STORM
STORM GROWING
INTRODUCTION
The writers of fiction are distributors of truth, while the distributors of truth are writers of fiction. Worlds behind worlds. We have forgotten who we are and our unlimited potential. Giants once walked this earth. Humanoids of all kinds of different hybrid forms. Our DNA, capable of dozens of strands, remains unfinished, an unlocked code that you complete by connecting yourself to spirit through a series of actions and choices. Our realities have many versions, not dimensions, but echoes of now. Some of us can tap into that and pull power from many points, collecting energy from the field that contains the information we need as our solar system passes through new territory. Our sun transmits data for our transformation when we’re ready to receive it.
My role on this planet is World Bridger. I am a healer. My medicine is information, collaboration, and manifestation. I connect worlds as I turn others’ weaknesses into strengths. I embrace our temporary time here in this realm and the importance of returning to the source. When one is ready, I pull out potential and provide a mirror so that individuals can see who they really are.
A while back, one early morning, I received a call from a demigod. I met her long ago, and she put me on a journey without even knowing that she was responsible until this very moment. Her natural beauty, her strength and power, her style, her commanding voice, and her compassion, all of it drew me in. Without even knowing her name at first, I knew she was a natural leader. She was an honorable individual with a pronounced raw code. Everything seemed to spiral around her when she was present. I had to know more about her world and the others who were part of her team. From that point on, I always sought a group to belong to…a mission greater than me. I wanted that ideal because of this multi-dimensional, mohawk-rockin’ warrior goddess: Storm. Ororo Munroe.
We had known each other for years, but our paths had diverged when I began to see the cracks in the system long before she did. I had been a hothead, too passionate and too rebellious to stay within the confines of organizations that claimed to be for the greater good. Storm had always been different, her ability to see the bigger picture, her strength in navigating complex alliances, and her undeniable grace in every action. She was respected and loved. And she had treated me with the same respect, even when others did not.
As I began to see the truth behind the institutions, I knew I had to step away. It was Ororo who had helped me make that transition, who recognized my frustration, my disillusionment, and saw something worth nurturing. When others would have dismissed me or seen me as a threat, she reached out and helped me move quietly, avoiding unnecessary conflicts that would have only further disempowered me.
I remembered her words from years ago when I decided to leave. “Brother, the world needs your fire, but the fire must be controlled. Go cultivate yourself…become the version of you that can truly make a difference. Not just a spark, but a flame that cannot be extinguished.”
She had been right, and her support had been everything. She gave me the space to find my own path, away from the groups that stifled me. It was ironic to see her here now, at a point where she was finally coming to understand that those same groups…the alliances, the leadership circles, had become nothing more than cults. Systems designed to control rather than uplift.
She connected with me because of our history and what she had learned of who I had become. In accordance with one of her ancestor’s many traditions, she required a male energy to be a catalyst to information she wanted to share with the people who knew her best. This was full circle for me, and I was more than happy to facilitate, although I did not quite understand what I was supposed to do. I have experience with such icons, but compared to her, my knowledge and understanding were minuscule. But humility comes in many forms, and maybe this was a sign for me to step into my next level of growth.
She had an infectious laugh and a soothing voice. She was still able to show the child in her with excitement, but there was an underlying sadness, a quietness. Maybe that’s why I was considered. I’m not always as quiet as I should be. Still learning. In any case, after a nice phone conversation setting our intentions, we scheduled a time for the in-person pow-wow where I was about to hear a new version of this incredible lady.
The Interview Begins
SANCTUARY
The sanctuary was set up with Ororo in mind. Every element, from the bone broth my partner prepared to the symbols and artifacts in the space, was meant to honor her presence. It was a sacred, comfortable space, a place where she could open up without reservation. The atmosphere was serene, with low lighting, warm incense, and items that might resonate with her past and present. I wanted her to feel the reverence she deserved.
Ororo arrived with an aura that was unmistakable…regal yet down-to-earth. She smiled as she took in the room, her eyes glinting with curiosity. The kind of curiosity that seemed almost philosophical, as if seeing beyond what was physically in front of her. She touched a worn talisman on a shelf, her fingers brushing against it gently. I could see her drawing strength from the objects around her, grounding herself.
“Welcome, Sister,” I said. “You are in a sanctuary. Everything here is set up with you in mind. Everyone here was invited by you.”
