Chapter 1: Aftermath

First Sons Research Facility, Empire City, Four months ago…

"You'd better show me something to show me, Kessler." a woman snaps at the old man, "Oh, I think you're going to be quite surprised." Kessler promises her. "I'd better be." she snaps at him again as he lead her down a hall. The woman was none other then the DARPA agent, Moya Jones. -I smell him, even from here.- thoughts whisper to themselves. "This whole thing is turning into a huge cluster. Between the F.B.I and DARPA, we've dumped tens of millions of dollars into your research, and what do we have to show for it? If the Koreans beat us, it's on your ass." she reminds him. The two then stop in front of a door and Kessler moves his eyes to the scanner. "Stop being so melodramatic, Moya." he tells her as his eyes was being scanned "You've got another week." she offers him, more like threaten him. "After you see where things are going, you're going to give me all the time I need." he tells her.

Then the door opens, -Every word he utters is a lie. He's using her.- the thoughts whispers to themselves "After you, my dear." he said and allows Moya to step inside first, "The Ray Sphere works on a simple principle-it transfers neuro-electric energy from non-Conduits to Conduits. Once enough neuro-electric energy is accumulated within the Conduit, their latent super-human abilities are activated." Kessler informs her and Moya places her hand on her hip. "And everyone around them is killed." she state and Kessler just grimes to himself. "There's always a price, Moya." he informs her. -Just as he used me.- the voices whisper. "As I was saying, it's a simple principle. But I start to wonder: what happens when an activated Conduit's further exposed to the Ray Sphere? Will they die? Lose their power?" he questions then turns on a light.

A testing chamber light up and Moya looks inside, -But I see the truth now. Nothing will escape my sight.- the voice swore to himself. "Moya, I'd like you to meet David. A couple weeks ago, he was working as a security guard at this facility." he informs her as she gasp from the sight of the man inside the testing chamber. "My God… Kessler, he's…" she states as the proper words escape her.

David laid strap to an operating table, needles and wires injected to him, completely naked and two extra arms on both side and above his hips with the Ray Sphere right in front of him. "How many times was he exposed to the Ray Sphere?" she questions him as she could take her eyes off David. "Eleven times, counting this test." he answers her. -The Lord will show me his face and I will draw strength from it.- David prays to himself, "Are you insane? You need to put an end to this, right now." she orders him. Kessler just smirks to himself, "But you haven't heard the best part, my dear. Each additional exposure unlocks a new ability. It doesn't replace any abilities, it adds them." he informs her and she looks at him from the corner of her eye. "So one person can wield multiple powers at the same time?" she asks him and he chuckles, "Yes." he answers her.

She then looks back at David as the Ray Sphere powers up, "This… this is incredible. And army of people like David would be unstoppable." Moya said in amazement. -Strength that will fuel my vengeance.- David continues. Kessler smirks sickly to himself, "Pretty exciting, isn't it? And please put on your goggles. It's going to get very bright here in a moment." Kessler informs her and David was engulf in the Sphere's blinding light.

~8~8~8~

Historic District, Empire city, One month ago…

Cole stood in front of a woman with a package in his hands and she was fuming with anger, "Look, this is the address they gave me, name is Kessler." he informs her, but she just snaps and points her finger at him. "And I'm telling you that you got the wrong address." she snaps at him and walks off. Cole sighs and looks down at the package, "Shit." he mumbles to himself, then his phone started to ring.

He places the package under his arm and answers the call, "Hello?" he answers. "Is this Cole MaGrath?" the man asks him, "Who's this?" Cole asks, "My name's Kessler, I believe you're holding a package for me." Kessler informs him and Cole grits his teeth. "Look, I was on time. It's not my fault that the address wrong." Cole snaps at him, Kessler chuckles on the other line "No, you're exactly where you should be. Can you do me a favor and open the box?" Kessler asks him, "Why, so you can get me fired? I don't think so." Cole snaps at him again, "I'll pay you $500." Kessler informs him.

