Blue light legacy

Chapter 25: Shadows of the Future

The celebrations in Metropolis were bittersweet. While the city had been saved, the scars left behind by Lex’s machinations and Amazo’s rampage would take years to heal. Families mourned their losses, and buildings stood as hollow shells, a stark reminder of the cost of heroism. For Cal and Kara, the fight was far from over.

Cal sat in the dimly lit command center of his base, staring at a screen displaying the remnants of LexCorp Tower. He couldn’t shake the unease growing in his chest. Defeating Lex had felt final, but something about his cryptic parting words lingered in his mind: “You’ve won the battle, but the war is just beginning.”

Kara entered quietly, still clad in her Kryptonian suit. Her presence brought a warmth Cal was grateful for, even if she didn’t say a word. She set down two cups of coffee on the table and slid into the chair across from him.

“You’re brooding again,” she said softly.

Cal sighed, leaning back. “It’s hard not to. Lex is behind bars, but he’s not the type to stay there for long. He was planning something bigger than Amazo—I could feel it.”

Kara sipped her coffee, her piercing blue eyes fixed on him. “We’ll deal with it, whatever it is. Together. That’s what we do.”

Her unwavering confidence was infectious, and Cal managed a small smile. “You make it sound easy.”

“It’s not about being easy, Cal. It’s about being ready,” she said firmly. “And speaking of being ready, you’ve been pushing yourself harder than ever. Maybe it’s time to take a step back—at least for a little while.”

Cal raised an eyebrow. “You’re telling me to take a break? That’s rich coming from you, Superwoman.”

She smirked. “Fair point. But you’ve been running yourself ragged. Even Kryptonians have their limits.”

Before he could respond, the alert system blared, cutting through the quiet. Both heroes were on their feet instantly, scanning the monitor.

The screen displayed live footage of a disturbance downtown. A group of armored figures was tearing through Metropolis, wielding weapons that emitted strange, pulsating energy. Civilians were scrambling to escape as explosions rocked the streets.

“Looks like our break is over,” Cal muttered.

Kara gave him a determined nod. “Let’s go.”

---

Downtown Metropolis

The scene was chaos. The armored attackers moved with precision, their weapons cutting through vehicles and buildings with alarming ease. Their leader, a towering figure in sleek, black armor, stood at the center of the destruction, directing the group with an air of calculated menace.

Cal and Kara arrived just as the attackers cornered a group of civilians near a collapsed building. Without hesitation, they leapt into action.

“Get those people to safety,” Cal said to Kara as he charged the nearest attacker.

The armored figure turned just in time to block Cal’s punch, but the force of the blow sent them skidding backward. Cal pressed the advantage, his fists glowing faintly with the energy he’d absorbed from the sun earlier.

Kara swooped down, lifting a fallen beam off the trapped civilians and guiding them to safety. She turned her attention to another attacker, disarming them with a quick burst of heat vision before delivering a powerful kick that sent them sprawling.

But the leader of the group was watching, unbothered. As Cal and Kara made quick work of the lesser attackers, he stepped forward, his voice amplified by his suit.

“Impressive, but futile,” he said, his tone dripping with contempt.

Cal squared his shoulders, his eyes narrowing. “Who are you, and what do you want?”

The figure tilted his head, as if amused by the question. “I am Wraith, and what I want is to deliver a message.”

Before Cal or Kara could react, Wraith raised his hand. A pulse of energy shot out, enveloping the two heroes in a field that sapped their strength. Cal dropped to one knee, gritting his teeth as he tried to fight the overwhelming pressure.

“You’ve meddled in things far beyond your understanding,” Wraith continued. “Lex Luthor was just the beginning. The real war is coming, and you’re woefully unprepared.”

Kara struggled against the energy field, her breath labored. “We’ve faced worse than you,” she spat.

Wraith chuckled darkly. “Perhaps, but not like this.”

He stepped closer to Cal, lowering his voice. “You’ve been marked, Boundless. Lex’s experiments on you were just the start. You’ve become something unique, something dangerous—and there are those who won’t stop until you’re brought under control.”

Cal’s eyes burned with defiance. “I don’t answer to anyone.”

Wraith’s helmeted face turned toward Kara. “Then you’ll watch those you care about suffer for your arrogance.”

Before he could finish, Kara unleashed a burst of concentrated heat vision, breaking the energy field and forcing Wraith to step back. Cal seized the opportunity, surging to his feet and delivering a devastating uppercut that sent Wraith flying into a nearby building.

The remaining attackers retreated as Wraith pulled himself from the rubble. “This isn’t over,” he said, his voice echoing ominously. “We’ll be watching.”

And with that, he activated a device on his wrist, disappearing in a flash of light.

---

Back at the Command Center

Cal paced the room, his mind racing as he replayed Wraith’s words. Kara sat nearby, a frown creasing her brow.

“‘You’ve been marked,’” she repeated. “What do you think he meant by that?”

“I don’t know,” Cal admitted, his frustration evident. “But whatever it is, it’s connected to Lex. He must’ve done something to me during those experiments.”

Kara looked at him, her concern evident. “We need to figure this out, Cal. If there’s something wrong—something dangerous—you need to know what we’re dealing with.”

He nodded, his jaw set. “We’ll find answers. But first, we need to make sure Metropolis is ready for whatever’s coming.”

Kara stood, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We’ll face it together, no matter what.”

As they stood side by side, the weight of the unknown loomed over them. But for now, they were ready to fight—together, as always.

And whatever the future held, they would face it head-on.