The Value of a Single Life: Chapter 4 – More than a Life

Chapter 4 – More than a Life

 The tunnel Idelle and I go down has remnants of files, pictures, guns, and other machinery and tools used for experimentation scattered on the floor. It’s clear they were dropped in a hurry while being carried away, and we soon catch up to those carrying them, more superhuman villains, gun-wielding criminals, and robots that I barrel through and not caring whether or not I get hit by their attacks. The other villain from before is now in my sights, holding the girl in his hand, and just as I’m about to grab her, I’m tackled by three superhumans who fly at me and pin me to the ground.

“You’re one annoying kid, aren’t you? I’d be glad to kill you, but doing so would just bring more trouble to me, as if it hasn’t already, so just stay down or else I’ll kill the girl,” the villain says.

Hearing the man’s irritating voice and the girl’s cries for help is enough to make me overpower the three superhumans holding me down and break free from their grasp. Before the villain can kill the girl, I shatter his robotic arm and break his other arms and legs before putting the girl in a safe corner of the room and heading back into the fight. I grab the face of one of the superhumans who was holding me down and shove it so hard into the wall that it gets stuck there. The next one I hit so hard their face hits the floor and shakes it, and the final one gets sent flying to a group of his friends. After, I enter a frenzy as I throw punch after punch and throw and use the bodies of people and robots against one another, not really caring if I kill them or not, as long as they stay down.

Looking around, I see that everyone is down and in pain or barely alive. Ahead of me in the hallway I was just in, I see that Idelle has taken care of the rest, but she seems shocked at me. I suppose I let my impatience and irritation get the better of me. Turning to the villain who had the girl, I grab him by the neck and hold him up.

“What were you kidnapping her for?” I ask.

“Her genes are a match for the kind that superhumans usually have. She was going to be tested on and made into another protector of this country,” the villain says.

“Is that what the attack on Solis was for? It was just a ploy to kidnap people like her?”

“It was, and the country, no, the world would’ve been better off if we had made off without a hitch. Many of the heroes you fight alongside and will see in the country are ones we stole from families. It’s a way to ensure everyone’s safety, and you can’t say I’m wrong since the country is safer with more superhumans protecting it.”

“No, but I can say the ends don’t justify the means. You’ll pay for what you did!”

“What are you going to do? Bring me to jail? I know people who will bust me out legitimately through the courts. I know too many of their dirty secrets to let slip.”

The man starts to laugh at me. As my anger builds, I tighten my grip around his neck and then throw him into the sewage system, which drags him screaming down into its putrid depths. I turn to the girl, whom I’ve been trying to save this whole time, and put on the best smile I can.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“Yeah. Why did you throw that bad guy into the sewers?” the girl says.

“Well, you flush waste down the toilet, and since he was a waste and this sewage system is a big toilet, I threw him into it. Make sense?”

“Yeah! He was awful and evil. Thank you so much for saving me!”

The girl hugs me, and I’m just now noticing that she has a figure of me. Legitimate heroes have merchandise made of them, especially if they become famous in the area they’re from or the country, and I’ve completely forgotten that Solis has toys and shirts with my image on them. I pick the girl up and begin to walk away from the area, but Idelle stops me by putting her hand on my shoulder.

“Are you okay, John?” she asks.

“Yes, I am. I just let my anger get to me, is all,” I say.

“No, there was something different about you. Your blond hair was turning white, your skin was turning bright and pale, and your eyes were shining.”

“Huh? I didn’t notice.”

“It’s because John Elio is an angel!” the girl says with a figure of me held up in the air. “And he’s the best hero ever!”

Idelle and I can’t help but laugh a bit.

“Yes, he is,” Idelle admits. “We’ll talk about what happened later.”

“You’ll let the general know what happened, too?”

“I have to.”

“Alright, well. I'd better get this girl home.”

“Do that, and I’ll clean up around here. I’ll see you later, John.”

“See you later, sis.”

Finally, back on the surface, I see that the situation is under control and the city is safe thanks to the police and its superhuman heroes.

While walking the streets, the girl asks, “Why did you go after me, while everyone else in the city was in danger? Did my parents promise you a lot?”

“No. I did it because you were in danger,” I answer.

“Lots of people in the city were in danger. Why go after me? What made me special? Did you know my genes could make me into a superhuman like the bad guy said?”

“No, I didn’t, and someone doesn’t need to be special to be saved. You were someone who needed help, and so, I helped you. I don’t need a reason beyond that or the promise of a reward to do so.”

“Yeah, I guess it was a stupid question.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“Yes, it was! You’re my favorite hero because you help all kinds of people without really caring about who they are or what they’ll give you, unlike other heroes in this city.”

“I just follow God’s example is all. He sacrificed His life for us, so why shouldn’t I give my life to everyone, like He did?”

“Yeah…”

I look down at the girl and see that she’s asleep with a smile on her face. When I get her to her parents, they thank me profusely and ask what I want in return, and I tell them that I don’t want anything. I don’t even tell them to fill out a testimony to give me credit for her rescue, and just head back home. I tell my parents everything that happened, and they tell me how proud they are of me and how I did the right thing by saving the girl and not caring about rewards and fame. Even though I agree, I can’t help but feel empty and wanting, as if I wanted something more out of the whole ordeal. During the night, I pray to God in my little adoration chapel for strength, wisdom, and to want what He wants me to desire.

