Chapter 12

Arc 1

Dream

Cedric quickly opened his eyes and bolted up sitting up panting for his breath. He frowned as he looked around noticing a change in his surroundings. When he was knocked unconscious he was in an alleyway in Sunstone City. But now, he was somewhere even he didn't recognize. He rose up to his feet looking around. He was standing in the middle of a city in ruins. He looked around once more and saw the faded Cup O'Joe sign. He recognized where he was now. It was the same dream, he had a year ago when he was asleep on the couch. It was his city in ruins. The only thing he couldn't see was Kala hurt anywhere which he was glad that there wasn't but there was a reason, he had this dream. There was something that needed to see. Something he needed to be told.

He looked down at his body and saw that he was in his suit.

"What the hell?" He questioned as he looked down at his hands.

"You just ensured your own damnation." He heard a voice say making him turn around with a frown on his face. All he saw was the shadow of a huge metal figure. The figure raised his hand and brought it down on Cedric making everything go black.

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Cedric sat up screaming as his eyes glowed blue. His eyes faded back to their normal colors while he panted for his breath. Once again his surroundings were different. He was in a clinic. He looked around seeing the plain white walls with a holographic screen showing his vitals on the screen. He looked down and saw a needle stuck into his arm making his frown intensify as he then quickly ripped the needle out of his arm with a grunt.

"The hell?" Cedric was bulletproof. He was knife proof. There was nothing that he knew that could penetrate his skin or even hurt him. The only thing that could even get close was the android he faced weeks ago and that thing was dealt with.

He rose up out of the bed, grabbing his shirt, and walked out of the clinic making his way through. He walked through seeing a room full of robots on a charging station. He was starting to get confused and a bit creeped out. Robots were never a good thing. Terminator proved that.

He walked through seeing a door leading to the way out of a nightmare in his mind. He walked through the door and into a hallway.

"Goddamn, what the hell did they bring me into?" He eventually found his way into a walkway walking into what he guessed was the living room to see his father sitting on the couch with his legs crossed and a phone in his hand watching what he guessed was Netflix or something.

"Good, you've finally awakened."

"Where am I?"

"Your new HQ. I thought you would need this considering that you're adding to your crusade. You're underground. You got here by me dragging your ass to a shipping container at the Sunstone City docks. I flipped a switch and it brought us underground, compliments of yours truly. And the container will never be moved because it's owned by me or my alias, Damian McCollum. Now any more questions?" His father very thoroughly described exactly where they were and how they got there but he didn't answer how the hell Cedric got the needle stuck in his arm when he was in the clinic. And why was he in the clinic?

"Why was I in a clinic? And how the hell did that thing get in my arm?"

"And that's where I come in." Cedric turned his head and watched as Dr. Hart walked into the living room holding a tablet.

"How are you feeling?"

"Normal. Should I feel any different?"

"I don't know. I honestly don't. But your vitals are normal."

"What happened?"

"When we first found you, your energy levels had dropped tremendously. So much so that you were unconscious and I was able to hook you up to the IV Machine."

"Yeah, your lucky Dr. Hart sent me out to look for you."

"You know Cedric never mentioned you. He never really mentioned his father."

"That's because I didn't have one until I got powers." Cedric said with a hint of attitude earning a look from Koya making Dr. Hart clear her throat to get their attention.

"Anyway, I wanted to show you something. Maverick Industries was digging in the desert a few weeks ago and they found this." She said pulling up an image of a purple crystal making his father frown as he peeked over his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"I don't know. I don't even know what it's made of or where it's from. I want to get a sample but even my clearance can't get to it."

"Fine, I can go get it. You just tell me when and where."

"You sure, it could be dangerous."

"I'm bulletproof, there's nothing that can hurt me."

"You sure 'cause that girl had you unconscious in the alleyway." His father said making him turn his head to give him a glare making him smirk as his son stared him down. Cedric turned his attention back to Dr. Hart.

"First priority is finding this girl. The second priority is finding that gem." Cedric said as he followed Dr. Hart walking into the computer chambers while his father followed them.

"Son, you shouldn't go after that."

"After what? The crystal?"

"Yeah, it's not safe."

"Dad, I'm almost invincible. Nothing can hurt-" Cedric was saying but his father cut him off shouting.

"Again with that damn mindset! That's what got you in that damn alleyway in the first place! I'm sorry to burst your damn bubble but you're not indestructible! There are things in this world or any other world that can hurt you and you keep that same mentality that is gonna make you more susceptible to them! I can't keep saving your ass!"

