The Spartan Saga

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Seventeen​

I was crouched upon the tallest spire of the city’s tallest building, what I had dubbed my listening post, trying to find any disturbances. I needed to get my mind off of Briana.
I heard bones breaking, punches connecting, and blood spilling, and so I leapt off of the building and swung towards the source of the commotion: a gang war in the slums of the city. Sticking myself to a wall as the two gangs went at it, I screamed, “Hey! Why wasn’t I invited to the party? I’m a fantastic dancer, you know!” before beating the crap out of all of them without giving them a chance to fight back.
When I was done, I heard slow applause coming from the darkness. Turning, I found a man with thick brown hair in a finely tailored suit watching me. He looked to be in his fifties, and seemed strictly business.
“Well done,” he said, his accent British and his voice rich, though I sensed malice in it. “You have passed our little test.”
“You mean you set this up?” I asked accusingly.
“That I did. I needed to get your attention. My employer desires a meeting with the great Spartan.”
“Oh yeah?” I laughed humorlessly. “Who are you, first of all, and secondly, who do you work for?”
“Apologies,” the man said non-apologetically. “I am Niles Ferris, personal assistant to Dean Murdoch. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?”
My stomach dropped. I was worried that Murdoch had found out I’d stolen his suit. I didn’t let my fear enter my voice, however. “Oh yeah? Well it’s nice to meet you. Now good bye.” I jumped onto a building and started to crawl up, but Niles stopped me.
“As I said, Mr. Murdoch would like to meet with you now, Mr. Wyatt.”
I faced him sharply, and he stile wore that dark grin.
***
In an elevator of the MilleniCorp. building, I stood next to Niles Ferris, back in my school uniform. “So how’d you find out who I am?” I asked.
Ferris smiled faintly. “When you came here last summer and stole the prototype you are now wearing, you got shot. Do you remember?”
I nodded, not seeing where he was going with this. “Yeah, I remember. I also remember beating the hell out of your ******ed robot.”
Ferris scowled. “Yes, well, when you got shot some of your blood spilled onto the ground. We found it the next morning, and through it discovered the identity of the thief: you. But we were impressed with your abilities, and decided to keep an eye out for you. Sure enough, you appeared as Spartan, and after that we had to wait for the right moment to come to you. This is it.”
“I’m flattered,” I snarled. “But how did you get my identity from my blood. I never gave, so it’s not on record.”
As the elevator door opened, Ferris said, “We have sources beyond imagination,” as he walked out. I followed him into the spacious office of Dean Murdoch. A relatively young man by business world standards, his black hair was cut short, his skin was tan, and his brown eyes were so dark that they were almost black. Upon seeing me he put on a jovial grin, one which I did not entirely buy.
“Ah, Kyle!” he said. “Please, have a seat.” He motioned to a very comfortable looking chair in front of him, but I didn’t exactly feel like playing nice to a guy who had all but kidnapped me.
“I’ll stand,” I said emotionlessly.
“It would be in your best interest…,” Ferris began, putting his hands on my shoulders. I pushed him off of me, eyes glowing
“One more word and you’re nothing more than a pile of ash.”
Murdoch watched us, and then laughed. “Now Niles, if he wants to stand, you should let him. That will be all.”
Ferris bowed at his employer and glared at me. I stuck my tongue out at him in response, and when the elevator doors shut behind him, I turned back to Murdoch. “So what do you want with me?”
“You’re direct,” Murdoch purred. “I like that, and I can respect it. Very well, I shall be equally forward: I know that you stole my prototype suit, and are wearing it right now. But I am not angry at you for that. Rather, I’m in awe of the magnificent abilities you used to obtain it, and the ones that you use to fight crime on a daily basis. You have the powers of a God, yet you use it to help people who can’t help themselves. How…admirable. But I can offer you something much more fulfilling: a spot in the organization I and Niles are members of: Adventus. Our goal is to manipulate world events to our liking; we have members everywhere. It is how I got a sample of your blood, from the doctor who did your blood work some fifteen years ago. Those legends of the Illuminati are derived from us! We are the true master’s of the world, and I have been authorized to grant you a place at our side when we inevitably rule.
“But that’s not why you’re here. You see, I’ve grown tired at being a lackey. I want to rule the group, but I need your help to do it. I alone cannot overthrow the Five Overlord’s, but you could, and when all is said and done, we could rule the world together!”
Murdoch’s grin was manic now, and now I saw he was nothing more than a fanatic, a loon. I sensed desperation in his words, and even saw it I his eyes, but the reason I couldn’t discern.
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m not interested in ruling the world,” I said. “Besides, ruling the world is so cliché. Why don’t you try something else, like, I don’t know, working on how to get to Mars. That way, when you do get there, you can rule that all you want.
“However, if you or your organization does anything to threaten this world, I’ll be there to stop you. It may not be a perfect place, but it’s got to be a hell of a lot better than a world under you.”
I went for the elevator, but Murdoch’s words stopped me in my tracks. “Think of your friends! Your father! Please Kyle! I beg you!”
Turning to him, eyes glowing, I said coldly, “Go near any of them, and I’ll rip out your heart with my bare hands.”

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Eighteen​

I didn’t hear from Murdoch for the next three months, something that made me very happy. I guess my threat to rip out his heart scared him off. That’s what I hoped, anyway.
One day after school, Briana and I were walking home, talking about their lives and the future. The conversation was all a blur to me, and I was just grateful for the chance to talk to her. Ever since I became Spartan, I was hanging out with her less and less, something I didn’t like.
Eventually, it came to the point where we had to part ways. We hugged each other goodbye, and I watched her cross the street sadly, cursing myself for not telling her again.
Then my Battle Sense went off.
Paralyzed, I watched in horror as a car came racing down the street and hit her full force, sending her flying into the air. At that moment, the paralysis wore off, and I leaped into the air and caught her. Her face was bloody, and her eyes were closed shut. I tried waking her, but it was no use. She was dead.
Yelling in rage, I ran to the car and ripped the door off of the driver’s side, only to find Spartan himself sitting there, staring at me emptily.
***
I woke in a cold sweat, dried tears on my face. I looked around, and found I was in my room, sitting on my bed. I sighed in relief. It was all a dream, but it had seemed so real. So hauntingly real…
I checked my clock. It was only 11:30 p.m. on Friday night. Fearing I would have that dream (or a variant of it) if I went back to sleep, I put on my costume, and ran to Briana’s house, to ensure she was all right.
Jumping onto a sturdy branch outside of her bedroom, I looked in her window and saw her alive and well, furiously practicing her jujitsu skills. Still, I had to be sure everything was all right, so I took my cell phone out and called her cell. I watched her pick up, and in my normal voice said, “Hey. Guess who?”
“Kyle?” Briana asked, sounding confused. “Do you know what time it is?”
“Yeah, 11:41 p.m., Eastern Standard time,” I said nervously. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she said a little suspiciously. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“Well,” I said, trying to think up a reason, “Um…you seemed kinda tense after school.”
“No, I’m fine,” she said again. “Are you okay?”
“Oh I’m great,” I said. Wow, I really needed to work on my people skills. “Say, do you want to hang out tomorrow. And I don’t mean in like twenty minutes tomorrow, I mean at around one-ish?”
“Sure,” she said happily. “Hey, you feeling all right? Your voice sounds kinda muffled.
Lifting my mask over my nose, I said, “Bad service. So I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“You know it,” she said. “See you then.”
“You too,” I whispered, hanging up.
Watching her hang up, I pulled the mask down over my face and saw in horror that she was staring directly at me. “Oh great,” I said, leaping to a higher branch.
Walking out, she called for me. “Spartan?” I gave no answer. “I know you’re here, I just saw you. Come on out.”
Knowing her, I knew that if I didn’t show up I’d never hear the end of it as Kyle Wyatt, so I leaped onto her house and stuck to the wall. “Yes?” I said, dropping back into my Spartan voice.
“Why are you here?” she asked, her tone accusing. However, she was fighting a smile, which somewhat broke the illusion that she was even remotely upset at me.
“I came to check up on you…three months after your attack, to see if it had caused any permanent brain damage. Basically, I wanted to see if you were all right.”
I regretted saying those exact words as soon as they had left my mouth. Briana must have noticed it as well, because she furrowed her eyebrows, but only for a moment. “Well, thanks for that. And thanks for saving me.’
“Don’t mention it,” I said, before jumping off of her house and running home.
***
The next day, Briana and I sat on my bed, talking about nothing that would make sense to anyone but us. Closing my eyes, I imagined the two of us, older and happily married, but aside from those two changes the scene in my mind played out exactly as it was occurring at that moment.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Briana asked, snapping me out of my daydream.
I opened my eyes and smiled at her. “Nothing, it’s just…I’m really happy we’re friends.”
Briana looked up at me and smiled. “So am I.”
For a moment there it seemed like we were about to kiss, but an image of last night’s dream entered my mind, stopping me.
Looking away, I whispered, “You know I’d never hurt you, right?”
She put her hand on my shoulder. “Of course I know that. What’s wrong. Kyle?”
I put my hand on hers and said, “Nothing.”
“Good,” she said, grinning. “You see, in two months I’ve got this jujitsu demonstration at the High School, and I can’t have you all mopey for that, can I? That is, if you’re going.”
I turned to her, shocked. “Of course I’ll go. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Nineteen​

