Page 07
"They're villains, they need to be stopped one way or another. I do what's needed to be done. If sometimes that means I have to kill them to stop them, then so be it. One less villain in the world makes the world safer," Aron said sternly, peering down at the two of them.
"Promise us that you won't go too far down that path where we can't be together anymore," Tazia spoke, tears reaming her eyes at the thought of having to fight against the father of her children.
"Never going to happen, I have you all," Aron said, with a warm smile.
"You best remember that," Aminah stated to which Tazia firmly nodded along. "Come give us a kiss before you have to go," she said, holding out her arms to him.
Aron stood in the doorway of his room, his eyes running over all four of them. Knowing the upcoming battle would test him to his very limits of what his body could endure. His knuckles popped as he clenched his left fist. He was going to return home. He wasn't about to fall, he had too much to lose.
Seeing his family standing around with their bags packed waiting for him as the elevator doors rolled open. Knowing he had made the right choice in bringing them into this. He knew if he went alone in this fight he would be hard pressed to win it or even survive it for that matter. Their foes were just too skilled to rely on simply his strength to see him through.
"We're all ready, Aron," Vera said, as they all donned on their costumes.
"Follow me, I have something that will help. Troy you remember our conversation on the roof of the hospital?" Aron asked, leading them all to the armory that he had kept sealed from them.
"Yeah."
"Well, I thought if you all were going to help out, I best make sure you all come back in one piece," Aron said, over his shoulder. "Veil, unlock hanger ten," he ordered.
"Yes, Void. Disengaging protocols and unlocking the armory."
"Armory?!" They all gasped from behind him.
"Yeah, had to have some place to store my more lethal inventions so you or the kids don't accidently set them off," turning to face them as the double doors began to roll open behind him, "ladies and gentlemen I give you, your upgrades," Aron said, holding his arms out to his sides as ten mannequins appeared. Each holding an item he had built himself that would either boost their powers or enhance their fighting abilities with their hero names on the base of each and every one of them. Seeing the stunned expressions on their faces as he smiled at them. "Go on, try them on," he said, stepping out of the way.
"Aron when... how did you make these?" Vera asked, slipping her hands into the gloves that were the only items on hers.
"A lot of late nights, I did tell you I'd bring you in," Aron said, looking at Troy who was staring oddly at the two bracelets in his hands like Isabel was doing. "Yours, Mom, let's you use your full strength without worrying about damaging those pretty little hands of yours," he stated seeing his mother rapidly blush at his compliment.
"Did you test them out yourself?" Vera asked, feeling some sort of metal protecting the back of her fingers and hands.
"Veil, bring up file footage of test number two," Aron spoke peering up at her camera. Seeing them turn towards the screen to their right as Veil powered it on.
"Test number two, at hundred percent strength, we'll see if the Neuium lining in the gloves can handle the force of the impact. If not we'll start over again."
"Yes, Void. The system is ready. You may begin when you're ready."
Their jaws dropped as Aron struck the solid steel weighted block that stood over eight feet tall in part of the base they've never seen. Watching it just flying backwards like the thing weighed nothing. Hearing it crashing against the giant springs that were ment to cushion the impact.
"Veil, what was the newtons at the point of impact?" They noted how Aron was studying his right hand as he asked that.
"533,786.59 newtons."
"So roughly sixty tons."
"Yes."
"Do you detect any damage in the glove?"
"No. The Neuium has held up like you suspected."
Aron wore a cocky smirk when they all just peered back at him in stunned shock. "What? I'm super strong, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise. So you shouldn't have a problem with them failing you during battle," he stated, seeing his mother wishing to test them out. Holding up his hands, feeling the base shaking at the impacts her fist delivered to his hands.
"When we get back you better fuck me with all your strength," Vera whispered heatedly into his ear before kissing him as her sign of her gratitude for the gloves.
"Aron, bro, what are these things?" Troy asked, holding up the bracelets.
"They amplify your powers, like the ones Isabel has," Aron stated truthfully.
"Really?!"
"Really," Aron nodded, "although, I don't know how you're going to take how you need to do a certain pose like this," striking the weirdest pose he could, "and say Iceman, glacialize. And Isabel you have to do this pose," mimicking her fondling her boobs and running his tongue along his upper lip, "and say Firelight, incinerate! To get them to activate," Aron spoke seeing how his other family members were fighting back their laughter at his antics and Troy's and Isabel's horrified looks.
"You're fucking with us, aren't you?" Isabel asked to which Aron burst out in laughter.
"Yeah, but you should have seen your faces, priceless!" Aron retorted dodging the fireball she threw at him. "Temper, temper," he teased only to feel an ice ball smack him in the face.
"Asshole," Troy grumbled to which Isabel agreed. "So really how do we use them?"
"Slide them onto your wrist, you can choose your own activation word, I just used activate as a default. But your powers need to be activated for the bracelets to function properly." Watching his siblings doing just that, watching the nano-amplifiers circling around their wrist when they spoke the word.
"What does it do, Aron?" Isabel asked, noticing how her flames weren't harming the device.
"Amplifies and widens the field of range your powers on their own couldn't reach. Depending on the circumstances lengthens your range as well," Aron spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"And this Aron, what are these for?" Noah asked, studying the items that were still attached to the mannequin before him.
"Given that you only have flight powers, it's to reinforce your limbs that you use to strike with, so you don't injure yourself needlessly. Also enhances your strength while you wear them. It won't give you super strength, but it will put you over the top with those that do not have it." Noah nodded in understanding.
"What's this, Aron?" Neil asked, staring oddly at the egg-shape device that was held onto the chest of his mannequin with six wires.
"Told you I had something for you to combat Dark Sin, this is it." Producing a two toned whistle activating the device watching it come to life and bringing its tiny feet around and leaping onto Neil's chest. "Relax it won't harm you," Aron said, keeping his chuckle to himself as Neil tried to bat the thing off.
