Flashback Sequence
Michael Diamond`s Mansion
Hartford Connecticut

The scene opens at the Diamond Mansion. A very young high school aged Cassandra Starr and Michael Diamond are seen walking through the front foyer.

Diamond`s Butler Greets them.

Martin: Good Afternoon Sir, Miss..

Michael Diamond: Hi Martin, Cass and I will be upstairs in my room, if you need me (he said directly)

Cassandra flashes a small, shy half smile to Martin as she scurried by him to follow Michael upstairs to his bedroom. Michael walked up the grand staircase, as Cass followed close behind him. This wasn`t a first occurrence as it was clear Cass knew her way around the house.

Michael grabbed Cass`s hand as he led her into his bedroom and shut the door behind him. Immediately, she pushed him against the wall, wrapping her arms around his neck as their lips met. Michael`s hands began to wander under her uniform plaid skirt, as she slapped his hand away. Taking a breath, and sitting on his bed, she looks up at him.

Cassandra Starr: Nice try, Diamond. What kind of girl do you think I am? She uttered sarcastically, giving him her trademark half smile, one eyebrow up look.
Michael looked back at her with a smirk.

Cassandra Starr: So where are you taking me tonight? She said playfully.

Michael looking down at his phone, looked up at her.

Michael Diamond: I don`t know, lets go see a movie. I think the new Batman movie is out, do you want to go see that?

Cassandra Starr shrugged. Pursing her lips she looked up at him, it was clear she was going to be adding in another suggestion. Most likely one, not even close to what he suggested.

Cassandra Starr: What about…..the Notebook?

Michael`s face scrunched up, obviously not having an interest in the Notebook. Cassandra seeing his dislike for her suggestion, got off the bed and walked over to Michael. Pulling his school issued red tie forcing him in closer to her, teasing him like she is going to give him a kiss, he leans in and she looks up at him.

Cassandra Starr: In a sultry, soft voice…..Please Michael, ill make it worth your while?

Michael let out a small laugh and shook his head. Cass had him wrapped around her finger, and she knew it. This was very typical Cass behavior, that as they grew older would become her biggest weapon. Michael threw his hands up and very defeatedly said.

Michael Diamond: Sure Cass, not sure how you get me to do these things

Cassandra looked back at him and winked. Remembering she didn`t bring anything to wear except for her uniform.

Cassandra Starr: Oh Crap! can we stop at my house first so I can grab a change of clothes?

Michael hesitated; they haven`t told Danny yet about them dating. Danny knew that Cass and Michael were friends, and nothing more. Usually if Michael would drop her off at night, Cass would just tell Danny it was one of her girlfriends dropping her off, or she would drive herself home. On this occasion, Michael had driven them to his house from school. He knew going to her house during the daylight hours would be a risk to be seen.

Danny was very protective of his little sister, and Michael knew it. Danny spent many years protecting Cass from their father who was an angry drunk. He would lay into both, and Danny would do what he could to get Cass out of the way in hopes of trying to keep her safe. Michael knew that he would be facing a wrath of shit when Danny inevitably found out.

Cassandra interrupting his thought.

Cassandra Starr: Maybe tonight would be a good time to tell Danny about us.

Michael Diamond: I don`t know Cass, you know how he is. He is not going to like it.

Cassandra rolled her eyes, brushing off Michaels concerns. Cassandra cocked her head up.

Cassandra Starr: Well, he is going to have to deal with it. I am a grown woman and can decide who I want to date. He should be happy I am even telling him. She crossed her arms almost irritated.

Michael knew that Cass wouldn`t be the one getting her ass handed to him when Danny found out. Against his better judgement they got into his car and headed towards the Starr Mansion.

The Starr Mansion
Hartford Connecticut

As Michael pulled up, he took a deep breath praying Danny wouldn`t be home. Cassandra gently caressed his thigh, knowing he was getting nervous. He flashes her his million-dollar smile and smiled back. The parked the car and both began walking up the driveway towards the front door. Michael instinctively grabbed her hand. They got to the front door, and Cass grabbed his face planting a kiss as the front door opened abruptly. It wasn`t Danny standing there it was their father. He reeked of bourbon and cigars. Cass had not expected this, as he was supposed to be out of the country on business. Her look of playfulness turned into raw fear.

Cassandra Starr: Daddy, this isn`t what it looks like… She mumbled nervously.

John Starr: Shut up Cass, Who the fuck are you? As his eyes fixated on Michael.

Michael could see the fear in Cass`s face and had only heard stories from her about his abusive behavior. Trying to take control of the situation, he reached out his hand for a handshake. Instead of a returning the handshake John Starr grabbed Michael by the collar of his shirt and threw him down the front concrete steps. Michael feeling the wind knocked out of him, popped back up throwing a punch at John`s face.

This only infuriated their father further. John grabbed Michaels arms as Cass screamed in horror; her father began to pound on Michael, laying into him blow by blow. Blood pouring out of Michael. Cass was frozen in fear. She snapped out of it when she heard Michael gasp for air. Cass ran into the house trying to find Danny to somehow intervene and stop this massacre.

September 2005
Cassandra Starr`s Mansion
Hartford Connecticut

Cassandra is seen folding laundry in her living room. As she was remembering the horrible day when her father had beat into Michael. Her life had been plagued by many moments of violence and trauma at the hands of her father, Danny and Michael. A loud knock echoed in the front hall jarring Cass from her daydream. She looked up and smiled looking at Shawn, now three, playing on the soft white rug in front of the television.

She watched as his little fingers twirled the top of a red toy helicopter, that Danny had sent to her when Shawn was born. Louder knocking, reminded Cass she hadn`t got up to answer the door yet. Cassandra got up and headed towards the door. She opened the door to see a petite woman with reddish brown hair standing in the doorway. She smiled like Cass should know who she is. Cass narrowed her eyes, looking at this woman.

Cassandra Starr: Hello?

Woman: Wow, Cassandra Starr I have heard so much about you.

Cassandra Starr getting more confused. Is this a fan from her HWA days?

Cassandra Starr: Do I know you?

Woman realizing that she better move quickly, as Cass clearly didn`t have time for random strangers on her doorstep.

Woman: Ah Yes, I am a friend of Michael Diamonds

At the point Cass was going to shut the door on this woman; assuming it was another plea from Michael to take her back. The woman quickly put her hand in between the door and the frame so that Cass couldn`t shut the door the whole way

Woman: Could I come in; I think we need to talk? This isn`t what you think. It is imperative that I come in to speak with you. This is about you and Shawn`s safety.
This sentence stopped Cass in her tracks. Never mind her, but Shawn’s Safety?! Cass very hesitantly let her in. She motioned for her to come in, showed her to the living room couch. Cass bent down grabbing Shawn, holding him close to her. Not knowing who this woman was but wanted to know what she had to say. The woman looked at her.

Woman: What a sweet little boy, he looks just like Michael.

Cass glared at her

Cassandra Starr: Don`t look at or talk about my son. I don`t know who you are, or what you want. What do we need to discuss?

Cass`s mother instincts were kicking in overdrive. Something didn`t seem right about this woman.

Woman: Well, I guess small talk will be unnecessary

Cass rolled her eyes; it was obvious she wanted this woman to get to the point of this meeting and leave

Woman: My name is MJ, and I have been sent here to warn you, your brother is causing a lot of problems for people in very prestigious positions.

This wasn`t new information for Cass, Danny had been a wrecking ball for years. He was hell bent on making himself the center of attention in both HWA and in life.

Cassandra Starr: Well Mj, Danny is unhinged, we all know that. I don`t need you coming into my home to discuss Danny. I love my brother, but I don`t own his problems. Can`t you take this up with him? What does this have to do with Shawn and I?

Cass was getting agitated; she was already on edge with this strange woman in her home she just wanted her to get to the point.

Mj: The problem you see Cass, is that some of these powerful people Danny has pissed off want to hurt him. Hurting him, alone isn`t enough. They want him to suffer. The only way to make him suffer is to go after the only thing he has left.

Mj took a breath and with a frown she pointed to Cass and Shawn. Cass`s eyes grew big, and she could feel her heart begin to pound. She held Shawn tighter

Cassandra: Why wouldn`t my brother call me, why wouldn`t Michael call me?

Cass started to stand up holding Shawn tightly on her side. She was getting suspicious, why would Michael send some strange woman, to warn Cass of danger.

MJ: Michael knows his relationship to Danny will only put you and his son in further danger. I offered to…..help him out.

Cass slowly started to sit down as she was trying to process what this woman was saying. Shawn was starting to get fidgety, so she put him down. He ran right over to his toys picking up one to show her She let out a small smile, and they focused back on MJ. Cass could sense something wasn`t adding up. Regardless of her relationship with either Danny or Michael, if Cass and Shawn were in danger, both would be there. Cass knew there was a bigger problem here, but she wasn`t going to let MJ know that she was on to her.

Cassandra Starr: So, what exactly are you recommending we do? What if I did nothing?

Cass`s eyebrow was raised at this point. Thoughts racing through her head.

Mj carefully deciding how to answer this question. Looks directly at Cass. The mood more serious.

Mj: You could do nothing, and I can`t guarantee you both will be safe. Do you really want to stick around looking over your shoulder, every minute of every day? I would suggest, you make a smart decision

Cass looking at her puzzled. Did she just threaten me? What was is she implying?

MJ: Or I can get you and Shawn on a flight today back to your home in France. We will make sure there is no tracking, and that you have the protection you need out there.

Cass stood up; she had heard enough. This woman was not going to tell her what to do with her family

Cassandra: Mj, I am going to ask you to get the fuck out of my house. You and your “suggestions” for my family are not welcome.

Mj looks surprised at Cass`s harsh response to her concerns. Cass walked Mj to the front door. Mj turned around and looked at Cass raising an eyebrow.

Mj: Have it your way, I would just hate to see something happen to someone you love.

Cass looked at her, with a scowl. At what sounded like another threat.

Cassandra: Come back to my house again, and my family will not be the ones in danger.

As Cass lashed out those last words, she slammed the door in Mjs face. Cass stared at the door visibly shaken. The moment was interrupted by Shawn`s sweet laugh. She didn`t know what was going on, but something wasn`t right. Either her and Shawn were in danger, or Michael and Danny were. Either way she needed to leave.

 

Beautiful Disaster
Cassandra Starr`s Mansion
Provinc, France
2005

After the unfortunate meeting with Mj at Cass`s home in Hartford, Cass decided regardless of Mj`s true reason for coming to her home, she needed to get Shawn out of Hartford so she could figure it all out; without worrying about his safety.

Once Cass got to France, she began to reach out to one of her connections to investigate who this MJ woman was and what she wanted with her and Shawn. As Cass began to dive into her research, she started to unweave a spiderweb of lies and deceit. She soon discovered that the ongoing fight between Michael and Danny was all due to Eric Rayne. She also learned that MJ was directly connected.

That night, Cass appeared at the HWA PPV event Crash and Burn via the HWAtron. She appeared during the Main Event of Danny Starr vs Michael Diamond. While appearing on the HWAtron, she revealed that Eric Rayne had been behind the ongoing feud with Danny and Michael. That he had manipulated Michael into thinking that Danny drove Cass away. When in fact it was Eric Rayne and his cronies, that pushed out Cass and Shawn. Once Cas`s part was over she shut off the video feed and tuned into the HWA match live on TV. She didn`t really keep up with the HWA after she had stopped actively wrestling.

This match was different though, she was hoping to see her former lover and her beloved brother reunite as the family she always knew, with the information she had provided them. Unfortunately, just as Danny and Michael were celebrating their newfound reunion, the injuries sustained from Danny, and then Eric Rayne were too much and “Your Hero” Michael Diamond, collapsed on the mat, blood everywhere. Announcers in shock, never have they seen such a devasting and bloody mess. Cass watched in horror, hands shaking.

All she heard echoing in her head were the words MJ had spoken to her, about someone she loved being hurt. Did Cass, cause Michael to be so severely attacked? Was he the loved one that MJ warned about? The PPV ended and she burst into tears, wanted to be there with him. None of their differences at that point mattered, that was the love of her life. She immediately tried to call Danny, but no answer. She wanted to cross the ocean to get to him but knew that it was too dangerous for Shawn and she didn`t want to put Michael in harm’s way, any more than he already was. When she left France, she cut out everyone else in her life, in order to keep Shawn safe, and to start new. All she could do now was hold Shawn and pray that Michael survived this.

Weeks had passed since the PPV and Cass just continued with her life as normal as possible, dedicating her time to Shawn. At the same time guilt ridden over what happened to Michael, blaming herself for revealing what Eric Rayne had done. She couldn`t contact anyone in fear of bringing danger to Shawn, so all she had was hope that somewhere, someone would reach out to her with an update.

Then it happened……

Cass had just put Shawn to bed, and was sitting on her couch, having a nightly glass of wine and turning on the television. That’s when she heard the loud sirens on the television followed by the words “Breaking News” on the TV. Across the middle of the screen was large blue letters “HWA Legendary Future Hall of Famer Michael Diamond, pronounced dead” Cass paused the tv screen taking in each word. Her wine glass fell to the floor covering her white rug in red puddles. “Dead?” she thought, How, how can this be? She let out a loud scream, covering her mouth quickly to not wake Shawn. Tears streaming down her face. This was it, everything they had, gone. Any chance of a reconciliation between the power couple, over. The reality is for the duration of their breakup she blamed herself. Why wouldn`t he commit to her? Why wasn`t she and Shawn enough for him? But now, now they will never have the chance to find out. Shawn will never get to know what an amazing father he truly had.

She stared at the tv as the montage of Diamond videos played in the background, an uplifting memorial for the love of her life. She wiped her tears, as a small smile left her lips the picture on the TV, was of better days. Michael holding Cas`s hand on one side and Danny`s on the other FOS lit up on the HWAtron. God, she missed them both so much. Cass got up and placed one hand on the screen, and whispered “Goodbye Michael”.

Her first years in France were quite an adjustment for her, but she was determined to make it work. Internally she was screaming, she craved her old life. She knew though, there was no going back. She had the most beautiful home in the historic downtown of Provins, France. It had a large fenced in yard for Shawn to play, without worry. Her world was calm for once. It was almost as if she was living a normal everyday life. She continued to maintain CEO status at Starr enterprises. Danny couldn`t fulfill his duty there so it was up to her to continue to run it; it was their legacy. Her mornings were filled with meetings day in and day out, while Shawn was homeschooled by the best teachers money could buy. Her nights were spent alone, consumed with left over work from the office, or just watching a movie. Although nights were lonely at times, she was determined not to bring anyone else into her home or her life. She was not going to add any additional risk into their lives.

Everything changed the night of November 6th, 2008.

It was about 7:00pm and Cassandra was in the kitchen with Shawn. They had just finished dinner, and Cassandra was just about to start cleaning up. She sent Shawn up to start getting ready for bed. She signaled to him for to come to her, he kind of hesitated and she grabbed him for a big kiss. She patted him on his bottom sending him upstairs. When the phone rang.

Cassandra: Hello?

Woman’s Voice: Cass…

Cassandra: Who is this?

Woman’s Voice: Cass it`s Laura.

Cassandra: Laura, what is going on? Did I miss a meeting or something……? Cass frantically looking for her calendar. Thinking she overlooked a meeting on her schedule. Laura was Cassandra`s best friend from Hartford. She had left Hartford a couple years back, and Cass had set her up with a job at Starr enterprises.

Laura: Cass I don`t have a lot of time to talk. I was dropping paperwork off at the office in Hartford and there were 5 men dressed in black suits, with guns. Cass, I couldn`t get too close I heard them pressuring on of Danny`s secretaries for your address. The want to get to Shawn.

Cassandra: Panicking Do they know where I am? Do they know where I went? Where the hell is my brother? Feeling a sense of defeat ….I have no one. I will tell you one thing Laura,I will protect my son.

Laura: Cass they know where you are, you need to get you and Shawn out of there. I must go…

Cass bursts into tears clutching the phone. She fell to her knees, everything that held her together was just smashed into pieces. She stood up and threw the phone letting out a scream. She started up the stairs towards Shawn’s bedroom, when she heard a loud gunshot outside front window. She grabbed Shawn and they ran downstairs out the back door towards the street. She didn`t know what would be waiting for them. She held her young sleeping son as crossed the dark street, alone once again fleeing from danger. She could hear smashing glass and shots being fired in the background of her home. The place she moved to find peace.

2006
Royal Farms Arena
Baltimore, Maryland

Michael Diamond sat alone in his private locker room, his duffel bag of clothes sitting beside him. He hadn’t bothered to shower or change out of his gear after the night was over, the shock of it all taking ahold of him and paralyzing his every muscle. The HWA… the place he had called “home” for over 5 years… closing. The news broke earlier this evening, hours before the show start, making every bump tonight seem like it could be the last one he’d ever take. Everything seemed so surreal, the fans and wrestlers taking everything in for one final time tonight. The reporters were relentless, hounding the athletes and staff about what “went wrong” or “what are you going to do now”. Diamond didn’t have any answers, just wanted to be left alone… and so here he was… alone. Hours had passed and all the noise and commotion outside of his locker room had long since faded with it, still… Diamond didn’t believe for a second that the vultures weren’t circling. Maybe he could just wait it out… weather the storm. How long would it take for building security to find him, force him off the premises? Diamond remained stoic, lost deep in thoughts. His hands folded and close to his face, the knuckles bruised and bloodied from his match tonight… and the aftermath of it as well. He hadn’t pulled any punches tonight, including when he threw his fists against the wall in overwhelming frustration afterwards. The HWA… closing!?

Diamond could feel the anger raising in his stomach once more, the emotions all cascading out of him at once. He was hurt, he was sad, he felt betrayed… how could the company he had poured his heart and soul into do this to him? The fans… the ones he had tried to atone for… the ones he tried to be the Hero they deserved… they had given him a final standing ovation tonight, the memory bringing tears to his eyes once more. In that moment, he should’ve felt… I don’t know… validated… accepted…? Instead, he felt like these people were just patronizing him, as if to say “you had a good run, now you’re done”. The fans that had chanted his name until he was long past the curtain, would they even think of him tomorrow… would they remember him… or was it on to the next big thing? I became an HWA Hall of Famer… and for what!? So they could just throw in the towel…!? So Ron Royalty could turn his back on his creation!? So Eric Rayne of the High Society could just waltz in here and tear apart the thing Diamond had damn near broken his back to build up!?

His phone beeped again, giving him a second of respite from his hate… his frustrations. He glanced down at it as it lay next to him on the bench, another notification popping up. Words like “Where are you?” and “Are you okay?” scrolled past; reminding him that at least one person out there cared. Diamond took the phone in hand and hit the “call-back” button as the number had called at least a half-dozen times.

Female Voice: Michael!?

Michael Diamond: Hey Rose…

Rose Calhoun: (cutting in) I’ve been trying to get ahold of you all night! Are you okay!? What happened!?

Michael Diamond: Not really sure Rose, you know as much as me…

Michael heaved a heavy sigh and rose up off the bench, stretching his back and flexing his legs, trying to restore blood flow to his numb extremities.

Rose Calhoun: I’m sorry Michael, I know how much HWA meant to-

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) It’s fine Rose, I’m fine. Just trying to wrap things up here and then I’ll be on my way home.

Rose Calhoun: You haven’t left yet? The show ended hours ago…

Michael Diamond: Yeah, no… just… saying “goodbye”… I guess.

Rose Calhoun: Okay, well… call me when you’re on the road, okay?

Michael Diamond: Sure thing, talk to you then.

Diamond clicked the phone off and sighed again, taking one last look around the locker room. Memories came flooding back to him about his first days in the HWA, when he shared locker rooms just like this with his FoS stablemates, Danny Starr and Cassandra Starr. Danny was his best friend, nothing he wouldn’t do for that man. And Cassandra… she was the love of his life. The three were inseparable… the three were unstoppable… or so he had thought. Yet another thing Eric Rayne had taken from him. He had no idea where Cassandra or his son were these days and, though he missed them, knew it was for the best. Diamond had made many enemies over the years, both inside the ring and out. Digging into his mysterious past had put him on the radar of a shadow syndicate known as The Red Dragons, a group of ninja assassins that believed in some ancient prophecy that Diamond was the only thing stopping them from taking over the world. Didn’t matter how many times he denied this prophecy, or how many times he had killed these assassins, they just kept coming. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he had a group of genetically-gifted individuals hiding out in one of his many real estate properties. They were refugees, a product of his involvement in Ryan Evans’ war with the Black Skulls. Trying to keep them and their secret safe was no easy task, especially since they seemed like children trapped in adult bodies – no doubt a result of the isolation and captivity they endured before Diamond freed them. What these “Nomalies” could do was extraordinary, but in the wrong hands… could be catastrophic. Someone wanted them; wanted their powers… but “who” had yet to reveal themselves. The youngest Nomalie, Adara, had the remarkable gift of healing… even bringing Michael Diamond back from the dead! Diamond had hoped to use his miraculous revival as a way to draw out this new enemy, put a bullseye on himself rather than those in his charge. But now his platform for broadcasting his resurrection was closing. Again, the question floated before him, “what are you going to do now?”

Diamond dropped his phone into his bag and zipped it closed. With one last look around the room, he slung the bag over his shoulder and made his way out the door, turning the light off as he left. As he walked the halls, there were a few of the HWA backstage personnel still lingering about. Many were still hard at work packing the production up but, as he passed by, they would pause long enough to make eye contact, say their goodbyes, give hugs, etc. This felt like the longest walk down a hallway in Michael’s life, like he was running a gauntlet that never-ended. By the time he got outside, the moon hung high overhead and the night air him like a breath of fresh air. He took a few moments to breathe it all in, fighting back the tears once again. He was grateful that no fans or reporters were waiting for him… but a part of him also resented that fact. Maybe if he hadn’t hid in his locker room for hours, he would’ve got the heroic sendoff he was hoping for… or had the fans even waited at all? Diamond made his way to his rental, fumbling with the keys in his hand. As he walked across the parking lot, his shoes echoed off the pavement, each step taking him one-step-closer to the unknown. Coming to the car, he clicked the button and unlocked the vehicle. Opening the back door, he tossed his bag of clean clothes into the back, starting to regret that he hadn’t showered or changed. It was at least a five hour drive to get back to Hartford from here and sitting in a car that reeked of post-match blood, sweat, and tears did not seem all that appealing. As he mulled over his options of going back into the arena to do what he should’ve done hours ago or just stopping at a local hotel and getting on the road the next day, he realized that he wasn’t alone. Someone had cared enough to wait for him after all, though he knew almost immediately it wasn’t for the reasons he had hoped. Cursing himself for not being on his guard, Michael kept his back to the perpetrator, his back straightening up and his eyes lifting to the sky.

Michael Diamond: So… (a smirk forming across his lips)… “What are you going to do now?”

The blow came hard and fast, connecting with the back of Michael’s head, his momentum sending him careening into the car in front of him and toppling to the ground. He felt like he had been hit with a rock, blood flowing freely from what felt like a massive divot in his head. His eyes were dazed and he was losing consciousness quickly. As he rolled over and looked up at the stars, the figure stepped into his line-of-sight. His vision was blurred and the world was spinning but, for a moment, he fought against the urge to close his eyes... trying to focus on who had ambushed him. He could fight no longer as his eyes grew heavy and he began to slip away into the darkness, the last words he swore he heard were “I’m sorry”.

2010
Pearl Fusion Corporation
Manchester, Connecticut

4 Years, 1 Month, and 23 Days Later…

Michael Diamond’s eyes fluttered open as he tried to adjust to his surroundings. His wrists and ankles were bound to some sort of medical bed, not so tight that they hurt but tight enough, that he wasn’t going to be slipping them anytime soon. He blinked his eyes, trying to regain his bearings. This room seemed familiar, like he had been here before. Lying in his prone horizontal position, his eyes shifted to above him where he saw what looked almost like an MRI machine. Was he sick? Was he dying… again? He shook these thoughts as he scanned the rest of the room. To his left was a tray full of different medical equipment, some syringes, gauze, scalpels and other tools lay strew about it. To his right was a sensory deprivation tank, where two men in white doctor coats were inputting their commands into the digital screen.

William Sharper: Ah… finally awake!

Diamond turned his head to see an elderly man with white hair and glasses looking back at him. He had seen this man before, but he couldn’t quite place when and where.

Michael Diamond: Where am I?

William Sharper: (sighing) Must we do this “song-and-dance” again, Michael?

William grabbed an oval stool and wheeled it over to him, sitting down beside him as he looked up at some monitors hanging above Michael. From his angle, Michael was unable to read what – exactly – was being displayed.

Michael Diamond: (angry and impatient) Where am I!?

William Sharper: Please Michael, getting angry will do no one any favors. You must keep your strength up.

Diamond tried to calm down as he glanced over to the two technicians who were done with their work and began to exit the room, leaving him alone with William Sharper.

Michael Diamond: What do you want?

William Sharper: Why… to change the world, of course.

Michael Diamond: I think you’re in the wrong…

William Sharper: (cutting in)… line of work? Yes, I have heard that one before… many times.

Michael narrowed his eyes as William finished his information gathering from the monitors and began putting on a pair of sterile gloves. Pulling open one of the drawers of the cabinet that the medical tray resided on, William pulled out a package of electrodes. Ripping them open, he systematically began placing them on Diamond; one on either side of his temple, one on his heart, one on his lower abdomen, and a few on his thighs. It was almost like he had done this before…

William Sharper: I must say… you’re being an excellent patient today.

