Late at night on a deserted Smallville road, a beat-up car roared, the engine straining under the weight of its precious cargo. "Woohoo! We definitely hit the jackpot! Our lives are finally gonna get better, baby!" the driver, a greasy-haired man with a wild glint in his eye, shouted, glancing at the four duffel bags overflowing with cash.
"Next stop, Hawaii! Where you can drink what you want and have all the alone time you want," the woman purred, her voice a seductive whisper. He leered, leaning in for a sloppy kiss, momentarily losing control of the speeding vehicle. A glint of metal flashed in the headlights – a battered door ripped from its hinges, seemingly emerging from the dark woods. He swerved, tires screeching. "Ahhhhhh!" they both screamed as the car slammed head-on into a power grid generator, the impact deafening. Their bodies convulsed as high-voltage electricity coursed through them.
In the back seat, bathed in the eerie glow, were strange, green, meteor rocks. The electricity surged into them, bathing the interior in an unnatural, verdant light. Then, silence. The car was a charred husk. The next day dawned bright and clear. A first-person perspective soared through the clouds above Smallville, the wind whipping through unseen hair. Kalin... the feeling was strong. Then, a jolt. Kalin awoke with a start, ten inches above his bed, before plummeting to the floor with a thump.
"I think I'm still dreaming," he mumbled, stretching and yawning. He pulled on a white shirt and pajama pants patterned with faded blue squares and headed downstairs. "Well, this is interesting. Kalin not sleeping in on a Saturday," his father, Garrett, commented, lowering his newspaper. "Had a weird dream," Kalin replied, sliding into a chair at the kitchen table and piling a plate high with pancakes. "About what?" his mother, Isabel, asked, stirring her coffee. "I was flying. But what's stranger is, I think I was floating when I woke up."
"You were probably still half-asleep," Isabel said, smiling. "Yeah," Kalin conceded, already stuffing his face with pancakes. Across town, at a bustling café, Lara and Neil were walking in. "How about we catch that new movie? I heard it's gonna be good," Neil suggested. "Can't. I gotta help my Mom clean out my dad's stuff for donation," Lara said, sadness lacing her voice. "Oh. So, it's that time. If you guys need help, I'm right here," Neil offered, squeezing her hand. "Thank you," Lara said softly, as they spotted an empty table and sat down. Unbeknownst to them, a man and a woman in bulky, concealing coats were already inside, lurking near the back.
"You ready?" the man hissed, his eyes darting nervously around the room. The woman nodded, her face pale and drawn. "Okay, everyone, put your hands up, and this will go smoothly," the man announced, his voice cracking with forced bravado. But the patrons, used to Smallville's quiet routine, mostly ignored him. "Put your hands up, Cindy and Miller!" a stern voice boomed. A uniformed police officer stood in the doorway, gun drawn, recognizing the pair.
"I guess he can be the demonstration. What you think, honey?" Miller sneered. Cindy's hands began to crackle with electricity, her eyes glowing an unnatural, icy blue. Then, with a terrifying surge, she unleashed a bolt of lightning at the officer. The energy slammed into him, piercing straight through, killing him instantly. A collective gasp filled the café. "Now, people. I'm only gonna ask once. Give me everything you own, now!" Miller commanded, his voice cold and menacing.
Few minutes pass Miller with a predatory grin, moved systematically through the patrons, Cindy's watchful eyes scanning the room from her post near the entrance. He stopped before Lara and Neil, his hand outstretched. As they emptied their pockets, Miller sneered, "Like I expect from kids these days. You know, when I was your age, I had four jobs." He snatched the twenty dollars from Neil's trembling hand and then his gaze fell upon Lara's necklaces. "Those necklaces too." Lara's hand tightened around the delicate chains.
"No, you have the money! Just leave her alone," Neil protested, rising to his feet. Miller chuckled, grabbing Neil by the throat and hoisting him into the air. "Brave kid. Protecting your woman. Wrong time to be a hero." "Okay, stop! You can have it. Just put him down," Lara pleaded, unclasping the necklaces, each adorned with a small green gemstone. Miller released Neil, snatching the necklaces from Lara's outstretched hand.
"Thanks." "Honey, we should go," Cindy hissed, spotting the flashing lights of police cars pulling up outside. Miller nodded, and they bolted out of the café, unleashing bolts of crackling electricity as they fled, vanishing before the police could react. "Neil, are you okay?" Lara asked, kneeling beside him. "Yeah. But your necklaces…" Neil trailed off, seeing the despair in Lara's eyes. Meanwhile, miles away on his family farm, Kalin effortlessly carried eight straw bales on his shoulders, placing them one by one into the pig pen.
"Eat up, guys!" he called out. "Kalin, your phone's ringing!" Isabel shouted from the house. Kalin, in a blur of motion, was beside her in an instant. "Thanks, Mom." He answered the call. It was Lara, her voice tight with distress, recounting the events at the café. Minutes later, Kalin arrived at the café, finding Lara talking to a police officer. "Lara, you okay?" he asked, approaching her as the policeman walked away. "Yeah," Lara replied, her voice flat. "But they took your necklace. It was important, right?" Neil added.
