Senior Living

 At a retirement home, Mrs. Trekker (Trekker’s mother and Trekker Jr.’s grandmother) watches TV and hears a knock at her door, answering it with a nurse standing before her.

“Mrs. Trekker, you have some visitors.” said the nurse. The nurse walks away with Trekker and Trekker Jr. suddenly making their appearance.

“Trekkie-boy!!! You’re here!” said Mrs. Trekker.

“Hi, mom. Jr. and I just thought we’d drop by.” responded Trekker.

“Come come, darlings! Make yourselves at home!” replies Mrs. Trekker while beckoning Trekker and Trekker Jr. Trekker and Trekker Jr. enter Mrs. Trekker’s home and take a seat while subsequently starting a conversation.

“So, what have you boys been up to lately?” asked Mrs. Trekker.

“Oh, the usual. Trying to destroy Micah and take over the world.” answered Trekker.

“That’s my boy! You haven’t changed a bit!” responded Mrs. Trekker.

“It’s so old, though. When are we actually going to succeed?” asked Trekker Jr. annoyingly.

“Now now, Jr. We’ve had our faults. We just got to work smarter and not harder.” responded Trekker.

“I wonder what that Micah brat is doing now?” asked Mrs. Trekker.

“Let’s just say…he’s running a few errands…” answers Trekker while looking menacingly at Trekker Jr., who looks back at Trekker menacingly. Micah, who has just entered a world outside of reality called “Home Town”, approaches a sign that reads: “Welcome to Home Town, where you feel right at home”.

“That sign is so misleading. Trekker’s got to be getting old making me go through these worlds over and over.” replies Micah annoyingly while making his way forward. Micah suddenly bumps into a blue-colored abominable snowman (one of Trekker’s minions known as a “Trekbominaber”) while subsequently saying, “Oh! So sorry, sir! I should have been paying attention.” The Trekbominaber growls at Micah, who makes a run for it while a group of Trekbominabers give chase. Micah finds and enters a warp hole, which takes him to another part of Home Town swarming with Trekbominabers.

“Didn’t see that coming!” says Micah sarcastically while rolling his eyes. The Trekbominabers come after Micah, who evades them and finds another warp hole, which takes him to yet another part of Home Town inhabited by Trekbominabers. After fighting off some Trekbominabers, Micah finds yet another warp hole and is still taken to a part of Home Town, but with skeletons resembling Trekker and Trekker Jr. standing before him. Baffled, Micah inspects the skeletons and waves his hand in front of their faces, shrugging his shoulders afterwards and moves on, only for two skeletal hands to stop him in his tracks. Micah looks behind him and sees the skeletons standing before him again with menacing looks on their faces, picking up Micah afterwards and taking him to a river. The Trekker skeleton holds Micah in place while the Trekker Jr. skeleton grabs a nearby log with the two tying Micah to it and throwing him into the river. The skeletons wave menacingly to Micah and part ways while Micah struggles to break free as he floats down the river.

“How many Trekkers does this world need?” asked Micah annoyingly. Some time later, Micah (still tied to the log floating down the river) enters a new world and sees a sign that reads: “Welcome to Out Town. I’d get out of town if I were you!”

“My thoughts exactly!” said Micah annoyingly to himself. Micah suddenly washes ashore and is freed by a mysterious person in a brown cloak.

“Thank you so much, kind sir! One more bolt-tightening second and I would have been all washed up.” says Micah while brushing himself off. The person leads Micah off and is suddenly approached by a swarm of Trekbominabers.

“What do we do?” asked Micah. The person removes their cloak and reveals themselves to be a Trekbominaber. Micah slaps his forehead while subsequently saying, “You got to be kidding me!” Micah hightails it as the Trekbominabers chase after him, encountering a warp hole that he enters and ends up in another part of Out Town with Trekbominabers staring him down. The Trekbominabers jump and pile up on Micah, who crawls out from a cloud of dust as the Trekbominabers inadvertently beat each other up.

“Smooth moves, you rusty bolts! I’m always one step ahead!” taunts Micah while running off. Micah enters another warp hole and gets taken to another part of Out Town, evading more Trekbominabers and entering another warp hole that takes him to a sewer. Upon arrival, Micah sees another sign that reads: “Welcome to Under Town, the best smelling place on Earth!” Micah sniffs the air a couple of times and holds his nose in disgust, wafting the aroma away.

