Slums / Kairos Encounter
Johnson passed by the slums and spotted an old beggar sitting on the cracked pavement.
"Young child," the beggar begged, "would you be so kind as to lend me one dollar or even one cent? I would be very grateful to get food tonight."
Johnson, still walking, brought out some money. "Here, I've got seven thousand dollars. I think this should be enough for a few days, wouldn't it?"
The beggar hesitated and shook his head, taking only fifty dollars. "I can't accept this huge amount of money from a young boy like you. God would not forgive me if I do."
Johnson laughed. "Ha! You are a very funny old man. That reminds me—I've seen you before, haven't I?"
The beggar smiled faintly. "Yes, I have. You helped me that day with some pizza and stopped some robbers from stealing from me with your abilities."
Johnson scratched his head, alarmed. "Yeah, I did… Wait, abilities? What are you talking about?"
"I'm over 250 years old," the beggar replied. "I know a Beta when I see one, and you are not a Beta, my dear."
Curious but trying to divert the conversation, Johnson sat down near him and opened a box of pizza. "Would you care for a bite?"
"Sure, thank you," the beggar said, accepting a slice.
Johnson leaned closer. "So tell me, why are you still here in these dangerous parts of the slums? A Xenomorph or demi-human could kill you if they see you."
The beggar looked at him with a hint of amusement. "I could ask you the same thing, kid."
Johnson panicked. "Uh… I…"
The beggar sighed. "Life wasn't always like this in this city, no, this country. Those with abilities are favored, and non-humans and Xenomorphs are discriminated against. I don't have any ability, that's why I live in the slums. Ten years ago, before De Great Labs was built, I had a business and helped the Xenomorphs. But as soon as De Great Labs came into the city, I went bankrupt."
Johnson frowned. "Oh my God, it must have been hard for you. But why didn't you move out to, like, Hubs City, where businesses thrive, or Better Smart City?"
The beggar sighed again. "My business was all over the continent, but it was seized and brought down in other countries by UN policies against non-powered humans and Xenomorphs. The world changed from how it used to be."
Confused, Johnson asked, "I thought Xenomorphs were animals that evolved into human-like creatures and were dangerous?"
"They are not animals," the beggar replied, "and they were not dangerous like they are now."
Johnson frowned. "What do you mean?"
The beggar chopped Johnson lightly on the head. "Listen when an elder is talking before asking questions, okay?"
"Yes, sir," Johnson replied immediately.
"Good. Now, back to my story. The sentient creatures are not aliens or animals. They came from another realm through a portal ten years ago. Xenomorphic creatures, on the other hand, are more or less the lower versions of sentient creatures that rely only on instinct. The animal-like variants were made by humans experimenting with Xenomorphic DNA. The experiments went wrong, and the creatures roamed free, killing many people. When the sentient creatures heard of this, they came to stop the attacks, but humans fought against them. Xenomorphic creatures were sent far off to the Dark Continent."
Johnson quickly typed into his phone. "The Dark Continent… you mean Africa, right?"
The beggar nodded. "Yes, there. I don't know much about that place, as I hear it's been cut off from the UN and modern civilization."
Johnson asked, "So why did you stay in the slums?"
"Because I have no place to stay or how to get back on my feet," the beggar replied.
Johnson considered for a moment. "Hmm… if I built a house around here, would anyone complain?"
"Not really," the beggar said. "Here, we are all trying to survive, so a house or two isn't worth much. In fact, it would help the homeless."
Johnson smiled. "Okay, I've got something to show you."
The beggar's eyes widened as Johnson held him by the arm and moved him to a treehouse. "Welcome to your new home."
The beggar looked around in disbelief. "You built this place… for me?"
"Yes," Johnson said. "I figured you would need somewhere to sleep. I could come back to meet you another time, but I'm surprised you're still standing."
The beggar asked confused.
"How did I get here?"
Johnson explained, "I used my speed to bring you 300 kilometers from where we were talking two seconds ago. And you're not burning up. But still, it's nice to meet you."
The beggar smiled, lying back and beginning to thank him. "Thank you very much for everything you've done. I pray God will bless you abundantly and grant your heart's desires."
Johnson handed him keys. "Look, I even prepared rooms for you, built a toilet, and made this comfy bed out of the best materials."
The beggar thanked him again. "May God bless you abundantly."
Johnson sighed. "You don't have to do all this," he said, helping him sit. "And here, take a pizza box. God can't bless me. I can't be blessed by someone who doesn't love me."
The beggar patted him. "That's not true. God loves you dearly. Be grateful to Him for life. He is the reason you are still alive. God loves you, kid. He really does."
Johnson flipped a coin. "I can't be loved by anyone or anything. That's a fact. I realized that six years ago. If God loved me, He wouldn't have let my mom and dad die in an accident, or made me the lowest-ranked in school, or given me abilities that can kill me anytime I use them. God doesn't care about me. I don't even care about myself. He's the reason I'm alive? I'd prefer He took my life instead. He's taken too much from me. I have nothing."
The beggar looked surprised. "I may not fully understand what you've gone through, and I'm sorry for anything bad that's happened to you."
Johnson cut in, smiling faintly. "I'm fine. I'm sorry if I startled you with my problems. You don't have to apologize." He turned to leave.
The beggar called out, "I never got to know your name, kid."
Johnson turned. "Ah, yes. My name is Johnson Stones. What's yours?"
"I'm… Kairos. Just call me Kairos. But you know… 'all things work together for good to those that love God.' Do you love God?"
Johnson laughed. "You're funny. Of course I do love God, but my love is unrequited. I love everything and everyone except…"
"Yourself, right?" Kairos finished. "I know the feeling. I hated myself once, long ago. But I found out that God cares, and I found peace. You should treasure yourself more."
Johnson shook his head. "Nah. I can't love myself—it's a joke. But I'll take your advice. It's getting late; my family might be worried."
Kairos patted him and released energy into him, pausing time. "You need to use your full potential," he whispered. "You are stronger than you think." Time resumed.
Johnson noticed a ring on his finger. "Oh, this suddenly appeared, and it won't come off."
"I see," Kairos said. "I can help with that next time you visit."
Johnson nodded. "Thanks. I'll be on my way."
Kairos smiled. "Okay, bye."
Johnson put on his hoodie and vanished in a second.
Kairos tapped the walls of the house, and the treehouse transformed back into a proper brick home.
From the air, Helon appeared. "Still playing the old homeless beggar, Stephen Stones? You know you shouldn't be visiting or helping him."
Kairos shrugged. "Who decided that? Besides, he's my son, and I miss him."
"You did, sire. You placed the no-obstruction-of-timeline rule, and you're breaking it."
"You don't have to be so formal with me," Kairos said, opening a door to CKADVANTUS PENDULA. "He needs me now. The kid, I mean."
"You could have helped him when you were alive or kept his mom alive."
"As much as I loved Rossana, I can't disrupt the flow of time. Meeting Johnson is a timed event, compulsory in this timeline."
Helon sighed. "You should reveal yourself. Helping him like this isn't right."
Kairos smiled. "Don't worry. The timeline won't be obstructed. I'll make it look like I wasn't here, but I was."
"You're going to swap again?"
"Yeah, like I did with that old woman whose son was sick."
Helon nodded. "Fair enough. As long as it doesn't disrupt order, I'm fine."
Kairos walked into the city base as residents greeted him. "Hey, how is That person?"
"He is still sealed for now," Helon replied.
Kairos entered another portal. "Okay. Help me check up on him from time to time."
"Yes, sire!" Helon responded, and they parted as the light faded.