STEALTH

STEALTH

PROLOGUE

A man quietly walked through the halls of the government building. He had come to visit here in Warsaw, Poland, for a direct purpose. The man stopped in front of a typical looking door with a glass sign, "Agency for Agricultural Reconstruction and Modernization". He looked at the sign quizzically. He hoped he had arrived at the right department, since they had changed many of the names and what they did back in 2017. The man turned the doorknob and entered the room beyond. He went up to the clerk at the main desk and inquired about a request for the proper forms for beginning a new township in southern Poland. The clerk looked through his computer files and printed out the proper stack of forms. The man smiled, and began filling out the forms. He was also referred to the Ministry of Environment for additional rules and forms.

Later, the man left the government building with several permits in his hand, freshly printed out and laminated. He now had the permission to convert some old farmland he had purchased into a new city, which he named "Rosulet". It was a quaint name, something of a throwback to the Middle Ages, but a romantic one. Rosulet was a name that would stand for peace and tranquility for all who lived there. The man hailed a cab and left Warsaw, heading south.

Hours later, he was back at his new home, acres of cleared land, just across the Vistula river, just a rock's throw from Krakow. The quaint city shimmered in the background, the river adding ambience.

CHAPTER I

It was a few years later, "2030" read all the calendars, and the cleared land was soon filled with city blocks, small buildings and new neighborhoods, sprawling off into the distance. The quaint city of Krakow still sat off in the distance, but now a new sign, "Welcome to Rosulet" sat in the near distance, accompanied by a fresh new blacktop highway. The new town was impressive to the eyes, highlighted by a tall summit hill overlooking the center of town. Various laboratories and shops littered the main streets, and a new tram rail enclosed the south edge of the township, the fresh tracks shimmering in the morning light. With the river to the north along with the train line, business would boom for this new region.

The mayor took a long walk down the main street, inhaling fresh clean air. Since he invested so much of his time and money into making Rosulet a reality, he marveled at the end result.

It didn't take long for throngs of people, Polish, Russian, European and American alike, to settle in this new area. Various scientists, engineers and humanitarians now called Rosulet their home. It was a peaceful time, a productive time. With the shadows of Communism lost in recent history, the locals now cherished in a much welcomed new democracy. Many brilliant minds now worked around the clock, making the community a much better place for themselves and their countrymen.

A French man came to town one day and thought to himself, "What a wonderful opportunity! These people have developed their own version of Utopia. They need the perfect leader. I should be that leader!" The man grinned an evil smile, his handsome moustache twitching horribly. That was the day George Louis Chamel entered Rosulet and changed things forever!

CHAPTER II

A young couple sought an opportunity, checking out this new town. They had big dreams of living in a clean, normal neighborhood, devoid of crime. After a wonderful honeymoon, John and Felicia Freeman settled into a brand new 2-bedroom home, nicely equipped with the latest electronic gadgets money could buy. It didn't hurt that John was eligible for a nice home loan to cover all this. He was giddy, carrying his new wife over the threshold. They happily unpacked their meager belongings and set about getting their new life started.

John had recently been hired at one of the local research and development labs, a fledgling engineer. His job did entail some security and secrecy, but Felicia was willing to let him do his work and not nag him for details. She was proud of his success and cherished the time with him.

John started up his brand new hybrid car and started off to his first day of work. On his way, he stopped at a local shop to pick up a nice gift for his wife, something to celebrate all their good luck. Walking out of the shop with a nice crystal necklace, he bumped into a stranger, a man in a blue suit. The package John was carrying hit the ground, the necklace scattering on the sidewalk. The man in the suit stumbled and landed hard on the curb. "Oh, excuse me, sir!" exclaimed John. He offered to help the other man up. The stranger looked up, his handsome mustache twitching, "How dare you! No one dares to insult the new King!" John looked at the new stranger, wondering if he had lost his mind. The man in the suit brushed himself off, giving John a harsh look with his crazy eyes. "I'll have to remember not to cross his path again." Thought John as the two went their separate ways, "What did he mean 'the new King'?" He shrugged and let it go, figuring the man was perhaps off his meds.

As the next few years went by, a new baby boy blessed the Freeman's life. He was a cute blond little boy, normal as far as his parents could tell. They were very happy with their bundle of joy, naming him David, Hebrew for "Beloved" or "Friend". They only wished for little David to be a happy healthy boy. Felicia looked at the calendar, noting it was July 2040. She merely wished for a good life for her son, to be blessed just as much as she and John were, nothing more. In the back of her mind, she always figured her son would go on to do great things.

CHAPTER III

An evil tyrant ruled with an iron fist, if such an analogy fit. His rule over the kingdom of Rosulet, Poland, flourished with adept technology as befitted the year 2048. The king and his close allegiance flourished at the expense of the common folk of this province. In the past, Rosulet saw many good times until the selfish King Chamel took the throne. He greedily collected all of the space-age wonders taken for granted by the good citizens of this fair land and reintegrated them into one of the most powerful military armadas known throughout the lands. Could he be compared to past conquerors, Hitler, Napoleon, Saddam? Perhaps. This almighty force consisted of nuclear armaments and high-tech hover-copters, as well as numerous battalions of laser cannons and heavily armed soldiers, all willing to die for their leader.

Rosulet, Poland, stretched out many tens of thousands of acres in all directions. What was once thriving metropolis cityscapes soon degraded into various ghetto hamlets and villages loosely joined together. Run down apartments, small houses and shops dotted the landscape. Overshadowing most of this, stood the illustrious fortress of the king himself, perched upon a tall mountain that jutted from the ground like a grandiose sword. From the summit, King Chamel commanded a breath-taking view of Rosulet and the lands in all directions.

It was in the 7th year of King Chamel's rule that a group of merchants massed their meager monies together and were reluctantly given permission to build a large zoo, all in the glorious name of their esteemed leader. Even though the citizens of Rosulet suffered in terrible poverty, they became ecstatic at this magnificent zoo. Exotic animals from across the hemisphere were there to be viewed, including elephants, tigers, giraffes and zebras.

It was at this zoo that little David Freeman, who recently turned 8, came with his family to enjoy the rare displays. David's father, John, surprised the family by using his lowly technician wages to pay for just such an occasion. It had cost poor John an entire months salary for such an excursion, but to see the look on little David's face was well worth it! Toe-headed, as many little kids are, David was amazed to see so many beautiful animals. His mother, Felicia, happily agreed to this venture. Even though she was both a seamstress and housewife, Felicia and John alike both worried about poor David's recent bouts of depression. They couldn't figure out what caused it, but hoped that this little vacation would cure their son of his melancholy, even if temporarily.

