Chapter 10

Arc 1

Harvey Family Household

Kimberly sat on her couch in her home with a glass of wine in her hands as she stared at a photo of her and her son sitting under a tree smiling as they were both enjoying a picnic. Back then, the days were easier. Her son wasn't a superpowered hybrid. He wasn't the bridge between humanity and his alien race. He wasn't a man who had the world on his shoulders. He was just a simple boy. A boy with his mindset on making a name for himself. And he was still hellbent on doing that as either Cedric Harvey or a hero. Even if others didn't believe in him. Kimberly believed that her son was the key to protecting the world and he probably was.

Just then her son came walking down the steps with a frown on his face. He was wearing a navy blue suit with a white button-up and snakeskin brown loafers.

"Hey mom, do you think the gold watch you gave me for Christmas would work or the silver one for graduation?"

"I like that silver one. And what are you getting all dressed up for?" She said putting down the picture and wine glass. She stood up walking over to her son and started to fix up the jacket on him. He smiled looking down at his mother. She was known to do this. Fix up on him, fix up on things that he didn't see on his own.

"I'm going to that new nightclub. The openings tonight. Club Zero."

"That Maverick club. I heard it was a pretty hard list to get on."

"Yeah, somehow Kala and her friend got on. I didn't ask how or when but they're on it and I got invited as her friends plus one so." Cedric shrugged as he looked down buttoning his cuffs.

"Well, you be safe and don't drink too much."

"Mom, I can survive a plane crash. I can survive explosions. I can get shot and not die. Alcohol has no effect on me. I'm pretty sure I'm indestructible."

"You may be for now but sooner or later, the people that want to harm you will find something to use to hurt you. Whether it be physically, emotionally, or mentally."

"I know mom which is why I wanted you to have this." He pulled out a watch from his pocket and handed it to his mom. His mom looked at it with a confused frown making him roll his eyes.

"It's a watch that sends out a frequency that only I can hear. It's just in case you get in trouble and you need your strapping, young, super-powered alien son to come rescue you." She chuckled as she put the watch on her wrist. It was a gold watch with a brown leather strap.

"So how does this work exactly? where's the button?" She asked looking around on the watch.

"You flip the watch interface up." He said as he flipped the gold watch portion up to reveal a silver platform with his symbol in the center glowing blue. "Press this and boom I'm there."

"So if I have a flat tire, I can call you?"

"I don't recommend that but sure. You know you can always call AAA, they have roadside service."

"Yeah but roadside service doesn't have superhuman strength and speed."

"That is true. Very true."

"So who's your date?"

"Kala's friend, Natalia. I don't know her that well but she's good people."

"Is she cute?"

"Mom it's not like that with her. I don't see her in that way. The last woman I saw that way ended up meeting her boyfriend at my funeral." He said sighing afterward as he walked over to the mirror up in the hallway.

"I don't think she meant for things to go the way they did. They just did. When you're missing the bond you have with someone and you feel attraction from another. You do whatever it takes possible to try to get something like the bond to come back."

"I guess you're right. I just wish it were me. I should've been me with her, not him."

"Maybe it-" Kimberly was saying but their doorbell rang making him exhale.

"We'll finish this later." She said as she walked to the door opening it as Kala stood at the doorway in a red velvet dress with black red bottom heels with a matching lipstick. Next to her was Natalia in a black satin dress with matching black shoes with red lipstick.

Cedric stood there in shock as there was his date for the night and his best friend. He had to admit they both were beautiful but Kala had it won. It was something about that dress that was giving Cedric chills. If it wasn't for her having a boyfriend, he would try to shoot his shot, if he could get over his fear of telling her.

"Well, you two ladies are beautiful." He said walking towards the two.

"Wow, he can clean-up and has manners. I wonder why no woman has scooped you up yet."

"I wonder the same." Both Kala and Kimberly said simultaneously making them all chuckle.

"Alright mom, we're gonna go ahead and go. Be safe and if you need me, call me." He said giving his mom a kiss on the cheek and winking before walking out with his friends to go have a night out.

