2 We Shall Gather

A white bitten apple logo popped up in my consciousness. That is what I decided to call the dark space where the first computer screen popped up. I wasn't too surprised that my iPhone was absorbed as well. If my laptop system was absorbed, why not my iPhone too?

It is actually a shame that I couldn't get the computer system to reboot or restored in my mind. I just had no idea how this ability of mine worked.

The iPhone had less processing power, less storage, and more security limitations than a computer did. I guess the specs transferred over into my mind.

On the plus side of things, I figured out a couple things about how the system worked. I have a separate operating system for my mind I call the Mind Operating System or "mOS" for short. All of my memories and emotions from after I received this ability and are stored like files and I can access them whenever I like. My laptop windows system and iPhone system acted like virtual machines for the mOS. They could also read some parts of my memory files and share them. However, I did not dare share them right now until I figured out what exactly was happening to the internet and why there was such malicious censoring, even on the deep web.

I did not dare to try to obtain another system either. The only possible time where I could have obtained the two systems and have had it put into my head was at midnight, when I had the huge migraine and when I fell through the floor. I did not exactly want to have another incidence such as that, especially in a hospital.

Knock, knock, knock. "Can I come in?" A woman's voice I did not recognize interrupted my internal monologue and reflection of my current capabilities.

I was a bit annoyed, but I didn't think much about it. "Yeah, sure."

"Okay, I'm coming in. Before you say anything else, can you answer my question? Has anything strange or really fortunate happened to you today, that possibly you land in the hospital?"

She was wearing a Visions University hoodie with the hood up and a lightly ripped pair of skinny jeans. She walking in suspiciously with her head down and hands in the hoodie pocket so that I could neither see her face nor her hands and what was inside them. Not the nurse I was expecting.

I stared dumbfounded at the suspicious girl. She walks in without showing her hands or her face and asks such a strange question. One that is suspiciously accurate for me. I did experience a strange change in how my mind works and how I perceive my mind, and that change may have been what landed me in the hospital. Therefore her question was very applicable to me.

"Pull your hands out of your pocket and show them to me. At the same time raise your head so I can see it. If you do not comply, you know what will happen," I probed. I wanted to see her reaction. Did she actually know what ability I had?

The girl jumped in surprise and pulled out a pocket knife from her pocket and pointed it towards me, and looked me straight in the eyes. "Don't come any closer," she whispered. Her eyes flashed hesitance while her hands trembled vigorously. It was obviously the first time she threatened someone.

I put my hands up in surrender. The only experience I had fighting was in the 1st grade when someone kicked me into the sand of the playground and I started bawling my eyes out.

"Can we talk this out like civilized people? Close the door behind you and put down your knife. I want to discuss superpowers more privately."

The girl tensed up at the word, superpower. She definitely knew something, but she didn't let up her stance. She held the knife with a single hand and used the other to close the door behind her while continuing to stare at me.

"Am I that good looking? I feel uncomfortable being stared at," I joked. I tried to lighten up the atmosphere a little bit.

"Show me your superpower and I will tell you mine. I might even put away my knife," she answered shakily.

"I can't really show you. Give me your phone number and I can really show you."

"..."

"..." I stared back at her in silence. "What?"

"... 4674-4667-3563."

Ding. An iMessage notification could be heard from her back pocket. Slowly, she reached back with one hand and checked her phone.

| +1(4674)-2728-26272

| As you can see, I do not have my phone with me right now.

"I have a phone in my mind," I said aloud.

"That's a stupid power..." she muttered to herself.

Knock, knock. "It's Melissa, your nurse. Can I come in?"

The girl jumped in surprise.

"Yeah, just give us a sec," I quickly answered.

The girl hurriedly closed her knife and put it in her pocket.

The door opened and the nurse walked in. She was surprised to see an additional face inside the room. "And who is this?" The nurse asked.

"I'm just a friend," the girl in the hoodie quickly said. Realizing what she just said was slightly rude, she then added, "Sorry, my name is Taylor. Thank you for taking good care of my friend."

The nurse nodded and then kindly asked, "I would like to talk one on one with Daniel about his current condition. It may contain some sensitive information so only family members may be present at this time and I will kindly ask you to leave the room."

"Okay."

"Thank you for your cooperation."

Taylor left the room and silently closed the door behind her. She sighed with relief and swiftly went to exit the hospital.

"Okay! I have some good news. First, you seem perfectly healthy, minus a couple of scratches and bruises. Your neurological and cognitive results do not seem to point to a concussion either. However, we will recommend that you be observed at home for at least 24 hours for any possible signs of symptoms." She paused after this point. She seemed hesitant at this point about something.

"Is there anything else?" I asked. I hoped that I could quickly be discharged so that I would have more time to think about everything that had happened today.