“Pee-yew! More like ‘the WORST smelling place on Earth’!” said Micah. Micah makes his way through the area and comes across more Trekbominabers, fighting them off and finding another warp hole. Micah enters the warp hole and gets taken to another part of Under Town, being ambushed by Trekbominabers and making his way to the warp hole present, which takes him to another part of Under Town with Trekbominabers present. Micah eludes the Trekbominabers and enters another warp hole that takes him someplace underwater while in his Water Micah form, seeing a sign that reads: “Welcome to Water Town. Just don’t find yourself in hot water.”

“I already am, and I don’t mean literally.” said Micah to himself. Micah swims forwards and observes himself while saying, “I feel different. Could it be? Yes! I’m able to use one of my superpowers! Seems Trekker has a few bugs to work out with these worlds.” Micah continues to swim forward while saying to himself, “Thank goodness I’m out of that darn sewer! I thought I was going to gag!” Micah continues swimming, observing his surroundings and finds a teal fish (another one of Trekker’s minions known as a “Basker”) that makes direct eye contact with a death stare.

“Not very keen on visitors, are you?” asks Micah while pulling out his Ice Boomerang. The Basker swims after Micah, who throws his boomerang and hits it, encasing it in a cube of ice while swimming on and finding a warp hole that takes him to another part of Water Town swarming with Baskers that make direct eye contact with a death stare. Micah summons icicles and clears his path while finding another warp hole, getting taken to yet another part of Water Town inhabited by Baskers, which swim after Micah. Using his propeller shoes, Micah blows the Baskers away and finds another warp hole, which he enters and gets taken to another town.

“Where am I now?” asks Micah while observing his surrounds. The ground suddenly shakes underneath Micah with a human (resembling his younger brother, Christopher) with a large right arm stopping in front of him.

“Uh, hi. Can you help me? You see, this monster named Trekker put me in these worlds and…” asked Micah.

“Destroy Micah!” says the human while clenching and raising his large hand. The human swings his hand down while Micah rolls out of the way, causing the human to pound the ground and cause the surrounding ground to quake.

“Whoa! What was that all about?!” asked Micah angrily.

“I am Mega Arm, and I’ve been ordered by Trekker to crush you!” said the human.

“We’ll see about that!” responded Micah. Micah circles around Mega Arm, who pounds his hand in every spot with Micah subsequently stepping out of range and taunting, “Things are really ‘falling’ into place.” Puzzled, Mega Arm stares at Micah and then looks at the ground underneath him, which crumbles and breaks apart with Mega Arm plummeting out of sight while the warp hole appears in his place. Micah enters the warp hole while Trekker and Trekker Jr. return home to their mansion accompanied by Mrs. Trekker.

“Wow, boys! You sure know how to make me proud!” says Mrs. Trekker while observing the mansion.

“Thanks, mom. And best of all, Micah’s out of our hair.” responded Trekker. A warp hole suddenly appears with Micah emerging from it to Trekker’s and Trekker Jr.’s astonishment.

“Impossible! How’d you escape, you broken bolt?!” asked Trekker angrily.

“Do I even need to answer that?” asked Micah annoyingly.

“Trekker!?!” exclaimed Mrs. Trekker angrily.

“Now, mom. Jr. and I will handle this.” responded Trekker nervously.

“Yeah. We’ll have Micah destroyed in no time. You’ll see.” said Trekker Jr. nervously.

“This is not the way I raised you, young man! I refuse to have a failure for a son…AND grandson! Now, stop fooling around and get rid of that brat this instant!” said Mrs. Trekker angrily.

“Yes, mommy.” responds Trekker while grabbing a ray gun. Trekker pulls the trigger and fires a ray at Micah, causing him to age quickly and become elderly.

“Eh? What’s going on here? This don’t look like no retirement home!” says Micah while observing his surroundings. Mrs. Trekker stares angrily at Trekker, who nervously shrugs his shoulders and says, “Well, at least he’s too old to put up a fight.”

“Don’t just stand there! Finish the job!” says Mrs. Trekker angrily while pointing at Micah.

“Yes, mommy. Come on, Jr. Let’s take care of this broken bolt!” said Trekker. Trekker and Trekker Jr. approach Micah with Trekker saying, “All right, Micah! Time to say goodbye…forever! Ha ha ha ha!”

“Are you talking to me, sonny?” asked Micah.

