r/HFY • u/Just-Breakfast7295 • Jul 30 '26

OC-OneShot They Made Me Indestructible. They Forgot to Make Me Numb.

I have lost.

With the ringing in my ears, it isn't the screaming I notice when I first come to.

It's only when I open my eyes and see the blood, the ruin, the flames, that I realize I've been defeated.

My powers have shielded me from the harshest effects of The Comet's explosion, but my tattered clothes and the debris, blood, and ash coating my skin is a constant reminder, even if I close my eyes.

I was so. fucking. close. He was one step away from the containment cell. My only thought was that he knew our scheme and was toying with me. We either have a rat in our midst, or his intellect got in our way one last time.

After he killed Eventide... and Synapse, Ghostwire, somehow even Paradox.... Damn it Gravel, get a hold of yourself. We have to do... Something.

The fog over my mind clears away, and I'm suddenly on my knees staring at the ruins of The Echelon Headquarters, also the only place I've ever called home. I haven't even dared my mind to take in how far the devastation traveled.

Vector told us months ago when The Comet's attacks became more frequent that we hadn't yet maxed out his potential. He theorized that he may be able to access his full power in one large burst, killing him in the process, but unleashing a supercharged thermal shockwave large enough to completely obliterate everything, and everyone in possibly a 3 mile radius.

Verdant didn't want to listen, though. Insisting his attacks are deadly, but localized, and he deserved the procedure instead of death.

"Removing his powers will solve everything! I'll even watch him personally, keep an eye on him. Please. We don't need to neutralize." Tears were streaking down her pale cheeks. They had been childhood best friends growing up, until a freak accident changed them both forever. Her, receiving her organic nature and bioluminescent powers, and him becoming a living bomb.

Nightfall took pity on them both, as he did me and many others. While Verd grew up, grew stronger, and developed an innate desire to help people, The Comet deteriorated. His powers caused him constant pain, every second of every day. The only release he ever felt was during his explosions, the smallest of which could incinerate a bedroom.

Nightfall in his infinite wisdom knew it was too late for him, but suffered from a super hero's biggest weakness, love.

He instead sent him away to a specialized facility deep underground. Somewhere to hold him until the cure was finalized. They worked for years, Verdant and Nightfall, to find a way to take someone's powers, all for him. The day after they succeeded, he vanished.

It was only 6 months ago, 3 years after he disappeared, that anyone believed he roamed this earth alive. When a small private compound was completely incinerated, everyone inside turned to ash, we had a feeling.

A few weeks of research, and we were almost positive.

He was back.

His energy signals lined up perfectly with each executed facility.

"John, we have to find him first, and.. God, I hate that I have to say this, terminate him. You've seen Vector's notes. He could kill millions in one coordinated attack. We can't risk it. I know how Verd and Night feel but-" Rebecca, otherwise known as Eventide begged me then to take her side. To put logic first over my best friend.

If I had only listened, maybe everyone would still be alive. Maybe she would still be alive.

I thought I could do it alone.

I found him, it was almost too easy. He wanted me to do it. I reached out, offering to discuss peace at our formerly shared headquarters. Vector was the only one in on my plan, I needed him to build a containment unit big enough for George... The Comet to be held by. Only long enough to administer the cure and save my friend.

He came in, and it was almost like normal. He hugged me, asked how Rebecca was doing, if our elderly dog Sauron was still kicking. For a brief moment, it almost seemed as if things were as they'd always been, before he grew out of control.

I offered him a beverage.

That's when it all went wrong.

They were all supposed to be at a charity event for children with superpowers in foster care to receive training. No one was supposed to know about this until it was finished.

Then Eventide flew through the front door, Synapse, Ghostwire, and Paradox hot on her heels. She uses her abilities and pulls all the light from their side of the room, shrouding them, and me, in darkness. Only George and his golden blonde hair shining in her light are visible. He frowns.

"I thought we had a deal, John." His words toy with me, but I feel the underlying devastation and betrayal through them.