"Then what the Hell is it for?!"
"It will store all the electrical attacks that land on you and sends an opposite electric charge back to your opponent, hopefully shorting out their powers for a limited time," Aron said, seeing Neil's smile widening at that.
"But how do I get this thing off?" Neil inquired peering down at it.
"Just tap the top and tap it again to reattach it." Aron watched as the rest of them tried out the gadgets he hand made for them. "We all set? Good," seeing them nod once they left the armory, "Veil, seal and lock the armory down."
"Understood, closing and reactivating the protocols."
"Let me change and I'll meet you in the air," Aron said, seeing his family nod before walking off to the changing room where he stored his primary suit.
"Today marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of The Sovereign Crusaders. I'm, Marili McGee, and with me today is a special guest from the morning show in Metaville where they have their own hometown heroes. Beth Turner. So, Beth, how is your stay in our fair city?" Tazia was on edge as she sat cross legged beside her sister as she fed Nettie. Chewing on her nail, knowing soon Aron and the others would be in for a fight. Looking down when Aminah's hand filled hers, feeling how she too was on edge as they watched.
"Fides is a nice city, but nothing compares to Metaville."
"I hear our two cities share something in common. Tell our viewers of your thoughts on this Void character. We don't have much in our records about him."
"Void's first appearance in Metaville was nearly a year ago. Where he came to the aid of The Phantom Marvels, that's the hero team based in Metaville, when they were battling a giant robot that just showed up from nowhere! As fast as they dismantled that thing Void vanished into the ether. He wasn't seen again, until one night a fire broke out in a skyrise trapping nearly two dozen people on the top floors. With the help of Void, The Phantom Marvels managed to save everyone inside. His exploits kept growing over time. We in Metaville can say Void is definitely one of ours!"
"I hear he finally gave your show an interview as brief as it was."
"Yes, he did," Tazia noted how Beth nodded to that, "Void is a man of few words, yet that just enhances his mysterious vibe that I know drives some of the ladies in Metaville crazy." Tazia fumed in jealousy when both women chuckled at that.
"What's that? The Mayor has arrived?! Excellent! Everyone please be patient as we go to the live feed in the city square." Tazia's heart raced, knowing the time has come.
"Good people of Fides, It's my great honor to present these eight heroes..."
Fides, real time...
"Pardon the interruption. I'll be taking over the airways for a moment," Aron said, standing on the runner of his jet bike high above the city square. Noting the hordes of civilians, along with agents both NSA and FBI mixed in in plain street clothing. "But are they really heroes?" he asked, hacking into the giant TVs that were all around the place. "Is this what heroes do?" Transmitting the videos of every vile act they had committed through the NSA satellite in orbit to show the world they all had been lied to. "Do heroes, kill, smuggle drugs, people, steal, run their own crime syndicate? No, they are no heroes," Aron said, stepping off the runner. His coat flapping behind him, the asphalt cracked and buckled as he landed ten feet from the stage. "Carl, you're up, once you're done, help get the people out of harm's way," he directed once he activated the voice dampeners as he rose to his feet. Before anyone could blink an eye the Mayor and those with him were zipped away thanks to the vest he had created to muffle the sonic boom Carl produced when he broke the sound barrier. "They are only villains."
"Is this true, can we verify any of this?!" Tazia squeezed Aminah's hand as the woman's frantic voice was played over the videos that Aron had showed them the other day.
"This is Void we're talking about! Of course, it's verified!"
"I had such high hopes for you," Maximins sighed.
"I don't work for villains, I kill them," Aron said, darkly.
"So, little hero, you think you can stop us?!" Maximins gloated tossing the podium out of the way.
"I'm no hero, that's why I called the real heroes," Aron stated, as his family made their grand entrance. "Take them down!" he ordered before launching himself at Maximins.
"If you're just tuning in. An epic battle between The Phantom Marvels and the core members of The Sovereign Crusaders has begun! We don't know all the details, or why this Void would turn..."
"Void didn't turn on anyone!" Beth cut in. "Void is the hero! We all saw it. The Sovereign Crusaders are the villains."
"Now Beth, we don't know that," Marili cut in, "for all we know this Void character fabricated those videos!" As those last words left her lips the signal from the station simply cut out.
"No, no, no!" Tazia leapt from their bed when only the silent videos were playing on screen.
"Help me up, we need to get down there..."
"No, you're staying put, I'll get Veil to tie into my phone," Tazia stated before dashing out of the room.
Aron grunted in pain as Maximins sent him flying. "Damn, it's like getting hit by a dump truck!" he groaned in his mind. Hearing the people in that office scrambling to get to safety as the masonry dropped on to his head when he was slumped on the floor.
"Void, this isn't a time to hold back. Otherwise you will die."
"I know," Aron hissed pushing himself off the floor.
"You have no hope of winning this fight. I'm stronger, faster, and I have something you don't I can fly," Maximins taunted as he floated before the gaping hole Aron had made when he crashed through the side of the building.
"Veil, start the sequence," Aron said, knowing she would know what he meant.
"It hasn't been fully tested yet. Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Understood." Aron's footfalls thundered as he ran towards Maximins.
Maximins' eyes held shock when Aron took him by the throat having anticipated that he would dodge Aron's lunge only to be held in Aron's steel-like grip. The force of the concussion wave shattered windows, sent cracks racing across the pavement and sidewalks as the force of the slam formed a crater around him. However, the blow weakened the substructure of the ground below them sending them both falling into the subway tunnels below.
"Keep them alive if you can help it, we aren't the villains here," Vera ordered dragging her now unconscious foe towards the line of police, FBI agents and Agent Honeybell.
"Right." Was their only response in her ear.
"Thank you, for the assistance Vemvendon you're presence here is most helpful," Sara said, as her men dragged the now powerless Rotoicker towards the prisoner transport. "How are your other team members fairing?"
