Chapter 6

Central City, a place where mutants were rampant. Rich and wealthy ones were even more overindulgent.

When everybody in the Bogard household thought Pam was sleeping soundly, a person appeared at her window.

"Geese? What do you think you're doing here at this hour? I need my beauty sleep." Sensing the comer, Pam, who lay in bed, said. Not bothering to turn her back, which faced him.

"Haha. You're as sharp and bouncy as ever, Pam. Rest assured, it's been too long since I felt any of those urges for you..." The stranger responding to the name of Geese laughed and replied. Pushing completely open the window and entering crassly, the man continued, "I won't bother your 'darling sleep' after you answer my question."

Dressed like the godfather, the speaker, one with burgling ways, had short back-combed blond hair and blue eyes. Besides the sizable black suit and red tie he was sporting, he also wore gloves.

More important than his fashion was his build. If his height was reasonable, the former was intimidating.

"Ask away," Pam said. She didn't want to give that bad guy more children he'd never care for. The sooner he left, the better.

At Pam's response, Geese chuckled and said his purpose, "Did Terry awaken his latent gene? What is it?"

Geese Howard, this successful man who visited the lower-class neighborhood and casually stepped into the Bogard household, was never filled with workaday ambitions.

XX

Having no idea that his father was home, John finally made his night visit.

When he knocked on Terry's door, the latter said:

"John? Come in."

"I'm here." John entered and said, not awkward at all, searching for the comfiest place to sit.

Terry's room was the largest out of the three siblings. And besides many martial arts, boxing, and baseball posters, there were several cushions and seats.

When John finally sat, Terry, working on something on his computer, turned in his chair, saying. "Cool. We can talk now."

"About?" Curious, the youngest Bogard asked. He had not yet washed and changed clothes. So he wore the same clothes ever since he woke up to life.

Those were a black sleeveless shirt and a pair of jeans of blue color.

As for the shoes he left in his room, those were brown Timberlands-like boots. Their natural size and scope, however, weren't as imposing.

John Bogard dressed a bit like Cloud Strife, and behaving, so did he have some of his moods. The true difference was his skin and hair. The former was more tanned, and the latter more like Terry's, without the ponytail.

Anyway. Like every Bogard besides Andy, he was casual about his dressing style and fashion. He wore whatever was cozier.

"About my awakening and something else." John's brother said with a smile, continuing, "What's your view on soul-uploading?"

John was a student with very humble grades, but he was still knowledgeable and informed. Understanding where his brother was going, he said:

"You want to upload your soul?"

"Yes." Terry nodded firmly. His gaze cheerful, decisive, and optimistic, he said, "Not just me. You, mom, and Andy. I've only mentioned this to you, but what do you think?"

"I don't really have an opinion. As long as you can be reborn, who would ever want to stay dead?" John said his thoughts but reminded teasingly, "Let's talk about the impossible price, though. Though you can enter a mutant gym, meet other mutants and make money easier now, it's still gonna be a long-term undertaking. Amassing that much money won't be leisurely unless you instantly grind your way to the top. Do you really want to put such expectations on your back and give us such hope?"

"Hehe. This is where the catch comes, Lil Johnny. Why do you think I didn't talk about this with mom first?" Terry said smugly, crossing his arms.

"Why then?" John raised his brows.

"I'm going to meet Dad," Terry announced, adding nothing else. Because he and John were the only siblings who understood his identity and saw him years ago, there was no need to speak more.

"..." John stayed silent.

"What? Tell me what you're thinking." Terry frowned and said.

"Do what you need to do, Terry; I can't change your mind." John sighed and said. Shrugging. Terry wasn't as stupid as Andy, but the guy could also be dense and stubborn.

Despite Rock's warning, he still wanted to do his thing.

"So what? You won't support me?" Terry's frown, which lessened, was still a bit present. His expression was a mix of a sad smile and provoking.

"I don't really care." Uncaring, John said.

"Okay, then." Terry sighed. Pointing to the computer, he said, "Let's talk about my mutant gene then. I found an old post on a forum online that implies how my ability could be employed. It's a little similar, it seems. Come see and tell me what you think?"

XX

Fifteen minutes later,

John was a mediocre student, so he couldn't theorize everything Terry was speaking about. Though his relationship with his oldest brother was the best, he couldn't be of any help.

Going out for a smoke, a bad habit that John had and that his body forced him to crave for as well, John relaxed. That was his plan before taking a shower and going to sleep.

The young man originally planned to test his bizarre powers on Terry but chose not to after some thinking. For people who had the means to upload their souls, cloning oneself, a relative, changing bodies, or changing gender altogether was nothing unusual.

The problem was that it could look odd for those who were poor or living modest lives like the Bogard.

"I guess I won't do it before I'm fucking strong and rich..." Muttering some safe content audibly, John puffed hot smoke. At the same time, his forearms were leaning on the emergency stairs' railing, and his eyes blankly stared at the empty back alley.

The young man's eyes were on the two green trash cans when right behind him, he heard someone with an aged and very manly voice say:

"I don't recommend the smoke but it seems like you grew up to be an interesting kid. What won't you do?"

Startled, John turned to see who spoke.