Looking out over the horizon a sudden need to paint came over Sam as he shifted his weight and lifted his leg and placed it next to his body and put his arm on his knee. Twelve years old and he has only seen so many sunsets and even fewer sunrises. He was looking out across the ocean and felt the time stand still. Never before has he seen the red sun look so brilliant. The Californian coastline reflected the Sun as it began to set giving off a warped image towards Sam and the two bodies that lay next to him on the private beach.

He had somewhere to be but he didn’t feel the rush, twelve years old and he has a schedule to keep and there was no time in it for watching a sunset. He sighed as he got up and wished he could paint a scene of that magnitude, he wished he had a camera or someway to remember the view. Walking a few steps to the shoreline he found a large conch shell and picked it up. Holding it tightly with hi small hands Sam walked over to the bodies and sat on the biggest, they weren’t dead only sleeping.

Picking up a walkie-talkie from his backside Sam clicked the button to talk, “Ummm… I have them sir, over…” he un-clicked the button and waited, “Good work Sam! Good timing, a clean up crew is on their way and a ride for you to come home. Got some training you need to start today, your teachers are waiting for you.”

‘Home’ what a funny word, it was supposed to make kids his age smile, back when he was younger and placed within a fake family Sam was thankful he could play with the other kids but it never lasted for long, they would get called home and would see their faces light up like it was a good thing. When Sam got called home it wasn’t exactly the same feeling. Sure he was glad to have a place to call home but then again, it wasn’t the typical home. Most homes didn’t include a small room; most homes didn’t include armed guards and cameras that studied your every movement.

Laughing slightly Sam remembered a time when he was afraid of those things that studied his movements and watched him like a hawk, both the guards and the cameras. But that was a few years ago and a lot has changed the first time when he discovered that he could create ice and will it to do what he wanted changed it all.

He closed his eyes and felt the feeling he felt when he killed the sadistic guard, scared was the best emotion that one could use. His nose was bleeding a lot back then, he was fragile back then but not anymore. The ice was his friend and his protector. He was as Mr. Jackson put it a Mutant. One who was needed, a mutant who had a purpose, to do good and help the super secret organization that protected the world by stopping bad guys!

Sam’s mind went away from fear and the evil guard as he smiled slightly knowing that Mr. Jackson would be happy with him for catching these bad guys. Two which was twice as many as he had every caught before. The familiar sound of a helicopter sounded in the air as it came closer to them on the beach. Sand was whipped about as Sam started to cough and close his eyes, but as he wished he had something to protect him a layer of ice formed over his eyes and his nose and mouth making it impossible for sand to enter. ‘Thank you’ thought Sam as he waved to the men in suits walking over to him and the two limp bodies.

Walking back to the helicopter Sam smiled and said, “They ran but I caught them, I did good right?” a large black hand was placed on his head as he felt his hair tussle a bit, Agent Jackson with a large body slung over his shoulder put on a fake smile and said, "Ya, you done good kid…Real good… now let’s get you home you got your teachers waiting for you and we are got a special present for you tomorrow, your going to see what we do once we catch these people!”

Sam’s face lit up as he jumped up and down, “It’s not even my birthday yet!” he then pulled himself into the helicopter as the doors shut behind him and the helicopter took off on his way home.

Helicopter rides were always fun, Sam didn’t know why but the way everything seemed so small when he was that high in the air. It took a few hours to get back to the base but that didn’t matter, he had a schedule to keep. Sixteen of the hours in the day consisted of him either training or on missions, and twelve hours of the day was already spent on a mission which meant his teachers had him for four hours which was fine with him.

Schooling was done during the early morning as the physical aspects were done later on during the day for hours at a time. As he walked into the large room that looked like an underground football field only without the grass, and the stands. Mats were spread out along the floor as he walked up in his training gear, five pound ankle weights wrapped around his ankles. Form fitting clothes covered his body from the ankles to the wrists.

