No POV

In MegaCity 2, a boy is on a train leading from one district to another. He is on his phone and looking at News postings about superhero activities across America and the world. He smiles at the pictures of superheroes saving the day before he feels a tap on his shoulder. He looks and sees Cibo kneeling and smiling at him.

Cibo: How are you doing, Kira?

Kira: Good, mom. Are we almost home?

Cibo: Yep. Soon we'll be back in the penthouse and watching a movie together.

The train stops at a station and Kira walks with Kibo through the city and reaches an apartment where many influential people live in luxury. They get inside and take an elevator. Kira then hears ringing and think it's from his phone, but sees no messages or calls.

Kira: Mom, is someone calling you?

Cibo: No, Kira. Why?

Kira: I'm hearing...

Suddenly, he begins seeing the elevator becoming pixilated and begins to hear voices getting louder.

Kira: Ah! Aaaaaahhhhhhh!

Cibo: Kira? Kira!?

Kira's mind becomes flooded with voices. Many are about people talking with each other, loud noises end up appearing and disappearing, and even strange voices that seem to be artificial. Soon his mind becomes so filled with voices he can't tell which are his or not. He ends up in pain as if having a migrain and falls to the floor.

Kira: M-mom!

Cibo: Hold one, Kira.

Cibo picks up Kira just as the elevator reaches their floor. Cibo starts running and makes her way to a door where a screen scans her eyes and opens for her. She enters and runs into a room where she lays Kira on a table before going to a terminal and starts typing.

Cibo: Kira, just hold out for a few more minutes.

Kira: Aaaaaahhhh! What is this!? Whose voices are these!!??

A machine attaches itself to Kira's head and Cibo keeps typing and begins to run a scan.

Cibo: Just a bit more.

Kira: AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Kira continues to writhe in pain as his nose starts bleeding. Cibo then picks up a frequency on her terminal and discovers the problem.

Cibo: This is it!.

She presses a button and activates the machine. Suddenly, the voices flooding Kira's mind disappears and he cries from what he experienced.

Kira: *Panting*. Mom... What's happening to me?

Cibo then walks to Kira and hugs him.

Cibo: You've got a power Kira. But it's one that is dangerous to you. You apparently can hear technology.

Kira: The... the voices I heard?

Cibo: People talking on their phones, ads, AI. You began to pick up the signals and all of them ended up flowing through your mind. I can create something that can help mute the voice, but I need you to wait a bit.

Cibo lets go of Kira and goes to another machine.

Kira: Can I take a nap?

Cibo: Of course.

Kira closes his eyes as he enjoys the silence. Soon enough, he falls asleep while Cibo is typing and the machine starts creating something. After an hour, she is able to create a headband and puts it on Kira's head. She then rubs him as he sleeps soundly.

Cibo: This can help surpress his power so his brain doesn't get flooded by data and information. But what if something were to happen to it? Then what will I do.

Cibo looks at Kira and remembers when Johnny Bolt had him in an attempt to protect him after his biological mother died. She grabs Kira and carries him to his bedroom and lays him on his bed. Cibo kisses him on his forehead before walking out. She then goes to a terminal and calls her intelligence team.

Cibo: I need you to find information on where Johnny Bolt is. If you can get me his number, that'll be great.

Agent: Even better. I know where he's staying at for the time being.

The Cibo gets an address and information on Johnny Bolt and a woman named Kasey.

Cibo: Who's this Kasey girl?

Agent: She's Johnny Bolt's lover. Her power is to create illusions in people's minds. And she also seems to be the one in charge of their relationship.

Cibo: Well, here's a chance for Mr. Bolt to prove himself. Not even sure that's his actual last name.

Agent: Same. Anything else?

Cibo: No that's all. Thank you.

The call ends and Cibo looks on her tablet about all information on Johnny Bolt. Including all the crimes he's been involved in. She then looks to a satellite image of the house Johnny and Kasey live in.

