Hyper-Guy the Dimension Master Ch. 1
Forest Carlson woke up on his twenty-first birthday with a feeling of existential dread. Long gone where the days of backyard parties and cakes shaped like cartoon characters. Today was the final step into becoming an adult, and it made him want to go back to sleep.
His mother was working summer school that day, so all he had to look forward to was spending the day with Uncle Mike. Mike wasn’t really his uncle, but he would always tell Forest that his father, Robert, was like a brother to him. After his dad passed away, Mike became a parental figure in Forest’s life.
After Forest got up and got ready, he walked down to Sammy’s, a small diner run by his uncle Vincent, who actually was his uncle, and staffed by his cousins, William, Antony, Molly, Henry, and Pebbles. Molly was working the counter that day.
“Hey Forest,” She said as he entered. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks, Molly,” he replied as he sat at the counter. “I’ll just have my usual steak and eggs.”
“Anything to drink?” she asked. “How about something special, considering you’re legal now.”
“I’ll just have some iced tea. I’m capable of having a good time without all that junk.”
“Spoken like a true Hazard,” Jack, one of the regulars, remarked as he sat down next to Forest. There was a ring of truth to his words. Forest always felt more like a member of his mother’s family, having never met any of his father’s relatives.
“Hey Jack,” Forest said. “How’s business?” Jack was a private investigator and self-proclaimed top tier psychic. He was odd, but harmless.
“I’m glad you asked,” Jack answered. “For the past few days, I’ve been sensing several major spikes in energy around town. Something big is going to go down very soon.”
“I’m pretty sure the only thing going down is Amanda when she gives me my present.”
“That’s enough, you two,” Molly said as she handed Forest his steak and eggs. “I really wish you wouldn’t talk about my best friend like that.”
“Come on, Molly,” Forest responded as he cut his steak. “You know she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“And if you can’t be good, be careful,” Uncle Mike added as he walked in. “And if you can’t be careful, don’t name it after me.”
“Hey, Uncle Mike,” Forest said as Mike sat in the other seat next to him and ordered a cup of coffee.
“So, Forest,” Mike asked. “Are you ready? There’s a big day ahead of us.”
“That’s what I was trying to tell him,” Jack commented. “It’s going to be a big day indeed.”
“Oh, can it,” Molly said as she bopped Jack’s head with a spoon.
“Actually,” Mike replied, “He might be on to something.”
“Oh, you can’t possibly believe his bull crap.”
“I know it’s a big day, because today Forest will receive his full inheritance.”
“You mean Dad left me something other than the college fund?” Forest asked as he took a sip of his iced tea.
“Indeed. Your dad felt that it was a huge responsibility, so he wrote in his will that you weren’t to receive it until you matured.”
“You might want to wait a bit more then,” Molly commented as she refilled Mike’s coffee.
“You should be thankful your father pays you well,” Mike told her in a stern voice. “Otherwise you would be starving due to lack of tips.”
“It’s okay, Uncle Mike,” Forest said as he patted him on the back, “She’s just teasing. Molly’s practically my little sister.”
“I see,” Mike replied as he sipped his coffee. “Your father would have been proud to see you have such a strong connection with your cousins.”
“Was he ever that close with his family?”
“Sadly, no. He was born from your grandfather’s second marriage, and your uncles were already teenagers at that point. I was his only friend really. But hey, I shouldn’t be bumming you out on your birthday. Finish your breakfast, and we’ll be off.”
And so, Forest ate, and soon they were both off in Mike’s car.
“So, where are we headed?” Forest asked.
“A place your father would go to all the time,” Mike answered as he drove into an underground parking garage. They drove all the way down and stopped at the bottom level. “Now listen, what I’m going to show you has to remain between you and me, okay?”
“It’s okay. Mom doesn’t need to know you bought me a hooker.”
“Trust me.” Mike pulled out a small remote and pressed a button on it. “This is so much better than a hooker.”
