It had been
two months since Jake discovered his powers and was labeled a damned by the
Ascended. Since the Ascended were widely accepted as earths protectors, most
humans hated the damned and would report anything they knew to the Ascended
chambers. The Ascended Chambers was a large building in every major city that
supposedly housed the Ascended that protected the area. The only thing humans
ever saw of it was the outside of the building and the first room, which was
the reception room, where people would give reports and claims about criminal
activities or Damned sightings.
Jake had to
lay low, so he quit his job and left his apartment. He even had to stop using
his fancy wrist communicator because the Ascended could track any technology.
The only way they could track Jake now would be if he used his powers or
someone spotted him and shouted for help. Since the Ascended were global there
was no point in leaving the city, Jake had to just lay low. He used the dark
corridors to get around the city. These routes were perfect for criminals and
refugees that needed to disappear. It was difficult enough being on the run,
but on top of that real criminals surrounded Jake, like rapists, murders and
thieves. Jake was only a criminal because he was born with powers, he hadn’t
actually done anything wrong, except maybe kill an Ascended, but that was
self-defense.
After some
time living on the run, Jake heard rumors and whispers of a den were people
lived that had powers like Jake. After questioning drug dealers and informants
he eventually located the place. Down an alley, move a dumpster and drop down
into the sewers, walk a mile until you see a broken wall that connects to a
caved in train station. Jake followed the directions exactly until he came to a
large open train station. The walls had been repaired and the whole place was
cleaned the best it could be. Inside were dozens of men, women and even
children going about their lives.
Someone
spotted Jake and the air grew tense. A burly man walked up to Jake and without
saying anything, his eyes flashed with a spark of electricity. Jake realized
that it was a way to show his power without actually using it. So they wouldn’t
be found by the Ascended. Jake tried his best and a little spark of flames shot
from his eye. His first try was a bit clumsy, but it did the trick. “I see you
are one of us. I will bring you to Don, he leads us” the man said. Jake
followed the large man through the main room of the train station. Different
people of every age and race could be seen. They were all just people, who
happened to have powers or something that made them different, and now they
were hunted just like Jake was.
Jake walked
through the crowd, up some stairs and into an office to the left. Through the
door and sitting in a large chair was Don. He wore casual clothes like everyone
else, but seemed a little more knowing and alert. He was bald, had dark skin,
brown eyes and his finger tips sizzled with three different kinds of energy.
Tiny little sparks of energy that looked like ice, fire and lighting glowed at
his at fingertips. Don didn’t seem to be able to hide his power any better than
that. “please, sit down” Don said quietly. Jake sat down and the two began to
talk. Jake explained everything that happened to him and even mentioned having
to kill an Ascended and the guy he tried to rescue. “And that is pretty much my
whole story” Jake explained. Don just sat and listened carefully. “I am
impressed that you were able to kill an ascended. You’re the third person I
know of that has been able to do that” Don explained. “third?” Jake said. Don
nodded. Yes, first there was me, then a little from our group killed one but
died in the process, then there was you” Don explained. Jake flinched a little
when he pictured a little girl standing up to those things and dying fighting.
“Children shouldn’t be involved” Jake muttered. “None of us should be involved.
These Ascended creatures forced us to act. That is our life right now” Don
snapped back. He cleared his throat and went back to the important business at
hand. “So I would like to welcome you into our little circle. You may live and
hide here with us, but if you would like to be more active to our cause, I
strongly encourage you to join the rebellion. We call ourselves the mages.
Because I refuse to believe we are anything more than humans who have magic. We
are certainly not damned, or evil.” Don said, getting very worked up as he talked.
“I will join your rebellion. I will do anything I can”
Don then
decided to introduce Jake to the team in the rebellion. They walked down a
hallway and into a large training room where some of the most powerful mages
trained. Gregory, the large man from the door moved earth and rocks around with
ease. Sid, darted quickly around the room, using a strange shadow power to warp
and strike out at practice dummies, and Samantha, or Sam. She could cover
herself in ice armor and created ice weapons, fighting with savagery and
precision. The rest of the rebellion was also fierce and loyal, but worked
together like soldiers and left the heavy lifting to one of the main rebel
members.
Jake was
formally introduced to the group and after talking for a few minutes, Gregory
started looking familiar. Then it hit him. Gregory looked like a larger version
of the guy that Jake tried to save. When Jake mentioned it Gregory was silent
for a while before explaining that it was his brother, who had been missing for
a while. Gregory left home and went into hiding, assuming his brother and
parents would be safe with him gone, but since his brother also turned out to
have hidden powers, the Ascended continued to hunt his family. Jake and the
others tried to comfort Gregory, but he needed space and went off into the
tunnels to clear his head. Jake never had close family, but by the looks on
their faces, the other rebel members did. This just made the mission that much
more important. They needed to figure out why the Ascended hunted the Damned,
and stop them anyway they could.
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