The mat formed to his feet as he wiggled his toes, he smiled and bowed,“Hello Sensei!” the man bowed his head and began the lesson, only on the rarest occasions would they talk to their students and Sam was no exception. He did exactly what he was asked to do with out questioning it. Slow at first but once he had his form down he sped it up.

After the four hours were up Sam bowed to his teacher and then ran out of the room to get ready for bed. He was tired and had another mission success something that not everyone his age could brag about. Sam had perfect records mission wise and he was the top of his class. He lived for being praised and being told ‘Good Job’ which he was told by everyone all except the small amount of other kids in a few of his classes.

Despite his straight A’s Sam hated his morning classes, it was the way they were set up that bugged him. Sitting in the same chair for hours at a time bugged the hell out of him. His teacher was an elderly man who still looked like he could throw a car across the room without breaking a sweat. That was the majority of the people that worked there big muscular men, the only girls he saw was one the one girl in his class with six other boys and a few of the female technician workers that he saw once in a while.

Her name was Amanda and she was a goddess. Brown hair that waved down past her shoulders and blue eyes that matched the ice that he could will to do what he wanted, her eyes were blue but unlike his ice her eyes were warm. Every time she looked to him and then looked to the blackboard Sam’s body felt warm all over. She also happened to be the one person Sam would never willingly spar with during training sessions.

Sam, you have been dismissed from the rest of class today Sam’s attention shot over to the door where a big dark skinned man in a large suit was waiting for him. Sam grinned and got up form his seat and shouted, ”SIR” and then gathered his notes and marched off following Mr. Jackson.

Sam followed the man who dished out missions and made sure Sam was progressing in his studies and eating all of his meals. Jackson was essentially like a father figure to Sam but Sam knew that if he had grown to attached that he Mr. Jackson would be reassigned. Walking down a corridor Sam never walked down before, it was restricted meaning only those with the right card could enter. Sam looked around through windows and saw rooms like his only smaller and with fewer things in it.

People Sam started to notice that one by one the people’s face became easier and easier to recognize. “Hey I caught that guy!” Sam said happily as he ran in front of Jackson and pointed at a man who had a long snake like tail, “Why are all of these people here?” Sam asked Mr. Jackson as they entered another room away from the hallway with the prisons cells, “ That’s right you caught them, they are bad guys, we are keeping them here because they hurt people. looking up at awe Sam asked, “So does that mean I am a super hero?” the man laughed at the naivety of the boy and answered, Yes, that means you're a super hero, just remember it has to stay a secret.

Sam jumped in the air as the entered another room where a large glass window could be seen, a man was chained up in a chair screaming as another man was holding his head, “What’s he doing?” Sam asked slightly scared but trying his hardest not to show it, “Just watch, this makes you and you class mates different from the rest of our heros.” Sam looked up and saw a smile on Mr. Jackson’s face as Sam turned his head to the man screaming out in pain.

The process went on for a few minutes and Sam started o feel sick, the screaming the dancing of the man’s body as he tried to get away from the man who had his hands on his head. It soon ended as the scary guy walked out of the room and left the man chained to a chair, “I am number 893” said the man in the chair as Jackson tapped Sam on the shoulder and nodded over to the door, “That is how our Agents are made, we take the bad ones you catch and make them good.” Sam looked to him and said, ”So how are we different?”Grinning as he crouched down to Sam’s level Jackson said, ”Because you were never bad, you and your class mates are the first bunch of super hero’s we found that weren’t evil!”

Sam smiled in satisfaction knowing that he was a hero born and now to be raised, he wasn’t created like these hero’s he was born that way, a hero and if as long as he did what he was told he would stay one! “Mr. Jackson can I go to training please?” asked Sam as the tall dark man escorted him out of the room to where he and his had group training.

