This is the fourth time I upload this chapter because is being clown and I can't check my story or profile stats to tell if this chapter is out there or not and the website overall is just not working for me and I don't know why so if it continues I might have to go a tiny hiatus to sort things out cuz this is ridiculous.


12 years ago...

"Drex come on over and help me with these crates."

Ray was on his way to fulfill his dream. Well, his father's dream of becoming an official superhero.

He had gathered enough funds from the city to finally be able to afford continuing his superhero duties for Swellview.

Ray and Drex juggled boxes of crates hand and hand down a mysterious elevator.

Drex was curious. He hadn't been given much context by the former other about where they were going or what were in these ridiculously heavy crates.

They finally hit their destination when the elevator doors unlatched themselves and load and behold.

It was a room filled with unlawfully amount of tech.

No, not a room per say but it was almost like a future like living quarters filled with tech left and right beyond modern times and systems ready to be drived.

Drex was fascinated. He thought about all the stuff here they could use to help the people and city of Swellview.

But a small silver lining in the back of his head told him that he wanted to take all of it for himself, to rule over the people and take charge. What great things he could do.

Drex pushed the uncanny thought aside realizing his ridiculous imagination and placed the crates on the ground to turn to face the former only to see him holding out a pair of keys.

He takes them with questioning eyes.

"You must be wondering what this place is."

Drex nodded

"You see, this is our new place of operations, The Man-Cave I'd like to call it.", Ray stated proudly arms extended.

'The Man-Cave. It gives a nice ring to it.' Drex thought, his astonishment not leaving his face.

"I-I don't understand. How'd you afford all this?" Drex questioned.

Ray smiled, "The city payed me a big fat check as a thank you for everything I had done for the people. So I decided we could've used a new HQ's so I contacted a few acquaintances and got it done."

"Don't you mean we?"

Ray scowled, "What do you mean?"

'Nevermind' He was playing dumb. Of course Ray Manchester had to take all the credit they had both done for the city.

Why didn't it surprise him?

He shook the thought and redirected his attention back to the Man-Cave.

"Those keys will allow you to come in and out of this place whenever you like."

"Does this mean I can finally join fighting along side you?" Drex asked hopeful.

Ray masked a Poker Face, "Not yet but one day when your ready."

One day meant Never. Why didn't Ray just let him fight alongside him? He was more than ready. He was a tough guy and knew he could fight well.

So why did Ray stop him otherwise?

It hurt. It hurt being the forgotten member of the team. It was almost like a group project of 2, one does majority of the work while the other doesn't do much yet takes all the credit and the praise.

He'd prove Ray he was ready.

He just needed a plan.

He headed home plain faced.

Those goons had no idea what whey were talking about, he felt so guilty already for what had happened they didn't have to go on right ahead and make him feel even worse.

In fact Ray gave his greatest beat down he's ever given in ages. It almost felt good.

Too good.

Ray was making his way back home when he started to give thought about the whole reason he began crime fighting in the first place, not just because his father wanted him to but there was so much more to that. He loved the attention and loved getting to help people. He knew what he was doing and having someone just as passionate as himself to fight alongside him just was as sweet as candy.

Ray just wished he had realized it sooner.

He realizes Drex wanted nothing more than to fight alongside him, he was just as passionate as he was and wanted to help those around him,

...and he screwed it up.

He couldn't help but remind himself of Drex's earlier quote, 'Your pride will kill you.'

He hated that it was true. His pride is what had put him here in the first place. Because of it Drex had turned on him and Henry was snatched from him.

The same person who once stood by his side since the beginning was the same person who took away the one that mattered to him most.

He wanted to show Drex the amount of pain that he had felt but that's when it hits him...

Drex was trying to teach Ray a lesson. A lesson 12 years in the making.

He almost slapped himself when he realized how blind he had become in the last decade. How could it have come down to this?

How did his pride ruin his passion?

8 years ago...

Henry was the new kid in class. He was nervous. What if he didn't make any new friends? What if the kids would just tease him?

He walked in the classroom hesitantly. All the kids went from laughing and talking to one another to looking up to him curious of who had dared walked in unknown. Henry waved at the other kids, none of them budged and proceeded back to their activities as before.

Well everyone expect two kids.

It was a boy and girl sitting together in a table on the far left of the classroom the farthest away from any other kids nearby. When the boy finally caught Henry's attention he waved profoundly with a big smile on his face. The girl just gave a small smile before giving a small wave.

The boy gestured Henry to come over to their table and sit with them. Henry feared that they would want to be his friend only then for them to kid and rid of him.

Henry hesitantly pulled out a chair and sat near them opposite of the fellow two of the round circle.

They both smiled at him.

The boy held out a hand welcoming Henry to take it.

"Hi! My name is Jasper—"

"...and my name is Charlotte." the girl interrupted.

"What's yours?" the boy asked a little too excited.

Henry held back a smile. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all. He was about to make some friends right off the bat without even trying. Was this for real?

Henry took his hand, "My name is Henry— Henry Hart."

"Well nice to meet you Henry I have feeling we're all gonna be the best of friends!"