1 day later

Johnny Bolt is on the couch and smoking with the TV playing and showing the News. He hears the doorbell ring and goes to check it. A look through the peep hole shows nothing, so he opens the door and checks around until he sees a black, metal box on the rug. 

Johnny: What the?

He brings it inside and opens it to see a phone. He picks it up and it gets a call. Johnny answers and sees Cibo on the screen.

Johnny: Cibo?!

Cibo: Hello Johnny. It's been ten years. How have things been?

Johnny: It's uh... none of your business.

Cibo: Correct. However, I need you for something else.

Johnny: What would that be?

Cibo then moves her camera to show Kira sleeping in his bed. Johnny's eyes widen as he knows who the boy is, despite how much older he is now.

Johnny: I-is that--

Cibo: He is Kira. My son. The boy you tried to take care of before I got you to listen to reason. He's developed a power that allows him to communicate with technology. Unfortunately, it manifested today and was overloading his mind. I was able to create a headband to supress it, but I fear that it won't be enough on its own. I need someone who can help train him. Who better than a super who wanted to do something for his mother.

Johnny thinks about the times he talked with Kira's mother and the smile she had.

Johnny: I'll do it. I'll teach him.

Cibo: Great. And I'm not asking you to do this for free. Show me results and I may give a 150,000 credit cache with you're name on it. You'll be well off for a bit so long as you don't blow it.

Johnny: Do I head over to MegaCity 2?

Cibo: I'll save you the trouble and come over there. When do you think you'll be available?

Johnny: I should be available in two days.

Cibo: Cause that's when Kasey will be off on a job in Europe, correct?

Johnny: How did you--

Cibo: I'll be there with Kira at midnight. Be ready. And keep the phone.

Cibo ends the call and Johnny looks down and thinks about how long it's been since he saw the boy.

Johnny: I promised that I would take care of him and I will.

2 days later

Cibo and Kira were sitting in an automated car that was driving through the streets of San Francisco.

Kira: I'm not a fan of so many hills in this city.

Cibo: Neither am I. But what can ya do. Now, Johnny Bolt gave me his word that he would take care of you. And if anything says otherwise, I'll know, so don't you worry.

Kira: Yes mom.

Cibo rubs Kira's head as the care arrives at the house Johnny bolt is standing in front of. The two get out of the car and walk up to Johnny.

Johnny: Long time no see Cibo.

Cibo: Ten years is quite a while.

Johnny: Still not used to how tall you are, even if your body is not like it used to be.

Johnny then looks down at Kira and kneels as he smiles.

Johnny: Hey there buddy. Are you Kira?

Kira nods his head.

Johnny: It's nice to meet you. You'll be hanging out with me for a few days.

Kira keeps hugging Cibo's leg.

Johnny: Hey, don't worry. I'm gonna help you.

Johnny shows his power by having electricity cackle between his fingers. Kira looks at them in awe.

Johnny: My power may be different, but I can show you how to get a handle on having one.

Kira looks up at Cibo who reassures him before he walks to Johnny and shakes hands with him. Cibo gets back in the car and drives away.

Johnny: So, up for a little trip?

Johnny and Kira get in a truck and drive away. They end up going to a sleep down where nature seems to be in more control than most places. Kira looks around and is surprised to see so much vegetation and animals in one place.

Johnny: Welcome to Middleton. One of the few places that have yet to be urbanized. I bet this is a lot different than the MegaCities.

Kira: Yeah. In those places it's nothing but city for miles. Why did we come here again? I mean it's really pretty, but why here?

Johnny: Cause this is one of the places in America with the least amount of technology. So it's the perfect place to start testing your powers.

Kira then takes off his headband and senses digital devices, but it wasn't as intense as in the MegaCity.

Johnny: So, shall we begin, Kira?

Kira nods and Johnny pats him on the head. They go to an alley and see a bunch of vending machines.

Johnny: Well that two hour drive sure made me hungry. But I'm a little low on funds at the moment. Any chance you could get those machines to dispense a snack?

