Crusader University

Chapter 17: Lightning

My name is Jayden Ferguson, it's been about 2 days since we left Brazil, and Elijah has finally started to recover, but all that stuff about Elijah is over now, this is MY story. Ever since I've been back in DC, I've been training with Miss Rain, when I was younger and still learning how to use my powers Miss Rain taught me how to hoan my electricity, because she can use it too, to an extent. And for everyone who doesn't remember Miss Rain She's the natural disaster protection and prevention teacher but ever since my parents died, she always kinda took care of me, that's why I wanted to go to CU so badly, I wanted to prove to her that I could make it. (And a part of me was excited for the fights I'd get into there)
I was currently trying to keep my electricity flowing through my body for four hours straight, the more time I can keep my electricity flowing, the longer and more efficiently I'll be able to use it. I was almost finished with my four hours, I normally just do my daily tasks as I increase my time, my old time limit was only forty-six minutes of flowing electricity, so I've definitely improved since my first time, all the battles I got into in Brazil really helped strengthen my electricity and now I'm getting a more pure form of it. Ever since crossing paths with Charge-Bolt, I felt dirty using the same type of gloves as him, so I decided to clean the way I use my electricity, and now I use it with just my natural energy, no shortcuts this time, and I think it's starting to payoff, my base yellow electricity is significantly stronger due to it being a more concentrated and natural form.
"Your four hours is up!" She called out to me
We were in one of the many private training Gyms CU has to offer, on the college campus.
"Oh, already? This is really starting to get easy Rain, you gotta let me try for five hours" I was so lost in my train of thought I didn't realize it was over, I've been too busy training my martial arts on a fighting dummy.
"It's crazy to me, how strong you've gotten, I remember when you were around this tall" she said putting a hand right above her ribcage
"You could barely even produce a spark, but now you can create enough energy to power cities. You've come so far, and I couldn't be prouder of you. But Jayden, I sense a light within you, that I can't see in anybody else, so don't you ever let anyone steal your light"
Her words caught me completely off guard, Miss Rain wasn't the most open about her affection.
"I mean you have so many ways of powering up, I can barely keep track, but I know that your blue electricity upgrades your strength about 10 times"
"But I can only use it after building up a lot of energy, and it's not really a form, more like one attack that boosts my strength 10 times!" I called out, as I struck the dummy so hard I punched a hole through it.
"And the white electricity-" she tried to say
"Multiples my strength by 5k!" I said, cutting her off
"But I kinda have no idea how to use it" I continued
"Are you finished cutting me off?" She said finally
"Sorry!" I called out
I was just trying to get home so I could get back in the sparring chamber with Elijah. After Elijah's whole experience in Brazil, he became the strongest one in our class, even stronger than Austin, who was our strongest after everything that happened in the tournament.
"I got one thing for you, then you can leave okay?" She said to me, realizing why I was restless.
"Got it, what do you have for me?!
She handed me a letter, addressed in my name in messy hand writing. I flipped open the letter and read what it said
"How's it going mini me? It's been a while since we talked, after that first fight, I'm ready to see you go all out, meet me at central park, 3PM on December 17th if you're too scared I'm coming over there. Don't make me come over there. -Charge Bolt"
I had practical stars in my eyes Charge-Bolt is probably the strongest person I've ever fought, and I get to do it again?! ALONG with going back to New York, I used to live in the Bronx, but I'd be all over the place, so I know NY like the back of my hand.
"How'd you get this?" I asked her
"It was just sent to the school, so I found it, and gave it to you" she said, as she trapped a thunder storm into a test tube of some sort.
"You're free to g-"
I didn't even let her finish her sentence, I flew all the way home to pack my things.
"Hey Jayden, Elijah asked where you...Oh god not again" Austin said walking into my dorm
I slammed my bag shut and turned around, this is bad. I felt so hypocritical, we went all the way to Brazil to stop Elijah from going out to fight a villain, and yet here I am, flying off to New York to fight a villain.
