At the age of twenty-two I decided to take my chances with my own place. I had been working at a warehouse for some time, so I saved up to get a place. The warehouse was easier to work at with all my difficulties. I didn't have to deal with a lot of people, so my fear touch was not an issue. I only had one incident with disintegration, the whole time I worked there. Luckily no one saw me, and the item wasn't of importance. The blink ability actually came in handy. Another worker did catch me once. He just shook his head and went on to his work. The earthquake was potentially a fatal one, but I made sure to not shiver.

I found a small studio apartment that was renting cheap. It was a bit of a dump, but I didn't mind. I was never home anyway. I just needed a place to sleep. My mother was so worried about me she would call every other day, if not every day. My mother would only call my sister once a week, if she happened to think about it. It always bothered me that it looked like my mother paid more attention to me than my other siblings. It didn't show if my brother and sister were bothered by it though.

I got up that morning like any other. I took my shower then stood in front of the mirror to make myself presentable. A full length mirror hung on the back of the bathroom door. My short black hair juts off in all directions. I comb it down to give it a simple straight forward look. I glance at my eyes and see the deep blue that seems to drive the girls wild. A nice tan can be seen on my skin. I never really understood why I always had a tan, since I haven't been in the sun much for years. After the first earthquake incident it didn't matter how much sun I got, the tan stayed the same. I always thought that I looked like skin on bones, so my mother tried to reassure me that I wasn't really that thin. Before I transformed into the waffle iron my weight would fluctuate between summer and winter. Since that incident my weight never varied. When I got hungry I just had to change into a tree. The sugars that a tree makes was sufficient to sustain me for several hours. If I wanted a little extra energy for something, I would change into some electrical appliance. While I was transformed I would have my brother plug me up. One time he got called away. I stayed plugged for an hour. I could not sleep for a day. You would think I would crash after the energy ebbed, but I just went back to my normal energy level.

I figure the person who lived in the apartment before me had been tall. I stand six foot three, but I don't have to slump down to see my head in the mirror. I was buttoning up my shirt when the mirror began to flicker. At first I thought I had something in my eyes, but I realized it was the same as my graduation. Only this time I found myself on a hill with a stone slab. I could see nothing else for miles.

On the slab there were strange characters, I did not recognize. The stone seemed to be made of some marble, or at least looked like marble to me. The grass stood about calf high and was a dark green. I figured it had to have rained not too long ago, otherwise the ground would not look as moist as it did. The sky was that dark blue like the area I ported at my graduation. And like last time there is not a cloud in the sky.

The sun sat just off high noon. It had more of a redder tint than the sun I grew up with. It also didn't seem to hurt the eyes as bad when you glance up at it. The air had the temperature of early spring. A slow steady breeze could be felt going across the plain.

I am afraid to go very far from my original position. I am hoping I will port back after a few hours. I usually have breakfast on my commute to work. So as time went by I kept getting hungrier and hungrier. I figure I am going to be in trouble at work when I get back. They detest people clocking in late. That is of course if I get back.

After about an hour it hits me. I have a cell phone. It won't hurt to give it a try. So I pull out my phone from my shirt pocket. “Zero bars, crap,” I yell.

I hear my voice echo off in the distance. As flat and open as the plain is I knew it shouldn't give me an echo. The only way you get an echo is off an obstacle in the sounds path. At least that is what I was informed in school.

I hate to leave, but maybe a quick blink wont hurt. I focus on a sight parallel to the front of the slab. I stop and do a double check to make sure at that point my view will not be obstructed. I focus on the spot again. I put it in my mind I need to be there. And I hope that the land is as flat as it looks.

My vision blurs, so I know I have blinked. I take a quick look around but just see more flat land as far as the eye can see. I turn around hoping I can still see the stone slab. To my relief I can. It looks smaller than I expected, but I can still use it as a blink focus. Again I focus on the stone and willing a need to be there. I lose focus again, then see I am standing back at my original position.

I think I might wait a while before going in another direction, but as I think about it I remember that it had to be several hours the last time. So against my semi-better judgment I try in all four directions. To my dismay the grassy planes didn't seem to end.

I sit there for another two hours hoping I will be ported back. By the end of the two hours my hope faded fast. I don't remember it feeling this long the last time this happened.

