Golden Guardian: Birth Of A Superhero Issue- 5

Vass dropped the lifeless body of General McKeller and calmly made his way down to the equipment stores. Dawn was coming, he knew it. He wouldn't turn his back on people in need; he was too predictably heroic for that.
Vass smiled as he opened the door to the stores and picked out the costume originally meant for him, when he was in the program. Simple black and white, not that hideous gold monstrosity Dawn had to wear. He smiled inwardly as he slipped on the suit. If it was a fight Dawn wanted, it was a fight he would get.

"Doctor Mitchells? General McKeller?"
Ryan had been surprised to find the gates to the lab open when he had arrived. He was aware that both Mitchells and McKeller worked over the weekends but something didn't feel right here. The place looked like it had been gone over by someone looking for something. Venturing up to the administration area Ryan noticed General McKeller's door ajar and went to investigate.
"General, are you in here?" Ryan said loudly as he pushed the door open. The sight that greeted his eyes was not a pleasant one. McKeller was sitting at his desk, his body battered, his skull caved in and his arms twisted in unnatural positions, broken in numerous places.
Opposite McKeller, Dr. Mitchels body was posed in his usual chair, his neck pointing at a sharp angle and his tongue hanging out of his mouth, a look of fear plastered across his face. Ryan turned to leave, but something on the desk caught his eye. A note, torn from one of the files. As he picked it up, Ryan's heart sank.
'I'm in the equipment stores. Come and get me hero. Captain Vass.'
Silently, Ryan left the room, not even caring to look back at Dr. Mitchells and General McKeller. Just two more people he'd failed to save.
The equipment store were dark as Ryan arrived. However, as he opened the door the lights flickered on to reveal Vass standing in the middle of the room, holding Ryan's suit.
"Vass." Ryan said as his former friend approached him.
"It's Captain to you," Vass snarled. He flung the costume at Ryan who caught it deftly. "Put that on."
"Why?' Ryan asked, perplexed.
"I want to defeat you in a fair fight." Captain said without turning to face Ryan. "I will prove that I am superior."
Ryan quickly clambered into the suit, wondering why Vass was doing this. He had put on his own costume, fine, but surely it was just unnecessary to make Ryan put his on too. But then again he was mad.
"I'm ready," Ryan said as he pulled the helmet down on to his head. "Now what do you want Vass."
"Don't call me that," Captain growled, lashing out at Ryan, who dodged backwards, away from the wild blow. "I am your Captain. I am your superior. You are nothing. And I will prove it."
Captain lunged at Ryan, hitting him hard in the chest and knocking him backwards into Ryan's costume stand. Ryan could feel something hard poking into his back as Captain's blows rained down on him. The shield. Swiftly he rolled, grabbing the shield from its mountings and using it to block the next blow before smashing it into the jaw of his opponent with all of his strength. Captain stumbled back and clutched his jaw. Ryan could see it healing, clicking back into place underneath the mask and the skin.
"Oh shit." He exclaimed under his breath. Not only was Vass stronger, but he also healed faster. Captain moved his lower jaw around, checking that it was back in position before smiling under his mask.
"Lets take this outside shall we."? He said, launching himself upwards and through the roof. Ryan clutched the shield over his head, protecting himself from falling debris.
"Hurry up, or you'll miss the party." Captain taunted from above him. Ryan grimaced and flew up into the air. Captain threw himself downwards, connecting with Ryan as he left the building, sending him crashing into the roof.
"You aren't as strong as I expected." Captain commented as Ryan pulled himself out from the impact pattern he had made in the roof. "But then again how could they have improved on perfection."
"You are not perfect." Ryan growled. "You've lost your mind. You are no longer a human with emotions, you are a heartless monster."
Captain laughed.
"Emotions, don't make me laugh. Emotions are what holds the human race back from achieving their fullest potential."
"You are wrong," shouted Ryan as he launched himself at Captain, sending his foe flying into a nearby tree. "Emotions make us strong, especially love and friendship. And it's my memories of my friend that will help me defeat you."
Captain snarled.
"Fine then. Have it your way."
He turned and shot towards Metro City, with Ryan in hot pursuit. There fight continued amongst the rooftops of the city, both trading blows, but neither really gaining the upper hand. Below a huge crowd had gathered, enthralled by the battle above them.
"Why do you fight me, Dawn?" Captain asked, in an almost taunting manner. "What makes you think you can win?"
"I want to use my powers to help people," Ryan shouted, landing a blow to the side of Captains face that sent him crashing into the side of a building. "I don't want to prove how superior I am like you."
Captain inwardly smiled. The Golden Guardian hadn't observed his current position, nor the throng of people below.
"In that case," he said, pulling himself free from the building and in doing so, causing a large chunk of mortar to plummet earthwards. "Save them."
Ryan launched himself after the rock, screams from the ground cascading up to him as the crowd below panicked and ran for their lives.
"Predictable." Captain said disdainfully as he flew away. "But we will meet again."
Ryan quickly caught up with the falling debris, taking two blows from his shield to smash it into small pieces, which fell harmlessly to earth, clattering onto the street below.
The crowd erupted into cheers. Flashes started to go off all around him as people took pictures. Ryan landed and was immediately mobbed. Questions were coming from all directions.
"Who are you?"
"What is your name?"
"Can I have your phone number?"
"My name is the Golden Guardian," Ryan said as he took off again in an effort to escape the crowd. "And I am here to protect this city."
Holding his shield aloft, Ryan shot away from the baying crowd, knowing exactly what would be the front cover of the next days papers. But boy did it feel good.

Later- In the sewers of Metro City.

Captain dropped down onto the access walkway. Underneath his mask, he crinkled his nose at the smell, but it didn't matter now. He had more important things to think about. The noises ahead told him he was close.
As he walked further, more signs became apparent, the sound of heavy breaths, the number of carcasses below foot, some rat, some larger animals, like stray dogs. A growl from the shadows ahead told Captain he had arrived.
"Zal," Captain said softly. "I have news for you."
And in the shadows, something moved.