Chapter 1 – Lightning strikes thrice.

It was at one he saw the future.

Beings from a portal wreaking havoc across the skies.

Swarms of machines that flew unrelentingly in numbers enough to swallow a whole city, and they did.

Men and women, people with the power to rival gods.

He saw it all and he knew not what he could do, lives he knew he could never save for what could he do, at one he was nothing less than a child a mind trapped in a body of an infant. The sentience he displayed should've been out of his reach for years to come yet he held it within him with no true knowledge of why. It awoke with his visions, he knew where he was ,he knew who he was and he knew of what was to come. Yet despite all this he knew not what to do, he was one a child no matter how much self awareness he had he was scared rightly so the visions showed him that he was a bug a child who at the moment would be crushed beneath the boot of any being in his visions. The fear consumed him throughout the weeks after he couldn't sleep his dreams showed only more destruction sometimes he was there always dying in some gruesome manner, he knew these weren't visions it was just a nightmare but he couldn't rationalise what he saw. The sleep deprivation left his every waking moment haunted by visions of being beyond comprehension but he was still a child so eventually it all faded his parents helped. Their love soothed his dreams and before even a year passed the visions were but a foggy memory.

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"Push!"

And up he went, wind flowing through his hair, he was flying free but not untethered and eventually he fell back down in an arc. On and on it went back and forth swinging away.

"Sweetie we need to let someone else have a turn on the swings" his mother called to him.

"One more swing mummy come on."

"Ok but this is the last one, ok"

"Ok"

And up he went before jumping off to play with something else.

It had been three years since he saw his visions but he was growing up as a normal child, he was smart that was clear but he was young. Learning could wait so he spent most of his time running around the playground in his family manor. Occasionally playing with his cousins who lived there but they were older and in year 1 so didn't have much time to play with a kid still in nursery. He was part of a large family all living in the same house.

The Silvers family was a family headed by Earl Orion Silvers of Nottingham who had two sons and one daughter in the family manor resided himself Lancelot, his father Octavian, mother Emma, his Uncle Brutus, aunt Jane as well as their children Hector the oldest and twins Castor and Pollux. His father was the oldest and so would inherit the family on his grandfathers death. The power of an earl or any peer had dwindled with Orion attending few of the meetings of the House of Lords where he was widely respected not for his title but the property empire and his management of it. Lancelot interacted very few times with his grandfather due to how busy he was but he loved when he could the man was not the stern sort with family he was loving and incredibly silly with his grandchildren. Lancelot loved his entire family his parents were loving and his uncle was a kind man his cousins would indulge him and he was happy. Life as it tends to though never stays the same and it was thus that on the summer before his first proper year in primary school that his parents would die. On there way back from a charity gala supporting some hospital their car derailed and they died in the resulting crash. His family were supportive but he withdrew into himself spending most of his time down by the lake on family lands he sat atop a large rock sometimes he would let himself fall in, sinking to the bottom only to kick up back to the surface when he needed air. He would come home drenched in water and his family's butler would always be there waiting to send him for a hot bath, never asking about what happened but always leaving an invitation to talk but he never took it. That was how he spent the next few months until one day when he was sitting alone by the lake.

"Ya know I used to come here in my own youth after my parents died."

Turning around he saw his grandfather approaching wearing dark trousers and brown jacket with a flat cap covering his long white hair. Beard billowing slowly in the autumn wind, he smiled at him wanly his own sadness conveyed through his piercing icy blue that all members of his family seemed to possess. He stood at 6"5 but he was hunched over slightly.

"Granted I was a fair bit older than you, in my twenties...they were old when I was born, in their late forties, not sure they even knew they could still have kids. You're great grandmother died first and while I was still mourning my dad went and died as well."

Not really knowing what to say Lancelot remained silent. Orion moved closer sitting beside him on the rock.

