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Chapter 2 - 2024

Seven years later

Harry  laid on a hospital bed with an oxygen mask attached to his face. The machine beside hin showed that he was still alive. The doctor had confirmed that he fell into a coma seven years ago. Ever since then, John and Ciara visited the hospital every day to see their child. Today was different. John came alone for the first time in seven years to see his son. He sat across the room with his head inside his palms. He had never been okay ever since Harry's accident in the laboratory. He mind was blank. He had been here for almost five hours. He felt it would have been better if he had handed the orb to Callahan. immediately  he noticed the whole city had an electricity blackout, including the hospital. How absurd, he thought. Sitting there for hours he didn't even notice .He stood up and turned backwards. The machine supporting Harry was down, no power to keep it on. He was about running out to get help when something strange happened. Light was emitting from Harry's body like he was  been electrocuted. John froze in shock. In an instant, a fierce bluish wave was realised from Harry's body, sending john backwards in shock. The whole city was lighted up with electricity once again. After everything that transpired, John recalled about the orb he had found eight years ago.

"Oh....no!" he murdered out of fear in a shaky voice. "No! No!" he repeated, this time with a scream of horror. A voice came form behind. It was the doctor who was assigned to take care of Harry.

"Mr. Kingston, the city must have had problems with the power supply..." the doctor stuttered before he continued in a tone of uncertainty, "I figured it must have affected Harry's treatment. I'm sorry but I don't think he would have survived it," the doctor spoke  further as he walked with mixed feelings towards the machine. It indicated a dormant heart of a dying Harry. A tear dropped form John's eyes as he staggered backwards, resting his back on the wall behind him. He saw the world crumble before him. If Harry dies, what would be of his life? There would be no meaning to his life. Everything around him will wither away. His wife would lose herself. There would be nothing to live...

Harry opened his eyes. His vision felt too blurry for him to identify the person before him. He felt too dumb to say a word, not even sigh.

"He's alive!" the doctor said in surprise and confusion. He slowly looked back at the machine which still stated Harry was dead. John left the wall abruptly and ran towards Harry's bed to confirm if the doctor was playing a fallacy game with him. He is going to punch the doctor's head off his neck if it turns out to be what he was thinking.  Lo and behold, iy wasn't!

"Son?" he managed to say in shock. 

Harry opened his mouth to speak, bit felt his tongue tied by his current condition. He sighed and tried once more.

"Dad," he struggled to say. His eyes were glassy.  He coughed and tried sitting on his back.

The doctor stood there in shock and amazement. He was out of words. He still couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"What just happened?" he asked after finding his voice. It was just like one of those magic movies. Raising the dead to life.

"Calm down son, I'll explain that to you later," John replied with a smile of revival. He felt alive once again. Moments ago, he was dead than you could imagine. He turned to the doctor, "can you check if he's fine?...so I can take him home," he asked the doctor who was still surprised at what had just happened.

"Ok," the shocked doctor managed to say. John smiled and turned back to Harry.

"Welcome back son...thought I had lost you forever,"  he said.

Harry didn't understand what he was saying until he stared into this mirror that was beside him. His whole face had changed. He couldn't recognize himself anymore. Everything about him was different.

"What 'for hesvens sake' happened to me?" he asked. He touched his chin. This is crazy!

*

After hours of tests and check ups, Harry was discharged.

"He's good to go Mr. Kingston," the check up team's lead doctor spoke finally. The documentary had doubts about every test that was carried on Harry. No injection pierced into his skin unless the boy did it himself; his DNA was complex; his heart never showed signs of beating. He was like a living dead, the doctor thought.  He couldn't do anything since Harry's father had insisted on taking him home. Who was he to decline the request of the soon-to-be first director of  I.B.I

Harry walked behind his father who seem to be in an hurry.

"Dad what happened to me? Why do I feel so....different?" he asked, "I wouldn't have grown this big in just one night, would I?"

"Coma...you were in a coma for few years," John replied as he pushed open the exit door and walked out of the hospital, with Harry still behind him.

"Few years?  How many years dad?" Harry asked in slight fear.

John paused a while before he answered. "Seven." He gestured his hands forward, swiped the screen on his watch and waited. Shortly, a car drove in front of them. "Get in Harry," he said.

"Seven years dad, seven – you weren't able to do something for seven years...my...my whole life is gone. There's nothing left for me," tears rolled down Harry's eyes as he stuttered.

"That's not true son, you still have your whole life with you...nothing's changed," John replied as they got into the car. He placed the settings on auto drive.

"What do you mean nothing's changed? Everything...my education...relationship...everything's changed," Harry replied angrily.

"Like I said, it's still the same as before...look around you, still the same ol' Gringold City you know...education? It was withheld due to war outbreak. Parents don't wanna to risk the lives of their kid in such a dangerous situation," John replied with a tinge of confidence.

"What do you mean 'war'?" Harry asked with a raised brow.

