Spartan: Year One

[Swordmaster]

SPARTAN: YEAR ONE





In a world without heroes, 14 year-old Kyle Wyatt is your average teenager: He hangs out with friends, goes to school, all that stuff. But when he's accidently exposed to his eccentric widower father cancer vaccine, he gains powers not unlike to those of Spider-Man and Superman, his whole life spirals into something extraordinary. As the hero Spartan, he learns how dark the world really is, and how much the world really needs a hero.


***
Prologue tomorrow
***

Keep in mind this is by no means meant to be original. I just wanted to write this for fun

 

[Snipershot]

not bad!

 

[Swordmaster]

PROLOGUE


The alarm clock rings. 6:15 a.m. Time for school. Fun.
My name is Kyle Wyatt. I really don’t know who I am, so I can’t really describe that to you, so…yeah. I can give you the basics, however. I live in Edmont, New York, a nice, pretty town. I was born November twenty-first, 1991, so that makes me fourteen one month ago. I have glasses, shaved red hair (so red that my friends call me a ‘Ginger Kid’ at school). My eyes are steel blue, and have an acne beard. I enjoy reading, writing, video games, comics, and hanging out with friends. I live alone with Thomas Wyatt, my father, if you could call him that. He’s always around, sure, but he’s so into his work it’s like sometimes I’m not even there. Not that I can really blame him for acting like that though. Losing the love of your life to cancer will do that to you.
From what I remember (and from things I later found out), her name was Nina. She had wavy blonde hair, and, according to my father, was strong, stubborn, and vivacious. She died when I was six, and since then my father, a man years ahead of his time in all medical fields, devoted most of his day to trying to figure out a cure for cancer. We only survive because of weekly checks sent from the Science Board in D.C. I pretty much handle all the money, and I’m pretty much the pillar that keeps my dad from collapsing. I don’t hate him though. I love him. But sometimes I wish we would hang out, just him and me. Go to a Yankee game sometime. Or…visit my moms’ grave.
That’s right. Since her funeral, I haven’t visited my mothers’ grave. My father, when confronted about it, said it brought up too many painful memories. I’d go alone, but the grave’s in Kaenston, half an hour away from here.
Anyway, I got into my school uniform. That’s right, at Riverside High, you have to wear a uniform. At ALL times. If you’re a guy, you have to wear a white dress shirt, dark shoes (not sneakers), navy blue or black pants, and a matching jacket. If you’re a girl, you have to wear stockings, a white blouse, and a navy blue or black skirt. It’s a real ***** during the spring and summer, let me tell you…
As I left the room, I brushed my fingers against the one picture I have of my mom. I took two bucks from my bank for lunch, then left.
I went to the door to leave when I looked in my dad’s lab. As I suspected, he was asleep at the keyboard. I walked inside. Let me tell you something: His lab is a mess. Think a garbage dump multiplied by fifty. I don’t know how exactly he gets things done in here. I woke the old man up.
“Dad”, I said. “Wake up, it’s morning.” He stirred and finally woke up. “Where…where am I?” he asked. I rolled my eyes and answered, “Your lab, Dad. The same place you are every morning. And afternoon. And night.” He squinted at me, as if trying to place who I was, even though he knew perfectly well. Four hours of sleep’ll do that to you. I looked harder at him. He looks like a black haired version of me, just without the glasses and instead of an acne beard, a real one lined his lower face.
“Kyle”, he said, finally remembering my name, “I need you to go the store now. We’re out of soda. And beer.” He took a crumpled twenty out of his pocket and placed it on the desk. I grabbed it so it would not get lost in the mess. I turned around, determined not to look at him. “Dad, a)I have school today. b)I know we’re out of soda, as I finished it and told you that yesterday. And c)I CAN’T ****ING BUY ANY BEER. I’M ONLY FOURTEEN YEARS OLD!” But when I turned around for a response, Thomas Wyatt, forty-two, was already asleep on his keyboard again. I went to leave and sighed.
Eh, I thought. I’ll go after school.

 

[Snipershot]

excellent

 

[Dark Phantom]

Pretty cool. Nice little prologue and it sounds believable

so what powers does Spartan have, anyway?

 

[wolfsfang]

I'm waiting to read more before I give a review

But so far so good.

