[Author note : New KoSP chapter. The Iron Lad squib is for tomorrow, don't worry guys !
If you're interested in my stories or want to encourage me, please check out my Patréon : https://www.patréon.com/user?u=66371596 (replace the é by a normal e) or look for Cathbel on their website
KoSP : 2 advanced chapters
The Squib who became Iron Lad... In DC : 3 advanced chapters
Enjoy !]
Atop the roof of a building, in the middle of a sprawling city, Simon gazed at the shantytown on its edges and gradually brought his gaze toward the center, much more rich-looking, almost ostentatious.
Crys, in his new robotic form, commented :
« It seems the former leader of this country was not much better than this one… »
« Yeah… » Simon nodded.
Although Simon was a teenager before being frozen, he wasn't stupid. And like a number of people his age, he had paid a great deal of attention to social and political problems. And he came, or rather was pushed to the realization that there was always a minority of people who hoarded wealth and power, while the rest of the population barely scraped by. He found it… unjust. Especially when the children of such rich and powerful people behaved entitled… Like they'd done anything significant in their lives except being born in wealth.
But he also understood that, for some of those people, they struggled their whole lives, worked extremely hard or were simply gifted in some way… And they earned their wealth and power !
Still… Seeing such poverty and misery, even from a distance was heartbreaking. If only the ones in power made it their goal to improve their people's conditions… Alas, such characters were rare and often squashed by the reality that those who shared their positions weren't willing to let them do as they pleased !
Across the street stood a palatial building of a very foreign architecture. At least, to Simon and Crys it was foreign… If he had to compare it to something, it'd be a strange mix of muslim and Russian architecture, with a bit of gothic, here and there. Needless to say, this clash of cultures seemed rather strange to their eyes. Though, to be fair, Crys was still a newborn and he only had Simon's experiences to draw from. The cupolas at the top were green, while the walls were of a dark shade of blue. Reliefs adorned them at regular intervals, painted brightly in some kind of silver. The windows were high and large and covered with beautiful works of wrought-iron. All-in-all, it looked both like a fortress and a mansion.
« Okay… Let's just do it ! » Simon declared.
He was feeling tired and sad, right now. His earlier fights had brought difficult memories to the surface… Traumas, really. And although he was feeling sorry for himself, he also felt disgust since he felt like he wasn't the true victim here… The people he slaughtered were ! The fact that he was conditioned and had no choice but to obey was beside the point ! And so, his will to bring down a tyrant was dampened… Especially now that the idea that someone even worse might take charge in his stead, if the state of the city was any indication.
Sighing, he got up to his feet, took a few steps back, realizing that it wasn't really necessary, before shrugging and running for the edge… He jumped, the powerful energies in his body fueling his legs to propel him easily over the street and into the iron covered windows. As if they weren't even there, the bar, the glass and wood bent or exploded inward and he landed easily on a carpeted floor. He idly noticed how expensive it looked before he scanned the room with his eyes.
Armed guard could be spotted running in his direction, while a couple already present were looking at him with fear, their weapons trained on him. No in the mood for banter, Simon exploded into action just as Crys' hook stuck in the torn iron.
When Crys finally climbed inside the room, detaching the hook he used to get across the street, the guards were already dealt with. Using the computer systems the crystal life-form salvage, he assessed their conditions…
« It seems you've been merciful this time. » He commented.
If the two weren't connected psychically, Simon might have misunderstood the comment as an accusation of his earlier altercation. Thankfully, they were… Crys was the only thing good about his life right now. After all, he saved him from his enslavement, and gave him the possibility to atone. The powers he gave him… He decided he'd use them for good. Though, at the moment, he wasn't sure what that meant.
Sure, Simon loved super-heroes ! Some part of him wanted to become one. Another, however, much louder part of him felt that he wasn't worthy of being idolized or praised… And that was an integral aspect of being a hero.
« Maybe I could be like the Batman or Moon Knight… » He told himself.
And dismissed the idea almost right off the bat, since those two vigilantes were rather… violent in their brand of dispensing justice. Simon had had enough of violence for a while !
« Now, where's that Saroumane fellow ? »
The duo went on to search the entire building, ignoring the civilians and taking down the armed security looking for their target. They didn't really know what they'd do with him yet, but figured they would decide when they finally found him.
Arriving inside some kind of office, Crys spoke :
« This room is peculiar… There seems to be an empty space between this room and the adjacent one. »
« A safe room ! » Simon exclaimed, remembering it from watching the TV on Earth. « Can you find it or even unlock it ? »
« One moment, please… »
Crys went still and for a while, the connection between the two of them seemed to dim a bit. Simon had noticed that it usually happened when the crystal life-form used its own brand of superpowers. Perhaps his control over machines generated some kind of field which disrupted their link. Not that it mattered really : he could still feel his friend and he, too, could feel him.
After a while, the bookcase behind the desk moved as if by itself, opening on a small, reinforced room. Inside, a frightened, weasel-looking person, with two standing bodyguards by his sides was sitting.
« Well… Hello, there ! » Simon greeted, a somewhat dark smile on his face.