THE ADVENTURES OF TEKEON

#2. RUMORS: PART TWO

"Holy crap!" A cracked voice exclaimed through the helmet. "You're real! Guys, he's real!"

The 'T' on my armor's chest lit up, beaming like a flood light.

What I thought was a threat was actually a skinny boy in a black t-shirt and faded blue jeans donning a football helmet. Two smaller kids peeked out from the doorway behind him. A girl and a boy, covered in dust. Their expressions were weary as they squinted in my direction.

"You might want to tone down the brightness," Blitz remarked. "These kids don't seem too eager to go blind."

"Right, sorry." I tapped the 'T' symbol and caused a decrease in light intensity in the process. Now, it was just about as bright as a flame torch.

The two kids stared wide-eyed for a second, then relief washed over their faces, and they scurried towards me.

The little girl bounced up and down in delight. "Tech mom! You really do exist!"

"Can you save us, Tech mom?" The little boy gazed up with puppy eyes.

"Summer, Ben, for the last time, his name is Tekeon." The older boy cautioned before taking off his helmet.

"His first name is Kyle, according to his government record." Blitz analyzed. "If you suspect they're related, you're right. And they live one block away from here. No criminal record for Kyle."

Kyle's failed attempts to hide his excitement culminated in another cracked squeal. "The legend... standing right in front of me!"

"Alright," I snapped. "Everyone relax. First, I'm not a mom. Second, someone said something about needing saving. And third, what on earth are y'all doing down here? This place is abandoned."

The two kids started babbling at the same time. Don't get me wrong, it was adorable, those tiny voices overlapping one another. Neither ready to stop and let the other talk. It got less adorable by the second.

"Kyle," I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Only Kyle should explain."

"Somehow you know my name so I won't lie to you. We pass by the tunnel's entrance almost every day. Today there was this greenish glow coming from within. I suggested checking it out but I didn't literally mean it." He stressed. After a sigh, he twirled his index fingers together as his gaze dropped. "My siblings rushed ahead of me... I went after them... and the glow turned out to be coming from a radioactive snake, which we narrowly avoided."

"What are the chances?" Blitz said. "By the way, you might want to check your six, radiation's off the chart."

I whipped around, and sure enough, a greenish glow lit up the far end of the subway tunnel, moving along the tracks.

Giving the kids a stink eye under my armor, I addressed them with hands on my waist. "Y'all might as well call me Tech mom coz I've got a lot to say to you." They coiled back in shock, and I sighed. "But first... " My gaze returned to the glowing creature slithering closer by the second. Zooming in, it was a green cobra the size of a python with luminous skin and incredible speed. It sent a bone-chilling hiss echoing through the tunnel. "First, I've gotta save you people."