Crossover Earth '98
Spectrum #1
Lyle was embroiled in the usual self-pity he indulged in at these moments as he continued on his pilgrimage to his fathers grave. The orphanage was not a bad place and they had even managed to get him a guide dog. A good thing or his visits to the grave would have been impossible. But 2 years in an orphanage for a boy used to living with loving parents is hard to take. He was sure that no one would ever be willing to adopt a blind 12 year old boy. The stupid government was to blame. Dad tried to get them to help, or even listen, but all he got was a bunch of bureaucratic crap. With mom dying who could blame him from trying to force them to listen. Anyone who knew him knew he would never have actually have SHOT anyone. Why did they have to shoot him. WHY!? Somehow he would make them pay. All the uncaring bureaucrats, corrupt politicians, and self-centered rich scum that let his mother and unborn sister die and had his father shot. Someday...
Suddenly there was screaming and shouting. A man near him shouted, "run for it", and around him he heard scrambling feet. Lyle tried to flee too but only seemed to get nowhere. All of a sudden he felt a searing pain and saw a flash of light followed by a warm cozy glowing feeling. He felt more energetic than ever before and, more important, he could see. At least that is what he thought. Having never seen before he could not tell. Maybe he was not really seeing since the sensation was not really coming from his eyes but rather from all parts of his exposed skin. He could not quite assemble the images tumbling at him but it was becoming clearer by the second. He motioned Light to move but the dog lay still. As he grew more aware of the tumult about him he realized that the screaming had changed in tone to one of horror and sorrow rather than fear. Something was very wrong. He shouted, "what's going on?" No one answered him or helped for a long time. Finally someone said, "your dog is dead, let me help you get home. I'm sorry." Feelings of grief and joy were battling for supremacy in his mind. For the moment grief held the upper hand.
But time passed. Later he would find out that he was caught in a reflected attack in a battle between Golden Gate and Reflection. Many were killed besides his dog and the media flayed Golden Gate alive for results. But Lyle harbored a sense of wonder as he began to learn to see. And, more importantly, he could make all those deaths have purpose. Besides giving him sight, he could now almost taste light. He could play with it as others played with water or clay. He would never have to be in darkness again. As he experimented with his powers he began to realize what kind of potential they really had. Probably some kind of reaction between the light-based attack and the mutations he inherited from his father that caused his blindness caused the transformation. He would let people know that he had regained sight but keep the rest secret. His father may have failed to change the system, but he could. Vengeance would be his and the world would be a better place for it.
Lyle spent the next few years perfecting his abilities and studying art. With his ability to alter the color of things painting was a piece of cake. He could do things critics labeled as impossible. If only they knew how right he was! Even the famous "Painter of Light", Thomas Kinkade, admitted him as his superior. The company he helped found, Media Arts, recruited Lyle and went public. Before long his fortune was made. People paid hundreds of thousands for a Lyle Bright III original. And his share in the corporation was making him millions and introducing him to all the right people.
His appearance at the veterans rally was only just the beginning. He was 21 now. Time to begin the new year with a really bright flash. As Lyle Bright III he was already famous, but now Lyle would have to take a back seat to Spectrum, the Rainbow Outlaw.