Karl stood in the center of the workspace, his scarf loose around his neck, his hands trembling as he looked around himself.
Iora, too anxious to move, lingered close to him, her eyes locked on him with quiet confidence. Ryn hovered over a pile of tech, clutching the wrist device, while Ryker leaned against a table with his arms crossed, his face set in a skeptical frown.
The walls bristled with dampeners, glowing green, showing that they were active. If Karl had any power surge, it would be properly contained.
"Don't change back right away," Ryn said. He stepped toward Karl, holding out the device. "No fear this time, okay? I want you to push it. Let's see how far you can hold."
Karl's brow creased. "Are you sure about this?" he asked. His voice carried a thread of doubt.
Ryn nodded firmly. "Positive. We need to test your limit."
Ryker snorted. "He's guessing," he said. "But we've got your back. Strap that thing on."
Nobody could tell if Ryker was Just kidding, but it didn't look like he was. And even if he was serious, it was probably just hate for Ryn.
Karl took the device and fastened it around his wrist. The metal felt cold against his skin. "What if it goes wrong?" he asked, glancing at Iora.
She smiled faintly. "It won't, Karl. We will guide you through it."
Ryn adjusted his goggles, excitement flickering in his eyes. "Iora is your coach. She will walk you through shifting. In and out. Let's do this."
Karl flexed his fingers. "Alright," he nodded. "How do I start?"
Iora stepped closer, gently caressing his shoulder. "Focus on something small," she said. "A young deer, something easy to manage. Picture it in your head: light bones, quick legs. Feel your body shift into it. When you're ready to pull back, ease out slowly, like you're exhaling."
He met her gaze. "And if the other stuff kicks in?" he asked. "The sparks, the wind?"
"Push it down, Karl. You have controlled it before. You have the strength, just trust it."
Karl swallowed hard. "Okay," he nodded again. "I'll try."
Ryker shifted his weight. "Keep it tight, kid," he warned. "No wild stunts."
Ryn clapped his hands. "Whenever you're ready. We are watching."
Karl closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steadying himself. His body tensed, then shuddered. A ripple ran through him. Small antlers sprouted from his head. His frame shrank, his legs thinning into slender hooves.
In seconds, a young deer stood in his place, its soft brown coat catching the dim light. The device on his wrist, which was now a limb, pulsed green.
Iora's breath caught. "Perfect," she gasped. "Hold it there, Karl."
Sparks flickered at his hooves. Tiny bolts of electricity danced outward, snapping in the air.
Karl grunted—a low, strained noise from his deer throat—and the sparks wavered. He forced them back, his small form trembling with effort.
Ryker's eyes widened. "He's actually doing it! Look at that control."
The deer's body began to glow. A radiant light shimmered across its fur, starting at the chest and spreading outward. It pulsed, magnificent and bright, bathing the room in a warm, golden hue.
"Keep going!" Ryn shouted. "Don't let up. Still hold it!"
Karl's voice broke through, rough and warped in his animal form. "It's too much," he rasped. "I feel like I'm gonna explode."
"I feel like this is enough," Ryker muttered, glancing at Karl's turned form before looking back at his monitor. "We don't want to wear him out.
Ryn darted to the console, his fingers flying over the keys. "Please, Karl," he begged. "Just a little longer. I'm getting readings. You can do this!"
Iora stepped forward. "You're okay," she cooed softly. "Stay with it."
Karl's hooves shifted, unsteady. He grunted again, louder, in a deep rumble from his chest. The glow intensified, almost blinding now. Then a wave burst from him.
It roared outward with a shock of raw energy. Iora stumbled and crashed into a shelf. Ryn flew back, his console toppling with a crunch, while Ryker hit the wall hard, a string of curses spilling out of him.
Karl bolted.
His deer form charged, eyes wide with panic. He slammed into a table, splintering the wood.
"I can't change back!" he shouted. His voice tore out, half-human, half-beast. He rammed the wall, the dampeners flaring brightly as they trapped the leak.
His body convulsed. The deer twisted, the antlers thickening into a mountain goat's curled horns.
He bleated and rocked forward, staggering on rocky legs. Then he shrank back into a deer.
In a flash, he was soon a bunny, small and frantic, darting in circles. The device on his now tiny limb screamed red.
"Karl, stop it!" Iora yelled. She lunged toward him with outstretched arms.
Karl flickered human, his face contorted in pain. Then another blast ripped out.
It smashed through the room, sharper and wilder than the former. The console shattered and sparks rained down. Shelves collapsed, glass bottles exploding in a cascade of shards. The dampeners flickered, barely able to hold all the energy release.
A loud cry tore out of Karl, and then he suddenly dropped. His body hit the floor. The air stilled, heavy with silence and flickering screens.
Iora screamed. "Karl!" She ran to him and dropped beside his sprawled form. His chest barely moved. His face was pale and slack. "He's not moving. Karl, come on!"
Ryker shoved off the wall, his face red with fury. He grabbed Ryn by the collar and hauled him up. "Look at this!" he roared. "You pushed him too damn far. Can you see the mess that you made?"
Ryn's goggles slipped. "I didn't mean it!" he shouted into Ryker's face. "I thought he could handle it!"
"You thought wrong, you reckless bastard!" He shoved Ryn hard. "I'm taking over, no more of your games."
Iora's head snapped up, tears streaking her face. Her hands trembled on Karl's unmoving figure.
"Do something!" she screamed. "He's dying… help him!"