The Emotions of Two
"Why are you here?"
Starlio found himself coming face to face with his father.
Behind Mason,half a dozen corpses with bullet holes riddled through them.Starlio immediately flew towards his father,grabbing him by the neck and with the power of the Model 4,slammed him right against the wall,pinning him down and ripping the rifle right out of Mason's grip.
"What did you do?!"Starlio roared.
"Saved...your...mother...and brother."Mason managed as Starlio let go,looking down at his struggling father when the door opened,his mother Alice and his brother Mitchell,finding Starlio standing above Mason."What...those gunshots?"Alice mumbled.
"Shoot me next.I'm as good as dead."Mason tells Starlio.
Starlio analyzed the bloodbath behind Mason,shoving Mitchell behind him and covering his younger brother's eyes.Those men...those were policemen,like the ones that were after both him and Shannon earlier.Corrupted policemen under the Chairman?
"You shot them?"Starlio asks.
Mason nods,looking down without the face to look at his former family."What are you trying to do Mason?"Alice approached her ex husband,who refused to look at her,a look of shame stricken all over his face.
"I won't kill you."Starlio tells him.
"I was defeated by you then.Shoot me.You have to."Mason begs.
Mitchell grabbed Starlio by the arm:"You...what's happening bro?Why is-"
"Very long story,I'm just glad you two are safe at the moment.But we can't take anymore chances,we have to leave here now."Starlio says before turning to his dad,firing off a mild burst of flame from his hand cannons,blasting Mason aside and knocking him out unconscious.
"STARLIO!"His mom freaked out.
"It's non lethal,just a mild burn at the most."Starlio tells her,grabbing both her and Mitchell's hand,running down the corridor of their apartment building."Stay behind me,we don't know if there's another group coming after us.Mitchell help call a cab,we-"
Starlio noticed a familiar looking car downstairs.
Xavier's Car.
"Hold that...we have help."Starlio says,leading both Alice and Mitchell down the stairs only to bump directly into Shannon,who had blood still slightly leaking out of the bandage on her arm.Starlio immediately checked on her,grabbing her arm:"Shannon!You should be-"
"We had to leave.There were gunmen outside the warehouse."Shannon tells him.
"Hello Shannon,it's been sometime."Alice greets the teenager who gave her a warm smile:"Nice to meet you again too Mrs Stex.Come on,Xavier has agreed to move us somewhere else,a spare warehouse that houses most of Navarro's materials.He says it should be relatively undetected so he's bringing us there."Shannon tells Starlio and his family.
Xavier sat at the front of his 7 seater car,allowing the gang to board.
-
"I did it.Now I'm free."Titus laughed manically.
Titus sat at the back of a large military truck,accompanied by soldiers who were all under the Chairman's pocket,holding a tablet that had the Chairman on the other end of the call.None of the soldiers dared to even close the distance between them and the hunter,who was losing his sanity further and further every minute.
Blood and ash were stained across his armor,even chunks of his victims within the mansion were hanging loosely off him and Titus...he didn't even seem to care.
"Feels like a weight off your chest.Isn't it?"The Chairman's deep voice asks.
"I feel...released yes.I finally realized the stupidity of chasing a dream that doesn't even mattered.I was a damn fool for thinking that rich assholes like my family would ever see the talent,the worth I could bring to this world.But now,thanks to your resources the Chairman,I can do more.I will not fail you."Titus tells the gang lord.
"I'm sure you won't.Bring me Starlio Stex."The Chairman orders.
The call ended as Titus turned to the two soldiers at the front of the truck:"So?Any information from Mason?"
"We lost contact with him."The soldier reports.
Titus smiled to himself,knowing that the target was close as he stood up,wearing his armored helmet and kicking open the back door,to the horror of the rest of the soldiers on the truck."Transfer me Mason's last location.I'm on his trail."Titus jumped out of the moving truck,flying into the air and taking off into the sky.
-
5 Months Ago.
Starlio was starting to work on the Model 4.
