…Two Months Later…
Atomic drifted serenely in the vastness of the Earth's exosphere, the infinite cosmos surrounding him in a canvas of shimmering stars.
With his eyes closed, he embraced the tranquil state where thoughts faded into a gentle whisper, allowing the silence of space to envelop him. Suddenly, his cape burst to life, igniting into a brilliant white energy that cascaded around him like an ethereal flame. Twin crimson orbs blazed brightly beneath his helmet as he opened his eyes, illuminating the darkness around him.
This is it. This is the power I wielded during my fight with Magneto. Atomic mused, his gaze locked onto his outstretched hands, pulsating with energy. I can't maintain this power for long, but I can feel it—my powers have been amplified fivefold.
In the months following his epic battle with Eric, Atomic had tirelessly pursued a way to replicate that overwhelming strength.
He had experimented with every technique imaginable, sinking into countless hours of meditation, yet each attempt ended in disappointment. Then came today—the day he chose to meditate amidst the stars, with the Earth spinning in serene beauty beneath him.
This time, he embraced a new meditation method he had learned just a week ago from an aged Tibetan monk.
Their unexpected encounter had occurred when Atomic had came upon the monk in Tibet's serene, snow-capped mountains as the older man was about to be attacked by a pack of snow leopards. Moving quickly, Atomic scared off the predators and came to learn that the monk was on a spiritual journey.
As if sensing his issues, the monk had offered to teach Atomic his hidden methods of meditation as a way to thank Atomic for saving his life.
Not seeing any harm, Atomic accepted and began to learn from the monk. During their meditation, the monk had given Atomic words of wisdom.
"You carry the burdens of the world upon your shoulders, yet it is a weight not meant for you to bear. To find peace, you must liberate your mind, lest the world itself overwhelms you," the monk advised, offering Atomic a simple fruit, despite his own meager resources.
Atomic, not willing to take any of the monks minimal supplies, insisted he didn't need the fruit because could conjure anything he desired.
"But tell me, young one, is that truly so? What value does a man possess when he seems to have it all?" the monk replied, gently refusing to take back the gift he had given Atomic.
After this exchange, Atomic undid his suit and thought about the monks words as he resumed his meditative posture. As he closed his eyes and turned inward, he began to peel away the layers of his ambition and desires, finally catching a faint glimpse of the profound power he had grasped all those months ago but had never fully understood.
"Sir, there has been an explosion on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A school bus full of students is being reported to be on the verge of falling," Atomic's AI, Eve, said in a much more human-sounding voice, snapping Atomic out of his memories. "Current fly time, ten minutes and forty-five seconds."
"Make it five minutes, Eve," Atomic said and turned in the direction where Australia was located.
Using the boost from his current state, which he had come to refer to as his own version of the Kaio-ken, Atomic surged forward through the ethereal expanse of Earth's exosphere, where the grip of gravity and air resistance was almost nonexistent. This celestial highway amplified his speed, making him feel like a blazing comet streaking through the vastness of space.
Two months prior, after he had played a crucial role in dismantling the surge of crime that plagued New York—thanks in part to his notorious past as a former terrorist and a week-long disappearance—Atomic found himself at a turning point. It was finally time to fulfill the promise he had made to himself and Coulson.
Atomic had always believed in the potential of his abilities to enact meaningful change, not just in New York, but across the entire globe.
Yet, despite his grand ambitions, he grappled with the reality that he couldn't be aware of all the tragedies and injustices unfolding worldwide.
Unlike Superman, who possessed superhuman hearing to monitor every corner of the planet simultaneously, Atomic relied on his own skills.
What he did possess was a formidable intellect and coding expertise, complemented by powerful abilities that enabled him to create anything he could ever need.
Thanks to the combination of his highly durable suit and near-limitless application of his powers, Atomic could soar into the cosmos without fear. The combination not only buffered him from the extreme pressures of the void but also allowed him to regulate the temperature around him, generating oxygen from the carbon dioxide he exhaled. For Atomic, flying into the vastness of space was as effortless as a bird taking flight.
With his ability to soar through space, Atomic skillfully navigated the intricate web of satellites orbiting the Earth. Alongside Eve, he implanted several small hard drives filled with his own code into their complex systems.
Now fully integrated into the globe's extensive surveillance and internet infrastructure, Eve granted Atomic an unparalleled level of surveillance capability—swift and precise—allowing him to monitor every corner of the world, regardless of the country.
While he recognized the moral and ethical implications of his actions could be met with skepticism if ever discovered, Atomic's intentions were rooted in a desire to protect and serve the world's populace rather than to invade their privacy or pilfer data.
However, he was no naïve idealist. Atomic understood the real danger that lurked in the shadows—the possibility of his systems being compromised by individuals with malicious intentions.