Group Training was one of his favorite times at the base, no matter what he would be paired up with one of the guys his own age, this was his play. Play consisted of dodges, blocks, kicks, and techniques. Unfortunately for Sam today wasn’t the same as every other day. Today was the day he was stuck with being Amanda’s partner something he had never done before. Walking up to Amanda, Sam bowed in and said a very fast, ”Hello” which sounded something like ‘jello’.

After the bow Sam looked at her and felt slightly dumbfounded instead of taking his stance he stood there like an idiot and didn’t even realize there was a punch coming into his stomach. Toppling over Sam curled up into a little ball and tried to breath, almost all of the wind was knocked out of him. It took him next to a minute to get up again but this time he took a stance. But like last time he didn’t move his body felt the impact and was to slow to react and like last time he fell to the ground.

This painful process kept going over and over again but for some reason when Sam saw the punch or kick coming in he didn’t react fast enough, or rather he reacted fast enough but all of his blocks was always followed up with a combo and for some reason he couldn’t do it. The thirteenth time Sam gasped for air as he was on all fours, that was the moment his life changed, that is when he heard Amanda speak for the first time. “Why aren’t you fighting back?” Sam stood up and didn’t answer, he just stood up and got into a fighting stance and got ready for the next beating.

“Fight back!” Amanda yelled as she punched Sam in the side of the head, which sent him to tumble over. Getting up again Sam got into position and felt something click in his mind, ‘Fight!’ it was an ominous voice in the back of his head but he listened to it and as soon as the uppercut came Sam sidestepped it and followed the sidestep up with a throw.

The fighting continued for another few hours and Sam’s dodge the throw continued, whenever he got to close to Amanda he let her go or step back, at all times he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her and from what he saw at the end of the sparring she smiled at him. Making the beating he got totally worth it.
___

The door opened the next morning around four o’clock as Jackson walked into the room and said, “Time for some special training today.” Sam jumped from his bed happily and clicked his bare heels together and called out, ”Sir!” Training for Sam was his playtime and school was just school. ‘Special Training’ to Sam sounded like special fun time! So of course he was enthusiastic to have some special playtime!

Walking happily into the room Sam looked around and found several instruments around the room, a section for strings, brass, and percussion as well as a section with miscellaneous smaller instruments. “Pick two instruments, those are the two your going to learn how to play, every super hero has at least one but you can pick two!

All suspicion Sam had about not having ‘super fun time’ left right after Mr. Jackson spoke. He was going to be better than most super heroes because he would get two instead of one! Looking amongst the instruments one from the miscellaneous stood out and caught Sam’s attention. It was gold plated and engraved in some kind of symbol language, didn’t matter though because the second he spotted it he fell in love with it. Blowing into his first Harmonica Sam got goose bumps, ”Can I take this one Mr. Jackson?” Sam asked in a begging tone.

His face lighting up as Jackson nodded Sam went for the second item. Walking passed the brass section and only after hitting a few drums in the percussion, Sam walked into the strings. Walking up and down the instruments Sam picked out a polished violin and said, “This one is shiny!” picking up his two instruments Sam was sent to his first music class.

It had been two years had nearly come and gone and not much for Sam had changed, his grades remained top of the class, his progress in his music and martial arts had only increased since he started with both and was now in a league all his own. Now on occasion Sam had to spar with his teacher or three of the students to give him a challenge. Sam took everything he learned and memorized it quickly often training on his own during his lunch or times when he should be sleeping. His drive to be the best, ‘Hero’ TAT had ever seen made him the perfect and one of the most efficient tools they had ever created.

His relationship with almost all his classmates had dwindled, most of who were “KIA” on a mission or had to be terminated for insubordination. Sam was only close to two other classmates of his. Amanda, who had easily become the best thing about his life and his best friend, Sydney who was a human shape shifter, they had made the perfect team and were often paired together to work on missions or work together in training scenarios.

