Chapter 45

             The thumbnail is also the opening image. After a few seconds, it fades away to reveal a shining white room with purple couches, golden tables and a gigantic window looking out into space, with the Moon in view. But even that comes secondary to the person standing centered in the screen. He is visible from the waist up, slashed-circle symbol on his chest, stark white on the black fabric, and most striking of all, no mask. Siro stands there with his heterochromia and dark black hair, staring into the camera.

            He really is Simon’s clone, Cyndi thinks. He looks just like him.

            “Do I really need to introduce myself?” Siro says. “You know who I am, but you don’t know why I’m here.”

            Then he chuckles.

            “My apologies to Scott Hall for stealing his line, but it was right there, I couldn’t resist,” Siro continues. “But in all seriousness, I really should clear some things up. I’ve seen what all of you have been putting on the internet. Your assumptions and your theories are all wrong, because you still think I’m him. I’m not him. I am what’s left of him. I am literally born of his blood spilt by an attack from behind. I do not know who that assassin is or why they did it, but…I thank you for doing it. Without you, I wouldn’t exist. And I assure you, I will find you, and I will repay the favor.

            “But to the important things. You’re all wrong in thinking something happened to The Spektrum, because nothing happened to him except dying. I am his clone. I am like him in every way, right down to his powers and his memories.

            “Except I’m not him. He was a hero, wanting to protect you all from the bad guys~! I’m no hero, nor do I want to be. Why should any of you be protected when you welcomed Craig, Foster, as your new savior? Like I said, I have The Spektrum’s memories, so I understand full well that Craig Foster is nothing but fffffffilth!! Basura! Trash! And yet, you all started to look up to him?! And don’t pretend you didn’t. It’s all over the internet with posts glorifying your glow-in-the-dark idol.

            “All of you fickle, pathetic humans disgust me. I’m ashamed to share similar DNA. And so was he, honestly. He saw how pathetic and petty so many of you were, but what could he do about it? He was a good guy. He was the nice guy. He was the guy who never wanted to ruffle feathers or get on anyone’s nerve. He wouldn’t do harm to anyone else, no matter how much he hated them. He deluded himself into thinking this world could be redeemed. But I know better.

            “The Spektrum wanted to lead by example, but I am going to make examples out of you. All of you petty, pathetic, pitiful excuses for sentient beings. You walking wastes of space. I will tear your selfish, sadistic and superficial lives apart with my bare hands, as a warning. A warning to everyone else that this is what you get when you choose to ruin someone else’s lives. It’s the punishment you deserve for getting away with it for so, so long. If you don’t believe me, just ask Craig Foster. That is, if he can still talk.”

            Siro laughs a menacing laugh, and the video ends by cutting to black.

            “I believe your video is going ‘viral,’” Zita says to Siro.

            Zita and Zorb sit together on the purple couch after having watched Siro’s video again.

            “All of your rehearsing paid off,” Zita says as she gets up to get more to drink.

            “But tell us again why you insisted we do this?” Zorb asks.

            “Didn’t we go over this?” Siro says.

 

            “What the Hell?” Jeff says.

            “Was that some kind of… mission statement?” Seth wonders.

            “Sounded more like a threat,” Zoey says, cat ears drooping.

            “It was all of that and more,” Simon says.

            No one noticed, but Simon had moved away from them, but he still heard it all.

            “What do you mean?” Cyndi asks.

            “Him stating who he is, what he’s about, what he plans on doing,” Simon says. “The fact that he, like me, is into pro-wrestling, doing a video like that with the waist-up shot. It’s almost obvious, really.”

            “It was a promo,” both Simon and Siro say.

            “A what?” Cyndi asks, very confused.

            “It’s a wrestling thing,” Simon says.

 

            “Promo is based off the word, ‘promotional,’ as in it is to promote something,” Siro explains to the two alien masterminds. “I am making sure it is clear who I am and what I’m about. Obviously I’ll be doing more as we make progress, but this was a good start. Maybe I should’ve gone with one of my other themes… No, this is fine. I’ll be able to fit the next one to what happens after our search finally gets a hit.”