"I was young just got done with university ready to go out there into the world and do whatever I fancied. My parents were rich, I wanted to go out there and muck about waste money, live extravagantly for a few years before coming home to slowly learn about the family business, and suddenly that was gone and I was left with this responsibility. Earl Silvers of Nottingham, god I wanted to run I was so scared and so upset I was a wreck. I did my duty though I signed the papers I needed to attended the parties I was expected to but when I was alone I let it all out. Until one party when I met you're grandmother. She managed her own company, self made she was. I was sitting there and as the music began playing we were the only two left at our table with the others pairing off to go dance. I knew what was coming, I was expected to dance with her it was the polite thing to do but I'd left it a while and I wasn't sure what to do. Before I could say a word she turned to me and you know what she said?"

"What did she say?" Lancelot asked fully engrossed in the story.

"She said 'if you think I'm about to ask you to dance, think again." Orion said with a deep laugh, Lancelot couldn't help but join in.

"She had spirit she did." He chuckled before letting out a sigh.

"What happened then?"

"well I laughed, not much else I could do but as the rest of the room danced, we talked, she was so smart and so funny had a problem with being blunt though her words were harsh but true. I loved that women after that night and we often found ourselves in each other's company during the events held after. We then went on to date and before long we were married."

"Lancelot I know it hurts, but you won't get better if all you do is sit on this rock alone, so I tell you what. I'm going to come sit by you, I'll bring along a chess board or and Othello board and we can play, eventually the pain will fade and you'll be back to a happier you." Lancelot saw what this was, his grandfather was not just offering to sit with him it was more than that. His grandfather was giving up his time that he would have spent in the company to help him to get over his parents deaths. He was retiring for him. His uncle took over the company and Lancelot spent the following year with his grandfather learning about him and talking about everything. In that year Lancelot grew slowly out of his self created shell his family saw him smile more and soon he was back to being a kid again. His intelligence started to blossom as well his inquisitiveness leading him to expand to learning more than school was teaching. His grandfather made sure that while he stayed with the schools syllabus he was allowed to branch out to learn a new language and an instrument and by his seventh birthday he could play both the piano and guitar as well as speak Mandarin and French. His grandfather was so proud that for his birthday he bought him Elvis Presley's Gibson guitar. It was clear that he was being groomed to be the heir to the family name and it seemed to spark tension between his grandfather and uncle but the anger was never directed at him his uncle always smiled even if it didn't always reach his eyes but the looks lingered and the distance grew. His cousins noticed and they too started to pull back from him. Lancelot didn't notice too much he spent his time at home with his grandfather or tutors and at school he played with his friends. It became a favourite past time of his to hum away as he strummed along on his guitar, the piano was fun but he learnt it more due to it being what he was given to learn first a mark of his social class in a way. All was good once more in his life but unlike lightning tragedy will strike twice.

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Brutus was mad. No he was furious, when his brother died he was sad of course. But it also presented an opportunity for him, he knew it was wrong but he was slightly happy it meant that he could inherit the family company, he had such plans. So to prove himself he worked harder than ever and when his father retired he took over as CEO he knew he did a good job the company prospered and while he may not have done as well as his father could have, he was still learning the ropes.

He did feel bad for little Lance losing his parents but he was young, he would forget all about them in time, his father was helping Lance get over his parents death and the boy was starting to resemble the intelligent and happy child he was. It was nice to see the close bond his father shared with Lance he sometimes wondered if he wouldn't have had a similar bond had he not been working all the time. It all changed however on Lances 7th birthday, his father called him into his study and he sat him down.

"Brutus, I want to talk to you about the company."

"You've been doing well everything's going fine but I want to make everything perfectly clear." Brutus wasn't sure whether to be nervous or excited, either his father would make him his heir or it would all fall apart.

"I'm leaving the company to Lance, I want you to help guide him when I'm no longer around show him what he needs to know so that when he's ready he can lead the company."

Dread, this was not what he was expecting. This was the moment of his coronation when he would become the crown prince of the Silvers property empire and it was gone.

"Father please what did I do wrong I thought the company was doing well? Just explain to me why?" Desperation leaking into his voice.

