Chapter 28

Chloe exited the Torch and Apollo left soon after her heading home to prepare for the gala he was attending tonight. He saw that both his Mum and Dad were home. His Dad was working on the field using their old tractor and his Mum was inside. Apollo walked up to the house waving to his Dad before entering the house and hugging his Mum.

"Hey, how was school. How'd it go at the Torch?" Ajak asked her son.

"It went well; we were just finishing up writing the story on Greg Arkin the meteor kid that got bug powers" Apollo replied.

"Ah okay. How's Skye, she was the one Greg went after right?" Ajak said.

"She's fine, I saved her before anything bad happened and we're going to Justin Hammer's ball together tonight" Apollo told his Mum.

Ajak smiled at her son. Of all the things she had accomplished over her long life he was what she was proudest of. He was amazing to her and watching him grow every day into the marvelous man he was becoming filled her with nothing but joy.

"I am so proud of you for saving her Apollo. I am proud of you for saving all the people you've saved. I know you're not exactly like me or your Aunts and Uncles but Eternals exist to protect life and seeing you do that and help people with kindness is something both your father and I are very happy about" Ajak told her son warmly hugging him.

"Thanks Ma" Apollo said a little taken aback by his Mum's sudden statement.

Ajak pulled away and then looked at her son.

"That said your father is very aware of what could happen is people what you are and we can't let that happen" Ajak told him.

"I know Ma, I am keeping myself hidden. Nobody's really seen me use my powers I promise" Apollo assured her.

"I know you are doing your best but if you're going to continue doing this. If you're going to continue helping people, you can't do it running around in flannel" Ajak said.

"What do you mean?" Apollo asked.

"If you're going to help people you're going to need a uniform" Ajak said before leading him to the barn.

The two entered the barn and went upstairs. There on Apollo's table by his couch was a box it was wrapped like it was a gift and the gift wrapping was lead lined so Apollo couldn't x-ray it. Apollo looked at the box and his Mum quizzically.

"Mum what is this?" Apollo said confused.

"It's a present kind of? I figured keeping it in your Fortress of Solitude was the best place for it so nobody else would find it. I wanted to give it to you to symbolise just how happy I am at the man you're becoming Apollo" Ajak informed her son warmly.

Apollo opened the box and inside he found a plain blue flight suit and pilot's goggles and mask. Apollo didn't recognise the flight suit so he realised his mother must've made it but he recognised the goggles and mask they were his great grandfather's. There was a stylised S within a diamond shape printed in the middle of the suit. The outline of the crest was gold, the S itself was red and the background was black. Apollo recognised it the symbol, it was the same S symbol in a diamond crest on the front of his ship. There was also a red cape with a hoodie attached to the suit.

"Mum?" Apollo said as he took the suit out of the box.

"Eternals usually wear uniforms when saving people, at least we used to. I think you should to and even though you don't know what it means or where it's from that symbol is tied to you. Tied to who you are. You should honour it until you know where it's from" Ajak told Apollo.

Apollo put down the suit and super sped to his Mum pulling her into a deep hug.

"I love you Ma" Apollo said as he hugged her and lifted her into the air.

"I love you too, my sweet, sweet Apollo" Ajak replied.

Apollo put his Mum down and walked back to his suit.

"You should put it on and take it for a flight" Ajak instructed.

Apollo smiled at her and did just that. His Mum left giving him some privacy so he could change and Apollo put on his new suit and exited the barn. The mask and goggles would take some getting used to, but he liked the cape and the suit itself. He looked at his Mum and his Dad who had finished working and was standing with his mother.

"How do I look?" Apollo asked.

"Like a hero" Ajak replied and Apollo smiled.

"Take it for a spin son, up, up and away" Jonathan told him.

Apollo crouched down putting his fist on the ground. The rocks on the ground swirled around him and Apollo looked up into the sky before taking off flying faster than sound itself as he accelerated into the upper atmosphere. Apollo cheered with elation as he flew around Smallville in his new suit.

