Flames of the Youth

Attack on Freeway leaves 39 dead.

Starlio scanned the article,hoping for the best but expecting the worst as among the list of casualties,he spotted Xavier Navarro's name.The mentor that had brought him from a poor and lost child to a wealthy and successful teenager he is today,someone whose engineering and inventing skills became almost unparalleled to the rest of the world.

How did we end up like this?

"You ready?"Shannon asks him,offering him her hand.

"Yea...yea let's go."

Shannon and Starlio made their way down the condominium slowly,both of them famished and drained,holding hands together to the lobby where they were greeted by an extremely confused resident of the condo building."Are you two....lost?"The resident asks.

"Is there....any food or drinks nearby?"Starlio asks.

"There's a vending machine right that way."The resident points to his right as Shannon mutters:"Thanks."The two teenagers started making their way over to the vending machine,buying a couple of drinks and chocolate bars to help replenish themselves temporarily.

"Any ideas where to from here?"Shannon asks.

"I think we just continue moving up for now,circle the perimeter of the city."Starlio tells Shannon."What about our friends?We can't let them be stuck in that cell forever right?"

"Javier's taking care of that.Last I heard he should be able to get them out using the legal system.After all they really have no more excuses to hold four innocent teenagers forever right?I think for now we just...find somewhere to settle down a little and..."Starlio looked at the Model 4,which was hovering above them,awaiting it's next command.

"Yea we need to fix that guy a little as well."Starlio noticed the dents on the armor.

Hours passed as the two tired teens made their way across the city,trying to avoid major roads and streets in fear of being spotted while Starlio found a wheelbarrow,collapsing the Model 4 into it,covering it with a cloth they found and with it,moving the armor through the streets."We should probably get some food."Starlio admits as Shannon grabbed her wallet,checking her cash count.

"I can get us some food.Did you bring any cash with you?"Shannon asks.

"I didn't bring my wallet out."Starlio replies.

Shannon looked around them,spotting a car repair shop along the side of a fairly empty street."There,that would probably have tools for you to repair your armor right?"Shannon pointed to the car shop."Looks good."Starlio answers her as the two teens approached the car shop to be greeted by a fairly well built African American man in his late 40s,working on a car.

"Hello?"Starlio asks.

The man turned around:"Hi?Wait a minute...you're the kid."The man's eyes widened,recognizing the famed teenager who was front of center of many news headlines for many weeks."Yes...I'm Starlio Stex,do you work here?"

"Nah dude,this is a community shop.No one really owns this place.The owner once had a car shop here but after his passing,his children realized that many people in this community needed the tools to run their businesses and do found it more beneficial to keep it for the community for whoever needs to repair their stuff.People just come here and use the tools for absolutely no fee whatsoever.Feel free to use whatever you need man."The man answers Starlio.

"Wait...so anything,we can just use the tools here for nothing?"Shannon confirms.

"Yea.Feel free man."The man offers as Starlio and Shannon exchanged a gleeful smile with one another,knowing that this was exactly what they needed."Alright thanks man,we'll be getting to work."Starlio pushed the wheelbarrow,setting the Model 4 down on a table at the corner of the car shop,greatly astonishing the man.

"Whoa...you do have another one."The man's jaw hung wide open.

"Yep.Also...we don't want anyone knowing we are here,do you mind-"

"Yea my mouth's shut."The man promised.

"Thanks man."

-

Joseline observed the policemen that were guarding them,hoping that one of them,any one of the corrupted enforcement officers would take a break,slack off or even let their guards down for a second but after almost two full days,that seemed extremely unlikely.

"Any luck?"Frank whispers.

"No clue.Looks like we are guarded round the clock."Joseline answers him.

Roy was looking at the clock on the wall,each minute passing and causing his heart to worry increasingly.With Angie the only one aware about the situation with his father,she couldn't help but feel extremely bad for him.There was nothing they could do.

"You alright?Don't worry too much alright?I'm sure Starlio is finding a way to get us out soon."Angie tried her best to sound comforting.

"Every minute that passes....I don't know if anything will happen to him."Roy admits,worrying about his father's condition in the hospital."Nothing will happen alright?When we get out of here,I need you to follow me to my parents' shop."

"Your parents' shop?"Roy queried.

"A herb store.Some of which are beneficial for cancer patients."Angie offered.