While delighting in the sights of animals he had never seen before, little David chanced upon a cage housing an elegant black panther from the jungles of South America. The poor animal seemed lethargic, but when their eyes met, David caught the slightest glimmer of determination and courage in the panther's eyes and knew then that Fate must have brought them together for some unknown reason. David sensed a struggle for freedom in those dark eyes. The youngest Freeman had never known true freedom since the king forced the populace of Rosulet into servitude just after David's birth. Nevertheless, he experienced an odd sensation, the knowledge that he was chosen to release the people he knew with the help of this exotic creature. Had he overdosed on sugar? This exciting but conversely horrifying insight struck him deep within his psyche and eventually snapped him out of his hypnotic trance. He did not know what to think. He knew one thing for certain – he could not tell his parents of what he just felt. They would think he was making it up.

Later that day, little David went home with his parents, tuckered out by all the excitement. John thought it odd that David was still quiet even after the thrill of the day wore off. He shrugged it off by figuring that his son was still in awe from this new experience. He never did realize how close he was from surmising the truth!

CHAPTER IV

During the middle of the night, John Freeman was dreaming that he was a young man again, remembering what it was like before the bad times. In his dream, he stretched back and lazily cruised down his favorite lane, admiring the hangouts and the theatre, where all the hot young women could be found every weekend. John stopped by a lovely group of ladies, wishing to introduce himself, when he was pulled over and an intensely bright light appeared in his window. Young John tried to shield his eyes from the light in an attempt to figure out its source, but couldn't find one. Before he realized it, he was rudely awakened by several of the king's guard, one who had a bright flashlight in John's face. Felicia's attempts to scream were muffled by one of the other guards. The group of soldiers quickly ordered the couple outside, where other families were waiting in bewilderment.

After a few moments of tense silence, several legions of heavily armed troops marched through the streets towards the huddled citizens. King Chamel, in his dark blue uniform, led the marching soldiers. He was a diabolically handsome man who sported a rather old-fashioned mustache. He approached the group of civilians, a content smirk on his face. When he was within a few paces of the families, the smirk quickly vanished, replaced with a very guttural sneer. "Now that I have your attention, dear peasants," quipped the tyrant, "I demand to know who the traitor is!"

This sudden outburst gave rise to resentment among the people, for they considered themselves hard workers and took offense being called peasants. Some shrugged their shoulders and looked at each other. They had no idea what the King was talking about. John Freeman bravely spoke up, "How dare you wake us up from a sound slumber and to add insult to injury bring false accusation!"

The King swiftly focused his attention on John. For a split second, the two men stared eye to eye and John noticed the insanity brewing in the King's eyes, and frankly it scared him. He remembered bumping into this man, years ago, and the exchange they had after Chamel was knocked to the ground by accident. John brought back the remark this man yelled at him, referring to himself as the new King. Without warning, John was abruptly shaken out of his revelry, bound and lined up, execution-style. Felicia and four neighbors were also lined up next to him. Six armed troops lined up opposite of them.

The King's face turned beet-red, and the sweat on his forehead glimmered in the moonlight, "You dare talk back to me! Let this be a lesson to all of you!" He gave a signal and the troops opened fire on the tied-up hostages. Blood blossomed from multiples spots on each person, the force of the bullets causing them to dance erratically. All the victims slumped as far over as their bindings would allow.

Total panic and rage overtook little David's body and he hysterically lunged for his parents, as if this would bring them back. One guard swung his rifle around and the butt hit David squarely in the back of the head. He collapsed in a heap.

King Chamel looked over David's inert body and clucked, "Well, it looks like this brat is an orphan now! The rules state that orphans are illegal in Rosulet. Take him to the dungeon!"

Two soldiers grabbed David and hastily took him back to the castle. Other citizens were also taken into custody to be later interrogated. The King laughed as he observed the people cringing in fear. He had them right where he wanted them.

Two man-sized shadows, holding a child-shaped form, descended into a series of metallic hallways until finally halting at a non-descript prison cell. The door automatically opened and David was brutally thrust into the small room. This metal room was empty of any furnishings except for a single bed and a pot. David cringed as the door closed. He noticed a small portal in the door, seeing the guards outside soon mocking him. David tried to run for the door, hoping he could push it open. He had never dealt with this type of security door and was very surprised when a large electrical discharge rewarded him for touching the door. The guards laughed some more at this dismay, as young David was again thrown to the floor, knocked out cold.

Some time later, David woke up, his senses all out of whack. He vaguely noticed an unusual storm approaching from the north. He got to his knees and prayed to God. In his mind, he pleaded with God as to why he was being tortured so. He wished so badly that he could do something. Lightning began coursing crazily across the night sky and clouds zipped by at incredible speeds.

Across town, as David was deep in prayer, a huge lightning bolt struck the zoo. The bolt unnaturally arced its way through the center and wound towards a particular cage, where a nervous mother panther paced back and forth. Unknown amounts of surged power coursed through her cage and enveloped the scared animal. The lock melted and the panther's eyes began to glow, giving the effect of a pair of will-o-wisps. Her being radically changed, and her face contorted into an unnatural pose. Without hesitation, she bolted out of the cage at top speed and began making a straight course for the center of town, where the castle sat on top of its ominous mountain. New forms of energy pulsed through the altered beast, making her ebony skin eerily shimmer. Without skipping a step, the strange creature liquidly contorted and reformed into a sleek, high speed vehicle. Several scared teenagers scurried out her way as this newly formed speed demon quickly made its way through the winding streets, not even slowing down at curves or corners.

David continued praying, ignoring the blasts of thunder and wind, which sounded like it was threatening to tear down the wall. Another huge blot of lightning connected with the window bars, startling the boy, and a small luminous ball emerged, floating into the cell. As guards' faces appeared at the door portal, little David slowly backed away from the approaching ball of light. He remembered reading about ball lightning a little, and sat transfixed as the white sphere hovered towards him. The ball gave off an odd glow, subtly lighting up the cell room. David backed himself against the wall, as far as he could crawl backwards. The sphere came to a stop, hovering over his head. The glowing orb hung there for a split-second, then burst open like a cracked egg. A splendor of sparks splattered all over David's body, covering him from head to toe. At first, David was convinced that this was some new punishment from the King, but the energy seemed cool and he felt no pain. He started to enjoy the sensation, but confusion overtook him as his senses became warped.

The guards in the hall watched with amazement as the little boy began changing. David's mind was overloaded with vast amounts of new knowledge. He tried to grasp their meaning, but was lost in a humungous sea of information, swirling at tidal wave speeds. David closed his eyes, but could swear he was feeling different. His form enlarged, elongated and thickened. His clothes smoothly changed color, darkening. Several lumps formed on his arms, weighing them down somewhat. When he was first thrown in here, moments ago, he wore a simple brown shirt and dark pants. Now his body was encased in a solid black, silky-soft body suit, which even covered his feet. His hair, which was cut short in a bowl-style haircut, now grew long and thick down past his shoulders. Spots of light shimmered along his new form. He easily stood up and looked about. Why did the cell look so small now? He gave up worrying about any of this and listened to new instincts that begin kicking in. Something was waiting for him, outside the castle walls. He knew he had to get to that something any way he could. He no longer feared his captor. He now felt sorry for them.

