One month before the Gen Industries bombing incident.
Somewhere in the New York underground station...
Man 1 (pushing a cart, talking to another worker): "What exactly are we working on? This whole thing's way too secretive."
Man 2 (also pushing a cart): "I heard we're actually working for Cobra."
Man 1: "Cobra? You mean the ex-special unit guy?"
Man 2: "Yeah, that's what I heard. But honestly, I have no clue what we're doing here."
Suddenly, they accidentally bump their carts into each other, causing the lids to shift. They both glance down and freeze, staring at the contents—stacks of explosives.
Man 1 (whispering, alarmed): "Are... are those explosives?"
Man 2 (nervously): "Looks like it. This is way bigger than I thought..."
An authoritative voice suddenly breaks in from behind them.
Voice: "Careful with that. You wouldn't want to be caught on top of it if it goes off."
They spin around, startled, and find themselves face-to-face with Cobra himself, standing in the shadows, arms crossed with an icy gaze.
Man 1 and Man 2 (quickly bowing and stammering): "S-sorry, sir! We didn't mean to—"
Cobra (cutting them off): "Apologies won't keep us on schedule. Get back to work. We've got a long day ahead, and there's a lot to cover."
The men nod hurriedly, straightening the carts and resuming their work under Cobra's watchful eye.
D-Day of the Gen Industries Bombing Incident
The same day as Diego and his class field trip at Gen Industries...
A few minutes before the bombing
In the underground facility, Cobra stands at the forefront, flanked by his hired mercenaries, all positioned strategically for the operation.
Cobra: "Listen up, everyone. We're directly beneath Gen Industries, and our objective is clear. Their primary lab houses sensitive government-sponsored experiments—information that could alter the balance of power. On my mark, I want you all to prepare to detonate the explosives. We're not just destroying a building; we're sending a message—a message of war!"
With a commanding gesture, Cobra raises his fist in the air, his voice low and steady. "Set the charges."
His mercenaries nod and quickly place the bombs, each detonator making a click as they arm the explosives.
SFX: CLICK CLICK CLICK
The final switch flips, and a split second later—
SFX: KA-BOOOM!
A massive explosion tears through the ground, sending debris flying as the floor collapses, exposing a direct path into Gen Industries' main laboratory. Dust and smoke billow as Cobra smirks, eyes fixed on the chaos below.
"Let's move! CHARGE!" Cobra barks, his voice echoing over the rumbling aftermath.
His mercenaries surge forward, storming into the laboratory with weapons drawn.
SFX: RATATATATA!
Gunfire erupts as they spray bullets, ripping through equipment and walls alike. Sparks fly, computers shatter, and alarms blare, mingling with the terrified shouts of scientists trying to escape.
Scientist (cowering): "P-Please, we're unarmed! You don't have to do this—"
Cobra strides forward, his gaze icy. "Wrong place, wrong time," he sneers. "Nothing personal."
One of his mercenaries nods, taking aim.
SFX: BLAM!
The scientist collapses, and Cobra steps over him, barely glancing down. He surveys the destruction with a grim satisfaction, watching as his mercenaries continue tearing through the lab.
Mercenary (calling out): "Clear on this side, boss! We've got it all covered!"
Cobra raises his voice. "Good. Level it all. Leave nothing standing." He pauses, a dark glint in his eyes. "This is our declaration of war."
The mercenaries move in, setting fire to papers, smashing computers, ripping through research equipment—leaving only devastation in their wake.
SFX: CRASH! BZZZZZT!
Finally, Cobra turns back, watching the smoke and flames consume the lab. "They thought they could hide behind walls and security," he murmurs, almost to himself. "Let them remember this day as the beginning."
The lab is in chaos, flames licking up the walls as shattered chemical containers spill out their deadly contents. Smoke fills the air, while scientists scatter, some cowering on the ground, others frantically trying to escape. The flickering lights only add to the sense of total destruction.
SFX: BOOM! CRASH! FZZZZT!
Cobra and his mercenaries move through the devastation, stepping over shattered glass and fallen bodies. They reach a massive, fortified door at the heart of the lab, where heavy security measures block their path.
One of the mercenaries glances at Cobra, whispering urgently.
Mercenary (whispering): "Boss, should I blow the door?"
Cobra doesn't respond, just raises his hand to silence him. Instead, he stands still, watching, waiting with a slight smirk on his face.
Suddenly, one scientist—trembling but determined—steps out from the shadows, approaching the secure door. The other scientists look at him, eyes wide with confusion.
