Chapter 3

Facts and Friction

Michael was sitting in his room reading his homework assignment. It had taken him longer than usual to finish it because he was worried about Alli. He wished there was more that he could do, but it wasn't like the Alvarian King was going to trust the safety of his daughter to a teenager.

Suddenly he was jarred out of his thoughts by a shout from the foot of the stairs.

"Michael," Yelled his sister, "there is someone here to see you!" Michael stood up and walked out of his room and down the stairs. To his surprise he found Anna Macmillan standing there.

"Hi, Michael," she said, "I was wondering if you would help me with my chemistry homework?"

"All right," he said, "Michael ran back to his room, picked up his chemistry book then he and Anna went and sat down on the sofa in the living room.

"Now," said Michael, "what seems to be giving you trouble?" Anna opened he book to the most recent chapter and pointed to the first equation in the practice section.

"Oh that one," said Michael, "That one gives everyone trouble." Then he began to show her how to figure the problem. They were both right in the middle of it and leaning over book, when Chris Mathers bounded up onto the front porch and let himself through the front door. Just inside the door he stopped and grinned at the sight of his best friend leaning over a textbook withAnnatheir heads almost touching.

"Well, well," he said winking at Michael, "Is there something that I should know?"

"Don't start," said Michael glaring at Chris then he turned back to Anna.

"Do you understand it now?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, "I think that I can do the rest myself." When Michael looked uphe saw that instead of working on the problem Anna was just sitting there smiling at him.

"Are you okay," he asked.

"I've never been better," she said, still staring at him with a smile on her face.

"Uh, Michael," said Chris who had just glanced out the window, "A big black limo with green flags on the hood just pulled into your driveway! HOLY MOLY, its Allie the prime minister's daughter!!!"

Chris turned to look at Michael.

"Man what is your secret? Can I have it?" He asked eagerly

"What secret," asked Michael

"The secret of how you wound up with the twoprettiest girls in the school at your house!!!" hollered Chris who was practically jumping up and down in exasperation.

"Just circumstances," replied Michael he didn't want to admit that he was more shocked to see Anna there than he was to see Allie. That would just lead to more questions that were just too dangerous to answer right now. Michael was searching for something else to say when there was a knock at the door.

Michael answered the door.

"Hi Michael," said Allie, "I was wondering if you would be willing to study with me tonight?"

"Well-I that is-I," stammered Michael trying to figure out how to handle this mess.

"Not a bad idea, Michael," said Chris, "Mr. Forbes usually has a quiz on Tuesday."

"Really," Said Alli as she moved toward the living room, "then we'd better study."

Michael glared at Chris who was standing there with the world's biggest smirk on his face.

"Thank you Dr. No-Help," he said through clenched teeth. Buy the time Michael and Chris reached the living room, Alli and Anna were standing there facing each other.

"I didn't realize that Michael already had company," said Allie with a strange tone in her voice.

"Oh, yes," said Anna airily, "Michael was being a dear and helping out with my chemistry homework."

"Well then," said Alli, "I guess we should get to work then."

"Oh no," said Anna, "I was just leaving." Alli was tempted to say good riddance but instead she just said goodbye. Once Anna was gone Alli was back to her old self. She and Michael sat down and began to study the assignment. Suddenly before they knew it was ten o'clock at night.

"My," said Alli, "I didn't realize that it was that late, I'd better go." Michael stood up and walked Alli out to the Limo. Right before Alli climbed into the limo she leaned up and kissed Michael on the cheek.

"See you tomorrow," she said climbing into the limo. It backed out of the driveway and rolled off down the street. Michael turned and started back toward the house with a dazed expression on his faceand promptly tripped and fell flat onsaid face.

Michael awoke bright and early the next morning. After climbing out of bed he pulled on a pair of Jeans, a white shirt, a denim jacket, and pulling on his sneakers he hurried downstairs to breakfast. Before he got down the stairs he could smell Walnut Pancakes and maple syrup. When he reached the bottom of the stairs he stopped short. There on the table in front of the chair where he usually sat was a blue and silver motorcycle helmet.