"Oi,stop talking.Your dinner."A guard pounded his baton against the jail cell's bars,throwing in four plain buns to the four teenagers."Anything more or is this only shit the rich and infamous Chairman can afford for his hostages?"Frank stood up,confronting the guards.

"Frank,don't."Angie warns.

Roy prayed to himself,just hoping that this nightmare would end soon."What are the chances that Starlio would be able to find us,much less able to beat all these people,Titus included and keep us all safe and sound in the end Roy?"Frank asks the prodigy's oldest friend,who looked up at the former bully,analyzing his past memories of Starlio for an answer.

"From what I've seen from him...the chances are pretty high."Roy smiled.

Joseline and Angie's interests peaked as the two looked at Roy,waiting for his conclusion to be further explained."He is a person who refuses to back down no matter what is thrown at him.I mean...who the hell would thought a 14 year old teenager like us would be able to build a fully functioning jet pack from nothing more than spare parts from a scrapyard and after that,use that same jet pack to infiltrate the nest of a human trafficking organization and rescue them out all in one piece."Roy tells them.

"But this time its different...will he really-"Angie began.

"He will.He cares about the people around him more than anything in this world.I've seen him literally go from a starving kid to the guy he is today,all within the last year mind you.I have faith in him."Roy stood his ground,giving the group a newfound confidence in their fates.

"Let's hope you're right."Frank says.

-

Night arrived.

A continuously tried Starlio was still working on the Model 4,successfully repairing most of the armor already.The people in the community were nice enough to keep Starlio's presence here a complete secret among them,allowing the teenager to fix the armor quietly.

"Star,dinner."Shannon returned to the car shop with two packets of salmon pasta and a bottle of milk coffee for him."

"Thanks."Starlio sat down for the first time in hours,allowing himself to rest.

Shannon smiled,sitting closely next to him and began eating her meal.Starlio noticed her arm,still swelling from the bullet she took for him as he reached out for her hand,holding it tightly to her pleasant surprise."I...I really don't know what would I do without you."Starlio thanked the girl he confessed to.

"You don't have to.We confessed to each other already right?What are we now?"Shannon asks softly.

"We.."Starlio couldn't believe that this moment was happening.A thought he avoided due to it's almost impossible nature,but one that he finally got to fulfill in front of himself right now."We are dating.You're my girlfriend.Right?"

"I was waiting for you to say that."Shannon slapped him lightly on the arm.

"Where's your drink?"Starlio asks,noticing Shannon's meal as she shook her head:"Didn't have enough for one.It's fine though I'm not-"

Starlio held up the bottled coffee she bought,offering her some.Shannon smiled as the two teenagers finished their meal when the African American man returned."Whoa you two kids still here?Do you have no where else to go?"

"Not at the moment.We'll leave soon though."Starlio answered.

"Hey it's fine man.There's a room upstairs that's unoccupied.There's a couch there you can crash on if you don't mind.No one's gonna bother you there."The African American man offers as Shannon thanked him:"You're such a great help for us.Thank you so much."

"No problem.Just clean things up after you're done yea?"

Starlio and Shannon found themselves staring awkwardly at a fairly wide couch,within a small room located at the second floor of the car shop with a simple fan and table in front of them."I guess we crash here for tonight,I'll fly around the city tomorrow,see if I can find any clues of Roy and the rest."Starlio tells Shannon who sat on the couch,leaning back in exhaustion,the injury on her arm clearly exhausting her more.

"Yea...yea that sounds great."Shannon signaled for Starlio to join her.

Starlio set the Model 4 down on the corner of the room,sitting next to Shannon very awkwardly.Shannon giggled,noticing the intense blush from Starlio as she hugged him,leaning against his chest and Starlio himself,smiling and wrapping his arms around her in return."I'd better get used to this."Starlio mutters.

"Yea..."Shannon agrees.

"Shan...I know we just...started this but I need to know.Why...after all these,do you still decide that I'm the one for you?I will bring nothing but danger and politics into your life.I know...I'm kinda digging my own grave here but...it's a question that I feel is better answered early than late."Starlio asks,stroking her hair.

"I wonder why you chose me too.I'm just a very normal girl.I'm not particularly sexy or smart,what did you see in me?"Shannon returned the question.

"Hey come on I asked first."