Assembling it's base exo skeleton with a wide array of mechanical parts,wiring that slid in between each piece nicely and circuit boards,placed strategically all over to create one seamless machine.Xavier Navarro was right beside him,helping Starlio assemble the skeleton while also inspecting it for any possible design flaws.
"Wow...so far so good."Xavier was extremely impressed by the new armor.
"No flaws?"Starlio asks.
"Yea...impressive.Looks like you are pretty much ready.You learnt...probably whatever I wanted to teach you in just months.Here I thought I needed to be your teacher for years."Xavier Navarro tells the teenager who smiled:"I learnt from the best.It's only natural."
Xavier took in a deep breath,shoving his hands into his pocket as his phone dinged,a message from the hospital:Appointment missed.
Xavier knew his time was already running out,giving him a year or two at most before his Alzheimer's caught up to him.Already he had noticed himself beginning to misplace things and he had spent the majority of his time now,writing down tons of notes and designs that he always had in his head,ensuring that even if he eventually forgets everything,his current knowledge and skills will be stored somewhere where in this case...
Starlio.His successor.
Now.
Starlio stood at the entrance of the warehouse,ready to leave.
"Starlio,wait up!Don't fly around like that,you'll only be drawing more attention to yourself."Xavier warns the teenager who answered:"That's exactly what I want.If they focus on me it'll be less likely for them to find you guys."
"Have you thought about how you wanna take Titus on?You know he probably has a new armor or more resources to work with now that we know for sure the Chairman is involved.You may successfully get their attention away from us but what then?"Xavier prompts Starlio to rethink his strategy as Starlio sighed,pausing for a moment to think.
"So what's going to happen to Dad?"Mitchell asks.
"Don't talk about him.He's the reason why this happened."Starlio tells his younger brother when his mom,Alice stepped in:"It's not him.This is uncharacteristically Mason.We may have argued and fought a lot in the past,but it doesn't change the fact that I've dated your father for over two decades.I know him and whatever he is doing now...I believe he is being forced to."
"He literally....wait...what...?"Starlio stopped.
"He bought us time just now.Couldn't you tell?Your father wanted you to defeat him.He never wanted to hurt us,you could see it in his eyes and whoever is doing this to him...you have to find him.You have to stop him."Alice tells Starlio,who took a step back.
"I can't do that yet...not at the moment.He chose this path himself.I have to go save my friends.They are the ones who are actually innocent."Starlio tells Alice.
"Javier has gotten tickets out of the country for the two of you."Xavier tells Alice and Mitchell,who both looked at Starlio reluctantly."No way,this involves my son and my ex husband.I have to help,it's what any mother would do."Alice tells Xavier.
"Mom,don't.This is my duty now.It's also my duty as a son to keep my mother and brother out of this."Starlio stops her.
"Mrs Stex...if I may?"Shannon slowly walks towards her as Alice looks at the bandage on Shannon's arm,blood still slightly sipping out of it."Shannon,you need to change your bandage soon."Alice tells Shannon who nods:"I know but...this all only happened because of me.I dragged Starlio into all this back when I was kidnapped.I've seen Starlio build his way up to where he is today just like you.I don't want him to lose these so...let me be the one helping him instead."
"Shannon that doesn't-"Starlio tried to enter the conversation when Alice looks at Shannon in the eye,smiling:"You're a bright young girl Shannon.I don't want my son's troubles to be on you too."
"It isn't on him.I want to help.It is my duty as much as it is his."Shannon tells Alice when Starlio stepped in between the two:"No...no don't misjudge this.This is my fight.Shannon,you need to leave with my mom and brother.You have already taken a bullet for me,I will not allow you to do anything more than-"
"You can't stop me Starlio.I'm not leaving you."Shannon interrupted him.
"We are not-"
"We have to go now.As much as I hate it I'm afraid Starlio is the only one here at the moment that is able to even keep up with Titus or his men.None of us are fighters here other than him so if any of you wanna help,make sure we have to stay out of his way."Xavier stops them,reminding them of the circumstances.