Today was no different, Sam stood around looking into the darkness as he had Sydney to his back, and slowly they made there way to the objective for the scenario. Sydney looked to the control station that was there target as Sam shifted his eyes waiting for a enemy to show them self, seeing as how they had hardly any trouble getting in he figured it would be an ambush. Even though Ice covered his entire body he still had to fill the role as guard to make sure the machine geek could get in and disable the nuclear reactor that was about to go off. Looking around Sam felt a cool hypnotic tone in the back of his mind, ‘Any Targets?’ Sam thought as he took a step forward making sure the pathway was safe for Sydney to cross.

A warning shot through his mind as he jumped back tackling Sydney to the ground as a bullet zoomed past where Sydney’s head used to be, they were non-lethal but were enough to knock someone out long enough to make the mission a failure. “Close one,” laughed Sydney as he pulled a gun of his own and returned fire hitting the target right between the eyes. Getting up Sam and Sydney started to run as bullets started to wiz passed them now making it more difficult for them to move. “Amanda need some cover!” Sam called out as he threw up a small bubble around Sydney, which protected him from the bullets.

Using the bubble around him Sydney started to laugh and make squeaking noises as he played hamster and started to run towards the station that was their intended target. The shooting stopped as Sam looked back and said, “Sydney, Amanda took them out for now but with that many shooting we only have a few minutes…” Sam waved his hands at the ball as it started to slow as fast as it could. Once they got to the control tower the ice around Sydney shattered still leaving chunks on the floor. Frowning slightly Sam moved the ice way from them and to a blind spot where it would be more helpful as a wall.

As Sydney went to work Sam debated if it was possible for him to be able to manipulate the ice to the point where they would become snow crystals. ‘Pay attention’ a female voice called out in his mind as a bullet whizzed past them landing right above Sydney’s head.“You out to lunch or something?” Sydney asked as he continued to fool around with the wires under the computer keyboard. “Sorry” Sam said as he shot a shard in the direction of the bullet resulting in a quick scream. “Just pay attention,” Sydney said as his voice sounded more and more fanatic, “How much time is on the screen?”

“Round a minute thirty” said Sam as he felt Sydney tap him on the leg and ask for his bag. Sam dug through the bag and handed Sydney some wire cutters and some electrical tape and said, “Minute left.” A small snickering could be heard as Sydney pulled him out and said, “and it will remain at a minute, cause this mission is over.”

Sam and Sydney high fived as the lights came on to signal the mission was over, “Good job man!” Sydney said as Sam nodded and forced the ice to fall from his body. Focusing on the ice trying to make it break apart Sam heard a small whistling sound as he saw Sydney fall to the ground, “God Damn!” yelled Sydney as he clenched his left shoulder. Sam pivoted and tried to summon some ice but before he could he felt a sharp pain as rubber bullet impaled his left side forcing Sam to fall to the ground. “Who shot the scenario was over?”

Frowning as the beautiful Brunette approached them gun in hand she yelled, “Pay attention next time Sam then maybe I won’t have to knock out half of the staff assigned to be our enemies, that was a stupid trip wire!” he heard Sydney laughing a little through clenched teeth and said, “Think she was worried about you Sam.” Sam started to join in laughing with Sydney as he felt another pellet go into his knee as he heard Sydney let out another yelp. “I am not! It just makes me look bad!”

As Sydney laughed again Sam found himself laughing again and in turn caused Amanda to start laughing, this was Sam’s happy little family. Looking over to Sydney who now took the shape form of Amanda in very revealing shirt threw his arms around Sam and said, “I was so worried!” in attempts to make Amanda more frustrated than she was already was. Immediately Sam stopped laughing because he knew exactly what was going to happen.

The beautiful laughter that was given off by Amanda ended quickly and was followed up with a few shots of the gun, which landed not only on Sydney but Sam as well. After the gun was out of bullets and Sam and Sydney were covered in welts Sam ducked as the gun flew through the air knocking Sydney out as he changed back into his normal form. ”Sydney!” Sam called out as Amanda stormed out of the training room and back to her room for a two hour break before they would get their next mission debriefing.