The two months leading up to Briana’s demonstration passed by rather quickly, with little to no incident. Sure, Sarge was calling on me more and more, but that really didn’t matter; I was happy.
After school the day of the demonstration, Jason, Leon, Jackson, and I went to Jackson’s house, since it was the closest one, besides Briana’s. There, I made an unsurprising revelation in my most theatrical voice: “Gentlemen and Jason, I have an announcement to make. Today, I shall ask Briana Walker to be my girlfriend.” Cheesy, I know, but I was with friends, so it was acceptable.
“It’s about time,” Jason said. Leon and Jackson nodded their heads in agreement, causing me to roll my eyes.
“So…you nervous?” Leon asked me, completely serious.
“What do you think?” I asked. “I’m terrified.” I laughed weakly. “You know, it’s funny. I laugh in the face of fire, chasing helicopters, guns, knives, and all that, but when it comes down to asking the girl I love out, I’m scared as hell.”
“You’re only human, Kyle,” Leon said, to which Jackson snorted.
***
I walked to the school ahead of the others, as I needed to do something first and didn’t want to piss them off, because them being pissed off would, in turn, piss me off, and this was a happy night.
I went inside the flower shop next to Mac’s and picked up a dozen pink carnations, Briana’s favorite, before meeting the three in the fifth row center of the auditorium. A quarter of an hour later, the lights dimmed, and the first martial artist presented herself.
As the one right before Briana was set to perform finished, the Superman Theme began. Everyone in the room looked at me, and I blushed before running outside and taking out my cell phone.
“Hello?” I asked, annoyed.
“Good evening, Kyle,” Dean Murdoch’s voice said.
“I told you I didn’t want anything to do with your or your damned organization,” I snarled.
“Oh, but I think you do. Tell me, where is your father at the moment?”
I felt a shiver run down my spine. “What have you done with Dad?”
“Come to my office, and we’ll have a little chat.”
Before I could respond, he hung up on me. I looked from the flowers, to the school, to the skyline, before looking down. A minute later I swung from building to building, the carnations laying on the cold cement.
***
I crashed through Murdoch’s office window and landed on top of his desk, my eyes glowing so strongly that it shone through the visor on my mask. “Where is my father?” I bellowed.
Murdoch smirked. “At the medical conference in Vegas, don’t you remember?”
At that point I did. I’d been so obsessed with asking Briana out I’d forgotten my dad was away for the next three days.
“I’m giving you one last chance to join us, Kyle,” Murdoch said. In response, I went to attack him, but my Battle Sense went off, and I turned to find three Sentry Bots, looking more advanced than the ones I’d faced almost a year ago.
I lunged towards one, who raised its arms to shoot at me. I webbed its arms together and used it as a springboard to jump at another of the bots, who shot me in mid-air. The bullets force knocked me down, and one of them tried to punch me. I caught its arm and threw it at another, knocking both down. Then I blasted the two with full powered heat vision, melting them together. That left one to go.
I heard it walk behind me. I turned and it tried punching me. I dodged all of his shots before knocking off its head with a solid kick. I looked around the room to find Murdoch gone. About to leave through the hole I’d made, I heard a beeping, and in horror saw in my mind the chassis exploding, which came to pass, sending me flying out.

 

[spdrknight]

Swordmaster... have you ever thought about trying to get your spartan story published?

 

[Swordmaster]

Swordmaster... have you ever thought about trying to get your spartan story published?

Nah, too unoriginal. This is just for fun.

What parts do you like?

 

[spdrknight]

Its the fact that, yeah, the character has powers that are taken from two heroes but the story itself is really original.

Have you thought about writing something completely original and trying to get it out there?

 

[Swordmaster]

well, im only fifteen (16 in November), so at the moment I've got no original ideas, and don't really consider this a career choice, just a hobby. But I did write a semi-original story, taking the core elements of The Crow and making it my own.

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Twenty​

Falling rapidly, I web-zipped myself to the side of the MilleniCorp. building and blasted the falling shards of glass with an arc of heat vision, destroying them. Crawling down the building to the sidewalk, I looked at my watch and, after doing a little math, figured out that I could make it in time for Briana’s performance if I hurried.
As I was about to run back to the school, my Battle Sense went off, and I was thrown into the air before I could even react to it. Catching myself mid-air, I clung onto a building and gasped at what I saw: A giant mechanical war-machine, like a Hulkbuster from the Incredible Hulk comics mixed with the prototype exo-suit from the first Spider-Man. It had a rectangular torso with a darkened glass cockpit, so I couldn’t see inside of it, but I knew that Dean Murdoch was piloting it. On each shoulder was a gun turret, and the ‘arms’ of the mech were about six feet, and it’s ‘legs’ were about eight feet. Overall, I’d guess the thing was about fifteen feet, give or take a foot.
Murdoch’s voice came out from a speaker that I couldn’t see. “I gave you a chance to join me, Spartan. Now you will feel the consequences of your refusal.”
Despite the threat presented, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Oh come on!” I yelled, “Can’t you think of anything better than the usual villain, “You didn’t join me, now you die,” crap? I mean seriously, that’s so 1970’s.”
With that one-liner, I went into action. I zipped around the mech, trying to find a weak spot, to no avail. I jumped onto the cockpit and started smashing it with all of my strength, but I could barely dent it, much to my chagrin. Before I could attack again, the mech grabbed me and slammed me to the ground before punching me over and over, causing me to cry out in pain. However, my hardened muscle density lessened the pain, so I still lived.
The mech went to slam me one more time, but I couldn’t allow that, so I gathered enough strength to roll out of the way and attached an extra-durable web to an SUV and threw it at the mech. It staggered, but otherwise no signs of damage were noticeable.
“What the hell is this made of?” I asked myself, before being attacked by a barrage of bullets and dodging most of them, but three or four hit my chest, knocking me to the ground. Before I could get up, I was wrapped up in a steel wire that came from the mech’s left hand and was being held in the right one, held right up to the cockpit. Though I couldn’t see Murdoch’s face, I could hear his laughter as he squeezed the life out of me and then threw me into a brick wall.
The people who were stupid enough to not run away from this fight surrounded me. Getting up, I barked, “Get the hell out of here!”, right before an incredibly loud and painful noise assaulted my ears, causing me to fall back to the ground, grabbing my ears. Then, mercifully, the pain stopped, and I stood on all fours, panting, as the mech approached me.
“Like my super-sonic cannon, Spartan?” Murdoch cooed over his speaker. “It’s at the exact frequency that could disable your superhuman durability. Thee blood you left last year allowed the Adventus scientists to analyze your abilities, and determine your weaknesses.”
Out of the mech’s left arm emerged a turret much like the one on its shoulders, but instead of bullets, shrapnel was launched and dug itself into my arms, legs, and chest.
“Agh! ” I shouted out in pain, staring at the mech with hatred burning in my soul, before continuing to fight on.
“You think this will stop me, Murdoch? Then you don’t know me at all. I can’t stop fighting. I won’t stop. Do you know why? Because I’m a hero, and you’re the bad guy. And the hero always beats the bad guy.”
I leaped around the mech, attacking it from every point I could. Finally, it was starting to dent the shell, and it was taking less and less effort on my part to do so.
“No!” I heard Murdoch scream before swatting at me. I jumped over the arm and kicked the mech in the cockpit, cracking it. I landed on the ground and observed smoke coming out of the mech in different areas. Murdoch must have noticed this too, because I heard him frantically thinking out loud, trying to figure out a way to stop me. “A ha!” he finally said, leaving me to wonder what he was planning on doing. I didn’t have to wait long.
His right arm morphed into some sort of cannon, and in my mind I saw a rocket shoot out, much like the one I’d stopped all those months ago in September. “DIE!” Murdoch’s desperate voice came out, and the missile launched at me. I would have dodged it, but there was a bus coming towards us and I didn’t have enough time to movie out of the way. So what did I do? I positioned myself in front of the bus and caught the rocket
The propulsion on the rocket was impressive, and I couldn’t hold it back for long. I looked at the bus driver and told her to evacuate the bus, which she did just in time, because as soon as she was done I couldn’t hold it back anymore, and let it hit me.
To my surprise, I didn’t feel any pain. At all. Even as the flames engulfed me, I felt nothing, which meant one thing and one thing only: my enhanced durability was back.
Dashing out of the flames, I leaped at the mech, which stood frozen. No doubt Murdoch was surprised by this action. As I was ¾ there, he finally broke free of his paralysis and shot more bullets at me, but they merely bounced off me harmlessly. So not only was my limited invulnerability back, it was enhanced to full blown invincibility.
I clung onto the cockpit and blasted it with heat vision, destroying it and staring at a terrified Murdoch in some sort of blue hi-tech flight suit. I webbed him and slammed him onto the street, before leaping next to him. Before I could say the threats I wanted to, he groaned and pressed a button on the arm of his suit.
“What was that?” I asked angrily. I could have approached this nonchalantly, but he threatened me, my father, and my friends, so I was pissed.
Murdoch grinned, his teeth bloody. “Before I tell you that, you need a little back story; It was I who set Jeff Wyners free form the juvenile facility he was in last year. Money speaks louder than words, and after a generous bribe, I set him free. You see, I was already fascinated by your exploits, even before you began your hero career. I let Wyners go, as fueled by vengeance as he was. I knew he’d do something rash, and I knew it would draw you out. I have done something similar this year, as a fail-safe. As you refused to join Adventus, I let him loose on your beloved Briana. I know he still desires revenge, and I have given him the means to accomplish it. You may have ‘won’ the moral high ground, but you’ll lose the thing you love the most.”

