The Octopus Effect Read Online Free

Alysha’s formula let her absorb huge amounts of electrical energy and discharge it . . . but that electricity had to come from somewhere.
    â€œDon’t worry about it, Greygor,” Alysha said. She sent an arc of electricity sizzling back and forth between her fingers, casting a glow on her face. “I’m not getting it from your outlets. There are electrically charged atoms all over, even in the air. I figured out how to absorb some of their charges.” She spread her hands apart, creating bigger arcs and sparks.
    â€œWonderful,” I said in a flat tone. “Clearly you have both been practicing since you got your old formulas back.” I sighed. “How lucky for me the Order of Physics let you in.” Union rules stated that Alysha and Owen had to give up their formulas at the end of my last Chronicle. But once they were officially admitted into the Order . . .
    â€œWould’ve been sooner if Owen hadn’t kept failing the entrance test.” Alysha muttered.
    â€œI failed it once !” Owen said with a stamp of his foot. “Fine, twice.” He shrugged. “I’ve never been good at tests.”
    Alysha laughed. “It was multiple choice!” She saw Owen’s hurt look. “It doesn’t matter; we got in, we got our powers back, and everything’s fine. And now it’s back to fun and games!” She plucked a doughnut from the air and zapped it with a controlled burst of electricity. “Here, try one that’s heated up.”
    Owen accepted it happily while Simon joined them on the sofa and, at last, felt well enough to eat one of the doughnuts. After a quick bite, he gave a sticky smile and devoured it. Using formulas tended to tire the user, but rest or food restored their strength. With all the gravity control Simon used today, no doughnut was safe.
    â€œAh yes, you’re all very impressive,” I said. “But do any of you remember this?” I triggered the remote for my Viewing Screen, focusing my latest, greatest Chronicle on tall, menacing-looking Mermon Veenie, a villain who hurled devastating bolts of lightning. Then I showed them Sirabetta, a beautiful blond woman whose arms and legs were covered in a variety of colored tattoos. Each tattoo gave her command over a different science formula.
    I showed the kids a series of images: Sirabetta using one tattoo to fly through the air, as well as resist Simon’s gravity and Owen’s velocity control. Next, an image of another tattoo melting the street with sizzling heat. Then another to cause explosions with air pressure. And a fourth to launch a glowing, destructive ball of silvery energy.
    â€œTogether they put the Keeper of the Order of Physics in the hospital and almost stole the Book of Physics!” I said. “With that, Sirabetta would have stolen the other science Books and done who-knows-what to the entire universe. And she almost killed you all! How is that fun and games?”
    â€œYeah, but Greygor, we beat them,” Alysha said. “They’ve both had their memories wiped and their powers taken away. There’s no more threat . . . not even the need for a new Chronicle,” she added, gesturing to my Viewing Screen. So far as the kids knew, they’d be on-screen if another Chronicle had begun.
    â€œPlus Simon’s officially joining the Council today,” Owen said. “I hear there’ll be cake!”
    Simon frowned. “Actually, something bad might be happening.” As Alysha and Owen turned to stare at him, Simon related what the Book said earlier that morning.
    â€œThat’s got you worried?” Alysha shook her head. “That’s the dumbest warning ever! It’s like a psychic saying something bad is going to happen soon. Of course something will—that’s how life works. But what? And when?”
    Simon shrugged. Maybe Alysha is right , he thought. Why worry?
    Owen shook his head.