Kira: I'll try.

Kira senses the tech in the vending machines and links with them. He dispenses a few chips and gets one machine to dispense sodas. Johnny grabs them and passes some to Kira.

Johnny: Awesome job, Kira. Now how do you feel about trying to connect to this phone?

Johnny pulls out the phone he has and Kira senses the data coming from it. Kira then thinks of calling it and the phone rings. Johnny answers it and puts it to his ear.

Kira: (Through Phone) Like this?

Johnny smiles as he hangs up. He and Kira then go to a bank and see two ATMs on the outside.

Johnny: So Kira. I'm gonna use my power to extract some money from this ATM. See what you can do about the other one.

Kira nods and begins to connect to the ATM. Electricity cackles on Johnny's hand and the ATM dispenses a few hundreds. Kira then causes the ATM to dispense a stream of them and Johnny uses the backpack Kira was wearing to put it in. After two minutes, the backpack is filled Kira stops.

Johnny: Alright. You might be even better that this than how I started. Now why don't we go to a go somewhere to rest for a bit? We'll start the real training during the day.

Kira: Sure thing, Mr. Bolt.

Johnny: Please, I consider you family. You can just call me Johnny.

Kira: S-sure thing. Big brother.

Johnny wasn't sure how to process that, but smiles nonetheless. They rent a cottage and Kira goes to bed. Johnny looks at Kira sleeping peacefully and smiles. He then hears a door open and readies his power for whoever it may be. When he checks it out, it turn out to be Johnny's girlfriend, Kasey.

Johnny: Kasey?!

Kasey: Johnny.

Johnny: What are you doing here? What about that heist in Europe?

Kasey: Those guys had a mole that ratted them out. Thing fell apart before I could even get to the airport. So any reason you're all the way out here? With a kid?

Johnny sighs and shows Kasey Kira while he's sleeping.

Johnny: I got a call from Cibo.

Kasey: Cibo? THAT Cibo. The smartest woman in all the MegaCities? Oh my god, Did you kidnap this boy from her?!

Johnny: SSHHHHH!! No I didn't. She called me and told me that Kira got his powers.

Kasey: He got powers? Isn't he a bit too young to get it?

Johnny: Well it happened and now she wants to me train him how to control his Technopathy.

Kasey: Technopathy.

Johnny: Yep. He can connect to machines and technology.

Kasey: Johnny, getting him to access vending machines and ATMs isn't what you should be be doing. If he doesn't get real training and ends up in the cities or even the MegaCities, all the that information processing through his unpreapared brain could cause him to overload and cause him to end up looking like the Bastard's victims.

Johnny: I got it. I got it.

Kasey: Johnny, we have to train him right. As if we're training a superhero.

Johnny sighs and knows that Kasey is right.

Johnny: You're right Kasey. You're right. So we head for the suburbs tomorrow?

Kasey: I think we need to push him a little more. But as long as we're careful, Kira may be alright.

Johnny: I just want what's right for him.

Kasey: Then let me help. And promise that you'll lay low for a while and get a normal job.

Johnny: If it means I can help him, then I'll do it.

Kasey: Okay.

The next morning, Johnny introduces Kasey to Kira and they begin training him. The training involved much more than vending machines and ATMs. Per Kasey's insistence, they go closer to the cities and begin to push Kira a bit to help him gain control of his abilities more. They spend the next few days trying to help him to get a better hang of his power. Kira then begins accessing security systems to expose criminals making deals to controlling trains and traffic systems to thwart robbers and thieves. Kira's nose still bled each time he tried to connect to the cities' networks, but he improved in withstanding the immense data and information going through his brain. The three are now at a motel with Kira recovering from his latest training session.

Johnny: So bud, how you holding up?

Kira: My head still hurts, but it's getting better.

Johnny: Well, you up for pizza?

Kira: Yeah, I could eat.