During the next day in Solis, one of the higher-ups in the hero group I’m a part of tells me to report to base for a special visitor. I do so and head to a private room in the hero association’s office building. I expected it to be the parents of the girl I rescued, but I am surprised to see it’s just an older man with graying blond hair and blue eyes. He’s dressed in a black and green flannel shirt, black jeans, and black boots, and sits in the empty meeting room with a smile on his face. There’s something about him that makes me think I should know him or have the same connection to him that I have with Idelle.

Regardless of my feelings, I smile with my hand out and say, “Hello, how are you doing?”

The man shakes my hand as I take a seat with him at the meeting table. He says, “Better than you think, actually. It’s an honor to meet one of the humblest heroes in Solis.”

“Thank you, the pleasure is mine. What’s your name?”

“I’d like to keep that anonymous, for now. What you did yesterday really helped us out. It’s a shame that you won’t be publicly recognized for it, but I assure you that you will be paid under the table.”

“How so?”

“Take a look at your hero account.”

I do so and see that I’ve shot up the ranks in terms of heroes in this city, and I’ve gotten a hundred-thousand-dollar paycheck.

“Did you do this for me? What for?”

“You deserve it, and there are ways for you to get more.”

“I appreciate it, but I work to honor and love God, not for fame and riches.”

The man seems to want to say something, but the words are stuck in his throat.

Eventually, he says, “You’re too good for this city and world, John. A real living saint. That’s why you’ll find yourself in bigger and better places in the future, leading this country to be the best in the world.”

“Thank you, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for that. I think it’d be better for me to be here, in Solis, for now.”

The man nods, gets up, and heads in the direction of the door as he says, “You are ready, and you will be where you rightfully deserve to be. I promise you that, son. Enjoy what you have now because you’ll be getting more soon enough.”

Son? As I think about the man’s words and start to come to conclusions, one of the higher-ups enters the room.

She asks, “Did the meeting go well?”

“I assume so,” I say.

“It’s not every day you attract the attention of someone high up in power.”

“Who was he exactly?”

“His privileges allowed him to come here anonymously.”

“You don’t know what job he had in our government or anything?”

“No. All he said was to tell you that he was an army general, after the meeting.”

“General…I figured…” I say out loud.

“What was that?”

I rush out of the room and try to find the man in the building, but he’s somehow escaped. Going up to Luke’s office, I tell him what happened and have him search through the camera’s history to find him.

Through his quick searching, Luke finds that “The cameras blurred his face thanks to his privileges, which means I can’t run it through a database to find his identity. As for where he went, the cameras picked him up going into an equally blurry room that has no cameras.”

“Why wouldn’t it?” I ask.

“This building, like all hero buildings, has secret entrances and escape rooms that high-privileged members of the government can hide in or make quick escapes. From the information I’ve gathered, he’s probably long gone by now. I’m sorry, John.”

“It’s…it’s fine.”

“We were so close to the general you keep talking about, too. Argh! If only I knew he was coming.”

“Again, it’s fine. Judging by what he said, I’ll probably see him again soon.”

Luke tries to tell me about the bright side of things, like how I’ve moved up in the hero ranks and got a nice paycheck for everything I’ve done, which I agree with. Still, I’m starting to feel the need to get involved in bigger issues. I prayed for this, and now I find myself caught up in larger plots involving powerful people, some of whom I may be related to. Please, God, help me to be humble, not get in over my head, and ascend to greater heights if it be your will.

 

The End

The Value of a Single Life: Chapter 3 – Deeper Depths

Chapter 3 – Deeper Depths

I didn’t know much about the sewers of Solis. All I knew was that, just like the rest of the city, it was more advanced than most places in the world. These dark and barely lit, expansive tunnels are primarily worked on by robots and a few human workers. Parts of the sewers are under construction for repairs and upgrades to further enhance them by installing machines that clean the waste before it is recycled into a body of water somewhere. Some heroes patrol these sewers for homeless people who refuse to be taken in by shelters and villains who use them as a base of operations.

Speaking of the homeless, we find them here and ask them if they’ve seen the girl we’re after. At first, they’re hesitant to talk to us since they don’t want to be taken to the surface and be forced to work and build a life for themselves there, but after convincing them that we’re not here for that, they tell us the direction where the girl was taken and head off there. I’ve heard about the poor down here, either being druggies or lazy bums, but didn’t really believe it until now. Sure, the homeless are taken to shelters to work to keep up Solis’ image, but they are given proper food, shelter, a simple job that fits their skills, and sometimes education so they can live on their own. Those who are sick are given care until they can work effectively, and the workers are given reasonable wages, so it’s not like the poor are pseudo slave labor, given low wages for hard work.

Further into the sewers, we’re ambushed by villains left and right. They either blow up tunnels or attack us from one or all angles, all of which I handle the same by punching through the obstacle and moving on. Idelle thinks I’m being too reckless, while Mark agrees with her and tries to make flirtatious small talk with her, which she ignores and barely responds to. As we continue, we hear the sounds of fighting. Upon arriving, we find a group of heroes dressed in police-like gear, along with a black robot with a jagged appearance, fighting a group of criminals. We aid them and find that my friend Titus is among them, and Luke is using the robot.

