Chapter 4 - Geo & Shadow
Part I
Geo is my name now.
Like everyone I had another name once. But like so many others I have come to realize that I am Geo not the human I used to be. My life now just does not connect to the one I had before Olympus.
I noticed that I was different the moment I woke up that fateful morning. My body had gone from thin and weak to strong and well buff. My beard which was at best described as 'scraggly' was now very nicely full. Not sure how long I stared at just that before the other changes caught my attention but it was a while.
My MetaHuman ability is that of the manipulation of physical matter. I can alter the basic molecular structure of any material. The classic lead into gold is literally a snap of my fingers in effort. Matter Master is the term those at Olympus like to use but except for the indirect association with Pulsar (He is an Energy Master of course) I think the label is just too simple.
The planet is alive under me. I can feel it pulse and change with each passing moment. If I concentrate I can see the tiny flecks of rock that the wind relentlessly erodes from mountains. In time and with help I learned to channel energy sources like steam or even lava to animate my constructs. When I need giant arms and hands to help me I can pull them from the ground to do what needs to be done.
When it comes to what happened out west I feel the need to set the record straight: My intentions were good the result was not.
For almost a month I had studied everything I could on geology, plants, and what actually makes up the ground we walk on. I did study eco-systems, but well, only those of a desert.
What I did not learn was what happens when radical change is introduced to a set of interlocked eco-systems.
I got a wooden box and filled it with sand. Took a couple of tries but I was able to transform it into dirt. The guy at the lawn and garden shop said it was rich, somewhat fertile soil, although lacking in little biological life forms.
So I looked up the names he gave me. I cannot make living things, I can change them but then they are no longer alive. But the tiny organisms the guy was talking about were available for purchase. Except I would need a whole lot of them for what I had in mind.
Let me mention that at this point I did not know there were any other MetaHumans. I thought I was it.
Most other Metas tell me I was lucky, my power manifested itself fairly quietly. Not sure why I just accepted what was happening to me but I did. In a few days I understood what I could do, and more importantly what I could not.
Power, yeah, it is a drug. It changes the way you see every single thing in the world. Perhaps you think that some stuff, some basic stuff, might stay the same, sorry, no.
We all want to be special but we hate to be different. Ever think about that? They are one in the same, just from two different points of view. I was special, wow, I do wish I could share those feelings with you but there are no words. But I was also different and the depth of my difference grew each day.
I, ah, had money. There was a place in town, everybody I knew was aware of it. A chop shop, people steal cars, this place broke them down or sold them off.
So I put on a mask, opened a door in the wall with a wave of my hand, and walked in. Every person I saw found the air around their head turned into ether until they passed out. I took all the cash they had, and turned the entire building into oxygen. The cars and people well those I left intact. Put them out of business and gave me money to quit my job and learn to use my powers properly. Works for me.
The places which produce the little critters I would need was rather impressed at the size of the order I placed. When I specified the delivery location they became concerned. It seemed not too many people needed such things in the northern Nevada desert. Money settles most disputes so it really was not a problem. I also bought the little plot of land I needed.
The trip to Nevada was enjoyable. First Class all the way and then a taxi out to my new land. About forty miles to the north was the small town of Tempiute, fifty miles west stands Amargosa Valley. Las Vegas to the south about fifty miles. I felt I was more than far enough away from everybody.
My plan was to transform a circle about 1 mile in diameter. One Mile. That was all. My powers do have limits, and back then they were far weaker than today. To transform the entire chop shop took a lot out of me. So I really thought I would be lucky to even reach a mile out.
I spent the next 24 hours listening to the land sensing the patterns and make up of the desert around me.
The next morning my worms and other little critters were delivered. I thought I was ready.
Noon. I began to alter the ground beneath my feet.
My challenge was not just to transform the sand, that was the easy part. I also had to reach deep down and establish a natural extension to the water system. The land had to have water to become fertile soil.
The change started slowly and then began to expand in ripples.
It felt great... right up till the moment I lost control.
The energy I had tapped into was too strong. I did not think I had the will to contain it. For I do not know how long I struggled for control. I just wanted it to stop.
Finally the energy waves SNAPPED, and it was over.
Drained, yeah that just begins to cover it. Pretty sure I blacked out for a couple minutes too. It passed after a while.
It had worked! As far as I could see there was dirt, not sand!
