Xander Hart had always been ahead of the curve—a seventeen-year-old tech genius who could turn a junkyard into a laboratory and a dream into cutting-edge innovation. He'd hacked corporate systems before most kids figured out social media privacy settings, built drones that could fly circles around government prototypes, and designed AI models that his teachers barely comprehended. But even brilliance has its limits.
He remembered the exact moment his life ended—the searing brakes of a truck skidding through a red light, the metallic crunch of impact, and the sudden, unbearable cold. And then—nothing.
Until now.
Xander floated in a vast, endless void. No light, no sound, just an infinite expanse of blackness. There was a weightlessness to the place, like being untethered from reality itself. He should have panicked, but a strange calm washed over him instead.
Is this death?
The question hung unanswered in his mind.
Suddenly, a shimmering blue light flickered in front of him, twisting and spiraling until it formed into a sleek, metallic figure about the size of a football. It was smooth, polished, and had glowing blue eyes that pulsed with energy.
"Uh… hi?" Xander ventured, unsure whether he should be talking to what looked like a flying metal orb.
The entity bobbed slightly. "Greetings," it said in a voice that was oddly upbeat and mechanical. "Who… am I?"
Xander blinked. "Wait, you don't know who you are?"
The orb—or whatever it was—whirred softly. "Negative. Memory core damaged. Primary systems operational. Designation… uncertain." Its glowing eyes dimmed slightly. "But I detect TURBO-energy within you."
Xander frowned. "Turbo-energy? Like from Max Steel? The cartoon?"
The entity's eyes pulsed. "Affirmative."
Xander's mind raced. Turbo Modes? Nano-energy? Super strength and speed? He'd watched that show religiously as a kid. The idea of wielding those powers was as thrilling as it was absurd.
"Why me?" Xander asked, skepticism creeping into his voice.
"Unknown," the entity admitted. "Memory corrupted. Only certainty: you are bonded to TURBO-energy."
Before Xander could fully process the insanity of the situation, the void trembled. Colors blurred and swirled, gravity reasserting itself with a vengeance. The sensation of falling gripped him, pulling him downward at breakneck speed.
And then—
Thud!
Xander hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from his lungs. Groaning, he pushed himself up, grimacing at the sting in his palms. The dim, flickering light of a grimy alleyway replaced the infinite blackness. Trash bins lined the walls, and the faint scent of oil and urban decay filled his nose.
The orb hovered beside him, unbothered by the rough landing. "Location… unknown," it reported.
Xander took a slow breath, his senses overwhelmed. The hum of distant traffic and the occasional shout echoed off the brick walls. It didn't sound like home—at least not the part of the city he'd grown up in. A gnawing unease settled in his chest.
"Any chance you can tell me where we are?" he asked the orb.
"Negative," it replied. "Navigational systems compromised."
Great. Xander dusted himself off and peered around the alleyway. The skyline beyond was unfamiliar—tall buildings with sleek designs, some topped with blinking neon signs. He caught sight of a towering monument in the distance, but it was obscured by haze.
The unsettling realization crept in: he was far from home, maybe even further than he could comprehend.
A sudden noise drew his attention—the clatter of a trash can being overturned. Xander tensed as two figures emerged from the shadows. Their clothes were ragged, but their intentions were clear from the glint of metal in their hands.
"Well, well," one of them sneered. "What's a kid like you doin' out here alone?"
Xander's mind raced. His instincts told him to run, but the alleyway was narrow, and these guys had the advantage.
"I think he's lost," the other thug chuckled. "We should help him out—lighten his load a bit."
Steel's eyes flared. "Hostile threat detected."
"No kidding," Xander muttered, adrenaline surging through his veins.
Without thinking, he clenched his fists, and a surge of blue energy crackled around his body. The thugs hesitated, their bravado faltering.
"What the—?" one of them stammered.
Xander didn't wait for them to recover. He moved faster than he thought possible, ducking under a wild swing and landing a solid punch that sent the thug sprawling. The other lunged at him, but Xander sidestepped effortlessly, a strange, instinctive rhythm guiding his movements.
Within moments, both attackers were on the ground, groaning in pain.
Xander stared at his glowing hands, breathing heavily. "Okay… that was new."
Steel hovered beside him, seemingly impressed. "Combat efficiency—unexpectedly high."
"Yeah, I'm full of surprises," Xander said, still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened.
The faint wail of police sirens echoed in the distance. Xander knew it was time to move.
He jogged toward the alley's mouth, Steel keeping pace beside him. The city stretched out before them, a maze of towering buildings and bustling streets. People moved with purpose, their faces lit by the glow of holographic advertisements projected onto skyscrapers.
Xander's gut twisted. This wasn't his world—not by a long shot.
"We need to figure out where we are," he said quietly. "And what exactly happened to me."
Steel's eyes pulsed. "Agreed. Diagnostics remain incomplete."
As they made their way through the unfamiliar cityscape, Xander couldn't help but smirk despite the chaos. Maybe death wasn't the end after all. Maybe it was just the beginning of something far more extraordinary.