“...and that’s what happened boss, really! It wasn’t our fault we couldn’t grab the kid. We were loaded out to take on his powers, not a guy with super strength that comes outta nowhere!” Louie explained nervously.

It was the next morning, and Knightsbridge had hauled the recovery team into his office first thing for a full debrief. He’d seen the headlines. Now he drummed his fingers on the armrest with irritation, Louie and Ando sweating.

“That is no excuse. We failed to retrieve the target, and lost thousands of dollars in vehicles and equipment.” Nicholai said cheerfully form his chair. Louie’s eyes bugged out, and both Ando and Kevin the driver shot him a look.

“Nah, nah, I don’t care about that.” Knightsbridge dismissed. “You did your best, there were outside factors you couldn’t account for. I trust you. In fact, you did great, getting away and leaving no evidence that could be traced back to us.”

“Ain’t our fault, boss.” Ando rumbled.

“Mmm. But this outside factor is a...complication. I don’t like complications.” Knightsbridge got up, staring out the window to the city below, stroking his chin. “This big guy is obviously the same one who put in an appearance at the diner the other day. Not too many runaway linebackers who can resist assault rifle fire. That is what you tried, right?” he said to Nicholai.

“Completely ineffective!” Nicholai chirped, a small smile on his face. “His strength and resiliency are leagues above the animal kingdom. We’ll need high-caliber rounds at the least if we want to kill him with guns. Do we want to kill him with guns?” he asked, head cocking. A grin slid across Knightsbridge’s face.

“No, I’m thinking not. I may, in fact, have a better idea. He took the kid, and that ain’t right. He’s our property now. I know the Proteus formula isn’t complete yet, but we have several prototypes developed from when he was here. Dr. Thunder really is a genius. It’s fortunate I am too.”

“Uh, I ain’t. What’cha thinking, boss?” Louie asked.

“We’ve got a big do-gooder type around. We also have products that need field testing for refinement. We also have some members of that street gang, currently incarcerated due to said do-gooder’s actions. Oh yeah, it’s all coming together.” Knightsbridge picked up a tablet and started tapping away. He buzzed his secretary. “Miss Rose? Bring a card from the discretionary fund.”

“Right away, Mr. Knightsbridge.” she answered.

“Right. Louie, Ando, take it and head down to the police station, but stop by Dr. Thunder’s lab first. Nicholai, you’re doing research with him.”

“Research?” he said distastefully. Knightsbridge nodded.

“Yep. You’re gonna describe exactly what happened with this new super. Your job is to find a way to kill a guy who’s bulletproof. Don’t think you’ve had to go up against one of those yet.” Nicholai’s smile matched Knightsbridge’s grin.

“No, I have not. It proposes an interesting challenge. I will relish it.” he said, getting up.

“And Kevin?” The driver yelped and sat up when Knightsbridge addressed him.

“Y-Yeah boss?” Kevin saluted, then rubbed the bandage across his head.

“Scout out some good places for a capture operation, ones that don’t have any connection to us. I know there’s several abandoned warehouses outside of town. Maybe check out Grott’s Ghetto, heroes and cops never get involved there. Well? What are you waiting for? Shoo, shoo!” Kevin practically fell over himself trying to get up and zoom out of the office, the others leaving at a more sedate place. Knightsbridge shook his head. That kid really had to relax.

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“Mornin’.” Jason yawned, shuffling into the cramped kitchen, police sirens passing outside the window. Max was already there, short and skinny. But even as small as he was, he was still infinitely more solid than Jason.

“Good morning!” he exclaimed, pushing a bowl of cereal across the table. “Hope you’re hungry!”

“Thanks.” Not having a place to sit, Jason stood at the table. Max realized and started to get up, but Jason waved his hand. “It’s alright. I took your bed, you don’t have to give me your chair too. Ohh! Lucky Charms.”

“It’s my favorite.” Max said, tossing his empty bowl into the sink with a clatter. In mere moments, Jason finished his breakfast too, drinking down the milk. Max drummed his fingers on the table nervously.

“Alright then.” Jason said.

“Yeah.” Max replied.

They both sat in silence.

Max drummed his fingers on the table again.

There was more silence.

They both stared at each other, the weight of what transpired last night heavy on both of them.

They shuffled their feet, both looking awkwardly at each other.

“So…?” Jason said at last.

“Sorry, sorry! Guess I just, ah, didn’t quite think this whole thing through at first.” Max said.

“No. Really.” Jason deadpanned, and Max stuck his tongue out at him. “Don't be immature, I grew outta that six years ago, and I’m just a kid.”

“You don’t act like one.”

“Couldn’t tell you why.” Jason deadpanned again. “So...what now? Where do we go from here?”

“That is the question, isn’t it?” Max said, leaning back in his chair, phone in hand. “I’ve been giving it some thought. There’s a few things I’ve been looking into. I know things haven’t been exactly ideal, and they’re going to be rough for a bit no matter what. But a warm apartment’s better than, well, literally nothing, right?”

