Log entry 3

Agent: UNKNOWN

Transport Hub, Halcyon city, Time: 1530 hours, Date: 19/04/2144

Status: Standby

To say the wait for the security checkup was long would've been a complete understatement. The line had practically started from the ship, and moved by one person every twenty minutes. It was only thanks to Rose's expectant motherhood that the security guards placed them in the special handicapped line. And though he questioned whether or not pregnancy would actually count as a handicap (cause Rose had never once shown any signs of difficulty with her body), he did enjoy the fact that the handicapped line was quite shorter. It took only a few minutes to reach the front of the line, and before they knew it, we're out of reception.

"Whew. Sure am glad we got out of there so quickly." Rose said, rubbing her stomach as they waited on their ride "I need to eat something"

Jason chuckled "Well it's thanks to those little sea-monkeys that we got out of there so fast." he said "You should treat them to something special. Maybe cake"

She glowed from his suggestion "Oh, cake" she nodded in agreement, then shook her head "Or maybe pie. Oh, or maybe pancakes."

Jason rolled his eyes, "Knowing you it'll probably be a combo of every sugary breakfast item you can find," a thought crossed his mind, "You sure you can even eat stuff like that while you're pregnant?"

To his surprise, Rose didn't seem worried "I'm pretty sure it's okay. I mean we don't eat anything that's too manufactured," she shrugged and smiled down at her bulge "I'm sure they're fine"

Jason wanted to continue the conversation, however, before he could, their ride arrived. In a city as large as this one, the only way to get around was to either your own a personal shuttle, or do what most non- Elysium district folks did and use the Sky-rails. These things were easily accessible, totally free to use and were constructed as gracefully as the silk of a spider's web; these suspended rails connected every district in Halcyon together; from the Elysium district to the Market district, to even the Shadow district, if you wanted to go somewhere, these were what you used.

The doors opened to reveal a completely empty cart, but that came as no surprise. After all, the sun had already set. The only people who would've been out around now would be those who worked overtime or the late shift.

Rose stepped forward to enter, but at the last second, a hand grabbed her and pulled her back. Luckily, before she could fall but Jason caught her

"Hey, what the heck?" Jason cried, turning to find several men in suits and shades behind them

They looked like a standard security detail, albeit just a small one. Whoever it was that they were supposed to be guarding was definitely from the Elysium district, but probably wasn't all too important. The men parted to reveal a boy, no older than seventeen, wearing a black shirt that looked a little to small for his size, with a purple blazer

"I'll be commending that Sky-rail, thank you very much" his voice practically oozing smug

"Hey, we were here first," Jason said, standing his ground.

"Oh, but I already said it's mine," said the teen said, stepping towards the door "And what I say is the law. I mean, do you even know WHO I am?"

Rose shook her head "Nope,"

"Don't know, don't care" Jason replied, with folded arms

The teen gave them a scowl, but with a face as chubby as his, and that ridiculous unibrow, it made him look as if he urgently needed a restroom. "Leon Powel. Son of Ryan Powel, lead board director of Friendly Foods incorporated."

"Like I said don't care" Jason repeated, "But we were here first."

"We can all just share it," Rose said, earning her everyone's attention

The Powel kid looked in between shocked and disgusted as if he'd just been slapped in the face

"I don't 'share' my rides with people like you!" He spat venom on his tongue

"Then ask daddy to get you your own personal car" Jason replied with a smirk "Or maybe your just not daddy's favorite"

Leon's face looked as if it were a tomato ready to be picked, but after a few seconds, he took a breath and simply stared at him

Jason raised an eyebrow 'What's with-' he was on the floor before he knew it, the left side of his head throbbing with pain. He glanced up to see Rose trying to pick him up while a guard loomed behind her. How the guard made it behind him with him noticing Jason didn't know, but he clenched his teeth in anger when he saw the smile on that Leon brat's face

Jason growled as he felt his chest tighten. Suddenly, the world around him began to gradually slow and, for a moment, nothing at all moved; Rose still cradled his shoulder, frozen as she tried to lift him up, the Powel and his posse trapped within their movements. Then everything began to move again. Rose got up from helping him, the guard behind him took a few steps back, even Leon's stupid smirk receded into his deceptive neutral expression. Jason felt his body slowly rising up from the ground, the knuckle of the guard brushing against the back of his head and pulling back to rest at his side.

When everything stopped, it was as if the last minute had yet to occur. Jason smirked.

"Let's try that again," He thought to himself, as he prepared his actions.

Everything began to move forward again, but this time he was ready and ducked right as the guard's fist would've made contact with the back of his head. There was an almost satisfying 'smack' as the guard's fist found another target, and as Jason looked up, he nearly exploded into laughter. Leon lay on the ground, hands to his face clutching his nose as a few tears slowly escaped his eyes

"You idiot!" he growled, his clogged nose making his voice sounds like he was a rubber toy. The other guards helped him to his feet while the offending guard could only watch on in horror

"I'm sorry sir, I-"

"Just wait till I tell father about this" Leon practically scream, as he rose off the ground with some help "Your life in this city is over"

He looked as if he had a few more threats in mind, but the blood that started to run from his nose sealed his mouth tight. With an odd-sounding growl, the teen stomped onto the Sky-rail, followed by his posse of body-guards and were off without any further quarrels

Jason chuckled "Guy got what he deserved," He said, as he clicked the button for another Sky-rail

"Wow, Jason. How did you know he was going to punch you?"

He shrugged "Saw it coming" Well, saw it, felt it and reversed time to dodge it, similar enough right?

Not many knew of his ability and Rose was one of them. In fact, Jason could only really recall one other person knowing his secret. An old childhood friend.

"Hey," Rose said, with a nudge of his shoulder "You alright?"

Jason glanced down at the piece of machinery he wore on his right forearm. Though they had long gone out of style in favor of less cumbersome gadgets, an A.M.P.E.D (Which stood for Arm-Mounted Personal Electronic Device) had all you could want in a relatively small package. It took notes, it told you the time and date, it recorded sound, it had a built-in radio, but unlike all the others, this one had a special little tool just for him.

In a world like this, there were always consequences. Stay up too late with your girl- barely able to keep your eyes open at work. Eat the mystery meat they sell on the corner- spend the entire night in the toilet. Reverse time to dodge a punch- your heart will stop.

Jason watched for a few seconds as the slightly yellowed line on his A.M.P.E.D steadily gain hight and return to its normal green. He took a deep breath and turned back to Rose, "Just fine"

It took a few minutes, but eventually, a new Sky-rail arrived. They boarded and took two seats next to the window. The cart jolted to life and their ride home began.

Jason slumped in his seat and gazed out the window, his mind playing back the encounter with that over-weight annoyance. Once they had money and power, people would always treat those without like dirt, even though they were the very people whose blood was spilled building their rotten palaces. That was the way it was in the world. The odds were always against those below, but if that was the case.

Jason smirked and allowed the world to pause just for a few moments, his own paused heart at the back of his mind. "Then I'll alter the odds"