A Man Who Loves His God and Family: Chapter 3 – Virtuous Protector

Chapter 3 – Virtuous Protector

As I sit atop one of the many tall skyscrapers in the city, I look up at one of the Colombian Union flags with pride, salute it, and then cross myself to thank God again for finally landing a job as a real hero. After our finals at the hero academy, my friends and I picked our groups to join. Among the many recruiters watching us, the army asked Titus to join their superhero division. The armies of the world each have their own superhumans to compete against each other, though it is rumored that these competitions aim to placate a possible future war between some of them. The countries of the world also form alliances to fight international villains and criminal syndicates to maintain peace as much as possible. Even though the job would pay well and bring Titus more than enough respect, he turned down their offer because he wanted something less complicated to handle and instead chose to be part of a hero association mostly made up of ex-cops.

Mark joined Seventeen-Seventy-Six like he wanted, and has already gotten into trouble by getting into a fight for honor with another hero group that defends controversial political and business figures. Luke, Titus, and I are still friends with him, but we constantly tell him to be careful and not get too over his head, which is advice that goes in one ear and out the other by the looks of things. Just like Titus, Luke was offered a job at various hero and vigilante associations, but he chose to go with the same one I picked, the Solis Suns, since we’re friends. Solis, the city that I’m in, is the Sunny City of Tomorrow, a good ten-minute run for me to get back home to Poca Bellezza, and is a futuristic art deco-styled city, which is usually five to ten years ahead of the country and other countries in terms of technology and business practices. Whatever advancement you see in the world probably originated in Solis or a person from there, and is the embodiment of Columbian excellence.

This city has a low crime rate, its citizens are mostly patriotic and religious, kind and neighborly, and respectful of outsiders and those in need. It’s why I chose to protect this city, since it’s a model city whose image is something other cities should aspire to be. Because of its fame and the wealth to be found in it, the criminals that do exist here or invade it try to steal experimental technology, steal from its family-owned businesses, and become famous by claiming that they’re able to have a foothold in the city. The criminals here are either desperate and over their heads or incredibly powerful, and the heroes and law enforcement here have to be vigilante and just as powerful to combat them. So far, I’ve only stopped minor robberies, saved people from fires and fights, and have been helping out with community work, such as helping at construction sites, hospitals, and the transportation of goods that get to places faster thanks to my speed.

Idelle has been visiting me now and then, like she used to do before I went to the academy, and we talk to each other about what we’ve been doing and other related events. She tells me about crimes that she stops in the city, which makes me think she wants to be a hero, but when I try to convince her to do so, she says she has to be a solo vigilante. Back home in Poca Bellezza, I try to spend as much time with my parents there as I can, helping them out on the farm and taking time off for them for special events like birthdays and town festivals. When I graduated from the academy, the town celebrated my accomplishment with a parade, which included those from the town who graduated from the police, military, and other hero academies. If everyone in the town didn’t know my name, they do now, and salute and bow to me and offer me a meal with them, which I usually have to decline since I mostly eat with my parents or coworkers in Solis.

My hero buzzer rings, and I see that it’s Luke calling me. Answering it, he says, “Are you reminiscing on the rooftops again? Aren’t you checking the reports on your buzzer?”

“I am, from time to time. I haven’t seen anything pop up recently,” I say.

“Well, that’s because people keep taking the tasks. You gotta keep a constant eye on it or else you won’t get a promotion or the higher ups will think you’re lazy for not taking as many jobs as everyone else.”

“Alright, I’ll keep a better eye on it. Thanks, buddy.” As I keep an eye on the incoming alerts and an ear out for trouble while casually jumping and speeding through the city, I ask, “How goes the work on your side?”

“It’s still not as in the field as I want, but at least I’m keeping busy building and upgrading tech here.”

“At least you get paid more than I do.”

“True, but it feels like I’m not doing what I’m supposed to. Does that make sense?”

“It totally does to me. Even though I’m stopping crime, helping others, and saving lives, it feels like there’s something I’m missing.”

“Does it involve helping that sister you keep talking about?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know what I can do to help her. Maybe all I can do is build a reputation that’s so big that the general who tells her what to do finally meets me, and I can try to negotiate something to free her.”

“That’s probably the best plan, but that will take a while for the opportunity to come. For now, all you can do is what you’ve been doing. Hasn’t that been your goal this whole time anyway?”

“Yeah, you’re right. Thank you for the reminder.”

Luke is right. Dedicating my life to God in everything I do, say, and think is my life’s primary and only goal. If there’s something He needs me to accomplish, then I’ll find a way to get to it sooner or later, and if I can’t, then I’m not meant to do anything about it. Still, there’s a feeling of anticipation in my gut, of waiting and wanting for something big for me to accomplish. It’s killing me, and I can only pray for patience and keep myself busy until the moment of truth arrives.