“Yes, gramps! Now, pay attention!” responded Trekker Jr. angrily.

“Oh, hello, you little whippersnapper!” says Micah while patting Trekker Jr. on the head. Trekker Jr. hits Micah’s hands away while annoyingly responding, “Keep your wrinkly hands off of me, old man!”

“Enough fooling around! Let’s fight!” said Trekker.

“Oh, is there a wrestling match going on right now?” asked Micah excitedly.

“Uuuhhh…yeah...with us!” answered Trekker frustratingly. Micah pulls out a chair and sits down on it while subsequently saying, “Go fighters!” Trekker frustratingly slaps his forehead and says, “Don’t you get it?! It’s Jr. and I against you! Remember?!”

“What now? Oh, hi there, sonny!” said Micah.

“I’m going to knock some sense into you, you broken bolt!” says Trekker angrily while approaching Micah with one clenched hand raised above his head. Mrs. Trekker steps in and stops Trekker while saying, “Let mommy handle this, dear. Come, handsome. Let me take you to the best seat in town.”

“Why thank you, cutie pie. I like to be up close and personal for wrestling matches!” responded Micah.

“I don’t blame you. It’s the fight of the century.” replies Mrs. Trekker while leading Micah to Trekker’s Warp Machine. Mrs. Trekker warps back to her home, accompanied by Micah, and places Micah in her chair, changing the channel on her TV to a wrestling match while saying, “Welcome home, dear. Enjoy your wrestling match.”

“Thank you, sweetie. How’s about you and me go out dancing sometime?” asked Micah.

“Uuuhhh…sure…” answers Mrs. Trekker hesitantly while warping back to Trekker’s mansion. Micah watches TV while Mrs. Trekker approaches Trekker and Trekker Jr.

“There. He won’t be bothering anyone for a while. You know what that means, Trekkie-boy?” asked Mrs. Trekker.

“What?” asked Trekker. Mrs. Trekker angrily slaps Trekker over the head with Trekker subsequently saying, “Oh! Right! The world is as good as ours!”

“That’s more like it!” said Mrs. Trekker.

“Come on, everyone! To the Trekker Ship!” says Trekker while leading Trekker Jr. and Mrs. Trekker to his spacecraft. Wesley, Sarah, and Jessica arrive at Micah’s house and ring the doorbell with Micah’s mother answering.

“Hi, Tina. Is Micah home?” asked Wesley.

“He should be. Check in his lab.” answered Trekker. The sky suddenly glows green with Sarah asking, “What’s happening?” Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, and Micah’s mother suddenly hear menacing laughter and go out to the front yard and see Trekker’s spacecraft in the sky.

“Attention, broken bolts of Earth! I, the evil Trekker, along with my greatest son ever, Trekker Jr., and best mommy ever, Mrs. Trekker, are your new leaders! There’s going to be a lot of changes around here, whether you like it or not! So, get used to it! Ha ha ha ha!” laughs Trekker while flying his Trekker Ship up into outer space.

“This is horrible! What are we going to do?!” asked Micah’s mother horrified.

“We got to stop them!” responded Wesley. Wesley pulls out his Biking Power Wesley Gloves, powering himself up into Biking Power Wesley while Sarah transforms into Girl Power Sarah and Jessica transforming into Rockstarica.

“Don’t start without us.” says Matthew while rushing out of the house in his Electricew form, accompanied by Christopher in his Fantom form. Christopher waves his wand and summons a warp hole that leads directly to Trekker’s ship.

“Wait! What about Micah?” asked Jessica.

“No time. There are lives at stake!” answers Wesley while entering the warp hole, followed by Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher. Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker watch from the cockpit as the Trekker Ship brainwashes all inhabitants of Earth.

“Just look at that, Jr. my boy. We’ve got the entire world eating out of the palm of our hands!” said Trekker.

“It doesn’t get any better than this!” responded Trekker Jr.

“Trekkie-boy, you’re the best son a Trekker could ask for.” says Mrs. Trekker while kissing Trekker.

“And you’re the best mommy in the whole world. I would have learned nothing without you.” responded Trekker.

“And me?” asked Trekker Jr.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t forget about you, best grandson ever.” says Mrs. Trekker while kissing Trekker Jr.

“One day, Jr. This is going to be all yours.” said Trekker.

“Really?” asked Trekker Jr.

