Chapter 12: Deception

Arc 1: Out of Shadows

*Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or anything Marvel-related, all I own are my OCs.

Dream

Cedric quickly opened his eyes and bolted up sitting up, panting for his breath. He frowned as he looked around noticing a change in his surroundings. When he was knocked unconscious he was in New York. But now, he was somewhere even he didn't recognize. He rose up to his feet looking around. He was standing in the middle of a city in ruins. He looked around once more and saw the faded Cup O'Joe sign. He recognized where he was now. It was the same dream he had a year ago when he was asleep on the couch. It was his city in ruins. The only thing he couldn't see was Kala hurt anywhere which he was glad that there wasn't but there was a reason, he had this dream. There was something that needed to be seen. Something he needed to be told.

He looked down at his body and saw that he was in his suit.

"What the hell?" He questioned as he looked down at his hands.

"I am inevitable." He heard a voice say, making him turn around with a frown on his face. All he saw was the shadow of a huge, physically intimidating figure.

The figure raised his hand and brought it down on Cedric making everything go black.

November 2009

Cedric's eyes bolted open as he floated inside a chamber with a bluish liquid. His eyes faded from their glowing blue state to their normal dark brown complexion. The liquid in the chamber seemingly started to drain as

Cedric sat up screaming as his eyes glowed blue. His eyes faded back to their normal colors while he panted for his breath. Once again his surroundings were different. He was in a clinic. He looked around seeing the plain white walls with a holographic screen showing his vitals on the screen. He looked down and saw a needle stuck into his arm making his frown intensify as he then quickly ripped the needle out of his arm with a grunt.

"The hell?" Cedric was bulletproof. He was knife-proof. Nothing he knew of could penetrate his skin or even hurt him.

He rose out of bed still clad in his suit. He took a deep breath as he looked down at the symbol that ran across his chest. He looked up and started to make his way out of the clinic and walked towards the main computer chambers. A frown snaked its way to his face as a hologram of his father appeared.

"What happened to me?"

"Your body went into a light comatose-like state."

"Why?"

"Your body was drained. All the energy in your cells were gone. So your body shut down to recharge."

"How did I get here?"

"I built an android program that would detect when you're in peril and save you. Even the most powerful man in the world needs someone to save them," Cedric rolled his eyes at that last statement.

"I'm not the most powerful man in the world. I can't be if I'm getting my ass kicked like this. Not by my cousin," He said as a frown snaked its way onto his face as he took a deep breath. He had so many questions on his mind. How could Jason be alive? What happened to him? Why was Jason attacking him? What the hell was that thing in his chest?

But right now that was the least of his worries, he had to figure out if he wanted to tell his aunt or not. Part of him wanted to, just because he's or was her son. He didn't know what the hell he was anymore. But the other part that was conflicting with him was that he couldn't risk hurting her. He couldn't see his aunt go through the pain of losing her son once again.

"The reason you were able to be put down was because your enemy possessed a heart of Ryonite," his father said as a holographic image of the same glowing purple gem that Jason had in his chest last night.

"What is Ryonite?"

"It's radioactive gems mined from the caves of Ryon. It is believed that long ago there were 2 meteors. One that hit Earth and one that hit Ryon. The one that hit Ryon, the gems eroded from the meteor into our caves giving us the resources needed to expand our world's technology and weapons. But the one that hit Earth managed to find itself embedded within the soil. When the gem absorbs yellow sunlight, it begins to act as a counteragent to the strength and abilities of a Ryonian under the sun. It's believed that there are 5 confirmed types of Ryonite."

Cedric folded his arms listening to his father's words. He did not know that there was a gem from his homeworld that could harm him. He knew he wasn't completely invincible but at the same time, he didn't know that his homeworld would have objects that could harm him.

"Is there a way to limit it's radiation?"

"On this planet, there is seemingly one element that can contain the radiation, that element is lead."

"Okay, I'm gonna try to come up with some ideas to combat this thing. Alert me if anything goes on or if you have any ideas."

"Will do, be careful, my son," His father said before he flashed away. Cedric took a deep breath before he zipped away making his way back to the city.

Minutes Later - New York City

Cedric had finally arrived back to the city just a few minutes ago. He had to make a loop around the block first just to make sure no one saw him land. His aunt knew he was but Mikala didn't. And he couldn't risk Mikayla seeing him in his suit, he had no desire to explain who he was right now. Plus he didn't want to explain to either of them why he wasn't at home last night.

