There's a thing about people and their vision of power. Some want power to rule people, others want power to make them fear you. Then there's people who fight fear using their power to keep people's hopes up. 'heroes' that's the term people use.
I on the other hand believe that if a person with power can do something to help they should do it.
But life isn't like this, if you have the power to stop people from getting hurt. You should take that step.
I don't really know how why I do what I do, but my life is regular as the best way to describe it. Its a boring regular life.
I'm a regular guy, skinny, healthy-ish, with an average height. I worked in the desk job at a large company where you're just a number, no names, just a number to determine who you are.
I just felt a pull on my arm and seconds later everything stopped working, pain exploded from my chest, my mind went blank and I knew that it was my time.
The last thought I had was the one of my grandmother being diagnosed with a deadly cardiac disease; "Necrotic Myocardio." A heart disease that makes your heart die really fast if not treated. "Oh." was my last word, no last words, nothing; just me lying in the ground as people looked like they were worried about me my eyes saw darkness as my head and chest were in pain. 'Huh. So boring.'
looking back to my life I can only say one thing about; I graduated top of the class, Valedictorian with two degrees. But I had no friends, and estranged family, no father, only mother and my brother. I was alone. 'Will they miss me? Will Mom cry? or be sad?.. Nah, maybe they won't... After all we ended up in different sides of the argument, each on their own.
After a long time in darkness I slowly felt myself lose the conscious thoughts that made sense, touch, smell, taste, sounds, everything dimmed down like a candle reaching its end.
But as fast the lights went out, they came back in, only this time they were bright and unfocused, my senses came to me in seconds, everything at once, pressure, relief, warmth, cold, then warmth again, my skin felt like it was really sensitive to everything around me.
It's weird because I feel as if I'm in the backseat of my mind and my abilities to think are slowly dimming, like something is pushing my thoughts down. Not exactly deleting them, but making it become dormant, slowing down my thoughts; as if watching someone fall asleep.
I try grasping for straws but just as fast, those thoughts dissipated, my memories placed in a safe inside my mind. Only thing left is my consciousness and my senses.
"W-t -ll you do?" A voice I didn't recognize said aloud.
"-n't know, I -n't t-e c-re of -er." A woman's voice sounded so close to me. As she came closer my ears were able to understand.
"She looks like me, but I don't have the ability to take care of her." The same voice rumbled. I didn't hear her voice, I felt her speak. It's English but... what's English and how do I know it.
"We take her to the Fire Department, it's around here."
"It's a crime to leave a baby abandoned there."
"No, if you leave it in a government building, or public service."
Next thing I knew I was being left in a small box wrapped in blankets that were uncomfortable which made me complain, the whole sky is dark and other blurry lights. I could hear a bark, loud yet far. I feel nervous, my body is not responding, I can't move, I can't do anything except babble in a call for help.
"Did you guys remembered to give Cindy her meal?" I heard it far its a babble but I made out the words, not really how far since this makes no sense. I could hear something moving the box and then a bark that could've been thunder for all I knew.
"What's wrong Cindy?" I heard a male voice that sounded too rough. I let out a small cry from my lips not like I could make words, my mouth is too unresponsive to me.
"Oh shit. SCOTT GET HERE NOW!" I heard how he yelled out it was deafening I whimpered in fear. I could see how giant hands went to me, I tried to fight but the blankets were too obstructing.
"It's okay little one, you're okay." I heard his voice rumble he placed me near his chest which is warm and comforting.
"Boss what's... what the fuck?" I let out a groan from the peace I was getting.
"Don't yell Scott, she was in that box Cindy found her. Look for a note." The silence returned and I was slowly easing up as my eyes were slowly drifting from the tiredness in them.
"No, no note boss, someone left her here and only left a box and those blankets." The man came close to me. "Sorry little one, but life is hard make sure to fight it with tooth and nail." He said as my eyes cleared a bit, he has blonde hair and green eyes.
"We have to take her to the nearest orphanage, she can't stay here."
"Yeah. No baby can stay here." The other guy said, but did he say baby? It suddenly dawned on me, no movement control, no tongue control, blurry things and my ears barely work. 'I'm a fucking baby.' At that moment I bawled and cried until my heart was out.
"Shh, it's okay... Cindy... yeah, you look like a Cindy." I grimaced at the name. 'I have a vague feeling that wasn't right. I remember having short hair and being a male... I think.' I cried harder until I fell into a peaceful slumber.
