'I can't believe you're here' grinned Isaac as they both pulled back. 'I thought you skipped town or something'

  'And leave you in this new crazy world alone?' said Derek. 'You expect too little of me mate'

  Isaac and Derek have been best friends since the start of high school. Whenever Isaac would get into a fight he could never win, Derek would back him up by beating the guy while Isaac hides behind him. Even when they spar together Derek would always come out on top. He was stronger and faster than Isaac could never be, always has and always will. The last time he saw him was last year on the night of Vivid so it isn't a surprise to find Derek as an Aftershok after that lightning strike.

  Despite being a spy in the most dangerous place in the world right now, Isaac was just glad he could see a familiar face before the inevitable demise of his very being. He has the right to be scared for his life right now but hopefully Derek will back him up now.

  'Excuse me!' said Blade, getting their attention. 'Steamstrike this man has insulted me'

  'Yeah sorry about that' said Derek. 'My friend always had a problem with making fights. I'll make sure he knows the ropes soon enough'

  'You better, cause this cannot go unpunished' scowled Blade.

  'Oh cry me a river mate' said Isaac.

  Blade was about to retort but Derek pushed him back. 'I'll handle it, why don't you take the watch from Jaz. You can bring your Goons for backup if needed'

  'They are actually called goons?' asked Isaac.

  Blade adjusted his coat, nodded to his two Goons then they walked away. Soon everyone went back to their meal or talking with their mates. Derek walked up to Isaac 'Sorry about him mate. Why don't you get something to eat while I get us a table'

  'Is anyone going to smack it out of my hand this time?' he grinned.

  'If they do they would answer to me' chuckled Derek. 'Make yourself at home mate' he went off to search for a table while Isaac went back to the bench and picked up a new plate.

  He felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Isaac looked around to make sure no one could hear the rumbling; he quickly place his finger to his ear to make it look like he was scratching an itch and tap the earpiece. 'This food looks good!' he said loudly to the chefs. 'My complements to the chef and all the Aftershoks here within earshot!' they all gave him a confused look but shrug it off to him being insane.

  There was silence on the other line until Mike spoke, 'I guess you are not in a position to talk freely, so can I assume that is not you running around up there?'

  'Opa!' sang Isaac dancing around to music that is not there, getting a few laughs from the passing children staring at him.

  'So, that emp from before was the work of a Aftershok to switch your ankle bracelet to a copy. Isaac we are tracking your phone right now but you are nowhere in the city so we need time to trace the call to locate you'

  'Looks pretty good' he winked at a passing girl, 'I hope we can make this arrangement quicker for I am feeling a bit peckish' aka get me the hell out of here!

  'Stay on the line, we can listen in to any conversation you might have. I'm sorry but we won't be able to get you for a while so whatever you do, do not do anything stupid'

  Isaac cried on the inside behind his false smile, he's doomed! He took a breath, held up his plate of burgers and went to find Derek. Praying to god no one with super hearing heard that. He found Derek sitting at an empty table at the end of the row, he soon took a seat infront of him and started eating.

  'Glad to see you haven't changed one bit' said Derek. 'Been here for what, half an hour and already you are picking fights you can't win'

  'I can take that guy' said Isaac shallowing his burger. 'Trust me I have gotten stronger'

  'How by sleeping on your lazy ass' he chuckled.

  'Oh ha, ha. You're a comedian' said Isaac. 'Is Elizabeth here too?' he looked around, hoping to see her walk out of the crowd and join him at the table.

  'She is on a special mission from our Hero' said Derek. 'She is somewhere around the world recruiting more Aftershoks to our cause. Can you actually believe we became part of his Commanders? Guess he saw something in us'

  Isaac tilt his head. 'Wait, you're a commander like…?' he thought of Solkivich.

