Conduits vs Supes : Civil War

Undisclosed bunker, Empire City.

In the dimly lit room of an underground bunker, the atmosphere was thick and heavy around the table. The silence pregnant, waiting to be broken by anyone. Yet, no one seemed to dare.

The only lights in the room were provided by candles strategically placed. It didn't brighten the room much however. Nor did it lighten the mood or provide a romantic setting. In fact, it resembled more one for a horror movie, or the war council of a historical movie.

While it might be akin to a war council, there was nothing historical about it. Or rather, it wasn't a story of the past, but History in the making…

« Now that we're all here and we've all calmed down, let's talk things out. » A young man with shoulder length auburn wavy hair talked. A young man, he wasn't yet. Barely a teenager, considering a his appearance. He was still the man who managed to bring everyone to the table to discuss.

The CEO of an obscure company, two agents of a three letters agency, another female teenager, a rotund, stylish man with sunglasses, and a so-called terrorist. Plus him, a portrayed victim of a terror attack… And a Vought-Baby. Though he was no longer a baby.

« Before we start, I want to explain some things. Put them in context… » He spoke up again and looked around the room. Then, with his index finger, he tapped at his temple. « I've got what's called Hyper-intuition. At least, that's how they called it… You see, people believe supes are born with their powers, or naturally awaken them. That's wrong. Most of us are experiments. Vought-Baby, you could call us. They proposed a deal to our parents : money and the possibility of fame, in exchange for them injecting us with an experimental drug called Compound V. That's what originally gave us our powers. It works better the younger you are : less chances of dying, better chances of getting powers. But it's all a freaking lottery ! »

He shook his head before continuing :

« All this to say that with my intuition, I've been able to connect a few dots most people wouldn't. For instance… » He turned to the CEO, Kessler, the secret leader of the First Sons movement. « … I know that you're actually an older version of Cole MacGrath ! »

« Wha~?! » Zeke, the rotund man exclaimed in disbelief. His head jerked toward the old man and scrutinized his features. Then, he turned to his friend, the man labelled a terrorist, Cole MacGrath : « It's crazy but… I can see the resemblance. »

Cole seemed to agree with him, since he struck the table with his fist and yelled :

« Why ? Why do all this ? »

He referred mainly to the Blast, an explosion that leveled most of Empire city's Historical District. The same event which gave birth to his powers, and that of countless others… But also killed thousands.

« The more interesting question is how… ? » A black NSA agent asked.

« I disagree. » The teenager spoke. « In a world where the extraordinary is almost common-place, the how can be easily explained : someone with the power to control time sent him back, or someone with an unparalleled intellect built a machine to do the same. The why is more important in this case… And the reason is, I feel, that he's trying to prepare you from some kind of threat. »

The last sentence was directed at Cole MacGrath. Kessler nodded :

« That's right ! You're too weak to face the… Beast, that is coming. I've seen it take countless lives. I've faced it time and again, only to fall short every time. I had … have to prepare you for it. »

The teen nodded in assent, but almost instantly retorted :

« You're a dumbass, mister Kessler. »

Silence fell on the table again. Before anyone could speak, he added :

« You don't really know the extent of power this… Beast has. So whatever you do, you can never be sure it'll be enough. Instead of posing as an antagonist and prepare yourself with conflicts after conflicts, ethical dilemmas and the like, you should have acted as a mentor. The one thing you shouldn't have done, is precipitate the events you fear… »

« What do you mean ? » John White, the male NSA agent, asked.

« I feel that the Beast in question was given birth by the Ray Sphere. My guess is that while it was created in mister Kessler's timeline, it didn't happen until much later, correct ? » A nod from the old man. « So, by detonating it in advance, you've actually accelerated the timeline. » Another pause, before he pushed on : « Also, you've never considered one fact… Perhaps, the Beast's intent wasn't the destruction of the human race… but rather the opposite. »

« That's… Preposterous ! It killed everyone I loved. Destroyed the country ! »

« A question for you, then : what does the Ray Sphere do ? »

« It unlocks the powers in people with the Conduit Gene. Everyone else caught in the blast dies, fuel for the awakened conduits. »

« That's… gruesome. » The female teenager commented.

