Taylor stood with one hand on her hip facing her boyfriend, "Out with it! Are you cheating on me? If you are, I swear I'll kill you! What's this big secret?"
The grassy plains seemed to go on without end. They were the only two people around for more than a hundred miles. The glow of the moon provided just enough light for her to see. Without any more explanation than "I have something important to tell you", Alex had carried her to the middle of nowhere.
Her boyfriend smiled and laughed carefreely, "Of course I'm not cheating on you!"
Taylor groaned out of exasperation. She'd spent the last month listening to Alex hinting at a secret surprise, "What is it then?"
"Close your eyes."
Taylor groaned again, "Alex, I swear to god what-"
She was cut off by Alex taking her hands and holding them tightly, "Just trust me."
The gentleness in his voice made her relax slightly. She shut her eyes. She felt a pair of arms scoop her up.
"Alex what are you-"
The words froze in her throat. A strong gust of wind swept across the plains and caused her hair to blow about wildly. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers and she twisted her head to gawk at her boyfriend.
Alex grinned back at her, "Surprise."
A pair of large and elegant white wings extended from his shoulders. They were nearly twenty feet wide. He flapped again, harder this time, and they shot higher into the air, leaving the ground further behind.
"You can fly!" Taylor screamed loudly. Her eyes were still wide with shock.
Alex smiled like a child caught with their hand in a cookie jar, "Are you surprised?"
The steady beat of his wings produced a distinct whoosing noise. Taylor's mouth formed an o-shape and she stretched out to gently touch one of the feathers. It was softer than anything she'd ever felt before.
"They're beautiful." She said. There was something about the feathers that made her mind feel instantly peaceful.
Alex chuckled to himself, "I borrowed them from an angel."
Taylor coughed and choked slightly on her disbelief. She asked astonishedly, "Angels are real?"
"Yep." Alex replied.
"And you've met one? You don't even believe in God!" Taylor shouted. The temperature was gradually decreasing as they flew higher. She squeezed herself closer against Alex for warmth.
Alex laughed and shrugged, "I didn't do it on purpose!"
He tilted his wings. An air-current blew by and swept underneath them. The current was powerful enough to support their weight without difficulty. The earth below was nearly a thousand feet away.
The current carried them slowly. Every few seconds he made a minor adjustement to the angle and positioning of his wings. Now they were no longer climbing higher, Taylor could look down clearly at the world below.
"This is incredible." She whispered.
The landscape below gradually changed from open plains to dense woodland. Alex smiled and suddenly tucked his wings close against his shoulders. Taylor screamed and clutched onto him for dear life. They fell towards the earth like a shooting star.
"Stop! Alex, stop!" Taylor screamed. The trees were so close that she could smell the scent of pines.
Alex's wings burst open. Their rapid descent slowed instantly and they were pushed upwards.
Taylor cried out with relief. Then, against every voice in her head that urged her to shout at her boyfriend, she burst into laughter.
"You-" She desperately tried to catch her breath, but the laughter was uncontrollable, "-bastard!"
Alex pretended not to see the daggers she was glaring at him. He looked off to the side and said innocently, "I thought it was romantic."
He dropped slightly lower. His feet passed by just a few inches away from the tips of the trees. Taylor stretched out her hand and felt the wind push back against her. For a moment she was transported back to the night Alex had taken her out into the plains and dashed across them with her in his arms.
She leaned her head against his chest. She looked up at Alex's handsome face and gently traced the contours of his chin with her finger, "Maybe a little."
The rest of the night was spent soaring through the clouds and diving low past the treetops. She cried out with both fear and excitement as Alex flew barrel-rolls, spirals, loops and spins. The calmness in his eyes never wavered. He never made a single mistake.
She knew the patterns in which his brain worked. He would never have taken her out flying if he wasn't completely confident in her safety.
She also knew that he'd stayed at university to be close to her. It had been a year since he'd appeared to the world as Omega. The third year of his degree was about to finish. He'd been going to fewer and fewer lectures.
