Five years ago, Miltron Labs pitched the use of laser gun technology to the Commonwealth government. It was rejected. That same year, the nation of Yugoslavia invaded the nation of Banapur. Later, the technology was used.
Three years ago, Miltron Labs pitched the use of new rocket-based suits to the Commonwealth Government. It was rejected. That same year, a rebellion erupted in the nation of Yugoslavia. It was quelled when a group of government agents jumped onto the scene. Their name was "The Rocket League."
One year ago, Miltron Labs proposed the creation of a new energy source, one that used dark matter. It was rejected.
Just a few weeks ago, Yugoslavia sent a ship out of the country for an unknown mission. It exploded soon after. That same week, Miltron received a shipment of new tech. It was robbed by members of the Flathead gang soon after. Although they were stopped, an important piece of tech went missing. Although no public records of it were found, theorists and leaders say it's something called a "Black Reactor." It ran on dark matter.
Something was connected between Yugoslavia and Miltron Labs. Something I was determined to find.
Stella paused for a moment as her recorder let out a loud beeping sound. It was pretty old, so it made a lot of unnecessary noises. However, this time she felt a sense of unease in her own apartment. The noise was the only sound she could hear. She ignored it, or at least tried to, and moved on.
"My brother, Jake... died a few weeks ago. A bus accident, at least, that's what I was told. Shortly after, the convenience store he worked at blew up. Before that, I discovered the manager had died a day prior to the explosion in an unknown accident. I did some digging on the guy but found nothing. No official records or ID that wasn't faked. This isn't really as rare as you'd think. Supers make fake identities all the time. But this man couldn't have been a super. I had been in this investigation for three years now, and this wasn't the first time I'd been discouraged. My boss, Mr. Print, a man obsessed with getting the latest story, told me to back off this case. What creeped me out more was what he told me: 'Evil always watches...'"
"This was what he meant. My brother is dead. My friend, Ivy, died alongside him. Was this a message? Was I next? At this point, I'm not even sure. I know I'm in danger, but the more it becomes obvious, the closer I am to discovering the truth. I wanted to be an investigative journalist but ended up being a news anchor. My parents were proud, my brother was proud. Everyone was proud of me, except for me. Not until I find out the truth. Once I've solved this, once Milten pays for his crimes, then I can be proud. Then I can feel that all this was worth it. The sleuthing, hiding, questioning, the sleepless nights... Jake's death... Well, for now, only time will tell."
Jake watched her from the roof of a neighboring apartment. She was talking to herself with a voice recorder and running around her room frantically. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. But he did keep them off Ivy. Something she wasn't very happy to notice.
"Hey! Jake! Were you listening?" she asked as she nudged him, breaking his trance.
"Uh... yeah?"
"Really? Then what's the last thing I said?"
"Well... uh... you asked if I was listening?" He answered, realizing his mistake and pulling her closer for a hug.
"You goof!" She shouted, pushing him away.
"Come on, I was concentrating on Stella. I don't know why, but I feel like she's in danger."
"Danger? Well, I wouldn't put it past her. She is a pretty reckless girl. I should know. I am... uh... was her friend."
Jake noticed her facing away from Stella's window.
"Hey, uh... maybe you want to, I don't know, meet up with her? She thinks we're both dead. Maybe we can set the record straight?"
How did she get herself into this? She wanted to go on a little patrol. Some bonding time with the man she loved, maybe even a chance to find a good crime to stop and prove herself. Yet she let Jake take the lead, and there she was, standing in front of the apartment of her friend, Stella, the one who brought these two together, watching her every move. But now wasn't the time for this.
Ivy chuckled and this time she pulled Jake over for a hug.
"You're sweet, but no."
"Why not?"
"Because Milten forbade us from interfering with our civilian lives. Once we took his deal, him saving our lives in exchange for this new life, we swore to cut off all our old ties. You did it for Zack and your old team the day you punched him, why not now?"
"This is my sister, Ivy! I've known her longer than most people in my life. Even you. I... I just want to see her. Not just stand outside her apartment like some freak. Really see her. Talk to her. Let her know her only brother in this messed up world is still alive."
"She was my friend too, Jake."
"Then why can't you..."
BOOM!
Before he could finish his sentence, a large, powerful explosion could not only be heard, but felt not far from here.
"Jake!" Ivy shouted, disoriented from the noise.
"Yeah! I heard."
"W-we need to move!" She ordered and leaped off the building and landed on another.
Jake turned back to see Stella checking her window after the explosion. He stared blankly for a moment until a small brick hit the back of his head.
"Jake! Now!" Ivy shouted from a few buildings away.
"Y-yeah. Sure."
Jake's body began to glow blue as he activated his superspeed. With the merging of his shadow and human abilities, not only has Jake enhanced his ability to store kinetic energy, but he can also turn it into power much more efficiently, making him many times stronger than he was before. Not as much as the likes of Captain Rocket and Hawk Knight, but damn close.
Using his speed, he leaped from building to building, passing Ivy in the process. Ivy, not far behind, dashed across the roofs in order to catch up. This was her chance to prove herself. Whatever was on the other side of this blast was hers to take down. She barely did anything to take down Dragon Li, but not this time. Now it's Ivy... no... Viper's time to shine.
To be continued