I decided to start walking north and see how far the effect had extended. I had a compass, some water & food. It was 2:02 pm.
7pm. The sun is heading down. Still no sand in sight. I started to try and do the math in my head. We walk what a few miles an hour or so. So I had maybe crossed ten miles. If my speed was higher than that then it was even farther.
And still for as far as I could see, dirt.
Oh f---.
I arrived back at my little shed after midnight. Wanna know something? I really was scared to make the call for my ride. How could they not notice? The road in my area was intact, so I thought I had managed to leave those alone.
He noticed.
The driver got out when he arrived. He stood and looked around. He did not say a word to me. When I got in he got in. We drove to my hotel. He took my money and I got out.
The next day the news broke the story. I found out what I had done along with the rest of you.
From my starting point I had transformed hundreds of square miles of desert. The effect stopped, mostly, when it hit the mountains but they are a little thinner than they used to be. The radius of the effect was just about 60 miles.
60 freaking miles!
See I just did not study enough about pressure. When I created the underground sources of water I filled them 100%. This would not have mattered had I only done a small area. But as the area of effect expanded my new sources of water connected with existing ones.
And with wells. And pipes.
Rippling across four States, my pressure wave had hit a whole lot of Cities, Towns, and Villages.
Las Vegas, Tempiute and Amargosa Valley were hit particularly hard, their entire water system just exploded.
Nobody died! I made the biggest mess since WWII but nobody died.
I understand that having a blast of water burst up from under you while you are sitting on your toilet really sucked. Large men and women were blown across rooms. No one was seriously hurt but a number of people did suffer injury. A whole bunch of people were angry. I get that.
Again. I feel really bad about it. What more can I say?
I'm Geo now and since I came to Olympus I have tried to make up for that mistake.
Two months later, three weeks after Olympus 'opened'. I visited the site of my 'experiment gone wrong'.
The land was green.
Sure it is flat and sure it cost about $35 million dollars to turn it all into proper soil. But it is not a desert anymore.
Kinda cool.
Part II
Not sure why we are all doing this. The girl from Admin who asked me was cute so I guess that is reason enough.
They tell me this is for everyone and by that they mean humans too.
Ok, fine. Then let me get something straight with you right off the bat. I am a MetaHuman. I am stronger than you. I am faster than you and you may only see me when I wish you to which is rarely.
I am better than you.
Pulsar hates it when I say that but they promised me I could say whatever I want. They promised they would not censor me.
We will see.
I am Shadow.
So it is the early days you all wish to know about. The endless speculation you all love to spew is not enough? Do you want the truth... or just something comforting?
The truth is that my power is a mind-blowing RUSH! I am not just invisible. I cannot be heard. I do not trip sensors of any kind. I go where I wish.
I stole, money, food, jewelry, everything, anything. I saw it. I wanted it. I took it. I quit my job the same day I discovered my power.
Don't get me wrong I never hurt anyone. Oh I messed with a whole lot of people. heh. Punked has nothing on me. But nobody got hurt. Not even once.
I watched the big four on TV along with the rest of you I guess.
'So there are more of me,' I thought. I did not really like the idea in a way I felt a lot like you all did. My life was pretty good I liked things the way they were. I wanted to be the only Invisible Man.
Others.
I did not really believe the four with all this Justice crap. 'We will come for you' Yeah right, find me dickheads.
But...
I did agree that most people with powers would go at least kinda bad. Hey look at me. I was only a little bad -- others though... man. They would kill, break stuff, destroy buildings, destroy my beloved StarBucks!
Crap.
Double Crap.
I wanted it to all just go away but looking around my home filled with everything I had taken I knew it would not.
The only way I could live my solitary happy life was to join with others and act for, I could not believe I was even thinking this, the common good. Yech. Maybe I could cut a deal, do stupid daring-do a couple of days a week, steal the rest... probably not, damn.
When the location of Olympus was announced I packed up and headed that way. I was not sure I would stay. I really expected the whole place to stink.
It doesn't.
Well not as much as every other place so it is home.
Yeah Pulsar and his gang have a bit of a stick up their butts. But they do mean what they say. For reasons I will NEVER understand they do want to help everyone... even humans.
But I did not sign up for any of you. I signed up for me.
I am Shadow and you will never see me.
Geo & Shadow
MetaWar Chapter Five
MetaWar Chapter One
MetaWar Chapter Two
MetaWar Chapter Three