"Alright,alright.I...I'm going to be honest...I'm not too sure why."

Starlio narrowed his eyes:"Wow."

"No,no I didn't mean it that way.I mean...I like you,of course.Why else would I be cuddling with you now?Anyway...I'm following what my heart says.You are someone who is very special,not just to me but to many.Of course there was a time where I didn't really cared about you,when we were first in the same class together?To me you were just a very smart guy,like...I admired your intellect but nothing more because we didn't really talk right?"Shannon looked up at him.

"Yea of course."Starlio replied.

"But then the canteen happened.You showed up to my aid,brave and selfless,a trait I don't see in many which is sad to say.Then we started talking,I realized that beyond your intellect,you were a genuinely nice person.Someone who was kind and giving,who despite having nothing much,tried your best to give others something.You showing up at the construction site to rescue me only further confirmed my crush on you."Shannon finished.

"You already liked me-"

"Yes,before you literally flew to my rescue.But I was pretty unsure of my feelings then.After all we're still very young,I know basically nothing about dating life and didn't wanna rush into any relationships.But after these few days,where our very lives might end at any moment,I didn't wanna delay things further so....here I am.So...why did you choose me?"Shannon asks.

Starlio pursed his lips,giving himself a moment to think.

"I rarely had any friends before Roy and Conner.Throughout my life,I barely got any attention or love from my parents.My Dad's a jerk,that's a very established fact and it's not my Mom's fault but...she's always working to support us and my grandparents passed pretty early on.We didn't have much relatives either and not like they cared much about us.

Mitchell and I had to learn to live without love basically.In elementary school,kids thought I was a weirdo because of the things I say you know...before they discovered my intellect so I didn't have much friends back then,much less any interactions with any girls before knowing you.

Of course Conner and Roy eased the loneliness by a ton but when it came to romance and love,I had no idea what it was until I began talking to you.I saved you purely because it was the right thing to do and I had no intention from furthering anything from there but then...we started talking more and I realized that you provided me with a level of empathy which I never felt before.You made me feel loved and I guess it would be a weird way to put it but....warm."Starlio admits.

Shannon looked at him in the eyes,her interest peaking.

"Yea...I know you may not think you are special,but I've seen other girls before.Many of them are like into fashion,impressing boys,gossiping and stuff no offense but...I like a humble and nice girl.You yourself asked me questions that I thought people would never bother to learn about,you looked like you cared about every single detail about me,I just felt so...at ease,safe and comfortable with you.So no Shannon,you are not just like everyone else.You are the most special person I've known."Starlio revealed to her.

Shannon moved towards him,her lips touching his as the two teens engaged in their first kiss.

Holy shit.

Time felt like it stopped,a single second stretched into minutes.Starlio closed his eyes,his heart racing faster than he ever felt,a surge of warmth and relaxation flowed through every inch of his body.A moment that will be engraved within his mind for the rest of his life.

"Thank you Starlio,for choosing me."Shannon tells him,leaning down on him.The duo slowly relaxed on the couch they were sharing,slowly giving into their sleepiness.

-

Buzz.

Starlio was woken by his phone,which was ringing by the table next to him.

Shannon was still fairly asleep on his chest as Starlio reached for his phone:Javier Navarro.

"Hello?"Starlio picked up."Starlio where are you now?I don't have long before this call is traced so give me an update within a minute."Javier sounded both anxious,yet his voice,creaking a little.With what happened on the news yesterday,Javier probably knew about Xavier's death.

"Titus is stronger now.There's men everywhere under the Chairman.Model 4 and Shannon are both with me.We have a temporary hideout for now.I can manage for now but how are the others doing?Is my mother out of the country?"Starlio asks.

"I'm...I'm settling Xavier's death certificate now.Dakota has gotten your mother and brother out of the city already.The Models 1 and 2 are hidden within the warehouse which thanks to Shannon is probably going to stay hidden from the Chairman but...listen.The news is trying to cover this up but Titus has been flying across the city along with many of the police officers under the Chairman,trying to find you.But in any case,use Facebook as a source,not the mainstream media.The Chairman can cover the news,but not millions of people at once."Javier advises.

"I'm sorry....Xavier did it to save me."Starlio apologized as the grief Shannon temporarily made disappear slowly returned.

