The start of 2070 was the beginning of Maxwell's new life living in Natchitoches with his dad. They had a nice 2 bedroom and 2 bathroom house in the upper middle class neighborhood across the bridges. It was a much more modest and simple place to call home instead of grandpa's mega mansion. 

Maxwell woke up and got ready for his first day of 5th grade. After a morning shower and getting dressed, he made his way to the dinning room which was also the kitchen. His dad greeted him with a smile and handed him a plate of eggs and bacon and a glass of milk. 

"Morning Max."

"Good morning dad. Thanks for breakfast," Max replied. This was their new normal after having moved here. 

Nearby the TV showed the local morning news and the both of them listened to it as they had breakfast. However on this morning an event would occur that interrupted their quiet peaceful breakfast. As the news was interrupted by a breaking announcement. 

This caught both of their attentions and the camera footage change to a podium in front of a new building that had been constructed in Toronto. Walking up to the podium to speak into the mic was Jon Fjord aka the Last Crusader. He was one of the few surviving members of the ISA but since the battle 5 years ago he has withered away due to health complications.

The once hulking figure of the African man was now no more than that of a slim almost anemic looking version of himself. But he stood there and dressed in his finest clothing as he began to speak into the mic and address the world. 

The tone he conveyed was somber but hopeful, "Good day to all people of Earth. Many of you may know me as the Last Crusader. Although my health is clearly not what it used to be and I have still been trying to fight for peace and justice against those who would use their powers to wreak havoc. However with my current help situation I can no longer do it the way that I used to. So as I have been very contemplative lately I realization came to me that the world needs heroes that will carry on the legacy of the ISA. Those of us of the group that survived what happened 5 years ago in New Orleans have been trying to find a way to carry on while honoring the legacy of our fallen comrades. Although we could not find a way to move forward as a group an idea was proposed that I overtime have grown more fond of. A united global organization of heroes from Earth that works alongside the IHF to become more of a overseer type force that work more as an elite task force." 

He began to cough and he reached for a handkerchief in his pocket to cough into. It was only when he started coughing up blood that people began to worry. It was clear to any who had family members or loved ones with a similar condition that Jon was dealing with late stage cancer. His son came up and held on to him until he stopped coughing and then he guided his father to a nearby seat on the stadium where the podium was set up. 

His son then walked up to the podium and continued from where his father left off, "My name is Tobias Fjord. I will be serving as the head of this new organized task force that my father spoke of. Going forward I will be known as Director Tobias Fjord of the Global Defense Force. The GDF as it will most likely be more commonly called will have branches in every major city, and each branch will have a roundabout 50 to 100 members working alongside local law enforcement and government military personnel in compliance with the rules and laws laid out for those who have joined the IHF to follow. The goal of the GDF is simple. Justice against crime. Protection for the innocent. Truth above all. And hope to those who's still believe in superheroes swooping in and saving the day. The GDF currently has five bases that have been built with our other branch offices halfway through construction. I look forward to what the organization will be able to achieve. Now I will be answering any questions that you may have pertaining specifically to the GDF." 

Several reporters began immediately trying to vie for a chance to ask a question and the one that was selected asked, "Mr. Fjord, how will people be able to join the organization?"

Tobias looked at him and said first correcting his misstatement and then answering, "Director Fjord. I would prefer if you all begin using my proper title going forward as a sign of respect for the work that I will be undertaking leading this organization..... As for your question.... To put it simply all you need to do is sign up with the IHF and be certified by then before applying to the GDF. Whether or not you end up actually becoming a member of the GDF comes down to whether or not you can pass our three major tests as well as some very extensive background checks. If your background checks out and you're able to pass all three of our tests, then you are granted your uniform and badge. Next question." 

He look for another reporter to ask him a question and selected a woman this time. She chose to ask a very poignant question, "Does the GDF accept normal non-superpowered or non-supernatural people? Given the history that normal people have had with those with powers and of other species I am very curious to know if the GDF is welcoming to such people."

Tobias gave a nod, "Absolutely. The GDF will not discriminate on who would hires if you can pass our background checks and our tests and can also be certified by the IHF which do allow for normal people to take their assessments and go through their process. However due to the rigorousness of the process of joining you can be sure that any 'normal people' as you put it who join us have been closely vetted to have no prejudice against others. Next quest-"

"Director Fjord, if you would before moving on I would like a follow-up question. I would like to know why you made the decision to allow for such people to join," the reporter interrupted before he could try and select someone else to ask another question. 

Tobias at first looked annoyed at what she was trying to do but he thought about it for a second and realized it was a good question to answer. Very solemnly he looked at her and spoke from a place of genuine kindness with a tone that conveyed reverence, "When I was a few years younger right before I joined the army to aid in the 2nd War with China to help keep Hong Kong free; I had the pleasure of meeting all of the members of the ISA shortly after it formed. It was on that day that I got to hear some very interesting insights from many of the members of the ISA. But none was more poignant than that of what life lesson I was taught by Hyperdrive. He had just came back from helping bring some food to a local orphanage that had just been founded in New Orleans specifically tailored for children who were of supernatural or superhuman heritage. However the only reason he ended up being late was because a couple normal human children had gotten to a fight with some adults protecting one of the kids at the orphanage. He said he felt inspired by them after he helped resolve the situation. When I asked him what he meant he said, 'A hero it's not just a person who puts on a fancy suit and gives them self a fancy name. They don't have to have superpowers to save a life or fight against injustice. A real hero just needs to be brave and have the courage to stand up for what is righteous.' He carried that lesson with him until the day he died. And when I think back on him and our few interactions over the time that I knew my father's comrades, all I can think of are those words......" 

