28 Teenagers reported missing since the last week.

Starlio scrolled on his news feed on Facebook,looking at multiple articles that have been invading almost every post he had seen.Just days ago,Shannon had introduced him to this platform which he cannot believe that he had been missing out on for years.Now...this was his first source of news.

Eye witnesses claimed that a tall armored figure with skull like features were seen taking those teenagers.Local residents of Aor Town had also claimed that it was quote:A demon like being that was taking those teens.

Ever since the heroic rescue by teenager Starlio Stex three weeks ago,cases have been on the rise.Police have speculated that the human trafficking ring has been more active because of the people Starlio had rescued.

"Did I do this...?"Starlio couldn't help but feel responsible.

Starlio looked up to see Shannon sitting opposite him at their table,squinting her eyes at him,slurping on her drink before placing her cup down,crossing her arms:"Dude,you are the only reason why I'm here today.You got the police to know their existence.The police are already tracking them."

"I...I think I can help."Starlio admits.

"What do you mean?"Shannon asks,eating a fry off their table of food as Starlio closed his eyes in embarrassment...shit.Part of him knew that telling her the fact that he tracked her would probably make him come across as a creepy stalker,but at the same time.He didn't want to hide anything.

Let's get this over with.

"I...I placed a tracker....on your phone because I was worried.That's how I found you."The prodigy admits nervously.This might be it...she's gonna think I'm a creep and then that's the end of it all.Starlio looked down in shame when he noticed Shannon,going over to his side of the table and wrapped her arms around him,giving him a tight hug.

"It's okay.I know why you did it.You saved me and I can never thank you enough for it."Shannon says before letting go,even blushing awkwardly herself before clearing her voice:"You were saying?"

"Hm?"Starlio was still startled.

"You said you could help?"

"Ahh right...I believe I can develop weapons for the police,non lethal ones.I believe that with the current equipment I have,I may be able to develop some techniques to find those kids."Starlio tells Shannon who quickly replied:"We're all around the same age."

"Right...no time to waste.I know what I must do."Starlio took the first bite of his own burger.

"Are you that busy in your lab?I've rarely seen you this holidays."Shannon asks:"Oh...I'm not only in the lab.When fighting those traffickers,I've been reminded that even with all my tools,I'm just a normal kid.I've signed up for several martial arts and self defense courses,as well as a gym session twice a week."Starlio revealed.

"How are you not tired?"

"Passion.Passion drives everything."Starlio smirks.

Starlio returned to his lab where he found both Xavier and Javier Navarro,looking a his list of materials that he has requested.Xavier quickly noticed Starlio's pressence:"Why do you need so much steel...and two mini guns?"

"Personal project."Starlio smiled.

"Upgrading your exo suit into something else is fine Starlio,but weaponizing it is an entirely different thing.Why do you even need two heavy duty mini guns for?There's nothing that can pose such a threat can it?"Javier asks.

"There is.Those human traffickers are still out there and there was one of them I fought,an African American man who had skull like tattoos on his arm.He shattered one of my rifles in a punch and tossed me around like nothing,even with the weight of the suit.His strength is unnatural and that is already the unarmed version of him.When he is armed,which he will be,I want to have the means to fight back."

"Super natural strength?Even if we are willing to get you these weapons,what makes you think that I have the ability to convince the law to give a 14 year old weapons of war?"Javier tells the prodigy.

"For research purposes."Starlio confessed.

Javier's eyes squinted:"I appreciate that you can produce crazy and innovative products for our company fast,but this request is really hard to fulfill."

Starlio sighed,thinking to himself and quickly,realizing how he could easily solve such an issue."What if instead of getting the mini guns,I just get some blueprint for it,figure out how it works."Both Navarro brothers turned to him:"Wait,no-"

"I can build my own weapons."Starlio concluded.

"I mean....it's technically legal for it to be counted as research and inventions."Xavier tells his brother,who made a doubtful face."You know this is gonna cost a handful right Starlio?Are you sure what you are doing is worth it?"Javier asks the teenager.

"If such a threat exists,I must be ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the people around me."Starlio confidently says.

"Very well,I'll order those materials for you,just make sure you don't neglect our company's products' development over your armor."

"Thank you."Starlio tells the Navarro Brothers.

-

Starlio returned home,checking his bank account balance while walking back:

$680 left.