 

[Swordmaster]

Pretty cool. Nice little prologue and it sounds believable

so what powers does Spartan have, anyway?

Part of the surprise, mate

 

[Swordmaster]

One



At 7:00, I got off the bus and turned off my MP3 player (for you nosy bastards, I was listening to Perfect Situation by Weezer). After visiting my locker and getting the books I needed for the day, I went to visit my three best friends; Leon Allain, Jackson Crichton, and Briana Walker.
Leon is quite possibly my best friend out of all my other best friends. That makes no sense, I know, but still. I’ve known him since, I dunno, pre-school. We hit it off almost immediately, and have been best friends strong ever since. He has an odd fascination with guns (a contrast to my love of swords) and is a huge baseball fan. HUGE. Did I mention huge? He’s about my height, with shaved black hair and no glasses. Lucky SOB…
I met Jackson about two years ago at a comic shop. I was reading Batman, he was reading Spider-Man. We started talking, and realized that we had a lot in common, so we started to hang out. Eventually, he was part of our group. It seemed like he always had been. He has an…. odd fear of horses, a fear that stems from one of the most bizarre and disturbing incidents I’ve ever heard, an incident I will spare your virgin ears from hearing…Erm, spare your virgin eyes from reading. He’s built, and has brown-blonde hair, but is about two inches shorter than myself
Briana is, well, amazing. That’s a huge understatement. She’s got dirty blonde hair, eyes that are like the best chocolate, and is about half a foot shorter than the rest of us, but she makes up for it in black belt mastery of karate. Damn, she hits hard. As you no doubt have guessed, I really like her. It’s somewhat of an open secret between the two of us, and only Leon and Jackson know the whole story about much love I feel for her.
I saw the three if them talking by our usual spot, right in the cafeteria. I snuck up behind Briana and poked her in her side. She literally jumped about three feet in the air. When she landed she turned around and jokingly glared at me. “What’re you smirking at?” she said. “Nothing,” I said, smirking. “Uh-huh.”
Jackson cut in, “Excuse me for interrupting this pathetic attempt at flirtation, but the bell’s about to ring.” I blushed. “Horse,” I said. Jackson yelped. We all laughed. And laughed. And laughed. Oh yeah; we laughed. I patted Jackson on the shoulder. “Ah, you know I love ya, Jackie Boy.” That’s my nickname for him. It pisses him off endlessly. “Don’t. Call. Me. Jackie Boy.”
The bell rang. Jackson and I said good-bye to Briana and Leon as we made way for art class with the devil herself, Mrs. Samantha Seafard.
***
Five minutes later, the late bell rang, and Mrs. Seafard (a chain-smoking crack ****e in the opinions of Jackson and myself) kindly silenced the class: “SHUT THE **** UP YOU *****ES AND BASTARDS!”
See? I told you it was kind.
“Jesus Christ,” she wheezed. “Can’t you *******s just act human for once in your useless lives?” “We’ll start when you start,” I muttered to Jackson. He snickered. In an instant, Seafard hovered over us like an overgrown bat. “What was that, you little **** monkey?” “Nothing, Mrs. Seafard,” I said completely innocently. To add to the effect, I batted my eyelashes at her. She walked away, disgusted. I smirked, and Jackson fell to the ground, laughing like a maniac. “Horse,” I sighed.
He was back on his seat in less than ten seconds.

 

[Swordmaster]