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Twenty-One​

After webbing Dean Murdoch to the husk of the mech, I swung rapidly to the school. I checked my watch. 6:00. Her show should have been over by then, so it made it easier on me to protect her from Wyners. Arriving at the school, I saw Briana storm out of the front door, followed by Leon, then Jackson, and then Jason. She looked upset, and I could tell it was because I wasn’t there to watch her.
I was about to let go of the web and change back to explain myself and tell her everything, but then my Battle Sense started. In my mind I saw a beaten up convertible race down the streets, and at the moment I saw it actually happen, except with a dark twist: it crashed into Briana, sending her flying into the air. In my mind it went in slow motion, but in reality it happened to fast for me to even react.
“NO!” I yelled before propelling myself off of the webline and catching her. Landing, I ripped off my mask and stared at Briana’s bloody, but still beautiful, face. Seeing me, she smiled weakly, and then her body went limp in my arms. I listened to her heart beat it’s last beat and started to cry
The girl I loved more than life itself was dead because of me…and I could do nothing. Leon, Jason, and Jackson huddled around me, along with other students and pedestrians. I heard amazed whispers about Spartan being me, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t.
I looked at my friends, tears continuing to stream down my face: Leon’s reaction mirrored my own; Jackson was speechless, his lip quivering; even Jason, who is usually emotionless save for anger and joy, was pale and was yelling for someone to call 911, though I knew it was pointless.
I gently placed Briana on the ground and yelled a bestial yell as I jumped towards the car that hit her and ripped open the door. In the drier’s seat sat Wyners, laughing like a fool. Yelling again, I threw Wyners on the ground and punched his face repeatedly. Bones broke and blood spurted, to my pleasure. I wanted the bastard to suffer, and continued to beat him down until Leon placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked at him, and saw he too was still crying.
“Kyle…stop,” he said, his voice hollow. “There’s nothing you can do…”
Looking back at her corpse, I remembered the vow I’d made at my mother’s funeral to never let anyone I loved die again, and felt my sadness and anger morph into a single feeling of determination. Calmly putting my mask, I said to Leon, “Yes there is,” before shooting up into the sky.
***
I flew high above the city streets, barely visible to the naked eye as far as I knew. I don’t know how I knew I could fly, but I just did. Fueled by my determination to save the girl I loved, I flew faster and faster until my costume started to tear and fresh cuts began to open.
At the peak of my speed, there was a flash of bright light, and I was temporarily blinded. Blinking rapidly, I regained my sight and found I was standing right by Dean Murdoch’s mech. I looked at my watch and saw it was 5:59. I had travelled back in time and entered my old body. Not stopping to wonder about how this had happened, I shot myself into the air and flew back to the school.
As I made my down the city blocks, I saw her storm out, and in the distance the car racing for herd. Realizing I wouldn’t be able to catch her in time, I attached two weblines to her body and yanked her into my arms, saving Briana.
The two of us hovered mid-air and watched an infuriated Wyners crash into a streetlight and knock his head against the steering wheel, knocking him out. I nodded to the trio and said, “Call the police. Tell them Jeff Wyners just tried to murder Briana Walker.” Before they could respond, I flew Briana back home and placed her on the balcony.
“Are you all right?” I asked worriedly.
“Yeah…” she said uneasily, “Just a little shaken up. I didn’t know you could fly!”
“I didn’t know either, to be honest,” I laughed, though I don’t think it was very convincing.
“How’d you know I needed to be saved?” she said, asking the question I’d hoped she wouldn’t. She really was a smart girl.
“Just a feeling,” I whispered. “Why’d you look so pissed right before I caught you?”
“Oh that,” she said, her voice hardening. “Some guy I thought I liked didn’t come to the show I was having at the school, even though he promised he would.”
“Maybe he had a good reason,” I said, sticking up for my alter ego.
“Short of someone he loved dying or on their deathbed, there is no good reason,” she snapped at me. Her choice of words caused me to flinch, and she took that as me flinching because she’d yelled at me. “I’m sorry, Spartan. I’m just sad now, and a little tired.”
“You should rest then,” I advised her prior to making my way to her balcony’s railing. “I’ll leave you to it.”
“Wait,” she said. I detected sadness in her voice and turned.
“Yes, Briana?”
Wordlessly, she approached me and lifted my mask over my nose. And then she kissed me. I kissed her back, and for a long minute we were locked together. But then I pulled away.
“We can’t do that,” I said regretfully. “It’s not a slight against you or anything, but with my job I’d never be able to commit to you. You deserve better.”
I said the words out loud because they hit the point home to me, to Kyle Wyatt. I knew now that I couldn’t be with her for those exact reasons. It took her death to show me that, and for that, I was grateful to Dean Murdoch, in a bittersweet way.”
I pulled my mask down as she nodded, but I saw tears forming in her eyes. Leaping onto the railing, I glanced at her one last time and said, “I’ll be seeing you,” before flying off into the horizon.

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Twenty-Two​

As I flew back to Murdoch and his mech, I fell onto the ground. Since I was now completely invincible, it didn’t hurt at all, but it was curious. I had no idea why I’d fallen, and so I tried to fly again. No luck. Again and again I tried, to no avail. Giving up for the day, I ran to the mech. Or rather, where the mech was.
It was gone now, as well as any signs that it had ever been there. I recalled Murdoch’s words that Adventus had agents everywhere, and concluded that they had cleaned up the area and rescued their comrade.
Punching a building in frustration, I noticed a stray camera on the ground. Webbing it to my hands after a hint from my Battle Sense, I hit the ‘play’ button, and looked at the screen, where Niles Ferris’ face appeared.
“Hello Spartan,” the recording said. “You’re probably wondering what happened to Dean Murdoch and his mechanical fighting suit. That is of course classified information, but you needn’t worry, for he shall not be bothering you anymore. But Adventus will continue to keep an eye on you. Oh yes, that we shall.”
The recording ended, and I crushed the camera in my fist, and was already swinging away before the fragments hit the ground.
***
I arrived at the XCPD building and crawled into Sarge’s office unnoticed and waited for him to come in. I didn’t have to wait long.
As my ally sat, I descended from the ceiling on a web yo-yo. “Sarge,” I said.
Sarge turned, startled. “Spartan! I was going to call you tonight and ask about the huge fight you had outside MilleniCorp., but this saves me a call.”
“I’ll tell you about that later on,” I said.
Sarge studied me intently. “Your voice lacks the sarcastic tone it usually has, so that means something’s up with you. You can tell me.”
“Someday I’ll give you the full story, I promise,” I assured him. “But right now, I need to ask you a favor. I won’t make a habit of it, but this is important.’
Sarge leaned back in his chair. “Shoot.”
“Gather a team of your most faithful researchers and have them investigate an organization called “Adventus,” I instructed. “It’s important to the city’s safety. Hell, the world’s safety.”
Before he could give his response, I was gone. I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. However, I did listen to his answer. “I’ll do my best…my friend,” he said to no one.
***
I crawled into my window and changed back into my uniform and went to lay down, only to find Dad sitting on my bed.
“Dad!” I said, surprised. “What’re you doing here?”
“I heard about your fight with the giant robot and came home as fast as I could,” he explained. “Are you okay?”
“Physically, I’m fine,” I said, sitting down next to him. “Emotionally…”
“You can tell me,” Dad said gently, and so I explained everything, ranging from my love for Briana to travelling back in time by flight. Dad soaked this all in wordlessly and when I was done merely said, “Everything happens for a reason, Kyle. You got your powers to help people; Briana “died” to spur you on and become the hero you always had the potential to be.”
“I guess,” I said, though I was unconvinced. “Tell me something…how come I could fly to save Briana, but not afterwards?”
Dad thought on this for a moment, and then said, “It was your determination to save her, I think. It activated your dormant ability to fly, and the ability reverted back to its dormancy when it wasn’t needed. I’m sure you could master it, in time.”
“Your determination also appears to have allowed your other abilities to increase. You told me you’re now stronger and completely invincible? This is possibly a natural evolution of your abilities, one that can only increase. And as for the time travel…I suggest you don’t do it again, otherwise it may have catastrophic effects on your body.”
I nodded, but was still troubled. Dad noticed this and said, “Meet me in the car.”
“Why?” I asked.
“It’s time for us to go somewhere we haven’t been in too long of a time, Kyle.”
***
The whole car ride, Dad refused to tell me where we were going, despite my pleading and borderline super-powered threats. Twenty minutes after we left the house, we arrived at the cemetery. The same cemetery Mom was buried in. I looked at Dad, stunned.
“It was time,” was all he said, eyes watering. “I’ll meet you at the grave in a little while, I just need…some time alone.”
“Okay,” I said. As I got out, Dad said something to me that made me incredibly happy.
“She’d be proud of you Kyle, almost as much as I am.
“Thanks Dad,” I said, shutting the door behind me. Listening, I heard no one in the graveyard, so I used my super speed to get to the grave that read, “Nina Wyatt, Beloved Daughter, Beloved Wife, Beloved Mother.”
“Hey Ma,” I whispered. “Boy, do I have some things to tell you…”