Gathering his new-found wits, David charged for the cell door, a locomotive in motion. His new body burst through the force field and automatic armored door without hesitation, sending it screeching across the hall. The guards stupidly still standing there barely got of the way, except for one, who was crushed against the opposite wall. The other guards snapped out of their revelry and tried to draw their rifles. David could not think straight, his mind now taken control by some unknown force. On instinct, he barreled out into the hallway, taking notice of where the guards where now. As the guards aimed at the new intruder, David swung one leg around in a complex kick and broke the nose of the nearest guard, knocking him backwards, where he fell to the floor in a pile and lay still.

The other two guards were startled by the stranger's ultra-fast reactions but were at least able to aim their weapons and tried to fire at the intruder. David subdued them quickly. A quick punch to the jaw took one guard out. He then grabbed the other guard and threw him, as if he were a small toy. This last guard slammed into the collapsed door and met the same fate as his comrades. Another guard ran down the hall toward them, but David quickly pulled out a small, odd-shaped metal star out of a pocket and threw it the guard's direction. The black star whizzed through the air, locked itself into the barrel of the guard's rifle. As the guard recognized he had a blocked weapon, the throwing star detonated, shrapnel lodging into the surprised guard's body.

Without even slowing down, David rushed down the hallway. His mind calmly informed him that his new partner was waiting outside. Enhanced wire-frame schematics of the castle cascaded down his vision, rotating and correcting on the fly to show him the quickest route out. Another guard met him down the hall, and David merely did a forward acrobatic flip, somersaulting over the startled man, not even hesitating in his new quest. He barreled down the remainder of the hallway.

David now found himself at the end of the hall, in a hemispherical antechamber. An open window set on the other end, and the scrolling information over his point of view indicated the window was the quickest way out of here. He jumped at the wall and spider crawled up the wall and across the ceiling. More guards showed up and the general alarms were set off. Bullets bounced off the wall were his feet were a mere fraction of a second earlier.

He abruptly stopped when he got to the window. He quickly panned around the night view outside. The sky was still full of whisking clouds, but the thunder and lightning had abated. One part of his mind screamed in alarm at the ground, which looked a long ways down. Before he could stop himself, the new part of him took over and he leaped out the window, bullets whizzing out behind him into the open night air. The ground came up really fast and his body automatically formed into a neat ball. The instant his feet hit the ground, he did a somersault to cushion the impact. A strange vehicle sat quietly as David rolled to a halt and unfolded, leaping for the car. The driver side door whisked open, and David got in, wondering where his partner was. A dazzling array of touch-sensitive buttons, computerized displays and scrolling diagnostics met his eyes. Amazingly, the vehicle spoke to him. He looked around, as the vehicle sped away, the outside scenery quickly turning into a rapid blur. David began to wonder were he was going, and if he was now sitting in his new partner. The sleek roadster was something he had never seen before, but it became familiar and something he could trust. It seemed so alive!

As soon as the initial shock wore off, David inspected the constantly updating displays. They were showing him quickly calculated analyses of the surrounding environment. A new light caught his eye, indicating the anti-inertia system had been engaged. David took the wheel and continued for the quickest route out of town. The two zoomed through the streets of town, where small shops had been set up. The car completed several 90-degree turns, exceeding over 100 mph in the process. David quietly remarked to himself that he probably would have fainted dead away if he had been part of this whole mess days ago. The car continued zigzagging through town, now over 140 mph. They were soon at the outskirts of Rosulet when the car casually spoke up, "A squadron of Phoenix A-17 jet copters has been spotted approximately 150 yards behind us, at a current altitude of 75 feet." The control panel had a sexy feminine voice. One computer screen began scrolling schematic images, showing structural strengths and weaknesses of the aircrafts quickly approaching them.

The lead copter pilot conferred with his cockpit readouts. His computer informed him that the target being scanned was made of a highly dense, unknown material. Large red letters blared, "ALERT!" repeatedly as his quarry minutely changed shape. An odd-looking pair of barrels emerged from the back quarters of the car, about where the trunk should be located. The pilot started to react when a wall of flame destroyed his field of vision. His craft erupted into a fireball and plummeted to the ground at an intense angle.

The airmen piloting the remaining five whirlybird jets witnessed their leader's sudden demise and let loose with everything they had. With a lot of noise, gatling guns brightly lit up the sky and air-to-surface missiles quickly launched in sequence.

David quickly wondered what would happen to him when all of the fireworks outside caught up to him. He knew he had nothing to do with the first airship's destruction. By his understanding, the car had automatically taken affairs into its own hands, so to speak. His worries were put at ease when the impending attacks bounced harmlessly off the car exterior surface.

While all this was happening, new information quickly filled David's mind. He was starting to get the hang of sorting through the fast data. The car began explaining many of its mysteries via telepathy. It accounted for its nearly perfect invulnerability with a rapid summary of its new polymorphic skin, now made of a layer of carbon atoms compressed to a density of about 2 billion pounds per cubic inch. A neural computer based on designs extrapolated from 30th century technology regulated the density and weight. "My name is F.E.L.I.C.I.A. . It's wonderful to be working with you, Stealth." Felicia? Stealth? As David touched on the name Felicia, his dead mother's name, the acronym scrolled down his vision, Functionally Elite Life-form Independently Capable of Internal Analysis. A eulogy to his murdered mother? Quietly David accepted that his new partner would then be known as Felicia. It just dawned on him that Felicia was also polymorphic, a shape-changer. This could come in handy!

This exchange of information only lasted about 2 seconds or so, and the two soon approached a tunnel on the road outside the kingdom of Rosulet. They entered the tunnel at high speed, just seconds before a pair of explosions sealed it off. Plunged in darkness, Felicia altered her shape once again. Her wheels melted into the bottom of the car and the rear wing expanded in size. As they drew near the other end of the tunnel, Felicia lifted a foot off the ground. A new series of instructions skimmed across the display screen and digital cross hairs appeared. David readied himself for the impending attack and took the controls.

An attack helicopter patiently waited outside with guns ready. The pilots target raced under him at over Mach 1 and disappeared off his screen. David manipulated the controls and set his sights on the jet section of the aircraft. The pilot turned the chopper around and zeroed in on Felicia just as he was blown out of the sky.

The other helicopters rushed in but were no match for Felicia's maneuverability. She wove in and around her adversaries as if they stood still. Three more copters were destroyed within the next 20 seconds. The remaining jet chopper finally managed to set his sights on Felicia and began firing his chain-guns. Felicia picked up speed instantaneously and advanced head-on towards the helicopter. The pilot's weapon systems continued barking out a large retort but to no avail. He screamed in surprise and was cut off as Felicia dove straight into and through his aircraft. She emerged without a scratch, but her foe was not so lucky. His chopper detonated and David watched indifferently as it plunged and smashed apart, hitting the ground below.

