Caleb let out a curse as he stared at the drifting snowfall. While snow may be a common enough occurrence at this time of year, from everything he knew, it was not supposed to snow today.

  Which only left one thing possible. That damn super criminal Fractal was fighting someone and warping the temperature enough that she made it snow. Or she needed more cold to work with and couldn’t control her own ability and didn’t contain the area.

  Didn’t people realize that the only reason supervillains showed up is because there were heroes to stop them? Caleb was certain that if there were no people prancing around in capes, there wouldn’t be all these villains.

  He even had proof. Other countries, ones that forced all supers to join the military, didn’t have nearly the number of super powered criminals. And never strong ones. It was all because they had just become a faceless cog in the machine.

  Even more if all supers were like that, it drastically reduced the number of people who would seek to become super. But because supposed superheroes made everyone feel inadequate, it inspired people who could actually focus on making the world a better place, giving them super powers.

  Caleb also knew powers changed their users' personalities. Why else would Jason and Amelia cut him off?

  Forced Ben to choose?

  Even Ben was blinded. He had chosen to remain friends with the supers over staying with his lover.

  Caleb was sure Amelia would become a hero soon. Or already was. He didn’t know what her powers were, and the only superhero in the area that had parts of her face exposed was Smoulder.

  And if Amelia had shapeshifting powers, it was a moot point.

  He had hoped Jason would not go the route of the super, but considering he had done so much for his own ego under the disguise to save Amelia, it was a lost cause already.

  At the thought of one of his former best friends, Caleb froze up as he remembered those damn eyes.

  Jason had moved so fast. Had picked him up without a problem. And he knew neither of those were Jason’s actual ability.

  A human had done that. But would a human be willing to? Would a human be willing to stare into someone’s soul with eyes akin to black holes consuming all?

  Caleb mourned the loss of his best friends, but he didn’t miss them. They were dead. They died the moment they were no longer human.

  But he could do something about their memory. Make sure that they would no longer be tormented by the demons that wore their skin.

  He didn’t know their powers, at least their specific ones, but both were incredibly distinct. And he knew the power of that demon child they had decided to raise together.

  She had the ability to summon death wires along with clearly some type of mind control ability; it was the only way so many people would think it’s fine to help raise a child who could kill everyone around her as easily as breathing.

  Maybe at the AAS meeting tonight he could see if anyone was willing to help him compose a way to deal with the supers there and at least get rid of the child.

  Jason and Amelia were problems, sure, but the child was the dangerous one. No good person had the power to kill with a thought.

  Despite his vehement hatred for it, Caleb was more than capable enough to drive through the snow and get from his home to the conference room they were using for the AAS meeting this week.

  Thankfully, someone had sprung for coffee and doughnuts, both piping hot, which were wonderful in the face of the bitter cold accosting everyone here.

  It had been a long time since he had been a weekly member. So often his friends had planned events around the weekends or the nights, so he had rarely found the time.

  Now, though it was nearly effortless to attend, ?he had forgotten how much he missed it.

  Association Against Supers.

  It was his home. It was where he belonged, surrounded by people who understood. They were the first and only people to comfort him about the loss of his friends.

  Normal people hadn’t understood; they had even called him the bad guy and lucky that Jason and the others hadn’t done more.

  Yet here they knew. They knew it wasn’t Caleb’s fault. It was the fault of the damn supers who were wearing the shells of his friends.

  It was warm to be around people who truly got it.

  And for that, Caleb had been trying to throw himself back into it fully to make sure that they were slowly making the world a better place.

  The meeting had a few more minutes before starting, so Caleb made sure to say hi to those he knew and talk to the others.

  More still offered to help him do something against his former friends to expose them, but Caleb still resisted. Those damn eyes scared him.

  He didn’t think Jason would do anything truly dangerous, but he had seen the man be absolutely ruthless to those who hurt his own before long before he had powers.

  With that power, that ruthless edge no longer tempered by being human, Caleb didn’t want to risk it before a better plan was formed.

  Conversation flowed, but the meeting inevitably had to start, and they all flowed to their seats as one man moved to the front to address the room.

  While many of their meetings were about venting about supers or asking one another for support or tips, this one had an agenda.

  The fact that it was a surprise bothered him, but he trusted the group. It was going to be okay.

  If it was a surprise, it was important, and he just had to wait a little longer for it to start. The man finally reached the front and breathed slowly, accidentally doing so into the mic, making everyone wince.

