Chapter 3

"What is this place?"

"My lair..." my father tells me.

I can't see down the long hallway that is hidden underneath my house.  I look at this man now and it's almost like I don't even recognize him.  He's always been strict and hard to read but I always thought I had an understanding of who he was.  I was wrong.  The eyepatch and the trenchcoat made him look like some sort of devastating villain from a child's nightmare.

"You told me you hated metahumans."

"I told you I hated the Host," he responds, "I hated the heroes.  And I have my reasons.  But now my son is back to take up the mantle.  To be the next Vicious Vigor.  It's time to teach them fear again, Camron.  Come...let's go."

"Go where."

He looks down the hallway into the darkness.  It's so dark that I can't even see down there.  I don't know if I'll trip or fall.  The darkness is complete black.  There is heat coming from the dark tunnel underneath my house.  It is like the entrance to hell.  My skin crawls. I've never in my life felt so uneasy as I do now in this moment.

"To your destiny."

I look at him.  Was it my destiny?  Was it really my destiny to take up my father's mantle and be the next Vicious Vigor?  I didn't hate.  I didn't feel evil.  All my life all I wanted was to be a super hero.  I wanted to be one of those men saving the day.  Deep inside I always knew I was special.  I just didn't know I was meant to be great in another way.  I was the son of the greatest super villain to ever live.

My throat is dry.  Dry like the day that thing happened, "I can't."

I  start backing away.  I expect my father to be angry when his forehead wrinkles up.  I expect him to reach behind my neck and yolk me up like a disobedient dog like he did when I was younger.  Instead of that though I get a laugh.  It's a laugh that I'll never forget.  It's a deep crackling thunder that starts in the very bottom of his throat that rises and roars beating against the walls of the tunnel like a hurricane.  It makes me turn and run.

I'm running because I'm afraid of my father.  I'm terrified.  And the laugh chases me all the way to my bed where it haunts me through my sleep.

~

The next day I wake up.  I wear glasses that cover my face.  I wear a hoodie.  I am hoping the whole hysteria of a possible new metahuman from the track has died down and it seems like it has.  There was always some new hype in Metropolis.  There was always something getting everyone's attention so arriving on campus for me was relatively easy.

That is until I see Dez and he's all in my face again.  He throws his arm over me.

"You been ignoring my calls?" he asks.

"I been busy," I tell Dez, "There's a lot going on."

"What could possibly be more important than you and me," Dez responds.

Dez has always been a good friend of mine.  A part of me wants to tell him all about the Host of Heroes.  I want to tell him all about my father and his identity.

I open my mouth and start off, "You know a lot about superheroes.  Right?"

"Of course.  We live in Metropolis.  Who doesn't?"

I didn't.  The little I did know I had to sneak to find out.  My father had guarded me away from a lot of the mythology.  Little had I known that in another life he himself was a metahuman.  One of the most famous.  Knowing this I feel like Dez probably was the best person to talk to about this.

"What about Supervillains."

He laughs at the concept, "No such thing.  The host cleared them out.  This is the Peace Era.  Now the heroes just take care of human villains."

"What about Vicious Vigor?"

Dez stops me.  We are in the middle of campus.  The row of trees acts like guide posts between classes.  A lot of students hang out here so it's not weird that we are standing around talking but Dez puts up his guard acting like everyone is paying attention to this conversation we shouldn't be having.

"You aren't supposed to just blurt out names like that," Dez states.

"Why not?  If he's dead like everyone says he is then why is everyone so afraid."

Dez shrugs, putting his hand to his face, "Damn.  You got a point, Cam.  I don't know.  It's just how people were raised.  You know?  When Vigor was alive the entire world was afraid.  It's like a terrorist group embodied in a single, horrible soul.  I guess no one's really over it."

"What if he's not dead, Dez?"

"Don't be stupid."

"I'm just speaking hypothetically."

Dez shrugs, "Then we're all pretty much fucked."

I think about it.  The look of fear of the thought even crossing Dez's eyes.  The world was at peace at the thought that superhuman villains no longer existed.  People didn't have to worry about a crazy man who could crush hundreds without even blinking twice.