Today’s work is no different than usual at first. I help bring people to hospitals, bring supplies and food from one place to a charity, and help out with construction in the lower sections of the city. Then, I start helping bring criminals to justice by stopping robberies and assaults. No one I face is a challenge for me, even if they have guns, since bullets hit me like a light push, and lower calibers are ticklish to me. After that, I face villains with actual powers. Some of them I have to chase through the city by leaping across rooftops and running through buildings, and the streets before tackling them, beating them down, and then bringing them to the police to be locked up in special custody meant for villains and superhumans.

It's weirdly busy today, and when I finally check the time, I see that it’s six thirty, usually when it starts slowing down, and yet, the alerts keep coming in. I know I prayed to get more famous through my actions, but I didn’t expect that request to be answered so suddenly. Responding to the next alert, I find that cops are fighting with criminals with heroes backing them up, Titus being one of them. Since he’s here, I feel a rush to get rid of the criminals here and do so by pushing myself to hit them harder with increased speed and strength to knock them out in only one or two hits. Once everything calms down and the criminals are being detained and taken away by the police, I approach Titus, who also heads towards me with a smile. He’s dressed in dark blue SWAT armor that looks like that of a modern medieval knight, except with all kinds of guns and tools on his hip.

I shake his hand and say, “Hey! It’s so good to see you again! How’s it going, Titus? I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

“I didn’t expect to be called here either, but here we are. When I heard about the increased crime happening in Solis, I thought that I’d better come here to see how Luke and you were doing,” Titus says.

“It’s really weird that it’s been spiking today. I can’t explain it or find the reason behind it.”

“That’s because you’re not the detective type.”

“Heh, that’s true, but since you are, do you know the reason for this increase in crime? I’m only just noticing it today.”

“If you knew the history of Solis, you’d know that this increase means that a criminal syndicate or villain is trying to establish a foothold here, commit some big robbery, or defeat some rivals or heroes.”

“Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“No clue yet, but we’ll find out soon enough. Just be ready for anything.”

“I will, just like how the academy taught us.”

“Stay safe and tell Luke I said hi.”

Titus and the other hero cops bring the criminals to the jails, while I tell Luke what happened and what Titus and I talked about.

“I figured something big was happening, and have been going through every known villain who would set their sights on Solis and what they could possibly be trying to get from it. I’ll let you know what I find out,” Luke says.

“Okay. Keep at it and I’ll keep helping-”

“I think I found something already!”

That’s Luke at his best.

“What did you find?”

“There might be a traitor in the hero association. Did you notice that a lot of the alerts are repeats? It turns out that someone or some people are accepting them and then quitting the job, which clogs up the alerts.”

“No, I didn’t notice since I’ve been busy accepting them and getting them done.”

“Heh, it’s a good thing I’ve got such a good memory and ability to recognize hidden details, then.”

“Why would they want to clog the alerts?”

“Probably to hide a crime or crimes they’re trying to commit. The alerts typically tell us about most crimes that are happening, so let’s see what they’re trying to hide…hmm.”

“Do you need a second?”

“Got it!”

“Guess you really only needed a second.”

“You need to quickly get over Jerry and Joe Tower! There’s a robbery happening there, and the thieves are trying to steal servers that probably have sensitive information on them, and kidnapping some of the people there. There are some heroes and cops on the scene, but not enough to get past the fodder protecting the leaders of the group.”

“I’m on it!”

Going to the tower, I find heroes and cops clashing with criminals. Using the chaos to my advantage, I slip through it with my speed. Inside the tower, I come across the criminals who are all wearing masks themed after past presidents. They’re trying to carry away people, bags of cash, crates of guns, canisters of materials, and servers. I quickly get after them and beat them down one after the other, even throwing some through windows and walls so the cops and heroes outside can take care of them. Seeing that they can’t get away from me, the thieves drop what they were taking and start to gang up on me.

Their hits with their fists, bladed weaponry, and specialized anti-superhuman bullets don’t hurt me too much, but I can’t take them lightly because of their crimes. I use the objects in my environment, like copiers, desks, and parts of the wall, against them to create space between us, and then grab one of them to use them as a weapon against the others. After thrashing two into unconsciousness, I throw the one thief at another and then knock them out while they’re down. The last two I handle with punches to the gut and finishing them off with one or two blows to the face. Wait, there was one more guy, wasn’t there?

Sure enough, a man comes crashing down from the above floor, and I block his attack just in time before it hits my face. He has a past president’s mask like the others, but wears more visible body armor and is more muscular.

“Let us go! We’re trying to expose criminals in the system!” he says.

“If you wanted to do that the right way, you wouldn’t have caused so much damage and hurt so many people,” I say before throwing punches of my own at him.

We exchange hits one after the other, seeing who will fall first.

“This is the only way to do it! Every other legitimate way means the information on the servers gets wiped or moved somewhere else. As for the people, they won’t admit to their crimes without us forcing them to.”

“It’s not worth the cost of what you’re doing. There are too many innocent people in the way of your goals.”

“We’re only incapacitating the innocent, and the others, whom you think are innocent, get immediate justice with their deaths.”