Being a superhero was changing her boyfriend in ways she'd never expected. He wanted to be out on the streets helping people, not sitting in a lecture hall listening to a professor. He'd told her about how his powers worked. He was constantly getting stronger. Every day he could help the world a little better.
He didn't see himself as a hero. That was part of the reason he was so good at it. The name Omega was known state-wide. He had tens of thousands of fans. He'd made a few edits to his costume since his debut. The mask he now wore covered all of his face. Every other bodega in Michigan sold Omega-masks.
Later that night, Alex lay in bed next to Taylor. She still snored just like when they'd met. The drool at the corner of her lips made him smile. He twisted the golden ring on his finger. It had become a habit for when he needed to think. He held the ring still and stared at the golden wings.
'It's been almost a year.' He thought to himself.
The angel's anatomy didn't require him to experiment or innovate. The only thing he had to do was follow the template in his mind. Without the wasted time of experimenting, he'd made lighting-like progress. In a few days time he would finish completely.
The wings had been the last major milestone. He'd spent months creating them. Then another month to learn how to fly proficiently. The inconvenience of constantly dragging around a ginormous pair of white wings would've been astronomical. It would've also made it near-impossible to keep up his secret identity. Fortunately he could use his powers to withdraw them into his body.
He'd stopped the boxing team at the end of first year. The coach's sadness was eased by the incredible progress the men's captain, Jason, had made. The head coach had lost one champion fighter, but gained another. He doubted that ordinary scales would be able to tolerate his leaden weight.
The transformation of his body to mirror the angel's vessel began silently. He quickly lost himself in the process and only realised how long had passed when the sunlight began peeking through the curtains. He didn't need sleep like he once did. An hour or two a week was enough.
He kissed Taylor good morning on the cheek. She groaned and sleepily mumbled something unintelligble back. She rolled over. Her hand slapped him in the face in the process. The feeling of hitting something solid made her frown slightly, but she quickly settled down and continued her snoring.
Alex quietly slipped out the door.
"Morning Alex." One of the technicians greeted him.
The GDA facility was one of hundreds across the country. The organization's expenditure was unimaginable. He smiled and waved hello to the technician. He was familiar with most of the staff in the facility. The particular technician regularly complained to him about the machines he kept accidentally destroying.
"Omega. You're needed." Dr Molay walked over briskly. Her heels clicked sharply against the polished floor.
Since his debut, Alex's strength had grown enormously. He hadn't hid that growth from the GDA. He knew that Cecil's moral code lay in a messy grey area. That moral greyness allowed him to make decisions for the good of an entire planet. Being the director of the GDA required a certain kind of person.
He didn't lie to himself that some of the decisions Cecil made hadn't killed people. But those decisions had saved more lives than they'd taken. He didn't know whether he had the charecter to make those kinds of choices. He was glad that someone else did. He would do whatever he could to make sure that as few sacrifices as possible needed to be made.
"What's the situation?" He asked.
Dr Molay tapped rapidly on her tablet. She turned it to face him. The screen showed a live feed of two large blue-skinned twins attacking the White House, "The Mauler Twins have broken out again."
Alex twisted his waist and stretched his shoulders, "You want me to knock some sense into them?"
Dr Molay shook her head. She tapped a corner of the tablet. A different video began to play, "The Guardians are dealing with the Maulers. Omni-Man's on his way. We recieved a request for help from the Atlanteans, their queen apparently isn't happy that her husband has run off to the surface again.
Since we've taken her king, she's demanding that a human representative preside over some sort of ceremony. We don't have much detail. The Atlanteans control the oceans, we need them on good terms."
The video was a live recording of two half-fish humanoids waiting on a rocky outcrop in the middle of the ocean. The waves crashed loudly against the rocks and the sky above was dark and stormy.
The order for Alex to attend the Atlantean ceremony had come from Cecil personally. The new superhero he'd casually signed on had went from a rookie to one of their best in under a year. The reports from Alex's heroics were outstanding. Cecil was quietly exerting influence to suggest that a new spot open up on the Guardians.