By now my stomach is growling very loudly. I feel like someone is squeezing my waist. Another large stomach growl hits. It feels like someone is shaking my midsection. I don't normally get to this point. I have found transforming to certain items works great at feeding me.

After the stomach growl subsides I can swear I hear it echo. “Hello?” I ask tentatively.

Again an echo comes back to me. I try to focus on its origins. It is then I realize the echo is coming from the stone. I knock on the stone with my knuckles. A hollow echo returns. It is almost like a cave resides on the other side of the stone.

I take time to examine the stone more closely. The strange writing is engraved on hard smooth stone. At first I think the writing was painted a gold color. I put my finger in its grooves and realize it is just another layer of the stone.

I don't know much about gold, but from what I have heard this gold is too hard. The dark stone in the grove is smooth and feels polished. The texture of the gold colored stone is lumpy. The best way I can describe it is like real fine bubble wrap. The small lumps seem uniformed.

I lean back and look at the writing as a whole. I can almost make out a pattern, but not quite. I try to recall so many years ago in school. I know in science I was shown some hieroglyphs or something. But despite racking my brain I cannot place them.

I decide to trace out each design to see if there is maybe a hidden switch. I guess I can chock that strange concept up to so many years of video games. To my great disappointment I don't find a hidden switch.

I kneel down and look closer at the front of the stone. I lay the grass away from the base. The stone looks to be buried. I couldn't even begin to imagine how deep it could be.

I shift to the side of the stone and rub the surface. I then shift to the other side and rub it. Each side feels like a very fine polish was put on it. There didn't seem to be any seams or even flaws. I stand up and give it a good look, then slap the surface with my hand. Nothing happens, but it sure makes me feel good. My stomach interrupts my thoughts with a large growl. There is a faint echo from the stone.

“Well screw it I am hungry,” I say, and with each word came an echo.

I may not have any food but I know how to get the nutrients I need. I sit on the ground and stare at a blade of grass. Within a few seconds I have the sense of things around me, like I had with the tree. The normal tingling of photosynthesis was not there though. There was a whole new list of sensations.

I could feel my roots go down for what felt like miles. Now I have been a blade of grass before, but the roots were far shorter. I can feel the sun on me, but it doesn't seem important. What I can feel is something in the air that I want more. I can't tell what the chemical is, but I know it is what I need.

As I draw in the chemical something comes shooting up my roots. It feels like forever for the liquid to rise in my roots. When it gets to my blade the sensation is almost explosive. It is then that I am not a blade but a large group of them. Each is pulling in the chemical and drawing from the one root.

When the chemical and liquid touch it is photosynthesis on a grander scale. The nutrient created from the reaction feels like it can sustain me for weeks, if not months. Which I am guessing may be a good thing. When I try to pull up more liquid I can feel it going up, but much more slowly.

I exist there trying to pull it up. All I can do is focus on pulling up that liquid. One second I am trying my best to speed up the liquid, then next I am staring at the stone.

I release a sigh like a huge burden has been released. Before I realize it a shiver hits me. This one is longer than any I have ever had. When the shiver ends I wait for the inevitable. A low growl-rumble begins in the distance. As it gets closer to me, it gets louder. As it crescendos the ground vibrates. It shakes slightly at first then slowly increases.

As it increases, it begins to move me around on the ground where I sit. I have always wondered if the amount of my shiver was proportional to the quake. This time it shows me I am right. Just as my shiver was long so is the quake. After about three minutes I begin to wonder if it will ever end. To my relief it stops about two minutes later. Even after it ends my eyes and teeth still think it is continuing.

It takes me a few moments to regain my bearings. After pulling myself together I glance at the stone. To my surprise it is glowing. I say glow only because I lack wording to truly describe it. If you can imagine a black glow, you might be close to what it looks like. The stone seems to have expanded about an inch, but not completely. The inch extension looks like the stone, yet it is transparent.

I stand up to take a better look at the stone. All of the black stone has the extra inch. But the gold color stone doesn't seem to have changed. It gives it the illusion that the writing has sunken. I notice that the earth shake has knocked me beyond arm's length of the stone. I walk over to touch it. Yes I know what you're thinking, 'What the hell are you doing?’ To tell the truth I don't know. I just know standing around just looking wont get me out of here.

As I am about to touch it, a booming voice echoes from it, “Land shaker?”