“I usually turn into a cat and curl up like that. It was nice to have a bed, though. You didn’t really have to sleep on the floor.” Jason said. Last night Max waved the boy off, reclining on the carpeted floor with just a blanket on him.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve had rougher nights, one on the floor isn’t going to kill me. Speaking of which, what was that with those guys last night? They had some pretty heavy ordinance, not the kind of thing you just carry around.” Max asked with a raised eyebrow. Jason seemed to shrink into himself.

“Those were the guys who kidnapped me the first time. That guy in the sweater-he killed my mom.” he said darkly. That placid smile would be forever burned into his memory. He shivered.

“Ah. Hmm. Well that’s...not great.” Max said lamely. He leaned forward, surreptitiously rubbing a faded white scar on the back of his wrist. “I presume they want you back. Any idea who they are?”

“Wish I didn’t, but the logos were a little hard to miss. They were from MetaTech Industries.” he said bitterly.

“Okay. What’s that? If they had a logo, it shouldn’t be too hard to track them down.” Max said. Jason’s anger flew from him in an instant, staring wide-eyed and agape at the skinny man.

“You serious? Just look outside! How do you live in Silver City and not know about MetaTech Industries?” he said in amazement. Max raised an eyebrow again.

“Like I said, I only got here a month ago, and have other things to focus on. What is MetaTech Industries?” he asked.

“Only the corporation that owns like half the city! It’s a multinational conglomerate in bioengineering, robotics, software design, medical advancement, military contracting, aerospace dynamics, and superpower research! Basically, if it’s a field of science, they’re in on it. And they got oil, shipping, and construction companies under ‘em too, so they have pretty much infinite money. Their global headquarters are right here, and the C.E.O. lives in Silver Heights.” Jason explained. Max blinked.

“You’re twelve. How do you know so much about a company like that?” he said. Jason rolled his eyes.

“You have no idea how many field trips we’ve had to their offices. Besides, both my mom and dad worked for MetaTech. Dad was a genetic researcher, mom was a physicist. Everybody in Silver City knows they’re into a lot, but I heard so many spiels over the years on the company picnics and stuff it’s burned into my brain. And from what I overheard when I was conscious in the tube. The scientists liked to chat. Dad always said it was like watching a soap opera, they gossiped so much.”

“Ah.” Max grunted. Jason tried to seem nonplussed about what happened, but Max didn’t miss the way his hand clenched around his spoon. Well, prying too deep into what the kid had gone through probably wouldn’t do much good right now. It’d be best to wait for the moment, but they’d have to talk sometime. “So, that was a travesty of justice. What do you want to do about it? Gonna go after these MetaTech people?”

“Pfft. As if.” Jason dismissed bitterly. “Like I said, MetaTech employs half this city, let alone around the world. They’re way too big to fight like that. If you wanted to take out the guys who did it, I’d be fine with that.”

“Sorry, don’t feel like going to jail for murder.” Max said flatly. “So that’s why you don’t want to go to the cops or heroes.”

“Yeah. MetaTech’s got eyes everywhere. If the authorities find me, they do too.” Jason said sadly. Max’s brow furrowed deeper. The sheer...resignation in his voice was killing him. He nodded to himself.

“Well, I’ve been considering our problems, and what to do. Not just for your sake, I’ve been considering this as well. I’ve been keeping from doing anything, but...now, well, I find my hand forced. And I can’t find it in me to complain. So...I think I found one way to do something.” he said. Jason perked up at that.

“Wha-? Really?” he said. Max nodded.

“Yup. I was actually debating whether or not to go for it. I tried to settle in nice and quiet, keep my head down. But I think after last night, that’s not possible.” Max said delicately. “I can’t support two people on a waiter’s tips, I can barely feed myself. But after what you told me, I’m not going to hold back any more. I really am cursed.” he said, with a smile. It was slightly sad.

“Cursed?” Jason said, but Max wasn’t listening. He set his phone in front of Jason. The boy leaned over to read it.

It was an ad, decked out in red and blue stripes, plastered with white and gold stars. Emblazoned proudly at the top: Calling all Heroes to Action! Intrepid Incorporated now recruiting potential Superstars! Help communities now!

“You...serious?” Jason said incredulously.

“Yup. Been doing some research. Seems this Intrepid company is one of many who sign up heroes, have ‘em patrol the streets, fighting crime and rescuing people from disasters. I think it’s kinda like if the cops were walking billboards too. Kinda weird, but I can dig it.” Max shrugged.

“Uh...kay.” Jason said after a moment. “But how’s this gonna help?”

“That, my boy, is simple. We get our names out there, become trusted public figures. One thing that hasn’t changed is people will always listen to celebrities, for good or bad. Now, as we do that, we gather as much evidence against this MetaTech as we can, and leverage our fame and upstandingness to pressure ‘em, make ‘em crack. It’ll be tough, sure. But stick it out, we can topple the biggest kid in the playground. On top of getting paid for it and bringing justice for others, not just yourself.” he said.

