Heroes

Logic Puzzle: A)WB and DC own. B) I am not WB or DC. A plus B equals C) I don't own.

Notes: Got in trouble, account frozen, reposting. Ignore until I get part six up.

Prelude

Entropy

Entropy: Theory that all things will eventually fall into chaos. OR The irreversible tendency of a system including the universe, toward increasing disorder and inertness.

It was nearly summer time and we were almost at the end of our senior year. We just had to get past a few end of the unit tests, finals, prom, and graduation. We were adults, finally, both eighteen and looking forward to college.

Or…I was looking forward to college. Richie was just looking forward to getting the hell out of his house but I didn't really notice any of that. I was too caught up. Maybe if not for that day I'd still be caught up. Yes, I'm say that this day, this one Bang Baby, changed my entire life.

He called himself Entropy. You could almost see Richie's eyes light up at the prospect of an intelligent opponent and I would have laughed had it not made me so wary. Idiots with power were easier to put down than smart guys with power, because the smart guys not only used their power better, they sought of weaknesses in those they fought.

Namely us.

Entropy, who I would later come to know as Jacob Nash of Eastbumfuck, Nebraska (His words, not mine), had been stealing from the supermarket, of all possible places. We wouldn't have bothered with him except that his powers were literally throwing everything to hell. The security systems just failed the moment he crossed the threshold of the store, from the cameras frying to the alarm shorting out.

It was ridiculous.

More than that the securities guards just couldn't get a proper shot off. They must have emptied six guns at him and every bullet fell to the side, somehow managing to miss him every time. Rich picked up his signal with backpack and naturally we went to investigate. We got there just as he was walking out.

He was about Richie's height, with dirty blond hair. And I don't mean dirty as in dark; I mean dirty as in greasy and unwashed. His eyes were brown-green and wild and, looking back on it, absolutely terrified. I should have known he wasn't the usual the moment I saw him. His jeans were dirty, ripped and holey, and he was wearing about four shirts, starting with a dingy wife beater and ending with a faded plaid jacket. His sneakers were ratty and, like the rest of it, had a few holes here and there.

You'd think after things with 'Frost I'd have learned a little something, right? Maybe to not just attack on sight, but to consider things first? I didn't do it. I probably should have. I was a little more hotheaded when I was that age thought.

He had two bags filled with what I assumed to be cash. I thought it would be easy and basic; another day another bang baby taken down and locked up.

…yeah. Sometimes I'm an idiot.

Static smirked down at the young man staring up at him from the ground. He wasn't particularly big, buff, or noticeably mutated. In fact he was pretty skinny and a touch on the short side.

This was easy. He couldn't see it being anything but. He circled the new bang baby once then called out to him, a little surprised that the usual trash talking and threatening hadn't started. Had this been Ebon or Hotstreak he'd be on his third round of insults.

"So, you got a name or what?" He tilted his head as if he didn't understand the question. "You know, something to call you by? Gear, I think we've got another bright one on our hands."

"Hey, Static." Gear was hovering a few feet away from him a very thoughtful frown on his face. "I don't think this is-"

"Entropy." The 'baby' said finally, blinking slowly. "You can call me entropy."

Whatever Gear had been about to say was lost. "Do you know what entropy is?"

Entropy laughed softly. It was a harsh rough noise, as if he hadn't had a drink in weeks. Then he licked his lips, which were cracked to the point of bleeding. "Yes. Surprised?"

"It's not often you meet a criminal who comes up with something so…unique."

He blinked mildly. "It's not unique. It's just…true."

"That's nice." Virgil said not particularly liking the almost friendly conversation the two were having. "Are we going to fight or discuss science?"

Almost in unison Gear and Entropy shrugged. Then the blond on the ground tilted his head to the side again, long greasy locks sliding into place.

"You could just let me go."

"Yeah, that'll happen." Static rolled his eyes but still held back. He wasn't really comfortable with the idea of attacking someone who wasn't…posing a threat. Entropy rocked on his heels for a moment then sighed and dropped the bags.

"Keep 'em." And with that he turned and headed off down the street, as if he hadn't just fried an entire supermarket only to leave his prize in the middle of the parking lot. Static wasn't sure if he should follow him or what. Gear, ever the curious one, headed for the bags he'd left.

