It was as though the world around him had fallen away, in its place leaving nothing but forward motion - momentum from all places and angles which threatened to send him forward forever and endlessly such was the sensation that coursed through him as Flashbang’s power took effect.

His skin buzzed with a faint static tingle as though every inch of himself was too close to one of those old-fashioned TVs he’d seen in old movies, and his eyes found only light in those seconds in between, spent in whatever pocket reality Flashbang moves through when using her teleportation. 

It all dissipated as quickly as it came in an effect like an abstract watercolor bleeding and coalescing into something more defined and familiar until all that was left was the world and a fading sensation of his skin faintly burning. His feet were on solid ground, it was the first thing he felt aware of before his mind seemed to catch up to the sight before him.

“You okay?” the older woman asked, clapping a gloved hand over his shoulder, and even through her mechanical helmet Nathan - Kid Rocket - felt he could hear the faintest lilt of humor.

He stepped forward, his knee buckling momentarily which sent him into a faint stumble, hazardously close to the edge of the hilltop he now found himself upon, though mere seconds before he’d been standing in The Planetarium, awaiting the heroine’s arrival to bring him here.

“F - fine,” it was all he could manage, as the faint tingle began to fade and he fought to catch his breath, only to find himself taken aback by the sight before him.

“This is…it’s like everything I imagined.” Despite the weight of the moment, despite the mission Tracy had given him - the very thought of which seemed to hang overhead like the Sword Of Damocles, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe at the sight before him.

For as long as he could remember he’d looked up to Darkstar and The Sovereign, yearning for the day he would be allowed to visit their base, The Embassy, famous the world over for it’s design and unusual properties, as well as housing the operations of their most powerful superteam. 

They stood atop a rocky outcropping upon a series of hills almost tall enough to be considered mountains, all ringed in a near-perfect circle around a singular building that stood like a monument. He could see off into the distance what he already knew to be true as the earth beyond the mountain range faded into nothing but sky, and a sparse few floating rocks hanging precariously within the same field of anti-gravity that kept the island they were standing on afloat.

He could feel the strength returning to him, and he made his way past Flashbang, approaching the edge of the the island and peering past. He could feel a faint breeze, mists of ocean spray catching him along the forehead as the stared at the ocean below.

“Holy shit,” he mumbled, quickly turning on the heroine, embarrassment filling all the spaces the awe had occupied. 

“Sorry, I - it’s just a lot.” 

I’ve been spending too much time with Clay, he’d almost spoken the words but caught himself recalling things Tracy had told him before they’d placed the call to The Sovereign requesting his apprenticeship - emphasizing the need for discretion.

“It’s alright,’ Flashbang spoke, the black tint of her visor fading to reveal the woman beneath.

“I call that space the Kinetic Zone, and yeah, it can be rough for first-timers. Pair that with the adjustment to the gravity fields here and,” she shrugged, offering a knowing sort of smile.

She was Hispanic it seemed, perhaps in her early thirties, and very pretty, which felt an odd realization that felt…out of place for someone as powerful as the heroine was, arguably top five super-power beings in the world. 

“If anything I’m impressed that you didn’t vomit. You’re almost as tough as Anthony was.” her expression fell, momentarily, and in it Nathan could see a genuine sadness that made his lying by omission feel that much worse.

“I’m sorry about that, by the way. I know it’s been said a dozen times but he was a good man.”

He nodded.

“Thanks. He was…he was great. It’s why I wanted to do this. I owe it to him to keep the legacy alive.” It was partially true, and yet that didn’t make it feel any better.

Flashbang nodded, lips pursing in an expression that spoke to her understanding. 

“Come,” she ushered him forth, indicating a twisting path down the hill towards a more defined segment leading to the building. 

It was a massive form of marble, gold, and concrete rising to the sky at a point, with twin pantheon-esque constructions extending out from either side and connected via tunnels of glass. Colossal pillars ringed the entranced, stairs of marble leading up to twin doors of something like glass.

“The others will be looking forward to seeing you. Savior especially was quite pleased to hear you’d called. He and Darkstar were close, I think,” she led him up the marble stairs, and towards the doors that looked like twin pools of water covered by the same rainbow effect one might find on an oil slick.

“He was…integral. What he represented, what he was willing to do - I think the two of them felt like…kindred spirits in some odd way.”

The topic made Nathan feel uneasy, and he fought the urge to fidget with the cape of his costume as he followed the sheer memory of The Savior - a man with the powers of a veritable god, whom he was to observe for signs of unusual behavior.

Unusual like what? He couldn’t begin to tell, and when dealing with a man who was convinced he got his incredible powers from God, and who could level a city with a single blow, it was hard to tell where unusual began and ended. 

Nathan sighed, trying to let the uneasy thoughts dissipate, allowing the scenes before him to swallow his focus and distract him from the lingering unease her words brought him at 

Either side of the path leading to the massive twin doors at the entrance was lined with statues, at least 20 to 25 feet tall, recreations of each member posed for action. He’d heard of the place called “The Olympus of Masks” before, and as they moved down the winding path and into the shadow of The Embassy, he could think of no more accurate description but the house of the gods.

“It’s - it’s an honor to be here,” he breathed, and it felt only half a lie.

“I think - I think he always meant for me to end up here. Maybe not so soon, but… it’s where I’m supposed to be,” he nodded, meeting her gaze and trying to keep his steady even beneath the mask and balaclava.