David wanted to celebrate, but he knew that his mission was far from over. Felicia changed course and headed back to King Chamel's castle. The fortress came up as an analytical display, icons symbolizing where different sections were located. One icon, a three-triangle hazard symbol, showed where the thermonuclear arsenal was stored. David guided the controls and headed straight for that section.

The king and his commanders were just getting the final tally of their lost ships when they heard additional alarms from an approaching vessel. They knew what had destroyed their airborne squadron was coming back to finish the job!

Strategic artillery laser cannons came to life and klaxons continued bellowing their wail-full calls. Spotlights lit the sky as a dark shape charged the castle perimeter. Thunderous blasts erupted from the fortress, many missing their intended target. What few did score was shrugged off like gnats. David fired several shots and many parts of the castle exploded in a shower of bricks and molten metal. The walls of the dungeon collapsed and many of the prisoners ran for their lives, guards joining them.

The King frantically tried to keep order, but he surmised what the enemy's prime target would be. He ran to the nuclear weapons room in an attempt to evacuate everyone. He entered the main arsenal facility when one of the nuclear warheads went off, killing him instantly.

The citizens of Rosulet were rudely awakened a second time as daylight temporarily washed over the land. A tremendous shockwave flattened segments of town. Many of the people looked up at the mountain summit just in time to view in awe at the gigantic mushroom cloud, which had formed where the castle used to be. Many knew this was the end for the King, and people cheered in the streets.

As the cloud rose and started fading in the night sky, a small dark object darted out. Felicia approached the crowds and changed back into a glimmering panther as she settled down to the ground. David unbridled and stood tall in front of the spectators. He raised his arm and spoke charismatically to the crowd, "Freedom for all! Justice has been served!"

CHAPTER V

As the weeks went by, David, or Stealth as he now went by, slowly introduced himself to everybody. He helped out carrying the dead and silently weeping at many of the funerals, especially that of his parents. The people of Rosulet were astounded by his size and strength, some asking questions and little kids checking out his massive muscles and black body suit. He mostly ignored the crowds, being polite but not saying much to those he recently rescued from oppression.

As he blended in more and more, a strange and curious thing happened. He sat depressed in his parents' home. As he held his parents' picture, he gently touched the face of his mother and father, whom he missed dearly. David finally put the picture down, and wandered aimlessly around the house, unsure what to do now. Just as he lay down for bed, an odd sensation ran over his body. He suddenly felt real weak, and his suit no longer shimmered. He crouched onto his stomach due to the queasy feeling and closed his eyes. He set like this for who knows how long, until the feeling went away. David finally opened his eyes and looked around. There was now a shimmering black ball sitting next to him. He looked at his hands and legs. He was a little kid again! Little David ran to the closest mirror and looked at himself. He was still wearing the dirty clothes he had when he was rudely shoved into that dungeon cell. He stared, amazed, at his reflection, wondering if the last few weeks were nothing but a horrible dream. Before he went back to bed, he caught the black ball on the edge of his vision. David picked up the ball, wondering about the moving shimmering sparkles running along its surface. Holding the ball gave him a bizarre tingling sensation. Maybe this wasn't a dream. He finally set the ball aside and hoped to sort all this out later. He was so exhausted, but his mind was racing with questions.

He finally got a fitful night's sleep and woke groggily the next morning. David went to the kitchen, assuming his mom would have breakfast ready for him. He was disappointed to find the house still empty, remembering what happened. A scratching sound caught his attention and he went to the front door to investigate. A large dark feline patiently waited on the front porch, lightly scratching the screen with its front paw. David reluctantly opened the door and let the creature in. The panther sauntered in, giving David a rather intriguing glance. "How do I know this beast?" said David, "What's going on?"

The panther settled down on the living room and continued staring at David, as if she wanted to tell him something. David slowly sat down next to the majestic cat and carefully reached over to pet it. When his hand touched the gentle creature's side, the young man's mind was instantly deluged with images of events that seemed rather familiar. Events that he realized had happened, and some he had done. The panther met his eyes and spoke from what seemed like either inside his head or all around, "Are you ok, little one?" David looked around, but saw no one. He looked back at the black cat, "That's weird. You didn't just say something, did you?"

The cat opened her mouth and let out a small growl, "It was me. I helped you escape that awful place." David stared at the panther, noticing it was a normal, albeit exotic animal, and he was petting it like a little kitty cat. "How are you doing this?" The cat stared at him, its eyes giving off a highly intelligent gleam, "You must come to terms with this, little one. You have been given a wonderful gift, as well as I."

David did remember one thing, "Were you the one that I rode through…. um, that adventure?" The panther nodded, "I know it's tough to lose one's parents, but I am here to help you in any way I can. I must show you something." The big cat rose up and loped back to the front door. She turned her head back to David, still sitting there, "There is something I have that you must protect."

David got up and opened the front door. Outside sat another black ball, identical to the one he left sitting in his room, "What do I do with this?" he inquired as he picked up the ball. Again, this ball also gave off the same surreal sensation while he held it. Numerous lights shimmered along its surface, just like the other ball. "You must disguise these orbs, for in the wrong hands, all is lost!" David thought for a moment before hatching an idea. He went in the garage and found some orange paint. The panther watched him as he returned and slathered paint all over the black ball. He let it sit and dry and looked at his work. Well, it looked sloppy but now the ball looked kind of like an old basketball. He sat down and stared at the panther, "So, your name is Felicia, just like my mom." It was tough for him to say this, thinking about how he missed his mom.

The panther's eyes bore into him, "Yes, David, I will care for you, just like your mom." It took a little bit for David to release that not only was a cat talking to him, but also her mouth never moved, "Ah, you figured out one thing, little one. We are speaking telepathically." David wasn't sure what that meant, being only 8 years old. "David, we are speaking through our minds. We can talk to each other over great distances, at any time. Whenever you need help or guidance let me know. I have been endowed with great wisdom, and enormous amounts of information. When you accept the orb and undergo the change, you will share much of this knowledge."

David carefully painted the other ball, "So, can anyone use the powers of these, uh, balls?" Felicia thought for a second then answered, "No, I believe the wrong person will pay a fair price for trying to access the powers encased in these orbs. Please do not concern yourself with that now. If you want, hide the balls until you need them. Or rather, we need them."

David was startled when someone rapidly knocked at the front door. He looked around and the panther was already gone, hiding in a back room. He slowly got up and answered the door. A neighbor was standing there, smiling. "Well, hello there. You must be David. I knew your mommy and daddy. Shame what happened to them. Um, would you like some help with handling this big house all by yourself?"

David looked around, "Well, I was hungry, but there's no one here to fix breakfast." The neighbor laughed, "That's ok, I can help. Tell you what, there are several friends I want you to meet. It's a shame what happened, but I'm glad that stranger took care of it. Never seen anything like it…"

David wondered, "Will I have to move?" The man smiled, "No, we'll take care of you and make sure you can stay here, if you'd like." David nodded and smiled, "I'd like that."

