Welcome to Gaia! ::

<<

“They say it’ll somehow transform a person. It sounds like a loud of bull to me, honestly, but either way, I want to test it. Look, I can’t say much. All I know is it mixes various bits of DNA together. Austin, I gotta run.”

And Uncle Ames Oual was gone. One more day as Chief Detective of Delmor. He’d been in a rush all that afternoon. He was no the type of man who would entrust his work to a teenager (whether it was his own nephew or not). But under the circumstances, he must have figured that trusting Austin was not a bad decision.

Unfortunately, it was.

It was the next morning. Not long before he had to leave, the struggle ended. All night, Austin Aires had argued with the idea of being his uncle’s test. He wasn’t sure why, exactly. Perhaps, in some twisted way, he wanted to give everybody a reason to alienate him so that he didn’t have to drive them away himself. He was well aware that, even against his wishes, it was happening.

In his hands, he held a medium sized bottle of a clear, fizzy liquid. It looked like Sprite. This was a confiscated bottle. His uncle had taken it home for examination, and he wasn’t too fond of the idea of Austin taking it, but it was the only option, Austin reminded him. Later that afternoon, someone would be picking it up to take to a faraway lab. Oual would not be home for this.

But Austin was overcome by the temptation to drink this. It wasn’t dangerous, surely, since Oual would never entrust something top secret to someone not in the force. Besides, they needed a test, and Austin needed to be part of something. He was going to do it. There was a stopper at the to of the flask. Removing that with a pop, he raised the liquid to his mouth, with only brief hesitation, he let it hit his lips. Afraid that lowering the flask would allow his conscious to tell him he was an idiot, Austin chugged it.

It even tasted a bit like Sprite. It was good. Burping slightly, Austin said out loud, “It’s soda. What the hell.” But there was a side effect. He noticed a tingling, bouncy feeling in his mouth. Now this was like Pop Rocks candy. It didn’t really bother him, but soon, this vibrated throughout his whole body. Feeling as though his skin was crawling inside of him; or like his whole body was a trampoline for cells to jump on, Austin began to panic. The sensation didn’t stop.

<<

“Dammit!” Very quickly back on track, Austin realized he’d be late. He had pre-calculus right away. Math was far from his favorite subject, which naturally meant he had to be to class so that he could pull off a B minus.

Grabbing his bag and rushing out the door, he found his beat up car. Who knew how many generations it had seen? It was a puke-ugly orange color with a couple of green doors. Austin didn’t know the reasoning for this The caked mud was not worth trying to scrape off either. He was beyond caring about the friendly-jeering from his fellow classmates on this matter. Starting up with an obnoxious rumble, he pulled out of the short driveway.

<<

Oual very quickly showered and changed back into his work clothes. He pocketed his phone and suited up. He scribbled a note to Austin and Lucas that he’d be on a leave to Capital City. It was basically a carbon copy of what he’d just sent to his offices.

Deciding this would be, if anything, interesting, Oual started his car, ready to leave Delmor only a half hour after Stanton had called.

<<

“Austin’s not home,” Oual told Don as they pulled into 1408 Norris Ave. “If he was there’d be the ugliest automobile in the world in front.”

The two walked out the stiffness in their legs. They gave Sam, the pet sheepdog, run of the house and Don set up his food bowl and water dish. They spent the time unpacking and ran into two large problems. The first was that Don had no place to sleep. They agreed to give him a blow-up mattress in Oual’s room (which was still technically a ‘guest room’) for now.

“I’ll find an apartment once I get the feel for this place back again,” Don promised. “Hey, Austin and uh – Lucas is it? They know I’m here, right? Like, they’re good with it?”

Oual’s face fell.

“You forgot to let them know, didn’t you?”

“Sort of.”

<<

<<

The orange car pulled into 1408 Norris Avenue. Austin’s spirits were high until he found Oual unpacking much more than one person should have on a trip. “Uncle Ames?” He asked, tripping over a food dish… for a dog.

“Austin,” Oual nodded. The two were silent. “Alright, I might as well!” Oual blurted. “I met a nephew of mine in Capital City. He’s 25 and he has a dog. I invited him to stay with us until he finds an apartment.”

“Your nephew? Your only sibling is my mother. That would make him-” Austin began.