  'Yep' said Derek. 'Right now there are three of us still here. You got me, then Jumper and Double' he explained. 'Artic of course I told you and Solkivich I think you know what happened to him' Isaac gulped; he knows! Might as well start taking hostages, the children will do. Derek start to laugh, 'Man the look on your face. Don't worry we don't blame you; we know those detectives forced you to do it'

  'Yeah those damn detectives' grinned Isaac, 'Especially that Mike guy, dude can't even take a joke if it danced naked infront of him. Seriously he should investigate the case of his missing sense of humour the huge git' Derek laughed along. 'And do not get me started on his partner…'

  'You do realise that we can hear every word you're saying right now'

  'I feel sorry for you mate' said Derek. 'It must have been horrible waking up in that Hospital alone. Hence why Hero had Ghostgal station there to watch over you'

  'He sent her to watch me?' asked Isaac.

  'Of course' said Derek. 'Artic told him about your situation, he promised that once you woke up he would come and get you. And boy he did. You're back here with us, Artic will be thrilled'

  'Derek…' began Isaac.

  He held up his hand. 'Do not call me that' he said. 'My name is Steamstrike. We have chosen our new names here mate so please address us as such just as we will address you by your new name. Have you picked one yet?' Isaac shook his head. 'You should, we are starting a new life my friend'

  'Steamstrike' said Isaac half heartily, 'What happened to you guys after that Storm?'

  Derek lowered his head. 'It was hell mate' he said. 'So many people got hurt that the hospitals were full. It all happened so fast that we didn't even know what had happened to you. I think the shockwave that hit us mumbled our heads but the next thing we know you were on the ground burning. We got you to King's Hospital as quickly as we could and they put you in the emergency ward. Artic and I thought you were dead mate'

  Isaac said nothing, he listened to the story as Derek continued. 'Soon, we discovered that we had powers. Artic could control the cold and I could control steam. Of course the first thing we thought we could be were superheroes, even tried to stop some criminals once but then the ACA was formed' his expression changed, 'They hunted us, turned our families against us. Artic's parents tried to turn her in so I saved her and bring down their house' Isaac knew her parents, the thought of them betraying their own daughter is surprising but not as surprising as Derek leveling their house. 'I got her out of there before anything could happen. It was then we decided to leave the city but not without you mate'

  'So we went to get you out from the hospital' he explained, taking a sip from his drink. 'Thanks to all the free running we did in the city; I manage to get Artic onto your floor and we went into your room. You looked so peaceful sleeping there, not knowing what was going on around you. By then it was three months since that storm, three months since we last talked to you. We visited of course, Artic tried to talk to you hoping her voice might wake you up. That night we tried to get you out but those things they had on you were keeping you alive, if we tried to remove one it set off a massive alarm and your heartbeat would drop, Artic was frantic cause you were dying right infront of us'

  'But then we saw it. They had a heater in your room to keep you warm. As soon as your heart was about to drop to zero, we saw the heat coming off the heater and entering your body, then your heartbeat went back to normal and you were steady. We saw a hint of your power that night, the power that was keeping you alive' he looked at him. 'By then we knew that moving you is too dangerous, I keep watch at the door while Artic was saying goodbye'

  'I think I heard her then' said Isaac but he wasn't so sure. 'All I felt was a cold touch at one point while the rest of my body was burning'

  'I'm not surprised' said Derek. 'Unfortunately by taking those things out of you in the first place we alerted the ACA and they came calling. We fought back of course, trying our best to run but they had us cornered. There was so many of them we thought we were going to die. Until he came'

  'He came down from above like a savoir and pushed them all back with a wave of his hand. They tried to shoot him down but the bullets bounce off him like rubber. Then in a quick flash he crushed a tank with his bare hand' said Derek, admiration glinting in his eyes. 'Our Hero saw that we were in trouble, he saved us'

  'Then he took you here' said Isaac.

  Derek drain the last of his drink. 'This place is amazing mate. Not only did he gave us a new home but he taught us how to control our powers, use them in ways we never thought possible. He will teach you as well, think about what you could achieve'

  Isaac glare at him. 'Derek…'

  'Steamstrike' he corrected.

  '…I don't think Hero is who he says he is' finished Isaac. 'He saved your lives and in return you become his soldiers. Isn't that kinda sending a wrong message?'

  'To who?' said Derek.

