Chapter 7: Dividing the Work
As the boys left the junkyard, Kenny slowed his pace and pulled his phone from his pocket. Jay glanced at him curiously.
"What are you doing?" Jay asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Making a call," Kenny replied, already dialing. "I'll catch up with you later, man."
Jay shrugged, turning down the street toward home while Kenny hung back. He pressed the phone to his ear, pacing slightly as the call connected.
"Hey, Alice!" Kenny said, his voice light and upbeat.
The voice on the other end of the line was muffled but distinctly female. "Kenny? Wow, long time no talk. What's up?"
"Yeah, I know, I know," Kenny said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Been busy with school and, you know, life. But hey, I heard you've been killing it with that cosplay stuff."
Alice's voice perked up. "Oh, totally! I just finished a full-on armored build for a con last week. People loved it."
"That's awesome," Kenny said sincerely. "Look, I kind of need a favor. It's… uh… a project. Something for school."
Alice laughed. "You? Working on a project? Must be big if you're calling me for help."
"Big doesn't even begin to cover it," Kenny muttered. "But seriously, can you help me design something? Like, a costume? Something durable but, uh, flexible too."
Alice was silent for a moment before responding. "You're being vague, but sure, I can help. Send me the details, and I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, Alice," Kenny said, relief in his voice. "I'll owe you one."
"You owe me about ten by now," Alice teased. "But I'll let it slide. Talk soon, Kenny."
Kenny hung up, a grin spreading across his face. "Step one: check," he said to himself, heading off in the opposite direction.
Jay Returns Home
Jay walked through the front door of his dad's house, tossing his hoodie onto the coat rack. The house was quiet, save for the faint sound of a TV in the living room. His sister, Molly, sat on the couch with her legs tucked beneath her, a bowl of popcorn balanced precariously on her lap.
"Hey, JJ," she called without looking away from the screen.
"Hey," Jay replied, heading to the kitchen to grab a drink.
As he poured himself a glass of water, Molly appeared in the doorway, her sharp eyes scanning him like a detective. "You look… sweaty. What were you doing?"
Jay shrugged. "Just out with Kenny. Nothing crazy."
Molly narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "You two have been acting weird lately. First, all the noise in your room, now this. You're not getting into trouble, are you?"
Jay smirked, ruffling her hair as he walked past her. "Relax, Molly. You're not my mom."
"No," Molly shot back, following him. "But someone has to keep you in line."
Jay flopped onto the couch, taking the remote from her and flipping through channels. "I'm fine, okay? Stop worrying so much."
Molly crossed her arms, standing in front of him with an unimpressed look. "Fine. But if you break Dad's TV, I'm telling him."
Jay chuckled, tossing a piece of popcorn at her. "Deal."
Later that night, Jay sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. The faint tingling sensation he'd felt earlier was gone, but the memory of the sparks and beams of energy lingered. He flexed his fingers, half-expecting the yellow light to return, but nothing happened.
He sighed, leaning back against the headboard. His mind raced with questions: Where had these powers come from? How far could he push them? And, more importantly, why had his mom been working on something like Project Orion in the first place?
A soft knock on his door pulled him from his thoughts. "Come in," he called.
Molly poked her head inside, holding a plate with a peanut butter sandwich. "You didn't eat dinner," she said simply, setting the plate on his nightstand.
Jay glanced at her, surprised by the gesture. "Thanks, Mol."
She shrugged. "Don't mention it. Just… don't forget you're not alone, okay? Me and Dad—we're here."
Jay nodded, his chest tightening slightly. "I know."
Molly lingered for a moment before turning to leave. "Goodnight, JJ."
"Goodnight, Molly."
Meanwhile, Kenny sat cross-legged on his bedroom floor, surrounded by notebooks, loose papers, and his laptop. He stared at a diagram he'd drawn—a rough sketch of a suit that could withstand damage while allowing freedom of movement. His conversation with Alice had sparked an idea, and he was determined to see it through.
"Okay," he muttered to himself, jotting down notes. "Reinforced fabric… lightweight armor… gotta account for the energy blasts."
He paused, tapping his pen against the notebook. "If Jay's gonna do something with these powers, he's gonna need protection. And style. Definitely style."
His phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen. Alice had sent him a text: "Send me measurements and details ASAP. I'll see what I can come up with."
Kenny grinned, typing back a quick reply. "On it. You're the best."
As the city settled into the quiet hum of nighttime, both boys lay awake in their respective rooms, their minds spinning with possibilities. Jay stared at the ceiling, his mother's voice echoing in his memory.
"You're just like your father," she had said before injecting him with the nanites. "Too hard-headed to die."
He clenched his fists, the faintest spark of yellow energy flickering in his palm. Whatever was happening to him, he knew one thing for certain: he wasn't going to waste it.