The
Illumination happened thirty years ago today. Thirty years ago, a still
unexplained flash lit up the western hemisphere of our world, and the
population was forever changed. Everyone who came in contact with the strange
light was altered in some way. For some, the change occurred deep in their
genetic DNA, and would only come to light in their children, or their
children’s children. For others, the change hit them more quickly. Thus,
scientists say thirty years ago marked the beginning of the end of the human
race, and the dawn of a new age: the age of the metahuman.
Twenty
years ago, the last of the major riots were quelled. An uneasy peace between
the human populations, mainly located in the eastern world, and the new
superhumans, dubbed the metahumans, located in the western hemisphere. Many of
the new metahumans had tried to rush their rise to dominance, but the humans,
along with a group of metahumans calling themselves the GMA, or Government Metahuman
Agency, put an end to that push. After the years of violence, the two species
decided to unite as one, with much scientific evidence supporting this unity.
In this unity, the GMA became the global police force dedicated to dealing with
dangerous threats against both humans and metahumans alike.
Since
that time of new peace, every year in most cities around the globe there is
celebration on the anniversary of the Illumination. In the city of Hopling, a
parade thunders down the main street. Hopling is a major eastern port in the
country of America whose prestige replaced the old city of New York after it
was leveled by a wayward metahuman. The United States was the most heavily hit
country in those early years of chaos, due in part to it being in the western
hemisphere and also because of its large population. The US, now known simply
as America, was the most powerful and influential country before the
Illumination, and now thirty years later it is known once again as the
wealthiest. Lately America has seen a surge of repopulation amongst the human
race, and proclaims itself to be the nation with the most equality and highest
standard of living. Looking down at the lavish parade below, with the bright
colors, booming music, and thousands of viewers, it is hard to argue with that
statement.
Nowadays,
most police forces around the world employ metahumans in them, with the
meta-hating country of China in the East being the exception. At times like
these, when the crowd reaches into the thousands and the distractions are great,
the police force is out in full along with agents from the GMA and a few
licensed superheroes, all working together to keep the peace. Every year these
parades take place, and every year the threat of a radical activist group
attacking the parade looms overhead. Even with all the telepaths and seers the
GMA and police employ, there is always the chance something will go under the
radar. On top of a building looking down at the parade is a young man, pushed
aside from the world by his own hands. Neither
an agent nor an officer, he watches nonetheless, observing all that happens
with an indifferent eye.
For
twelve years this man, who calls himself Echo, has trained with his abilities,
honing himself into a fine-tuned being of power and skill. Each year he flies
to Hopling and stands on the same building, watching the parade below. Never
does he do anything else but watch. Even four years ago, when a carbon bomb
went off and incinerated dozens of people, he stood by and let the GMA agents
and officials deal with the situation. Six years ago, in a back alley, Echo had
played hero, trying to save a woman from a mugger, and in doing so caused the
woman’s untimely death. For six years he has forsaken the public image of a
metahuman, and chosen to live a normal life, while secretly training night and
day, pushing his abilities to their limits as a punishment for losing an
innocent’s life.
Now,
as he stood on top of that building, he realized he was right. There were
plenty of metas out there risking their lives for the public. One more wouldn’t
make a difference at all. Echo let out a sigh and turned around, ready to fly
home. Just as he did, an explosion caught his attention. It wasn’t part of the
celebration, he was sure of that. He raced to the building’s edge and looked
down to see the people below scattering from the smoke and fire that was
quickly filling the street. Echo could see the men responsible for the chaos
fanning out with weapons. In less than a minute, the agents of the GMA would
have them subdued. However more people would die in that minute.
Later,
Echo would not be able to recall what made him take the step off the building.
But looking down at them all, he took that step and plunged downward. The force
of him landing sent out a wave of energy, blowing away the smoke and knocking
down the men. Echo saw seven assailants, five of them getting up quickly, and
knew this was not an organized force, but merely a small group trying to make a
statement. He raised his hands and shot out a blast of energy at the group. Two
more fell down for the count. The other three took aim, but Echo was ready. With
a flick of his wrist, Echo sent out two tiny concussive blast of energy that went
in front of the men, sending one scrambling and another sailing into a nearby
car.
The
one remaining pulled the trigger.
The
bullet slammed into Echo’s shoulder, turning him halfway around. His absorption
abilities kicked into overdrive, absorbing the kinetic energy of the bullet,
reducing the damage done. Instinctively, Echo’s good arm shot up and put a beam
of energy directly into the gunman’s chest, knocking him unconscious before he
hit the ground.
Ten
seconds was all it took. Echo saw one of the men trying to crawl away and
quickly put him back down. At that moment Echo become aware of the sirens, and
felt the energy signals of dozens of metas surrounding the area. He looked and
saw the media swarming the site, their cameras zooming in to the lone, unlicensed
metahuman who defeated the terrorists.
Echo
reached to his back pocket. Of course he brought it. Over his head went a mask,
the same one he was wearing that fateful night six years ago. A few police
officers approached him, guns raised. They were shouting at him to put his
hands up and surrender. Echo knew what he did was technically illegal,
violating the vigilante law enacted years ago. And he knew escaping now would
be another crime added to his list. But he was not about to be arrested for doing
his first good deed in years.
In a
flash, Echo’s body illuminated with energy, and he rocketed into the sky. Upon
reaching a good height, he took off for home, breaking the sound barrier to
confuse any radar they had fixed on him. They would try to follow him, surely.
But he had run before, and if he knew anything, it was how to hide and act
innocent. Still, even as he flew through the air outrunning the authorities,
Echo couldn’t help but smile and laugh. For so long he had been afraid of this
very moment, and yet he had done it. Taking off the mask, Echo let the sun beam
on his face and felt the wind blow through his hair. He had finally used his
powers for the good of the public, and had taken his first step towards
becoming a true hero.
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