Chapter 2 - Hero City

Back in 2000, the turn of the millennium, more companies and governments looked to what new concepts science could develop. 2000 was the future, what could we do? Where could we go? Could robots replace workers and take care of us all? What about medicine, could we gain immortality? How small could we make computers, exactly?

China and Russia got to work right away, advancing in leaps and bounds. Japan always managed to stay at least a decade more advanced than anyone. And all eyes turned to the United States, eager to see what the Americans would come up with to compete on the global stage. It was the Space Race all over again, and the United States wasn't giving up its win streak by a long shot.

Since even before 2000 there have been reports and stories of human beings doing impossible things. The internet was flooded with videos and accounts of varying questionability. Moving objects by looking at them, floating in the air, lifting a car, holding fire in their hands. The people of the United States wanted to know: was any of this actually possible?

Where would such research take place? Where could people be gathered and studied, while keeping them and others safe? If humans really could exceed their potential by leaps and bounds, where was the best place to display that?

A new place was needed, built from the ground up to explore the limits of the human body and mind. Corporations immediately vied for contracts for the U.S Government's most ambitious project ever. An entire city.

An island off the east coast was constructed, entirely manmade and built to house Hero, a brand new city. Every building and street was meticulously planned. Residential areas were designed to be uniform, but also comfortably populated with access to parks and other open spaces.

Office buildings were crowded close together, tall spires connected not just by the streets at ground level, but also by pedestrian walkways suspended ten stories and higher. A light rail system ran above ground, connecting all areas seamlessly. One could get from one end of the city to another in under half an hour.

Every building was powered by solar panels and wind turbines produced on the island, with no need for powerlines from mainland New York. A desalination plant provided enough water to the city from the ocean. Food was delivered daily by cargo boat and an underground rail line that connected Hero to Manhattan.

The brochures made it sound rather glamorous, but a city was a city, even if this one seemed cleaner than most. It was made of concrete, steel, and glass, with a little greenery added to break the monotony of it all.

Raindrops crawled down the windows, glowing yellow from the reflected light of the street lamps. It had been raining in her dream. It had been raining during the funeral. If only it had been raining the day of the fire.

Ellie looked over at the double beds set up in their hotel room. Gracie was already knocked out and drooling on her pillow. Her suitcase looked like it had exploded at the end of her bed, clothing, comic books, and art supplies all scattered like shrapnel.

Her own black duffel bag was still unpacked, waiting on the floor by her bed. She turned off the lamp near the window and walked past it. She climbed into Gracie's bed and under the blanket, spilling an entire box of watercolor markers onto the floor in the process. She'd clean that up in the morning. The clock by the bed read 4:55 AM. Late morning.

She put an arm around her younger sister, holding her close. Gracie's red hair immediately covered her face, somehow getting into her mouth without her even opening it. It was annoying, but she didn't care right now. If only it had been raining that night.

Her own rain stung her eyes and one fat drop crawled down her cheek.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly." Dr. Samir Mattu straightened his tie while picking up a folder from his desk. He sat in his seat while he opened it. The two sisters sat on the other side of the desk. Ellie sat in a normal chair, but Gracie had chosen a padded stool she could spin around on. Her feet dangled as she swung them back and forth excitedly. "Grace Dearely and-"

"Just call me Ellie," Ellie interrupted.

Samir's brows knit together, but he didn't question her. "Ellie Dearely."

He looked young to be a doctor, to Ellie. Maybe a Resident or someone in training, but not someone who has completed college, medical school, and their residency.

Gracie was practically bouncing with suppressed energy. "When do I get to be a superhero?" she blurted out.

Dr. Mattu looked at her in shock, his glasses sliding down his nose. "What?" He pushed up his glasses. "What is it that you think we're doing here?"

"You're helping me develop my powers! Here, look at what I can do!" She took a deep breath and held it. Her face scrunched as she strained, staring at her open palm. Her face turned bright red.

"Gracie, stop!" Ellie grabbed her sister around her shoulders with one arm. Her other hand clamped over Grace's wrist, forcing her hand down.

Grace wriggled in her grasp. "Lemme go!" She fell off the stool and out of Ellie's clutches, right onto the floor. She huffed loudly, her face turning back to its usual shade. "Why did you do that?!"

"Because it's dangerous!" Fear roared in Ellie's chest and forced itself out of her throat as anger. "What are you thinking?!"

Grace got to her feet and brushed off her jeans indignantly. "It was only going to be a small one!"

"We are in a medical facility!" Ellie refused to back down an inch. "Who knows what gases are floating around we can't even smell?" She could feel herself becoming hysterical as her eyes stung.

Grace didn't respond but stood there shaking in frustration. She huffed again and it was like steam escaping her mouth and nose. The two sisters stared each other down.

"Hold on! Hold on now!" Dr. Mattu was out of his seat and leaning across the desk towards them. "It's okay! Everyone is okay!" His voice was raised, but not filled with emotion like the girls. They both looked at him. "Nothing has happened. Everything is fine. Yes?" He looked at one, then the other, back and forth.

Ellie felt her heart rate slowing to a more normal speed. "Right, we're okay." She sat back.

Grace was frowning and looking at the ground. "I guess."

"Now, I don't need to see a demonstration of your ability right now." Dr. Mattu returned to his seat and Grace did the same. "There will be a time and place for that. Later." He stared intently at Grace until she met his eyes. "Right now we're just at the beginning. I don't know who you are yet. You don't know me." He put his hands on the desk. "We have to check all of the paperwork."

"Okay." Grace and Ellie spoke at the same time.

"Good." He picked up Grace's folder. "Let's start over."

XXxxxXXxxxXX

Author's Note: Chapter two is posted! This is getting pretty damn exciting for me. I've had this book in my head FOREVER and now I'm finally getting it out.

News: I've started a Patreon! I've kept it simple /lyndabehling. Back when I was writing the vampire series I toyed with the idea, but dismissed it as 'shilling'. I've come to realize since then that if I want to make my writing my life's work, then I'll need support.

For $1 a month, Patreons get chapters three days early. I'm also in the process of bringing all of my previous work, edited and formatted properly, over there. There's going to be lots of stuff coming out in the future and I hope everyone is looking forward to it.