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"Stay here."Starlio tells them,eventually convincing them reluctantly as he and Xavier headed out of the new warehouse where Dakota had carried both the Model 1 and 2 to store in,as a preventive measure.Starlio turned back,giving Shannon a smile to reassure her as she nods,smiling back,knowing that this might be the last time they see each other.
With a hardened heart,Starlio walked over to Xavier as the two men took off.
"You alright?"Xavier asks,taking the driver's seat of his car.
"Yup...just...I don't know."Starlio sighed,getting out of the Model 4 and placing it into the back seat before joining Xavier at the front."I know this is tough on you Starlio.A young lad like you should never have had to deal with any of these."
"It could have been worse without your help."Starlio thanked his mentor.
Xavier began driving,ensuring that they got as far away from Starlio's loved ones as possible.Starlio turned to his mentor,observing a grim look on the inventor's face:"Is something wrong?Like...you've seem to be desperate lately in teaching me more things."
Xavier smiled to himself,knowing that it won't take long for a genius like Starlio to figure something out."You know that I've gotten Javier to register your name under Navarro right?"
"Yea-"
"Not in the way you think.You aren't registered as an employee anymore.You're co owners with us.You have 30 percent of total shares.Which puts your net worth at least in the twenty millions at the moment."Xavier reveals to Starlio,who was in pure shock."Wait...I don't understand...why?"
"You are my successor.I meant it."Xavier says.
"I don't-"
"You weren't the first person I tried to teach my skills to Starlio.People who tried to get close to me eventually became greedy,thinking that they are too good for me and insulting the needs of the poor just to serve the rich.I saw you and deliberately chose you because you were poor,you know how the under privileged worked and what they needed.More importantly you had a generous and kind heart,brave and your genius level intellect,as impressive as it is was not the deciding factor when I chose a successor.Your character.That was what convinced me."
Starlio was more than overwhelmed with the information thrown at him.
"When I eventually can't do this anymore.I want you to take over Navarro.It will be yours.But I have one request."
"Whatever you need."Starlio was ready.
"Rebrand the company.Navarro is a name that was a long history to it and those people that I thought had moments that stained the company's reputation,marks that may have been mostly forgotten,but never fully covered.When you rebrand the company,it will be a fresh start,creating products that will serve this world better.Keep the people safe and restore their faith in you and the company."Xavier explains kindly.
"I will do my best."Starlio promised when he noticed a glow form the car's mirror.
"XAVIER DUCK!"
Xavier Navarro swerved the vehicle as a missile struck the road,narrowly missing them.Starlio could feel the intense heat even from the distance as he quickly leapt to the back seat,suiting up on the Model 4 and without hesitation,took off into the air.
"Get out of here quick!"Starlio tells Xavier before turning to an enraged Titus that shot towards him,landing a punch that sent Starlio flying back down to the crowded highway below.The ground exploded where the teen landed,his armor the only thing keeping him from dying as Titus jumped at him,drawing his heated blade to go in for the kill.
Starlio quickly forced himself to retire,rolling aside as Titus' blade impaled the ground,Starlio shooting his arm out to fire a wave of flames that knocked Titus back.
"You just can't stop can you.Over and over again,coming after me and my friends?!"Starlio roared.
"Just surrender.Let's make all our lives simpler kid."Titus charged,swinging his sword at Starlio,forcing the kid to back off while avoiding the extremely heavy traffic,dodging both Titus' attacks and the incoming vehicles.Starlio took off back into the air only for Titus to fire a missile at him,prompting the teenager to quickly fire off a heat beam that melted the missile mid air,saving himself.
Before Starlio could do anything,Titus stretched his arms,missile launchers popping out of his shoulder that began firing projectiles in random directions,blowing up parts of the freeway along with several vehicles that exploded instantly,killing everyone within them.