"Yeah... We have already discussed with your parents over the phone about this, but your CT and MRI look fine except for one thing. You seem to have an additional bone in the middle of your brain. We also performed a fMRI scan, and your brain is much, much more active than a normal person's. Our doctors discussed this abnormality and after the other tests came back, they decided that your condition was not life-threatening in any way and you can be discharged. We will, however, require you to come in weekly to take more tests and assess your condition. Your parents have already agreed to these terms."

Ding. A message notification popped up in my mind iPhone.

"So... can I go?" I asked the nurse.

| +1 (4674) 4667-3563

| Can you meet today if you are able to be discharged? I want to talk more about the 7375706572706f776572.

The word was censored, but I already knew what she meant. Superpower.

"Yes, actually, you have already been discharged. Both your mom and dad were called to their labs here for some emergency or something. They asked us to help you get to your dad's office when you feel like leaving. You don't have to push yourself. You can leave whenever you want," the nurse replied to my question.

"Okay, I want to leave now. I know the way." Both my mom and dad are researchers at this university hospital. My mom does clinical labs while my dad does more independent research as an assistant professor at the University of Vision, focusing on the treatment of cancer.

"Do you want me to escort you there?"

"No, I'm okay. I know the way," I reassured the nurse. I swept my feet over the bed and then paused for a few seconds and asked, "do you know where my clothes are?"

"Yeah, they are in that bag over there. You can get changed in here. I will leave the room. Call if you need anything. Someone will definitely come help."

I took my clothes and began to change out of my hospital gown after the nurse closed the door behind her. I looked over my body. I didn't feel any pain anywhere. I didn't feel like I had any cuts or bruises, and I didn't see any on my body. However, relatively toned abs replaced the stomach that had been covered in fat. I guess that was a perk of obtaining a superpower.

I felt like the research emergencies that required both my mom and dad to head over had something to do with superpowers or changes with the world. I had to meet with Taylor as soon as possible. I finished dressing and walked out of the room.

Upon leaving the room, Melissa the nurse quickly went in to wipe down the area. "We are a little short on beds this evening. There have been tons of incidents today, probably due to the storm last night. Sorry if I seem a little bit disrespectful."

"That's okay."

Yeah, with people popping up with superpowers, it was no wonder many people are injured.

I quickened my pace to my dad's lab.

Both labs were on the other side of the hospital. I basically lived in the lab when I was younger due to both my parents working there. Research is really unpredictable, especially basic research. Sometimes, basic research projects require you staying in the lab all night, while at other times, there is no work at all.

I finally reached the lab entrance but realized I neither had my ID badge nor my phone to call either parent or their co-workers to let me in. Well, I had my mind phone, but it would be odd to use a phone that I never was supposed to have at that time. Instead, I called Taylor.

"Hello Taylor, I know that we just met, but can you help me out for a bit? I can definitely leave with you and we will be able to talk in private."

"I just got to my car, why?"

"I was discharged after you left. I have to convince my dad that I can leave early with you, and you have to be in person to be more convincing. He can't reject if you come in person."

"Okay, where are you?"

"I am in front of the silver elevators on the 2nd floor. It should be to the right of the hall somewhere if you exit the parking garage into the main hospital building."

"Okay, I think I know where the silver elevators are. I'll see you there."

I did not know why I trusted her. But I felt like her reactions were that of a genuine person. I felt that she was a nice girl caught up in something bigger.

"Hey, where's your dad?"

A few minutes later, Taylor walked up to me as I sat on the bench next to the elevators. She was not wearing the hoodie anymore, but instead, had it wrapped around her waist. She wore a cute blue blouse and had a small designer backpack on her back. She did not look like the same person that almost attacked me back in the room.

"I need to borrow your phone to call my dad, I can't get into his lab."

"...why don't you just use your own phone for that?" She stared dumbfounded at me. "I mean, you have a phone inside your head!"

"I thought it would be suspicious to use a phone that I don't physically have."

"Yeah, that makes sense." She took her phone from her bag.

I dialed my dad's number.

"Hello, Xiuying Li is unable to pick up the phone at this moment. Please leave a message. Beep."

"Hey dad, this is Daniel. I am using my friend's phone since I do not have my own at this moment. I will be leaving with a friend that came to visit me. Oh, and I cannot get into the lab because I don't have my ID. Thanks."

I handed the phone back to Taylor. "Okay let's go."

"...Are you sure your dad will be okay with this?"

"Yeah, I'm sure he's super absorbed in his research at the moment and has no time for me right now. I'm pretty sure a lot of people will be like that today. The changes to the world are probably pretty drastic."

"...Alright let's go."

Right at this moment, an alert was sent to my mind phone.

| Presidential Alert

| Do not panic.

"..."

The short message caused everyone to stop and think quietly to ourselves for a second before most shook it off as something silly. However, it was an ill omen to me and Taylor. The message most likely had something to do with superpowers.

Then, Taylor got another alert.

However, before I could get a good look at it, it disappeared.

"I didn't see it, what did it say?"

Taylor took a deep breath and said, "It read: I know you got one. I will message you once again within 5 days. We shall gather."