Alpha: First To Rise (Updated 2024)

Written & Created By: Eddie Yagami
*Readers Discretion Is Advised*
A month had passed, and the mysterious light remained quiet. Life had carried on as usual for Mac and his friends-Mac was still being chased by his fangirls, JR continued his attempts to flirt with no success, and Lucky was along for the ride.
JR had been living with Mac since his father, Mark, was still out on assignment, though Mark checked in regularly, keeping a close eye on Mac from a distance. Mac's training with Mr. Lou continued, his skills improving with the advanced techniques he'd been practicing.
Mark, on his watch, had started noticing an increasing number of people with the strange logo on their clothing-the same logo he had first seen a month ago. It wasn't widespread, but it was enough to make him suspicious.
When Mark reported it to Crispin, Crispin had begun looking into the matter himself. Oddly, nothing about the logo could be found online, which was strange in this age of technology, where nothing is too difficult to uncover. Growing frustrated, Crispin decided to reach out to an old contact for help.
"Luis, how are you doing? And how's Chandler's training going?" Crispin asked through his private line.
"I'm doing well. Chandler's progressing quite nicely," Mr. Lou replied. "What can I help you with?"
"I wanted to check if you've sensed anything from Alpha lately," Crispin said, his voice revealing his concern for Mac's safety.
"It's still the same as a month ago, but every few days, I do sense a slight surge coming from him. I can't quite figure out why," Mr. Lou responded, which only added to Crispin's worry.
"I see. That's concerning. Anyway, the real reason I'm calling is to ask you to look into something odd," Crispin continued. "My bodyguard has noticed a strange logo recently. It's hard to describe, but there are letters in the center-OSD."
Mr. Lou's expression immediately changed when he heard those letters. His gaze instinctively turned toward the insignia hanging on his office wall, and an old memory resurfaced.
"Crispin, does this logo look like a hexagon with spear tips crossed on either side?" Mr. Lou asked cautiously.
"Actually, yes, it does. I hadn't thought of it that way," Crispin replied, now growing more intrigued. "Have you seen it before?"
Mr. Lou's mind raced. "Did the Order survive?", he wondered. But this wasn't something he could reveal to Crispin just yet.
"I've come across it in my travels from long ago, but it's been quite some time since I last saw it," Mr. Lou said, choosing his words carefully.
"Let me reach out to some contacts of mine and see if there is anything else that I can find out about this logo. Maybe it was spotted elsewhere as well."
They ended the call, and while Crispin informed Mark of the next steps, Mr. Lou sat in his office, his thoughts swirling with memories of the past. He stared at the insignia, troubled by its reappearance. "Oh, Master... I wish you were still here to guide me," he muttered quietly.
Meanwhile, Mac and JR had just returned to the apartment after dropping Lucky off at her house. The school week was over, and the weekend promised some relaxation. Or at least, that was the plan, but JR had something weighing on his mind.
"WHEN WERE YOU GOING TO TELL ME THAT LUCKY SPENT THE NIGHT HERE?!" JR shouted, his frustration more comedic than serious.
Mac, standing in the kitchen with a blank expression, turned slowly to face JR. "Why are you so surprised over something so trivial? You act like we've never spent the night together before," Mac replied coolly.
"That's not the point!" JR started to protest but abruptly stopped, remembering the promise he made to Lucky a month ago. "Never mind, I'm just gonna shut up now."
"Oh no, you're not. Finish what you were about to say," Mac insisted, but JR stayed silent.
"I see how it is," Mac muttered, amused but letting it drop for now. They sat in the living room watching TV, but JR's mind wandered back to the promise he made with Lucky shortly after the first week of school ended.
On that day, JR and Lucky were walking home, but Lucky had been unusually quiet. After a while, she broke the silence. "Hey, James... " she began to say, using his actual name was something she rarely did.
"Uh oh, if you're using my actual name, then this must be serious," JR joked, but Lucky didn't laugh. Instead, she sighed heavily.