Michael Diamond: As opposed to all the other days?

William Sharper: Well… yes, actually.

Michael, confused, looked over at William as he pulled a surgeon mask up to his mouth. Grabbing a flashlight from one of the cabinet drawers, he placed his fingers on Michael’s right eye and opened it, shining it inside to check the dilation. He repeated the same to the left eye, nodding his head in satisfaction as if Diamond had passed some sort of test. William typed a few notes into his computer as Diamond continued to look around the room in bewilderment, trying to piece together just where he was and what – exactly –he was about to be subjected to.

William Sharper: I know you have questions…

Diamond looked back to Sharper, who now sat close to the edge of the bed.

William Sharper: … and you have been very patient so let me try to fill in the gaps. Yes, we have had this conversation before, many times in fact. My name, as it always has been, is William Sharper.

Michael Diamond: I know that name…

William Sharper: And I’m always delighted that you do. You see… I knew your parents, Michael.

Of course, the pictures in their study… he was featured prominently. He had never recalled meeting William in person before, but he was a definite part of their family history.

Michael Diamond: You were a… scientist, like them?

William Sharper: Benefactor, more-or-less, but I did dabble.

William pulled down his surgeon mask and hung his head low.

William Sharper: I was very sorry to hear of their passing. Your parents and I had not ended our relationship on such good terms, always regretted that.

Michael Diamond: Why am I here?

Looking up at Diamond, William almost seemed like he was remorseful of something.

William Sharper: I meant what I said earlier Michael, about changing the world. And you my boy… are going to help me.

Michael Diamond: And how am I going to do that strapped to this bed, exactly?

William Sharper: When I say that “you” are going to help me, I speak more on the biological side of things.

William sighed again as he noticed the confusion in Michael’s face.

William Sharper: This conversation never gets easier, let me tell you.

William stands up and rotates the display monitors so Michael is able to see a clear understanding of just what they are looking at. As Diamond’s eyes scan each of the screens, there appear to be a list of Michael’s complete medical history; dating back to even before he was born.

William Sharper: Your parents were brilliant scientists, Michael. I always believed that they could achieve miracles… and I was right.

William pressed a button and a video file of Michael’s parents lit up the screen. Tears welled in his eyes as he looked upon his mother and father in their natural element, something he had never seen before. His father crudely tried to get the camera to stay in place as his mother lay on a bed, much like the one he was currently confined to.

Christopher Diamond: Think I got it… (adjusts the camera one more time)… there! Alright, the patient is in excellent health and we are proceeding to human trials. With a little bit of luck-

Kelly Diamond: (interrupting) We don’t need luck Chris, I told you. The science is sound.

Christopher Diamond: I know, I know… of course, dear. Still, it doesn’t hurt to ask for a little bit of luck. Did you slaughter that goat and make the sacrifice like I asked you to?

Kelly Diamond: Chris! Our child might see this someday!

Christopher Diamond: I hope that he does.

Kelly Diamond: He?

Christopher Diamond: Or… she, I will be happy either way. Ready?

Kelly nods her head as Christopher takes a long needle, gives his wife a kiss, and then prepares the procedure. William turns the video feed off as Michael can feel the tears streaming down his cheeks now.

William Sharper: The next part gets a little graphic, not sure you’d want to see that.

Michael Diamond: I don’t understand… human trials…?

William Sharper: Your parents were beautiful people, Michael and they would’ve had beautiful children, but your Mom… she had problems conceiving. Rather than blame God or blame biology, they studied the science. They said “we have a problem, let us fix that problem”. And they did… with you.

William turned the monitors around again as he sat back down in the stool. At this point in time, a handful of doctors and technicians began entering the room but Diamond was too focused on William to even truly notice.

William Sharper: You are special, Michael… very special. It has taken us years and we still haven’t even reached the tip of the iceberg. But we are so close now, so very close… of course, not as close as we’d like to be… thanks to you and your “friend”.

Michael Diamond: I have many friends; you’ll have to be more specific…

William Sharper: (laughing) You never do fail to surprise me Michael, what quick wit…

Sharper punched in a few specific key strokes and pulled up another video feed, this one of an event involving Michael back in 2003. Turning the monitors back so he could see, Diamond looked up at the screens once more. It appeared to be a recording of security footage, only with multiple angles covering multiple rooms. It didn’t take long for Michael to recognize just what he was looking at.

Michael Diamond: The Black Skull fortress…?

William Sharper: Boy, did you make a mess of that for us.

Michael didn’t need to watch the footage, the events of that day permanently etched in his brain. It was truly the day that he became “Your Hero”, putting aside all his pretentious privileges and embracing a higher calling.

Michael Diamond: So… what… this is some sort of payback… for what Sett and I did to you?

William Sharper: Oh dear no, the Black Skulls are nothing more than a bunch of hoodlums, low class scum by every sense of the word, you did the world a favor by getting rid of them. That being said… we had a lot invested in a very special young man, one that eluded our grasps because of your action.

William directed Michael’s attention to a particular camera, adjusting it so the image filled up the screen. Diamond looked upon it, seeing an adult male hunched in the corner of his cell, his knees pulled to his chest, the shadows concealing his identity. In the bottom right-hand corner, the name “Tyler Sengir” was displayed on the monitor.

Michael Diamond: What’s so “special” about him…?

William Sharper: Now, now Michael… let’s not be jealous. You were the first of your kind; there is no replacing you, but Tyler… (pointing to the screen)… he was the future, until you and Ryan Evans ruined everything for us.

At these words, Diamond became self-aware to the rest of the crew that had now filed in; busily prepping for some procedure he was positive he was the intended subject for. He struggled against his restraints but to no avail.

William Sharper: Never-the-less, much like you… Tyler isn’t the only one of his kind. You’ve helped us bridge the gap between what we were missing… now; it’s time to push things to the next level.

Before Diamond could react, the technicians were bringing straps across his body, keeping him more confined to his hospital bed. Sharper changed the screens back to monitoring Michael’s vitals as he struggled against his captors.

Michael Diamond: What are you doing…!?

William Sharper: I’m afraid this next part is going to hurt Michael but, as they say in science… no pain, no gain.

Sharper reached onto the cart and grabbed what seemed to be a simple round stick. He placed it in front of Michael’s mouth as Diamond looked up at him.

William Sharper: You may want to bite down on this…

Diamond turned his head in refusal as Sharper nodded in understanding. Stepping away from the table, Sharper gave the signal to his technicians as they pressed a button on their terminals, sending waves of electricity coursing through Michael’s body. He squeezed his eyes closed and gritted his teeth until they hurt. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of screaming, he would fight it until he could fight no more.

Diamond wasn’t sure when he had passed out, the pain had overwhelmed his senses, forced his body to go into a type of stasis mode. When he awoke, he found himself laying face-down on a king size bed, the designer sheets strewn across the floor. He pushed himself up off the bed, still wearing the clothes from the night before. As Diamond sat on the edge of the bed, he looked around the room in a fog. It was his room, in his mansion. Shaking the nightmare from his memory, Diamond got up off the bed and went to his bathroom, splashing water on his face in an attempt to wake up. When he saw his reflection, he was startled to see that he looked younger… somehow. Before he could question the how and why, a knock came on his door. For a moment he pondered who it would be, but then he remembered that he was supposed to call Rose last night on his drive home. Diamond rushed to the door, already trying to think of an excuse for blowing her off.

Michael Diamond: I’m so sorry Rose, I completely for-

Diamond stopped in mid-sentence as he opened the door and saw his old butler and father-figure Martin Calhoun standing before him.

Martin Calhoun: Good morning, sir… I see you got home safely last night.

Michael Diamond: … M-martin!?

Martin Calhoun: Yes sir…?

Diamond wrapped his arms around his butler, who stood still like a statue, unsure of what to make of this embrace. Diamond pulled away, his hands on Martin’s shoulders as he looked over every square of inch.

Michael Diamond: I don’t understand… how is this possible? How are you here?

Martin Calhoun: I work here… sir.

Diamond, though overjoyed to see that his friend was alive and well, gave Martin a sideways glance. Martin merely sighed, believing that Michael had been out “partying” a little too much the night before.

Martin Calhoun: (clearing his throat) Might I recommend… sir… that you take a shower before your father sees you like this.

Now Diamond was completely dumbfounded.

Michael Diamond: (shocked) My… father…?

Martin Calhoun: Yes sir… he’s expecting you for noon tea. Unless you want me to tell him you are otherwise indisposed.

Diamond hardly heard any of the words Martin had spoken. He raced past him and ran down the hall, practically taking three-steps-at-a-time. As Michael hit the landing, he rushed through the house, coming to a halt at the study where his Father sat in one of the plush chairs, reading the paper before the fire. Diamond entered the room with caution, afraid that if he moved too fast his Father would up and vanish before his very eyes. His father had heard his footsteps however, and acknowledged Michael by peeking over his newspaper briefly.

Christopher Diamond: Another one of your late nights, I see…

Michael Diamond: Father, it really is you!

Christopher Diamond: (sighing) Michael, you really must cease with these childish antics of yours. What you do outside of this house reflects those of us who live in it. When are you going-

Michael had heard enough as he grabbed his father, pulled him from the chair, and embraced him in a hug that he never wanted to end. His father was extremely taken aback, unfamiliar with this type of affection his son was now showing him. He half-heartedly patted Michael on the back as Diamond kept his grip tight and firm. It was only until he could feel his father trying to pull away that Diamond relinquished his hold. Michael wiped the tears from his eyes as his father looked at him with curiosity.

Christopher Diamond: (concerned) Michael… are you alright?

Michael Diamond: I just… I missed you.

Christopher bent down and grabbed his paper that he had dropped during his embrace. Smoothing it out again, he motioned for Michael to sit down beside him. Diamond did as he was instructed as his father brought the paper back up to his face, hesitating for just as moment as he studied Michael’s demeanor.

Christopher Diamond: As I was saying, I do hope that you begin to take better care of yourself in the future. You cannot be leaving yourself or this family exposed to ridicule.

Michael Diamond: No… yeah… you’re right. I don’t think I’ll be going out again, for a while.

Michael looked around the study, his vision blurry. It was like he was looking through a filtered lens, seeing something that wasn’t there. When he’d turn to find what “it” was, it was gone. Diamond tried blinking away the haze as Christopher continued to study his son.

Christopher Diamond: Perhaps you should go get some rest, try and sober up before your mother gets home.

Michael Diamond: Wait… Mom’s here!?

Christopher Diamond: No, not at the moment, I just told you she wasn’t…

Christopher lowered the paper, his entire focus on his son.

Christopher Diamond: … are you high or something?

Diamond couldn’t process, first Martin… then his Dad… now his Mom. His family was back together. Diamond let the emotions flow from him as he could do nothing to stop the Million Dollar Smile from forming across his lips.

Michael Diamond: No, I’m not… I don’t think… I just… wait…

Diamond suddenly remembered something.

Michael Diamond: We didn’t have a person named Grimjack over for dinner last night, did we?

Christopher Diamond: (sighing) Really Michael, you need to find yourself better friends. Whatever happened between you and that Danny person? He always seemed like such a nice boy.

Michael Diamond: Yeah, long story…

Christopher Diamond: Yes, well, I did need to speak with you before your mother and sister get home…

Michael Diamond: I have a sister…!?

Christopher Diamond: Please, Michael… focus…

Diamond felt like he had woken up in someone else’s dream, this couldn’t be real… could it? It felt real, he wanted it to be real, but there was just this feeling inside him that said otherwise.

Christopher Diamond: We need to talk about your son.

Those words were enough to completely wash the euphoria out of Diamond as he became grounded to reality once more.

Michael Diamond: Shawn…?

Christopher Diamond: It’s bad enough that you got this Cassandra girl pregnant, but to let her leave like that.

Michael Diamond: I tried to stop her…

Christopher Diamond: Michael, can you even begin to imagine what it would be like for that boy to grow up without a father?

Diamond knew that answer all too well but bit his tongue.

Christopher Diamond: Look, you’ve always been careful before when it comes to your “nights out”, so I suppose I should be grateful that I don’t have more of these little twerps running around as it is. None-the-less, this has become a problem for us.

This was a side of his father Diamond had not seen before; did he just call his grandson a “twerp”?

Michael Diamond: Problem how, exactly?

Christopher Diamond: This Cassandra girl… she’s trying to blackmail us, more specifically you… but we all know you don’t have that type of money.

Michael Diamond: Wait… blackmail, that doesn’t sound like Cassandra…

Christopher Diamond: Look, just tell me where they are and I’ll make this whole thing go away, like it never even happened.

There it was again, that feeling that something was “wrong”. Diamond’s head pounded, felt like it was going to explode. He closed his eyes as he put his hands over his face.

Christopher Diamond: Son… are you alright…?

Michael Diamond: Yeah… I just… my head…

Christopher Diamond: Well hurry up and eat, your food is getting cold.

Michael, confused, lifted his head and looked up to see Danny Starr sitting across from him.

Michael Diamond: Danny…!?

Danny was nonchalantly drizzling syrup on his pancakes, his attention primarily on the stock market section in the paper. Michael looked around, realizing that they were in the Gold Roc Dinner, a restaurant they had used to visit regularly.

Michael Diamond: Where… uh… where’d my Dad-

Diamond cut himself off as the mention of Michael’s father got Danny to look up from his paper. He stopped the swirling of the syrup and passed it to Michael. Danny studied Michael’s face closely, seeing something was off.

Danny Starr: You ate more of Grimjack’s brownies, didn’t you?

Michael Diamond: God, I hope so…

Michael slouched back into the cushions of the booth as a waitress came up and filled their coffees to the brim. Diamond rubbed his eyes as, again, his vision seemed obstructed by some strange mist. At this point, Danny was clearly worried about his friend.

Danny Starr: What’s going on with you?

Michael’s gaze fell back onto Danny Starr, his friend at least appearing in focus.

Michael Diamond: I don’t know, I feel like I’m losing my mind.

Danny Starr: (laughing) Yeah, been there… done that.

Michael Diamond: (scared) I’m serious, Danny! I’m seeing things… or rather, not seeing them…? I don’t know how to explain it.

Danny Starr: You’re just stressed out by the HWA closing, my friend. We knew it was going to happen one day. Nothing lasts forever, right?

Michael tried shaking the feeling that something – everything – was wrong. He turned and looked out the window, the very one that he had actually thrown Danny Starr through during their “misunderstanding” over Cassandra years prior. Though they had since replaced the window, the cracks still seemed present in its glass, almost like they were fracturing and splintering with every passing second.

Danny Starr: You know what you need… a vacation? Not like we haven’t earned one. What say you and I hop on my jet and we go see my sister and her…

Michael turned away from the window, looking at Starr once again.

Danny Starr: Sorry… “your”… son?

There it was again, that feeling… that sense that something was wrong, some threat was imminent. Michael scanned the empty diner, seeing no such danger.

Danny Starr: Michael? Did you hear me?

Michael Diamond: Pretty sure Cassandra doesn’t want anything to do with me, Danny…

Danny Starr: Nonsense, water under the bridge I’m sure. Besides… what’s keeping you here? Please don’t say “Rose”, that was a doomed relationship from the start.

Hearing the name Rose seemed familiar to Michael, yet strange at the same time. He struggled to grasp onto it, trying to recall its meaning.

Michael Diamond: Rose… she’s gone?

Danny Starr: Hurts doesn’t it, someone just leaving like that…

Michael wondered in that moment if Danny was still talking about Rose or if they had just entered “Jenn Copelin” territory. But before Diamond could even say anything, the moment had passed and Danny continued on.

Danny Starr: Shawn is YOUR son, Michael… and a son needs his father. You claim to be this Hero but, yet, when it comes to your own family… you discard them…

Michael Diamond: That’s not fair, Danny. I love my son; I want nothing more than to be with him – to be with Cass. But…

Again, Diamond felt it, that paranoia. Was someone watching him at this very moment?

Michael Diamond: … it’s not safe for them. There are people out there that would hurt them just to hurt me. I can’t do what I have to do and protect them at the same time.

Danny Starr: Look… everyone has their demons, Michael… but we’re family and family sticks together in the good times and the bad. Do you really think they’re better off without you?

Before Michael had a chance to respond, what seemed like a strong gust of wind slammed against the window next to him as it shattered, sending shards of glass flying in the direction of the two men. Michael closed his eyes and tried to shield his face with his hands and then… nothing. No pain, no glass cutting flesh. Michael opened his eyes, seeing that he was no longer in a diner with his best friend and now found himself in bed again, only… not his own. A ceiling fan swirled above him overhead as a soft, warm Caribbean breeze blew through the door-sized window at the end of the room. Michael’s head pounded as he rubbed his forehead, trying to shake these dreams from his mind. It was then that he realized a petite, delicate hand was resting on his chest, directly over his heart. His gaze followed the trail of the women’s hand, up her arm, and to her face. Diamond nearly jerked out of bed at the sight of her, her face looking just as he had remembered it, her eyes closed in a peaceful slumber. For a moment, he was frozen in place, watching as each calm breathe made her body – ever so slightly – rise up and then back down. As if feeling his gaze upon her, her eyes wearily opened, a frown forming on her tender lips.

Cassandra Starr: (sleepily) You know, it’s rude to stare.

Michael reached out his hand, slightly brushing aside her disheveled hair so he could look more deeply into her eyes. As Diamond looked at her lying there, in his arms, the room seemed to blur away as all that was left was her.

Michael Diamond: Sorry, couldn’t help myself.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes, not one to fall for “Your Hero’s” whimsical charms.

Cassandra Starr: (yawning) Yeah… yeah… I bet you say that to all the girls.

Cassandra leaned in and gave Michael a quick peck on the cheek, almost like it was a common occurrence for him to be here… with her… like this. As Cassandra rose up off the bed, Michael touched his cheek where her lips had met his skin, a fire rising to the surface and leaving his face flushed.

Cassandra Starr: Don’t forget, you have that Zoom call at 10am to discuss the funding options for our Island expansion initiative. Do you need help setting it up? I know how you are with technology…

Cassandra turned around to see Diamond still lying in bed, his eyes taking her in.

Cassandra Starr: … okay, what’s going on with you?

Michael Diamond: I just… I’ve dreamt of this moment for so long… I can’t believe that it’s actually here. That you’re here… with me, I mean… like this…

Cassandra’s lips twisted up into a coy smile as her eyebrow arched up, approaching the bed with intent in mind. Placing her hand on Michael’s chest, she pushed him back until she was laying on top of him, her face inches from him.

Cassandra Starr: I don’t know what’s gotten into you Diamond, but keep talking like this and I may just have to reschedule our day…

Cassandra giggled to herself as she bit her bottom lip while Michael traced his fingers against her smooth back, her tousled hair falling freely into his face. Every one of his senses was at attention; almost as if his mind was trying to take this moment and immortalize it and lock it away forever.

Cassandra Starr: But… (patting Michael on the chest and sitting up, straddling him)… we do have a lot of work to get done today and we should really get to it. This Island expansion could really go a long way in helping these people rebuild after this most recent hurricane.

If there was one thing Cassandra was good at, it was stringing people along… denying them what they wanted until it drove them to edge of insanity. Michael was no exception but this reminder of her character didn’t infuriate him like others might’ve been, if anything… it made him love and desire her all that much more.

Cassandra Starr: Don’t worry… there’ll be plenty of time for us later, I promise.

Cassandra gave Michael a quick wink before rising up off the bed again, disappearing into the walk-in closet. Michael sat up in bed as he looked around the room.

Michael Diamond: Remind me again, what am I supposed to do on this Zoom meeting…?

Cassandra Starr: I’ll send you a quick recap, just hit all the bullet points and flash that Million Dollar Smile of yours and you’ll be sipping Pina coladas down at the shore by noon, guaranteed. Oh, also... Shawn is doing the scuba diving certification today so we need to pick him up afterwards; you remember where he’ll be?

There it was again that stinging pain in his head. Why was it that when someone mentioned Michael’s son, his body tensed up? Michael tried blinking away the discomfort as he raised a shaking hand to his head. Cassandra peered around the corner of the closet.

Cassandra Starr: Michael… can you hear me?

Michael turned to look at Cassandra but saw nothing, no closet, no room, just emptiness.

Michael Diamond: Cass!?

Michael felt like he was falling now, just an eternal free fall. He kept hearing someone call his name but every time he looked to see who it was, they were gone. With a jolt, Michael rose up out of the sensory deprivation tank, gasping for air. Alarms were sounding, lights were flashing, and people were screaming. Before he had a chance to gather his wits about him, firm hands were grabbing him and pulling him out of the tank. As he looked up, a familiar face stood before him.

Michael Diamond: … Colt?

Colt: We got to go, right now!

Michael looked around the room, seeing the bodies of the doctors strewn about the floor. He wasn’t sure if they were dead, dying, or unconscious. The monitors hung loosely from the ceiling now, one of which was cracked and broken on the ground.

Michael Diamond: What… happened…?

Colt: I’ll fill you in on everything later, right now Michael… we need to go!

Supporting Michael as best he could, Colt began to lead him out of the room.

Michael Diamond: Wait…!

Michael, remembering something, glanced over to one of the computer towers.

Michael Diamond: I need that.

Colt: Michael, I don’t-

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) I need it!

Colt didn’t waste another second arguing, pulling Diamond over to the counter and propping him up against it. As best as he could, Colt safely removed the tower from the connectors. Just as he did, a security guard rushed into the room to see the destruction. Raising his gun, Colt turned to see the threat too late. Just then, a puff of black smoke appeared behind the guard as a blunt object cracked against the back of his skull, knocking him to the ground. Locke stood proudly behind him, a gleeful smile on her face as she raised the pipe-looking object above her head.

Locke: Hey Colt… look what I found!

Colt: Yeah? Well look what I found!

Colt nodded in Michael’s direction as he grabbed the computer tower under one arm and supported Michael with his other. Locke appeared overjoyed to see Michael as the two approached.

Locke: So it’s true then, you aren’t a dick...

Michael didn’t quite know what to make of that comment as Locke grabbed ahold of Diamond, helping her foster brother support the wounded Hero.

Colt: Later Locke, right now…

Locke: I know, I know… (mocking Colt)… “We need to go!”

Before any other words can be shared, Locke places her other arm on Colt and in an instant, they disappear. Michael felt like he was running… faster than he had ever run before in his entire life. The wind seemed to hit his face at such speeds that he was positive the skin would be peeling back and tearing away as a result. His stomach seemed to twist and turn inside itself that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could continue before retching. Just when he felt like he couldn’t stand it anymore, they came to a sudden halt as he collapsed to his knees. Michael tried to catch his breath as he looked around; trying to piece together what new hell he had just entered into.

Michael Diamond: (between gasps of air) Where… are… we…?

Before anyone could answer, a familiar female voice was heard.

Rose Calhoun: Michael!?

Diamond glanced up to see Rose walking down the steps, carrying an infant in her arms. Rose appeared relieved to see him, almost as if their quick teleportation into the Diamond Mansion had her on edge. Michael’s eyes remained fixated on the swaddled-up child in her arms as Rose carefully made her way down the steps. Diamond was so focused on her “bundle of joy” that he didn’t notice the perplexed look on Rose’s face when she saw the two Nomalies standing behind him. Before she could ask why they were here, the infant began to make a fuss, drawing Rose’s attention back to her daughter.

Rose Calhoun: Shhh… it’s okay honey… (rocking her child back-and-forth)… it’s just daddy

2010
Diamond Mansion
Hartford, Connecticut

Seconds Later…

Diamond stood in shock as Rose stopped at the base of the stairs, his reaction alerting her that something was not exactly “right” about this situation.

Michael Diamond: Rose-

Before Diamond could even begin, Locke and Colt dropped to their knees, screaming in pain and grabbing at their head. Diamond turned around to see another version of himself, though slightly different, standing between the Nomalies, some sort of sonic emitter in his hand.

Adam Diamond: So it is true…

Could this day get any stranger? Diamond looked back at Rose, the baby, then back at his pseudo doppelganger. It didn’t take long for Diamond to deduce who the true “father” was of that child as rage began to rise to the surface. Diamond took a step towards Adam but the Pearl Fusion Corporation clone simply held up the emitter.

Adam Diamond: Ah-ah-ah, I don’t want to hurt them… but I will.

Michael Diamond: What do you want!?

Michael followed Adam’s eyes to Rose, who was left speechless at what was transpiring before her.

Michael Diamond: No fucking way…

Adam Diamond: Just let us go…

Diamond took an instinctive step back towards her but was halted by the increased screams of Locke and Colt as Adam adjusted the dial on his emitter. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Diamond turned to Rose.

Michael Diamond: Rose, it’s me… Michael!

Adam Diamond: Don’t listen to him, Rose… this is just another one of their tricks.

Michael Diamond: Rose, come on, you know me. I’m telling you the truth.

Rose Calhoun: I… I…

Rose’s eyes went from one Michael to the “other”, unsure of whom the true Hero was.

Adam Diamond: Just step over here, Rose… come on, we’ll get out of here…

Michael Diamond: (turning back to Adam) You’re not fucking going anywhere!

Adam Diamond: Rose, I told you something like this could happen… that’s why we distanced ourselves from the Nomalies, so I could keep you safe.