"Yeah, it was given to me by my dad before he passed," Lara said, her voice heavy with sadness. "These guys were also freaks. They had control of electricity or something," Neil said, shaking his head. "Great, it's only been a week, and there are more super-powered people. I wonder what's causing this?" Kalin thought, noticing Lara's despondent expression. "Don't worry, Lara, they'll find it," he said, offering a comforting smile. "Let me take you back home," Neil said, guiding Lara away.
Back at the farm, Kalin was deep in conversation with his parents. "So, there's more of these super-powered people," Isabel said, concern etched on her face. "Yeah, I just wonder where they're coming from?" Kalin questioned. "Do you know who they are or their abilities?" Garrett asked. "They have electricity abilities. And I don't know who they are," Kalin replied. "What are you thinking?" Isabel asked, her eyes meeting Kalin's. "What if I turn out like these people? I mean, I also have powers, just like them," Kalin said, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
Isabel and Garrett exchanged a worried glance. "Well, in the meantime, the fence needs to be put up," Garrett said, changing the subject. Kalin nodded and, with a burst of speed, disappeared. "You think it's time?" Isabel asked Garrett, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't know. First, let's let him deal with this," Garrett replied.
The flickering fluorescent lights of the abandoned warehouse cast long, distorted shadows, illuminating the ill-gotten gains scattered around Miller and Cindy. "That was a rush! Next, we hit the bank, right?" Cindy's voice crackled with excitement. Miller chuckled, a glint of ambition in his eyes.
"Oh, we're thinking bigger, baby. After this, the toughest bank in Metropolis is next on the list." Cindy playfully shoved him. "Slow down, hotshot. First, we bleed Smallville dry." She grabbed his collar, pulling him into a passionate kiss. Electric sparks literally crackled between them, a shocking display of their volatile connection. "Wow," Cindy breathed, catching her breath as she unbuttoned her shirt, Miller mirroring her actions, their desire as reckless as their heists.
Meanwhile, a world away in a modest Smallville home, Lara stood transfixed, staring at a photograph in her room. It was a picture of a kind-faced man with dark hair, her father. "I'm sorry, Dad," she whispered, a wave of guilt washing over her. "Lara, dinner's ready!" her mother called, opening the door. She saw the pained expression on Lara's face, the photo clutched in her hand.
"Lara, I'm sure the police will get it back," she said softly, referring to the stolen necklace. "I know, Mom, but… Dad gave it to me when he got sick. I promised him I'd keep it safe." Her voice trembled. "It's not your fault, honey. Now, come on, I made your favorite." Her mother's gentle coaxing finally broke through Lara's grief. She stood up, her face still etched with sorrow.
Miles away, Kalin, a figure shrouded in speed, scoured the outskirts of Smallville. He searched every dilapidated building, every forgotten corner, finally stopping before the same abandoned warehouse where Miller and Cindy were plotting their next crime. "I hope this is the one," he thought, his jaw tight with determination. He pushed open the creaking door, the sound echoing in the vast emptiness.
He moved cautiously inside, his senses on high alert. "Kid, you're in the wrong place. I suggest you leave," Miller's gruff voice cut through the silence. Kalin whirled around, his eyes hardening. "Not without the necklaces you stole." Miller raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Necklaces?" "He means this," Cindy purred, stepping forward, the stolen necklaces dangling provocatively from her fingers.
"Oh, from that girl. I see, so you came here to impress her. I respect that, kid, seeing how she was with another guy but you should leave." Before Miller could finish, Kalin exploded into action, blurring across the room with superhuman speed. He reached for the necklaces, but as his hand closed around it, a wave of nausea and weakness washed over him.
He stumbled, collapsing to the ground. "I see, you're a freak too," Cindy sneered, her hand crackling with electric energy. "But you should have listened to him." With a brutal punch, she sent Kalin flying out of the warehouse and crashing into the murky water outside. "Sorry, kid," Miller said, a chilling smile spreading across his face as he turned to Cindy.
"Let's go rob that bank." The pair disappeared into the night, leaving Kalin broken and defeated. Minutes passed before Kalin, sputtering and gasping for air, dragged himself onto the rotting wooden pier. He lay there, shivering, as his busted lip slowly knit itself back together.
Then sputtered, spitting out muddy water. "That sucked," he muttered to himself, pushing himself to his feet. His red shirt clung to him, heavy and dripping. He glanced around, disoriented. Meanwhile, a few blocks away, Neil cruised down Main Street in his pickup. He spotted Miller, heading towards the Smallville Bank. A cold knot tightened in his stomach. Neil pulled over, parking near the bank, and frantically dialed 911.