Two

Compared to art class, the rest of the day was uneventful; we had a fire drill, I got a C+ on my math test, and I failed in my attempt to ask Briana out. So yeah, my day pretty much sucked ass.
I walked home alone, brooding over how much I suck with females. I stopped by the store and got the soda for Dad, and was able to get a homeless guy to buy me beer in exchange for…money to buy beer. When I walked into the house, I called for my dad. “Dad! I got the beer!” No answer. I shoved the beer and soda into the fridge, actually stopped to smell the odor emanating from said fridge, then removed the drinks and put them next to it. I proceeded into my fathers’ lab to see what was up.
I found him absorbed in data. He looked more awake then I’d ever seen him. “Uh…Dad? What’s going on?” I asked. “A huge medical breakthrough,” he answered briskly. “By mixing the blood of any arachnid, in this case a spider, with a chemical known as XDR-27, cancer, along with any other known disease, can be prevented and cured.” He then started this huge medical-lingo rant, which I could not understand in the slightest. “I call this vaccine,” he concluded, “Phoenix.” He tapped a series of keys on his keyboard, and out of nowhere, a syringe containing a glowing silver liquid appeared. “This is my lives work, Kyle. The syringe you see here contains a mere prototype, and I still need to conduct a months work of more tests on it, but…” he said, finally turning to face me, “I think I’ve done it, son.”
I was shocked. I knew my dad was obsessed with his work, but, frankly, I never thought he’d achieve it. I never told him as much though. This meant so much more for me than curing cancer (though that was in itself an astounding feat). It meant me and my dad could finally be a family. I walked over to the old man to embrace him, but stumbled over a book lying on the floor. I fell and my forearm landed directly on the needle of the syringe and all of Phoenix was injected into me. I got up, grasping my arm. My dad and I looked at each other silently for what seemed like forever. He was the first to react.
“You dumbass! Do you realize what the hell you’ve done!? That was the only workable strain I had, and I don’t have any more XDR-27 on me! It will take me 6 MONTHS to procure it and create a new strain, then another 6 months testing it out! To top that off, you’ve been injected with a potentially fatal serum. Now I’m going to have to keep you at home for a few weeks to make sure you don’t die on me! As if you’re math grade could get any worse, now it’s going to suffer more for this! I did NOT need this now, Kyle!”
That was it. I’d had it. “First of all, Thomas,” I said, placing emphasis on his name, “you don’t know a thing about me. You don’t know any of my teachers’ names, or my friends’ names. I’m surprised you know I’m doing bad in math! Second, you’re not keeping me here!” I know some teens would jump at the chance to not go to school, but that’s the only place I can see Briana, and I’m not giving that up. “I have a life to live. You would to, if you’d just let mom’s death go! For god’s sake, it’s been eight years now, and we haven’t even been to her grave!”
That was it. The “clincher”, so to speak. I’d gotten to him. As soon as I mentioned Mom, his expression changed from one of anger to one of sadness. “Kyle, I…” “No, Dad. It’s too late. I’m gone.” And, like that, I was out the door.
***
I walked around town for hours, right up until twilight. I felt bad about what I’d said, even though it was true. I turned to head back home. On my way, I saw an old couple walking across the street. I smiled at the thought of that someday being Briana and me, and for a moment that image entered my head. It was quickly banished, however, by the sight of an electrical wire about to fall on them. Where it came from, I don’t know, nor do I care. What I do know is that I had to do something.
Without thinking, I dashed across the street, leaped, and pushed the old people out of the way (which, in hindsight, wasn’t very smart, seeing that they’re, you know, old and all). The wire landed on me and shocked me, obviously, but I felt another strange sensation, an indescribable feeling. Then I fell into darkness.

 

[Snipershot]

excellent my friend

 

[Snipershot]

i love brianas character btu i dont know y?

 

[Swordmaster]

Gee...I don't know either

 

[Swordmaster]