"You saved me, what?! Twice?! And you automatically think that gives you a right to start trying to father me! No, that's not what's gonna happen! I've needed you to save me my whole life but where were you! Huh?! Nowhere to be found! I learned to save myself! And I've done a pretty damn good job at it!" The tension in the room was thick. Both men were staring at each other with their eyes full of pain. The pain of not being a father versus the pain of living without a father.

"You're right. You don't need me. So call me if you do." With that being said, Koya turned around and walked away while Cedric looked on with a frown while Dr. Hart looked back and forth between both men looking on with concern in her eyes.

"Cedric-"

"Don't. Let him be. We've got bigger fish to fry. Starting with the girl. I remember her name. Search for Azalia Keating."

"Okay, judging by your tone, there's gotta be some history there."

"There is. She's a girl from me and Kala's past in high school." Cedric started to stare at the screen as Dr. Hart began going through national databases looking to find the girl that seemed to have a history with both Cedric and his best friend.

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Flashback

A much younger Cedric, presumably a 16-17-year-old version of himself, was seen walking through the hallways of Sunstone City high looking down at his phone with his backpack on a strap on his shoulder. He looked up from his phone to see a blonde leaning up against a locker.

She had ice blue eyes and pale blonde hair with high cheekbones. She had lean, legs with fat in all the place and a flat stomach with a chest that brought the attention of many guys.

"Scientists have recently found that a single mutation in a long gene sequence by the name of the KIT ligand can cause a change in physical appearance. Primarily hair." Cedric said as he walked towards the locker next to the girl.

"A gentleman would at least tell his name first." She said as she looked at Cedric with an annoyed look.

"Sorry. My name is Cedric. Cedric Harvey. I'm the starting Wide Receiver for varsity." How do you do?" Cedric flirted as he grabbed at the woman's hand and gently shook it.

"Brittany." The blonde replied with a smile while she looked Cedric in his eyes this time with a different attitude.

"Blonde hair is caused by the mutation of the name of KIT ligand but I have to say it you look beautiful and believe me you stand out in a crowd. I have news for you Brittany, you are one of a kind." Cedric said.

"First you spit out some scientific facts to boost your male ego without introducing yourself first then you proposition a girl. Tell me, How is that flirtation technique working for you?" Brittany said as her brow furrowed.

"I'll tell you after a date." Cedric smiled making the girl Brittany giggle as she then looked down at the floor. Seeming like out of nowhere, Kala came out of nowhere and walked towards Cedric locking her arm around his.

"Hey, babe." She said as she kissed Cedric on the cheek and then looked at Brittany, "Who are you talking to?"

Brittany simply rolled her eyes and walked away from Cedric as he watched as she walked away. Just as the blonde walked away Kala unwrapped her arm from Cedric's while he exhaled.

"And the award for biggest cockblock of the year goes to Kala Rose!" Cedric joked as the two began to walk down the hallway. Kala smiled while Cedric had an amused look on his face.

"Someday you'll thank me for this." She said.

"Thank you for what? For keeping me from finding a girlfriend." He said.

"No for steering you away from girls that aren't the right one. And I need your opinion on this as an article for the front page. I'm thinking of covering your record of 34 touchdowns and 2,161 receiving yards all in a single season." She said. He simply rolled his eyes and then turned to look at her.

"Okay, don't you have to run this by Ms. Collins first?"

"Yeah but I just wanted to see if you were down first."

"Kala, I'm always down to help you."

"And that's why you're my best friend." Kala said as she then kissed Cedric on the cheek making him smile.

"Please tell me that's not the only reason." Cedric started joking as they walked down the hallway.

"No silly." And just as the two best friends walking down the hallway as the short petite girl with brown hair and blonde highlights with chocolate brown eyes and caramel skin known as Azalia Keating had peeked out of a corner looking on with a smirk.

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Harvey Family Household

Kala sat on the couch with a laptop on her lap writing an article. Even on her off day, she was writing an article and she was writing one about "The Man of Tomorrow" Miles Maverick that's what people started to call him. He had a major impact on technology and made breakthroughs that could lead to futuristic advancements in tech. But one of those advancements blew up in his face. It was the reason that her best friend had disappeared for a year. The Fusion Reactor.

Nobody had talked about it. Nobody wrote an article on it at all. It was almost like everybody ignored that it happened. A lot of it since Miles Maverick had done everything in his power to sweep the whole damn thing under the rug. Kala couldn't be like everybody else. She couldn't ignore the whole thing. It goes against every single morale she had in her heart.