Scientist 1: "Hey, what are you doing? Don't—"
But the lone scientist ignores him, swiping his access card. With a loud hiss, the heavy door unlocks and swings open.
SFX: HISSSSS!
The mercenaries instantly lift their guns, aiming at the scientist who opened the door.
Mercenary (shouting): "Freeze!"
Cobra raises a hand again, stopping them.
Cobra (smirking): "Easy. No need for that."
He steps closer, his gaze cold but amused, eyeing the scientist who opened the door.
Cobra: "Well, well… Quite the sly one, aren't you, Doctor? Decided to switch sides at the perfect time, hmm?"
The scientist swallows hard, his hands shaking as he tries to keep his voice steady.
Scientist: "I… I just want to live. I've seen what you can do. Figured it's smarter to be with you than against you."
Cobra chuckles, clearly entertained.
Cobra: "Smart man. Very smart. Now, why don't you show me that serum you've been working so hard to protect? The one that's about to belong to me."
The scientist nods, his face pale as he gestures for them to follow. He leads Cobra and the mercenaries deeper into the lab, toward a high-security vault. The mercenaries' eyes dart around, weapons ready, prepared to unleash more destruction at a moment's notice.
As they approach the vault, Cobra's voice drips with anticipation.
Cobra: "Now, Doctor… open it up. Let's see the masterpiece Gen Industries has been hiding."
The scientist fumbles with the codes, unlocking the final door. Inside, rows of secure storage shelves contain vials of a glowing serum, each one emitting a faint, ominous light.
Cobra grins, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Cobra (softly): "Perfect."
Inside the vault, Cobra reaches for a vial, holding up the glowing serum as it casts an eerie light over his face. His lips curl into a dark smile, and then he begins to laugh—a deep, twisted, triumphant sound that echoes through the vault.
SFX: MWAHAHAHAHA!
His mercenaries stand by, watching with nervous respect as Cobra revels in his victory. Still clutching the serum, he steps out of the vault, turning to address the room, his voice dripping with disdain.
Cobra: "The government… all their secrecy, their corruption. They thought they could hide this from me? Decades of loyal service, and they tossed me aside like yesterday's garbage."
He sneers, glancing back at the serum in his hand.
Cobra: "They hid their precious little project, kept it locked away, thinking they could use this power to control the world. But now…"
He holds the serum high, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination.
Cobra: "Now, I will show them who they cast aside. I will show them the strength of the one they discarded!"
The mercenaries nod, adrenaline pulsing as Cobra's words sink in, the reality of his plans dawning on them.
Cobra: "With their own creation, I will expose their lies, lay bare their hypocrisy… and unleash a power they never dreamed of."
He lets out another chilling laugh, reveling in his triumph as the flames and smoke swirl around him, marking the dawn of his vengeance.
SFX: HAHAHAHAHA!
In the blink of an eye, Cobra's expression shifts from maniacal glee to deadly seriousness. He lunges forward, grabbing the scientist by the neck and lifting him off the ground effortlessly.
Cobra: "Look at this power! It's beyond my wildest expectations! My strength is overwhelming... my senses and reflexes are exceptional!"
He holds the scientist up, his grip like iron, a twisted smile on his face.
Cobra:"You've created something truly remarkable here. Now, let's find out how it performs in the field. Do you have a test subject in mind, Doctor?"
The scientist struggles in Cobra's vice-like grip, gasping for air, his eyes wide with fear. He tries to speak but can barely manage a whisper.
Scientist (choking): "I... I can't—"
Cobra narrows his eyes, his patientce wearing thin. Suddenly, he pulls back, spitting a thick, green blob of venom into the scientist's face. The acidic liquid splatters and begins to eat away at the scientist's skin.
Cobra: "Let's see how well your precious serum holds up!"
The scientist screams as the venom melts away his features, leaving only the charred remains of his skull behind.
Cobra" "What a successful experiment!"
He throws the lifeless body aside, laughter echoing through the lab chilling the mercenaries and scientists surrounding him
HAHAHAHA!
The mercenaries exchange terrified glances, realizing the true extent of Cobra's transformation and the horror they've unleashed.
Back in the present day, on the rooftop of the university, Diego is showing off his transformation abilities. With his chameleon-like power, he can mimic other appearances and even transform into the superhero designs he and his friends created.
I stood confidently on the rooftop as my skin shimmered with a hint of green, focusing intently.
Slowly, his skin began to shift, a scale-like texture forming and catching the sunlight like jewels.
SFX: Ssssssh!
