New Warriors Vol. 4: Cry Uncle

Heart & Soul

Horizon Labs

"Look," Adam said as he showed the scientists his injured shoulder. "All I know is that when I got hit with that laser, I woke up as a real boy. There was blood and pain and... I just want to go back to the way I was."

The scientist looked at his inventory chart, flipping through the pages. "I've checked the list of what was stolen. A surgical laser, an experimental can opener, a high-tech laser pointer for cats, and a military laser rifle. We're nowhere close to developing a laser rifle that can transmute matter to living flesh."

"Then how the hell did I end up like... this?" Adam asked as he thought back to the fight. Franklin had been taken down by the military laser, luckily having a shield to keep him from being hit the first time, and Adam jumped in front of him to keep a second blast from the Trapster from doing harm to him. "Franklin. That sneaky bastard, he must have subconsciously activated his powers when he got knocked out. He's the one who made me human!"

As Adam ran out of the building on his now human legs, he started thinking back to his days as an android...

# # # # #

Two Years Earlier

Adam was sitting next to his father in the hospital, whose heart was failing.

"We can fix this, dad," Adam said as he held his father's hand. Even though Adam was an android that had been programmed with free will, he still considered Issac Aaronson his biological father. "We can-- we can get you a robotic heart. You don't have to leave me. I need you."

"I am so proud of you, Adam," Dr. Aaronson told him. "You have surpassed every expectation I've ever had for you. You're the perfect son, even if you're not flesh and blood. You're MY son, Adam. You always will be."

"What do I do without you?" Adam asked, wishing he had the ability to cry right now.

"You do what you always have, son," the man told him. "You use your gifts to make the world a better place. Be the hero that I always believed you could be."

Adam held his father's hand until his heart stopped beating. From then on, Adam was alone in the world.

# # # # #

Now

Franklin's comatose body lay in his bed at New Warriors Headquarters as Josh and Valeria sat with him.

"Franklin's aura is lost... somewhere," Sam said as he explained to Adam what was going on. "We need some mystic help on this one. Maybe Dr. Strange or someone can help pinpoint where he is."

"Franklin's the only one that can turn me back," Adam told him. "I guess I'm lucky he actually got it right instead of making me some kind of nightmare monster with my organs on the outside."

"You did... check to make sure all the pieces are there, right?" Sam asked.

Adam gasped and quickly looked down his pants. "Oh, thank God. Wait a minute, why am I worried about that? The robotic one was just for show, anyway. Plus it was able to detach."

There was a 10-second awkward pause before Sam finally spoke up again. "Why would you want to detach it?"

"It doubled as a flashlight, came in really handy during power outages."

Sam started to speak before just walking away.

# # # # #

A Year and a Half Ago

Adam found himself working in an electronics shop shortly after his father had died. Over the past six months, Adam had to learn to make his own upgrades and repair his own parts. Working in the small shop gave him access to the parts he needed when something had to be replaced. He didn't need the money outside of keeping up his human appearance with new clothes. He could recharge during the day, and usually just spent his nights roaming the city.