Alpha

Alpha stared at the boy across from him and they locked eyes. “Rook to H-7”. The other boy moved the rook and captured Alpha’s pawn. Having already lost the rook that’s usually there he was wide open, but Alpha was better at other things than chess.

“Pawn to G-6.” The other boy smirked at Alpha’s move.

“Rook to F-6. Checkmate.” The boy said with a cruel grin on his face. Alpha however looked bored.

“You were supposed to teach me Chess, not attempt to make me look dumb.” He lazily produced an odd looking machine with a bulbous body and a dish attached to the front like a gun with a canister to dispense some sort of gas. Only it flashed. A blue light struck out at the boy who then briefly glowed before he began to literally melt. Alpha watched the boy's features congeal and lose definition as his scream turned to gurgles, before cutting off entirely and the boy was nothing more than a brown puddle of smoking color. “Mathematics is a more powerful instrument of knowledge than any other that has been bequeathed to us by human agency.” Alpha said as he stood. “Even more powerful than my own mind.” He left the quiet park and the smoking mass behind without a second thought.

Alpha had simply appeared on the orphanage’s steps one day twelve years ago with a note that said ‘Alpha’. Even though Alpha was only twelve he was already known for being different from everyone, and also ruthless with no remorse. Since he learned the basics of Mathematics he had become obsessed and quickly outpaced every scholar in the city. A prodigy and yet, he was alone. He had vowed to be what his name implied as soon as he could form words. He was determined to make the universe his play thing, but he had to first crack the formula for interstellar travel. I can feel it. He thought. Today is the day. He stepped up the cracked and wearing steps of an orphanage fallen into disrepair. The owner refused to upkeep the building despite the fact it still housed children.

As he pushed the ancient hardwood creaking door open, it fell inward with an ear shattering boom. Multiple kids popped their heads in to observe Alpha retrieve a slightly more angular looking gun with a needle point in place of what should've been a barrel. He took the device and waved it over the doorway, doorframe, and fallen door. It emitted a brilliant red light as it scanned the damaged area. Taking another little gadget out of his pocket he tossed what looked like a little bouncy ball filled with swirling iridescent liquid. He locked it into a hidden depression in the side of the gun. Again he waved it over the damaged part of the structure, only the light it emitted was close to a rainbow. The door melted and flowed back into place after he fidgeted with a few buttons on a remote he fished out of another hidden pocket. It also appeared to mend itself to look almost brand new in the process.

The kids who stayed to watch looked on in awe. Alpha ignored them, muttering under his breath about if he were to be responsible for maintenance then he would take charge.

Barging into the Orphanage’s Manager’s Office, the Headmaster stood up from his desk abruptly in alarm. “What is the meaning of this? Alpha if you…” Alpha cut him off by coldly leveling his melt ray at the headmaster and firing. Watching in annoyed indifference, Alpha turned to two people seated in chairs across from the Headmaster's desk. The horrified look on their face gave Alpha a glimmer of joy before he started. “I'm in charge now.”

“Who.. who are you?” The man on the left asked, stammering in terror.

“I am Alpha. And this place has been mis-managed for too long.” Alpha kept his gun ready, gesturing at the place as he approached the Headmaster’s desk. He stepped over the smoking puddle of flesh, that thankfully left no odor, and plopped himself up into the chair.

“Alpha? How old are you? Ten?” The man on the right, while horrified by Alpha’s action, seemed unphased by the fact he could be next if he misspoke even once. “Don’t you know who we are?”

“No, and I’m twelve and a half.”

“Well Alpha. I’ll let you in on a little secret. There are many more people more powerful than you. I’m one of those people now if you get up and…” The man cut off as his body flashed blue. Alpha rolled his eyes while blowing invisible smoke from his gun as man screamed in agony until he was a heap of flesh giving a final pop like a bubble.

“Oh my God!” The other man exclaimed in horror after watching his friend literally melt.

“I promise not to kill you if you put this on.” Alpha said and produced a thin metal circlet from one of the Headmaster’s desk drawers. That man was truly an imbecile. Alpha thought as he watched the man fight internally. Maybe I am better at strategy than I thought. Alpha thought. “It has to go on your head, by the way.”

“Ok. Please don't kill me.” He took the circlet gingerly donned it around his graying brown hair. A small blue light blinked on at the back of the device and the man's watery blue eyes misted over, and he stood up straight like a soldier waiting for orders. “What is your command, Overlord Alpha?”

“I’m not there yet, but I appreciate your capitulation.” Alpha smirked a little in satisfaction that the device actually worked. The Headmaster had confiscated it before Alpha could test it. But Alpha was satisfied. Now was the time to truly make himself Alpha, everywhere.

Twelve years later

Alpha stood at the floor to ceiling window that overlooked the city beyond. It was clean, quiet, and orderly. The people below his skyscraper moved about their tasks, little lights glittering in the low light of the setting sun. Their cybernetics were both a gift from Alpha and a means to control them. They submitted willingly of course, never questioning the freedoms they gave up for the slice of peace Alpha had given them. Not everyone had submitted yet of course, but they always did eventually, except for one. Since he had gained an early control through the technology he created he had been rocketed into the Presidency at the youngest age ever and that soon led to him gaining permanent control, as if they had a choice once the implants were integrated.

There was a tentative knock at the door followed by Alpha barking at them to enter. “Sir, The suspect has been spotted. Shall we activate the nearest civilians or send in the elites?”

“Activate the nearest civilians. I can not risk this world’s one slipping through my fingers.”