Three

As if by magic, I woke up in own bed, with the face of my Dad staring directly at me. I screamed. He screamed. Everybody screamed –screamed.
After the screaming, and subsequent laughter, I asked, “What the **** happened?” My Dad, taking a deep breath before starting, said, “Well, you’re rather loud argument woke me up. I realized I haven’t been a good father. But I plan on fixing that. But you asked me what happened, and I deviated from that. From what the doctors at the hospital told me, and from my experience, you pushed away an elderly couple from an electrical wire, which proceeded to land on you. You should have died.”
“But nothing against you personally,” Leon said, walking in with Leon trailing behind him. “What the hell are you guys doing here?” I asked. “I called them when it looked like you were waking up, along with that girl Briana,” Dad said. “How’d you get their numbers?” I asked. Jackson answered for him. “You have a sheet with all our numbers tacked to a wall. It’s hard to miss.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Where’s Briana then?” Leon sighed before answering. “She wishes she could come, dude, but she had a karate tournament today that she couldn’t miss.”
I was somewhat saddened by the news, but my curiosity over how I survived overwhelmed it. “So…”, I asked, “How DID I survive? It was the communist monkeys, wasn’t it?”
Dad began again, ignoring my monkey comment: “You have an incredibly rare anomaly in your blood, Kyle. When Phoenix was injected into your bloodstream, it reacted…oddly…with it. There were no internal or external changes, as far as I could tell in my simulations anyway, until the electricity ran through your body. Your bloodstream acted as a sort of conduit for the electricity, which, though putting you into a coma, left you relatively unharmed. Although…” he began to trail off, looking confused.
“Dad…? You can tell me. I’ll find out anyway, eventually.” Taking this as something encouraging, he nodded and started again. “The electricity catalyzed some genetic changes in your body.”
“Uh…are these changes bad?” I asked. “Because, you know, I don’t wanna die!” Dad laughed. “Far from it, Kyle. Come, get out of bed. I’ll tell you everything.’ He turned to Leon and Jackson. “You guys should go on home.” The two looked pleadingly at me. I thought for a minute, then said, “Dad, I’ll tell them everything when I see them next. And, knowing me, I’ll screw something up in the descriptions. It’d be best if they hear it from someone who knows what they’re talking about.” Dad closed his eyes for a minute, then nodded. “Let’s go.”
***
On the way down to the lab, I noticed that I could see perfectly, though my glasses were not present. I also noticed that Leon and Jackson were staring at me. “Contrary to popular belief, I do not swing that way.” It’s an in-joke between us, usually gets at least a smile. Today, however, this was not the case. “What’s up guys?” “Your acne beard,” Leon began, “It’s all gone.” My eyes widened. I looked to Jackson for confirmation. He gave me a surprised nod. I felt my face, and sure enough, all my acne bumps were gone. “Dad.” I asked. “What’s going-” “In a minute,” he interjected. Okay…, I thought. This isn’t weird at all.

 

[Swordmaster]

When we arrived at the lab, it was surprisingly neat and organized. Adorned on the walls were diagrams of a body. My body. “Okay Dad, we’re at the lab. I want answers. Now.” Out of nowhere, he chuckled. “What’s so funny?” He smiled sadly. “Nothing, it’s just…you’re a lot like your mom, is all.”
At that moment, I knew that what he said in my room, about wanting to change our relationship, he meant. My face went red. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jackson about to say something condescending. Before he could say it, I said, “Horse.” His mouth shut.
“So, my son, you wanted answers. Here they are,” Dad said. “Thanks to the combination of Phoenix, your blood, and electricity, you now have abilities far beyond those of any normal human. In short, you have superpowers.”
My jaw dropped. Leon’s jaw dropped. I’m pretty sure Jackson’s would have dropped if he wasn’t scared of me saying ‘horse’ again. After I regained my ability to speak, I said, “I…have…superpowers?” Dad nodded. Jackson and Leon started dancing happily with one another. I glared at them and they stopped. I turned to Dad, eyes still wide. “What exactly are these powers, Dad?”
He got up and made his way to the computer, beckoning us to follow. He tapped in a series of commands and instantly a list appeared. He began to read: “Well, firstly, your physicality has reached peak human levels. Your eyesight is perfect, and you can see over a mile. Your skin has cleared up greatly…no offense. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg.” He cleared his throat.. “You have access to your full mental capacity. This allows you to memorize anything, be it physical or written, and remember it forever. It also provides you with a precognitive sixth sense that warns you of incoming dangers, I believe.” (“Like the Spider-Sense,” Jackson muttered.) “This also allows you to manipulate the heat in the air around you and body, permitting your body to launch it in projectile form from the eyes.”
“You have great agility as well, which provides you with great speed and reflexes, which work in tune with your sixth sense.”
“Your muscles have become incredibly dense, allowing you to lift approximately five tons, and, working with your agility, leap great distances. This increased density provides you with an invulnerability to many, if not all, substances. Your ears are extra sensitive, allowing you to hear a whole city. But perhaps most amazing of all is that, as a result of the spider blood, you are capable of launching a web-like rope substance from your wrist.”
Dad turned around and saw my incredibly shocked expression. My mouth stuttered. I mean, ever since I was little I’d wanted powers (I’m a comic geek so sue me) but I never thought I’d get them. Until now. I couldn’t hold it in. I jumped up and down. “THIS IS ****ING AWESOME!!!! ALRIGHT!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!! WOOT WOOT WOOT!”
I saw all the looks they were giving me, and I don’t need perfect eyesight to let me know they think I’m insane. Jackson started mocking me. “IminlovewithkatieholmesIminlovewithkatieholmesimnotgayIminlovewithkatieholmes…” I moved over to him and shoved him lightly. He fell to the ground. “Ooo…sorry about that…,” I said, stifling a laugh. “Guess I don’t know my own streng-” I couldn’t stop myself. I laughed hard and offered him my hand. He scuffled away, looking theatrically terrified. That made me laugh harder.
Getting up, Jackson said, “So…Dr. Wyatt…you submitting this freak of nature-I mean Kyle to the Science Board for observation?” I looked at my dad, who glared at him. “Take that as a ‘no’ Jackson.”
The room was quiet for a full minute, then everyone broke out laughing.
***
That night, I was in my room, on my bed, meditating, trying to levitate. What? If I have all these powers, there’s a chance I can fly too, right? RIGHT!?…Anyway, Dad walked and asked me what I was doing. I opened one eye and said, “Trying to levitate.” “Oh”, he said, looking bemused. He sat down next to me. “Listen, Kyle. Those things I said that day…I’m sorry. And I meant what I said today, about wanting to make up for it.” I stopped meditating and turned to him. “I know, Dad. I didn’t realize it then, but somehow I knew you were telling the truth. I thought it was just a son’s intuition, but then I realized it was my hearing, picking up no erratic signs of heartbeat.”
“Ah,” he said, smiling. “I just want you to know that I love you, Kyle. I always will.” He opened his arms, and we embraced. “I’m sorry too, Dad,” I said. “Don’t be. You opened my eyes. Things WILL be different now. I promise.” Dad got up and started to walk out.
I nodded, then asked, “How long was I out, anyway?” Without looking back, he said, “A week.”
A week!? Oh boy…Seafard’s gonna rip me a new...wait, I thought. Powers+Seafard=…