Michael couldn’t hide his disdain even if he tried as he turned back to Rose, pleading in his eyes. He racked his brain for a way to convince her that he was the “real” version.

Michael Diamond: Rose… the last time I talked to you, I was the leaving the HWA Arena. I said I would call you later, do you remember?

Rose cocked her head to the side, recalling the memory.

Rose Calhoun: That was… over four years ago…

Michael Diamond: What!?

Diamond had been all caught up in his daring escape from the Pearl Fusion Corporation facilities that he hadn’t really had a chance to get a glimpse in the mirror; if he had… he would’ve noticed his normally short cut hair had grown well past his shoulders and he was sporting a full beard, months in the making.

Adam Diamond: See Rose, I told you… it’s just another trick. This is what they do; how they operate. Just come to me, it’s okay…

Michael had heard enough as he took more strides towards Adam who responding by turning the emitters up even more, the screams of Locke and Colt echoing off the walls. Frustrated, Michael stopped in his tracks as he wished more than anything he could race across the room and tear Adam’s head from his body.

Adam Diamond: Last chance, the next one will kill them.

Michael Diamond: (seething with anger) I swear, I’ll kill you.

Adam Diamond: (looking to Rose again) Come on Rose, come on baby… let’s get out of here.

Adam held out his hand to Rose, as she slowly began to approach him. Michael turned to Rose, fearful that he could not stop what was about to happen; just as he hadn’t been here to stop Adam from violating Rose in the most unholy way imaginable.

Michael Diamond: (pleading) Rose… please… you don’t have to do this. He’s not who you think he is… I am Michael Diamond. Now, I don’t know how this is possible and I don’t know why I’ve been gone for four years… but, you have to believe me… right here, right now… that I am who I say I am. I have never and would never lie to you.

Rose seemed to be swaying in her conviction, as she looked back to Adam once more.

Adam Diamond: Rose, it’s me… Michael. That phone call, I made that day to you… remember? I drove all night just to get back here, to you. I dropped everything in my life so that I could make sure you were safe. When the Red Dragons came for you, I was here to protect you. When the Nomalies tried to drag me back into their world, I shut them out. That… in your arms… that is OUR daughter, Rose.

That seemed to be the hump that broke the camel’s back as Rose rushed into Adam’s arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. Michael eyes closed slowly, saddened and defeated that one of the closet people in his life couldn’t tell him apart from a cheap knock off. As the rage began to burn within him again, he opened his eyes and stared at Adam with a look that would’ve killed him five times over.

Adam Diamond: Don’t try to follow us…

Michael Diamond: There’s nowhere that you can go that I won’t find you. I promise you, I will find you… and I will kill you.

Adam and Rose slowly began to back away towards the front entrance as Diamond stood still, not wanting to further risk the lives of his friends.

Michael Diamond: Rose!

Rose stopped, looking back over her shoulder.

Michael Diamond: Stay safe.

And with that, the three were gone, the sonic emitter seemed to cease, and Locke and Colt were picking themselves up off the ground, both with traces of blood leaking from their eyes, ears, and nose.

Colt: What the hell was that!?

Michael Diamond: I wish I knew…

Locke: So we go after them… right?

Michael Diamond: No, let them go. We got other things to worry about…

Colt: Michael… we can’t just-

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) Rose made her decision! I’m not going to risk your lives by running blind into a trap, not again. I need to know what that THING is before we go after it, but first… I need to figure out what the PFC wanted with me, and where the hell four years of my life went.

Colt picked up the computer hard-drive as the group approached the underground elevator located in the study. Pulling on a book from one of the shelves, a hideaway wall appeared with a hand-print sensor. Diamond placed his hand up to the security system as it granted him access to the hidden compartment. The three rode the elevator down and proceeded into the Heroes Quarters, a state of the art underground facility equipped with various training equipment and machines, a simulated training area for Diamond to brush up on his skills, and high-powered computer software system that allowed him access to any type of government satellite and server he needed.

Colt: You know, one of these days, you’re going to have to tell me how you got all this stuff down here and still kept it a “secret”…

Michael Diamond: To be honest, Martin handled most of the logistics…

Locke: No way! You have a pool, too!

Oh, yeah, there was also an underground pool, forgot about that – thanks Locke! Anyway, Diamond sat down next to the computer station as Colt placed the hard-drive on the counter. Locke walked over to the pool, kneeling down next to it and splashing her hand through the surprisingly cold water. Colt strolled around the facility, admiring the simulation room – a virtual reality program that allowed you to test yourself against all kinds of different scenarios. As Michael linked a few connectors to the hard-drive, he began to decrypt the security protocols. Diamond spun around on his chair, looking over in Colt’s general direction.

Michael Diamond: How did you find me?

Colt: Believe it or not, Gerry Wilson.

Michael Diamond: The same Gerry Wilson that you sold you guys out?

Locke: Yup, that’s the one.

Michael Diamond: Why?

Colt looked over at Locke, who seemed preoccupied with the pool. For some reason, Colt seemed hesitant to speak out about Gerry’s true involvement with his sister in such close proximity.

Michael Diamond: (sighing) Look… apparently… I’ve been gone for four years, most of that I don’t even recall. I come back home to find that my extremely complicated relationship with Rose has added a few new layers to the equation by throwing in a life-size clone and his child. On top of that, apparently I’m the first “Nomalie” created by… you guessed it… my parents so forgive me…

Colt: (interrupting) Wait… that would make you…

Colt looks over at Locke, who is now standing up and staring at Michael in awe and reverence.

Locke: (finishing Colt’s thought)… you’re the Primeval!

Michael Diamond: The what?

Colt: The Primeval, the first of us… not just genetically enhanced… you were genetically engineered. Michael, you are the most powerful Nomalie ever created, there is no telling what you can do!

Michael Diamond: (annoyed) Yeah? Well… right now, I just want to take a shower. Keep an eye on this thing, make sure some faulty wire or connector doesn’t short circuit and burn the mansion down… that would be just par for the course these days.

The hot water hit Michael’s skin as he ran his hands through his longer-then-usual hair. Though it would take some getting used to it, he didn’t seem to completely hate his “grungier” look. Regardless, he could use a bit of a trim to look a little bit more presentable. As Diamond shut the shower off, he took a towel and wrapped it around his waist. Wiping the steam from the mirror, Michael looked into his reflection as flashes of his time in the PFC complex hit him like waves from the ocean. One scenario after the other seemed to crash into his psyche, causing Michael to stop and grab a hold of the bathroom counter. His parents, Martin, Danny, and Cassandra… had all of it been a lie… was none of it real? Diamond’s mind lingered on the vision of his former love. He closed his eyes, focusing on her once more – the way her whole figure seemed to glow in the morning light, the way her body moved with each breath she took, the way her eyes lit up with such fire and passion. He reached his hand out, his fingers brushing against her cheek.

Cassandra Starr: You should be sleeping.

Michael Diamond: No, I’ve slept long enough.

Cassandra’s lips twisted into a smile as she brought her lips down and kissed Michael’s palm.

Michael Diamond: Is this a dream?

Cassandra Starr: Do you want it to be…?

Michael Diamond: Yes… and no.

Cassandra Starr: Oh Michael, you never change.

Cassandra turned away from him and, just like that, his hand fell from her face, touching the bathroom counter once more. Enraged, Diamond slammed his fist against the mirror, shards of the glass embedding into his skin. As Michael stood there before the broken reflection, the bathroom door suddenly opened as Adara burst into the room.

Adara: Michael!? Are you okay!? I heard a – aaahh! You’re naked!

Not completely, nice try Adara. With his non-bloodied hand, Michael quickly placed a hand back on the towel around his waist, ensuring it stayed secure in its place as Adara looked away, covering her eyes with her hands.

Michael Diamond: Adara? How did you get here!?

Adara: Locke came and got us, said we had to see something… guess that something was you. I mean, not that I saw anything… because I didn’t… oh boy…

Adara’s face turned as bright red as her pale pigmentation allowed as Diamond just sighed and walked past her. As he did, Adara couldn’t help but take a peek at Your Hero, her hands going over her mouth.

Adara: (shocked) Michael… what happened…!?

Michael looked down at his right fist, seeing the blood dripping down onto the carpet below.

Michael Diamond: What? Oh… nothing… it’s just a scratch…

Adara: No, not that….

Diamond turned to look back at Adara and then followed her gaze to his body. Granted, four years of being locked away in a secret facility didn’t do much for Michael keeping himself in his usual peak physical form but what she was clearly referencing was the multiple burns, cuts, gashes, and scars that now covered his chest, arms, and back. Adara walked over to him, placing her hand across his chest. A soft yellow glow began to illuminate around her fingers as she looked to remove the physical marks of torture he had endured over the past few years. Previously, when Adara had used her healing aura on him, it had felt like a cold breeze running through his body but, this time, it was like she had unleashed a fire inside of him. Diamond tried to fight against the discomfort as Adara, too, seemed to be struggling in keeping her magic focused. The fire grew to a boil as Diamond felt his blood ablaze. Backing away from Adara, Michael looked at her with irritation. Before he could question her however, his right hand began glowing yellow… the same light that had been present a moment before from Adara’s hand. When the luminous aura dissipated, Michael’s hand was healed.

Michael Diamond: What the hell… did you do that?

Adara looked up at Michael, almost afraid to say the words.

Adara: I think that… you did...

Michael exhaled deeply as he sat down upon the bed, running his healed hand through his damp hair. Adara sheepishly sat down next to him, her face focused on Michael.

Adara: I can… try again…?

Michael Diamond: It’s okay, Adara… thanks. They don’t really hurt anyway.

Adara: What happened?

Michael only had questions, no answers, and that frustrated him. But as he turned to look at Adara, his anger changed to compassion as he remembered how innocent she was – how innocent all of the Nomalies were. For lack of a better term, they were like children trapped in adult bodies. He had promised he would protect them; that he would keep them safe… and now four years had passed and they had been the ones to save him. From what he could tell so far, they seemed different – more mature, he wondered if that was forced upon them because he hadn’t been there.

Michael Diamond: Most of it is still a blur, Adara… I guess I should be grateful for that. I can’t believe it’s been four years…

Adara: (interrupting) We would’ve come sooner, Michael… honest, we didn’t know!

Michael Diamond: Yeah, I met the “other” me. He’s a real dick.

Adara: (laughing) Haha, yeah… that’s what Locke called him too.

Michael let a small smile creep onto his lips as he took his hand and placed it on hers.

Michael Diamond: I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.

Adara: It’s okay… you’re here now.

Adara took her hand from underneath Michael’s and brought it up to the side of his face, touching the temple of his head.

Adara: I heard you talking… in the bathroom.

Michael Diamond: It’s… nothing, I just get these-

Adara: (interrupting) Flashes? I used to get ‘em too. When we were stranded in the Fortress… and those men did… things… to us… our Father would enter into our minds, he’d take the pain away.

Michael had never known or seen this side of Adara before, nor realized that the Father had this side to him. From his brief encounter with the first anomaly of the Black Skulls organization, he seemed like he was only interested in himself and the power he possessed.

Michael Diamond: Are you… able to…?

Adara: I’m sorry Michael, my powers are limited to healing physical wounds… not mental.

Michael nodded his head as he pulled her hand from his face. Standing up, Michael made his way over to the walk-in closet as he began to look for some fresh clothes to wear. It looked like his “other” version had made a few changes to his normal wardrobe, yet another reason Diamond was going to relish in putting him down.

Adara: So… is it true?

Michael Diamond: Is what true?

Adara: Colt told us that you’re… like us?

Michael paused, looking down at his hand. Had he really healed himself… somehow taken Adara’s powers and used it as his own? Or was it just some delayed reaction, maybe a result of all the tests and experiments they had been running on him? Again… more questions.

Adara: (rambling) I mean, it’s okay if you’re not. I just thought it’d be kind of cool… you know… to have a brother… that wasn’t Colt…

Michael emerged from the closet, dressed in pair of blue jeans and a color-faded t-shirt, instead of his usually fashionable and expensive suits. Adara looked him up and down, a strange look on her face. Diamond expected as much as he stood there, waiting for the words to be spoken.

Michael Diamond: Go ahead… say it.

Adara: Uh… I mean… you look… “normal”?

Michael Diamond: Oh yeah, I’m definitely killing him.

Diamond and Adara rejoined the others in the Heroes Quarters, receiving a hug from Saffron – who had teleported over when Locke had gone back to The Black Hole to retrieve her sisters. Never one to shy away from a group hug, Locke nuzzled her way in there as quick as can be too; drawing a laugh from Adara as Colt merely rolled his eyes. Diamond looked around the room, realizing they were one member down.

Michael Diamond: Where’s Ruby?

The atmosphere in the room quickly changed from joyous to somber as Diamond looked from face to face, before finally resting on Colt’s.

Colt: Ruby left Michael… after “you” came to visit us at the Black Hole, essentially telling us how “we weren’t your problem anymore”.

Locke: Yeah, dick-move, man.

Michael Diamond: Locke, you know that wasn’t me.

Locke: Well… yeah… now I do.

Adara: I’d never seen Ruby so mad before, and she got mad a lot! I thought she was going to rip your head off. Well, I guess, not YOUR head… but his… you know what I mean.

Michael Diamond: You didn’t go looking for her, try to bring her back?

Colt: Of course we did, but if Ruby doesn’t want to be found…

The group grew quiet again, as a notification from one of Michael’s computers cut through the silence. Diamond walked over to the station and sat down, scrolling through the information.

Colt: What’d you find?

Michael read and re-read the information, making sure he fully understood everything. Turning around, he looked at the group, a concerned look on his face.

Michael Diamond: You were right Colt, I am the Primeval. I was the first created with the Genesis serum, but I also wasn’t the last.

Locke: You mean… your “dick!”

The group stopped and looked at Locke, not sure if she truly understood how that sentence sounded out loud.

Michael Diamond: Yes, in a matter of speaking, Locke is correct. My parents created the serum in attempt to conceive a child and William Sharper must’ve copied it. However, they must’ve suspected that William was up to something for they left off the exact dosage of the Draelium needed for the Genesis serum to fuse properly with the cells.

Adara: Draelium?

Colt: The Black Skulls cut corners, took the Draelium out of their experiments… that’s why you guys have so many “defects”. But when I was being “reborn”, I was injected with a regular dose of the toxin. Mixed with the Genesis serum, it creates a resistance against other Nomalies powers. That’s why I was supposed to be the hunter for any of you if you ever went rogue, it wouldn’t be a fair fight.

Adara: Michael, that might explain why you-

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) Regardless, this “Adam”… as they call him… they got the doses wrong… almost killed him. They had to keep him in their ICU for years, raise him within the facility. As far as I can tell, this is his first time he’s been out in the “real world”.

Locke: Yeah, well he didn’t waste very long getting comfortable, did he?

Michael cringed at that reminder, fully aware that Rose and her child were now being used as a pawn against him in what was – no doubt – a much bigger plot.

Colt: Thing I don’t get is, he had Locke and I dead to rights… why not kill us?

Michael Diamond: Maybe he needs to keep the illusion that he’s… me?

Locke: No, Colt’s right… you saw the way that he looked at her. He was trying to protect her.

Saffron: Wait… what’s that?

Saffron pointed to something on the monitor as Michael pulled up the file that had caught her eye.

Michael Diamond: They’ve re-activated the ReBirth program!

Colt: Wait… how is that possible!? We destroyed all the Genesis serum when we blew up the Black Skulls Fortress!

Michael closed his eyes, understanding a bit more now what his captors had been up to.

Michael Diamond: Because of me… they used my blood to reverse-engineer it.

Adara: Colt, we have to stop them! We can’t let what happened to us happen to any more kids…

Saffron: I don’t think they’re using kids anymore.

Diamond looked over the research, realizing that all the test subjects listed were males and females well over the age of thirty.

Michael Diamond: You’re right, they’re using their own soldiers but… an adult subject … is that even possible?

Colt: How do you think “The Father” was created?

Hearing the name forced Colt to cast a sidelong glance at Saffron.

Michael Diamond: The good news is that they haven’t started any actual trials yet, looks like they’re still missing… wait… that can’t…

Michael stopped, reading the information once again. Diamond could feel the anger rising in him once more as he stood up from the console, turning to face the Nomalies as Colt and Saffron stood side-by-side, their hands aglow with their genetic powers; Colt’s a bright blue for his kinetic energy and Saffron’s a fiery red for her flame powers. Locke and Adara traded confused glances, not quite sure what was happening.

Michael Diamond: Something you want to share with the class, Colt?

Adara: Colt!? What are you-

Colt: (interrupting) What I have to, now stay out of this you two… this doesn’t concern you!

Locke: The hell it doesn’t, I didn’t just go save Michael so you can barbeque him!

Saffron: It won’t come to that, right Michael?

Michael Diamond: Is this why Adam let you live, Colt?

Colt: I don’t know anything about that; I’m only here because of Father.

There it was, the Father was alive. Michael had suspected as much upon looking at the research notes for the proclaimed “Patient X”. The Father should’ve died off years ago, how was he still alive and why would he be working with the Pearl Fusion Corporation?

Adara: But Father’s dead… isn’t he?

Colt: No… he’s alive, but I don’t know for how much longer.

Locke: How is that even possible… the last time we saw him-

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) Because he made a deal with the PFC…

Colt: He didn’t have a choice, Michael.

Saffron: No one wants to hurt anyone here, okay? We just need your help.

Michael Diamond: You got a funny way of asking for it.

Michael’s eyes darted between the two Nomalies, weighing his options. He could probably rush one but the other would get him for sure. Would his new found “super power” kick in when he needed it… was that even a thing? Would Locke and Adara stand with him or against him, it was too early to tell.

Michael Diamond: I’m not doing anything that helps those bastards.

Colt: It won’t come to that, I promise.

Michael Diamond: (smirking) Forgive me if I’m having a real tough time trusting anything you say right now, Colt.

Colt assessed the situation, looking at Saffron to see what she wanted to do. He knew that their role had been exposed in the plot, now it was a matter if Diamond would hear them out or not. Hesitantly, Colt lowered his hands as the blue light dissipated. Saffron followed suit, flicking her wrists and absorbing the fire back into her skin. Adara and Locke breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Colt: We didn’t know about Adam, Michael… I swear. We truly thought you wanted nothing to do with us, so we didn’t involve you in our plans.

Locke: Our plans? Gee… thanks for including Adara and I in this conversation guys.

Michael Diamond: So what deal with the devil did you make with Gerry Wilson?

Saffron: He came to us, actually. Turns out the Father is… well… his actual biological father.

Michael Diamond: So that’s why Gerry turned on the Black Skulls and helped him escape…

Colt: Who knew he actually cared about something.

Adara: I don’t understand, you said that the Father is alive!

Michael Diamond: From what I was able to discern, Adam was a breakthrough for the PFC, but a costly one. They needed a way to create soldiers faster, not breed them. Your “Father” was the first success that the Black Skulls had with the modified Genesis serum; therefore he’s invaluable to the PFC’s continued research.

Locke: Wait… you’re saying that the place we just broke you out of is holding our Father!?

Michael Diamond: I doubt he’s being mistreated, Locke…

Adara: But how is he still alive!?

Colt: Because Michael’s blood kept him alive.

Locke: Oh this just gets better and better!

Locke began to pace around the room as Adara struggled to keep stride with all the happenings. The Father was the one person that had kept her from losing her sanity while in the confines of the dungeon she called home. The fact that he was alive and that Michael’s blood kept him that way? But, if that was the case, why not come to them directly…? Adara’s mind continued to race as Colt and Saffron exchanged worried looks again.

Michael Diamond: If this is true, if I was keeping him alive, why break me out?

Saffron: We didn’t… have all the information.

Locke: What, you mean Gerry didn’t tell you his entire nefarious plot!? Shocker!

Colt: Believe us Michael, the moment Gerry told us that you were there… we were plotting how to get in there and rescue you. Truth be told, we couldn’t have done it without him.

Slowly, Michael started to trust Colt once more… realizing that he had seen those sonic emitters before within the PFC Compound. But, for some reason, their defenses had not worked during the rescue.

Michael Diamond: Well knowing Mr. Wilson, this information wouldn’t have come cheap so you break me out and then what…? Without my blood, you sentence your Father to death.

The words cut through Adara like a knife as she looked to Michael, for the first time the realization of what was happening sinking in.

Adara: No! We can’t! We have to help him, please!

Adara was near tears as Colt turned to his sister, grabbing her by the shoulders.

Colt: We will Adara, we have a plan… (turning to Michael)… but like Saffron said, we need your help.

Adara turned to Michael, her onyx eyes pleading with him. He didn’t know the hell they had suffered in the Black Skulls Fortress; for him, it was a cliff note in his story. For them, it was an endless torture of experimentation and pain. Then again, maybe these past years had actually put him through something similar, giving him a chance to appreciate just how strong these individuals – these “freaks” – truly were, to survive that and come out the other end better for it.

Michael Diamond: (resigned) What do you need me to do?

Saffron: You’re not going to like it…

Michael Diamond: When has that ever stopped me?

2010
Rooftops
Miami, Florida

2 Days Later…

Michael stood atop the high rises of the Miami skyline, watching as the sunset and the night began to envelope the city in darkness. It had been years since Diamond had been out on the prowl for criminal activity like this, his vigilante side granting him a type of thrill he only otherwise felt when he was inside an HWA squared ring. The big difference between the two was that if you made a mistake in the ring, you – typically – lived to see the next day. Though he wasn’t in the public spotlight anymore, he still felt that, on this night, he keep his identity concealed underneath his Shinobi armor – a slight variation of ninja attire that bore a few metal plates on his shoulders, wrists, thighs, and shins for extra protection. The armor was a metallic ebony shade, allowing him extra concealment in the shadows if and when he needed it. Wearing it had felt like a second skin for Diamond at one point but, now, it felt heavy – like a weight he was no longer strong enough to carry. Michael paced back and forth atop the roof, waiting for his contact to arrive with the information he desired. As he patrolled, he thought back to the conversation he had with his Nomalies allies a few days prior…

Saffron: I told you that you weren’t going to like it.

Michael Diamond: There has to be another way!

Colt: Not according to Gerry…

Locke: (interrupting) I’m sorry; do we suddenly trust him now?

Adara: Please Michael, I know you don’t see him the way we do… but none of us would’ve made it out of that place without him.

Michael shook his head as he walked back over to his computer console, trying to think of some way – any way – that didn’t result in what they were asking him to do.

Michael Diamond: Look, I know how much the Father means to you… I’m not trying to dismiss that. But what you’re asking me to do…

Michael grew silent, his worlds all beginning to merge in among themselves. He had tried to keep them as safe and far away from this side of his life as possible, now he was being asked to drop them right into the middle of it.

Michael Diamond: It’s a risk, on all fronts. Even if I get it, we’re walking right into the Lion’s Den with the very thing that they need to create more of us.

Apart of Adara swooned at hearing Michael reference himself as part of the Nomalies family.

Colt: Look, I’m not stupid Michael… I don’t trust Gerry any more than you do. But he did help us save you…

Locke: Yeah, when it was convenient for him! Are we just going to overlook the fact that he’s the most likely suspect for Michael’s abduction to begin with!?

Saffron: Locke’s got a point; we don’t know how long Gerry knew Michael was trapped in there.

Adara: I don’t get why Father didn’t just come to us…

There were spinning in circles, the same conversation seeming to be repeated over and over again, only with different words.

Michael Diamond: Look, from what it sounds like, I’ve got to make this journey regardless. If Gerry was telling the truth, then they’re in danger already…

Locke: Or you’re leading them right to where they want you to go.

Michael had thought of that too, but was he really willing to take that risk? Would he really stand by and do nothing… again?

Michael Diamond: For too long, I’ve sat idly by… this is something I should’ve done a long time ago, I know that now. If you guys have taught me anything, it’s that we’re stronger together. I know what I need to do… but I can’t do it alone.

Colt approached Michael, looking into his eyes as if to test his conviction. For all intents of purposes, Colt was the true-born leader of the Nomalies, turning against his desired creation of hunting and killing his own and becoming, instead, their protector. He and Michael had never seen eye-to-eye on matters but they seemed to have, at least, a mutual respect between them.

Colt: Whatever you need, Michael... we got your back.

Diamond and Colt shook hands as Saffron was next to step up, the fire glowing deep in her eyes. Her body may’ve been weak but her spirit was strong. Diamond had seen first-hand what happens when Saffron’s health failed her, her form erupting into a nova-like explosion as a result of excruciating body spasms. She had come a long way since being that feisty-fireball-thrower.

Saffron: We’re with you until the end, Michael.

Saffron, too, shook Michael’s hand as he turned to his favorite master of translocation. Locke stood stoic, a characteristic he did not think her capable of. She had always been the fun-loving one that kept things light and breezy, but the years (or the reminder of Gerry’s betrayal) had obviously hardened her.

Locke: I still think this is a mistake but…

Locke vanished and, within seconds, was in Michael’s arms, squeezing him tight.

Locke: … you had me at “hello”.

Laughing, Michael pried Locke’s arms off from around his waist; he looked to the last but certainly not least. Adara fought back the tears, realizing what Diamond was about to do for them and their family. Michael could care less about the Father, did not have the connection that the rest of them shared with him, but Diamond was willing to risk it all for them… because of what the Father meant to them. Adara had first met Michael in the dungeons all those years ago, when she had saved Erin Wallace from an untimely demise. Years later, they would be reunited again when Adara was tasked with bringing Michael back from his own deathbed. He never knew the toll that it took on her, her own life-force that it required of her just to heal or save others… but she was selfless like that, always.

