OutMan The Beginning (1)

The Darkness In The Light

Austin sat in his home office, surrounded by stacks of paperwork and a cluttered inbox filled with emails. As he sifted through the tasks at hand, his mind couldn't help but wander back to his conversation with Donnie at the hospital.
It had been consuming his thoughts ever sInce.
Austin pondered whether Donnie's thoughts mirrored his own. With Donnie's superhero duties of saving the world, it seemed unlikely. However, Austin remained unaware of the truth lurking beneath the surface. Should he be informed? Perhaps, but for now, staying out of harm's way seemed like the best course of action.
Donnie couldn't bear the thought of harm befalling Austin, Lily, or Ralph. However, the presence of Red Edge, the time-traveler, added a twist to the situation. Being from the future, Red Edge possessed knowledge of everyone close to Donnie, making the situation even more complex. The atmosphere was somber on that gloomy day in West City. The usually vibrant and bright city was shrouded in grey skies, creating a sense of darkness and melancholy in the air.
Donnie never minded rainy or dark skies; in fact, he found solace in them. He was never a fan of the sun and always longed for rainy days, as they brought him a unique sense of tranquility.
As the rain fell upon him, it washed away Donnie's stress, pain, and misery. In its wake, he emerged as a renewed man, liberated from his burdens, and ready to embrace a fresh start.
Donnie was never really judged for favoring rain over sun. He kept his reasons a secret, with only his sister being the one who truly understood his love for it. Some girls found Donnie's fascination with rain to be peculiar, yet strangely appealing. However, Donnie was oblivious to their attraction, always feeling like an outsider throughout his school years. Austin, with an air of frustration, removes his glasses and places his hands against his face before standing up and leaving his office. He heads to the kitchen and diligently sets up his coffee maker, seeking a moment of solace in a warm cup of joe.
While waiting for his coffee, he turned on the TV and stumbled upon the news coverage of Beacon News, where the recent encounter between OutMan and Fist Striker was being discussed,
Startled, Austin listens attentively as the reporter continues, only to be abruptly thrust over his kitchen counter by a sudden surge of red energy, leaving him bewildered and disoriented.
Helplessly trying to crawl, Austin is forcefully grabbed by the shirt and thrown into the living room, landing on his back with a groan. Before he can even recover, he is lifted off the floor and forcefully hurled against his TV, his back taking the brunt of the impact. Glass shards are strewn over his back and the carpet, making it difficult for Austin to move. Struggling to look up, he catches a glimpse of the imposing figure in a high-tech maroon and black suit, complete with a helmet displaying a pitch-black visor and piercing red eyes that seem to glare through.
"Austin Columbus" a distorted voice resonates from the helmet, masking the identity of the figure. "What do you want?" Austin musters all his strength to sit up, struggling to keep himself together in the face of an unknown threat.
"What I've always wanted," he laughs, his eyes flashing a bright red. "For the OutMan to die. What's your deal with him?" Austin positions himself against the wall, wary of the mysterious figure. "I forgot, you have no idea who he really is," the Red Edge chuckles sinisterly. Austin looks at him intently, his voice filled with disbelief. "Let's just say the OutMan has always been like a son to you." He kneels down, and suddenly it hits Austin who he's talking about. Donnie was the OutMan. But it can't be possible, it just can't be.
As the realization sinks in, Austin's mind races. Could Donnie have been the one saving the people? "What do you want with my son?" he asks, a mix of curiosity and pain in his voice. "Well, to kill him, obviously," the red edge stands up. "You see, I'm a man who hasn't even been born yet, Mr. Columbus." "I come from the year 2054, and where I'm from, everyone involved in Mr. Jace's life screwed me over. They destroyed everything I built, shunned me because I wasn't the hero everyone wanted, he tells Austin, with a hint of bitterness in his voice. "All of them cast me out. They looked up to OutMan, Espendo, The Houdini, StarChief - all of them were heroes. But I was the man who wasn't good enough," he says, his voice filled with a mixture of resentment and pain as Austin clenches his fists, holding onto his ribs. "So what? You came back here to try and become a hero? Newsflash, this city has a hero, and he's my son," Austin said, laughing. "Not for long," he replied before effortlessly lifting Austin off the floor with one hand.
"I came back to this time period for a reason, not just for your son, but for everyone he loves," he said. Suddenly, a long, razor-sharp blade formed from his arm, and without hesitation, he pierced it right through his  stomach. Austin gasped and let out a small groan, his expression going blank. "You're gonna lose.." he choked out, just before being thrown aside by the red edge. He gave one last look at Austin before rushing out of the house, dissipating into a trail of red energy.