I looked around at everyone on campus.  I see how happy everyone looks knowing that there was the Host of Heroes looking out for them and protecting them.  Everyone seemed secure.  There were gods in this world that watched out for us every day and they felt good about it.

But they had no idea what was living at 13 Mable Crossing Drive.  They had no idea the darkness that had a lair under my house.

And I was supposed to follow in his footsteps.

"Who the hell is that?" Dez asks.

Just at that moment, I see a car zooming through campus.  Our campus is relatively quiet.  It's a bunch of nerds.  It was a pedestrian campus so a lot of people are walking around so when a hot red drop top Ashton Martin Vanquish zooms through campus everyone turns and looks.  The Ashton Martin is exceeding the speed limit by far.  I almost think someone is about to get hit.  That's when It turns swerving to my side of the street and skidding on tires almost drifting right to the side.

I literally have to pull Dez back a little so he isn't hit by the car.

"What's good?"

Three boys are in the car.  I recognize them immediately.  The driver is Power Up.  His red hair matches the red car.  He just looks wealthy. That's the only way to describe it.  Looking at his clothes I just feel a tinge of envy.  I wasn't this big fashion person and knew nothing about labels but let's just say the shit looked expensive.  I think his shirt is Versace and it's open showing off his muscles.  He looks like a Miami Kingpin or something.   He looks like one of those stuck up rich kids who spent all day in the gym complaining about the fact that his parents didn't let him use their private jet to go to Dubai.  He looks like the biggest jock I've ever seen.  His super bulky body takes up the whole width of the sports car.

In the passenger's seat is Ultrasound.  He doesn't have this extra rich, bougie look that Power Up has but his look doesn't seem anymore mild.  Ultrasound looks like a rapper.  Ultrasound had on a hat that he wore to the back and a jean's jacket on.  When he opens his mouth I swear he has on grills.  He looks like a gangster but he pulls it off in the sexiest way possible.

He's the one who speaks to me, hopping out the car grabbing his crotch and staring me down like I'm something to eat.

"I said what's good?" Ultrasound repeats.

"Hey..."

My voice is nothing less than a whisper.  What the hell were these guys doing here?

"You know these guys?" Dez asks.

Dez still has his hands over me.  He's still holding me kind of close actually.  It looks weird.  Maybe that's why the person in the back hasn't really approached.  It's White Frost.  Aaron.  I actually know his government name.  Aaron is sitting on the headboard of the backseat.  He's quietly looking on even when Power Up comes out of the car.  Aaron doesn't move.  He doesn't say anything.  Our eyes connect and I just feel funny seeing him again.

"He knows us," Power Up states, "Spent all day driving around looking for you."

"Why?" I ask.

"You OK man?" Dez asks.

Dez was acting protective. I knew Dez.  He never wanted to be my boyfriend but if another sexy guy gave me too much attention Dez was the first one there.

"Damn yo.  What's up with the questionnaire?  This your boyfriend or something?" Ultrasound asks.

Ultrasound has more clothes on than Power Up and you can't see his muscles like you can see Power Up but he is definitely the more intimidating one.  I don't think Dez is used to someone as aggressive as Ultrasound.  He is staring Dez up and down daring him to say something.

"He's my best friend," I interrupt.

"Well then he can mind his business," Ultrasound starts up.

Power Up laughs but I look over to Aaron pleading for Aaron to help.  I'd seen how aggressive Ultrasound can come off from the first day I met him and I wasn't here for it.  Dez could have a slick mouth at times and I definitely didn't want this to escalate to a place it didn't have to go.

Luckily Aaron picks up my desperation because he clears his throat, "Jemarcus can  you stop scaring the guy."

Jemarcus?  Power Up busts out laughing finding this clearly entertaining and Ultrasound looks a little embarrassed when he walks up to Aaron.

"You didn't have to use THAT name in front of Bae..." Jemarcus states.

He's clearly mad.  I just see how confused Dez looks especially when he says, Bae.  We aren't the only one who overhears what Ultrasound, aka Jemarcus has to say to Aaron.  Power Up hears it as well and quickly checks him.

"That's not your bae," Power Up states before adding a salty, "Jemarcus."

"Whatever Perry," Jemarcus bites back.

