Cyber-City - the Conclusion(Justin) Chapter 1: Revelation

The masked man studies the city skyline as he nears his destination. He walks inside O'Malley's and the Russian greats him as he enters. Turning from the display on the wall he sees the mask. "Oh. It is you comrade. It has been awhile Mr. Mask." He says not knowing the man's real name.
The man looks at him and laughs. "It has been awhile hasn't it.... Honestly I just stopped by to check on you and ask if you can keep an eye on Storm when he is in the city. He didn't last 5 seconds in a friendly fight." He says to the Russian.
"Oh yes. The boy...." He replies as he hands him a PBA.

Mr. Mask drinks through a straw keeping his face hidden then says. "I know he has potential but I there's not a lot of time at all."

The man sits and they talk for some time before he leaves. He returns to his camp to find Storm sitting alone. "You're late." Says Storm.

Mr.Mask looks at him. "I wasn't aware we had made an arrangement." Storm laughs and says. "So what? You just kidnap me and then give me asStiice on fighting for no reason?"
The man sits down next to him and says. "I need you to trust me." Storm laughs. "You kidnapped me off the street and have kept me prisoner here for some reason I still don't understand." Mr. Mask laughs saying. "Don't worry. I am not your enemy but they are getting restless since they overheard you talking to your mother."
"So what happens now?" Asks Storm.
Mr. Mask pauses and looks at him. "Well since you are training and can't defend yourself, you will be staying here. My hideaway is completely off grid and is mostly mechanical so no one can track you or listen in on conversations."

"What?"Asks Storm in surprise.
"Yes." Says Mr.Mask. "But before anything else. I have to tell your mother where you are or she will tear the whole city apart if they let her." Says Mr.Mask standing up and walking to the door. Looking back at the young man. "There is fresh fruit and thinly sliced turkey in the counter fridge. Just hit the edge of the counter near the corner." He says and is then out the door....

Storm goes over to the counter near where Mr.Mask pointed. Tapping the side of counter by the corner nothing happens. He tries again a little harder and hears a faint click as a square seam appears and the food storage compartments rise from the table. He grabs the turkey and and fruit. Looking at the set up he wonders how to close it. "Maybe..." He says pressing down on it as it easily goes down and there's another click as it sits flush like it was never there....
....
....
Mask looks out at Cyber-City NewYork 60 miles away. He grapples onto a passing HoverTruck with a City 13 decal and reels himself in grabbing onto its underside. The semi goes up to 1000 feet and goes around the city as he can see Ember's search parties still searching as the truck flies out over the water following the designated trade routes. "I'm surprised that they let her search 3 days straight." He thinks as he activates his self warming suit.

He looks around at the traffic as a police copter creeps by and he holds his breath as he squeezes further into the chassis near a pinch point and his arm gets caught as the ion thrusters turn the vehicle. He suppresses the urge to cry out as the police pass not noticing him with their ultra sensitive equipment. The truck finishes it's turn now having a straight path to City 13 and the thrusters shift releasing his arm, luckily not broken just bruised. He waits 10 minutes before he leaves the truck and is still 70 miles away from the capital island as it circles to the far side. Giving the Ocean Crossing flights a clear path as they leave the Island.

Activating the hover boots he got from the old man. He slowly starts flying towards City 13 over the water as he drops to 50 feet as he nears land... He sets down on the beach and is at the capital in no time with his bio-organic augmentations that make him as fast and deadly as any police service or Armed Forces Droid....

He looks at Ember's SSDs as they patrol the perimeter of the building. He quickly approaches from the side and hops the fence as he see the guards patrolling inside. A half dozen split up as they patrol the lawn. He touches the door and it opens as he walks in. Closing it behind him he ducks inti a doorway and out of sight as 6 more SDDs round the corner into the main hall and pass through into a hallway to the left... Mask sighs in frustration as he sees she is being escorted by her droids used for war meetings.
Climbing into the Air Ducts he moves to listen in on the conversation.

Ember glares at her advisors as they tell her that it would be a bad idea to just declare war on Cyber America. "We don't even know if they took him or not. Please don't send that declaration." The man to her right says as the 7 of them sit at a rectangular table.

She lifts the device and Mask curses as he bursts through the grate in the ceiling.


