It's Good to be Home

How long had it been since he saw his family? For them, it was only a month and a half ago that he came to the Stellar Support Center. For him, he was gone from home for months.

After leaving Gramps's office, Kyle went back to his room. When he got there, he was surprised to see that only his things were there. It looked like his roommate, Lemonjello, had moved out.

It was too bad, he hoped to see his roommate again before going home. Oh well, his last friend died at the hands of another of his friends. Maybe it was better he didn't see him.

The next thing Kyle noticed when he came into the room was something on his desk.

"This must be the gift Gramps mentioned," Kyle said to himself.

He went over to look at the object. It was a green jade crystal with a note taped to it. The note simply said "The Star Tower." he sent his spirit energy into the crystal.

<DO YOU WISH TO DEPLOY THE STAR TOWER?>

Robot Gramps asked. He wasn't sure if the question was from the system or from the crystal.

"System Grandpa, on!" he said.

<DEAR PLAYER, DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY OFFLINE. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCES YOU MAY EXPERIENCE. WE WILL NOTIFY YOU AS SOON AS THE SYSTEM IS ONLINE ONCE MORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.>

The system notice wasn't robot grandpa. It was a flat feminine voice.

"Maybe it's offline because of the dimensional gat thing," Kyle reasoned. This notice at least told him the Star Tower notice was from the crystal and not the system.

"I'll have to figure out what this does later, right now, I just want to go home," Kyle said to himself. He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted.

At last, he didn't have to worry about losing his life at any moment. This was his last thought as his head touched his pillow. He fell into the soundest sleep he had in months.

The next morning, Kyle packed his things and then went to get some breakfast. After breakfast, he met Gramps at the Center's Campus office.

The pair walked out to Gramps's car. Kyle through his things in the trunk as they left. During his car ride home, Gramps decided to go over a few important pieces of information.

"What do you think about the present?" Gramps asked.

"What is it?" Kyle asked.

"Come on, kid, you can't figure it out? I thought you matured during your adventures," Gramps complained.

"It says, 'Star Tower,' but what's a Star Tower?" Kyle asked.

"It's a lair or headquarters for your organization, Star Watch!" Gramps said.

"Star Watch, isn't that the name of our team in Miras?" Kyle asked.

"Yes, exactly, your group needs a headquarters," Gramps said.

"Sif, Rollins, and I created Star Watch. If they aren't here who am I supposed to use the headquarters with?" Kyle asked.

"You start a branch here on Earth. You'll have one here and one on Miras," Gramps said.

"If Sif and Rollins are alive or on Miras," Kyle said angrily.

"What's your problem kid, I had your teachers help me create this thing. It took a lot of expensive materials and hours of work. You don't even appreciate it," Gramps grumbled.

"I would appreciate it more if Sif and Rollins were with me to use it. At least if I knew they were alive and well I could use it happily."

Kyle's emotions got the better of him and he started tearing up when thinking about all the friends he lost.

"No crying, you're a veteran warrior. Warriors don't go around crying," Gramps said.

"I'm not a warrior, I'm a kid and you made me think this was all some kind of fun adventure. All of my friends are dead, missing, or possibly trapped in a horrible world with an evil being!" Kyle shouted.

Gramps pulled over and stopped the car. He looked at Kyle. At first, his anger was showing, but he calmed down and spoke gently to Kyle.

"None of this was supposed to happen. When you found that dimensional gate on Miras; I knew it went to Regloe.

I admit I didn't know a lot about the place, but from what I understood it was just a little more dangerous than Miras. I never expected any of this to happen.

I feel really bad about it, kid, but there's nothing we can do about it. Life is filled with risks and unexpected twists. You have to accept that otherwise how are you going to get through life?

Do you think being a superhero is just a great adventure? Do you think it's safe in this world? There are people on this planet a hundred times, no, thousand times more powerful than Rajinn.

A superhero in this world, you're just asking for death if you cross the wrong people in this world. I'm trying to train you so that you can be strong enough to do some good in this world.

Isn't that what you want? Those Seven Heroic Virtues of yours; aren't they to guide you to make this world a better place?" Gramps asked.

Tears were streaming down Kyle's cheeks. He wiped the tears away and looked at Gramps.

"I thought all that stuff was stupid to you? You thought it was just hypocritical and impractical," Kyle said.

"I do, but I'd rather see you live in a world with those virtues than in a world like the one I came from. Where I came from we believe it was the strong at the weak, the law of the jungle, and might makes right.

This world of yours is so peaceful compared to the one I come from, and it's because of things like your seven heroic virtues. If my son lived in a world like this; maybe he would still be alive," Gramps said.

"Your son died?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, it's a long story and I don't want to talk about it, but look, kid, I like you a lot. You remind me of my grandson. I haven't seen him in about a million years but he was like you.

You can't give up on what you believe. In spite of all of the deaths and hurt you've suffered. You have to stay true to who you are, kid,"

"Really, and what am I, Gramps? Some scared kid?" Kyle asked.

"Nah, you're a hero," Gramps said with a smile as he started the car and got back on the road.

The rest of their trip both Gramps and Kyle were quiet. They finally pulled into his driveway. Kyle grabbed his things and headed inside. Gramps didn't stick around. He pulled out and headed back.

Kyle walked up to the door and knocked. He could see through the stained glass window slot a shadow approaching the door.

The door opened and his stunned mother was standing there.

"Hi, Mom, I'm home," He said with a weak grin.

His mother went from stunned to unbelievably happy as she took her son into her embrace. She cried a little as she laughed. Kyle dropped his things and hugged his mom.

"It's good to be home," he thought to himself.

*****************************************************

It's a new week and we already have 18 power stones! Only 82 power stones to go for a bonus chapter!

Today's power stone heroes are: Abyss_Wolf458, Captain_Deadpool

Thank you all for your support! This book wouldn't be possible without you.

--Straythought