"Actually I like Perry.  It's not a ghetto ass name like yours."

"And you're goddam bougie..."

The two of them start arguing and it's a point that I don't think this is the first time.  Aaron doesn't even pay it any attention when they start getting to it.  He finally heads out the car and when he does I completely mute out the two arguing superheroes.  Aaron walking towards me is slow.  It's sexy.  His eyes don't leave mine.

He comes close to me.  Real close.  It doesn't matter that Jemarcus and Perry are arguing.  Aaron is focused on one thing.  He's focused on me.  I've seen that focus before.  I've seen it during track when we competed.  This invisible goal line that he was pacing towards made his eyes just forget anything else existed.  When he approaches me I feel like that.  I feel like I am that invisible goal line.  My heart almost stops when he gets close.

Too close.

Too, too close.

"I'm sorry to bother you," he states, his breath clearly beating up against my face.  His eyes beaming down on me in the sexiest way possible.

"You're not bothering me," I respond.

"Actually...you are..." Dez interrupts.

Aaron doesn't even seem to hear what Dez is saying.  His eyes are still set on me.

"I hope this doesn't seem like I'm stalking you," Aaron responds taking a step even closer, "It's just that all my life when I want something, I work hard to get it.  And I really, really want you..."

My heart is beating so heavy.  This is like out of my wet dream or something.  White Frost coming up to me and saying how much he really, really wanted me.  I feel like a high school girl.  I feel faint almost light-headed.

"You do?"

He nods, "Yeah for that...job I was telling you about."

It snaps me back into reality.  He wanted me for his team.  That's what he was talking about.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.

And when I'm snapped back into reality, I remember my father.  I remember who I was.  What would Aaron say if he knew the truth about my father?  What would he say if he knew who I really was?

"I can't..."

"You're special," Aaron tells me, "So special.  And you need to be with someone, I mean, with a group of people who value just how special you are.  I know you're afraid but I want you to come with me."

"You mean us?" I correct Aaron.

Aaron looks over at his two other friends.  They are still arguing.  It's gotten a little physical with Ultrasound putting his finger in Power Up's face and Power Up laughing as though he wouldn't belittle himself to be provoked by someone beneath him.  Aaron was used to those shenanigans probably because he dismisses them and shrugs.

"Yeah us..." he states.

Dez interrupts us, "Is there a reason you're talking so close?"

Aaron takes a step back.  It's a step back I don't want him to take but he isn't pompous like Power Up or aggressive like Ultrasound.  He's respectful.  And before he takes another step back I'm taking a step towards him.  I'm following him.

"Dez I'll call you."

"Where the hell are you going?"

I shrug, "Somewhere new."

~

I don't know where I'm going but I'm excited to go.  When I leave I try my hardest to forget everything I learned about my father.  It wasn't like I was committing to joining the team or something.  I was just hanging out with Aaron and his team he was building.  I was just getting a feel for them.  I was just being nice and entertaining it.  That's what I wanted to tell myself, at least.

We end up at Perry Ellington's loft.

Perry Ellington, aka Power Up, was listed as the most Eligible bachelors in Metropolis.  Most people just referred to him as the Irish Swoon.  He was a marine who earned both a Bronze Star and a commendation medal serving in Iraq.  He attended both Harvard and the United States Military Academy at West Point.  His parents were a billionaire couple who started the company called Access where they tinkered with the idea of Digital communication in a modern society.  When they died, Perry Ellington became one of the youngest and most powerful CEOs in the country.  The problem is they didn't just die though. They were killed by supervillains.  And Perry Ellington took on the secret identity of his father.  The super strong juggernaut known only as Power Up.

"I have some big shoes to fill," Power Up tells us when we arrive at his loft.

He let me know everything there was about himself.  Let's just say the guy loved talking about himself.  He'd told me his life story and so much more when we arrive at his loft.  I look over at Aaron and mouth the words, "Save me".  Aaron just laughs as Power Up literally kidnaps me from the other two when we arrive in his loft taking me to the window area.  He points out into the distance at the Hall of Heroes.  The skyscraper can be seen from his loft view.  The beautiful glass windows have the best view I've ever seen.

"Did you ever feel pressure?" I ask Power Up, "Feeling like you had to be your father's son?  That you had to follow in his footsteps?"