"No don't worry! It's not that, I'm just going to New York too...Visit family!" I lied
"..."
"..."
"What family?"
"Oh yeah"
I shoved Austin in my room and slammed the door behind me
"Okay, I'm sorry I lied, I may be going to New York to fight a villain but-"
"Oh jesus Jayden! We JUST got back from Brazil for the same reason!"
"You didn't let me finish! I'm not going out there for revenge or anything, he challenged ME, and if I don't go there, he's coming here!"
Austin pinched the bridge of his nose with his metal arm, and huffed
"I was just starting to get some good sleep" he said defeated
"I'm coming with you" he tried to say
"I'm sorry, but you can't I need you to cover for me, Phoenix and Elijah can't know"
"You could seriously get hurt out there!" He tried to say
"If you go out there and die, I let that happen and that's just more blood on my hands" he said slumping over on the chair by my desk.
"I'm not. Gonna die." I said, my voice getting a bit more serious
"You don't know that, they're shutting down public hero work right now" Austin said, showing me a video of Mr Jackson and Principal Davis at a public panel,
"I was supposed to go, but I skipped out on it for Brazil. Because of everything that happened during the tournament, the public image of heroes have gone to trash, we can't even go out in public right now without getting detained as a vigilante, hero license or not"
I realized that, that's probably why Charge-Bolt wants me out there right now, there won't be any other heroes to get in the way, but I didn't care, I need this fight, and if I get arrested, oh well. But I knew Austin wouldn't take that well, and I didn't wanna stress him out more so I told him.
"I promise if things go wrong, I'll give you a call okay?"
"Swear on it?" He asked, looking up at me
"Swear on it." I said finally, giving him a side fist bump.
Austin left my room, and I realized that the costume I had currently wasn't gonna work, it was a bit too obvious that it was a superhero costume, so I decided to ditch the mask, and replaced the costume with a black compression shirt with two lightning bolts down the right, and black baggy pants with one lightning bolt going across where the knees are, holding the pants up is a yellow cloth belt. I also threw on a black puffer jacket to prepare myself for the winter weather, and I threw it all in my bag. As soon as I was done packing, I immediately booked a plane, and had to sneak out of the dorms without anyone noticing. Since my hero licence meant nothing now, I had to completely go through security, and I barely made it to my plane ride on time. The whole plane ride, I had to sit in front of some kid who didn't understand that the back of my chair wasn't his personal foot rest, a part of me wanted to drop kick him out of the emergency exit if he didn't stop kicking my seat, but luckily for him my flight was only about an hour and some change long, so he was safe this time. Trying to ignore the child, I decided to put on my headphones and take a nap. As soon as I landed, I had to IMMEDIATELY catch a subway, or I was gonna have to fly myself towards New York, and the last thing I need is more attention. I was just scrolling through my phone on the subway, when I heard someone say
"Jayden?"
I looked up and was completely shocked. It was my best friend Josiah, I haven't seen him since I left for DC three years ago, since the accident. Immediately memories came rushing to my head, as I was back in a car driving with my family, It was my twelth birthday, and my powers just started to develop, despite me not having an MHP rating. We were driving to a trampoline park for my birthday party. I looked through the window and got even more excited, it was a hero flying, staring at the bridge we were driving across. He wore a long red hooded cape, over a robotic body, with one big red circle on his face. But then I saw the red circle on his face glow more and more, he screamed in rage as I realized this wasn't a hero. And immediately a beam of red energy completely cut through the bridge, and hit the tire of my car, I remember the sound of my mom and dad screaming, me and Josiah sharing a look of fear, as we crashed into the cold ocean. The only other thing I remember is Miss Rain picking me out of the water, and she gave me the unfortunate information that my parents didn't survive the crash, I remember not feeling any rage or sadness, just complete, inescapable emptines. As a kid, my parents were my whole life, without them I felt as if I had no purpose, but Miss Rain helped fill that void, and it was the main reason I was so eager to join her. I felt as if Josiah was upset at me for leaving him behind in New York, but there he was, just as happy as he could be.