He grabs her and puts a gun to her head. "Call off your droids or you dies." He shouts as the 6 SDs slowly approach the table.
Ember is shaking and near tears. She swallows hard as she pushes the button on the device in her hand "All units disable Bravo protocol. Danger close 1 inch safety zone around VIPs" she quickly says.
He looks at her "You crazy........." He says as he starts to duck behind a table. Bullets pass an inch from Ember's silhouette grazing mask . Ember having deactivated the observation mode and adjusted the safe-zone protocol.

Running prone around the table he vaults over a corner toward the closest machine getting a hold of it. Pulling his knife he jams it into the bot's electronic brain and it falls. Rolling away behind a larger presidential advisor Mask grabs him. Hiding behind the advisor he backs into a corner. The SSDs cease firing as a government aid is in jeopardy, the advisor unwillingly hiding mask unlike Ember's smaller body.


"I just want to talk Ems." Says the Masked man from behind the advisor asy his heart races. He thinks of how the only way out of this is if she trusts a complete stranger with her son. "Maxum!" One of the female advisors shouts.
The room has fallen into a silence as everyone waits for her to make the next move.
'What do you want." she says in a hushed tone.
"A trade, your son's safety and preparedness for what's coming in exchange for your trust. I am the one the kidnapped him. BUT... I had good reason..... Someone at your meeting several days ago overheard Storm ask about his father as well as asking questions around town not being careful at all. He was being followed until my Special Ops Droid took out your infected SSD. I don't know who they are but it was just that one so far. I took it's processor unit and studied it... It is the kind of computer virus that needs to be physically connected and downloaded to a Droid. So it can't be traced to a server. Someone in your house of power is corrupt and would have had to reprogram that the SSD.... Use my droids for your protection detail and don't ever let them out of your sight. Only me and you can interact with them. What do you say? Call off you SSDs so we can talk more...properly?" Mask says still behind Maxum.
She says. "How do I know this isn't some sort of double cross? How do I know you didn't send that virus?"
"You'll just have to trust me."
"Why should I?"
"I have no reason to lie. And if it makes you feel better we can do a trade. I give you back your son after I train him and You use my droids, I get your trust in exchange for helping Storm."
"In writing?" she says with a smile.
The advisor's heart races as he knows she has made her choice...
"Well of course in writing. Please call of your SS droids and have them exit the room." Mask says.
The door opens and the droids exit one by one as the advisor looks on in dread. They stand outside in the hallway as an Agent makes sure they stay out of the room. Once they SSDs are gone Mask throws his gun on the table along with his knife as it sticks into the oak table top. A few hours later as the masked man is readying to leave he says. "Spark warned me that a biological threat from space is coming.
The breath catches her throat. "Y.....you knew Spark?!" She asks Mask.
He nods. "Yes. He was a good friend of mine. I think things will be ok Ems." He says.. "But, I have to go now." Adds Mask. "We will meet again though as I have more plans for your nation in the future." He says with a wink.
The President smiles and Mask walks out of the City 13 capitol building as 3 of his Special Ops Droids arrive. The SODs go up to the oval office to guard the President. She looks out her window watching trains run and people scurrying around like ants as she thinks. "Only Spark ever called me Ems.... I hope I can trust this Mr.Mask."....
....
....
....
Chapter 2: Storm's Training and Betrayal


East of the Atlantic Federation, the four city-states known as the Eastern Consolidated States is not quite a Nation but an alliance between 4 large towns and several smaller ones. They have their own government, armies and everything but they are apart of the Atlantic Federation and follow all laws and pay taxes to the government though they still have autonomy over their internal affairs. One of their astronomers rushes to check the records.... Rifling through old paper files he finds a heavily redacted sheet with a single picture. Every word except a few are blacked out. It says. "Deep Space Habitat 107, Mission : Exploration of deep space exo planets capable of supporting life. Origin- Earth... Mission findings: (blacked out.). Crew- (blacked out)." The picture matching the view in his eye piece he rushes to his superiors who are just as confused....
...
...