There’s no talking this guy down. He’s set in his convictions, and the only way to stop him and get him to change is to beat some sense into him, so that’s what I do with speedier punches all around his face, neck, and body until he stops punching back and falls. That was probably the most intense fight I’ve been in so far. Seeing that the man’s mask is broken, I take it off and use one of Luke’s facial scanners and send him the scan.

He calls me back in seconds and says, “This is bad, John.”

“What is it?” I ask.

“He’s a member of the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group. They caused all the chaos that’s going on.”

“Maybe this guy is just a rogue member. Let me scan the rest.”

Doing so only adds to Luke’s conclusion. They’re all members of or allies with the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group.

“We have to talk to Mark. Maybe he knows what’s going on,” I suggest.

“I’m not too sure about that. Given this group’s history and recent actions, he’s probably radicalized into thinking like them, and won’t listen to reason.”

“He’ll listen to me because we’re friends.”

“Now’s not the time to be naïve, John.”

“I’m not being naïve. At least let me try.”

“Okay, but don’t expect anything good to come out of it.”

After helping the police and heroes lock up the criminals and thieves, I call Mark and arrange the meeting. He just so happens to be in Solis like I am, but doesn’t seem to know what’s going on, or maybe he’s playing dumb. Regardless, we agree to meet in the park tomorrow, and I pray that it goes well and that I don’t need to fight a friend.

A Man Who Loves His God and Family: Chapter 2 – A Hero in Training

Chapter 2 – A Hero in Training

Now that I’m eighteen, graduated from high school, and passed the first hero tests, I’ve been accepted into a hero academy. Today is my last day before I leave, and to celebrate, my parents are taking me to town, and we visit my favorite places. We eat at our local diner for breakfast, say goodbye to friends, go fishing in the local river, visit the local amusement park for lunch, and then head to the barcade for games and dinner. At the end, we eat ice cream and look at the starry night sky.

“I’ll never forget today or the other days we’ve spent together,” I say to my parents.

My mom laughs and says, “I’m glad to hear you’ve enjoyed today.”

“We could’ve spent the entire day in front of the TV watching shows and movies, and I would’ve enjoyed it all the same. All I really wanted to do was spend time with you both.”

“This had to be a standout day, so we had to do more than simply spend time with one another,” my dad says. “Remember, don’t sell out to anyone when you're a hero, and only be faithful to God.”

“I’ll remember!” I give my parents a hug and a kiss. “I’ll also call you every day and be sure to visit when I can.”

My parents tell me they love me, and we go back inside our house to rest for the night. My sister taps at my window, and I immediately get up to hear what she has to say.

“John, even though I’m glad you got what you wanted, your life will only get harder from here. I won’t be able to see you while you’re at the hero academy until you take your vacations or graduate,” she says.

“Did the general tell you that you can’t?” I ask.

“Yes, and I agree with him on this. There’s no point in my seeing you at school. You’re a young man now, and we’ll just see each other later.”

“Can I ask you to do a few things before you go?”

“Like what? I can’t do much for you.”

“First, can I see your face? I’ve never seen it and I’d like to.”

“I told you before that there’s no point.”

“If it doesn’t matter, then there’s no harm in showing me.”

My sister takes a few seconds to think before taking her hood off and showing me her face for the first time. She has short, greyish, white hair. One of her eyes is grey and gold, while the other is black, white, and red, and she wears some kind of golden armor around the lower part of her face and neck.

“See? There wasn’t a point to it.”

I can tell something was done to her to make her look this way, and she’s ashamed of it because she isn’t looking me in the eyes. The sight of her being sad is enough to grab the window ledge and crack it.

“John?”

Wanting to put a smile on her face, I pick my sister up and take her to the spot where my parents and I look at the stars.

“Trust me, it’ll be nice!” I say to her along the way.

“Let me go! There’s no point to it. It won’t do anything for me,” she says.

“You’ll see.” I set her down on the spot that we frequent on a hill. “Just lie down, relax, and look at the stars.”

My sister sighs and reluctantly does what I say. After a few minutes of watching, I ask her if she likes it.

“It’s…calming,” she admits.

“Can I ask you your name?”

“Since you keep prying about everything, it’s Idelle. My name is Idelle.”

“What’s your last name?”

“My first name is all you’re getting, and I don’t care for my last name. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have one.”

“You can have mine.”

“Huh?”

“You’re full name is now Idelle Elio, and you are a member of my family.”

“That’s not how it works. You can’t just tell a person you’re a part of their family, and have it be true.”

“Well, it is. You’re basically my sister.”

“I said to stop calling me that.”

“But you do everything a sister does. You give me advice, make me laugh, protect me, and are there when I need you, and I love you for it,” I say while hugging her and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

She wants to argue with me, but holds back her tears instead, and then says, “Am I really that to you?”

“Yes, you are and more! Now, stop being sad all the time and let me see you smile. I hate seeing you upset, and I promise that this is my last request.”

My sister gives her best attempt at a smile.

“Is this good enough? I don’t think I can remember the last time I smiled.”

“It’s great! Just remember to do that and that God will make everything right in the end, and you’ll always be happy, or at least joyful. It’s my secret to a constantly positive attitude.”

“I’ll try.”