Firstly, talking to Luke, I shake his hand with a smile and say, “Luke! It’s a surprise to see you down here. I assume you and your other ex-police heroes are doing well during this attack on the city?” I ask.

“Yes, we are, but that’s not why we’re down here,” Titus says.

“It’s the same reason I’m here. It’s because of the girl you’re after,” Luke says through the robot.

“Oh? Are you going to help me save her?”

“Yes, in a way,” Luke says. “He told me that one of his higher-ups told him to investigate the criminal dealings down here, and it involves the girl you’re after, so after hearing about it from Titus when I was talking to him about what you were doing, I volunteered my latest robot, so I can help both you and him.”

“We’ve been investigating what’s been going down here with the police, and it’s something that needs to be handled internally, so that public trust in the government and Solis isn’t severely damaged,” Titus adds.

“If that’s the case, then people have to know about it,” Mark interjects. “The government can’t just keep all its secrets from people. It’s why there are people who distrust them.”

“They’ll distrust them more, even if they knew that there are good people in the government who are trying to stop those who abuse their power and wealth. Trust me when I say that it’s better this way,” Titus says.

Idelle says, “You should trust your friends, John. Titus’ higher-ups are probably influenced by or allied with the general.”

“I’m assuming you’re his sister that he’s always talking about? I’m sorry we couldn’t be there for him the last time he needed help, but we’re here now.”

“Not being there for him the first time irked me so much that I made this robot because of the example he set, so I can help out on the field,” Luke adds.

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t expect either of you to help him anyway,” Idelle says with an aggressive tone.

Her face shows a hint of surprise and disgust, as if she's just now realizing that her help could have prevented some of the pain I endured in my fight with the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group.

“I’m glad you’re here to help,” I interject. “I assume you have a better lead on our mutual target?”

“We do and have the tools to track them better. We’ll take the lead from here,” Titus says.

With the help of Titus’ tools, we’re able to find traces of the exhaust left by the robots, the villain whom we’re chasing. They also reference the maps of the sewers they got from the city that show hidden and blocked off passageways.

“This is what I was investigating during your big fight,” Titus says to me. “I was led onto it by what you would call Divine Providence, since the criminals I was chasing just so happened to lead me down here and reveal the hideout and operations they had.”

Luke’s robot makes a soft pinging noise as he informs us about an incoming ambush. I run ahead and bust down the false walls where they’re hiding and take the brunt of the attack so the rest of my allies can take care of the rest.

“I’ve also been helping Titus in his investigation, and the police have been lending me tools and permissions so I can build and test my robots,” Luke says. “Now, they’re just as good, if not better than the generic ones that protect the city.”

“And you’ve been introduced to the wonderful world of paperwork and getting permission that I deal with, both with the hero associations and police.”

“Heroes may have to worry about less paperwork than the police, but it’s still irritating to get these permissions so the higher-ups can approve use of them. Heads up. We’re getting close to another hidden area.”

“Are your scans picking up another ambush? These maps don’t show any hidden rooms or tunnels this way.”

“Your maps don’t account for new tunnels made by its secret inhabitants, but my robot’s scans do. I think we’ve reached our target’s destination.”

We burst through both digital illusions and real walls to reach what appears to be the villain's home and base of operations. Dozens of robots activate as soon as we enter, but they’re not too hard to handle. The rush of nearly saving the girl pushes me to destroy the robots faster than ever, and I don’t stop to catch my breath, even as reinforcements arrive and try to erase the base’s evidence. What especially gets me fighting aggressively is the presence of prisoners, both young and old, who are either in cages or hooked up to machines.

By the end of it, Idelle grabs my shoulder and says, “John, stop acting so recklessly! You aren’t going to save anyone if you seriously hurt yourself or get yourself killed!”

I catch my breath, let the rush wear off, and say, “No attack has ever seriously hurt me, but I understand. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Idelle looks at me as if she doesn’t believe me, and I don’t blame her. I don’t really believe me either, despite my not lying. I don’t mean to be so reckless, and I know that continuing to be so won’t help me in saving anyone, especially since I’m more cut up, burned, and bruised than I ever have been. Titus and his ex-officer heroes sweep, secure the room, and help the prisoners, while Luke’s robot’s wires enter the many machines around the base one after the other, seeming to suck the electricity out of the machines before they break. Meanwhile, Idelle tends to my wounds with medicine found around the base, even though I don’t need it. As for Mark, he keeps talking to Luke and Titus about the base, trying to get whatever information he can about it, and is given very little or told to wait.

Eventually, Luke’s robot approaches Titus, Idelle, and me and says, “I managed to find what we needed, even as they were trying to remotely destroy this data center.”

“And?” Titus says.

The robot looks at me and at Mark, who’s bothering the ex-officers on the other side of the room.

“Let’s just say that the least bad thing these people are guilty of is experimenting and kidnapping those of all ages.”

“That’s the least bad thing?” I ask.

“The rest is for Titus and me to worry about.”

“What can you tell me then?”

Luke goes quiet for a few seconds.

“That certain factions within the government were allying themselves with these villains, so they can use these people for experimentation and make them into superhumans they can use. Other factions then found out about them and tried to bring them to justice behind the scenes. One particular group is led by an anonymous army general, who I assume may be the one you keep talking about.”