On the 10th day with Mr.Mask, Storm looks across the ring as they move toward each other. Mr.Mask slowly circles with his hands up in a traditional Boxing guard stance. Storm waits for his opponent to make the first move. Mr.Mask suddenly rushes in and lets lose a right hook which Storm knocks away as he lands a punch of his own to the gut. Mr.Mask seems unaffected and returns another right hook which Storm barely catches. As they are trading blows, it becomes apparent that Mr.Mask is holding back significantly. Storm looks at him. "Don't hold back on me." He says tightening his guard. "Give it your best shot." Mr.Mask nods and throws more punches as Storm blocks most although one lands to his cheek and cuts it open. Storm starts to breathe heavier but continues to fight as he feels his strength start to give way.
Mr.Mask strikes with his left which comes in as Storm doesn't even try to block it. Mr.Mask takes advantage of this and shifts his weight just as he makes contact letting the energy travel from the ground to his fist and Storm drops like a sack of potatoes.

Storm startles awake as water splashes his face. "Do you know what went wrong?"
He looks at Mask. "I assumed I could take it."
Mr.Mask nods.
Mr.Mask looks at him impressed with his progress so far. "Don't get discouraged, your doing far better than I had imagined. Your mother will be happy to hear your doing well." He says smiling behind his facial covering. Mr.Mask throws him a towel and Storm wipes the sweat off as he nods.
"I have to go now, good work today."
For the next week Storm works twice as hard and is able to perform all actions asked of him. Mr.Mask seems impressed as he reassures him he is doing just fine and carries messages between Storm and his mother at her request.
She thinks about going public with the search for information but Storm worries that they may not be able to get the entire world on their side. Mr.Mask reassures him that the World leaders are at least for now on their side but it would take a little time to actually get them to openly join them.
Mr.Mask's visits to her have become more private as she has started crying again over Spark's death and the situation. Mr.Mask consoling her as they grow...closer. He doesn't know what to say but to tell her it was necessary and that he died a hero. She seems to be holding up well but he knows she is crying every night when no one is around even after all these years.
Returning to his hideout he finds Storm is eager to start the days marksman training. But Mask has to think about what had happened before headed back. He and Ember having gotten very close he wonders if he is too involved. He tells himself that he can't get involved like he has. That he must be dedicated for the good of his nation and that's what his oath was for.

A week later Mr.Mask gets word from Ember that she may be pregnant in the form of a very angry Storm as he reads one of her letters. He explains what happened and he immediately gets enraged.
"You slept with my mother! What happened to professionalism" Storm screams as he punches him in the face.
"It wasn't like that! It just kind of happened!" Mr.Mask says as he falls to the ground.

Storm fumes as he looks down at his trainer and friend. "And what about when all this is over. Are you just gonna vanish on her?" He says angrily.
Mr.Mask realizes that this isn't just about him being mad. He looks up at him and can see the hurt in his eyes. "I....I.... It's..its complicated ok."
Storm doesn't say anything but his face says it all.
"So are you done beating me up?" Mr.Mask says as he sits up a bit.
"Yeah whatever." Storm says as he walks out of the room leaving Mr.Mask alone.
Mr.Mask thinks about what just happened and how he hurt his friend's feelings. "I guess I better make it up to him."
The next day he pulls out a chart of police routes and trucking paths. He knocks on Storm's door and at first he refuses to leave his room. Mask sighs. "Storm, buddy I'm sorry. Please just come with me to see your mother. I have tn give her the weekly update on your progress and fill her in on information I have bern gathering in my spare time." He says.
After several minutes of silence Storm opens his door begrudgingly. They are able to hitch a ride in an open top freighter traveling to pick up product from City 13's capital. For awhile they sit in silence until Mr.Mask finally breaks it. "So is your mother pregnant?" He asks.
Storm just looks at him then responds "Yes she is." He says angrily.
"Storm... I..." He starts to say but is stopped. " Just drop it." Storm says peeking over the side.
Mr.Mask nods and the subject is dropped as they near City 13. They jump out and hoverboot down to the beach unseen.