Cole sighs, knowing he needed the money, then kneels down and started to remove the tape from the box, "If you don't pay up, I'm gonna kick your-" Cole stops as he saw a sphere inside, then stood up and held it in his hands. "See you soon, Cole." Kessler informs him, then glow gets the attention of a young teenager as she was walking home with her parents.

Then everything went to hell as an explosion went right off.

~8~8~8~

Stampton Bridge, Empire city, the present…

"I'm here with general Darren Bridge, Commander of 82nd airborne division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. First of all, General, thank you and your men for your courageous services." a report states as they were at the quarantine line. "Thanks, Lina. We appreciate that." Bridge her with a proud smile. "What's the current situation?" Linda asks him and held the mic to him. "As you know, the quarantine is now in it's twenty-fourth day, and by and large, things are about where we expect them to be. The situation is stable, and supplies are moving into the city." Bridge informs her, but she was skeptical.

"Human-rights groups claim that the people inside Empire city are starting to starve." she informs him and place the mic right back at him, he scoffs and rolls his eyes at such claims. "Excuse my language, but those pantywaists have no idea what they're talking about. They're so worried about their agenda that they refuse to see what's really happening. Makes me sick." he answers her and she pulls the mic back. "It's sad how rumors get started." she states and place the mic back at him. "Well, I'm just glad you're giving us the correct record and get the truth out to the people of America." he tells her with a smile.

She did her best to smile back and pulls the mic back again "How are things progressing with the vaccine?" she asks him and places the mic right back at him, "The CDC can answers that better then me, but during our briefing, someone mentioned that the city is 80% plague-free." he answers her and she smiles again. "That's wonderful." she said as her camera man was getting everything down. "Thank you so much for your time, General Bridge." she tells him, he nods at her and she turns to the camera "This is Linda Kaulfman reporting for USTV News."

~8~8~8~

Back in the Historic District, in the Park where the graves of the dead where buried. Was Cole MacGrath as he was kneeling down next to Trish's grave as there were dead roses places on the grave. Then a young girl walks over with another rose in her hand and stood next to the grave on the other side and places the rose on the grave. Cole looks up at Cassandra O'Connell, but she change her last name as the girl he once was died in the blast, she was now Cassandra MacGrath. She looks down at him as she kneels down and places her on the dirt and he looks at Trish's picture and places his hand the cross. -Four days ago, Cassandra and I buried my girlfriend Trish in the Park. She was murdered by a man named Kessler.- Cole states as he remembers the fall.

Then he looks down at the picture in his hands, -Cassie did all she should to save Trish from that fall… and all I could do was watch… and think about the promises I'd made her. That I'd always protect her, keep her save. Promises I didn't keep.- Cole then looks up at Cassie as a tear slides down her cheek and she didn't make a sound. -I can summon lighting from the sky, float through the air, fire electric from my fingertips.- he states and looks at the picture of Kessler… or his wedding day, with himself, Trish, Zeke and Cassandra all in it and were smiling. -But I can't bring back the dead.- he states and tears stream down his face and Cassie looks over at him. He buries his face into his hands, Cassie then walks around the grave, kneels next to him and wraps his arms around him and he cries a little on her shoulder. -I'll always love you, Trish.- he cries and was grateful to Cassandra for staying with him and gave him a shoulder to cry on when he needed one.

"Cole? Cassandra?" a voice calls out, Cassie looks up and saw it was Warden Harms, "You alright?" he asks him, Cole sniffles and wipes away his tears, pats Cassie's shoulder and she releases him and leans back. -The warden's a good man. Stuck around when the shit hit the fan.- Cole said to himself as Cassandra kept her hand on Cole's shoulder. "I don't think so." Cole answers as he looks up at him. "I know the feeling." Harms informs him and the two stood up. -He and Cassie are about the only two people around here I still trust.- Cole states and Harms points off into the distance "My grandkids used to play in this Park. You know, before all of this. I always liked it here, especially in the Fall when the trees turned." he informs them and Cassandra pictured the Park what it was before the blast.