“Oh, and if you ever need a home to stay in, you can ask my parents, and I’m sure they’ll let you stay with them if you mention knowing me. Remember, their names are Johnson and Josephine Elio, and they’re the best parents ever.”

“Best parents…huh…”

“Hey, when I become a hero, I’ll make sure to be one that will make everyone smile, including you. I’ll be who God made me to be and become a man who protects the innocent and brings the guilty to justice.”

“Hahaha! If you say so.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“I…I believe you’ll try your best.”

“But do you think I’ll succeed? I made you smile and laugh after all.”

“You did, so I think…you’ll succeed.”

“Yay! Thanks so much, big sis! I’ll never let you or anyone else down!” I say while giving Idelle a big hug.

Our nice little time together was a great way to end the night. Tomorrow morning, I have my favorite breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast with orange juice before being driven to the hero academy by my parents. I could get there by myself faster on foot, but I want them to see me off since they won’t get to see or talk to me much during my two years there. I give them both a hug and a kiss before saying goodbye and continuing forward without looking back, with a smile on my face. As I walk to the academy with the other superhumans, I can hear them whispering to themselves and each other.

“Did he seriously just do that?”

“How old is he really?”

“He’s the spitting image of a country pumpkin with that bright blonde hair and light blue eyes.”

“He’s so childish.”

“I don’t think he’ll make it a month without causing a scene.”

“No one will want to hire him.”

I’m used to this kind of bullying and hearing these kinds of mean words said to me, so it doesn’t bother me. I actually expect it to be worse since I’m in a competitive environment where people are trying to impress others to get the best job possible for themselves. The hero academy looks very modern, combined with traditional Gothic architecture to give it a sense of history. Statues and pictures of heroes from all ages are all around the academy, along with pictures depicting the parts of history where heroes have helped out the most, such as in the founding of this country and the winning of wars. Every inch of this place is fascinating to me since there was nothing like it in my hometown. It’s like a piece of the big cities got placed in the middle of nowhere, so that superhumans of all kinds can safely put their abilities to the test.

Going up to my dorm, I find that my roommates are already settled in and look at me as if I’m not meant to be there. One of them looks disheveled with long black hair, dark brown eyes, pale skin, and is wearing a wrinkly hoodie, pants, and dirty sneakers. Another is a bald, muscular man with orange eyes who is well put together and just got back from the gym, judging by his sweatpants, tank top, and running shoes. The other one is a brown haired, green-eyed, well-dressed man, as he wears a shawl, cap, and a dark blue uniform of a police officer, accompanied by black boots.

“Hello! I’m-”

“Wait,” my roommate with a disheveled look says as he takes out a device to scan me. “You’re John Elio from the rural town of Poca Bellezza. Your powers are extreme strength and agility, you were born with them, and they come from a supernatural source.”

“Yes, you’re right! How were you able to find that out?”

“My tech can scan you and access all the information on you that’s on public sites and the private ones I’ve been able to hack into. Unlike you, my superpower is nothing unnatural. It’s all in my head, and my proficiency with tech and science. I can answer almost any question you have.”

“Okay. What’s your name?”

“…Luke. Don’t you want to know more than that, like how my tech works or some big question only I can answer?”

“I want to get to know you better since we’re going to be friends while we’re in school and hopefully after, but first, I want to get to know the other two guys.”

“I might as well go first, then,” the man in an officer’s uniform says with a bow and shakes my hand. “My name is Titus. I used to be a police officer, but I am now trying to be a superhuman hero.”

I bow my head and say, “It’s an honor to meet you, officer. What made you want to go from the righteous job of an officer to a hero?”

Titus’s eyes widen with his smile as he says, “Thank you for the compliment. Not many people respect the station of an officer these days.”

“But we do in Poca Bellezza. We say hi to them, salute them, and bow to them, along with having parades for them and treating them to breakfast, lunch, or dinner.”

“Ha! I wish I were stationed down there. Maybe I won’t have chosen to be in this academy.”

“The officers down in Poca Bellezza don’t do much, and get paid as much as you do, so it’s probably not as good as you think because of the heroes in the area,” Luke says as he taps at one of his many computers.

“That’s why I chose to be a superhuman hero,” Titus says. “Being a cop these days doesn’t get you much respect or as much work because of the prevalence of superhumans and the many hero and vigilante groups, both legitimate and rogue. I got more physical enhancements than what the usual officers are given, so I can keep up with the superhumans and get a job that pays better and is more honorable.”

“It’s such a simple and vain reason for such an ‘honorable’ cop,” the muscular man says.

“Oh yeah? You didn’t explain to Luke and me what your reasons for being here are yet, Mark.”

“To change the world and make it a better place. It’s that simple,” Mark says with a confident smile and shrug as if the answer was obvious. “That’s the real reward and goal of having power and strength.”

“Really? You seem a bit too confident for someone whose background is being a no-name vigilante.”

“That’s because I know I’m meant to accomplish great things. Just like John, I got my powers when I was born, but I can fly, lift heavy things, and breathe fire.”