"Now is not the time to mourn...I...he would want you to succeed.I'm sorry but I'm currently running out of resources to help you too.I'll be texting you where your friends are located.I found them but...I can't be involved much longer before officers show up at my door.This is goodbye for now."Javier says.

"I understand.Thank you."

The call ended.

Shannon rubbed her eyes,lifting herself up slowly,taking caution about the bullet wound on her arm."Was that Javier?"

"Yea...he's settling Xavier's passing."Starlio says when his phone dinged,the final message from Javier for now:The address of the police station his friends were held up in.Starlio got up,looking at the location as he showed his phone to Shannon,her eyes lighting up in excitement:"It's time huh?"

"Yea."Starlio stood up,stretching himself.

"You gotta get something to eat first."Shannon reminds him.

"Every second I wait,our friends might be suffering.I think we've rested enough."Starlio says,walking towards the Model 4.Shannon stood up,running towards him and hugging him from behind:"This might be it you know...?Titus might know you are going for them,they might be setting a trap there."

"I know.But what choice do I have?"Starlio turns towards her.

"Me...let me help."Shannon offered.

Starlio shook his head instantly."Shannon,we talked about this before.I don't wanna say it again but..."Starlio needed a convincing argument but Shannon was simply too stubborn in this sense.There was no way she was going to let her own safety get in the way from helping others.A trait they share and a flaw he himself is aware of.

"You'll slow me down Shan."Starlio lied.

"I-"Shannon paused.

She studied his eyes,the pain it caused him to say those words out loud already exposed Starlio's true intentions."Alright...I get it.Go."Shannon made up her mind,dragging him close for another kiss.One that might be potentially their last.

"I'm...sorry.I wish I never had to leave."Starlio apologized.

"I understand.Go."

Shannon accompanied Starlio to a nearby second floor balcony,Starlio now fully suited up in the repaired Model 4,looking at Shannon before looking into the sky,his heart heavy with the fight he is about to get himself to."I'll see you again.I promise you."Starlio tells Shannon,placing on his helmet.

Shannon was clearly holding back her tears as she nods:"You will."

Starlio took off.

I hope that when I meet you again,it'll be under better circumstances.I've lost too many people already,I can't afford you to be gone.Not when this part of our relationship has just begun.Starlio forced himself to focus on the task at hand,pushing aside his feelings for Shannon at the moment.

Shannon looked into the sky,seeing the guy she fell in love in heading towards certain death.This is not how it's going to end.The teen took out her phone,making a call:"Hello?Dakota?I need the password to the warehouse."

[Elevated Power Level Detected.5 kilometers ahead.]

The first signs of warning appeared just 15 minutes after Starlio took flight.

They were already this close huh?

Starlio kept his eyes out,waiting for something to hit him and true enough,his armor sent out another warning signal:[Power Level Increasing.Heading into your direction.1 Kilometer Ahead.]

"I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND YOU!!!"Titus burst through the air,his heated blade drawn and going straight for Starlio.Starlio quickly changed his flight direction,going upwards just in time,the heated blade barely missing him.

"You psychopath.You lost it didn't you?"Starlio noticed the change in Titus.

"I lost it...?I lost the thing holding me back."Titus charged forward to an extremely calm Starlio,who dodged his swings mid air before bursting forward,slamming his palm right into Titus' chest and fired off a massive blast of fire,sending Titus falling towards the ground."You killed my mentor!"Starlio flew further to Titus,determined not to let up.

Starlio grabbed Titus mid air,flying towards the ground at full speed.

Titus grabbed Starlio's helmet back,trying to free himself when he hit the ground,full force blasting down onto a random street,Starlio activating his rockets further and dragging Titus along the bitumen road beneath him,scrapping Titus' armor bit by bit.Titus managed to land a kick,pushing Starlio away from him only for Starlio to quickly regain his footing on the ground,launching a missile from his wrist launcher that blasted Titus' heated sword right out of his hand.

"Ugh...you...I will not fail again."Titus roared,picking up a nearby stationary truck and chucked it right at Starlio.

Starlio quickly jumped out of the way,firing more bolts of fire at Titus who avoided it with insane speed,closing the distance before pouncing onto Starlio,who reacted quickly,grabbing Titus by the arm and hurling the hunter right into a nearby house,smashing through a wall and terrifying the living hell out of a random family.