"That should last me a few months..."Starlio walked back to his house where he could see the contractors he hired,fixing the holes and leakages of the broken old house he grew up in,moving in new furniture and overall,refurnishing the entire place.

All that money he used was worth it.

"Oi!Where you get the money for all these shit!?"Starlio overheard his father's voice from inside the house.Shit...Starlio quickly marched into his home only to see his mother,engaged in yet another confrontation with his Dad.

"It's Starlio's money alright?Our son is now capable.He has decided to provide for this house."Starlio heard his mom yell,startling a few of the contractors working.

"Our son has the money...?From where?!"Mason,his father roared.

"The lawyer that helped us offered him a job.Maybe you would have known about this if you bothered to care about Starlio for once!"Alice yells at Mason,who was surprised at her outrage at him."You dare raise your voice at me woman?!"

"Hey!Stop!I'm taking care of this house now Dad!"Starlio jumped in,pausing the both of them.

"You...a job?!"Mason seemed doubtful.

"Yes...I have a job now.Just,just let us be alright?!I will fix this house,you don't have to do anything.Just let us be."Starlio begged,noticing Mitchell watching from the corner of his eye.Mason raised his eyebrow,taking a look around him.New and fresh furniture,replacing their old,dusty and lice infested couches and lamps.

The paint that used to be falling off their walls,now clean and smooth.The entire house in general...now looks welcoming and luxurious in comparison to the borderline slum like house just weeks ago.

"Hmm..."Mason suddenly looked more relax,almost guilty even.

"You do you Starlio.Continue..."Mason says,heading towards the fridge and grabbing two bottles of beer before taking his leave."Starlio...hey,do you want to stay for dinner?"Alice seemed significantly more relaxed with Mason's absence.

"Mom,why are you still with him?"Starlio broke,asking a question he had been wondering his whole life.

"Why...?"Alice seemed nervous.

"I'm sorry to ask to....but I also want to know."Mitchell says.

Alice looked into the eyes of both her sons,sighing to herself.Holding the hands of the Stex brothers,Alice brought them both to the sofa where she could speak better,further away from the contractors who were still working on the renovations.

"You know...your mom,me.I didn't have the money to continue my education when I was just in 6th Grade.I had to work because your grandparents were poor too.You grandfather had colon cancer,your grandmother injured herself when working in the factory sector.I was the sole breadwinner...so I got into the military.Easy and stable salary from the government."

"You were in the military mom?!"Starlio didn't know.

"Yes...but I met your Dad.I was young,naive and...quick to fall in love.I was only 22 when I was pregnant with you Starlio.I was poor,I had no money and raising a kid was no easy task.I stayed with your Dad because even though he's a jerk with no sense of finance,he is still the father of my sons and he still,no matter how stingy,provide money.Provided a roof."Alice tells the Stex Brothers.

"Things are different now mom.I can provide."Starlio says.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Me too!I can start working in a few years-"Mitchell volunteers when Alice stopped him."No,don't make the same mistakes I did.School is important,no matter how stupid it looks now,what you learn is important,no matter how insignificant."

"But I've already been able to ace school easily.I can focus full time at the Navarro Brothers' lab.I'm way past school Mom.I can earn more than my teachers and principal even."Starlio naively reveals.

"That's not how it works Starlio.School is more important than you know.Alright?You may not see it now,but trust your mother.When you are older,you'll see what I mean.Promise me you'll stay in school Starlio."Alice tells him softly,her eyes now watery from recalling her past.

Starlio nods hesitantly.

"I promise you mom."

2 Weeks Later.

Since the last week,18 more teenagers have went missing.Authorities are now urging-

Starlio listened to the radio carefully while looking at a large map of Plex City and it's outskirts,multiple highlighted red markings on it,each signifying the last time the missing teenagers were seen.

Starlio was starting to see a pattern...a complex one,but a pattern nevertheless.

"Okay...I think i got ya."Starlio marked down the latest kidnapping and observed the pattern.First kidnapping took place in the North,the one that he busted.Then south,west,north,south,east...the next one should be taking place in the North again.

Starlio turned around,going back to work.

Starlio looked at the helmet he constructed,carved and polished with reinforced steel with bullet proof glass as eye lenses,able to be taken off from the rest of the armor at any moment.Multiple armored pieces,spread out across his lab.Giant chunks of weaponry,waiting to be assembled as Starlio stood up from his seat,ready to put together all the progress he made.