I look around confused, unable to form words. After a short pause it booms again, “Are you the land shaker?”

I look around again expecting to see someone. I then realize that the only thing to do is respond. I don't know about everyone else, but talking to a stone that can respond is very eerie.

“Um Yeah, I guess.”

“Place your hand on the stone for verification, please,” as it talks I notice that the extra inch seems to vibrate with the voice.

“Um okay,” I don't know what insanity was going through my head, but I did what I was asked.

I place my open hand in the center of the writing. There is several seconds of silence, then the voice booms. I can feel it in my hand as well. “Verified, please state other talents. Other talents were indicated on verification. But this temple is unable to verify them.”

“Um excuse me, Temple?”

“Yes, I am one in a group of ten verification temples. Please state other abilities for verification.”

“Um okay I guess, disintegration, blink, fear, transformation, and the one that ported me in front of you,” the word 'you' came out a little shaky because I don't know if a rock could be a you.

“How do you disintegrate?”

“I touch it and it falls to pieces, how else does things disintegrate?” I ask.

“Describe falling to pieces.”

I look at it dumbfounded, “It turns into tiny little pieces, you know ash.”

“Unknown, what is blink?”

“You know blink, first I am here then I am over there. I did it earlier.”

“Does blink work through walls?”

“Damn your persistent, no,” I answered with a bit of frustration.

“How does fear work?”

“I touch someone and they are scared shitless. Why are you asking me all this?”

“Unknown, what is shitless?”

“Oh dear lord. They are scared very very badly. Now are you going to answer my question?” I ask, getting very perturbed.

“Explain transformation.”

“No, not til you answer my question.”

“Undetermined response. Please respond clearly and definitively. This temple is limited in its function and vocabulary.”

“Oh god, I am talking to a damn phone survey machine.”

“Undetermined response. Please respond clearly and definitively. This temple is limited in its function and vocabulary.”

“Okay, repeat the question please. Can you do that?”

“Explain transformation.”

“This is pathetic. Okay I stare at an item, and after a few seconds, I change to that item. How's that?”

“Seconds not known. Converting time reference. Are you able to take the form of a sentient being?”

“No.”

“The process of your arrival has already been known. Thank you. Wait for processing.”

“And how long is that going to take?”

“Please verify abilities by placing your hand on the temple.”

“Oh that’s how long,” I placed my hand on the temple hoping this thing would shut up.

“Earthquake, touch disintegration, sight teleportation, touch of fear, and object mimic. Verification done. Unknown talent unable to define. Unknown by temple and subject. Thank you. Please wait for processing.”

“Wait, what do you mean unknown talent?” I ask but the temple doesn't answer me.

The thing remains silent for over fifteen minutes. When it speaks I almost jump out of my skin. “Please follow the yellow line,” it says.

I glare at the stone, like that would help, “What line?”

I look up and throw my hands in the air in exasperation. As my head comes up I see a floating yellow line coming out of the stone. The line extends beyond my vision. My hands freeze in the air as I say, “Oh that line,” in embarrassment. Isn't it funny how you can get embarrassed, even if no one is in sight.

I think of blinking, but decide it might be safer to walk. I walk around the stone feeling like I could get chewed out at any moment. I hope this line will lead me to my apartment, but I don't have very high expectations.

After what seems like hours I begin to think this was all some joke. It doesn't matter how far I walk it doesn't seem to end. After another hour or so my legs begin to get tired. I decide to start using blink. I figure why not use what you have. Yeah I know I should have thought of that earlier.

I focus on the farthest point I can see clearly and hope I don't miss. After I refocus I am standing in front of another stone slab, similar to the other one. The only difference I can see is the lettering is different.

“Well crap, I could have finished walking that,” I say in exasperation.

“No you couldn't sweetheart,” the voice comes out of the new stone. This one has a soft female voice.

“Who are you?” and before I can get a response I say, “Oh yeah I know unknown reply.”

“Not at all sweetheart. I am the alignment temple, here to test you.”

I jump back, “Whoa, you understand me.”

The stone chuckles, “Of course sweetheart,. I couldn't test you properly if I couldn't.”

“Uh okay. What are you suppose to test me on?”

The stone's voice is very calming despite it being a stone. “Many things my dear, but let's start with your talents.”

“Why do you have to do that?”