"Just fine," Troy and Neil spoke in unison as they dumped their villains, alive, at Sara's feet. Turning around as the sound of shattering glass and crushing metal resounded behind him.
Noah wiped away the blood from his lip as he stared down at the woman that threaten to kill his son. Noting how she tried to get up before passing out in pain. Now he could understand Aron's thinking on ending villain's lives. Yet he wasn't like his son, he just couldn't cross that line no matter how tempting it was.
"We have more villains to stop, let's wrap this up and lend Void a hand," Noah said, seeing them nod before returning to the fight.
"You think you can stop me!" Maximins shouted as he pushed Aron through the feet of soil, gas mains, electrical conduits, the sub-base of the road, and finally through the pavement itself. His fist striking Aron square in the chest sending Aron flying backwards into a parked car which skidded sideways into the building stopping Aron's heart cold.
"Void! Void! Father!"
"No!" Tazia and Aminah shouted when they heard the flat tone of the heart monitor.
"Don't you die on us!" Tazia screamed at her phone.
"You promised, you promised you'd come back! Don't you end it here!" Aminah pleaded with Aron to wake up.
"What the..." Aron stammered after Veil brought him back to life with the built-in defibrillator.
"You were dead for thirty seconds. I was forced to defibrillate you."
"Dead?! Let's not do that again," Aron muttered as he got to his feet. Noting that Veil had activated the voice dampeners
"Agreed."
"While you were napping hero, look what I found," Maximins sneered cruelly as he held a child no older than eight behind her neck. "Nah-uh, hero, one wrong move and I'll snap her pretty little neck. You might have ended my group, might have put a dent in our activities. Yet I can build that back up, no one on this Earth has the power to stop me! I am, Maximins, the pinnacle of what a super powered being is! I will not have some upstart thinking he can take me down!" he roared.
Yet Aron heard none of the fool's bluster. No. All Aron was focused on was that fear on that little girls face. That called out to him to save her. To bring the monster down that held her in his grip. His eyes ran down his HUD seeing the mode had reached a hundred percent. He was not about to let that girl die!
"Veil, Sadistic mode."
"Sadistic mode engaged." Spikes formed on his knuckles, along the back of his hand, the sleeves of his coat and shoulders. He had taken the idea from his counterpart's original suit. The smart metal he had turned into wire and incorporated it into the fabric of the suit was for this very reason. So the spikes wouldn't deform under the crushing force of his blows. Long wicked spikes protruded behind his calves, a row of spikes lined his knees as the wire made the front of his shins as hard as steel. The flight stabilizers moved every which way as the subprogram 'Mongoose' was initialized. "Carl."
"What is it, Void?" Aron heard the worry and relief in his uncle's voice.
"I need you at my location in three seconds. Save the girl."
"Roger."
"I'm warning you; I will kill her..." Unbearable pain seared his chest, his grip loosened and his hostage was gone in a flash as he felt himself flying backwards. Blood sprayed, teeth flew from his mouth as Aron's backhand sent him flipping, tumbling, and skidding along the asphalt. "It can't be... I'm the strongest..." His super suit tore from Aron's grip as his uppercut sent Maximins streaking towards the heavens. His boots roared as he sped skyward. Performing a backflip, his reinforced left shin striking Maximins square in his stomach. The strike thundered with a force of a train sending that villainous cur rocketing back towards the ground. Aron stalked towards the man as he pulled himself out of the crater his landing had created.
"You can't do this... you're a hero," Maximins spoke weakly, or as well as he could while missing quite the number of teeth. Blood trickled from his mouth as Aron lifted him aloft.
"I. Am. Void. I am no hero," Aron said darkly, releasing his grip only to have his right jab send Maximins flying backwards once again.
"Void, only twenty percent fuel is left in the boots."
"Understood. I guess it's time to wrap this up," Aron stated, before taking off after his foe.
Vera and the others watched in shock as their eyes followed Maximins uncontrolled backwards flight. Then came her son rocketing towards the man. "Don't do it! He's not worth it, Void!" Looking way as Aron dragged Maximins' face along the pavement. Watching how Aron easily avoided the man's right jab, wincing as Maximins howled in pain as Aron brought down his elbow shattering the man's joint. Grinning sadistically as he easily caught Maximins feeble attempt at striking him with his only good arm as he held the villain aloft by the throat.
"Be glad I was asked to take you in alive," his blue-green eyes glinted with glee at the sound of the man's screams as he snapped the bones in Maximins's forearm, "otherwise this fight would have been long over, some pinnacle," Aron said, tossing Maximins broken, beaten body towards the feet of Sara's men.
"Void!" His family shouted as he collapsed to a knee. Coughing up blood once he pulled his hood up above his nose.
"Void, you have internal bleeding, your breastbone is fractured. I suggest immediate medical attention." What Aron would have said will remain a mystery as he blacked out from exhaustion and the pain.
When Aron woke up he didn't know if the day had past or what given how he was in a room with no windows. Wondering why he couldn't open his left eye all that well. Glancing around with his good one when he heard machines beeping and chirping. Looking down at his body, noting the hospital gown, instantly his hand shot towards his face.
"Your identity is still a secret." Sara's sweet voice caused his eyes to shoot towards the darkened corner of the room as she stepped out of the shadows.
"Where am I? How long...?"
"Shh, no need to worry about that," Sara said, sauntering along the bed. Her fingertips ran along the mattress before her hand slipped into his. "I was so worried that I had lost you. I've never seen you bleed before," she spoke as a single tear streaked down her cheek. "It's still today or rather tonight. It seems not only are you invulnerable but you heal quickly as well. Given how the doctors couldn't penetrate your skin to insert an IV into you to help stop the bleeding you were suffering. I can't say how long it will take for you to heal, yet you're out of the woods for the moment. As to where we are, we're in a secret NSA hospital used for our agents. I know you're worried about your family. I'll inform them that you're awake and sound. If not sore," Sara said, with a warm smile on her lips. "You did after all beat the world's strongest man. I guess that makes you the strongest man now." Reaching forward, pushing up his mask, seeing the bruising beginning to form before passionately kissing him. Silently telling him she was so very happy that he was still alive.
