It is a warm summer evening in Staten Island, a young man closing up a comic book shop for the night ponders going for a late night run to shake the doldrums of a slow Tuesday. As the door is locked, a streak of red and black flashes behind the man in the windows. He turns and looks around, seeing nothing. As if by premonition, he looks up. His eyes are greeted at the rooftop across the street, a large figure looms, long crimson locks blowing in the wind, offset by the equally red glowing eyes.
"Who are you? What do you want?" The young man yells, the empty streets echoing his question. He feels as if this strange being is looking through him. The hairs on his neck stand on end, but stands steadfast. The strange figure begins to radiate a crimson aura outlining his ebon form. The glowing form falls from the rooftop, accelerating faster than gravity. The young man tries to move in anticipation to catch the falling form, and a faint emerald glow seems to follow his footfalls. As the young man races out to the street, the crimson figure rushes along the building, then on the street to him, an evil grin glints from the darkened face. A pair of glowing fingers extend, tapping the young man on the shoulder. As the dark and crimson form turns to run northward, a single word escapes his lips, fading from the Doppler effect...
"Tag!"
The young man is surprised as he's pushed back three steps from the jab, but a smile forms on his face. As he looks around, he sees no one in the area. He begins to accelerate after the strange being, his emerald aura extending as he runs faster than the human eye can see. As he hovers between heartbeats, he changes from his normal garb to a green outfit, flashes of blue and silver burst forth as he dons his polarized goggles. Stashing his clothes in his backpack, the young man disappears in a flash of light and speed. Nitro-G races into the night.
After flying above the city's buildings to get a better view, Nitro sees the crimson blur at street level, zig-zagging in his path, almost as if to be more visible on purpose, heading toward the river. The adrenalized adventurer flies overhead to intercept, believing his flight can beat this strange being. As he lands 200 feet in the path before the speedster, his hands arc with emerald electricity. Nitro-G races toward the glowing man, hand outstretched to tag him.
"Now you're it pal", he exclaims as he tries to touch the living rocket, only to have his touch dodged with surprising agility. As the mysterious figure flips over him, he is tagged on the top of the head. The speedster laughs.
"You're grounded!" The dark stranger cackles, as he continues to run towards the river. Nitro-G follows after, wondering as to the motives of this being. Something about him seems familiar, but be can't put his finger on it. As the stranger leaps a guard rail, he rockets upon the water, running on top of it! Nitro begins flying after the being, following in his wake, but notices he doesn't appear to be as fast as this racer while flying. He approaches the water, and begins to run on top of it as his opponent does. It's a stunt he's never tried before now, but always wanted to. With his excitement as his experiment seems to work with his momentum, he continues his pursuit of the speedster. His course, the heart of Manhattan.
Block after block they run, green and red blurs barely visible to the naked eye, until the crimson opponent reaches the Empire State Building, and runs up the side of it. Nitro-G follows suit on an adjacent part of the wall. Their race comes to an end atop the building, the dark racer's glow faded except for his eyes. Nitro approaches the stranger.
"Okay, you won the race up here. Now who are you? What are you doing in my city?"
The stranger sneers a cheshire grin, as the light in his eyes fades, and the pallor lightens to a more human hue. "To have a race, you must start as equals. We never did that. But as to who I am? Don't you recognize me from Orlando?" He steps forward into the light. His face revealing his long hair and goatee, his dark uniform offset by a symbol of intertwining lightning bolts forming an X on his chest.
"Dave! Dude! It's good to see you bro!" Nitro's glow fades as he shakes hands with the stranger, both reciprocating pats on the backs. "So you've got powers too? Awesome!"
"Thanks man, it's good to see you too. I knew you were in the neighborhood, I had to stop by and see my super buddy. And I'm glad no one else is up here to hear. I have a super identity as well. I am ReFusion."
"ReFusion eh? Cool! I like it! So, what are your powers? How'd you get 'em? I thought you had another idea for the show you were telling me about."
"That's true, I did. But something else happened to me. It's a long origin story, short version is I found a mystic object,. I say a magic word, it empowers me with the powers of...some legendary beings and heroes."
"Oh, like Captain Marvel and Shazam?"
"Kind of a mix between that and Kid Eternity. Like I said, more to it, but I can get into that later. I was in town on a little sightseeing trip, and I thought I'd look you up. Didn't wanna bug you at work, so I waited."
"Dude, you can hang out in the shop any time. How long you here for?"
"Not sure yet, there's something I have to look into about a possible recording job, other than that, I have a few days to kill. In the meantime, I was wondering if you'd like to help me test the upward limits of my powers, and in doing so, yours as well?"
"Well, sure, if I can. But you know, my powers only work on my adrenaline level. I can only help for so long."
ReFusion smiled. "I know, that's why I spooked you first. I figured if I gave you the Martian Manhunter appearance, you'd be up for a little run. Besides, I have a present for ya. Here." ReFusion pulled out a six-pack of Red Bull and handed Nitro a bottle of pills. The label read 'Raw Adrenal'.
"What the!? Adrenaline pills?" Nitro laughed.