The man offered his hand and brought little David into the kitchen, where he proceeded to fix up some food, "My name is Joe. I live down the street. I was so shocked when that mean king we had came down, Gestapo style, and killed all those good people for no reason… oh, I'm sorry…" he paused, seeing the tears stream down David's face, "Don't you worry, you'll get the best treatment. The whole neighborhood wants to get together and help out. Somebody will always come by and check with or stay with you, if you'd like." David smiled. Yes, he would like that!

Joe thought for a second, "Say, weren't you the one that was taken away? What happened to you while all the commotion was going on?" David squinted his face, "I don't remember too well. I was in this awful jail cell. Then, next thing I know, I'm outside somewhere. Luckily, I knew how to get back here!" The man considered this, "Yeah, you were lucky, kid. So, how about some bacon and eggs? I'm pretty good at fixing them up." David smiled and his attitude improved. After a nice hearty breakfast, he was introduced to many of the other neighbors, who smiled and waved at him. Some patted his head, insuring him he was going to be all right. Someone inquired whether he had relatives he could live with, but David didn't know if he had any uncles or aunts, or cousins. He never remembered seeing any, never had any visit.

Later that night, one woman from next door came over and read him a story to help him sleep. She kissed him good night and left, "I'll be right next door if you need anything, honey. Can you handle yourself like a big boy?" David nodded.

The woman left, and David lay quietly in his bed, thinking about all that had happened. He felt lucky to have all these new friends. Before he fell asleep, a black shape entered his room and plopped down next to his bed. He felt secure hearing the purring of Felicia. David drifted off, thinking of his mom and dad.

CHAPTER VI

He was only aware of lazy clouds, floating thought the air. He tried to reach out and touch them, but was unable to move. His vision was very blurry and he felt cold. He couldn't think straight at all. It actually hurt to think, so he lay there, keeping still, to keep the pain away. Long moments went by, although he couldn't tell what time it was. It went on forever, it seemed, while the dull colors slowly faded to black.

Stealth woke up, slowly, painfully, realizing several things. He couldn't move or speak, and he was lying in a cold location. He could barely see, his vision kept doubling and his eyes kept watering. Soon, a black shimmering shape came into view. It was a black animal, and it took him a little bit to realize it was his partner, Felicia. She came over and licked his face. Her voice boomed in his head, "Are you feeling better?" He squinted his eyes at the loud mental noise. He tried to answer, but it still hurt to think. Felicia licked the top of his head. Her tongue came away with blood and goo. He realized with fear it was his blood and some of his brains. He tried to scream, but his mouth wouldn't work. "Don't struggle! Just lie still and let me help you!"

It took awhile, but soon, Stealth could move his head and adjust his position. He looked around, best he could, and found out he was in a cave. It was snowing fiercely outside. He couldn't see much out there, and decided he was better off where he was. A makeshift blanket was wrapped around him. The ground was cold but somewhat comfortable. When he could finally move his arm, he reached tentatively and touched his head. The hair was matted with blood and sticky. He winced, feeling, sharp protrusion out of a hole in his head. Sickeningly, he discovered, he was touching jagged pieces of scalp and skull sticking out. Stealth quickly moved his hand away, wiping it off in the nearby snow.

"What happened?" he thought. His mouth still didn't want to work, and it took a lot of effort just to lick his lips. Felicia curled next to him, "One step at a time. Please, David, let the healing do it's work. You were lucky I got you out of there before any of his henchmen could get to you!" David wanted so badly to ask more, but his head kept hurting. He finally drifted back to sleep, his vision becoming black and he welcomed the puffy pink clouds when they arrived. He slept for a long time. When he finally awoke, it was a little warmer and the snow was gone. David got up, noticing he was undergoing the change. His arms and legs were in the now familiar black body suit and he was heavily muscled again.

He tried again to feel his head. The pain was mostly gone. A quick feel of his hand revealed that his head was mostly healed up and the sticky blood was gone. His hand came away dry and he was relieved. But he kept wondering what happened to him. Felicia came over and began relaying the events of the last month or so to him, some of it in excruciating detail. Where to begin? "What's the last thing you remember?" The black cat looked deeply into Stealth's eyes and probed for a response, emotional or otherwise. "Well, I remember going to sleep in my bed at home. Oh, God, I want to go home!"

Felicia shook her head, "I'm sorry, little one, but after what I tell you, you can never go back." Stealth sat quietly, absorbing some new bad news. He wanted to cry, but not as a grown up. He relaxed and let the energy slowly ebb out of him. Little David closed his eyes and cried as he became a little boy once again, "Have things gotten that bad in that safe town I lived in?"

Felicia settled next to him and began telling the events leading up to the present, "Well, your first day back to school started out normal enough. You got some help getting your schedule back and your teacher was nice enough to help you out anyway you needed." The panther's tone changed slightly, "It was after school several days later that some older kids started picking on you, thinking you were a coward and teasing you when they found out you were living alone. They hounded you after school one day and followed you home. You tried to outrun them, but it was no use, they stormed into your house and pushed you around, picking for a fight. The biggest kid started smashing things and one of the other kids found one of the orbs. The leader bully tried to swipe it and thought it was a stupid old ball, but when he touched it and tried to pick it up, something happened just like I warned would happen. The kid was knocked back by an energy discharge and an ambulance had to come get him." David's eyes got big, "Is he ok? I wish I could have seen that… I mean, is he ok?" Felicia tilted her head, "Of course, but I believe he will think twice about pestering you again. The other kids ran scared, to be expected!"

"So, is that why I can't go back?" asked David.

"That's part of it. I'm afraid I interfered and made sure you were never welcome back again." The panther lowered her eyes, "I'm so ashamed at what I did. I know I'm better than this!" David looked at her lowered eyes, "What happened?"

"The other kids and some of your neighbors saw me. I was only trying to help you, but they freaked out and tried to chase me off. Someone called the animal shelter and they tried to capture me. I had no choice but to advice you to leave and undergo the change, as I also did. Well, your secret identity has been compromised, as well as my hidden presence there."

"Wait, if we went back and explained, I'm sure they would understand. They're my friends!"

Again, Felicia lowered his eyes, "It's not that simple. I tried to come back to the house later that night, but there were protestors lining the street. Some zoo trucks were swarming the area, looking for me, I believe. The kid who was hurt from handling the orb was treated for major burns to his hands and arms. They blame you and me for that, although they don't know what really happened."

Felicia gave off what sounded like a sigh. Her voice gently resonated through David's head, "I thought it would be safer to leave and not come back. We left Rosulet and I got information about a mafia gang in the nearby city of Krakow, so I figured we should investigate, test out your powers and abilities."