"Here, watch some TV, you're the talk of the town," Sara said, switching it on. "I'll go call your mother, and let her know you'll be home soon, and see if the doctors are ready to release you." Looking back as the door closed behind her, her eyes quivered knowing she had almost lost him.
"I'm Beth Turner, live from Fides, bringing you a special edition of the Metaville Today show, just hours ago, our very own heroes, who came to the aid of Void -- a hero we've all come to know in recent months, did battle with the core members of The Sovereign Crusaders. As you can see from these images taken just moments after Void had singlehandedly taken down Maximins -- the world's ex-strongest man -- the battle was intense. Yet not without a cost. Just moments after Maximins's defeat our hero, the man who has helped and saved Metaville, collapsed due to his injuries sustained in his battle against Maximins. Little is known at this time on Void's whereabouts and his condition. As we see here those agents that helped to evacuate the city center during the battle loading our hero into an unmarked vehicle. To where we don't know. It's my hope that Void is still alive. I hope and pray that I am right.
Upon their defeat the Director of the FBI held a press conference announcing that the task force, which Void was a part of, was met with success in the capture and arrest of all eight members of the team we've come to learn was called Cestron. Where those eight so-called heroes used their powers and influence to fool those they had sworn to protect. Most of the villains were captured with little harm, except for Atlanta, whose hips were broken when Mariner and Firelight had defeated her. Maximins sustained major injuries in his battle with Void. We are unaware of his condition at the moment. I say, after all the years they pulled the wool over this city's eyes, good riddance to bad rubbish!
However, after the news broke the new leader of the now restructured Crusaders released a statement. It reads: 'Void, if you hear this, know that while I was angry at first. I thought these people, whom I looked up to, could never do this. Yet this only proves that not all villains are as forthright as we once believed. So when you're healed, please visit us.' That was Nightshade, the new leader of The Sovereign Crusaders. Where I hope this shadow that the core members has thrown onto that very fine team of heroes will not darken their doorstep. Although, if they're in the company of Void, then you know they had no hand in the crimes those eight false heroes have committed.
I will close out this segment with one last, final word. Void if you are still with us, and if you can hear these words. Know that you have a great many people rooting for your speedy recovery, and Metaville awaits the return of their hero."
Aron turned his head as the door to his hospital roomed open and in stepped Sara. "I think she has a crush on you," she teased as she lowered herself onto the bed seeing him rolling his eyes. "I spoke with your parents, their ecstatic to know that you're doing well. I couldn't tell them exactly were you where, only that your health wasn't life threatening any more and that you had awakened just moments ago. I also told them that the doctors wanted to keep you here overnight just for observation in case your body didn't stop the bleeding on its own," Sara stated, seeing Aron nod in understanding. "This is twice now," she whispered reaching up and softly caressing Aron's cheek.
"Huh?"
"Twice now you have defied Death, I'm beginning to wonder if Death itself won't stop you," Sara said, smiling at his chuckle. "Would you mind if I stayed with you tonight?" Snuggling close to him without putting too much weight on his sore body. So very thankful that everything worked out like it was supposed to.
Aron eased off his jet bike slowly once he was freed from the hospital. Pain. While it was a fascinating experience he wasn't keen on repeating it again. A smile appeared on his lips at the sight of his family members standing there all eager to greet him. Seeing their shock at his bruised face and black eye. Something else he's never had before as he pulled off his mask.
"Damn, Aron, you look like shit!" Troy said, with a brotherly smile.
"Feel like it, too." Hissing when Tazia was too eager to wait and pressed against his fractured breastbone. "It's okay, you didn't know," he whispered lightly kissing her lips when she started to apologize. "How's Henry and Nettie?"
"First let's get you healed and we'll talk," Vera said, holding out her hand to her son. Knowing just what she was going to do.
"Promise us that you won't go too far down that path where we can't be together anymore," Tazia spoke, tears reaming her eyes at the thought of having to fight against the father of her children.
"Never going to happen, I have you all," Aron said, with a warm smile.
"You best remember that," Aminah stated to which Tazia firmly nodded along. "Come give us a kiss before you have to go," she said, holding out her arms to him.
Aron stood in the doorway of his room, his eyes running over all four of them. Knowing the upcoming battle would test him to his very limits of what his body could endure. His knuckles popped as he clenched his left fist. He was going to return home. He wasn't about to fall, he had too much to lose.
Seeing his family standing around with their bags packed waiting for him as the elevator doors rolled open. Knowing he had made the right choice in bringing them into this. He knew if he went alone in this fight he would be hard pressed to win it or even survive it for that matter. Their foes were just too skilled to rely on simply his strength to see him through.
"We're all ready, Aron," Vera said, as they all donned on their costumes.
"Follow me, I have something that will help. Troy you remember our conversation on the roof of the hospital?" Aron asked, leading them all to the armory that he had kept sealed from them.
"Yeah."
"Well, I thought if you all were going to help out, I best make sure you all come back in one piece," Aron said, over his shoulder. "Veil, unlock hanger ten," he ordered.
"Yes, Void. Disengaging protocols and unlocking the armory."
"Armory?!" They all gasped from behind him.
"Yeah, had to have some place to store my more lethal inventions so you or the kids don't accidently set them off," turning to face them as the double doors began to roll open behind him, "ladies and gentlemen I give you, your upgrades," Aron said, holding his arms out to his sides as ten mannequins appeared. Each holding an item he had built himself that would either boost their powers or enhance their fighting abilities with their hero names on the base of each and every one of them. Seeing the stunned expressions on their faces as he smiled at them. "Go on, try them on," he said, stepping out of the way.