“He’s only your half-brother.”

“That’s not true,” Austin said firmly.

“Yes,” Oual whispered. “It is. Before your mom married your father, she was in a relationship that turned out wrong. When she ended up pregnant, her boyfriend left and she put her first son up for adoption.”

“No…” Austin muttered. “She wouldn’t… and not without telling me!”

“She wasn’t ready to face motherhood then and I – I wanted to be a part of her son’s life. He was adopted by a woman in Delmor with a farm and a large family. She let me stay in contact, deciding an adult influence besides her and her husband could be beneficial. Meanwhile your mom tried to pull her life back together in Capital City. She only moved here when she and your father got engaged.”

“Austin wanted to scream. “This is bull s**t,” he hissed. “You’re telling me you’re on friendly terms with my long lost brother that my mom never told me about... and that he’s now living with us! What made you think you could just let him in?”

Oual didn’t answer. He couldn’t admit to Austin that he was emotionally incapable of separating from Don now or that he’d forgotten to include Austin at all. Oual just stayed silent and at that moment, Don and Sam walked in.

…

<<

The three all stared at each other and Sam began to sniff Austin. “Does he, you know, know?” Don asked awkwardly. Oual nodded.

“Austin, this is Don and his dog, Sam. Don, this is Austin.” Oual did not add ‘your brother.’

Don extended a hand but Austin clenched his jaw. His back had started to hurt a little bit and then-

-the wings. The freaking wings. Austin’s mind cleared as they extended. “I must go talk to the Father,” the voice claimed. Don and Oual stared.

“W-w-what’s that?” Don pointed.

“No sure,” Oual replied with a drawn out breath. “Austin!” He snapped sharply as his nephew began to fly – literally – towards the door. “Austin!”

The teenager collapsed, wings gone. Austin stood up as though dazed.

“What the hell?” Oual asked, stupefied.

“Your potion. That liquid you gave me before you left a couple of weeks ago. That’s been happening since you left it with me,” Austin murmured.

“Well, I figured you drank it since you didn’t mention it again, but I didn’t thing it would actually do anything,” Oual replied. Their voices were hushed as if the entity that had consumed Austin was still nearby.

“Who’s the ‘Father’?” Don asked. Austin didn’t answer.

“Don’t do that, Austin!” Oual pleaded.

“Do what?”

“Withdraw from Don. You just said you were going to the Father. What did you mean?”

“I can’t – ” Austin said. “I can’t remember what happens after the wings come out. All I know is I usually end up outside the Episcopal Church.”

Oual considered this. “Well then, the ‘Father’ is Father Blood. Maybe he can help us figure this out.”

Austin wanted to tell about how Blood had tried to recruit him for some army, but since Don was there he refrained. He doesn’t need to know everything, Austin reasoned. “You don’t seem too surprised,” he said instead in Don’s direction.

“Oh I am,” Don said. “It’s just – I sort of – ” I might as well reveal it. There shouldn’t be secrets between us if we’re to live together, Don thought. So he focused on a lamp sitting on an end table nearby. Slowly, it lifted off the end table, unplugged itself from the wall, and drifted into Don’s outstretched hand. “It’s just that I can do things, too.”

…

The next few days were awkward. Austin went to school, visited Blood (unknowingly and when his wings were out, of course), and planned for prom. He’d gotten in touch with a limo service and with Oual’s help, despite the new animosity Austin felt towards him, paid for his ride to prom.

Oual spent the time with Don. He also got back into work. Laura Listerine, James Cross’ mentor, and he had agreed to meet at the office on prom day so that Cross and Oual (and now Don) could arrive together to serve as BAND’s security.

Don meanwhile tried to get accustomed to living with the atmosphere of unspoken awkwardness between himself and Austin in his childhood town with his childhood favorite uncle.

Finally, the big day arrived. Oual and Don stepped into Oual’s cruiser and Austin into his limousine, ordering his chauffer to drive to Rowena’s house.

<<

Often times when waking up, a person’s senses are disoriented. Oual rolled over and groaned, uncertain as to what woke him, but positive it was not his alarm. Outside, the sun had gone down entirely, but he still had a half an hour before he had to wake up.

CAW!