“So, you’re basically a human dragon?”

“That’s true! It’s why my vigilante name is the Red Dragon. What about you, John? Do you have a hero name or aspirations like me?”

“No, I don’t have a hero name. I’m just using my real name.”

“Aren’t you worried that the criminals and villains you’ll face will go after your friends or family? It’s why you need a hero identity that’s protected by the government.”

“Doesn’t the government protect those who use their real names?”

“They do and prefer people who don’t hide anything from them,” Luke comments.

“Yeah, but just because they’re protected doesn’t mean that no one will go after them.”

“On the contrary, it’s less likely that anyone will go after John’s parents since they know they’re under government protection. Besides, there are ways of finding a hero’s secret identity if they really wanted to go after your loved ones.”

“Whatever. Using your real name and telling the government everything about you is just you giving them power over you.”

“We are serving our country,” I say.

“We’re serving the people,” Mark tries to correct me.

“No, it’s the government,” Titus says. “Take it from an officer. You follow their rules and do everything they tell you to do, even if you don’t like it. If you disagree, then you should be in one of those rogue hero groups.”

“The country is meant to serve the people,” I say.

“But it doesn’t always. More often than not, it serves those who hold the most power and influence.”

“That’s why it needs to change, and I’m going to be the one who does it,” Luke says.

“You’re probably not going to do much. Think about the traditional movement that is happening now. Officers dress up more formally than ever and wear armor that looks like medieval knight armor, and laws are becoming more conservative. This is because a majority of people and influencers are pushing the culture and country in this direction, and it’s not because of a single person or even a group of people.”

“Regardless, I’m going to do my part. I will make a difference in the world through my powers.”

“Right. It’s part of my purpose for being here,” I say. “I want to use these powers for the reasons God gave them.”

“So, you want to change the world like me?”

“I’m not sure if I will. All I want to do is whatever God wants.”

“Do you want to defeat the biggest villains and save thousands of lives?”

“If that’s what it means.”

“What about making speeches and influencing the people in power to rid any trace of corruption?”

“I’m not sure if I can, but sure, I’ll do it if I can.”

“Come on, John. You gotta have a plan and an end goal. It can’t just be ‘serving God’.”

“But that’s all my life is. God calls us to be faithful rather than successful.”

“Those two things have the same meaning in my book. I may be competing with you to get a hero job, but I’ll teach you what I know and throw you a bone since you seem like an honest kid, assuming you’ll do the same for me.”

“Okay?”

With introductions done, I talk to Luke a bit more since Mark was talking about himself and his ambitions so much, to get to know him a bit more.

“There’s not much to say. I got into this academy because of my technical skills, and I want to be a hero to help others. That’s all there is to it, really,” Luke says.

“That’s a great motivation! Let’s achieve it together,” I say.

Luke smiles at me and agrees. My time in the academy is just one test after another, which I either take on my own or compete against someone else with similar powers. The academy is divided into sections that test specific skill sets, so I end up spending more time with Mark than with Luke and Titus. Mark and I face various trials, such as saving people from villains or burning buildings, or being on the other side of the match by defending a person from my opponent, or destroying something while they try to protect it. We’re judged based on how much damage we cause in each role, the amount of time we take, and how well we follow procedures. Sometimes, Mark performs better, and other times I do, both results pushing us to improve for next time.

By the end of each day, we tell Luke and Titus how their days were, and they do the same. There’s a variety of places to eat and spend our time at, such as karaoke bars, arcades, sports areas, and clubs. This is the basic schedule for my time at the academy, besides making time to talk to my parents and go to church on Sundays. We don’t have any homework to do. Instead, we are encouraged to look for jobs, our test scores, and keep an eye on our emails for job offers.

In our second year, we have field work with hero and vigilante associations. During this time, I work with my class and roommates on patrols and to bring lesser criminals to justice, while leaving the big-name ones to the actual heroes. Of course, Mark wants to take on the stronger criminals, but we have to restrain him so he doesn’t get himself hurt. Since we’re in our last year, we have to start seriously applying to groups to work for.

“Will you be working with the Catholic Church?” Titus asks me.

“No, why?” I ask.

“It just seemed like the group you’d want to work for.”

“I’d do it, but I heard about some shady things happening with them, so I’d rather not.”

“I guess you’re not as naïve as you seem,” Mark comments.

“There’s a group for a hero of every political belief, religion, and group of interest. It is generally better to be a part of a group that fights for the country rather than for a specific goal. You’ll get more work and respect that way,” Luke says.

“All specific groups also have ulterior motives and infighting, so it’s not worth it, as far as I’m concerned. You’re making the right call, John,” Titus says.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m joining the Seventeen-Seventy-Six group. They have the right idea and carefully chose who they’re working for,” Mark says.

“Are you serious? They’re a bit too up their own butts about being patriotic and being the good guys, and never mind. I answered my own question,” Titus says.

“Seriously, at least they don’t protect corrupt members of society, unlike the police.”

“The police don’t always have a choice in who they protect.”

