It is time for another installment in our OPS Authors series for the 2021 - 2022 school year. Back in December 2021 we posted part one of The Breakthrough, an original story by Dean, a sixth grader here at OPS. The story was a big hit, so we're thrilled Dean has now provided us with Part 2 of his story. We hope you enjoy it. The Breakthrough Part 2 - Reconcile I got home and I saw my son waiting for me. He must’ve been pretty shocked that I was even alive. I mean, I was and I quote “fatally wounded”. “Dad? Is that you? I thought you were surely gone. I mean, you were on the ground and there were lot’s of police and an ambulance. I wouldn’t know what to expect,” he said. “Well, at least I'm alive,” I feel a tear coming down my face. I reach forward, arms out, and I hug him. The feeling was lost so many harsh years ago. Now, it came back to me. The feeling of comfort. I… I don’t know how to explain it. “Son, after we lost your mother, my wife to that earthquake. I lost all humanity in me. I want you to know I still care about you,” I sniffled. I let it all come out. A torrential downpour of tears come out. I can’t stop it. I gain back all senses of who I am. Once a few minutes passed, I gathered my bearings. Then I came back to the realization that a clone is afoot. He could strike at any time. I decided to bust out the old police radio, and go to any location that the crime was at. “Son, if I don’t make it back, know I love you,” I look back hoping for the best for me. First I drove some distance before noticing some odd calls. Things like a flying human, or a cluster of orange swirls. It had to be him. I headed over to the next location. It was a bank. I saw crossing the street then bam, he teleported. After that, I decided to call New Genetics corporate headquarters. “Hello?” The attendant called. “Tell me how to deactivate a Nano-tech unit. Now,” I threatened. I needed answers. If I didn’t get any, there could be serious consequences. One of which would be the possibility of the clone blowing up the power plant. Los Angeles wouldn’t have power for weeks. “Well sir, do you have any sort of object that can access the internet?” The attendant asked.
“Can a phone work?” I yelled. “Yes. Type in New Genetics Corporation and it should bring you to a page that says welcome, correct?” The attendant questioned. “Mmhm. Next, There's not a lot of time!” I warned the receptionist. “Hit the settings icon and select the option to deactivate Nano-tech unit.” “Okay, got it. Bye now,” I remarked. They were too slow and I needed to go now. As I started though, I thought about what the doctor said about my health. My Nano-tech implant. Without it, I would probably… well you know. Croak. I refrained. Besides, I feel like this Nano-tech has its own mind, maybe even mine. *Ring* *Ring* *Ring* “Huh? Oh, he- hello?” “You know who I am. I’m you,” the stranger said. “Are you the… are you the clone?” I asked. “Maybe, maybe not. Come into the bank to find out,” the stranger requested. I walk out slowly. I can sense a presence. I don’t know how, but I just do. I feel stronger too. As I turn, I notice him. “Come inside,” the stranger says. I never hung up. He was on the line. He didn’t even have a phone, but then the thought came to my mind. He was connected to the servers. How? That's unknown as of now. I opened the door. *ZZGHT* “Behind you… brother.” “What do you want?” I try to continue speaking but I can’t. I feel frozen. “Nothing. I only want you dead,” he whispered. “Why do you want to kill me?” “You… are… Well, nevermind. Just remembered not to start the party early,” he chuckled. Start what party early? What could he mean? I turned around and he was gone. How? I left at a calm pace, but something was up. It was too quiet. Then it happened. *BOOM* Everybody was screaming then I saw it. There he was. Hovering over the destroyed facility. “We’re all gonna die!” said a panicked stranger. I ran to my car. By the time I started to drive, it started to drizzle, then rain. If I know one thing that's negative, it’s this. When it rains, it pours. A storm erupted. Stragglers were washed away. I had to be quick. I started going full speed, trying to avoid everybody, I was almost at 88 MPH when my car took a blow. I lost control of it. It was a wreck. I walked to the front, when I noticed the pendant. She gave it to me. I couldn’t just leave it. I crawled into it and grabbed it. As soon as I grabbed it, my body had a spasm. It only stopped when I dropped the pendant. I grabbed the pendant again, but put it around my neck. I started to spasm again, but this time, it stopped by itself. “Gah!” I yelled. A sharp pain on the head, like the one when I blacked out. He was here. He let go and quickly reached for my shoulder. He re-positioned me. “I thought you were supposed to be tough. You are a man, not a kid,” He snarled. “Well, you are a sack of… uhh.. potatoes?” I couldn’t think of anything. The situation was too stressful. “If you wanted to pick a fight, you did well,” he started “You’ve been quiet. Are you afraid that I can hear you?” “I… n… No i’m not!” I was angry. I punched him and sparks dissipated, but reformed. I kept punching him until he did something. “How ignorant can you be Jim,” he muttered. “Just about as ignorant as you.” He throws me. I landed on top of the other tower on a catwalk. I look down. “Why bring me to a… A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT!?” I was enraged. I started to hover. My power is growing. My anger feeding it. Then the thought came to me. I was invincible. With my Nano-tech infusion, I could never die, well unless I fell into acid. “My sweet little Jim. I knew you were up to no good. All I want to do is just end you so I can walk around, maybe terrorize your son,” he smiled. “You sick psycho! Why would you even think of that?” I yelled. At this point, the storm raged. The sky, constantly flickering, like somebody turning the light switch on and off constantly. It was now silent. Suddenly, his mouth started to move. “So, too weak to strike first? Ahh… look Jim Granderson, a little baby,” he taunted. Now he crossed the line. I charged. I hit him. He hit back. I showed him the palm of my hand and a laser came out. ‘How does that even work?’ I thought. ‘I used to be a comic geek, but this… The Iron man thing is weird.’ It seemed that my infusion had a mind of its own. “Agh! My arm!” I severed his arm clean off. A bunch of pixels rose up and disappeared, for good this time. “Got it. I have to fight fire with more fire, eh?” I mumbled. “Deal!” I kept firing, until he got close enough to kick my chest. I hit the wall. “Can’t you see it Jim? Just give up. We're one of the same!” He pinned me to the concrete wall. Then I saw it. A loose bolt on the catwalk. I just had to hit the surrounding area, and it may be able to collapse. For a brief moment, all my memories of my wife all played at once. She would always cheer me on when I was on the news. I knew she was still cheering me on today. I aimed steadily, then kablam. “Oh, nuts,” The clone said. And down he went. The sun started to shine again and it was going down to sleep. I exhaled. Gone were the days of constant torment. Now was the beginning of a new era. One in which I can relax. That was quite the breakthrough indeed. I flew to the top of the wall, where I watched the sun.
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