            “Isn’t he something, Zita?” Zorb says teasingly. “Only 21 days old and he’s already got his whole life planned.”

            The three share a chuckle as Zita sits with Zorb again.

 

            “Well, your powers come from a video game about pro-wrestling,” Zoey says. “Did the video game have an option to do promos?”

            “No,” Simon says. “I mean, characters could basically be copy-and-pasted into promos already written. The game only had so many storylines in story mode. But that was clearly all original. He probably rehearsed it a bunch of times to get it right.”

            “He did deliver that all smoothly,” Seth admits.

            “So, do you really think the same as him?” Cyndi asks. “Are you really so angry at the world…?”

            He looks at Cyndi as her face starts to crinkle in hurt sadness.

            “How am I supposed to answer that?” he asks. “Either I disappoint you, or I lie to myself! As far as Craig goes, I’m not upset in the least about what Siro did to him. Craig deserved getting his ass handed to him, and I’m glad it actually happened. So I do hope people start considering their actions after what Siro did to Craig. There’ve been so many people pushing other people around because they can get away with it! We all see that, don’t we?!”

            “So then you do feel that way?!” Cyndi asks, starting to tear up.

            “I don’t like that he’s talking for us both,” Simon counters.

            “That’s not a no, Simon!” Cyndi counters back. “Do you dislike it because it’s not true? Or that he’s the one willing to admit to it?!”

            Cyndi’s angry tears burn as they spill over, making Simon’s face burn with hot shame.

            “You expect too much of me, Cyndi,” Simon says, starting to sound like Siro. “I may have hair like Clark Kent, but I’m not Superman. I’m not one of those perfect heroes up on a pedestal, Cyndi. I’m just a kid who got picked on and then got powers.

            “Yeah, I’m angry. I’m furious at this world! I want to just shout at them all to actually give a damn about someone else’s feelings! But they’re all too selfish! They’re all too shallow! They’re too stupid to see how their actions affect other people! And yet they get to be so ignorantly blissful in their own self-absorbed little worlds!? That’s bullshit!!”

            Cyndi’s tears pour out, and her face is red and scrunched as she turns and runs out of the room.

            “Cyndi!” Zoey says.

            Zoey shoots a frown at Simon before hurrying after Cyndi. Simon realizes he went it too far, and is immediately furious with himself. He drops to his knees and hammers the floor with his fist.

 

            “Cyndi!” Zoey calls after her as they walk through the main room. “Cyndi!”

            “Leave me alone, Zoey!” Cyndi says, stopping with a stomp and a flail of her hand.

            Cyndi sobs and wipes her tears, and sits down against the wall. She’s thankful the class dismissed so no kids have to see her like this. However, Zoey doesn’t leave her alone. In fact, Zoey sits beside her, though with a respectful distance between them. Zoey waits until Cyndi’s sobbing calms a bit before speaking.

            “I’m not going to defend him,” Zoey says. “But you have to give him some leeway. He’s the one with a clone revealing his dark secrets. And publicly through the internet. How would you feel if you had someone doing that to you?”

            Cyndi doesn’t respond as she sniffles back her tears.

            “He did have a point about there being a bunch of jerks in the world,” Zoey continues. “And that he isn’t perfect. He probably didn’t tell you about how he was competing with Tiger about being macho alpha guy or whatever. Not really his best quality.”

            “Oh would you stop!” Cyndi snaps at her. “I’m surprised you aren’t in the ‘private study’ calming him down and all that! It is what you want, right?! You want us to break up so that you can have him?!”

            “Where is this coming from?” Zoey asks.

            “Oh don’t make it like you don’t have a crush on him!” Cyndi says, her voice starting to get gruff. “You decked that stupid what’s-her-face over it.”

            “I would never wish for a couple to break up for my own selfish desires,” Zoey says. “I’m not that kind of girl, like stupid R… like stupid shallow skanks.”

            Cyndi obviously notices that cut-off R, which must go to a name.

            “Is that what happened to you and your boyfriend?” she asks. “Some other girl broke you up?”

            Zoey sighs as she curls up and leans against her own legs.