Adara: Michael… thank you!

Adara approached and wrapped her arms around “Your Hero”, her emotions overwhelmed by the compassion that he was showing for her and her “family”. At this point in her life, Adara could truly say that she had never been happier but before she can reveal in her exuberant feelings, her jubilation was quickly erased as her mind retreated in upon itself and a flash of the future crippled her very essence. Shaken, Adara stumbled away from Michael as he looked at her, concerned.

Michael Diamond: Adara, are you okay?

Adara sheepishly smiled and nodded her head, attempting to process the vision she had just witnessed. As the rest of them went back to their planning, Adara retreated into a corner, the tears streaming down her cheeks as she realized, in that moment, that this current course of action was going to cost one of her “family members” their life.

Miguel Romero: Well, well, well… if it isn’t “Your Hero”?

Michael, back on the rooftops of Miami, looked over his shoulder, turning to face the mercenary that stood before him.

Michael Diamond: You’re late…

Miguel shrugged, dropping off the nearby rooftop and landing on the same platform that Diamond current stood atop. Miguel began circling Michael, as if sizing him up.

Miguel Romero: Gotta say, we were a little surprised to hear from you…

Michael Diamond: We…?

Michael looked around the rooftops, wary that he had – indeed – walked into a trap. Miguel simply laughed it off.

Miguel Romero: Relax… my better half is on assignment, making sure we earn our keep.

Michael Diamond: So what’s the price?

Miguel Romero: Whoa now, no foreplay… just straight to business? I thought you were better than that vato.

Michael Diamond: Time is sort of a factor, hence the “urgent” message.

Miguel Romero: Don’t worry, this won’t take too long.

Miguel smiled as he reached down and pulled two long knifes from their sheaths on his hips. Michael tilted his head to the side, sizing up the smaller mercenary. Smaller meant quicker, and Romero was on Diamond fast, swinging his blades with such ferocity that Diamond barely was able to side-step and dodge the incoming blows, each swing of Miguel’s blades forcing Michael back towards the edge of the roof. Realizing that he was running out of roof to fall back into, Diamond brought one of his arms up to block the blow, the knife ringing against the metal brace. With a quick counter, Diamond swung his elbow, catching Miguel above the eye. Romero staggered away, giving Michael a chance to reposition his footing so he wasn’t near the edge.

Miguel Romero: Hey man, not the face! That’s my money-maker!

Romero laughed again as Michael began to grow tiresome of this encounter, reaching behind his back and drawing forth the Dawnbreaker blade – a legendary ninja sword bestowed upon him by the Protectors.

Miguel Romero: Oooooh… shiny!

Miguel rushed in again with another quick flurry as Diamond parried each blow to his best ability, still pacing himself backwards to try and keep as much distance between him as he could. As Diamond kept back peddling, he began to lose his footing, tripping over a pipe he hadn’t seen. Miguel used this to his advantage, one of his blades cutting through the armor and catching Diamond on his triceps. Thankfully the wound hadn’t been a very forceful one, just enough to break skin and cause a trickle of blood down his arm.

Miguel Romero: Come on vato, I thought you were going to make this a challenge for me!

Diamond checked his arm, flexing it and making sure it still had mobility. Once everything seemed sound, he lunged in with a blow aimed at Gabriel’s face. Miguel parried to one side and tried to spin through and catch Michael in the back of the head. Diamond ducked at the last second, pulling his sword back and rolling backwards onto his feet. Miguel was on him again quickly, relentless with his assault. Diamond continued to block the blows, waiting for his moment, and finding it when Romero lunged in with a shot aimed to Diamond’s heart. With a quick parry and spin, Diamond found his blade to the back of the mercenary’s neck. Miguel took in deep breaths, cocking his head to the side to look into Diamond’s eyes.

Miguel Romero: Been awhile since I’ve had such a workout… thanks for that.

Michael Diamond: You want to tell me what that was about?

Diamond withdrew his sword from Gabriel’s neck, securing it back in its scabbard. Miguel re-sheathed his knives, smiling at Diamond.

Miguel Romero: Heard you hadn’t exactly been “yourself”, lately… had to see if the rumors were true.

Michael Diamond: And if I had killed you…?

Miguel Romero: Please… I was going easy on you!

Miguel laughed as he gave his friend a big hug.

Michael Diamond: It’s good to see you again “Hunter”, where’s the Mrs…?

Miguel “The Hunter” Romero: Like I said before… guarding the asset. You ready?

Michael Diamond: No time like the present.

2010
Marche D’Aligre Markets (co-op with Cass)
Paris, France

Michael Diamond: You sure this is the place?

The marketplace was alive and bustling today, people bumping into each other left and right as they tried to make their way to the various shops on display. Diamond stood off to the side, looking back and forth, scanning faces… searching for someone, his phone pressed to his ear.

Miguel Romero: (on phone) We’ve been on assignment for a few years now vato, I think we know our shit at this point.

Michael Diamond: Okay, okay… where are you?

Miguel Romero: (on phone) We’re in route to the secondary target, will let you know once we’re there. Oh… and Michael…? Good luck!

Diamond clicked off his phone and placed it back in his pocket. He wore a blue button-up shirt with a pair of dull grey slacks and a long brown trench coat. Diamond was starting to finally resemble the Hero of old, especially now that he had time to trim his beard and hair to acceptable standards, not to mention purchase clothes that were to his liking. Off in the distance, the sound of a clock chiming could be heard, alerting to Diamond that the “lunch rush” was just about to begin. Diamond placed a pair of dark sunglasses on and pressed onward, disappearing into the crowd. He weaved his way in-and-out of the masses, his eyes scanning every which way. Michael could feel the anxiety rising as every passing second counted down to him losing everything, again. The sea of bodies crashed against him, each blow taking him right back into that Pearl Fusion Corporation room, right back into those dreams. His chest tightened as he found it hard to breath, this feeling overwhelming him. What if he was already too late? He tried to push these thoughts from his mind as he trudged his way forward, but the flood gates had already opened. As Diamond scanned the faces of those people near him, their faces began to change to represent all those that he had lost; all those that he had failed. His father and mother walked past him, laughing as if at some inside joke. When Diamond turned to confirm their existence, they were gone. Martin Calhoun brushed past Michael, carrying a young child on his shoulders so the boy could better see all the festivities. Danny Starr bumped into Michael, muttering some kind of apology as he kept his eyes on the newspaper in his hands. Michael tried to blink away the hallucinations, reminding himself that none of it was real… but no matter how many times he tried, Cassandra just wouldn’t fade away.

It had been over four years since he had seen her last, yet she looked exactly like he thought she would – as if she hadn’t aged a day. Cassandra wore a white flowing long-sleeve shirt adorned with red roses, the thorns predominantly visible as if to warn off those that wandered too close. Completing the ensemble was a pair of tight blue jeans, a black brim hat, and a pair of dark sunglasses. For a moment, all Diamond could do was watch as she casually browsed the many kiosks that adorned this cluttered street. She looked so peaceful, so happy… and it forced hesitation into Diamond’s heart. Did he really want to come back like this and disrupt the life that she had built for herself and their son, a life that was free from all his sins? Michael didn’t realize it but his feet seemed to move of their own accord, inching closer and closer to Cassandra until he was right behind her, the smell of her hair and perfume finding their way to his nose and reminding him of a field of lilacs and jasmine. As if she sensed a presence behind her, she half-turned to see who would dare interrupt her leisurely shopping.

September 1st, 2010
Location: Colmar, Alsace
Cassandra Starr`s Residence

2 years have passed since Cassandra Starr had moved to Colmar, Alsace France in hopes of hiding out from whomever or whatever evil was after her and Shawn back in Provinc. She knew she had to scrap any details belonging to her old life if she wanted to keep her family safe. She had to cut ties with the few people she still spoke with in Hartford including her friend Laura. She had asked Laura to take on additional duties at Starr Enterprises until she could come back and take over her role. When it was safe to do so, and she could make sense of everything.

She often woke up at night in cold sweats hearing gunshots that were not there. Checking on Shawn 100 times before she could go back to sleep. She slept with a revolver under her pillow. She would NOT, be unprepared again. Her emotions were always all of the place, she struggled between anger, fear and longing for someone to hold her and tell her it would all be alright. None of that mattered right now, what mattered was keeping her son safe. She was a Starr after all, they are unstoppable.

What made Colmar, Alsace a desirable community is the sheer size. It was a quaint and hidden from most main roads. It was a modest home, unlike the mansions that Cass was used to, being a Starr. She needed to start over, no luxuries of any sort. She needed to blend in with the community for people to not recognize her.
Scene opens to a small brightly colored brick house. Pale blue with bright yellow shutters. Delicate flowers are placed on the front window facing the street. Two houses down there is a small schoolhouse. Painted in bright colors. Children were beginning to line up outside to head in their classes. Camera moves into the brick house. Cassandra Starr is seen rushing around packing what looks to be a lunch box.

Cassandra: yelling …SHAWN…. hurry up we are going to be late for you first day.

You see a sleepily, brown hair blue eyed boy walks out dragging his shoes. Cassandra put her hands on her hips and stares at him sternly.

Cassandra: Shawn, where are your socks? You should have been down here, an hour ago and READY!

She sighs heavily, as she begins to scramble trying to find Shawn a pair of socks so he could go off to school. She hurriedly walks overs over to the brown wooden cabinet leaning up next to the front door. Cassandra is pilfering through the drawers tossing things aside frantically looking. She throws a crumbled ball of what looks like to be an old picture on to the floor. Shawn walks over by his mother and unravels the picture; Shawn squints his eyes trying to make out the individuals in the picture.

Shawn: Mom who are these people?

Cassandra turns around and looks down at the crumpled picture in Shawn’s hands. A half smile leaves her lips as she sees three people who faces she hardly recognizes. It looks to be a celebration at Danny`s mansion many years ago. A small giggle left her lips as she starred at the picture. Danny wearing a sharp red tux, holding a champagne glass in the air, he looked as if he was saying a speech. To the right of him was Michael, dressed in a black tux with his arm wrapped around Cassandra`s waist, she was dressed in a lowcut midnight blue, sequins cocktail dress Her face draped in brown curls. Clearly a picture depicting happier times. Shawn grabbed his mother`s arm in a pulling motion. Trying to break her unwavering gaze. She quickly looked over at him, wondering how she would explain the two men, who should be the most important men in his life, to him.

She took a deep breath

Cassandra: Well, see that guy raising his glass in the air?

Shawn nodded in agreement

Cassandra: That is your Uncle Danny. Momma`s big brother.

Shawn looking confused

Shawn: I didn`t know you had a brother mom…

Trying to not engage with her 6yr old son to why he has never met his Uncle Danny. She knew he would have many questions. Frankly so didn`t she. He was her best friend, and although the Starr’s were an affluent family; Their home life wasn`t always very happy. Danny was the one who made sure Cass was taken care of. When his father came home in a drunk, belligerent stooper, Danny made sure was safe.

Cassandra: This guy over here (pointing to Michael) ……he`s…..

She takes a big breath

Cassandra: Your father

Shawn looks at her very confused

Shawn: My Father? I have a fathe…

She cuts him off

Cassandra: I know it is hard to understand Shawn, but he passed away when you were very little.

Tears falling from Cassandra`s eyes. She didn`t have time for this. She needed to get Shawn to school, and head off to the Marche D’Aligre Markets, which was a bit of a drive.

Cass wiped her eyes, composing herself

Cassandra Starr: Alright Shawn, we need to focus on getting you ready for school.

Cassandra stood up and grabbed the small sock bundle, putting them on Shawn`s feet. She playfully tickled his feet as she put his shoes on him. She stared at his sweet little face. His expressions, his smile, his stubbornness, everything reminded her of his father. It all reminded her of the life she left behind. She stood up to grab her purse and collect the rest of their things so she could drop him off at school. Once both had all their things, Cassandra led them out of the house locking it behind her. She walked Shawn down to his school. They were getting ready to shut the doors, since she was running a bit late, so she rushed him to the door, handing him off to the teacher.

Cassandra began walking back to her driveway, since it was such a short distance it wasn`t long before she was back at her house. She grabbed her keys out of her purse and opened her garage revealing the most vibrant Pink Lamborghini. It was the only piece of her lavish past life, she kept. She always laughed thinking if Michael were still alive, he would get a kick out of her “modest” vehicle. She got in and headed towards the market. When she arrived, she pulled into the lot closest to back. To make sure no one scratched it. She got out of her car, put her sunglasses on, her black rimmed hat and immediately headed towards market. She went immediately to the first stand that caught her attention. She started fishing through the different odds and ends, until she suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and to her disbelief, it was Michael Diamond.

Michael Diamond: Hello Cass…

She had to remove her sunglass, it couldn’t be…

Cassandra Starr: Michael… what… what are you doing here… alive!?

Diamond recalled the last time he had seen Cassandra, a night in which “Your Hero” had faced off against his best friend, Cassandra’s brother – Danny Starr. The two had been duped by Eric Rayne to fight each other in hopes of destroying the FoS once and for all, but Cassandra had managed to stop the group from completely imploding by exposing Eric for the traitor that he was. The match had been so violent and brutal that it had actually left Michael with severe internal bleeding, a horrific scene unfolding as the PPV went off air with Diamond being attended to by emergency personnel. For all intents and purposes, Michael should’ve died that day – but a Nomalie healer by the name Adara managed to restore him to health, though it had taken a lot of her time and power to do so, it was no easy feat bringing one “back from the dead” after all. His miraculous resurrection had been the beginning of a heroic journey for Michael, one that now – five years later – had led him back to her. With her sunglasses free from her face, her eyes sparkled like emeralds in the daylight, captivating him, making him lose himself. Subconsciously, his hand reached to her face, but he paused as the words “alive?” rang in his head. She had thought him dead this whole time, never knew that he had survived. This was going to be harder then he thought…

Michael Diamond: Cass… I’m so sorry

Cassandra gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. How can this be? She stared at him, trying to remember the last time she had seen him. His hair was longer and he looked a bit unkempt, not in his normal clean-cut-every-detail-accounted-for style. She felt intense emotion sweep over her entire body. She was in shock; the man with whom she had spent nights crying and mourning his death was standing in the flesh – in front of her! She looked him down and back up, almost trying to make the connection with her brain that he was actually here. Her eyes finally landed on his face.

Cassandra Starr: Where… (holding back her tears)… where have you been?

He forced a small smile, as the question seemed simple enough – the answer, not so much. How to explain what had happened to Michael over these past four years, where to even start? The things he had seen – even more, the things he had done, it was a completely different version of him that Cassandra had never seen. Would she even believe him? Would it even matter? He saw the tears welling up behind her eyes and knew he was the reason for them, knew he was the cause of all the pain. He let his hand fall away from her face, his resolve waning. This was not how he wanted to do this with her, not like this. The Peal Fusion Corporation had forced his hand, of that… he had no doubt. She and Shawn were in danger and he was going to be damned to let them use his loved ones against him like this.

Michael Diamond: Cass… there’s so much that I want to tell you; that I’ve wanted to tell you for so long. This was not how I wanted to do this…

Cassandra was in complete shock and disbelief. She took her hand and slowly raised it to the side of his face, gently laying it on his cheek; but a rush of anger consumed her as she took her hand away and, with a swift motion, slapped him across the cheek!

Cassandra: You… you son of a bitch! Do you have any… (gasping as she spoke) ANY… idea what your son and I have been through!? What… (tears flowing freely as she spoke)… I have had to endure to keep us safe… to keep YOUR son safe!? We thought you were dead!

The slap had hit hard, knocking Michael’s sunglasses from his face, the impact echoing throughout the street. This “argument” began drawing the attention of many of the resident shoppers, who now seemed more interested in this outcome then actually purchasing any wares. In Michael’s mind, he was just beginning to question if this was just another one of his lucid dreams; another mirage that would vanish just as he got too close. The slap had confirmed otherwise – this was the REAL Cassandra Starr. Diamond forcefully became aware of his surroundings very quickly, realizing that a commotion like this was the last thing that they needed. He was partially cognizant of the words Cassandra was saying but, at the same time, was scanning the area for any type of immediate threat that might come as a result of this very public display.

Michael Diamond: Those… (grabbing a hold of Cassandra’s arm)… were very expensive sunglasses. Also… “ow!”.

Michael began to lead Cassandra away from the kiosk, hoping to get away from all the prying eyes.

Cassandra yanked her arm away from his angrily, not about to go anywhere until he explained himself.

Casandra Starr: Expensive sunglasses!? (facing Michael) Oh you have NOT changed, Michael!

Her tears had long since ceased and now all that remained was rage.

Cassandra Starr: I’m not going ANYWHERE with you until you explain to me where the fuck YOU where and what in God’s name is going on!?

Michael Diamond: Look Cass, I don’t have time to go ten rounds with you right now… nor do I have time for twenty questions…

Michael Diamond’s words were abruptly cut short as sounds of gunfire and screaming riddled the streets. Instinctively, Diamond threw Cassandra down to the ground and covered her with his body. His eyes scanned for the threat but between all the people fleeing at once, it was impossible to see where the shots were coming from.

Michael Diamond: Are you okay?

Diamond looked down at Cassandra, concern in his eyes.

Michael Diamond: Cass!? Are you hurt!?

Lifting her body up quickly, her anger turned to fear. Hearing the gunshots bouncing off the buildings next to them, she looked up at Michael, her body tense. She shook her head, acknowledging that she was unharmed.

Cassandra Starr: Michael… what… what is happening!?

She instinctively grabbed onto his arm, her eyes scanning all around before finally looking up at him.

Michael Diamond: Come on!

Michael pulled Cassandra to her feet, looking for a path through the crowd. It was a perfect shooting gallery, tons of collateral damage. He didn’t know the Pearl Fusion Corporation well enough to determine if they were the sort to slaughter hundreds just to get to two individuals, or if they would “check their fire”. Luckily, Michael knew he wasn’t going to have to find out. Seeing an alley off to the side, he began to lead Cassandra there, trying to keep them both low to the ground. More shots rang out, followed by more screams, as a bullet zipped past the couple, narrowly missing. The ricochet, however, bounced up and grazed Michael across the forehead. His adrenaline in overdrive, he barely felt the wound as the two made it safely into the alley. Setting Cassandra down, Michael reached behind his back and pulled out a small revolver, handing it to Cassandra.

Michael Diamond: Here… take this…

Diamond then grabbed his own pistol from his hip-pocket, glancing behind to see if any had of their pursuers had followed. Realizing that they were in the clear, at least for now, he turned back to Cassandra.

Michael Diamond: Do you know how to use one of those?

Cassandra’s head was spinning, desperately trying to make sense of what was happening. She didn’t have time to be angry or think about the past, not right now… she had to focus. She saw the blood trickle down Michael’s face and she knew they were in trouble. Looking down at the gun he had handed her, Cassandra’s eyes trailed back up to his.

Cassandra Starr: I’ve been protecting our son, (sarcastically quipping) what do you think!?

Cassandra cocked the gun, raising her eyebrow as she looked at Michael. She had not changed one bit, she was exactly as he remembered her. Diamond turned back towards the alley’s entrance, if only to hide the smile that crept across his lips. He had missed this; he had missed her.

Michael Diamond: I’m really hoping that you don’t have to use that but, in the instance that you do… just make sure that you don’t shoot me. I’m not the “bad guy” here… at least, not at this very moment.

Cassandra rolled her eyes as Diamond led her a little further down the alley to its exit, placing his back against the wall and peering around the corner. Panic had struck the streets and there were carts and produce overturned with people running and screaming in every-which direction. A nightmare scenario if there ever was one.

Michael Diamond: We need to get out of here; there are too many sightlines… too many places to walk into an ambush. Are you parked nearby?

Cassandra found herself staring at all the carnage, still no idea who or what the threat was. Reeling from the fear, all she knew was Michael was here now, he would protect her. She looked up at him, pointing down the street to a small parking lot where she had parked her car just minutes before. Suddenly, at that moment, it hit her… Shawn! They need to get to Shawn!

Cassandra Starr: Michael, we NEED to get Shawn… (panicking, she grabbed his arm)… we need to get our Son!

“Our son”, the words hit him like a ton of bricks, the weight of it being amplified by the fact that the phrase came from her mouth.

Michael Diamond: It’s okay Cass… (placing a hand on hers)… Shawn’s safe. I’ve got people with him right now, they’ll protect him. We just got to get to him… okay?

Michael looked back to the parking lot in question, realizing that there was no real easy way to get to it without being exposed. Diamond shook his head, not liking any of the options before him.

Michael Diamond: We’re just going to have to run for it.

Their salvation was over a hundred yards away and the route was cluttered with danger and civilians. Michael turned back to Cassandra, not sure what these next few minutes were going to bring.

Michael Diamond: Cass... I...

The words stuck to his throat. He had so much he wanted to say to her, and no time to say it.

Michael Diamond: ... are you ready?

Cassandra nodded her head, grabbing ahold of Michael's hand. Emerging from the alley, the two ran into the crowded streets, doing their best to keep low and blend in. More shots continued to ring out as bodies began to drop all around them. Guess that answered Diamond's question about if the PFC would kill innocents to get to them. Diamond kept a firm hold on his pistol, looking for any such threat he could eliminate, but too many moving pieces blurred his vision. A flash ripped past Cassandra, forcing her to relinquish Diamond's hand, if only for a moment. But a moment was all it took for the crowd to sweep her away, Michael stopping to try and track where she had gone.

Michael Diamond: (panic-stricken) Cass? Cass!?

More gunshots rang out as a person collapsed onto Michael, unintentionally taking a bullet that was meant for “Your Hero”. Diamond lay on the ground, his own pistol having been knocked from his grasp when he had fallen. As Michael attempt to slither out from underneath the weight of the dead body, he looked up to see one of the PFC men standing above him, his gun aimed down at Diamond's head. Before his life had a chance to even flash before his eyes, Cassandra pulled the trigger of her revolver. The man above Michael slumped down to the ground beside him, as Diamond looked up at her in shock.

Cassandra Starr: I told you I knew how to use it.

Michael crawled out from underneath and went to Cassandra once more, his pistol no-where to be seen as it had been lost amongst the fury of scuffling feet. Grabbing a hold of her hand once again, the duo rushed forward. As they began to close in on the parking lot, a man suddenly lunged from the crowd, slashing at them with a knife. Diamond pushed Cassandra to the side as he engaged the assailant, dodging out of the way of his strikes. Cassandra aimed to shoot, before realizing that another threat had emerged behind her. Turning, Cassandra fired, shooting and clipping the PFC agent in the shoulder. The man dropped to the ground and took cover as Cassandra turned back to assist Michael, only to see that “Your Hero” had somehow managed to take the knife from his assailant. With terrifying precision, Diamond embedded the knife into the man's throat, forcing him to choke on his own blood. The look on Michael's now blood-stained face was enough to send Cassandra’s blood cold; displaying darkness she had never seen in him before. Diamond turned back to her, just as another gun shot rang out. Cassandra crumpled to the ground, crying out in agony.

Michael Diamond: Cass!

The knife still in Diamond's hand, he located the shooter... the same PFC agent that she had clipped earlier. Diamond threw the blade with deadly accuracy, the knife lodging into the man's brain. Diamond dropped to his knees, assessing the severity of Cassandra’s injury. The bullet had torn through her left thigh, leaving her unable to put any pressure on her leg.

Michael Diamond: It’s okay, Cass... I'm right here. It looks like the bullet went through; that's good.

Diamond ripped off a part of his shirt and quickly wrapped the leg, tightening as much as he could so as to stop the bleeding. Cassandra gritted her teeth against the pain as Michael looked up at her, his hands going to her face.

Michael Diamond: You're going to be okay, Cass... I got you.

Cassandra grimaced in pain as Michael hoisted her up into his arms. Carrying her, he began to run as fast as he could. Behind him, he heard gunshots ringing out, some Cassandra's own as she emptied the rest of her rounds into two pursuing PFC soldiers. Finally arriving at the parking lot, Diamond looked around for her car. It only took him a moment as his eyes fell upon the hot pink Lamborghini.

Michael Diamond: (stifling a laugh) Subtle Cass...

Cass Starr: If you scratch it, I swear...

Michael placed Cassandra into the passenger side's seat of the car as gingerly as he could, taking special care with her wounded leg. As she placed the keys into the ignition, Michael hopped into the driver's seat, turning the car on and peeling out of the parking lot... driving as fast as he dared so that they could get to their son.

2010
The Evanescent (Co-Op with Cass)
Somewhere over the English Channel

A Few Hours Later…

Hours had passed since the events at the March D’Aligre markets as the pair found themselves reunited with Shawn aboard The Evanescent, a personal yacht bound for Brighton, England – the group trying to put as much distance between them and their pursuers as possible. Per Michael’s request, the crew was of the skeleton-variety as he wanted less potential threats on board when it came to the safety of his family. Cassandra had been allowed as much time to spend with Shawn as was needed to put the boy at ease, before Diamond insisted that she let Miguel’s partner-in-crime, Cara Romero, take a look at her wound. Michael stood at the entrance of Cassandra’s room, looking in on her as “The Huntress” changed her dressing. Night had since fallen as they found themselves about half-way through their journey. By the morning, they would be at their desired destination and Michael wondered if these would be his final hours he got to spend with Cassandra and Shawn, knowing what awaited him after they were somewhere safe.

