Continuation...
At the U.V. Tower in Montana City
The Quinjet lands smoothly, and we step into the Tower. The familiar hum of advanced tech fills the air, but it's the kid's reaction that draws my attention. His eyes widen as he takes in the gleaming walls and high-tech displays.
"This is incredible!" he exclaims, darting from the sitting room to the dining area, then into another room entirely. "This place is unreal—holograms, training rooms, costumes—everything!"
"Keep an eye on the kid, John," I say, my tone clipped.
"On it," John replies, trailing after him.
I head into the meeting room, my nanotech suit retracting seamlessly into my body. Jessica is already there, waiting. I lock eyes with her. "You said we needed to talk."
She nods. "His name is Israel. He's a Seer, but it's better if he explains."
I motion for John to bring Israel in.
A few moments later, the kid bursts into the room, his excitement still spilling over. "This building is amazing! I mean—"
"That's enough," I cut him off. "You're not here to admire the décor. Let's talk."
His grin fades, and he takes a seat.
"First question," I begin. "Is it true you're a Seer?"
"Yes," he says simply.
"How did you get your power?"
"I was born with it," he explains, leaning back. "Not like those people struck by lightning or hosting alien gods. It's just… me."
"When did you realize what you were?"
"When I was 12. I started hearing voices and seeing things—visions of the future. It was overwhelming, so I told my mom. She said I was chosen."
"Chosen by who?"
"My ancestors. She called them the Ancient Ones."
Jessica and I exchange a look, but I keep my focus on him. "What did you see when Jessica touched you?"
Israel hesitates, and his expression darkens. "A lot. Millions of dead bodies. Planets half-destroyed. Earth won't be destroyed, but… reality will be altered."
"Altered how?" I ask, leaning forward.
"There won't be superpowers, no agents, no heroes. The world will be ruled by one man—forever."
My stomach knots. "Who is he?"
"I don't know his name. I've never seen him before."
Jessica shifts uneasily beside me. "Could it be Cyberman?" she asks.
Israel shakes his head. "No. This guy is smarter. Stronger. He's unlike anyone you've faced before."
Silence falls over the room as his words sink in.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "Then can you describe him?"
"Yes I can."
I listen closely as Israel begins to describe the man. His voice trembles slightly, but the words come with haunting clarity.
"The man stands tall," Israel says, his eyes closing as if he's pulling the image from the depths of his mind. "His build is massive, muscular, and powerful. His skin is dark grey, almost stone-like, adding to his aura of menace. He wears a deep red suit with golden accents streaking across his chest like flames, making him look like a living embodiment of destruction."
"His armor is fitted, showing off every contour of his strength while still offering protection. His boots, armored and lined with metal, climb to his knees, matching the red-and-gold design. On his face, he wears a helmet that hides everything but his glowing red eyes. It's sharp, angular, and terrifying—like staring at a machine made for war."
"Thick bracelets circle his wrists, blending ornamentation and defense. They're almost like gauntlets, ready to block any attack. And then there's his sword—massive, wide, and gleaming silver with dark accents. It looks sharp enough to cut through anything. When he holds it, he's not just a man; he's an unstoppable force."
As Israel finishes, a voice stirs in my head, deep and familiar. "That man is Erebus, my father," Path Finder says. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut.
I mutter under my breath, "Oh my God."
Jessica notices immediately. "Are you okay, Morinjo?" she asks, her eyes filled with concern.
I barely hear her as Path Finder continues in my mind. "He will arrive on Earth soon to claim certain weapons. You will try to stop him, but it's futile. He's unstoppable. Your powers and skills are no match for him."
Jessica's voice cuts through again, snapping me back to reality. "Morinjo… Morinjo, are you alright?"
I blink, refocusing. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Do you know who Israel just described?" she presses, everyone in the room turning their attention to me.
I hesitate for a moment before answering. "Yes. And he's very powerful—and very dangerous."
Joseph leans forward. "She means, what's his name?"
