Day 93

[from Electron]

With his suit designed, and being constructed, Aaron's superhero training began in earnest. It had been found that the source of his powers was a reservoir of electrical energy deep inside him, a reservoir that not only seemed to be limitless, but could also be conducted effortlessly throughout his entire body. By projecting it out through his hands, he could fire powerful beams of electricity that he and Martin dubbed "Ion Beams", that were able to stun opponents. He could also get in close to them and grab them with an electrified hand, something they had jokingly referred to as the "Vulcan Death Grip" before settling on the more serious name of "Taser Grip".

Aaron's powers went beyond just this, however. By manipulating the electrical currents he produced, he was able to create electromagnetic fields. These fields could attract and repel any magnetic object - explaining the incident with the cars during his Awakening - and also be projected outwards in the form of a shield, to protect him from bullets. His suit would still be bulletproof, however, just in case he were ever caught off-guard.

Aaron was not a superhero yet. His suit was still being made. He was still learning to control his powers, and to use them well in a fighting environment. They had not even settled on a name yet: Aaron liked "Static", while Martin was leaning towards something like "Electro". However, he would need to finish his training soon, for elsewhere in his home state of Florida, there was a city crying out for a hero such as himself.

DOWNTOWN SILVERBURG
AROUND THAT TIME
As Titus walked, his footprints cracked the pavement beneath him, leaving a trail of foot-shaped craters in his wake. It was hard not to do this when your entire body was fused with industrial-grade steel, giving you gleaming silver skin and prodigious strength - strength that Titus, a career criminal, had decided to use to further said criminal career.

Titus (by coincidence this had been his surname prior to his Awakening) was already known and feared by Silverburg's residents, and with every loud step, frightened citizens fled before him. Only one of them dared to challenge him; a store owner who rushed out, shotgun in hand, and blasted Titus with both barrels. The pellets merely ricocheted off Titus' skin, scattering on the floor, and a moment later the supervillain was upon him. With one hand he snapped the shotgun barrel in half, and with the other delivered a blow to the chest that stopped the man's heart. The man crumpled to the floor, and by the time any help arrived, he was already dead.

Deciding there was nothing of value in the man's shop, Titus continued on to the next block and his initial target: a jewelry store. Smashing his way through the glass door, he approached the store counter and the petrified shop assistant. He placed a gleaming metallic hand on the glass display case, running his palm along it and producing a horrible scratching sound.

"I'll take these, if you don't mind," growled Titus. He drew back his hand, and punched straight through the bulletproof glass.

***

A short time later, having loaded every piece of jewelry worth stealing into a large rucksack held in his hand, Titus emerged through the shattered storefront to the sound of sirens, as a police car approached the scene. The two officers inside turned to each other as they screeched to a halt, unsure how to proceed.

"What the hell are we supposed to do?" asked one. "He's made of metal!"

"I dunno," said his partner, shrugging. "Taser him, perhaps?"

"Yeah, that might work-"

Having been looking at each other they did not see Titus advance towards them. He stamped hard on the front of the car's hood, flipping it up so it stood on its front bumper, then drew back his free hand and punched the roof of the car. The car skidded backwards on its bumper at least twenty feet, sparks flying, then collided with a parked car and span and rolled back into the road, coming to a stop upside-down and severely dented. Titus strolled past the totalled police car as though it were not there, and went on his way, the rucksack full of jewelry slung over his shoulder.