Becoming Super

by Plowden, Richard A.

  “Well, I don’t know if you know,” the boy began “But we had an incident and a few of our officers were murdered.”

  Taia scoffed quietly. Murder? No way. If anything, Proof taking out those Supes was self-defense.

  The guard continued. “We’re supposed to take any visiters in for questioning,” The other guarding Core members began to nod.

  “No,” Proof said simply.

  “But-but we have our orders sir,” The boy stammered.

  “Listen,” Proof said tiredly. “The mayor knows me and owes me a few favors. You will not take her. She is mine.”

  Taia felt her heart flutter at this for reasons she did not understand.

  The Core officers all began shifting uncomfortably and the young officer made an executive decision. “Okay sir. But we still need to check her for weapons.”

  “You need to check a human?” Taia muttered.

  The Core officer’s eyes got wide. “What did you just say you ape?” He clearly did not feel the same way about her as he felt about Proof.

  Proof’s eyes were boring into Taia.

  “I didn’t mean any offense sir,” Taia said in her most docile voice possible, feeling nauseous doing it. “I just meant that I’m no threat to you, why waste your time searching me?”

  The Core officer scoffed. “You’re right. You are no threat,” he then motioned to one of the other Core members.

  Soon the doors to the inner wall were being opened and Taia smiled internally.

  Proof grabbed her by the arm and began walking towards the opening doors. “What was that?” he asked. “I said let me do the talking.”

  “Well I didn’t want him touching me,” Taia replied back quietly, this being partially true. “And how did they recognize you anyway? With that scarf?”

  “Only a couple people would wear this,” Eli replied. Taia was about to say something sarcastic as a response but the inner doors were now all the way open and she was speechless.

  The city was nothing like the desolate area surrounding it. It was busy and full of life. All through the city Supes of all shapes and sizes were moving through the street. Taia saw Supes flying with wings, she saw two Supe children controlling water playing with each other, she even saw a Supe juggling on the street with 6 arms. And the Supes themselves weren’t the only thing amazing about the city.

  Taia had thought that the technology of the Sectors was amazing, but this was something else entirely. Most of the vehicles seemed to be hover vehicles, they had no wheels but instead blue plates at the bottom of them similar to that of the sign she saw outside of the city. There were also floating screens filled with advertisements for different stores and restaurants. There were floating lights directing traffic, higher ones for those Supes who could fly and lower ones for the hover vehicles on the ground.

  “It’s beautiful,” Taia whispered walking forward.

  “Yes, not everything Supes do is evil,” Proof replied. “What’s incredible is all of this technology was made by one person.”

  Taia gaped at Proof. “One man made all of this?” she asked surprised.

  “Designed all of it,” Proof replied. “He’s a good man. A good machine.”

  “What do you mean a good machine?” Taia asked. But Proof ignored her and began walking forward. He began walking through the streets maneuvering between Supes and vehicles. Proof had been right about one thing. They could certainly blend in very easily with all of the traffic and business that was going on in the city.

  Taia tried to stay as close to Proof as possible. She was feeling a lot of anxiety about being around this many Supes at one time. The soldier in her was looking for every escape route possible but the more they moved into the heart of the city, the less that she began to see. She was a sitting duck.

  The pair of them were receiving a lot of strange looks as they moved through the city. Taia was at first paranoid that it was her but then realized a grown man wearing a coat in the middle of the summer was odd. But what was even odder, was the few times that they were not able to blend in and they passed a Core officer, the officer either stiffened at Proof or saluted him, as if they recognized him. It didn’t seem as if they would even attempt to arrest Proof.

  “You wear this get up often?” Taia asked. “The whole overcoat and scarf?”

  “Nearly every day,” Proof replied moving through the street quickly.

  Taia scoffed. “I never would’ve known,” she said sarcastically.

  If Taia hadn’t seen Proof kill those Core officers herself she would think that he was leading her into a trap. But if that was the case, why not just let the Core take her yesterday? Or at the wall?