"NO!"Starlio flew towards Titus,blasting him again and again with bolts of flames.
Titus's armor tanked the attacks pretty well,jumping into the air and kicking Starlio right across the helmet,sending Starlio flying backwards and crashing right into the side of a truck before falling back onto the ground in pain.
[Helmet Integrity:83 percent.]
That was an unnaturally strong hit.Whatever they gave him...he's stronger than he was back then.Starlio analyzed Titus,who was marching towards him,dragging his heated blade across the bitumen road while flames and chaos erupted all around them."Look at all these death and destruction.You can stop all these right now.Surrender."Titus announced.
"And risk letting the world fall into the hands of the Chairman?No chance."Starlio stood up,readying his palm flame cannons.
"So you know about him.Guess I can't let you live now."Titus says,charging forward.
Starlio jumped back quickly,firing bolts of fire that slowed Titus down,charring his armor little by little but the hunter was too determined,ignoring all his damage and swinging wildly,desperate to land his attacks.Starlio dodged every attack with insane precision,trying to find an opening to land his own counter attack when his helmet's communications buzzed.
Dakota:[Starlio?There's gunmen heading right for us right now!We need you here!]
"No..."Starlio lost his focus for a second as the heated blade struck him,slicing a cut right across his chest,leaving a burning scar on the Model 4's chest piece.
"Eyes up kid!"Titus flew forward,launching himself at Starlio who quickly rolled under him,kicking Titus in the ab,grabbing his leg mid air and tossing him back onto the ground before placing both hands together:"Incinerate."
A massive wave of fire swarmed towards Titus,blasting him off the ground and into the air as the overwhelming power of the attack prevented him from countering or even recovering his balance,the heat easily beginning to melt the outer shell of his new armor and before he could even fully get himself back on his feet,Starlio charged in,landing a clean punch that struck Titus in the helmet,smashing part of his visor.
"I got no time for you."Starlio says,about to take off to his family's rescue when Titus grabbed him,behaving almost like a wild animal and throwing Starlio back onto the ground,pinning him down with all his strength.
"Let go!"Starlio yelled.
"You are young,yet you have so much potential flowing through you.You really shouldn't care that much about your family.They will only drag you down."Titus tossed Starlio backwards,sending the teen to slam right into the side of the freeway railing before re drawing his heated blade.
"Family...?!Wait...what did you do to your father?"Starlio realized something was off.
"He never wanted me as his son.I was never part of his grand luxurious family.Guess what?I don't want him either.My family is now dead,allowing me to put all of my negative emotions away.I can now grow further,maybe you should try it sometime."Titus thrust his heated blade forward which Starlio could barely dodge when a car rammed right into the hunter,knocking him away from Starlio.
"GO!Save them!I'll hold him!"Xavier Navarro yelled from the driver seat of the car.
Starlio jumped into his air,activating his rockets and taking off to the air,desperate to head back to check on the people he left behind.Shannon,Mitchell,Dakota and his mother,all helpless and under the mercy of the gunmen who were about to find them.
Please be okay please be....
Wait.
"Xavier!Get out of there!"Starlio ringed his communicator,trying to reach Xavier who answered him:"Don't you turn back towards me.I bought you time,use it to save your family."Xavier shouted from his side of the communicator,explosions going off in the background.
"Xavier,please!"Starlio stopped mid air.
"Make my efforts worth it Starlio!You-"
A sharp buzz cut off the signal to Xavier,leaving Starlio shocked to his core.The prodigy felt his heart sink,taking in a painful deep breath as he closed his eyes,forcing himself to rationalize his next move.I cannot let Xavier waste his efforts.
Starlio flew towards the direction the warehouse,ready for a fight when his armor warned him:[Gunshots detected.500meters North East.]
Starlio swooped towards the direction,a nearby shopping street where many civilians were running away from the rows of shops.Starlio used his eyes,scanning the area from the air to spot the gunman only to see a familiar blonde haired girl using the shopping street's fountain as cover,gunshots flying right past her as she quickly sprinted behind a wall,using as cover.