  'The city is scared of us because of our powers, but if we use them to help others and not attack the ACA then Aftershoks could become part of society again' said Isaac. 'Hasn't that crossed your mind, Hero just wants to control you because you are powerful'

  'Why do you do this?' he asked. 'We found a perfect place for us and of course you have to start questioning everything. Hero saved Artic mate; she would have been locked up in a dungeon somewhere if it wasn't for him. You were asleep so you had no idea what we went through'

  'Elizabeth would have been fine' said Isaac.

  'Her name is Artic'

  'No, to me you two will always be Elizabeth and Derek' said Isaac coldly. 'I admit from the minute I met this Hero of yours I did not trust him. I could tell a shark from a sea of dolphins and this guy has a big secret. He is making you, making her and everyone here into his personal army, he doesn't care about your safety, about you. He only cares about how useful you are in getting what he wants'

  'That is not true' snarled Derek.

  'What about this Ember person? Did you know he has people looking for them?' said Isaac. 'What would happened if this person is found, what would your Hero do then?'

  Derek stood up; fury written over his face. 'Do not question our Hero mate, he gave us everything we could ask for, gave us a future we will be proud of. Once the city is ours we will began our mission to rebuild the world to our image, the mortals will serve us like gods'

  'Listen to yourself' said Isaac standing up as well. 'You're talking about ruling the damn world, isn't that what a super villain usually talks about. He is not a Hero mate he made you all into the bad guys here and cover it all up with a friendly environment' everyone looked over to them. 'If this place is so great then why did Ember leave?'

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  'She has made a mistake' Derek said. 'So we need to find her'

  'To what, correct her?' said Isaac. 'You are going to force this girl to stay here for the rest of her life? Is that the rule here, we stay and serve this Hero until he has no use for us?'

  'Stop talking mate…' growled Derek.

  'You haven't called me by my name since I got here' Isaac said to him. 'You are willing to throw away your past like it meant nothing to you, like your old life is gone for good'

  'They outcasted us!' yelled Derek.

  'Because you lost it' Isaac said. 'You and Elizabeth had a bad experience that doesn't mean you should devote your lives to some guy with a pretty smile' his anger build around him, Mike was talking in his ear but Isaac ignored him. This is between him and his best mate.

  Derek glared at him. Isaac never saw him so angry before. 'So what do you suggest, become a dog for the cops. They were using you mate to fight against us. If Hero hasn't gotten you away from them you would have been the last one they lock up. Look around you' Isaac looked around at all the Aftershoks staring at them. 'Everyone here were outcasted from their own lives, their families, their friends, all turned against them once they found out what we have become. Do you think you are different, that your parents would still love you after you became a monster' Isaac look back at him. 'You're nothing without us, you were nothing as a mortal and you are nothing as an Aftershok. Our Hero will give you a purpose for your powers like he did for all of us'

  'He speaks the truth'

  Isaac turn his head to see Hero standing behind him. That slimy smile on his face makes him wanna slap it off. 'Everyone here was lost in the darkness but I help them see the light. You may not see it now but soon you will know I only want what's best for you'

  'By keeping me here?' said Isaac.

  'The world is too dangerous for you now' said Hero. 'I want you to stay so I can teach you to fight. Your heat can be the very difference in our war with the ACA'

  'So we're in a war now are we?' Isaac tilt his head. 'Those people fight us because they are scared'

  'And they should be' said Hero.

  'I can't believe this' said Isaac.

  'Isaac we still haven't gotten your location yet, keeping stalling as much as you can'

  Hero held out his hand. 'Take my hand, I promise I will help you see the truth. You will be an important member in our family. I know it will take time but I hope you will see me as your Hero as well, as do everyone here' Every Aftershok called out his name, even Derek was praising him. 'Artic spoke highly of you and she wishes she could see you fighting by her side. If not for me then do it for her'

  Elizabeth's face popped into his head; her smile always brightens his day no matter how dark it gets. He looked down at his hand, Hero's warm embrace emitting off himself, making Isaac actually think there might be truth to what he is saying. Even if he is not the type of guy he pretends to be, he really wants to see her again, to hold her in his arms. He reached out with his hand towards Hero's, their fingers about to meet…

  'DUOWAA!'

