Bahamut, The Platinum Protector's page

It wasn't a typical meeting. Nothing with him ever was. 'Let's meet for coffee' or 'swing by my office and we'll discuss this opportunity' was too simple for one of the world's best superheroes. Instead, we 'meet' during lunch rush in the business district, three city blocks away from one another.

"Listen, Asif, I think these kids could really use a mentor like yourself. You learned the hard way, and I feel your experiences would be priceless at an institution like this. With you on board, you will be helping many children who are developing power sets much like your own. You'll be able to give them much needed guidance and assistance. The curriculum can be whatever you want it to be. 'Psychokinetics', 'Telekinesis and You', hell, even 'How Not To Level A City Block 101', it's all up to you. What do you say?"

He couldn't see me, couldn't hear me nervously tapping my foot. He couldn't see my hands shaking with anxiety. I knew what he was asking me to do, and he knew how big of a deal it was to me.

'Sif? You there?

"Y-yeah, I'm here. Sorry. Just...thinking."

"Funny how this works, y'know. I think my words and you hear them. Could never get a grasp on how you mental types managed to juggle all the telepathy and whatnot. Would you like more time to think on it?"

"Duncan, I.... you're asking... I.."

"-I know. Things haven't been the same for you since the invasion. You've pulled yourself out of everyday life, gone missing. This is as much about helping you as it is helping these kids. We all learned the true meaning of loss, but life must go on."

He's right. I know he's right, but it's so hard to pull myself out of it. The invasion, m-my family...that mad man. Couldn't shake it from my thoughts after all these years... he couldn't have been me

"Suppose I take the position and something were to happen... do you have any contingencies for that?"

"I have faith in you, Asif. What happened to you during the invasion, from what I've heard, was not your fault. You can't blame yourself for the manipulations of others. You can't keep dwelling on it, Asif. We've all been worrying about you. We all want to help you, and this may be your best opportunity."

"I don't know if I'm ready,"

"-Take your time to think it o-"

"but, I...I'll do it."

I could feel the anxiety getting worse. I looked down on the city, saw Duncan Summers take a last sip of his coffee and get up. He looked up towards the rooftop I had been on and gave me a curt tip of his hat as he walked away.

"I'm glad to have you on board, Mr. Hazred. The students will love to meet you."

Oh, what have I gotten myself into?

1974 Asif al Hazred is born in Saudi Arabia.
1975 Asif and Family move to the United States of America. They struggle to provide Asif a typical American upbringing.
1990 During a high school football game, Asif's mutant abilities manifest themselves when he nearly destroys the opposition, literally. Begins having horrible nightmares involving an unknown figure. He and his family are run out of town and they move to New York City where they start their lives anew. Meets Elenor "Evie" Everley.
1992 Graduates high school. Begins attending University, and also adventuring as a young vigilante hero.
1996 Graduates from University with a degree in education and marries high school sweetheart Evie.
1997 The newlyweds move to Freedom City, where Asif begins work as a school teacher by day. He focuses on his career, but doesn't hesitate to fight crime. Befriends Duncan Summers, Gabriel Marquez while fighting crime.
1999 Asif and Evie welcome their first child, Arthur Asif al Hazred-Everley.
2000 During the Terminus Invasion, Asif assists the heroes in fighting off the invaders. During the chaos, a figure mentally attacks Asif and reveals himself as Korrik, the being that has been haunting him since he was 16. Evie and Arthur are murdered by the madman, and Asif flies into a rage and sends a large building hurtling towards Korrick as a he opens a portal to Terminus. Korrik flees with the bodies of Evie and Arthur back to the Terminus, along with an unknown amount of others trapped within the building Asif tossed. With the world saved, Asif goes missing, possibly captured and take to Terminus.
2005Duncan Summers deduces Asif's whereabouts on earth and offers him a position at the Claremont Academy, where he begins to teach. He slowly integrates himself back into public life, though he hasn't let go of the loss of his family nor the remorse that he may have doomed many people. This guilt has turned into a fear of being out in public.
2010 Dons his costume for the first time since the invasion, determined to conquer his fears. His nightmares return.