"Yeah, it is. I need you to promise me something, and you can't tell Chandler."
JR blinked in surprise. "Okay... I promise," he said cautiously.
"I'm starting to have feelings for him," Lucky admitted.
JR stood there, speechless for what felt like an eternity. "YOU WHAT?!" he shouted, but Lucky quickly clamped her hand over his mouth.
"Shush! I don't need you making a scene," she hissed. JR nodded, and she let go.
"You... like Chandler? More than a friend?" JR asked, still in shock.
Lucky nodded. "Yes. But I'm not going to act on it. I don't want to ruin our friendship," she reassured him.
JR let out a sigh of relief. "Good. Because you know he'll figure it out sooner rather than later."
"Just don't tell him, please," Lucky added, and JR agreed, although he knew that Mac probably already sensed her feelings.
Back in the apartment, Mac glanced at the time and realized it was time to head to Mr. Lou's studio for training. "Alright, time to go," he said, grabbing his training bag. JR yawned, got up and waited by the door.
On the walk to the studio, Mac brought up the earlier conversation again. "So, you plan on finishing what you started to say earlier?"
JR looked at him in disbelief. "He's still on that?" he thought, then said aloud, "I can't."
"Can't or won't?" Mac pressed, his curiosity piqued.
"I can't because I promised Lucille I wouldn't tell you," JR blurted out, then immediately regretted it.
Mac raised an eyebrow. "A promise, huh? I see how it is."
JR felt guilty, but Mac, sensing this, chuckled. "Relax. I've known for a while."
JR blinked while staring blankly at Mac, "Know... what?", JR asked as he played dumb.
"I know that Lucille has feelings for me," Mac said with a grin.
JR stopped in his tracks. "Fuck! How'd you find out?"
"I had my suspicions, but they were confirmed the morning after she stayed over," Mac replied.
As they continued walking, they turned a corner into an alleyway. Mac accidentally bumped into a stranger, muttering, "Sorry," as they passed.
Something about the logo on the stranger's jacket caught Mac's eye. He stared at it for a moment, a faint sense of recognition stirring in his mind.
"Where have I seen that before?", Mac wondered, he quickly shook off the thought, but then he remembered where he saw it.
What Mac didn't know was that the stranger had also felt something during their brief contact. The man, now out of sight, pulled out his phone and made a call. "I think I've found the Alchemist's power."
Mark had witnessed the brief encounter from a distance. He, too, had noticed the logo. "This logo is becoming too common," Mark thought, making a mental note to remember the stranger's face.
Meanwhile, Mac and JR arrived at the studio, where Mac began his training with Mr. Lou. As JR sat on the sidelines, he began to message Lucky on his phone, asking her about their earlier promise.
Lucky playfully dodged his questions at first, but eventually, JR asked her about when she stayed the night at Mac's apartment to get her side of the story.
Mac, meanwhile, was focused on his training but couldn't stop thinking about the logo he had seen earlier. "Hey, Mr. Lou, I've got a question," Mac said, taking a pause from his routine.
"What is it, Chandler?" Mr. Lou asked, intrigued.
"That crest in your office... where's it from?" Mac asked. His question took Mr. Lou by surprise, momentarily distracting him. Before he could answer, Mac accidentally landed a full-force punch on his face.
"Oh shit! Are you okay, Mr. Lou?" Mac asked, panicking slightly.
Mr. Lou raised a hand to stop him. "Please, boy, it'll take more than one of your punches to knock me down," he said with a smirk. "But it was your question that caught me off guard."
"I hope I'm not overstepping by asking a personal question," Mac said, feeling a bit awkward.
Mr. Lou waved it off. "No, it's fine. That crest belonged to a dear old friend of mine who passed away a long time ago. He's the reason I pursued martial arts."
"I see," Mac said thoughtfully. "I may have mistaken it for something I saw earlier."
"Oh? You saw something similar?" Mr. Lou asked, his interest piqued.