It's been a year of being here, I hate how my life is right now, I hate the fact that I don't know why I feel uncomfortable, everything I do is sluggish, I feel useless. And worst of all, I hate this place the cradle; it took me a few months to learn how to walk... again. I can only sigh as my life will be really hard, I was reborn into a girls body but I do have one advantage and that is that I'm in America a land where I grew.
English is still foreign to my tongue since it doesn't go long after just babbles and incoherent words. The orphanage which is a place I can only describe as gloomy is one of the places that I can describe as rundown. I get food because apparently the matriarch likes me since I'm a baby.
I'm fed and bathed something normal for a baby. But I hate how everything is foreign to me how every single person and thing are much bigger than me. The reason why I came to hate this place is the treatment, how some kids look at me in disgust in jealousy. I do try to cheer them up by smiling which are still gums with teeth coming out slowly. I can only describe life here as hard.
It's been three years of me staying here I can move and speak, I can also read which a real relief to me is. I was so disconnected from the outside world, I was in the group of kids my age, mostly three year olds who were ordered to draw and not get out of the edges. It's retarded, I feel so stupid as if I knew I was smarter than all these kids.
"Cindy can you hand me that newspaper?" I looked up remembering how my name is Cindy no last name. I stretched my small arm and looked at the date. 'November 12 1995.' Wait 1995 wasn't that almost twenty years ago. 'Why twenty?' I felt my head beginning to spin.
I remember a little boy, getting bullied, making friends, then loneliness, then a discussion and then him falling into the ground clutching his chest. "Agh!" I felt years returning to me, as if it was in a safe that burst from the pressure filling my head, but only a really small section. I remember math, books, songs, movies, tv shows.
I opened my eyes which didn't feel like they were closed but it all became so clear. It's like things became simpler, easier from a mental standpoint.
"Cindy sweetie are you okay?" I looked up as I felt something warm ran down my nose. I could hear a girl freaking out from the sight, as well as another kid saying 'Gross' in the background but it was slowly coming back to me.
"Oh my, come here sweetie." The woman said as I stood up slowly and a tissue was placed under my nose.
"What happened? Did you get hit?" Miss Patty said in worry.
"No, I feel weird. My head hurt but now no, I feel clearer. I feel fine but with a little headache."
"Alright Cindy, just keep this in your nose." She placed
It happened so suddenly, the change was palpable I was smarter. But my brain felt DIFFERENT, I was overall a target.
I didn't realize how bad the orphanage was, this place is horrible and I've wanted to get out of here with all my soul but it doesn't matter what I do no family wants to adopt me.
At age 4 I was sent to the room with the other girls I realized that I have nothing to my name, everything comes from the orphanage. Only a fancy dress for when I get adopted. But it doesn't feel right; couples didn't want me as a baby, why would they want me now? I developed the thought of seeing myself as an ugly kid, I mean everyone likes a cute kid, those get adopted right away, yet I stayed. But I didn't give up, when people were scheduled to come to the orphanage, I was up first, at 6:00 a.m. sharp, I was awake and taking a shower a minute later and preparing myself, hoping with my heart that I would get a family like the one I lost.
I remember those days, the birthdays I had as a kid, when we were a family before the argument. Those were saved for when I felt hopeless, when this life becomes too much. The first day of school this is where all the other kids in the orphanage go.
I excelled in math and science, everything was so easy. But there was something different history, no drastic changes but one thing that I thought like a joke. "Captain America." The book mentioned once in the book. I dismissed it as it was only one paragraph, I didn't really care as I knew history but I had to read everything once and that would be it.
So I did the next best thing, I got permission by the matron to go to the library with one of the adults who supervised. It ended up with me cleaning all the dishes for 2 weeks in order for me to be let out to the library with an adult. My knowledge in engineering allowed me to understand heavy topics, which I was happy to go over once again.
For a while I knew the people in the orphanage suspected I was a small genius, they had no idea what I actually was. This new life granted me the ability to remember everything, good days, bad days... everything.
But it all changed on the moment I read how a certain "Howard Stark" was the head researcher in the revolution of technology in the 1940s and onward. How he participated in the creation of the Manhattan Project as well as his descendant, under the name of Tony Stark. A man who is supposed to be Iron Man, I freaked out that day it came in a flash those movies I saw, all the characters, events, catastrophes, fights, everything got ingrained into my brain.