"Cecil asked for you specifically." Dr Molay added.
Alex rolled his eyes. His wings stretched out and began to flap. The violent gusts of wind caused Dr Molay to stagger back. He looked back down at her, "Tell him thanks!"
The machinery in the ceiling above clanked noisly. There was a hiss of pistons sliding. In the ordinary looking desert, a gaping maw slowly opened in the earth.
Alex soared out into the sky. He wondered how long it would take for "Omega's" new wings to appear in the news. He'd already surprised Taylor with the flight the night before. The secret didn't need to be kept any longer.
He tapped at the bracelet on his wrist. A holographic arrow popped out and indicated the direction he needed to go. He looked east.
Whoosh!
His speed climbed rapidly. A satellite thousands of miles above tracked his movement. The data was sent back down to the GDA's servers and analysed.
Dr Molay stared at her computer screen. A dozen other GDA employees typed rapidly on their keyboards. The data was swiftly cross-referenced and categorised.
One of the employees looked up from her screen. Her voice trembled slightly, "He's just hit mach 1!"
Dr Molay's eyes didn't leave her screen. The picture showed a figure dressed in a black costume with white accents cutting through the air. Two enormous white wing's grew from the figure's back. The wings flapped and propelled the figure faster through the air.
"Mach 2!"
The angel's template was like rocket-fuel to Alex's powers. His strength had increased so quickly that it was almost frightening. He held out his hand and waved it up and down in the howling wind like a worm crawling in the dirt. Sonic booms echoed out behind him.
"Mach 2.3! Appears to be stabilising!"
Dr Molay exhaled a long breath. A few days ago Alex had been asking her about how her daughter was doing at college. He joked around with the staff members at the facility like he was a normal person.
'He could snap my neck before I even realised it.' Dr Molay thought to herself.
The world needed superheroes. They were integral to society. But beneath the capes and masks were beings, not all of whom were even human, who could just as easily tear the world apart as protect it. The world's greatest heroes were murderers with government approval.
Alex looked down at the city of New York. The empire state building was grand and imposing. He made a note to take Taylor there sometime. It took a little less than twelve minutes for him to cross the state and enter Massachusset's air space.
The ocean appeared at the edge of his view. The water was choppy and the sky above was densely-packed with grey storm clouds. He spotted a rocky outcrop a few miles off the coast. The tridents of the two Atlanteans glinted with golden light.
One of the Atlantean's squinted. He clutched his spear tighter, "I see something!"
The other Atlantean looked up and followed his partner's gaze. A black figure streaked through the grey skies above. The figure dipped lower. The water below churned as the figure drew closer. An enormous gulley in the ocean surface formed in the figure's wake. The thrashing waves stretched for miles.
The figure gradually began to slow. The Atlanteans felt their fins quiver. The people of Atlantis were proud and noble. They had rich history and incredible technologies. The surface people were nothing before their endless kingdom. The human soaring across the ocean towards them like an almighty gale sweeping the sea forced them to swallow back some of their pride.
"Representatives of Atlantis! I am Omega. I extend to you my warmest greetings! It is a pleasure to cooperate with your kingdom."
The Atlanteans looked to one another, and then to the human standing on the rocky outcrop only a few meters away from them. The Atlantean on the left regained his composure first. His gaze towards the human could be almost considered respectful, "Her majesty wishes to see you! Come with us."
Alex didn't care about the somewhat frosty reception. The kingdom of Atlantis had ensured safety across the world's oceans for centuries. In the hope of establishing a friendly relationship with them, he was more than willing to endure some minor disrespect.
The other Atlantean came back to his senses and remembered his duty. He held out a piece of breathing apparatus to the human, "Take this. It will allow you to breathe our water."
"Thank you." Alex took the mask from the Atlantean's webbed hands. The slight sliminess didn't bother him.
He brought his hand to his face. A nail tore through the fabric covering his fingers. He cut through the section of his mask that covered his lips and chin. The mask attached itself tightly to his skin. A breath of salty and slightly fishy air filled his lungs.