To Forest’s amazement, the wall of the garage opened up to reveal a long tunnel. Mike drove the car trough, and the wall closed behind them. After a few minutes they reached a wide open room filled technology the likes of which Forest had never seen. At the far end of the room was a large monitor and an old man sitting at a console.
“Hello, Forest,” the old man announced as they got out of the car. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Maxwell White. Welcome to my lab.” Forest paused for a moment. He had heard that name before, but he couldn’t remember when. “Your family and I go a long way back. Your grandfather helped fund my research, which I then used to help your father defeat an evil army of super soldiers called CHASM. Now, twenty years later, I bestow upon you the same power I gave him.”
“Wait a minute,” Forest said in confusion, “My dad was a super hero?”
“You bet,” Uncle Mike answered. “He pretty much gave his life to save the world.” He then began to frown. “Sadly, the world was willing to take it.”
“He sacrificed himself in the fight against CHASM’s leader, Lord Entropy,” Dr. White continued as got up from his chair and walked towards them. “For twenty years, there has been peace, but now the shattered remains of CHASM have regrouped. They plan to revive Lord Entropy and continue their mission to conquer the world.”
“Well, that’s a lot to take in,” Forest replied. “Just how am I supposed to beat these guys?”
“With this.” the doctor handed him an odd looking watch. “It’s called the Hyper-Watch. It grants the user power by manipulating time and space. Your father used one just like this.”
Forest put the watch on. “How does it work?”
“Simply say the activation phrase: Hyper Time.”
Just then, an alarm went off.
“Looks like we’re on time,” Uncle Mike said. “There’s just one more thing before you head off.” He pressed another button on the remote which made a panel flip revealing a brand new motorcycle.
“So this is why you had me get a license,” Forest said to himself as he put on the helmet and mounted the bike. He paused for moment to think.
“What’s the hold up?” Mike asked.
“I was thinking. How does Hyper-Guy sound to you?”
“Alright then.” He started the motorcycle and yelled, “It’s Hyper Time!”
For Forest, everything became a blur as a wave of energy enveloped him. He felt his muscles strengthening and his reflexes quickening. He felt his clothes morph into armor and his helmet enclose his face like a mask.
In what seemed like seconds, He was downtown battling wave after wave of foot soldiers. His body acted on instinct as he rapidly kicked and punched until all but what looked like some sort of mutant spider person was defeated. There was banter, but the words did not feel his own. Only in a brief moment of clarity did he say something with forethought as he called his finishing move “Boot to the Head!” The monster exploded and the foot soldiers dissolved away. He returned to the lab and was once again himself. After all of that, all he could say was. “Well, that happened.”
“Being able to withstand that amount of power is a gift,” Dr. White explained. “Your father had it, and so do you. With enough training you will be able master it like your father had.”
Forest finally noticed there was a fourth person in the lab as his girlfriend Amanda hugged him. A light in his head clicked on. “I guess I finally met your Grandpa Max,” he said as he held her in his arms.
“Your dad would be proud of you,” Mike said placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know,” Forest said as he smiled. “You know, I bet tomorrow Jack is constantly going to be saying ‘I told you so.’”
“Why wait until tomorrow?” Jack asked as he entered from a side room.
Forest was surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, naturally you’re going to need a top tier psychic to help train your mind if you want to focus all of that energy into something constructive.”
“Is there anyone else I know who’s in on this whole thing?” Forest asked in frustration.
“Just your mom,” Mike answered. “It’s a secret to everyone else.” He looked at his watch. “Well, you still have twelve hours of your birthday left, and if you’re anything like your dad, you’ve built up quite the appetite with that battle of yours. There’s this great Chinese buffet we would go to all the time. I have I feeling I’ll get my money’s worth.” He turned to Amanda. “You can come too, if you want.”
“Absolutely,” Amanda replied. “I just need to have him all to myself for the rest of the day, Okay?”
“Don’t worry,” Forest interrupted, “We won’t name it after you.”
And so, Forest Carlson became our greatest hope in the fight against CHASM. Go, Hyper-Guy, the fate of the world depends on it.