  Isaac roared as he formed his hand into a fist and punched Hero across the dining area, making him crash into many tables until he came to a stop at the end.

  The next thing that happened was yelling. Everyone was cursing his name, some of them activating their powers to take him down. Derek was screaming in his ear at what he has done but Isaac ignored them all. He kept his eyes on Hero and watching him sit up. No one noticed but he wiped blood off his lip before they could see. He can bleed like any man.

  Mike's voice grunted in his ear, 'You did something stupid, didn't you?'

  Before the people go on a full on riot, Hero rose above them and held out his hands for silence. He lowered until he stood back infront of Isaac, fury burning in his red eyes, the warm smile long gone by now. Time for his final test, if Hero is the man they all thought he is then he would give Isaac a chance to explain himself and he would gladly apologise.

  'That was a mistake' said Hero coldly, 'I can see you are not worthy to be one of us'

  Test failed; Isaac is so dead.

  Everyone was converging on him, anger on their faces, even Derek looks like he is ready to kill Isaac for what he has done. Isaac stood back, he jumped out of the way of a laser beam, ducked under flying saucers, and moved to the side as sharp blades of grass flew by. Isaac kept on moving until he put everyone else infront of him, the cabins, and trees right behind. 'I'm a little princess, I'm a little princess!' he cried.

  'Just a little more time Isaac' came Rebecca's voice. 'Mike is driving through the speed limits while we're closing in, just hang on!'

  'Why is he calling himself a princess?' called out one of the Aftershoks.

  Isaac grinned; this gives him an idea. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and held it up so they could all see. Hero was above them; his eyes widen in rage as everyone gasped. 'That's right I got a phone' said Isaac. 'Kinda surprise you got reception from all the way in the boonies but it worked in my favour. I am on the line with the ACA right now and they found my location'

  'He's lying!' said Derek trying to calm the people down. 'Trust me, he does this all the time to get out of trouble'

  'But what if he isn't?' said a woman with claws.

  'I believe they are taking their positions right now in the bush right behind you, ready to storm in with their tanks and guns and bringing you all down in one frail swoop' said Isaac. 'It was all part of my plan to turn your backs to them so they can start their attack' he looked at the time on his phone. 'In three… two… one…'

  'Everyone!' called out Hero as he turn, the Aftershoks all spun and fired their powers into the bush, kept on shooting until the trees light up from their powers. Hero held up a hand for them to hold. 'Someone go check' he ordered.

  One Aftershok, a skinny bloke goes up to the bush, taking careful steps as he peer into the darkness. He turn back to them, 'There's no one in there!' he called out to them. When the Aftershoks all turn back, Isaac was gone.

  Isaac ran through the bush, running as fast as his feet can carry him, pumping his arms madly. 'That was a risky bluff you did there' said Rebecca through the phone.

  'Thanks, I honestly didn't expect them to fall for it' gasped Isaac not stopping for a second until he reach some sign of the city.

  'We nearly got your position Isaac' said Mike. 'We're on our way to get you now…'

  But Isaac was met with a bat that knocked him over, hitting the ground as he look up to see Jumper swinging the bat down onto his head.

  Isaac was then running in a field of flowers, skipping high in the air as the birds sing around him and the sun smile down with his adorable face. As he beamed the sunbeams shine brighter on the bright blue sky. Isaac threw pedals of flowers from his basket as he skipped without a care in the world. Then of course he woke back up to stupid reality.

  His head was laying on the grass, the night sky above him showing the stars sparkling in the darkness. He could hear cheering and roars, lifting up his head to the side to see a stand where the Aftershoks all sat watching a soccer match. Except they are not watching a soccer match. Isaac sat up and found himself on a huge field, Hero across from him waving to his followers. Isaac looked around see each Aftershok at different ends of the field blocking any chance to escape. Derek stood on the edge watching him with hatred in his eyes he has never seen before. Isaac searched his pockets and pulled out the shattered remains of his phone.