But my thirst for knowledge just grew bigger, I know a genius made an armor out of metal scraps and car batteries. "Can we go see Tony Stark to the Stark Expo? It's the last one, because howard died almost ten years ago." I asked to one of the workers who came and went, as I held a book pointing at a paragraph that talked about the expo itself, also I wanted to see not the creations Howard left behind after being killed by HYDRA. I need to at least get to try to get an arc reactor dismantle it and get the hell out of here.
But I got rejected from the start, they said it was a long and expensive trip, I begged literally begged in my knees expecting for an answer; I even pulled the heartstrings of the matron by saying that I would be a good girl if I went to the expo. After 3 whole weeks of begging and 4 months of dishwashing and washing clothes, they relented.
I was ecstatic from getting the chance to see Howard and Tony Stark's inventions, I could try and talk to Tony. But that is a whole can of worms. It's his last expo and it will be my chance to get something that I desperately need. A way out.
And that day came; it was only me and a few kids as well as the supervisor whose name is Sally a volunteer college student who looks like she'd rather be anywhere else. Which gives me the chance to get my way on doing things, AKA steal a plan of something Tony and everyone else considers trash.
As we were on the way taking the bus to the expo on Manhattan I remembered that it only took one glance on the arc reactor schematics, actually I could try and remember Iron Man 2 and start from there but that is plan B. As we descended from the bus Sally began explaining. "Okay kids we will be going together and don't you separate yourselves if you do. Get to a security guard and tell them that you are to wait until the end of the expo around five in the exit number five. Five of Five. We will follow the buddy system, but we're seven in total." I looked to my left to see everyone already had a buddy giving me dirty looks, even sally had molly a girl a year older that hates my guts.
"I'm safe from the freak, thank god." Molly said in relief. 'Ouch. I'm not a freak, I'm just smarter than any of you, and any of you will ever be.'
"It's alright, I can go by myself. I remember everything I see, so don't worry about me I can handle myself." I said in a confident tone and my gaze never faltering. This would make me as confident in my words and I would make a bond with Sally. Who shrugged and gave me the go ahead. I received the badge and I was free to do what I wanted which meant my mission began.
After a few minutes of walking around looking at the mechanics in everything, it's awesome. I had a major in electrical and mechanical engineering before dying trying for a master on physics. But I can only say that things here are awesome but outdated as hell.
I looked at the exposition for Howard Stark, looking around I analyzed the patterns of the guards and the entry points. There are 3 guards one for each important part in the expo for no one to get backstage. But I can make a distraction; I looked at the closest things from me. A machine that is supposed to give better signal for TV's, what looks like a portable and unpractical telephone, and lastly an engine for a new car which is supposed to be a 1999 Ford Truck that is supposed to come later this year, from the pick-up truck parked beside it.
My grin grew at the sight of the engine working, from my knowledge I know 2 things if the electrical input in an engine overloads the rest of the engine is stimulated to go faster. But if a single cable is out place just 2 inches to the side then it overloads and works as if the car is constantly pushing the pedal.
As the guards were distracted I enacted my plan, amping up the current by first moving the cable and bending it the right way for it to be stuck and still stimulated the electrical output by changing the battery that its connected to give current directly to the rubber on the other cable.
It will not blow up, it will just short circuit, I know this by heart because I did it twice once in accident the second one to make sure it worked like that.
As the engine revved up I was out of sight and was standing watching engineers try to see why the engine began revving up even when the cable was set in place which made start a new cycle of electrical current with more power. The noise is deafening and guards turned heads towards that place giving me my chance.
As I walked backstage I kept to the shadows as I learned before. For a fact I know Tony is supposed to not be here since he was recently spotted in a conference in another place. For a fact I know the blueprints have to be stored near here. I could see a mantle covering something, something that has the shape of a giant arc reactor.
Looking around once again I heard the pop of the engine which made heads turn and giving my chance to move. I was under the mantle in seconds looking at it was amazing it's gigantic but useless as of right now its just glowing. I heard a man yelling. "What the hell is going on? People are already making a mess, and where is Tony?" Looking at the detail of the invention was enough to get the idea in my head, but I need a blueprint to know exactly what I need. Which most are mainly stored in the lab and a copy, in... somewhere I don't know? But for this to be here and not in California where the story takes place it had to be built here. And to my luck beside the mantle I could see my target, a big desk with a lamp and a design that resembled the arc reactor. If those weren't it, then the words "ARC REACTOR" at the top were just wrong.
