I dreamt of wonder-metals.
I dreamt of a future where wars were fought with giant robots.
I dreamt of a man who perfected a training method that made him a force of nature.
I woke up with a killer headache, being dragged up some steps. I ignored it for the moment because my mind was overwhelmed by strange sensations—a kaleidoscope of patterns swirling around me. Each one told me something different: flame-patterns radiating heat, rippling shapes radiating movement, dozens more I didn't have names for.
It took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize: this was my energy sense. Honestly, I was mesmerized.
Looking around, I saw men in tribal clothes. Two of them were dragging me, my wrists bound tightly and a gag in my mouth.
Okay, not in the U.S., then.
I decided to stay calm. My powers were still raw and uncontrollable, and the last thing I wanted was to accidentally drain someone's energy just because they touched me.
Instead, I focused on getting a handle on my senses. They were useful but overwhelming, and right now, they were all I had.
The men brought me under an archway into a lush garden and forced me to my knees.
Great. Meeting their leader now? A shaman? A chief? Fingers crossed for "understanding" over "sacrifice."
Then everything changed.
The air itself shifted. Electrical and kinetic energy surged while thermal energy dropped. Winds picked up, storm clouds formed overhead, and the smell of ozone thickened.
Okay. Where the hell am I? Is this magic? I couldn't even tell if I was sensing magic at all. Or if I even could do that yet.
And then she descended, and I went stiff – in a lot of ways.
A figure floated down from the clouds, and I went silent as I drank in her appearence.
Wild, untamed white hair floated around her shoulders, moving with the wind. Her dark skin was flawless, catching flashes of lightning. She was tall, with a strong yet curvaceous figure that the simple fabric around her waist did nothing to hide.
Her eyes glowed pure white with no pupils, sparks flashing inside them momentarily.
As her feet touched the ground, the storm stilled. Everyone around me dropped to their knees.
I couldn't look away. She was beautiful—undeniably so. But what truly mesmerized me was what my energy sense revealed. She was a living storm. The power raging inside her could devastate everything for miles, but she held it in check—tamed it. Watching that was almost as breathtaking as her beauty.
She spoke, her voice calm and husky, and a one of the men stepped up and started talking. I didn't understand a lick of the conversation but I could take a wild guess as to what, or who it was about.
Before long the conversation subsued and one of the men removed my gag. The woman looked at me curiously asked me something.
"This is going to be weird if no one here speaks english." I said to her, shrugging.
She scrutinized me for a moment before she spoke, her tone as calm as before.
"Where do you hail from Stranger?"
"My parents were from the U.S." I started " But I was...taken at birth" I continued when I saw the people around me tighten their hold on their weapons. Distrust in the big bad white dude. Understandable, especially in the Marvel Universe.
"Taken" she questioned. "By who? "
"I honestly am not sure" I shrugged " I was rarely concious during my imprisonment and education. This is most I've lived in this life to date." I said technically not uttering a single lie.
I saw her features soften. A slight look of pity on her face, which I would have taken the wrong way if I didn't have an Outsider's perspective. Seriously Gabriel Summer's life was shit and his mental instability really didn't help him afterwards.
"I am sorry for what has happened to you child." She said as the weather around us further calmed. Heat slowly returned and the sun was beginning to peek throught the clouds.
"It is what it is. At least I'm free now and I even got to meet a beautiful and interesting woman right off the bat. My luck is looking up in my opinion."
She quirked an eyebrow and the corner of her mouth curled a bit. She looked at my bonds with amusement." 'Free', huh."
"In retrospect, it was a poor choice of words." I looked away, slightly embarrassed. " But nonetheless this way better than before. Speaking of, any way I can lose these? Not like they can do anything." I said as I extended my arms.
" How so ? " She asked curiously as she saunter towards me." Does it have to do with how you survived your fall?" She asked as she appraches me, the slight sway of her hips hypnotic. When she finally stops in front of my still knneling body ,till out of arms reach out of caution which is logical in this situation, I could see her in more details and honestly, while yes I was being a horny teen, it was more than that. The way that energy around her was even more beautiful this close.
The way the electromagnetic field around us seemed to be waiting to jump to her aid like some eager puppy, the way her own body's energy looked to be kept under lid. This is almost art to my eyes.
"Yep" I said popping the 'p'. " I manifested powers, and those let me escape, they caused my fall too. I survived it because of them. But the stress knocked me out." I said honestly. I didn't have a reason to really lie here. It dosn't do anything but complicate my new life, and maybe play some complicated power games, but honestly I was never that type of guy. At least that's what I told myself.
The truth is that she was making me nervous and her attitude till now is making me attracted to her and I'm starting to feel like a fool.
"This explains the miraculous survival my people spoke of." She nodded " I guess it also explains the damage you did to the village as you fell." Her words felt like cold water that immediatly doused any excitement and weird thought I was starting to form.
"Damage ? " I asked, apprehensive.
She must've seen something on my face, because she smiled and knelt to my level.
"Do not worry, friend, no one was injured and the damage was dealt is repairable."
I sighed at that. This explains the restraints I guess. Speaking of, she untied them and helped me up. Our close proximity made me stiff again, to my embarrassement.
The woman only smiled in amusement but did nothing to point it out or walk away.
"If you'll have me, I would like to help with repairs. I made a mess and I should deal with it." I said sincerely.
She looked approving of that and said words to the villagers. They bowed in respect and left us. Alone.
She turned to me and smiled," Very well, you will help with the damage you caused to the Uzuri Tribe tomorrow. Today you shall rest. From now on you are my guest." She looked like she just remebered something, " I am called Ororo, and I am the goddess of these territories. What is your name, friend ?" She said as she extended her hand.
"Call me Gabriel, and I am just a guy having a new lease on life" I smiled at her as I shook her deceptivly strong hands.
She turned around and gestured for me to follow.
"Now let me show you to quarters. And find you something to wear. Your excitement is appreciated but unneeded at this moment " she then winked at me as she gave a her hip a suggestive swing.
She continued on as if she did nothing and just walked calmly, while I was cursing my hormones and thus teenage body.
I'm in so much trouble.