I take a deep breath. "Emperor Erebus. He's Path Finder's father, and we'll be damned if he gets here."
John shakes his head, determination lighting his face. "No, we won't. We're not just protectors, we're fighters. We've beaten Malacoda, his outsiders, and their armies. We'll handle the robot guy—and this Erebus, too."
John's confidence is almost reassuring, but I know better. "You don't understand," I tell him, my voice firm. "Erebus isn't someone you defeat easily. He's conquered entire planets—decimated them. And he'll do it again."
Jessica speaks up. "Is there more, Israel?"
Israel nods, his face pale. "Yes. Each of the ten planets… he's holding something—objects, maybe weapons. Everyone who faced him died. Every single one."
John doesn't let up. "And what about us?"
Israel swallows hard. "He'll change this world. There will be no superpowers, no agents, no aliens—no superheroes. He'll claim this world's weapons and rule it forever."
The room falls silent, tension thick in the air. Finally, Leonard breaks it. "So who do we deal with first? Cyberman or Erebus?"
Path Finder's voice echoes in my head again. "Deal with Cyberman. We'll discuss Erebus when the time comes."
I nod, speaking with as much authority as I can muster. "We focus on Cyberman. He's here, and his robotic armies are the immediate threat. We'll find a way to stop Erebus when the time comes."
Rising from my chair, I look around at my team. "Meeting dismissed."
Everyone stands, Jessica guiding Israel out of the room. But Leonard lingers.
"Are you sure about this?" he asks quietly.
"Yes," I reply, meeting his gaze. "We'll overcome the villain already on Earth. Erebus will come, but not for years. When he does, we'll be ready."
Leonard doesn't look convinced, but he nods and leaves. Alone in the meeting room, I feel the weight of the moment pressing on me. I can only hope I'm right.
SAMUEL
The Ultimate Tower stands tall before us, its sleek design gleaming in the sunlight. As we step out of my car, Trivium and Belteshazzar, standing beside me, tilts his head.
"Is this the place?" he asks, his voice tinged with curiosity.
"Yes," I reply, letting my gaze travel up the impressive structure. "This is where the Ultimate Ventures live. Quite the marvel, isn't it?"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Belteshazzar chimes in impatiently. "Let's go."
We approach the massive door, and I press a button by the side. A smooth, synthetic voice greets us.
"Greetings. I'm Travis, an artificial intelligence. Who are you, and who do you wish to see?"
Belteshazzar frowns and looks at me. "What's an artificial intelligence?"
"It's advanced technology," I explain quickly, then turn to the door. "I'm Samuel Adeyemi Vincent."
"And you, armor man?" the voice addresses Trivium.
"Me?" Trivium looks slightly taken aback.
"Yes, armor man."
"Trivium, god of Thunder, son of Ultron."
The voice shifts. "And you, golden one?"
"Belteshazzar, golden prince," he says, puffing his chest slightly.
The door slides open, and we step inside. The sitting room is beyond breathtaking—sleek and modern yet warm and inviting. I find myself momentarily stunned by the pristine walls, elegant furniture, and high-tech displays.
"This is heaven on Earth, Sam," Trivium murmurs, clearly as awestruck as I am.
Before I can respond, a voice calls from behind us. "You guys are back?"
We turn to see John Brown, a young but confident member of the Ventures, approaching us.
"Yeah, we're back," I say with a small smile.
John's grin widens. "I can't believe it—the Big Three. But what brings you here?"
"We need to talk," I say seriously. "It's urgent."
John's expression shifts, and he nods. "Follow me."
He leads us to the meeting room, where Morinjo and the rest of the team join us.
"Welcome back, Samuel, Belteshazzar, and…" Morinjo's gaze lands on Trivium, his expression hardening. "I thought you promised never to return to Earth."
Trivium steps forward, his tone calm but resolute. "I did, but things have changed. I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm here to help."
Morinjo's eyes narrow slightly before he turns to me. "Alright, Samuel, what's going on?"
