! written by u/biologicalhighway on 2014-12-14

Ever since the quarantine was ordered nothing good has happened in Empire City. Everyone is struggling to get their hands on whatever supplies they can find, gangs run rampant and the police are more likely to steal than to help. Freaks are now running around setting things on fire just with their minds and poisoning people with some sort of black ooze. It helps to have someone like Cole McGrath trying to stop it all and do some good. A lot of people were scared of the Electric Man at first but I knew early on he's good, he is a hero. He saved my mother from a group of those red hooded freaks and carried her to the hospital afterwords just to make sure she was okay. With powers like his I'm sure he could be ruling this city but instead he's out there helping everyone he can, not matter what that stupid Voice of Whatever says about him.

Cole has given me something to look forward to when I wake up in the morning. I always get excited when I am putting up his posters and see him slide by using the rail lines. The sparks flying off the tracks radiant raw energy, bluer than the sky has been lately. Some of us have now started associating his unique color of lightning blue with hope, signifying safe areas that are no longer controlled by gangs or criminals. Through this work I hope I may meet Cole one day and thank him for everyth-oh god. It's him!

“Cole! COLE! Lightning Man!”

“huh? Oh hey.” He looks away from the gas station and sees me running up to him. I must have caught him in the middle of a thought. I'm sure he's busy so I'll try to keep it short.

“Cole, I just wanted to thank you. You saved my mother's life a few days ago and I can't thank you more. You've helped inspire a lot of people to do good work around here and improve the city. You're a massive driving force of good and Empire City needs someone like you. Also if it isn't too much do you think I could get a picture with you?”

“Yeah sure. Always nice to feel appreciated.”

click

“Thanks again Cole, this is the best day of my life. Can't wait to show my mom!”

Once I have my picture I run off back to work, don't want to hold up the superhero and someone else's mother doesn't get saved. I look back to see Cole staring back at that gas station as he lightly underhand tosses a little ball of electricity right next to the pumps. The initial explosion is rapidly engulfed by the massive explosion from all of the pumps igniting at the same time. The ringing finally dies down to a deafening silence, followed up by a very clear 'huh' from Cole. He runs up the stairs and quickly glides off riding the train rails.

...maybe I'll keep that picture to myself for now.