Metropolis

An Ordinary Day

My name is Alec. I am amongst the few who are the descendants of superheroes. I am a 14 year old kid who doesn't know any better, my father is Superman. My friend, Connor, his father is Batman and my other friend, Caitlin, her father is Green Arrow, and here...is MY story.

Thursday

It was an average day at Metropolis High; I had my classes and I had my extracurricular activities after school. Only when I got home that weird things started happening. We specials, as normals call us, aren't supposed to show signs of our hereditary powers until we are at least 16, and I am 14, so imagine my surprise when I tried to open my fridge and ended up throwing the door across the room, or yesterday when I was cutting up an orange (cause the fridge was broken) and when I slipped, the knife cut a giant gash into my hand. As I held my quivering hand in pain the gash resealed itself. What? Anyways, I'm getting off topic. What I was really worried about was my "powers" acting up at school the next day.

Friday

As I got to school I was nervous. I knew that with my luck I would try to blow on my food at lunch and end up blowing my best friend Caitlin out of her seat backwards, but at the same time, I was also kind of excited. Technically I was an "early bloomer" who else my age can say that?! Anyway as I walked up to Connor I couldn't wait to tell him about it. "Hey Connor,guess what?" I asked excitedly.
"What?" Connor said in an annoyed manner.
"What's your problem, I just wanted to talk to you about my powers, jeez." I responded quickly.
"Sorry I'm just- wait what? Did you say YOUR powers?!" Connor offered.
"Yeah this morn-" I started.
"Hey guys!" Caitlin inserted out of no where.
"Hey Caitlin. What are you doing" Connor asked inquisitively.
"Oh nothing, I only just found some of my father's trick
arrows!" Caitlin practically screamed.
"Huh?" Connor and I asked in unison.
"Okay so my father, Green Arrow, has these "trick" arrows that do special things depending on which arrow head it is," Caitlin teased "and I found three smoke arrows, four electric arrows, and three grappling hook arrows. Can you believe it!"
Connor and I obviously weren't as excited as Caitlin but went along with it for support.
"Really? That's super cool. What are you gonna do with them?" I asked concerned
"Well, I was thinking that maybe it could be of some use in the future given the situation." She said
"Hey guys, it's 8:45 the bell is
gonna ring any minute." I said as I checked my watch.
"Ok, see ya later," Connor said
"Bye." Caitlin screamed as she ran down the hall desperately trying to make it across campus before the bell.
As we all went our separate ways I grew more and more anxious to talk to Connor and Caitlin about my new found abilities.
I was just about to walk into my Advanced Geometry class when I was pulled aside and pushed into the wall.
"Hello Alec...you may not know me but I'm kind of a big deal.-
Hold on pause, you may be wondering who this block head is. This is Damian. The leader of the "villainous" kids, and I know what you're thinking. Who says?! Who says that this Damian kid is bad news. Well let me explain. His father is the Joker! He has to be a villain. Right? Right?! Anyway, back to the story-
"I'm Damian, and I heard you and your little friends talking about those stupid trick arrows. If you think you can stop what's happening, think again because we're unstoppable." Damian said with a smirk.
"Huh? What do you mean? What's happening!?"
I inquired.
"Like I said. Don't. Worry. About. It." Damian growled.
As he released me from his tight grip I fell to the floor wondering what he had meant when he said ' If you think you can stop what's happening, think again because we're unstoppable.' Knowing this was really not helping my anxiety. It only made me more nervous, I really had to talk to Connor and Caitlin and see what they had to say.