"It's not nice to spy, kid." Neil's blood ran cold. He looked up and saw Cindy, standing beside his truck. Before he could react, an arc of blinding electricity crackled from her hands, slamming into the vehicle. The truck flipped, the world turning upside down in a screech of metal. A couple of minutes later, Kalin, having finally gotten his bearings, sprinted towards the overturned truck.
"Neil?" he shouted, fear lacing his voice. He saw Neil slumped inside, unconscious. Kalin bend put his hands underneath then flipping the truck back onto its wheels with slightly effort. He carefully pulled Neil from the wreckage. "Neil! Neil, wake up!" Kalin yelled, gently shaking him. "Kalin? What are you doing here?" Neil groaned, clutching his head.
"We have to call the police! Those criminals are about to rob the bank… the same ones that stole Lara's necklaces!" He struggled to stand, but Kalin was already gone. Inside the bank, Miller charged up electricity in his hands, unleashing a destructive blast that shattered the front doors. The alarms wailed, a deafening shriek. "Well, the easy part's over," Miller said, casually blasting the security cameras.
"I got the vault. Keep the cops busy. Next is Metropolis," Cindy said, gliding past him. "Actually, next stop is jail," a voice said. Kalin was in front of Miller, grabbed him by the collar, and hurled him against the vault door with a resounding clang. Cindy retaliated, unleashing a bolt of lightning at Kalin. He instinctively raised his hands, the raw power surging through his body. He dropped to one knee, gritting his teeth against the pain.
Seeing a desk nearby, he threw it at Cindy. She dodged it with ease. "Please stop this… I really… I don't wanna…" Kalin said, staggering forward. The same familiar nausea washed over him. He faltered, backing away. Miller seized the opportunity, firing a concentrated bolt of lightning directly at Kalin's chest, sending him crashing through the plate glass window.
Kalin lay on the sidewalk, clutching his chest, gasping for air. Every breath was agony. "Kid just doesn't know when to quit," Miller said, helping Cindy to her feet. "All this for some necklaces. I guess since he's put in enough effort, he can have it." Cindy pulled out Lara's necklace and tossed it onto Kalin's chest. "Come on. I'm itching for Metropolis." Cindy turned and re-entered the bank.
Kalin struggled to lift the necklace, but his entire body felt unbearably heavy. Darkness crept at the edges of his vision as green, vine-like marks spread from his chest across his body. He fought to stay conscious. Neil crept through the shadows, careful not to make a sound. He reached Kalin and knelt beside him, noticing the burn mark on his chest. His eyes flicked to the necklace, which he slipped into his pocket.
"Kalin, you okay?" Neil asked gently. "Don't worry. Help should be here soon." With Neil gone, Kalin felt the green veins vanish and the heaviness lift. His chest healed almost instantly. He stood, taking a shaky breath. Back in the bank, Cindy let out a concentrated blast, punching a hole in the vault door. "Finally," Miller muttered—but before he could step inside, Kalin surged forward, pinning him against the wall.
"I can't let you steal everyone's money," Kalin said, muscles tensed. Cindy's lightning hit his back, making him grunt in pain. "You're really getting on my nerves, kid," Miller hissed, his eyes glowing blue as sparks of electricity danced around him. Cindy mirrored him. They fired blasts of electricity at him, but Kalin dodged, weaving between them with tense precision. He muttered to himself, "There's gotta be a way to stop them… Maybe if I overload them… This is going to hurt."
He darted to the center of the room, slowing down just long enough to get hit by their combined energy. "Ahhh!" he screamed as electricity coursed through him, intensifying. He fell to one knee. "What's going on? I can't stop!" Cindy cried, as blue light began to radiate from both her and Miller. Everyone in the room screamed in pain. A bright blue glow filled the space, followed by a deafening boom that shook the entire town.
When the light faded, Kalin lay unconscious, his shirt burned through in several places. Cindy and Miller were gone—completely denigrated. The wail of sirens roused Kalin. He struggled to his feet, chest aching, before sprinting out of the bank with super speed. He arrived at Lara's house and ducked into the shadows, spotting Neil at her front door. "Hey, Lara. I found this for you," Neil said, holding out the necklaces.
"How did you get it?" Lara asked, astonished. "You know me—I'll do anything for you. And I know this was really important." Neil gently placed the necklace around her neck. "Thank you, Neil. Really." Lara hugged him tightly. Time seemed to slow as Neil leaned in, but Kalin, seeing the moment, sped away in a blur. "I should go inside," Lara murmured, opening her door and closing it behind her.
"Yes," Neil whispered to himself, smiling faintly. Lara pressed her hand to the necklace, feeling its weight and significance. "That wasn't Kalin," a girl said from the bathroom, brushing her teeth. "You have to make your choice—either him, Kalin, or none," she added, heading upstairs. Later, Kalin arrived home, moving slowly and exhausted.
"Hey, Mom," he said in a deadpan tone. "Kalin, wait—we have something to talk to you about," Isabel said, holding a small crystal in her hand. "You're going to need to sit down," his father added, eyes serious. Kalin froze, a sense of dread settling over him.
A/N Neil that weasel.