“Yes, my boy. I think you’ll make a fine ruler.” answered Trekker.

“I’m looking forward to it already!” responded Trekker Jr. excitedly.

“Savor the moment, son. We’re a long, bolt-crushing way from that.” replied Trekker.

“Nothing could possibly ruin this day!” said Trekker Jr. A warp hole suddenly appears behind Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker with Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher emerging from it. Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker draw their attention to them with Trekker angrily saying, “What the!? How did you broken bolts get here?!”

“That’s not important. Stop this madness!” responded Wesley.

“We rule the world now. So, you can’t tell us what to do. Not anymore!” replied Trekker Jr.

“You brats need to be taught a lesson.” says Mrs. Trekker while approaching Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher. Mrs. Trekker swings her purse at Wesley, who dodges and causes the purse to hit Mrs. Trekker with Trekker angrily saying, “Hey! You can’t hit my mom!”

“I didn’t hit your mom.” responded Wesley.

“Your mom hit your mom.” said Christopher.

“Whatever. You broken bolts are going down!” responds Trekker Jr. while posing in a fighting stance.

“If anyone’s going down, it’s all of you!” replied Matthew. Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker start fighting Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher, who struggle to fight back while Trekker taunts, “Ha! You broken bolts are helpless without Micah!”

“Where is he, anyway?! He never misses a fight!” asked Sarah angrily.

“He’s…he’s…” responded Trekker Jr.

“He’s what?” asked Jessica frustratingly.

“Retired!” answered Mrs. Trekker.

“What?!” exclaimed Wesley.

“What do you mean ‘retired’? He’s just a kid, like us.” asked Matthew.

“Not anymore!” responded Trekker. The fight continues while Micah’s mother enters Micah’s laboratory, hollering, “Micah! Are you in here?” Micah’s mother walks around the laboratory, looking for Micah while asking to herself, “Where is he?”

“Locating Micah…” responds Micah’s computer while scanning the globe. The computer pinpoints Micah’s location while saying, “Micah located.” The computer then enters the destination on Micah’s Warp Machine while saying, “Use this to get to Micah. Make sure you grab the remote first so you can warp back here right away.” Micah’s mother finds and grabs the remote to the Warp Machine and enters it, appearing inside Mrs. Trekker’s apartment while Micah sleeps in the chair as the wrestling match on TV still airs.

“Micah!” said Micah’s mother excitedly. Micah gets startled awake and cowers while shouting, “Ah! Take what you want! Just don’t hurt me!”

“Easy! Easy! I’m not here to hurt you. It’s your mother.” responded Micah’s mother.

“You’re what now?” asks Micah while squinting his eyes in confusion.

“Your mother.” answered Micah’s mother.

“I’ve never seen you before in my life.” responded Micah.

“That’s just the senior citizen talk. How did you even get this old? You’re not supposed to be like this for a long, long time.” asked Micah’s mother.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, woman! Now, leave me be! I’m very busy here!” responds Micah angrily while drawing his attention to the TV. Micah’s mother turns off the TV with Micah angrily saying, “Hey! What are you doing?! He was about to crush that guy! I’m going to miss the fight of the century if you keep bugging me like this!” Micah’s mother grabs Micah’s arm and lifts him up off the chair while subsequently inspecting the Warp Machine and responding, “We got to get you young again. Now, how do you work this thing?” Micah swipes the Warp Machine remote and presses a button numerous times while angrily saying, “I’m not going anywhere with you! Why won’t this darn thing work?!” The Warp Machine suddenly appears in the TV’s place, destroying it while Micah’s mother figures out how to enter the destination. After typing in the destination, Micah’s mother steps inside the Warp Machine with Micah’s arm in her grip and appears back in Micah’s laboratory, emerging from the Warp Machine and guiding Micah while saying, “This is your REAL home, Micah. Right now, we’re in YOUR laboratory.”

“Ha ha ha! That’s a good one! I haven’t seen a laboratory in over 70 years!” laughed Micah.

“Now…how exactly do we change you back?” asked Micah’s mother. A ting suddenly sounds with Micah’s mother drawing her attention to the source with Micah’s computer responding, “Have Micah drink this potion.” Micah’s mother sees a glass of purple liquid and takes Micah over to it, giving him the glass while saying, “Here, Micah. Drink this.”

“Oh boy! Grape juice! My favorite!” says Micah excitedly while subsequently drinking the entire glass.