“That’s why I’m joining Seventeen-Seventy-Six. They not only protect the innocent and punish the guilty, but they also expose corrupt businessmen and politicians in our country, just like our original founders did when they separated from their countries of origin.”

“They’re also a barely legal hero association because of their more violent tendencies and methods in exposing their targets,” Luke comments.

“They do whatever it takes to ensure that criminals face justice. I’d join them even if they weren’t a legally recognized hero group.”

People mainly focus on joining a group that aligns with their beliefs, offers the most rewards, or grants them the most fame. As for me, I chose the one that fits my beliefs without forcing my views on others. Evangelization is critically important so others can live rightly and go to Heaven, but the Church has more effective ways to evangelize than through force. My role as a hero is to protect people and bring criminals to justice. The evangelizing part involves showing others compassion and leading them to the faith through my example and dedication to God. Although I serve my country outwardly as a hero, I am first and foremost God’s servant and then a citizen of my country.

My country, the Columbia Union, was founded on those same values of practicing what you believe in and bringing true order into the world, even if it means fighting against your own country. As such, I will follow the example of the founding fathers and my parents' teachings and strive to be the best citizen by being the best servant of God I can be.

A Man Who Loves His God and Family: Chapter 1 – Blessed Child

Chapter 1 – Blessed Child

My parents say that I’m special, more than I realize. The sounds of explosions and fighting near their farm made them check what was going on, and they found me in a military convoy, inside a capsule. Because the battle sounds were close, they took me to their house to keep me safe. They thought about giving me up to the government if they came back to take me, but at the same time, it didn’t feel right to them that the military was carrying an infant in a capsule, so they didn’t rush to give me up, even when the military returned to clean up the scene. A common saying in our town is “love your country, but not always your government”. My parents decided to keep me since no one came for me and named me John Elio.

At first, they couldn’t tell why the military had me, but as the years went on, signs began to show. Starting when I was two, I’d mysteriously disappear from the house and show up at the church we went to and be in the adoration chapel, saying mama, papa, and brother to Mary, St. Joseph, and Our Lord Jesus, respectively. The priests and nuns would first take me home when this happened, and then just call my parents to pick me up at their convenience about it, because they were convinced that God was allowing me to do this for a reason they didn’t understand yet. While in adoration, they’d say that my blonde hair and light blue eyes would shine as if reflecting the face of God. Not long after, I was able to leap around like a little frog and lift things like fridges, ovens, and the like by myself, like how an ant can carry things fifty times their weight.

That's when my parents thought I was a superhuman, which is why the military had me. Even now, it’s not unusual for the government to take superhuman children from parents who neither know what to do with them nor want to handle them, and superhumans are becoming more common these days. In the past, they would appear during major moments in history, rumors, and legends. Now, people can visit government-approved labs to be injected with super strength, speed, and agility, the same abilities I naturally have. Those born with natural powers, or who acquire them through accidents, supernatural events, or some extraordinary moment, can join various government-supported hero groups to become real heroes, fighting for justice and saving lives. Because of my powers, I dream of being like the heroes I’ve seen online, on TV, in comics, books, and movies.

My entire room is decorated with all kinds of heroes, along with pictures of saints and my own little adoration chapel, which my parents put in my room so I’d never accidentally run off again. I look out the window to see another sunny morning and thank God for it before heading downstairs for breakfast. Everything my parents make comes from the farm, our friends' farms, or the local market. Today’s meal is eggs, bacon, and toast with orange juice, a classic that I could have every day and never get tired of. My parents are dressed in jeans, boots, and plain shirts for farm work, as usual. My mom has bright brown eyes and a bandana wrapped around her blonde hair, while my dad has slightly darker blonde hair and green eyes. They both remind me of today’s duties as I enjoy my breakfast and watch them happily joke around with each other, like I’m watching a slice-of-life romance show.

My mom looks at me and says, “Have you listened to a word we said?”

“I did,” I say, and then repeat back to them what they said.

“Alright. I was wondering if you were awake because you looked like you were daydreaming.”

“I kind of was. I was enjoying the sight of you two being happy.”

My parents blush. Even though I’m ten, and ten-year-olds usually start to grow distant from their parents as they become teenagers, I refuse to do so and will always show and tell my parents that I love them. My parents and I say our family rosary and prayers before they drive me to school in town. After giving them both hugs and kisses, I say goodbye and head off. Once at school, I have to keep my powers contained and focus on my studies. In a normal school, there aren’t any courses for those with natural or artificial powers. I wish there were, since I think it’s my calling, but I focus on my studies anyway, even though I don’t think I’ll ever use the knowledge I gain here.

Still, some of my friends here want me to show off my powers by lifting tables or vending machines with one hand or demonstrating how I can leap up to the second story of the school in one jump. I tell them I can’t do that while we’re at school and promise to show them afterward, which disappoints them a little. Some kids get jealous of my powers and try to bully me because of them, but I shrug it off, smile, give them a hug, and offer words of understanding.

“You don’t need powers like me to be special. You’re special the way you are!” I say.