"Jayden, is that you?" He said to me wrecking my train of thought
"Josiah?"
He had dark skin, and dreadlocks with teal tips, he was wearing baggy black sweatpants, and a black compression shirt, similar to mine, but with a teal fire logo on the center. And a black puffer jacket on top of it
He hopped out of his seat and sat next to me
"It's been a while, huh?" He said, putting his hands in his pocket.
"What're you doing here? He continued
"I'm on my way to New York!" I called out excitedly
"Really?" Josiah replied with a small smile
"Well if you got any free time, why don't you come hang out? You can crash at my place if you need" he continued
"Actually, that'd be great!" I said, thankful I didn't have to sleep at a two star hotel.
"Do you wanna pick up some dinner and catch up?" I said after a silence
"Sure! Let's take my stop, I know a good place"
I told Josiah about what my life was like as a hero, but kept out the details about why I was here. While Josiah told me more about what his life was like, and a part of me felt bad, he had a lot of potential with his power. He can create and control acid, such as blasts or coating his hands in it, he can also slide on it to move around, he had everything! Yet he was never really interested in the whole hero aspect of it, so I had to go on without him. When we were kids, his powers developed way before mine ever did, but he always protected me from the other kids that had their powers already, and bullied me over not having mine, he always won those fights.
Lost in my thoughts I didn't realize it was time to go already.
"Alright, let's see if you can remember this place" he said, as I realized I'd have to bring my bags into the restaurant.
As we walked I simply admired the snow covered Streets, Christmas lights and paper snowflakes were hung up, as I felt a wave of nostalgia slap me in the face. The whole city shined with life and happiness, people singing Christmas carols by burn barrels, as other groups of teens stopped by the local bodega for some food. We walked for a couple more blocks before stopping at a shady looking building, there was a broken sign at the top, that flickered with light, it had a cartoon pizza slice, with the words
"Crispy's Pizza"
And then I remembered.
"Aw man Crispy's!!"
It was me and Josiah's old hang out spot, we'd normally stop by to get a slice after school, and we even helped the owner Andre keep the place in good shape for a few summers.
"I knew you'd remember!" Josiah said happily
We opened the door and heard the sound of jiggle bells ring.
"Josiah, It's great to see you again!" Andre said, greeting him behind the counter
Then he took a pause as he looked at me
"Jayden, is that you?" He said, a smile forming on his face, as he walked by the counter to give me a hug.
"What brings you back to the city?"
He had ebony skin, and curly grey hair, he had a close resemblance to Louis Armstrong, wearing an apron that was covered in stains of all different colors. The pizza place itself wasn't anything special, the floor was covered in worn out red and white tiles, with framed pictures all over the walls, of all different famous people who grew up in New York that got their picture taken here, this place was almost an underground gem among people who live around here. Me and Josiah sat at a puffy red bar stool as we munched on some fries, and sipped our drinks, waiting for our pizza.
"So are we gonna bring up the fact you're stealing my look?" I spoke up, pointing out the fact we're both wearing baggy black pants, black compression shirt AND a black puffer. It was almost a little too exact.
"Oh you wish I'd wanna steal your trash fits" Josiah said laughing.
"Very funny..." I said sarcasticly, shoving a fry in my mouth.
"You agree it's a little odd though, right?" I asked
"Oh definitely!" He replied
"Hey do you wanna play air hockey?" Josiah continued, as he pointed over to a little section in the pizzeria with 4 arcade machines, 3 of which had out of order signs, the only one without it was a Ms Pacman machine, that had inverted colors for some reason.
"Hey that's new!" I said getting out of my seat
"Yeah, I told Andre it'd help him get more customers, but I don't think it's really helping" he said putting a quarter into the air hockey machine. The machine turned on with a woosh as the air began to rush through the holes in the machine.
"So, I've been meaning to tell you..." I said hitting the puck with my air hockey paddle.