“Sure, let’s go with that.” responded Micah’s mother hesitantly. Micah hands the glass back to Micah’s mother while saying, “Thanks. I needed that. Being with strangers is thirsty work.” Micah suddenly gets a funny feeling outside while asking, “What’s going on?! I feel so weird! What did you put in that?!”

“Nothing. It was just plain old grape juice.” answered Micah’s mother. Micah collapses to the ground while screaming, gradually reversing to his current age as his mother watches anxiously.

“You ok, Micah?” asked Micah’s mother.

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be ok?” answers Micah while looking up at his mother.

“Micah! You’re back!” says Micah’s mother excitedly while embracing Micah.

“What do you mean by ‘back’? I never left.” asked Micah.

“You probably aren’t going to believe this, but…you were old.” answered Micah’s mother.

“I was?” asked Micah.

“Yes, and I’m afraid I have some bad news…” answered Micah’s mother.

“And that is…?” asked Micah.

“Trekker’s taken over the world.” answered Micah’s mother.

“¡Ay, caramba! I’m going to stop him right now!” responds Micah while approaching his computer.

“Computer, locate Trekker.” continued Micah.

“Locating Trekker…” responds Micah’s computer while scanning the world.

“Trekker located.” continues Micah’s computer while showing live footage of Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker fighting Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher.

“The boys and your friends don’t have much time!” said Micah’s mother anxiously.

“I’ll take it from here, mom. I promise nothing’s going to happen to them for as long as I’m around. But, just in case I don’t make it back, just know…I love you. And thanks for everything.” responded Micah. Micah’s mother tearfully embraces Micah, who embraces her back and makes his way to the Warp Machine, entering in his destination and stepping inside while waving at his mother, who waves back at him while tears run down her face. Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker beat Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher to the point of them not being able to put up a fight while Mrs. Trekker subsequently pinches Trekker’s cheek and says, “I’m proud of you, Trekkie-boy!”

“Thanks, mom. I couldn’t have done it without you.” responded Trekker. Micah appears inside the Trekker Ship while Trekker and Mrs. Trekker continue talking with Trekker Jr. noticing immediately.

“Uh, dad?” asks Trekker Jr. while tapping Trekker’s shoulder repeatedly.

“What is it, son?” asks Trekker while drawing his attention to Trekker Jr.

“You might want to take a look at this…” responds Trekker Jr. nervously while pointing Micah out. Trekker draws his attention to Micah and subsequently exclaims, “Impossible!”

“I thought we had you retired for good!” exclaimed Mrs. Trekker.

“I’m a long, long way from that! Now, let the inhabitants of Earth go! Or else…” responded Micah.

“Boys?!” asked Mrs. Trekker angrily.

“We’re on it, mom. Get him!” responds Trekker while charging after Micah with Trekker Jr. and Mrs. Trekker by his side. Micah turns himself into Power Micah and ties up Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker with his Fire Whip, heading to the controls afterwards and turning off the mind control. All of Earth’s inhabitants break free of Trekker’s control with Micah taking Trekker, Trekker Jr., and Mrs. Trekker back to Mrs. Trekker’s apartment, heading back to the Trekker Ship afterwards and aids Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher.

“Where have you been? We could have been killed.” asked Wesley.

“Destroy ship first. Story later.” responded Micah. Micah leads Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew and Christopher outside of the ship and combine their powers to obliterate the Trekker Ship. After Micah, Wesley, Sarah, Jessica, Matthew, and Christopher make it back home, Micah gives the full details on his experience while accompanied by his mother.

“So, you were an old man?” asked Wesley.

“Sure was.” answered Micah.

“What was it like?” asked Jessica.

“Challenging.” answered Micah.

“So, how did you get back to your young age?” asked Sarah.

“Mom?” asks Micah while drawing his attention to his mother. Micah’s mother tells her story with everyone laughing afterwards while Mrs. Trekker stomps angrily towards Trekker and Trekker Jr., who back out of Mrs. Trekker’s apartment with Trekker nervously saying, “Now, mommy. I can explain…” Trekker and Trekker Jr. fall onto their backs in the hallway outside of Mrs. Trekker’s door with Mrs. Trekker presenting her broken TV while angrily saying, “How could you two be so dumb?! First, you let that Micah brat stop us! Then, you break my TV?! You both need to be taught a lesson you’ll never forget! Ladies!” A number of elderly ladies come out into the hallway and hit Trekker and Trekker Jr. in the head with their canes while Mrs. Trekker angrily says, “Make sure you bruise them up REAL good!” Mrs. Trekker closes the door to her apartment while Trekker and Trekker Jr. continue getting hit in the head by canes.