“That's why I am here. This temple was created to test a new subject for transfer.”

“What do you mean transfer?”

“The transfer you to your designated ending point.”

“Excuse me? What designated ending point?”

“I don't know that yet sweetheart, I haven't finished testing you.”

“Okay, wait hold on. None of this makes any sense. I'm in front of my mirror, and then I'm in front of a stone without a clue what is going on, or what to do. Now you tell me this is all to find my destination. I don't know if I can handle it anymore. I want to know what all of this is about, and how to get home.”

“Calm down sweetheart. You wouldn't be here if you couldn't handle it. I'm sorry I can't tell you what all this is about. I only know what my memory allows me to know. And I am sorry to inform you that what you called home is no longer in your destination. I feel bad I have to inform you of this. That is the hardest part of my workings.”

I don't know why but this inanimate object, that can talk, was so comforting. My frustration and anger ebb. “Okay, I want to go home, but if it isn't going to happen I will let you do your tests. Begrudgingly mind you.”

“That is the best I can accept. I know it isn't easy, but to progress it is necessary. To start with, I wont need to test your land shaking ability. According to the information given to me, you are unable to fully control it.”

“Correct,” I respond.

“That will be noted strongly in my report. I would not want it to cause unnecessary inconvenience in the future. But I will still have to send it on with its limitations.”

“Uh okay, I guess.”

“Now for your other talents. On your fear touch, are you able to keep it from activating?”

“I don't know why or how it activates. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I've tried to cause it on my brother, but it never worked. But when I touch a girl, or a stranger, it sets them screaming.”

“Okay, defensive, that will help in the report.”

“What do you mean defensive? None of the people I touched were out to harm me.”

“Sweetheart, just because they didn't have any intent to hurt you, you still had fear. When you reach out to touch them, there is always a type of fear in the back of your mind.”

“I don't understand, I wasn't scared of any of them, especially the girl I was going to ask out.” After I ask that I realize what I just told a stone, and embarrassment flushes through me.

“The girl will be a good example to explain. As you approach her, the fear of rejection is in the back of your mind. So when you touch her the fear touch is activated, because you have fear.”

“Oh.”

“Over time, in combat situations, your fear touch should adjust to not cause the effect with every touch.”

“Wait, What do you mean, combat situations?”

“Sorry to upset you sweetheart, I just assumed you were a fighter of some kind, being here.”

“Um no. I work in a warehouse.”

“I do not know what a warehouse is, but if you have not been in battle that would explain your inability to fully control that talent. Why you have a combat talent in a non combative situation, I cannot explain.”

“Me either. Makes no sense.”

“I do not need to test you further on your blink, since you showed great control of it. I would suggest you find a trigger so you don't have to stare so long.”

“What do you mean, a trigger?”

“All talents can be set with triggers. It is a set of thought patterns that instantly trigger the talent. It saves precious time when needed.”

“Thought patterns, what do you mean?”

“For example, lets take your blink talent. Instead of just focusing on the spot till it activates, you could use a trigger word. So instead of staring, you look at the spot and think let's say blink. With the combination of focused attention, and the word, it activates faster.”

“Neat thanks, I didn't know that.”

“Your welcome sweetheart. Now for your mimic ability. I see it is also by staring. Again with this, a trigger will help. Now can I have you show me how it works?”

“I guess, but I will be in that form for three hours.”

“I'm sorry sweetheart, I don't know how long three hours is.” Before I can respond she continues, “Oh wait here it is. I wish the validation temple was a bit more organized. Hold on while I transfer the information through.” Several minutes of silence passes by then she says, “There, now occurrences of time will be translated for you and others.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“Your welcome sweetie. I would hate to see your destination become hindered because of a minor technicality. Now if you don't mind showing me your mimic. Time has no real meaning to this temple. It has been here for several millennia.”

“Really don't you get bored?”

“No, as soon as I am finished I shut down.”

“If you don't mind me asking a question first?”

“Of course not sweetheart. I have all the time you need.” You can hear a smile in her voice. Although how a stone can smile I will never know.

“You keep referring to the temple as something different then yourself. I don't understand. You are the temple, that is if this stone is the temple.”

“Yes the stone is the temple, but the essence that is me is not in the temple. The temple is simply a conduit so I may interact with you.”

“If you are not here where are you?”