My kindness usually makes them back off, act nicer towards me, or, in some cases, lash out in anger, which forces me to tell the teachers. I don’t mind the bullying and jealousy, but what really upsets me is when they go after my friends. Those are the only times I raise my voice and push the bullies back with my strength. During these moments, the bullies often try to tell the teachers about me to get me in trouble, but they only end up causing themselves more trouble, while I just get a warning and a reminder to not use my strength and to tell a teacher when bullying happens. Besides that, today was another fun day at school. Afterward, I show off my powers in the park and then get picked up by my parents.

I tell them how my day went, and then help them on our farm by taking care of the animals and vegetables we grow. Another benefit of my powers is that my stamina allows me to work hard throughout the day without feeling burned out. Maybe this’ll change as I get older, as my elders say, but I think I’ll only get stronger if I continue to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. With today’s work done, my parents and I eat dinner and then do my homework. To cap off the day, my parents and I sit on the porch to look at the stars, read, and then watch TV, before going to bed.

In the night, I’m awoken by a tapping at my window. Excitedly going to the window, I see a girl with white hair and a cloak covering her body and most of her face. This girl is a bit older than I and has been visiting me ever since I was able to talk. She’s claimed responsibility for freeing me from the government, says she’s the reason why they’re not coming back for me, and checks up on me from time to time to see how I’m doing.

“Hey, big sis! How are you doing?” I ask.

“I…I said to stop calling me that,” she says.

I can tell that she wants me to acknowledge her as my sister, even though I can’t see her face, and she constantly denies it. There’s a feeling in my soul that’s like a voice that tells me she is. We talk about how my day went, and I try to pry into what she’s been up to, but she just talks about vague things and tries to change the topic and focus on me. Still, I try to talk about what’s bothering her.

“What kinds of bad guys have you been beating up? Has that one general you keep mentioning been giving you trouble again? Maybe I can help you beat some sense into him,” I say.

The girl smiles for the first time in a while and laughs.

“No, you can’t. I doubt you’ll be able to help when you get older, and pray that you don’t meet the general.”

“Why not?”

“He’s not a nice guy.”

The girl’s words sound pained as if she doesn’t want to say or believe what she said.

“Is he someone you really know?”

“Just know that he’s the reason why both of us have powers and put us through experiments to do so.”

“I see. Well, if he makes you upset and isn’t a good guy, I promise you that I’ll find a way to make him pay for what he’s done.”

“Heh. Don’t count on it or worry about that. Let me handle everything while you enjoy your life.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here with me? My parents are nice and wouldn’t mind taking you in.”

The girl bites her mouth.

“I wish I could, but I can’t, for your safety and theirs. Go to sleep. I’m sure you have another great day ahead of you.”

The girl leaps up into the sky and disappears into the night. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that you live a happy life like I do one day, and I become a hero like you are, sister. I promise.

Cards for The Outlaw deck

The 2nd collection of L'Obscurite stories is done and out today!

Paperback ($10.99) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH4KWF7B

Kindle ($4.99) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH2Q1ZX5

Sin does not pay, and Timeo Severe as L’Obscurité will make sure every criminal and villain pays for their sinister deeds. After taking a break to be with his new children and wife, Timeo puts back on the mantle of the dark hero, L’Obscurité, and starts to establish his legacy in the crime-ridden city of Meridian. He'll get sidekicks and use both justice and mercy in ways he doesn't expect in his quest to make his city a safe place to live.
This book includes: Scherzo for a Dark Hero, First Son of Divine Darkness, Executioners of Justice, Fire and Nightmares, More than our Masks, and Bright Legacy of the Divine Shadow, and Behind the Story trivia for each short story.

The last solo story for Timeo is done and out today!

Download for free at select online retailers - https://books2read.com/b/bzNeNq

After years of being a hero, gathering allies, gaining fame and infamy, and building a legacy, Timeo is reaching the final stages of his plan to ensure Meridian's safety, just in case he's gone or needs to be with his family and so its status as one of the most crime-infested cities is erased. By the end, the criminals and villains will find themselves in a never-ending nightmare if they attack his city and the people he loves and protects.

Bright Legacy of the Divine Shadow: Chapter 3 – A Firm but Loving Punishment

Chapter 3 – A Firm but Loving Punishment

It seems to be another day working at the hospital with Darcy until her water breaks. My third child is about to arrive, and Darcy is quickly taken to a room where she is cared for. Just like the other times, I stay by Darcy’s side as she gives birth and to greet our newest child, a baby boy, whom we name Lucien. We get our friends from the hospital to bring over our other children so that the oldest can meet and greet the youngest. Time flies by until it’s sundown, when I remember that my plan is about to spring into action. Thinking that Darcy is asleep, I leave our children under the care of our friends and am about to leave the room until I hear Darcy say my name.

“Timeo,” she says. “Go make a brighter future for everyone, not only our children.”

“I will,” I say before kissing her and our children, and leaving the room.

I don’t get very far until someone puts a gun to my back as I take the elevator down.

Since I don’t care for stalling, I say, “I figured there’d be a traitor in our midst.”