Making it to the capital in short time Storm is ecstatic to see his mother as she looks up to see him enter through the door to her office.
She rushes over and gives him a hug and kiss. "I missed you so much!" She says.
"I missed you to mom." He says.
She lets go of him and then notices Mask in the room. "I need to talk to you. She says looking at mask. Storm lets out an sigh. "Couldn't you have picked someone that would at least stick around?" He says. Before anyone can respond, he leaves the room. "I'm sorry about that." She says. Mask nods but says. " He is right, I live the kind of life where I have many enemies and being around would be....troublesome at the very least. Im not saying I won't be around but it cant be like I imagine You or Storm would want it to be and I feel its best to be honest with you about it now." He says to her. She nods. "I understand."
She tells him that when the new year comes in, she will declare the formation of the Wolves of Gaia and begin its operations in earnest. She asks if he has any last questions but he shakes his head "Nothing I didn't already know or didn't figure out myself." He says as he heads out the door and to the street outside. He looks around for awhile sitting on the steps until Storm steps up next to him. "So your really not gonna stay after all this is over!" He asks.
Mask looks at Storm as he stands up and tells him the same thing he told his mother and Storm punches him in the face an then walks away as several people watch them.
"I really didn't see that one coming." He says to himself and then gets up. Back at the hideout Storm lets his anger out and feels better after training tho he is still upset that his friend couldn't at least ask for his blessing first out of respect.
A month passes and little is spoken about the subject as Storm grows in his skills with weapons and hand to hand combat..... Meanwhile the astronomer that discovered the incoming space colony is found dead, his research on the subject having been noticed and taken forcefully. The historian that mentioned it in his speech also goes missing and the news reports it as a possible terrorist attack.
Tensions rise between Cyber -Cities as they accuse one another for the deaths and disappearances of not just two astronomers but over a dozen that have so much as sneezed at the information about the spacecraft that was never supposed to return to Earth.

Chapter 3: The Arrival

Year 2104
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Storm asks as he watches his mother nod and the doctor sticks an epidural in her spine as she goes into Labor. "Is Mask going to be here?" She asks breathing deeply. "He's waiting outside." He says and the doctor clears everyone out of the room. She goes into full labor as Mask enters and steps by her side holding her hand.
A few minutes later...
....
"WE HAVE A NEWBORN BABY BOY!" A female nurse announces happily and hands him a small bundle with a small tuft of silver hair. Mask looks at his newborn son as the nurse sews his mother back up. "Hey there little guy!" He says poking his cute little nose.
"He's so cute... Can I hold him?" She asks and the nurse helps her sit up as she holds the child with a tired smile. "He is pretty cute.... What are you going to name him?"
"I don't know.... You choose..." Ember says.
Mask looks at his son and says. "Our little Atom."
"I like it." His mother replies.
Mask looks at Storm as he enters. "It is nice... I'm so glad your mom and you are ok with the whole me being different thing..." He says.
Just then the news interrupts all tv stations. "We apologize for the intrusion on todays programing. Please standby for possible emergency response information." A female voice says and there's a pause.

Then a deep male voice comes over the speakers. "As many of you may already know an unidentified craft has positioned itself by Earth's moon. Attempts to communicate have not been answered. We do not know who they are or what they want.... As of this moment all interactions have been more or less peaceful and we hope that relations improve with time. We csn only wait and hope that these new arrivals attempt to open a line of communication assuming they can understand our languages." The voice says and then the female voice speaks " Thank you for your time and we will resume normal programming shortly Please remain calm and we will get through this together. We wish you all a wonderful day." She says and the TV resumes playing the normal shows.
Ember asks "What was that?"
"I don't know what that was." He replies, just then he gets a phone call and Ember sighs knowing he has to go.
Going outside Mask and Storm look up at the moon as it sits across from the Sun in the sky in shock as they see a space station almost as large as the lunar body itself as it sits silently glistening in the sunlight.
As Mask looks up at the station he has no idea how his contact wants him to get on board without being noticed before he is even out of Low Earth Orbit. The space between the moon and Earth outside of the LEO trajectory being a no travel zone...
... He looks back at the station as it suddenly moves releasing a steady blue laser between it and the moon vaporizing an object in its path.