Miguel "The Hunter" Romero: How's the boy?

Miguel walked up to Michael, offering him a beer. Diamond politely declined, his watchful gaze going back to Cass.

Michael Diamond: He's good... safe... thanks to you.

Diamond fought back the tears, looking back to his friend.

Michael Diamond: A debt that I can never repay...

Miguel simply nodded his head and slapped Diamond on the back. "The Huntress" finished with her medical duties and walked over to the two.

Cara “The Huntress” Romero: She'll be okay, she just needs to rest.

Diamond nodded his head as the two disappeared out of sight. Michael, hesitantly walked into the room, the door closing shut behind him. His heart was full of guilt at what had happened, this situation becoming his worst nightmare. All these years lost... keeping himself at a distance... were to protect her, and it had all been for naught; he had failed.

Michael Diamond: (concerned) How are you feeling?

Cassandra laid on the soft pale blue sheets on the king bed in Michaels’ yacht, wearing a white cotton robe, short enough that cut just a few inches above her knee. She had pulled the robe to one side while “The Huntress” had worked on her wounded thigh but now that her “medical visit” was done with, she had pulled shut the robe, clutching the soft fabric close to her body. Propping herself with her elbows, she managed to push herself up to a sitting position.

Cassandra Starr: Well Michael… (a small half-smile forming on her lips)… I feel like I have been shot.

A small grin slipped onto Michael's face as he took a few more steps into the room, his eyes having gone to her wounded leg, a thick bandage wrapped tightly around her thigh. Diamond blinked away the memory of what happened a mere few hours ago, trying to keep his emotions in check.

Michael Diamond: Shawn... I can't believe how big he's gotten! Smart kid, too... you did well, Cass...

She had noticed him stare at her injury, noting the guilt that plagued his face – as if he was the one that shot her himself.

Cassandra Starr: (taking a breath) Thank you Michael. He is a great boy. He’s spirited like his father. He’s the best thing, the ONLY thing that has kept me together the last four years.

She paused for a moment, as if waiting for the roof to collapse in on them.

Cassandra Starr: How long are we not going to talk about what the hell is going on!? Michael, I need answers, I’m not okay! This… (pointing around at the boat and then pointing to her injured leg)… none of this is okay!

Michael moved to console her, kneeling down next to Cassandra, a deep "sigh" escaping from his lips.

Michael Diamond: I know, Cass... and I never meant to get you involved. I thought that if I stayed away...

Diamond choked on the words, rising back to his feet and pacing around the room.

Michael Diamond: This is all my fault, you got hurt because of me... what I am... what I'm "involved" in.

Cassandra felt the anger rise in her body; he wasn’t giving any answers… just excuses!

Cassandra Starr: (blurting out) Yes, this is your fault! We were fine, I … (pointing to her chest)… had it covered, we were safe!

Cassandra tried to regain her composure, thinking back to what Michael had said and realizing that it didn’t make any sense.

Cassandra Starr: (confused)......because of what you are? What are you involved in now!? Does Danny have anything to do with this? Because if so, I swear I’m going to kill him!

Diamond didn't blame Cassandra for being angry, half-expected this reaction sooner. She deserved to know the truth - that much was certain. Where that left them afterwards was anyone's guess.

Michael Diamond: For once, Danny has nothing to do with this Cass. In fact, I suspect he knows less then you do at this point in time...

Michael exhaled deeply, as if preparing to rip a Band-Aid off an infected wound that would bleed out if not treated immediately.

Michael Diamond: That day that I called you four years ago, I thought I was saying "goodbye". Ryan Evans and I had gotten tangled up in something; something I had no right being involved in. But they had taken someone I cared about, someone I thought that I needed to save. Whether I had died or not, it was supposed to be the end... instead, it was only the beginning

Michael turned to Cassandra, seeing if she was processing all this in real-time speed or if he had gone too fast in his explanation. Still angry but wanting to hear the truth Cassandra began to listen to his account. She raised one eyebrow and scrunched her lips.

Cassandra Starr: I’m sorry ... what!? Going to need more information here...

Michael Diamond: They called themselves the Black Skulls, some sort of group that Ryan Evans used to be a part of. What was once a small-time gang primarily involved in dealing with drugs and weapons had, apparently, graduated to an entirely different type of sin... human trafficking. Ryan and I went to put an end to it and to save our friends. However, they weren’t just taking people for the reasons you might think...

Just telling the story again seemed to bring Michael back to that horrid place.

Michael Diamond: ... they were doing experiments on them, changing their biology into something... unnatural. They had an army of these things... these Nomalies... so Ryan and I did what we thought we had to.

Michael's voice trailed off, recalling just how many lives had been lost on that day.

Michael Diamond: A few of these Nomalies escaped and tracked me down... but they didn't want vengeance, they wanted my help. Apparently the Black Skulls weren't the real threat - just a means to an end. I realized that too late, and it ended up costing Martin his life.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as he recalled coming home and finding his butler and father-figure bleeding out on the tile.

Michael Diamond: I didn't know who or what was after me, just that everyone I cared about or that was associated with me was being targeted. That's when I called Miguel...

Michael looked back at Cassandra, sorrow in his eyes.

Michael Diamond: I didn't want to directly draw any attention to you or Shawn, so I put “The Hunter” and “The Huntress” on retainer, asked them to keep an eye on you but to not interfere in your life. I just wanted you both safe…

Cassandra listening intently, her eyes locked on his. She could see how nervous he was, how hurt his eyes were staring back at her. She started to soften. But if “The Huntress” and “The Hunter” were supposed to be watching over her and Shawn... then what happened two years ago?

Cassandra Starr: The gunshots at my house in Provins....?

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) Shouldn't have ever happened...

Diamond recalled Miguel telling him of his failure when they had reconnected these years later. He didn't blame his friend for what had happened, after all... Diamond knew it was he that should've been there in the first place, keeping his family safe.

Michael Diamond: Miguel apologizes for that, by the way.

Diamond collected his thoughts, each secret revealed seemed to be like an unbearable weight lifting off his chest, allowing him to truly breathe once again.

Michael Diamond: I continued to pull on any and all threads of this mysterious organization, my journey taking me to England. I had misread the signs though; this group didn't want me… at least, not yet. They were after information about a specific chemical formula, known as the Genesis serum. Martin's brother was one of the lead developers on the project... as were my parents.

Diamond had no idea how Cassandra was processing all this. She had asked for the truth, but he wondered if she was - now - regretting this request.

Michael Diamond: I don't know what the true intent of my parents were, nor if they knew what would happen to me as a result. But the Genesis serum is the reason I'm standing before you today, Cass... without it, I would've never been born. Which, to this Pearl Fusion Corporation, make me and anyone with my blood a miracle of science - one that they would exploit for their own nefarious purpose.

Cassandra listening to what Michael was trying to explain to her, hanging on every word. As he progressed, his story began sounding more and more like something out of a sci-fi movie. She took a deep breath, scratching her head, unsure of where to even go with this new information.

Cassandra Starr: Well, I... don’t know even know how to respond to all of that Michael.

She looked at him, the sadness in his eyes. As “out-there” as this all sounded, she knew that he was telling her the truth.

Cassandra Starr: Why couldn’t you have called me Michael? Didn’t you family deserve to know the truth!? I could have helped you!

She was clearly frustrated as Diamond tensed up, having been dreading that very question.

Michael Diamond: I wanted nothing more than to call you Cass, thought about it every day. But just look at what happened today!? If I had lost you...

Diamond approached her, daring to sit down on the bed beside her.

Michael Diamond: ... the only reason I could do the things that I had to do was because I believed that the two of you were safe.

Michael reached out, taking Cassandra's hand in his own, squeezing it tightly. Feeling Michael’s tight grasp on her hand, she felt like home; finally safe. She felt her emotions betray her as she wanted to stay angry and continue to push for information.

Cassandra Starr: (concerned) What does this mean for you?

Then it dawned on her… Shawn… he shares Michaels DNA! In a panic, her voice raised – cut by fear and anger.

Cassandra: What does this mean for our son!?

Michael Diamond: I'm not going to let anything happen to him, I promise! The moment we get to Brighton, the two of you are on a helicopter to wherever you want… “Huntress” will ensure you get there safely…

As she heard the words “the two of you”, a fire began to build in her – the anger turning towards Michael once more.

Cassandra Starr: (Ripping her hand away) The Two of us.....?? You’re leaving us again!?

Cassandra scowled as Michael lowered his head, his heart ready to leap from his chest. It wasn't what he wanted, but he knew that the Pearl Fusion Corporation would never stop looking for them, hunting them. Diamond was not about to subject his family to a life of constantly looking over their shoulders.

Michael Diamond: I have to finish this, Cass. I have a plan that will take care of the PFC once and for all, but...

Diamond didn't even want to say the words, knew how it would sound. Swallowing hard, Michael looked into Cassandra's eyes.

Michael Diamond: ... I need Shawn's blood to do it.

The fury built up inside her; first - after everything they had been through - he was just going to leave them again!? On top of that, he has the audacity to ask for their son’s blood!?

Cassandra Starr: You son of a bitch! Is that all we are worth to you!? Four years of thinking you were dead and now you just show up, needing our son’s blood of all things!?

Forgetting about her wound, Cassandra went to leap off the bed, ready to give Michael a repeat performance of that aggressive slap from the marketplace. Instead, her leg buckled under her weight and she immediately fell to the ground in pain, crumpling up beside the bed. At this point she was unable to hold back the tears anymore, her body completely drained of energy to process anything else.

Diamond hadn’t been fast enough to catch Cassandra before she fell, surprised by how quick she had moved despite the injury. Seeing her like this, in such an emotional state, ripped at Michael's very soul. He slid off the bed to sit beside her, wrapping his arms around her. He would hold her forever if he could, just let the world and all its problems fade away.

Michael Diamond: You and Shawn are my world, Cass... whether you choose to believe it or not, it's how I've always felt . I can't make up for the mistakes that I've made in the past, but I can promise you that when this is all over with... I'm yours, if you'll have me.

Hearing those words, that he had always wanted her and Shawn, brought a sense of relief in the fact that for years, she thought she was the one that had pushed him away. She thought she had been responsible for driving out the only man that could make her heart stop with just a simple glance... instead, his reasons seemed “guardian-like”, doing it to protect her and their son.

Michael took her in his arms, leaning in to help her get back to her feet. As she took ahold of his hand, the sleeve of his shirt peeled back, revealing a series of faded cuts and, what looked like, needle marks. Cassandra gasped, putting her hand over her mouth. Every angry thought she had now left her mind as the man she loved was visibly hurt. She brushed her fingers over the marks, trying to make sense of what she was looking at. She looked up at Michael, tears falling from her eyes.

Cassandra Starr: Michael... what… what are these!?

Diamond, for the moment, ignored the question, making sure Cassandra was back into the bed and comfortable. Seeing her study the markings, Michael began to look at his arms himself. It was hard for him to even recall where he had suffered the wounds, let alone at whose hand. The needle marks were a bit fresher, a result of the blood work being drawn by the PFC as they ran their tests.

Michael Diamond: (forcing a half smile) Just reminders... of what I've had to sacrifice.

Michael seemed embarrassed by his scars, rolling his sleeves back down so as to hide them from view but Cassandra simply placed her hand atop his, as if starting to understand just all he had endured over the past few years. Her touch was soft and reassuring, as he looked into those emerald eyes once more, enthralling him. His heartbeat grew faster as his face seemed to be pulled closer to hers, as if by gravity itself. Inches from her lips, he hesitated slightly, as if to give Cassandra one last time to withdraw. When she didn't, his mouth was on hers with such pent-up passion and ferocity that it took him a few moments to realize that she was gasping for air. Diamond let her recover, their gaze never breaking.

Michael Diamond: Is this... are you okay?

Cassandra’s heart was pounding as she stared into his endless hazel eyes. God she missed his touch, his kiss! His grasp offered a sense of security she hadn’t felt in years. She took her hand and softly caressed his cheek.

Cassandra Starr: Michael, this is all I wanted, I need you… I’ve needed you for so long.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the warmth from his body on her. She leaned in, pressing her lips against his as he pulled her in tighter. She held on as Michael breathed all of Cassandra in, letting her wash over him as his hands found their way to her hips. Slowly, his fingers ascended upwards and in, tracing along the insides of her robe. With a quick yank, he freed the soft fabric from her body, breaking away and taking her all in. Michael had almost no time to look upon her for, like magnets, their lips found each other once more, Diamond biting her gingerly. His hands found their way to Cassandra’s throat, carefully guiding her head upwards as he began to feast on her neck. Her scent was intoxicating to him, her rapid breathing encouraging him to continue. Wrapping his arms around her, he slowly lowered Cassandra onto her back, caressing her breasts with his hands as he lightly brought his tongue down her chest to her stomach. Michael looked up at her, their eyes meeting once more as his fingers traced their way to her panties. Pulling them down slowly, Diamond could feel the heat from her rising as he lowered himself, devouring her.

Feeling Michael’s body pressed against her, his tongue finding every inch of her, she was overrun by emotion. The passion she felt for him, heightened with every kiss, every touch. She pulled him in close, bringing him onto the bed next to her. Cassandra rolled over until she was straddling Michael. She ran her hands up and down his chest, leaning in and pulling him closer as she began to undue his belt, slipping her hands in to feel him – every inch of him – as she worked his pants to the floor. Cassandra placed her hands on his hips as he sat up, grabbing her passionately; their lips unable to get enough of each other.

Diamond's heart was racing as his tongue lashed around inside Cassandra’s mouth, his hands finding her hair again, running his fingers through them and gripping on tightly, as if afraid to ever let go. Only in his wildest dreams had he thought this moment would be here and now. He felt himself press against her, wanting to be inside, begging for her to encompass him. But he forced himself apart from her alluring mouth, if only so his lungs could recover. Looking down, Diamond's face flushed in slight embarrassment...

Michael Diamond: I... uh... wasn't expecting this, Cass. I didn't bring a...

Cassandra sat up now, her own breath ragged and hurried; she looked down at him, eyebrow rising in excitement.

Cassandra Starr: Diamond, when has that stopped you before?

Holding his hips, she plunged herself onto him, taking him all in. Feeling him inside her, she arched her back, her guard finally dropping as she moaned in ecstasy. Her response was such a “Cassandra” thing to say, bringing a smirk to Michael’s face. As he slid in, he felt a sudden “huff” escape his lips, caught unaware by the feeling of her tighten around him. As their bodies moved in unison, his hands moved to her hips, gripping her tightly and making sure he was careful not to touch her wounded thigh. He watched as her body bounced with every thrust, her groans of pleasure driving him to move faster. Lost in their sexual frenzy, Cassandra brought her hands up to Michael’s shirt, ripping the button-up from his chest. In what was meant to be a pure act of passion turned to shock as her eyes fell upon Michael’s exposed skin, seeing him for the first time. His wars against the Black Skulls, Red Dragons, and now the Pearl Fusion Corporation, had left his body heavily scarred. For a moment, everything seemed to stand still, the only sound being their mouths gasping for air. Diamond watched helplessly as Cassandra’s gaze flowed over him.

Sensing his vulnerability, Cassandra leaned in and softly pressed her lips to Michael, a gesture that indicated that all that mattered was this moment right here, right now. Slowly, like a volcanic smolder, their passion began to rise again as the room faded away and all that remained were the two lovers. She felt him – all of him – as she rode him, his hands finding her hips again, pulling her closer into him. Cassandra leaned back as her fingers traced their way across the many “reminders” on his chest, her gaze never breaking from his eyes. Feeling the moment rising, her hands fell on Michael’s face as she smothered her lips into his, embracing him in a passionate kiss as a plunging shudder ran through her. Diamond’s body, too, seemed to respond in kind as Cassandra moaned in ecstasy as her knees buckled from the orgasm. She went limp into Michael’s arms. The two collapsed back into the bed, still entwined in each other’s arms. Cassandra placed her head upon Michael’s beating chest, listening to the rhythm of his heart – realizing that it synced up with her own. Turning her eyes upward, she saw him staring back at her.

Cassandra Starr: (catching her breath) I want all of you Michael; the scarred, the broken, the hurt, all of it. But you have to let me in – you have to let me see all of you, let me be a part of your entire being.

Smiling, Michael leaned down and kissed the top of Cassandra’s head; holding her tightly in his arms, never wanting to let her go.

 

2010
Pearl Fusion Corporation
Darien, Connecticut

A Few Weeks Later…

Michael Diamond sat in the back of the black SUV, a black hood over his head and his wrists retrained by a pair of magnetic cuffs. Two PFC soldiers flanked him, lazily looking out their windows, as the two in the front argued over who was going to get the bigger payday for bringing “Your Hero” back to the Pearl Fusion Corporation. Diamond cut out the noise, closing his eyes, flashing back to his goodbye with Cassandra a few days ago. The helicopter blades spun ferociously as Cara “The Huntress” Romero helped lift Shawn into the back, safely buckling him in and even giving him a child-size pilot helmet to wear. He gave the “thumbs up” that he was ready to go as Michael watched from a distance, a sad smile on his face. He had never really gotten the chance to be a father to his son and if his plan with the PFC went south, he knew that he never would.

Miguel “The Hunter” Romero: It’s not too late to add one more to that flight…

Michael Diamond: You know I can’t do that, Miguel… even if I wanted to.

Miguel shook his head somberly as “The Huntress” began running through her pre-flight checklist. Cassandra did one last check on Shawn to make sure he was okay to go, before turning back to Michael. Gingerly, she hobbled her way over to him, her leg already starting to be on the mend.

Cassandra Starr: You know… “Huntress” is pretty good with kids, Miguel… you better watch out.

Miguel cleared his throat and awkwardly excused himself as Cassandra smirked at Michael.

Michael Diamond: Was that really necessary?

Cassandra Starr: (shrugging her shoulders) No… but it was fun.

Michael stifled a laugh as he leaned in, placing his forehead against Cassandra’s. He had lost so much time with her already, and here they were again… splitting up. It wasn’t like last time, Michael tried to remind himself… this time it would be different. Or, at least, he hoped so. He had a plan and so long as everything fell perfectly into place, he would be back with his family in a matter of days and the threat would be eliminated.

Michael Diamond: Cass… if something-

Cassandra Starr: (interrupting) This isn’t “goodbye”, Michael. You go do what you need to do and then you come back to us.

Michael nodded his head as Cassandra placed her lips to his, kissing him sweetly. Diamond melted into her, never wanting to break away from her touch. As she hesitantly pulled away, she reached into her front jeans pocket, pulling out a small vial of blood. Michael looked at it curiously, speechless.

Cassandra Starr: You DID say that you needed it, right?

Michael Diamond: Cass, I don’t know what to say…

Cassandra Starr: Like I said, Cara is good with kids… (teasing) you probably aren’t paying her enough.

Cassandra cracked a smile as Michael reached down, taking the vial of his son’s blood from her. Safely putting it in his pocket, he turned back to his beloved.

Michael Diamond: When you’re in the air, “Huntress” will give you a few different locations to choose from – locations only she knows about. She’ll make sure that you get settled and that you’re safe. Remember, it’s only for a couple days…

Diamond could see the worry in her eyes, knowing that last night’s revelations had come with a price. Cassandra had been oblivious to all Michael had suffered through these past years but, now, she was painfully aware of what he was about to do. She remained strong, not willing to let something as “insignificant” as fear drive her emotions. Cassandra turned away from Michael as he watched her walk away, hopeful that this moment right here wasn’t the last time he saw his family.

Michael Diamond: (yelling) Cass…!

Cassandra stopped before entering the helicopter, turning to face Michael.

Michael Diamond: … I love you!

Cassandra Starr: Then prove it… don’t die!

One of the PFC soldiers nudged Michael, as if to wake him from a slumber. Diamond blinked away the memory as he strained his eyes through the fabric, realizing that they had arrived at their destination, the Pearl Fusion Corporation Headquarters – a place where he had called “home” for the last four years. He had hoped he would never have to see this place again. The driver pulled up to the first security checkpoint, rolling down his window and providing his credentials. As they did a standard sweep of the vehicle, the two guards in the back exchanged worried glances. This whole thing had seemed “too easy”, Diamond simply giving himself up without as much as a fight. As the vehicle rolled through the checkpoint, it came to a stop in front of an impressive state-of-the-art research facility, the guards exiting the vehicle and forcefully pulling Diamond out. As the group of four escorted them inside, the two guards in the front cut in… taking him from the other two.

Lead Guard: We’ll take it from here…

The two guards in the back knew they had no seniority and, so, wandered off, mumbling something between them about hopefully getting a cut of the reward. Michael fell in stride with the two guards as they brought him to an elevator, pushing a button that would bring him to the upper floors. As he tried to piece together his fractured memories of this place, he was almost positive that no elevator ride he was previously apart of ever went “up”. All the genetic experimentation and torture had, indeed, taken place in the secret labs on the sub-level so Diamond, for the moment, counted himself fortunate that he wasn’t immediately going back to that hell. With every passing floor, Michael’s heart began to race, wondering if this ride would ever end. As the “ding” sounded, the guards escorted Diamond off the elevator as a familiar voice greeted him.

William Sharper: Ah, Michael! So good to see you again! I do hope you enjoyed your little holiday from our revered establishment.

William gave the nod to one of his guards, as they drove a fist into Diamond’s mid-section, the blind shot dropping him to his knees, sucking in air.

William Sharper: Also… what is this… the 18th century? Take the hood off, we’re all civil here after all.

One of the guards forcefully removed the hood as Diamond kept his head lowered, attempting to regain his composure.

William Sharper: Come now, Michael… don’t be shy…

Diamond lifted his head, a smirk coming across his lips as his eyes met William’s.

William Sharper: Now then, that’s-

William stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the man before him.

William Sharpers: What’s going on here… (looking around in a panic)… what is this!?

Kneeling before him was indeed Diamond… just not the right one.

Adam Diamond: Hello… “father”…

Almost as if on cue, the building’s lights went completely dark… the emergency lights kicking in just a few seconds later. But a few seconds was all Adam needed to get to his feet, the electronic restraints falling harmlessly to the ground, and grab the pistol free from one of the guards next to him. Before they could react to the threat, flashes lit up the darkness as Adam quickly dispatched the two guards that had been so kind enough to bring him right to his prey. Turning to confront William, Adam discovered that his surrogate father had made a quick getaway as his eyes scanned the hallway, looking for signs of him. The emergency lights and gunfire had been enough to cause a panic as people poured out of their offices and made their way past Adam as he pressed forward, going further into the darkness.

*****

A few days ago…

Michael Diamond: Still no word from Gerry?

Colt: No… nothing.

Locke: This is a bad idea…

Adara: We have to try; this may be our only chance to save Father.

Michael and his group of Nomalies gathered in his underground Heroes Quarters, discussing their plan for infiltration of the Pearl Fusion Corporation base. Diamond rolled the vial of his sons blood in his hands, looking at it with such caution that he thought it might explode any moment. Colt felt a pang of guilt creep into his gut, knowing he was the reason Michael was conflicted with all of this.

Saffron: They’ll be ready for us this time and if those sonic emitters are active…

Colt: (finishing Saffron’s thought)… then we’ll be of little use to you, Michael.

Michael Diamond: Then we disable them, take them out of the equation… it should give us a fighting chance.

Locke: How do we do that? I can’t very well teleport us in there with those things on, could send us right into a wall.

The elevator doors to the secret underground base opened as Adam Diamond stepped into view, all of the Nomalies immediately going to high alert and gathering their wits, and their powers, about them.

Adam Diamond: You don’t need powers to get into the building… what you need, is a diversion.

The Nomalies all exchanged looks with each other, before turning their attention to Michael, to see how their leader would respond to this new development. So many emotions filled Michael’s heart at this moment as one of the very reasons he had spent four years inside of a secret PFC laboratory was now standing within striking distance. Never mind the fact that he had assumed his identity, what he had done to Rose… with Rose…

Adam Diamond: Look… (lifting his hands into the air, sensing the hostility around him)… I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me to be. But I told Rose… everything. I know I can’t take back what I did to you – all of you – but I can do something now.

Michael Diamond: And what exactly are you suggesting?

Adam Diamond: We give them exactly what they want… Michael Diamond.

*****

As the “fake” Michael was being escorted to the elevators, the other two guards that had been so carelessly dismissed made their way down the hallway, intent on finding the security room. So far, everything had gone accordingly to plan, which the “real” Michael considered a miracle as a few of his plans would’ve already blown up in his face by this point.

Michael Diamond: How much further?

Michael looked to the female guard beside him, as her eyes seemed to constantly be scanning the area, remembering every detail.

Cara “The Huntress” Romero: Not much further… you ready?

Michael Diamond: I mean… I got the easy part.

Coming across the security room, “The Huntress” used her acquired ID card to bypass the security lock. As the door opened, the two guards inside turned to see what the unexpected arrival was.

Security Guard: Is it shift change already…?

