Mom?
Not only was Eddie Peters a second year cadet capable of destroying half of the fifth floor, he was also the principal's son. He suddenly felt like he didn't know Eddie.
-Better keep my distance from now on. People are still people, after all.- Troy thought.
"I've told you countless times, Edward. When we're in school, I'm Ms. Peters." The principal said. Troy had the impression that this wasn't the first time they were having this conversation.
The big screen above them played the scene again. Troy was still surprised. That cashew-sized ball of flame had destroyed almost half of the fifth floor of the academy.
Although he wasn't the strongest due to the limits he placed on his ability, Troy was proud of being one of the strongest. But he paled in comparison to Eddie.
"As much as I'd like not to, you're all suspended. School rules." The principal said almost sadly. "The repairs would take a little bit over twenty four hours. Lessons will start in two days because of this. So, make yourselves available in two days. I've contacted your guardians. They'll pick you up now. Dismissed."
- Isn't she Eddie's 'guardian' ? -
Before he could finish that thought though, a portal opened up beside him. Out came a black man with an untamed mane of a red beard. He was bald, and had a potbelly.
"Uncle Chris!" Troy screamed. Surprise was an understatement. He was shocked.
The principal's portal could open anywhere? And–
"Let's go home, boy. You're lucky I have some unfinished pancakes." Uncle Chris said. His voice only had warmth in it.
"Hello." Eddie said coming up to them.
"Hello, young man." Uncle Chris said. Well today was getting better and better. He finally had an excuse to see his nephew. Troy had learned how to control his powers, and now, he had friends.
Troy made a sour face.
"This is Eddie Peters, my colleague."
Or not.
Eddie didn't seem to mind.
"Well you're luckier than Patricia."
The three of them turned to look at Patricia. She wasn't alone anymore.
She was lying under the feet of a woman who closely resembled her. If it wasn't for the difference in their breast size, Troy would have assumed they were twins!
"I didn't do anything, mama!" Patricia screamed.
"Shut up!" She roared. Her expression of rage took a 360° turn. "I'm so sorry, Dove." Mrs. Bewaji said to the principal, with a smile that could melt even an iceberg.
"That's what happens when women have super strength. Friendly advice, Troy. Never anger a woman who has super strength." Uncle Chris said.
Troy swallowed. His mind was miles away.
How old was Mrs. Bewaji? She couldn't be that old. Right? Right?!
Uncle Chris noticed his nephew's dilemma.
- Better get out of here. -
He grabbed Troy by the collar and they entered the portal.
An uncomfortable moment later, they were at the other side.
Contrary to Troy's expectations, they didn't appear in their house. He almost kicked himself for being naive. Of course there was no way they could be transported to their house. That would be overpowered.
Because she was the principal, she had god-like powers when she was inside the Academia. She could open portals to anywhere in the school. Yes. Even the bathroom. But outside, she was still just another hero. Her ability was super healing. As long as someone had a breath of life left, she could revive them. Her ability had no destructive capabilities, so she wasn't assigned a threat level.
Instead of their home, she had teleported them to the closest teleportation port.
"Race you home, boy!" A black aura surrounded Uncle Chris. He levitated above the ground for a few moments before zooming towards the sky.
"Oh no you don't!" Troy took control of the gravitational force around him and followed closely. In a few moments, both of them were equally matched.
Uncle Chris was impressed. Not only had Troy learned how to activate his ability without speaking, but he was able to keep up with him.
- Maybe there's still hope. -
"What's wrong, old man? I can hear your bones creaking from here."
A vein throbbed on Uncle Chris's forehead.
"Who're you calling old, infant?"
He channeled all his energy and zoomed off. He broke a sound barrier in the process. The buildings below him became a blurry artwork.
"Hehehe." He looked to his side, and he almost jumped out of his skin. Troy was beside him, smiling.
He was here draining his energy to fly at this speed, faster than sound. And his nephew was just smiling and keeping up like it was nothing.
He wasn't angry. On the contrary, he was happy. He didn't have much time left. So it turns out, with enough guidance, Troy had the potential to be more powerful than him.
He took a deep breath and zoomed off. This time, more than twice the speed of sound.
Unsurprisingly, Troy was able to keep up.
"Uh… Uncle. We've passed our house."
Troy was worried and amused at the same time. Uncle Chris was strong, but he was still old. Using his powers like this was beyond his limit. It was funny how Uncle Chris had turned this into a desperate race. He was even surprised he could keep up, without any effort.
"I know." Uncle Chris said, with a solemn expression.
He suddenly stopped. Troy followed suit, and his breath was taken away. They were miles away from civilization. They were above the Pacific ocean. He had never traveled at that speed before, so he couldn't focus on anything, except his uncle.
"Hold your breath, kid." With that, he dived into the ocean with the speed of a comet. Out of his sleeves emerged a tentacle of darkness. It slithered towards Troy like it had a mind of its own. It wrapped around his waist and dragged him with him.
Troy was barely hanging on to his consciousness. The pressure was too much for him. He heard that the pressure under the ocean was strong enough to tear bodies of humans apart. But he wasn't the average human.
He was about to pass out when all the pressure abruptly receded. He sucked in oxygen. Oxygen had never been so delicious.
He was about to give his uncle a piece of his mind when he noticed where they were.
Above them was a transparent ceiling. Beyond that was the ocean. It wasn't blue like he imagined. No. It was as dark as a moonless night. In contrast, the room they were in was pure white. It looked like a…
"It's a frigging lair!" Troy screamed.
"Yes. It's time to learn about your family history." Uncle Chris said, solemnly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, at the top of a skyscraper, two figures stood. They wore white cowls to hide their identities, but one was clearly female, and the other, male. The female had white hair spilling out of her cowl, and a British accent.
"Did you sense it too, Nightwalker?" She asked the man beside her.
He nodded.
"Blackstar. I thought they were wiped out?"
"I thought so too."
"Who was the second?" Nightwalker asked.
"I have no idea."