"What are you doing?" Natalia said walking down the stairs wearing a pair of sweats and a t-shirt that was quite big on her. Kimberly had allowed the girls to borrow some of Cedric's clothes for the night.

"Writing an article."

"Kala, we have the day off."

"I know. It's not for the paper. It's for my blog."

"You're the only person I know that would work on their day off. Have you spoken to your boyfriend?"

"Yea, he's at work."

"No not him. The other one."

"Who?" Kala looked up from her computer screen looking at Natalia with a bewildered daze.

"The owner of that hoodie. Cedric." Kala chuckled as she shook her head.

"No. He's not my boyfriend. I don't see him in that light."

"You sure? The relationship between you two is unique. The way you two look at each other and talk to one another, it's different from most friendships."

"We're just different than most people. And we're just friends."

"Okay if you say so. I won't pry."

"Good. Now that I'm finished with this, let's go ahead and shower so we can get out of here."

"Okay, you think she'll mind if I eat a sandwich. I'm starving."

"We'll get Burger Bros on the way."

"Oh, you're the best." Natalia said as Kala rolled her eyes while they both walked up the stairs to go get cleaned up.

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Undisclosed Location

"The Man of Tomorrow" stood in an all-black suit looking on with a cold stare as he stood in an elevator with two bodyguards dressed in similar threads standing next to him. And as the elevator doors opened, Miles could see a man on both of his knees with zip ties on his wrist. Miles walked out of the elevator with his bodyguard following behind him.

"Mr. Johnson, I really wished you wouldn't have screwed with me. This is the third time Mr. Johnson. You're a special case, I usually don't let people screw with my money. After the first time, you're done but you, I let you make it, mostly out of pity. I didn't want your little girl to grow up without a father 'cause that hurts. Hurts like hell but you screwed up big time." Miles said as he took off his jacket handing it to his bodyguard. He unbuttoned his shirt as well showing his well-toned body.

"Please I'm sorry. I'll never cross you again. I'll find your money."

"Too late. Take his ties off." Miles ordered his men. They walked over to Mr. Johnson and dragged him up against his will while he pleaded against it. They took off his cuffs while he looked at Miles with fear in his eyes.

"Mr. Johnson, I'm gonna give you the chance. You beat me, you walk out of here alive and your debt is clear. But you lose, you die. The choice is yours, fight for your life or die like a pathetic weakling." Miles said as he put his fists up. Mr. Johnson shook his head looking on with a fearful frown but put his hands up walking towards Miles.

Johnson started to hopelessly swing at Miles as Miles ducked every single one seemingly easy. Like a well-experienced boxer, Miles caught Johnson with a left and right jab and right hook. Johnson started stumbling a bit as MIles walked towards him hitting him with a left hook before grabbing Johnson and hitting him with repeated shots to the gut but Johnson wasn't giving up and headbutted Miles making the billionaire back up a bit giving Johnson some breathing room.

"So he does fight back. I was starting to get a little bored."

Miles ran towards angrily allowing Johnson to catch him with a right directly in the mouth. Miles put a hand up checking his lip for bleeding making him smirk. Miles walked back towards Johnson and waited for Johnson to go for a right allowing Miles to duck it and instead start to work on the abdomen before finishing up his coffense with a right hook making Johnson drop down to a knee.

Miles reached into his back pocket and pulled out a black switchblade. As the blade popped out, you could see the silver blade had an outline of a purple gem-like texture. He walked over to Johnson standing behind him. He quickly slid the blade across the neck making Johnson gasp for air as blood started to seep out of his wound instantly. Johnson dropped down to the ground as he had his hand wrapped around his neck trying to stop the blood that leaked out profusely but it was no use. His throat was already slit.

"Clean this up." Miles said walking towards his bodyguards grabbing his shirt and jacket from them as they nodded walking towards the man he just murdered.

"Anything you find on him, you keep it. Buy yourselves some lunch." He said as he heard his phone start to go off in his pocket. He reached down into his pocket grabbing his cellular device and pulled it out to look at his screen. He sighed as he saw the notification.

Since he had been keeping the Fusion Reactor under wraps, he set an alert that would tell him anytime the failed experiment was mentioned. And it just so happens that this time, his alert was going off and going off for the blog of a certain reporter in Sunstone City. He sighed as he dialed a number and awaited an answer.

"Hey, it's me. If you still have those abilities. I need you to do a job for me. I need you to find a person. You'll track them by their phone, I'll send you the link. Find them but don't do anything."

Castings:

Azalia Keating/Gemini