People began moving again after the noise was gone and the issue was resolved. I walked slowly and saw a chair just below my height not tall enough for me to sit, but I'm nimble enough to make it to the table. I moved from the shadows and dashed to the table where the blueprint is, I heard someone shout at me. "HEY!" I ignored it and climbed on the chair and had my clear look at the blueprints, instructions and notes directly from Howards hands, palladium, copper wire, glass, a conductive material as base and a kick to start the cycle.
Basically I could produce this for energy and from the notes the amperage it creates is off the chains! I could make a battery that would never run out of power. I memorized every detail to heart, every nook, cranny and bent and crumpled pieces due to having my memory I could remember it after a glance but I had to analyse it. I smiled widely at the invention and it was within my reach. I couldn't take it, but I could memorize it.
"Kid!" I jumped in the scare, falling from the chair but strong arms caught me before I face planted to the ground.
"What are you doing kid?" Obadiah Stane as his badge stated and he looks like a younger Jeff Bridges.
"Umm I got... lost?" I pulled my most innocent face and used what little cuteness I had.
"Oh really?" He clearly does not believe me.
"... yes." I could only face palm myself from how stupid my answers are.
"And did you get lost standing on top of a chair that has blueprints that are from an invention?"
"It's made by Howard Stark I'm a huge fan, he revolutionized the mechanical enterprises. His researches and published papers are awesome."
"So you can understand his gibberish?"
"It's not gibberish, its smart people talk." I defended not realizing I just insulted him.
"Oh so you're telling me you're smart." I am definitely walking on thin ice.
"I didn't say that, it's just that I like to read about machines since they're better than talking to people. At least machines don't talk down to me or insult me." I didn't expect that to come out, guess my isolation is taking its effect on my psyche. He looked at me with doubt. "Does this even work?" I asked trying to make myself just a curious lost child. Obadiah is also an ignorant.
"No, it's just light, a really fancy and expensive lamp." 'You're an idiot, this thing has a lot of power.'
"I think it's pretty."
"You know kid, you like Howards inventions right?" I nodded shyly attempting for him to either give me the blueprints as a gift or for me to leave.
"I'm no one, just a kid who has nothing to her name." I admitted as I looked at the blueprints with longing.
"You're an orphan?"
"Yes, I got abandoned after I was born. I have nothing just things the orphanage hands me down from previous kids I begged here for a whole month to just be able to come here and I'm here because it's my birthday and the entrance is just a dollar." I admitted, it hurt, it's painful that I don't have anything that I can call mine unlike my previous life where I was blessed with many things.
"Then here, a gift for your birthday." He just pulled the blueprints into a roll and stored it into the tube that was sitting beside the table and gave it to me. "And here's a card if in the future you want to work in Stark Industries." He gave me a card and in the back wrote his name and signature.
"Really? Don't you need this for like dismantling?"
"No, the blueprint is just a copy and this was shipped from California. as soon as this is done this will be shipped back."
"When you're older present that card and they'll give you a job. Guard take her from here and let her keep the tube it's a present." and with that he walked away, and in his place stood a guard.
"You shouldn't be here kid, you're lucky he found you snooping around and not me or you would be in deep trouble little lady." I jumped out of the seat and took the hand he offered.
He took me to the expo once again and left me there as he returned to his post. 'Even a better result than what I expected.'
The day couldn't get me down no matter what, I loves the expo even the cheesy movie reel that was of Howard making the inauguration.
As five in the evening rolled around I saw everything and I began approaching the fifth gate and I was so happy. "Hello Cindy, did you get bored?" Sally said as she came along with I think her name is Ellie.
"No, it was amazing. All the inventions and I got this!" I smiled proudly at my gift.
"Oh so weird like you, what is that?" Ellie asked, which I ignored.
"Ellie that's mean you shouldn't insult others. And Cindy what is in it?"
"It's a blueprint for a light." I kept my intelligence hidden behind the child naiveté.
"Oh that's nice." Sally said with a smile that I know it's fake and a tone that indicated that she was tired as we reached the
"Finally, Sally can we leave?" The kid that was with Molly complained aloud.