"Aron when... how did you make these?" Vera asked, slipping her hands into the gloves that were the only items on hers.
"A lot of late nights, I did tell you I'd bring you in," Aron said, looking at Troy who was staring oddly at the two bracelets in his hands like Isabel was doing. "Yours, Mom, let's you use your full strength without worrying about damaging those pretty little hands of yours," he stated seeing his mother rapidly blush at his compliment.
"Did you test them out yourself?" Vera asked, feeling some sort of metal protecting the back of her fingers and hands.
"Veil, bring up file footage of test number two," Aron spoke peering up at her camera. Seeing them turn towards the screen to their right as Veil powered it on.
"Test number two, at hundred percent strength, we'll see if the Neuium lining in the gloves can handle the force of the impact. If not we'll start over again."
"Yes, Void. The system is ready. You may begin when you're ready."
Their jaws dropped as Aron struck the solid steel weighted block that stood over eight feet tall in part of the base they've never seen. Watching it just flying backwards like the thing weighed nothing. Hearing it crashing against the giant springs that were ment to cushion the impact.
"Veil, what was the newtons at the point of impact?" They noted how Aron was studying his right hand as he asked that.
"533,786.59 newtons."
"So roughly sixty tons."
"Yes."
"Do you detect any damage in the glove?"
"No. The Neuium has held up like you suspected."
Aron wore a cocky smirk when they all just peered back at him in stunned shock. "What? I'm super strong, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise. So you shouldn't have a problem with them failing you during battle," he stated, seeing his mother wishing to test them out. Holding up his hands, feeling the base shaking at the impacts her fist delivered to his hands.
"When we get back you better fuck me with all your strength," Vera whispered heatedly into his ear before kissing him as her sign of her gratitude for the gloves.
"Aron, bro, what are these things?" Troy asked, holding up the bracelets.
"They amplify your powers, like the ones Isabel has," Aron stated truthfully.
"Really?!"
"Really," Aron nodded, "although, I don't know how you're going to take how you need to do a certain pose like this," striking the weirdest pose he could, "and say Iceman, glacialize. And Isabel you have to do this pose," mimicking her fondling her boobs and running his tongue along his upper lip, "and say Firelight, incinerate! To get them to activate," Aron spoke seeing how his other family members were fighting back their laughter at his antics and Troy's and Isabel's horrified looks.
"You're fucking with us, aren't you?" Isabel asked to which Aron burst out in laughter.
"Yeah, but you should have seen your faces, priceless!" Aron retorted dodging the fireball she threw at him. "Temper, temper," he teased only to feel an ice ball smack him in the face.
"Asshole," Troy grumbled to which Isabel agreed. "So really how do we use them?"
"Slide them onto your wrist, you can choose your own activation word, I just used activate as a default. But your powers need to be activated for the bracelets to function properly." Watching his siblings doing just that, watching the nano-amplifiers circling around their wrist when they spoke the word.
"What does it do, Aron?" Isabel asked, noticing how her flames weren't harming the device.
"Amplifies and widens the field of range your powers on their own couldn't reach. Depending on the circumstances lengthens your range as well," Aron spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"And this Aron, what are these for?" Noah asked, studying the items that were still attached to the mannequin before him.
"Given that you only have flight powers, it's to reinforce your limbs that you use to strike with, so you don't injure yourself needlessly. Also enhances your strength while you wear them. It won't give you super strength, but it will put you over the top with those that do not have it." Noah nodded in understanding.
"What's this, Aron?" Neil asked, staring oddly at the egg-shape device that was held onto the chest of his mannequin with six wires.
"Told you I had something for you to combat Dark Sin, this is it." Producing a two toned whistle activating the device watching it come to life and bringing its tiny feet around and leaping onto Neil's chest. "Relax it won't harm you," Aron said, keeping his chuckle to himself as Neil tried to bat the thing off.
"Then what the Hell is it for?!"
"It will store all the electrical attacks that land on you and sends an opposite electric charge back to your opponent, hopefully shorting out their powers for a limited time," Aron said, seeing Neil's smile widening at that.
"But how do I get this thing off?" Neil inquired peering down at it.
"Just tap the top and tap it again to reattach it." Aron watched as the rest of them tried out the gadgets he hand made for them. "We all set? Good," seeing them nod once they left the armory, "Veil, seal and lock the armory down."
"Understood, closing and reactivating the protocols."
"Let me change and I'll meet you in the air," Aron said, seeing his family nod before walking off to the changing room where he stored his primary suit.
"Today marks the tenth anniversary of the founding of The Sovereign Crusaders. I'm, Marili McGee, and with me today is a special guest from the morning show in Metaville where they have their own hometown heroes. Beth Turner. So, Beth, how is your stay in our fair city?" Tazia was on edge as she sat cross legged beside her sister as she fed Nettie. Chewing on her nail, knowing soon Aron and the others would be in for a fight. Looking down when Aminah's hand filled hers, feeling how she too was on edge as they watched.
"Fides is a nice city, but nothing compares to Metaville."
"I hear our two cities share something in common. Tell our viewers of your thoughts on this Void character. We don't have much in our records about him."
"Void's first appearance in Metaville was nearly a year ago. Where he came to the aid of The Phantom Marvels, that's the hero team based in Metaville, when they were battling a giant robot that just showed up from nowhere! As fast as they dismantled that thing Void vanished into the ether. He wasn't seen again, until one night a fire broke out in a skyrise trapping nearly two dozen people on the top floors. With the help of Void, The Phantom Marvels managed to save everyone inside. His exploits kept growing over time. We in Metaville can say Void is definitely one of ours!"
"I hear he finally gave your show an interview as brief as it was."