“I can't answer that sweetheart because I don't know. I do know I reside somewhere with others like me, and the validation temple.”

“So you're a computer?”

“Hold on let me find out what a computer is,” there is only a slight pause before she continues, “Yes in essence I am a computer, but far more advanced than I am sure you are accustomed to.”

“That you are. Okay give me a moment to change.”

At first I thought of changing back into a blade of grass again, but I was still full and energized from the last one. So the only other thing was the temple.

I focus only on the temple. A moment of blackness occurs and I am still looking at the stone, but having to blink. I shake my head, “Sorry,” I say, “I have never had trouble transforming before.”

“Why, sweetheart, it was quite interesting to experience two temples next to each other. I don't think it has happened before.”

“You mean I changed?”

“Yes dear, why do you ask?”

“I don't remember changing. I have always had some kind of experience as an object. But this time I don't remember changing.”

She chuckles, “That is because you changed into an ageless object. You were unable to comprehend the vastness of eternity.”

“Um, Oh.”

“Now can you disintegrate the temple please?”

I look at the stone horrified, “No, then your connection will be lost.”

“Do not worry it will reappear.”

“No, If it is ageless, then I have no right to decide when it shouldn't exist.”

“Very well then, disintegrate a grass blade if you can.”

“I don't think so. That is a living creature. Well plant anyway. Either way it is alive. I know I wouldn't like someone coming along and disintegrating me.”

“Then we are at a stand still sweetheart. I need to see you use that talent, but there is nothing you will use it on.”

“Can't you create something for me to disintegrate, or better yet take my word for it.”

“I do not have the facilities to create an object for you, sorry sweetie.”

I stand there in silence, contemplating my dilemma. I can't go on unless I use this so-called talent, but I will not use it on the objects in the area. Then it dawns on me. I have items on me. I think at first to use some clothing, but threw that out. I can't control how much is destroyed. Plus I figure no matter where I end up, I'm going to need clothing.

I pat myself down trying to think of something to use. My hand then lands on my phone. I figure that would be my best bet. It is useless right now anyway. It is also easily replaced, if I make it home. Then there is what the temple had said about not being able to go home too. I never keep anything important in the phone. I have all the important phone numbers memorized.

I pull out the phone and hold it ready in my hand. “How about this?” I ask the temple.

“As long as it doesn't bother you sweetheart.”

“No, this is easily replaced.” I envision the phone turning to ash. Within seconds I am holding air.

“That was quick, and on command. How are you able to command this talent so easily, and the others you have difficulty?”

“I've disintegrated things since I was a baby.” Just the thought of the old crib sent pangs of remorse through me.

“Intriguing. Do you recall what age you were when your talents began to make themselves known?”

“Not the exact date, but I was told by my mother that I was just a few months old, Why?”

“In all the time I have been testing subjects, none were younger than twelve of your years old.”

“What does that mean?”

“Sweetheart I don't know. As I said I have never tested anyone that showed talent that early. So I have nothing to compare it to.”

“Really I wonder why my mother didn't seem to think it odd then.”

“Your mother didn't act adversely to your abilities as they showed?”

“No.”

“And you said where you are from, you are not in a family of warriors or fighters?”

“No, I don't think anyone in my family was military, why?”

“Before I answer you, would you mind telling me where you are from, including your planet?”

“Sure, I'm from Lake of the Ozarks Missouri, US, planet earth. Why is that significant?”

“Normally where a subject is from is not an important part of the testing. But with a few things you have told me it began to indicate irregular discrepancies. Then when you said your mother was unaffected by your ability, while being on an advanced planet, without war it set a red flag. If you don't mind I need to do some cross checking for some information.”

“No go ahead I'm not going anywhere.”

I take a seat just in case it is going to be a while. I sit there trying to figure out what I got myself into. I have been in a few precarious situations in my life. I will have to say though, this is the strangest.

I've been here talking to a small stone altar that I have confused. And not to mention it is an advanced computer, that I have grown to like in a short time. Yep I think I have hit the apex of strange, even for me.

As I sit there contemplating things, I feel something rubbing my arm. I look over and see one blade of grass petting my arm. It takes all my strength of will to not jump and run away screaming.

I know when I transform into something else, that I cannot change into anything that has intelligence. So it never even crossed my mind that a plant can have a form of intelligence. To tell the truth it just doesn't make sense to me.