Idelle nods her head and says, “Yes, it is. As much as I hate to admit it, he’s not as bad as he seems, especially since he’s trying to make up for what he’s done.”

“What made him change?” I ask.

“We did, John.”

I want to ask more questions, but stop myself because I know I won’t get many more answers, remember my primary goal, and instead ask, “What about the girl I’m trying to rescue? I haven’t seen her around here. Where else could they be hiding her?”

“There’s a secondary base around here that they use around here as a shipping and receiving area, which could also be used for an escape. It’s just straight down that way,” Luke says, pointing down a tunnel.

“Then there’s no time to waste.”

“Luke and I will get the criminals, villains, and civilians to the surface then,” Titus says.

“What about me? I’m going with John and his sister,” Mark says, who was eavesdropping on us.

“You’re coming with us. We need your strength and flying to bring everyone to the surface.”

“What? Why?”

“Don’t be stupid, you know why. Besides, you and your group will get credit for helping us.”

“Won’t I get credit regardless?”

“If you help John, you’ll only get credit for helping the girl, so it’s more beneficial for you to help us.”

Mark grunts as if being bribed and agrees with Titus. After thanking my friends for their help, Idelle and I rush down the tunnel back on a sure trail of the girl. This will all come to an end soon, and she’ll finally be safe.

The Value of a Single Life: Chapter 2 – More than a Simple Rescue

Chapter 2 – More than a Simple Rescue

More obstacles get thrown in my way as I continue to chase after the villain who has the girl I’m trying to rescue. He puts other civilians in danger, forcing me to quickly get them out of burning cars, rooms, or buildings first before resuming the chase. I’m now in the lower layers of Solis, further away from the city center, where the majority of the battle is, and I think I’m going to have an easier time chasing the villain because of it. Still, an ambush of a group of robots stops me in my tracks and distracts me, forcing me to fight recklessly without a care for being slashed or hit, so I can try to keep up with the chase. Even after defeating the group of robots, the villain has deployed smoke screens to solidify his escape.

Now, I’ve completely lost track of them and start to frantically search for them, while calling out to the girl to scream for help so I can find them, but I don’t hear or see any trace of them. Please, God, please, God, help me find them! In my search, I hear the sounds of conflict, approach it, and see my fellow superhuman friend, Mark, fighting villains and criminals with his strength and fire breath. He wears a standard one-piece hero latex suit that’s colored orange and crimson red with a dragon on it and a dark yellow cape behind his back, which has been strengthened with fiber like mine has by Luke. He’s bald, has orange eyes, and has his usual smug look of confidence, and is treating this fight like a game. Knowing I could use his power of flight and general help, I quickly end the fight he's in by joining in, something that slightly annoys him.

With the villains and criminals put down, Mark says, “Hey, John! Trying to steal my glory, aren’t you? Well, jokes on you, you just helped me fulfill my request sooner, but I will mention that you helped so that you can get partial credit.”

“I don’t care about that right now. I’m trying to rescue a girl who’s being kidnapped by a villain with robots. Have you seen them?” I ask.

“I think I saw them recently pass by while I was fighting. Is she a part of a request you’re fulfilling?”

“Not formally. Her parents just asked me to save her. We’ll worry about them giving us credit later when she’s safe.”

“Ah, helping again without expectation of reward, are we? Luke’s going to be mad at you, and the higher-ups are going to look down on you compared to the other heroes.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I already turned off my hero buzzer, so Luke would stop giving me another lecture. Let’s get to rescuing her already!”

“Right! We’re heroes, and not mercenaries! Let’s save her and show Luke and our bosses our virtuousness.”

Mark flies up into the air and guides me to the area where he saw the girl being taken to. From there, we search the area, help other civilians, and ask them where the girl was taken. Some of them don’t know where she was taken, while others point us in the general direction they thought they saw her go. We go on with the advice we’re given and continue our search.

“So, are her parents rich or someone influential?” Mark asks me as he flies next to me.

“Dude. I don’t know. They looked like normal, middle-class people, as far as I know,” I say.

“That’s great, actually. The rich and famous get help more often than the lower classes since they have more to offer. The new group I’m a part of helps people in the lower areas of the city where they don’t have as much help.”

“What group would that be?”

“The Seventeen-Eighty Three group.”

“What? Another ultra-patriotic hero group? What’s different from them and the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group?”

“They don’t act as extreme and are made of ex-Seventeen-Seventy-Six members who now know the errors of their ways. Trust me, they’re a way better force for positive change.”

“If you say so.”

“I’m telling you, man. The Seventeen-Eighty Three group is where it’s at. We help the common people, who aren’t paid as much attention to in this city. Through them, we’ll make a real change in the city, country, and maybe the world.”

There he goes dreaming big again. I’ve told Mark before that he can’t let his goal overshadow the tasks in front of him. He’s said that he doesn’t, yet I can tell he cares more about what he can gain by helping the common man rather than just helping them because they need help. I pray that God grants me mastery over speech so I can one day convince Mark and others like him to focus on the present rather than the future, so they don’t end up like the people they oppose and merely see helping others as a means to an end or, God forbid, fall into the belief that the ends justify the means, just like the defunct Seventeen-Seventy-Six group. Suddenly, the sound of gunfire catches my attention, and before I can react, a figure in a black cloak appears out of nowhere, and a black snake on their back takes the hit. The cloaked figure then bolts in the direction of the gunfire.

