July 22nd, 1998,

I had been pleased to find that my father wasn't one for entertaining the paparazzi, which made our walk from the limousine to The Crown’s entry hall blessedly short. The sound of those outside still reached me despite the metal doors having since been closed behind the two of us. Not much time passed, however, before their voices faded into the background and disappeared completely. By the time we were only occupied with the sounds of our footsteps, and the not so distant echo of violins, I’d managed to parse out where we were headed.

My father pushed open the clear glass door into the large open air space before standing parallel to it and, for the second time that night, extended his hand for me to take. It’d felt strange to be given assistance when the step down was relatively shallow, but who was I to have argued over it. If we’re being honest, it was nice, comforting even. I took his hand, stepped into the courtyard, and allowed my eyes to wander over the venue.

The people were dressed in a combination of suits and gowns in the case of civilians, and formal variations of hero costumes for the others. I had no idea who those in civilian wear were, causing my scan of the crowds to treat them as non-existent for the time being. Instead, I’d taken in the sight of heroes I recognised. 

Harmony was the most obvious as, despite no longer being number one and considering retirement in the next few years, she was still the city's first hero and was, unsurprisingly, quite popular amongst the other guests. She wore her usual leather, wool lined bomber jacket with navy blue trousers and a white scarf, her goggles propped up on top of her head pressing down her short dirty blonde hair while a light brown domino mask obscured the top half of her face. I noticed she was wearing leather gloves which matched her jacket while she shook the hands of one individual after the next. She had one of those broad toothy grins that a kid would make after telling a joke, she stood out amongst the thinner, closed lipped smiles of the people around her. Maybe having power like hers just makes a person more willing to let loose.

There were other big names amongst the crowd beside her though. Howl, an up and coming hero rapidly rising through the ranks with his swordsmanship and skill with magic. Rather than his usual dark leather armor, he wore a similar, more decorative set with intricate carvings of wolves and a crescent moon on the chest. He had a silvered longsword strapped to his back, and lupine features etched on his face using makeup rather than his usual plain black makeup across the eyes.  

Aside from him I also saw Wildfire in a dress that looked alight in flame; Titan wearing an emerald suit that paired well with her midnight blue skin. A handful of other heroes that had likely gotten into this event due to their place in the rankings or family wealth were also present.

After my initial scan for heroes I recognised, I moved my attention to the venue. The courtyard was made up of the hollowed center of the Crown, surrounded on all sides by the tarnished gold looking walls and imposed upon by the rising spires. Fairy lights are strung up over the entire space, criss-crossing to form a radiating star, with flood lights used to provide light in the spaces where the fairy lights fell short. Trimmed bushes formed partial rings around the pathways and larger central patio space where the majority of people had mingled about. Curved tables stood to either side of the central patio space with food and servers handing out small confections and flutes of bubbling liquids. A band played gentle music at the far end of the courtyard on a small stage.

Of all the guests that had been in attendance, one stood out to me the most. I knew from his lack of reaction that my father hadn't seen her yet. Dressed in her usual tracksuit, golden shoes emblazoned with her symbol, a wing, and trademark grin, was Lady Luminous herself, standing outside the primary patio. What was more surprising than that however, was the girl who looked like she couldn't be too far from my own age and dressed in a similar fashion right beside her. Same pixie cut, same silver and gold motif, same air of charisma. I wasn't sure how to react.

Before my father took his own chance to scan the space, he leaned down to me and whispered in my ear.

“Remember to tell no one your real name, for the purposes of tonight you are Hoplites. If people begin to ask personal questions, tell me. Keep things professional and focus on what you can do” he’d said.

“Yes father” had been my only, predictable reply.

He’d straightened himself back up and looked over the gathered party goers, it had been painfully obvious when he noticed Lady Luminous. He had placed a hand on my shoulder, sliding in front of me by half a step and watching her. I'd known he wanted to speak with her already by that point, I believe it was my presence that had stopped him at first. My presence or not though, he only needed a few seconds to silently prepare himself up to approach her, a few steady breaths perhaps being what had calmed his nerves. Odd how a man who had fearlessly faced villains was, in that moment, unnerved by another hero.

“Ares!”

A voice, possessing that raspy and breathy quality of an older gentleman with an accent that indicated wealth, had disturbed our silent moment.

“So happy you could make it, and who is this fine young specimen” the voice spoke again.

By this point I had managed to pinpoint who it was amongst the crowd, my gaze had landed on a rotund older man with strips of white hair speckling the top of his mostly hairless and blotched scalp. The man was wearing a formal black suit upon which the symbol of Providence, a spiked crown through which a sword was stuck, was sewn. 

“Commissioner Freidrick, I appreciate your kind greeting but I ask that you refrain from referring to her that way, she is to be treated as part of my legacy and nothing less” My father said. His tone and wording had initially been a shock to me, it felt too formal, definitely too wordy and his implication had been touching. Even years later I miss the way it felt to have him stand up for me, it felt warm. “But since you've asked, this is Hoplites. My daughter.”