Johnny gets Pizza and eats with Kira as they watch a movie together. It was a superhero movie titled "True Blood". Kasey then arrives with Cake.

Kasey: Hey you two. Look what I got.

Johnny: Oh sweet, Cake. Who's it for.

Kasey: Kira, for being such a hard worker and having great determination.

Kira: Really?

Kasey: Really.

Johnny: Just enjoy it bud. You've earned it.

Kira: Thanks.

The three of them enjoy the cake as together.

2 weeks later

Two weeks of constant effort and training and Kira has gotten a better hang of his Technopahy. he can now access many personal information on whoever he's looking at and through the cameras of any device. He is also able to tabe into an entire server and navigate it with less strain on his mind. After nearly 17 days of training, Kira heads for MegaCity 2 in a limo with Johnny and Kasey after telling Cibo that he's ready to return.

Kasey: So this is what a vehicle from one of the MegaCities look like. I've always imagined what living in luxury would be like, but actually experiencing this, I'm no longer sure if I want this to be part of it anymore.

Johnny: Well, enjoy it while you still can. Something like this may never happen again.

Johnny kicks his part of the seats and a drawer filled with Juice boxes opens up. Johnny is surprised at first, but shrugs and takes a box.

Kira: So, are you two super heroes?

Kasey: Uh, not really.

Johnny: We are supers, but on the other side.

Kasey: Yeah.

Johnny: Kira, what we did, we did it for you. But what you use your powers for, is entirely up to you.

Kasey: Couldn't have said it better myself. That's a first.

Johnny: Oh, shut up, Honeybear. Oh, by the way, the whole city is filled with an anti-power field. So when we get in, we're essentially normal people.

Kasey: You're telling me this just now.

Kira: Well, Mom will have you two leave immediately after I get dropped of.

Kasey: Hmm, not like I was planning to stay here.

After going through a long security perimeter, the limo enters MegaCity 2 and Kasey is amazed at how massive it is inside its walls. The limo then reaches to the upper residential area with Cibo waiting for them. Kira then gets out and walks up to Cibo, who bends down and hugs him. Johnny then tries to walk up before Kasey pulls him back due to her wariness of Cibo.

Cibo: So, Johnny Bolt. Looks like you lived up to my expectations.

Johnny: Run some tests on him if you want to know how far he's gone. At the very least, he brain won't overload as quickly.

Cibo: I've been viewing your progress ever since you began his training. I can plan a regiment for him from that.

Cibo then pulls out a data shard from her left arm and extends it to Johnny.

Cibo: 150,000 credits. And a small bonus for performing a little beyond my expectations. Don't blow it in a week.

Johnny reaches for it, but it gets snagged by Kasey.

Kasey: I'll be making sure there isn't a nasty trick on this and that Johnny doesn't waste it.

Johnny: That last part is fair. Cibo, if Kira needs anything, let me know.

Cibo: I will. Have a good day Johnny Bolt. You as well Kasey.

Johnny: We will. See ya, Kira. Remember, what you do with your power is up to you.

Kasey: Bye, Kira. Stay out of trouble.

Johnny and Kasey leave while Kira and Cibo go into the building. Cibo does some tests on Kira and is impressed with how much he managed to get a grasp of his power.

Cibo: Impressive. Great job, Kira. Now, there's a few more things I need you to test out.

Kira: What's that?

Cibo grabs a metal cube and puts it in Kira's hand.

Cibo: Try gripping this.

Kira is confused, but agrees to his mother's request. He grips the cube, but instead of struggling, the cube ends up bending as he clenches his fist.

Kira: What the?

Cibo: Kira, you have much more than the ability to communicate with technology. And there's soemthing I need to talk to you about.

Kira: Is it about my real family?

Cibo: You knew?

Kira: I kinda figured it out a little while ago. You weren't obvious, I was jsut very curious.

Cibo: Well still, just know that you are my son, no matter what.

Kira: I know. I love you mom.

Cibo: And I love you too.