"Yes, he did," Tazia noted how Beth nodded to that, "Void is a man of few words, yet that just enhances his mysterious vibe that I know drives some of the ladies in Metaville crazy." Tazia fumed in jealousy when both women chuckled at that.
"What's that? The Mayor has arrived?! Excellent! Everyone please be patient as we go to the live feed in the city square." Tazia's heart raced, knowing the time has come.
"Good people of Fides, It's my great honor to present these eight heroes..."
Fides, real time...
"Pardon the interruption. I'll be taking over the airways for a moment," Aron said, standing on the runner of his jet bike high above the city square. Noting the hordes of civilians, along with agents both NSA and FBI mixed in in plain street clothing. "But are they really heroes?" he asked, hacking into the giant TVs that were all around the place. "Is this what heroes do?" Transmitting the videos of every vile act they had committed through the NSA satellite in orbit to show the world they all had been lied to. "Do heroes, kill, smuggle drugs, people, steal, run their own crime syndicate? No, they are no heroes," Aron said, stepping off the runner. His coat flapping behind him, the asphalt cracked and buckled as he landed ten feet from the stage. "Carl, you're up, once you're done, help get the people out of harm's way," he directed once he activated the voice dampeners as he rose to his feet. Before anyone could blink an eye the Mayor and those with him were zipped away thanks to the vest he had created to muffle the sonic boom Carl produced when he broke the sound barrier. "They are only villains."
"Is this true, can we verify any of this?!" Tazia squeezed Aminah's hand as the woman's frantic voice was played over the videos that Aron had showed them the other day.
"This is Void we're talking about! Of course, it's verified!"
"I had such high hopes for you," Maximins sighed.
"I don't work for villains, I kill them," Aron said, darkly.
"So, little hero, you think you can stop us?!" Maximins gloated tossing the podium out of the way.
"I'm no hero, that's why I called the real heroes," Aron stated, as his family made their grand entrance. "Take them down!" he ordered before launching himself at Maximins.
"If you're just tuning in. An epic battle between The Phantom Marvels and the core members of The Sovereign Crusaders has begun! We don't know all the details, or why this Void would turn..."
"Void didn't turn on anyone!" Beth cut in. "Void is the hero! We all saw it. The Sovereign Crusaders are the villains."
"Now Beth, we don't know that," Marili cut in, "for all we know this Void character fabricated those videos!" As those last words left her lips the signal from the station simply cut out.
"No, no, no!" Tazia leapt from their bed when only the silent videos were playing on screen.
"Help me up, we need to get down there..."
"No, you're staying put, I'll get Veil to tie into my phone," Tazia stated before dashing out of the room.
Aron grunted in pain as Maximins sent him flying. "Damn, it's like getting hit by a dump truck!" he groaned in his mind. Hearing the people in that office scrambling to get to safety as the masonry dropped on to his head when he was slumped on the floor.
"Void, this isn't a time to hold back. Otherwise you will die."
"I know," Aron hissed pushing himself off the floor.
"You have no hope of winning this fight. I'm stronger, faster, and I have something you don't I can fly," Maximins taunted as he floated before the gaping hole Aron had made when he crashed through the side of the building.
"Veil, start the sequence," Aron said, knowing she would know what he meant.
"It hasn't been fully tested yet. Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Understood." Aron's footfalls thundered as he ran towards Maximins.
Maximins' eyes held shock when Aron took him by the throat having anticipated that he would dodge Aron's lunge only to be held in Aron's steel-like grip. The force of the concussion wave shattered windows, sent cracks racing across the pavement and sidewalks as the force of the slam formed a crater around him. However, the blow weakened the substructure of the ground below them sending them both falling into the subway tunnels below.
"Keep them alive if you can help it, we aren't the villains here," Vera ordered dragging her now unconscious foe towards the line of police, FBI agents and Agent Honeybell.
"Right." Was their only response in her ear.
"Thank you, for the assistance Vemvendon you're presence here is most helpful," Sara said, as her men dragged the now powerless Rotoicker towards the prisoner transport. "How are your other team members fairing?"
"Just fine," Troy and Neil spoke in unison as they dumped their villains, alive, at Sara's feet. Turning around as the sound of shattering glass and crushing metal resounded behind him.
Noah wiped away the blood from his lip as he stared down at the woman that threaten to kill his son. Noting how she tried to get up before passing out in pain. Now he could understand Aron's thinking on ending villain's lives. Yet he wasn't like his son, he just couldn't cross that line no matter how tempting it was.
"We have more villains to stop, let's wrap this up and lend Void a hand," Noah said, seeing them nod before returning to the fight.
"You think you can stop me!" Maximins shouted as he pushed Aron through the feet of soil, gas mains, electrical conduits, the sub-base of the road, and finally through the pavement itself. His fist striking Aron square in the chest sending Aron flying backwards into a parked car which skidded sideways into the building stopping Aron's heart cold.
"Void! Void! Father!"
"No!" Tazia and Aminah shouted when they heard the flat tone of the heart monitor.
"Don't you die on us!" Tazia screamed at her phone.
"You promised, you promised you'd come back! Don't you end it here!" Aminah pleaded with Aron to wake up.
"What the..." Aron stammered after Veil brought him back to life with the built-in defibrillator.
"You were dead for thirty seconds. I was forced to defibrillate you."
"Dead?! Let's not do that again," Aron muttered as he got to his feet. Noting that Veil had activated the voice dampeners
"Agreed."
"While you were napping hero, look what I found," Maximins sneered cruelly as he held a child no older than eight behind her neck. "Nah-uh, hero, one wrong move and I'll snap her pretty little neck. You might have ended my group, might have put a dent in our activities. Yet I can build that back up, no one on this Earth has the power to stop me! I am, Maximins, the pinnacle of what a super powered being is! I will not have some upstart thinking he can take me down!" he roared.
