Petrified

Segment 1 : Precognition
A conversation i had with a friend of mine recently got me to thinking about how the human brain thinks about the future. My Last post on the idea of a singularity touched on the question of whether the choices we make create an inevitable result. For the sake of argument, lets say we are all bound by the rule of singularity. that one decision will generate an inescapable end result or path. If that is the case, is the human mind properly equipped to estimate what those consequences will be?
I believe, through my experience that everyone has an ability that does not necessarily fit into the realm of natural thinking. Not quite to the powerful extreme of defying physics, like in the TV Show HEROES, or in comic books, such as XMen, but more subtle, understandable gifts. A friend of mine recently commented while walking down a hallway with offices on either side, that each door reminded him of a different song, not because of anything about them. As he walked down the hall the "music in his head" changed. He told me one or two of the songs, and as I walked by one of the office windows, I noticed the song he had just named was playing through headphones on a computer, which was receiving a radio signal and streaming the music, in the office he had associated the song with. Perhaps coincidence, but i doubted it. My Own awkward sense of smell is another example, though possibly more easy to explain that a boy who's brain can pick up radio signals.
I have now met more than one person who seem to get images of specific events before they happen. This is something i have observed in minor cases in many people including myself. Years ago I remember thinking off handedly that my mom would be alot busier during my highschool, even to much to be in charge of my education as she had in grade school. My Freshman year, my mom bought a business, and was unable to teach me, so i hade to homeschool myself.
It is this precognition, that many people seem to have even though they don't realize it. I wouldn't say its telling the future necessarily. I sometimes wonder if there are consequences to choices that can't be avoided no matter what choice you make, is the mind capable of seeing those conclusions before they happen? If a singularity exists, then is it possible to see then end result of that decision?

Segment 2: Average
There are some truly extraordinary people in my life. I'm very proud if the circles of people around me, who I can claim that I associate with. I Honestly think if I were to combine the best of the people i know, they would be nearly super human.
But while there are amazing people around me, it only makes another fact more obvious: i am unequivocally average. There isn't alot extraordinary about me, save perhaps my ability to be negative while everyone thinks im doing great. I don't do anyhting extraordinarily, but work hard for everything, and that propensity for hard work is not a talent either. Im not wonderfly inteligent, anaytical, athletic, spiritual, or strong. There is nothing rerribly remarkable about me. im the kind of person you can look at and forget the next second. Im a face in a crowd of many.
Off hand i can think of two peopel who are annoyingly attractive, one who's analytical abilities, though learned over time, let him spot flaws in nearly any argument. Put me by a chess board and i will know how to play. I might even beat someone. Put me in front of the microphone and i will preform for the crowd, but they will only see the mask of "entertainer". it takes me four days to pull together coherent thoughts to form even one of these blog "segments", and they are often plagarized form the inteligent words in conversation i have had with a friend who has already figured out what I have to say.
While i apreciate the encouraging disagreements that some readers will probbably have, let me say this. I dont mind being average. I'm not alone, and its ok to be considered middle of the pack. I do extraordinarily at one thing, but i can get along doing alot of things. I doubt i'll become someone who stands our from the cowd. And thats ok.
I'm sure there is something specal about me. I just dont know myself well enough to know what is its. I'm not sure what i am or who i am right now. And what is strangest is that it doesnt bother me.