"Yeah, this place is boring. Everything here is so weird like the freak." Molly said in a mocking tone. 'Okay ouch, I know she doesn't like me but shit she's flat out cruel.' Her eyes narrowed on me.
"What is that, did you stole it?" Everyone's eyes turned to me.
"No! I met a man his name is Obadiah Stane and he worked with Howard Stark and he gifted me this." I said defensively, to my surprise her eyes honed in on the tube in my back clear with jealousy and hate.
After everyone walked inside the orphanage it was already six in the afternoon which meant that everyone should take a shower and be ready for dinner. I was smiling wide feeling immense happiness.
"Cindy, I take it you had fun." The matriarch asked as we walked inside.
"YES! It was amazing! And they gave me this! It's a gift, he also said when I grow up I could work on Stark Industries." I showed her the blueprint and the card he gave me which had the signature and recommendation for SI.
"That's really good for you kid! I'm happy..." With that she walked into the kitchen where the table was empty. I walked behind her; she wants to see the blueprint. I walked behind her and opened the tube and extended it on the table. I could read this like a book, not just from memory.
"It's beautiful." I said without thinking looking at the details of the reactor. I began muttering calculations knowing I could make a small one but it would take me around 2 or 3 years, I began running through memories of things that I could get.
"..dy... indy... Cindy!" A snap of fingers in my face broke me out of my stupor.
"Sorry, I wasn't listening." I said in shame.
"It's alright, you can keep it, but why do you think it's beautiful?"
"Because of the energy it produces, this produces-" She placed a hand in front of me.
"I won't understand, you're smart but you need to stay focused. We don't have resources to be making this types of things."
"You won't have to, I will make sure everything is free." She sighed in annoyance.
"Fine, but you have to keep that thing safe it's your things and you should keep it close to you like the rest of your things."
"Yes! I will thanks Matriarch!" I said as I folded the blueprint carefully and stored it in the tube/canister thing.
A few days later I was reading a book on advanced electronics that was for college students. It's a boring read, but it did gave me a certain insight in how the reactor works. I could figure it out, if I had the materials to build it. I also learned to never leave my blueprints without me watching them or under lock. Also I only look at them when I am sure no one else can do anything bad to them. Right now I'm using my head while I keep the tube under lock that has a trunk with all my clothes.
"Hey freak." Molly's voice came from behind me.
"What is that blue thing you had in your trunk? Is it alien talk, are you talking to your freaky alien parents?" I could only groan.
"Maybe she's an alien and her parents left her here, that's why she's so smart, she's just an alien."
"I heard the blue thing are messages." All those things were so... stupid.
"Are you even listening alien freak." Molly placed herself in front of me while pulling the edges of her eyes to make them look asian, like my eyes.
"Yes, but I'm not paying attention to you, it shows that everyone here including you are just an insult to science." I said in a cold tone to get them to get ouf of my face. But to my surprise she slammed the book I had out of my hands.
"Electromagnetic fields and iradation. What is this? More things you alien freak like?" Clearly Molly has beef with me, yet I don't know why.
"Electromagnetic fields and irradiation on electrical impulses, it's a book more advanced than what you will ever read. Go back to your fairy tales." I said as I picked up the book, as I stood up I got a pushed to the ground which made a lot of kids cheer on. I stood up not caring for the shove and made my way to another place.
"You scared... freak." I stopped for a second considering if it was worth punching a kid, but fought against the urge. I kept walking.
"Alien chicken!"
"No, even better! She's a freaky alien chicken!" And so the chants began, I felt tears in my eyes. I began reciting the components for the arc reactor they helped me calm down and look on the bright side. They gave me hope that one day I would be out of this hellhole. I wasn't expecting a horrible thing to happen to me, or how I would face a greater loss in my life.
So I remade the first two chapters because I might've fell into the "Cool Writer Syndrome" which I despise whenever I read a fic, and I've read over 600 fics and I follow 538 different fics on my account. But I only favorited 13 fics that I have loved absolutely to death.
So I remade all chapters after all there were too many plot holes from the first 2 chapters and I even made fourth one with the same concept it followed. I didn't like it after the third reread I decided to re write the entire first chapters and give an entire new take on the character. I was too alike to The Spider fic, so I have made the decision to give dept to the character.
So enjoy the fic now there will be regular updates weekly if not I will update several throughout the weeks.