Jorge Jones released a heavy sigh, recognizing the challenge of the conversation ahead, one that he and Sandy hadn't planned on telling Ermis until he was older.
Unsure where to start, he began at the very beginning, "Son, do you recall the Reign of the Fitzpatrick;s? Can you remember their sudden downfall that made headlines when you were a child?"
Ermis pondered for a moment and then realized he did remember their name, "Weren't they the people involved in real estate and investment deals that got into legal trouble?" Jorge nodded, wishing for a calming cigarette.
He continued, "Yes, that was a major part of their Empire." Then he turned to Sandy, "Evil comes in degrees, Ermis. They were quite low, scraping the bottom of the barrel. The only reason I could even bear being near that old man was because I could take everything that he had left."
He looked his son in the eyes, "I exploited his youngest daughter's life, and used it against him. That's the kind of man he is..." Then he slumped against the wall, "Or perhaps the man I've become."
Sandy supported him gently, encouraging him to stand, "Dear, now is not the time for vagueness. You must tell him our story."
Ermis exchanged an apprehensive look with Amanda, who seemed as surprised as he was. "Ermis, Amanda, this story doesn't leave these walls, am I understood?"
They both nodded in seriousness, ready for the truth.
Jorge stood up, expressing gratitude to his wife, "Ermis, you know about the Old World, right? You studied it in school and wrote essays about its history. However, what they have left out is that some who lived before humanity's decline still do."
Ermis shook his head in disbelief, "But having Powers doesn't reduce aging," and Jorge confirmed, "Unless you're exceptionally fortunate."
He sighed and continued, "The Fitzpatricks weren't particularly gifted, but they possessed an extraordinary Power in the long term. Even Emily shares in their lineage's gift. You see, the Fitzpatrick's can feel their destinies."
Jorge chuckled at Ermis' expression, "Hahaha, I'm serious, they can perceive it." Then he suddenly became serious, "But sometimes their fate was unacceptable."
He motioned towards his beautiful wife, "Their destiny was with your mother."
Ermis stood puzzled, awaiting further clarification, when Amanda spoke up, "Did you say Emily was his daughter? Not his granddaughter?"
Jorge paused briefly and then continued, "Yes, Ermis, please pay attention." He smiled and clarified for her, "His Empire was built through the Hapsberg method. Essentially, he got a lot of women pregnant, took care of them, and then used his children for political gain." He sighed, "I guess old habits die hard."
Sandy continued for Jorge, "When his family was released and removed from his control, they ran off to find some sort of happiness." Her eyes gleamed from emotion, "I sincerely hope they found solace."
Then she continued, "He was permitted to have a sole heir, an unusual yet firm ruling because it came from the Pillar of York. He deemed Owen's Power to be damaging to the fabric of society."
Amanda recognized the wisdom in such a strategy and chimed in, "If his blood carries this ability, shouldn't those family members be kept under observation?"
Jorge re-entered the conversation, saying, "Yes, Ma'am, and they are being monitored. But not all of them, just ones that have shown an affinity for winning despite the odds stacked against them."
Ermis wasn't sure what to make of that; he lacked experience in this area. However, if the Pillar and High Command approved, then it probably made sense.
"Dad, can we go back to the part about Mom being connected to their 'destiny' or whatever?" Ermis asked.
Jorge nodded, "Of course." Then he gazed longingly into Sandy's eyes, "It started a few years before we even considered having you. I had just joined the Manhattan Intelligence Division, the agency responsible for monitoring Villains and Monsters in the city.
Your mother was out on patrol as usual, but she was stationed behind a desk screen. She would always bug me while I was trying to be a serious agent. I secretly loved it. But one day, she caught Owen's attention. For some reason, he showed up at our office and kept staring at her, as if she belonged to him."
Ermis frowned as his father continued, "Don't take it personally, nobody would stand up to him. He controlled an astrological sum of assets within the agency alone. And he somehow convinced himself that he could use your mother to create identical children, in hopes of passing on a higher level of Power."
Ermis interrupted, "But, Powers are almost entirely random. Sure, they can take traits from the parents, but the level of Power itself is known to be completely random, right?"
Jorge grimaced, "Again. Mostly right. But Owen wasn't using regular reproduction methods. He was cloning individual sperm cells, trying to make perfect Capes."
Jorge sighed, "The man was getting old, and he needed to leave a legacy, but none of his biological children ever even approached his level of Power. Some members of the Division speculated it to be because he was present during the Awakening. Although he was just a baby, and he remained Powerless until his teenage years.
Of course, it could never be proven either way. But he was always beaten by overwhelming numbers because none of his children could contribute to any destiny outside their own. Thus, when we united, he was all alone."
Jorge wasn't pleased to share this part, "Your mother was the powder keg of Manhattan. The old man was fixated on her, using every method imaginable. He resorted to kidnapping and torturing agents for her location, exploiting all the resources he had gathered for a century."
Jorge stood proud, "What I did to him can never be undone. I broke every relationship, burnt every bridge, and made his life unbearable." A hint of wildness appeared in his eyes, "I went to War, son, and I won."
He deflated a moment later, "But not entirely. He had a fundamental pull within the city. I pushed for exile, execution, and life imprisonment, but it was all overridden by the High Command. So, when you wonder why I used his daughter's life against him, it is because evil must be dealt with in kind."
Ermis stood frozen, his father's job never seemed that intense from the outside, but he knew the political world was complicated.
"My boy, when people see you, they will think of me." Color drained from his face, "They won't touch you. Because I have slain 'Titans'. And I will do it again." A solitary tear trickled down his cheek.
They all stood motionless for a few moments, allowing the weight of the conversation to sink in. It was a heavy topic, one that Ermis might never fully understand or agree with, but he recognized that his father's actions were driven by love.
Ermis turned to his mother and father, repeating an adage he resonated with in school, "To fight and conquer in all our battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting."
Jorge felt confusion, a rare emotion for him, as Ermis explained, "When I said I wanted to be stronger, I didn't just mean physically. I want to never have to find out how far I am willing to go."
He looked to his mom and dad, "I know how hard you two work to protect the city, but I need to protect myself first. I need to win my battles without losing myself. I need to be so Powerful that nobody ever thinks of picking on me, no, us again." He saw the concern in their eyes, "It isn't out of fear or arrogance. It is an unattainable goal, I know. But I will work at it each day, like homework, and I will train until I am more than a boy. People won't see me as 'the Director's kid' but as Ermis. A man. A Cape."
His fears of inadequacy surfaced and he crushed them, feeling the calming sensation take over, "Ermis." Amanda spoke softly, but he focused on the future. He NEEDED to be more than a boy. He was going to be a Cape if it killed him. Then Sandy smiled and interrupted his train of thought, "Ermis, look!"
Ermis looked down, noticing his cloak was different. It had turned Blue.