"You're angry...that's good.Because I am too."Starlio flew towards Titus,kicking him away from the civilians and sending the hunter flying further back.Titus got up,enraged by the fact that Starlio was somehow getting the edge over him.The teen jumped at him again,placing both his hands together to release a concentrated heat wave at Titus,forcing him to retreat further.

"Too much blood is on your hands.I'll put you down.Right here."Starlio growled.

"Your rage is powerful boy.That's great,I've always wanted a worthy opponent anyway."Titus drew his other heated blade,taking a combat stance.Starlio smiled to himself,knowing that this fight will probably determine the world's fate going forward,jumping into the air before smashing his fist into the ground,releasing the armor's firepower into the street beneath.

Titus looked down to see glowing cracks emerge all around him,flames slowly seeping through the very foundation he was standing on when everything exploded,the bitumen heating up significantly before exploding in a massive blast,violently shaking the entire town.

"AGH!"Titus groaned,massive boulders of debris striking him from random directions.

Starlio sped up,charging right at Titus who reflexively reacted,swinging his heated blade at Starlio who raised his left arm,using the armor to tank the strike and using his right arm to deliver a powerful blow into Titus' helmet,denting it slightly and sending the hunter tumbling back.

My worth will be seen again.

Titus's eyes burned with rage as Starlio attacked once again.

The hunter ducked aside as Starlio struck the ground he was standing on just a moment ago,firing missiles at the teenager who was now forced to go on the defensive,dodging each missile by using the debris around them as cover.

Starlio tried his best,avoiding every projectile he could but ultimately still wasn't fast enough as a rogue missile struck his arm,blasting a chunk of his armor out in addition to the sword strike to his left arm.Starlio stumbled back,feeling his skin itself being charred,blood dripping out of his suit.The teenager looked up,watching as a gleeful Titus marched towards him,his heated blade glowing menacingly through the smoke in between them.

Bit by bit,Starlio began hearing sirens around them.

Police?Wait...those might both be normal cops or corrupted officers.I must be wary...

"You think love is a weakness...well...my life taught me something else."Starlio picked himself up,facing Titus with both his fists clenched.Titus spread his arms out,gloating:"To think I was stupid enough to try and work together with you.I thought you understood what it meant to be neglected by family...you of all people should be the one empathizing with me."

"I hard it find to empathize with a murderer who murders and blames everyone else for the shitty childhood he had.I had a shitty childhood too but you don't see me going around being a bratty asshole to everyone right?"Starlio hissed.

"UGH!"Titus jumped into the air,tossing his heated blade at Starlio who jumped aside when gunfire rained down on him.

"Back up Titus!"Multiple corrupted policemen swarmed the area.

Gunshots forced Starlio back as Titus took his chance,picking up his heated blade and kicking Starlio backwards onto the ground,thrusting his blade that Starlio narrowly avoided only to be given a devastating slash across the Model 4's chest piece,the heat melting through it's plating and exposing several of it's inner components.

"Rain down everything you have on him!"Titus roared.

Starlio stumbled back,desperate to regain his battle momentum and re engage Titus when heavier bullets began firing at him,an armored truck with a mounted turret,raining down armor piercing shots onto Starlio,knocking him back.

Titus took the advantage given to him,jumping forward and kicking Starlio with his superhuman power in addition to the armor's already crazy strength enhancing abilities,denting the Model 4's chest piece and sending Starlio flying backwards uncontrollably,crashing right through the side of a bus before landing into a neighbourhood park.

[Internal Bleeding Detected.Armor Integrity:49 percent.]

Starlio tried pushing himself up only for his injured arm to give in on him,almost falling back down to the ground with his body unable to stand up properly anymore."If I go out now...I'm gonna do it with them."Starlio LOOKED AT his self destruct mode on the Model 4,ready to blow himself and Titus up at his command.

[Are you certain?]The A.I of his armor asks.

"Yes...activate self destruct on my command."Starlio tells the armor,looking ahead at Titus led the small army of the Chairman's people towards him.Dozens and dozens of policemen armed with their pistols,shotguns and rifles,armored trucks with a mounted turret that shot out tank armor piercing shots and Titus himself,barely damaged,ready to end this fight.

"I'm sorry....everyone..."Starlio forced himself up,confronting his opponents.