Chapter 23: 30,240 Minutes Later...
A little over three weeks ago, I was given the
unimaginable gift of superpowers. Something of which, at first, I didn’t fully understand how to use or why I of all people was chosen to have them. But it soon became clear to me... I had a
destiny. A destiny where I would become a superhero to save the world and become a beacon of hope and justice. So from that day forward, I began living a double life. Whenever I went to school or to work, I would go as my nothing special, average student,
less-than-average employee self. Going about my senior year or work as normal (and in the latter’s case, as
lazy) as possible. Then, when that last bell of the school day rings, or after I’ve clocked out from a hard and grueling shift, I put on my costume and defend the city of East City as Blacklight, flying about the city fighting crime and stopping evil from harming the innocent.
How do these powers work? At first, I was unable to explain it.
However, now I can. Upon further study, after taking a look at my own blood with my trusty microscope and examining the side-effects from the light-ray (and by that, I really mean comparing my blood to a picture of a normal blood sample I found on
Google Images...), I was able to use my mind that was keen in the fields of science (or anatomy. Whichever one applies here...) to determine just
how my powers worked...
First off, my
main ability is my power to absorb photons, or particles of light, and then expose the absorbed particles to a special form of radiation contained within my own blood cells courtesy of the radioactive lightbeam that struck me that fateful day, and then re-emit the then
negatively-supercharged light energy through the pores of my hands. However, due to the radiation contained within my own body from the incident that gave me my powers, one of the side effects of using my bio-luminescent power is that the radiation within my own blood causes the color pigments in my eyes to invert, thus making the sclera and pupils colors turn black and white respectively, and it irradiates my scalp’s hair follicles to also shift my hair color to a sleek, pitch black.
Secondly, due to the radiation in my blood, I also has the power of "Transvection", or simply self-propelled flight. This allows my body to move in defiance of gravitational laws, and in the air, I have been able to fly at supersonic speeds, to the point of even breaking the sound barrier.
As an aside, I'd like to just point out that breaking the sound barrier is both REALLY fun and totally freakin' awesome!
...I'd also like it noted that being deaf for three hours due to said sound barrier-breaking is both NOT fun the complete
opposite of freakin' awesome.
Lastly, my final ability, also as a result of my irradiated cells, I developed the power of disproportionate strength, meaning that my muscles, being that they absorb the radiation in my blood, have been imbued with the power to allow me to lift much, much more than any other teenager my age and stature could normally. This ability also comes with some degree of enhanced durability, providing myself with some protection from physical harm, but only as much as my strength will allow, because things such as bullets can pierce through me as it would anybody else.
Bullets: My one weakness! Curses!
So, here I am, drudging through the Jon part of my day, which for the record is
waaayy less exciting then the BL part of it...
Yeah.
BL... Like it? Not quite as good as
Spidey is to Spider-Man, but it sure as hell rolls off the tongue well.
As I was saying, the Jon part of the day, which consists of nothing but work, school and sleep... Guess which one I like the best?
If you guessed "work", then you're absolutely
wrong. I could make a Kevin Spacey reference, but instead I think I'll let you see for yourself why that answer is (and always
will be) incorrect...
"This coffee has grinds in it! Look!"
"Ma'am, I'm sorry. If you can give me a few moments, I can make you a new one..." I apologized in an attempt to calm her down as she continued to fuss over her coffee.
"NO! I want my money back! I don't have time to wait while you replace it!"
"Fine. Okay. Here..."
Opening up the drawer of the register, exasperated, I gave her back the one dollar and fifty-five cents I thought her to have payed for her coffee.
"What's this!?! I payed $2 for this coffee!!! It's a medium size! ARE YOU TRYING TO SHORT ME!?!"
"No, ma'am. I'm sorry. Here. $2..." I sighed as the angry lady ripped the bills from my hand.
"UGH!! I am NEVER coming here again!!" the
clearly middle-aged yet trying not to
look middle-aged woman with the ugliest make-up and hair-dye job I have seen in a long time yelled out as she stomped out the front door of the East City branch of
Munchin' Muffins, likely never to return.
As I rested my head on my arms on the front counter in utter exhaustion from the ordeal I had just been dealt, I then turned to my co-worker as she had approached me in an attempt to cheer me up.
"That right there, Jess... That is the behavior of a lady who hasn't been laid in decades." I joked.
"And rightfully so, from the looks of it." she added.
And, no, this is not Jessica Long. You see, I have two friends named Jess. Jessica Long is my best friend's Girlfriend and one of the few people who know my secret identity. This, dear readers, is Jessica Gerbutovich. My co-worker and fellow sufferer in this muffin-smelling hellhole of a job. All you need to know about her is that, surprisingly enough, is the only person in this world I have met that is as much of a nerd as me.
"So, Jon... I've been meaning to ask. What do you think about the superhero that's been cleaning up East City?"
"Who? Blacklight?" I asked as I lifted my head up and turned my body to face her, leaning against the counter and acting as nonchalant as possible to avoid suspicion.
"Yeah. What do you think of him?"
"He's alright. He seems to be making this city a better place. Quite inspiring actually..."
"That was quite the coy answer. Too coy... Jon, tell me you're not a closet Blacklighter..." she joked.
"Black... lighter? What?"
"It's a term for a Blacklight fanboy... The guy's got whole fansites and forums dedicated to him already. Fan Art of him is splashed all over DeviantArt..."
Heh... I have fans.
"Not to worry, Jess. A 'Blacklighter', I am not..."" I assured her, smirking as I did.
"Consider me more of a... casual fan."
* * *
My god, was Jess right. Once my shift had ended and I had a few minutes to spare before I go out on patrol, I decided to Google myself and the results were shocking. It looks like my escapades have been made
global news. I'm literally
all over the freakin' internet!
blacklightsuperhero.com...
blacklightcentral.org...
eastcitysightings.net... All of them websites revolving around my crime fighting and who I am. It's awesome... Unsettling, but still awesome. I'm practically a celebrity.
Even sites and forums dedicated to comic book and movie superheroes were talking about my alter ego... My friends at the SuperHeroHype forums included!
...It's regular Blacklight mania!
*BEE-DEE-BEE-DEE-BEEP!!*
Looks like it's time to go fight some crime.
The fame is all well and good, but frankly, none of it really mattered to me. Good publicity or bad... I wasn't in this for the spotlight. I'm doing this to make my city and the world a better place.
As I finished putting my uniform on and placed my sunglasses atop my head and my hair color finished changing, I opened my bedroom window and took one step out of it before flying into the early evening sky, ready to protect those in need.
Around three weeks ago, I was given the unimaginable gift of superpowers, and since then?
...Well, let's just say it's been the best, most unforgettable past 30, 240+ minutes of my ENTIRE LIFE!
* * *