Segment 3: Character Introduction: Mark
"Jason..." Day said quietly, having lost interest in the battle a few moments earlier.
Jason looked at his sister, recognizing the sound of fear in her voice. He followed her line of sight to a figure that stood on the cobblestone road between the beach and the buildings of the city, looking at them. He wore a light leather armor and carried a thin sword in his belt. Most of his face, including his right eye and mouth, was covered in bandages. For the most part the wrap around his head were white, but in some areas they were red from the boy's blood. Two well armed Sentries stood on either side of him.
From what he could see of the person, Jason guessed him to be about their age, probably older. He recognized a sad anger in the eye of the newcomer. "Hey," Jason motioned to the bandaged youth with a wave of his arm. "Come join us."
The Boy seemed a bit surprised at Jason's call. Darr and Leon looked at their friend quizzically. Ignoring them Jason waved at him again.
Hesitantly the boy ventured toward them from the road. His sentries remained still. "Why did you want you want me to join you?" his question seemed shy and a little fearful.
Jason met his shyness with a friendly smile. "You're wearing a sword. Either you know a little about fighting or you want people to think you do."
Beneath the cloth, the boy smiled. "Indeed. My name is Markus Lange." He extended a hand, which Jason shook fondly.
After briefly introducing the others, Markus and Jason soon agreed to square off.
"His stance is high, but still fairly well rooted into the ground," Jason analyzed in his mind. "He draws a lot from speed, like Darr, but it's a fairly basic stance, so he might even use a style like my own." Jason continued to look over his opponent for a long moment. "Why isn't he attacking?" Jason with a slight shock realized that Markus wasn't going to attack.
Jason darted slightly to his right before leaping through the air at Mark. This Move was risky, due to Marks Bandage over his right eye. He may have had little depth perception, but it was easier to maintain single focus over any movement to his left side.
Regardless of the weakness, Jason covered the distance between them in one hard step. In the air, he shifted his weight so his legs were flying in front of him, replicating the attack Darr had tried earlier. Just before his kick came in range, Jason drove he left foot to the ground, throwing all of his power and momentum to his right leg, which he brought far to high.
Though a powerful attack, Mark took its full impact on his wrist guard without flinching. The height of the kick had thrown off Jason's balance, forcing him to fall back on his right hand.
"It worked," Jason smiled to himself as he again shifted his balance onto his palm, which was planted in the ground, freeing his left leg. Utilizing the unoccupied limb, he swept it strait up at Mark's chin. The blow was narrowly dodged
Then, pushing off with his planted arm and displaying his impressive strength, Jason was back in the air. He brought t his legs together and down hard, causing sand to fly. Before he had a good stance he lunged at Mark with a hard left. The motion caused more momentum than Jason had been prepared for, and with no balance Jason continued taking powerful swipes, moving forward with each blow. His hands reined a perilous series of blows. Mark avoided each of the shots with a simple step back.
Jason and Mark continued a gradual march along the beach, Jason always just out of reach for a strike, but trying for one. He was beginning to grow frustrated at his opponent's style. He had almost had enough when he realized that his next strike would be in range, even if Mark backed up. He brought his right fist down on a hammer to Mark's temple. The blow was blocked.
With speed like Jason had seen only from Shai, Mark took his first strike, right through the center of Jason's defense. The punch landed far harder than any of Jason's own could.
Jason could feel Mark's pointer and middle knuckles grind into his shoulder. From Darr or Leon this hit would be nothing, but this man... Jason thought. I can hardly feel my arm through the pain. Anger flared in Jason as he swept around, delivering two hard hammer strikes to the right side of Mark's head, utilizing he blind spot of the bandages. A low blow, but his style is so... Jason didn't finish his thought at his second strike met its target.
The force knocked Mark to his back, one hand clutching his bandaged face. As the dust settled, Mark looked at Jason, fresh blood soaking through his wraps.
Mark spoke slowly, without looking up. "I know my tactics are exasperating, Jason. But with only one eye it's all I can do. Had I the will to use both, this might be a fair match."
Jason was filled with abject shame, though no words of apology came to his mind that seemed fitting. Leon and Darr's hot stares burning into his back. He couldn't find it in himself to move or speak or even look at Mark. The over bearing silence for the moment was suddenly broken when Jason felt two strong hands grip him from behind, holding him in place. he realized the the twin sentries who were with Mark served as bodyguards of some kind. the other sentry helped Mark to his feet from the sand.