Hours later Apollo was at Justin's gala. He wore a regular suit and tie but was feeling a little under dressed when compared to all the rich people who were in attendance. He wandered around the museum. There was a storm outside but you could barely hear it in here as the sound of all of the attendees of the gala and the music drowned it out. Apollo wandered through the museum where the gala was being held and stared at a few of the historical objects before he saw a piece of armour. It was a jeweled chest plate that had a snake shaped like an S on it. Apollo was mesmerised by it. It looked eerily similar to the symbol on his ship and his new suit, like a human recreation or interpretation. Apollo wondered if his people were out there, if they had sent more people. If he wasn't alone and if they were other people from his planet here.

"It belonged to Alexander the Great," Justin Hammer informed him as he walked up to his younger friend seeing him drawn to the golden bejeweled chest plate.

"Alexander was a brilliant tactician, his strategy was simple. Always seize the high ground. He was wearing this armour when he defeated Darius the Third -" Justin started saying.

"And was proclaimed King of Asia" Apollo finished remembering the books he read on Alexander the Great.

"You never fail to surprise me Apollo" Justin said smiling at his friend.

"That design is unique. None of the history books I've read mention them" Apollo said.

"They wouldn't. Alexander didn't like people knowing about his symbol before they saw him. He preferred having his enemies see it for the first time when he was on the battlefield allowing it to strike fear into them" Justin told him.

"Dark strategy" Apollo replied.

"Well darker times called for darker methods. The design was said to symbolise power, strength and courage. His enemies thought he was invincible" Justin said.

"I didn't know you were such a history buff" Skye said walking up to the two of them wearing a beautiful and flowery light pink gown.

"I'm not. I'm just interested in people who ruled the world before they were thirty" Justin quipped.

"Don't worry Justin you've still got a few years to go" Apollo jokingly assured his friend.

Justin chuckled and before he could reply was called over by one of the gala's attendees. He excused himself and walked away leaving Skye and Apollo alone.

"It's a nice party are you having fun?" Skye asked.

"Truthfully I am feeling a little under dressed" Apollo told her.

"Well you look dapper to me" Skye said before tiptoeing to kiss him and Apollo smiled at her.

"Also if it makes you feel any better, my Dad is just as uncomfortable" Skye added as she pointed to her father who was the one who drove them to the gala. He looked quite awkward, like he wasn't comfortable in this environment.

"We should probably go rescue him" Apollo suggested to Skye.

"I don't know he looks like he's having the time of his life" Skye joked and Apollo chuckled briefly.

"Alright let's go rescue him so we can eat" Skye said after they were done laughing.

Apollo smiled and then turned back to stare at the crest one more time. The feeling of longing for his people hitting him briefly once more as the jewels on the snake S seemed to glow to him, before he walked away and enjoyed the rest of the party with Skye.

—

Across town Chloe was in her room researching the people on her list when she heard her generator turn off. The storm must have been messing with it she thought. Chloe sighed to herself knowing she couldn't work without power and put on her raincoat and went outside to the transformer. She looked to see what was disrupting the generator and saw it was dented. Something had been blown into it. Chloe picked up the object that had caused the damage. It was a meteor rock. Chloe stared at the strange glowing rock for a moment, entranced by it before putting the meteor rock in her raincoat pocket. She then turned back to the generator and walked towards trying to tinker to see if she could get it to work. She heard thunder above her spooking her a little but she stayed focused she needed to continue her research and get the people on her list. So she worked and fiddled with the generator until lightning struck the generator and it surged and exploded. Electricity flew through Chloe Sullivan's body and she was thrown back unconscious. Her Dad screaming as he saw what unfolded and rushing to help her.

—

Back at the Kent Farm Apollo was being dropped off by Skye and her father. He stood at the entrance to the farm. His Dad came out of the house to say hello.

"Thanks for chaperoning them at the gala tonight" Jonathan said to Ben Hubbard truly appreciative he drove them to the event because Ajak had his car and was at the hospital tonight.