Meanwhile Back At The Garage
Lilly stood in front of a large glassed cell, examining it curiously. Andrew walked in, holding an advanced object, and hesitated, unsure if he should tell her why he made it.
"It's an Inertial Confinement Cage," he said, his voice brimming with excitement as he emphasized each word. "Its purpose is to create a controlled environment that prevents the escape of radiation." She spun around, her eyes widening at the sight of the impressive device. "I must say, out of you and Donnie, you're the one with all the brains, he commented playfully, carefully setting the object down on the table.
"Donnie never really adapted to having a huge intellect," remarked Lily. "He stuck more to art. It was something that allowed him to express everything he felt." She pondered for a moment, then added, "Hmm, art is truly the best way to express everything you're feeling, whether it's good or bad, Hell, art can just be a way to express creativity," Andrew replied. "To be honest, I can never do that. I think my way is expressed through all of this." He picked up a piece of his tech, examining it closely. "But tell me, do you live with your brother?" "Yeah... actually, I do," she replied, realizing he was unaware of their parents. He continued working on his tech, asking, "Did you two have a falling out with your parents or something?" She took a deep breath and answered, "No, actually, our parents died in a car crash when we were young." He stopped in his tracks, his eyes filled with genuine empathy. "I'm so sorry to hear that," he said sincerely. Lily responded with a gentle nod, offering a small smile. "It's okay," she replied. "It's a part of life, right? Things happen for a reason." Leaning against a nearby pillar, she sought comfort in its sturdy presence. Lily opened up, sharing her insight. " know that Donnie never got over it. He uses anything to cover up his pain," she confessed. Andrew's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Now that he has these powers, now that he's got a whole city to protect, he won't look back," he mused, captivated by the possibility of Donnie finding purpose in his newfound abilities.
Lily shook her head, her gaze downcast for a moment before meeting Andrew's eyes. "It's now important for Donnie to look forward, to finally accept that Mom and Dad are gone," she said with a hint of determination, crossing her arms.
Andrew nodded in agreement, understanding the significance of moving on for all of them. Andrew voiced his thoughts, "It's important for all of us to move on. Once we accept, we become whole and find peace. But," he paused, reflecting on his own mistakes, "the mistakes we make, they never leave. All we can do is accept them." As Lily's eyes were drawn to an object behind him, Andrew caught her gaze, realizing the direction of her thoughts. "You're wondering why we do this. It's simple, really. Jessica and I are just a couple of science wizards. It won't always be like this," he said, reassuring her. "Trying to win the Nobel Prize?" Lily commented. "I could care less about the Nobel Prize. When I was young, I'd always watch cartoons like any other kid, maybe Courage the Cowardly Dog, or Ben 10, Code Name: Kids Next Door, Johnny Bravo," he chuckled. "All of my favorites, even Johnny Test, Dexter's Laboratory," Lily laughed. "Yeah," Andrew looked down and smiled. "But if it wasn't cartoons, there was a time when I'd watch Doctor Ezra Process on TV, Andrew explained. Lily looked at him curiously. She had heard of Doctor Process but never knew a whole lot about him. He was a huge deal in the scientific community, known for his groundbreaking research and innovative theories. There was an air of unease surrounding him, something that didn't sit right with her. "Every morning I'd come downstairs to watch him he had some type of new invention to present, and every invention was always so interesting to me," Andrew recalled nostalgically. *I started doing inventions of my own, though they were obviously very childish. One time, I actually set the kitchen on fire" As he laughed, she couldn't help but smile in return. "But at one point, those inventions I made started getting better and better, more advanced," Andrew reminisced. "Years down the road, I presented one of them at school and knocked it right out of the park with the judges." Andrew turned his gaze towards the object behind him and nodded. "I'm guessing that's how you met Jessica,"  Lily, curious, asked, "So you both instantly became the two biggest geeks in school?" Andrew chuckled and admitted, "Yes, but her inventions are way more substantial than mine, But that never bothered me, because there came a point when we started inventing things together, and man, has our work evolved." He picked up the object from the table and activated it. "You hit the mark," said Lily, to which Andrew shook his head. Andrew paused for a moment, reflecting on his dream. "Not quite. Growing up, l've always had this dream of working in process industries, inventing things that would change the world in a good way, helping others. That's something I want to do for the world," he shared earnestly.
Lily's inquisitive eyes locked onto Andrew's, and with a curious tone, she inquired, "And Jessica?" Pausing briefly to ponder before speaking again, Andrew continued, "She's not certain where her future path will lead her, but she knows deep down that this is all she wants. This life means the world to her, and I would never want to see her give it up." His words carrying a sense of respect and admiration for his friend. Lily had long suspected that Andrew harbored deep feelings for Jessica, but it appeared she was oblivious to this fact. Despite her temptation to gossip and spill the beans, Lily decided not to as it wasn't her secret to tell. While Lily was hesitant to push Andrew to reveal his feelings to Jessica, she couldn't help but encourage him to do So.