"It's not that Brutus, the company is doing well but you've seen lances intellect, with his mind the company will go further than we could ever imagine, understand that this won't come into effect for a long time and you'll always have a place in the company."

That was what started the fights, the company should've been his the family should've been his but Lance took it all. The bitterness and anger grew over time until he saw the chance. Conflict warred within him as he saw a chance, Lance was walking along to her some lunch holding a small guitar built for his small stature. He wasn't paying attention strumming along and singing a boy named sue by Johnny cash the song distorted by his high pitched voice singing what was clearly meant to be sung by someone with a much deeper voice. As Lance walked to the stairs he stood behind him, the boy smiled twisting to see who it was all the while still playing the song. Brutus place his hand on the boys back and gave a push and as gravity took the boy faced marred by confusion not understanding what was happening yet he smiled genially hand outstretched from the push. Time standing still for a moment as their eyes met before the normal flow of time resumed and he fell.

Panic overtook Brutus but his face remained calm, the noise would surely attract people and if he didn't act fast the boys life may still be saved. Hearing the family butler, Joshua call out he started moving he had to call an ambulance make sure it seemed to be an accident. Joshua's footsteps were approaching so acting fast he shouted back pretending to panic

"Quick, help we need an ambulance or he won't make it"

As Joshua's feet fell faster running towards the staircase he whipped out his phone to call an ambulance. As Joshua entered he looked down to where Lance lay unmoving guitar crushed beneath him with a piece cut into his side a small amount of blood pooling on the floor. Everything happened fast after that, the ambulance came and Brutus travelled with it Joshua taking the Bentley to the hospital while calling Orion.

As Brutus saw the paramedics working he felt fear, if Lance survived he would surely tell of what happened. What Brutus had done was spur of the moment but what he had to do now, it was premeditated he had to make sure Lance wouldn't survive so when he arrived he made a call to someone who would tell him who to call and who to pay to have this mess taken care of.

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Lancelot lay on the hospital bed doctors surrounding him unconscious, he had sustained a head injury that had caused some internal bleeding that could if not addressed properly cause him to die.

In the waiting room his family sat distraught, his grandfather had been clearly crying his eyes red and hair messy. It had been a few hours since the 'accident' and no news had been forthcoming. As they sat their though a doctor approached the family looking grave,

"Mr Silvers?"

"Yes" Orion said his voice off tinted with his concern.

"He's stable at the moment but he suffered brain hemmorhaging, operating will have to be done, it's touch and go at the moment and brain damage or death is a real possibility at this point." The news caused a fresh bout of tears, hector and the twins might not have been the closest to Lance but he was still family. Eventually the family calmed down and Orion signed the forms for surgery to happen.

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As the room was prepped for surgery there was a last minute swap of chief surgeons but otherwise everything was set up smoothly. Before surgery took place Lancelot's eyes opened, the surgeon saw the panic in the boys eyes as he approached, the fear as the boy saw the needle in his hand and he felt a certain amount of excitement at what was to come, eyes crinkling in a smile as he came closer, the surgery mask covering his smirk but the boy saw the look in his eyes and scrambled away. The pain from his previous injuries only heightening the fear blood was pouring from his side from the struggling as well as some from his nose due to the stress and as the doctor went to inject the boy with the anaesthetic something happened.

The boys eyes flew open as he grasped the doctors arm while trying to hold back the needle. Information flew through his mind and energy he could feel his injury at his side reknit some of the way and his head felt warm. The man whose arm he was holding began to age slowly at first before one of the nurses pulled them apart and in a burst the doctor was flung back into a wall and collapsed. Lancelot's head ached and he fell unconscious soon after mind addled, he dreamt of another life and a small part of his visions dislodged from the masses.

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"Mr Silvers?" A nurse called out.

"I'm here, is there any news, I thought they were conducting surgery." Orion asked looking even more tired than earlier.