“Uh…Dad?” I said. “Yeah, Kyle?” “Can I stay home tomorrow? I wanna master my powers. Can’t have me burning down the school, can you?”​

​

​

 

[Snipershot]

this sounds more like spider/superman, alot! but anyway, it is still good writing...

 

[Swordmaster]

...It was supposed to. That was the whole intent of writing this

 

[Snipershot]

i know, just putting it out there.
I LOVE "Briana"!

 

[Swordmaster]

 

[wolfsfang]

I am so enjoying this.

My only complaint is the writing is too small and it is starting to hurt my eyes trying to read it. Still it is a small price to pay.

I especially like the touch that his dad know he has super-powers. Normally people try to hide this fact. Not always, but normally.

 

[Snipershot]

good point

 

[Swordmaster]

I am so enjoying this.

My only complaint is the writing is too small and it is starting to hurt my eyes trying to read it. Still it is a small price to pay.

I especially like the touch that his dad know he has super-powers. Normally people try to hide this fact. Not always, but normally.

Yeah...sorry about that. You see, when I write in on word, it's size 14 and each chapter's about a page in a half to two pages. I guess Hype compensates and shrinks it. Imagine how small it would be if I tried posting chapter 3 as one chapter.

But thanks again. Comments, both positive or negative, are welcome.

 

[wolfsfang]

Yeah...sorry about that. You see, when I write in on word, it's size 14 and each chapter's about a page in a half to two pages. I guess Hype compensates and shrinks it. Imagine how small it would be if I tried posting chapter 3 as one chapter.

But thanks again. Comments, both positive or negative, are welcome.

Yeah I have the same problem with my Venom script when I transfer it over. So I just change the font and size.

Well like I said having sore eyes is a small price to read the story.

 

[Swordmaster]

Yeah I have the same problem with my Venom script when I transfer it over. So I just change the font and size.

Well like I said having sore eyes is a small price to read the story.

That's...pretty obvious actually. Wonder why I never thought of that.


