The Chief Detective squinted towards the windowsill, a silhouette, even darker than the night cast a shadow onto his wall. Oual thrust his covers off and leapt out of bed, he eyed his holstered gun on the nightstand next to him, but then decided against it. The Mastermind had entered this way before.

The tired man swayed back and forth, mind racing. He had two options. Ignore the bird, or let it in. Oual remembered though, that if a man has something to say, and the desire to say it, it will be said. With a small grunt, he pulled up the screen.

---

<<< Previously THE MASTERMIND

The hawk burst into the room as soon as it had an opening, transforming in its flight. The neck extended, the beak shrunk. The skeleton shifted entirely. The wings disappeared and fingers grew. Limbs extended. Soon, the masked man, dressed in gray and white, spun slowly around, cracking his neck as if relieving stress.

“It’s good to see we’re both rested,” The Mastermind said coolly. “It seems my actions have taken a lot out of both of us.”

“I want an explanation,” Oual demanded. “You tell me everything you do, and then you tell me how to handle each situation. You killed James Cross today. I want to know exactly what happened.”

“That would be only fair, Chief,” the Mastermind replied. “I have a competitor, as you know, whose name I will not give you. My competitor was working with James Cross, manipulating him for his own plan. Unfortunately for James, my competitor succeeded, and James was headed down a very tough road under this man’s service. So, I killed him, naturally combating my competitor’s plan.”

“Your competitor – is this the same one who succeeded with Austin?”

“Yes.”

“Then how come you haven’t killed Austin?”

“Because I have some control over Austin, but he really doesn’t mean anything to me. I only need him to use you,” The Mastermind explained matter-of-factly.

“Not anymore,” Oual declared firmly.

“Oh?”

“I quit my job today. I’m no longer the Chief Detective of Delmor.” Out of habit, Oual looked to the Mastermind’s face, looking to read signs of his reaction. The mask disallowed it, but there was no shift in the villain’s tone, either, no extra glint in his eye.

“So you’re making the choice – to free yourself from me at Austin’s expense? I didn’t expect that from you.”

“No. I’m telling you, Mastermind, that I am not bound by any code except my own. I am not a public servant anymore, and I will fight you for my family. Austin is well prepared to defend himself from you now. You and your competitor put him in that position.”

“Hardly. Father Blood was the one who trained him. We just manipulated the whole event. But don’t think you’re turning the tables on me, Oual. You have no idea as to the degree of control I have over your nephew. If I wanted to, I could drive him straight to suicide.”

Oual tried to keep his composure. His sleep had helped. He needed to change the subject. “The silver around Cross’ body – does that mean he had powers?”

“Well analyzed. I really can’t believe you quit your job. You really are one of the most admirable adversaries I’ve ever had. If the chief detectives in the big cities were half as smart as you, I’d have my work cut out for me… Yes. Cross had powers, and has for some time. He had virtually impenetrable skin, which is why I had to turn myself into a fire to kill him and melt the silver plate he had over his bones.”

“And how did the remains of his body disappear at the crime scene?” Oual acted as if nothing surprised him anymore. The Mastermind, however, turned his head curiously.

“Did they really? Hmm… word travels fast in my world. Alright, Oual, you’ve gotten enough answers. Besides, none of it matters anymore if you’re not the Chief Detective. Tell me, who is my new enemy?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure out soon enough,” Oual replied, hoping that would make the Mastermind nervous.

“Okay. Well, can you tell me what you did today in response to Cross’ death? I’m sure you arrested someone. If you didn’t, there’d be some civil unrest, and all the other cops on my case would be petrified that they were next.”

“I told you, you don’t control me anymore.”

The Mastermind turned to leave. “I will be waiting for Austin to come home.”

“Detective Laura Listerine is your new boss,” Oual spat. “And yes, we did arrest someone. All I know is his name is Allen. He arrived on scene with a friend of his, Jonathon Johnson, who claimed to be James’ brother. He gave Laura a hard time, and she cuffed him. At one point during the day, I thought that Jon was you. Then at another, I thought Allen was you.”

“And how do you know they’re not me?”

“Because I met Jon right before I got a message from Cross that you were attacking. There’s no way you could move from place to place so quickly. You cannot teleport. And Allen – Laura does not think he’s you.”

“Ah, then you’re putting a considerable amount of trust in my new enemy.”

