Hey." the girl said. "You must be the hero."

Xander turned and was surprised to see Kyla sitting next to him. Xander could tell this was actually the present version. In a way, she seemed even more beautiful than the future version. Maybe his death had changed her. "Hey." Xander replied and smiled.

Kyla smiled back.

---

Cassie walked back inside Meta house, looking for Xander. She found him talking with another girl. And laughing. Upon seeing their chemistry, Cassie's heart cracked a little. Xander had saved her life. And Cassie's feelings for him had changed.

Cassie had wanted to talk to Xander about those feelings, but now saw that he probably didn't share them. A sad look appeared on her face as she headed upstairs to her room.

---

Seth sat silently in the police interrogation room, mostly due to the duct tape holding his mouth shut. He knew he would get out of here though. It was only a matter of time.

After what seemed like forever to Seth, two men in dark suits finally entered the room. One of them approached Seth and removed the duct tape covering his mouth.

Showtime, Seth thought. "You will help me escape."

"No." the closest man said, then pointed to his ear. It was at that point that Seth noticed that a black metallic device was attached to both of their left ears.

"You're coming with us, Mr. Ryland." the other man told him. Seth hadn't even noticed that the other man had moved behind him.

"No, I'm not." Seth said. Just then, a needle was injected into his neck. He was suddenly feeling very sleepy. He tried to stay awake, but he couldn't. A few moments later, his head fell back and he passed out.