            “Not exactly,” Zoey says. “Shaun wanted to move things forward in the relationship but I stood up to him. And so, at a Christmas party, Rachel Borawski, who was also the host, told everyone Shaun was thinking of dumping me.”

            “That bitch!” Cyndi says.

            “I know!” Zoey says.

            The two take a moment to realize they’re on the same side here, and laugh.

            “But you shouldn’t give up on Simon just because he’s angry at the world,” Zoey defends again. “The world actually does kinda suck. Be mad at him if he was more like Shaun, always handsy and oblivious.”

            “I can’t,” Cyndi says, starting to choke up. “I just can’t.”

            “Why not?”

            “My… My father…”

            “You father? Would he not approve of-?”

            “No! No!” Cyndi says, shaking her head. “It’s because my father was so angry at the world. He would say things so much like what Simon and Siro would say. He was so angry at people like what Simon and Siro were describing. My father… Oh God, I chose someone like my father! He had so much anger, but he didn’t know what to do with it.”

            “Oh, Cyndi…” Zoey says, cat ears drooping in sadness. “He didn’t… hit you, did he?”

            “No, no,” Cyndi says.

            “Oh, thank goodness,” Zoey sighs.

            “He was just… He’d be so scary when he’d lose his temper. He’d get so red and loud. My mom couldn’t take it, and they got divorced. She got custody of me, and my father pays child support, but I haven’t seen him in such a long time. I’m not even sure what he looks like now. But I can’t not hear how he’d say those same things! I can’t do it, Zoey. I can’t!”

            “It’s okay,” Zoey says as she moves closer to side-hug Cyndi. “It’s okay.”

 

            Jeff and Seth look to each other, and then to Simon. They sit down nearby, crossing their legs. He looks at them a moment as he shakes his hand and sits back.

            “For being boyfriend and girlfriend, it sounds like the two of you haven’t gotten to know each other that well,” Jeff says.

            “We only started dating because of The Spektrum,” Simon says. “Guess it took me dying and coming back to get the girl.”

            “I don’t think that’s what did it,” Seth says. “That might’ve been what helped the two of you take that first step, but that’s not what got her to like you.”

 

            “Cyndi,” Zoey says as she lets go of the hug. “Simon is not like your father. He doesn’t go around all angry.”

            Zoey does think back to missions with The Spektrum, and the times she saw Code Black in action.

            “He’s definitely something when he is angry,” she admits. “But he’s only angry when he should be angry. At least, I think so. Honestly, how well do you know him? I’ve only known him since Reciprocity was still Anonymous Inc.”

            “I’ve only known him since the first Spektrum fan club meeting,” Cyndi says. “I mean, I was surprised to learn he goes to church. What other things about him don’t I know? *gasp* His political views! What if he-”

            “Cyndi,” Zoey says, grabbing Cyndi’s face with both hands. “You’re missing the point. The Simon you knew from the club, who is The Spektrum, who is in the private dojo right now, is the same guy. Don’t listen to his angry, misguided clone. Do you like the Simon or not?”

            Cyndi, cheeks being smooshed a bit between Zoey’s hands, thinks really hard on Zoey’s question. Zoey can see it in Cyndi’s eyes. She sees the wheels turning in her head, comparing the good and the bad, and coming to a conclusion. Cyndi opens her mouth to speak and Zoey’s eyes light up.

            “I can’t…!” Cyndi says. “I just can’t!”

            Zoey’s ears droop and her hands fall to the floor.

            “Cyndi!” she says.

            “I’m sorry!” Cyndi says. “I just can’t stop thinking back to my dad’s temper. My mom never lets me talk about him. She always changes the subject when I try to bring him up. Like, isn’t that a bad sign?”

            “You’re right, I’m sorry,” Zoey says, patting Cyndi’s hand. “I’m not taking your feelings into consideration.”

 

            A phone rings, but it’s not Seth’s or Jeff’s.

            “Oh, it’s yours,” Jeff says to Simon.

            Simon grabs his phone and checks caller ID. It’s his dad.

            “Hey, Dad,” he says as he answers.

