What was happening?
That was a question my brain could not comprehend.
I was just twelve years old at the time, but hadn’t met Alpha Surge yet. I couldn’t fully understand what was going on, and I wouldn’t be able to recall what I even thought during that time even years later.
But there were three things that I would always remember.
My eyes were wide as saucers, and I was staring at my outstretched right hand. I immediately let both of my arms lay at my sides, clenching them involuntarily.
The many children screaming and talking, the teachers unable to calm them down.
Iraklis, the boy I’d been best friends with for most of my young life, was looking at me horrified. Looking at me like I was a villain.
And the little girl, my classmate, crying her eyes out and calling for her mommy as she attempted to cover her face, a pool of blood surrounding her. Teachers were rushing to her side, but she was beyond horrified and in pain, and they were clearly out of their depth.
A while later, my parents came to pick me up and the rest of the day went by in a daze.
Yes, while many things about it were hazy, it was safe to say that I would always remember the first time I used my power.
–
My parents were a tad apprehensive when I told them about the offer.
We were eating lunch, and I was contemplating on when and how to tell them. I’d spent most of the day thinking about that, eventually just blurting it out just after we’d completed our lunch.
“I’m going to try and become a hero.” I blurted out just as they both got up from the table, their plates in hand. I stood up as well, doing my best to show my determination through my stance and voice.
They both froze in place, looking at each other before turning back to me.
My father, not that similar to me in looks apart from our tan skin tone, cleared his throat before speaking, “Are you sure about this? The doctors advised you to not-to not do that. Your asthma and power could be dangerous. Not to mention I don’t know if we can afford an intensive enough training programme so late in the year.”
“Of course we want what’s best for you honey,” said my mother as she looked up at me. Compared to me and my father, she was definitely the smallest in stature, but she was twice as fierce when she wanted to be. “But we just want to make sure that that’s it. And that you won’t make a decision you’ll regret later on in life.”
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I sighed. Technically I wasn’t eighteen yet, my birthday being at the tail end of the year, but even if I wasn’t, I would want their approval.
To be a hero, to help people, to be someone they could look up to.
“I met a professor from Atlantis back when the attack happened. He said that I could get a waiver and have a shot at joining the academy anyways. Please, I need your guys’ support. You know how much this means to me.”
“Of course you need us. You might be a two metre tall man, but you still need a consent form with our names on it.” laughed my dad.
“John, be serious!” chastised my mom as she let out a deep sigh of her own.
He stopped laughing after a moment, turning to look me straight in the eyes. “When I was a kid, I’d go and work with my dad, your late grandpa, at various odd jobs. I hated it to be honest.
“But he spent his hours either working or going out and drinking on his own, so I got in on what I could. I ended up hating it, and hating him. Don’t make the same mistake. Be sure that this is what you want to do.”
I took a deep breath after he finished his speech. It wasn’t one that I’d never heard before. My dad always liked to use his childhood, and mistakes he made in it, as a way to discourage me from making the same mistakes.
Mom would then usually come in, talking about how life needed balance in all things, usually making some reference to her own teenage years, which also involved more working that most teens would be used to in what she would describe as a ‘misguided attempt to become independent early.’ They’d both then share a laugh which I never joined in on, before reminding me that balance was needed in every aspect of life.
This time none of that followed, which meant that both of my parents had wanted me to think about this seriously. Deciding to indulge them I took a deep breath, and really looked back at my life.
I clenched my gloved fists.
“Everyone has good in them. A hero is someone that uses every talent in their arsenal, be it brains or brawn, to save, inspire and reassure others!”
Those were Alpha Surge’s words. The ideal of a hero, one that I had always hoped I would be able to match. And now I was given the chance to actually do so.
“I have to do this. I want to do this.” I said, looking at both of my parents.
“Then we’d better get an appointment for this waiver of yours.” Mom smiled at me, although the worry was evident in her face.
“We’re here for you son,” said my father. “And we always will be, don’t forget that.”
I was grinning like an idiot for the rest of that day.
Halfway into that week, when I discovered that I’d be able to get the waiver, the grin was threatening to literally tear my face in half.
Then, when Jensen picked up his phone when I called and actually accepted to train me, I was certain I’d gained the ability to fly.
“You really need to chill out, my man.” laughed Iraklis as he hovered above me.
I was in a battle stance, staring at him. It was an unusually breezy afternoon, and we were in a park that was, more often than not, empty at this hour.
We’d gone through this routine a dozen times, mostly to make sure Iraklis was always in good shape, or that he wouldn’t get rusty in periods he didn’t get to do as much actual training as he would have liked.
“Just because you decided to be an idiot for once doesn’t mean I have to as well!” I snapped at him. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for,” I added quickly, genuinely regretting my words. “You had the luxury to say no to that offer. I don’t. And if I fail, I lose a year. And that’s the best case scenario.”
It was at that point that Iraklis smirked at me. “Then I’d better not hold back.”