Yet Aron heard none of the fool's bluster. No. All Aron was focused on was that fear on that little girls face. That called out to him to save her. To bring the monster down that held her in his grip. His eyes ran down his HUD seeing the mode had reached a hundred percent. He was not about to let that girl die!
"Veil, Sadistic mode."
"Sadistic mode engaged." Spikes formed on his knuckles, along the back of his hand, the sleeves of his coat and shoulders. He had taken the idea from his counterpart's original suit. The smart metal he had turned into wire and incorporated it into the fabric of the suit was for this very reason. So the spikes wouldn't deform under the crushing force of his blows. Long wicked spikes protruded behind his calves, a row of spikes lined his knees as the wire made the front of his shins as hard as steel. The flight stabilizers moved every which way as the subprogram 'Mongoose' was initialized. "Carl."
"What is it, Void?" Aron heard the worry and relief in his uncle's voice.
"I need you at my location in three seconds. Save the girl."
"Roger."
"I'm warning you; I will kill her..." Unbearable pain seared his chest, his grip loosened and his hostage was gone in a flash as he felt himself flying backwards. Blood sprayed, teeth flew from his mouth as Aron's backhand sent him flipping, tumbling, and skidding along the asphalt. "It can't be... I'm the strongest..." His super suit tore from Aron's grip as his uppercut sent Maximins streaking towards the heavens. His boots roared as he sped skyward. Performing a backflip, his reinforced left shin striking Maximins square in his stomach. The strike thundered with a force of a train sending that villainous cur rocketing back towards the ground. Aron stalked towards the man as he pulled himself out of the crater his landing had created.
"You can't do this... you're a hero," Maximins spoke weakly, or as well as he could while missing quite the number of teeth. Blood trickled from his mouth as Aron lifted him aloft.
"I. Am. Void. I am no hero," Aron said darkly, releasing his grip only to have his right jab send Maximins flying backwards once again.
"Void, only twenty percent fuel is left in the boots."
"Understood. I guess it's time to wrap this up," Aron stated, before taking off after his foe.
Vera and the others watched in shock as their eyes followed Maximins uncontrolled backwards flight. Then came her son rocketing towards the man. "Don't do it! He's not worth it, Void!" Looking way as Aron dragged Maximins' face along the pavement. Watching how Aron easily avoided the man's right jab, wincing as Maximins howled in pain as Aron brought down his elbow shattering the man's joint. Grinning sadistically as he easily caught Maximins feeble attempt at striking him with his only good arm as he held the villain aloft by the throat.
"Be glad I was asked to take you in alive," his blue-green eyes glinted with glee at the sound of the man's screams as he snapped the bones in Maximins's forearm, "otherwise this fight would have been long over, some pinnacle," Aron said, tossing Maximins broken, beaten body towards the feet of Sara's men.
"Void!" His family shouted as he collapsed to a knee. Coughing up blood once he pulled his hood up above his nose.
"Void, you have internal bleeding, your breastbone is fractured. I suggest immediate medical attention." What Aron would have said will remain a mystery as he blacked out from exhaustion and the pain.
When Aron woke up he didn't know if the day had past or what given how he was in a room with no windows. Wondering why he couldn't open his left eye all that well. Glancing around with his good one when he heard machines beeping and chirping. Looking down at his body, noting the hospital gown, instantly his hand shot towards his face.
"Your identity is still a secret." Sara's sweet voice caused his eyes to shoot towards the darkened corner of the room as she stepped out of the shadows.
"Where am I? How long...?"
"Shh, no need to worry about that," Sara said, sauntering along the bed. Her fingertips ran along the mattress before her hand slipped into his. "I was so worried that I had lost you. I've never seen you bleed before," she spoke as a single tear streaked down her cheek. "It's still today or rather tonight. It seems not only are you invulnerable but you heal quickly as well. Given how the doctors couldn't penetrate your skin to insert an IV into you to help stop the bleeding you were suffering. I can't say how long it will take for you to heal, yet you're out of the woods for the moment. As to where we are, we're in a secret NSA hospital used for our agents. I know you're worried about your family. I'll inform them that you're awake and sound. If not sore," Sara said, with a warm smile on her lips. "You did after all beat the world's strongest man. I guess that makes you the strongest man now." Reaching forward, pushing up his mask, seeing the bruising beginning to form before passionately kissing him. Silently telling him she was so very happy that he was still alive.
"Here, watch some TV, you're the talk of the town," Sara said, switching it on. "I'll go call your mother, and let her know you'll be home soon, and see if the doctors are ready to release you." Looking back as the door closed behind her, her eyes quivered knowing she had almost lost him.
"I'm Beth Turner, live from Fides, bringing you a special edition of the Metaville Today show, just hours ago, our very own heroes, who came to the aid of Void -- a hero we've all come to know in recent months, did battle with the core members of The Sovereign Crusaders. As you can see from these images taken just moments after Void had singlehandedly taken down Maximins -- the world's ex-strongest man -- the battle was intense. Yet not without a cost. Just moments after Maximins's defeat our hero, the man who has helped and saved Metaville, collapsed due to his injuries sustained in his battle against Maximins. Little is known at this time on Void's whereabouts and his condition. As we see here those agents that helped to evacuate the city center during the battle loading our hero into an unmarked vehicle. To where we don't know. It's my hope that Void is still alive. I hope and pray that I am right.
Upon their defeat the Director of the FBI held a press conference announcing that the task force, which Void was a part of, was met with success in the capture and arrest of all eight members of the team we've come to learn was called Cestron. Where those eight so-called heroes used their powers and influence to fool those they had sworn to protect. Most of the villains were captured with little harm, except for Atlanta, whose hips were broken when Mariner and Firelight had defeated her. Maximins sustained major injuries in his battle with Void. We are unaware of his condition at the moment. I say, after all the years they pulled the wool over this city's eyes, good riddance to bad rubbish!
