Adrian possessed extraordinary super‑hearing, able to eavesdrop on every sound around him. Not only could he capture distant noises in the bustling city of Metropolis, he could discern whispers from blocks away. But no matter how powerful this ability was, it could not grant him access to people's inner thoughts.
A sharp wave of dizziness hit him, like countless needles piercing his skull.
In the corridors of Blue Valley Hospital, Henry King Jr. pressed both hands to his temples, struggling to block out the intrusive voices. No matter how hard he tried, the thoughts of others swirled through his mind without pause.
Because he was the son of Brainwave, the infamous Injustice Society telepath, his powers had begun to awaken ever since his father fell into a coma. Along with the ability to hear thoughts, Henry had developed telekinesis. Fear and confusion drove him to search through his father's belongings at home, where he found a stack of old videotapes.
He played them and realized they were his father's confessions. From them, he learned the truth: his father was Brainwave, a villain whose powers included telepathy, telekinesis, and mind control, and a founding member of the Injustice Society of America.
With shock twisting his thoughts, Henry came to the hospital hoping his father, even in a coma, might offer some guidance. Even though he knew Brainwave couldn't speak.
As soon as he stepped into the hallway, his telepathy surged without warning, flooding him with the inner thoughts of patients nearby.
"These medications are useless, useless, I'm so afraid…"
"I want his house and car, I deserve it…"
"I wish this hospital would burn. Maybe I could do it…"
The torrent of dark, selfish thoughts rushed into him, threatening to overwhelm his mind.
Shaken, Henry rushed to his father's room.
"Father?" he whispered, eyes glazed with confusion. "Can you hear me? Is this the power you left me?"
Brainwave remained motionless, unresponsive in his hospital bed.
"Can you hear me? Do you want to answer me?" Henry pressed, desperate.
Just then, the door opened and a doctor entered.
"Hey, Henry," the doctor greeted as he checked Brainwave's condition.
But Henry immediately heard the doctor's hidden thoughts: "I don't like Dr. King. He should stay on life support no longer. Let him die."
Shocked, Henry stared at the doctor, heart pounding in disbelief at how cruelly he thought of his own patient.
After the doctor left, Henry gripped his father's hand, his eyes hardened.
"You're right, Father," he muttered. "Humans are monsters."
Moments later, the door opened again and a familiar figure stepped in: Courtney Whitmore, the new transfer student and Stargirl in training.
"What are you doing here?" Henry snapped, already irritated. He had no fond memories of Courtney. Ever since school, she'd associated with the outcasts like Yolanda, whom he once manipulated and humiliated. A cruel prank he played had destroyed her reputation, and even now he felt complex resentment toward her.
"I want to talk to you," Courtney said. She intended to recruit him to her team, believing his powers could help the Justice Society fight the Injustice Society.
Henry stared at her and his ability activated instantly, exposing her thoughts.
"I never meant to hurt you," he heard her internal voice, "and I had no part in your father's condition…"
Enraged, Henry snapped, "Did you do this to my father?"
"No! No, not me!" Courtney said quickly, but his telepathy already read more.
"Your father isn't in a coma because of me," he learned, "it was Homelander. But if he hadn't done it, I might have died instead."
Confusion clouded Henry's expression, "Who is Homelander?"
Courtney, startled that his powers awakened so rapidly, tried to calm herself. She walked toward the door and closed it behind her.
"You don't want to know Homelander," she said. "His terror is beyond what you imagine. You could choose another path, help me find other Injustice Society members, and try to stop them from killing more people. They've already killed a lot, Henry."
Her words hit him, but his mind twisted them into justification.
"Maybe they deserved it," he said quietly, turning away toward the window.
Courtney's voice grew heavier, "Life isn't all darkness, Henry. People can be cruel, but they can also be good, compassionate, brave. You'll see that someday."
Henry's gaze hardened. "Humans are ugly, greedy, twisted," he said, gripping the curtain. "That is truth."
Courtney stood silently for a moment before stepping back. "If you change your mind, you can talk to me," she offered before leaving.
The door closed behind her and Henry's mind quaked. He sat in upheaval until evening when a man in a suit entered.
"Hello, you must be Henry. I'm Green, your father's lawyer," the man said.
Henry rose, confused. "What is this about?"
The lawyer explained in a calm tone that Brainwave had left instructions to remove life support if he never recovered. Henry focused on the man's thoughts, and what he heard wasn't professional at all.
"I should have eaten before coming here," was the lawyer's first thought. Then, "I need his signature. I need his money."
Henry's anger surged. "You forged this! You want his money!" he accused, eyes burning.
The lawyer stammered, but Henry's head pounded as thoughts overwhelmed him. In a blind, violent surge, he unleashed his telekinesis. The invisible force crushed the lawyer, tearing him apart painfully until his body fell still.
Henry stood in stunned silence, breathing heavily.
"I killed someone?" he whispered, horrified.
"No, he deserved it," he corrected himself, eyes clearing. "Monsters must die."
Later that night, in his room, Adrian felt a strange energy approaching the Kent Farm. He stepped outside into the cool air, his vision piercing through the mist that blanketed the landscape.
Heavy footsteps thudded on the gravel as someone walked up to the farm gate. In his mind, Henry recalled Courtney's words about Homelander and the dread and gratitude she associated with that name.
Who was this Homelander? More importantly… could he handle him?
No matter. Now that Henry's own powers had awakened, he felt invincible.
He stepped forward to break through the gate, but before he could, a super‑fast figure appeared, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off his feet.
Cold eyes bored into him, uncaring and emptily furious.
"What was your relationship with Brainwave?" the figure asked with an intensity that made Henry's heart skip.
"I'm his son," Henry gritted out. "Are you Homelander?"
Henry cringed in horror at how fast this person moved, and tried to telekinetically strike back, but nothing happened. The stranger didn't budge.
"It looks like you woke up similar powers," the figure said mockingly as he dropped Henry to the ground. "You can read ordinary minds, but I'm not ordinary."
Henry lay on the ground, blood beginning to trickle from his nose, but his eyes burned with raw intensity. He hurled a rock with telekinesis, but the stranger was already gone before the stone touched air.
The figure reappeared instantly, grabbing Henry's neck.
"You are the monster!" Henry growled through choked breaths before everything went black.
Above, a flash of golden light streaked through the sky — Stargirl, arriving too late.
"No!" she shouted as she saw Henry fall, motionless.
Her Star‑Scepter spun forward uncontrollably, striking her and sending her crashing down.
The figure stood over her, gripping the Staff with cold interest.
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