(!)-(!)-(!)-(!)

Club Zero

Boys fighting over rings

Boys wanna be but,

Long Live the Chief

For a lil ol' ting, lil' boys bang bang

Long Live the Chief

Cedric, Natalia, and Kala all walked into Club Zero. They looked around taking in the vibrant energy that was in the club. There were lights going around in different colors going around on the floor. They were servers wearing black dresses and black suits going around serving those. They could see several of the city's top 1-percenters sitting, standing, dancing just in the presence of other top 1-percenters looking to enjoy themselves.

"Well damn. They make my suit look like shit." Cedric said over the sound of Jidenna performing his hit song, "Long Live the Chief".

"I don't think you look bad." Natalia replied looking at him with a smile. He gave her a smile back as they both started to walk over to a gentleman sitting at the bar.

"Hey babe." Kala said as she gave him a quick peck on the lips. The smile that was on Cedric's face faded as he saw the man that Kala had met at his funeral. A cop. It was like her to date a cop, she always said that she wanted someone who can make her feel safe. And maybe this guy did, but a superpowered alien-hybrid would probably do better.

"Hey." He replied back smiling at her. Joey turned his head and waved at Natalia but lost his smile a bit as he looked at Cedric. To say that there was some physical difference between the two would be an understatement. Ced stood three inches taller than Joey and even with the Biomatrix on, Cedric still had more muscle mass than Joey.

"Joey, this is Cedric. Cedric, this is Joey." Kala introduced the two.

"You're Detective Harvey's son right?"

"Yeah I am." They both gave each other a friendly smile as Joey reached his hand out for a handshake. Cedric shook his hand adding a bit of extra strength to give it a firm shake.

"Wow, that is a good grip. I would not want to pick a fight with you." Joey joked as he pulled his hand back while everyone chuckled even Ced who gave off a fake chuckle.

"Well, I'm sure you two can chat later. I got this one for a few hours so I'm going to take full advantage." Kala said dragging Joey off. Ced sighed as he walked over to the bar with Natalia following after him.

"Get me a scotch on the rocks." Cedric ordered as he leaned up against the bar counter.

"And a Martini with a twist."

"Well, a toast to the singles." Cedric joked making Natalie chuckle as they sat down together.

(!)-(!)-(!)-(!)

Cedric and Natalie were sitting at the bar together laughing at each other's jokes as they both were telling stories about their past. Cedric had it admit, it felt nice to have another friend besides Kala. Someone who he could actually talk to or relate to. He found out Natalia was born in El Paso, Texas. Her father was tragically murdered in her 20s, she became an investigative reporter because she wanted to expose the truth to the general public.

He even told her his story. Not the full story but his story nonetheless.

"Do you-" Natalia was saying but a bartender cut her off handing Cedric a drink. Cedric turned and looked at him confused.

"I didn't order this." Cedric said with a frown.

"It's from Ms. Maverick sir." The bartender said as he walked away leaving Cedric there confused with the drink. He looked and saw Madison Maverick sit a few seats down in an expensive blue suit with black Christian Louboutins. She waved at Cedric and he smiled before looking back at Natalia.

"Wow, I guess you just have that effect on some women." Natalia said, taking a sip of her martini.

"I guess I do. But I'm sorry what were you saying?"

"Nothing. Go talk to her."

"No. I can't leave you here alone. That would make me a terrible friend."

"I'll be fine. Don't let me ruin your chances with a girl. I'll just go find some random guy to dance with. In this dress, I don't think anyone could turn me down." Natalia joked making Cedric chuckle as he placed a hand on her shoulder before he got up and walked over to the VP of Maverick Industries. Natalia turned her head back looking at Cedric and Madison once more with a smile. Her smile once she looked up and locked eyes with Miles Maverick. She gulped down the rest of her drink and got up walking away into the crowd.

Miles Maverick chuckled as he took a sip of his scotch with a smirk.