In preparation for such a dire scenario, he had embedded a contingency protocol within his hard drives. Should he or any external force attempt to hijack his creations for nefarious purposes, the drives would trigger a catastrophic self-destruct sequence, erasing all data and rendering his sophisticated network completely obsolete.
"Correction, you have arrived within 4 minutes and 25 seconds," Eve said as Atomic finally arrived over Sydney. He quickly found the chaotic sight of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
"Very funny, Eve," Atomic said and used his powers to lift the precariously hanging school bus back onto the bridge.
With a wave of his hands, he extinguished the surrounding flames and secured the cases of highly dangerous explosives that had fallen out of a smoking armored truck that was now on its side. Dashing toward the truck, Atomic removed the driver's door and picked up the unconscious, badly burned man.
"Good. He's alive," Atomic breathed with a mix of relief and urgency, carefully lifting the man and carrying him to a safe distance away from the chaos.
With swift precision, he conjured several ice packs and soothing burn cream, applying the cool relief to the man's injuries, watching as the redness slowly faded under the care of his abilities.
Hovering beside the wreckage of the destroyed bridge, Atomic raised his arms high, channeling the remnants of his Kaio-ken energy. A surge of brilliant power coursed through him as he focused, visualizing the bridge's form. With a fierce determination, he mended the shattered structure, weaving together steel and concrete until it stood even stronger than before, a testament to his newfound power and skill.
As the last echoes of his Kaio-ken faded, a profound weariness washed over him, sweeping through his limbs like a heavy fog. The exhilarating strength dissipated almost instantly, leaving behind a gnawing hunger that clung to him—a stark reminder of the toll his Kaio-Ken boost exacted.
It looks like the limit for my Kaio-ken is seven minutes. Atomic thought.
As Atomic ascended into the sky, the vibrant energy of the crowd below swelled around him. Throngs of cheering spectators had gathered on the bridge, their applause resonating like a wave of sound that enveloped him. Faces bright with excitement, they watched in awe as he soared above them.
Touching down on the bridge with a graceful thud, Atomic immediately set to work, his instincts guiding him toward those injured in the chaotic aftermath of the explosion.
He assessed their needs with focused precision, offering comfort and first aid to the wounded. His hands moved deftly, applying bandages and soothing words alike, ensuring each person felt cared for in their moment of distress.
When the paramedics and police finally arrived, red lights flashing and sirens wailing, Atomic briefed them on the condition of each individual he'd attended to, his voice steady and calm amidst the urgency. He knew that his role was crucial, and even as the chaos swirled around him, he remained a beacon of hope for those in need.
"His burns are pretty severe. It's only thanks to him being unconscious that he isn't screaming his head off." David Arnold, a paramedic of four years, said to himself as he examined the burned man who had been driving the volatile armored vehicle.
"Can you administer a sedative to keep him asleep until you get him to a hospital?" Atomic asked as he kneeled next to David. This caused the man to jolt at how close the world-renowned superhero was to him.
"U-unfortunately, our supplies have been running low and I don't have any sedatives in hand," David said, but blinked in amazement as Atomic held out a hand and instantly created a small case full of lorazepam, midazolam, and diazepam. "Ah... never mind."
Moving with the quick precision of a seasoned medical professional, David injected the unconscious burn victim with a sedative. Atomic helped David lift the man into the ambulance and then shook David's hand.
"Good work, Mr…?" Atomic said.
"Oh! David! My name is David!"
"It's nice to meet you, David. Be sure you get him to the hospital quickly," Atomic said.
"Uh, right!" David quickly nodded and entered his truck. As he drove away, he couldn't wait to tell his children how he met a real-life superhero.
With his work done, Atomic offered a quick salute to the people of Australia, his silhouette briefly framed against the azure sky before he rocketed back into the depths of orbit.
Later that day, news outlets nationwide would buzz with excitement, spinning tales of his remarkable exploit and the heartfelt exchange he shared with David, a dedicated Australian paramedic. This incident would be another shining gem in his ever-expanding collection of heroics and daring rescues.
"Sir, it appears that Daredevil has sent you a message…," Eve announced, her voice calm yet urgent. "Daredevil: I have a lead on Reznov. I need you back in the city."
Atomic's eyes narrowed with determination as he instantly altered his course. With a flick of his wrist, sleek boosters and glimmering jet wings emerged from his now bulkier suit, ready to unleash their power.
"How long until I reach him?" Atomic inquired, urgency lacing his words.
"At your current speed, you will arrive in New York within four hours."
"Not good enough," Atomic muttered as he summoned every ounce of strength.
Ignoring the demanding strain coursing through his muscles, Atomic propelled himself forward, his velocity shattering the sound barrier as he surged past Mach 4.