John sighed before he continued. "Well, months after you went into coma, a Russian-American billionaire known for his science brand, MASTERPIECE...he is a stinking rich politician and entrepreneur...got into running for presidential elections...he lost. Markovitz was not a man who liked losing – no one does. He felt he was cheated...in a blink, he overtook the government, turning everyone against each other...he killed thousands...people were forced to accept his brutal reign. Almost every country that was vunurable to attack was taken under his control...he became restless – shut down the POLICE, FBI, CiA...the US army fought but didn't stand a chance against his army of enhanced soldiers...the last seven years haven't been the same."

Harry was shocked about what had happened in just seven years...then he remembered something.

"Where's mum?" he asked

.

"Scouting in Asia," John replied. Their car turned left and joined the multiple automobiles in traffic. People were leaving to the airport. Its better they leave before the air becomes governed, John thought.

"Asia? Why is she scouting?" Harry asked curiously. He now noticed what his dad has been saying all along. The streets looked gloomy and dead, unlike the normal bustling and lively nature.

"A team. She scouts for talented fighters...and scientists for I.B.I.."John answered

.

"What is I.B,I?" he asked, finding it strange to pronounce the acronyms properly.

"We formed an alliance with the remnants of the FBI and cai to form a new organization that can stop Markovitz once and for all. The director chickened out. Yur mum and I took the glory of directing the team," John answered.

"You and mum? That's strange...how's un..." he stopped when he noticed an armed drone flying towards their direction.

"Not now," John said immediately he sighted the drone. A shot fired at the car's tires. John swerved in the car as it lost control off the road. Harry looked back to see the drone fast trailing their car. Another shot fired at the booth of the car. Another fired at the silencer. Before John could say a single word, the car screeched, tumbled and went up in flames...

THICK, menacing smoke clouded the whole crash scene. The people around the avenue departed the scene with fear. Those who had automobiles rolled out of the area more hastily. Everyone feared that the passengers of the car would not survive such a crash. Armed drones soon arrived at the scene. By then, not even a single being was present. The armed drones lined up strategically in the sky. They positioned their blasters at the wrecked car, waiting for movements. More drones filed in. They waited for a moment. Nothing occurred. The door of the crashed automobile suddenly tore off and went straight to the sky. The door knocked off three drones off the sky. They exploded into debris before they reached the earth's surface. A glowing figure came out of the car through the destroyed door. The drones opened fire at the figure the instant they caught sight of it. The glowing figure proved invulnerable to the attack. It walked towards the drone's band looked at the sky. Behold, it was no one else but Harry. His eye and arms glowed fierce white. He defied the law of gravity and blasted towards the drones. More shots bounced off his body as focused an energy blast at the drones. In a mighty scream of rage, he blasted the energy at his attackers, burning every single drone into dust. The city's electricity supply went off once again. Harry fell from mid-air and crashed against the earth's surface with a loud thud. His clothes were burnt to rags. He struggled to get up and walked towards the car. He pulled his father out with both hands.

"Dad," Harry began as he rolled his dad on his back. "Wake up dad," he said again, pressing his dad's chest moderately. John showed no sign of resuscitation. Harry continued pressing his dad's chest with the hope of reviving him. He was almost losing hope that his dad would wake up when John coughed and opened his eyes. Silence. John's eyes became teary the moment they met Harry's.

"What have I done?" he asked himself as Harry slowly helped him up to his feet. A jet flew towards them. Harry looked behind and saw bigger drones flying towards them. They were now in the middle of a forthcoming jet and drones from behind. The jet landed in a haste and the shaft opened afterward.

"Get in!" Owen shouted. Harry ran along with his father. They both jumped in and the jet took off immediately. The drones fired blasts as the jet flew away speedily.

"Get rid, I'm taking over from the autopilot," Owen commanded. Harry got up and paced around the jet with mixed feelings. He discovered that all the pains he felt were gone. John laid his back on the seats with his body stretched. Owen maneuvered the acceleration of the jet in a way that made it impossible for the drones to fire it down.

"You okay dad?" Harry asked.

"Yeah kiddo, I'm doing fine," John replied. The jet shook as some blasts caught its tail. John fell off but Harry was fast enough to grab him back to his seats whilst holding an iron above him for support.

"Why are we chased by angry drones?" Harry asked no one in particular as he tried to recover from the shock he just had.

"I'm kinda busy here," Owen replied as he turned the jet left to avoid an oncoming missile. A huge explosion went off behind the jet as the missile caught multiple drones fast chasing the jet from behind.

"Activate weapon mode, Metroid," Owen commanded. A red button popped up beside the pilot's seat. Owen punched the button. Multiple missiles shot out of the jet against the few drones behind. They exploded into extinction afterward.

"Get rid?" Harry asked confused. He didn't create Getroid as a battle A.I.

"Welcome, Master Harry," the A.I. replied with a feminine voice. More drones flew behind the jet

"Stealth mode, Getroid!" Owen ordered. Suddenly, a jet appeared in front of Kingston's jet.

"Santa Maria!" Owen exclaimed in shock. "We better surrender," he said as another jet hovered behind them. No drone was in sight.

