ALTERNIVERSE: Chapter two

Sitting in the office room of Pinpoint, Anthony waits for the heroes return from a meeting patiently with his hands folded on his lap. He looks around the room and sees a plethora of photos taken with Pinpoint and his adoring fans. Medals of Valor framed on the shelves as well as a few awards to Anthonys right next to the window. The young man looks to the left and sees plenty of other heroes that he looked up to before walking the halls of the building. Still feeling anxious he picks up the remote off the desk and turns on the TV, hoping to quell the butterflies by focusing on random shows. The news channel was the first station to present itself on screen. 

Depictions of protests, not only in Lumer City but across the country, against meta-humans are more rampant than before thanks to the Lumer City raid. The public is in an uproar about the events that transpired leaving only death and destruction in its wake. Chants for meta-humans villains to be put to death can be heard as well as the demand for vigilantes to be arrested and heroes relieved of their duties.

"You know it didn't used to be like this." A voice comes from the doorway of the office that catches Anthony off guard. Joseph Cici, also known as Pinpoint, stands leaning his left shoulder on the door frame. "I mean, there was always prejudice against metas even back then but it wasn't this atrocious. Most of the hate was towards the villains and some of the vigilantes." 

"That made it hard for me to accept what I am. When my powers first manifested five years ago, I didn't want to believe it. I became the type of people I was told to hate therefore coming to hate myself at some point. Ended up distancing myself from my friends because of it. My family even moved here for that reason."

"Really? So if you had to go through all of that what made you decide to become a hero?" Joseph asks curiously. A simple question yet it leaves Anthony speechless for a moment. "Walk with me for a bit." Anthony only nods before he follows Joseph out of the room. As the two walk down the hall together Joseph put his left arm over Anthony's shoulders. "Take a look there." He says pointing to a caucasian man wearing a blue and silver outfit that has a wolf like cowl hanging behind the neck and a depiction of four claw swipes across the chest.

Anthony looks at the hero then back at Joseph with puzzled expression. "Who? Alpha moon?"

"Alpha moon became a hero because he didn't want to go to jail for killing the man who took his wife in a robbery." Joseph says before turning their attention to a fairly young looking Asian woman wearing a zipped up, purple leather jacket with a black crop top peaking over the zipper and black jeans with purple lines accenting them. 

"That's Amethyst. I've seen a couple of her live streams online before." Anthony answered turn his gaze back to Joseph. "What was her reason for being a hero?"

"She became a hero to amass her followings on social media. All this just to gain some clout." The two continue to walk through the halls of the Hero Organization as Joseph leads them down to the lower level gym where other heroes are seen training and working out. 

On the indoor track white laser like streaks can be seen trailing a speedy individual clad in a white and gray apparel. 

Anthony looks on in excitement seeing the speedster make lap after lap in just a span of a few seconds. "That's Pace Racer!"

"Mhm, number two hero in this district. The only reason he became a hero was because he had nothing better to do with his day." Anthony face turns from excitement to to one of disbelief as he looks back at pinpoint. "I know what you're thinking, he saves multiple lives before anyone can register what happens yet he does it because he's just bored. To me they aren't real heroes, just people pretending to be. So Anthony, why do you want to be a hero?" Joseph's asks with serious tone in his voice.

Anthony looks down from Joseph's gaze. "The night when my powers manifested I had saved both my parents from being killed in the storm, though I didn't know it at the time." Anthony looks at his hands generating small cracks of electricity. "My father told me that they were a blessing from Dynamism and I should be grateful for them. I was given the means to protect others who can't protect themselves. I want to be a hero who makes it possible for others to go back home to their families."

Joseph smiles softly then places one his hands on Anthonys shoulder. "It's been a while since i've seen an actual hero standing in front of me." Joseph's words left Anthony breathless yet jubilant. "Can't wait to see what you accomplish in the future." Joseph pats the shoulder one more time before removing his hand. "Come on, let's grab a something to eat." 

With that the two leave the gym hall and back up to the cafeteria. In another section of the gym hall, where the pool is located, Jin meditates as he waits while Mikayla iinteracts with the liquid lifeform, Nuclei. Mikayla practicing his usual bending methods at the side of the pool as Nuclei mimics her.

Nuclei takes a moment to glance up at Jin sitting up in the bleachers before looking back Mikayla. "Is he not going to come down closer?"

"I already tried asking if he wanted to swim but he doesn't like being wet if not for bathing." Mikayla replies as she bends the water in the pool. "Would make sense if he is a demigod of fire…" A wicked grin grows on her face when Mikayla gets fun idea. She silently puts up a finger on her mouth to shush Nuclei. Mikayla slowly lifts a small amount of water from the pool and swiftly launches it at Jin full speed.

When the water gets within arms length of the demigod it quickly evaporates, turning into steam. With not even a drop of water on him, Jin opens his eyes. "Have you had your fun yet?" 

Nuclei raises out of the water and forms his body behind Mikayla. "Just about. I'm actually kind of hungry right now."

"You can eat later, you promised to hear me out if I came back peacefully. A demigod should never go back on their word." Jin exclaims.

"That's the thing, though. I still don't believe this whole demigod business." Mikayla states as she folds her arms.

Jin stands to his feet from his meditative position. "You saw my aura when we first met in the city. Only those who are descendants of the gods can see and sense our auras. It's how I found you in the first place." 

Mikayla walks passed him making her to the door with Nuclei in tow. "That was probably just a new ability or something. Doesn't really prove anything." 

Jin quickly turns around grabbing her wrist. "You know deep down that what I'm saying have some truth. You're not a meta-human like you think you are and you hold more power than you know." 

"He might have a point, Mikayla." Nuclei says intervening into the conversation thus causing her to look at the walking mass of water in shock. "Think back to when you rescued me. Have you ever used ice and water at the same time before?" Jin looks on in confusion for he can't communicate Nuclei like she can.

Thinking back, Mikayla never has accomplished such a feat before that point. She lets out a sigh then turns back to Jin prompting him to let go. "The power I felt swelling from within me when I saved Nuclei was like nothing I've ever felt. Would it be safe to assume that my supposed godly heritage would be the source of that."

"Indeed it is. You've only scratched the surface of what you're truly capable of. If you'd let me I can show you everything you need to know." 

Mikayla raises an an eyebrow to his gesture. "Oh? And how do you plan on doing that?"

Jin smirks hearing her question. "By taking you to the home of the gods of course."