Behind her,two gunmen,armed with pistols and well dressed,chasing her on foot.
Starlio felt his blood boil as he jumped downwards,landing between Shannon and the two gunmen.Without hesitation,Starlio raised his arms,pointing his heat cannons from his palm at the two men and fired off a wave of flames,engulfing them and instantly disintegrating the two gunmen in a moment's notice.
"Shannon!"Starlio turned around to see the exhausted teenager,breathing heavily and walking towards him,one hand pressing against the bandage on her arm.
"We...have to get out of here..."Shannon was trying to catch her breath.
"Why are you here?"Starlio asks Shannon who wiped a little dust at the side of her face."The gunmen got a little too close.I ran out,using myself to distract their attention from your mother and brother."Shannon tells him.
"On foot?!Oh my god...Shannon."Starlio brushed her hair,giving her a hug."Thank you."
Shannon blushed,not knowing how to respond to his hug as she awkwardly hugged him back."You're...welcome.We have to get out of here."
"Yea...yea..."Starlio looked around them,ensuring that they weren't further followed as he looked back at Shannon:"Hold on,I'll fly us out of here."
Both of them knew they had nowhere to go.They were active targets,wherever they went,they would be hunted,endangering anyone and everyone around them.Starlio in the meantime had no choice but to assume that Xavier was killed by Titus and the only option now was for him to find a temporary place where he could keep Shannon safe.
Starlio carried Shannon,soaring through the air aimlessly towards a singular direction for the past half an hour.
They had to get far,as far as they could.
"Star,there.On that building."Shannon pointed out a 30 floored condo building in front of them as Starlio headed to it's rooftop garden,setting her down safely.
Shannon pretty much collapsed on a nearby bench,closing her eyes to rest herself as Starlio looked around the rooftop garden,which was empty to his relief.Starlio turned around,finding himself facing the setting sun as well as the ocean,which caused his to realize that they had made their way to the edge of the city without even realizing it.
The events of the day slowly sunk in as Starlio exit the Model 4,sitting on the ground in defeat.
The beautiful scenery in front of him was almost ironic.How could such a gorgeous sight be enjoyed...when the world around him was literally being crumbled apart?
"Starlio?"Shannon pulled herself up,looking back at him.
"Yea...?"Starlio answered weakly.
Shannon placed her hand on the bench,signalling for him to join her as Starlio got up,resting right beside her.Both teenagers had their stamina completely drained as Shannon found herself getting physically closer and closer to Starlio."What happened...?"Shannon asks a teary eyed Starlio,who was holding his tears back.
"Xavier...he...stayed behind to hold Titus back."Starlio mumbled.
"Oh my god...I'm so sorry..."Shannon's heart sank as well,looking at the broken expression on his face.Shannon spread her arms,allowing Starlio to lean on her,lying down against her shoulder and the two,hugging each other,comforting one another from the pain each of them experienced."It's okay...we're both still alive.Your family is going to be taken away with Dakota.They will be safe."
"I can't thank you enough.I really can't."Starlio looked up at her,finding himself extremely close to her face as she responded with a bright smile.
"We gotta...we have to fight back right?"Shannon asks.
"We will."Starlio calmly says to Shannon,who closed her eyes,taking in a deep breath before getting Starlio attention once again:"I like you."
"Huh?"Starlio got up,his eyes widening.
"Starlio...don't make this more awkward than it is already.You know this.I really really like you Starlio.Ever since the day we first interacted after you fought Frank off for me I knew that something was different about you compared to other boys.I know it's not exactly the ideal time for me to say this either but...I'm afraid I'll never get the chance to again."Shannon was blushing extremely badly.
Starlio controlled his breathing,keeping his emotions from running too wildly as he grabbed her hand,hugging her tightly again:"It's okay Shannon...I like you too.We can get through this together."
Shannon smiled,leaning into his arms.
Next Chapter- Flames of the Youth