I could feel the man's stare as he looked over me. In no way was it friendly though, it felt similar to my fathers when he tried to gauge my ability and progress, though it felt unpleasant when this man did it. I knew my father had my best interests in mind, this man however was an unknown.

“A fine name for someone starting out, I assume given the similar theme to yours and matching attire you share a mutation? Or perhaps she takes more after her mother, Vitros?”

My father paused, he's never been able to quickly respond when my mother was mentioned. Even at the time I knew he'd taken what happened harder than I did.

“She shares mine” My father got out after a few moments had passed “Strength, minor speed, durability and regeneration. It's too early to tell if she will take on her mothers vitreokinesis as well. That class of mutation develops later in ones adolescence”

“Well, with your place in the rankings I could only imagine how far someone like her would go if she also inherited her mothers mutation, statistics do show Kineticists rise through the ranking faster than Enhancers, yourself and Lady Luminous being primary exceptions of course”.

My father had given a nod of agreement to the Commissioner, a look of wanting to disperse himself from the conversation made clear by his stance. He hadn't fully faced the Commissioner, standing more at a diagonal,  and he’d refused to give him any undivided attention by listening while he had scanned the crowd. I'd been holding my fathers arm in one hand, my exposed palm gently held the metal of his bracer, when he pulled gently to guide me away from the man he was clearly disinterested in. Commissioner Freidrick, however, had wanted to get one more word in it seemed, something I would later find myself loathing him for. 

“Providence is holding a new Hero Youth Training Program, the program is a partnership with the Metahuman Research Institute. Dr. Garrison will be heading the program and implementing the results of his recent research on enhancing metahuman capabilities.” He dabbed his forehead with a napkin before he continued “I wanted to let you know due to the importance of your legacy Ares, there’s a new age coming and I'd hate for it to die off”. There was an undertone to his voice I hadn't liked even back then. It was clear he’d been disingenuous at the end. He intended to make it out as an insult against my fathers legacy. I still don't know if there was more to it then that, or if he even knew how right he was.

“I appreciate the offer Commissioner, but I’m perfectly capable of preparing my own daughter for this war” My father's tone had been sharp, making it clear he’d noticed the insult, but he gave the man no further attention as he guided me away. 

When we had made our way into the party, away from the entrance where the Commissioner had interposed our approach, my father guided us in a beeline towards Lady Luminous and the young girl beside her. We were only a dozen or so paces from them when Lady Luminous turned to face us, her attention being pulled from her current conversation. 

“Ares.. OMG” Her eyes went wide and, if we're being honest, they probably would have been sparkling if they could “Is that your daughter!”

“She-” Was all my father got out.

Rushing winds deafened me for a moment, they jostled me from side to side before I’d felt hands on both my shoulders, Lady Luminous crouched behind me, and fawned as one might over a puppy.

“Oh you are just so cute! Sweetheart, look at her armor, isn't it adorable?”

The girl, and the presumed sweetheart Lady Luminous referred to, gave a bright smile while she ran a hand through her short blonde hair.

“Maybe not cute, but definitely badass” She gave a thumbs up to Lady Luminous.

Lady Luminous gave a very half-hearted retort about the girl's language before, with another burst of speed, she stood before my father again, who sent a glare towards the hero opposite him and pulled me a little closer.

“I can see the resemblance Ares, she's got the same fire in her eyes as you. Get it, because you both have red eyes! No no, I know, not funny” The pace at which Lady Luminous spoke matched her movements, if a little slower, leaving barely any room for anyone else to speak. Only when she’d paused for a few moments, an expectant look on her face, had my father responded.

“Good to see you as well Lady Luminous, and yes, this is my daughter Hoplites. I'd appreciate it if you refrained from placing your hands on her without permission.” He’d said, voice low but proper. “I brought her here to introduce her to hero society, not to see her treated without respect”.

“Oh Ares dear, you're far too uptight for the newer generations. You gotta let yourself relax a little” She’d accentuated the last sentence by wiggling her arms a bit which, in my honest opinion, hadn't felt like it reflected relaxing very well. “And since you forgot to ask I might as well mention it for you, save you from the embarrassment of having to ask now and all, this is my niece! Oh! And her name is Luminosity".

I saw the other girl open her mouth to speak, but my father jumped in first.

“I didn't intend to ask, your companion is none of my business. I wanted to speak with you about the assignment we've been put on together. Alone.” His words were accompanied by a slow scan of the people nearby watching the exchange. All of whom backed away at his implications.

There had been a groan from Lady Luminous at the mention of work talk, but my fathers unwavering glare seemed to at least persuade her reluctantly. The two had stepped off to the side after my father asked that I call out should anything happen. Not that he was far, but I could tell he’d been growing more anxious with my presence. 

At that point, I had been alone. Well, Luminosity had been there, but what was I to do with a stranger? So I did as I always did in times of uncertainty, remained silent and took it in.