CHAPTER VII

David sat cold and shivering. The panther promptly brought over a small blanked, using her teeth. As David snuggled into the cozy blanket, Felicia went back to the corner and brought back a canteen, "Here, drink some of this. It's only water, but it will help your thirst." He greedily slurped down several large shots of water. He was very thirsty, kind of hungry, too.

As he sat there in the dark, the cave lit dimly by his shimmering orb and the panther's eyes, she continued, "I was very proud of your actions. You did the right thing and let your new instincts dictate your approach. We quickly found the warehouse headquarters of the Silver Snake gang, a local Polish mafia that had been threatening the entire area for decades. They had become dangerous and even the local police were unable to stop them. Do you remember anything from the encounter we had with them?"

David scratched his head. It still stung a little to think, but he finally shook his head, "It's a complete blank. I can't remember anything. I didn't even know where I was until you woke me up and took care of me. Why was my head bleeding?"

Felicia snorted, "Please, in good time. We will get to that. I must retell your legacy, as well as your downfall." David looked confused, upset, as Felicia continued, "Well, as we entered the headquarters, we fearlessly and easily handled the many henchman they threw at us. I must admit it was an exciting fight. You took down multiple enemies with the ease of a giant slaying little insects. We split up, you making a really obvious distraction, while I hunted for the leader."

The panther hesitated for a moment. David looked at her, was she crying? She slowly resumed, "I had just relayed the location of the kingpin's inner lair and could hear the approaching carnage of your presence when a single shot went out and things got quiet. I quickly located you and went to investigate. Even though you have an amazing poly suit and nearly unmatchable fighting skills, someone found a flaw and exploited it. It took me a little bit to find the sniper that got off the lucky shot. Your head was…." Yes, she was crying, or sobbing, at least, "um, your head was very damaged. A shot like that to a normal person is instantly fatal. There was blood pooled all around your prone head, and you lay very still. I had to quickly abandon the mission and carry your limp body out of there."

David realized his mouth was wide open, "Uhhh, how come I didn't die from that? Well…" Felicia calmed him, "One of your suit's powers is rapid regeneration." Upon seeing his little confused face, she tried to explain, "You have amazing healing powers while in the change. However, since much of your brain and head was tore apart, I had to find a safe spot and hope you would recover. I don't know what I would do if you had perished…." She turned away, sobbing. David got up and hugged her, "Well, I'm ok, I feel good. I guess it worked." He tried to sound tough, but inside, he was feeling really nauseous and wasn't sure he could stand again. He realized he should have died, but this black cat saved his life, gave him the chance to recuperate.

He finally asked, "So, how long have I been here, healing?" Felicia looked at him, "For nearly four months. That is why it is imperative that the suit needs to evolve and never let this happen again. It is important that you learn how to instruct the suit to evolve and change as you need. You must understand that your wonderful suit, endowed with the powers of the orb, has an amazing array of special powers and abilities. We must find out how to use the almost limitless potential it has to offer. Come, let us try an experiment."

She led little David back to the shimmering orb, "Please, little one, touch the orb and let the change happen again. It is important." David thought about it and realized she was right, but he was scared. He reluctantly picked up the black sphere and willed for its powers. A swelling of power interweaved into his being and he soon looked down at the ground at a taller advantage point. The suit completely wrapped itself around his body, except for his head. He could still feel the chilly breeze rustle his hair, "How do I do this? What am I trying to accomplish?"

Felicia looked up at him, "You must envision a protective seal of some kind encasing your vulnerable head. You must believe the suit will respond to your whims." Stealth shrugged his shoulders and closed his eyes, thinking of various hats, helmets, and jacket hoods that might work. He finally envisioned a collapsing ninja headpiece, although no ninja had ever really worn one like the one he was now thinking of. As the image crystallized in his mind, he could feel a strange sensation at the back of his neck. The suit was expanding somewhat. He could feel more of its surface covering his neck and throat. As he continued envisioning the helmet folding out and covering his entire head, his imaginary new addition became a reality. He could hear clinking noises as shimmering plates unfolded and expanded, covering the back half of his head. He quickly realized that he needed some way to see and imagined sleek black built-in lenses, covering and protecting his eyes. As the helmet continued covering his head, it changed and a pair of built-in goggles formed and settled over his eyes, giving him enhanced vision, the faceplate folded out and settled down the front of the throat, connecting with the rest of the suit covering his chest. He cautiously walked to the edge of the cave, looking out. There were no other people anywhere near them. It looked like they up on a large hill or small mountainside, he wasn't sure. He focused on the goggle view and got them to give an enhanced night-vision, could zoom in and out with great efficiency, and brought up one setting labeled infrared. He didn't see any change until he looked around and back at Felicia. Her form took on any eerie glow, more red and purple than he'd ever seen before. Stealth started to wish the helmet to fold back, although he noticed he had no problems breathing with it engaged.

He wandered back to where he sat before and the panther nudged him, "Another ability you possess is the power to blend into your environment. Thus the name given to you." Stealth wasn't sure what she meant. "Stealth, imagine yourself as a figure of power, but others can see through and hardly see you at all. Visualize your being as made of clear glass, smooth and polished." He shook his head again, that's impossible, he thought, it must be, no one can really do that, but he tried. If he was named by the ability of stealth and hiding, it must be possible. He thought of his suit turning transparent, the shimmering black being replaced by the colors of items behind him. He strained for a while, not sure if anything was happening.

The voice of Felicia startled him, "You are doing it, little one! Open your eyes now!" Stealth opened his eyes and looked down at himself. He couldn't see the familiar shimmering and glittering of his suit. In fact, he couldn't tell what he was looking at. Felicia tugged at him, "Please, walk out in the open." He hesitated, but the cat spoke up, "It's ok, trust me."

He stepped out in the night, the moon lighting up the mountainside. He brought up his arms and tried to find them. He looked close and could see a slight shimmering, similar to finely carved crystal. He could see the background and the ground below through his arms, the slightest distortion evident, "This is amazing! How am I able to do this?"

Felicia came up to him, "I am aware of some of the suit's potential abilities. If you can imagine the suit performing these abilities, the suit will do them. As you get accustomed to these new powers, the ability to make them happen will become second nature to you. What you are observing is your suit's ability to almost perfectly bend light around its surface. As I explain earlier, this suit and my morphing abilities are based on technology observed from the 30th century."

Stealth looked at Felicia, "How can you have technology from the future like that?" The black cat purred, "I'm not fully sure, but I wouldn't question it. It has been given to you as a gift. Merely accept it and use it as a tool for combating any evils in the world."

