The night cloaked National City in an oppressive darkness, the sky a canvas of thick, impenetrable clouds. The city's hum was muted, the occasional car engine a fleeting intrusion on the prevailing silence.
From the shadows of a small power plant, Roderick emerged, his presence a stark contrast to the stillness. He moved with an unnerving calm, an alien composure that belied the violence he left behind. The stolen black overcoat seemed to swallow him whole, emphasizing the cold indifference in his eyes.
Inside the plant, the scene was a brutal tableau. Two security guards lay motionless, their uniforms stained crimson. The blood spread across the concrete floor, blooming like macabre flowers in the dim light. Their lives, extinguished with ruthless efficiency, meant nothing to the figure now disappearing into the night.
Roderick was no ordinary man. He was an escaped prisoner from Krypton's Fort Rozz, an alien from the insectoid Hellgrammites race. Beneath his human disguise lurked a being of immense strength, capable of feats far beyond human limits. He could also project razor-sharp spikes, piercing metal as easily as flesh.
In his alien eyes, humans were insignificant, their lives as fragile as insects. He had no inherent malice towards them, but neither did he possess any empathy. If they stayed out of his way, he would ignore them. But when they became obstacles, they were dealt with swiftly and without remorse.
His presence on Earth was one of necessity, not choice. The Hellgrammites diet was drastically different from human sustenance, forcing Roderick to seek out specific resources for survival. Chlorine, a compound vital to his physiology, was the closest substitute he could find in this alien world, and the power plant was a convenient source.
But his repeated thefts had not gone unnoticed. The power plant management, alarmed by the dwindling chlorine reserves, had increased security, making his acquisition more difficult. When the guards stumbled upon him during his latest raid, he had acted without hesitation, silencing them permanently. To him, they were merely insects buzzing around a lightbulb, easily crushed underfoot. Now, with his needs met, he melts back into the shadows of National City, another silent predator stalking its streets.
The blaring headline flashed across the TV screen at 9 AM: "Two Bodies Discovered at National City Power Plant." The news anchor, her face grim, continued, "Authorities have confirmed the deceased were security personnel. A large quantity of chlorine was also reported stolen."
The report continued, "This marks the tenth chlorine theft this month, leading investigators to believe the deaths may be connected. Details are still emerging."
Isaac, halfway through his bento box—a lovingly prepared lunch courtesy of his mom—froze, his gaze glued to the screen. The rice ball hovered inches from his mouth as his expression shifted from casual contentment to grim concern.
Chlorine thefts, huh? And now people are dying? This has gotta be something bigger than some tweaker trying to cook up meth.
He pulled out his phone and thumbed a quick text.
"Hey, X Wizard, got a favor to ask. Can you look into those chlorine heists? Something feels off."
A beat later, a reply popped up.
"Consider it done, Isaac."
Isaac sighed in relief. Okay, Wizard's on it. She'll dig up something. Still, a nagging feeling persisted. Can't just sit on my butt and wait for her to do all the work, though. Gotta be proactive.
He made a silent vow. As soon as his parents were out cold, he'd sneak out and patrol those power plants. Something about this whole chlorine thing stank worse than a gym sock.
I mean, come on, chlorine? That stuff's nasty. Whoever's stealing it ain't using it to make their swimming pool sparkle. And now people are dropping like flies. This ain't just a petty theft situation.
The image of the security guards lying dead replayed in his mind, and his appetite vanished. He shoved the bento box aside, the carefully crafted meal suddenly unappealing. Time to focus.
Ditching the cafeteria, Isaac beelined for the school's Zen garden. Tucked away behind the library, it was usually deserted during lunch, a perfect spot for some much-needed Beast Fist meditation. He needed to sharpen his senses, center his mind, and prepare for whatever the night might bring. The Fierce Beast-Fist Beast Arts' training was his best bet.
Inside, Veronica and Kenji were in the faculty lounge.
"Kara, didn't you say you wanted to talk to Isaac? He's already left. Why haven't you made a move yet?"
