Act 7
Central Station of the Human Authorities.
Solid, pure metal doors slid open with a hydraulic sound, revealing a chamber equipped with the most advanced universal technology, on display were holograms showing complex data flows, consoles with luminescent interfaces under the cold light, and human officials wearing white suits with gray details walking through wide corridors. At the center of this technological sanctuary, an imposing figure commanded attention. His name was Malik.
He was a man with pale skin, graying red hair perfectly combed, and a posture that radiated unquestionable authority. He appeared to be in his 50s, his penetrating eyes holding the wisdom of decades of achievements, as the chief scientist of the nation and the bastard heir of the lineage that, centuries ago, had unified Earth under human rule, Malik carried the weight of his family's legacy on his shoulders. He wasn't the only one, he had a brother, the true heir, a respected war general who was thousands of light-years away leading the battlefronts in the vast human expansion.
Malik watched the screens with unease, something was disturbing the perfect order of his planet, a meta-human, an aberration in his carefully controlled world. The potential shame for his impeccable career was intolerable, It was he who had ordered the officers' assault, and now he monitored every movement through the tactical uniforms' cameras.
His eyes reviewed the moment Masayoshi manifested his powers countless times, every frame was studied, every movement dissected. When the recording reached the moment the young man uttered his words, a cold smile appeared on Malik's face.
"Isolate this audio track", he ordered, his voice a clean cut through the control room's silence.
"Send it immediately to the analysts, I want this voice broken down, every frequency cross-referenced with our databases, find this wretch."
The team obeyed urgently, Malik remained motionless, his hands firmly clasped behind his back. Fury boiled beneath his calm exterior, he had faced greater threats, true, but none so personally insulting, a being with powers, defying the order his family had built for generations.
Back at the Alien Village
Masayoshi lay on a simple bed, his wounds being carefully treated by the experienced hands of the elderly couple, the heavy air was laden with untold stories and countless losses.
"We come from Hyanum", the old man began, his eyes lost in distant memories.
"It was... well, it was a place of indescribable beauty, our fields stretched as far as the eye could see, every harvest a celebration."
His smile was sad, full of longing.
"The vegetables had flavors you Earthlings can't even imagine."
His wife added, her voice a soft drag full of resilience.
"We are among the few survivors, many of our people couldn't bear Earth, scattering to the darker corners of the galaxy or... well, you know, strangely, we were spared, our appearance isn't even humanoid, but it granted us this 'privilege'."
Masayoshi, his voice weak and laden with exhaustion, whispered.
"I... am deeply sorry for everything you've lost, and now, I've brought more chaos into your lives, you're risking yourselves by helping me."
The old alien placed a wrinkled hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Oh, son, don't say that, offering help is our duty, something tells me you carry a kindness within you, am I wrong?"
Masayoshi replied, perplexed.
"You don't even know me."
The two elderly beings shared a soft laugh.
"My boy, kindness doesn't require prior knowledge, at our age, we've learned that acts of compassion are their own reward, in the end, we will answer to the Creator, and the kindness we planted here will have been worth every tear and drop of sweat."
Moved to the point of tears appearing from beneath his mask, Masayoshi felt a weight lift from his chest, with trembling hands, he removed it, revealing his human face.
"I... am not an alien, I'm human, somehow, I gained these powers. Please, don't be afraid, I just want to do good, protect people like you who have lost so much, just thinking about those who caused so much suffering... I... I want to end it, how can you still stand after everything?"
The couple was surprised but did not recoil, the elderly woman replied with unshakable serenity:
"Son, your species matters little, caring for one's neighbor knows no race or origin."
Masayoshi, now crying openly, blurted out:
"I swear I will kill the monsters who command all this, the ones who caused so much suffering."
The old alien stood up, his gaze suddenly severe.
"I did not ask for vengeance, killing in the name of justice is continuing the same cycle of violence you claim to detest. I lost my world, my friends, my history, and yet, I do not carry hatred for your entire species, death will not bring peace, it will only create new tyrants to occupy the places of the old ones. You cannot fell a poisonous tree just by picking its fruits, you must uproot it from its foundation."
The words struck Masayoshi like a thunderbolt, he apologized immediately, understanding the deep wisdom in that simple metaphor. In that couple, he saw not just victims, but beacons of hope, the true symbol of what he aspired to represent.
That night, he shared his story, the powers, Darkseid's voice, his mission, he ate with them, regained his strength, and when it was time to leave, he received simple clothes to disguise his identity.
"I... don't know how to thank you, please, destroy this mask."
The old man took the object, examining it fondly.
"Oh, it's a fine mask, I'll keep it as a memento, for when you become the great hero I hope you will be, and I can tell everyone: 'Hey, look! I helped the great masked hero! Here's the proof he left me.'"
Masayoshi laughed, touched, and accepted the tribute.
"Thank you. For everything. It will be hard to come back here, so... please, stay safe."
He then departed, moving like a shadow through the dark corners of the village, avoiding all eyes. The journey back was long and exhausting, two hours of extreme stealth until he finally reached the safety of his apartment, just as the sun was about to rise.
After his shower, countless worries assailed his mind, but one clear resolution emerged: he would create not just a disguise, but a symbol. He would become the first and only superhero of this universe.
It was then that the doorbell rang.
His heart seemed to stop, his hands became damp, his eyes widened. Every step towards the door was laden with apprehension, until he looked through the camera.
And saw a face he didn't expect, a familiar face.
It was... his father.