A Fanfiction
by Rad
Copyright characters to their respective owners. Especially Kuroda.
Backstory:
My first and main character is a rad/rad/power defender who was called Radiant Beam, in game. His real name is Doctor Scotts, and was the typical "lol genius!" He designed a space station that would be capable of providing cheap energy to the masses by beaming back absorbed cosmic radiation in condensed form. It was called the ALEXIS (Aquired Laser Energy and X-Ray Inter-orbital Station). Following its activation, it exploded, killing almost everyone. The survivors made it to the escape pods, but Doctor Scotts stayed behind in a vain attempt to salvage his creation.
Of course, he was mutated into a walking atom bomb, emitting lethal radiation (as a side effect, he also goes through immense pain cyclically; his skin melts and then grows back in 4 hour periods). His suit permitted containment and control. Eventually, using advanced cloning technology and neural mapping, he was able to move his conscious to a new body. Now, he creates cheap robots and prosthetic limbs. His company is Scotts Robotics, Ltd. Oh, he's also an alcoholic. Cus... wouldn't you be?
Disclaimer: I did not know who Positron was when I made this toon. This was my very first toon past level 10. Mild cursing and mature, thoughtful themes. I also was NOT thinking of Tony Stark here, despite similarities.
Sleep never does come easily, these days. I used to think it was because of all the drinking I had done when I was younger; maybe I had killed one too many brain cells. Maybe I was staying up late because I needed to drink
heck, why not? Makes sense.
Except I never got the jitters, the nerve spasms caused from excessive myelin sheath deterioration, never saw pink elephants.
No, its that burst of static right before it happens. Underneath it all, under the hissing electronics, a split second before the explosion shook my bones and threw me onto the floor, there was a voice. It sounded so much like Colonel Jackson, the army personnel advisor onboard. He had two kids, showed me their pictures on his computer. I still have their faces, and everyone else, embedded in my mind. His voice. I know it was, I heard it. Calling out, warning us, screaming in agony as the leaking radiation liquefied his skin, eyes, and organs.
Like so many nights, I slowly toss the sheets aside and quietly search for my glasses on the bedside table. I try not to disturb her. She sleeps heavy. I do not.
Moving, the door slides open on freshly oiled gears, and close just as noiselessly. The hallways of my lab and home are quiet and sterile, white-grey floors with artificial solar lighting to simulate day. I stop at a security panel and check everything, then shut down the more
aggressive
night systems.
Always stay on your guard.
I pass the kitchen and sneak a beer from the refrigerator. Patron Pale Ale. Looks like I got the Synapse collectible can. Fantastic.
Past the medical repair station and my personal workstation, I slow down as I walk by Kurs room.
Inside, I hear noises. Grunts. Shallow curses. The like. Kuroda and his boy-toy. Criminal
although
there is a certain safety in keeping him nearby. I already hooked up the entire lab with a chemical fire suppressant system, so if Inu decides to go [censored], he wont even be able to light his cigarette. Idiot needs to know his place.
I dare not disturb them. Not with these troubles. Not tonight.
I move, cracking a smirk as I hear a loud smacking sound and a very pained red-head squeal.
Up the stairs and to one of the teleport bays. I have a special protocol set up, a certain set of coordinates only I know about. I type them in, and the swirling energy moves around me and I feel a sensation of tugging.
It drops me onto the top of a building in Atlas Park, so high I can almost jump over the war walls. I face away from glowing fields closest to me and peer down. If a flying hero went by, theyd be a bit shocked to see a half-naked man sitting idly up here.
No one comes.
This is my place.
So many innocent people in this city. I wonder if Ive atoned yet? A hundred and thirty-three scientists, engineers, and military personnel died because of me. Ive saved thousands. With my battle suits or prosthetics, or with my AI systems
countless have been made happier by my actions.
What is the price of a life saved to a life lost?
The answer alludes me. Which is pretty funny, in some demented way. Rarely do I not have an answer.
I never wrote the families letters. Never apologized. I wonder what Elisha or Kur
or Giji
or Radiance Bringer
or Ebon Fire
would think of me? A coward. Thats all. Its easy to face actual demons. Not so easy to stare down yourself.
I sip my ale. Its sour and light, just the way a good pale should be.
