ALTERNIVERSE: Chapter three

Phin stands alone while overlooking the city of the gods, his mind still trying to comprehend the information he was not told but shown in the visions provided by the pantheon. Mikayla stayed in the citadel to talk privately with her parents while the rest of the group left except Lumina. The fire demi-goddess walks up slowly beside Phin and looks out over the city together.

"I take it you're not handling the fact that you're a god, well?" asks Lumina.

Phin lets out a sigh. "Would anyone handle this well enough? To live our whole lives as a human just to find out we're some god that was reincarnated. I'm starting to understand why Mikayla was so livid at Borean and Torrentia."

"I want to say that I understand what you're going through but it's different for us." Lumina rises her hands engulfed by flames. "I knew from a young age about who I was and my godly heritage. Being a demi-goddess of fire is simple knowledge."

Phin turns his sight onto her. "Oh, how I wish it was simple for me. I don't know what to do or what I'm supposed to do for that matter."

"You're the God of Harmony and a force of peace for the world. You're the only one who can stop Korthax when he shows his face again." Says Lumina as she places her hand on his.

"That's just the thing how do we know if he reincarnated yet? Maybe he is still just some mass of energy floating around the ether."

"I think he has. Over the last seven years, the world has been slipping more and more into chaos with the arrival of what you call meta-humans. Now that it is known that Aethers reincarnation is alive, along with my brother's vision of your world in death and despair, it is safe to presume that Korthax has reincarnated as well. Who that person might be is still a mystery to us."

Phin looks at Lumina with a curious expression. "Wait, your brother had a vision of earth being destroyed? He never mentioned that he had a vision."

Lumina nods her head. "From what I was told by Father, Jin saw your world destroyed and in shambles. Bodies of the innocent littered the ground as buildings burned down around him. And a mysterious man cloaked in a dark black and red robe, red mask with piercing red eyes stood over him." Right as she finishes giving the description Phin is shocked by the sudden revelation of who it is. "Phin… Do you know who it is?"

"Fortunately, I do. Unfortunately, it's the one person on earth you don't want to mess with. I need to find Jin?" Phin grabs hold of Lumina's hand and the two run down the stairs of the citadel and into the city.

…

Three days have passed since the board of directors for the Hero Organization passed the rule to take in the vigilantes into their ranks. The tension between the Heroes and Vigilantes was ever-present as there awkward silence between them with the occasional scowl though today the tension was at a low. A culmination of clouds filled the skies over Lumer city as the entirety of the Vigilante Association gathered at the cemetery to honor the death of their fallen comrade. Daniel and Ben came in black suits to pay their respects, feeling a little guilty that they couldn't save him. Light rain fell as the ceremony continued, it was impossible to tell the tears from rain dripping down everyone's faces. Once the pastor finished his sermon, giving Freddie his blessing, everyone came up one by one to say their goodbyes, tossing in a black rose into his grave.

An hour passed, the rain still coming down as Nick was the only one left at the cemetery. His face riddled with anger and depression, fists clenched with jolts of electricity sparking every few seconds. "Freddie… If you just had let me come with you. I should have just followed you anyways no matter what you said if I had you'd still be here." Electricity flares up around him in a quick burst living his body riddled with sparks before calming down. "I promise you, Transmuter will pay for this." At that moment his body turns into pure electricity and in a flash he's gone.

Daniel and Ben make it back to the Hero precinct with their clothes soaked by the rain and morale at a low. "I need a drink after this, man." Daniel asks, loosening his tie from his shirt. "With the union of the Heroes and Vigilantes and The Magicians passing, I don't see this working out for a long while."

Ben takes off his coat and tie. "It's to be expected. We've been at each other's throats for too long. Both sides fighting the good fight but only one side still being seen at criminals until recently."

"True but we're at the thick of it. The other vigilantes think we have something to do with his death. It's not our fault he got captured or tortured to death." Ben's heart sinks even more as he feels the guilt of his actions.

"Yeah… that's not on us." Ben says as his phone begins to vibrate in his pocket. He takes it out to see it's from an unknown number. His face now matching the way he feels knowing who it belongs to. "I meet you at the bar. I got to take this." Daniel gives him a nod then walks off down the hall. Ben puts the phone up to his ear while walking to a secluded spot in the building. "What do you want?"

Transmuter sits down in his chair at the head of a long conference table with Laura sitting beside him. "Is that any way to talk to your superior? I'll let this one slide for doing your part back up in helmsburgh. I have need of you again."

"Well, whatever it is I don't want any part of it, ok. I'm done with you."

"Aw, you act like you have an ultimatum. Do I need to remind you're my bitch? That I can take the only people left in this world that mean anything to you in a whim?" Ben stays silent knowing that what was said is true. "That's what I thought. So what you're going to do is bring your partner, Cerberus, to a specific location tomorrow."

Ben becomes puzzled yet worried at the same time hearing Transmuter's request. "Why Cerberus? Is it because he's looking into everything that happened so far?"

"You don't need to know the details other than I have a friend who wants to chat with him. Don't screw this up or your family going to be the ones to take the consequences." The call clicks as Transmuter hangs up the phone.

Ben, seething with rage and regret, shoves the phone into his pocket and makes his way through the building to the upper floor of the precinct. When he reaches the top floor, Ben makes a beeline straight for Mr. Hall's office. Ben prepares to knock but stops when he hears a loud conversation taking place beyond the door.

"Please, Mr. Hall, let me be on the alpha squad. I want to help take down that bastard for what he did to Freddie." Nick says, pleading to Mr. Hall.

The old politician lets out an exasperated sigh."I'm sorry but the teams have already been decided. We have the best people the Heroes and Vigilantes can offer as the advanced team to deal with Transmuter. We need the rest of our forces to deal with his lackeys where and whenever they rear their ugly faces."

"I should be on the advanced team! I can hold my own with the best of them, please just give me a chance."

"My hands are tied, you're on the squad with Amethyst, Pace Racer, and Zero." Nick tries to make another rebuttal but Mr. Hall quickly puts up his hand. "This decision is final and I don't want to talk about it any longer." Nick slams his hands onto the desk, slamming it hard enough to make a loud bang that can be heard down the hallway, before taking his leave.

When he opens the door Ben and Nick meet face to face. Nick gives him a mean scowl then walks past him to the elevators. "Is this a bad time?"

"No, right now is fine." Mr. Hall sits back in his as he softly rubs the bridge of his nose. "I didn't realize how much stress this job comes with. So what did you want to talk to me about this time?"

Ben looks down at the floor, his heart racing faster more than ever before. He takes in a long, deep breath and releases it slowly bringing his head up so that they both are looking at each other eye to eye. "I need your help."

…

Transmuter enters the war room alone, the doors closing and locking behind him. With a press of a button on the holo-table Rock appears in front of him. "So is everything ready to begin?"

"Indeed, with the help of Testaryx and their resources, production of conquering project is ahead of schedule and will begin immediately. When everything is done no hero or vigilante will be able to stop us and I will stand at the top of the world unchallenged by anyone. I have you to thank for that. Once this world is mine I'll gift you a private island for you and your lover can enjoy."

Transmuter bows slightly to Rock. "That is all too kind, I'll do whatever is in my power to make it happen."

"I know you would, that's why you're my number one henchmen. Report back to me if there are any issues." The image of Rock disappears after finishes talking.

Transmuters lifts his head, eyes gleaming red with fury, the majority of his body shifting from solid to fluid-like darkness. "Just you wait, Rock. I'll let you keep thinking you'll end up ruling over the world for now but when the time comes I will cut you down with my bare hands and take what's rightfully mine."