The scales rippled and flowed, gradually morphing into a sleek, form-fitting suit that wrapped around him like a second skin.
Now fully transformed, my suit took on a striking dark green and black texture, with scales that added depth to its design. The suit clung to him, enhancing his physique with a defined, almost reptilian elegance.
My mask was equally striking, with a design that combined dark green and black: the left side black, the center a deep green, and the right side black again. A pair of white, goggle-like eye covers completed the mask, giving him an intense, mysterious look.
SFX: Whoosh!
Finally, in my full superhero form, based on the design my friend Mark and I discussed last night, I had managed to develop a transformation inspired by our vision.
"So! What do you think of my superhero look?"
Mark, leaning against the rooftop ledge, grins.
Mark: "Dude, you look like a badass! The scales are epic!"
feeling confident, i showcases more of my powers.
"Check this out! With my chameleon powers, I can adapt to my surroundings and become invisible! I can blend in, transform, and mimic anything!"
As he speaks, his skin begins to shimmer again. The scale-like texture ripples as he adapts to the rooftop, becoming nearly indistinguishable from the environment.
SFX: Sssssssss!
In a flash, I disappears. A moment later, he reappears right next to Mark and taps his shoulder.
Mark jumps in surprise, eyes wide.
Mark: "Whoa! Dude, where did you go?! You scared me!"
"Look, guess who I become!"
I quickly shifts again, morphing into Mark.
Mark : "It's me! You could be my substitute when I'm sick!"
"How about this."
I then transforms into Spider-Man.
"How about your friendly neighborhood?"
Mark bursts into laughter.
Mark: "Dude, if only you could swing through the city like that! But I guess you can stick around walls."
We both laugh.
"Mark asked, 'So, are you going to roam around the city now, trying to be a superhero?'
I felt conflicted but also excited about the idea. 'I don't know, maybe, but I'm not sure how heroes actually work.'
Mark replied simply, 'You just have to catch bad guys.'
I joked, 'How about catching Jason first? He's a bad guy—a bully, haha!'
We both laughed, but then Mark asked, 'Are you handing him over to the police or to the principal's office?'
The school bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break.
"Back to class," I said.
Mark and I headed back to our classroom.
[Diego stands on the edge of a rooftop, looking over the New York skyline in his hero suit. He's trying to look heroic, with one foot perched dramatically on the edge.]
"After weeks of training, Diego was finally ready for his big debut as... Shade!"
[Diego's phone suddenly rings with a video call. Startled, he almost loses his balance.]
SFX: BRRRRING BRRRRING
Diego: "Gah—! Seriously? Now?"
[Diego swipes to answer, and Mark's face appears on the screen, looking excited.]
Diego: "Hey, dude! What's up?"
Mark: "Bro, you're finally doing it, right? The big hero debut?"
Diego: "Uh, yeah! Just about to go all... vigilante and mysterious and stuff!"
[Close-up on Mark's face on the screen, grinning mischievously.]
Mark: "Dude, let's film it! We're talking viral content, man."
Diego: [getting hyped] "Wait... that's genius! I could start a YouTube channel for all my 'hero' stuff... show the world what I can do!"
[Mark raises an eyebrow, smirking.]
Mark: "Uh... you mean the channel I already made for you?"
Diego: "...Hold up. You already made me a channel?"
Mark: "Yeah, man! I knew you'd be slow on this. It's called 'Shade-Shenanigans.' You're welcome."
[Diego facepalms, half-amused, half-annoyed.]
SFX: SLAP
Diego: "Mark, seriously? 'Shade-Shenanigans'? What kinda name is that?"
Mark: "Hey, it's catchy! Just trust me on this—mysterious hero vibes, but fun."
Diego: [sighs] "Fine, but next time, maybe run it by me?"
[Mark just laughs on the screen, totally unbothered.]
Mark: "Sure thing, Shade-Shenanigans. Now don't fall off the building or anything. You are filming this, right?"
[Wide shot of Diego standing on the rooftop, holding his phone up to film himself, looking a bit unsure but determined.]
SFX: CLICK (as he starts recording)
[muttering] "Alright, here goes. What's up, world? It's your new hero... Shade!"
[He turns the camera around to capture the stunning view of the sunset over the New York skyline.]
"And I'm here on my first hero patrol in New York City! Check out this epic sunset—whoa, look at those colors! Nature's really flexing on us right now."
[He shifts the camera back to himself, getting into a more serious tone.]
"So, uh, some T.M.I. about my hero journey—like, I've totally been practicing my parkour skills. You know, just hanging around, jumping off walls, and avoiding the occasional pigeon attack! I mean, those guys can be vicious!"