Best Friends. A word that has never applied to him.

Henry smiled.

Charlotte and Jasper thought back on the particular memory so many years ago.

They would've never thought this one new kid that had entered their class so awkwardly one day would become one of their best pals and change their lives the way he did. He would take on the role of becoming the sidekick of the hero the three had looked up to, Captain Man.

It felt like a dream that didn't even seem to feel real.

This one kid led them to the lives they had today, and they were thankful.

They both sat on the sunny day grass gazing upon their old elementary school, reminded of all the happy memories during simple times.

They both frowned realizing at the moment not all was swell. Charlotte was the first to speak among the lengthy silence,

"Jasper..." she whispered.

"Mmmhh?" not taking his eyes off the school.

"Do- do you think we'll find him?" Charlotte studders.

Jasper finally takes his eyes off the school to face Charlotte, eyes wet.

He needed to be honest with her, she hated lies.

"I don't know Charlotte. There's so much we still don't know and why. We can only hope Schwoz can find something."

Charlotte sucks in a breath, "But we'll still keep looking right? No matter how long it takes."

Jasper's eyes said shock. He couldn't believe Charlotte had asked him such a ridiculous question. Of course they would continue to find him no matter the cost.

He wrapped his arms around Charlotte and she would generally push him away thinking it would be awkward but for the first time she gives in, needing comfort and reassurance right now.

"We'll still keep looking for him Char, he's our friend and we can't give up on him. He's waiting for us and I know it. We just have to give it everything we got. Find any clues even the most smallest and easily missed ones. We need to have hope. Henry would've done the same thing if one of us were in his place."

Charlotte smiled closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She untangled herself from Jasper's grasp and stood up from her sitting position giving Jasper her hand to take. He takes it and stands up along side her and Charlotte gives him a grand hug, Jasper shocked she'd do such a thing.

He gives in squeezing her back.

"We're gonna find him." Charlotte whispers in his ear.

He smiled "We will."

They part and they both look back at the school.

"Hang in there Henry. We'll keep our promise." Jasper stated promising.

"Come on let's head back to the Man-Cave and see if Schwoz has found anything."

Charlotte nods.

They give one last look at the structure behind them.

'Just hang in there.'

Ray finally makes his way back to the Man-Cave surprised to see both Charlotte and Jasper. They surround the monitors and look behind themselves to see Ray coming out the tubes.

"Hey, Schwoz anything?" Ray acknowledges both Charlotte and Jasper at the same time while too acknowledging Schwoz.

Schwoz turns from his spinny chair to face him frowning, "I haven't been able to find a dime Ray, I'm sorry."

Ray pales. It's been almost 2 weeks how is it possible they have found NOTHING!

No clues.

No details.

No locations to check out.

No people to investigate.

Nothing.

Ray then loses it.

Ray proceeds to throw tools and his steel cabinet off the right corner, the chair, the table, all his gadgets even his Man-Couch he flips over in pure anger.

When he finally calms, he breaks down.

This wasn't Schwoz's fault. Not even Charlotte and Jasper's. It was all his and he was taking it out on them.

The guilt just hits him.

He rubs his eyes and turns to face the trio apologizing profoundly.

"Don't worry about it Ray, believe us we feel your anger too." Jasper stated.

No they didn't. They didn't understand what had truly led up to this. All of this was his fault and it all started the day he fired Drex so long ago...

They don't understand nor would they.

He wipes his face and leans against the wall holding it in his grasp.

The trio climbed over the wreck to head over to Ray who tried to get it together. They all grouped hugged one another feeling a great sorrow aura surround them.

Without Henry they were just broken, missing something they hadn't realize had truly been there. It was depressing.

They part with Charlotte holding his hands in hers, "We have to stick together if we're gonna find Henry. We have to not let our anger and loss get the best of us. If we're gonna have a chance at finding him we have to band together and look at every little detail we might have missed. Henry is waiting for us and we all know it but we can't find him if we don't stick together and then rage quit."

Ray looked away guilty.

"We'll find him, we just need to keep one another in check ok? Because this won't work if we don't. If not for ourselves then for Henry. All we're doing right now is for him."

Charlotte was right. Everything that they were feeling and doing was for Henry. They weren't gonna give up just yet.

There's so much to look through, there had to be clue they could use to their advantage.

'Think Ray Think'

Then it hits him.

Ray snaps his fingers and points at Schwoz.

"If I remember correctly I think there was a camera hidden somewhere nearby in the park. If there is we can get the license plate number and track the van down."

They all faced one another.

Their first lead in many failures was finally coming into fruition.

There was still hope.

AHAHAH Happy New Year's Eve! By the time I publish this it should be the 31st. I am thankful for all my readers and I am grateful for you liking my writing. It means alot and definitely gives me the push to continue. I know 2020 has been crappy and has hurt a lot of people but there was still a lot of good things and hopefully my story gave u the tiniest sliver of that. Anyway Chapter 6 will be posted on the first full week of the new year so keep a watch out for that. Also for anyone that is not reading in 2020 then just have a good day and year on whatever present day it is for you. CHEEERSS!