A little mistake, thats all. I designed one thing wrong. They are still out there floating. Bodies of melted flesh and machine twirling end over end into the infinite reaches of space. I can imagine an alien race finding it and wondering what evil monster would condemn another living creature to such a death.
Footsteps.
I dont have to turn.
Damn. I left the coordinates on the screen, didnt I?
Yuuki sits down next to me, legs dangling over the edge of a hundred story building. He, too, is only wearing pajama bottoms. He has brought a six-pack. Yes. He pops the top and sips.
I sip.
We repeat.
Sounds like you were busy with Inu, earlier.
Kur smiles, chuckling softly. I wore him out.
More silence.
Hey, Kur?
Hm?
You ever not made it in time?
Hows that?
I dunno. You ever almost saved someone
I mean, really
just barely missed it?
Kuroda sips and nurses his brew. He knows me well. I was ten or eleven, back in Japan. Walking with Kousuke one day. We saw a little dog, starving, hungry, in the middle of the dirt road. And I wanted to pick it up, help it
but Kou wouldnt let me.
I grimace. Figures.
Theres more.
Sorry.
Anyway, Kou keeps holding me there, holding me there
doesnt let go. A car begins to come over the hill, and I worry. But the dog starts walking towards us. At the last moment , he darts back in front of the car and bam
hes gone. Kou said it was his time. I believed him. This may be a bad analogy, Rad, but
I think about that puppy a lot, versus what I know now. You know how it was back then, me and Kou. Ive saved a lot of people since we started working together
but I always keep thinking of that damn dog. Swig.
I stare down into my empty beer. Grab another. Drink. What you are saying is
my bottle is half-full?
Yuuki shakes his head and grits his teeth. Kusotare
I wave my hands in mock defense. So, what? We cant change the past. I dont like it, Kur. Makes me feel like I should lose respect for what I did.
Kur snorts. Respect? Respect nuthin. Learn the lesson. Remember that hubris, arrogant pride, is offset by ate, the excessive folly that drives men to ruin."
What the [censored] does that mean?
I dunno. Some monk said it to me in Greece one time while I was on tour. Stuck with me.
I look out into Atlas Park. When did you get so wise, mop-head?
Kur thinks. When I reached the age of fourteen and became older than you, I think.
[censored].
We sit for about an hour, drinking all our beer, but being fairly unfazed by it. Tonight is not the night for drunken revelry.
I stand, dusting myself off. Im gonna go check on Elisha. Be back.
I push a button on the side of my glasses and return to the lab. Back the way I come, I slide into the bedroom like a fox. She is under in the sheets, thousand-thread count fabrics clinging tightly to her body, an unruly mess of red hair layered over her face.
I wonder if she knows
?
Knows what a connection we had? Her fiery persona, stubborn refusal to accept what she was on the outside. Not that Im ugly. Im quite handsome Im told
but deeper. She saw something in me, just like Kur
something that I cant see.
Perhaps it is a lack of perspective.
My hand brushes away some of her hair, her beautiful face holding a small smile. I quietly tip-toe out. Not that it really matters. Not after what we did tonight. A black hole could open up the next room over and collapse the Earth space-time matrix and she wouldnt budge.
Back on the rooftop, Kur is still dangling his feet over the edge, humming one of his songs.
Thats the third song from your debut album, right?
He nods. I sit.
Ever wish you could take it all back? I murmur.
Kur glances at me. Nope.
That simple, huh?
Yes. Besides, Rad, if you took it all back
we would have never met. All of us. Idiot.
I chuckle and stare up into the starless night, my mind running equations as a screen-saver over my eyes.
An explosion shakes the building; even from up here, it is enough for us to grab a firm hold onto the edge. Below, a small warehouse has just caught on fire and ignited. Figures run below. Blue energy leaps out at several other attacks, and I can see a hero drop out of the sky as a Sapper hits its mark.
[censored] Malta. I simmer with anger as another hero gets hit with a Gunslingers fire round and goes flying through a fence.
Lets go.
I stand and thrust my hand into the air. Radiant Armor, activate!
Kur taps me on the shoulder. Rad. Maybe we should put some clothes on while we grab our gear, eh?
I look down. Of course my suit didnt activate
Im not wearing any pants with my power belt.
Kur scratches his rear and yawns. Cmon, fool. We got a job to do.
Yeah, we do. Poor Malta dont even stand a chance.