"What is this helmet doing here?" he asked

"A belated welcome home present," his father answered smiling over his cup of coffee, "take a look in the driveway."

Michael walked to the front door opened it and stepped out into the driveway. There sitting in the drive was a brand new blue and silver Kawasaki Ninja Motorcycle!

"I figured that you might as well have a motorbike to go with that license that you've got!"

"Wow thanks, Dad," Exclaimed Michael he bounded forward, climbed onto the bike and put on his helmet, "I'm going to try it out right now!" With that he switched on the ignition and stepped on the starter. The motor roared to life, Michael put it in gear, and shot off down the street.

When Michael arrived at school an hour later his friend Chris was waiting there for him.

"Nice Wheels," he said, "So your dad finally gave it to you did he?"

"You mean that you knew about this," asked Michael motioning to the Motorbike.

"Of course I did," said Chris with his trademark grin, "I helped him pick it out."

"Thanks man," said Michael "it's awesome!"

They walked inside to there first class of the day and slid into their seats. A few minutes later Allie arrived. She walked in and slid into her seat next to Michael. Michael leaned over to her.

"How are you holding up?" he whispered

"Alright considering the circumstances." she whispered back.

Just then Anna Macmillan walked in and down the row past Michael,

"Hi, Michael," she said in a voice that had a flirtatious tone to it.

"Uh, hi" said Michael feeling nervous. Suddenly as Annawalked on byhe felt Alli scoot a little closer to him. Michael opened his book and got ready for class to start. If he wanted to pass, he couldn't wasted time sitting there confused about the way that Alli was acting.

Before Michael realized it, it was time for lunch. Grabbing his backpack he headed for the cafeteria. On the way he stopped by the locker room to put his new gym clothes in his locker. Suddenly he was grabbed and slammed into the lockers by Alex Sutton.

"What's going on with you and Anna?" he growled raising his fist.

"Nothing," Michael growled back.

"Liar!" yelled Alex swinging at Michael. But instead of feeling pain Michael say a flash of silvery blue light and hear and sharp electrical sizzle between his jaw and Alex' fist. Alex hollered and jumped around holding his fist like someone who had just punched a brick wall. Michael turned and ran out of there before either of Alex' buddies could react.

Later that Day…

Michael lay on his back in a secret room connected to the basement of his home in a device resembling an MRI machine. This imaging chamber allowed his father to periodically scan Michael's cybernetics and their fusion points with his muscular and skeletal systems.

"Well," said his Father, as Michael slid out of the chamber, "I knew that your body's acceptance and fusion with the cybernetic systems went better that we had ever hoped. But not it seems that the fusion is so complete that your brain has actually causing them to enhance the abilities that you already had and even develop new ones."

"What do you mean, Dad?" asked Michael putting his jacket back on.

"For one thing," Replied his father, "the superhuman strength and speed that you had to start with has increased ten-fold. Second, your cybernetic systems have begun to generate this energy shield that protected you from harm today."

"Wow," said Michael, "it gives the word Immune system a whole new meaning!"

Mr. Bennett nodded but before he could respond the phone rang.

"I'll get it," he called and turning back to the desk he picked up the receiver, "Bennett home, Nathan Bennett speaking," he said "Yes he's here, just a minute," Mr. Bennett turned and handed the phone to Michael.

"It's your friend Chris," he said. Michael took the receiver and put it up to his ear.

"Hey Chris, what's up." Michael jerked the phone away from his ear,

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa," he said, "Chris, Calm down you're talking so fast that I can't understand you. Now take a deep breath," there was the sound of inhaling an exhaling on the other end of the line,

"Good," said Michael, "Now start again, and a little slower this time."

"Michael," said an out of breath Chris, "Alli's been Kidnapped!!"

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