A chest plate,gigantic and oversized with two layers of reinforced steel and padding at the inner layer to provide comfort for him,the user.Massive bulks of lithium ion battery,compressed to fit into the chunks of the armor perfectly followed by more plating to conceal and protect the power source from any further external damage.

It's exo skeleton,the same jet pack that Starlio used now fixed,it's power source more refined and it's rockets,further insulated and given more space for the flight's take off to be less noisy and giving away less heat than before.

Metallic gloves with taser functions,twin barrels,mini guns of Starlio's own design that was able to fire about 300 rounds a minute.Three missiles,installed into a barrel in his shoulder plating and most ultimately,his rocket boots able to bring him to flight speeds up to 500mph,his armor weighing 300kg in total,surprisingly light for an armor with such functions.

Now all that's left is the assembly.

Starlio quickly made his way to his bag,packing the maps and clues that he found into it,strapping it across his shoulder and making his way out of his lab where he bumped directly into Xavier Navarro.

"Whoa whoa easy there man.Where you rushing off to?"Xavier asks.

"Police station.I think I know where those traffickers are going next."Starlio confidently reports.

"What?Starlio that isn't your responsibility.You don't have to do this."Xavier says when Starlio hands him a paper,a new design for a waterproof phone holder that he did overnight."I know I don't have to,but I can,so I will.Plus I did my job already sooo bye!"Starlio quickly makes his way out of the Navarro Warehouse and booked a cab to the nearest police station.

The last thing Starlio expected was to bump into Kane Kyoung right outside the police station.

"What are you doing here?"Kane asks.

Starlio could see Kane's tone and attitude towards him being really different from their previous encounters."The kidnappings,those traffickers that we fought?I've found a pattern between their kidnappings.I believe I can predict the next one,so I'm here to share my information."Starlio clears his throat,ready to enter when Kane stopped him.

"Forget it,they won't listen."The Korean student tells him.

"What-?"Starlio stopped in his tracks,facing Kane who sighed:"They've interviewed Angie,Kate,Shannon and I countless times already,asking the same questions over and over.We already told them about the one called Vincent,Alan and a few others,but they don't think to take us kids seriously.Save your breath Starlio."

"I won't know until I try right?"Starlio protested.

"I know...just,don't expect too much.I'll see you in school."Kane says,turning around and taking his leave.Starlio now started to doubt himself,recalling the last time he tried going to an adult to help him.His principal,Mr Jackson and two police officers brushed him away....which ultimately led to him taking off with his own jet pack to rescue his classmates.

No matter,he was already here.

Starlio found himself staring down at multiple police officers who looked at him,almost like his presence itself was intruding their personal space.

"Yes kid?"One of the police officers asked,his voice clearly monotonous and bored.

"I'm here to help the police.I have information I believe is valuable in the hunt for the kidnapped teenagers that have been disappearing recently."Starlio reports.

"Sure kid.Stop playing around alright?We have important things to do."The police officer said.

Starlio looked behind him,looking at the rest area for the officers,about a dozen of them munching down on bread and donuts,filling their mouths with food while drinking cups of coffee and tea,using their phones and even playing darts,stacks and stacks of folders and files,pilled up and untouched.

"Important?"Starlio felt his blood boil.

"Yes kid.Get out of here."

"I'm not playing...I found legitimate evidence.I've noticed their kidnapping patterns and am predicting the next place they will strike.Please just-"

"Kid,if you aren't gonna leave we'll have to call your parents to pick you up alright?Stop causing any-"

"Dude!Listen!I'm not here to play!"Starlio raised his voice.

"Okay,get out."The police officer signaled one of his co workers,who proceeded to move towards Starlio:"Alright kid...let's go."

"Are you serious right now?!"

"Get out kid.Stop causing trouble for yourself."

"Fine!I'll bloody do it myself.When I do,you better not say anything about it."Starlio turned around,storming out of the police station with an insane idea in his mind,motivated purely out of rage and the heavy feeling of being wronged.

The prodigy picked up his phone,calling his friend:"Hello,Conner?I need your help."

-Starlio's Lab.

"Whoa....what am I looking at?"Conner arrived the following morning to see a pissed off Starlio,starting to assemble the pieces of his armor together.

"Looking at the tool that will help us save the people the police failed."Starlio answered quickly before pointing at a screwdriver on a table beside Conner:"Bring me that please thank you."

