Sam Braddock slipped past the border into Kansas. He had gotten to be friendly enough with the border patrols to be able to slip past without too much concern.
Light crackled at his fingers.
The radiation had worn away at the block that had been preventing him from using his dangerous power over radiation, but curiously seemed (as far as he could tell) to provide him with at least some resistance to the mutation that seemed to come to aliens who got to close to Kansas these days.
Mutation aside, Sam was just happy he hadn't killed anyone in a fit of rage like he had in his youth. So many friends lost or hurt, all because he couldn't control his power in his frequent loses of temper.
Well, he would make up for that now. He would make up for the lost lives. He would make up for the lost tempers.
And maybe, just maybe, Rowena would want him back.
He kept walking, and walking. He walked until his legs hurt too much to walk any further and then he stopped. He held out his arms and closed his eyes. Light seemed to envelop him as he pulled and tugged at the radiation.
**********
Out at the borders the patrols looked out.
"What's going on?"
"What's that light?"
Some of them pulled out their phones. Some may calls to people in authority to report the strange behaviour. Others called the press.
**********
Sam worked for hours. Hey, there was a lot of tainted earth to clean up.
Then at last the moment came, where Sam had sucked in all that he could and he collapsed and fell into a deep sleep.
**********
"...Samples taken from the site indicate that the soil is free from the toxins that poisoned it in the bombing two years ago. Scientists say it is too early to delcare Kansas safe for human habitiation again, but prelimary results are looking promising..." the news caster paused. "This just in! A man was found at the central point of the phenomenon. Locals have identified him as Samuel Braddock, who had been living in the area for the last year. Braddock was found alive and is being airlifted to hospital as we speak. Paramedics on the scene suspect coma."