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Twenty-Three​

On the next Monday morning, I followed tradition and went to the Usual Spot, where everyone was talking. I put on a brave smile and went over. “Morning ladies,” I said light-heartedly.
Without even looking at me, Briana picked up her backpack and left wordlessly. I sighed sadly, even though I knew this would happen. “She’ll come around, you know,” Leon said.
“Where have I heard that before?” I asked grimly.
That night, I called Briana’s cell and left her an apologetic message. I know, I know, I’d done almost the same exact thing before, but life’s like that. Despite leaving the message, I didn’t hear back from her until the last day of school, and even then only in the form of a letter given to m by Leon.
I read the letter on a rooftop in the city, dressed in my Spartan garb sans mask. At first I was jubilant simply because I was hearing from her, but as I read it I became saddened.
The letter stated that I hurt Briana one time too many, and she didn’t want to deal with that anymore. Dried tear splotches peppered the paper, and wet ones trailed down my face. Saddened and angered, fire erupted from my eyes and set the paper to flame until it was ash.
I sat on the rooftop for a long time, deep in internal conflict. I told myself it wouldn’t be fair to Briana if I dated her and was Spartan, but part of me thought I was trying to justify my desire to protect her from getting killed during my line of duty.
I heard footsteps approach behind me, and found my other friends standing behind me. I began to explain everything, Leon cut me off. “We know. She told us this afternoon, when you were off investigating that drug deal.”
“Ugh,” I grunted. “Great.”
“Even better,” Jackson said sarcastically, “is that she’s already asked Aileen to set her up with that Samuel Brant character.”
“I figured that would come about,” I said. Then, almost plaintively, I said, “I just thought maybe, one day, the two of us could fall in love. Was that stupid? I mean, was it too much to ask for?”
In a rare moment of seriousness, Jason said, “No, it wasn’t. You did the right thing in the end, Kyle, and maybe one day she’ll realize that.”
We all stared at him, and Leon voiced all of our thoughts. “Since when do you act so serious and insightful?”
Jason waved his hand. “It’s one of those “once in a blue moon” things, don’t get used to it.”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway,” I said. “I couldn’t be there for her when she needed me before, and Sarge has been telling me that crime in the city has been getting more extreme.”
“So what’re you going to do?” Leon asked.
As soon as he said that, sirens sounded, and Sarge’s voice entered my head. Smirking ironically, I pulled my mask over my face and said, “Go to work.”
I leaped off of the building and followed the sirens on a webline, accepting, and in essence embracing the path laid at my feet.
My name is Kyle Wyatt. Student, friend, and son. I am all of these things. But in the end, what I really am, who I really am, is Spartan.

 

[Swordmaster]

Okay, so that was the end of Book One: The First Year. COming up within the week is:

Book II
The Summer of Love​

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter One[/FONT]​

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh my god, Harry!” Mary-Jane Watson yelled in horror as she was about to fall off of a destroyed balcony. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“M.J.!” Harry Osborn yelled fearfully as his girlfriend came close to death, just as Peter Parker tore across the screen, ripping his shirt open to reveal the Spider-Man costume underneath. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I shook my head, amused. Shirt-rips were not that easy to pull off. I would know. In my career as Spartan I've done maybe seventy-three.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Oh, that's right. It's me again, Kyle Wyatt, known to few as the superhero Spartan. And that whole scene involving Peter Parker, Mary-Jane Watson, and Harry Osborn [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]wasn't[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] really[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] happening, just playing on the screen in the movie theater. You see, it was my friend Jackson Crichton's birthday party, and so his family had rented out a theater to play his favorite movie of all time, Spider-Man. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As Spider-Man saved Mary-Jane from falling, I was (involuntarily) struck with memories of saving Briana (Walker) from death not a month ago. Because of that fateful day, she now wanted nothing to do with me, and this was the reason Jackson, Leon Allain, and Jason Rider sat in between the two of us.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Soon enough, the movie ended, causing me to end the silent comparisons to the film and my own life. The five of us went outside, and as soon as the air touched our faces Jackson started comparing the swinging techniques of Spidey on film and Spartan in life. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Dear god man, you realize you're the only one here who would do such a thing? ****ing nerd,” Jason said. In the two weeks since school ended, he'd started gelling his brown hair, giving it a distinct flip to it. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh come on,” Leon countered, “Kyle's as big a nerd.” He looked at me, and I realized that he was doing this, in part, to protect my secret identity. Though why he needed to insult me I'll never know.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Kyle may be a big nerd, but he's an even bigger jackass,” Briana mumbled to herself. Luckily for me, I have super hearing, so I heard it. Yay me. I was about to make witty retort, but just as I opened her mouth, a minivan belonging to Briana's mom pulled up in front of us. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You two need a ride?” Briana asked Leon and Jackson.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Nah, my Dad's picking us up,” Leon replied. “Thanks.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Briana said, “No problem,” before giving the two hugs in farewell, and giving Jackson a super-duper birthday hug. Right before she goes into her car, she stops in front of me, promptly ignores me, and then climbs in. I listened inside, to see if the girl I loved (though that love was waning) would say anything.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Does Kyle need a ride?” Mrs. Walker asked.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Nope,” Briana said crisply, and that was that.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Rolling my eyes, I speed walked into the alley at the side of the theater[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]. I wanted to be alone to think, and there was only one way I knew how to do that: become Spartan.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Hey! Kyle!”[/FONT][/FONT]
Just as I was about to press the button on my watch that would have caused my costume to form, I turn to see Jackson jogging up to me.​

“Where're you going?” he panted.
“Need to get some air,” I murmured. I began to run away, but stopped and ran back. I handed my friend a card. “Happy birthday,” I said sincerely.
Jackson looked like he was going to say something, but I was gone before he could even begin.

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Two[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][/FONT]I, as Spartan, leaped from rooftop to rooftop, doing a myriad of acrobatic feats, all in a vain effort to get Briana off of my mind. Finally ceasing my movements, I stood on the edge of a building, and, as I had every night since I had saved Briana, tried to fly at will. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Trying to focus my will on flying, I jumped into the air...[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]...and promptly began to fall.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Damn,” I said, attaching a webline to a building and began to swing around the city, thinking long and hard about the life I now was forced to lead. As the hours passed, I still had yet to figure out anything, and my thoughts were interrupted by an alarm from an art museum.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I swung to a rooftop across from the museum, and from the outside, one could not tell anything was wrong. However, my Battle Sense alerted me to a watch girl posted on the roof next to me. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sneaking up on her, I tapped her on the head, knocking her out. Seeing a walkie-talkie clipped to her belt, I took it and spoke.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Hello? Yes, this is Spartan, you know, the superhero. Yeah, I'm here to tell you that I'm coming to kick your collective asses. Just thought you should know. See you soon.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As soon as I was finished with my announcement, I leaped across the street and attached myself to the outside of the museum and looked for a way to get in inconspicuously. Finding a slightly open window, I crawled in and hid in the shadows, like Batman. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The thieves were all separate. Thanks to my hearing, I could hear their heartbeats as clear as if I had a stethoscope to their chests, and thus was able to determine that there were three in total. In the mood for a bit of fun, I decided to play a game of cat and mouse with the bastards. My first target was the thief in the room beside me, who by some odd chance was a midget. Why anyone would bring a midget on a mission to steal art is beyond me.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Watching the little guy from the shadows, I saw he was a nervous fellow, which would make this all the more fun. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I descended from a webline next to him and tapped him on the shoulder. “How ya doing?” I asked him. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The midget yelped and began to run away, eliciting a sigh from me. [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I dropped to the ground and sped in front of the guy, who screamed again.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Bad midget! Very bad!” I yelled, wagging my finger at him.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Before he could run away again, I I webbed his ankles and yanked him to the ground.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Ow!” he yelled in a high pitched voice.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“...I'm not even gonna go into the hilarity of this one.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Catching the rest of his companions (a large black man and an average white man) was pretty much the same thing: taunt, chase, rinse, repeat, blah blah blah. The main point is that I caught them all with relative ease. Because I'm awesome.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leaning against a wall, I waited ten minutes, and then Sarge arrived. He looked up at the upside down web-cocoon that was hanging from the ceiling and said, “Nice contribution to the museum.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Tell them they can send me a check for it in the mail,” I said, getting off of the wall and walking towards my ally, who was examining the thieves.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You know Spartan,” he said, walking around the cocoon, “these guys are pretty beat up. Come to think of it...every person you've beaten in the past few weeks has been pretty roughed up. You've never been this...what's the word...brutal.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In response, all I said was, “They struggled.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You know what you need? A girl. Keep some sanity in your life.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At this, my eyes faintly glowed red, and I leaped to a window and crawled out wordlessly, just as Sarge feebly said, “It was just a suggestion...”[/FONT][/FONT]​