  These thoughts and rationalization is what kept Taia from having a panic attack as they moved through the city.

  “That kid at the gate,” Taia began. “He called you Captain.”

  “Yes,” Proof said.

  “You didn’t say you were a Captain,” Taia replied.

  “Why would I?” Proof asked. “You didn’t tell me your rank.”

  “I don’t have one” .

  “You don’t have one? What does that mean?” Proof began moving faster.

  “It means I don’t have one” Taia replied. “I’m not officially enlisted yet. I’m still in training. I’m just a cadet.”

  Proof suddenly came to a halt and turned around to look at Taia. “Then why are you here?” he asked slowly. “They put cadets on high level missions?”

  “No,” Taia said. “One of my father’s lieutenants ran this mission without official orders. So he had to use cadets because minors would be allowed back in the Sector, while adults would be banished.”

  Proof’s eyes got wide and looked as if he were about to say something when his eyes snapped to something else and he swore. “Come on,” he said to Taia grabbing her.

  The pair began running before arriving at a small floating sing. The small sign read ‘Bus Stop’.

  A large hover bus pulled up to the sign and opened its doors. A man with a dozen eyes on his face was driving. Still holding on to Taia’s arm, the two of them got on the bus.

  Proof pulled a small silver card out of his overcoat and swiped it over a machine. The machine beeped and Proof dragged Taia to the back of the bus.

  “Stop grabbing me,” Taia said, ripping her arm from him and glaring. “I’m not some child.”

  “Could’ve fooled me,” Proof muttered quietly.

  The bus pulled off and the pair sat in silence. After nearly half an hour of riding and several stops, Proof stood up and spoke. “This is us.”

  The two got off the bus and were welcomed to a world nothing like Taia had ever seen in her entire life. They were in a neighborhood but they were surrounded by homes that Taia was very reluctant to call houses.

  Each of these houses were huge and at least 3 stories high. They were the size of the biggest buildings in Sector 6 and all were beautifully, yet uniquely crafted. More like palaces than houses.

  “Your friend lives in one of these?” Taia exclaimed.

  “Yep,” Proof began walking down one of the streets.

  “Why are they all so different?” Taia asked following him. “The houses.”

  “The Transcended embrace uniqueness,” Eli replied. “Those with the most unique abilities are celebrated. And they let that transfer over to everything else.”

  They continued walking through the neighborhood. Proof stopped when they arrived at one of the largest houses in the neighborhood. It was a dark green building several stories high made of brick.

  “Wow,” Taia said. “What does your friend do that he can live here?”

  “Well he’s a teleporter. That’s why we need him. But,” Proof paused and looked at Taia. “The reason he has this house is because his mother is a Senator.”

  Taia froze. A Senator. She didn’t know much about the Regime but the Academy did teach her about its governmental hierarchy. There were mayors for each city. There were Senators, which she
was now guessing ruled over each Region. And then there was the Prime Minister of the entire country. And the Senators were supposed to be absurdly strong.

  “No,” Taia said. “No, no, no. I’m not going in there.”

  Proof sighed. “This is why I didn’t tell you. If you want to get home, you have to go in there.”

  “No Proof,” Taia said terrified. “I’m not going into a Senator’s home. And I’m definitely not asking for help for some guy whose mother is a Senator. Why would he help a human?”

  “He’s like me,” Proof said softly, grabbing Taia’s hand. “He doesn’t see it like that. I trust him with my life.”

  Taia shook her head. “I can’t,” she whispered.

  “Hey,” Proof said, tilting her head and bringing her eyes up to meet his. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ve kept you safe this far right.”

  Taia nodded.

  “We’re just going to go in here and get Blake and then he’s going to teleport you home. Just if anyone asks, in this house, you are Transcended.”

  Taia heaved a sigh. “Fine. Let’s do this.” The pair went up the steps leading to the front door and Taia spoke again. “How do you even know this guy?”

  “His father was my Commanding officer in the Core.”