"Sir, there's was an incident" the family looked as if to be in despair, as they imagined the worst Brutus smiled knowing what had happened the surgery had been botched a slip and he was dead a terrible accident really but they would recover as a family.

"When the doctor went to administer the anaesthetic something happened the patient panicked and lashed out, the doctor was somehow thrown across the room and he was injured after hitting a wall, the doctor in question is in the ER right now." This was not what Brutus was expecting to hear.

"While this happened I'm not sure how to explain this but we did some tests to make sure Lancelot was not harmed in the process, I'm not sure how to explain it but it seems that the first tests were wrong somehow, his injury on his side isn't nearly as bad as we assumed, while he will have a scar it will be healed within a month. On top of this we could see no evidence of the previously thought brain injury."

"He's fine the, everything's ok?" Orion asked not certain what to think at this point.

"Yes he should wake soon and we can release him tomorrow, the doctor wants to keep him in for a few tests and to observe overnight to make sure nothing is wrong."

Brutus was not happy this could ruin everything something had to be done, what had happened in that room and why was all his plans going wrong?

"Thank you so much" Orion's voice bled joy and relief at the good news.

The next day they all went to visit Lance in the hospital. As they opened the door they saw Lance sitting up on the bed with the tv on, he would twitch every now and again and his face was screwed up in pain.

"Hey Lance","hi","hello" greetings were called out to the boy and he flinched sharply then turned to those who had entered.

"Hi" he replied lamely.

"How are you feeling?" Jane asked. Slowly he opened his mouth Brutus dreaded his words but was prepared to defend himself claiming the boy was confused by injury.

"Umm head hurts it feels all jumbled and achy, and I keep wanting to scratch at the stitches but the doctors say that'll cause them to bleed again."

"What happened?" Hector asked, he was fifteen now and was showing his concern for a boy he considered close to him. Brutus held his breath again.

"I don't remember I think I was playing my guitar and got distracted, my memory of the entire thing is fuzzy, the doctors say that I'll either remember in the next few weeks or it'll just be something that won't come back." Tension bled slightly from Brutus' form.

It took an hour to sign all the release forms and the doctors let him go.

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Lancelot wasn't certain what was going on, his mind was full of images of a different life, medical knowledge he'd never studied filled his head, how to perform surgery, memories and knowledge he had no business knowing, yet he did. This wasn't what had him so concerned though, it was the visions he thought long gone. A face of shadows a dimension so different to this one and the deaths of the man facing this being, Strange he saw him get injured and make a journey to Kamar Taj to receive healing only to learn more than he ever thought possible. He was scared he couldn't see the other visions at the moment they were still foggy but this one he could, he knew there were others just not what they were. What made him feel the most fear though was none of these, every time his uncle smiled at him he cringed. He still didn't remember what happened but he had suspicions, the smile put him on edge. He wasn't sure whether he could trust his uncle anymore. His grandfather though hovered, so worried about him he spent almost all day with him, scared another accident could happen. It may have just been his imagination but he believed things were coming to a head and he had no idea what to do. He was not wrong.

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Brutus' resolve was firm. He'd started on this path and he wouldn't stray, the push marked the start but he saw clearly now that was a mistake. If Lancelot has died Orion would've done everything to find out what had happened, the push would've come to light as would his bribing a surgeon who he'd been told could make surgery go wrong to make a mistake. Orion would know and he would've been put behind bars, thankfully Lancelot survived and the matter was dropped. He had been wrong. If Lancelot died Orion would move the heavens to find out what had happened. What needed to be done was to first dispose of the old man. Then a few months later as Lancelot was going down the stairs another accident would occur due in part to the trauma that Lancelot was having. It wouldn't be a complete lie, the boy was already a wreck, his twitching wouldn't go away and he flinched at the sight of his uncle, often his legs would lock up, he couldn't run without falling over after a couple of seconds. It was all psychosomatic of course but the boy believed there was something wrong kept telling Orion that he believed he may suffer from spasticity due to his head injury. It wasn't a good sign, Brutus was fairly certain that the boy suspected him so he began making a plan. Aconite would be given to Orion in one of his meals, he would die in his sleep the door would be locked and no one should be near his room that night he would arrange for it to be declared as heart failure in his sleep and that'd be that of course he had to arrange many things for this to work, blocking Orion's phone would be important and making sure that it all happened as expected. Thus one month post Lance's accident Orion was killed in his sleep.