"I bumped into someone wearing a jacket with a logo that looked like the crest, but I doubt it's the same," Mac explained.
Mr. Lou stroked his chin, his mind racing. "Perhaps it's just a coincidence," he said, though his instincts told him otherwise. He had to be careful with how much he would reveal to Mac, knowing the dangers the boy might face.
The rest of the training session passed without incident, and soon the boys were headed back to Mac's apartment. Once they arrived, Mac took a quick shower while JR relaxed in the living room. When Mac joined him afterward, he was quick to bring up their earlier conversation.
"So, what did you and Lucille talk about?" Mac asked.
"Oh, nothing important. Just wanted to get her side of the story from when she stayed over," JR said.
"And?" Mac prompted.
JR sighed. "Her story matched yours, surprisingly."
"Why wouldn't it?" Mac asked, grinning.
JR, however, was still thinking about something else. "She still doesn't know," he muttered.
"Know what?" Mac asked, raising an eyebrow.
"About your secret stalker," JR replied.
Mac groaned. "Did you really have to bring that up?"
"What, are you worried that Lucille will get jealous?" JR teased.
Mac laughed. "Lucky.... Jealous?" Remembering that she has feelings for him, "On second thought...."
JR wasn't so sure about Lucky either. "Your opinion might change once you know who it is."
"Oh? You found out who it is?" Mac asked, now he was intrigued.
"Yep. Wasn't too hard with the description you gave me," JR said, smirking.
"I forgot. Remind me what I said?" Mac asked, feigning innocence.
"Oh, don't play dumb. You described her as, and I quote, 'She has bright red hair, a very slim figure, is a part of the student council, and has some nice big tits,'" JR said, sarcastically.
Mac rolled his eyes. "Alright, I get it."
JR sighed, scratching his head. "Anyway, the girl who's been stalking you is none other than Stephanie Connors, the Student Council President."
Mac wasn't surprised, but it made sense. "Well, that was slightly unexpected, but it's no huge surprise," he said.
The next day, Mac and JR spent most of their time relaxing and catching up on homework. In the afternoon, they headed to Mr. Lou's studio for Mac's training. On the way, Mac called Lucky to see if she wanted to join, but she had family plans, which would end up being a good thing.
As they walked down the usual alleyway, Mac felt a strange sense of unease creeping up on him. He scanned the area without alerting JR to his growing concern.
"Hey James, ever think about learning martial arts?" Mac asked, trying to keep the conversation light.
"That was random. But not really, no," JR replied, confused by the sudden question.
As they neared the next junction that would lead them straight to the studio, two men in suits blocked their path. Mac signaled for JR to keep walking, but the men continued to block their path, refusing to let them pass. Mac's irritation grew.
"Can I help you?" Mac asked, his voice sharp.
The men didn't respond. Instead, one of them grabbed Mac's shoulder tightly. Instinctively, Mac grabbed the man's hand and twisted it, then kicked him back, sending him flying. The moment their contact broke, something surged within Mac-a strange pulse he couldn't explain.
"The Darkness," a mysterious voice echoed inside him, but Mac had no time to dwell on it. The second man moved toward JR, and Mac quickly intervened, knocking him back with a swift kick.
"James, go hide and call Mr. Lou!" Mac shouted, tossing JR his phone. JR, though terrified, obeyed, hiding behind a dumpster.
As JR fumbled to call Mr. Lou, he couldn't help but watch Mac in awe. Despite the chaos, Mac stood confidently, prepared for whatever came next.
Mark, observing from a distance, saw the fight and rushed toward the alleyway, but two more men intercepted him, blocking his path.
"Get out of my way!" Mark growled, but these men were stronger and faster than expected. He fought them off as best he could, desperate to reach Mac and JR.
Mac continued fighting and landing blow after blow on the man, but something wasn't right. The man's eyes were pitch black-completely devoid of pupils. Mac had no idea what he was dealing with.
The man knew he was struggling against Mac, so he reached into his jacket and pulled out a strange looking dagger. Mac groaned, "Oh, come on! A knife? Really?"