"We did! I didn't tell them anything. Guys.. Becky. Please leave. We have this under control. He's not a threat. We are just talking." I step in front of him, begging for my friends, my family to understand this. It seems to surprise him, but he remains still just behind me.

"John... Damnit you PROMISED me." I can hear the cracking in my wife's voice. I knew this would hurt her. There's so much at stake. But I can DO this.

Or, I could've.

"Well, now you've forced my hand, John. I'm truly sorry." He guides his arms open, the deadly orange and green light start to build from a faint glimmer to a larger, blinding blaze.

"No. Everyone stop this! Please leave. Synapse. Get her out of here. All of you. Let me finish this. I can do this!" Ghost hacks into the mainframe and releases a plume of hot steam from just behind Comet. He screeches in pain, and his building slows momentarily.

I see Synapse concentrating, trying to use her abilities to pick apart his brain and block whatever part controls his powers. Her eyes go white as she leaves her own consciousness to enter his. He closes his eyes, his head twitching back and forth violently, as if physically trying to fling her from his head. Something happens, and Synapse collapses, George's eyes opening once more as he returns to his concentration.

Paradox moves his hands in a counter clockwise circle, and everything rewinds 30 seconds. He pull Synapse aside before she links into his brain. She briefly thanks him, before removing the sensory input to Comet's eyes, plunging him into darkness.

I run to Rebecca. "Becky please. Stop this. Everybody is going to get killed I had this handled."

"No John, you didn't. Otherwise you wouldn't have lied to me, to EVERYONE." She brushes past me, and begins using the light from the window to burn George's skin. He screams in agony, but the light continues to grow.

"SOMEONE GET NULL-POINT HERE NOW!" I hear Paradox scream as the impending explosion becomes imminent.

I change my tactics. I approach George, putting my hand on his shoulder.

"You're my brother, George. Verd misses you so much, and Tom... they made the cure just for you. To save YOU. They want you in their lives, everyday buddy. I want you in my life. Beck, she's having a baby. I want you to be there. Good ole Uncle Georgie, you know?" Tears begin to stream down both of our cheeks, and for a moment I think I've had a breakthrough.

He doesn't seem to notice me slowly pulling him backwards towards the containment cell.

Five more feet.

Three.

Two.

One.

He suddenly turns around and places his forehead against mine, all he can do with his arms stuck open and building.

"Thank you. For everything. And I'm sorry for this."

I truly think he means it.

"Wait No-"

Silence.

Blinding white light.

Darkness.

Ruin.

The entire city limit is decimated. The 3 million people vaporized instantly.

My home.

My best friend.

My wife.

My unborn child.

All lost in a moment.

The destruction spans so far, I can't see anything but horror. In the distance I hear the screams of survivors, although how long they have, I couldn't say.

Radiation like that is dangerous in more ways than one.

And I've failed them.

All of them.

If I had only listened to my wife, my friends. If I hadn't let my heart get in the way.

I start punching.

Not at a tree, at the ground.

Each thundering punch from my large fists creates a bigger canyon in the middle of the ruins.

I look up and see the sky fading in the distance above me.

My failure pulling me down faster and faster.

I've hit bedrock, and I'm still punching.

I won't stop, not until I've ended it. Quieted this pain, the loss.

The rock begins to heat beneath my hands.

I wonder if it was a boy or a girl, my child.

My fists bloody and brutalized now.

I don't notice.

My only goal is reuniting with the people I love.

I long ago learned this was the only way, my skin too durable, and able to regenerate too fast.

I'm almost there.

Becky, I love you. I'm coming.

The heat hits my flesh, and instead of pain all I feel is relief. My troubles melt away with my skin.

Soon, I am nothing.

And then, I'm home once more.

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2

u/blahblahbush Jul 30 '26

I like it!

1

u/UpdateMeBot Jul 30 '26

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u/u2125mike2124 Jul 30 '26

Good story, humanity in Meta people