“I’ll get you, Micah! If it’s the last thing I do!” said Trekker angrily.

“Ditto!” said Trekker Jr. Trekker and Trekker Jr. scream in agony and cower as they continue getting hit in the head repeatedly by canes.

 

The End

Carbonated Cravings

 On a sunny summer day, Micah walks through the Darke County Fairgrounds, sightseeing during an event while enjoying a can of soda until coming across a booth with a stage.

“And the award for best drink is…Alex C. Arbolo! All the way from London!” said a male voice. Micah turns his attention to the source and sees a man, who looks very identical to him, accepting an award for his achievement while spectators clap.

“I must say, Mr. Arbolo. This is the best soda I’ve ever had in my life! How DO you do it?” asked the host?

“You just got to have a dream…and the right ingredients. As long as your heart is in the right place, everything will work itself out from there.” said the recipient of the award.

“How about another round for Mr. Arbolo?” asked the host. The spectators clap again while Alex heads out, inadvertently bumping into Micah.

“Oh! I am terribly sorry! I should have been paying attention to where I was going!” says Alex while observing Micah’s can of soda.

“Say! Do you make your own soda, too?” asked Alex.

“Oh, this? No. I’m a scientist, not a beverage maker.” answered Micah.

“Well, that’s too bad. Wait a sec, young lad! Did you say you where a scientist?” asked Alex.

“Yeah. Why?” asked Micah.

“With a background like that, you could invent a formula that would blow others away!” answered Alex.

“Hmmm…I don’t know.” responds Micah while contemplating.

“Just give it a shot. What does a young whippersnapper like yourself got to lose?” asked Alex.

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. I’m always trying out new things in my laboratory.” responded Micah.

“That’s the spirit! Oh! You have a lab, you say?” asked Alex.

“Yeah. It’s where I go to build all my inventions.” answered Micah.

“Mind if I have a gander?” asked Alex.

“Not at all. I’d be happy to show you around.” answers Micah while summoning his Warp Machine.

“What do you call this thing?” asked Alex.

“The Warp Machine. It takes you to and fro in the blink of an eye.” answered Micah.

“Impressive!” responds Alex while stepping inside the Warp Machine. Micah enters in his destination and warps back to his laboratory while accompanied by Alex. After arriving home, Micah shows Alex around in his laboratory with Alex subsequently saying, “My! Your lab is exquisite! Well, I’d better get going. My ride is about to leave. Mind if I use your Warp Machine again?”

“No. Go ahead.” answered Micah.

“Much obliged, young lad! It was a pleasure meeting you, and good luck with all your inventions!” responds Alex while entering in his destination on Micah’s Warp Machine. Alex warps back to the fairgrounds and enters a taxi while saying, “Take me back to the hotel, please.” The taxi driver hauls Alex off while Micah contemplates on Alex’s words about making soda. The next day, Micah drinks another can of soda while subsequently researching ways of creating it. Micah gathers up some ingredients and experiments with many different combinations to no avail, tiring himself out before he could do one last taste test.

“Oh, what’s the use? I’m not cut out for this!” says Micah frustratingly while heading out of his laboratory. Christopher enters Micah’s laboratory while asking, “Hey, Micah. Do you have anything to drink in here?”

“Nope. Sorry.” answered Micah exhaustingly.

“What about that?” asks Christopher while pointing out Micah’s soda.

“Not a good idea.” answers Micah while exiting his laboratory and going to bed. Being mischievous, Christopher approaches the soda and takes a drink, taking an immediate liking to it.

“Mmmmm! This is the best soda I’ve ever had! I’d better tell Micah!” says Christopher while exiting Micah’s laboratory with the soda. Christopher arrives back in his bedroom while Micah climbs into bed.

“You got to try this, Micah!” said Christopher.

“Not now. Maybe tomorrow.” responded Micah exhaustingly.

“Ok. More for me.” replies Christopher while taking a drink. Micah realizes what Christopher is drinking and annoyingly asks, “Wait. Is that MY soda?!” Christopher pauses in silence for a moment with Micah subsequently continuing, “I thought I told you not to drink that! What were you thinking?!”

