Untold Legends of Lightstreak part 2
by Lightstreak

Jason felt fine, but decided to take a few sick days off work anyway, if only to make some extra time for Natalie and Ryan. He had to get his mind off things anyway. As if the lab accident wasn't enough, some lunatic stole experimental weapons and equipment. What also caught his attention was that the same weapons were used exactly that same night to rob the haunted house at the amusement park of all things.

Don't think about it, he told himself, just enjoy your day at the zoo. He turned his attention back to Ryan, and chuckled when he saw how mesmerized the two-year-old was with the monkeys. Jason watched as well, allowing himself to indulge in the childish fascination, then quickly tried to divert Ryan's attention to the parrots when he saw that what the one particular monkey was holding clearly wasn't a banana.

Strolling through the zoo, Jason felt all his stress melt like the soft-serve Ryan was practically wearing. Jason smiled as his mind wandered between his date later in the evening and treating his son to his very first trip to the zoo. It was a standard zoo, with the usual assortment of exotic animals and even a few domestic ones in smaller pens that the kids could touch.

Suddenly, a figure flew low over Jason's head, equipped with some kind of engine that sounded like a tortured ghost wailing. The being moved to fast and the engine was too loud for Jason to be sure, but he could swear the thing spoke his name. He was drawn from his bewilderment by a near deafening explosion in the distance. Whipping his head in the direction, Jason froze in shock. Someone had blown open the tiger cage. His mind raced and finally came to the conclusion that he needed to get Ryan out of the zoo, fast. His hand shot out to grab his son's arm, and hit empty air. Scanning the zoo in a panic, Jason forced himself to hold in a scream of alarm. Ryan was walking right towards the tiger.

Ryan loved to pet big fuzzy things, and was overjoyed that Daddy took him to a big park with lots of fuzzy things to see, but didn't like how so many of them were in big metal boxes so he couldn't touch him. He was a little scared by the big noise a few seconds ago, but now there was a big orange pussy cat for him to play with, and Ryan loved pussy cats best of all. He reached out a hand sticky with the ice cream Daddy bought for him to pet the kitty. The cat roared. Ryan screamed.

Jason's heart was pounding as he ran. He never was much of a runner, but he had to get to Ryan before the tiger did. He pumped his arms like pistons as he tried to propel himself further with each step, trying to block out the blind panic he felt.

Notgonnamakeit,kid'sgonnadie!

Amazingly, Jason soon discovered he covered twenty yards in three seconds. Not bothering to think of how he managed to run that fast without feeling even winded, he grabbed Ryan by the hand as the massive tiger reared up on its hind legs to deliver a crushing blow. Instinctively, Jason's hand shot out towards the animal, hoping he could fend it off. There was an almost blinding flash of light, and when it passed the tiger lay whimpering at his feet, its fur singed. Blinking out the reflections of light from his eyes, Jason grabbed the weeping baby and ran.

And found himself outside the zoo gates in less time it took him to finish that thought.

Ignoring what his mind refused to accept, Jason took Ryan to the car and seated him in the child safety seat, cooing softly to calm him. During the drive home, Jason's mind kept going over the bizarre events. He knew that the flying thing had caused the explosion, what he didn't figure was how he managed to run so fast, or the flash of light. And I don't think I'm going to like the answer.

Natalie stepped from the shower and began to dry her hair. Dinner reservations were for five, and it was already four. And you know how women are with getting ready, came Jason's voice into her mind. She chuckled softly to herself, taking an extra bit of time to be distracted by thoughts of what they'd do after their date. Victoria's Secret had a sale she attended while the guys were at the zoo.

Interrupting her daydream and the music she was listening to, the announcer's voice came over the shower radio reporting of an explosion at the zoo which released a Bengal tiger into the crowds. MinuteMan and AlcheMiss were on the scene calming the crowd and repairing the cage. What was really interesting was that a man ran faster than anyone on earth to save a young boy from the tiger, and after a flash of light it lay on the ground. "Faster even than The Bullet," the reporter stated. The announcer went on to a conversation with a psychiatrist in a discussion on how any parent can muster super human abilities when a child is in danger.

"No one could run that fast," Natalie said to no one in particular, "and how do you explain the blast?" She took a deep breath. "At least that couldn't have been Jason and Ryan, he could never run very fast."

The door opened as Natalie walked from the bathroom towards the master bedroom and Jason walked in, carrying a still shaking Ryan. "What happened?" She asked, taking Ryan from her husband.

"Ryan was almost mauled by a tiger. Some lunatic blew the cage wide open."

Natalie's face went white. "Then...then you ran to save him...and there was a flash of light."

"Yes, how did you know that?

"Because I just heard about that on the radio. I think...I think that you might have something going on with you!"