« Yes, but you omit a big part of the explanation. From what my intuition tells me, it unleashes a wave of energy. That energy is what's lethal to human. However, it doesn't just dissipate after the blast. This energy is more like… radiation. »

The room is enveloped, once more, in silence for a while as they digest the information. Zeke was the first to react :

« So, what ? We're all gonna get cancer or something ? »

The teen nodded, shook his head before amending :

« Or something… I feel like it's both quicker and worse than cancer. » The idea traveled through his mind unbidden and he let it cross his lips without interfering. When you worked as long as he had by following your intuition, there were things you learned to do, like letting your subconscious speak for yourself. « It's a contagious disease… » He paused as the ideas continued to pour through his mouth : « The Ray field energy doesn't dissipate in the atmosphere, but humans soak it in like a tissue. As they grow sicker, their symptoms will carry the energy and thus, the disease. Obviously, the way people react to the disease will differ from person to person according to a number of factors. But in the end, it'll change nothing : Humans will die. Worse, non-activated conduit can contract the disease as well. » He nods when he finally understood and uttered his assumption : « My guess is that this Beast, was trying to save the human race in your timeline by activating the conduit gene in the carriers, and killing everyone else in the process. »

As the silence fell once more, this time due to a mix of disbelief and doubt, he changed the subject :

« Tell me, mister MacGrath ? What do you plan to do with the Ray Sphere once you get a hold of it ? »

The answer was instantaneous :

« Isn't it obvious ? I'll destroy it ! »

To which, the reaction was unexpected, at least to him. The teen turned toward Kessler and said :

« As I said, Mister Kessler : You're a dumbass. I assume that's what you did in your timeline ? »

Kessler, uncomfortable by the boy's insight but still on the fence about his theories, nodded his head. The next question took him by surprise :

« Was there anyone with you ? A Conduit gene carrier, perhaps ? »

Kessler couldn't help it, he turned toward John White, the black NSA agent. After a few seconds, he explained :

« An agent from the NSA helped me when the First Sons of my timeline got out of hands. We retrieved the Ray Sphere after a fierce battle and… I unleashed my greatest lightning on it. »

« Let me guess ! » The teen interjected. « Everyone except for you died ? » He paused. « … Or at least, that's how it seemed. » Another nod. « That's what I felt. You created the Beast ! And if things went as you planned, you'd have made your younger self follow in your footsteps… »

No one said anything to that. The past few minutes had been heavy with revelations. Now the question was… Could it all be true ? Verifying what the teen revealed about Vought was impossible. Kessler and Cole… The fact that they were the same person seemed true. At least, the older man didn't deny it. And he seemed to predict a number of things…

John White connected the dots first :

« Am… I the Beast ? »

As soon as the words left the man's mouth, the teen knew it to be true. That's what his intuition was telling him anyway. So he nodded, all while considering his own power. Ever since the Blast, where he and his foster sister were at the time, his intuition seemed… amplified by a considerable degree. While before he had faint feelings he'd learned to trust, now the feelings were much clearer, sweeping the doubts in his mind to leave only certainty. At least, most times… He still couldn't figure out how to deal with the Nightmare-made-flesh which pushed him to run away from his home… Still, it felt like he was on the right track, at the moment.

That's when he had another nagging feelings. One he couldn't help but utter…

« Where are the Supes ? »

Of course, he didn't mean the Conduit, which were just as super-powered, but the Vought-abled ones. The Blast had happened a few weeks ago now… This crisis was a chance for Vought PR to shine, make their so-called 'heroes' provide 'aid'. But he'd seen none. In fact, he hadn't heard a peep about the ones in Empire City.

Lucy Kuo, the asian woman belonging to the NSA, provided him an answer :

« According to my source from the private Hospital, the Emperor's Hand is in a coma. Has been ever since the Blast. All the Supes seem to have been affected. To tell the truth, our bosses were quite glad to hear that something was effective against them. »

In the teen's mind, it was like the light of dawn had finally started to come up after an interminable night. With a small breath of relief, he concluded :

« They're affected by the energy from the Ray Sphere ! »