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Three[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I swung home in haste, as if I were running from my problems, afraid they would catch up to me. I entered my house through my window, managing to take the mask off before landing. I looked at myself in the mirror; my eyes were glowing a fierce red, as was my face, which was also covered in a heavy sweat. Breathing in deeply, I regained control of myself, and my eyes reverted to their normal steel blue color, just as my father walked in.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I've been calling you all night,” Dad said sharply. “Where the hell have you been?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I morphed my costume into nightclothes, saying bluntly, “I was out preserving art.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Somehow, Dad knew what was on my mind, as he said next, “Briana's still pissed at you, isn't she?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I nod, wondering not for the first time if my father had telepathy. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“She'll come around, you know. Girls are just weird with their emotions.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I let out a single “Ha!”, turning to my Dad with a self-depreciating smirk on my face. “You said that when all this crap started, Dad. Nothing's gotten any better. If anything, [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]everything's [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]gotten worse.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Shaking his head, Dad sat on my bed and motioned for me to sit next to him. I complied.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Did I ever tell you the story of how your mother and I got together?” he asked.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I shook my head no, saying, “Dad, you really don't have to tell me.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“No, Kyle, I do. For you to understand, I do. In tenth grade, I was an arrogant turd, who happened to like a girl named Nina Madison. However, my turdiness turned her off of me as soon as we met, so instead of dating me, she dated a boy named Russel, who on the outside was a real nice guy, but on the inside was a total ass. Nonetheless, he hid his true self from your Nina very well, and so they dated throughout the year, much to my chagrin. However, in November of junior year, Russel hurt Nina really bad, and I, who had learned humility over the summer, comforted her as a friend, and assured her everything would be all right. The rest, well, you could probably figure it out.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Dad's voice faltered at that last sentence, so I looked up at him. He was crying silently, wiping his tears on his scrubs. I hugged him and held him tightly, whispering, “It'll be fine, Dad. It will be fine.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Not five minutes later, after comforting my father, my phone rang. I wasn't exactly in the mood to talk to anyone, but I was curious who was calling, so I checked the I.D. To my surprise, it was Briana, so I eagerly answered. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yeah?” I said, sounding quite chipper.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Hi, Kyle,” Briana said on the other end, sounding slightly bitter. “I was just wondering...if you wanted to hang out at Mac's with me on Thursday?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Something about this didn't seem right to me. Maybe it was the bitter inflection in her voice. Maybe I was just paranoid. Whatever the reason, I asked warily, “What's the occasion?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The only answer I got was a click on the other end. She'd hung up. Biting my lower lip thoughtfully, I sent out three text messages, one to Leon, Jason, and Jackson, respectively, telling them to come over my house the next day, as I needed to confer with them about this development.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]They all showed up, to my relief. Leon sat on my game chair, Jason flopped himself on my bed, and Jackson sat on the floor. By contrast, I was clung to the sitting upside down on the ceiling, explaining the phone call. When I was done, I asked, “So, what do you guys know?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jackson shifted uneasily, so I said threateningly, “Don't make me give you a super- wedgie, because you know I will. What do you know?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jackson, looking as if he were about to vomit, blurted out in one sentence, “BrianasofficiallydatingSamuelBrantandhewantstomeetherfriends.” [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I stared at him blankly before turning in the direction of Leon and Jackson. “In English, please?” [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Briana's officially dating Samuel Brant, and he wants to meet her friends,” Leon translated.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“...Oh. So why was I invited? I don't think I could call Briana a friend anymore.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jason answered that one. “Sammy there told her to invite you. Apparently she told him all about you, and so he wanted to meet the man he beat. Which is ironic, since you could break his spine with a poke, if you wanted to.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Not my style,” I said, jumping to the ground and throwing Jason to the ground. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“My back!” he yelped. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I ignored him. “God, I feel like me and Briana and I are an old divorced couple.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Wincing, Jason got up and said, “We've got enough drama amongst us for a soap opera.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“What would we call it?” Leon asked, genuinely curious.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Why, Jason's Bay, of course.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At that, the two started arguing over Jason's God complex, something Jason never denied having. I walked to Jackson, who was rubbing his temple at our friend's antics.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“They're the real divorced couple, not you and Briana,” he said, almost sadly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yeah, well, they never dated or came close to dating, as far as I know.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jackson patted my shoulder. “She'll come around. In the meantime, though, just try to control the urge to rip out Samuel's heart when you meet him on Thursday.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In spite of myself, I laughed. “I'll do my best.[/FONT]​

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Four[/FONT]​

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]While I was meditating that evening, trying at least to hover, I got a summons from Sarge. Without thinking twice I changed into Spartan and swung out of the window. Within ten minutes I arrived in Xavier City and swung into Sarge's office through an open window. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]My friend, who sat at his desk doing paperwork, was unfazed by my sudden appearance, but a younger officer who was with him jumped in surprise. “You rang?” I said.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Without looking up, Sarge said, “Yes, Spartan, this is Officer Gabriel Munn.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Munn extended his hand enthusiastically, but I didn't shake it right away, instead looking the man over. He appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties, was about an inch or two taller than me, and his sandy hair was falling into his eyes, which were bright and optimistic. Finally, I took Munn's hand and gave it a short, firm shake.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“It's a pleasure to meet you, Spartan,” Munn said, grinning. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Likewise. So you summoned me here to meet an officer, Sarge? I mean, here I was about to get some action!”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Really?”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“No.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Munn started to laugh hysterically, causing me and Sarge to stare at him. Sarge even cocked his head to the side. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Sorry,” Munn mumbled. “Just thought it was funny...”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Spartan is funny,” Sarge said warmly.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“It's true,” I added. “I'm a comedic genius. But anyway, why was I called?”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sarge breathed in deeply. “Well, since neither you or the XCPD could get any leads whatsoever on the drug and prostitution rings that have become prominent in the past few weeks, we're sending Munn to infiltrate them.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I felt bad for Munn. I'd spent a week of intense investigation looking for anything that could clean the streets, but I found nothing. So, the only thing I could say to the man was, “Good luck, Munn. If you ever need me, Sarge knows how to get in touch.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I'll make you proud, Spartan,” Munn said, and under the mask I grinned.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I went towards the window, but then I remembered something. “Um, Sarge, could I have a quick word with you?”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sarge looked at me oddly, but said, “Sure. You're dismissed, Munn.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Munn saluted sharply to both Sarge and myself before leaving. As soon as he was out of earshot, Sarge said to me, “He's young, but he's one of our best.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I don't doubt it. Listen...I'm sorry about how I acted last night. It was uncalled for, and you didn't deserve it.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Don't worry about it. You're a teenager (though the other officers don't know that), and you're allowed to get moody at times. But you know, I'm available to talk to, if you need it.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I started to talk, but faltered, then recovered, though I couldn't let out what I wanted to say in anymore than a whisper. “Um...does your work ever interfere with your life at home? I know it's a personal question, but...I need to know.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sarge shuffled the papers around on his desk before finally answering, “At times, yes. Yes it does.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Almost pleadingly, I asked, “Does it ever make you question why you do what you do, or why you keep doing it?”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Another silence.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“There...there are times,” Sarge finally answered. “But whenever I see a safe child smile at me, I remember why I do this: I like keeping people safe.”[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“My voice still a whisper, I said, “Thanks,” before leaving through the window and swinging to my listening post. Once there, I ripped off the mask and looked down upon the city that I protect.[/FONT][/FONT]​