  “Now I know the Association Against Supers is against supers as a rule, even if you have super members, for they are the ones that understand,” a man Caleb did not recognize said, his voice calm, but there was an edge there. As if he cut through every distraction, forcing everyone to listen to him.

  Caleb leaned forward. Perhaps this man would be the one to see with him that there was a way past all the moping and whining these people did. Everyone had a sob story about how supers had taken away something from them. Or at least nearly everyone.

  What they needed was action.

  “But I ask you, are you against supers because of their existence or because they’re the ones with the power? We know power corrupts. That’s why these egotistical maniacs dress up in costume pretending to be the messiah! And what if I brought forward two ideas?” The man said, pulling two thin vials out of his coat.

  One was a sharp violet and the other a pale blue, but both seemed to quake under the light as if they were alive.

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  “Here.” He said, gesturing with the blue one. “Is a cure to powers. Unfortunately, it only works on some people. And it wouldn’t turn off any mutations to their physiology. But our research shows as many as sixty percent of supers would lose the ability to access their primary power.”

  It was as if he had slapped the room.

  Many folks here had prayed day after day to remove the powers of their oppressors, but it could remove sixty percent of them?

  It would reduce the number of heroes by half.

  “The problem is we wouldn’t be able to do it easily. After all, who among them is going to volunteer to give up their powers? More than that, what’s stopping those who didn’t from rising up?” The man said, quelling the room as he spoke.

  Caleb’s eyes couldn’t leave the violet vial. Something in there called to him. The problem of the blue vial was clear.

  It was simple; he was pitching the softball product to get to the real one.

  “Now, many of you suspect the violet vial is my real solution. Going with the popular, if everyone is super, nobody will be theory.” He said reading the minds of those aware. Or at least nearly doing so. “We all know that theory doesn’t work. Powers aren’t given equally, and most created supers aren’t nearly as strong as our na — the natural supers.”

  Caleb relaxed at that. Giving everyone powers would just be a problem. More supers could never solve anything; what they needed was less of the freaks.

  “The violet vials do give powers, though. They’re just temporary and require regular maintenance. What I am proposing is simple. Who among you is a bastion of will, someone who won’t be corrupted by the power? Join me, join my team! A group of true saviors armed with their own power and the capacity to remove the powers of others. We could make a change for the better.”

  Caleb couldn’t stop himself from speaking up. “Besides needing maintenance, what’s the guarantee that the violet vial won’t turn us into monsters?”

  At that, murmurs went through. While many would not refuse the chance to be super, especially if it meant they could help rip apart those who have wronged them in this damned society.

  But nobody here wanted to be the monsters. That’s why they gathered together. They wanted to stop them, but the others couldn’t see that they weren’t a hate group.

  They were the true defenders of humanity, even if they never knew.

  “You would all work in teams. Both with others who decide to volunteer and with a team of medical techs and therapists whose sole job is to make sure none of you stray far from the path. A savior is only capable as long as he’s held to his path.” The man said, nodding to Caleb with a grateful look. “I can’t promise that some things won’t go wrong, but I can promise that to the best of our ability, we will try. To make a better tomorrow. A tomorrow where people don’t need to be scared that their house will be destroyed because an ice manipulator has no sense of decorum.”

  Caleb flinched at that. He had lost his home in a super attack, though it hadn’t been from an ice manipulator.

  He suspected that Fractal must have already destroyed some homes and the people protecting superheroes were keeping the story suppressed.

  Everyone with sense knew the news only occasionally told stories about crooked “heroes” after all you didn’t want to piss off the people who could turn you into string cheese or whatever.

  “My team is small; we can only make three supers tonight, so I implore you, my brothers and sisters. Who wishes to volunteer for our crusade?”

  Before he knew what was happening, Caleb stood up, claiming his own fate. He would be the one to save his former friends. He could do it. Stop both of them. Take away their powers before it was too late and bring back the people they were.

  And if that failed.

  He could have the power to stop the ghosts besmirching their memory.

  The speaker met eyes with Caleb and nodded.

  And with that, Caleb and two others, both women, were selected and followed the man to his lab.

  It was professional, if a bit rundown, but Caleb couldn’t be surprised. Who knew how little funding their little project was getting?

  They were trying to make super powers sure, but it wasn’t so that everyone could get them; it was so they could have them taken away.

  More than that, the place was clean, and he could feel the passion of all the scientists working here.