As the one security guard went to look at his watch, the other watched the pair uneasily. The other remaining people in the room, a pair of technicians monitoring surveillance and security measures, didn’t even bother looking up from their stations. “The Huntress” rushed into the room with lighting speed, forcing the one guard that was on edge to reach for his sidearm. Cara dropped to her knees in a slide, closing the gap even faster and managing to disarm the guard just as he drew the gun from his holster. The gun slid harmlessly to the floor as “Huntress” went into a spin, kicking the feet out from under her first attacker and dropping him to the ground. As the guard fell to the ground, she brought a quick strike across his throat, rendering him unable to cry out for help. One down… one to go. This had all happened so quickly, the other guard seemed in a state of shock. It was only when he saw “Huntress” staring up at him from her crouched position, did he seem to remember his training. He pulled his sidearm and aimed it in her direction. Arching her body backwards, Huntress placed a hand on the floor to steady herself as she performed a type of crouched-backflip, her foot coming up and connecting with the pistol in her assailant’s hand and sending it flying into the air. As her feet touched solid ground once more, she was immediately upon the guard, her legs wrapped around his neck. Spinning around, she sent the guard careening head first into a wall, knocking him unconscious. Michael stood at the doorway, catching the wayward pistol and surveying the damage. “The Huntress” had just disarmed two security guards and rendered them useless in a matter of seconds.

Michael Diamond: Cass was right… I am definitely not paying you enough.

“Huntress” simply responded by kicking the first guard in the head, knocking him out as well so she didn’t have to hear the sounds of him choking on his own blood. At this point, the two technicians were aware of everything that was happening and had backed away from their stations, hands in the air. While “Huntress” restrained them, Michael worked his magic on the security system, paying specific attention to an elevator camera.

Michael Diamond: Looks like Adam’s on his way up to the top floor…

Cara “The Huntress” Romero: Don’t worry, I’ll retrieve the asset.

Michael looked over his shoulder, seeing “Huntress” stocking up on any weapons and ammunition that she was going to need. This first part of their plan had required they do it as stealthily as possible, so as to not have the entire base breathing down their necks from the onset. This next part was going to be chaotic for everyone, but hopefully that played into their favor just as well. Regardless, there was no stealth from here on out, they were going to have to fight their way through.

Michael Diamond: Make sure “Hunter” is in position…

Cara “The Huntress” Romero: Don’t worry, Michael… we know what we’re doing. You just make sure that you make it to the extraction point… (looking directly at Michael)… I promised Cassandra I’d bring you back in one piece and I keep my promises.

Cassandra, her name still sent shivers down his spine and his heart aflutter. If he closed his eyes tight enough, he could see her face; if he listened close enough, he could hear her voice. He thought of the moment they had shared together on The Evanescent and how he had wanted it to last forever. Something in the back of his mind told him that it was the closure that the two of them needed, that there was no better way he could’ve asked to leave things with her. Leave… he had left, again. He had his reasons, but now here he was, in the belly of the beast… no idea how these next few moments were going to play out. Doubt crept into his mind, as he saw her standing before that helicopter. All he had to do was “not die”, simple… right?

Cara “The Huntress” Romero: Michael…?

Hearing his name, Diamond broke out of his daze, seeing that the elevator had now stopped and Adam was nowhere to be seen. Slipping an earpiece into his ear, he typed in a few commands and began to power down the system, leaving emergency lighting on and transferring auxiliary power to one of the freight elevators. As the systems began to power down, Michael turned back to Cara.

Michael Diamond: Good luck.

For a moment, the room was in complete darkness. When the red dim of the emergency lights came to life, “The Huntress” was nowhere to be seen. Placing a finger to his ear, he activated the remote headset.

Michael Diamond: Ready whenever you-

Before he could finish his sentence, Locke materialized before him, bringing with her the whole family. Wait… the whole family?

Michael Diamond: Adara…!?

Adara: He’s my Father too, Michael… let me help!

Remember that thing I said about things not going according to plan, meet exhibit A. Michael didn’t have time to debate this, they had a schedule to keep. Placing a sonic disrupter on one of the terminals, the electric current pulsed through the system, frying the circuits and making it a more cumbersome task to bring everything back on line.

Michael Diamond: Alright… Colt, Saffron… buy us as much time as you can, the longer you keep them occupied the more time we have to search the lower levels. If you run into trouble, use the stairs or take the freight elevator and get to the extraction point.

Colt: We’re not leaving here without Father.

Diamond knew all too well what he meant by that statement.

Michael Diamond: It’s not going to come to that… Locke, Adara, and I will find him-

Locke: (interrupting) And Gerry… don’t forget about him.

Upon the mention of Gerry, Michael’s hand went to his pants pocket, his fingers gripping over the vial of his son’s blood. If this fell into the wrong hands… it could be like the Specter experiments all over again, genetic trials that this “Gerry” was directly responsible for. Diamond didn’t care what his motives were, he didn’t trust the man. Adara could sense Michael’s hesitation as she put a hand on his arm, reassuring him.

Adara: It’s okay, Michael… nothing bad is going to happen…

Adara knew the truth however, she had seen as much in a horrific vision back in the Heroes Quarters… one of her “family” was not making it out of her alive. As if remembering that fact, Adara turned to Colt and Saffron. She rushed forward, latching an arm around each of their necks and pulling them in for a group hug. Locke, never one to shy away from group hugs, was instantly at Adara’s back, holding all of them while Michael stood there, watching the four. Diamond’s thoughts went again to Cassandra, remembering lying in her arms as the sun came up… their naked bodies pressed against each other as she ran a finger over all his scars. She hadn’t been scared of them the way he thought she would’ve – the way most people would’ve. Cassandra felt his eyes upon her, as she tilted her head to meet his gaze.

Cassandra Starr: What are you looking at, Diamond?

Michael had no words, only love. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers again, tasting her once more. That night and the morning after, those were the memories he wanted to hold onto forever. He had hoped it had meant a chance for them to “start over” but, first… he had to “not die”.

Colt: Adara… it’s going to be okay…

Saffron: Yeah sis, you just said it yourself… “nothing bad is going to happen”.

Adara: (fighting back the tears) No… I know… just… be careful…

Colt and Saffron nodded their heads, trying to assure her, as Locke pulled Adara back to Michael.

Locke: (looking at Michael) Ready?

Michael Diamond: I really hate this-

In a flash, the three were gone as Colt and Saffron turned their attention towards the sounds of security guards making their way towards them. With no one around to bear witness, Colt pulled Saffron close into him, kissing her deeply as the door burst open. The group of soldiers filed in, aiming their guns at the pair as the two broke off their embrace.

Saffron: Now…!? You wait until now to-

Colt: (interrupting) What!? I thought it was romantic…

Turning to face their oppressors, Colt’s hands begin to illuminate a bright blue as red flames begin to dance their way up Saffron’s fingers, engulfing her hands.

Saffron: I swear… if we make it out of this… I’m killing you myself.

Colt: (smirking) It’s a date then.

Locke, Adara, and Michael emerged from the black smoke, arriving in the lower levels, as Michael struggled to gain his bearings. It didn’t matter how many times he did that, it left him disoriented and on the verge of vomiting. The sub-level seemed much quieter than all the action above, still… Michael had held onto the pistol “Huntress” had graciously gifted him.

Locke: Oh! I almost forgot!

Reaching behind her back, Locke handed Michael the legendary Dawnbreaker sword – a blade he had been gifted by The Protectors. As Diamond’s fingers wrapped around the sword, still in its scabbard, he couldn’t help but feel unworthy of it. They had always believed him to be their chosen one – their Bushido – but he had never passed the Trials and, thus, never became a full-fledged Protector. When his memory of that place was restored, he had sought them out… looking for answers but only finding more questions, in addition to this sword.

Michael Diamond: Just stay behind me…

The three moved through the corridors, peering into rooms for any sign of the Father, Gerry, or other hostile threats. One such room brought Diamond to a pause as he recognized it as the one in which Locke and Colt had rescued him from. Michael steadied himself against the doorframe as he needed a minute to collect his thoughts, his eyes closing as he tried to block out the images that flooded into his mind… the relentless torture, the never-ending experiments. He felt Adara’s hand on his shoulder, comforting him.

Adara: It’s okay, Michael…

Michael nodded his head, taking a few deep breaths, and continuing forward. He didn’t understand this, there should’ve been some sort of security presence down here… surely they didn’t all go to the main level during the security breach? Everything about this began to feel wrong, like they were walking into a trap. Making matters worse was that the emergency lights had now ceased and the regular lights were beginning to flicker to life once more.

Locke: (stating the obvious) Well that’s not good…

Adara: It’s fine, I’m sure Colt and Saffron made it out okay…

They were beginning to restore power, which meant that the Nomalies could soon lose the advantage of their powers, assuming they could figure out how to bring the sonic emitters back online. Hopefully Diamond’s sabotage bought them a few extra minutes. Michael stopped as he came to an exam room similar to his, only this one housed an older man. Adara’s eyes lit up when she saw him.

Adara: Father!

Before Diamond could stop her, she rushed into the room and to his side. Seated on an oval chair next to him was Gerry, his face weary and tired. He nearly fell over when the three entered into the room, the Father weakly turning to Adara, a slight smile across his face.

Father: My… child…

The tears streamed down her cheeks as Michael and Locke warily watched Gerry, his gaze unsure of their intent.

Gerry Wilson: I didn’t think you were coming back…

Locke: That makes two of us…

Though Locke had love for the Father, her protector, she had no love for the man that had betrayed them at the Black Skull fortress. He had his reasons, apparently, but it still didn’t take away the sting of someone you called “friend” leaving you behind to die. Locke leaned against the doorframe as Michael’s eyes went to the Father. He was hooked up to several monitors, none of them showing very promising life signs.

Gerry Wilson: He’s only gotten worse since you left… (following Diamond’s eyes to the monitors)… but it was worth the risk, did you bring it?

Diamond hated everything about this. He had met the Father once before, and he was not the man that these Nomalies described him as. He had been manipulative and self-centered, seemed to only care about the power that he possessed. Yet here he was, a man who had once been “human”, but had agreed to let the Specters inject him with a previously untested Genesis serum. He was the first subject to not be created from the serum but, rather, enhanced by it… and he wouldn’t be the last. One could argue that The Father had started them down this journey; one that Michael and his son were now unwillingly participants in. Diamond knew a dying man when he saw one and the Father didn’t have much time left. He could save him, of course… but Michael still felt uneasy about all of this. Something just didn’t feel right.

Adara: Of course, of course we brought it! It’s going to be okay Father; we’re here to save you!

A weak smile formed on the Father’s lips as Gerry exhaled, looking over to the man who was his actual biological father. Diamond wished Adara hadn’t said anything in that moment, especially because of what happened next. Michael reluctantly pulled the vial of blood from his pocket, tossing it into the air as Gerry reached up frantically, catching it with both hands. The sound of fist hitting skull forced Michael to turn away and see Locke collapse to the ground, Ruby standing above her fallen sister, her fist encased in a silver crystalized shell . Diamond knew all too well how that felt, his eyes going wide, as he recalled the attack outside the HWA arena four years ago.

Michael Diamond: You…!? It was you!?

Ruby stared at Michael, a blank expression on her face. He knew that not all the Nomalies had particularly cared for him, especially in the beginning, but never would he have thought one of them capable of betrayal. Locke struggled to stay conscious as Adara tried to rush to her side only for the Father to firmly grab ahold of her wrist. She looked down at him as he brought a syringe over with his free hand, stabbing it into her neck.

The Father: I am… sorry… my child…

Adara let out a cry of pain as Michael turned to see The Father inject something into Adara’s neck.

Michael Diamond: (raising the gun at The Father) No!!!

Ruby swung at Diamond but he was ready for it this time, dodging out of the way. She positioned her body in front of The Father as her entire body became coated in solid silver crystal. Gerry rushed to Adara’s side, catching her before she could fall as The Father remained weak on the bed.

Gerry Wilson: Michael, it’s not what it seems. It’s just a sedative, Adara will be fine.

Michael Diamond: Put her down!

Gerry Wilson: I can’t do that, Michael… your son’s blood was only one part of the equation… Adara is the final piece.

Gerry placed Adara down on a bed next to The Father as Michael turned the gun on Gerry. Ruby, again, stepped in front of his shot… a silent protector for those she had once called her enemy.

Michael Diamond: Ruby, why are you doing this!?

Gerry began frantically connecting electrodes, wires and IVs to Adara, preparing some type of blood transfusion between her and the Father, using Shawn’s blood as some type of catalyst agent between the two.

Gerry Wilson: Oh… yeah… Ruby, she hasn’t quite been herself lately, Michael… you’ll have to excuse her.

Michael Diamond: This was all just another one of your schemes…

Gerry Wilson: Oh come on, Michael… can you really blame me? How far would you go to save someone you love?

Michael Diamond: (threatening) Step a few inches to the left and I’ll show you…

Gerry pressed a button, the blood flowing freely from Adara’s arm as the Father watched the process, his eyes going wide with each passing second. His son had done it, he had saved him!

Gerry Wilson: My father was sick a long time before this, did you know that? He had only weeks left to live. I worked day and night on the Genesis serum… knew it was his one chance. Some people say what I did was unethical, but I saved his life back then… just like I’m saving his life now.

Gerry looked to his Father, tears in his eyes.

Gerry Wilson: There were… unforeseen consequences as his body tried to fight off the serum like it was a virus. It only kept him stable for so long, before the body would begin to break down once again. So I continued to work on the formula, test it on subjects of different ages, genders, races… I needed more data. These whole “super power” things were never my intent, but I must admit… they are a pretty cool side effect, right?

Gerry remained shielded by Ruby as Michael looked for an option that didn’t require him going through his former friend.

Gerry Wilson: This whole time though, the answer was right in front of me… it was you, Michael. When William brought me on board, he showed me what they had done with Adam – how they had created him in your image. But he was… defective, not as strong stock as the “real” thing… so I needed you or, more specifically, your blood. The breakthroughs I made alone in these past few years, well… let’s just say that when I restart the Genesis project… it’ll make everything that I did in the past obsolete.

Michael Diamond: I’m not going to let you get away with this, Gerry!

Gerry Wilson: Oh Michael, always the hero… still, there is one thing that I haven’t quite figured out…

Adara groaned in pain as the blood flowed freely from her IV, connecting into the catalyst, and feeding into the Father as, before his very eyes, he could see the color begin to return to his lifeless body. Michael was running out of time.

Gerry Wilson: Shawn… how did you do it? I mean, I know the “how”… but, scientifically, it should’ve been impossible! Maybe it was just another one of life’s little miracles, eh? Oh well… I’ll find out soon enough…

That threat was enough to send Michael over the edge as he turned back to Gerry, pulling the trigger. Gerry ducked behind cover as Ruby stood firm, the bullets ricocheting off of her impenetrable skin. Diamond only got a few shots off before Ruby was upon him, charging forward and tackling Michael through a glass window primarily used for patient observation. The gun fell from Michael’s grasp at the point of impact with Ruby, inconveniently sliding to Gerry’s feet. Diamond lay on his back, shards of glass still embedded into his flesh as multiple cuts covered his arms and face. Ruby was up first, grabbing Michael and pulling him to his feet with ease, like he weighed nothing. He slammed his fist into Ruby’s head but, in her protective state, he was doing more damage to himself then anything. She drove a fist into Diamond’s gut, knocking the air from him, followed up with a double-fist slam to his back, almost breaking him in two. Michael slumped to the ground as Ruby, with one-hand, pulled him along the floor, dragging him back towards the broken window. Lifting him up by the back of his hair, she began to bring Diamond’s throat down upon the pieces of glass remaining as Michael desperately tried to stop his descent. Ruby was stronger and he knew it was only a matter of time before he became impaled. Looking up, he saw Adara staring back at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Adara: Michael…!?

With one last desperate attempt, Michael used all his remaining strength left in his body to push himself a few inches away from the broken glass.

Michael Diamond: Adara… I’m-

His strength failed him as Ruby shoved Michael down, his throat crunching against the glass as Gerry turned away, unwilling to look upon such a gruesome sight.

Adara: (sobbing) No…!

Adara fought against the sedative in her veins, struggled to try and break free from this bed. If she could only get to Michael, maybe she could…

Gerry Wilson: (as if reading her mind) I’m afraid there’s no saving “Your Hero” this time, Adara.

Ruby, emotionless, stepped through the window, her attention now turning to Locke, who was just beginning to stir. Gerry looked down at the wounded Nomalie, a smile forming across his lips.

Gerry Wilson: I think I can let you have a little fun, Ruby… finish-

Gerry’s words caught in his throat as his eyes went past Ruby and to the man standing behind her. Ruby, turned, unimpressed that a very much alive Michael stood before her, his own skin having absorbed part of Ruby’s powers and hardened into a diamond-like shell. For a moment, Michael looked over his body, amazed at the transformation before him.

Gerry Wilson: (shocked) How…?

Michael Diamond: Looks like you still got some things to learn, Gerry.

Michael leaped over the window, his fist connecting with Ruby’s face, the forceful impact sending her careening off to the side of the room and up against the wall. Panicked, Gerry aimed the gun that Diamond had dropped, firing off a series of rounds that did nothing but bounce off Michael’s diamond-skin. Michael closed the gap, grabbing Gerry and hoisting him up into the air, apparently having inherited some of Ruby’s strength as well. Diamond tossed Gerry aside, as he flew against the counter, crashing into monitors and rolling to the ground and groaning in pain. Michael quickly turned his attention to Adara, who laid frozen, blood pouring from a ricochet bullet that had lodged itself into her chest.

Michael Diamond: (guttural scream) Adara…!? No!

Diamond freed her from the various electrodes and pulled the IV from her arm, scooping her into his arms and moving her from the bed. He laid her down on the floor as Locke began to finally come to, Michael’s diamond-skin fading away.

Michael Diamond: Come on Adara, you got to wake up… you got to heal yourself.

Locke: (confused) Michael… what… happened?

Michael shook Adara feverishly, her eyes motionless and black as death.

Michael Diamond: No, don’t do this, Adara! Come on… (screaming)… wake up!

Locke looked to her fallen sister, tears welling in her eyes. Still dazed from the blindside hit to her head, she crawled to Michael’s side, placing a hand on his.

Locke: Michael… it’s too late… she’s gone…

Michael Diamond: No… she’s not… she can heal herself…

Locke: It doesn’t work like that…

Locke took her hand from Michael’s and placed it on her sister’s pale face, tears streaming down her cheeks. Diamond looked around the room, as if something… somewhere… held the answer that he needed. And then there it was… the vial of Shawn’s blood. Very few drops of it remained, but maybe it was enough. Michael rose to his feet, grabbing for the vial. The Father, still weak, tried to stop him but Diamond was able to pull away from his grasp with ease. Kneeling down, Michael poured what was left of the blood into the wound as he held his hand firmly over it. Locke looked at him in confusion as Michael pressed his hand down hard on Adara’s chest, his eyes closing.

Michael Diamond: (under his breath) Come on… please… let this work… this has to work…

Diamond rocked back and forth, concentrating as hard as he could, but nothing happened… no soft glowing aura, no healing powers. Michael opened his eyes, seeing Adara’s lifeless body still looking up at him. He couldn’t fight the tears back anymore as he looked at Locke, sorrow in his eyes.

Michael Diamond: I’m sorry… I don’t understand… why it didn’t work… it should’ve worked…!

Locke wrapped her arms around Michael as he sobbed into her shoulder, the little girl that he had met all those years ago… the one that had saved Erin Wallace’s life… that had saved his life… she was dead, because he had failed. His sadness began to turn to rage as he gently pushed Locke away from him. Before he could act on such impulses, arms wrapped around his throat and pulled him backwards, the Father trying to choke Diamond out. Michael struggled for breath as Locke, still too weak, could only reach out her hand to him.

Locke: Father… please…

Father: Foolish girl, I’m not your Father! I’m beyond that now… I… am immortal. And as such, have no further need for you and your “family”.

Diamond’s eyes began to widen, though not because of the lack of oxygen, but the realization of just what Gerry had done. Gerry wasn’t just giving the Father new life; he was giving him new powers! Adara’s healing hadn’t worked because The Father had already absorbed them! He writhed against the Father’s grasp, desperate to free himself but it seemed to all be in vain. Just then, Colt rounded the corner, his fists glowing blue. Seeing the bloodied scene before him, Colt looked around in confusion until his eyes saw the Father strangling the life from Michael.

Colt: Father…!? What are you… (hesitantly lifting his hands towards him)… let him go!

The Father tried to position his body in a way that utilized Michael’s own frame as a human-shield in case Colt tried to hit him with one of his kinetic blasts. Doing this forced Colt to step further into the room, trying to get a better angle.

Father: You don’t want to do this, Colt… he is the enemy, remember?

Colt: No… he’s family…

The Father’s eyes grew wide as Colt prepared to take the shot, confident he could do so without hitting Michael. However, he had been distracted by the hostage situation and didn’t realize Gerry was sneaking up behind him, stabbing him with one of the surgical blades. Gerry drove the blade deep into his back, twisting it for extra effect as Colt slid to the ground, grabbing at the wound.

Gerry Wilson: (smiling down at Colt) How about that… I literally did stab you in the back.

Colt grunted against the pain as Gerry turned towards his Father, Michael’s eyes beginning to close.

Gerry Wilson: Looks like you got your pick of the litter, Father… who-

Gerry’s voice stopped abruptly as his neck violently snapped to the side. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground as, standing behind him, was Ruby… no longer under the influence of the Father’s mind control. The Father let out a blood-curling scream, seemingly awakening Michael from what was sure to have been his endless slumber. Ruby started to make her way towards The Father but, again, his eyes fell upon her and his mind entered hers. She struggled to resist as Diamond looked to Colt, who had no clear shot. Nodding his head, giving him the “go-ahead”, Colt raised his hands, blue energy gathering around his palm. Diamond closed his eyes as searing pain shot through his right shoulder, a blast of blue energy tearing through him and connecting with The Father, forcing him to relinquish his “sleeper hold” on Michael. This blast seemed to break Ruby free from her mind control as she fell to her knees, weakened by the mental invasion. Gasping for breath, Diamond crawled towards Adara’s body once more, lifting his hand and slamming it down on her chest. Screaming out in pain, Diamond channeled every ounce of power he had absorbed from the Father into Adara, a bright yellow light shining in the hole in her chest. Adara inhaled deeply, sucking new life into her lungs as Diamond collapsed next to her. Her head rolled to the side, their eyes meeting.

Adara: You… saved me…

Michael Diamond: (smiling slightly) Yeah… well… I was due…

The Father: (enraged) You think this is over!? You think that you’ve won!?

The group, all collectively beaten, bruised, bloodied, and battered, began to pull themselves to their feet, leaning on each other… like a family would.

The Father: I am immortal! I am a God!

Saffron: Even Gods can burn.

The Father turned too late to see Saffron launch a stream of red fire, the flames engulfing him fully. The Father lashed about, screaming in agony, as Diamond withdrew Dawnbreaker from its sheath. With a quick slice, the Father’s head rolled from its body, his corpse turning to ash.

Michael Diamond: Regenerate from that.

Michael sheathed Dawnbreaker once more and turned to look back at the remaining Nomalies, their family a little worse for wear… but whole once more.

Michael Diamond: I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve seen enough of this place to last me a lifetime. What’s say we burn it down and go home?

The group collectively nodded as Saffron turned to acknowledge a very shiny “elephant” in the room.

Saffron: Wait… Ruby!? When did you get here!?

Ruby: It’s… a… long story.

Locke: Well you all can tell it while we walk to our extraction point because my head is killing me and I’m NOT teleporting us anywhere in my current condition. Unless, Adara…?

Adara: I just died and came back; I think I’m going to need a minute.

Colt: Well don’t everyone move too fast, I got stabbed in the back.

The group helped each other out of the room and towards the freight elevator as Michael took one last look around, before following closely behind.

Guard: Sir, we need to go now!

William Sharper was frantically trying to grab as many files as he possibly could. The building had been compromised; he knew it was only a matter of time until they were overrun. He had to salvage as much as he could if he wanted to have any chance of recouping his losses. The guard detail was anxious to depart, having heard all the threatening gunfire and explosions below. This threat was getting closer by the minute, and they – for one – did not want to be here when it arrived. Finally ready to depart, he rushed out of the room as the entourage of guards surrounded him, hastily moving him towards the roof access. As they climbed the steps and opened the door, William breathed a sigh of relief to see his helicopter already ready to depart, the blades spinning ferociously. He rushed ahead, a few of his papers slipping from his hands and blowing away with the wind. No time to worry about that now, he had to get out before it was too late. Sliding into the helicopter, William felt his breath catch in his chest as Adam Diamond sat across from him, holding his side where he had – apparently – been shot. With his other hand, Adam aimed his pistol at William, his heart filled with revenge. Sharper turned, expecting to see his guard detail ready to dispatch of this inconvenience, only to see the prone bodies of three of his guards while the fourth – a female – stood among them.

Miguel “The Hunter” Romero: (shouting over the propellers) You know, I never get tired of watching her kick ass. Gotta say, it’s kind of a turn-on for me!

Miguel turned around from his pilot seat, looking first to William, then to Adam.

Miguel “The Hunter” Romero: (still shouting) That was probably too much information, huh?

“The Hunter” didn’t wait for a response as he turned away and looked out at “The Huntress”, flashing a “thumbs up” to her as she merely rolled her eyes, covering the door from any more hostiles. William tentatively sat down, eyeing Adam’s wound.

