Chapter One

In most cases, things are usually more than they seem. In this day and age, with super powered individuals, or Meta Humans, anyone can be more than they seem. A man working at a restaurant could be able to move things with his mind, the lady on the bus might be able to read minds. How did this happen? Is it evolution? Genetics? God? Will we ever know? Probably not. But, and here's the big but, things are not how they seem.

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Quinton Trench stood in his office. He stared out across the city. From here, it looked peaceful. Quiet almost. He knew it wasn't. It was loud. Dirty. Bordering on uncivilized. With some meta Humans who wanted nothing more than to destroy, or steal. Organized crime selling drugs to kids, weapons to criminals and buying law enforcement. This city was a cesspool, but it was his city. The city he was born in, the city he was raised in and the city he founded his company in. Trench Vision. On the surface, just a multi billion dollar sunglasses company, but to Quinton, it was more than that. After 15 years of being in the military, it was his retirement. He created and patented luxury sunglasses. However, it was more than that. He continued his patriotic duty by supplying top of the line combat specs to the military. He donated millions to charities. He was even 'Peoples Magazines' Man of the Year. Twice.

However, just like everything else, he was more than meets the eye. After all those years in the military, after gaining multitudes of skills and accolades, he believed it to be a waste to sit by and do nothing about the time bomb that was his city. So, DeadEye was born.

Everyone in the city knew DeadEye, but nobody knew who DeadEye was. Quinton created DeadEye to be a warrior for the city. To be the White Knight the innocent people needed. To strike fear in the hearts of criminals, and after more than a decade of hitting things, it was cathartic to continue.

In the top left hand of Quintons HUD, heads up display, from the lenses of his own personal Trench Vision sunglasses, a notification appeared. Informing him that a meta was causing chaos a few blocks away.

"AVA, what's that about?" Quinton asked out loud.

"There seems to be a raging meta. The police are trying to contain him until the M.T.F arrive" Said the female voice of Quintons artificial intelligence system.

"The M.T.F. Well, looks like DeadEye should step it. Suit." Quinton replied. Once he finished, a silver steel colored nano suit erupted from the chip placed on the back of his neck and covered his entire body in a nano suit. It looked like a futuristic set of armor.

DeadEye wanted to restrain the meta before the M.T.F arrived. They were the Meta Task Force. A special team created by the Security of Defense himself in order to "contain" meta Humans. When in reality, they captured them, kept them prisoner and studied them. In various ways, with various experiments and tests. They were cruel, and DeadEye often clashed with them. He understood why they were seen as necessary, but many times, these metas weren't evil, but were confused or attacked.

DeadEye climbed up to roof and leapt. He was falling rapidly off of the 75 story building he owned until spreading his arms and legs and a wing suit erupted from the suit. He glided over the city and weaved in between taller buildings until he could see the scene.

A man stood in the middle of a four way intersection, in a defensive but aggressive stance, surrounded on all sides by squad cars and police officers. All around him were burning cars, a few officers who laid on the ground, either dead or unconscious.

When DeadEye got closer to a building that was next to the intersection he retracted the wing suit and fell about 15 feet. Once he landed to the roof and rolled, he perched at the edge.

Now that he had a closer look, this meta couldn't be older than mid twenties. He had, what looked to be, a bandana covering the bottom half of his face like an old cowboy. He wore a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up and cargo pants and what looked to be high top canvas shoes. The more interesting thing about this kids appearance. He stood, in a defensive stance, and had intense flames burning along his arms.

DeadEye leapt down to the street and walked into the fray. Everyone paused and had their eyes on DeadEye as he entered the middle of the intersection and stopped maybe ten feet away from the flaming meta.

"Hey kid." DeadEye said calmly. The meta just stared at him with a vicious snarl.

"Listen, M.T.F is on there way. You don't want them getting ahold of you. Come with me, I can help you." DeadEye explained.

"Help me? Ha! Do I LOOK like I need help?" The meta growled, gesturing to his arms. DeadEye scanned him with his suits visor.

The scans showed that his body was covered in carvings. Strange runes and symbols.

"Who did this to you?" DeadEye asked, concerned. That seemed to touch a nerve, because the meta roared and charged at him. The kid rammed his shoulder into DeadEyes chest, with a power he didn't expect, knocked him flat onto his back. He used the momentum to roll backwards from the landing and back up to his feet.

"Damnit, kid. Stop. I'm trying to help you!" DeadEye yelled.

"No one can help me!" The kid roared as he charged again, preparing to throw a fire ball. DeadEye side stepped the flames that were aimed for his torso, and grabbed the kids arm, bending it backwards behind him and held him locked in a stand up chicken wing hold. The flames licked at his suits but luckily the nano suit didn't burn or heat up.

The meta was shocked by the turn of events for a second, long enough for DeadEye to wrap his arm underneath the kids other arm and wrench it up so he had complete control.

"Now, listen! I'm not trying to hurt you. There are people that want to help!" DeadEye pleaded.

"Yeah? Look around you golden boy! There's over a dozen cops here with guns aimed at me. Just ITCHING to fire. I am nothing to them. Just another FREAK." The kid spat, but didn't struggle.

DeadEye looked at the police, all still had their weapons trained on the kid. He let his guard down for one moment, when he heard the kid say "I'll show you." before slipping his grip and flipping him over the shoulder and down to the street on his back.

As soon as DeadEye was out of the way, the police started firing their weapons. Dozens of bullets fired towards him, but the kid encased himself in a whirling orb of intense flame that seemed to melt the bullets immediately. Even leaving scorch marks on the concrete street.

When the gunshots ceased and silence filled the air, DeadEye watched as the kids seemed to grow weaker from exerting so much power.

That's when DeadEye realized: This kid must have just recently discovered his powers.

This kid was mentally unstable. He didn't even know the kids name, but he was sure he needed help. His help.

DeadEye returned to his feet, and was about to offer his help again, when the kid punched him in the chest with a fiery fist. The blow staggered him due to the surprising physical strength the kid had.

"Alright, kid. If you don't want my help, that's fine, but I can't let you hurt anymore innocent people." DeadEye said. The kid looked around to the several civilians that laid about from his rampage.

"I- I didn't mean to do that. I get so mad that I- I- It doesn't matter!" The kid replied before charging again, flinging multiple wisps of fire. DeadEye easily dodged them all, and then delivered a simple jab-cross combo. Both connecting. He then followed it up with a slide takedown, then slipped around to a choke. The kid struggled in his grasp, then hit DeadEye with a powerful elbow to the ribs, which did just enough damage to slightly release his grip. The kid used his power to break free and return to his feet. As DeadEye got to one knee after him, the kid pivoted and shot out a side kick aimed for DeadEyes head. He ducked under it, and sprung up with an uppercut that caught the kid under the jaw. He reeled back from the impact and almost fell. DeadEye took the opportunity to pull out a device from inside the arm of his suit and toss it. The device stuck to the back of the kids head, and an electric shock shot through his body. His whole body seized for a moment, then he fell limp to the ground.

DeadEye stood over his body, and then turned his head towards the sound of sirens. Different sirens. M.T.F. They were close. DeadEye scooped the kid up, and fled the scene.

------

Quinton stood in the corner of the room. A cell like room. It wasn't designed to be a cell, but it would do for this. The meta laid on the bed, and began to stir, he reactivated his suit. He wasn't sure how this altercation was going to go.

The kid bolted up right, and looked around frantically. He stopped and stared as soon as he saw DeadEye, standing arms crossed, in the corner.

"You kidnapped me?" The kid asked, shocked.

"I detained you. It was either here with me, or in one of M.T.F's facilities." DeadEye replied. The kid just glared at him.

"Let's start simple. What's your name, kid?" DeadEye asked, pulling up a chair and sitting down. The kid eyed him for a moment.

"Aaron. Aaron Pierce." He answered, presumably deciding that DeadEye wasn't an immediate threat.

"Good. Now we're making progress. AVA, look up Aaron Pierce." DeadEye said. Aaron looked at him, confused.

"Aaron Pierce. 23 years old. Biological parents not on record. Foster parents Anthony and Jessica Pierce." AVA said.

"What the- Who is that?" Aaron asked, looking around. DeadEye pointed to his helmet.

"An AI. In my suit. So. Foster kid huh? That's gotta suck." DeadEye commented.

"Fuck you, and your pity." Aaron said.

"Pity? Ha! I don't pity you. I think YOU pity you. Don't know mommy and daddy so you lash out. Hurt innocent people?" DeadEye replied. Aaron looked at him, wide eyed. No one ever said anything like that to him before. People always either pitied him, or feared him.

"Yeah, well, you don't know what it's like." Aaron finally said .

"I don't? Four tours in the military. I've been a P.OW. Tortured for weeks. Shot, stabbed, beaten. You ever been in a helicopter crash? Shit sucks."

"When people see me, they fear me."

"Yeah. I can relate. You walk into a village overseas and they are afraid of you. Get violent because of it. Even though you're there to help. Sound familiar?" DeadEye asked. Aaron looked at the ground.

"Look, Aaron. I get it. You're afraid. Your powers probably just manifested. Well, the fire ability has probably always been there, just laying dormant, but those runes carved into your body, Who did that to you?"

"I don't know. I was squatting in an abandoned building and suddenly it felt like hot knives were being dug into me as these marking appeared. Then I literally exploded..." Aaron explained, staring at his hands.

"Is anger a thing for you? Common?" DeadEye asked.

"I guess. I've been on mood stabilizing meds since I was real little." Aaron explained.

"Well, since you've trusted me. I guess it's only fair that I trust you right?" DeadEye asked hypothetically. Aaron looked up at him. Waiting. DeadEye sighed, and deactivated his suit. Revealing Quinton Trench. Aaron looked at him.

"Erm, I was expecting shock." Quinton commented, rubbing his head.

"Oh, sorry. You just said all that like it was a dramatic reveal, but I don't know who you are. Sorry." Aaron replied. Embarrassed.

"I'm Quinton Trench."

"Oh! The sunglasses guy! Wait, you're super rich. Why are you doing this?" Aaron asked.

"Uhm, well, someone has to. I have the recourses to do it. To help. When I left the military I felt...empty. Here, doing this, I can help so much more." Quinton explained.

Aaron nodded his head. Not fully understanding. He had never felt the need to help people. He survived because he only helped himself. He was ashamed, because as soon as he realized he had powers he didn't think of helping people, he thought of hurting people. Out of a blind anger he couldn't seem to control.

"So, Mr. Trench, uh, what are you going to do with me?" Aaron asked nervously.

"Well, that's up to you. I can let you go, and if you cause trouble again I take you to M.T.F" Quinton explained sternly. Aaron returned his gaze to the floor and nodded.

"Or.." Aaron looked up, waiting to see what the other option was.

"Or, you join me. I can give you a home, food, security. I can teach you how to use your powers. Help people." Quinton offered. Aaron stared at him in wonder for a moment.

"You want me to be your sidekick?" Aaron chuckled. Quinton smirked.

"A mentor. That's all I can offer. You have something many people don't have."

"Powers."

"No. Pain. Many people in this world have pain, but what you have is beyond that. You've had to survive on your own. You know loss. Hopelessness."

Aaron looked at him in shock. He didn't know anything about Quinton Trench other than he was a billionaire, and yet he seemed to be talking from experience.

"So it's your call. There's food on that table, and you can stay here for the night. The bathroom is down the hall and to your left. Just don't wander too much. Come tomorrow, I'll come by and see what you've decided." Quinton said. Aaron nodded meekly and Quinton left the room.

Aaron sat on the bed for a moment. Not sure what he should do. The idea of a place to stay was tempting, but this felt like it could be just another cage. He didn't know if he could actually help people. Fire doesn't help people. It hurts people.

Aaron laid down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

It wasn't long before exhaustion took over and he drifted to sleep.