Jason put his hands on Natalie's shoulders to calm her. "Look, I just ran fast is all," he lied, not even believing himself, "the reporter probably didn't see me until I got there."

"Then what about the flash of light?"

"You've got me there, sweet pea. Must have been another explosion, or Volt might have been there and tried to stop the tiger."

"Yeah...yeah you're right" Natalie began to relax, her mind readier to accept that than the possibility of Jason having super powers. "Anyway, the baby-sitter's going to be here soon, so you should get ready."

"Righty-o" Jason said, smiling as he walked to the bathroom to shower. His mind kept wandering back to the event and he was a long time in cleaning himself. Glancing at his watch, he discovered he had thirteen minutes to get dressed and make the ten-minute drive. Leaping from the shower and grabbing a towel, he found himself completely dry just from jumping out of the shower. Pausing, he grabbed a brush and attempted to comb his hair as fast as he could, and was done in the same second he put the brush to his hair.

"Weird." He muttered, wrapping a towel around his naked body. He heard Natalie speaking to another woman in the doorway. "Maybe if I just run across," he figured, "I won't be noticed."

Running, he cleared the apartment in two seconds, discovering he dropped his towel somewhere along the way when he reached the bedroom and had dressed himself in an instant. He stepped from the bedroom in a casual pace, trying to contain his bewilderment over his newfound speed.

The baby-sitter blinked at the sight of the flesh colored blur that seemed to appear from nowhere and vanish instantly as she discussed her fee with Natalie and settled on ten dollars for the night. Jason took his wife by the arm and they hurried down to the car to make their reservations in time.

The Glass Swan Café was one of the finest restaurants in all of Patriot City, and it took a lot of pulled strings for Jason to make reservations for that evening, but it was worth it. The dinner conversation was delightful, the food delicious, and the stillness of the evening was interrupted only briefly by the appearance of El Diablo and his date of the month. The hazel eyes of Jason reflected the sparkle of Natalie's own blue eyes. After a while, the check was paid and the couple stood to leave when the front window exploded in a hail of glass. Pulling his wife to the ground, Jason peered over the table to get a good look at the madman that interrupted.

The figure hovered over the ground, clad in a standard super character costume colored in orange and trimmed with black. A grinning jack-o'-lantern was displayed prominently on the chest of the masked man, who hid his face behind a cheap rubber devil mask. "I'm looking for Jason Clark!" it shouted in a voice that reminded Jason of a cartoon ghoul.

"What does he want with you?" Natalie whispered, panic rising in her voice.

"Nevermind, you just get out of here." Jason said firmly.

"But..."

"Just go! I'll be fine!"

Not wasting time arguing, Natalie crept out the back with the rest of the crowd.

What could a super villain possibly want with me? Jason thought. After all, El Diablo is right...

Jason turned and didn't bother to finish his thought. The Latino super hero was nowhere in sight. Apparently they left earlier in the evening. And they only left a five- percent tip.

Jason slapped his forehead, like THAT matters?

Jason stood to face his opponent and tried to come up with a name. Failing, he asked. "So what do we call you, Costume Party Man?"

"Trick or Treat," the villain cackled, removing a small plastic skull from his pouch, "It's Halloween!"

Halloween squeezed the skull and the eyes lit up as he lobbed it toward Jason, a mechanical laugh resonating from within. Jason caught the toy and took a moment to examine it. The white plastic grew warm to the touch and smoke billowed from the eyes.

Bomb! Run!

Jason propelled himself from the ground and was instantly on the other side of the restaurant as the bomb exploded. Jason's mind finally made the connection, Energy X gas, super speed. He decided to test himself as he fought the maniac off. He shot out his hands as he did earlier with the tiger.

Zap! The insignia was scorched from the villain's chest.

Energy blasts, that's a plus.

Halloween howled with rage, he hadn't counted on Jason having super abilities. He hurled five bombs in succession at the speeding hero, who dodged, tumbled, and flipped his way about the restaurant.

Heightened agility! Maybe Natalie can give me a few pointers in gymnastics when this is all over.

Jason snapped out of his private joke as he saw the villain come barreling down at him, his flight accented by a ghostly moaning. Halloween caught him off guard and the villain plowed into him, sending them both crashing through the kitchen door. The two men wrestled until Jason finally evaded Halloween by blinding him with an energy blast. He grabbed the first thing his hand connected with and found he had hefted a refrigerator over his head and was hurling it at another person.

Super strength! Oh baby!

The eyes under the devil mask went as wide as saucers as the kitchen appliance sailed through the air toward Halloween. The massive steel contraption landed on top of him with a loud wham!

Halloween shoved the fridge off him and staggered to his feet. "We'll meet again, Jason!" he shouted as he sailed through the air and out of the restaurant.