  'Oh dooby dang' said Isaac.

  Hero held up his hand for silence. 'I am afraid this is a dark day for us all. Never have I thought I would be the one to put down one of our own' he look over to Isaac for a second, a new sadistic smile on his face. 'This Aftershok has betrayed us all, he chose to side with our enemies and will not stop until he sees us all in cages. This Aftershok wants to see what we built here go down in flames'

  Isaac got up on his feet, looking around for another way out. Sadly all he was met with death stares from the crowds and boos. Hero continued, 'We have to show them that we are not afraid. We are the new superior beings. They want us to be their pets to fight their battles like this traitor here' they booed louder at Isaac. 'We will show them that the mortal's time on this Earth is over! This planet belongs to the Aftershoks!'

  'HERO! HERO! HERO!' they all cheered.

  'Please tell me they aren't buying this bullshit' groaned Isaac.

  Hero turned to Isaac now. 'Now I must eliminate the one who will see our doom' he said. 'It pains me to do so but I must, to protect my people' this is an execution and Isaac knows for a fact that he is going to enjoy ending his life. 'However I will give this traitor a chance to defend himself. Three minutes' he held up three fingers. 'I will give him three minutes to take me down if he can' the crowd cheered louder, praising his name, and cursing Isaac a thousand really painful deaths on his head.

  'Three minutes huh' grinned Isaac. 'With how easily I knocked you down in your own camp I think that won't be a problem' he stepped closer and threw another punch into his jaw. In that instant Isaac felt the weight lifted from his punch and he crushed his fist against his jaw, which feels like a ton. Isaac screamed as he held his broken hand, blood seeping out as his fingers are all bent out of shape. 'What the hell?!' he cried, feeling the pain in all the bones in his hand. Isaac held it close as he stepped back.

  'What's the matter?' mocked Hero. 'I thought you were going to punch me'

  'Give me a minute will ya' gritted Isaac.

  'Actually Mr Clarke you have two' he smirk.

  Isaac push out a Heat Wave, but it has no effect. Hero didn't even feel the heat, just stood through it like he weigh a ton all of a sudden. 'Is that the best you got?' he asked.

  'Nah that was a practice one' lied Isaac. 'I still have a few tricks up my sleeve'

  'Then by all means, go right ahead. You are on the clock here'

  Isaac gulped. With nothing left to lose he came at Hero and use his Heat Rush, punching every spot on his body with rapid fire fists, sending the heat into his bones. But every one of his punches became lighter as they all felt like hitting a brick wall. Isaac stood back and screamed in agony; both of his hands broken beyond any normal limit. 'Music to my ears' smiled Hero. 'One Minute'

  Isaac is scared now. Both of his hands are broken and he is all out of attacks. He's only choice now is to run away but he got Aftershoks blocking any means of escape. With no choice left he got down on his knees, 'Please let me go!' he begged. 'I promise I will do anything; I'll join you! I can see you are the superior one here and I am so sorry for ever hitting your handsome face'

  'Such a shame Mr Clarke' said Hero. 'Fool me once shame on you, but you won't be able to fool me twice. Are you hoping I would let down my guard for your little display, so that you can pull off a sneak attack, maybe with your legs?' Isaac grunted; he can see through it. 'Your tricks won't work on me'

  With nothing left to lose, in pure desperation Isaac swung his leg and crushed it against Hero's thigh, feeling the ton bent his calf the wrong way. Isaac scream and fell back. He got nothing left to fight with. Hero lean down and grabbed the rim of his hoodie, pulling Isaac up, he then told him the words that made Isaac's heart plummet.

  'Time's up'

  He punched Isaac across the jaw, his jaw shattering like glass as his fist was ten times strong then anything he has ever felt before. Hero punched him again, and again, breaking his skull, blood pouring down his head as Isaac was mercilessly beaten. Hero held him there, 'You never stood a chance in the first place' he said to him. 'You are just a typical Aftershok while I am so much more. I was chosen by the lighting while you and everyone here got their powers from its shockwave'

  'What… what… you saying…' gasped out Isaac, unable to speak with a broken jaw right now.

