"Thanks for carrying me, Stellie." I chuckled as we flew through the air. "I don't think I've healed to a point that I can stand yet."

"I can't believe how nonchalant you are about this." Stellar grumbled.

"I mean, I'm pretty sure I was legally dead for a minute there." I shrugged. "After that, this is the easy part."

And I was able to see him one last time.

I can't stop the smile on my face.

"Yeah, but..." Stellar frowned. "...please don't do that again. I thought I lost you. I was about to lose myself."

"Hey, it's alright." I smiled at her. "I'm here, and I'm fine. Mostly. Thank you for taking Gabriel to safety."

"You're welcome." Stellar huffed. "Now don't do something stupid like that again."

"Understood." I replied.

Stellar continued flying for a little longer before we finally arrived at Siren's house. To cross this much distance in only two minutes is seriously crazy.

"Can you walk?" Stellar asked, gently setting me onto my feet.

"Oh yeah, I'll be fine-" I grinned, stepping forwards and tripping.

Stellar grabbed me mid-air, putting my arm over her shoulder in order to keep me upright. She sent an "are you serious?" look at me to which I responded with an embarrassed chuckle.

I went to knock on the door, only for it to immediately open before I could. I immediately found myself smothered against someone as they held in a tight hug.

"You worried me so much, dearie." Aurelia stated, rubbing her hand through my hair.

"Get off so I can get him inside." Sarah glared.

Aurelia sighed, stepping to the side so that Sarah could help me enter. Aurelia closed the door behind us as I looked over at the dining table, seeing everyone else.

Sophie, Hikari, Eleanor, Alexis, Siren, and Gabriel all sat at the table. And also Don Clyde and his wife? Aka Alexis' parents?

What the?

"Master." Sophie bolted upright. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay." I replied. "Stellar, could you help me sit down?"

"Of course." She mumbled in response, sitting me down in one of two free chairs. Gabriel sat to my left while Stellar sat to my right.

"Jason!" Gabriel cried out, wrapping his arms around my body and shoving his face into my stomach.

"Hey buddy." I rubbed his head. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's...okay." He sniffled.

"Mom." I looked up at Siren. "Could you hang out with Gabriel for a moment? I need to talk to everyone about this situation."

"Of course." Siren brightly smiled, taking a reluctant Gabriel and carrying him to another room.

"I have to say, I didn't expect that Checkmate would be you, Will..." Spoke Don Clyde. "...or I guess I should call you Jason now."

"Life is full of surprises, huh?" I nervously chuckled. "Surprised Alexis didn't tell you."

"Oh no, she did." Don Clyde replied. "Just haven't had a chance to finally meet face to face again. After all this is over we'll be catching up."

"Yes sir..." I sweatdropped.

"I look forward to it." Alexis' mother grinned with a fierce look in her eyes. "Maybe we can all have another dinner."

That sounds nice but that grin looks scary. Really gonna be in a world of pain, aren't I?

"I'm sorry Master." Sophie suddenly spoke up. "I was unable to take down Killian. I was unable to locate his helicopter."

Interesting. We're gonna need to drag that son of a bitch out of hiding somehow.

Actually, I have an idea.

We don't actually need to do anything.

"It's fine, Sophie." I smirked. "I bet he'll be making another appearance real soon."

"Killian Stromford is a coward who only appears when he's confident nothing can go wrong." I continued. "And I'd bet you he's feeling mighty confidant after Victor informs him of Jason James' unfortunate departure."

"What's there to be afraid of, when your greatest enemy is dead?" I chuckled. "The same enemy that they went to such extremes to frame?"

"But you're not...dead?" Hikari looked at me in confusion, then her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What happened?"

"After that run-in with Vincent he left me for dead." I answered. "Probably thought I was deceased and left me as a 'casualty of the hacked soldiers'."

"Are you alright?" Alexis worriedly asked.

"I'm okay." I smiled. "Even better actually, because now we have the advantage."

"We wait for Stromford to make his appearance and drop his guard." I grinned. "And then end things. Once and for all."

"How do you know he's confident enough to appear?" Alexis' mother asked, leaning forwards with a toothy smirk. "After all, they know that at least The Maid and Mother Wasp are working with Checkmate."

"Simple." I answered. "Because Vincent is now a superpowered monster."

"What?" Hikari questioned.

"I saw it myself." Sarah frowned. "He shrugged off a punch of mine. One that I was only lightly holding back on. He might even be able to take a full punch of mine."

"And because I let my guard down..." Sarah shrunk. "...Jason almost died."

Suddenly I was pierced by many gazes.