Jason blinked, parsing it all together. Obviously, any plan going up against a company with that much money and resources was risky. But...Max’s plan could work.

“That’s a pretty sneaky idea. You didn’t seem like the type.” he said. Max grinned.

“I find keeping an opponent guessing to be helpful.”

“Still, doesn’t sound like a reason to, y’know, be a hero. What about truth, justice, and all that crap?” Jason asked.

“Oh? You think I’m not doing this to bring justice and hope to others?” he said with a raised eyebrow. “I wasn’t intending to pursue heroism when I came to this city, true. I was...going through some stuff. But then I met you.

“I’ve been given an extraordinary gift, just like you. My superior strength allows me to do pretty much whatever I like. So, what then should I do? What do I really want to do? I’ll tell you.” Max smiled then. To Jason, it was the same sort of sad smile he had, the only one he could wear nowadays. It was the smile one could only wear when everything you loved was ripped from you, leaving nothing but empty memories and a cold numbness. It was the smile that you had to wear, when grief and despair were about to consume you, and the only way to keep that madness and sorrow at bay was to put on a brave face and hope you didn’t collapse inside.

“What I want, most of all, is to have everything turn out all right. I know how it feels to lose your world. The crushing loneliness, the desperation, the unfairness of it all. That’s why I want to do this, really. I see now it’s what I’m meant to do. The duty, the reason superheroes exist in the first place, is to rescue people from that pain. Last night, you told me you’d trade your powers to have your life back. Unfortunately, that can’t happen. But, since you have them now, do you want to actually try? Do you want to be a hero?”

Max’s head hung low, behind his hands. His breath was coming in ragged gasps, and he fought to control his body. He had to be strong. For his kibvaghn’s sake. And for Jason’s sake. The boy looked to be nearly crying too.

“Do...do you really think we can do it? Do you really think I can avenge my mom and dad?” He could remember, all too well. He could still see the needles injecting serums into his helplessly floating body, his blood turning to fire in his veins, unable to even scream. The four walls of his cell were pressing down on him, barely able to be seen through his tears. The researchers examined countless readouts and results of the latest experiment that melted his bones, liquefying and pouring out the injection holes. He tried to hold his bones in, hugging himself tighter and tighter, willing his body to turn solid again and again, over and over until he found himself suddenly hard as a rock, calcified while the observers cheered. He could still see the cold brown eyes of the lead scientist, staring at him with otherworldly intensity. He wrapped his arms around himself to stop the shaking.

The streets had been little kinder when he’d escaped, having to scavenge and steal and cajole to survive. He’d been stripped of everything most in a civilized world took for granted: shelter, bathing, toilet paper, loved ones, personal autonomy.

That had been the life of Jason Shepard for the last month. He hugged himself tighter.

“T-There’s bad stuff in the world. Evil. I...I didn’t really understand, not really. What they did, kept doing to m-me, even though I b-begged them to stop…” A seemingly unquenchable rage warred with a seemingly endless despair within him. He didn’t know which he wanted to win. Jason wanted to storm MetaTech Labs and do unto them what they’d done to him. He wanted to climb to the top of the roof and just let everything go, not have to worry anymore...or hurt. He wanted everything to go away and leave him alone. No matter how tight his arms were, the shaking wouldn’t stop. He didn’t even notice falling to his knees, loud, choking sobs echoing through the tiny apartment.

He couldn’t see, not through the haze of tears. But after what seemed like an eternity he felt a firm hand on his shoulder, strong and warm, steadying him. He looked up to see Max, muscled out and kneeling before him, smiling gently.

“I-I feel like I’m...broken. Wrong. D-Do you think someone like that could be a hero?” he said, hiccupping.

“If you had the choice, if you had the chance. Would you put someone else through your trials? Would you want your mother or father to?” Max asked in his now baritone. In that instant, Jason turned white, his eyes slamming open. He could swear that his heart stopped.

“No!” he squeaked, trying to talk and inhale at the same time. Max’s smile widened.

“Never forget that, Jason. Never forget those emotions. They’re as real and trustworthy as you are. And I find that such emotions are the root of being a great hero. Do you want anyone to go through what you went through?” A shake of his head. Jason didn’t trust himself to speak. “Do you want to stop MetaTech from going on as they have, tearing lives apart like it’s nothing?” A nod this time. “Then no matter what, capes and spandex or not, you sound like a hero to me.”

Jason’s body started heaving, wracking sobs that couldn’t be contained any more. He clung to Max’s waist, howling like a baby, the giant man gently patting his back, letting him get it out, all the stress and tension and sorrow of the last month being released at once.

“It’s alright. Everything’s going to be alright now.” he said.

“D-Do you mean it? We’re g-gonna be h-heroes and stop them?” Jason asked haltingly.

“I promise.” Max said, grinning. Jason was doubled over in tears again, but this time, there was a smile on his face.