However, after the news broke the new leader of the now restructured Crusaders released a statement. It reads: 'Void, if you hear this, know that while I was angry at first. I thought these people, whom I looked up to, could never do this. Yet this only proves that not all villains are as forthright as we once believed. So when you're healed, please visit us.' That was Nightshade, the new leader of The Sovereign Crusaders. Where I hope this shadow that the core members has thrown onto that very fine team of heroes will not darken their doorstep. Although, if they're in the company of Void, then you know they had no hand in the crimes those eight false heroes have committed.
I will close out this segment with one last, final word. Void if you are still with us, and if you can hear these words. Know that you have a great many people rooting for your speedy recovery, and Metaville awaits the return of their hero."
Aron turned his head as the door to his hospital roomed open and in stepped Sara. "I think she has a crush on you," she teased as she lowered herself onto the bed seeing him rolling his eyes. "I spoke with your parents, their ecstatic to know that you're doing well. I couldn't tell them exactly were you where, only that your health wasn't life threatening any more and that you had awakened just moments ago. I also told them that the doctors wanted to keep you here overnight just for observation in case your body didn't stop the bleeding on its own," Sara stated, seeing Aron nod in understanding. "This is twice now," she whispered reaching up and softly caressing Aron's cheek.
"Huh?"
"Twice now you have defied Death, I'm beginning to wonder if Death itself won't stop you," Sara said, smiling at his chuckle. "Would you mind if I stayed with you tonight?" Snuggling close to him without putting too much weight on his sore body. So very thankful that everything worked out like it was supposed to.
Aron eased off his jet bike slowly once he was freed from the hospital. Pain. While it was a fascinating experience he wasn't keen on repeating it again. A smile appeared on his lips at the sight of his family members standing there all eager to greet him. Seeing their shock at his bruised face and black eye. Something else he's never had before as he pulled off his mask.
"Damn, Aron, you look like shit!" Troy said, with a brotherly smile.
"Feel like it, too." Hissing when Tazia was too eager to wait and pressed against his fractured breastbone. "It's okay, you didn't know," he whispered lightly kissing her lips when she started to apologize. "How's Henry and Nettie?"
"First let's get you healed and we'll talk," Vera said, holding out her hand to her son. Knowing just what she was going to do.
The End.
***********
Epilogue
***********
Epilogue
A week had passed since the fight with Cestron. Which seemed to have enhanced his family's notoriety around the globe. His as well, as much as he hated it. He loved working in the shadows; that is after all where the villains run to hide only to find him waiting for them. The limelight never sat well with him, yet he did venture out a few days later in his costume just to shut the TV people up upon the speculation of his death. How that only fueled more extravagant tales about him to pollute the airwaves.
Yet that didn't matter at the moment as he lowered the shell that would cover the front of the chest onto its awaiting body. His eyes watched that pulsating yellow glow of the power unit humming along before the metal shell sealed the innards of Veil's body from view. Running the laser welder along the seams to fuse the two haves together. Wiping his brow with his forearm once he was done, knowing all that remained was attaching the head unit then the process of grafting the skin to the shell would begin. Once the head was attached and connected to the power supply. Aron ran through the test needed to ensure the basic operating system that handled the basic eye, mouth, hand movement, he had designed, coded, and installed was operating within parameters of the OS. When he was happy that everything was working within the specs Aron had it return to sleep mode. He was about to leave for the night to go play with Henry and Nettie when the sound of the monitor that he had once used to watch the videos of his past self left behind for him suddenly turned on. He so hoped he didn't look like that when he reached fifty plus years.
"If you're watching this, that means the sensors I installed in this lab have detected that you have reached the point that you might be able to do what I could not."
"Huh?" Aron muttered wondering what his counterpart was talking about.
"In order to save our daughter, Jill, due to how the powers she was born with were killing her. My wife and I agreed the only way at the time was to put her into suspended animation. Given my limited options at the time I was powerless to stop the degradation to her body. However, I had hope. Hope that you, my younger, future self could do what I could not. That is to say; save Jill's life! She didn't ask to be born with the power she has, yet what was I to do, watch my only daughter die before my very eyes?! No! That wasn't going to happen! Not ever! I know Carol and I told Henry that she had died, yet that was to keep him and anyone else from tampering with her pod."
His eyes watched the conversation the three of them had with one another standing in a room somewhere on the third level, he could tell by the paint on the walls. Wondering how he would be if it was Nettie that was the one that was dying. Wouldn't he do everything in his power to see her life saved? Damn right, he would!
"I implore you, my future self. Save my daughter! Save our daughter! The printout of what I was able to measure, due to the lack of technology in this time period limited my tests to the cause of why her powers were degrading her cells so quickly, should help you narrow your search down." Aron turned his head to the left as a yellow corrugated roll of paper inched out of the wall. "My daughter has been asleep for sixty some years waiting for you to reach this point. Please don't make her wait a moment longer. Good luck, I pray for your success. Speak Omega, and Veil will know what to do."
Ripping the paper from the wall, his eyes scanning along the still warm ink. His mind racing at what this meant. It was impossible. It just couldn't be. Could it? Could something that's never happened before, in all the years of the history of super powered beings, just spontaneously happen in his own child?! Shaking his head, he needed Aminah's opinion on it before he even began to speculate on the nature of Jill's powers. Still, he did want to see her. Walking out of the lab with determination.
"Veil?!"
"Yes, Void. Is something the matter? I sense agitation in your voice."
"Omega!"
Suddenly the lights of the third floor shut off casting him into darkness before red pulsating lights appeared along the baseboards of the wall telling him to follow after them. It seemed like the lights were leading him around in a maze he had no idea where on the third floor he was given the few times a wall would slide open and close once he was through. That was, until he stood in that very room he had seen in that video file.
"Jill!" Her name left his lips in a whisper.
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