One Month Later...

“Yeah, if you ask the store owner down the street, I’m sure he’ll tell you that these guys match an exact description of the men that just robbed her jewelry shop.” Jonah pointed to the two men he had just handcuffed.

The police officer he was explaining the situation to coughed. “You a new hero or something? What are you the great Business-Man” he said, referring to Jonah’s outfit, which consisted of dress pants, dress shoes, a white shirt, a tie, and his superhero mask.

“Look officer, I’ve got a day job just like the rest of them. Fighting crime doesn’t pay the bills.” Jonah remembered who he was talking to “At least for me it doesn’t. And its Porter by the way.”

“Ok ‘Porter’ what can you do?”

Smiling an unseen smile Jonah opened a small portal in front of the cop. Pushing his arm through he scooped a handful of sand and poured it onto the wet pavement in front of him. The sand sagged onto the ground, darkening in color from the cold wetness of the sidewalk. It was not an impressive sight.

“Sand from the beaches of Honolulu.” Jonah answered confidently.

“Portals got it.” The officer wrote something in his notebook “Anything else you need to tell me for my report?”

Disappointed in the lack of reaction Jonah crossed his arms solemnly “Yeah, the big guy didn’t have a real gun. It’s a pellet gun with its tip painted black.”

“Good catch.”

Jonah nodded at the officer. Extending his hand to portal straight to his apartment something stopped in. Nothing physical, just an inclination in his head. Instead of portaling home Jonah decided to walk.

It was a cool but clear day in Star City. The sun was out but the wind blew a light breeze through the streets. Jonah new job at was located in the downtown headquarters of Queen Industries. It was dreadfully boring work, but it paid enough to cover the bills. He had a desk, a computer, and enough spread sheets to last a lifetime but it beat petty crime. Now Jonah had room to breathe, to dream, probably for the first time in his life he can a clean slate, no debt, no family. Life was his oyster.

A couple was arguing outside a clothing store. Nothing serious really, a couple terse words after the bill came out to a bit more than the guy bargained for. It felt silly, but Jonah envied them. Sure, they were arguing over a petting thing like clothes but these too people were sharing a life together. Just one of many connections which created the complex tapestry of this city. People who loved or hated each other all placed perfectly in their role, not even seeing the threads which connected them all together. Where was Jonah’s place in this image? He was a lose strand.

The sun was setting soon, he’d better get home.

Near his apartment Jonah spotted a homeless man laying in an alley. The man had red hair and long arm tattoos. An empty needle rolled towards Jonah foot. He looked at it and the man in disgust. In that moment he had no compassion for the troubled man, saw no room for pity, all he saw was himself, if he had failed. He was never going to become like that, he was a survivor first and foremost. He was powerful. Most importantly, Jonah would never be alone again. He had the power to make that happen, no matter what.

In the distance, towards the setting sun he saw a pair of hawks. Now that was true freedom.

END OF PART ONE