The Atlanteans dove into the ocean. They showed no fear towards the crashing waves. He followed after them.
The ocean's surface was extremely violent. The turbulent water didn't calm until they'd swam fifty metres deep. The Atlanteans swam fearlessly into the inky darkness.
As the descent continued, the pressure became crushing. The pride in the Atlantean's hearts swelled at the return to their territory. Unlike their people who could swim freely in the depths, humans required primitive underwater vessels to protect their fragile finless bodies. They turned to the surface-dweller, expecting to see the one who called himself Omega struggling under the ocean's weight.
The truth was very different to the outcome they had hoped for. The surface-dweller swam without difficulty. He did not have fins or webbed limbs to push the water like they did, but his strong kicks stirred up fierce currents that propelled him forwards.
The vast majority of the human species was pathetically weak. The Antlanteans reluctantly accepted that the champion mankind had sent wielded considerable might. They had no choice but to unwillingly push down the superiority in their hearts.
The Atlantean who'd spoken first instructed the surface-dweller. The water somehow carried his voice across clearly, "You shall address the queen as her majesty."
Alex nodded affirmatively. He spotted a twinkling light in the darkness. The light gradually grew brighter. He realised that it was a giant coral growing from the sea floor. The coral's purple glow illuminated hundreds of other smaller light sources. Beneath the cover of an shimmering dome, an entire city sprawled across the sea bed.
Tens of thousands of Atlanteans were gathered in the centre of the city. Their queen sat in a grand and regal throne. The two guards who had led to the surface-dweller to their city kneeled before her.
"Your majesty!" The two Atlanteans called out in unison.
Queen Aquaria motioned for her guards to rise. She inspected the representative sent by the human world. Her voice was noble and authoritative, "Welcome, champion of the surface. I am Aquaria, Queen of the oceans.
Today is a special day for my people. King Aquarus, my husband, was supposed to honour those who ruled before him with a great battle."
A round of cheers rose up through the city. The thousands of overlapping voices caused great swathes of seagrass to whip about wildly.
Queen Aquarus raised her hand. The crowd immediately fell mute. Her tone became harsher, "But he is absent. He abandons his duties as king!"
The tension was razor-sharp. The bitterness in Queen Aquaria's voice simmered dangerously, "Since the surface has taken my husband from me, one of your own shall stand in his stead!"
A guard in golden armour roared, "Release the depth-dweller!"
The sea floor trembled. A terrible rumbling noise echoed out from a cavernous hole that stretched far beneath the ocean floor. The other guards hurriedly swam away, leaving Alex alone in the centre of a huge stage.
Alex's earpiece crackled, "What's the situation?"
"They want me to fight something. It's coming."
There was a pause on the other side. He heard the sound of keyboard keys clicking furiously. Dr Molay's voice sounded a few seconds later, "Retreat if the situation is uncontrollable. Missiles are on standby for your signal."
Alex felt a huge biological signature rushing up from deep beneath the earth. A blue seahorse shaped creature popped out from the cavernous shaft. He didn't let his guard down for a moment. He could feel with his powers that only a miniscule trace of the biological signature was attached to the seahorse. It was trickery. He would not be so easily fooled.
Sure enough, after waiting a few breaths, the furious growl of a beast reverberated out from the opening. The shadows parted and the head of an enormous beast emerged. The creature was more than a hundred feet tall. Its individual teeth were longer than a person. Dozens of thin, spindly spider-like legs somehow supported the beast's enormous bulk and its chest and abdomen were protected by thick chitinous armour.
The golden ring on Alex's finger pulsed. He'd discovered a few days after obtaining it that the ring served as a warning for approaching danger.
A claw the size of a truck sliced through the water towards him. He flapped his wings forcefully. The dome above significantly reduced the pressure exerted by the ocean's depths. He shot through the water. The depth-dweller's claw missed.
The creature shrieked with fury. Alex flapped his wings again. The huge volume of water launched him towards the depth-dweller. The crowd cheered joyfully at the battle. Chants of depth-dweller spread through the oceans.