“Everyone in Meridian has a price, Mr. Severe. Mine is the continued happiness of myself and family,” a man dressed in a suit behind me says.

He has sleek black hair like mine and bright blue eyes.

“What is it that you want?”

“Let’s go to your office. I want to talk in private.”

Pressing the elevator button to go back up, the man and I go to my office, where he closes and locks the door behind him.

He says, “I don’t care if you’re actually L’Obscurité or not. Honestly, it doesn’t matter either way. All I want you to do is wait here for the night until my friends in the criminal underworld pack their bags and leave the city.”

“That’s it?” I say with a laugh.

“That’s it. It’s what we both want after all, so there’s no reason to laugh or doubt me. With my criminal friends out of the city, they’ll leave you alone to continue their operations somewhere else. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

I continue laughing, much to the displeasure of the clueless man in front of me.

“What’s so funny?” he asks. “You and your superhero friends can punish the other criminals that you want, and go about your plan tonight like you want. All I want is for you to leave my family and friends alone.”

“What about the family and friends of those inside and outside the city? Those people don’t really matter to scum like you.”

Drawing his pistol, the man points it at me while hiding himself in front of my door, away from the windows, and says, “If I really dig deep, I guess I could say you’re right, but I don’t care to do any soul searching right now. Don’t you want criminals out of the city? I’ll give you some insider intel and let you know that most sane criminals are leaving the city because of your friends and you. The rest are either insane or too in over their heads to continue their operations.”

I try to contain my laughter as I say, “Don’t get me wrong. I want every single criminal out of the city, but scaring them out of the city isn’t enough. More will come or rise from within the city, so I need something more than fear to do that. I need action. I need the scum of this city either locked up or dead.”

The sounds of explosions and fighting scare and confuse the man.

“What was that? Did you instruct your allies to act without you?”

“They don’t need me giving them orders to make them protect their homes. Come here.”

The man walks over to me to see the breaking news on my computer. Dozens upon dozens of criminal hideouts are being raided by my apprentices and allies. Criminals and villains at all levels of society are either being arrested or killed when they resist. Even those who have power in government or business are arrested or killed, thanks to the evidence that Kane, Polina, and Raziel have found. As for those retreating, the members of the sixth and seventh family hunt them down and kill them before they leave the borders of both the city and the suburbs.

Visibly shaken and upset, the man points the gun at me and says, “You bastard!”

Before he can do anything, the cops come in and arrest him since he was one of the criminals we knew about.

“You always knew, didn’t you?!” the man says as he resists arrest and the cops struggle to haul him away. “You knew!”

“I always know,” I admit before I hysterically laugh.

From my office computer, I continue watching the night’s events unfold until they finally end after a few hours of excitement. I then return to Darcy and spend the night in the hospital with her and our children. Sometime later, Meridian is declared one of the safest, most protected cities in the world and loses its infamous reputation. To celebrate, my family, friends, allies, and I dine at a nice restaurant once Darcy is able to go out. Everyone has a good time, especially the people of the undercity, who are enjoying their first time being on the surface of the city. My greatest joy during the event is seeing everyone happy and enjoying themselves.

Darcy leans next to me and asks, “So, when will we be planning to get our sixth child?”

“You have to wait at least eighteen months or so,” I say as I rub the temples of my head.

“What if I want one sooner than that?”

“You want to adopt like how you did with Kane and Raziel, or perhaps adopt from an orphanage?”

“What if I want it the natural way?”

I rub my head even harder.

“Then may God help me because of how hard you try to get pregnant that way.

Darcy and I laugh. We then hear one of our favorite slow songs come on that we dance to with our children in our arms. After the party is over, we say goodbye to everyone, and leave the restaurant, and as we do, my attention to drawn to a rich couple with a kid, who are being not so subtly followed by a couple of shady-looking men.

Knowing what I’m thinking, Darcy says, “Go get them, my dark hero. I’m sure you’ll be back in a few seconds.”

I nod and head after the family. The criminals have the family cornered, but just like every sensible resident of Meridian, they keep their guns on them for self-defense. As the family argues with the criminals to let them go, I start to laugh to get everyone’s attention. The criminals look at me standing on top of the building, my shadow growing and blocking out the sky, and then I descend upon the criminals, who scream out in terror. With the family safe and the criminals dead from their fears, I return to my family in my normal form. Darcy smiles at me, knowing justice was dealt, and as we walk back to our car and head home, I reflect a bit on what I’ve been through all these years as a hero and the results.

Meridian is called the City of the Midday Sun because its founders established it at a time when they thought their best days were behind them and only darkness lay ahead, but after they went through the darkness, they reached the light and were stronger because of it. I am the modern form of that darkness, a force of justice, a tool of God that has made Meridian a better and safer place for everyone after putting it through so much after so many years, and I’m not done yet. I have my sights set beyond the city’s borders and am making plans to further ensure its safety by going after people who seek its downfall from afar, but for now, I’ll enjoy this peace I’ve helped establish and keep the city in line, a nightmare and seemingly never-ending night for criminals and villains alike, unless they repent and become better people.

 

The End