A Hero's Dream is a Pilot's Journey

My Name is Marshall Collins

 Segregation. The only thing the government knows when it comes to things about people they don't understand. Ever since the beginning, the government has been and always will be corrupt in one way or another. Ever since the American people broke away from the British, people of different nationalities and breeds have always been treated like shit. And it's all the government's fault, and they wonder why we don't trust them. It's because the shit that they've been doing is corrupt, illegal, and immoral. I've never trusted the government, and I never will, unless they're willing to change their segregationist laws against us.

My name is Marshall Collins and I'm from a family of Dalmatians, I was born on November 7, 2031. My family and I lived in downtown New York City, New York where me and my older brother Max were born. Max and I were always and are still very close, however he was always a lot stronger and more courageous than I was, but he was always supportive of me in everything I did. Especially how me and my brother lived when our parents kicked us out when I was 13 and he was 16, and we've lived on the street for most of our lives. When I was 14, I learned about Genetic Mutants and that they were people with superhuman abilities or a genetic mutation within their body that gives them unique features. My parents were Genetic Mutants, my dad could make propane gas come out of his hands, and my mom's hands would glow and warm up. Put them together and you've got one hell of a pyrokinetic Dalmatian.

I can produce fire with any part of my body, and I can even use my powers to fly! With enough practice of course. However, Max wasn't so lucky, he didn't have any powers. But that didn't mean he was weak, he was as strong and stubborn as an ox but he can also be as kind and caring as a rabbit. He was well liked and was respected by everyone we knew. I was the one everyone looked at and said "Oh, how cute!" or "Well, aren't you the sweetest little thing?" I hated it when people treated me like a baby or younger than what I actually was.

My brother was always treated like a man, but I was always treated like a child. But my brother never treated me like a child, he treated me like I was my age and he always respected me no matter what I did as long as it wasn't illegal or immoral. My brother was my best friend, but I'll never forget the year 2045, when my brother was killed by the government.

It was like any normal day in New York. Max and I were walking around Central Park and talking about what we wanted to be when we were adults. "I'm planning to be a superhero!" I exclaimed as Max smiled wide and brightly "Really? Why a superhero?" I chuckled as I walked in front of him "Because, I want to be really popular especially with the girls" Max and I laughed "Really? I didn't think you were into girls" Max chuckled as I hit him in the arm "Why do you always pick on me?" I said in an embarrassed tone "Because, it's fun sometimes" then I saw the smile on his face disappear "What's wrong, Max?" Max and I sat down at a nearby bench "Look, you're getting to the age where" he paused for a moment before he continued speaking "You're getting to the age to where you need to know certain things, and it's time I hit you with some reality" I gave him a confused look "What do you mean?".

"Well, you know how the rumor went that the government's working on building a wall to split the country in half?" I looked down at my hands then looked back up at him "Yeah, why?" Max sighed trying to prepare him for the harsh reality "It wasn't a rumor, they just finished the wall" I looked at him confused "What's so bad about the wall?" Max hesitated but he told me that the wall was for the separation of Genetic Mutants from Humans "Wait, so that means-" Max cut me off before I could finish "I'll never see you again" I looked at him with a shocked face "Wait what?! You can't be serious! They can't take me away from you!" Max sighed "Unfortunately, yeah they can, but you know what? I won't let them" I looked up at him "We'll run away and hide from them for as long as we can, as long as we can" He ranted "No! It's too dangerous, we'll get caught!"

I continued to argue against it, but he continued ranting on as if he couldn't hear me. "No matter what, I'll protect you from whatever comes our way!" I gripped his arm tightly "No! I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for me! I can defend myself you know" it was then that my brother finally heard me and stopped for just a moment. "I want to be a hero so that way I can protect you and everyone else!'' As Max heard this he smiled ear to ear "You'll make a great hero then Marshall" we both hugged as our tails wagged.

Then, we both decided to head to a place to get something to eat, and that place was none other than Luis's Pizzeria on main street. Luis was a close friend to our family, he treated us like the father we never had and he also gave us jobs, and that place was none other than Luis's Pizzeria on main street. Luis was a close friend to our family, he treated us like the father we never had and he also gave us jobs and free food so that was a bonus. "Ciao, Marshall and Maxamilliano!" we giggled "Hey Luis" we both said in unison as we got straight to work "How was your day?" I lowered my head as Max told Luis about their day "That's good, at least you two are staying out of trouble, and Marshall, have you used your powers?" I stopped what I was doing.

Talking about my powers was a touchy subject for me because of the government saying that you couldn't use your powers or you would be killed no matter how old you are, who you are, and if one's without powers helps them, they're killed too. "No" Luis raised an eyebrow "Do I have to ask your brother?" I shook my head, but he still asked my brother and he said no as well, and that was a relief, even though I didn't use my powers that day.

"Good, now, let's make some-a pasta" Max and I always managed to get in a good laugh at Luis's Italian accent as he made his famous homemade spaghetti. During dinner, I started snapping my fingers to create sparks with my hands, but Luis quickly stopped me "You're going to burn something, and if anyone catches you...well, it won't be good" I pulled my hand away from him "So? It's not like anyone's watching us" Luis glared at me "You don't know that!" Max tried to calm Luis down "Luis, please calm down, and Marshall he's right". 

"Aren't you the one that said that we were going to 'run away from the government'?!" Max then cringed as I got up from the table and went to my room. And in case you were wondering, yes, it was one of those restaurants where Luis and the two of us lived on top of the restaurant. I slammed the door in fury, I was angry at the world, then I was angry myself. 

Why does the government hate Genetic Mutants? Why did I have to hide who I am? Those were the questions I asked for years, and I always yearn for an answer.