He was a bang baby and he had caused a lot of damage but, as far as Static knew, no one was hurt and he hadn't really taken anything. Still it was better to take him in so he could take a whiff of the new cure that had been whipped up. He felt kind of bad but still he flexed his power a bit and caused a few 'spare' pieces of metal to form a cage around Entropy. The bars crackled with electricity, least he try to use whatever his power was to escape.

As long as it wasn't water based Static knew it would hold.

The blond blinked, clearly startled. Then, with a sad sort of smile he reached out and touched the metal. There was a rumble and then the cage quite literally collapsed.

"Oh wow." Gear murmured excitedly, momentarily distracted. "So cool."

Static disagreed just a little bit. He gathered his power again, deciding the direct approach was best. He was about to wrap Entropy with just simple electric bands when he felt something…wrong about his energy. He was familiar with the crackling electrical field that surrounded him, giving everyone who dared to touch him a small shock of static electricity no matter how he tried to control it, and it was…almost comforting in it's familiarity.

But this was wrong. It was almost like the time with the sunspots, only it felt…wrong inside. Something inside of him twisted and it hurt and he couldn't help but double over in pain.

"Static?" Gear's slightly dazed voice then a muttered curse. He watched Gear throw a zap cap and fully expected whatever was happening to stop the moment Entropy was safely wrapped up. It didn't happen. The zap cap just sat at his feet, innocent and unassuming.

Gear looked dumbstruck. Static was now on his knees and he could feel his field flickering in and out and he knew the minute it just went out he was headed for the ground. Hard.

Entropy stooped and picked up the apparently faulty 'cap. He tossed it from hand to hand for a moment then, eyes still holding a deep sort of sadness, threw it. The coils extended, binding Gear and sending him pitching over.

Static felt his panic rise to full force because rather suddenly he was falling. The energy was pulsing out of him but instead of staying out he could felt his body reaching out and drawing it back in, like some kind of sick recharge loop, and it hurt. It was almost tearing at him, burning him from the inside.

Shit. Was he being electrocuted? Was that even possible?

He was pretty sure he should have hit the ground but arms wrapped around him. He blinked up at the Bang Baby who looked panicked. He wanted to push away but found that he couldn't. Murky brown eyes were wide and staring, lips moving but only soft noises coming out. He imagined Gear was puzzling the whole thing out in his head, which meant that he'd be fine eventually.

If he didn't pass out first. The hot feeling inside of him was worse; like he literally had a fire burning away at his insides and that it was reaching out with tiny-clawed fingers and tearing at him, desperate to escape into the open air.

He realized suddenly that he wasn't just sucking in his own energy. It was too much to just be his own. He could feel himself building up, too much all at once, a serious overload. Too…much. He felt as if he was going to explode…just…keep taking it in until the pressure built and he exploded into tiny little Virgil pieces all over the pavement.

His father was going to be so pissed off about this whole dying thing. The world was more white than anything, starting at the inside and working it's way outwards, consuming his entire line of sight. It was bright and hazy all at once. Little black dots, wreathed in bright colors, danced in front of his eyes, taunting him.

…Weird. Was this dying?

"Stop it!" The voice was distant and kind of desperate. And it wasn't Gear.

And then it stopped and he was gasping for air. The world went kind of gray for a moment, tilting wildly and all he could see was Gear's face, a mixture of relief and surprise, followed by panic once again. And then there was nothing.

Yep. That's it.

Now you're sitting back and going "But Static, how could you, one of the world's greatest, most handsome and intelligent heroes and role models for today's youth have been so effected by one grimy kid in front of a supermarket, who apparently handed you yours ass without breaking a sweat?"

I'm getting to that. So there. Shut up and listen and no more stupid questions.

And he didn't hand me my ass. I was just…taken off guard. And his power is really fucking weird. I could take him today, believe that. I mean…I was 18. That was a decade ago. Things have changed.

…whatever.

Chapter one on Tuesday. It's saved at school and I have a four day weekend…sorry in advance. Then again an update a week is about my usual speed, so never mind.