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Five[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The next morning, I awoke from a deep sleep. Yawning, I checked the clock, and what I saw caused my eyes to widen.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“****!” I yelled. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]You see, it was 12:30 in the afternoon, and I was to meet my friends at Mac's in a half hour, and I hadn't even showered yet. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Cursing again, I quickly but thoroughly showered and got dressed, with ten minutes to spare. I opened my window in preparation of swinging away, but the heat from the outside hit me like a slap. It was most definitely the hottest day of the year, meaning my webs would dissolve the instant they touched the air. Therefore, the only way I could get there was to use super speed, not my favorite form of movement as I have to weave in and out of pedestrians and cars. But I had no choice, so out I went. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Halfway there, my Battle Sense went off, and I stopped running just in time to see a little boy, no more than five, about to run into the street while chasing a stray dog.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Re-entering speed mode, I rolled behind a car and emerged in my costume. I leaped towards the boy and caught him just as a car was about to run him over. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The boy looked up at me, gratitude etched into his face. “Thanks!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Irritated at this interruption of my run, I merely grunted and brought the boy back to his mother, who was yapping away on her cell phone.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Before the confused woman could ask what had happened, I shoved the kid in her arms and restarted my run, changing as I did so. I was a blur, so no one could see my details.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I slowed down a block away from the shopping center where Mac's was located, and merely jogged up to the burger joint. When I was close enough, I looked through the window and saw the orders of my friends being taken by a waitress with olive skin and raven hair that had a purple streak in it. Breathing in deeply and concentrating on not thinking of melting Samuel Brant's face off, I walked in and sat down, but as I did, my Battle Sense rang with such force that it gave me a headache.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]When the pain subsided, I looked up to see Briana looking concerned, but when she saw me looking at her her face became a mask of icy irritation as she gave the waitress her order testily.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]When the waitress, who had to be our age, turned to me to take my order, I could have sworn I saw a glint of anger in her green eyes for the briefest of moments, but it was gone so fast I must have imagined it. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Hot Dog with an Orange Soda, thanks,” I said, watching the waitress write it on her little pad furiously with interest. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As she walked away, she winked at Jackson, who blushed like a little girl. Jason saw it too, as he punched him in the ribs. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I looked away from my friend's pained expression and took this moment to observe Samuel Brant. He seemed to be as tall as I was, with vivid blue eyes (the opposite of my steel blue ones), and oily blond hair. He had a fuzz goatee on his chin, and was very lanky. When he saw I was looking at him, he smiled. I merely grimaced.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“So, Kyle,” Samuel said, “what interests you?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Comics, actually,” I said in a taunting voice, as if daring him to mock me because of that fact.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh, like Jackson?” he asked with interest.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yeah...,” I said with an eyebrow raised. “Except I'm a DC guy, not a Marvel guy.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“So...you're smart,” Jason chimed in.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh come on,” Samuel said, “Marvel's got a better writing team than DC does at the moment.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“If by better you mean total crap, than yeah, Marvel's better,” Leon retorted.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This debate went on for another ten minutes, and during this time I saw that Samuel Brant knew as much about Marvel as Jackson, could match wits with Jason, and was as opinionated as Leon. So, essentially...he was me.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Right as this realization hit me, the waitress came with our food. I was about to eagerly dive into my Hot Dog, but I saw Jackson beside me staring at something on his plate. I look down and see a napkin with a purple lipstick kiss on it, and nothing else.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jackson looks in awe at the waitress, who blows a kiss at him. As he sat there shocked, Leon patted him on the back, Jason called him a pimp.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]When the two were done congratulating him, Samuel said, “She's pretty, Jackie Boy. Not as pretty as my Briana, though.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At this, Briana blushes and pecks Samuel on the cheek. I fought to keep the anger boiling within me in check, but failed for a second, and my eyes flashed red. Jason, who was sitting across from me, flinched. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The six of us finished eating, and then went outside, where Briana departed with her boyfriend. For once, I was happy to see her go. Seeing her acting all...couple-y with Samuel hurt me more than the giant robotic fist of Dean Murdoch's machination. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You know, I liked him,” Leon said. I said nothing, because the intensity of my Battle Sense's warning worried me greatly. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jason was about to say something, but a tap on the glass from the waitress interrupted him. Jason, who hated being interrupted, prepared himself to rant at the waitress, and was only stopped by Leon grabbing his neck. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I looked at the waitress, who was looking at Jackson and beckoning him to come back into the restaurant. He obeyed, and walked in, a confused look on his face. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As soon as the door closed, Leon and Jason put their ears to the glass, apparently forgetting I had superhuman hearing and could hear the conversation as clear as if it were happening right next to me.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Erm...you wanted to see me?” Jackson stammered.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I did,” the waitress said sweetly. “Like my note?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“It was...ah...very sweet.” Good god man, grow a pair, was all I could think.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Look, I'll be direct. I think you're a real cutie, and I think we could have something special together, if you're willing.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I...um...erm...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Any complaint Jackson would have made was drowned out by the sudden kiss I heard him receive, and with that I shut off my hearing. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Holy ****!” came the cries of Leon and Jason. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I rolled my eyes. He didn't even know the girl's name, and he was already swapping spit with her. Yeesh.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Finally, after minutes of Jason and Leon cheering my Jackson on, he walked out with a dazed look on his face. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well?” Leon said eagerly. “What's the deal?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“What's her name?” Jason asked indignantly, apparently sharing my thoughts on hooking up with someone without even knowing their name.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Carol Wilke,” he said dreamily. “We're going to Waters Park together on the 4th of July for the fireworks show.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]For some reason, my Battle Sense buzzed at this, though I couldn't determine why. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well, congrats Jackson,” Leon said. Jason also congratulated him, and then nudged my arm, as if to remind me to congratulate him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Hmm? Oh yeah, nice one Jackson. Listen, I gotta jet. What are you guys doing tonight?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Doctor's appointment,” Leon said, none too happily.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Cleaning my room,” Jason said with equal happiness.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Talking to Carol on-line,” Jackson said dreamily.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well then, have fun ladies,” I said before running home to figure out what the hell was going on with my Battle Sense. [/FONT]​

 

[Dark Phantom]

So, Jackson has a mistress seducing him? not bad, but I don't trust her!!!!

 

[Swordmaster]

So, Jackson has a mistress seducing him? not bad, but I don't trust her!!!!

...

...

I knew you'd come around to reading this

 

[muertevilla]

well, im only fifteen (16 in November), so at the moment I've got no original ideas, and don't really consider this a career choice, just a hobby. But I did write a semi-original story, taking the core elements of The Crow and making it my own.

the crow is my favorite movie, and not juts because im a 90s goth metalhead.

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Six[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]That evening, I went to the library, accompanied by Jason, who apparently didn't have to clean as much as he thought he did. He decided to come with me because he was bored. Anyway, we went with the intent to research Adventus, but that didn't go as well as I'd have liked; we found nothing. Of worth, anyway.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]An hour into research, Jason perked up. “Dude, I found something.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I walked over to from my side of the table to his and looked over his shoulder. He was looking at a picture of a mansion.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yeah, so?” I said, annoyed at being interrupted from my in-depth readings on how to win a girl in ten easy steps. Yes, I know I was supposed to be researching Adventus, but dammit, Briana and Samuel got me thinking: I need someone to love. Besides Briana, whose attitude was starting to irritate me.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well, apparently this mansion was the headquarters of an organization a few decades ago. Ring any bells?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You think this mansion could have been an Adventus headquarters?” I said skeptically. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well, yes,” Jason said proudly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I sat beside him, anger slightly entering my voice. “Listen, Jason. Even if this place was once an Adventus base, it's likely been abandoned for years, with all their equipment gone in the ****ing wind. So next time, think before you get get my attention. Got it?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I moved away from him, teeth clenched. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Listen up you prick,” he called from behind me. I turned to find him looking angrier than I've ever seen him. “Just because things aren't going your way, doesn't give you the right to **** over your friends, especially me. Now, once I would have told you that you have issues separating fantasy from reality, and that you would never have gotten superpowers, but now I see I would have been wrong, something I rarely am. But now I'm going to tell you to separate fantasy from reality once again and realize that love doesn't work the way it does in the movies. Briana's happy now, and being a good predictor of the future, I could tell you that she and Sammy might probably get married. So...and this echoes the sentiments of Jackson as well as my own...MOVE. THE ****. ON.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I stared at Jason, boiling with rage. How dare he talk to me like that? Then it hit me, and this realization stunned me: Ever since I became Spartan, everything's been about me, me, and, oh look, me. I never gave my friends a second thought, and, well, this was my reward. Looking at Jason, who looked as angry as I did, I could tell he was as angry as I was, but had been holding it in for a while. So now I said the only thing I could in the situation I was in.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Sorry.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Breathing in and out, Jason said, “Damn right you are,” and then grinned. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I grinned back at him. As much as I hated him at times, and boy did I hate him then, sometimes he gave the best advice, and for that I could only be grateful.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“How long you been holding that in?” I inquired.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“About a month,” he said.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Shouldn't keep stuff like that inside. Could kill you.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You would know, wouldn't you, Spar-”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Shh!” I whispered, cutting him off.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“What?” he asked, and I sensed he was about to go off on another rant.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“There's someone coming,” I said, my ears picking up on the heavy, ragged breathing of someone behind the bookshelf by us. The two of us turned simultaneously, and from behind the bookcase emerged a girl with tangled brown hair, and huge haze, eyes, like a bug. When she spoke to us, it was with a lisp.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Do you guyth need help finding anything?” [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jason put his hand over his mouth to hide his laughter, which I admit I too was having trouble fighting. I'm sorry, but her appearance combined with her lisp made her a very laughable person.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“No...thank...you...,” Jason said, barely containing the laugh. [/FONT]
“[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Well, if you need it, my name's Thara Thinlye (I assumed her name was “Sara Shinlye”), and you just need to go to the front dethk and ask for me,” she said, winking at Jackson, who retched in response.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Sara Shinlye lingered by us still, causing the two of us to edge to the front of the library and exit, where we let our laughter out, which lasted about five minutes. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You've got an admirer,” I said, and with that statement I became bitter again.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“What's wrong?” Jason asked, noticing this.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“It just seems like everyone but me has someone who likes them.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Who does Leon have?” Jason asked, sounding shocked. “I thought his arrogance would have pushed all females on the planet away from him.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I laughed not wholeheartedly. “He met a girl named Alyssa at the doctor's office. Apparently they hit it off, and are pretty much the same as each other.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh...oh my,” Jason said, looking sick. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Before he could say anything further, I got a message from Sarge to meet him at the corner of Hickey and 10th , and without even saying goodbye to Jason ran behind the library, changed into Spartan, and swung away to Sarge.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Behind me, Jason, knowing I'd be listening, whisper-yelled under his breath “Hey! Get back here! You're my ride home! Damn it Kyle!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I landed beside Sarge, who was looking sadly at a corpse being loaded onto a stretcher. With a start I realized it was Officer Gabriel Munn, dead by stabbing. Saddened by the loss of such a good man, I asked, “What happened?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“His cover was blown,” Sarge whispered, a tear running down his cheek. I could tell he was blaming himself for the man's death. Before I could comfort him, he pressed on. “He was, however, able to discover the alias of the man who heads the operation: Mr. Dark.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I was about to make a quip about the cheesiness of the name, but it didn't really seem all that appropriate. Instead, I told the grieving sergeant, “I'll keep an ear out for the name. Two, if I can spare them.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]But Sarge wasn't listening, but kept staring at Munn's body. I clapped my hand on Sarge's shoulders. “We'll get him, Sarge. This Mr. Dark won't get away unpunished. I guarantee it.”[/FONT]​

