Impulsive Legacy

Graduation and New Encounters

"Speaking"

"Comms"

"AI Speech or Russian"

~

"For some of you, it probably seemed like this day would never come," Principal Winslow said as he stood on the graduation podium on their school's football field, looking out upon the rows of graduating high schoolers in their caps and gowns.

"For others, it came far too quickly. Maybe you're even wondering if you're ready for this. For what comes next... You are. I look out at this class, and I see hope. I see a bright new world with a special place for each and every one of you. You may not know yet...," Principal Windslow said as William began to talk to Amber and Eve, who were sitting next to him with an empty seat beside Amber.

"Mark's not seriously gonna miss his own graduation, is he?" William asked.

"He's just running a little late," Amber replied.

"This is why I quit superheroing," Eve stated.

"I mean, you only get to say goodbye to high school once. It needs to be enjoyed. Appreciated. Savored," William explained.

"He'll be here. He promised," Amber said confidently.

"Speaking of someone who promised to be here," William trailed off as he looked over at the stands off to the side; Amber and Eve looked with him to see Viktor sitting in the stands, watching them.

Upon seeing them looking at him, Viktor gave them a wave.

"And Viktor's sure he didn't want to participate in the ceremony?" Amber questioned as Eve looked back at her.

"Yeah, he said it's pointless to spend the money to walk the stage when he's already graduated and got his diploma," Eve said, shrugging.

"See, that's what happens to someone who didn't appreciate, enjoy, or savor his graduation," William said matter-of-factly, counting with his fingers for each thing Viktor didn't do as Eve and Amber looked at him questioningly.

"They get tens of thousands of dollars and invent groundbreaking technology?" Amber questioned as William looked stumped before he slumped back in his chair.

"...Yeah, I got nothing," he said as Eve and Amber chuckled; the pair looked over at Viktor to see he was turned away with a hand to his ear and a serious look.

They watched as he touched his watch before speeding off, with no one around him noticing what had just happened. Eve just turned away and looked back at Principal Winslow while Amber glanced between her and where Viktor had previously been.

"Uh, aren't you worried?" she asked as Eve looked at her confused with a quirked eyebrow.

"About what?" Eve replied.

"About where he went," Amber clarified as Eve shrugged.

"No, not really. I trust him to be here. Besides, he's probably going to help Mark," she said confidently as Amber smiled at this, and they both focused back onto Principal Winslow's speech.

~

When Viktor arrived in Washington, D.C., at the Washington Monument, he saw the ground destroyed and lava seeping up through the cracks. The monument was also severely cracked and on the brink of destruction—one or two more sonic blasts, and it was as good as gone. And the cause for all this destruction, Doc Seismic, was standing atop the very monument he was looking to destroy.

Lava-rock golems surrounded Mark as Viktor ran in. He held his hand out to the side, and it vibrated at superspeed with lightning sparking off it.

Reaching the creatures, Viktor hopped up and spun before cleanly slicing through the head of one of them. He landed on the ground and continued to the rest.