And I'll be waiting.

Returning home, Jason found his wife and child sleeping soundly. Jason was grateful, since he had a fair bit of thinking to do. Sitting on the couch, he reflected on his situation. He had Energy X infused powers, a family to protect, and a madman after him. "I can't let anything happen," he said, rising, "To them, or any of the innocent people in this city! But first, I need to hide my identity to protect anyone close to me from any super nut case I manage to get angry with me."

Fortunately for him, Jason was a major pack rat and had a number of left over costumes from costume parties. He rifled through the closet and came up with his costume, an old black outfit he used one year when he went in drag as The Shadow and a domino mask from another year when he dressed as Zorro. Looking at himself in the mirror, Jason frowned. "Needs something." He muttered.

Jason opened a drawer and found an old stencil kit and some clothing paint left over from when he and Natalie wrote their names on each other's clothing. Painstakingly, he drew lightning bolts along his arms and legs. He looked at himself in the mirror once more, and smiled, noting the fitting irony that he had recently dyed blonde streaks into his naturally brown hair. Stepping out of the apartment, Jason decided to let the lowlifes of Patriot City know there was a new enemy of crime in town, and chose a name.

I move almost at the speed of light, and can fire it from my hands...

"Call me...Lightstreak" he said, as he raced into the night, hunting for evil to foil.

Jason returned three minutes later. It certainly wasn't a bad night for the new kid in town. He had busted up two muggings, a robbery at a department store, and an attempt at breaking open an ATM. He smirked to himself when he realized he would have been home sooner if the awestruck fellow at the drive in coffee shop would just hurry up and give the costumed stranger his iced cappuccino.

Shedding his costume, Jason crawled back into bed. He lay there for a moment, wondering what didn't feel right, then realized the bed was very sticky. He used his powers to create a flash of light to see by, hoping it wouldn't wake Natalie. His heart leapt into his throat.

In the split second flash of light, Jason saw the bed covered in blood. Jason leapt and slammed his hand against the light switch to get a better look. The bed was indeed soaked in gore. "No," he muttered, "Not real blood. It's too red." Jason had seen enough gory films to know the difference. There was a note on the bed, written on orange paper decorated with smiling cartoonish bats and written in red ink.

Jason crumpled the paper in disbelief, struggling against his rage to contain a light blast that was causing the note to smolder in his fist. The note was signed C.S, but it couldn't possibly be who he was thinking of. "Colin....he's dead" Jason muttered softly. Then he shook himself free of his shock. Regardless of who did this to his wife and baby, they were in danger and he had to help them.

Jason leapt from the window and ran down the side of the building, defying gravity with his speed and hurried over to the laboratory. It had been shut down after the accident, so no other innocents would be in danger. Powered by an incredible momentum, Jason cleaved right through the reinforced doors and into the main laboratory. He stood, taking in the situation, his eyes adjusting to the dark.

In a flash that made him think his own powers were acting independently, a spotlight came on over him. "Well, well. The mighty Lightstreak!" came the nasal voice "or should I say Jason Clark, ruiner of all I've worked for."

Jason turned his gaze upward, Halloween squatted on the catwalk above him. More lights came on and Jason could see his wife and baby tied together and suspended from the catwalk. "You took away everything I had, Jason," Halloween said coldly, "now I'm taking away everything you have, starting with your family!" A final spotlight came on, and beneath his family Jason could see an eleven-foot animatronic devil turning and laughing mechanically. Flames shot from the amusement park prop's head as it continued its grim survey of an imaginary Hell. Natalie screamed and Ryan began to cry, he just wanted Mommy and Daddy to take him home to Pooh Bear.

Jason turned towards his nemesis as the flames continued to grow higher and higher. "Just who are you? What do you want from me?"

Halloween laughed even more chillingly than before. "What I want, is revenge for what you did to me. And as for who I am, let me show you." Halloween pulled off his mask and gave everyone a good look at his repulsive countenance. Jason's mind could only process the horror of what he saw in bits and pieces. His eyes had sunken into the sockets, his nose and lips had withered away, and what little skin remained was scarred and discolored.

Discolored? Christ, he's as blue as a smurf!

"You don't recognize me, do you?" Halloween taunted. "I don't blame you, the gas that gave you your powers ruined my face. In case you haven't figured it out; I am Colin Samhain!"

Lightstreak smirked, "It's an improvement. Now let my family go!" He took a step forward. Halloween lifted a remote so that Jason could see. "Step back, hero," Halloween said coldly, "You might save them from my horned friend, but will you save them from this?"

There was a click, and an electronic beeping. Gazing towards his suspended family, Lightstreak's eyes widened with horror. His wife had a bomb strapped to her chest!

