Even though he did come to the defense of another student, TaeJean had struck his opponent first. For this reason, he was suspended for the remainder of the school week. That wasn’t a problem for him though. Keshawna and a few other classmates could always keep him up to date on the classes he missed. That aside, something left him uneasy about his time off. On the first day of his suspension when he woke up, he felt as if someone was watching him. Perhaps it was instinct, or something more, but he also felt who or whatever was watching him meant him no actual harm.
The video of his fight had over eight hundred thousand views in twenty-four hours. “J.D. Johnson High School fight! Buddy fights 3 dudes at once!” was the title. One of those views was Ameer. He knew he needed to make new Soul-Borgs, and when it came to passing out such a dangerous power, there definitely had to be a vetting process. He was on the search for two things: talent, and more importantly, righteousness. He was very impressed by how T.J. fought three boys to protect a friend. Ameer saw the girl, who looked like no fighter at all, help him by striking one of the boys with a book. This whole situation informed Ameer that TaeJean had a strong sense of justice. That wasn’t the only thing that interested him about the boy though. As he watched a screen, he spoke to his wife, who was also his assistant.
“You know, looking at him I see what you’re saying.” Cherrae said. “Plus, I’ve done a background check and everything. He has no parents. He doesn’t generally seem to start fights, though he has been in a lot of them.” Ameer responded: “Yes, but he is so young. The youngest Soul-Borgs I have made are 16. And even going that young is rare.” Cherrae: “What’s a years difference? The boy is not in a good situation. He could die before he's of age. And think about it. It's not just his looks. His age lines up perfectly with the war. If he really is their child, isn’t it destiny we find him?” Ameer responded, “You know I don’t believe in destiny.”
As they continued speaking, the invisible drone they had following him saw T.J. headed out. He was taking a walk to the local gas station. As he was walking, T.J. reached in his pocket and produced a joint and a lighter. T.J. had started smoking marijuana in middle school, right before his time locked up. He knew too much at an early age could mess with his development and rarely had money for it anyway, so he treated himself every once in a while. As they saw him on the screen, the couple continued to discuss the boy.
“See. He’s smoking weed. That’s a sign he needs his path directed,” said Cherrae. “For smoking weed? We smoke weed!” Ameer responded. Cherrae spoke in a matter-o-fact tone: “You’re a middle aged adult billionaire, I am what I am. There are no ramifications for us. His brain isn’t fully developed. He’s also a C student. School isn’t for him. Let’s give him a path out.”
T.J. had arrived at the gas station. His joint was finished. He walked inside, headed towards snacks and drinks. School was just getting out. Keshawna was supposed to meet him here. As he was shopping, commotion started. Two armed men with ski masks came into the gas station. It was a robbery! The two armed men spoke in obviously disguised voices, demanding money and goods. The clerk wasn't having it. He foolishly reached for his own gun on his hip. “BANG!!” One buckshot right through the face of the Clerk! Brain matter, blood, and bone sprayed onto the merchandise behind him! T.J. and the other people in the store ducked. A woman started screaming.
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“Oh shit, grab the rest!” “Bruh why’d you shoot him?!” the second masked robber said as he hopped behind the desk to get access to the cash register. “He was reaching for a gun!” T.J. recognized the second voice. “There’s no way,” he thought to himself. He knew what he had to do.
The two masked figures ran out of the store. On the other side of the gas pumps, were two ATVs. The two were running towards them when suddenly “CRRRACCKK” a glass bottle flew from the direction of the convenience store, hitting the armed one in the back of the head. He fell. The other masked figure turned around just in time for another glass bottle to hit the front of his face!
“CRRRACCKK” the bottle burst. The robber grabbed his face. The ski mask offered some protection, but as T.J. ran down on his targets who he had hit with the bottles, he could see blood dripping down from the boys lips. T.J. went in for a double leg take down on his stunned target. The other robber was still stunned. TJ. rained down a blow, aiming dead center for the mouth part of the ski mask. PLAAAP! It landed! After bringing his opponent down, T.J. reached for his mask and removed it. His suspicions were confirmed!
“Cory?!” T.J. was disgusted. He truly wanted to kill his old foe in this moment! Alas, T.J. would be the one close to death. As TaeJean looked down at his opponent, Cory gleefully smiled. All of a sudden, electricity surged through T.J.’s body! “BZZZKT” “AAARGHH!!” T.J. fell over. Cory got up. “You know, I always wanted to do that!” He kicked his downed opponent in the ribs, not that T.J. could feel it. His nerves were fried. Cory went over to his partner in crime, and zapped him awake. T.J. saw the two speak, then approach him. Cory smiled and picked him up. T.J. couldn’t move, hear, or feel anything. He could only think. “Damn. Well that explains why he started acting cockier in the past few months. I guess he became a Stem at some point… He really is the last person who should have powers though.”
Cory brought T.J. over to an unhooked gas pump, dragging him by his afro. T.J.’s hands and arms scraped along the concrete and began to bleed. The person who was pumping their gas obviously left as soon as they heard the gunshot and didn’t bother putting the pump back. T.J. could see from his peripheral vision. He saw gasoline pour down. Even with damage to his senses, T.J. caught a whiff as well, and knew immediately what Cory had planned. His old enemy sprayed the gasoline all around.
“WEEE-OOOO! WEEE-OOOO!” Sirens rang in the distance, though T.J. could not hear them. Cory and his compatriot could. The other boy spoke to Cory “Hurry up! Cops are coming!” “Relax man.”
Cory smiled and looked down on T.J. “This has been a long time coming.” Cory and the other boy got on their ATVs. Before driving off, Cory fired a single bolt of electricity at the end of the gasoline trail he had made. T.J. wanted to crawl away, but his nerves received no signals! The gasoline trail ignited, leading right to TaeJean! The boy went up in flames! He screamed! “AAARRRGGHHH!” The heat was so intense that he felt it despite nerve damage!
At this time, Keshawna had been approaching gas station. She heard the sirens in the distance. Then, she heard TaeJean's scream! She ran towards it! However, the gas pump Cory used was still loose, and so the flames that led to T.J. traveled through the pump, hitting the gasoline reservoir, and causing an explosion!
“BOOOOOMMMM!!!” The explosion resounded! It was enough that the entire neighborhood could hear, and the convenience store ignited as well! Upon seeing the explosions after hearing the scream, Keshawna let out a yell of her own. “TAEJEAN!!” The entire gas station was ablaze, and smoke billowed into the air.