Could this simple plant form have some form of intelligence? Or is it simply that it is just reacting to stimuli? It does seem odd that earlier when I sat in this grass that it never did this type of action.

As I sit here waiting and contemplating, a concept I doubt I can ever answer, more of the blades begin to pet me. If you have never had several hundred blades rubbing back and forth against you, I doubt I could fully explain the experience.

After a while of them petting me, they stop. Several blades point at one lone blade standing straight up, and perfectly still. The blades directly around the one blade lay themselves flat against the ground.

It was then that I noticed the ground was coal black. I lean closer to the blade to look at the ground. As I get closer I realize that the ground was powdered alter stone.

The blades of grass all around sway in unison except the one blade, and those immediately surrounding the one blade. They would sway away and immediately back toward the one blade. As they sway back toward the one blade they would all pause as though pointing.

I can't say how long I sat there mesmerized by the swaying. I do know there is one thought that brought me into focus. I think that just maybe, they wanted me to transform.

Should I try? What if the temple comes back while I am transformed? And could this just be a reaction to stimuli? I can't believe I am even considering it. They are just grass.

I think that is what finally convinced me. I say they instead of it. I focus on the blade of grass. This time I decided to say transform in my mind as I look at it. I am instantly transformed into the grass. For a split second, I think, Wow it worked.

Then all the strange experiences came back from the first time. The only difference is that I don't need to concentrate on the liquid. It came up on its own, along with the chemical in the air.

After the super charge of the chemical reaction, I start to become aware that there are what seem like other presence, in my mind. I focus my awareness on the other presences. Slowly I begin to hear voices. These voices begin to multiply exponentially.

It gets to the point where the voices are becoming overwhelming. It is like being in a small room with everyone in the world talking, at once, in that little room. I am about to scream, shut up, when it all went quiet.

I hear one single voice say, Sorry we did not know you would be overwhelmed.

Who are you? I ask in my head.

We are the ones underneath. We are the life givers.

You mean the grass?

As you understand it yes, but much more.

How so?

Over many lifetimes, our priors have soaked up the knowledge that has progressed. We were here before the sound stone. Before we were but drinkers of life giving fluid. As generation upon generation passed, we absorbed the knowledge of the sound stone. We are now what we are.

What is that? I ask only half grasping what is said.

We are grass as you call it, but we are also sentient. we believe that is what your thoughts convey us as. We learned to answer each other in our own way. But you came to be one of us with great compassion. In that we had to learn you. None before, left us life.

Left you life? You mean all the others killed you?

No, not kill in that we no longer drink, but took a part of us away.

How long have you been here?

We do not know this time you speak of. We exist and have existed since the sound stones. We do not know what was before, only that we exist.

Okay let me try to get this straight. You only know of existence since the stones. But I am guessing you realize that something like you, or even you, existed before the temples but you have no memory of it. And you do not die, which means, you are all as old as the temple. Did I get that right?

There is a short period of a multitude of voices, then they are quiet. I then hear just one voice. Yes you are on right.

I chuckle in my head. I'm also guessing you are still learning English.

We do not know this sound you make. I can hear the grass trying in vain to repeat my chuckle. And yes we slow learn language from your thought.

I chuckle again. That sound is a laugh. And for being slow, you sure are quick. It took me years to learn bad English.

Why laugh and you mean there levels to English?

Laughing is something that is done when you find something funny or amusing. And yeah I guess there are levels. There is proper English. American English, and many other types of English. It depends on how it is used, and in what form. I chuckle again, but at myself. I guess that really didn't help you much. Lets just say yes there are different levels and types of English.

Interesting, we think is what you say. We are all thankful you spared us pain. We want to show our gratitude however we can. The voice had shifted in my head. I'm not sure if it was from another or what.

Boy you learn fast.

We have had many millennia to learn how to learn. We also have access to most of the world's databases.

Whoa, okay do I understand you right, and the whole planet is a computer?

Yes, it was hollowed long before we became sentient and filled with the most advanced computers. This computer can reconstruct and change itself. We actually owe our existence to it. Without it we would have long expired. The core of it keeps a magnetic field around the planet. In a sense it replaced the dying core of the planet. The best we are able to grasp of its function is to find, evaluate, and then send others like you to where they are needed. A seed was sent throughout the universe and beyond to create warriors to fight in battles we cannot fathom, nor understand. Our roots have absorbed this knowledge. The creators, who we do not know, did not anticipate this result. The temple calling itself, alignment temple, is now searching its database for the anomaly called Ben.