I take a deep breath. "We came to warn you. Something terrible is coming, and you don't realize how bad it will get."
"Take a seat," Morinjo says, gesturing.
We all sit, and I begin. "I don't know if you'll believe me, but after saving Susan in the past, I tried to return to the present. On my way back, a zombie speedster chased me. I escaped, but I ended up in the future. What I saw…" I pause, the memory still vivid. "It was horrifying."
Morinjo leans forward. "What did you see?"
"A robotic man with an army. They rule the Earth, enslaving humans. We—heroes—are defeated. We can't stop him."
Leonard frowns. "We already know about Cyberman."
"You do?" I ask, surprised.
Morinjo nods. "Earlier today, we fought waves of robots attacking a high school. After the battle, the robots identified their master—Cyberman. They said he would bring chaos to New York."
"That's exactly what I saw," I say grimly. "But here's the thing—do you know Cyberman's real name? Zack Hughson?"
Leonard's eyes widen. "Zack? Zack Hughson is Cyberman?"
"Yes. You didn't know?"
Leonard shakes his head, visibly shaken. "I thought he and his wife died the same day."
Morinjo's sharp gaze locks onto Leonard. "What do you know about Zack Hughson?"
Leonard hesitates, then sighs. "His craftsmen called me, asking for help. When I arrived, Zack's skin was deteriorating rapidly, and his wife was barely holding on. I took his wife to Data Driven, a laboratory, while Zack and his craftsmen followed. The scientists said they'd do everything they could, so I left."
"And then?" Trivium asks, his voice edged with suspicion.
Leonard rubs his temples. "Hours later, one of the scientists called me. Zack was dead, but his wife was stable. They suggested transforming Zack's body into a mechanical one and giving him a new heart. I… I agreed."
Morinjo's voice is sharp. "Did his wife know about this?"
"No," Leonard admits. "They didn't want to tell her. I informed my cousin Theo, who brought in his mechanical engineering team to help."
Jessica, clearly unsettled, asks, "How did they even do it?"
"They replaced his decayed heart with a powerful energy source. One of the most advanced weapons on Earth. But after three days, they called again—it hadn't worked. Zack didn't come back, so they gave up."
"Three days?" Jessica whispers.
I speak up. "Did you know Zack resurrected?"
"No," Leonard says, his voice barely audible. "No one told me."
"And his wife?"
Leonard's face falls. "I didn't know she died."
The room falls silent. For a moment, none of us speaks, the weight of Zack Hughson's transformation into Cyberman hanging heavy over us. I glance at Morinjo, hoping for a plan, but his expression is unreadable.
Morinjo's voice cuts through the heavy silence, calm but laced with the weight of realization. "That means Zack didn't even know he died. He trusted you, Leonard. He believed you'd save his wife. Now, he's here, wanting revenge because you failed him."
Leonard's shoulders slump, and I can see the guilt etched into every line of his face. "Exactly," I add, my voice quieter than usual. "That's what he wants. He blames you."
Jessica leans forward, her tone sharp and accusing. "So Cyberman is here because of you, Leonard."
Leonard looks up at her, eyes wide and desperate. "What do you expect me to do? Will you all just hand me over to him?"
"Surrender?" Joseph's voice rises, incredulous. He leans back in his chair and shakes his head. "Leonard, do you hear yourself? Surrendering isn't even an option. We didn't give up Belteshazzar when the Epic Sorcerer came for him. Why would we even think about giving you to Cyberman?" He turns to Morinjo, his gaze fierce. "We fight. Together."
Morinjo nods slowly, his sharp gaze sweeping over the room. "Joseph's right. None of this is your fault, Leonard. Zack's choices, his anger—they aren't on you. And if Cyberman thinks he can bring his war to us, then he'll learn the hard way." He looks at each of us in turn, his voice steady and resolute. "We stand together. We fight together. For Leonard. For New York. For everyone."
