ONE

Two Days Ago

Katie Gleason walked out of the gym. Her cheerleaders’ outfit clung to her sweaty body. That was quite a workout. Katie liked pushing her body to its limits.

"Wow, Katie! You're getting better by the day," the pretty Asian cheerleader next to her said.

"Thanks, Akiro. Guess hard work pays off."

"I work hard, but I'm nowhere near as good as you. You're a natural. Ugh, wait... There's that dork, Hank.." Akiro stuck out her tongue.

A young man with longish hair, glasses and a Bowling For Soup T-shirt greeted them. "Hi, ladies... Katie, are you ready for tonight?"

"Tonight?" Akiro asked and gave Katie a surprised look.

"Yes, Hank is helping me with my math homework, the dear," Katie said. Akiro could be such a bitch sometimes. Katie liked Hank. He was brigh, kind and could be quite funny in his nerdish way.

"Hmpf. All right," Akiro said.

"I can help you as well," Hank offered Akiro.

"I'd rather fail math," Akiro said. "Or swallow a frog." At that moment a big and handsome jock put an arm over her shoulder.

"Hey, babe. Come, I'll take you to the new Star Wars movie," the jock said.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Awesome, Frank!"

As the couple walked off Katie told Hank, "Sorry about Akiro being such a bitch."

"I'm used to it, don't worry. Would love to see the new Star Wars, though."

"Maybe if we make good progress with homework we can go together?"

Excited, Hank clapped his hands together. "Great!"

“Just give me a minute to shower and I’ll be right with you,” Katie said.

Some time later Katie was on her scooter, Hank on the back.

“There’s no need to grip me that hard,” Katie said. “I’m not going that fast.”

“Sorry. I get a bit nervous on these things,” Hank apologized. "Say, did you see Godling defeat those cyborgs on the news?"

"Of course I did. Must be so awesome to be a superhero, right?"

"Yeah! Sick! Did you know my dad used to work with Doc Proton?"

"The Doc Proton? The superhero / scientist?"

"The same. In fact, my dad is working on some pretty cool stuff right now. Let's go say to him before we get to work."

"Sounds good."

The scooter stopped at a big bungalow. Katie had never been there and was quite impressed. They got off the scooter and went inside the house.

"Dahaaaaaad? I want you to meet someone," Hank yelled as they walked in.

"I'm in my lab, Hank!" a voice sounded.

"Follow me," Hank said and opened a door that lead into a big room full of machines, monitors vials, cupboards, etc. Just what you would think a scientist's lab in a comic book would look like.

"Amazing!" Katie said. "I would have never figured this to be just in a room inside your house."

"Some dudes have a mancave, my dad has a lab. Ever since mom died he spends most of his time here," Hank said.

A tall, thin man with red hair in a labcoat greeted them. "Hi, kids!"

"Mr. Connors! Nice to meet you," Katie said and shook his hand.

"You must be Katie Gleason? My boy can't shut up about you!" Hank's dad said.

"Oh?" Katie said. Hank blushed.

"Err... Dad, why don't you tell Katie what you're working on right now?" Hank asked.

Mr. Connors said, "Sure... Working with Doc Proton and watching Godling at work kinda inspired me. I got to work on this radiation that will alter the molecular structure of things. Or perhaps even people. It will make them indestructible."

"What? That would be amazing!" Katie said.

"Cool, right?" Hank told Katie, winking.

Connors pointed at a large machine with what looked like a huge cannon on it. "That's where they radiation comes from and..."

It is that moment the wall exploded.