NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: Purpose
The sharp, jarring sound of an alarm clock rang out, shattering the early morning silence. It was quickly followed by a loud crunch as the noise abruptly ceased. Standing over the remnants of the alarm clock was Brandon with his hand still clenched into a fist. His sensitive ears reacted immediately, causing him to destroy the offending device in a moment of instinctive frustration.
"Damn it," he muttered, looking down at the crushed pieces of plastic and metal.
Ignoring its remnants he sat up on his bed, rubbing his temples. Exhaustion evident on his face with black lines beneath his eyes. Last night had to be the worst sleep he'd ever had in his life. Super hearing is an amazing ability but not when you're new to it. For a novice like him, it makes every sound hard to bear, especially when he's asleep and not actively trying to tone it down. Hence the sad death of his alarm clock.
Originally Brandon expected that the hardest ability he'd have to deal with would be his super strength but his hearing had that one beat by a long shot. "Just how does Superman do it?"
Brandon's hearing was impressive, capable of knowing what was going on miles away from himself but the man of steel was said to hear everything on the planet… Deep inside he prayed that his hearing would never reach such a level but he's not really optimistic about this wish. He's just getting his powers so they are technically the weakest they will ever be and will continue to grow at an astonishing rate.
With a resigned sigh, he stood up and began getting ready for the day. He could hear his parents downstairs, already moving about. His dad was preparing to head out and his mom was making breakfast.
As he dressed, his mind drifted back to the events of the previous night. The confrontation with the ship, the overwhelming voice trying to manipulate him, and the key he had found. It had all been gnawing at him to investigate further. "Alright enough's enough I'll check out the ship when no one's around."
Exiting his room he went downstairs when he was greeted by his mother. "Good morning, honey. Did you sleep well?"
"Morning, Mom. Yeah, I slept okay," he replied, though the truth was far more complicated. Raising another question in his mind. When should he explain his circumstances to his parents? He was sure they wouldn't send him off to a lab and would be there for him but it was going to bring in a lot of drama.
'Ah I'll just tell them once most of my abilities kick in and when my control is much better that way they won't worry so much' he reasoned.
Grabbing a quick sandwich Brandon began heading out when he was suddenly stopped by his father. "Woah where are you going Brandon?" He asked puzzled with a warm cup of coffee in his left hand and a Red Bull in the other.
"Ugh just gonna head out around town"
"Hm Brandon you do know it's Monday? You got school" His father said, blowing up all of his plans in one go.
'School' he had completely forgotten that he was a student. How could he not? Brandom had been a working adult for a long while now so it had completely slipped past his thoughts.
"Ah haha, I forgot?" Brandon said with an awkward laugh while also grimacing mentally. School was just a prison with a fancy title and now it seemed that he was going to be forced to endure that torture once again.
Kyle just looked at Brandon with some suspicion but couldn't figure out what was going on so he just left it at that. "Well I guess that happens sometimes just finish getting your things and I'll take you to school"
"Alright I'll hurry and get my things"
…
Upon arriving at school, Brandon stepped out of the truck with a heavy sigh. He had just got here and he was already hearing the sounds of teenagers screaming and teachers yelling to not run in the halls.
It was at this moment that he really felt that maybe he should've chosen Hancock. Yeah, he would at most be at the level of the immortal but at least he'd be a grown man not having to deal with this.
"Haha, son you should see the look on your face. School can't possibly be that bad can it?" However, as if to prove him wrong Kyle saw a kid dressed like a furry being walked by his girlfriend using a dog leash… Seeing this the son and father duo just remained silent before looking at each other awkwardly.
"Cough um have a nice time" Starting up the vehicle he left without looking back as he abandoned his son.
"Right…" Watching the car leave, Brandon found himself stuck at the school's entrance. Attending classes would just be a waste of his time. What good was knowing the capital of France when his future was destined for the stars?
Anyway it's not like he'd have a regular job either… Wait, what was it that he wanted? Ever since he arrived in the void all he thought about was survival.
How to get out of the darkness,? Which option would give him a decent chance against viltrumites? How to avoid being mind-controlled by his own ship? Every decision had nothing to do with a plan. This whole time he'd just been going through the motions…
"What do I want besides survival?" This stark realization served as a minor reality check as he began walking away from the school. With his newfound abilities, he could do almost anything. The world was his oyster, but what did he want to do with it? He pondered over his options, imagining different paths he could take.
One option was joining the GDA, the Global Defense Agency. They were essentially this world's version of S.H.I.E.L.D. They had plenty of funding and he was sure they'd be interested in him. He could imagine working with Cecil, taking on high-stakes missions that would keep him busy and interested for a long time. Some of the things they went against were really interesting and guaranteed that he wouldn't have a boring life.
But then another image came to mind: the symbol of his counterpart, Superman. What if he followed in those footsteps and became a beacon of hope? The thought stirred something deep within him. He imagined a large man lifting a child to grab a balloon stuck in a tree. A true hero, someone who inspires others and stands for something greater than himself. This path was not easy because it would carry a huge responsibility.
Every enemy of Earth would see him as a target. He would be a symbol of hope, and failure was not an option. The stakes were higher than any mission the GDA could offer, but so was the potential for impact.
Choosing such a life scared him. It was by far the most challenging option. He'd have to live up to the expectations of millions, always striving to be better, to do more. But it was also the most meaningful. Becoming a symbol meant he had a purpose, a legacy that would last generations. The idea of being a hero, of making a difference on such a grand scale, resonated with him deeply.
Brandon's thoughts shifted between these two options. He stopped and looked up at the sky. The decision wasn't one to be made lightly offering different benefits but he did notice one similarity. No matter what he chose it seemed that he'd be a hero.
Without even realizing it he had already set that as his goal and just created two options based on that. 'A hero huh well it sounds interesting'
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the cylinder object and looked at it with determined eyes. "But before all of that I need answers"
Turning around he began walking away from the school. Anyways ditching once shouldn't cause to much of a commotion.