  'I was hit by that lightning' Hero told him. 'I was chosen by fate to be your God. I have gain more abilities then the average Aftershok, for example I got a sixth sense that allows me to know if a Aftershok is near' Isaac gasped, that sounds like his Heat Sense. 'It was how I found you Mr Clarke'

  His skull was so much damaged that Isaac is having trouble breathing. His eyes widen as Hero is just like him, they both started from the same place. But why is he so much stronger, and why the hell couldn't he hit him? Well he did hit him before when he sucker punched him but that was only because he wasn't expecting it...

  He knows what his power is now.

  Hero struck him across the head, Isaac fell back onto the ground. Broken and defeated. He could hear the crowds cheering for their Hero, praising his names. Through the blood that covers half his vision he could see Derek looking at him from his spot. His face full of disappointment at what his friend has become. Hero knelt down besides his body and place his hand on his chest. 'I am going to kill you now' he said quietly to him, 'You have humiliated me infront of my people, made me look weak. That insult will not go unpunished' Isaac felt the gravity push down on him. 'I will make sure to tell Artic what a monster you have become, she will be so disappointed in you' he smiled sadistically.

  Isaac felt his rage build up inside, but unable to do anything about it. The ground started to shallow him up. Hero's sadistic smile being the last face he will see as he was buried alive underground, the force from his hand pushing him down deeper, deeper, until the sky was shallowed up with the dirt and still he was pushed deeper. Down into the ground where the dead men go.

  He couldn't breathe, he couldn't see, the darkness seeping in his vision as he was still being pushed. The ground has shallowed him up whole, he doesn't know which way was up or where he was pushed from. The ground was crushing him now, breaking more of his bones. Isaac closed his eyes to stop the dirt from going through his eyes, wishing to see the sunrise one last time. He started to get hotter, something very hot was coming up quick behind him.

  He can feel it, the heat from the Earth's Core. The burning as he was pushed closer and closer towards it. He feel the heat in his broken fingers, spreading them out through the pain. He could feel it funnel into them now, healing each broken bone in each finger, he kept on absorbing until all of his wounds were fixed up, his jaw set into place, the blood going back into his body, his leg cracking into place. Once he was fully healed he kept on absorbing, powering him up until he couldn't take any more, then he picked a direction.

  Using his overpowered Heat Thrusters, he burst forward through the ground. The dirt and stone cutting through him, cutting into his skin but he kept on pushing forward. Using all the heat he gain from the Earth's Core his thrusters burst with full power, until finally his face hit the surface and he was shot out from the ground like a bullet into the cold night sky, flying through the air until his thrusters ran out of juice. He fell back through the trees, hitting off the ground and tumbling. The whole experience pushed him to the brink of exhaustion but he can't pass out now. He flung his arms behind him and jumped, his Heat Thrusters burst for a second to give him a push through the trees, he tumble down a hill then hopped, used his thrusters to pushed forward until he fell off a cliff.

  Isaac fell, spinning around trying to move his arms at a safe direction. He aimed both arms at the cliff then used his thrusters. He shot backwards hitting the trunk of a tree and spun into the ground, knocking over branches and rocks as he rolled along the ground. He gritted his teeth and pushed again, sliding along until he hit his shoulder on a rock and tumble over, being flung back into the air and shot out his Heat Thrusters one more time, this time shooting through the trees until the heat ran out and he rolled along the ground, coming to a stop he fell face forward on the cold gravel. He groaned, barely keeping his eyes open as it took a lot to lift up his head.

  Lucky he did just in time, for a truck sped past and nearly ran his head over. Isaac yelp and flung himself back, resting on one elbow as he was on the side of a freeway. 'Perfect…' he said, falling back down on his back. He wanted to get to a road that way if someone sees him they can get help. He doesn't care who at this point for it could be anyone besides Hero and his stupid Revolution right now.

  First, as he closed his eyes, he is going to get a little sleep for a couple of minutes while the speeding cars drive past.