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Lancelot woke up early the dreams becoming clearer, in one he thought he saw his uncle push him. Certain that it had happened this was he wanted to observe his uncle look for any sign of foul play. When he was sure he would talk to his grandfather he knew he'd believe him or at least he would look into it for him. Perhaps he should just tell him now. The thought struck him but he wasn't sure, despite everything his uncle was family it could've been a legitimate accident he didn't want to falsely accuse his uncle. He decided to go see his grandfather anyway, it was early but he was usually up now anyway due to his routine from his days running the company. He walked slowly along the corridor his legs not completely obeying his commands especially when he was near the stairs but he pushed on determined not to be ruled by the accident. He reached his grandfathers door in minutes and was soon giving it a knock.

"Grandpa are you awake yet?" No response, he knocked again.

"Grandpa?" Still no response, he went to open the door. Locked. It was never locked his grandfather knew he came to see him in the mornings sometimes for chess or just a talk. Knocking harder he shouted loudly "Grandpa, are you ok?" When he received no response he became concerned. Quickly running he went to go find Joshua knowing he had a key to every room. Joshua came quickly when he explained the situation and Brutus joined them as he saw them hurrying along. As the door was opened they saw him. Orion lay in bed covers thrown off eyes closed his body was splayed across the bed, he had not slept peacefully, as Lancelot approached

Joshua held him back.

"You shouldn't see this" he said tone solemn

"What do you mean, he's fine right" but Orion was not, the body was pale and the chest was not moving up and down. The medical knowledge in Lancelot's head was supplying him with the knowledge of what was happening but his mind refused to accept it.

"He's fine we just need to wake him everything will be alright, right, he's alright everything's fine"

"Lance"

"NO HE'S FINE HE HAS TO BE, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE"

"Joshua take him away I'll deal with this" Brutus said his voice full of false melancholy not that the loyal butler could detect it.

As Joshua picked up Lance the boy provided no resistance but what had once been a shout now came out as mean whimpers, repeating over and over again the same thing the single word, please.

Joshua didn't know what he was asking right now, for him to make it better, for the universe it was just a word yet as the tears fell it was so much more it was all his emotion condensed into that sound and he kept releasing those emotions crying sometimes loudly, sometimes softly. Before the day was done his voice was horse and his body limp. Unsure what he could do to help the boy Joshua just sat by him Lancelot wouldn't eat but Joshua made sure he would at least drink, the hot tea replenished fluids and soothed the boy, reminding him of days spent playing games by the lake drinking it with his grandpa but that would the cause new tears to spring forth. It was important he cry it out now though so that the healing process could begin.

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Everything was going to plan, Brutus have a small smile, he was feeling bittersweet his plan was working but despite it all he killed his father. Alas he knew he was right there was no turning back now, if only Orion could've seen that he was the true successor none of this would've happened, it was too late now. He was dead, and soon Lancelot would be too.