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Seven[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]After talking with Sarge for a bit, I was crouched atop my listening post, trying to listen for any mention of “Mr. Dark.” After hearing nothing after a half hour, I leaped from the building and swung around the city, investigating any and all leads I could find, which entailed pretty much beating the crap out of petty dealers and pimps.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As I fought a skilled jujitsu master on steroids who was guarding a pimp, my phone vibrated. Dodging a cinderblock fist, I took out my phone and answered. “Yeah!?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Get over here now, fruit fly!” Jason yelled loudly in my ear. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I'm a little busy at the moment!” I yelled back, dodging a kick and headbutting the bodyguard unconscious. “Oh,” I said, mildly surprised. “I'll be there in a minute.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hanging up, I walked over to the pimp, who was shivering in fright. “Hey buddy, how you doing?” I said gently.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The cops found him tied to a streetlight later that night.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As soon as I walked into Jason's parent-less house, my ears were barraged by another one of his lovely rants.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“How the **** could you leave me alone in front of the library? You know who followed us outside? Sara Shinlye, who started yapping on and on to me about how she's saving herself for the one and talking about how no one understands her. God damn you, Kyle Wyatt. God. Damn. You.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Before I could respond, Jackson replied, wincing, “Ooo, Sara Shinlye likes you, eh? I went to elementary school with her. Bit of a psychopath. Well, at least it's not me!”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As Jason put Jackson into a headlock (“Uncle! Uncle!”), I said, “So you called me here to rant about how I left you behind when I was off beating up pimps and dealers?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Pretty much,” Jason said, his voice strained (Jackson was fighting back). [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well then, since you're all here, there's something I should tell you. Something that happened today.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leon began to open his mouth, but I interrupted him, sounding bored to make a point. “Yes Leon, we all know you've got a date with that Alyssa girl. We're all very happy for you. But this is more important. You see, today at lunch, when I sat down, my Battle Sense went off very strongly, stronger than it ever has, while in the presence of Samuel.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leon, irritated at my subtle insult towards him, said, “Don't you think maybe jealousy of Samuel and Briana could have caused it? I mean, after all, you're powers are tied to your emotions.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I stared at him, and was about to flip out on him, before I grumbled, “There's a possibility of that...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leon began to out a smug look on his face, but I had more to say that would wipe that look right off.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“But...the strength of it would have me believe that there was a threat present.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leon stared at me dumbfounded, and Jackson said the words everyone was no doubt feeling: “How could Samuel Brant be a threat?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“That's the thing,” I said sadly. “I don't know.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Closing my eyes and listening for any crimes, I heard none, so I said somewhat desperately, “You guys wanna hang?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Nah, I'm bored of you,” Jason said, half-joking.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Can't,” Leon said. “I've got to call Alyssa. We're going to that thing on the 4th of July together. Which reminds me, Jackson, you wanna double up?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yeah!” Jackson said eagerly. “I've never been on a date before, so us going together would make me feel better about this whole thing.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At that, I felt a surge of anger and thought, while hating myself for doing so, why my friends deserved such happiness when I got none of it. I mean, hadn't I earned it? [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jackson looking at me uneasily, and realized that my eyes were glowing. I stopped that, but I couldn't stop Jackson from coming over and asking what was wrong. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I...I just wish I had someone, like you and Leon, and even Jason do,” I said pathetically.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You could,” Jackson said, “If you just let Briana go and be happy. Without you.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Easier said than done,” I growled.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A grunt interrupted this moment between Jackson and me, and we turned to see Jason and Leon wrestling, right after Leon had joked that Jason should bring Sara to the 4th of July festival.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The night of the 4th, I sat atop my listening post, mask off, watching the fireworks. From where I was, it was a most beautiful sight. I breathed in deep, cherishing the night air, feeling calm for the first time in a long time. And then something odd happened.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In a unique moment, my Battle Sense stretched my awareness across the whole city, and I was able to see all my friends as they were at that exact moment.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I saw Leon and Alyssa resting on a bench, Alyssa's head resting on Leon's shoulder.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I saw Carol, who was sitting on Jackson's lap on the bench beside Leon and Alyssa, as a look of surprised pleasure rested upon Jackson's face.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I saw Jason, locked inside his house, looking fearfully outside, hiding from Sara Shinlye.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]And finally, I saw Briana laying on Samuel's lap in the park, a look of supreme contentment on her face.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As this universal awareness subsided, I sighed and realized, sadly, that I was alone. And the worst part of being alone...is being alone.[/FONT]​

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Eight[/FONT]​

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A week passed, and for a reason I wasn't entirely sure of, I was stuck at Mac's with Leon, Jackson, and Briana. Jason was meant to come, but he saw Sara Shinlye across the street and promptly ran away.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At any rate, as my two friends and former love of my life talked, my eyes drifted to a familiar looking brunette girl, though for the life of me I couldn't place why she looked familiar. Had I once saved her? Either way, she waved at me as if she knew me, so I had no choice but to wave back, though I did so feebly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]My attention was diverted back to my friends, who started talking about their relationships. Leon said he's happier than he's ever been, but Jackson and Briana didn't share that happiness, as they're both arguing with their respective lovers. Well, not lovers, but you know what I mean. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Me and Sam are arguing because he wanted to see a movie with me today, but I wanted to spend time with you guys. It's weird, it's like he thinks he can be the only man in my life.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This almost got a grin out of me, which was quickly squashed by Briana's next sentence. “But I still love him, though, and we've still had loads of fun together.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]My shoulders slumped in defeat, which was made even worse by Jackson's *****ing. “Carol's mad at me, and she won't even tell me why. I don't get it, I'm chivalrous, I just don't understand.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well,” Leon began, and in his arrogance began offering advice based on his own experiences with Alyssa and other girls.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Stop it...stop it...stop it...,” I kept muttering, to no avail. Leon kept going on and on about all the good stuff he and Alyssa did, and Briana and Jackson kept whining. It got to the point where I had had enough. I stood up and slammed the table so hard that it shook. I think I may have even cracked it a little, too.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“STOP IT! Just stop! I'm so sick of this! Yes Leon, we get that you're happy, and we're truly glad for you, but do you have to mention it every ****ing day? Jackson, do you realize how stupid you're being? The reason Carol's angry at you is because you're not being completely open with her, and you're making up for that by being her *****! You know why you're not being open with her, right? It's because you're scared that the best thing to happen to you in years will end out of nowhere if you open up, and she sees the real you. And Briana, oh, don't even get me started on you. Ah what the hell, I'll rip into you anyway. Listen, I get that I messed up all those months ago, but you don't have to rub your relationship with your “perfect boyfriend” in my face because of it! God damn, I don't know how I ever could have loved a ***** like you. What pisses me off the most, though, is the fact that you, Jackson Crichton and Briana Walker, are *****ing over the little things when you don't realize that I, Kyle Wyatt, would kill to be in your shoes. You know why? Because, unlike me, you don't spend all your free time wishing you had someone who loved you and would stand by you, no matter what. So consider yourselves lucky.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Fighting the red in my eyes, stared at the three coldly. Leon looked apologetic, Jackson looked sick, and Briana looked shocked. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Breathing in short, rapid breaths, I ran outside and went to the side, where I leaned against the wall and went over in my head what just happened. I was appalled at everything I had said, but what scared me the most was that I meant every word.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As I tried to figure out what my next move would be, I heard footsteps approaching me. Expecting Leon, Jackson, or even Briana, I prepared to blurt out an apology, and was thus surprised to see the brunette girl from inside.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]She looked at me and smiled. “You don't remember me, do you Kyle?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Should I?” I snapped.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The girl looked taken aback, so I said quietly, “Sorry...it's been a rough ten minutes, as I'm sure you saw.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]She nodded, then said with a sweet smile, “Does the name Olivia Connelly ring any bells?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In an instant, I was seven again. Olivia Connelly was one of my best friends in elementary school, but once Mom died, we kind of fell apart, and I pushed her out of my mind, completely forgetting about her until today. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“How'd you recognize me?” I asked. “The hair?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olivia laughed and shook her head no. “Your eyes.” She laughed a very pleasant laugh. “It's funny, when we were younger on the playground they scared the hell out of me, but now I find them...appealing.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yours aren't that bad either,” I said, and it wasn't a lie. I found her brown eyes that were flecked with gold very sexy. The freckles on her round face only added to her cuteness.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olivia reddened, so I took the advantage and pressed further, deciding to ask, “So why'd you follow me out here?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I, um, wanted to make sure you were all right. I saw what happened in there, and, well, I was worried about you. Wanna talk about it? I'm good with helping people and their problems.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I was about to accept her offer when firetrucks raced down the street, sirens blaring. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I'm sorry, but I'm busy.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh, okay,” she said with a smile, but the confidence in her voice had left.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Wanna reschedule?” I asked, getting a grin from her.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You know it,” Olivia exclaimed, the confidence in her voice returned.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Tonight, here. 8:00.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Deal.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As I followed the firetrucks, swinging better than I had in years, I realized that it had been easier to get over Briana than I'd thought it would be.[/FONT]​

