Captain Solar Volume 3, Issue #1: The Future Looks Bleak

Even though I managed to survive the whole ordeal, I haven't been sleeping well ever since. Still reeling from the discovery that who I thought was my best friend, Nathan Gates, wasn't who he said he was. His real name was Nathan Burrows. Son of Vissia Burrows, who just happens to be the villain known as Syphon. His sister, Naomi, being the speedster serial killer, Turbokiller. So yeah, when you look at it that way, I should've seen this coming.. His friendship with me was all an act, and that his true allegiance lie with the Watchman. Not sure what their relationship is, but he did call Watchman father, so I guess he's his father. Though Nathan's father when I went to hang out with him didn't look like Watchman did.. But thinking about it now, that probably was a stand in any way. Anyways, it didn't quite work out for the two of them, as they're both in prison now. But I've got a bad feeling they'll be out sooner rather than later.

 

The news of Nathan Gate's arrest, sorry, Nathan Burrows' arrest was quick to reach the school. People I didn't even know from other grades would hound me with questions asking me what he was like, and if I knew about any of this. They were trying to tell me how to feel about everything that happened, and that it wasn't my fault. Unfortunately, that just made me feel even worse, as I still blame myself, even though I know deep in my heart there was nothing I could do. He was too far gone.

 

My parents think I should talk to someone about this. Like a therapist, or the councillor at school. Get my feelings off my chest and all that. But I don't really see the point, as no matter what they tell me, it won't get rid of this guilt I have. Why does this have to keep happening? First with Jess and Davina, and now with Nathan. Tragedy just seems to follow me, and no matter what I do, I'm not able to save those I care about. Though, I was able to save Jess a few months ago, so that's got to count for something, right?

 

Anyways, here I am, scrolling through the Captain Solar subreddit on my phone, on the way to my next class. And yes, I know how that looks. But I'm not the one who created it, alright? It's just nice to see people appreciating my heroics. Helps me when I'm feeling low, which is quite often recently. Whether it's someone posting about how I saved their kitten from a tree, me taking down purse snatchers, or even just theories on who I am. Those theories are highly amusing by the way. These past couple of days, I've noticed an increase in posts pertaining to someone calling themselves Time Bomb. Highly unoriginal name, I know. But that's beside the point. The point is that this Time-Bomb is seemingly a huge fan of Nathan's work as Detonator. Believes that he was a true hero to the people. So he's going around, blowing up buildings, and posing for a picture with whatever remains of it. Sometimes, it's even a video, calling me out. I have to find out where he is, before anyone else gets caught in the crossfire. But there isn't a pattern to his bombings. So that's easier said than done.

 

Since I'm too busy looking down at my phone, I bump into someone.

 

"Sorry." I apologize, looking back up to see that once again, I have bumped into Malia Jensen of all people. Great, now she'll yell at me again. Just what I needed today of all days. She's about to say something, before stopping herself from vocalizing that thought.

 

Instead, she replies with this. "It's fine. I'm sorry to hear about Nathan. Must be hard, to learn the truth he's been hiding for all these years. Especially since you two were pretty close. I don't envy you for having to deal with that pain. That and everyone hounding you with all these pointless questions that at the end of the day, don't matter. Anyways, I gotta go. See ya in choir tomorrow. Hope you feel better soon."

 

"Oh, uhm, thanks." I reply, walking away. That's the most genuine condolences I've gotten, besides Jess of course. And to think it was the ice queen, Malia Jensen herself of all people. Never thought I'd see the day. Guess she has a heart, after all.

 

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Elsewhere, later that same day

 

There she is, Helen Mears . Cardinal City's local weather girl. Just sitting down on her couch, watching tv. Innocent enough, right? But in this city, nothing is ever as it seems. That doesn't change, 30 years from now. What's hiding behind that seemingly innocent exterior is an undercover Division agent. Hardly anyone here in this day and age knows Division exists, but where I'm from, everyone knows of them. They were a secret government organization, sent to deal with problems the government was incapable of handling. Most of the Division operations being highly illegal. Assassinations, espionage, and sabotage, just to name a few of the things they did. Division's leader, Courtney Pierce, is incredibly biased against those with superpowers. However, she is not afraid to employ powered individuals temporarily. But the second they become a liability; she will not hesitate to terminate them. Division was responsible for 208, an event which killed 98% of supers, including my parents. To top it all off, they are the reason Archon disbanded. As time went on, they didn't even try to hide their actions, knowing no one could stop them. So now I'm here, to stop their rise to power. To make sure they never hurt anymore innocent lives. And it all starts now, with my gun aimed at the back of her head, as she moves to the kitchen table. It's a good thing I'm invisible right now, or this would get ugly fast.

 

"This is for you, mom and dad." I think to myself, before pulling the trigger.

Done