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The look his uncle gave him the next day as he walked into breakfast the next day clinched it for Lance, he had to get away. With his grandpa's death the only thing between the inheritance and Brutus was him, he had to leave. The destination was important, he couldn't be sent back and he wanted to be hidden, he turned to his visions for the answer. He looked to Kamar Taj he knew that would be where he could seek refuge but he was an unaccompanied minor there were to say the least extensive opposition to his goals. He first took to the internet to see if he could find anything about its precise location so he wasn't just some kid wandering about mindlessly. It was there he saw something that interested him. On one message board he saw that a day ago a message had been sent by an account known as 'DrStrange' asking about experimental treatment at Kamar Taj the likelihood was that this was the same man from his vision. It was risky but if he could get to Strange and convince him to take him with him his chances of getting there would increase. Strange wouldn't leave for at least a few days doing research on the place and trying to scrounge up funds. So he made a decision to risk it. The funds needed for such a trip and to grease the right wheels would be immense luckily cash was not something he had to worry about. He knew where his grandfathers safe was and he knew the passcode. The thought brought him to a fresh bout of tears but he knew he couldn't wallow he had to live for his grandfather. He would leave that very night, he set about packing, he brought one backpack full of pants, trousers, shorts, shirts hoodies, jackets etc he also went to get the money from the safe his uncle was still busy with his grandfathers death to notice. In the safe he found several stacks of £50 notes at a guess there was at least £150k, he stuffed it into his bag as well as the revolver he found. He was tall for his age looking about 11 as he stood at 4"8. He bought a train ticket to the airport not having a Oyster card yet, he knew that his family's private plane was there. He walked quickly sticking to families to blend in, when he got to the door to the door to the hangar he walked through but the alarm went off immediately. Knowing he had to move fast he ran to the inside and hid out in a closet. After a while security just dropped it assuming it was a malfunction or someone had opened the door on accident. Hiding out until morning he waited as this was a private hangar few people came here. When someone who looked like a pilot came in he revealed himself holding the gun he had tucked into the back of his trousers carefully.

"Remain calm I need to talk"

The woman seemed to jump at that and let off a scream before seeing the child in front of her.

"You scared the bejesus out of me kid don't do that, god" she was breathing in slightly but looked to be calming down

"Whose kid are you, need help finding you're parents?" She asked kindly.

"Listen I need to get to New York right now I have no adult at the moment but if you get me there now I can pay you" his nerves were fraying slightly this could go wrong in so many ways but he held hope it could work.

"Kid that's not how this works I'm not gonna take you to New York just cause you want to and a private plane costs more than what you can pay."

"£15000 now £15000 when we arrive no questions asked" the woman looked tempted, of course she did that was a lot of money and Lancelot had done his research as to who to target. She was called Magda, Lancelot had looked up all private pilots yesterday and she was the one who stood out, divorced single kid dying of cancer expensive treatment for a single mum who received no monetary support. She flew a private plane because she wasn't allowed to fly a commercial one due to her eyes needing glasses. Her plane was an older model less comfortable and so was not a target for the rich or wealthy. It took a while and a lot of convincing but it worked in the end. The plane trip was long and on the way Lancelot started teaching himself Tibetan once he got there he paid up and left secretly, it was dangerous the security would be harder to bypass in New York. He waited til it was night and the hangar had fewer staff before making his way through a service door that locked from the inside so he could thankfully get through. Once in he started making his way out of the staff only area but as he approached the door he was spotted.

"Hey kid what are you doing in here" an overweight balding man said who seemed to be watching camera screens called out. Lancelot dropped all pretences and ran hoping to all gods that the man would assume he was just a kid who stumbled into the wrong door. Lancelot went up to the exchange desk first to get some dollars so he could get a taxi to Strange's apartment that was luckily on his Facebook page with him showing off. He took on a nervous expression as he approached the desk.

"Excuse me miss..umm my dad went to the loo and told me to exchange this money for dollars please." The bored woman at the desk seemed concerned so Lancelot spoke up again.

"Could you please hurry miss I wanna quickly go find him he's not far but I'm a bit nervous" he said while pointing at a man going into the bathroom.

He handed over £200 and the women gave him $300. He scuttled off quickly and got a taxi, the man was sceptical but he made another quick lie up. Eventually he got to the building and tapped the intercom.

"Mr Strange" he asked

"What?" Came a harsh cracking voice

"I need to speak to you"

"Fuck off kid, I'm not in the mood to entertain bullshit."

"It's about Kamar Taj"

Silence reigned but a few seconds later the door buzzed open and Lance bounded up the stairs to Strange's door to see the man waiting there in a dressing gown full beard on display with a hopeful look on his face that faltered as he saw him.