"What?"Conner questioned his friend,bringing him the screwdriver anyway.

"I went to the police station yesterday.They aren't taking kids like us seriously,they never will.I'm going for those kidnapped teens myself."Starlio says as Conner suddenly realizes what he's about to do."No way man,just because you pulled it off once doesn't mean you can do it like this all the time.You barely survived the last rescue attempt you made!"

"This time it's different."Starlio quickly responds,assembling the chest piece into the exo suit.

"Yea,this time those traffickers will clearly be more cautious.They will be more heavily armed than last time in order to prevent the same thing from happening."

"I will be different too.I want to see them try fighting this."Starlio finished the assembly of the chest piece,picking up the helmet and sliding it cleanly into the neck of the armor.Conner quickly went to him,stopping Starlio temporarily:"Dude,are you sure?"

"No one else is gonna help them."

"Why?What makes you say that?Because of those police?"

Starlio turned to Conner with a serious look on his face:"Twice this has happened already.Adults are so up their own asses to listen to us.Let's say I didn't go and rescue Shannon and the others weeks ago,do you genuinely think they will still be here today?"

Conner paused,swallowing his own breath in.

"Okay...let's get you suited up."

The duo spent the next half an hour assembling the armor.Self made machine guns,installed into his wrists.Missiles on his shoulders and piston powered joints that granted the user within the armor superhuman strength,able to lift up to weights of 4 tonnes.

Starlio knew he was more ready than he ever was compared to the last time,looking at the finished product in front of him.

The Model 1 Armor.

A grey silver like bulky armor with massive chunks of armor making it's body up.Square and monotonous eyes with a star shaped core,twin mini guns that can be deployed from his wrists and large feet that contained the rockets used for flight.

"How do you enter?"Conner asks his prodigy friend who smiled,walking up to the armor's chest piece and pushing a tab that opened up the chest piece into three,the helmet,arms and legs pieces opening up like a hatch,allowing directly entry as Starlio hopped into the armor before flicking another switch that commanded all of the open pieces to close in on one another.

Each individual piece locked into place,gears and pistons working its way throughout every inch of the Model 1 before eventually closing Starlio in comfortably,the helmet overlapping his head and providing a clear HUD system for Starlio to look through.

The batteries fired up as the armor's core began glowing,the helmet's eyes lighting up white and Starlio,taking his first step forward.

The armor was designed like he had hoped,each part of the exo skeleton reading his actions,making his movements almost effortless as Starlio waved his arms and feet around,with little to no drawback from the weight of the suit.

"Holy shit...this is amazing!"Starlio says.

The only thing he felt was comfort,a ventilation system installed into the back of the suit to bring him a constant flow of air,cooling the insides of the armor while the shoulder and wrist weapons,being the only discomforts that he has,having a little more weight applied compared with everything else.

"How do you feel?"Conner asks.

"Great...this is great.I'm ready."

"Well let's get you flying."

Starlio and Conner made their way to the roof of the warehouse as several of the Navarro worker's employees looked at them in awe."Starlio?!What are you doing?"One of the staff members,Dakota asks him.

"I already submitted designs for the inventions yesterday!"Starlio answered as he signals to Conner:"Go go go go."

Conner himself began chuckling as the two of them quickly ran out to the warehouse's stairwell,both teenagers making their way up.Conner looked around them,the warehouse was in a fairly secluded place at the outskirts of Plex City,acres of forests around them with no one here to witness Starlio's flight.

"Check your power levels."Conner reminds Starlio,who looked at his HUD.

"100 percent power,enough for the armor to operate for 12 hours."Starlio guaranteed Conner who nods:"Alright then,take off Chip!"

Starlio flicked a switch as the base of his wrist as his rockets activated,levitating the 300kg armor with ease as smoke erupted from the base of his feet,followed by the roar of his engines,flames bursting through the base of his sole and allowing Starlio to soar upwards,looking down onto Conner.

"Thanks for helping me suit up!I owe you a drink!"Starlio tells his friend.

"I want the most expensive drink in Starbucks!"Conner yelled back at Starlio,who smiled,turning his attention towards the sky and blasting off.

His HUD displayed the map of the city clearly,marking down every location that Starlio had pointed out during his investigation of the human traffickers.This has to be right.Dozens of teenagers just like Shannon once was were counting on him.

"Time to pay."Starlio mutters.

Next Chapter- Demonshot