I sat on the floor watching Gavin rest. It had been only an hour since his fight with Arc, and it seemed he was getting better, which was good. I'll say it again, thank god for healing factors. Still, his wounds are still severe. As for Jason, he left trying to find Arc, and messaged through Gavin's computer that Arc's last location is the Caucasus Mountains, a whole region away from here.
Though from his tone, the last before he disconnected, it sounds like he didn't expect me to go after him. But only telling me, just in case I make one last stand. Jason had to disconnect; he had to prepare with all the nations using all their resources against Arc and the SV4. Gavin is going to be fine without nurses or doctors, as his body would eventually recover. I felt my stomach churn as I hadn't had the chance to eat yet.
There was plenty of food in the fridge and a large stock of candy bars in one of the boxes Gavin brought from Canada. With that, I would fuel my Cosmic Energy to the max, but I didn't feel like eating even when my stomach protested. I didn't feel like fighting anymore. I failed spectacularly. In terms of raw power, I outmatch all of them and yet here I was, Arc is mostly going to activate the SV4 soon, my mentor is injured because of me, and now millions will die because I suck.
I rub my face. Some superhero I turned out to be.
"Ben?" I heard a weak voice call out. I shot up from my seat, my eyes wide as I stared at Gavin, who regained consciousness.
"Gavin!" I said, ecstatic, I smiled happily.
I would have hugged him, but I think even touching him would cause Gavin pain, and so I offered him a smile; he smiled back before turning into a sad frown.
"I failed, didn't I? Arc has the core."
Like his, my own smile faded into a tight frown. I released a deep sigh.
"Yeah," I answered.
"But you didn't fail, I did. If I had only been stronger, I would have-"
Gavin shakes his head. "Don't, I know how going that road does to a man, much less a boy."
We became silent. I sat down and stared at the ceiling. A storm of emotions brewed within me, but I remained passive. Gavin didn't say anything for a couple of minutes before asking about the situation. I told him everything about Arc's last known location and Jason preparing everybody for a full-scale assault on Arc and the SV4. A fight that I know where tons of soldiers will lose their lives. A part of me whispered to move to fight Arc before they get deployed to fight, but another part of me screamed that I should just sit down before I make things worse.
After telling him what happened, I stayed silent, looking down at the floor with a defeated look. I could feel his eyes on me.
"What's with you? I would have thought you would rush in to fight."
I chuckle. "Normally, yeah, but after what happened, I just…Gavin, I'm sorry for not being strong enough, and then you managed to get hurt."
"Ben-"
"I know." I interrupted.
"I know you told me not to dwell on the past, but I can't help it. I just hate the fact that out of all the people in the world, I was given this power instead of someone better. I mean, anyone could be a hero." I declared.
I look at my hands, so small and weak. If someone else were at the field trip, they probably could have become a hero better than me, without a doubt. I heard Gavin chuckle, which made me raise a brow.
"Cool theory, I mean, anyone would be willing to risk their lives to save their bully."
"That's-" I closed my mouth to stop myself, not sure what my next words are.
"But sure, let's ignore that. You are right, anyone could be a hero, I mean, there are firefighters, police officers and other people who are willing to help out others. By that logic, you're not that special."
I nod, agreeing with him, but the way he phrased it. He's going to counter my statement, isn't he?
"But it takes someone special and grit to stay a hero."
"Huh?"
"Think about it, if there wasn't a huge salary for those kinds of positions or if the person didn't get anything in return, how many of those heroes would stay as one?"
I shrugged. "Not many, I guess."
"That's what makes you special because while anyone could be a hero, it takes someone super to stay as one." Gavin finishes
My mouth twitched, and I couldn't help but smile.
"That was cringe and cheesy."
Gavin huffed. "I'm not used to giving speeches, you brat."
My smile slowly faded, though, once reality hit me again. While his words are hopeful, Arc still has the advantage. While I did win against the SV3, it might be the closest fight other than maybe my brawl against Droid. But everybody hinted that the SURVIVOR Version 4 is much stronger than the previous models. How could I beat that?
"Even so, I don't know if I could beat SV4; it's just impossible, I'm sorry."
I avoided Gavin's eyes, which were probably filled with disappointment. I looked at him briefly, but instead of the look of a shamed parent, it was one of warmth and understanding.
"Do you know why I support you, despite back then believing in Arc's plans for the world?"
I blinked, then I thought about it and shrugged.
"At first, I thought you were just a naive brat, but when you told me about your reason and desire to become a hero, you were different. Your powers, your willpower, what you represent. You became beyond just any hero, you became the impossible, and I thought if an impossible being like you can exist…"
He turns to look at his fist.
"Then even a world of peace and happiness can be achieved without bloodshed."
"Gavin…" I say breathlessly.
"That's why someone impossible can beat the SURVIVOR. You're that guy."
The fire within me rose, the voice telling me to fight demanded that I rise against Arc and his machine. My fist is shaking. I gulped.
"Can I really beat them?"
Gavin smiles, grunting as he pushes his hand, despite his injuries and places it on top of messy black hair and ruffles it.
"You can, I believe in you."
He lets go of my head, leaving me with my thoughts. I look at both of my hands before clenching them. I was stupid. I may have had a huge setback, but it wasn't over. I was still alive and breathing; as long as that's the case, I could stop Arc and his SV4. I looked at Gavin with fire in my eyes and nodded.
"Kick their butt, Ben. Show them the power of the impossible."
I nodded once again, getting up to get to the boxes and stuff myself with some food. I could feel my power returning. I may not have my SEE Goggles, but I should have 100% amount of Cosmic Energy. I grabbed the spare utility belt and filled the brim with candy bars and other stuff. I clasped the belt to my waist, though I don't have my SEE Goggles; all my spare ones broke. Instead, I used Gavin's phone as a map to show me the coordinates of Arc's known location.
Just as I was about to head out, Gavin called to me.
"Be safe and knock him out for me, will ya?"
I grinned. "Yeah, I'll make sure he misses a tooth after this!"
We smiled at each other one final time before I left the building, staring at the waterfall cloaking the base. I closed my eyes. Not only don't I have my SEE Goggles, but I also don't have Gavin to communicate with me. I'm alone to face this global threat. I clenched my fists and took a deep breath, opening my eyes as I shot forward, flying to my destination.
It doesn't matter if I don't have Gavin; I will stop Arc. I don't care if it's with or without my powers. I couldn't wait to wipe the floor with him, and not only that, but also to answer his question.