But the man wasn't pointing it at Mac. Instead, he flipped the dagger and pointed it at his own chest and, without hesitation, stabbed himself directly in the heart while shouting, "FOR THE ORDER!"
Mac was blinded as a bright light enveloped the man, shaking the ground beneath them. When the light faded, the man was gone, replaced by something far worse-a monstrous, humanoid figure covered in a rocky, stone-like substance. Its eyes burned with fire, and flames flickered from its mouth as it breathed.
Mac couldn't believe what he was seeing. "What... the... fuck... is... that?!"
At that moment, the mysterious light pulsed rapidly, its energy reacting to the presence of this monster. "Why is a Creature of The Darkness here?!" the light exclaimed in confusion.
Mac smacked his face lightly, trying to refocus. He couldn't afford to be paralyzed by fear now. "James, please tell me you've called Mr. Lou!" he shouted.
JR, still fumbling with the phone, panicked. "Shit! I'm calling him now!"
"Hurry the fuck up, James!" Mac shouted, barely dodging the creature's first attack.
The creature lunged at Mac, its sharp claws slashing through the air. Mac blocked and countered as best he could, but the creature was relentless.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lou was at his desk, waiting for Mac and JR to arrive, when his office phone rang, "This is Luis," he answered.
"Mr. Lou! It's James! We need help-Chandler's in trouble!" JR's panicked voice echoed through the line.
"What's going on, James?" Mr. Lou asked, his tone sharp.
"I-I don't know how to explain it, but Chandler's fighting a monster!" JR stammered.
Mr. Lou's eyes widened. After JR mentioned the monster, Mr. Lou instantly felt The Creature's presence. "Faex! Where are you?" he demanded.
"We're in an alley about fifteen minutes south of the studio," JR replied.
"I'm on my way. Tell Chandler to hold out as long as he can," Mr. Lou said, grabbing a unique-looking sword from his wall before bolting out of the studio.
JR hung up and looked at Mac, he was still managing to hold out, but was bleeding from several wounds on his body. "Chandler! Mr. Lou is on his way, just hang in there!" JR shouted.
Mac gave him a quick thumbs-up, but he was starting to struggle himself. He had taken significant damage, and his strength was fading.... Fast.
Meanwhile, Mark fought desperately against the two men blocking his path. He managed to knock one out, but the other became faster and stronger, making the fight even harder.
During the battle with Mac, The Creature stopped for a moment and raised its hand into the air and conjured a sword out of nowhere. Mac groaned, "Oh, come on!" He was running on fumes at this point and could hardly move.
The Creature lunged at Mac again, its blade slashing through the air. Mac managed to dodge the first few strikes, but with each swing, the attacks grew more ferocious.
As Mac's strength had finally dissipated, the next few attacks from The Creature connected. An upward slash going up his chest, triggered a memory from his past.... A happy one, with his parents.
Next, a downward diagonal slash that went from shoulder to waist, triggered another memory of when he first met JR and Lucky. Followed by another downward diagonal slash that coincidentally formed an "X" on his chest, which then triggered a flood of memories from his past... all happy memories, Mac knew that it was the end.
Lastly, a heavy blow landed, slashing across Mac's chest, spinning him around with enough force that the next thing he saw was JR's face, distraught.
JR watched in horror as Mac suffered all these wounds, "C'mon, James, do something!" JR urged himself, but his legs wouldn't let him move. Then, he saw when Mac was forced to look at him, still unable to move.
Mac smiled weakly at JR, his vision blurring. "Goodbye, James... please tell everyone I love them," Mac whispered, his voice barely audible.
JR's eyes widened in terror, "No...", he said. Finally, JR was able to get up and move, but it was already too late.
The Creature's final strike was quick and swift. The blade pierced through Mac from behind, and everything went dark. The last thing that was heard next was one last scream from JR...
"CHANNNDLERRRR!!!!!!"
To Be Continued....