 

[Swordmaster]

[FONT=Copperplate Gothic Light, sans-serif]Chapter Nine[/FONT]​

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]At a quarter to eight, I was preparing for my date, for that is what it was. Obviously, it wasn't anything fancy, but I did dress quasi-formally: plain navy shirt, jean shorts lacking holes, and I even changed my socks and underwear. God, I loved having a suit that could change into any article of clothing I wanted just by thought.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]My phone rang, and by the System of a Down ringtone I could tell it was Leon. I answered cheerfully. How could I not? For once, everything seemed to be going my way.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yo!” I exclaimed. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You sound way too happy for someone who ****ed over his friends today,” Leon said angrily on the other end.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Look, I'm sorry about-,”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh, don't apologize to me, I know why you did it. But they don't. Especially Briana.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“What about Jackson?” I asked, confused. He was the one I'd voiced my problems to, and my outburst shouldn't have surprised him.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“It was really really weird, actually. After you left, he became incredibly angry at you, and stormed out himself not long after.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“And Briana? What about her?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“She was upset. She said she'd never seen you act the way you did, and that it...well, it scared her.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“All I did was say the truth, or at least my opinion of it.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Yeah, well, you hurt her. Even more, if possible.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“You know full well why she's angry at me, and you know that if she knew the truth, she'd have forgiven me and...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“And you'd likely be together now, I know,” Leon finished, exasperated, the anger still present. “Still, that goes back to the problem we had a year ago: you not telling her. Now it looks like that'll never happen.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Doesn't matter,” I said coolly. “I've got a date tonight with someone who makes Briana seem like Lena Elvins.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“The freaky Goth girl?” Leon asked, sounding befuddled.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“The same.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“How'd you get a get a dateand not tell me about it? Wait wait, I'm getting off track. So this is the end of you and Briana?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I meant it when I said I was over her.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Leon scoffed on the other end. “Please. You had such strong feelings for her for a long time, even going so far as to go back in time to save her, and yet you claim you feel nothing for her now? Bull****. Feelings like that just don't disappear like that.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Getting annoyed, I said, “Well they did!” before ending the call.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In front of Mac's, I was pacing back and forth, grumbling to myself how having superspeed made everyone seem slow by comparison.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]As I continued my grumbling, a man approached me, and my Battle Sense was triggered just as he pulled out a knife.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Money. Fast!” he said. I smelled the alcohol off of his breath, and rolled my eyes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I kinda need it for my date tonight, Drunky McDrunkerstein. Maybe some other time,” I said drolly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The mugger made a freakish rattle before lunging at me, which I easily dodged. I grabbed his wrist, snapped it, and threw his knife a mere inch from his foot.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Gah!” the man yelled out as he ran away, just as Olivia appeared from behind me.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olivia blinked her eyes in surprise. “How'd you do that?” she asked, though her voice didn't seem at all that inquisitive.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Oh that,” I laughed. “I work out a lot.” Inwardly, I cursed myself for already lying before the relationship had even begun.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olivia nodded. “All right. I don't buy it. I think a far more obvious answer to my question is that you are, in fact, Spartan.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Tha-tha-that's preposterous,” I stuttered. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Kyle, don't think me an idiot. I saw pictures of that Riverside High School vigilante, and he had the exact same eyes that you do.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“How do you know it wasn't my cousin John? He has the same eyes I do. It's a family trait, you see...”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I saw her looking bemused and a little irritated. “You're not buying it, are you?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Not at all,” she said, smirking.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]My shoulders fell in defeat. “How'd you figure out the connection between the school vigilante and Spartan?”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olivia scoffed, much as Leon had earlier. “Well, both swing on webs, and both have a fondness for Superman 'S' symbols. The connection was rather obvious to anyone who wasn't completely ******ed.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“Well played,” I said, though I didn't smile. “So tell me, was that the only reason you approached me? So you could date Spartan? Because if you did, you're flat outta luck. I'm as different from Spartan as Harry Potter is to Jason. That is to say, I look exactly like him, but act almost nothing like him.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olivia shook her head, her eyes wide. “That's not it at all. Not really. I came to you because I thought...I think...that you're a good person. With or without the mask.”[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]I smiled, convinced of her sincerity. “Well then, we should talk. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]* * *[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Fifteen minutes later, the two of us stood on my listening post. I was in costume, mask off.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“It's beautiful up here!” Olivia gasped, looking at the stars and the city streets.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]“I know. I come up here when I need to think, or when I'm on the lookout for anyone,” I explained.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Just as I said that, I hear an out of control car, and turn to Olivia, sighing. “I gotta take care of it. It's my job.” As I said this, I wondered if I was already ruining what could have been a great relationship.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olivia said nothing, but did kiss me on the cheek. “I'll be here waiting.”[/FONT]​

 

[Swordmaster]

Chapter Ten
The next day, I was laying down on my bed, grinning from ear to ear. Not even Jason's yelling at me could stop that.
“For God's sakes, man, you just met the broad, and she already knows everything! Don't you realize how ridiculous this is?” he yelled, appalled.
“What makes it even more ridiculous,” Leon said dryly, “is that he's known her...as a teenager...for all of a day, yet he's known Briana for almost two years, yet this Olivia knows more about Kyle than Briana does.”
I rolled my eyes, but otherwise ignored Leon. “Can't you just accept the fact that, for the first time since I fought Murdoch, I'm completely happy?”
“No,” Jason said smugly. I threw my pillow at him.
“What? I'm the only single of the five of us. I, more than anyone, am allowed to bust your balls,” Jason said.
“Well, you could date Sara Shinlye,” I laughed. “She's pretty, in an ugly sorta way.”
And then, just for a fleeting moment, I saw a sad look on Jason's face, and recognized it immediately: He was alone, or at least feeling that way.
“Sorry,” I said. “Went too far.”
“You bet your ass you did,” Jason said, nodding, accepting my apology.
It was at this moment that I realized Jackson was not among us. “Where's Jackson?” I asked.
“Most likely with the Wicked ***** of the East,” Leon said, disgusted.
“Ooo, nice pun,” Jason said, clapping his hands mockingly.
“Why do you call her that?” I asked, my wonder genuine. I had never met her outside of the day at Mac's (and the vision I had, which I learned was an expansion of my Battle Sense).
Leon took a deep breath, something he always did when preparing to tell a story that would likely interest me.
“Well, last night, after you hung up on me, I called Jackson, who out of nowhere asked me and Alyssa to go to a movie with him and Carol.”
“Doesn't seem too abnormal, and believe me, I've dealt with abnormal.”
“Let me finish, god dammit. So we went to the movies, and throughout the movie Jackson kept badmouthing you, saying things I didn't even know were in his vocabulary.”
“And this makes Carol a *****...how?”
“Well, this is where we have to use our heads; hours before, Jackson and Carol were fighting, likely for the reasons you pointed out. But then, at the movies, they were all lovey-dovey.”
Jason broke the fake slumber he'd entered once Leon began talking and asked, “What's weird about that?”
“He called her darling!”
“Heh, ***,” Jason snorted. “But anyway, isn't there a chance they made up? Couples fight and do that all the time, last I checked.”
Leon shook his head and looked at me. “I didn't tell you this last night because I was pissed at you, but an hour after Jackson stormed out of Mac's, he called me and was really sorry about what had happened, because he realized he was being insensitive. It was at the movies he was angry.”
I nodded, my mind piecing the rest together. “You're thinking that, in between the two phone calls, he spoke to Carol, and using her evil feminine wiles she turned him against me.”
“Holy Star Wars Episode 3, Batman!” Jason said with fake enthusiasm.
“God I hate you,” I said, rubbing my temples. “So what's the deal with him now?”
“Well, now he refuses to even be in the same room as you.”
“Great,” I said, furrowing my brow. “I think it's time I had words him, don't you?”
* * *
Jackson entered his room, and as he walked towards his bed I dropped from the ceiling behind him.
“Jackson.”
Without even glancing at me, Jackson asked, “What the hell do you want?”
“I understand you're angry at me, but don't you think this is going too far?” I asked.
Jackson merely stood there, still not looking at me, mumbling something about a “betrayal of trust.”
“What? That makes no sense. I have never, nor will I ever, betray your trust. You should know that by now, Jackson!”
Nothing. No words, no looking at me, no nothing. This was getting on my nerves.
“LOOK AT ME!”
I grabbed him forcibly by the shoulders and turned him to face me. What I saw when I looked at his face caused me to gasp.
Jackson's once brown eyes were now a bright green, and they were filled with rage.
“Get your hands off of me!”
I complied, shocked at the change in my friend's eyes and his demeanor, which, in contrast to his hateful, angry one of the moment, was usually passive to the point of annoyance, at times.
“What's happened to you?” I whispered, narrowing my eyes.
“I'm in love, that's what's happened. And I see you for what you really are: a self-righteous, self-absorbed prick.”
My heart skipped a beat. Jackson had said that statement with such disdain that I wondered how he could have ever considered me a friend.
My happiness now severely lessened, I said, “Sorry you feel that way,” and ran out of the room.