16 Meeting the God

Waze plopped down at the table next to Norris and took a long drink from her water bottle. The others were resting as well, but they would start ability training soon. Which meant more aimless meditating for Waze. She wanted to try a different approach today, though. Considering her past attempts to reach out to the power inside her had been unsuccessful, it was about time she tried something new.

Waze stretched out a yoga mat off to the side of the room and Norris tied a blindfold around Waze's eyes, along with a pair of noise cancelling headphones. They were to help her concentrate, Norris had said. Waze laid down on the mat and sunk into the darkness. She tuned out the banter of her peers as they clashed in the room. With the headphones, the sound was already muffled. She took a few deep breaths, then sunk into her meditative state.

Up to now, she had struggled to reach out to the power, tensing as she desperately tried to grasp it. Since taking it wasn't working, Waze decided to try to find it first. She sunk deeper and deeper until all her senses numbed. Everything faded away, until she was barely even aware of where she was or what she was trying to do. It was quiet.

Waze opened her eyes slowly. Were they open? They still felt shut yet somehow she could see so much. All around her was stars and galaxies. She remembered the place she had went in her very first dream, when all of this started. Was she... back? Waze gave a small smile. Thank god. This was exactly where she was trying to go. Looking around, she saw no sign of the god. She felt like a ghost, barely there but at the same time it was oh so real. Waze walked around a bit, her feet touching down on seemingly nothing. She dragged her hand through the air around her. It was teeming with energy. She could feel it now, all around her. This was the god's domain. Waze was just a visitor.

All of a sudden, Waze saw a faint glow in the distance. Was that the god? The power? Something else? Whatever it was, it was something different from the stars that surrounded her. Meaning she might be able to find something out. Waze sprinted as fast as she can toward the light, and it steadily moved away. Was it leading her somewhere? After some running the stars seemed to slowly change around her, and Waze came up on a brightly shining figure. The light she had been chasing darted into the figure's hand and joined with it, like raindrops on a window. Waze paused. It was the god.

For starters, Waze was nervous. Very nervous. This was the one who had given her her power, and the one who could keep it away. But for some reason, power wasn't the main thing on her mind right now. She had almost completely forgotten her goal in coming here. Waze was enraptured in the scene. The beautiful light of the figure before her, the shining stars and galaxies that surrounded them. She felt light, airy, and just... incredible. It was the most comfortable and refreshed she had ever felt. The god seemed to be making no moves to do anything any time soon, as it was still standing with her back toward Waze. So Waze spoke first. She wasn't quite sure what to say, so she just went for it.

"Um... are you... the god? M-my friends and stuff told me that I was possessed by one... would that happen to be you?" 'Would that happen to be you'? Really? Had she just said that? She had never been very good at talking under pressure, but still. The god let out an airy laugh. It was one of the most wonderful sounds Waze had ever heard. Waze felt bubbly and energized, the god's voice just seemed to have that power. It was magnificent.

"In your terms... I would be considered a god, I suppose."

Waze tensed. So this was the god. Not like she hadn't known, but the confirmation was reassuring.

"Uh... I'm not quite sure what to say. I guess what I really want to say... is thank you. You've given me the chance to be something more than I always have been. Thank you for the power you've lent me." Waze hoped she could get her message across.

"You are the one who took the opportunity. You are unique, Ms. Waze." The way the god said her name gave Waze tingles all over. "Not everyone has the drive to work to be what you have. Not everyone has the heart that you do."

"The heart...?" What exactly did the god mean by heart? Resilience? Determination? Or was it something else entirely? The god laughed again.

"In time you will come to understand. Some day, you will see it all and more. Until then, continue as you are. Keep moving forward. Keep connecting with those around you, as you always have and always will. You're more charming than you think, you know." Waze blushed slightly. Charming? Her? That was a word Waze had never seen used in relation to herself.

"You brighten the world around you, and bring light into others' lives. That is your true power." Ah right. Power. That's why she was here.

"About power... how do I use mine? Or, yours I guess. I want to be able to control it... I don't just want to explode at random times."

"The power already rests in your fingertips. Do not struggle to reach for it. It's like quicksand, you'll only fall further. Once you open your heart to let it in, it will come to you. Until then, you needn't use it." Open her heart? What did that mean? Waze had so many questions but not enough time to ask them. The being turned away and slowly walked.

"Wait! I have more I need to ask you! Please..." Waze tried to run after the god but no matter how quickly she ran she couldn't seem to get closer. The light faded into the distance. Waze slipped, and felt herself falling through the stars until... her body slammed onto the yoga mat.

Panting and sweating, Waze ripped off her blindfold and headphones. The others were looking to her with concerned faces. And Norris merely sat above her, smiling wisely.

"Yo Waze... you okay? You just started panting and getting all tense all the sudden saying 'wait!' and shit." Duke looked at her with worry in his eyes.

"Yeah it was pretty weird." Despite his teasing tone, even Marco looked slightly worried. Had she looked that strange? Waze relaxed for a moment and flopped back down on the map.

"Yeah, I'm fine. All fine. I just need a minute." She sighed and closed her eyes as Norris scolded them all to get back to training.

She had seen the god. She had really spoken to the god. For real this time. She felt so invigorated, like the starlight had healed her and filled her with energy. Her body felt light, all the soreness in her muscles had evaporated. She felt... cleansed.

Open her heart? That was the only way to truly get her power, apparently. Waze had no idea what it meant. Waze felt Norris wouldn't be much help, and would only tell her something cryptic like 'you must see for yourself.' In fact, she didn't want to tell just anyone about what she had seen. It felt... sacred almost. But there was someone she truly trusted, who might be able to help. It was Saturday. That meant she had tomorrow off. She hadn't spent much time with Alec lately, and it was about time she paid him a visit.