Spartan

[Swordmaster]

Yeah, so I'm rewriting the first story in my Hero Rising trilogy (all of which can be found in my sig). I feel I've grown as a writer over the course of these stories, and I feel I can make a better, more realistic superhero story now. This has the same basic plot, with a few key changes. The dialogue will be different, etc.

This story takes place within its own continuity, so it can't meld with the other stories well. If I enjoy writing this, I'll consider rewriting the others.

***



Spartan



15 year-old Kyle Wyatt's life is about to change. Living alone with his father, young Kyle often gets shoved aside by his father's research to cure cancer. But when he is accidentaly injected with the vaccine, genetic changes take place, and he is soon given fantastic powers and abilities. After an event at his school gives him a new outlook on life, he becomes the superhero Spartan, wielding his abilities to give the hopeless hope. But soon after he appears, a cult bent on using him to control the world makes themselves known, and only Spartan can save the day.

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter One​

Thursday, December 16th, 6:15 a.m.
***
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!
I sat up on my bed with a start, my red hair messed up on the right side. I yawned. Time for school. Joy.
The name’s Wyatt…Kyle Wyatt. I’m fifteen a month ago, making my birthday November 21st. As I said before, I have red hair, which when combined with my steel-blue eyes makes me look a little odd. I’m fairly tall, about 5’8-5’9. I tower over most of my friends, at any rate. However, it’s damn near impossible for me to put on muscle. I try and try but my body can never seem to do it. I blame communism.
I put my school uniform on. That’s right, even though I go to Watersview High School, which is a public school, the bastards on the school board make us wear uniforms. For guys, the uniform consists of a white dress shirt, black or navy blue tie, black or navy blue dress pants, a black or navy blue sports jacket, and shoes. Not sneakers, actual dress shoes. To show my discontent, I wore black, though that is kinda conforming, isn’t it? For girls, they have to wear a white blouse, a black or navy blue skirt, tights, and high heels.
I went out my door to make my way downstairs, but I turned back because I forgot my glasses and backpack. After five minutes of searching, I found them on my rather large comic collection. I put them on, grabbed my backpack, and headed downstairs.
On my way out to the bus stop, I passed my father’s “lab”, if you could call it that. Thomas Wyatt was once a brilliant scientist, a bonafide genius, decades ahead of his time. He excelled in all areas of science, from biology to genetics to medical applications. Lately, though, he’s been focusing on that last one. You see, five years ago my mother, Nina Wyatt, passed away from breast cancer. Ever since, my father has been dedicating himself to two things: finding a cure, and beer. He’s all but neglected me since. I haven’t even been to my mother’s grave in Kaenston since the funeral.
You’re probably wondering how I’ve survived since then. Well, a company called Xyncorp wants this cure almost as much as Dad. Dean Murdoch, a celebrated geneticist who happens to be incredibly wealthy, provides Dad and me with enough money once a month to get the basics (food, drink, etc.), do long as Dad continues his research. It’s been this way for four years.
I peeked my head in the doorway. Dad was passed out by his computer, surrounded by at least six or seven beer cans. I nudged him awake. “I gotta go,” I said coldly. Ever since Mom died he’s treated me like (non-existent) crap, so I’ll treat him likewise. “Alright,” Dad belched, spraying alcohol flavored air in my face. I waved it away. “Bye,” I said indifferently.
As I went out the door, Dad called, “Hey, can you get some more beer?” I stopped in my tracks, shook my head, and walked out without responding.

 

[Swordmaster]

***
I got off the bus at school at 7:00. I went to my locker, put all my **** away, and went to this spot outside the cafeteria, where I usually meet my friends in the morning. And sure enough, there they were: Leon Allain, my friend since preschool. He’s the only one of my friends who’s about my equal in height. He has dark brown hair, brown eyes, and, unlike me, has slight muscle. He also has me when it comes to speed; next is Jackson Crichton, a man who shares my passion for comic books. He’s shorter than me, but compensates in muscle mass. He’s the most built out of all of us, and also the most sarcastic. Gotta love him, though; then there’s Briana Walker, my only female friend in this world. She’s shorter than me by about a head, but makes up for it by being a master at “Kicking Kyle’s Ass-fu”. She’s smart, cute, and most important funny. She’s a great joy to have around. At the moment, she was talking to...
My world went red. There was Joey Silver, a new kid who was introduced to us through Leon. He’s about the same height as Briana, with mousy blond hair that goes into his face. Apparently he’s a fantastic guitar player, but I wouldn’t know. At the moment, he and Briana looked to be flirting. Now, it may seem like I like her, but I don’t. I just don’t trust him.
To get him out of the way, I snuck up on Briana and squeezed her sides, causing her to squeak. She turned and slapped my arm, though she was smiling. “What?” I asked innocently. “You know what you did,” she accused. I acted shocked. “I know nothing of what you speak.” She nodded, bemused, before hugging me. What? She hugs all of her close friends, dammit.
“Aww,” Jackson droned. “Suck my balls, Jackie Boy,” I said, releasing Briana. That’s my nickname for him, and he hates it with a passion. His face reddened, but he said nothing.
I talked to Leon, Jackson, and Briana about meaningless crap, all but ignoring Joey. Something about him annoyed me. I honestly couldn’t place my finger on it, though.
We continued to talk for several more minutes, when the bell rang to signal us to go to first period. I bid farewell to Leon and Briana, and then walked to Art with Jackson. On the way, Jackson kept joking around that I loved Briana, and that I’m jealous of her flirtation with Joey. I denied it, of course, though I felt my face flush.
As I walked into the class, I tripped over my own feet. The whole class laughed, including the teacher, Queen ***** Ms. Samantha Seafard, whose obvious wig bobbled. Jackson went to help me up, but I shook him off. “I can do it myself,” I snarled, walking to my seat and cursing my two left feet.
“Now that the dumb **** that can’t even walk has joined us,” Seafard began, “take out your damn pencils and get to work. I have to go do some ****.”
This was my life, but that was about to change.