Mark gave a nod to the sentry behind Jason, who responded to the command by releasing Jason's arms and backing away. "Jason," Mark continued, a sense of wariness in his voice, "I would like to fight you on an even plain. You are better than I am as it stands, I’ll admit that. Would it bother you for me to fight without my bandages?"
"Master Lange!" Exclaimed the sentries in unison, "Would that not be dangerous? Your wounds"
"Are no safer under a thin cloth wrapping than they are exposed to the clean sea air." Mark cut off his personal guard. "How about it, Jason?"
"Hai."
Mark smiled under the cloth, reaching up behind his head with his left hand. A single tug was enough to release the cloth and cause it to unravel and fall loosely around his shoulder.
"Jason..." Day whispered fearfully beside Jason as they all took in Marks face for the first time. His fair skin was marred across the front and sides by three long, parallel gashes from the claw of some animal. The red lines started somewhere in his hair and down across his cheek, one of them going right over his left eye. The stripes continued down and off his chin and began again just below his right collar bone. Stitches held the skin of his eyelid, upper lip, and chin closed, though not completely at some points. a trail of blood ran down from his hairline where Jason had his hit his target. Were it not for the liquid shimmer of the blood, it would have been near impossible to tell it apart from marks hair, which was a deep, almost unnatural red.
"Shall we?" Mark asked casually.
Jason nodded. Bending his knees and dropping his stance, both hands low, leaving his chest open, but ready to strike. He was a bit surprised as Mark assumed a stance. Jason deduced correctly that fighting with the retreating style he had used before, Mark had been able to observe Jason's methods without revealing any of his own.
Mark stood almost strait up, hardly any bend in his legs. His left hand tucked behind his back as his right presented itself flat and open to Jason, as if offering him some invisible gift he had in his palm.
Both fighters sat in a stalemate for a log time. Neither were really prepared to take first action, but the stalemate could only last so long.
After Jason made one final adjustment to his stance, he broke the silence in motion. He threw all his weight into a hard sure toward Mark, leaving a sizable crater in the sand where his foot had made contact and pushed off of the ground. Mark hardly even blinked as Jason covered the distance between them in astonishing time. Jason thrust a direct punch to Mark's chest, but it was easily intercepted by Marks open hand.
Before he could even be absolutely sure what hit him, Jason's momentum was reversed and he landed on his back in the crater he had made a second before, his stomach clenched in a unexplained plain. He looked up at Mark. The Redhead's left leg was extended perfectly strait, he sharp ridge of his foot exposed. In a slow deliberate motion, he swung the foot around behind him and resumed his stance.
"The first step of NijunKen (Twenty movements)," Mark Stated materoffactly.
"I can feel where you kick made contact on the other side of my body," Jason said rubbing his stomach. "And I didn't even see it coming."
Mark Smiled. "You moved in with your left hand, limiting my access to your chest by closing off your body and keeping your right hand to guard your left side. I used KentaIch (Move One) to take advantage of the small opening between your arms. It’s a move I can’t do without good depth- perception, which I lose when my left eye is covered."
Jason accepted Marks extended hand. "You Moved Faster then before. Another advantage to being able to see, I suppose?"
Mark nodded with a wiry smile.
"I would be interested to Learn these 'Nijun-ken',"
"They are passed down in my family," Mark replied with a grave tone. "I have no problem using them on you, but will not teach them to you. and I’m afraid it’s quite discipline. My father called them the 'family laws'." Mark smiled absentmindedly as he continued. "They require a lot of understanding to create enforce and interpret."
"I want a try at that!" Shouted Darr.
Jason could only smile.

Segment 4: Tomorrow

Is it any wonder why I'm scared,
If I was a little younger would I care,
feeling like the walls are growing stronger,
i don't know if this cage can hold me any longer

you never dreamed you'd have to love your life so guarded,
cause they'll find a way to make you feel discarded

i'm not afraid of tomorrow,
i'm only scared of myself,
feels like my insides are on fire, and i'm looking through the eyes of someone else

I never thought they'd want me to go even faster,
never thought i took my foot off the gas,
everybody loves to be in on the pressure,
but i know they're all waiting for the crash

you never dreamed you'd have to live your life so guarded,
cause they'll find a way to make you feel discarded,
things have changed you've become a complication,
can make it through another days
humiliation

i'm not afraid of tomorrow,
i only scared of myself,
feels like my insides are on fire and i'm looking through the eyes of someoneelse

someone else...

is it any wonder why the answer keeps me petrified ,
is it any wonder why ,
i'm scared