But it couldn't come to mind, so much has happened that she had forgotten what the park once look like. "This is a good place, Cole. She's find peace here." Harms informs the Electric-man. But she just wanted to stop thinking about what happened, all the chaos, the pain, suffering, death. She needed to think of something else, anything else. "You track down the First Sons?" Cole asks him as he knew Cassandra was still in pain. "Last of 'em are dug in over by Pier 12." Harms informs him, electricity cracks over Cassandra's hand. She needed something to hit. "We'll deal with them." Cole tells them and the two went to walk away, "You're not the only ones in this fight, Cole." Harms reminds him, they stop and Cole looks over his shoulder at him, "Maybe not. But that doesn't change what happened." Cole informs him.

Harms sighs, "Nothing will change what happened. No matter how hard you fight, she still going to be gone." he informs then and Cassie twist back around. "I know! Trish is gone and nothing is going to bring her back! But you weren't here… you didn't see… what he did to her." Cassie whimpers, biting her lip stopping herself from crying. Cole steps up and wraps her in her arms as she covers her eyes and stops herself from crying. "No, I didn't. But I know what it's like to have someone stolen from you." Harms informs her as electricity pulsed over Cole's and Cassandra's arms for a moment. Then the Warden places his hand on Cole shoulder and he looks at him, "And I know what grief can do a person. Trust me, you don't want to go down that road." he warns them.

Cole just held Cassandra in his arms as she leans against him, her heart was still breaking as very person was crumbling down. "Because once you do, there's no going back."

~8~8~8~

Steel Harbor, Empire City…

Moya stood in a lab aboard a warship with scientists and a five monster-sized tubs in front of her as they were glowing red. "Is he prepped?" she asks the Scientists, "Yeah." he answers him. "And the volunteers?" she asks again. "Had to make a last-minute substitution because of blood abnormality, but everything's still on schedule." he informs her, "Who'd you swap?" she asks him as a large man was inside the tube with wires hook up to his face and body. "Lieutenant Poole." he answers her, "Have him transferred to the S&D team." Moya informs him and he makes a note of it.

"How long until the DNA is synthesized into a usable form?" Moya asks as she was growing impatient, "Our best estimate is six hours. If there are any genetic irregularities, it makes it longer." he informs her, "Longer doesn't work for me." she snaps at him, "We're going as fast as we can." he informs her.

~8~8~8~

Moya then was standing in an operating room where Alden Tate was strap down onto a table in nothing but his underwear and he struggles in his restrains and two doctors were ready for operation. "You're going to regret this. All of you!" he howls at them, "Shut up, Alden." Moya said in a bored tone as she was watching.

He then looks up at her and growls, "You bitch! How dare you!" he snaps at her. Then he cries out and the objects in the room started to float. "I'd thought his powers were neutralized!" Moya shouts as her and the doctors jump back in shock. "So did I." the doctor agrees with her. "You've unleashed the fury!" he cries out. Now it was Moya's turn to growl and swung her fist at him. "I told you to shut up!" she snaps, socking him in the face and he was out cold.

The objects around the room drop onto the ground, Moya sighs and places her hands on her hips and the doctors peek over at the passed-out Tate. "So glad I'll never have to listen to him again." she states and looks at the two doctors. "What are you waiting for? Cut this bastard open." she orders them then the doctors walk up to him, "I need to properly sedate him-" a doctor informs her and she huffs. "He's sedated as he needs to be." she informs them and looks at the two. "Call me when it's done. I've got an invasion to plan." she informs them and walks out of the operating room, leaving the doctors to their work.

~8~8~8~

In an Alley, First Sons were walking through it as two figures watch them from above, like predators, ready to ponce on their prey and then stood up. -They call themselves the First Sons. Been around for centuries. Started of as Mentalists, bending spoons, crap like that. Eventually they decided to augment their power with technology-which is how they got Kessler's attention.- Cole states as electricity suddenly appeared above the First Sons and they look up.

-They helped him create the Ray Sphere, make all of this possible. Without them, Trish would still be alive.- Cole growls as both he and Cassandra did a thunder slam and took them by surprise. The the two stood up and Cassandra places her foot against one of the First Son's throat as Cole grips another throat. -Which is why they're going to die.- he promises and the both crush the throat and look down at the bodes of the dead First Sons.

