Heroes Collide

Samuel

5 MONTHS PRIOR:

The last thing Samuel remembered was stepping into his pod. Before it closed, he had yelled something at someone in another pod. He didn't remember what he said or why he said it, he just knew he was mad.

But as he opened his eyes, he knew something was wrong. For one thing, his arms and legs couldn't move. His vision was hazy so he tried to blink it all away, only to get hit in the face with a splash of water.

Sam gasped and sprang to attention, coughing up spurts of water and thrashing at his restraints. His vision started to clear up as a chilling voice made him freeze where he was.

"Oh Sammy boy, you've had four and a half years to sleep..."

Sam's pointy ears perked up and he growled. "Oh dear god..."

"Ah ah ah! It's Lord to you, Samuel." Sam's vision had cleared up well enough that he could be so unfortunate as to see the speaker.

Immanuel Lord was a stereotypical narcisist. He had dusty blonde hair, blue eyes, and painfully white teeth. He also smelled like roses, which was kind of annoying. He had been the son of a business tycoon, but he was never a trust fund kid. His father threw him out when he was sixteen to keep from having to invest in the future of his son. Sam's dad had found him and took pity on him, taking him into his family. And Samuel himself had always enjoyed Immanuel's company. Back in that day, his father was the head of a team of young heroes, Samuel included. He and his father had welcomed "Manny", as they had called him, without much hesitation. He lived with them in their base of operations and became a very skilled member of their team.

After a year, Manny revealed that he felt he was ready to go back to his father and talk. While Sam and his father highly discouraged this, reminding him of how bitter he was when he had arrived. But Manny didn't listen... and of course... he couldn't handle the rage. He took his father's life and his company. That is how all of this started...

He was brought out of his thoughts by another cold splash of water in his face. "Oh no sir."

Sam shook his head, splattering water on Immanuel's nice blue suit.

"Sammy, you can't zone out when I am talking to you."

Sam spit water out of his mouth on to the carpet, causing Immanuel to wince. "Sorry Manny... Must have been some water in my ears."

Immanuel chuckled and sat down in the chair in front of him. Sam scanned the room, as his former friend studied him. It seemed that they were in a dimly lit guest room, at first glance.

"Listen, I am so sorry for tying you to that chair." Sam's gaze darted back to his friend. "I was afraid you might react when you saw me and try to kill me or something."

Sam glared at him. "Whatever would give you that idea?"

Immanuel pressed his hands together. "Listen, I know you are mad at me... But sometime in business, there is collateral..." He immediately regretted that word choice as one of Samuel's leg restraints snapped.

Sam growled at Immanuel, but just as he was about to transform, a guard clamped a metal collar around his neck, causing him to thrash around more. "Inhibitors?! Are you @#$*^&! kidding me?"

Immanuel scooted his chair back away from the angry changeling. "You seem agitated... Though I could have phrased it without using that particular word..."

Samuel glared at him. "We treated you like our own family. HE treated you like his own son... We loved you Manny..." Sam blinked and looked off to the side."

Immanuel looked at his feet. "Listen. I am sorry..."

Sam's eyes flicked back to Immanuel. "No. You are going to listen to me. My dad is dead because you decided to go on a little revenge power trip. And when my dad tried to talk some sense into you..."

Immanuel kept his composure, but his eyes were tearing up. "Sammy... Please."

"YOU SHOT HIM." Sam was calm, cool, but not collected. "He tried to stop you from doing one of the stupidest things you have EVER done... And you put a @#$*^&! bullet in the back of his head."

"Sammy... I didn't..."

"So what! Intentions are inconsequential. You murdered my dad and everyone I cared about."

"SHUT UP, FREAK." Immanuel grabbed his collar and pushed him against the chair. "You have no clue what you are talking about." He took out a knife.

Sam stared him straight in the face. "Do it."

"No." Immanuel cut Sam's restraints. "You are my friend Sam... You are more than that." Sam growled and tried to get up, but Immanuel pressed a button on his cuff.

Sam screamed as jolts of electricity tore through his body, causing him to flop back onto the floor.

Immanuel stood over him."But if you try anything to hurt me, or to escape... I can't promise that I wont hurt you. But if you're cooperative... you'll be just fine buddy." He gave Sam a small smile as the changeling curled up into a ball.

Immanuel sighed and headed for the door, but before he left he turned back to Sam. "Any clue where your friends are?"

"Dead..."

Immanuel slammed the door shut.