  “Alright.” The man said, clapping his hands as the scientists seemed to be in the process of cleaning three chambers. “Now, I’m not exactly the scientist behind this operation, but I know a little bit, so any questions for me?”

  “What’s your name?” One of the women asked this one having red hair though Caleb felt bad he didn’t know her name.

  “You can call me G.W. now I was wondering, would you all be so kind as to introduce yourselves?” G.W. asked, his voice warm.

  “Caleb.”

  “Rika.”

  “Kayla.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. And I hope the three of you can get along. While more of our brothers and sisters will take a stand against the supers, you three will be the vanguard. I hope you’re ready.” G.W. said, his voice growing heavy. “My only regret is that I won’t be able to bear that weight with you.”

  Caleb reaffirmed himself he knew what he was doing this for. “I’ll be okay.”

  Rika took both Kayla’s arm and Caleb’s before nodding. “We can stand together, we’ll help save everyone.”

  “Can you tell us what powers we’re going to get?” Kayla asked, getting to one of the most important parts.

  G.W. winced at that one, seeming apologetic. “Sadly, we have no idea just what powers will come from it, but we can add a cocktail to make it so you get physical abilities on top of whatever you do get, but it’s painful.”

  “How painful?”

  “I’ve been told it’s like setting your very cells all on individual fire.”

  Caleb blanched at the idea of tormenting himself through such pain, but he knew the speed supers played at. They couldn’t just hope that they would have a strongman or a speedster who could do it. They needed to keep up at least a little.

  “Sign me up for it. I need all the power I can get to defeat the so-called heroes.” He said, nearly spitting out the last word.

  Those words must have done the trick because both Kayla and Rika also agreed to the augmented form of the treatment.

  Before the conversation can continue, there’s the hiss of a door opening, and one of the scientists pokes their head out of one of the chambers. “G.W. we’re ready for the first?”

  Caleb exchanged a glance with the others, receiving a nod before he walked towards the scientist. “I’ll be first.”

  The scientist led Caleb into the chamber, and he was shocked to hear that it was soundproof. He could see the others talking, but he couldn’t hear a thing.

  “Stimulus can change what abilities are developed. We found for the best case of a natural power you’re inclined to a clean empty space is best for it.” The scientist explained, seeing Caleb’s confusion. “You’re also going for the augmented physicality boost, right?”

  Caleb nodded.

  “Alright, so we’re going to strap you in here, and I will be placing this into your mouth so that you don’t accidentally bite your tongue off. Is that okay?” They asked, holding up a leather strip.

  Caleb didn’t particularly like the idea of being gagged, but he also didn’t want to accidentally lose his tongue, so he supposed it was a fair trade. He nodded his assent and was ushered into a small changing room to change out of his normal clothes.

  The white jumpsuit was uncomfortable for a moment before it seemed to almost perfectly resize itself for him.

  “This suit is amazing.” He said, walking into the main chamber and settling into the chair.

  “It’s also going to be the main source of your protection since we can weave in various materials.” The scientist blathered on as they began strapping Caleb to the chair, making sure that while not digging into his skin, they didn’t give him any potential to move.

  Caleb focused on calming his breathing.

  This was important.

  It was his chance to make the world better.

  He hoped he would have a power set able to take down Fractal and Smoulder. Taking down those two and stripping them of their powers would be just the start.

  “Last words before you become a savior?” The scientist asked.

  “I’m ready.”

  And with that, Caleb was bound and gagged. Focusing on breathing through his nose, he watched the scientist set up what looked like an IV, though it was full of a viscous yellow liquid.

  Attached to that was a machine that held vials of the glowing violet liquid.

  “The physical abilities should be permanent so long as the mix is right and we’re going with enough juice to give you a week or two of powers depending on how much you train. Yes, it’s longer than you probably want, but we wanted to give the three of you time to adjust.” The scientists explained.

  A button was pressed, and he saw the yellow liquid begin flowing down into the IV in his right arm.

  Caleb began to scream in pain as the yellow liquid began to pour into him.

  It became even worse when the glowing liquid combined the two flowing into him. He could feel his body rewriting itself.

  As if every atom of his very being was being torn apart and stitched back together in the wrong order, but his body’s own immune system was trying to stop it.

  Underneath that, though, was the most beautiful sensation he had ever felt.

  Power.

  Oh, so much power.

  Waiting for him.

  This was what Caleb was meant to do.

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