Ah yes of course. I'm stupid

 

[Swordmaster]

Four

The next morning, I woke up at eleven, dreaming about all the things I could (and would) do with my new powers. I got dressed into a black t-shirt and jeans and went downstairs. I walked into the kitchen, and was surprised to see Dad sitting at the table, drinking coffee and reading the paper. “Morning”, he said without looking up. “Morning,” I replied, sitting down. “What’s up?” he asked. “Nothing much.” I was surprised at how normal out conversation was, all things considering. We talked for about an hour about nothing in particular, when I excused myself. When asked where I was going, I replied, “Practice.”
***
About two minutes later, I was on top of a roof in neighboring Xavier City. Let me tell you about super-speed: It’s fun. I have no idea how fast I was going, nor do I care. All I know is that I trekked about thirteen miles in a few minutes. So, that pretty much takes care of mastering my speed. I took a mental note of that: Check.
I put on a ski mask in case someone saw me, though that was incredibly unlikely. Taking a deep breath, I ran across the building and leaped. I leaped so far, and with such force, that I actually skipped over a building and landed on the one in front of it. I repeated this a few times, and, when sure I was proficient in leaping, stopped.
My thoughts from last night again took over. What if I could fly? I stood at the edge of a roof, and then leaped. I heard screams, most of them saying: “Oh my God that guy just jumped off a building!” I tried to fly, focusing on it (and all possible aspects related to it). Yeah…it didn’t happen. I yelled and clenched my fists, and just as I was about to hit the ground, a web-line shot up and attached itself to the exterior of the building I just leapt off of. I pulled on it and it launched me up.
Then I fell. Again. And this time I didn’t fire a web-line. This was done on purpose. I wanted to test my so-called “invulnerability”. I landed on the ground, creating a huge crater and knocking everyone on their asses. I got up, waved to everybody, and sped away.
***
I went home, where my dad had a pseudo-obstacle course set up. I had called my Dad in advance, so he knew to set it up. In the backyard, he threw paper plates in the air for me to try to hit with my heat vision. After tens of tries, I yelled out in frustration. Waves of heat (invisible to the unaltered eye) instantly shot out of my eyes. I turned to my dad, who had his hand to his chin. “It would seem that, ah, your heat vision is triggered by anger or frustration.” I stared at him. “Ya think?”

 

[Swordmaster]

Afterwards, we went down to the basement, where my dad had an old weight-set. I set it up in a little over five minutes, and then got set. First I tried one hundred pound weights. Easy. Then two hundred. And so on and so forth until I got to five hundred, where the carrying capacity for all the weights was filled. Dad estimated I could lift twice that, if not more.
Penultimately, I worked on my sixth sense, which I dubbed my “Battle Sense”. To do so, Dad threw tennis balls at me, which were easily dodged. The sense itself triggered my super-speed and reflexes, which allowed me to dodge the balls with ease. I even managed to catch a few of them.
Lastly, I worked on honing my hearing. Dad had inserted a dampener in my mind (I told you he was a medical genius) to block out all the sounds. I said, “Remove it”. He asked if I was sure. I told him I was. As soon as he removed it, sounds flooded my mind. Car horns, loud obnoxious girls talking, cell phones ringing, all of it. It hurt so much I fell down. Dad yelled something, but I couldn’t make it out. I looked at him and tried to read his lips. He was saying, “Concentrate on my voice.” I concentrated, and a minute later everything else faded away. I sighed. Dad said, “You’ll have to focus constantly so that you’re hearing isn’t overridden by all the other sounds.” “Yeah, I know,” I said.
***
That night, I was watching TV when my cell rang. It was Jackson. “Talk to me, Jackie Boy.” After telling me to stop calling him Jackie Boy, he asked how my powers were coming along. I told him I’ve got everything pretty much under control. “Good,” he said. I told him I was gonna use them on Monday in School. Jackson, befuddled, answered, “Kyle, next week’s Holiday Break. We don’t have school until a few days after New Year’s.” I looked at my calendar. Sure enough, it was December twentieth. Having never had a real Christmas since I was six, I usually don’t pay attention to the holidays. “Of course,” I said. Then an idea hit me. An ingenious idea. I smirked. “Hey Jackson. Call Leon and tell him to come with you to my place say, the twenty-seventh.” No reply for a minute. “Uh…sure, Kyle. Why?” Still smirking, I said, “You’ll see.”