Luckily, the entire house was empty allowing him to rush in and change into a more typical outfit. He was clad in a pair of black Chelsea boots with black slim-fitted jeans with a grey long sleeve that seemingly hugged his body. He walked out of the room with a frown on his face. He walked towards the living room eyes fixated on a picture that he used to look at. A while ago he would look at that picture and he would miss his cousin but now, he couldn't even put into words how he felt.

His gaze was cut short when he heard his phone ring getting his attention. He walked over to his phone, taking a look to see who it was making him a take breath before he answered.

"Hey," he answered.

"I'm glad to see you still remember to answer my calls."

"I deserve that one. Look Mikayla I-"

"It's okay. You don't have to apologize but you do still owe me that coffee," She said, making him chuckle as he looked down at the ground.

"Trust me, nothing's gonna stop me next time," He replied.

"I like the sound of that. Hey, listen I gotta go but I'm gonna call you later if that's okay with you?"

"Yeah, that's fine with me. Bye."

"Bye." And with that, both of them hung up the phone. Cedric took a deep breath as he continued on trying to go back to his day job and ignore everything that happened in the past 12 hours.

Maverick Tower

A set of steel gray elevator doors peeled themselves open allowing the billionaire, Miles Maverick to step out dressed in an all-black 3-piece suit with a white shirt and red tie. He looked on with a small smile on his face as he walked through his lab. He paused momentarily when he got to a set of doors with 'Ra' initialed on the door. He placed his palm on a pad beside the door causing it to peel open and walk through.

"Bravo gentlemen," Miles said walking inside the room and clapping his hands, applauding Sebastian and Jason for their dirty work last night taking out the guy who had been a thorn in Miles' side for the past few weeks.

"We did exactly what you wanted and took out The Blur," Sebastian said with a smirk.

"You make it sound like we killed him," Jason said looking down at his feet, "we didn't. We should've but we didn't."

"And for good reason, trust me it's a part of the plan," Miles said with a smirk on his face as Jason and Sebastian both looked up at him. Jason rose up to his feet and walked over to Miles, nearly towering over him as he feet clanked with each step he took.

"I don't care about your plan, I just want my revenge," Jason said. Miles looked on with a chuckle before he pulled out his phone and pressed a button on his screen causing Jason to grunt in pain as he dropped down to a knee.

"Remember, I have the ability to shut you down. So watch how to talk to me, Understand?"

"Understood," Jason said reluctantly as he looked down at the ground panting for his breath as he clutched his chest while Miles simply walked around him, heading for the door as Sebastian looked on.

"Now tonight, you two will need to execute the next step in the plan. And don't worry about The Blur, I have a distraction covered," Miles said as he turned momentarily before walking out of the door.

The elevator doors opened with a ding as Cedric walked into the office holding a laptop bag with a cup of coffee in his hand from one of his favorite local coffee shops. He decided to act as a normal human and take a cab to the coffee shop and walk the rest of the way to the office.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Geoff sitting at a high-rise table alongside the window with his laptop He was hard at work designing a building for one of his clients. Cedric took a deep bnreath, knowing the number of questions that were coming his way. As he mentally prepared himself, he waltzed over to meet his one of his best friend's at the table. He took a seat at the table across from Geoff and watched as the young architect looked up from the computer screen to meet him eye-to-eye.

"Hey, stranger. You had me worried for a second?"

"Worried?"

"Yes, worried. It's been all over the gossip sites man. People saw upu getting your ass kicked. Hell, I didn't know it was possible."

"Me either. I guess I'm not," Cedric joked.

"Man, that's not funny."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"Who were those guys anyway?"

"If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone else. Promise?"

"I promise."

"It was Jason," Cedric as an immediate look of shock snuck onto Geoff's face making Cedric take a deep breath as he ran a hand over his head.

"How is that possible?"

"I wish I knew. I wish I knew how they turned him into that thing. You should've seen him out there, he's not the same man he was."

"Are you gonna tell your aunt?"

"I don't know," Cedric took a deep breath as he looked down at his hands. It was a weird feeling for Cedric. He had all the power in the world yet felt so powerless right now.

"I think you should. It's her son. She has a right to know."

"But if I tell her, it could ruin her. I think she's better off not knowing." It was a tough call but it was one he felt was right. He couldn't run the risk of breaking her heart. She's not ready for that. Not yet.

"Look man, you're my brother. And I made a vow to support you even if I don't 100% agree with your decisions. But you do need to realize sooner or later, the truth will come out," Geoff said as the two got silent, leaving Cedric to sulk in his own thoughts about the situation.

Daily Bugle

Currently, Kalani Rose sat at her desk with her glasses up on her nose as she was frantanicly typing away on her laptop screen. She was quickly trying to wrap her article and turn it into meet her deadline. Her article was once again about The Blur. At this point, he was becoming a staple for her. For some reason, she felt like it was easier to write about him. She felt like she had known him for years, almost feeling as if she were closer to him than anyone else.