  Taia let out a bitter laugh. “Great,” she said loudly. “His mom is a Senator and his dad is a Commander in the Core.”

  “He was a Commander,” Proof said before knocking on the door. The door opened and an old pale man opened the door. He was wearing a white dress shirt with a simple black tie. All Taia could think was that this guy’s mom must have had the ability to live a very long time if this old man was her son and she was a Senator.

  “Mr. Proof,” the old man said. “How good of it is to see you again.”

  “Hey, is Blake here?” Proof said hurriedly.

  “Yes he is,” The old man responded. “I will go fetch—“

  All of a sudden behind the old man a gust of wind was pushed forward through the door. Proof and Taia had to turn their heads because the wind was too strong. The old man had to hold on to the door frame to keep from toppling over.

  Directly behind the old man was something that resembled a small black hole opening up in the middle of the room. Small purple lightning bolts were emanating from the black hole. Suddenly, out of the vortex stepped a person.

  Chapter 6

  The young man that stepped out of the vortex was wearing a purple hoodie and had a purple scarf eerily similar to Proof’s black one and his was also covering his face. The person was also wearing black and purple goggles as he stepped out of the Black hole.

  “Bartholomew!” the old man exclaimed. “You know your mother hates it when you use your powers in the house. They’re too destructive!”

  “Don’t call me that Alfred,” Blake said. “And what’s the point of being the most powerful teleporter in the world if I can’t even use my powers.”

  Blake then put both his scarf and goggles around his neck. Blake seemed to be someone of Asian descent and was a teenager. He may have even been a few years younger than Taia and had the biggest smile on his face.

  “It is your name, Bartholomew.” Alfred chastised. “Whereas Alfred is not mine.” Alfred then walked away.

  “Eli my man!” Blake said before walking to the front door and grabbing Proof in a hug. “It’s been too long!”

  “Just a few months Blake,” Proof muttered.

  “Eli?” Taia stated. “Your name is really Eli, not Proof?”

  “It’s both,” Eli said. “My name is Eli Proof.”

  Taia gaped at him. “Well why wouldn’t you tell me that?”

  “You only asked for my name,” Eli said. “In the Core, they only cared about my last name.”

  “Well, well, well” Blake said smiling moving toward Taia. “Who is this fine young thing?”

  Taia ignored him. “And this is your friend?” she asked disbelievingly. “He’s like, my age. Why are you friends with some kid? Shouldn’t you have friends your own age old man, like his dad that answered the door?”

  Blake and Eli looked at Taia confusingly. It was Blake that spoke. “That’s not my dad,” he said. “That’s our butler,” he then turned to Eli.

  “Why is she calling you old man?” he asked him.

  Eli shook his head. “I have no idea. She’s been doing that the past couple of days.”

  Blake raised an eyebrow at Taia before turning back to Eli. “And why are you always wearing the shroud when I’m not around man? I only gave it to you so you don’t have trouble going through my vortexes”

  Eli shrugged. “I like it. And it helps out there in the desert.”

  Blake shook his head. “You went through the city like that? Take that off.”

  Eli shrugged again before reaching up for his scarf.

  “Wait,” Taia said. “All I had to do to get you to take that off was ask you?” She asked disbelievingly.

  Eli looked at her confused. “Why would you have to do anything else?”

  Eli then took the scarf from around his face. And Taia’s mouth dropped open. Eli was not at all an old man. He was quite the opposite.

  Taia thought that Eli was the most beautiful man she had ever seen, even though man was a term used loosely. Eli was not even old enough to fully grow facial hair. It was clear that he had not shaved in quite a while as he had small patches of facial hair but Eli was still clearly quite handsome. His smooth dark brown skin and piercing black eyes only did more to make Taia immediately captivated with him.

  Eli looked at Taia. “What?” he asked defensively as she stared at him.

  Taia let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “You’re,” She paused. “You’re, um, not old.”

  “Yea,” Eli said laughing quietly. “I don’t know why you thought I was.”