Power Up shrugs.

"No.  The military training and Iraq equipped me.  I didn't get it back then, but everything he did prepared me to take on the mantle of Power Up.  Most of the 2nd generation metahumans have superpowered parents.  Do your parents have superpowers?"

He hands me a glass of wine when he asks me the question.  I look at it.  I'm scared to death to even mention my father.

"I don't know."

"It probably differs from your superpowers but sometimes they are related.  What are your super powers again?"  Power Up asks.

"I'm not sure."

"You're not sure yet."

I'm embarrassed when I admit it.

"No."

"His parents probably haven't helped him," Aaron defends me, "Like ours did."

"My mother may have been a metahuman but I never knew her.  She died when I was really young."

"Sucks," he states, "I can relate to having dead parents.  That's why I do what I do.  You have to honor your parents.  No matter what.  I've learned that is the most important thing in the world."

To honor your parents.  I sigh at the thought.  Great.

"I don't feel good.  Do you have a bathroom?"

"Sure it's that way..."

"I'll show him," Aaron interrupts.

Aaron leads me to the other side of the loft.  The whole time he's staring at me.  I'm flushed.  Just hearing Power Up talk about his parents and his honor is getting to me.  It's the worst feeling in the world.  I'm so stressed.  I get to the bathroom and rinse my face with cold water.  When I'm done I notice Aaron is still there staring at me.

"Perry didn't scare you off, did he?"

I don't know the answer to that.

Instead of answering I just look at Aaron in the mirror of the bathroom, "Why'd you bring me here?"

"I wanted you to get to know us," he states, "I wanted you to be...you know?  More comfortable around us.  My dad and his team are really close.  I have a lot to live up to. They are like family.  That's how I want my team to be."

"I never agreed to join your team, Aaron."

"Why not?"

He steps forward when he says that.  He's close to me again, like earlier.  I hate it.  Aaron makes me weak for some reason.  He makes me want to give in to everything he says.  When he looks at me I wonder if the frost is his only superhuman ability or whether or not he has mind control.  His eyes remind me the smooth winter snow.  They are just like glass when I look into them.  They look so easy, so plain and pure.  They contrast so much with his darker skin so I find myself getting lost in them over and over.

It trips me up to the point that I take a step back, "Do you mind?"

"I'm sorry..." he states, "It's just...I saw what you did at the track meet.  I'm not talking about the jump either.  I'm talking about the race.  I never saw someone so determined in my life.  I've never had to work so hard for a race in my life.  I see potential in you man.  I see greatness.  And I want to be the one to help bring that out of you."

"Greatness isn't always goodness," I tell him.

He raises an eyebrow.

"What do you mean by that?"

Just at that moment, I hear his cellphone ring.  It feels like I'm being saved by the bell.  I needed someone to talk to about my dad so bad that I could easily find myself spilling my guts all about who my father was.  He would hate me if he knew the truth.  I was the son of the worst man in the world.

There is a pause before Aaron continues.  He's glued to his phone.

"Weird."

"What's wrong?"

"The Phantom Phoenix is missing," he states.

"Who?"

"He's a superhero.  He's on my dad's team.  He's missing.  My dad wants me to head over there right now."

"I should probably be headed out too."

"No.  No just...talk to Power Up and Ultrasound.  Get to know them.  Get to know their stories.  They aren't that much different from you.  I promise."

With that I watch him beginning to change.  The transformation is amazing.  A blinding white light as the frost takes over his body like a drifting iceberg completely engulfing the brown tanned skin and making him into something else.  He doesn't hesitate before running out of the door, ready to do his super hero duty.

I wonder if that's going to me one day as I come out into the living room.  Power Up and Ultrasound are there and I'm surprised that they aren't arguing.  Power Up actually doesn't even have a shirt on.  He's drinking wine slowly looking at the open window that has a thin case of frost over it.  I'm sure White Frost flew out of that window.

"He's a frost god," Power Up states staring out, "Ice manipulation, Ice beam emission, elemental breath, blizzard creation.  His most amazing power to me is he has the ability to create tools, objects, weapons, armor and even appendages out of ice."

"He's amazing."