Her headline read "The Blur: A Global Icon?. Due to his recent adventures overseas rescuing people whenever and wherever no matter their nationality, questions had been raised on whether he was a hero to the entire globe or just a menace. And the american government had apparently had their opinions on the subject matter.

"I can see someone's a busy bee," said Kala's partner, Natalia Rodgriguez as she walked in sporting a simple pair of black boots that went up to her knees with a pair of black skinny jeans and a white blouse. She had a cup of coffee in her hands as she approached Kala's desk looking at the headline across her screen.

"Always, the minute I let up is the minute someone else swoops in and steals my thunder," Kala said as she turned back to face her partner.

"You got a point. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Why the Blur? What's your connection?" Kala took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes as the thoughts began to circulate in her mind.

"Growing up did you ever believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?" Kala asked as Natalia looked her with a confused frown on her face. Natalia just nodded as Kala chuckled.

"With The Blur it was the same thing. I've been following him since Chicago, since he was known as The Chi-Town Phantom. He would always be there to help people but no one could ever get a clear photo of him and because of that no one believed that he was real except me, I just had a feeling that he was real. So I followed him and his career until he disappeared and then when he popped back up here in New York, I knew I had to be here. So that's my story, what's yours?"

Natalia looked down at the floor gripping her cup rather tightly as she took a deep breath.

"Where I come from there was a cartel that ruled with an iron fist. They did just about anything to get ahead. It didn't matter how dark, how heinous it was. If it gave them more power, they did it. And one day, my father was the one to pay the price. No one would ever stand up to them and it allowed them to do whatever they wanted. I deciedd I couldn't live like that anymore. So I decided I was gonna be the one to stand up and I exposed them. And ever since then I decided that I would be the voice for the voiceless," Natalia said as tears started to well up in her eyes. Kala seeing this reached out placing a gentle hand over Natalia's making Nat look up to see Kala offering a reassuring smile.

"I appreciate you telling me that. And if it's worth anything, I'm glad to have you as my partner," Kala said as Nattie looked up at her offering a friendly smile.

Hours Later - Undisclosed Location

Miles stepped out of the backseat of his fully blacked out Escalade with a frown on his face as he wore a pair of shades on his face. He was meeting up with someone with extraordinary abilities. Abilities that may take out his adversary, The Blur. The meet was taking place at an Electrical Powerplant miles outside the city.

Miles buttoned the buttons on his suit jacket and proceeded to walk forward into the plant, going past the gate. He looked up as he saw an surgence of electricity form through the powerlines before appearing in front of him like a flash of lightning.

He watched as a 5'10 male walked through the doorway into the room. He had golden tanned skin with blonde hair and electric blue eyes. He wore a sleeveless bodysuit with a baby blue chest plate with two yellow lightning bolts engraved in the center of the chest plate. He had black cargo bottoms and military boots with fingerless combat gloves.

"You needed me," he said with an Australian accent. Miles smirked as he looked at the figure with a sinister smirk on her face.

"I do. Jaxson, I have a job for you."

"What is it?"

"I need you to take someone out for me."

"If it's that cop from last time I would be happy to do so. He and I have unfinished business."

"No, it's not Paul Hondo. Your target is someone much more powerful. It's someone who has been a thorn in my side since he first appeared on the scene. I need to take out The Blur," Miles said as he watched Jaxson whole mood changed. It wasn't almost like a look of fear on his face.

"I don't think that's possible. I'm not like those other guys," Jaxson said clearly referring to Sebastian and Jason. Miles let out a chuckle as he took a step towards Jaxson and leaned in towards his ear.

"Did I say you had a choice? You don't. Remember I'm the only reason that your son is still alive. At any given, I can have the plug pulled," Miles said making Jaxson take a deep breath as he looked down at the ground. He balled his fist up as a surge of electricity ran through his body.

"Consider him dead," Jaxson said before he disappeared in a flash. Miles looked up and watched a powerful jolt of electricty ran through the powerlines, heading for the city. The evil billionaire chuckled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, proceeding to make a call. After a few seconds, the call picked up allowing Miles to speak.

"Your distraction is in place. Don't fail me," he said before he quickly hung up the phone and head back to the car.

A/N: So this is officially the shortest chapter I have ever written for this story. I try to take my time and have decent quality when it comes to the MCU fic because I believe that for this, it requires quality writing with proper execution, I have so many ideas and things planned for this fic so I have to execute them correctly and effectively.