"What's going on?" Storm asks.
His question is answered as the laser shuts down and its light fades revealing a massive glowing scare across the moons surface tho the beam is far from any moon colonies.
Many seeing the display of such power begin to panic and the Cyber-World becomes a frenzy of people searching for supplies and shelter.
Looking at Storm Mr.Mask says. " I have to find a way up to that ship. While I'm gone keep up on your training and take care of your mother. I will get in touch with you both when I can." He says and then dashes away into the crowd...
...
...
Storm looks after him as he thinks of his own mission. Following a new lead on information about his father he has learned that he may have had a separate memory card stored in his bio organically enhanced arm. He says goodbye to his mom and newborn brother then leaves the hospital.

Making his way to his father's grave to exhume his body and see if the info is valid he calms his nerves with a joint as he walks....
....
....
Arriving at the gravesite Storm waits till no one is around and then spends hours digging. His eyes full of tears as he thinks of all he has discovered since he began investigating in his spare time when not training. He looks down at the casket for what feels like hours as he wills himself to look inside. Reaching down he grabs the coffin lid and pulls it open. He falls to his knees as he sees a man's bones and no bio-organic enhancements of any kind except for an I.D chip.

He reaches out with a decoder scanning the chip as he considers that his info could be wrong and his father didn't have enhancements.... The scanner processes the chips data.... Miles Hartford is the name that pops up. Storm looks around as he hyperventilates realizing that it isn't his father in Spark's casket.
Storm makes his way back to Mr.Mask's hideout where he showers and makes a couple sandwiches. He then goes back up to the hospital hours later as he is troubled by his newest discovery. He holds his baby brother as his mother says. "Son, you look upset. What's wrong?"

He hesitates and then says. "I was following a lead on information about dad...I dug up his grave and found someone elses body in his casket." He holds his brother closer.
"What?! You exumed your fathers body?! Why would you do such a thing?!" She asks. " No reason, I guess....I just wanted answers."
She hugs him and his little brother as Storms revelation registers. She pulls back looking at him. "Did you just say your father is not the one in his casket?"
He responds as his mind is racing. The 19 year old news images of the agents taking Spark away flood his brain. "No, he isn't."
She doesn't respond at first as tears roll down her face. "Who...who would steal his body?" She cries as Storm comforts her.

Chapter 4 : Exposed
Storm receives an update from Mr.Mask informing him that he has successfully infiltrated the moon sized ship orbiting Earth...
...
...
On the ship Mask looks around and quickly hides from several flying security drones and 3 of what used to be humans but are now mostly machines as they move past him within a few feet... One of them stops in his tracks looking around as Mask's breath catches in his throat. A modulated voice says."You smell that? Smells like Earth. Someone is onboard the Ark of Elites." He says moving closer to the man's hiding spot as he sniffs the air using his enhanced nose. "Shit." Mask thinks as the man points his weapon directly at him. "Come out with your hands in the air or we will be forced to execute you where you stand." He demands. Moving slowly Mask steps from behind the curtain following the man's directions.
He looks at the Cyborgs. "Looks like I picked the wrong ship to hitch a ride on." He says as he is hit from behind knocking him out.
He awakens to find himself restrained in a glass tube with a large muscular man in a lab coat watching him. "Hello there, nice of you to join us."
"Who are you?"

The man smiles. "My friends call me Dr. Pigskin, on account of my love of football... The upright kind." He says as he looks at the restraints keeping mask prisoner.
Dr.Pigskin says. "Don't bother trying to escape. Those restraints are rated for bio organic enhancements from designation Z level 5 to designation A Level 7." Mask thinks the man is crazy as there are only enhancements up to designation M Level 4 back on Earth.
He is about to say this when the man holds up a finger to stop him. "You think I am crazy, but you Surface dwellers only have half of the enhancements we left behind for your ancestors. We kept the best for ourselves." He says.

The man then whips out a needle and injects something into him. "This will help you relax, you're going to have quite a busy day." Another man that's mostly machine walks in and with a hint of anger says. "Dr.Pigskin stop telling the prisoner things. For all we know he wanted to be captured for the purpose of seeming vulnerable so we would divulge sensitive information. And we don't know if he is capable of escaping so assume he can." The man says in a deep voice from his electronic vocal cords. He walks in front of Mask. "So you are the one that wanted to expose our plans. To bad you didn't know enough." The man says holding up a memory chip.