Stealth relaxed, and sat down in the cave. His helmet folded back, clacking as it went. The camouflage effect instantly disappeared, and as he relaxed the immense power flowed out of him. Soon, a familiar ball sat next to him, the constant hypnotic shimmering field of tiny stars continuously flowing over its surface. Felicia sat down next to him, "As you noticed, your suit must be sealed to acquire the stealth ability. Hopefully, as you master these powers, you will become more dangerous and mysterious to your enemies, and a greater legend to those that need your help." David curled up next to the familiar large cat and thought about the possibilities, and frankly, it was staggering. Sometimes he wished he could give it up and have his parents back. Thinking of his mom and dad made him sad inside, but he began to trust this mother panther. She was becoming smarter and wiser each day. It was hard to believe that she was once a wild animal.

The cat gently licked his face, "You're not the only one with potential powers. I've been thinking of things, since the contact with my orb has made me much smarter. It seems I'm more limited to only changing my form, but I have not even yet found the limit of what I can change to.

David looked at her, "What can you change into?"

The feline looked at him then stared at the far wall. She stood there for a moment, transfixed. Soon, her formed altered and she got taller. She sauntered over to little David, a curvaceous human female. She looked stunning in the dark cave, although her glimmering eyes betrayed her real form. As she approached David, she stood over him and he could see the now familiar shimmering lights racing over her form. He looked hard at her face, but she had no facial features, except for a pair of lantern eyes. She held an ebony hand to his shoulder, "Well, would this suffice as a mother figure?" David didn't know what to think, he was stunned. He finally stammered, "Uh, what other forms can you assume?" She knelt down next to him, "It appears almost any form, if you can ignore the pitch black surface and my eyes. I can grow much larger, but my surface weakens at larger sizes."

"So, how much have you practiced this?" Felicia looked at him, "Well, I can't get any smaller than this form or my original, but I have tried shapes similar in size to a large yacht. When you are feeling better and would like to practice with your potential powers, I will show you more. For now, rest." She slimmed down into a feline form and nested next to him, "Here, I'll keep you warm. Get some sleep."

CHAPTER VIII

The weather warmed up somewhat and became mild when little David and the panther left the cave. The two quietly wandered into the nearest town, Krakow, but decided to lay low for the time being, in case the mafia gang they dealt with was still looking for them. A small boy was pretty inconspicuous, even though a large black cat would be harder to hide. They decided to take their chances, perhaps using a story of being from a local circus. Hopefully, nobody would freak at the sight of a loose panther.

"Now, David, we must train you in other various forms of combat and defense." Felicia's soothing thoughts rattled through his head. He was getting rather used to listening to his new partner, who he sometimes wanted to also consider his mother, his guardian, his safety. David acquired a backpack, which now housed 2 rather unique orbs, their weight making him have to shift the pack around a lot, "This thing is heavy!" he complained in his thoughts, "where are we going?"

The cat looked at him, "We must establish a hideout - I mean, we need to find a safe place to stay." The panther scanned the area, looking for a homeless shelter or some out of the way motel, "Hopefully, we will not attract any attention until we are ready."

Their luck seemed good for a while. No one noticed a stray boy accompanied by a wild animal wandering the streets. Apparently, they did not stick out, or the locals were too preoccupied to really care. Whatever the case, the two finally found a shelter they could stay at, and were given a free room for privacy. Felicia touched her orb. She tried subtly shape-changing into a hunched down woman, and wore some old ratty clothes to hide her dark skin and put on a pair of black sunglasses to hide her missing facial features. Little David bravely explained they were strangers in town and that his aunt was mute and could not speak. She was also somewhat mentally ill, so he was taking care of her the best he could. The lady in charge shrugged her shoulders. The two strangers seemed nice enough and were ragged in appearance. A nice clean room would do wonders for them.

As night fell, the two took full advantage of a private room. David brought out the orb and held it, letting the change overtake him. When he was ready, Felicia settled next to him and began a new set of lessons, "Now, Stealth, if you will notice the blunt scabbard on your hip, extract the sword held within." Stealth looked down at the square nub set on his right hip, "How can something that small contain something long like a sword?" He felt the handle set into the scabbard. The cat gestured, "Just carefully pull the sword handle."

He grabbed the handle and began pulling. An elegant ebony blade began emerging, perhaps unfolding, as he continued pulling the handle. When he was finished, he now held a sword nearly 5 feet long, it's surface shimmering, its edge infinitely sharp, "That is your sword of justice, if you'll excuse the corny phrase. Its name is Talembar." Stealth held out the sword. It appeared as a long wide blade, the strength and thickness of a broad sword, combined with the elegance of a Samurai sword. He began slowly swinging the blade, carving a beautiful figure 8 in the air, instructions scrolling down his field of view. Soon, he swung the sword faster and carved more intricate patterns in the air.

"If you can trust your new powers, you can wield that blade at near supersonic speeds and the sword can deflect many types of projectiles." Stealth brought the twirling blade to a halt, studied its haunting beauty one last time before sheathing it into its impossibly small housing, "The blade is compressed while in its scabbard." Stealth was still getting used to being able to do what seemed impossible, and having incredible tools and weapons merely added to the mystique.

At early dawn, little David and the hunched over lady quietly left their shelter before anyone knew they were gone. "It is time, little one, we must finish the task we started last winter. We must eliminate that evil mafia and its crime boss. Are you up to the task?" David thought for a moment, "As long as I believe I can succeed, I am ready!"

CHAPTER IX

They waited patiently until nightfall, taking in the city. As darkness fell, little David took a deep breath and grabbed the orb, letting the change overtake him. He embraced the rapid alterations in his perception, and stood proud. "I say we should allow them a chance to give themselves up to the local authorities."

Felicia mentally smirked, "I doubt they will willingly give themselves up, but it is the honorable thing to do." The two casually made their way over to the same warehouse that they knew the mafia was working out of. From their current information, the Silver Snake gang was handling contraband arms, as well as petty crimes, including roughing up local merchants. The neighborhood sort of put up with the activities, even though most wanted them to be rid of. The cops were either afraid or bought off by the head honcho.

Near midnight, as many henchman were busy loading crates and checking off checklists, a lone man in a dark glistening outfit walked towards one of the main entrances, a large black feline at his side. It didn't take long before over a dozen henchmen were crowded near the large door, their assault rifles snapping into place.

One large man, dressed in a typical striped suit, stoking a fat cigar, confronted the stranger, "Hey, what are you doing here? Wait a minute, I recognize you. I thought we killed you!" One of his buddies spoke up, "What, are you back for more?!" Several more men showed up, some carrying various billy clubs and nightsticks. "Listen, for your own good, you'd better leave and never show your scrawny ass around again!"

Stealth cautiously sauntered up near the lead man, "Listen, I am willing to forgo any conflict and allow you the chance to willingly give yourselves up to the local authorities. However, I give only one chance!"

Some of the men stared, slaw-jacked. Many of them couldn't believe their ears! There was a lot of laughter that echoed through the night. David patiently waited for a response.

The lead henchmen raised his weapon, "Either you're suicidal or the stupidest dumb shit I've ever dealt with." He spit at Stealth's feet. Stealth sighed, "Oh, well, gentlemen, it's your funeral." No sooner had he uttered those final words, when his sword quickly came out of its tiny sheath, an odd clanking noise was heard as a mechanical helmet covered his head, and within a split-second, his form became transparent.