“But it’s good.” responded Christopher.

“I hadn’t even tested it yet!” replied Micah.

“I have. Here. You don’t know what you’re missing.” says Christopher while handing the soda.

“Do you promise to leave me alone if I drink this?” asked Micah annoyingly.

“Cross my heart and hope to die.” answered Christopher. Micah takes the drink and a sip, immediately taking a liking to it while saying, “Wow! You were right, Christopher! This IS good! I got to get the recipe!” Micah enters his laboratory with Christopher following and approaches the area where he made his soda at, moving papers around and subsequently saying, “Shoot! I didn’t even write it down!”

“Well, what about your computer?” asked Christopher.

“Oh! Duh!” responds Micah while slapping his forehead. Micah approaches his computer and pours one drop of the soda onto an analyzing device while saying, “Computer, analyze.” Micah’s computer scans and prints off the recipe, which Micah reads and takes with him while going back to bed.

“Well, that’s settled. I’ll make more in the morning.” says Micah while going to sleep. The next day, Micah immediately goes to work making more of his sodas and heads uptown to give them away.

“What do you got there, young man?” asked a male passerby.

“My own soda. Free sample?” asks Micah while handing a glass.

“Sure. I’m parched.” answers the passerby while taking a sip. The passerby processes the taste and comments, “Mmm! This is delicious! Could I get a can of this, please?”

“Absolutely! On the house!” answers Micah while handing a can.

“Here’s a little something for your trouble.” says the passerby while handing Micah some money.

“That’s very kind of you, sir. But money isn’t everything.” says Micah while handing the money back.

“It’s a tip. Please, take it.” responded the passerby.

“If you insist…” replied Micah guiltily. The passerby walks away, enjoying Micah’s soda while Micah sits at his booth, waiting for other people to try his product. The passerby walks by another person, who asks, “Where did you get that?”

“From some kid down yonder. He made it himself.” answered the passerby.

“Really?” asked the person.

“Yeah. You got to try it. It’s good.” answered the passerby.

“I’ll take your word for it.” responds the person while approaching Micah’s booth.

“Howdy-do, sir. May I interest you in a free sample of my very own soda?” asks Micah while handing a glass to the person.

“Please. I was told it’s good.” answers the person while taking a sip. After processing the taste, the person comments, “Wow! That guy was right! This IS delicious! Everybody should know about this! Here! You’ve earned it!” The person hands Micah some money with Micah responding, “I shouldn’t, but ok.”

“Do you have a full can of this stuff?” asked the person.

“Here you go.” answers Micah while handing the person a can.

“Thanks! I’ll spread the word!” responds the person while walking off. Micah continues waiting at his booth for more business while the second person to try his soda tells everybody he passes by about it, causing them to approach Micah. Micah eventually gets a large crowd surrounding his booth to his astonishment while saying, “Wow. Looks like I’m in business.” The crowd starts ordering sodas and handing money to Micah as he hands off cans.

“They should make a commercial about this!” said a woman.

“You took the words right out of my mouth!” responded a man. The woman turns her attention to the source and finds a film director with a can of Micah’s soda in his hand. The director then turns his attention to Micah, shaking his hand while saying, “Greetings, young man. My name is Phil, and I would like to promote your delectable soda on a TV ad. What do you say?”

“You got a deal!” answered Micah.

“Great! We’ll start filming tomorrow.” responds Phil while parting ways. At the end of the day, Micah closes up shop and heads home with bags of cash, entering his front door while his mother is in plain sight.

“How was the soda business?” asked Micah’s mother.

“You tell me.” answers Micah while setting down the bags of cash in front of his mother.

“Wow! That was ALL from today?” asked Micah’s mother.

“Yep. I didn’t expect this to happen.” answered Micah.

“So your soda’s that good?” asked Micah’s mother.

“According to all of Arcanum, yes. Want to try it?” asks Micah while handing his mother a can.

“I suppose.” answers Micah’s mother while taking the can. Micah’s mother takes a sip and also takes an immediate liking to the soda.

“Mm-mmm! I bet it is a huge hit.” said Micah’s mother.

“And that’s not all. I met this Phil guy today who directs films. He wants to make a commercial on it…tomorrow!” responded Micah.

“That’s awesome! Can we come to see you in action?” asked Micah’s mother.