Sarah, is this revenge for all those times I escaped you...?

"Dearie..." Mother Wasp spoke up with a strained smile. "...you failed to mention that."

"I'm going to gouge his eyes out!" Eleanor growled, slamming her fists on the table. "And use his fucking eye sockets to turn his head into a bowling ball!"

"For once we're in agreement." Hikari replied, crossing her arms.

"Fuck you too, Hikari." Eleanor sighed, leaning back into her seat. A little smirk popped up on Hikari's face.

"Well, I already got one of the eyes dealt with." I chuckled.

I'm lucky I had intensified my hand. Otherwise I don't think it would've worked. But even then, he might have some sort of regenerative ability.

I'm not sure exactly how he did it, but I assume that he got the flight from Sarah's blood. Meaning he might even have my powers as well. Gotta be prepared for that.

"Oh, Jason..." Eleanor sighed dreamily. "...you know just the way to my heart."

"Anyways..." I spoke. "...Eleanor and Alexis. Can you two obtain some of that S-Genome surprising serum from Vermilion Waverson?"

"Consider it done." Alexis smirked.

"Aurelia." I turned towards Mother Wasp. "Could you be surveillance? Checking both the news and the city using your bees for Killian and Vincent?"

"Of course, dearie." Aurelia smiled.

"Sophie." I looked at my favorite robot. "I'll need your help in setting up something special. It'll require some hacking. Think you can do it?"

"Without a doubt, Master." Sophie answered.

"Just as I thought." I smiled in reply.

"What about us?" Sarah asked as Hikari nodded. "What can I do?"

"I want you two..." I stated. "...to continue helping people around the city as heroes."

"You don't want our help...?" Hikari asked, a distraught look on her face.

"It's useful to have 'double agents'." I continued. "And we're ending this, no matter how messy it gets. It's gone on too long. I'd like it if you two can help anyone who would otherwise get caught in the crossfire."

"But, mainly, I just don't want to compromise your positions as heroes." I admitted. "I know how much being a hero means to you two. I don't want to make you two give that up."

"Jason..." Hikari blushed. "...okay."

"Fine." Sarah humphed cutely. "But we will step in if we think it's necessary."

"I appreciate it." I nodded.

"Anything for us?" Don Clyde asked.

Alexis' family wants to help?

That surprises me, considering the last time we met was when Don Clyde found out I actually wasn't dead at the masquerade party.

And the time before that was my "death", so...

"Whatever you'd like." I answered. "You may help as little or as much as you wish. But I would appreciate the support."

"Then we'll help our daughter out in procuring the serum quickly." Don Clyde nodded.

"Then that's a plan." I grinned.

"We're going to go." Sarah and Hikari stood up. "Let us know if there's anything else."

"I'm still surprised you have two superheroes on your side..." Don Clyde muttered as he watched them exit the building.

Aurelia had closed her eyes, likely focusing on her bees flying around the city. Meanwhile Sophie was sitting patiently.

"We'll be back soon." Alexis stated, her parents and Eleanor following as they exited shortly.

"I'll be right back." I told Sophie, standing up. "Need to head to my room for a second."

Sophie nodded in understanding. I walked over to my room, entering it and walking over to an object I had leaned against the wall and refused to touch since.

I gently took Miracle's flag into my hands, holding it as I sat in bed. I shifted its weight, the weapon feeling uncannily natural within my grasp.

Lux Aeterna.

"Miracle's flag. His weapon of choice." Siren stated. "And I want you to have it."

His legacy.

The last that's left of him.

No, that's not quite right.

As his clone, you could say I'm the last that's left of him alongside this flag. His symbol of rallying. His symbol that brought people together.

Stellar inspired hope in the people. Miracle inspired hope in the heroes.

As for me?

I don't know if I'd say I inspire hope. I'm not the man Miracle was, no matter how much I look up to him. I'm not the one who inspires.

So I'll be the one who crushes those who try to distinguish that inspiration. Bastards like Killian and Vincent who would get rid of a hero like Miracle for their own gains.

I'll do what I can so that this doesn't have to happen to anyone else. Even if it makes me the villain.

In my hands rests Miracle's legacy.

My brother's legacy.

One I thought I didn't deserve.

"I'm proud." He had stated.

"Really, I couldn't be prouder." He had laughed.

Thank you for watching over me all this time, brother.

Both Gabriel and I, we'll live the greatest life.

Just as you asked.

"Alright, Lux Aeterna." I grinned. "Let's give you a little makeover before the grand finale, hm?"

Thank you, brother.

For everything.