I know that Power Up is talking White Frost up, but he didn't have to to me.  I knew all about White Frost, even when I wasn't allowed to follow superheroes.  I can see the sheet of ice floating melting where White Frost glided, belly down over snow particles giving the illusion of flying.

"So why not join?" Ultrasound asks.

"C`mon," Power Up tells him.

Ultrasound shakes his head, "No.  I'm sick of it.  Not everyday does one get the offer to join the Host of Heroes and make a real difference.  You can be the next generation of greatness. Why not fuckin' join us.  What's holding you back?"

"I don't know."

Power Up looks over at us, "Ultrasound is a little uncouth but Frost wants us to convince you to join us.   He said do whatever it takes."

"Whatever it takes," Ultrasound laughs, lifting up his shirt.

I'm shocked when Power Up follows Ultrasound's lead and drops his pants.  Power Up doesn't have any underwear under his jeans.  He's freeballing.  He dick is fully erect when I see it.  He has a bulbous cock full of red thick veins with a clean shaved brown patch of pubic hair over them.  I watch him grab his dick with one hand and slap it into his palm with the other.  He gives it a good squeeze at that moment letting a long thick stream of pre-cum fall into his palm.

"What's going on?" I ask, confused.

That's when Ultrasound gets naked.  His firm body is shorter than Power Up but he's no less amazing.  His dark muscles are liked etched stone when he gets naked.  His dick is longer than Power up but not as thick.  It curves to the right with a mean hook.  I notice as he starts walking towards me how thick his body is in the sexiest way.  He has the bubble butt out of the two.

Power Up flings himself into the air, jumping and landing inches away from me.  It must be the superhuman agility.  His hand circles around my body pulling me close.  His tongue is in my ear when he slowly whispers, "Convincing you."

"Wait hold on...hold on...oh...shit!"

I don't know how Power Up flings me into the air with one arm.  I'm dangling from his hand with his super strength like a little baby.

That's when Ultrasounds screams.  It's a direct scream, perfectly pitched and aimed.  Within seconds I recognize this man has magically undressed me, using his voice to literally blow my clothing clear off me.  It's underneath me in a torn mess and I don't have the time to care before I feel Power Up's warm tongue addressing my ass hole as he dangles me in his arms.

I moan aggressively when I feel his tongue deep in my cheeks.  He begins to finger me as he licks me.  His tongue is like a muscle of its own stretching my ass.

He lowers me slowly and I'm not sure why until I see Ultrasound's dick inches away from my face.

"Suck it," Ultrasound orders.

I think about it.  Hesitate even.  But then all of those constructs go out the window when he presses the thick ligament up against my lips.  I immediately put it in my mouth and suck on it.  I let the big dick hit the back of my throat sliding up and down on it.  Ultrasound begins to fuck my face slowly at first and then fast.  He's thrusting his hips so deep that I'm deep throating gagging on it as drool and semen slide down the side of the cracks of my mouth.

"Damn...he's choking on it.  I knew he was good.  Maybe that's his superpower," Power Up laughs.

They switch places with Power Up more than ready to fuck my face and Ultrasound not even wiping off Power Up's saliva before he starts eating me out.  Power Up's dick is so thick I can barely fit it in my mouth and then there was Ultrasound.  Jesus.  He starts whistling superhuman vibrations with his lips in my ass and I can feel them literally bounce from wall to wall all the way up my intestines.  The tongue gets aggressive.

"I want to fuck you so bad," I hear Ultrasound state, "Your ass tastes so good.  Let me fuck you."

I want it too.  I want it so bad, but for some reason, I just stop him.

"No."

Ultrasound respects it reluctantly and buries his head back down my ass.  He eats me for what seems like an hour and I suck Power Up's dick until my mouth gets sore.

That's when things get weird.  That's when they both start kissing me.  First it's Ultrasound, grabbing me up and putting his tongue down my mouth.  Then it's Power Up.  Then Ultrasound is ready to kiss me again, Power Up is too into it so he gives him a slight push.

"What the fuck," Ultrasound pushes back.

The two of them start going back and forth at that moment.  I should have expected this at least.  They were beyond competitive with one another.

"You're being a fucking lame man," Power Up barks back.