"I kinda lied about why I was here" Josiah blocked the puck and hit it back
"I'm here because a villain challenged me to a fight, and if I didn't show up I'd be in big trouble" I missed my block and the puck went into my goal.
"And to be honest, I'm not sure if I can beat him" I hit the puck back
"Mhm" Josiah said, his eyes fixated on the puck
"Are you even paying attention?" I said blocking Josiah's attempt at scoring again, and smacking it back to him
"Yeah I'm listening, I'm just trying to process everything you're telling me" he said knocking the puck back
"Would you wanna help me?"
"Help you fight?!" He said, distracting him, causing me to score.
"Yeah, y'know like old times?" Josiah put the puck on the table and hit it
"I don't know, man..." I blocked and hit it back
"I mean all those people we fought back then were street thugs, we just started training under Ms Rain, and I don't know if my mom would want me doing this kinda thing again, it's the whole reason I quit being a hero" I hit the puck back a little harder
"I know, I know, it's a big ask, but I really need you out there bro, I promise I won't let anything happen to you out there"
I thought back to my promise to Austin, and how I didn't let him come, the truth is, I really wanted him to come with me, he's just been so stressed out recently, the last thing he needed was more fighting. Josiah and Austin are similar in a way, they're more quiet, and only really talk to people close to them.
"Alright Jayden, I'm gonna be a little rusty just warning you" I completely forgot about the game at this point and it ended with a score of 1-6, Josiah wins.
"Huh?!" I said realizing the score
"You let your guard down" Josiah said slyly as our Pizza arrived.
"Enjoy boys" Andre said setting the pepperoni pizza on the table.
"Hey Josiah, how's your mom doing by the way" Andre said with a smirk
"I already told you this last week, she isn't interested" Josiah said angrily
"Hey I went to the eighth grade dance with her y'know!"
"Yes I know Dre, you tell me this all the time" Josiah said exasperated.
"Besides, that was like what 30 years ago?" I said
"Hey, I'm not that old!" Andre said holding his arms in a
"You seeing this?" Kinda motion to an invisible camera
Josiah and I devoured that pizza, I forgot how truly amazing it was, not a slice was spared. After our meal, we walked to Josiah's house, he already texted his mom beforehand, and it was okay for me to sleep there for the time being. We walked back and the streets were just as lively as they were walking to Crispy's, if not even better. The sun was just starting to set as me and Josiah made a quick stop at a nearby farmer's market on the sidewalkq, it had little stations filled with different kinds of fruits and vegetables, we bought a few tomatoes for Josiah's mom so she can make some spaghetti tomorrow. But among the crowd I felt a dark presence, almost as if someone was watching me, I just couldn't shake the feeling. Then I saw him, it couldn't be anyone else, Charge-Bolt. He had long greasy blond hair, and piercing blue eyes, with dark bags underneath, his face was littered with scars and he had a scowl as he sniffed a carrot and plopped it into his basket. I hurriedly shoved Josiah behind a dumpster in the alley nearby and followed soon after.
"Dude what're you doing?!" Josiah said getting a little agitated
"You almost made me drop a tomato" he said angrily
"He's here." I said trying to make him quiet
"Who?" Josiah said, his anger dropping
"Charge-Bolt, the villain I'm here to see."
"Right here?!"
"Yup, to be honest I'm terrified, he's extremely resilient to electricity attacks, the last time I fought him I couldn't even hurt him, but the red electricity he used completely messed me up"
I couldn't hear what Josiah said after because I immediately ran out of the alley and ran towards him, I hit him with a flying punch, I put all of my energy into it, my fist glowing with yellow electricity, the punch I landed on him sent shockwaves throughout the city, causing the fruits behind him to go flying.
He didn't even flinch.
I hit him with a barrage of punches, with one final blue electricity liver shot, but nothing.