“Is that who I think it is?” Mark asks.

“Yes, it is. The snake made it obvious,” I say.

That was my older sister, Idelle, protecting me, just like she usually tries to do. She’s the reason I was freed from the government’s experiments, met my wonderful adoptive parents, and was able to live in peace and happiness with them. She quickly comes back to check on me, her black cloak torn from a battle, revealing her short grey hair, grey and black eyes, and gold armor with a crimson bodysuit. The white snake and black snake on her back are barely hidden as well, and they seem to be looking for injuries on me.

“Are you okay, John? You seem like you’ve been through a lot today already,” Idelle says.

“I’m fine. They’re just scratches and nothing more,” I say.

“Hey, it’s good to see you again. You remember me, right? I’m one of your brother’s best friends, Mark,” Mark says with his hand out and a sly smile.

My sister looks at Mark with a hint of disgust and says, “Sure. I remember you. You were part of the group that ganged up on my brother and really hurt him.”

Mark casually lowers his hand.

“Hey, I helped out in the fight against them and told the authorities everything I knew, which ended the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group. I’m an innocent man who had good intentions and got caught up with the wrong people.”

“Yeah. I know many people like you who say that, but never stop associating themselves with the ‘wrong people’.”

“Come on, let’s leave the past in the past and start over.”

I interject by saying, “Yeah, let’s start over and work together. Idelle, I’m looking for-”

“I know who you’re looking for. It’s why I tracked you down.”

“You do?”

“Yes, the general wants you to help me track the girl down and help me bring down the villains who took her.”

My gladness turns to confusion.

“The general?” Mark asks. “The same one who tells you everything to do?”

“Yes, that general. He wants you to help me, and if you do it, then you’ll get closer to meeting him one day,” Idelle says.

“There must be more to this if that’s the case. It explains why I’ve been facing so much resistance in trying to save her. Is there a catch to his request?”

“Yes. He wants you to ignore the deeper story and connections these villains have. Let’s just say that there are factions in the government that are worse than others.”

“That goes without saying,” Mark comments.

“I’ll handle that end of it. As for you, all you have to do is beat the bad guys and save the innocent. Does that sound alright?”

Now that Idelle mentions it, I am tempted to go over my head and see what the bigger conflict is, but after thinking about how Mark lets his goal overshadow the tasks in front of him, I guess I can’t argue.

“Sounds good. Do you know where-”

Another gunshot rings out, this time from a nearby building, another shot that Idelle’s snake takes the hit for. We’re then ambushed by superhuman assassins who use their guns and powers to attack us, and we’re forced to defend ourselves while protecting the citizens who get caught up in the crossfire. Mark tries to show off his strength and fire-breathing abilities by fighting in front of my sister as she brutalizes the assassins. She’s used to killing and is tempted to do so by her black snake, but her white snake and my telling her to hold back have made her more merciful in that she doesn’t really kill anymore; however, the pain that she puts her enemies through may make them wish they were dead. While the two of them fight normally, I do so in a rush, taking hit after hit so I can end it quickly and get back on track to finding the girl.

By the end of the fight, the crowd cheers for us, and Idelle inspects me again for serious injuries as Mark tries to get her attention. Meanwhile, I call the police to pick up the mess that we’ve left in our wake.

“You have to stop fighting so recklessly. We’ll catch up to the girl and her kidnappers,” Idelle says.

“I hope so. I haven’t seen a sign of her in a while, and have only been going off hints for the past hour or so,” I say.

“I know the exact place they’re heading to, and it’s beneath the city, in its sewers.”

“Let’s get down there then. Maybe we’ll stop being attacked so often.”

“We’ll probably find more traps.”

“Your sister is right. It’ll probably be even more dangerous,” Mark unnecessarily adds.

“Whatever the case is, let’s head down now.”

Idelle leads me to the entrance of the sewers and takes the lead from here, probably going off a lead that the general gave her. No. I can’t think of him or the bigger picture now. All that matters now is saving the girl, stopping the villains, and getting her back to her parents. Everything else can wait later, especially since I’ll get closer to meeting the general through this.

The Value of a Single Life: Chapter 1 – One Life Over Many

Chapter 1 – One Life Over Many

Today’s a quiet day in the Sunny City of Tomorrow, Solis, and since it’s such a calm day, I’m having my favorite breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast with orange juice on top of a rooftop, watching the traffic and hero patrols go by. Since I became a hero, I’ve gained a decent reputation for stopping many crimes, including one that involved a group my friend was part of. I’ve been more active in talking with my friends to prevent issues and attentive to the citizens of Solis’ concerns to keep the peace. My tech-loving friend, Luke, has also been more active and attentive by building robots to fight crime. Additionally, he reminds me to tell the citizens about the compliments and requests I send for my work so I can get proper credit, because I often forget to mention it.