I don't know how it escalates so fast but all I hear is a scream and Power Up being blasted across the room as though he was attached to a jetpack.  Almost like a mad bull he charges back slamming Ultrasound through the next wall.  The two naked Superheroes start immediately tearing up the condo in the craziest way I have ever seen.

I would love to stick around to watch it but honestly I feel like I'm in harm's way so I just grab a robe that I see behind Perry's counter and leave.

~

The whole fight towards the end of the day doesn't scare me off.  It actually excites me.  I don't know why I get home and I'm just thinking about how exciting the day was.  Who knew that sex with superheroes could literally turn into demolition.  All I keep thinking about is how every day could be like this.  Every day could be so exciting.

But when I get home that dark cloud is over me again.  I walk into the kitchen and I don't see anyone around.  No one is around except Mary.

"Hey,...is Dad here?" I ask.

She looks at me in the robe.  It's clear she has so many questions but knowing Mary she isn't going to ask them.

"He's in his lair," she states.

I'm surprised.

"Wait...you know about that?"

She nods, "He was the most handsome man in the world back then.  He was the most handsome man in the world now to me.  Vicious Vigor..."

She states it almost like a ghost.  The darkness surrounding her like a cloud.  I've never seen Mary look so heavy.  She's washing dishes in the darkness almost as though the light would hurt her eyes.  She doesn't look at me too long but she does give me short quick glances.

"You knew how evil he was...even before you got with him?"  I ask.

"I was a girl in love.  Sometimes when you love someone you excuse the big things as little things.  Sure, he was evil.  Sure, he was the most wanted man in the world.  Sure,  he never loved me.  Not the same way he loved the boy named Materias."

"You knew he was gay?"

"None of that mattered," She responded, "I was a human girl and he was a god.  I was raised to think metahumans were just that.  Gods.  Even the worst of them.  I don't know if your father's gay but I know that he doesn't love me.  He isn't capable of love.  Not in the way that we think."

"He loves me," I respond.

"Does he?"  she asks, "Or are you just a weapon to him?"

I laugh at the idea.  The laughter rolls through my soul but it isn't because I find it funny.  I am uncomfortable with the words coming out of her mouth.  They don't make sense to me.

It was confirmed. This was someone who loved my father.  My father was a monster.  It wasn't just stories.  It was history.  The monster was real.  The monster was my father.  I look down as Mary talks to me.

"They all think he's dead," I state.

"Just preparing his time.  Just preparing his successors," she responds, "Did you think track had anything to do with winning a gold medal?   The track was all about discipline for him.  He was getting you ready."

"Ready for what?" I ask.

In the darkness, Mary looks at me, "The Era of Peace is over.  The Era of Vicious Vigor will begin again.  The world will bleed and suffer."

She sounds maddened.  She wasn't just a mother right now.  Mary was a sycophant who idolized the Vicious Vigor like the cult members who idolized Charles Manson.   I can't tell though if she wants to or not.  At times she feels caged and trapped but at times she feels like a dog who has become so comfortable in their crate that they go there even when they don't have to.

"I can't do this," I state, "I'm leaving tonight."

"To do what?"

"The heroes want me to join them.  And I'm going to take their offer."

"You aren't a hero."

"You don't know me, Mary," I respond harshly, "Like you said, my father never loved you.  You are just someone he chose to have a baby with."

I start walking away.

I'm surprised when Mary chases me down, grabbing me and swinging me around as hard as she can.  Tears are in her eyes now.  For some reason, she just looks desperate.

"You can't escape it," she tells me.

"My father can't force me.  I'll run away."

"Whatever Vicious Vigor wants he gets.  He wanted me to bear him a child.  The same way he wanted your mother to bear him one.  He knows there is a chance you won't follow his footsteps.  But what do you think happens if you don't follow him..."

"What are you saying?"

"If you don't become the next Vicious Vigor then Tristan will have to be."

Mary says the one thing that means everything at that point.  It's the one thing that changes my mind.  I knew my father. He always had a backup plan.  Tristan was my backup plan.  And before I know it my mind is made up.

I was going to become the Vicious Vigor.  If I wanted to protect Tristan from that fate then I had no other choice...

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