He simply looked down on me, and smirked
"That's all you got, mini me?" He hit me with a red electricity gut punch that launched me backwards, blood spewing out of my mouth, at this point all the people at the farmers market ran away. Josiah locked his hands together, and stuck out his two pointer fingers, shooting a compact beam of acid with the force of a pressure washer, the force was enough to push him back, so at least Josiah had a chance of damaging him. I stood up and took my puffer jacket off, Josiah followed me, and we both raised our fists, waiting for Charge-Bolts move. We both charged at him, I jumped in the air to hit him with a strong kick, and Josiah coated his hands in teal acid, ready to blast him. Charge-Bolt grabbed me by my leg as I was mid air and used my back to block Josiah's acid blast, ouch. He threw me back at Josiah, and I crashed into him.
"Sorry Jayden" he wheezed
"Just help me up" I gasped
Charge-Bolt began laughing as he charged in at Josiah but I managed to jump on him in just the nick of time, I wrapped my arms around him and tried with all my force to fly away, he was so heavy it messed up my flight and I flew straight through a building, me and Charge-Bolt both raced to get up, I was covered in Christmas lights and pine needles as I realized I crashed straight through a Christmas tree, once I stood up I saw a little girl staring at me.
"Oh god, please don't"
"MOMMYYY" She screamed and cried as Charge-Bolt dove at me, sending me straight back through the hole we just put in that building. He pummeled my face in as we fell, each punch made my vision more and more blurry, I crashed into the floor, leaving a huge crater as he kept hitting me, knocking me further and further into the floor. The punching finally stopped as Josiah grabbed onto the back of Charge-Bolt and attempted to put him into a headlock, but it kinda looked like he was dry humping him instead.
"The hell are you doing kid?" Charge-Bolt said as Josiah punched him straight in the face, acid coating his fist.
"AH MY EYES" he said as he proceeded to curse up a storm. I laid there in a pool of my own blood as Charge-Bolt chased after Josiah. I wanted to get up, but I felt too weak, that red electricity was so strong, I needed to have it, I don't care what happens to me. I felt something inside of me grow, almost a primal rage, along with the anger, I felt stronger, faster, the works. I grabbed onto the rubble causing shockwaves of red electricity, as I climbed out of the 5 foot hole in the ground. I watched as he grabbed Josiah by the neck and slammed him into the ground. Watching this made me feel sick with anger, I dashed at him so fast I practically teleported directly in front of him and hit him with an uppercut, as he was mid air I flew behind him and kicked him straight to the floor, causing him to leave another crater in the street. He looked up, the smirk on his face was long gone now
"That's one for me...and still one for you too I guess" I said as he charged at me.
I slid under him and kicked upwards, hitting him with a round house kick I raised both of my hands up, created a gigantic ball of red electricity, around the size of a small house, I threw it directly down at him.
"SCARLET SPHERE" I roared as he held out his hands, stopping my blast, he managed to push it completely back and sent it directly towards me, engulfing me in red electricity. I crashed to the floor, the red electricity on me wearing off. Charge-Bolt stood over me, a big sneer on his face.
"I admit it, mini me. You're good, but you're no better than the original" he said, raising his foot over my head.
"Wait!" I croaked
"It's not time yet." I whispered
"What do you mean?"
"Our fight was scheduled for Christmas Eve, not today, I still have eight days."
He took a second to think about it, and slowly put his foot down.
"Eight days, be there." He spat as he immediately rocketed off.
I sat there for about five minutes, as I groaned realizing I had to get up, I clutched my ribs as I stumbled over to Josiah.
"Dude, wake up" I said kicking him.
"Did we win?" He said, rubbing his head
"No, we got our asses kicked" I said looking at the craters on the floor. Me and Josiah painfully walked all the way to his house, it's safe to say his mom wasn't happy with how we looked. luckily we didn't have any super bad wounds, so we didn't need to go to the hospital, but after a few dabs of bactine I was laying down in the guest room bed, wondering how in the world I was supposed to get strong enough to defeat Charge-Bolt in eight days, it had to have been impossible, but I was so exhausted not even my worries could keep me up, and I frankly passed out in my bed, as the snow lightly fell on the other side of my window.