Mask looks at his left arm in shock seeing the chip compartment empty. He looks back at the man who laughs saying. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you Spark. We have so much in store for you."
Mr.Mask's eyes open wide with surprise as his identity is exposed and he thinks of how wrong he had been to assume the corrupt government was on Earth.... When in reality they to were under threat from the Elites on the Ark, calling the shots and informing the corrupt on Earth of their return. A transmission sent 23 years ago that he had intercepted by mistake setting events in motion that lead him here.
....
....
Storm looks up at the station as he sits thinking about his father. He had died before he was born. but he remembers how his mom would always cry when another year passed. He really wanted to see his dad again but he was never there.

Storm looks around with tears in his eyes. Seeing no one in the area around the park he cries out in frustration and pain as he punches a lamp post denting it significantly as every emotion hits him at once and he drops to his knees sobbing quietly....
...
...
He walks back to the hospital feeling better than he did but not much. Walking into his mothers room he smiles seeing his little brother and suddenly gets very angry towards Mr.Mask knowing that he doesn't plan in being around like a father should...

Suddenly the TV station is interrupted but not by Earth based communications.

A human that is mostly Cybernetic appears on screen. "People of Earth. We have been traveling on the Ark of the Humble for over 2,000 years ever since we left Earth in search of a better planet. We have found none and are sad to say that one of your own has infiltrated our ship and fired our Laser at the moon a second time. The first was us as we were destroying an asteroid headed toward earth an no lives were lost. The man responsible for this gross action has been captured and as a show of our good faith we give the choice of his punishment to you. What does Earth say should happen to the man that wiped out 50 million innocent moon settlers?" He says as he gestures towards Mr.Mask.

Storm looks at the screen saying. "He didn't.." He starts to say as he hears the rest and runs outside seeing another area on the moon that was vaporized by a second laser attack.

Going back inside to the TV he gets back in time to see the cyborg pull off the facial covering Mr.Mask wears. Ember gasps in shock and disbelief then faints onto the bed as Spark looks at the camera. Storm feels his heart break seeing his father alive and having left him so alone for so long letting everyone think he was dead. Suddenly to Storm wiping out a colony seems like something such a man could do as he struggles to breath and sits down with his head in his hands. Everything running through his head as he feels abandon and betrayed as he wishes he never met his father. Wishes he had actually been dead as he hurts, trying to understand why he never came back until now and why he hid who he was...
...
...
Storm leaves the hospital after making sure his mother is ok and kissing his brother's forehead. He doesn't feel the cool rain as he walks outside into the street. He doesn't feel the cold or the stares of people passing by. He just walks and walks not really knowing where he's going.

The thick Russian accent of the bartender breaks through the turmoil "Comrade, you look like you could use a drink." He says from the doorway of O'Malley's Bar.
With a shrug Storm replies "Sure."
The Bartender pours him a double shot of Old Strawberry and sets it on the counter in front of him.

Half an hour later Storm is still at O'Malley's as he looks up at the Ark. The bar owner's thick Russian accent breaks through Storms inner turmoil once more. "I assume you have heard the news."
"Yeah..." Storm Replies.
"Well, in any case I'm sure you're aware that our nations are capable of such things. We've seen it in action several times over the past couple years." The man says as he points a remote at the large screen on the wall and turns it on watching the local news.

"We'll be right back, but first these news headlines." Pandemonium after Terrorist discovered alive 50 million more dead at his hand. What will Earth decide to do?" Scrolls across the screen over and over till the News Anchor returns.
"Thanks Tom, we've been following the breaking story all day here. Reports are still coming in but it looks like the infamous terrorist Spark is to be sentenced by The inhabitants of the Ark after he was captured over the weekend. Spark was found guilty of multiple crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by exile into Space on a pre programmed craft set to travel to the edge of the observable universe.... Haha. That's one...Spark... I think we all are glad to miss. So long and good riddance." The female anchor states happily as Storm listens on.