"Shit, where'd he go?" snarled the leader. He opened fire on the stranger's last position, but the bullets merely covered empty air, "Damn it, lock down the warehouse! Find that asshole!" Most of the henchman spread out, guns at the ready. They scanned the walls and ceilings, looking for any indication of where the stranger went.

Stealth quickly climbed the north wall, looking for the main leader. The others forgot Felicia was still there and she took advantage of that, creating quite a distraction. She tore through several of the men, bullets harmlessly bouncing off her ebony skin. One of the crew swung at her, only to break his hand in several spots. She returned the favor by tearing out his throat. Several of the group backed up into a corner. Two of them spotted a glimmering shadow land in between them. The two leveled their assault rifles and opened fire. Stealth was on the move before they could react and the two men merely riddled each others bodies with rapid fire.

A quick swish was heard by another. He turned to find the noise, and was split in half before he could figure out where it came from. A nearly invisible hand reached out and tossed one of the surprised henchmen. He landed in an oily puddle and skidded against a nearby wall. One of his buddies swung his nightstick towards the see-through enemy and was brutally kicked in the head. The man slumped as the others ran in all directions.

Stealth watched from a new position on the ceiling as his sidekick bore down on several of the fleeing men. He switched over to thermal imaging and isolated the mafia leader's cozy little office. The man's image came up on his HUD, the name 'Antonio Cellestras' highlighted beneath the profile.

He dropped to the floor, and quickly ran to the office. One of the henchmen had just entered and was relaying the disturbance, "Boss, you gotta get out here. There's a ….. urk!" when he stopped and his head and one shoulder slid off the rest of his torso in one gruesome piece. The man hesitated and then collapsed. Stealth walked in behind the fallen man, his 6-foot, 9-inch frame filling most of the door. He walked up to the nervous leader, who was now sweating profusely, maybe wetting himself, Stealth wasn't sure.

"Now, I will give you one more chance, even though I shouldn't. You will surrender and give yourself up to the local authorities." The man answered with a sharp whistle, and two large men immediately showed up behind him, "You two know what to do!" Stealth raised his hand, palm forward, and an invisible force shoved Antonio, plastering him to the wall behind him. He struggled and tried to breath, but the force holding him was slowly crushing him. The two large men jumped Stealth, but were batted off quickly, probably too quickly by Antonio's taste. Whatever was crushing him to the wall let go, and he collapsed to the floor. In a second, he snagged a small stiletto from his boot and rushed Stealth, determined to end this.

Stealth was knocked over by the leader's momentum and the two struggled on the floor. Antonio managed to get his blade up to Stealth's neck, but it didn't last. Stealth's instincts kicked in and a trio of jagged ninja-style blades grew from his right forearm. He jabbed the leader in the chest with the glimmering blades and the leader collapsed, holding his chest, his hands and arms covered in his blood. Stealth stood over him, waiting. "Why don't you finish me off? You've ruined my operation!" Antonio spat blood. He squinted and winced as the pain in his chest throbbed. Stealth patiently knelt next to him, "I am willing to let you live and turn you over to the authorities myself." The crime boss sniveled, "Don't bother. I'm not impressed by your crude form of chivalry!"

Against his will, Antonio was lifted and carried painfully and dropped off at the nearest police station. The police were startled to find a known criminal waiting at their doorstep. He reluctantly allowed the cops to handcuff him and place him in a jail cell. He made one last note and wondered if any of his henchmen escaped or were still alive.

In a back alley, Felicia consoled with little David, "Why did you let him live? He will rebuild his little empire and be back on the streets sooner than you think." David looked at her, "Well, I think we made quite an impression on him. I had to stop myself from actually killing him as it was. After slaughtering everyone associated with King Chamel, it got me thinking about being generous when it's needed. Beside, he knows if he doesn't go straight, we'll be looking for him." This brought a mental smile from Felicia, "That was a most noble act, little one. I am proud of you and rather shameful I wished for his head on a stake."

David thought for a moment, "You know, when I confronted that crime boss, and he tried to send his best men after me, I wanted to keep him stuck to the wall and I did it. How did I do that?" Felicia looked up at him, "Another power you've discovered, little one, the power to move objects with your mind. As you learn and train more, you will learn to use many of these powers and they will become second nature soon enough."

The two quietly left town later that week. They knew that crime would be less of a problem in Krakow thanks to them. They took to the road, creating new legends and stories wherever they went.

CHAPTER X

(Coming down to their level –or- messing with the locals)

It's been a few years, it's now 2053, Stealth and Felicia took care of many a bandit, warlord, whatever came along. It was time for a fresh start, a vacation. Little David had heard wind of a retro drifting contest in Kovin, Yugoslavia. The once little town of Kovin had become famous (or infamous) for illegal drifting competitions, which were banned in many other countries. Word had spread of a famous scam artist who liked to entice other racers into believing they could beat him in a simple drift contest, and then he would use any unethical means to make sure he won, usually at the cost of the other racer's life.

So, little David managed to sign up for the local drift race, balking at questions as to what ride he was using or who was driving. He merely shrugged and said he knew a guy that wanted to race, but would like to remain anonymous until the opening ceremonies.

When the first set of celebrations began, all the entries vehicles were to be inspected and shown off for the amusement of the locals that could not afford such luxurious whips. Little David casually wandered in, a peculiar large black feline in tow. Some of the judges became impatient and demanded to know what car was entered and the name of the driver, for they knew a 13-year-old was far too young to compete. David played with his black basketball and pondered a moment before responding. He looked up at the judges, "He'll be here tonight for the end of the show-off competitions." Even though the judges didn't care much for the term he was using to label their beloved exhibition, it seemed to ease their anger a little.

As night wore on, a sense of strangeness perked up as a mysterious black vehicle rolled into the parking lot display. It was a unique design, rather feline in trim, with an all black exterior. When the curious got a closer look, some noticed the unusual shimmer of lights dancing across the surface and many figured it to be a trick of the light or merely an illusion to scare them. One of the racers wandered over, looking at the new entry, "That's a rather, uh, unique car model. Where did you get it?" Stealth merely nodded, "My own creation, nothing more." As the other racers and audience gawked, Stealth quietly suggested to Felicia to turn off her inertial dampener and assume a less imperviousness mode. She was quizzical, but understood that simulated damage would be an acceptable part of this.

As part of the evening procession, a normal inspection of the engine add-ons was nothing new. When the judges came to Felicia, they noticed all there was under the hood in back was a black sphere with tubes connected to each side. One judge wondered, "What is in this thing?" He tapped on the sphere. Stealth smiled a little, "Ever kissed the sun?" The judge merely shrugged and mentioned, "Well, you can keep your add-ons a secret, but it will cost you points."