Trivium, who's been uncharacteristically quiet, leans forward in his chair. "Does this mean... we're Ventures now?" His voice carries a mix of curiosity and determination.
Morinjo's lips curl into the faintest smile. "Yes, we are."
The energy in the room shifts. The fear, the guilt, the uncertainty—all of it gives way to something else. Resolve.
I glance around at my team, my family, and I feel it too. We're more than just individuals trying to save the world. We're united, and if Cyberman wants to test us, he'll find out what it means to face a force greater than his armies.
LEONARD
After the meeting ends, I lead Belteshazzar and John down the narrow hallway to the costume room—what we like to call our "superhero wardrobe." The walls hum faintly with the energy of the base as we stop in front of the door. I press a button, and it slides open with a soft hiss.
Belteshazzar steps inside, his eyes scanning the room filled with display cases and sleek storage units.
"What's this place?" he asks, his tone flat but curious.
"It's the costume room," I reply. "This is where we store our suits after battles."
Belteshazzar raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And why are we here?"
I can't help but smirk. He's always direct, never one for small talk. "Because we have something for you. Remember when you left Earth? I told you I'd have a gift waiting for you when you came back."
He narrows his eyes, clearly trying to recall. "I don't remember."
"Figures." I gesture to John. "Hand it over."
John pulls out a rolled-up sheet of paper and passes it to Belteshazzar. He unrolls it, his golden eyes widening ever so slightly as he takes in the image—a detailed character sketch of a hero. The figure wears a sleek, futuristic costume that radiates power and purpose.
"This is... impressive," he says, tilting the paper to catch the light. "But who is it supposed to be?"
"It's you," I say simply.
His gaze snaps to mine, his brow furrowing. "Me?"
"Yes. Now that you're officially one of us—a Venture—you can't keep wandering around... you know, naked."
Belteshazzar's expression hardens. "On my planet, being unclothed is natural. It's how we are."
"I get that," I say, keeping my voice calm. "But this isn't your planet. This is Earth, and things work differently here."
He exhales, a mix of annoyance and resignation. "So?"
"So," I continue, "we designed you something. John sketched the costume, and I built it." I press another button, and the far wall slides open to reveal the actual suit.
Belteshazzar's jaw tightens, but his eyes betray his surprise. He steps forward, examining the suit under the display lights.
The dark blue bodysuit gleams faintly, its sharp lines and sleek design giving it a futuristic edge. Bold red accents streak across the shoulders, arms, and legs, creating a striking contrast. A golden hexagon emblem glows faintly on the chest, drawing the eye. The golden gauntlets and red boots with gold trim complete the look, exuding both power and elegance.
"You made this... for me?" His voice is measured, but there's a flicker of something deeper—appreciation, maybe even awe.
"Of course," John says, breaking the silence. "You're one of us now. But this isn't just a suit. It's a symbol of who you are—and who you can become."
Belteshazzar's lips curve into a faint smile, though it's tempered by his usual regal composure. "I'll try it on," he says, his voice quiet but firm.
"Take your time," I say, nodding to John to give him some space.
---
A few minutes later, Belteshazzar calls us back into the room.
When I step inside, the air seems to shift. He stands tall, the suit fitting him like a second skin, amplifying his natural presence. The golden accents catch the light, matching the glint of his blond hair, which falls perfectly into place. His expression is calm but unyielding, the weight of his royal heritage blending seamlessly with his new identity as a hero.
John whistles low, breaking the silence. "Wow. The Golden Prince has returned."
Belteshazzar's gaze sweeps over us, his mouth twitching into a faint, almost mischievous smile. "That's right. From now on, call me *The Golden Prince*."
His tone carries an edge—a reminder that, while he might wear the costume of a hero, there's a part of him that remains untamed, unpredictable.
John chuckles nervously, but I can't help but feel a mix of pride and unease. Belteshazzar might look the part of a leader, but I wonder if he's ready to carry the weight that comes with it.
Watch out for Ultimate Ventures season 3