William Sharper: You’re hurt…

Adam Diamond: I’ve had worse.

Adam kept his gun trained on William as Sharper tried to think of a way to talk his way out of this.

William Sharper: My son…

Adam Diamond: (interrupting) is that what I am, now!?

William Sharper: I know you’re hurt… you’re confused. It’s been a long time, but you know why I couldn’t reach out to you. We had to keep up appearances…

Adam Diamond: I was never “him”, don’t you get that!? I never wanted to be…

William swallowed hard, clutching his research papers tightly to his chest. It wasn’t too late for them to reclaim what they had lost, he could still start over… make his dream come true.

William Sharper: You’ve made the right decision Adam, you’ve come home. We can rebuild… this time, I promise, you’ll be my side…

Adam Diamond: I have a daughter now, her name is Camilla.

William Sharper: That’s… not possible…

Adam smirked at this, having expected this reaction.

Adam Diamond: Believe me, that’s what I thought too.

William Sharper: I mean… that’s great son, I’d love to meet-

Adam pulled the trigger, firing a round into William’s stomach. He lurched forward, the papers dropping from his hands. He looked upon his genetic creation, shock on his face.

Adam Diamond: I won’t let you do to her, what you did to me.

William Sharper: Adam, wai-

Another trigger pull and William Sharper fell from the helicopter, a bullet embedded in his brain. The research papers scattered into the wind as the rest of the group rallied on the roof, safely sliding into the helicopter. Strapping in, “The Hunter” took them into the air, leaving behind the burning remains of the Pearl Fusion Corporation in their wake.

2010
Starr Family Mansion
Hartford, Connecticut

A Few Weeks Later…

The morning sun hung high overhead as Michael Diamond stood before the decrepit building, looking over the lawn that was overgrown, the moss and vines wrapping around the building itself as if trying to consume it whole. He had never seen the Starr mansion in such a desolate state – never thought he would. Yet, here it was, looking nothing like the extravagant house that Michael had spent so many hours here as a young adult. For Michael, the world seemed to have changed overnight. In reality, four years of his life had been lost in that secret underground facility of the Pearl Fusion Corporation’s headquarters. He was trying to play catch up as fast as he could; unfortunately… super speed was not an ability that he possessed. He slowly broached the steps, as if he expecting some sort of trap system to be in place. When he found that he was still standing in one piece, Diamond pressed the door open as it swung freely… not even locked. The inside was not much better to look upon, cobwebs and dust decorating the mansion. The place was a disaster, portraits having long fallen from the wall, previously exquisite vases and decorations strewn about, broken. Was this Danny… did he do this… or had there been looters?

Michael Diamond: Danny!?

His voice echoed throughout the empty mansion, haven’t not really expected a response… but hopeful he would hear a response none the same. Michael proceeded further in the mansion, finding his way into the living room and looking upon a portrait that still hung high, almost unstained by time. It was him, Danny, and Cassandra; the Foundation of Sensation. How young the three of them looked, like a different lifetime ago. As he moved in closer, Diamond’s feet crunched against glass. His eyes going down, all he saw were empty liquor bottles – most broken – decorating the floor, the carpet long stained with the contents that had once been contained within. Danny didn’t drink, not like this… what was going on here?

Man’s Voice: You really don’t know?

Michael whirled around, the voice familiar, haunting. No one was in the room with him, he was alone.

Michael Diamond: Danny…?

The voice laughed now, mocking him, his head ringing. Diamond forced his eyes closed and pressed his palm to his forehead, trying to block out the chortling in his brain. A moment later, all was quiet once more. Michael took a deep breath, turning back to survey the scene before him, looking for some sort of clues. His eyes fell upon a pile of DVD cases… the letters “H… W… A…” featured on the covers. Diamond recalled when the FoS had made their debut in the HWA, changing the landscape forever. Again… seemed like a lifetime ago. The cases and the DVD’s within them were also cracked, broken…

Man’s Voice: Looks like you missed one hell-of-a-party…

Diamond turned again, his eyes scanning the room, finding nothing… nor anyone… just an empty husk of a once magnificent house.

Michael Diamond: Who’s there!? Show yourself…!

Man’s Voice: (laughing) Do you not recognize my voice, Michael…?

As if someone dimmed the lights, Michael’s vision grew dark, almost as if he had wandered into the abyss itself. Everything faded from view, leaving him alone… in the darkness. No, not alone… he was here.

Michael Diamond: It’s not possible… I killed you!

The Father stepped from the void, standing before Michael once more… the room returning to normal with one exception.

The Father: I did try to warn you Michael… I am Immortal.

Diamond didn’t wait another second, lunging forward to strike the Father… only finding nothing but air, literally passing through him. Confused, Michael turned to face The Father.

The Father: Stop… that tickles…

Michael Diamond: This isn’t real…

The Father: Let me stop you right there, Michael. I mean, after all… what is “real” anyway? Is this… (snapping his fingers)… “real”…?

A surge of memories burned their way into Michael’s brain, forcing him to his knees as he screamed out in agony. Memories that had been suppressed now flooded over him, his years spent in captivity now rising to the surface. Michael reached for his many scars as if he was feeling the pain for the first time, each memory reminding him exactly how he had received them. The Father snapped his fingers once more and the pain subsided, leaving Michael gasping for air.

Michael Diamond: (out-of-breath) What… the fuck… was that!?

The Father: “That”… was just a week within captivity, shall we continue…?

Michael Diamond: (shaking his head) What do you want!?

The Father: What I wanted… past tense… was to become the most powerful “anomaly” created. And then you had to go and cut off my head…

Michael slowly got to his feet as the Father looked back at him, a smug smile on his face.

The Father: Now… it seems you opened a door, Michael… one that I gladly walked through.

Michael recalled the final moments in the underground facility, the Father choking him as Diamond struggled to break free. Colt was able to aid Michael by shooting a kinetic blast that went through him and hit the Father, but not before Diamond had a chance to use his unique ability to withdraw the healing powers from The Father in order to save Adara.

Michael Diamond: When I absorbed your powers…

The Father: (interrupting) Oh, I’m afraid you absorbed more than that!

Michael Diamond: So what… you’re in my head, now?

The Father: Seems that way…

Michael rolled his eyes, exiting the living room, the Father’s visage floating close behind him.

The Father: So are you going to tell me what we’re doing here?

Michael Diamond: Can’t you just read my mind…?

The Father: Yes… but where’s the fun in that?

Diamond remained quiet as he went into the kitchen, looking for any sign of life inside the pantry doors or refrigerator. The canned items were long expired; the fridge much worse as it smelt like something… or someone… had died inside. Scanning the room, his eyes fell upon a stack of letters on the island. Going over to them, he sifted through them, recognizing them as paychecks and royalties from the HWA… never opened. Not that Danny really needed the money; still… one could never have enough.

The Father: You know he’s dead… right?

Michael glared a hole through the Father as he simply shrugged his shoulders and held up his hands, before his fingers snapped together once more. When Diamond opened his eyes once again, he found himself outside… standing before Jenn Copelin’s grave. The Father drifted next to him as Michael looked around, in confusion…

Michael Diamond: Wait… did you just…?

This didn’t feel like Locke’s teleportation power, Michael would know… he usually almost lost his lunch every time he had to endure that. No, this felt like something different. Had he blacked out…? It seemed like he lost track of time… like he did back in the Pearl Fusion Corporation.

Michael Diamond: What did you do to me!?

The Father: (ignoring the question) Who’s she…?

Diamond’s gaze went back to the grave, remembering the night that Danny had lost everything. He had never seen him so broken before and didn’t know what to do. In a way, Michael felt like he had killed her himself, believing he – with Adara’s help – could’ve brought her back, but explaining such a miracle like that was not easily achieved, nor covered up. It could’ve meant putting the Nomalies right back into the cages that Michael had freed them from to begin with. Diamond knelt down, placing his hand upon the freshly cut grass, a sudden realization hitting him. Fresh… cut… grass? This area seemed clean of any overgrowth and was carefully tended to. A smile came across his face as he looked up at the Father.

Michael Diamond: He’s still alive… and if he’s alive, I can find him.

The Father simply shook his head, snapping his fingers once more…

2010
Talcott Mountain State Park
Hartford, Connecticut

A Few Hours Later…

Michael blinked, the afternoon sun now hanging directly overhead. He looked around, finding himself on the edge of a mountain path overlooking a lush forested park, the sounds of kids playing heard somewhere in the distance. Diamond leaned against the trunk of his midnight blue Jaguar XK8, the engine long since gone cold.

Michael Diamond: (to no one in particular) How did I…?

The Father: Quite a view, wouldn’t you say?

Diamond turned to his left, seeing the Father floating next to him.

Michael Diamond: You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…

Michael stood up off the car, turning and standing directly before The Father.

Michael Diamond: How did I get here!? Where is… even… “here”!?

The Father: Shhh… we’ve got company.

The Father pointed behind Michael as he turned, seeing a silver Nissan XVL pull up beside them. The driver and passenger exited the vehicle, the female driver quickly checking in the backseat to ensure that her child still remained safe and sleeping in her car seat.

Michael Diamond: Rose!?

Rose glanced up at the mention of her name, a small smile creeping across her face. Diamond had meant to meet with her and Adam later today… wait, was that now!? Michael’s gaze went to the Father as he shrugged his shoulders, already having read Diamond’s mind.

Rose Calhoun: (apprehensively) It’s good to see you, Michael.

This was already going to be an awkward enough reunion before the Father had decided to hitch a ride inside of Diamond’s skull. Michael approached her, unsure of how to greet his old acquaintance. He thought of embracing her in a hug but that thought quickly passed when Adam went to stand beside her.

The Father: Wow… he really does look like you…

Michael shot a look back at the Father that would’ve put terror into a normal man; The Father, however, simply laughed it off.

Adam Diamond: Well… we’re here, Michael… you want to tell us “why”?

Rose Calhoun: (grabbing his arm) Adam…!

Michael looked back to the couple, struggling to keep his emotions in check, his fists clenching and unclenching as the anger began to rise. Four years, four fucking years, he had been trapped in that hell… and that whole time he was out here, with her. How could she have not known!? Or did she know… and just not care!?

Michael Diamond: With the threat of the PFC taken care of, it’s obvious we can’t have two “Michael Diamond’s” running around…

Michael reached into his back pocket as Adam, instinctively, put himself in-between Rose; protecting her. Diamond paused for a moment, maybe respecting Adam for but a moment, before he pulled forth an envelope and tossed it over to them. Adam caught it, exchanging looks with Rose, before opening it.

Michael Diamond: Inside… you’ll find everything you need to verify Adam Diamond’s existence – birth certificates, social security card, medical and dental records… the works.

Adam looked up, perplexed, as Rose was speechless.

Adam Diamond: This… makes me… your brother?

Michael swallowed hard, not liking this fact anymore then Adam probably did.

Michael Diamond: Your DNA matches mine, no working around that. So, for all intents and purposes, you were born to Christopher and Kelly Diamond.

Adam held up a piece of paper with an account number, looking at Michael quizzically.

Michael Diamond: It should be more than enough for you two to start your own life… away from here.

Michael turned to leave, but felt Rose’s hand upon his arm, holding him firm. He turned to look at her, tears in her eyes.

Rose Calhoun: Michael! Please… I’m so sorry!

She threw herself into him, wrapping her arms around him as Adam looked away, giving the two their moment together. Diamond kept his arms to his side, his fists still clenched.

The Father: Do it, Michael… do it… I can feel that you want to… you know she never cared about you…

Feeling Michael’s body go rigid at her touch, Rose pulled away, oblivious to the internal struggle within Diamond’s soul. She placed a hand on his cheek, forcing him to look into her eyes.

Rose Calhoun: I didn’t know, Michael… I swear. That day that you… Adam… came home, everything changed; I thought it was you, accepting your new life… with me. Maybe I was just trying to convince myself that it was real… but I should’ve known better, especially after everything that we’ve been through. I am so sorry, Michael…

Michael lifted his hands, taking Rose’s hand from his face.

Michael Diamond: What do you want me to say, Rose… that I forgive you!? I spent four years in hell because of him… (pointing to Adam)… while you were out here, living in some fantasy land!

Adam took a cautious step towards the couple after hearing Diamond raise his voice to Rose. The tears flowed freely from her face as her body seemed to tremble from the pain in her heart, her legs growing weak.

Michael Diamond: It would’ve never worked between us… but in the end, that wouldn’t have mattered anyway… right!? Because you had him; everything you ever wanted!

Overwhelmed, Rose staggered backwards, falling to the ground. Adam rushed forward to tend to her but Michael, the rage overtaking him, intercepted him… grabbing him around the throat and lifting him into the air with unnatural strength. Adam stared down at Michael as he saw his ocean-blue eyes turn to pitch black.

Adam Diamond: (choking) Michael… what-

Diamond squeezed tighter, keeping Adam from speaking further as Rose looked up to see what was transpiring. She screamed in horror as Michael walked closer towards the edge of the mountain cliff, slamming Adam up against the guard rail, his upper body hanging precariously over the side.

Rose Calhoun: Michael…!? Stop! What are you doing!?

Diamond didn’t respond as he continued to choke the life from Adam. All it would take would be one little shove… one push to send him over the edge and Michael could have his vengeance. He felt Rose pulling on him, trying to stop him, but she was nothing more than a mere nuisance… like a fly buzzing around a lion.

The Father: Yes, Michael! Do it…! This is what I’m talking about! This is what I came to see…!

Rose Calhoun: (screaming) Michael, stop! You’re killing him!

Rose knew she was getting nowhere with her assault from behind, so she rotated to Adam, pulling with all her strength to break Michael’s singular grip on his throat. Annoyed by her intrusion, Diamond grabbed a fistful of Rose’s hair and pulled, sending her sprawling backwards away from them. Seeing the mother of his child rag dolled like this, Adam lashed out furiously at Michael with punches and kicks but to no effect as Diamond simply retaliated by tightening his grip until he could feel Adam’s windpipe close completely.

The Father: Oh boy, this is dark even for me, Michael! Just finish him off, already! And then…

Diamond froze as a loud cry cut through his trance. Michael turned to where the sound emanated from, his attention going to the backseat of Rose’s car. Her infant daughter – Camilla – had now woken and was crying out for her parents. Regaining control, Michael released his grip on Adam and threw him to the ground, away from the cliff’s edge. Adam choked down air as Rose crawled her way to him, checking on him. Michael turned back to them, his eyes returning to their normal color… sorrow on his face.

The Father: Well… now I know how all those girls felt after being with you, Michael… (sighing) … very disappointed…

Rose Calhoun: What the hell is wrong with-!?

Michael Diamond: (stoically) You need to go…

Rose seemed to have half-a-mind to confront Michael, but Adam seemed to know something she didn’t as he put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it and keeping her in place.

Michael Diamond: (commanding) … now!

Rose hastily helped Adam into the passenger’s side of the car before making her way to the driver’s side, opening the door. She paused for a half-second, looking back at Michael, her mouth opening as if she had something to say. Instead, she retreated into the car, starting the engine and disappearing out of sight. Diamond watched as they vanished out of view as the Father hovered over to the cliff’s edge, looking down at the drop that almost claimed Adam’s life.

The Father: It’s alright, Michael… we’ll get them next-

Michael Diamond: Tell me what you want!?

The Father: (flabbergasted) But, Michael… that ruins my fun.

Michael Diamond: I won’t let you hurt anymore people…

The Father turns to look at Michael, a sneer crawling across his face.

The Father: Me…? You think that was “me”!?

The Father let out a sinister laugh as Diamond turned to look over the edge, wondering just how far down it actually was.

The Father: (reading Diamond’s mind) Oh come now Michael… don’t be so dramatic.

Michael Diamond: So if this isn’t you then… what… it’s me!? I don’t want to hurt anyone…

The Father: I’m saying that you have a LOT of darkness in you ma boy, long before I got my claws into you… anyway. You didn’t think that you could just do the things you do… see the things that you’ve seen… suffer through what you’ve suffered… and there would be no consequences, did you?

The Father laid a hand on Michael’s shoulder as a cold chill ran down Diamond’s spine, almost like he could feel his corporeal fingers on his flesh.

The Father: Four years, Michael… four years of protecting your mind; erasing the memories – all the pain. I saw things, Michael… things no one else knows about you, things that you try to bury down deep. Dare I say, I know you better than any-

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) Why do it…? Why not just let me suffer?

The Father: Why… self-preservation, of course. I couldn’t very well have my one chance of salvation going all brain-dead on me. You’re tough, no doubt… but did you really think you could’ve survived four years of that…?

A snap of his fingers brought Diamond to his knees again, gritting his teeth against the pain as the memories engulfed him once more. The electroshock, the needles, the scalpels, everything short of human dissection… and Diamond felt it all now, all at once.

Michael Diamond: (in torment) Make…. It… stop…!

The Father did as requested, snapping his fingers, as Michael collected himself.

The Father: (kneeling down beside him) Look kid, this isn’t exactly a “walk in the park” for me either, you did kind of…

The Father dragged his finger across his throat as Michael couldn’t help but smile at that memory.

Michael Diamond: (defiantly) Definitely one of my finer moments.

The Father: That hurts me, Michael… that really does; not as much as this will though…

With another snap, Diamond was down on the ground, writhing in agony as his brain felt like it was on fire. The pain was excruciating as the world faded to black, the last thing he heard being the laugh of The Father as he watched over him.

2010
The Black Hole
Hartford, Connecticut

A Few Days Later….

Michael opened his eyes, staring through the hole in the dilapidated ceiling at the night sky and the stars above. Groaning, he sat up in the ramshackle bed as it creaked with every move he made. The noise was enough to wake the sleeping woman sitting beside the bed, her eyes going to Michael.

Adara: You’re awake!

Adara wrapped her arms around him as he grimaced in pain, his entire body feeling like he had been put through a meat tenderizer. Despite the warmth of Adara’s body on his, he felt a chill rush through his veins as he quickly realized he wasn’t wearing any clothes, a moth-eaten blanket being the only thing concealing his nakedness.

Michael Diamond: Adara? What happened…?

Adara backed away, looking into Michael’s eyes as if she were searching for some foreign parasite.

Adara: You mean… you don’t remember?

Michael looked around the room, deducing he was in the condemned building that doubled as a home for the Nomalies, hidden deep within the Nepaug State Forest – protected by a “quarantined sanction”, keeping them hidden and safe from any prying eyes. Having no recollection of how he got here, or where his clothes had gone in the process, he shook his head.

Michael Diamond: Last thing I remember was…

Diamond’s eyes went wide as he looked to Adara, concern on his face.

Michael Diamond: Adara… what did I do!? Is everyone okay!?

Adara: (comforting) Everyone’s fine, Michael… really. Rose called ahead, told us what happened…

Michael Diamond: The Father!?

Michael scanned around the room, looking for any sign of his ghostly image… finding him eerily quiet.

Adara: Don’t worry, I took care of it.

Diamond looked back at Adara as she smiled at him, proudly.

Michael Diamond: What!? How!?

Adara: Turns out that boy of yours is pretty special, Michael.

Adara lifted her hand, waving it around as an aura of soft yellow light began to fill up the room. Michael watched it dance around them, almost as if it had a mind of its own. Diamond looked back at Adara as she smiled again.

Adara: When you used Shawn’s blood to save me, turns out it did a bit more than that…

Michael Diamond: It enhanced you…!?

Adara: It… changed me. When the Father drained me of my healing powers, I didn’t think I’d ever get them back. But then you saved me, absorbing his powers and transferring them to me. The thing is, when you did that, I didn’t just get my healing powers…

Adara’s eyes, normally black as onyx, turned bright white, like Michael was looking directly into a halo.

Michael Diamond: Wait… I transferred his mind control powers to you?

Adara: (smiling) Yes… and no. I can’t control people like he could, but I can… calm them.

Diamond sat quietly for a few moments, trying to process all of this. At the very least, he didn’t have a psychopath in his head anymore.

Michael Diamond: I still don’t understand… how did you-

Adara held her finger up, telling Michael to hold that thought, as she rose up off the bed and walked over to a dresser. Opening it, she pulled forth a jar, a smoke-like substance swirling within. As she drew closer to Diamond, he swore that it moved with a purpose, like it was trying to escape.

Adara: It’s kind of hard to explain, imagine drawing poison from a wound…

Michael Diamond: (aghast) So that’s… him, then!?

Adara: His… essence, I guess? We don’t know much about it, yet. But it is fascinating…

Michael Diamond: We need to destroy it!

Adara pulled back, as if Michael had physically struck her.

Michael Diamond: Adara, that “thing” is dangerous! It almost made me kill Adam…

Adara: Almost made you kill us, too…

Michael swallowed hard as he didn’t know what, exactly, he had done but was grateful that the Nomalies had been able to stop him, Colt had trained them well.

Adara: (sighing) I’m not disputing it with you, Michael… but we really don’t know anything about it… let alone how to “kill” it.

Michael nodded his head, understanding that this wasn’t going to be something they could fix overnight.

Michael Diamond: Fine… until we can figure out how to properly dispose of it, we need to make sure it stays safe. We can’t let that… him… get free again.

Adara nodded her head as she turned and placed the jar on top of the dresser. Michael clutched the blanket closer to his body as Adara turned back around, smiling at his awkwardness about him being around her with such few clothes on.

Adara: You know I’m not a little girl anymore, Michael… it’s not like it’s anything I haven’t seen before…

Michael Diamond: (shocked) What!?

Adara’s pale face flushed bright red, as she hadn’t really thought about the exact words before she said them aloud.

Adara: (flustered) I mean… not you… of course… I meant… just… uh… um…

Michael Diamond: Just, get me my clothes please.

Adara: Uh… yeah… about that… Saffron kind of burned them off of you. In her defense, you were kind of a crazy zombie… parasite?

Michael simply stared at Adara, a “what-else-is-new” look on his face.

Adara: I’ll have Locke go get you some of clothes.

Adara rushed out of the room as Michael sat back, his gaze going to the jar of vapors once more as he swore he could see eyes looking back at him, piercing his very soul.

2010
Secret Protector’s Base
Kyoto, Japan

A Week Later…

Michael’s final stop brought him back to the destroyed Protector Base where he had found the dying Brother Paul, a man who had mentored Diamond after his parents had been killed. Paul had, in that final moment, bequeathed to Michael the Dawnbreaker blade – still holding onto his misguided belief that Diamond was this Shinobi – a chosen one destined to defeat the infamous Red Dragon clan. Michael didn’t believe in this prophecy and had tried to run from it, but he – somehow – kept getting pulled back into its conflict. As he stood in the courtyard, Michael recalled the times he had trained with his fellow trainees, the rest of them fighting for a purpose where-as Diamond was fighting against the demons within. His parent’s sudden death had left an emptiness within, a wound that would never properly heal.

Liana Xun-Li: I didn’t think you were going to show…

Diamond turned, seeing a female ninja flip off one of the nearby buildings, landing a few feet before him. She remained crouched, her hand instinctively going to the handle of her sword.

Michael Diamond: Good to see you got my message.

Liana Xun-Li: (accusing) Didn’t think you wanted anything to do with us...!?

Of all those that he had trained with, he had felt the most connected with Liana. She, too, had lost her parents – though they had been victims of this Shadow War between the Red Dragons and Protectors. After Diamond had failed his final trial – a trial that would’ve sent him down a very different path in life – he had asked Liana to come with him, leave this existence behind. She stayed true to her commitment to avenge her parent’s death, something he couldn’t really fault her for.

Michael Diamond: I don’t… that’s why I’m bringing you this…

Michael unstrapped the Dawnbreaker from his back, handing it over to her. Liana stood up-right, staring at the ancient sword, her hand releasing the grip on her own blade as she resisted the urge to reach out and take what she had always wanted.

Liana Xun-Li: That sword is meant for the Shinobi…

Michael Diamond: (interrupting) Which isn’t me, we both know that.

Liana pulled her mask down, revealing her true face to Diamond. He almost didn’t recognize her, the years since their last encounter clearly having taken a toll. Her eyes, once full of hope, now seemed void of life… empty. Her lips turned into a scowl.

Liana Xun-Li: You cannot just “gift” this sword to anyone, Michael… or have you forgotten everything about our traditions?

Michael Diamond: You want to speak about “forget”!? You were the one that drugged me, Liana… made sure I wouldn’t remember…

Liana Xun-Li: I did my duty, to ensure the safety of our order.

Michael Diamond: (looking around at the empty base) Yeah… and how’d that work out for you!?

Liana’s hand found its way back to her sword, pulling the blade free and preparing to battle.

Michael Diamond: (stepping back)Look… I’m not the same person that I was, Liana. I didn’t come here to fight you…

Liana Xun-Li: Didn’t you!? We keep what we kill, remember!? I defeat you… and Dawnbreaker is rightfully mine!

Before Michael could respond, Liana had charged forward, swinging her sword as Michael quickly back peddled. He dodged when he had to, blocked the blows when he could, keeping Dawnbreaker in its scabbard, refusing to draw the blade on his friend.

Michael Diamond: Liana… stop! I don’t want to fight you!

Liana Xun-Li: Then you’ll die…

Liana pressed the attack, kicking Michael in the gut and doubling him over. Flipping over him, she dragged her sword against his back, leaving a deep gash. Diamond grimaced against the pain, stumbling forward. Michael turned around, anger rising to the surface.