“I don’t see why not.” answered Micah.

“We’ll be there.” said Micah’s stepfather. Micah enters his laboratory and makes more soda until bedtime, before informing his father and stepmother of his commercial. The next day, Micah’s father and stepmother arrive at Micah’s house and walk up to town with Micah and the rest of the family to the set with many cans of soda.

“Ah, Micah! Right on time!” said Phil.

“If you don’t mind, I brought my family. They wanted to see me in action.” said Micah.

“Not a problem. Families are always welcome to see castings. Places, everyone!” responded Phil. Micah goes to his assigned spot with the rest of the cast and crew, who finish setting up the shot. The crew activates the lights while the cameraman rolls the camera as Phil says, “Lights! Camera! Action!” Micah says his assigned lines as his family watches on in joy.

“Wow. Our own son…a star.” said Micah’s father. Micah wraps up his lines while Phil subsequently says, “Cut! Well done, Micah! We’ll get this on the television as soon as possible!”

“Can’t wait.” said Micah. Micah parts ways with his family and lives out his life while Phil and his staff edit the commercial and air it on TV sometime later with Alex watching it in bed one night at the hotel he’s staying at.

“Carbicah! A sweet treat you cannot beat!” said Micah at the end of the commercial on TV.

“Jolly good work, Micah! I shall see you come morning!” says Alex while going to sleep. The next day, Alex arrives at Micah house and rings the doorbell with Micah’s mother answering.

“Good morning, ma’am. I’m looking for Micah.” said Alex.

“Micah! Someone’s here to see you!” hollered Micah. Micah exits his room and approaches the front door with Alex saying, “I just saw your commercial. I am quite proud of you and your hard work. Care to show me your product?”

“Right this way.” responds Micah while leading Alex to his laboratory. Micah hands Alex a can of his soda with Alex taking a sip and processing the taste until coming to his conclusion.

“My! What a unique taste! You certainly are full of surprises!” said Alex.

“You like it?” asked Micah.

“LIKE it? I LOVE it!” answered Alex.

“Thank you…though it’s probably not as good as yours.” responded Micah.

“Now, now. Let us not compare ourselves to one another. There’s always going to be room for improvement.” replies Alex while finishing off his can.

“Well, I must be going. I got a big day today. Keep up the good work.” continues Alex while parting ways. Micah continues making sodas and giving them out, humbly profiting off of them while Alex continues his shows during his time in the United States. As days pass, Micah gets more and more tired of making sodas due to no one helping him. There comes a day when Alex meets Micah in his laboratory for the final time and says, “Micah! I’m about to head back to my…” Shocked, Alex finds Micah passed out at his table, attempting to wake him up while saying, “Lad? Wake up!” Alex shakes Micah until he gains consciousness while asking, “Huh? What’s going on here?”

“Oh, good. You’re ok. What seems to be the problem?” asked Alex.

“My sodas are in such high demand. I don’t have the help that I need.” answered Micah exhaustedly.

“Can’t you get your family to help you out?” asked Alex.

“No. I don’t want to burden them, and I can’t just stop making the sodas either. It would disappoint everybody.” answered Micah.

“I understand. This is no job for a kid. No offense.” responded Alex.

“None taken.” replied Micah.

“I have an idea…” said Alex. Sometime later, Micah and his family, along with the rest of Arcanum, attend a public speaking event being run by Alex.

“Everyone, I have an announcement. Carbicah is under new ownership!” said Alex. The crowd starts clapping with Micah and his family joining in with Alex asking, “Are there any questions?” A woman raises her hand with Alex pointing at her and asking, “Yes, madam?”

“You’re not going to change the recipe, are you?” asked the woman.

“Heavens, no! Carbicah is perfect the way it is, and we shall never fix what’s not broken!” answered Alex. The crowd starts clapping again while Alex begins to head out while saying, “I must be getting back to London, now! Best of luck to you all!”

“Are you sure you can handle it?” asked Micah.

“Absolutely, my friend! I live and breathe soda! Plus, I have enough staff to cover the labor! You got your whole life ahead of you, lad! Enjoy it while you can!” answered Alex.

“I will.” responded Micah. Alex enters his taxi and heads off to the airport while Micah and his family go about their lives. One day, while shopping with his mother, Micah sees coolers fully stocked with his soda, causing him to smile and commemorate Alex’s work.

 

The End