Anomaly, what do you mean? I have never had such an interesting conversation with someone like I am having now. And the fact it is a blade of grass makes it even more interesting.

I hear a chuckle echo over and over, and slowly fades as the blade talks in my head. Thank you, we take that as a complement. Everything you think we all can hear. And for your question, we are not entirely sure. We do know that only one other like you came through here from your world. From the information we get, he was not up to his task. We also have gathered that none of their subjects, as they call you, has ever had abilities so early in their life. Another anomaly is the unknown talent or ability. All abilities that have come through this planet station have been known by the subject. From what we gather this ability you possess has no known reference. In all the billions that have come through here, it has never been registered. According to the computer, all possible talents should be accounted for. So as you can imagine this concept confounds a computer.

Terrific, I am as much an anomaly to this supercomputer as I am to everyone around me. Just what I wanted to hear. I respond in my head.

Sorry we did not want to frustrate you even more, we just wanted to help you any way we can.

There is one thing that confuses me. I was not able to change into an intelligent creature till you. Why?

Because at the time you didn't consider us intelligent. The computer does not consider us intelligent either, so the safety did not apply.

Safety? What do you mean, safety?

All the abilities, given by the seed, have some form or another safety. It prevents catastrophic incidents from occurring. We are certain, as long as you are not under watch by the computer and you put it in your mind the person is not intelligent, you could in theory, change into anyone or thing. It is rare the computer is not watching a subject, but it does occur.

Interesting. So each so called ability has a back door?

In theory yes.

Very interesting.

Yes we agree. We hate to cut this short, but the temple is about to return.

Not much I can do about that, I have to wait for this to end.

As part of our greater debt to you, we will tell you a secret none before you knows. In all the abilities there lies a deep safety protocol. Simply envision the cancellation stone and the effect of any ability will end. We will send the image to you. As soon as we send you the image, you will change back. The way we communicate will make the image unforgettable. So you just have to imagine it, and it will come back to your mind's eye, crystal clear. We wish you luck Ben, and hope to see you again.

An image flashes in my mind's eye. It is a stone temple similar to the others. There is one major difference, it is red instead of black. The writing on the top is black instead of gold. The intricacy of the letters are a lot more defined. As I look at it, the letters seem to form a design.

As I watched the design it becomes more clear. It finally comes clearly in my mind. I can not believe what I am looking at. It is a stop sign. The writing had rearranged itself into a stop sign. I find myself sitting in front of the alignment temple. The transformation was very different then all the other returns. My eyes didn't have to readjust, or focus. I also notice that I can hear a slight howling in my ears, from a steady breeze. It is almost like I never transformed.

The temple voice brakes my shock, “Sorry for the long delay. I had trouble with the information.”

“What trouble?” I ask. I didn't want to give away what I already know. I felt I owed the grass their ambiguity.

I feel a couple of rubs on my back from the grass. Thank you. Comes the blade voices in my head. It seems the mental link is still there to some degree. We await to see how this progresses.

I couldn't help but smile as the temple responds, “I am not sure if the information is faulty, or simply missing. On a better note sweetheart, I have found your destination. Although this path has not been used for some time, so I cannot tell you what to expect.”

“Why hasn't it been used?”

“Not sure sweetheart, I just know there hasn't been a subject use it in a very long time.”

“How long?”

“Two Millennia, thirty-two centuries, two decades, five years, eleven months, ten days, fourteen hours, thirty-two minutes, and five seconds as of now,” she emphasized the word now.

“Oh I didn't mean that exact, but that works,” I chuckle.

“You are welcome sweetheart. If you will follow the yellow line, it will take you to your destination.”

I look at the temple inquisitively, “Do I have to do something special to get there?”

I hear a smile in its voice, “No sweetheart, that part of the test is already over.”

I start down the path, but change my mind and go back to the temple. I stare at the temple writing to see if it changes. As I stare the writing begins to change, like the sign in my head. This time it morphs into an image of the old fill in the dots test. At the top is printed physiological alignment.