My forgetfulness comes from focusing on serving God by helping others. This is my main goal in life and the reason I see myself as a hero. I didn’t do it for fame, fortune, or to change the world. I do it because I believe it’s what God wants me to do, and if I happen to change the world, that’s a bonus. Part of me expects change to happen, but good work doesn’t always lead to good results. My parents taught me this while raising me on our farm when our hard work didn’t always produce much good fruit or animals during particularly tough seasons. They taught me to work for the right reasons—God, family, and country. The rest of my hometown, Poca Bellezza, knows this and is a joyful place to live. Unlike the rest of the world, we’re at peace with our lives because we don’t work just to live easily, peacefully, or even to be happy, wealthy, or famous. We live for each other, and in this, we find happiness. I hope to share this mindset with the people I meet.

Here, in Solis, the Poca Bellezza mindset kind of exists in its own city way, with a sense of pride in our country, the Columbian Union, but some people can’t help but focus on fame and fortune, since this is the city that is ahead of the world in tech and business practices. Speaking about my home, I have to remember to pick up groceries on my way back home today, and what I can get my sister to make her smile this time.

I get a ring on my hero buzzer earpiece, my tech-friend, Luke, who says, “John, have you been answering any of the requests?”

“There haven’t been many today,” I say while finishing off my breakfast and throwing away the trash. “It seems to be another quiet day.”

“It’s been like this for the past couple of weeks.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it? This is one of the safest cities in the world, after all.”

“Sure, but you need to answer more requests to rise in the ranks. You can’t just keep doing charity work. That’ll get you nowhere.”

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s still good work.”

“It is, but doesn’t pay much.” There goes that mindset again. I hear Luke tapping at his computers and machines until he gasps. “I figured out why it’s so quiet! Be on guard, we’re going to be attacked!”

Just as Luke finishes speaking, I hear the sounds of explosions. I run and leap across the top of the buildings to the source of the action to see dozens of the city’s support robots throwing themselves at the incoming villains.

“It looks like your buddies got a handle on this so far. Are you getting credit for this?” I ask.

“Of course, but not all of it since not all the robots are mine, and they can’t hold off every villain. Best get in there before the other heroes come,” Luke says.

I leap into the action just as the other heroes of the city do, and a large melee and firefight ensue. Because Solis is one of the richest and safest cities in the world, it attracts attacks from villains and criminals of all kinds, both from outside and inside, seeking to plunder it or claim fame from having a foothold in the city. For the heroes, we receive extra wealth and honor for maintaining Solis’ reputation, and days like this are the biggest paydays. Everyone is scrambling to get a piece of the action, accepting requests to help and defend as soon as they appear, and fighting in front of cameras and onlookers for added exposure. As for me, all I care about is saving as many people as possible and putting down criminals so they can be arrested and behind bars.

Because bullets do nothing to me, and the hits and effects of my enemies’ attacks hardly phase me, I’m able to knock them out one after the other thanks to my great speed and strength. The criminals and villains themselves are nothing special. They don’t have color-coded or similar outfits, so this could be various groups or individuals attacking the city together, each having their own individual goals. It’s happened before, and has sometimes ended with the villains fighting each other, which is a preferable end to me, as it makes it quicker to bring them to justice. As the fight continues, I hear the sounds of a family asking for help.

Going to them, I ask what the problem is, and the father says, “Those criminals took our child!”

“Where did they go?” I ask.

The parents point me in the direction, a description of who took her, and give me a general and quick description of her.

After getting the parents to safety, I smile and say, “I promise I’ll save her.”

Heading in the direction I was told, I fight and speed through the streets until I see her. Black hair, green eyes, a pink shirt, blue skirt, and has her mother’s face. Yup, that’s her, and she’s being carried off by the red robot and a villain controlling a group of them that the parents described. Seeing me gaining on them, the villain sends his robots at me, and each one I rip apart, use as a weapon against the others, and barrel through as if they were made of paper. I can hear the villain yelling into his comms, and a group of villains and criminals come to support him soon after.

These obstacles thrown at me hardly slow me down either, and when I do, the girl’s need and screams for help empower me to push forward and beat down each villain and throw them away to be taken care of by the police or fellow heroes. I push myself through the pain that is starting to sting and tear up my red shirt, blue jeans, gold cap, and brown boots, all of which are laced with a special ballistic fiber that Luke put in them for added protection. Without any backup, the villain activates the rockets on his robots to make him fly away faster; however, I run and leap through the streets and buildings to try to keep pace with him.

As I continue the chase, Luke calls me and says, “I’ve noticed you’ve stopped taking requests. What’s going on?”

“I’m chasing after a villain who's kidnapped a girl. He’s throwing everything at me to take her,” I say.

“The parents didn’t put in a request. Who were they, and who’s the girl that makes her so important?”

“I don’t know or care. The girl’s in danger and she needs to be saved. We can get the parents’ testimony later if you want me to credit so bad.”

“I’m sure another hero can save her. I’ll put in the request. Right now, you need to help and save others to-”

“Shut up, Luke! She’s in my sight and no one else’s! No one will want to save a no-name little girl when richer and more famous people need help and will pay more for it. I made a promise to her parents and I intend to fulfill it!”

“John-”

I turn off my earpiece and concentrate on the chase. She’s not getting away. I’ll save her! I don’t care what reward I get from it. All I care about is her safety, so please, God, help me do so.