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Two​

At lunch that day, Joey was at school band practice, so I took the opportunity to voice my annoyances about him. “I mean, he’s always around, and he never shuts up,” I concluded. The response wasn’t exactly what I hoped it would be.
“Aw, he’s not so bad, Kyle. He’s pretty sweet, actually. You really should take a chance and get to know him,” Briana chided from beside me.
“Yeah, I agree,” Leon agreed. “In fact, the two of us may even start a band together.”
I rolled my eyes and buried my face in my arms. “It’s okay, dude. I agree with you.” “Gee, that makes me feel loads better. Just shut up Jackie Boy,” I said from my arms.
I’m pretty sure Jackson was about to respond, but something worse happened. “What’s up, guys?” Joey said, sitting down next to Leon.
I groaned and buried my face in my arms even deeper.
***
For once in my life, I was glad to be home. I couldn’t believe how much of an ******* I was today, especially in front of Briana. Yes, I admit it, I liked her. Hell, one could say I loved her. But, with everything that’s happened to me, I can’t help but be an ******* to my friends, despite my best efforts. Silently beating myself up, I walked inside.
I peeked inside Dad’s lab, but was surprised to find that he was not there. I walked around the house, kind of worried, until I found him sitting on his seldom-used reading chair in the living room, looking oddly sober and gleeful. “Uh…Dad?” I asked cautiously. “What’s going on?”
The next words out of his mouth would alter my life irrevocably.
“I did it.”
With that, my father held out a vial attached to a needle. “By mixing spider’s blood with a chemical called BSMS-3, I was able to create a vaccine that would prevent cancer from forming in anyone. It’s not a cure, per say, but it can prevent any form of cancer from forming. As soon as I run some more tests, I’ll be able to determine if this sample is suitable for mass production. I call it Phoenix.”
He grinned at me, and I could see this was important to him. I moved to congratulate him, but then my clumsiness took over and I tripped and landed on the needle, and Phoenix was injected into me. I landed on the floor, panting and feeling slightly queasy. When I looked up, my father was glaring angrily at me, his wild black hair adding menace to the stare of his cold green eyes.
“You stupid, clumsy ****! That was my only god damn sample! It’ll take me weeks to develop another one. Look at you, lying on the ground, as if you don’t know what’s going on.”
As he said, five years of repressed anger and hatred unleashed themselves. I stood up, and stared directly into my fathers eyes. Though he was taller than me, he stepped back, and his angry expression became mixed with fear.
“Listen…“Dad”, I’m sick and tired of all this bull****,” I said coldly. “You think that you could basically abandon me for half a decade, acting as if I don’t exist (except when you need me), and then berate me? Well guess what, Pop, that’s not how it works. You’re a horrible father, and worse yet, a horrible person. Oh, you may try to hide it with good deeds, and your attempts to cure cancer. But you fail to notice that you bury your feelings. Ever realize we haven’t visited Mom in five ****ing years?”
“But…” Dad began.
“No!” I yelled. “I’m sick of all this ****. I’m out of here.” With that, I threw my backpack at him and stormed out of the house, but not before catching a tear trail down my father’s face.
***
I walked around for a long time, and before I knew it, it was sunset, and I was at the border between Watersview and neighboring Xavier City. I stared at the sunset, thinking. I wasn’t entirely sure everything I’d said to my father I meant. Yes, he was neglecting me, but for the service of the greater good. And though I mocked him for that, I couldn’t help but grudgingly admire his dedication.
I sighed and turned to walk back home, when I saw a sparking wire about to fall on a pregnant woman and her two year old daughter that were walking ahead of me. Instinctively, I made an almost superhuman leap to grab the wire, saving the two…or three, if you wanna get technical.
As electricity coursed through my body, and my world darkened, my last thoughts were: I’m sorry…