Meanwhile, in another corner of the cafeteria, Alex gently nudged her sister with her elbow. Gazing at Isaac, whose figure had already disappeared from the entrance, she spoke softly, lowering her voice.
"Alright, I'll go find him now."
Actually, without her sister's reminder, she, who possesses extraordinary perception abilities, had already sensed his movements. She just hadn't figured out how to start the conversation.
But now, with Alex's prompt, she had no choice but to stand, resolving to talk to him properly about his recent deliberate avoidance.
The reason Kara cared so much was mainly because she had a very good relationship with him, or rather, with the previous consciousness of his body, and that previous consciousness had a special fondness for her.
She was actually aware of this, but before the previous consciousness could make a move, it was replaced, or rather, merged, with the current Isaac.
Reaching a secluded corner, he was just about to start cultivating when he heard light footsteps behind him. He instinctively turned his head, and what met his eyes was that familiar blonde figure.
"Why are you here? Is something wrong?"
He was somewhat by her sudden appearance, but since she didn't approach silently like she had in the past days, his reaction was much calmer.
"I want to talk to you."
Slightly raising her head, she looked directly at him, her gaze firm. On the way, she had already decided to get a clear answer and not let this matter trouble her anymore.
"Are you deliberately avoiding me lately?"
Feeling her determination, he gently exhaled and nodded. He led her to sit on a nearby chair. They had sat down when she eagerly began to ask.
"No, I've just been in a bad mood lately, so I thought I'd change locations to change my mood."
Hearing her question, his heart couldn't help but quicken a few beats. He truly hadn't anticipated her being so direct.
But he still forced himself to calm, using the same evasive answer he had given a while back. After all, he couldn't very well say, "Big shot, I'm hiding because I'm afraid you might accidentally cripple me, right?"
"Is that so? In that case, let's go home together after school today. It's on the way."
Looking at him, whose expression seemed normal, with some suspicion, she, with her super hearing, keenly noticed that his heartbeat was somewhat abnormal.
So, after pondering for a moment, her eyes slightly shifted, and she tentatively extended an invitation.
No sooner had she spoken than she suddenly felt something "click" and shatter, but upon searching carefully, she found nothing.
"Alright!"
Forcing himself to put on a relaxed demeanor, he managed to squeeze out a faint smile. He knew that refusing now might arouse her suspicion, so he could only accept her invitation.
The dismissal bell rang, liberating students from their academic prisons. Isaac, true to his word, met Kara by the front gate. He plastered a smile on his face, hoping it looked genuine enough to fool her Kryptonian senses.
As they walked, Kara chattered animatedly about her science project, occasionally dropping terms that would make Einstein blush. Isaac nodded along, throwing in an "Interesting" or "Wow, that's deep" whenever appropriate. He had to admit, even with the potential danger she represented, Kara was pretty cool. Her brain, when it wasn't firing off equations for faster-than-light travel, was full of insightful observations about the world.
He glanced across the street, spotting a familiar figure leaning against a black sedan. Alex Danvers. The DEO agent was subtly, yet unmistakably, keeping tabs on them. Isaac suppressed a sigh. The Danvers sisters were proving to be a handful. Kara, a brilliant mind wrapped in the guise of an ordinary teenager, and Alex, the ever-vigilant protector, suspicious of anyone who dared to breathe the same air as her sister.
"So, I was thinking," Kara continued, "if we could somehow harness the energy from a collapsing star..."
Isaac's ears perked up. Collapsing star? Did she even realize what she was saying? He cut her off gently, "Maybe we should stick to something a little less... explosive? For now, at least."
Kara blinked, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. "Oh, right. Probably not the safest idea."
They continued their walk, the weight of Alex's scrutiny heavy on Isaac's shoulders. He knew he couldn't keep up this charade forever. Sooner or later, Kara would figure out something was off, or Alex would decide he was a threat and sic the DEO on him. He had to find a way to navigate this carefully.