"Alex what's happening? Our sensors are picking up movement!" Dr Molay's voice crackled in Alex's hear.
He rolled away from another of the depth-dweller's attacks. His wings spiralled gracefully. The beautiful white feathers remained dry. The angelic wings naturally secreted a water-repellant oil.
"The fight's started! It's under control for now!" He shouted. The earpiece picked up his reply.
The water limited his mobility, but he remained much faster than the lumbersome depth-dweller. The beast's greatest advantage was its tyrannical strength. This strength came at the cost of its agility.
The depth-dweller shrieked indignantly. The tiny shrimp with ugly white fins dodged every attack. It rushed forwards, opening its jaw to the fullest extent. It craved desperately to close its teeth around its opponent.
Snap!
The depth-dweller's teeth gnashed together. It's mouth remained empty. It whipped its head from side to side, searching for its prey. Unable to catch sight of the shrimp, it bent its head back and howled with rage.
Suddenly, the shrimp reapearred in the depth-dweller's vision. The depth-dweller shrieked and rushed forwards to meet it. It's dozens of legs stirred up swirling clouds of sand and sediment.
The tiny creature was fast, but it hadn't tried even once to attack. All it did was flutter about through the water. The depth-dweller advanced fearlessly.
Alex stretched out his wings as far as they could go. His powers burst into action. The muscles in his shoulders trembled violently. The cells poured out a violent and overbearing force. He accelerated like a rocket. The depth-dweller had no time to react.
The black fabric covering Alex's hands and arms tore apart completetly. The shreds whipped about madly in the churning currents and were sent spiralling off into the cheering crowd. Alex's arms were stretched out ahead of him. His fingers squirmed as if they were living things and coalesced into an ugly mass of misshapen bone.
The supercharged muscle cells provided a burst of enormous strength. In return for such violent output of force, a humungous strain was placed on Alex's shoulders and wings. Tendons and ligaments ruptured and bone fractured. The pain caused Alex's lips to contort into a snarl.
The depth-dweller was covered in a thick carapace. Breaking through armour that tough would require an immense amount of effort. So he chose a softer target.
The skin on his hands and forearms ripped and pulled apart. The pristine-white bone beneath was clearly visible. The madly growing bone had entirely replaced the muscle tissue. The bones from his elbows to the tips of his fingers flowed like liquid and fused into singular sharp points.
The depth-dweller's gigantic eye resisted for a moment. Then the violent momentum carried him through the creature's cornea and into its skull.
The crowd gasped in horror. The depth-dweller thrashed desperately. Its shrieks of agony made the frenzied crowd fall silent. The gut-wrenching screams of pain were sickening.
Inside the creature's skull, Alex kicked, clawed and bit at the delicate flesh. All he could see was blood and shredded tissue. The depth-dweller cried out mournfully. Its desperate thrashing came to an end. It tilted to one side and fell heavily to the sea floor. A resounding boom echoed across the stage.
The depth-dweller's lifeforce began to fade rapidly. Alex detected the change through his powers. His arms had returned to a normal state. He dragged himself through the mess of mangled grey matter.
The crowd watched with terror-stricken expressions as the human champion emerged from the depth-dweller's eye covered in blood and pieces of flesh.
Alex looked across the crowd. His gaze finally landed on Queen Aquarus.
His voice resounded through the city, "Your champion has been bested. May its death honour the past rulers of your great kingdom!"
The city was deathly silent. Then all at once the Atlanteans burst into cheers. They began to chant. This time they shouted the names of the kings and queens of Atlantis who had come before.
Queen Aquarus's gills fluttered. She forced her unsettled nerves to become steady. Her royal guards swam into the crowd and ordered them to be silent. The chanting slowly died down.
Queen Aquarus addressed the crowd, "Today the champion of the surface has given us a miracle! He has slain the mighty creature of the deep! Let this serve as a lesson for us all because-"
Queen Aquarus paused. The depth-dweller's death had left a stinging impression in her heart, "-no one, not even the mighty depth-dweller, is 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚."