Floating over the edge of a large skyscraper, Jason looked at a woman who looked to be in her mid to late twenties. Two black tear streaks and messy makeup made her look gastly as she hugged herself as she looked at the ground. It was clear she wanted to take the fastest way to the ground.
"Is there a reason you want to die?" Jason called out to her lightly.
The woman was pretty looking, while she wasn't Lala or Felicia grade. She still had a nice look to her that could turn a couple heads. It's just Jason didn't have any idea about her personality and chose not to comment.
Startled by the words, she looked up at him floating there. As his clothes fluttered in the wind, she was drawn to the symbol on his chest.
"You're him. I thought you were older." She answered.
Ignoring the jab at his age, "What are you doing on the edge of the roof? Don't you know it's dangerous if you fall?"
"Fall?" She snorted as she swayed. "My goal is to jump. I have nothing to live for. The man I loved with all my heart used me to have an affair. I just lost my job as I caught my boss and his other secretary in the copy room. My apartment was destroyed in the Battle of New York and recently my father was admitted to the hospital."
"So you chose to end it? Just because life hit a low point?" Jason countered without sounding sympathetic.
Taken back by the near coldness in his tone. The woman felt this wasn't the mysterious hero. In her opinion a hero shouldn't be like this. How could he talk to someone who is ready to jump like this?
Enraged after getting over the small shock, the woman glared. "What would you know? I bet you grew up happily and spoiled. Never having it hard in life and everything going your way. Now you want to be praised as you run around saving others. Well too bad, I hate heroes like you."
While her last words stung a bit, Jason had heard these words before by those who are like this woman. Not showing her a reaction as he learned that the reaction they wanted, she looked more vivid than before.
"Everyone has hardships in life. While they may vary in degrees, those that strive to change it usually are much stronger in the end." Jason said slowly.
This was true for him and even his father still. Unlike what many believe, he has to be careful in every action he takes. From picking up a glass cup to accidentally bumping into someone. It wasn't like magic where he could turn down his strength or only had powers when he was in hero mode.
"Wawa, don't cry to me about the time you stubbed your toe." The woman almost sneered.
Silently sighing to himself that this was going to take a while. Jason ended up listening to countless insults and the rambling of the woman before convincing her not to jump.
--
Inside an underground lab, a fairly muscular teen with a recently shaved head and light sun kissed skin was currently tied to a metal table. Strapped down, fear and immense hate came from his eyes as he looked at the lab equipment and fair to many needles hovering above him. The heart monitor attached told him and those watching he was far more afraid than he let on.
"We are about to begin Todd. This may hurt a bit, but it should pass in time."
A rough and carefree voice spoke over the speakers. Behind a one way window in the lab, a middle aged man took his hands off the intercom button. He had styled black hair telling he spent time maintaining his looks. While next to him was an old general and the test subject grandfather.
"What are the chances this will succeed?" The General asked.
He almost sounded like he didn't care if his grandson lived or not, but more if this experiment was worth its cost.
"Based on the sample of his blood, he will live. It will however take two to three years for his blood to mutate like we want it too. We don't have much in the way of the Viltrumite blood nor Rognarr blood to make the change much faster." The scientist replied, uncaring, they were talking about a person's life. "We also have a bit of the experimental super soldier serum."
For how they learned of the names of the blood, it was thanks to their higher ups in Hydra learning it. Also thanks to Fury putting all the info he gained from Carol onto a file, their research launched far ahead than previously before.
"Much faster than what we expected but try to speed it up if possible." The general replied. "Now begin."
Todd screams echoed throughout the room as pain ran throughout his body.
--
"It is returning."
Inside a messy apartment a middle aged man with blonde hair sat up quickly. Despite his unhealthy lifestyle and fast food littering the floor. He was fairly fit and could still be considered handsome by some despite his messy clothes and hair.
"This is bad, the Void is returning."
The man's name is Robert Reynolds and as his memories slowly returned from the time he was known as The Sentry. Memories of his greatest and deadly foe The Void returned as well when he began sensing him.
"I must prepare or the world is doomed." he whispered.
Rushing out of his apartment, he ran towards his former friends as he began to recall them. For if they actually remembered him or not, he didn't think that part. Hailing the taxi going by, he climbed into it.
"To Baxter Building. Hurry!" Robert said nearly shouting, not caring about his messy looks.
The cab driver just lightly shook his head and began driving there. He didn't need directions as it was one of the most famous buildings in New York. The Fantastic Four lived there after all.