Chapter 38: Creating an Identity

[Smoke's Point of View]

Smoke had seen it all before. The young hopefuls, the children of powerful families, the ones who thought their birthright alone would make them heroes. He'd watched them come and go, their arrogance and entitlement doing them in before they ever really had a chance. They were predictable, ordinary.

And then came David.

At first glance, he seemed like just another spoiled Jupiter brat. Another rich kid playing at being a hero. Smoke had watched him through the glass, his arms crossed, his expression one of detached amusement. He'd even smirked, expecting the boy to fall flat on his face. 'Another privileged child. This will be entertaining,' he thought.

But then the testing began.

David stepped onto the treadmill, his body glowing, his power palpable even from behind the glass. He started to run, faster and faster, the numbers on the display climbing rapidly. 100, 200, 300, 400... And then the sound barrier broke.

Smoke's cigarette fell from his lips, his eyes widening in disbelief. The boy was fast. Impossibly fast. Mach 5. 'How fast is this kid? He's in speedster level. Breaking the sound barrier! This is unreal,' Smoke's mind raced, disbelief and shock intermingling.

The physical strength test only added to Smoke's surprise. The shockwave, the sheer force of David's punch it was beyond anything he'd expected.

The robotic voice announcing "High Super Human level" seemed almost an understatement.

'Is this the strength of a Jupiter... and he's so young!' Smoke thought, a growing excitement replacing his initial scorn.

But it was the power test that truly took Smoke's breath away. The way David summoned the lightning, the intensity, the control, the raw, devastating power. It was incredible.

'Is this truly the same boy I was mocking?' he thought, a sense of awe and respect growing within him.

It was like watching a master at work, a prodigy who had found his calling.

The final assessment, a B-List Hero, was announced, and Smoke felt a shiver run down his spine. Considering the likes of Pacer, Ares, and Jupiter, it was an accurate assessment. But David was only 16. There was so much room for growth, so much potential. It was staggering.

Smoke found himself reevaluating everything he thought he knew about David. He wasn't just a rich, spoiled brat. He was a hero in the making. A force to be reckoned with. A young man with a future so bright, it was blinding.

He watched David leave the room, a newfound respect in his eyes, a sense of awe in his heart. He'd been wrong about the boy. So very wrong. David had surprised him, shocked him, shown him something he'd never seen before.

He lit another cigarette, his hands still shaking from the excitement, the surprise. He'd witnessed something special today. Something that had changed him, changed his view of what was possible.

———-

David was still reeling from the results. A B-rank Hero Assessment? He had been expecting a C at best, and the reality of what he'd achieved was still sinking in. He felt like a bird that had just learned to fly, and instead of fluttering awkwardly, it had soared.

'Jupiter's going to be pleasantly surprised when this reaches his ears' David thought, his mind already racing ahead to his father's reaction.

He hadn't seen Jupiter for the entire month, and his arrogant brother, Lux, had been doing his own thing. But he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he could take Lux now. It would be like a lion taking on a house cat; the outcome was already determined.

He broke the silence between himself and Smoke, eager to get started. "So where do I get my super suit, and what city will I be in?"

Smoke's eyes narrowed, his tone cautioning, "Well, you passed, but don't get cocky. You're still fresh with a lot of development ahead."

David listened intently, a spark of excitement in his eyes as Smoke continued, "We need heroes in Paradise City. It's basically filled with Crime, King's Landing, and Eskimo Pass."

"Paradise City," David blurted out, his decision made. It was the choice of a miner who sees a mountain not as a daunting obstacle, but as a treasure trove waiting to be explored.

Paradise City was filled with danger, but it was also filled with opportunity. It was a wild jungle, teeming with predators and pitfalls, but also hidden gems and untold treasures.

Smoke seemed satisfied with David's choice, a small smile playing at his lips.

"Good choice, kid. You've got guts. Just remember, every opportunity comes with a risk. Paradise City is no walk in the park."

David's smile mirrored Smoke's, determination and excitement bubbling within him. He knew the risks. He knew the challenges. But he also knew that this was where he was meant to be. Paradise City was his mountain, his jungle, his treasure trove.

Smoke chuckled at David's eagerness, the glimmer of youthful excitement in his eyes. "Well, now we have to get your hero debut sorted out," he said, his tone a mix of amusement and seriousness.

