Part 1
Part 2
Part 4
Finale

Finally, the good life. Fancy digs, swank furniture, booze, and high priced strippers. All thanks to my latest crime spree. Hitting that Federal Reserve in broad daylight was not only fiscally rewarding but socially as well.

"It's nice to have a group of like minded ‘heroes‘ around Blades."

"It certainly is Steel." Blades, ever the yes-man. The Society was stunned by my defection, but they were staggered by the multiple defections that were to follow. My new associates had just been waiting for a leader, and I am that leader.

"I believe it is time for us to take our rightful spots in the sunlight. Enough of this skulking about in the shadows Blades. A plan has just been put into action that will change our current...living arrangements. Gather the others in the conference room."

"Of course Steel."

..."This is Ace Johannsen for the New Time Chronicle, news of a massive explosion at the Facility, the terrestrial headquarters of the Society, has just reached us. The casualty numbers are astounding, nearly the full contingent of the Society were present for the graduation of this year‘s new heroes. Mass destruction of this scale has never been witnessed. The crater extends a full 5 miles and a mysterious red cloud is rising from the wreckage." Click.

"As you can see, my plan has successfully rid us of the only major opposition to our ruling the world." The assembled companions clap with fervor.
"We can now take control of the Orbital Platform, and so the fallen angels will ascend into the heavens leaving behind a living hell." Again furious applause erupts from my ten compatriots. A chant of 'STEE-ELL, STEE-ELL' begins, but I quiet them all with a wave of my hand and head out for the O.P.

---

"Steel, a week has passed. That red cloud is still spreading and killing everything in its path."

"Thank you for stating the obvious, Professor Zap," our resident egghead. "But what exactly happened? All of this computer equipment in the O.P. has to be able to tell us that."

"Indeed Steel. According to the records in the computers the Facility housed a great deal of alien technology and a storehouse of quarantined substances. When the reactor when critical it not only took out the Society, it took out all of the safety mechanisms and appears to have ruptured the containment units. At the rate of expansion, if it does not stop it will threaten all life on the planet."

"Ever the optimistic optometrist," I tap the one hundred page report he put together, "I will determine what must be done." Zap and the others leave and I am left with my own thoughts for a moment. Looking out the window it's possible to see where the cloud has left its taint. The very ground it covers turns black as if charred by a massive fire. The cracks in the earth where the lava is beginning to pour out look like a perverted child's puzzle made of fire. I fail to hear Blades enter the conference room, still mesmerized by the wanton devastation.

"Avast Steel!" I shake my head as the slap of a stack of printouts draws my eyes to where Blades has dropped a stack of files on the titanium table in front of me.

"What is this Blades? A list of names and addresses?"

"More than that Steel, it is the list of every Superhuman on the planet including those that were in the graduating class from the academy. You might want to look a bit closer."

I look over the top page reading the names, "Gerald, Roger K.- Reaper, Gurgan, Hans I. - Beowulf, Heeler, James W. - Lapidarian?"

"Flip to the next page Steel."

As I turn the page my mind is assaulted by the impossibility. Mother - Marcy Heeler, Father - Ward Heeler A.K.A. Steel. Powers - Manipulation of stone and mineral. Birthdate - 1 May 2035. DNA testing, progress reports, training summaries...I'm overwhelmed by it all.
Graduation date - a week ago.

"Your son was at that graduation when the Society blew up." I do not even hear the rest, as I focus on the photo of my son, seventeen years old.

My eyes, my jaw....my son...my god, what have I done?