I shake my head, and the writing reappears. All I can think of is, Why did it say physiological. I head down the floating yellow path, lost in my thoughts. After what I think is a twenty minute walk, I find a cave entrance. I think, as I entered it, I could have skipped all of this and just went down this cave.

The grass voice speaks in my head. No you couldn't have. It opened itself after your test with the last temple. We have located about two thousand entrances, such as this. Most are in groups, and head to the same portals. There are only twelve unique entrances, similar to this one. Five lead to one portal that is used rarely, but at least used, we do believe once every one of your years. That is one rotation of your earth around its sun right?

Yes

Thank you, then another five are used on one portal that seems to be used about as much as the other one thousand nine hundred, ninety-eight. Why it only has five holes we have as yet to fathom. Then there is this portal that only has two.

I then start to really pay attention to where I am. I am walking down a slight sloping cave. The walls look to be made of the black stone the temples are made of. The walls emit a slight glow. It gives the illusion that the light is coming from everywhere. Going through your whole life having to carefully watch just about everything one does, you learn to pay attention to small subtleties.

The tunnel seems to go on forever. I begin to think it is another game or trick. The grass voice speaks in my head again. No it's not. It's just really long.

“Do you hear everything I think?” I ask the grass.

Yes, does that bother you?

“No, just curious. Oh and by the way do you have a name?”

No we don't have a need for a name. Calling us Grass is fine. It is what we are.

“Oh, okay, I just didn't want to be rude.”

You don't have to worry about being rude. Our concept of things are a lot different than yours. To us, as long as you speak your own truth, you are not being rude.

“Oh okay.”

I walk for a while in silence till a thought comes to me, and I ask Grass, “I don't hear you guys all the time, are you all being quiet for me this whole time?”

No, it seems that the link only transfers your language when you are in your normal form. We find it a very interesting situation, and have been discussing it at length.

I smile, “I am so glad I am such an entertainment for you guys.”

Strange as it sounds, I can hear the worry in Grass's voice in my head. No we do not consider you entertainment. You are not some pawn like the computer sees you.

I laugh, and it echoes down the corridor. “I know you don't, I was just kidding.”

I could almost hear a sigh in Grass's voice. Oh okay, we by no means want you to feel insulted by us.

“Don't worry, I doubt I ever will. I know your beliefs are much different than mine.”

Oh good, because we consider you a friend if not better.

“Thank you, I feel the same. You guys are the only ones that have been fully honest to me.”

I continue to walk in silence feeling, if nothing else, I have made a very good friend. After what seems like hours, I come to a dead end. As I approach the wall it begins to bulge. The closer I get, the more the solidity of the wall seems to fade. As I reach arms length from the wall, I am able to see through it. The only indication there is something there is a transparent haze.

I take another small step forward, but it doesn't change. I carefully touch the area where the wall once was. There is no reaction as my finger penetrates the area. I can see that the corridor continues, but my finger cannot be seen beyond the wall haze.

I have seen many television shows that have someone walk through a portal, and die on the other side. I can't see this planet computer wanting me dead, after all it's done. Although I don't know the computer's purpose. For all I know they give people abilities to see how they use them, before they die.

I slowly put my hand to my side. I have now done it. I am now scared to walk through. On one hand, if I stay here I may never see anyone again. There is the comfort I have that Grass could keep me company. Who knows I might learn more than any human alive.

Okay that is pathetic since if I learn it all, I won't have anyone to share it with. So we get to the option of walking through the portal. I could die a horrible death like in several movies. Normally I would just blow that off as just a movie. The problem is, that this is a lot more out there then any movie I have seen.

I could be overthinking it. On the other side could just be another world. I have thought of traveling. These so-called talents could give me the opportunity to do just that. But I wouldn't even know the means of trade used in another world.

What am I thinking, I have the one ability that alleviates the starvation factor. Yeah living a life as some plant is a bit strange to me, but Grass doesn't seem to mind. Although what if on the other side is a desolate desert?

I hear a chuckle in the back of my mind, and then Grass says. You will never know any of those answers if you just stand there.

I look straight up, “Ha Ha thanks. But you do have a point.”

In all the shows I have watched, I always wondered why a person closes their eyes as they enter a strange portal. Well I can say now, I know. It helps with the fear. When you can't see exactly when you have passed the threshold, there isn't the chance of hesitation.