            “Simon, where are you?” his dad asks.

            “Oh, uh, we ended up going to Alameda,” he says sheepishly.

            “What? Why Alameda?”

            “Zoey’s cousins drove us. You know, Zoey and her cousins from church. You’ve seen them around, the guy with the long hair and his brother with the spikey hair.”

            “Why are you with Zoey and her cousins?”

            “Because… they’re Power Surge kids, just like me,” he says slowly, nervously.

            “Oh! Well, that’s surprising. So that’s not you in that Zero video?”

            “No, it’s not me,” Simon says. “Where would I go for a realistic moon in the background? Wait, you heard about the video?”

            “It was on the news. You mom has no idea what to think! She asked your brothers if they thought he looked like you, too.”

            “Aw crap…” Simon says under his breath. “What did you tell her?”

            “I pretended like she was seeing things. Luckily they zoomed out, because I think your brothers would’ve thought so, too.”

            Simon just groans.

            “You should hurry back,” his dad continues. “I think we have to tell your mom.”

            “Yeah, yeah, okay,” Simon says, sighing. “See you soon.”

            Simon hangs up and puts his phone away. Then he closes his eyes and clenches his fists, and lets out a long, grumbling sigh.

            “Stupid friggin’ clone!” he growls.

            Simon takes a deep breath then stands up.

            “I need to get home,” he says.

            “Alright,” Jeff says as he and Seth stand up. “Mata ne, Jii-san <Later, Grampa.>”

            “Oi,” their grandfather says, looking at Simon. “Niji boya.”

            “Rainbow boy?” Jeff mutters, looking at him, too.

            “Um, yes?” Simon responds.

            “It will be alright,” the old man says. “If she truly cares for you, she will forgive you.”

            Simon nods, but he isn’t so sure. Not that he was wrong, but that Cyndi might not actually feel that strongly about him.

            The boys joined the girls in the main room. Simon looks at Cyndi and she looks at him, but they both look away when they look eyes.

            “We’re heading back,” Seth says. “Seems the news found out about the Siro promo, and Simon’s dad saw it.”

            “He’s fine, it’s my mom that’s the problem,” Simon says. “She still wasn’t in on the secret so she’s probably losing her mind over seeing my evil clone.”

            “Yeah, we should get home,” Cyndi says as she stands up.

            Zoey stands up last, and puts her cat ears and tail away.

            “Mata ne, Jii-san!” Zoey says to her grandfather through the doorway.

            “Mata ne, Zoey Kana,” grandfather says back sweetly.

            Zoey and the others go back to the car, but other than Seth, they hesitate before getting in. Simon and Cyndi are still unsure how to handle the situation, so Zoey speaks up.

            “I think it’d be best if Cyndi sat up front,” Zoey says.

            “What?” Jeff says. “Then where do I sit?”

            “In the middle of me and Simon,” Zoey says.

            “No, that won’t work,” Seth says. “His spikey hair will get in the way of the rear view mirror.”

            “My hair’s not that spikey,” Jeff argues.

            “I’ll sit up front,” Simon says. “Then Jeff can sit with Zoey and Cyndi.”

            Cyndi is a little surprised, maybe a little hurt, but ultimately accepts the decision. Jeff sits where Simon sat on the ride here, with Zoey in the middle now and Cyndi behind Seth in the driver’s seat. Seth pulls out of the parking lot and heads back to San Leandro.

            The drive back is quiet, and filled with awkward tension. The only thing keeping Simon from thinking about Cyndi is thinking about how he’s going to explain things to his mother and brothers.

            When they arrive in San Leandro, they drop Cyndi off first, because Dolores Avenue is first off of East 14^th Street.

            “See you guys on Monday,” Cyndi says before going to her door.

            Cyndi goes in as they drive away. She goes to her room, forgetting her fish, and sits on her bed. She’d never seen Simon angry before, and she couldn’t get the image of it out of her head. She wraps her arms around herself tightly as she tears up and slumps over on her mattress.

            Seth drives past Maud to turn onto Morgan Avenue to drop Simon off.

            “See you guys at church tomorrow,” Simon says. “At least, I hope so.”