Then he answers his phone, "Cole, we're closing in on the pier, but these bastards are putting up one hell of a fight." Harms informs him. Cole looks at Cassie as she rolls her shoulder and electricity cracks over her hands, "We're on out way." he tells him, then jumps up onto the train bridge and they rode the tracks, heading for the Pier.

~8~8~8~

The cops, Harms and Zeke were in cover as the First Sons fired at them, "Don't let them pin you down! Keep moving! Watch the flank!" Harms orders his men. The First Sons fired back at them, killing a few cops and one aims a RGP right at them Warden, times slows down at the rocket was right in his face, he didn't have time to dodge or even run out of the blast radius.

He through he was done for, but then a new weight jumps down on top of him, making them both shift, "Get down!" Cassandra orders and throws him onto his side along with her, then Cole jumps down and send the rocket right back at the First Sons. It went up with a bang, then Cassie pulls herself to her feet and ran up and joins Cole. "You bastard." Cole growls at they both were hitting and kicking them with their electric punches, then sends electricity flying right at them. Then Cassie grips a First Son from behind, sending electricity into his body and he drops to the ground. The two stood in the center of the chaos and destruction of the First Sons they had caused.

The Electricity then dims down and was gone from their arms, "Go make sure those clowns are finished. I don't want any stragglers taking a pot-shot at me." Harms orders and his men did so. "Are you alright?" Cole asks them "Yeah, we're fine." Harms answers him and Cassie exhales with relief that made it in time. "You really saved out bacon, brother." Zeke said and places his hand on Cole's shoulder.

But Cole shot him a glance and Zeke removes his hand from his shoulder. "We're going to search the area, make sure that's the last of them." Cole informs them and the two walk off. Harms walks up ad stood next to Zeke. "He doesn't like you much, does he?" Harms asks him and Zeke sighs, "No. Not anymore, anyhow." Zeke answers him.

~8~8~8~

Later that night, First Sons research facility…

In that same lab where Kessler and Moya once stood in was left, abandon and forgotten. -Kessler left me here to die, to rot away in the darkness.- David whispers to himself, then the testing chamber explodes opens and David was freed from the cold restrains. -He denies the Lord's love, his blessing.- David states as he walks through the hallway and headed for the door. -I will find him and teach him the price of his folly.- he swore and steps outside into the cold air of death on a chilly night.

He then looks around as he body was demanding energy, he then looks over by the dumpster and saw a woman scraping into the trash for something to eat. -But First I must feed.- he whispers, seeing her electric energy signature and slowly walks up to her. The woman picks up some wrappers and sniffs them, she cringes away in disgust "Ugh… man, this stinks." she mutters and tosses it back into the dumpster. Then heard something thud behind her, making her pull out her gun. "This is my alley, you hear?! I've got a gun!" she snaps as she turns to look at the intruder. But then looks at him in shock and fear. David them took a hold of her and drains her of her electric energy. -It's through the Lord's grace that I regain my strength.-

~8~8~8~

Eagle Point Penitentiary, Empire city.

Cole, Cassandra and Zeke sat on the roof of the prison as Zeke was serving up some dinner. -Zeke was like a brother to me.- Cole states as he looks bitterly at Zeke, but Cassie couldn't care less, she was waiting for the next fight to happen. "You guys want any more of these beans?" he asks them, "No." they both answered bitterly. -Now… now I don't know what he is…- Cole mutters and Zeke looks at them. "That was some nice work today, Cole." Zeke informs them and handed Cassie a plate. She looks at it for a moment, then took it from him. But places it on her lap "Pricks got what the deserved." Cole answers him and looks down at his stall bread. "Well, we couldn't of done it without either of you." he tells them and Cassie grips the sides of her plate a little. "Why are you here, Zeke?" Cole questions him.

