Kosmo

"What's all that monkey noise?" my dad shouted from the living room.

I scrambled to catch the glowing blue orb that had shot out of my backpack and started bouncing around my room. It struck the closet door, hit the ceiling, and then knocked over my desk lamp on its way down.

"Just cleaning! I'll be out in a minute," I shouted back, trying to sound normal, like there wasn't a magic orb the size of a marble flying around my room. It darted around quickly, but I tracked its movement and, with a perfectly timed leap toward my bed, I caught it midair as it ricocheted across the room. Just then, my door burst open and I clutched it tightly with both hands.

"Dinner's ready, mijo, go wash your hands," Mom commanded. "What happened to your lamp? Daddy says to stop making monkey noise."

"Ma! This is my room, you have to knock. I'm sixteen, I'm not a kid anymore!"

"Are you done cleaning? Ándale, come eat before it gets cold!"

"Okay! I'll be right there."

She closed the door, not noticing the blue light shining through my fingers. I sat up and exhaled, holding the orb in one hand now.

It buzzed as it spoke, "Kosmorbic Transmogulator-39527 has been captured. In the name of the Praxalorian Empire, you are ordered to release me at once!"

"Shh! What are you?"

"I am Kosmorbic Transmogulator-39527, a Kosmorbic Transmogulator of the 39527 variety."

"What? Are you, like, an alien?"

"Kosmorbic Transmogulators restructure biological lifeforms, temporarily enhancing them. Like this." It shot up out of my hand and hovered in front of my face.

"Whoa." My jaw dropped.

And then it zipped into my mouth and down my throat.

Crap.