Michael Diamond: Liana… enough! Can you NOT kill me right now; I’m supposed to get married in a week…

Liana Xun-Li: (smirking) I’ll be sure to send my condolences to the widow.

Enraged, Michael pulled Dawnbreaker from his sheath, throwing the scabbard to the side as he held the blade, ready to strike.

Michael Diamond: For the record… I didn’t want this.

Diamond lunged, his sword slicing through the air. Liana ducked, rolled to the side, slashing at Michael’s thigh. He managed to pivot, sidestep the blow, and bring his sword crashing against hers, deflecting her follow-up attack. With a quick thrust, Michael manages to find Liana’s shoulder before she could roll away, the blade barely managing to pierce through her flesh. From a crouched position, she flexes her shoulder, making sure she still has range of motion and that no permanent damage was done.

Liana Xun-Li: You’re faster than I remember.

Michael Diamond: Careful Liana… that almost sounded like a compliment.

Liana rushed forward, pressing her attack on Michael, swinging and spinning, forcing him onto the defensive. She crouched again, looking to sweep his leg from underneath but he managed to backflip away. Landing, he needed to quickly deflect a blow as she was right back on the offensive, never giving him a moment to catch his breath. She was more skilled then he was, having trained extensively as a Protector for years… if he was going to win, he would need to use something in his arsenal she wasn’t prepared for. Liana managed to deflect Diamond’s sword to the side, catching him with an elbow to the face, followed up by a spinning kick to the chest that sent him toppling to the ground. She dove at him, thrusting her sword down into his chest. At the last second, he managed to draw upon the hidden talismans inside his gauntlets and disappear, her sword striking into nothing but earth. Stunned, Liana stood there in shock as Michael re-appeared behind her in a cloud of black smoke, shaking off the effects of Locke’s teleportation and trying not to puke all over himself.

Liana Xun-Li: (turning to face Michael) What sorcery is this…?

Michael Diamond: I told you… “not the same person”.

Again, drawing on the talismans, he channeled Colt’s powers, blasting Liana with a bolt of blue kinetic energy that knocked her to the ground, taking the wind from her lungs. Diamond grimaced in pain as these “keepsakes” from his Nomalies allies weren’t fully battle-tested yet, some of them doing apparent harm to him when he used them. Liana staggered to her feet, holding her side where the blast had hit.

Michael Diamond: It’s over Liana, yield!

Liana Xun-Li: Your dark magic won’t be enough to save you, Michael!

Liana charged, leaping into the air and slashing down at Michael. Diamond’s eyes flashed silver as he reached his hand up and caught the blade, breaking it in two with his diamond-skin variation of Ruby’s powers. Liana stood at a loss as Diamond threw the broken shards to the ground.

Liana Xun-Li: What… are you?

Before Michael could answer, arrows soared through the air as Michael pulled Liana into him, covering her as his entire body became a diamond-shell. The projectiles bounced off as Michael turned to face his new aggressors, a group of Red Dragon ninjas that had followed Liana’s trail.

Michael Diamond: Looks like your friends are here…

Liana looked down at what remained of her broken sword and then back up to Michael.

Liana Xun-Li: I hope you have a few more tricks up your sleeve…

Michael simply smiled back at her as his eyes flashed red, his fist lighting on fire, thanks to Saffron’s talisman. Diamond launched a fireball at the group on the left, catching two with the blast and setting them ablaze. He attempted to repeat the same to the group on the right but they were wary enough, now, to dodge out of the way. More ninjas appeared from behind, firing more arrows at the two Protectors. Diamond wasn’t fast enough to react as he turned, just to see Liana leap in front, of him, taking the arrows in the chest.

Michael Diamond: No!

Michael reached out and caught her as she fell, sliding with her to the ground as he surveyed the damage. Liana took in shallow breaths as she looked at the arrows sticking out of her, and then up to Michael.

Liana Xun-Li: Michael… I…

Michael Diamond: It’s okay, Liana… save your strength…

Diamond gently placed her down, his eyes turning black once more. He was not looking forward to this next part, but there were too many of them spread out around him to see any other way. Gripping Dawnbreaker tightly in his hand, he vanished into thin-air, only to reappear behind a pair of ninjas, cutting them down before they could react. As the Red Dragons turned to where he was, Michael was gone, reappearing next to another group, Dawnbreaker slicing them to pieces. In a flash of smoke, steel, and blood, Michael reappeared next to Liana, all ninjas either dead or dying. Liana looked up at “her hero” as Diamond stood triumphantly over her, before suddenly turning to the side and retching; a bad-ass moment ruined by motion sickness, of all things. Wiping his mouth, Michael dropped to his knees beside her.

Liana Xun-Li: You are… full of surprises…

Michael Diamond: I got one more left in me…

Michael closed his eyes as a soft yellow aura flowed from his fingers. Placing them on Liana’s chest, he carefully removed the arrows while, also, pressing down, healing her wounds. Diamond fell back, exhausted as Liana sat up, touching the places where the arrows had impaled her and seeing that not a scratch remained. She turned to Michael, before her eyes fell upon the now bloodied Dawnbreaker sword. Diamond followed her gaze, knowing that this was her moment to strike… he was too weak to fight back.

Liana Xun-Li: You should’ve let me die…

Michael Diamond: That’s not who I am.

Clutching her broken sword, Liana was on top of Michael, the shard cutting into his neck. Diamond accepted his fate as Liana hesitated, looking into the eyes of the man who had just saved her life. After a moment of consideration, she pulled the blade from his neck and backed away from him.

Liana Xun-Li: You are the Bushido, Michael…

Michael sat up, looking into Liana’s eyes.

Michael Diamond: I’m not that guy, Liana… the prophecy… destiny… I don’t believe in any of it.

Liana Xun-Li: Maybe it’s time that you start.

Liana rose to her feet as Michael looked up at her. She offered her hand to him, to which he graciously accepted. Rising to his feet, he started to see the girl he once knew again… the one with hope in her eyes.

Liana Xun-Li: It’s clear that you still have a role to play, Michael… so why not just embrace it?

Michael took a look around at the carnage, the final tally of Red Dragons killed by his hand adding up to a dozen. Twelve against two… no one survives those odds, yet they had. Had everything he gone through lead him to this moment right here? Was there such a thing as… destiny?

Liana Xun-Li: You are a Hero, Michael… whether you like it or not.

Diamond smirked at the use of his own catchphrase against him as he turned to Liana, only to find that she had vanished. Michael took one last look around and then walked out of the temple, ready to go home.

Starting Over
2010
Diamond`s Helicopter

Cassandra took a deep breath, as she felt the rough lift off from the helicopter as it began to rise into the sky. She was seated next to the “Huntress” on one side and Shawn on the other. She held Shawn`s hand tightly, as she watched Michael walk towards the car to go to his next destination. She had no idea of everything he had been through. She would be lying if she didn`t admit she was a nervous wreck. She lost him once, and although she didn`t understand exactly where his next destination would take him, she knew it wouldn`t be without sacrifice. She was just hoping, he was not it. She thought back on their reunion upon The Evanescent. She was so angry at him, angry that she grieved over him for years. Angry, that Shawn has been growing up without father. Angry that she had been living in fear, without him by her side.

However, she couldn`t hold onto her anger when she saw and heard everything he went through. As he talked, she saw the man she fell in love with again, but this time he was hurt and vulnerable. She knew then, she wouldn`t let him fight this battle alone, that she would be waiting for him when he returned to support him. Making love to him, after all this time, without skipping a beat was a true tribute to the special connection that they had. Cassandra finally felt at home, as if the puzzle pieces were starting to connect again.

An excited yell from Shawn, jolted Cassandra back to reality on the helicopter. Huntress looked at Cassandra.

Huntress: Where to Cassandra?

Cassandra feeling overwhelmed, took a breath

Cassandra: What are the options my pain in the ass boyfriend left us?

Huntress giggled as her shot at Diamond.

Huntress: We have London England….

Cassandra waved her to keep going

Huntress: Kenya? There`s a beautiful hotel Michael had already bought out. It overlooks a stunning safari, that Shawn may enjoy.

Cassandra: Honestly, that sounds like some welcomed quiet. I mean I was already shot at, what’s a wild pack of lions.

Huntress and Cassandra began to laugh, it has been a crazy ride

Huntress yelled to the Hunter which destination was chosen. Huntress warned it would a long flight, but that they would get there as soon as possible.
Several hours later, they arrived. It was a beautiful, pitch black lit only by torches on either side of the beautiful tent. It overlooks the beautiful African plains. The helicopter landed and Huntress got off first scoping out any sign of danger or threats. She led Cassandra, who had Shawn in her arms into the tent.

Huntress: It`s late Cassandra, you and Shawn get some sleep and Hunter and I will keep and eye on the grounds.

Cassandra nodded in agreement as she brought Shawn in and laid him on the bed. He was already fast asleep and before she knew it she was too. As she slept,
she began to have the most vivid dream.

It was Cassandra, Shawn and Michael sitting around the kitchen table. It seemed normal until Cassandra bent over picking up a beautiful brown hair, green eyed baby girl. She raised her in the air, gave her kisses and snuggled her as Michael looked on smiling at his beautiful family.

Cassandra woke up suddenly jolted from the dream. It felt so real, and she immediately felt her stomach turn and ran to the bathroom to throw up. She started connecting the dots in her head. The only time, in her life she threw up was when she was pregnant with Shawn. She looked up at the ceiling.

Cassandra: Exasperated…. You have got to be kidding me, I am going to kill Diamond.

Cassandra knowing, she needed to confirm this before she told Michael, spoke with Huntress about running into to town and grabbing her a pregnancy test. She asked her to be very discreet as she wanted to be sure before anyone else knew what she was up to. As she waited for the Huntress, she decided to take Shawn out to local safari for the day. Take her mind off waiting for the test, and being nervous wreck waiting for Michael to come home.

When Shaun and Cassandra returned back to camp it was very late, she had just put Shawn down to sleep. She brushed his curly brown strands from his eyes, kissed him on the head and tucked him in for the night. Cass was still trying to process the new information regarding her and Michaels new arrival. She had not heard from him since he left them at the helicopter. What if he didn`t come back? What if she lost him again, and would have to raise both children by herself? She grabbed her cup of coffee and walked outside the tent, sitting on a bench directly facing the savannah.

As the sun began to set on the Savanah, the whirl of helicopter blades can be heard in the distance. Diamond had been surprised that of all the locations, this is the one Cassandra had chosen. She must have truly been spooked to have picked such a desolate location away from any type of civilization or amenities they had grown accustomed to during their posh upbringing. But, then again, this wasn’t the Diamond that Cassandra had known. The years had changed her, forced her to become a fearless lioness protecting her cub while the vultures circled. He had no doubt that if an actual beast were to come across out here, she’d stare the lion down without hesitation. The thought of such a showdown made Michael shift uncomfortably in his seat. Michael Diamond: (worried) How much longer? Michael had to practically yell over the sound of the helicopter, but his question was answered almost immediately as the private resort pulled into sight. The Hunter softly set the aircraft down as Michael gave some last-minute instructions to the pilots. He strained his eyes against the fading sun, seeing the woman he loved sitting on the front porch.

The sounds of the helicopter blades startled Cass out of her train of thought. She stood up and looked over squinting from the sand blowing in the air from the helicopters landing. As it landed, the door opened and there stood Michael. Her heart stopped; she was so incredibly relieved to see him. A smile lit her face, as she hurriedly walked towards the helicopter door.

Michael stepped off the aircraft, briskly making his way towards Cassandra as the helicopter lifted into the air once more. The blades blew the sand in a storm around him as he forced his way forwards, struggling to see. Diamond found his way through the tempest to her, pressing his lips against hers before any words could be exchanged. He held her tightly, letting the world melt away. He was finally home. Forcing himself from her, his hands found their way to her face as he looked her over, as if searching for some new scratch that had not been there days earlier.

Michael Diamond: Are you okay… (his eyes went to the canopy behind Cassandra) … is Shawn okay?

Cassandra smiled as she held his hand to her face.

Cassandra: We are fine, even better now that you are home. I just tucked Shawn into bed, he is great. God, Michael I was scared to death. I didn`t know if I would see you again.

She paused breaking from the seriousness of her welcome to him

Cassandra: You really outdid yourself here, it’s truly beautiful

Their words and voices felt like hushed whispers as the helicopter stayed hovering overhead, as if waiting for some signal for them to leave the two in peace.

Diamond didn’t so much hear what Cassandra said as he did have to read her lips, trying to piece together just what was being spoken. For a moment, Michael allowed himself to take in the beauty of the savannah at sunset, realizing just what Cassandra spoke to be true. This moment couldn’t have been more perfect if

Diamond had planned it himself, which he had… many times… in his head. He forced his eyes back to Cassandra, losing himself in her emerald eyes as he always did. Michael Diamond: Cass… (moving his hands to enclose around hers)… I have something that I need to say to you; that I’ve wanted to say to you for a long time now. I’ve always been waiting for the perfect moment but if these past few years have taught me anything, it’s that life is fleeting and you never know what’s going to happen next. Diamond slowly lowered himself to a knee as his gaze remained locked on her.

Cass`s eyes grew larger. Wait…what is he doing she thought. It can`t be. Is he finally, after all this time going to ask her?

Michael Diamond: We were just kids when we met and I could’ve never imagined that after all these years later… you’d still be a part of my life. It seemed like no matter what obstacle was in our way, we overcame it; no matter what fate had planned for us, we twisted it to our will. I have never had a connection with anyone else like the way that I am connected to you; you’ve always seen me for who I am and always pushed me to be who I wanted to be. I have been shot, stabbed, and tortured in every conceivable way possible… and it still doesn’t compare to when I lost you. I had to endure that soul-crushing pain twice Cass, I’ll be damned if I let there be a “third”… that’s not a threat, that’s a promise. As if using Cassandra’s old catch phrase against her was the cue, pink and purple stargazer lilies began to fall from the heavens… or, more appropriately, the helicopter. Michael looked up to see Huntress dropping them from off the side, what looked to be a big grin on her face. Diamond couldn’t recall if he’d ever seen her the usual stoic Huntress smile, but he dismissed it quickly as he went back to looking at Cassandra.

Cassandra smiled wiping away tears. She had waited for this moment so long. She finally felt like she wasn`t just one of his “old flames”. As she saw her favorite flowers falling from the sky the emotions begin to overwhelm her.

Remember the whole “couldn’t be any more perfect if Diamond had planned it thing?” Things had been going so well, even dropping her favorite flowers were a nice touch… until the velocity from the blades from the helicopter began chewing them up into the propellers. What came next was a rather annoying grinding sound, followed by stargazer chunks falling to the earth. As if that wasn’t enough, the low gravity that Hunter had maintained with the helicopter began kicking up a dust storm that threw sand in the face, eyes, and mouth of Diamond and Cassandra. Michael attempted to power through, only to begin coughing uncontrollably.

Diamond furiously waved the helicopter to pull away, only to get a reassuring “thumbs up” from Hunter… as if he was telling him “no worries, you got this”. Their conditions not improving, Diamond huffed in frustration as he rose to his feet and dragged Cassandra into the canopy. Safely inside, Michael spied Shawn still asleep on his bed as he turned back to his beloved once more, seeing her picking chunks of her favorite flower from her hair. Michael Diamond: I am sorry Cass; I saw that going much differently… in my head.

Cassandra began to laugh hysterically, at Diamond`s perfect moment being crushed. This was just typical for the couple. Nothing has been easy for them, from the break ups, to the feuds, to Shawn, to the marketplace…. why would Michael`s proposal be anything different? She had to cover her mouth she was laughing so hard. She pulled him into the back bedroom, so to not wake Shawn from her burst of laughter, and to let Michael finish what he was starting.

Michael could not help but smile at Cassandra’s reaction as he began to relax a bit at his “perfect” moment being ruined. He brushed a piece of lily from behind her ear as he reached into his back pocket, pulling forth a letter. Diamond could tell it wasn’t what Cassandra was expecting him to produce but he simply smiled again, as if silently asking her to have patience.

Michael Diamond: Do you know what this…? Michael didn’t wait for Cassandra to respond, unfolding the letter, reading the words written upon the page.

Michael Diamond: “Though oceans away, you were with me every day. In my heart, you were locked away, until we met again that special day. Now, no matter what happens or where you are… you will always be loved by Cassandra Starr.” Diamond let the letter fall from his hands as, hidden beneath it, was the black box he had been concealing beneath it. Dropping to his knee once again, Michael looked back up at Cassandra.

Michael Diamond: You wrote that to me after you returned from Paris, do you remember? That was the moment that I knew… that no matter what happened or where you were, I would always love you too. That being said, and regardless of what happens in these next few moments – whatever your answer may be – I just want you to know that you are “my one and only”. I want you, all of you… forever; you… me… everyday, until the end of our days. Cassandra Starr…

(flipping open the box and presenting her with the diamond ring that he has held onto for years) … will you marry me?

Cass was blown away. Tears streaming down her face. This was the moment she had dreamt about since she met him at 17. She stared at the love of her life, mesmerized by his loving words and by the beautiful diamond he had laid in front of her. Suddenly, remembering the bigger news she had to share with him. She pulled him up off his knee, and a look of confusion appeared on Michaels face. She led him to the edge of the bed, and motioned for him to sit.

Cassandra: Michael before I say yes, I need to tell you something?

Michael looking concerned at this point

Cassandra: Before you decide that you want to marry me, you should know, I’m pregnant.

Cass staring nervously as him looking for his reaction and response. Would this be a deal breaker for him?

Diamond sat for a moment, blinking a half-dozen times, processing the words Cassandra had presented him. Pregnant!? How!? Well… never mind, he knew the how, thinking back to their romantic encounter on the Evanescent. But that had only been a few weeks ago… Michael Diamond: (stunned) Are you… sure?

Raising one eyebrow and smirking as she stared back at him. Cassandra: Well Michael, i`m throwing up every 20 minutes, I can`t go into the kitchen when they are cooking eggs and I have this…. Cassandra handed him the positive pregnancy test confirming the news Cassandra had shared.

Leave it to Cassandra to find a way to upstage Diamond’s engagement proposal, delivering the news that she was – once again – pregnant with his child. His eyes absently wandered to the doorway, where down the hall his son slept peacefully. Cassandra had given birth to him in secret, Michael not knowing of his very existence until years later… even then, not realizing that the boy was his until later. Diamond tried to push those unpleasant memories from his thoughts, choosing rather to focus on the here and now. This was like another chance for him to be a father – another chance for them to be a family. It hadn’t even been a full month since their “reconnecting” on the Evanescent, much too soon for Cassandra to be feeling the effects of this pregnancy already… right? Diamond rolled his eyes, as if he had all but forgot about his altered genetics… something that no doubt played a role in all of this. For a moment, fear crept into Michael’s heart as he thought about what this meant for Cassandra… for the baby. He swallowed hard, searching for the words. Michael Diamond: (overjoyed) How do you manage to always do that, always find a way to make everything I do obsolete by comparison? This whole “beautiful disaster” of a proposal was supposed to be all for you; my declaration of love for you… and then you drop this on me… Michael reached out his hands to take hers within his once more. Michael Diamond: Cass, everything that I’ve done has led me to this very moment here. You are all that matter; our FAMILY is all that matters. I meant what I said before… I want all of you, this doesn’t change that.

Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief, worried originally that he would not want to add another child to this family. She knew he had been through war and back but knowing that he was excited about adding to their family made saying yes to him, that much easier. She wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his lips. She pulled back, looked straight in the eyes.

Cassandra: Michael, of course I will marry you. You were it for me. No other man could ever match the love I feel for you. You are my constant, my safe place and who I want to be with to raise these amazing children. I know the journey to this point hasn`t been easy for us, but spending our life together I promise will be worth it.

All the air seemed to leave Diamond in one big exhale, as if he had been holding his breath this entire time. He had felt certain that she would say “yes”, but with the way that the proposal had gone… in addition to the news to Cassandra’s pregnancy… he was growing less and less certain with each passing second.

Michael pulled the ring free and placed it around Cassandra’s finger, smiling as his lips found hers once more.

Michael Diamond: I love you Cassandra Starr.

Cassandra wrapped her arms around Michael, their lips meeting, she pushed him onto the bed as she used her leg to quietly close the bedroom door.

 

2010
Shangri La Hotel
Paris, France

 

Cassandra Starr stood on the terrace, looking out at the Eiffel tower as night began to fall on Paris, the sky a mirage of dark blues and oranges as the sun began to set. Michael Diamond turned from the bar, gazing upon his betrothed as she leaned against the edge, her elegant silk dressing clinging tightly to her body. The wedding had been thrown together in such haste, Diamond insisting on not wanting to wait another second; unfortunately meaning few had been able to make the impromptu affair. As Michael scanned the room, only a handful of faces stood out to him. Shawn, his “best man”, stood in the corner, speaking to a few of the guests, excitedly telling them a story of his safari adventures. Miguel and Cara – “The Hunter” and “Huntress” – stood off to an isolated corner of the balcony, silently discussing their next assignment. Laura, Cassandra’s “maid of honor” and proxy at Starr Enterprises, raised a glass to Michael in celebration. Diamond nodded to her as he proceeded over to his wife, a glass of expensive champagne in one hand and a glass of stale sparkling water in the other. Michael’s voice caught in his throat as he approached, her beauty always leaving him breathless. Cassandra turned to face her husband as he realized he was standing there like a statue before her.

Michael Diamond: I… got you a drink… but… (he glanced from one drink to the next)… I don’t honestly remember which one is yours.

Deciding to do a “taste test”, he put one of the glasses to his lips, tasting the liquid within. His face soured at the flavor as he did his best to not spit the sparkling water out of his mouth.

Michael Diamond: Yup… (Michael handed Cassandra her glass)… this one is yours.

Giving Michael a sarcastic smirk, knowing why she couldn`t also enjoy the champagne, Cassandra takes the glass.

Cassandra Starr-Diamond: You know, if you didn`t get all handsy on the boat, I would also be able to drink champagne.

Giving him a soft smile and a wink, she stared at him for a moment, admiring how striking he looked in his all-black tux.

Cassandra Starr-Diamond: You know, you clean up nice Diamond.

She joined her arm to his as they stared at the Eiffel tower as it was lit up for the night sky.

Cassandar Starr-Diamond: For something we put together so fast Michael, this was truly beautiful. Look how handsome Shawn looks. Thank you for getting Laura out here, what a wonderful surprise!

At the mention of his son, Diamond looked back over at him to make sure he was still safe and secure. He had spent so many years trying to protect them from afar, now that he was so close… it felt strange to have this worry right at his front door. Not that he really had to fear anything, with “Hunter” and “Huntress” so close by. Michael smiled slightly at Cassandra’s mention of her best friend from Hartford, though that hadn’t exactly been the surprise that he was hoping for her today.

Michael Diamond: (clearing his throat) I’m glad it met your expectations and yes, it was beautiful – you are beautiful. I’m just sorry…

Michael took a sip of his champagne and leaned over the edge of the terrace, his head low.

Michael Diamond: I’m sorry Danny couldn’t be here to see it.

Swallowing hard at the mention of Danny, trying not to tear up, she took a big breath. That was the one thing that was truly missing from today… her big brother, the man who took care of her, when their parents failed them. He was not perfect, in fact far from it, but she loved her brother fiercely.

Cassandra put her hand on his shoulder. Michael would do anything to make this day perfect for them, and the reality is Danny was like his brother too. Had Danny been here, he would be standing in Shawn’s place as his best man.

Cassandra Starr-Diamond: Me too. He would have loved all of this, although he probably would have picked apart the decorations and would have wanted more pomp and circumstance.

They both laughed, knowing how true that statement was. Cassandra became more serious.

Cassandra Starr-Diamond: It’s been almost five years Michael, since we have seen him, talked to him. It’s like, he just disappeared. How could he do this to us!?

Diamond swallowed hard, her words cutting deep. Michael’s last memory of Danny was when he forfeited the HWA Championship belt to him after the death of Jenn Copelin. He had never seen a man so broken; so haunted. Diamond still felt guilt for his inaction in that matter, knowing he had the chance to take all of Danny’s pain away but choosing, instead, to keep his secret life… well, secret.

Michael Diamond: Look… I disappeared for an extended period of time and I came back, right? He will too.

Cassandra started to get visibly agitated.

Cassandra Starr-Diamond: This isn`t the same Michael! When I left he was not the same man I knew growing up. He had become full of rage and vengeance. Someone even died at his hands..... I don`t even feel like if he came back, I would recognize him. Who knows what he has been up to all these years, but clearly contacting his sister wasn`t on the agenda!

Michael stood upright, staring into Cassandra’s emerald gaze. He could tell that she was getting upset, and this was the last thing he wanted for them on their wedding night.

Michael Diamond: Look, I know when you left… you had your reasons. We all weren’t our best selves back then, least of all Danny. He was really changing though Cass, he was… better with Jenn. After she died…

Michael placed his free hand on Cassandra’s face.

Michael Diamond: If anything had ever happened to you, I would be lost without you. That’s all Danny is right now… lost. I promise you though Cass, on the life of our unborn child, I won’t stop looking for him. I’ll find Danny, and I’ll bring him home.

Michael placed his arm around his new wife, watching as the sunsets on the end of an unforgettable night.

 

 

PROLOGUE PART III