            Simon walks up to his front door as Seth pulls away. Simon doesn’t need to knock because his dad opens the door right away. His dad lets him in and Simon looks for his mother.

            “She’s in your room,” his dad says. “She hopped on the computer to watch the video for herself.”

            Simon sighs and walks to the hall. His room is right there so he immediately finds his mother at the desk and she sees him walk in. She looks at him but he looks at the screen. She paused right as Siro appears on the screen.

            “Simon…” she says sternly despite the emotional expression on her face. “What-”

            Simon simply changes into Code Silver, and it startles her out of the chair.

            “So… You were him the whole time?” she asks.

            “Yes,” he says. “But that guy on the video isn’t me. First I need to tell you how I ended up like this.”

            Simon tells the story of The Spektrum, just like he did with his dad and his friends. His mom wants to ask questions but his dad is there to keep her from interrupting.

            By the end of telling the story, Simon was sitting on his bed, with his dad at the foot and his mom back in the swiveling desk chair.

            “So you died?” his mom asks when she finally gets to speak.

            Simon nods.

            “But you’re back,” she continues.

            He nods again.

            “But that can’t be, if you were shot,” she says.

            “But it is,” he says. “I don’t know why, either, but I am.”

            “God, why us?” his mom asks.

            “What’s that supposed to mean?” Simon asks her.

            “Well, it was one thing when I thought someone else’s family had the superhero risking his life, and they’d be mourning the loss of The Spektrum,” his mom says. “But now I find out you’ve been him all along. I knew something was up when your eyes were somehow better.”

            She frowns at Simon’s dad, who just shrugs.

            “And now there’s another you running around, talking about hate and hurting people?” she says, growing upset.

            Simon starts seeing a similar look in his mother’s eyes as Cyndi had. He feels his jaw clench shut on its own. He remembers these automatic reactions a lot growing up with bullies egging him on. It was a lot like with Robby in PE.

            “Do you really think that way?” she asks when he stays quiet.

            “What does it matter now?!” he says. “Siro’s the problem!”

            “But if he’s you, he wouldn’t be like this if you didn’t feel that way,” his mom counters.

            “Well I’m sorry I get pissed off because idiots think they can just pick on people!”

            Simon’s eye flickers red, but stops as he takes a deep breath. Now his mom seems to clench her jaw shut as she gets up and exits his room. His dad looks at him, perhaps disappointed, but also concerned. Unsure what to say, his dad also gets up and exits the room to let Simon be alone.

           

            “Y’know, you sure came around a lot faster than we thought you would,” Zita says.

            “Well, to be honest, we weren’t that far from it before death,” Siro says, referring to himself and The Spektrum. “Being both him yet not him, I’ve been able to observe our life a bit more… objectively.

            “We grew up sensitive, and were told to toughen up. We made ourselves tough, by hating our weakness. We grew up hating ourselves, whether we were aware of it or not. A seed had been planted, and it was growing. You may have cloned me from blood, but I am the fruit grown from that seed.”

            “You’re really good with metaphors,” Zita says.

            “I should write that one down,” Siro says as he goes to a notepad on the coffee table.

            Siro does write the basics of that done, such as “seed had been planted” and “fruit of hate.”

            “But I don’t hate myself,” Siro continues, “because my life has only amounted to three weeks. I hate his life. I hate who he was. I hate his shyness, his fear, his anxiety and stress. I hate that he became a doormat hiding behind glasses and rules. If I could change my face, I would, because looking at his face only makes me think of his pathetic little life. Ugh, what am I doing? I should be saving this for later.”

            Siro writes all that down under his previous notes.

            “Alright, alright, stop working,” Zorb says with a smirk as he leans towards Siro and waves a hand at the paper. “Let’s have a toast to your successful debut after…” 

            “What was the word?” he asks Siro. “Week?”

            “Yes, week,” Siro says.

            “Then a toast to your debut, after just three weeks of existing!”

            “Toast!” Zita says as she and Zorb clink glasses.

            Siro raises his glass of water as part of the toast, but puts it back down to finish writing.