Chapter Three – Zero's Story

He was four when it happened. A car crash took his parent's lives. Zero didn't have many memories, and those he did have were cloudy and uncertain. All he did remember for sure, was being taken in by a foster home. Alone, scared, and out of place, Zero hid in his 'room', and became very solitary in the process. As he grew up, he focused his attention to music, learning to play the piano.

In the next few years, things went from bad to worse. His foster parents divorced and his mother wanted nothing to do with him. His father took him to Gotham city, where they were only able to secure a small one bedroom apartment. Money was tight, even worse when his father lost his job. Noodles, water and tathered clothes became the staple of Zeros life for a long time to come.

At age twelve, his new 'father' took him along to the liquor store. Zero remained in the car as he watched his father enter the store, and proceed to hold it up! Shocked, Zero could not believe his eyes and tears swelled, relialzation hitting that his father was a criminal.

Barely past the shock of this new information, Zero watched as a figure landed on the sidewalk outside. He didn't recognize the person, but knew he was a superhero of some sort. Scared for his father, as any young boy would, he wanted to shout out a warning! The superhero burst into the liquor store, and confronted his father. Pointing his gun, two blasts bounced off the superhero, who in turned, raised his arms to deliver a blow of his own.

"NOOO!" Zero shouted. And suddenly, the energy surrounding the superhero disappeared entirely. The shock of this gave the father a chance to knock out the superhero with the butt of his gun. Racing outside, he dove into the car and skidded away from the scene.

"What the hell was that?" His father glanced in his rearview mirror as he turned a sharp corner.

Zero kept quiet, he didn't know quite what had happened. But an inkling of a connection was forming. Especially since he had received a potent shout from the superhero in his head, confused as to why his powers had failed him.

"Why father? Why did you rob that store?"

The man he called father glared at him, "How else are we to eat, boy? No one is going to help us, so we're going to help ourselves!"

Zero slouched in his seat, but his father did not let go what had happened back at the store, "I should have been caught though! But in an instant, it seemed his powers were stolen from him. How?"

Licking his lips, Zero was conflicted to admit what he'd come to realize. And in the years following, he never did understand why he said what next came out of his mouth.

"I did it, father."

Glancing over, he scoffed, "What nonsense are you sprouting, boy?"

"Father, " gulped Zero, "When I saw what he was about to do, I screamed, and I felt something happen.. I felt his power…. And I.. I took it. I didn't realize it at first… I was so scared… but I took his power from him."

Still disbelieving, his father had gone silent. They drove for about half an hour when they came upon a road block. Scared it was for him, the father had meant to turn around, when he saw that there was a battle taking place. Two superheros were cornering a gang, ready to take them down. Titling his head, the father turned to Zero.

"Boy, let's see if what you said was true. See those two, do what you did back at the liquor store!"

"But, but father? If I do, those men will get away!"

"Do as I say! I want to see proof!"

Zero ducked his head in fear of his father's wrath. Stealing his nerve, he focused on the two. He didn't know exactly what to do, so he just imagined the men as his father, and his need to keep them safe. His father watched as the two became disoriented and realization hit them tha their powers had gone. The men ganged up on them, knocking them to the ground. Father laughed as he watched them escape, and he clasped his son on the shoulder.

"Most excellent son! I don't know how you do that, but if we don't have to worry about any of those freaks and their super powers… we can make it in this town!"

Zero cried, softly, and his father glared. "Don't be so wimpy! We have to survive, and we will now!"

Turning the car around, they drove back to the apartment. Zero softly sobbing, while his father began to plot.

Back in the present, Zero sat dejectedly at his desk. Distractedly, he tapped away at the keys. Music was his only escape, he could lose himself in it. Missing out on school and friends ever since his father had taken them underground for their life of crime, Zero had no outlet's for his feelings.

He couldn't show them to his father, for he was nothing more then a tool. In fact, in the years, he felt his 'name' was growing to be more about who he was, then what he was. He was a Zero… and save for his despair, he had nothing.. no one.

Then he remembered the Titans. He'd watched them work together, protect each other, and he so wished he could have that. Father would kill him before letting him go, he knew this now. Any love that existed had been destroyed by his father's growing greed. His new plan, Zero surmised, could even be the end of him. Those villains wouldn't want anyone around who could ruin their powers… he knew, in his heart, he was a sitting duck.

Thoughts of the dark girl then crossed his mind. He didn't know any of their names, but that one had caught his attention the most. If his guilt was strong for his actions, they had intensified upon seeing her. There was no logic in his feelings, but a life devoid of anything from friendship to love, and the rampant attack of them was unsettling.

That had to by why he did what he had. As they had escaped, Zero had sent via telepathy to her about their plans. He knew he was betraying his father, and deep down it hurt, for even for the lack of love, that man did raise him and feed him. However, Zero knew there had to be a limit.

That's why, painfully, he knew what he had to do. But in the process, he had to figure out how to accomplish his plan without actively betraying his father. That, would take some effort.

Closing his eyes, Zero began to play in earnest, using the music for meditation. It was the only true escape he was ever afforded. Tonight everything in his life would change, for better or worse.

'Course, with Zero's luck, it will be worse.

To Be Continued