Spark's son is unsure how to feel as the Russian puts a consoling hand on his shoulder as he breaks down. "Comrade, I wish there was something I could say. This is sad day for humanity." He says as Storm puts his hand on top of his....
....
....
....
Aboard the Ark of The Elite who have successfully framed Spark the Pod is prepared and stocked with supplies
"Huuu, uhhh, huuu, uuhhhhhuhhuuuu." Spark wakes inside a large pod as it is being moved to the Launch Bay of the massive station. He looks around seeing no one and finding that he isn't restrained or hand cuffed. He looks up at the ceiling as his breath quickens in panic knowing the decision Earth has made. Having to watch each vote come in from almost everyone on Earth. A surveillance drone floats around watching him as it uses a perfected special form of quantum entanglement to live stream Spark's punishment till he gets out to 100 light years, a journey of 1 year in the warp drive equiped pod. Then the stream will end.
Spark grabs the drone looking for the tell tail hole of a built in mic but finds none. He studies it more seeing that its extremely well built and most likely takes special tools to take apart. His panic grows as he further studies the ship.

Looking over to his right he sees a high tech monitoring center and a read out of how long supplies will last."That so messed up!" He says as tears start to blur his vision.
"Food - 5000 years."
"Water - 5000 years."
"O2 scrubbers - 5000 years."
"Time to destination - 13,800,000 Years."
Spark sits in the useless pilots seat as everything begins to spin.
"So I was a bad guy, so what! You not puttin me out here!" Spark yells as the room starts to spin faster.
Spark can feel himself being pulled upwards as he feels a weightless sensation and falls back onto the seat. He closes his eyes trying to sleep but he can't, there is nothing to do as he thinks about his life till now. He tries to calm down... He thinks of Storm, Atom and Ember back on Earth and breaks down completely as he sits balled up on his side in the ultra comfortable chair as many on the Earth watch.

10 Days later the News Anchor's report something Unexpected.

"Some watching the Live Stream find the prospect more horrifying than they had thought... But at least he is alive and being punished....Right?" The female anchor says. Her demeanor clearly opposing her prior enthusiasm.....
.....
.....
Back on the Ark of the Elite, the upper Echelons look at a screen displaying the Earth. The second Highest member on the Council tells his cohorts. " I think we should cause war between the nations. Any left over after are far less likely to be formidable. They can't win either way but I would rather not have to repair the Ark extensively. What do you all think of this?" The other 10 members of the Council think a moment.
"An excellent plan, this will definitely be a worthy successor. Possibly the best yet." One says.
"Yes it will it will be fun to watch, we are fortunate the Earth is so violent and easily fooled."
...
...
...

Spark rips off a piece of metal from inside the fridge and cuts into his bio organic arm wincing. He pulls a memory card and a memory stick out of the opening and shows it to the camera. He then uses his blood to write with.

"I have proof I am innocent. Do not Trust the Ark of the Elite. That laser weapon can only be fired by a cyborg. Waited so long cause they'd have killed me. But now its a race to get these memory devices. Or I could just hack this droid and send them to earth myself." A note says as he holds it up to the drone. He then passes out from blood loss and a first-aid bot appears wrapping his arm and giving him fluids then retreats back into it's charging slot.
Storm watches the news feed hopeful that someone will listen and try to reach him.....
....

Spark is able to break apart the drone after trying all day then carefully connects the memory devices into the slots within and sends the files proving his innocence. One that can easily be proven as real. He was captured at the time as he was recording and got them on video after the TV camera stopped rolling. The other will take some testing but will be found to he real as well. He sits back in the Pods pilots seat and hopes someone will listen and come to save him or at least stand up to the Ark of the Elite.
He is finally found and picked up by one of the last search ships. They rush him back to Earth where he recovers After a long 6 months they take him back to The Earth so he can testify before the courts there. They all stand guilty of everything and upon seeing one of there own go to jail or get executed for treason the rest just accept that their time is over and shut down their cybernetics dieing almost immediately after forcefully making their bodies live far past their limits for centuries.
After the videos are found to be authentic Spark is released from prison and compensated greatly and the entire world moves on the Ark forcing them to surrender as almost every nation works together....
....
....
....
Minutes after his last court hearing finalizing things and fully releasing him he walks out and sees his Ember and his 2 sons.

"Storm!" Spark calls after him as he walks away. Ember puts a hand in his chest stopping him. "He grew up his whole life without you and always wanted a father So just give him a sec ok. You lied to all of us Spark. You could've told us you were alive."