Zeke looks at him in confusion, "What do you mean? The rooftop's not safe, where-" he states, then Cassie shot him a glare that look to kill. "Just because you shot Kessler a few times, it doesn't mean your forgiven." she snaps at him and Zeke understood her anger. "I told you how sorry I was. I don't know-" he went to say then the two snap and throw their food at him. "You're sorry! Kessler's sorry! EVERYBODY'S SORRY!" they snap at him and knocks Zeke off his crate chair. The two stood up and electricity was cracking on their arms and Zeke pushed himself onto his hands and looks up at them, "Kessler? What the hell's he got to do with anything?" he asks them, Cole and Cassandra stop and looks down at their hands, then the electricity dies on Cassandra's arms and she sat back down.

Replaying Kessler's message that he burn into her brain. "I'm Kessler. Or other he's me." Cole states and Zeke was still confused. "Listen, man, you all right? That's doesn't a lick of sense." he informs him, then Cole pulls out the picture and offers it to Zeke. "Look at it." Cole orders him and Zeke looks at the picture. He was stun and shock at the photo "How- how's this possible? You guys never got married." Zeke states and Cassie looks at them through her long hair. "He was me from the future. Came back in time to set all of this up-the Ray Sphere, my powers, the quarantine. He and Trish were married, had two kids. And he killed her. He murdered his own wife." Cole answers him. "And you know why?" Cassie questions and Zeke looks at her as she stood up. "Because something is coming. He called the Beast, said it's going to destroy the world unless we stop it. So, he decided to tough Cole up, get him ready." she answers him as she turns to him and stood next to Cole.

He looks at the both of them, "He showed you all that when he looked you in the face?" Zeke asks them, Cassie nods. "Yeah." Cole answers and she rubs her arm. "I know you're sorry, Zeke. That you didn't means to shoot Cassie. But everytime I look at you I see Kessler's face laughing at me and Cassie falling from that tower." Cole states and glares at him, "And it makes me what to strangle the life out of you." Cole growls, but Zeke understood where is anger was coming from. "I know." he mutters then leans against his hands as the two started to walk away. "You and Cassandra are all I've got left, Zeke. But by god, I hate your guts." Cole tells him and both he and Cassie fall purposely off the roof.

~8~8~8~

Neon District, North Beach.

David returns back to himself, finding it quiet and cold. He walks into his bedroom and found his wife, laying on the bed, medications on the night stand and could see no electric signature radiating from her body.

He's heart breaks as he knew the reason, she was dead. Died from overdoes, -No… Lord no. I know, I know you had no choice. You couldn't protect yourself, this was the only way. The Lord will forgive you.- he cries as he slowly moves his hand and gently picks her up.

~Flashback~

David and his wife stood in the kitchen as their hand held onto each other. Things were no looking good for them as invention papers were scattered onto the island counter.

"They're going to repossess the house! I don't have a choice!" he tells her, "I don't trust Kessler, he's made you all these promises…" she informs him, showing her concern.

~End of Flashback~

She laid limp in his arms and her head rolls to the side as her arm just from hung side. -He lied to me. Just as he lied to the woman.- he states as he refers to Moya. If David still had eyes, he would be crying over the body of his wife.

Cradling her in his two arms as they were forming tentacles, his skin turns a dark gray, as his body was no longer human.

~Flashback~

David stood with Kessler as in the laboratory, "And you'll give them the money?" David asks him as he was ready to take the offer.

Kessler looks at a thick bullet in his metal hand, "You have my word. I'll personally deliver the checks to your wife." he promises him as David could not see the smirk on Kessler's face.

~End of Flashback~

David leans his deformed face closer to his wife's as there was no breath leaving her lips. -Shhh, there's no reason to be afraid. Not anymore.- he whimpers to her, then his grip tightens, pink neuro-electricity courses over his body as he was no longer human, but his heart and mind screams out fury. Wrath. -Kessler's trying to hide from me. Disguise his true nature.- he growls out and sniffs the air.

Looking around and found the scent of Kessler's neuro-electric signature. He screams for justice for his wife. -But through the glory of god, I know the truth. Kessler won't escape my fury.- he promises and an image appears inside David's mind, seeing two people with significant neuro-electric then an average person.

It was Cole and Cassandra as they were speaking with Harms.