Andrew's hands moved with precision as he deactivated the tech in his grasp, ensuring it was completely shut down before he set it behind him. Andrew smiled warmly as he gazed into
Lily's eyes, his voice ringing with conviction. "But if there was ever a time I had to give any of this up for her, I'd do it without hesitation," he said, emphasizing each word as if it were a vow to be kept forever. His body was tense with energy as he turned and strode from the room, determined to prove his love for Jessica in any way possible.
Back with Donnie.
Jessica was perched in a high-backed leather chair, her nimble fingers deftly manipulating a mass of wires and circuit boards before her. With just one eye open, she squinted intently, her lips pressed together in fierce concentration, as Donnie approached her workbench. " So what is this device your Making?" In response to Donnie's question, Jessica offered a small, playful smile. "It's just a little project l'm fiddling with," she replied in a breezy tone, returning her attention back to the wires and circuit boards before her. Donnie's curiosity seemed to get the best of him, as he fired off another question. "Do you both normally just fiddle with your devices?" he asked Jessica, to which she responded with a light chuckle. "Normally, yes. I do this more than Andrew does. I've been doing this for so long, I can never seem to stay away from it One day my kids will have this habit" she admitted with a wistful sigh and commented with a smile on her face. Donnie looked at her questioningly, to which she responded with a shrug.
"You wouldn't mind your kids having this habit?" he asked her curiously. "Of course not." Jessica replied. "This habit of being obsessed with things runs in my family. I have my own obsession with science, tech, physics, aerospace engineering...all of that. And my parents have a habit of volunteering to help down at the shelters, My brother has a habit of getting himself thrown behind bars, and my sister has a habit of not really caring," Jessica shared with Donnie. "Sounds like quite the family you have, Jessica, Donnie remarked. "Not every family is perfect." Jessica said softly, before turning to Donnie and realizing his tragic past. 'I'm sorry, Mr.
Jace," she told him. "No no, it's fine, Jess.
Look, if you need anyone to talk to, you know you have us, he smiled reassuringly. Even though Jessica knew that she wasn't close with Donnie or Lily, she could sense that they were really good people to confide in and be around. Their kindness and willingness to listen made her feel comfortable and safe in their company.

Donnie's heart skipped a beat as he turned to see a teary-eyed Lily in distress. He rushed to her side, his feet barely touching the ground as the adrenaline kicked in. In that moment, nothing else mattered but soothing her pain. He gently held her, his strong arms wrapping around her shaking frame as he felt her heart racing against his chest. He placed his hands on her arms to keep her still, his touch sending electricity through her body as she leaned into him for comfort. "Hey hey, what's wrong?" he said, looking into her eyes with a deep sense of concern and care. "It's Austin!" she cried. "He was attacked." Donnie's heart dropped at the news, instantly knowing that the Red Edge was responsible for this. Donnie's body crackled with electric energy as he raced home. The intensity of his emotions caused the energy to swirl and dance around him, creating an otherworldly mix of red and white. As he arrived at his house, he saw the flashing lights of the police cars and the caution tape cordoning off the area. His heart clenched in horror as he realized the magnitude of what had happened. He knew instinctively that the Red Edge was responsible for this. To avoid being seen using his speed, Donnie rushed behind a parked vehicle. Using his quick thinking and crafty genius, he stepped out from behind the car as if he had already been there, hoping to go unnoticed by the police. Donnie walked into the house, only to see three officers investigating a body. His heart sank at the sight of a pair of feet, already knowing that he was too late to save Austin. "Sir, you need to leave," said an officer, holding Donnie back. "Sir, you can't be here," the officer told him. "That's my father, he's my father!" Donnie's eyes did not leave his father as he tried to push the officer out of the way. Donnie's heart was racing as he pushed past the officer, desperate for a glimpse of his father's face. He could feel the sweat on his palms as he reached out to touch him, but his father's body was already cold to the touch. Donnie's mind was reeling as he struggled to process the tragic scene before him. "Sir, I understand that, but you cannot be here, the officer continued to hold Donnie back from seeing Austin. Already, Donnie began to break down into tears, the weight of the situation crashing down upon him. The sky above the house shifted from a dull grey to a seemingly darker shade of charcoal as the thunderous claps grew closer together in the distance. Donnie's heart sank as he came to the realization that he had failed his heroic duty to protect Austin. The air grew heavier with each passing moment, until it felt like a suffocating embrace.