[Suddenly, he notices a commotion in a dark alley below him and zooms in with the camera.]
"Hey, guys! I think we found some action!" [He squints, looking dramatic] "This is it! My first real hero moment!"
[With excitement building, he positions himself to leap off the building.]
[talking to the camera while moving] "Hold on to your snacks; we're going in!" [He starts parkouring across the rooftops, leaping effortlessly from building to building.]
SFX: WHOOSH (as he leaps between rooftops)
[As he approaches the alley, he takes a deep breath, preparing for his grand entrance.]
[to himself] "Okay, hero landing time... Don't mess this up!"
[He jumps off the last building and lands dramatically in front of the startled robbers.]
SFX: THUD
[Diego strikes a pose, looking heroic despite the slightly awkward landing.]
"Behold, it is I, Shade! Time to dim your lights!" [He gestures dramatically, trying to channel all the hero energy he can muster.]
[The robbers exchange confused glances, while Diego grins, ready for action.]
[to the camera] "This is definitely going on the highlight reel!"
[Diego stands in front of the robbers, the camera aimed at the holdupper, who looks confused and annoyed.]
Holdupper: "Hey! Who are you? Are you some vlogger or something? Get out of here!"
Diego: [pointing the camera at the holdupper] "Hey, I just said I'm Shade, the newest superhero in town!"
Holdupper: "Shade? What are you, a lampshade with the ability to light up alleyways? And what's up with that spandex suit?"
[Diego reacts with exaggerated offense, gesturing dramatically.]
Diego: "Excuse me, but I'm a lizard man with the abilities of any reptile! Very cool, thank you very much!"
Holdupper: "Then why not name yourself 'Lizardman'?"
[The hostage, who's been watching, nods in agreement, looking puzzled.]
Diego: "Because, my dude, 'Shade' sounds way cooler! It feels like a mysterious ninja, you know?"
Holdupper: "Enough of your nonsense! Leave us alone!" [He points a knife at the hostage.]
Diego: "Woah, relax, man! You don't have to do this!"
[In a split second, Diego lunges forward, grabbing the holdupper's arm and twisting it, disarming him with a swift motion.]
"Got ya!" [He holds the triumphantly, grinning at the camera.]
[The holdupper stumbles back but quickly recovers, pushing the hostage aside and drawing another knife.]
Holdupper: "Listen, kid, if you're just making a prank, you should choose a better place to do that!"
[Still filming, chuckling]
"Prank? This is totally real! Superhero stuff, buddy! You're not going to geta viral video out of this!"
[With a fierce glare, the holdupper lunges at Diego, knife poised. Diego's eyes widen.]
Diego: "Whoa! Not the welcome I was hoping for!"
[Diego ducks just in time, feeling the rush of wind as the knife swishes pasthl him. He rolls to the side, popping back up agilely.]
Diego: [smirking] "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that watch and learn!"
[He takes a few steps back, calculating his next move. With a sudden burst of speed, he vaults over a trash can, using it as a springboard to launch himself towards the holdupper.]
WHOOSH!
[Diego spins mid-air, delivering a powerful kick to the holdupper's chest, sending him crashing into the wall.]
Diego: "Hope you like the view from down there!"
[The holdupper groans but quickly scrambles to hjs feet, now a little more cautious.]
Holdupper: "Not bad, kid! But I'm just getting started!"
[He swings his knife again, but Diego easily dodges, leaning back with enhanced reflexes.]
Diego: "Wow, your moves are as sharp as your knife! Too bad I'm way more flexible!"
[The holdupper, frustrated, makes a series of wild slashes. Diego dances around him, easily sidestepping each attack.]
Diego: "C'mon! Even my grandma could fo better than thst!"
[Finally with a swift maeaver, Diego uses his wall climbing ability to scamper up the wall, surprising the holdupper. He drops down behind him, delivering a powerfull knee to the back.]
Thud!
[The holdupper crashes to the ground, dropping his knife with s shocked expression.]
Diego: "Looks like im the one who's going viral today!"
[The hostage looks in awe, a biy dazed.]
Hostage: "thank you for saving me!"
Diego: [Holding the camera up, grinning] "No problem! But could you do me a favor? Call the cops? I've got more hero stuff dot!"
[He turns and jump onto a nearby building, crawling up like a lizard, parkouring effortlesly.]
WOOSH!
Diego: "looking back over his shoulder with a smirk] "Catch you later, guys Shade out!"