Later That Day

School had ended and I was waiting for Connor to show up so I could talk to him about Damian and my powers. Speaking of my powers, I hadn't had any problems with them all day. I was kind of disappointed. I mean what if they never showed up again. What if it was just a one time thing...what if...what if it was just a tease and my powers NEVER showed up again. Probably not.
"Hey Alec. Are you ready to go?" Connor questioned.
"Go where?" I asked
"Uh...home. Don't you remember? I'm taking you home today." He inquisited.
"Were you supposed to tell me cause you never did." I nagged.
"Oh I didn't? Well I was supposed to." He said happily.
I sighed. Connor was the kind of person that took some getting used to. Although he was one of my best friends he could be...obnoxious, frustrating, especially forgetful, and tiring. But that's what friends are for I guess. As I stood up and grabbed my things Connor tapped me on my shoulder.
"What's wrong?" He requested
"What? Nothing is wrong. Why?" I responded
"You know my dad is Batman, right? Master detective? Ring a bell? I know when you are lying and when you are sad and depressed and I also know that you've been wanting to talk about something all day." He said matter-of-factly.
I'm pretty sure I felt my jaw hit the ground as I processed what had just happened. So Connor knew I wanted to talk and he didn't say anything. Typical Connor.
"Um I'm not sure what to say except that you are 100% accurate." I laughed half heartedly.
"What's on your mind friend?" Connor asked jokingly
"Well, that one kid Damian and my powers." I told.
"If Damian is a problem you should probably go talk to the principle however, if he's not then you should try to avoid him at all costs." Connor laughed. "And as for your powers. What's wrong? What happened?"
"More like what didn't happen." I offered. "Yesterday I showed signs of superhuman strength and a healing factor, but today...nothing." I whispered.
Connor looked at the ground and pondered his choices. Does he comfort me or tell me to talk to Caitlin.
"You know what buddy? Why don't I help you? Why don't me and Caitlin help you? We could investigate what could have triggered your powers and see if we can recreate it. What do you say?" Connor asked excitedly.
I contemplated this for a bit and decided to go along with it, I mean what's the worst that could happen right? "Sure Connor, let's do it!"
"Sweet! I can finally use my detective skills, dad will be so happy to know that I've been practicing!" He exclaimed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we pulled up to Connor's driveway we practically fell out of the car we were so excited. We had to call Caitlin and get her over here first. Connor paced the yard as I called Caitlin. Connor was like the needle on a sewing machine while he paced. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Over. And over. And over again. It was driving me crazy.
"Connor!" I yelled. "Would you stop pacing?! You're driving me insane!"
"I'm sorry! I'm just trying to figure out how to do this. There are so many possible factors that could have contributed to your power surge."
"Like what?!" I said sarcastically
"Well, for starters your pulse, what you were feeling at the time, time, maybe temperature, and the list goes on.
"Fine I'll help in a-" I started
Out of nowhere a human sized red and yellow flash appeared and knocked over Connor's hammock. We stood in shock wondering what it could have been. Once the dust settled we could clearly see what had caused the damage.
"Um, hi are you Connor and Alec, sons of Batman and Superman?" The Flash asked.
"Yes?!" Connor and I laughed in unison
"I'm The Flash and I was told to come here all the way from Gotham. I have a message for both of you and a...Caitlin Queen?"
"Hold on. Did you say Gotham? As in Batman Gotham?" Connor asked in wonder
"Yes, but the message is very important so if you could please hold your questions," The Flash said in a serious tone.
After a long pause Connor and I started to get anxious. Just then Caitlin arrived and walked into the back yard, took a step and stopped.
"Guys, is that The Flash?" Caitlin asked
"All of your fathers have been taken and are being held captive by the Joker, and only you can save them."
He told us as quickly as he could as if he were short of breath in anxiety. I studied his face, seeing if he was joking. His expression told me that it was true: Our fathers had been "hero-napped" by none other than the Joker.
"Us?! We're only kids!" we shouted in unison.
"Are you sure the ones who were taken were OUR parents?" Caitlin asked, hoping he'd say no.
"Yes, I'm positive." The Flash sighed.
We all stood in silence for a while taking in the news. Connor and I sat down on the porch steps and invited Caitlin to join.
"What do you guys think?" Caitlin asked.
"Well, I mean he's obviously telling the truth. You can't exactly make up something like that on the go." Connor said with an inquisitive expression on his face.
"True." Caitlin and I said in unison
We talked for a little bit before getting back up to walk over to the Flash.
"Ok, so just to make sure I got this correct, our parents, major crime-fighters, have been taken and are being held captive by the Joker and we are the ONLY ones that can save them?"
"Correct." He stated with enthusiasm
Connor had decided to stand back and think some more while Caitlin and I discussed the issue with the Flash.
"The way I see it, all we need to do is 1) trigger Alec's powers again 2) look for some more arrows and then see what we can do." Connor stated nonchalantly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Flash had left to leave us to our work with my powers. We haven't had much success so far. I was beginning to get frustrated.
"Connor, can we stop? I'm tired and wanna eat something!" I exclaimed across the yard.
"No, at least not yet! We are so close! I can feel it!" He bellowed back.
I sighed. We had been working on my heat vision all afternoon. I needed to eat something or I was going to pass out.
"Okay, so you said you were hungry right?" Connor yelled
"Yes. I'm very. Very. Very hungry." I responded.
"Well if we can get you to burn a hole into that piece of sheet metal, then we will go inside order a pizza and go to sleep!"
I stood and contemplated whether or not I would quit now or try again. Quit.
"Connor! This is impossible!" I shouted, "I quit! I refuse to!"
"You do understand that our fathers have all been taken, right? We're the only ones who can save them! We have to!" He yelled sympathetically.
I looked at Connor and Caitlin standing behind a blockade of cardboard boxes and tin foil. I nodded as a sign of respect and yelled "Ok, let's do this!"
I took a stance ready for beams of light as hot as the sun to shoot out of my eyes. I stood for a minute or two looking straight at the center of the sheet metal. I began to imagine a hole the size of my head into the sheet metal. It was almost as if it was happening. I felt a surge of heat come from within and felt it as it exploded out of my eyes like an overfilled dam bursting open. I screamed in..pain? wonder? amazement? I don't really know but whatever it was it felt empowering. Like I could do anything I wanted.
I let the energy go and nearly collapsed in exhaustion from the amount of energy I had released. Connor and Caitlin rushed out from behind their barricade to help me up.
"Alec that was amazing!" Connor yelled.
"Guys you know what this means right? If we can get Alec to obtain a few more offense powers, fly, and build up his healing factor, we'll be ready." She offered.
Connor and I nodded excitedly ready to begin work on the next abillity.
"Can we eat and sleep first?" I pleaded.
"Yes!" Connor and Caitlin yelled in unison.
We all went inside, ordered two extra-large pepperoni pizzas, talked a bit about what the plan was for tomorrow, and then, finally, went to bed.

Saturday

When I woke up, the early morning light punched me in the face as I sat up. I looked around the room looking for Connor and Caitlin. They were nowhere to be found. I quickly got up and walked into the kitchen. I was so concentrated on finding my friends that I had only realized then that I was starving. I grabbed a slice of cold pepperoni pizza and walked outside only to find Connor and Caitlin sitting in lawn chairs drinking coffee and talking.
I was still a little groggy from waking up so my voice was a low whisper "Hey, what are you guys talking about?"
"Oh, we were just talking about how to approach your next power." Caitlin said nonchalantly.
"Speaking of which, what is it?" My voice was starting to get back to normal.
"Uh...superhuman breath." Connor said expectantly.
"Cool." I said.
Connor was distraught as I walked back inside and closed the sliding glass door. I walked into the kitchen poured myself a cup of coffee and then sat down in the living room on the couch. I took a sip of the warm coffee and muttered,
"Let's do this."