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A couple discovers an infant boy in the wreckage of a military convoy. They decide to adopt this boy, whom they name John Elio, and he becomes more than they expect. From his tendency to disappear to go to adoration and his superhuman strength and speed, John knows he is meant for greater things and to serve God, his family, and his country as a hero, whom all can aspire to be like.

A Man Who Loves His God and Family: Chapter 4 – Just a Simple, Faithful Man

Chapter 4 – Just a Simple, Faithful Man

“Are you sure you don’t want any armor or weapons? This could be a dangerous situation you’re walking into,” Luke says.

“I’m sure. Carrying weapons and armor could make it appear that I don’t trust him, especially since news of what happened yesterday is all over the internet and TV. Besides, I have the ballistic weave that you put into my clothes and cape,” I say.

“Yeah, I wish you didn’t always dress like a farm boy with a simple cape. I know that’s the appearance you want to give off to inspire people that everyone can be a hero and that you don’t really need armor or weapons, but still. It’d be more practical and safer if you had other options and protection in battle.”

“I’ll be fine. It’s just Mark after all.”

“It’s presumably just going to be him. Are you sure you don’t want me with you?”

“I’m sure about that, too. If you come along, it’d be a sign of distrust. If anything, I probably should’ve asked him if you could come along with Titus for old time’s sake, but I can’t do that now. You’ll have to trust that I can do this on my own, okay?”

“…alright.”

The look on Luke’s face says that he doesn’t actually trust my plan and seems to be thinking of his own. I nod with a smile to him and then head off to Walten Park at the agreed time. When I find Mark at the park, I see him reading plaques and looking at statues. He’s dressed in a standard one-piece hero suit, colored black and red, and has his custom dragon logo on his back and chest, which is colored after the red, blue, and gold colors of the Columbian Union flag.

Approaching him, I say, “Hello! I’m glad to see you again.”

“I’m glad to see you as well. You’ve made waves showing up on the news yesterday, haven’t you?” Mark asks.

The high hopes I have for the situation immediately come down.

“…I have.”

“We should celebrate your accomplishments with the boys later. We haven’t had a proper boys' night out in, what, months? I’m sure Luke and you know some good spots around the city.”

“There are a few we know of.”

“Solis is a great city, isn’t it? It’s the model city of Columbian excellence and what other cities in the world should aspire to. This park, named after the city’s founder, was an artist and true patriot who wanted to change the country and world through his works. He made a city for the future and would lead the country forward. Walten is one of my favorite Columbian historical figures, whom I want to be like.”

“What have you been doing recently to achieve that dream?”

“Beating up villains and criminals and bringing them to justice, just like you. Besides, I’ve-”

Mark is interrupted by a group of ten superhumans coming out of nowhere, whom he seems to know since he says all their names and is confused as to why they’re there.

“Isn’t it obvious, Mark?” one of them asks. “We’re here to kick this guy’s ass for embarrassing us yesterday.”

“Is this why you wanted to know where I was going? Because you wanted me to draw out my friend, so you can beat him up?” Mark asks.

“Why shouldn’t we? He stopped our friends from exposing corruption in our governments and businesses.” Turning to me, the man says. “That’s right. You didn’t do anything virtuous yesterday, ‘hero’. You were protecting predators, liars, manipulators, and others who use their positions of power to enrich themselves and their allies at the cost of everyone else.”

“Your friends told me I was protecting the wrong people yesterday, too, and I’ll tell them the same thing I told them. They were exposing people in the wrong way by making it at the cost of innocent lives. They caused needless destruction and pain when there’s always a better way.”

“See? Your friend isn’t really a friend and deserves to be taught a lesson.”

“Let me try convincing him to join us then, or at least see things our way.”

“Hmm. You know what? I’ll let you get disappointed, so go ahead and try. I’ll be impressed if you prove me wrong. It may even be good for us if you do convert him.”

Mark looks at the ground and clenches his fists before looking up at me and says, “The people in our government and business who act like wolves among sheep take advantage of the systems in place for their own gain, while we pay the price. If we don’t act now, they’ll either burn the evidence against them, escape the country, or use the system against us, like they usually do. Think about your sister, whom you always talk about, and the mysterious general who keeps telling her what to do. Think about your origin and how your parents found you in a capsule. Both you and your sister have been taken advantage of by people behind the scenes and in positions of power, and it seems like nothing can be done to save your sister from her situation.”

“…Mark.”

“What about our time in the academy and how hero associations work? The academy gave us two years of training and threw us into danger, while the highest bidders were looking at us like we were horses that were being trained for a race. As for the associations, they have to follow the laws and rules that the government tells them to, or else they’ll be viewed as rogue or villains. They’re not allowed to look into the corrupt dealings of the people they protect and serve, and have to pursue their goals in secret.

“Mark!”

“You can’t tell me that we don’t have a point. I know a Jesus freak like you has a heart of gold, burning to do the right thing and serve your God, so why don’t you do it by helping us change the country?”

“The job I already have is the one that God wants me to have. I’m exactly where I need to be, my dream is already fulfilled, and my goal is reached.”

“You’re so short-sighted. You’re not going to accomplish anything in your life at this rate if you don’t set your goals higher than the ground.”

“I already told you. God just wants us to be faithful, not successful.”