"It's no problem, I ended up having quite a good time tonight with them anyway" Ben replied.

"Well I'm glad to hear that, Apollo didn't give you too hard a time did he?" Jonathan joked.

"If I struggled dealing with Apollo I wouldn't be able to handle any child. He's basically a saint" Ben told Jonathan and Jonathan smiled proudly.

"Well Skye's just as great" Jonathan truthfully told Ben making him smile in response.

Ben sometimes struggled raising Skye as a single dad but hearing a man he respected praise his daughter and knowing how much Skye loved him made him feel very at peace. He was raising her well and he knew she was going to do great things with her life.

"Now why don't we give these two love birds some privacy to say their goodbyes" Jonathan said to Ben as he walked him to his truck and the two engaged in some small talk.

"Tonight was amazing. Thank you for taking me" Skye said to Apollo.

"There's nobody else I'd rather take" Apollo said honestly.

"We've been through so much these past few months, our lives have changed but I want you to know my feelings haven't. I love you Skye" Apollo said to her.

"I love you too Apollo" Skye said a big smile on her face.

The two kissed and embraced before breaking apart and staring into one another's eyes. They stayed like that for a moment, forgetting about the world and focusing only on each other. Apollo held Skye's hands and the couple left butterfly kisses on each others lips as they said goodnight to one another. Skye touched Apollo's face and they smiled at each other before Skye slowly began to back away, still holding Apollo's hand. She finally let go of his hand and left Apollo with a smile on his face. Ben and Skye drove off and Apollo waved goodbye still smiling. Jonathan then walked up to his son and put his hand on Apollo's shoulder happy to see his son so happy. The two turned back to enter the house after Hubbard's completely left the compound.

Suddenly though Apollo's ears start ringing and he collapses, overwhelmed by the sound. Apollo can't identify where the sound is coming from and it's getting louder with every passing second completely disorienting him.

"Son, talk to me what's happening?" Jonathan says concerned at his son's collapse and pain.

Apollo covers his ears but it doesn't help, the ringing is still getting louder.

Apollo screams in pain as the sound continues to overwhelm him. Apollo looks around and realises he knows where the sound is coming from. Apollo walks to the barn still overwhelmed and disoriented by the sound and he notices the storm cellar at the bottom of the barn is emitting a light. His ship is what's producing this sound. Apollo opens the cellar and walks down into it as a robotic voice speaks in his mind shocking and scaring him.

"It is time. The day is coming" the robotic voice says to Apollo in his mind.

—

Location: Triskellion, Washington, DC – Earth – 2003

A beautiful woman with brown hair enters the office of a man. The man is African American, bald and wears an eye patch. The man is Nick Fury and the woman is Maria Hill

"Fury, there's been an uptick in suspicious activity in Smallville" Hill says.

"What kind of activity? Is it the meteor infected or is it an 0-8-4?" Fury asked curious.

"I'm not sure what it is sir but I know that whatever it is it's become difficult to not notice. Hammer Industries has done a good job at covering up proof of the meteor infected. No doubt to protect their bottom line, Smallville starts looking dangerous just as Hammer begins to settle their and investors could pull out. We've already partnered with him to contain them but the thing is sir the meteor infected aren't just being stopped by local law enforcement. There's something else sir, or someone else. I believe there's potentially a being there that is fighting and defeating these super humans. A being that is very powerful and therefore could be very dangerous." Hill told him.

Fury took pause with that statement. It was clear it intrigued him.

"Smallville huh, go and investigate it. Take Coulson and look into it for as long as you need to. Hammer's already containing the meteor infected so look into this. Find out if it-s an 0-8-4 or a potential asset" Fury ordered.

"Assets? Still looking for people for your initiative?" Maria questioned.

Fury raised his eye at her.

"That will be all Agent Hill, I expect detailed reports when you arrive" Fury said his tone commanding.

"Yes sir" Hill said as she left and began to prepare for her mission to Smallville.

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Also read Superman(Marvel+DC) and Marvel: Hyperion.