"I didn't have time to tell anyone. I didn't even know myself at first. I'm sorry but things happen and I was the only one that could save you, everyone else just got caught in the middle, Even me, But I'm here now and I'm not leaving."
Spark pulls her into a hug. "And I'm not letting you go ever again. Please Ems. And I have been there... For both of you. Ever lose your ignition activator and suddenly found it where you just looked. And that mugger that tried to stab Storm when he was 14. I might've missed a lot but I tried being there." He says.

She pulls him close whispering. " I killed my father because of what I thought happened to you. He had killed my younger brother to so no worries but still." She says then kisses him.
For the first time about 20 years Spark holds her tightly as himself while she cries softly in his arms.
"It's ok. He says. "I'm not going anywhere this time." and then kisses her back.

Chapter 5 : Storm's Mission

Storm looks at his father as he sees him walking over.
Spark says "Son, I know your upset with me and I understand, I really do. But I had hard choices to make.... Just know that I love you and I wish I coulda been there more. I just got so lost in being Mr.Mask and hiding and I thought it was protecting you and so did your mother. Until they sent an SSD to kill you. After we met I just didn't want to scare you away. And Maybe I'm wrong but We did have some really good moments. I couldn't help but be somewhat like a father figure as Mr.Mask." He pauses as if to take a breath before continuing. "So If you want to hate me I understand but don't give up on me son." And he reaches out and hugs Storm.
Storm moves away from him after that hug.
Spark follows him. "Storm. Just be safe ok." He says as he turns around with the sun at his back as he watches a bird. A glint shines in his eye from a building and he turns away looking at Storm. Oddly seeing a glint off the chrome accessor Storm is wearing. In an instant what he just saw registers as a sniper perched atop a building. He throws his drink at Storm.
The bullet intended for Storm hits the grass as he turns around jerking to the side just as the trigger was pulled.
Spark tackles Storm to the ground as a second shot rings out and barely misses.

It's too late as Spark and Storm are already moving. Spark runs and picks up his pace with each step. With his longer legs he quickly pulls ahead of Storm. As he does the sound of the shots are getting louder. Storm goes left as they see the sniper jump from his perch and begin a tactical retreat.

"Come on Spark stop butting in on my mission." Storm says to his father Subvocally in his ear piece. "Oh really you woulda been shot if I wasn't there." Spark says as he follows him.

Storm lets out an aggravated grunt. "Please, that's why my head plate is a light sensor and camera. I knew he was there before you even turned around and I know that he takes no longer than one second to line up a shot but can be as fast as the blink of an eye as well."

"Who taught you how to spot snipers?" Spark asks him as the corner the shooter.
"Mr.Mask of course who else?" He says stopping and aiming as the man runs around a corner taking cover.

"Can't argue with that. Let's get him." Spark says running after him.
They run around the corner, guns at the ready only to have the man jump out and throw an explosive at Spark and Storm before going back behind cover.
Spark turns around and covers Storm as the grenade explodes a foot away from them. The concussive force of the explosion is enough to send both men flying away and they thankfully have flak jackets.
Half dazed Spark turns to look at the shooter and his eyes widen in surprise as an object comes flying at him. He catches it and turns trying to throw it only for the object to explode in his hand...
....
....

Spark lays looking up at Storm as he cries above him putting pressure on a wound that's bleeding profusely after having tied a belt tightly around Spark's damaged right arm. "He's gone man... He's gone."

Spark stares at the roof of the Hotel parking garage as men argue with each other and someone shouts."Medic!"
"Finally." Spark thinks to himself as he begins to fade.
He tries to take one last look at the world but fades to black.
"Told you playing was better than working..." A voice says to him ashiss mind goes...
...
...

Spark opens his eyes and finds himself laying on a medical bed as men in lab coats scurry in and out of the room.
"What happened?" He asks as he sits up looking around.
"You died." A doctor says emotionlessly.
"Dad. Your awake. I'm sorry I was...." Storm starts to say but Spark grabs hand. "Son I will always Love you and I always have." Spark says as he holds his son's hand.
"I know dad... I love you to..." Storm says fighting back tears. Spark asks.
"Did you get that sniper?"
"Yeah. He was on our pay and was found to be a traitor to the nation."
Spark closes his eyes relieved. "Thank you son. And great job. But next time no explosive surprise parties." Spark says.

---