"You may be fast, Jason, but can you save your family from both in less than thirty seconds!" There was an electronic beeping; a chill ran up Jason's Energy-X charged spine. Not wasting any time, he leapt with super powered momentum at the animatronic devil, shoving it against the wall and causing it to explode upon impact.

Not skipping a beat, he turned immediately and heaved his body upwards, sending a blast of light to cut the rope and grabbing his wife and baby. He grabbed the bomb and ripped it off, hurling it out the hole left by the exploding devil. Tearing at the rope, he grabbed the crying Ryan and placed him as gently as he could in Natalie's arms. Natalie looked at him, her face a kaleidoscope of questions. Jason's _expression, however, was stone like and stern. "Get out, now!" Natalie didn't argue, and ran out at a speed that made Jason think his powers were rubbing off on her.

Turning, Jason turned a burning gaze to the monstrous maniac. "Okay, you sick son of a bitch," he began, not even trying to mask his rage, "it's just you and me!"

Halloween howled with blind rage, sending a fist hurling at Jason's jaw. Lightstreak grabbed it in a light speed reflex action. "You tried that before."

What Colin had left of lips curled. He spoke coldly. "I didn't have this, last time". Jason's hand caught fire with pain and a scream escaped his lips as the spikes dug through his hand, ripping deeper and deeper. Jason winced; his vision clouded red with pain, barely hearing Halloween as he laughed. "It gets better."

Jason's mind exploded, every sense shrieking as thousands of volts of electricity shot through his body. He screamed an ungodly scream, like an animal in a trap. The world around him fell away and Jason's senses were filled with Halloween's visage and laugh, and the smell of burning flesh and blood. Jason could not think, and felt his knees buckle. He thought of saying goodbye to Natalie, Ryan, his job, and all he held dear. Then, with a sudden burst of strength and determination, Jason gritted his teeth and looked his enemy square in the eye.

And hoofed him right in the groin.

"I fight dirty." He chortled, as what was left of Halloween's mouth formed a comical O as he doubled over, yanking his hand free from Jason's. Halloween gasped for breath, his voice going even higher.

"You think...that's going to...stop me? Take a look...at this!" Halloween held up his hand, presenting Jason with a detonator switch. "Enough games! If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!"

"Not a chance!" screamed Jason, plowing into Halloween and sent him sprawling into a large piece of equipment, and right through it. But before Lightstreak could feel triumph over finally defeating his enemy, he heard an ominous "beep." The detonator was activated, and Jason had less than a second to get out before the building exploded.

"Bummer."

Turning on his heel, Jason ran as fast as his aching muscles would carry him, as the world around him became a kaleidoscope of fire, debris, and noise. Finally, he made it out. And just as he was clear of the explosion, he finally allowed himself the pleasure of passing out.

Jason awoke, yet kept his eyes shut. He had no idea where he was, but he knew he could feel a soft bed underneath him. The sheets seemed odd, though, as if they were moving.

Ants! My body is crawling with ants!

Jason jumped out of the bed, screaming and shaking his hospital gown free of ants.

"Told you that'd wake him up." The Ant snickered, stroking a fat carpenter ant with his finger.

"I dunno how you can stand dem creepy crawlies, amigo." El Diablo said, not masking his disgust.

Jason felt a hand on his shoulder just as he shook the last ant off him. "Looks like you're up an at 'em, soldier." Jason turned and was face to smiling face with Minuteman. " We saw what you did at the lab, and we think we could use a fellow like you among us."

Jason scanned the room; he was in Freedom Fortress with three of the members of Freedom Force. He was alive and well, fully healed. "My wife...my kid...are they...?"

"Units Natalie and Ryan are fully functional," came the metallic voice of Microwave as he entered the room, "they are both in the condition you call 'Sleeping'."

Jason turned back to Minuteman. "So, you want me...among you?"

"That's about the size of it," came The Ant's reply, passing Lightstreak a form, "here's all the paperwork. By the way, loved your act the other night."

A smile spread across Jason's face. "Get me a pen."

The rat scurried across the rubble pile of what was once a large building. It hadn't eaten in days and was hoping to find something to salvage in this rubble. It smelled burnt meat beneath it and started to dig eagerly for a hot dinner. It froze as it heard a scratching noise beneath it. It sounded as if another rat wanted to get at its meal.

The rat hissed and snarled. It wasn't about to let another animal steal its food from it as the rubble shifted and shot upwards as a discolored, skeletal hand shot into the sky. The rat let out a squeak of fear as the hand cam down, and snapped its spine. More rubble shifted as a figure climbed out into the night, wearing tattered clothes. Silhouetted against the moonlight, it rose with a ghostly moaning into the sky, laughing all the way.

The End