Date: February 9th, 1970 something
Time: Early morning
Location: Forgo City, England
Zero tilted his head toward the rising sun through the heavy cloudy morning. As always, the sun started its approach behind the larger building before the warmth from the sun rays reached him. A small smile crept over his face. He didn't mind this because the return of the sun and its warmth meant that the long night was finally over and that the bitterly cold streets would soon be more lively, and then he could sleep. He then picked up his bag of cans and other miscellaneous items and continued on his walk back "home."
Zero suddenly stopped in his tracks as he saw a secluded home. Minimal security, poorly made locks, even large enough windows to slide in and out. It was the picturesque snatch and run job any criminal would ever see. But as Zero was eyeing the home, another close buy home caught his attention for another reason.
Zero watched in awe from afar as the family he was spying on through the large living room windows were in the process of having breakfast. He watched as what looked like a loving mother brought over a plate of waffles to her young son and, as what could only be a protective father, passed syrup across the table to his young daughter. "They all look so happy," Zero thought to himself as he continued to watch from afar.
He slowly pulled himself away from his viewing spot, no longer wanting to see this joyous moment in which he could never share or the food that felt lightyears away. He continued his path "home." Zero could only clench his eyes as the thought crossed his mind yet again. "You have nothing," he thought to himself. "No father, mother, brothers, or sisters. No family what's so ever. Not even a last name. You have nothing and no one."
Zero continued his long walk home, scurrying about like a rat, as he tried to avoid the main roads and the foot traffic that came with it.
Zero suddenly stopped yet again as he approached a trash can. "Is that..." he said with glee and surprise as he reached within it the can. He quickly pulled out a half-drunken water bottle, some old newspaper, and a pizza box that still had a slice within it. He quickly stuffed the newspaper within his worn-out, ripped long coat as a means of insulation. Next, he stuffed the pizza box and its content within his worn-out backpack for later down the line. He then pulled out a handheld-shaped device.
The device was composed of several batteries half haphazardly wired to a hairdryer with two canisters mended to it, one containing gasoline and the other containing water and freezer parts. The whole thing was controlled by a trigger and the hairdryer setting of "HOT" and "COLD."
Zero slowly and cautiously poured the half-drunk water from the bottle into the already depleted canister, yet he could not hide his prideful look. Within his hands was five years of work. This device had provided him with safety and, to some extent, comfort.
Zero suddenly snapped back to attention as he heard approaching footsteps. With great haste, he grabbed his bag and stuffed his "hairdryer" within his long coat. He ran as the contents in his pockets rattled against him. His now filled pockets consisted of the hairdryer device and schematics written on newspapers and napkins to future projects similar to his half hazard device.
Zero bolted away from the trash can, running away from some pedestrian that neither career nor noticed the homeless 18-year-old.
Zero kept his guard up as he bolted through the streets. "Always got to be cautious," he thought to himself. But, as he continued onto his path "home," he and any reasonable person failed to see the shadowy figure located within the local clock tower. The figure had been effortlessly and soundlessly gliding from building to building, watching him, tracking the boy's movement since the very beginning of the day. Waiting for an opportune moment to swoop down upon him.