Henry Danger: The T.R.U.T.H about Dystopia Vol 1

The Start of the End

[ HENRY's POV ] 

It all just kinda of happened: after working for the famous Swellview hero Captain Man and the death of my former identity. I moved to Dystopia with two of my closest friends to fight crime and uncover the truth that laid beneath its garish colours. Now we blow bubbles and fight crime. Feels good...

 Well, it felt good, truly it did. I remember it vividly in those first few months we were there - away from Swellview, away from annoying teachers and the daily structure of school. And now we had the freedom to do as with pleased, to make our own way in life. Well, until Ray's parting gift of a raise run out, and that had already been going pretty quickly.

6 MONTHS TO THE PRESENT DAY...

 I flick on the small TV set at exactly 1 to 7.00 PM in our rustic apartment as I pace around the room. Rustic was underselling it - the place was literally falling apart with a broken sofa and faulty lights. But like we agreed upon we needed somewhere as cheap as possible to stay, we were only 18 after all.

 I double check my messages for about the hundredth time hoping that the message had finally been received. No luck! If they didn't get home soon, everything I had been planning all day would be for nothing! Okay, I really need to not get overworked about this, they were probably just stopping to get an extra packet of crisps or something like that. And you can never have too many crisps! Or they could have accidently got kidnapped by the Time Jerker and now was rubbing elbows with The Donnor Party!

'Hen, are you just going to stand there all day? Or do you want to help us with the shopping?'

 Charlotte stands in the entrance of the apartment with bags hanging off her arms, staring over at me as I break away from panicking in the corner. Now I'm smiling with relief at the happy sight, even despite her late arrival. Despite her sudden urge to one up me on the whole hair game, she still remained the same girl I always knew. The same very small and twitchy girl I had always known - at least I knew she couldn't and would never beat me in height, as she was barely touching my shoulder. She frowns and sighs.

 'I'll take that as a resounding no then,' She dumps the bags in the open doorway before taking a seat on the armrest watching the flickering image, 'It hasn't started yet, has it?'

 As I search through the fridge fishing for three beers, all I can hear is the loud clambering from outside as Jasper crashes into the room and over the bags. Glancing over my shoulder I come  face with his large body as it crumples on to the floor, while food scatters across the entire entrance as he cusses attempting to pull himself off the floor. I meet Charlotte's eye across the chaos which causes a chain reaction to us both laughing.

 Finally Jasper manages to get up embarrassed but unharmed. He, unlike Char, had quite the change from high school, not only is he taller he's more stockier. Like he finally grew into his proper look breaking away from his childhood look. He snatches out a drink from my hand before we all join Charlotte in front of the TV.

 'Look, guys, that actually really hurt and I know there was no ill feelings towards it but could you maybe not -' Jasper's rant becomes interrupted by the slow rolling theme song of 'Toilet Wars' causing sudden silence amongst us. The Series Finale, only had to wait for 7 years for it to finally end. Just then the news flashes on breaking the most waited for episode.

'Come on!' Char throws the nearest object to her at the TV, luckily for us a packet of crisps, as we all exclaim annoyance. The familiar faces of Mary and Trent appear on our screen as we all lean back defeated.

'Trent here, with the exclusive rare information on Captain Man's new secret project.'

'And I'm Mary.'

'For god's sake, Mary!'

Now this grabs our attention - Ray never told us anything about a new project, much less one that was news worthy. Actually to be honest it's not like Ray's told us anything recently - weren't there at Thanksgiving and not even at Christmas. I can't actually remember the last time I talked to him, not that it bothered me that much, like why would it? It doesn't feel like he's abandoned us at all, not one bit. I turn back to the TV, I can't let myself get freaked out about this too much.

 'According to Captain Man himself, after Kid Danger's passing -'

I laugh under my breath. Okay, now that's just funny, I'm legally dead, I guess.

'He has decided to create a new force of heroes to train to become as talented as the former irreplaceable sidekick Kid Danger. Who I guess now has became replaceable.' From the screen rings laughter as Mary wheezes along to Trent's lame attempt at a joke, which is thankfully paused by Charlotte. I turn to the other and instantly I can tell their expression match my own - in one word disappointed. Jasper swigs his drink before leaning forward to talk.

 'This can't actually be happening, right? He's not actually serious about making a new team.' 

'Yeah, with those kids who got zapped with me, I guess. Like part of me knew he was going to do something with them. But not make a whole new team to stand in for us. I guess I never realised how replaceable we were.' I answer not taking my eyes off the frozen image of Captain Man on the screen.

'Look, he's not replacing us, okay? He's allowed another team, that doesn't mean he doesn't value our team any less.' Char tries to sound hopeful but I can almost tell she's putting it on. She is right though, Ray can't be replacing us. What am I stressing about? We're Captain Man and Kid Danger - I'm the man's sidekick. No he couldn't replace me, I shouldn't allow myself to even dwell on the possibility. We aren't replaceable. 

Are we?