“I wouldn’t hire her if I didn’t think she was capable of analyzing criminals.”

“Right. I’d be careful, Oual. It could very well have been me sitting in your cell earlier today. And the security guarding me could very well be dead.”

Oual stepped away from the criminal. “You wouldn’t need this update if you were Allen. And besides, Allen has an unnatural amount of strength. That’s not one of your powers.”

“Of course, I could just be bringing you to a point where you don’t know what to believe. And as far as super strength goes – there’s a lot you don’t know about me. For example, you have yet to find any evidence linking to the identity of my competitor. You have no evidence as to my hideout. You have no evidence as to my assistant.”

“Assistant?” Oual looked into the Mastermind’s mask, perplexed.

“Exactly.”

The two men stood in silence before the Mastermind turned back towards the window. “You and Austin have an indefinite amount of time together before I decide what I want to do with him,” he said, and he leapt out the window. Oual did not need to watch him to know he’d transform and fly away. The ex-Chief shut the screen and slammed the window to the point where the house shook. He swore angrily under his breath and kicked the air. He left the room to get ready, but not before taking a moment to catch his breath.

<<

As the keys jingled and clicked inside the lock to the front door, the dog’s four feet could be heard lifting themselves from the ground and hurrying to greet his houseguest. Austin patted him on the head, which was much less attention than the dog was used to receiving.

It was Don’s dog anyways. Austin hadn’t seen much of Don since Don had begun living at 1408 Norris Ave. Then, headlights illuminated the room from the window. Oual had turned into the driveway in his cruiser. Austin could see a small figure in his passenger’s seat. It aggravated him a little bit. Oual was not going to have much free time.

---

<<

“We’re here, Violet,” Oual announced as he pulled into the driveway of his home. “I have to go do a little bit more work, but you’re going to stay with my nephew. He is part of my family and he lives here with me.”

Oual got out of the car and opened up Violet’s door for her. His mind wandered to all of the events that were happening tonight. There had been an attack inside his station, an attack at the Museum, the event in Downtown that he had been a part of, and reports of a massacre in the known drug operations at the docks as well as a potentially connected shooting at Felix’s Bar. Somehow he was investigating a private matter that should have been handled by a social worker. He also knew that Laura was off duty. The force was not well organized and had suffered a record amount of casualties. Oual seriously feared that it wouldn’t hold out for long.

He led Violet up the steps of his home and let himself in, coming face-to-face with Austin. “I’m really glad you’re home. I have a big favor to ask you. There are multiple crime scenes around town and I am working on a private investigation.” Oual nodded to Violet. “This is Violet. She is a very good friend of mine and she is going to stay here tonight and I could really use your help watching her. It’s a huge favor, I know, but I’ll be home soon and I can explain. Nobody can know that she is with you. Do you mind?”

---

Despite the girl’s bizarre, child-like features, she looked vaguely familiar to Austin. He knew she couldn’t be much younger than himself, but clearly had some kind of disability. His lip trembled a bit at Oual’s request, but he nodded. “I can watch her,” he replied without a smile.

He stuttered and then told his uncle, “Laura Listerine has asked me to work with her outside the law to catch the Mastermind. She knows about my powers.”

Oual had been heading to the door, but spun sharply around with narrowed brows at Austin’s surprise. “How does she know about them?” Oual could tell Austin did not have an answer.

“I agreed to do it,” Austin said. “But I don’t really want to. I just – I figured it would be the best way to help with-”

“It’s okay, Austin.” Oual actually smiled. “This is very good. I’m um- I’m starting this group of, well, heroes.” Oual hesitated. “Superheroes. We’re going to take down the Mastermind. So far I only have one recruit. I was hoping you would want to be part of it. You’ve already made a significant connection.”

Austin groaned at this new twist. “Can we talk about it later?” He asked. Oual nodded.

“Thanks for watching Violet,” he said. Then, to the girl, he nodded. “I’ll be home very soon. I trust Austin and you two are going to be very good friends. You’re going to have a lot of fun in my living place because nobody’s going to do mean things to you.”

Oual smiled weakly to both of them before stepping out the door once again.



---

Austin looked down to Violet. “Um, hi,” he said, unsure of what to expect and too concerned with everything else to really worry about this strange girl.