"Getroid opens the shaft, I'll take 'em out. I did it once...I'll do it again," Harry voiced out in confidence. Deep down, he was not sure of his abilities but he was willing.

"No Harry!" John declined almost immediately with a slightly raised voice. "I won't sit and watch you risk your life!"

Harry looked at his father with a neutral face. This is the first time he will disobey his father. He took a deep breath as he saw the shaft open. John looked at his son in disbelief. Harry looked at his father once more before he ran forth and jumped out of the jet is a superb dive. The jets immediately set their targets on Harry as they sighted him to jump off. Two missiles fired towards his direction from the jet ahead. Like a vacuum effect, everything around Harry froze. He dived and caught the missiles in mid-air and threw them in the direction of the jet behind. The moment everything went to normal, the jet behind exploded. Harry was left vulnerable when he realized what just happened. The jet ahead shot an injection that went through his back.

"No!" Owen and John screamed when they saw what just happened to Harry.

Everything around Harry felt manipulated by an invisible force. His eyes saw things in a blurry and hazy perspective. Slowly, he fell off the sky with his eyes still staring at the jets in mid-air. The wind around him gushed upward as he descended from the sky at a jaw-dropping speed. He was around thirty feet to crash when a cloaked female figure swiftly caught him and flew away...

Harry felt a sharp object poking his hand over and over again. By now, he had thought that the object would have pierced through his skin. Slowly, he opened his eyelids. He felt like he has been asleep for decades. His eyelids felt heavy as he finally opened his eyes. His vision was blurry at first, soon it became clear. A female figure was standing before him with an injection. She noticed Harry was awake said something he could not quite understand. He noticed the female figure turning backward and walking towards a tray that lay idly on a table before her. She picked up another object resembling a knife, in the sight of Harry. She faced Harry once again as she approached him. Harry managed to force little words from his mouth as he had found it difficult to speak the moment he awoke.

"Where am I?" he managed to say. He felt like he had said something like this before. Images of him waking up at the hospital flashed through his head...

The female figure gave no reply. Soon, his head began to ache. He felt like he was trapped in a bad nightmare. Light skinned male figure, presumably in his late thirties, wearing a white cropped top shirt and a tight black jean trouser, with some running shoes walked into the room. He had a grin on his face that pissed Harry off. He did not know who he was. He had an urge of looking at the man to study him more, but he felt he was torturing himself.

"He's awake?" the male figure asked, looking in Harry's direction. He grinned once more and walked towards the female.

"Woke up not too long ago. I've been trying to get his blood sample, but for some reason, the injection can't get through his skin," the female replied.

"Really? Maybe it would work if he does it himself," the male suggested, focused his gaze on Harry. This irritated Harry the more.

"I don't think that would work..." The female paused in deep thought. She continued, "even If it does work, you think he's gonna do it?"

"Not sure," the male said as he smiled, "but he's got no choice. He's gonna do as I say, can you hear me Mr. Kingston?" the male asked, waiting for a reply from Harry. He felt disgusted when Harry gave no reply. Harry had learned from his uncle to always keep shut in a situation he doesn't understand. Though he did not see it as a good idea, he learned to embrace it.

"I know you can hear me, must be confused by what's going on, eh? Well, here's a formal introduction...My name is Markovitz Koran, the owner of the successful scientific organization MASTERPIECE and the soon-to-be president of the world!" the male introduced himself. He and the female laughed at what he had said.

"President of the world!" the female repeated in mockery.

"Really? President of the world? Really? Whereas my dad told me someone killed the president and took over...thoughts you'd have been smarter, " Harry replied. He was surprised at how he spoke with ease.

"Your dad could be so stupid! He is so stupid thinking a secret organization would foil my plans... I would have killed him if it weren't for your abilities. I decided you would be of great use to me than your useless parents... You speak like your father, always thinking you're smarter..." Markovitz paused and continued, "I'd rather say that you're dumb, just like your father," he added.

"I'm dumb? At least I don't call myself the president of the world," Harry said mockingly. He felt his cells and worn tissues regenerating. He knew he had to get fully recovered if he wanted to escape. Now was just the best moment for that. He focused his gaze on the female who had two swords strapped to her back. He hadn't noticed that earlier. She was wearing a black leather-fitting suit; her hair was tied up in a ponytail. He couldn't quite get her face but he was somehow convinced that she wasn't too older than he was. He scanned the room. Nothing else. Just him, the female and the irresponsible soon-to-be president.

He had already forgotten his conversion with Markovitz. The ambiguous man must have been talking for a while now, he thought.

"Yes Harry, I don't really..." Markovitz was cut short by a movement made by Harry. He flexed himself under the barrier that was holding him down. In a flash, he sent his fist towards Markovitz's face, delivering a jaw-dropping punch that sent the soon-to-be president crashing out of the walls of the room. The female grabbed her swords from their sheaths and made a swift slash. Her blades struck something hard. She lifted her eyes slowly to see what she had hit. Her jaw dropped open in surprise with what she saw...