“I’m looking forward to what you all can teach me and, hopefully, maybe filling the role he left.”

She glanced back at him as they reached the top of the stairs, pressing through the oil-slick doors, and on her face was a slight but satisfied smile as though somewhere in what he’d said, she’d found an answer she’d been looking for. 

The building’s grandiosity was no less upon entering, a mosaic pattern in the marble flooring depicting scenes that seemed more fitting for those same Greek myths than their reality, The Sovereign locked in battle against various foes they’d faced over the years. Standing in the entryway, the halls of The Embassy seemed to stretch out in innumerable directions, and the building came to feel like the entire world, the sheer size of the place almost taunting him, reminding him of how small he was amongst these titans - titans who he thought he could…what? Trick? Spy on? 

He wasn’t even certain what he was looking for yet, and he would have to be careful about contacting Tracy given how secure the place was, undoubtedly filled to the brim with all manner of transmission interceptors, cameras, and other risks. 

The ceiling of the main building raised in it point, like a massive circus tent constructed of marble, gold, and concrete - the sort of building that spoke to obvious necessity of superhuman abilities.

In the building to the right he would find rooms belonging to the various members, likely unused by most. In the same building was the training room, an unparalleled technological marvel that hade been the combined efforts of Anthony, Kraken, and Valor - the groups most intelligent, and two of its richest members - much like the systems that kept the island it stood on floating, hovering almost a hundred feet over the Atlantic. 

To the left, down the cavernous hallways and past all manner of non-descript rooms he’d never bothered to learn, sat the Hall of Soveriegn, a vertiable museum meets trophy room with artifacts and antiques that spoke of the groups greatest moments, at the center of which sat the table around which the worlds most powerful heroes would gather to discuss whatever business might be grand enough to call for their combined attention.

He had a feeling he knew where they’d be heading, the idea all but confirmed as he followed Flashbang down the left hall, into a glass hallway with a ceiling made of stained glass, the light shining through which decorated them in hues of red, gold, and blue as they continued forth, entering the second structure, and continuing down cavernous halls of concrete, every curve and form seemingly built to feel…imposing. 

At one point, as they turned down one of the halls past a series of rooms with steel doors shut tight, he could hear conversation before he could see the source before they turned into a half where leading out and into a circular room of such expanse it seemed like some medieval church. At the center of the room sat a table, circular and composed of a wood that glistened and shone, emblems carved into five points around it - each corresponding with someone currently at the table - all but one. 

An arrow was carved into the right of the table, behind which sat Lord Valor, hood lowered to reveal dirty blond hair, and goggles depowered, purple lights dim as they sat around his neck. He wore his armor still, a strange mix between the medieval chest plate one would expect of a knight, and something more mechanical, a diamond-shaped gem blazing with purple light affixed to the center. He was working on one of his arrows, twisting the point to one of the mechanical shafts, pausing and re-examining his work before restarting. He caught a glance of Nathan, and the boy felt he could see something in his expresson which made him uneasy…disdain, perhaps? 

There was a stylized octopus across from him, before which Kraken sat, arms crossed and face unreadable. To his right was something that looked like an explosive effect from an old comic, Flashbangs seat, he supposed. Across from that was a bone, before which the caveman Dathak sat, towering over the table and its occupants, watching the boy with a glare that made his stomach turn.

The final two places were reserved for the leaders, at the end of the table were a star and halo. The latter sat empty, and the sight of it made Nathan’s heart feel tight with a creeping sort of dread, the same he’d felt on that call only a day ago now when the idea of taking the role had occurred to him.

Beside it, behind the halo sat The Savior. The golden glow had faded from his eyes, and yet his gaze felt no less intense and as he watched Kid Rocket enter, it occurred to Nathan that he was unsure as to whether or not the man could still see him - despite the mask.

Flashbang led him forth, and he fell back, allowing the woman to take the lead as the weight of the moment seemed to crash down on him. Every head turned to face them, conversation ceasing, as all surviving members of the Sovereign watched him entering alongside their teammate.

The eyes on him felt almost palpable on his skin, as though the sheer force of those in the room with him was being exerted.

“Kid Rocket, gentlemen,” Flashbang spoke, indicating Nathan before she moved to take her place at the table. 

Without her at his side, he suddenly felt very exposed, as the heroes all seemed to take stock of him

“Welcome Kid,” it was The Savior who spoke first, and despite himself Nathan felt a strange sort of calm, the man’s voice almost like a balm - though he knew it to be a latent effect of his abilities.

“You are among friends, here. Be calm and speak your intentions.”

Nathan nodded, perhaps more vigorously than intended.

“Right, I - I want to join you,” his words came rushed, as he realized he hadn’t had any plans for what to say at this moment, only a stated goal.

“It’s what I’ve been trained for, being a hero. I’ve dreamed of this and with Darkstar gone - dead it’s my job to uphold his legacy and -”

“Stop,” it was Valor who spoke, leering between The Savior and Kraken for a moment before shaking his head.

“Enough. Are we all going to sit here and fiegn ignorance as to the reality of the situation?”

Nathan felt the blood in his veins turn to ice. Valor rose, placing the arrow he’d been working on in the quiver over his back, which clicked and spun the arrow into another position as she strolled towards Nathan, forcing the boy to step back a bit.

“You shouldn’t be here, should you?”