“You’re not getting anywhere with this,” the man next to Mark says.

Mark bites his lip, considers what to say next, and decides to say, “So, is that it then? Are you going to fight all of us? You know you’re nothing special. Super strength, speed, and agility are the equivalent of vanilla ice cream. You can’t last against all of us.”

“We’ll see about that,” I say as I raise my hands.

“Are you okay with dying here?”

“If that’s what God wants.”

The members of the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group slowly approach me, ready to fight, except for Mark, who is frozen in place and seems unsure of what to do. Regardless, the rest of them charge and pile on me, throwing punches, shooting at me, and using their powers on me. Now, this is the most intense fight I’ve been in. I know what real pain feels like now, but I don’t fear death. Instead, I fear for the fates of these people after this fight, so I offer up my pain and embrace it as I fight back against the elemental powers, bullets, and strength of my enemies. I endure the pain of their attacks as I knock them back one by one and use their bodies as weapons against one another to give me their space.

Not giving them a chance to go back on the attack, I relentlessly pursue each of them and deliver a flurry of punches to each one of them to knock them out or at least incapacitate them. In a matter of five minutes, every member of the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group lies flat on the ground, except for Mark, who is more unsure of what to do next than before. Even though he’s my friend, I raise my bloodied, cut, burned, and bruised hands up as I walk toward him.

“We don’t have to fight, Mark. You had enough sense not to do anything, so let’s just get these people to the police, and then-”

My words are cut off by two superhumans, who run out from seemingly nowhere and punch me in the face. They then start letting off an onslaught of punches at me at the rate of a machine gun. I try to retaliate with punches of my own, but my injuries and tiredness are starting to catch up to me, so I can’t really get any good punches in. As I try to defend myself, I see someone yelling at Mark, who is about to attack him. Immediately rushing to his aid, I take the hit for Mark and get sent flying across the park and hit the ground with enough force to create a small crater.

“John!” Mark says before his eyes light up with an intense fire that he shoots at the person who hit me.

He then fights members of his own group, as I struggle to get up. Once I catch my breath, I leap back into the action to take some of the heat off Mark and incapacitate two of the people who were on me. Five more people show up at the scene to aid our enemies; however, a cloaked figure shows up and savagely beats them down by relentlessly beating them into the ground with snakes that come from their back. After helping Mark, I go to the cloaked figure, whom I already know is Idelle. The people that she beat are barely alive, and the snakes on her back are covered in blood and have the flesh of their victims in their mouths, which is then spit out.

The golden armor she wears is more revealed now as I see the spiky shoulder and leg pieces, and the crimson body suit she is wearing. One of the snakes on her back is white with gold eyes, while the other is black with red eyes. She seems to be incredibly mad as she shakes with anger, so I grab her and hold her tight.

“It’s okay, Idelle. I’m fine. Thank you for helping me,” I say.

She looks up to me and is about to cry.

“No, it’s not okay! You’re hurt and could’ve died in the fight,” she says.

“But I’m still alive. I told you before that I hate seeing you upset.”

Idelle gives me her best smile while fighting back her tears.

Mark walks up to us and says, “So, this is the sister you always talk about?”

Idelle stands in front of me and says, “My brother wouldn’t have gotten this hurt if you had defended him! I thought he was supposed to be your friend?!”

“He is! I know I’m a cowardly idiot for not acting until he took a hit for me, but what are you going to do when you’re a fake hero like me? John might as well be the second coming of Jesus for how good of a person he is, while I’m Judas. I don’t deserve to be called his friend anymore or to live. The group I invested so much into won’t take me back after this, and this fight in the park will solidify their status as villains.”

I hug Mark and say, “It’s okay. I’ll make sure that you find a new hero group to be a part of, and I’m sure that Titus and Luke will be more than willing to help you. It’s not over yet for you, Mark. You’re a real hero. You just need the right help to become it.”

Mark gives me a tight hug and starts to cry, “I want to say you’re wrong. I want to just give up on life, but I know in the bottom of my heart that you’re right. Okay, John. I’ll do whatever I need to do to change and become the real hero that you think I am! I’ll even go to church like you do if that’s what it takes.”

With that settled, we call the police and have the members of the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group arrested. We answer all the questions the officers have for us, and Mark goes with them to further explain the group’s plans so they can be stopped and no one else will get hurt in the future. Afterwards, Titus, Luke, and I help Mark settle into a new hero association and go out like we used to during our time at the academy. Since I helped bring the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group to justice, I rise through the hero ranks, which earns me a pay raise, awards from the government, popularity, and a few days off to recover from the fight I was in. I can think of no better way to spend these days off than with friends and family. Idelle and I return to my parents’ house, where I’m surprised to hear that Idelle actually accepted my offer and spent time with them, so there’s no need for introductions.

Titus, Luke, and Mark come over for lunch and to enjoy the town for a day, and they seem to like it. I also spend at least an hour in adoration during my break to thank God for everything He’s given me and will give me in the future. On the last day of the break, Idelle, my parents, and I have a picnic while watching the sunset. When we’re done eating, I hug them all in one big hug and give each of them a kiss. Inside, I feel that this is only the beginning of a great life. I just know I will accomplish great things and become even closer to the man and hero that God wants me to be.

 

The End