  “Well you were limping,” Taia said even though as she said it to herself she realized how stupid of a qualifier that was for someone to be old.

  “Well,” Blake said loudly, smiling and interrupting Taia’s revelation. “Come on in Eli. And your name?” Blake said looking at Taia.

  “It’s Taia,” Taia said warily, still not trusting Blake.

  The trio walked into the house. It was huge and the foyer alone was the size of one of the classrooms at the Academy.

  Eli seemed very tense as soon as they walked in. “Can we go somewhere and talk privately?” he asked Blake.

  “Yea, sure,” Blake said smiling, “My room will work”. He then extended one of his arms.

  “No,” Eli said, grabbing Blake’s arm and putting it down. “We can take the stairs.”

  Blake sighed. “Fine, if you insist.”

  The trio then walked up several flights of stairs until they arrived at Blake’s room. It was the size of Taia’s room at the Academy even though that room was fit for 14 girls, not 1 teleporting Supe.

  “So what’s up?” Blake asked Eli. “You need me to hire someone to fix your shower again? I’m telling you if it’s that, you really didn’t need to come all this way even though I love seeing you man. I told you I’ll get you a phone.”

  “It’s not that Blake,” Eli said nervously. “It’s not me that needs your help, it’s her,” he said motioning to Taia.

  “Her?” Blake asked confused, smile momentarily leaving his face. “How can I help her? Is she a Cave baby like you? She wants the shower hook up?”

  “Worse,” Eli said. “She’s a human.”

  Blake was still confused.

  “An unregistered human,” Eli continued tersely.

  Blake was still confused before his eyes widened and cursed loudly. “You’re with the Resistance!” he exclaimed.

  Taia and Eli both quieted him.

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Blake said excitedly. “Was that you? That killed those Core officers?”

  Taia looked at Eli nervously but stayed quiet not wanting to out him. But the look alone was enough to betray the true culprit
.

  Blake’s eyes widened. “It was you, wasn’t it?” he asked Eli. “Mr. ‘I’m not a hero’. Does this mean you’re ready to join me?”

  Eli shook his head. “Calm down Blake. I’m just here to get her home.”

  “But you killed those Core officers,” Blake said excitedly.

  “To save her,” Eli countered. “I couldn’t just let innocent people die. I wanted to save her whole team but I was only able to save her.”

  “But don’t you get it?” Blake asked. “That’s all we want to do! Is save people!”

  Taia couldn’t be more confused. “Who is we?” She asked.

  Blake responded first. “It’s—“

  “It doesn’t matter,” Eli said.

  “No,” Taia said tersely to him. “I want to know.”

  Eli rolled his eyes. “Well go on then,” he said. “Tell her.”

  “I have a group of guys,” Blake began excitedly. “Well guys and girls. I’m not really the sexist type. I was just using guys as a general term.”

  “Blake!” Eli said.

  “Right, sorry,” Blake said sheepishly. “I have a team I’m putting together. See with my mom’s resources, that she doesn’t know that I’m using obviously, I have access to a lot of files. And some of these files have the names and abilities of people like me. And like Eli. Who don’t agree with the Regime and the treatment of humans. And we want to help you guys.”

  “Help us?” Taia asked skeptically.

  “Yea, help,” Blake said smiling. “Liberate you all. So you aren’t living in horrible conditions. Or in your case, having to hide away from the world, living in fear every day of Transcendeds coming to take your home from you. And I want Eli to join the team.”

  Eli was shaking his head. “It’ll never work Blake. You can’t overthrow the Regime.”

  “Well I can’t alone!” Blake said rounding on Eli. “But if I can get this team together I can. And with your help. And maybe with the help from Taia’s Resistance.”

  “Blake, this isn’t a comic book!” Eli said. “You can’t just put a team of ‘good guys’ together to go against the ‘bad guys’!”

  “And why not?” Blake asked defiantly. “How do you know that it won’t work?”

  “Because it won’t,” Eli said. “Now grow up.”