For a moment Tobias seemed to pause and he almost looked mournful before he took a deep breath and continued with a renewed sense of vigor, "So......... To any who have the courage to take up arms and bare your shield for the innocent in the name of justice.... The GDF will gladly take you. Powers or no powers. Normal or not. We need real heroes."

Maxwell after hearing all this looked at his father and asked, "Do you think you got what it takes to join them dad?" 

"Hahaha, no. But I appreciate what they're trying to do," Arthur said with a nervous laugh. 

Maxwell looked him in the eyes and asked giving almost a puppy dog expression, "Do you think that I could join them one day?" 

Arthur seem to not like the idea of his son joining such an organization but he knew that showing support of his child's dreams was more beneficial. So he patted him on the head and said, "Of course. And you would be the greatest hero of all time. I just know it.... But first you need to go ahead and grab your stuff so you can head to the bus stop. You don't want to miss school after all." 

Maxwell made of pouting expression hearing about school, but like an obedient child he grabbed his backpack and headed out of the house to catch the bus to school that day.

As he walks to the street corner where the school bus will pick him up, he sees one of the kids that lives next door to him. He wanted to say hello but he couldn't figure out how to address them. He remembers when they first met over a week ago he had been told that they were a girl, but right now they looked slightly different. She seemed to have a different shaped nose. Her green eyes were now brown. Her black hair was suddenly blonde. But most importantly he remembers that she had the body of a young girl who had just started going through puberty and developing in such a way physically. So he was even more confused when he noticed that her chest was as flat as his suddenly when he remembered that wasn't the case. 

It all confused him because he knows that she only had an older sister and no brothers. Even more so because he recognized that this was the same person he was thinking of and not someone else who was related to them due to them having the exact same necklace and rings he remembered asking about. She remembered she said that they were custom-made as a gift from her father on her birthday a few years ago. 

So he just ended up asking her, "Jacqueline? That you?" 

She replied with a slightly more deep voice, "Oh hey Maxwell. How are you?" 

"I'm okay. Are you...?" He asked her slightly confused. 

"Yeah." She said. 

"So why do you look different," he asked nervously while scratch the back of his head. 

"Oh yeah..... I forgot that you are new to town. It's my powers. They started working when I was 5. I can shapeshift. I mainly just use it to look and sound like a boy. I feel more comfortable when I look like this is all," she explained realizing the confusion.

Max nodded along with her explanation and questioned, "Oh. Is that why you made yourself look more like your dad?"

"Yeah. My dad is my personal hero and I want to be like him. That makes me feel better when I look like how he did at my age," she responded while smiling thinking about her wonderful father. 

"So it's not really you liking being a boy, but instead more that you just love your dad and want to mimic him? Is that right," he wondered.

"Yep yep," she confirmed.

Maxwell's childish curiosity began to kick in, "Okay. Now I have another question. How exactly do your powers work? I know you said you can shape shift but like.... Is it only parts of yourself? Can you turn into a whole other people? Can you turn into animals?"

Jacqueline giggled a little, "Most don't really ask about my powers. Everyone just seems either not to really care or they just asked what can I do and stop after that." 

He looked a little sad and asked feeling like he had maybe went a little too far, "So you don't want to tell me?"

"I didn't say that. It's just you're the first person that wasn't some doctor asking about my powers.... If you really want to know I can tell you," she clarified. 

"Of course I want to know," Max responded quickly with excitement. 

She began to answer his curiosities, "Ok ok.... Well I did try a lot when my doctor was trying to first figure out how my powers worked to make sure I was okay. I cannot turn into an animal. Trust me I tried that a couple times it just doesn't work. I also cannot turn into anything that is not human. I tried many times to be an elf, but it just didn't work. But I can turn myself into any kind of human no matter how old or young they are. I can look like whoever I want or I can mix and match features so long as it all at the end of the day is human. I can only maintain looking like someone else for a few hours but if the person I'm looking like is related to me I already share many of their features so I can maintain it for almost a full day. Changing into a man or a woman is really not that hard either. Most people think I'm a boy because I don't really like looking like myself when I'm not at home or around friends."

"Do your clothes change too like in the shows and movies," he asked remembering how shapeshifters powers work in fiction.

She That answer all your questions?"

"Yep. That's really cool. I wish I had powers," He complimented her.

"Well most people who have powers have them kick in between 5-15. So you might still end up getting them in a few years," she tried to reassure him. 

Max disagreed, "Nope. My family members are all powerless. We're all just regular humans." 

She was shocked and looked away nervous, "Oh. Sorry. I didn't know that." 

Maxwell shrugged, "It's cool. Not like I can change it anyway." 

As he finished what he was saying they both noticed the bus coming around the corner. She told him, "Hopefully your first day of school won't be bad. Not normal for use to get new kids out here. Most people only come around for the holiday parades or just to pass through."

"You want to read the comic books after school," Max asked her. 

"Sure. I'll just have to ask my folks if I can come over first," she replied as they both got on the bus.