"Normally, superheroes hide their identities so their loved ones aren't used against them. In your case, though, you're a Jupiter, and if someone did try to threaten anyone in your family, they'd have to face Jupiter's wrath."

David's mind raced at the thought of his debut, a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty swirling within him.

"Is this where they give my backstory and I have to make an entrance?" he asked, David's voice tinged with curiosity.

"Yeah," Smoke replied, leaning back in his chair and studying David's face.

"Are you going to use an alias or go by your family name?"

David's brows furrowed as a thought struck him, "You guys would falsify people's history here?"

Smoke smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Once you become a hero, your information becomes classified under our database. We'll expunge your documents for those who don't want to be in the limelight, and if you want to pull an Ares or a Jupiter where you have your face exposed all the time to try to tell everyone you're handsome, you can do that too."

Smoke continued, "Just don't think you can throw on a pair of glasses and people won't be able to recognize you. We had an idiot here that did that once."

David couldn't help but chuckle at the image, but his face quickly turned serious.

"I want to build up my own legend and not just be known as Jupiter's son. I'm not even sure if people know about me anyway."

Smoke nodded, understanding in his eyes. "A fresh start, then. Very well."

He led David out of the examination room, and David's eyes widened when he saw Duffy, the mind reader who had tried to invade the labyrinth of his mind, standing there with a blank, shaken expression.

It was as though he had stumbled into a dark, treacherous cavern within David's consciousness, encountered something terrifying, and fled, leaving behind the memory of the event like a discarded map, lost and forgotten. The experience had not just frightened Duffy, it had erased his recollection, like waves washing away footprints on a beach.

Smoke caught David's look and shrugged. "Some minds are more dangerous than others. It wouldn't be the first time this happened. Someone tried to mind read Shadow and something similar happened."

The corridors of the Omega 6 facility were lined with state of the art design and technology, reflecting an ambiance of excellence and sophistication. David was guided to a part of the building that looked like a blend of a high-tech lab and a luxurious tailor's shop. Brightly lit displays showcased costumes of varying colors, materials, and styles.

He was introduced to a man named Thimble, who had the appearance of a craftsman with an artistic flair. Thimble's eyes twinkled with an intelligence that went beyond mere craftsmanship, and as he extended his hand to shake David's, a silk like thread extended from his fingertips, weaving itself into intricate patterns in the air.

"So, young hero, what's your vision?" Thimble asked, his voice filled with enthusiasm.

"I want it all black," David said firmly.

Thimble raised an eyebrow, "All black? My dear boy, that's a bit... edgy, don't you think? We're designing a symbol, not just a suit. Let's infuse some color, some life!"

David was unmoved. "No, black is what I want. It's simple and strong."

"But it lacks personality!" Thimble protested, his hands moving in swift, elegant motions, illustrating his point with a series of cloth simulations.

"Think of the impression you want to make. The color and design of your suit will speak for you before you even say a word."

"I've thought about it, and I believe black is right for me," David replied, his voice resolute.

Thimble looked at David, his eyes probing, as if searching for the essence of the young hero's soul.

Finally, he sighed, "Very well, if black is your color, then black it shall be. But let's make it extraordinary."

The tailor's hands moved with the precision and grace of a human sewing machine, weaving silk like material from his hand, crafting an image that was more than just a garment it was a manifestation of David's personality.

As David watched the suit take shape, he felt a connection with the design, realizing that Thimble had seen through his request. The black was not merely a color; it was a statement, a reflection of his desire to forge his path, independent of his lineage.

They spent hours refining the suit, ensuring it was not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and comfortable. Thimble's super dexterity allowed him to stitch and weave at an incredible speed, yet his attention to detail was meticulous.

By the end of the session, David's suit was ready a masterpiece of design and craftsmanship, embodying his character and vision.

"You'll do great things, young hero," Thimble said, handing David the suit.

"Just remember, it's not the suit that makes the hero, but the heart within."

David smiled, feeling a newfound confidence. The suit was perfect, not in spite of its simplicity, but because of it. He thanked Thimble and left the tailor's shop, ready to face his new life as a hero.

The all black suit might have seemed edgy to some, but to David, it was a symbol of his determination to stand alone, to be recognized not as Jupiter's son but as a hero in his own right.