Ororo nodded, her voice carrying a gentle resonance as she replied, “I believe and receive you, Brother. You and your lady have made me feel right at home. I’m enjoying this broth that she has made for me.”
I noticed her gaze softened, as though memories were being stirred. It was a mix of gratitude and nostalgia, which gave the space an even deeper sense of purpose.
“Excellent! We’re all about getting our fluids correct these days. However, I still have a weakness for coffee.”
“Ah, yes!” Ororo gave a knowing smile. “You both are posturing yourselves very wisely. It is all about our fluids—our stomach, liver, kidneys, blood—this is where our powers come from, each one of us.” She paused, sipping her broth. “You know, there was a time I thought I was invincible, that my powers made me immune to the pitfalls of the average person. But it was through neglect that I learned even I could be weakened.”
She sighed softly, her eyes far away. “This is why I take great offense to the use of the word ‘mutant’ in today’s conversations. But I don’t want to focus on this issue just yet. Let us continue discussing personal growth, transformation, gratitude, and all the probabilities when those things are in order. This is what my heart is most excited about! How appropriate that you bring this up!”
“Did I?” I asked with a smile, teasing a bit.
“Yes, yes! Your fluids. We are Dynamic Fluid Beings. Our bones and muscles do not keep us up…electricity does. Your fluids are the super conductors of the Signal. Our feet are supposed to be grounded, our heads pointed to the cosmos to receive and complete the signal. Our actions tune us in to The Electromagnetic Creator. The Great Spirit. This is where our intention comes from, and this is where our transformation comes from. The word ‘evolution’ is too incomplete to describe what is happening.”
She paused, her eyes distant, as if she were seeing something beyond the walls of the sanctuary. Her gaze softened for a moment, an almost bittersweet look.
“All of our ancient structures and sacred texts are documentation of these understandings,” she continued, a faint wistfulness in her voice. “We are merely a people who have forgotten who we once were, killing each other over personal metaphors.”
I nodded slowly, leaning in slightly to catch her eye. “Which can lead to unhealthy hero worship.”
She gave me a pensive look, her lips curving in a slight smile. “Unfortunately, this can be true. Then I would say it is time to become what you seek.”
“Sounds like a healthy challenge,” I added.
Ororo smiled again, her eyes reflective, though there was a hint of something deeper, perhaps regret. “We all have the potential for much more. And it doesn’t take long to make the shift. However, it won’t come from a box, a government, a law passed, or the M.D.s who practice pharmaceutical prescriptions. It is probably the simplest and easiest thing one can do, yet it has been successfully sold as the most difficult or as a trivial thing.”
“Raise children? Pay taxes?” I joked, hoping to lighten the intensity just a bit.
Ororo chuckled softly, her laughter like the wind. “Those too! But I’m talking about proper nutrition. Real sustenance. Access for everyone.” She looked down at her bowl. “There was a time I did not pay attention to what nourished me, not just physically, but mentally and spiritually. It cost me more than I realized. The ruling class knows this truth, which is why they’ve weaponized food.”
The room seemed to grow quieter. She looked up, her expression pained, as if she were recalling something tragic. “We fight battles on the ground, in the air, but the real battle is for our essence. They manipulate what we eat, how we think, and in doing so, they keep people docile, unable to see beyond the illusions they’ve been fed.”
Setting the Stage: The Meeting’s Tension
Ororo’s arrival this time was different…her expression sharper, her presence urgent. The sanctuary, though serene, seemed charged with a different kind of energy. There was a seriousness in her demeanor that hadn’t been there before, and I could feel the weight of something unspoken.
After a few moments of soft conversation and broth, the tension thickened as she began to speak about why she had truly come.
“Brother, I didn’t come here just to share my stories for the sake of nostalgia. You and I both know there is little time for reminiscing.”
I could feel her energy shift, there was a determination in her eyes, the look of someone who had finally chosen a side after standing in between for far too long. I nodded, my posture changing as well, a sense of readiness settling in.
Ororo continued, “I’ve been too silent. I have worked for them, alongside them, for too long. They were clever, convincing me it was all for the greater good, that I could make a change from within. But I see clearly now. This system isn’t here to help humanity; it’s here to control, to feed lies, and to keep everyone under an illusion of freedom.”
She paused, her eyes meeting mine with fierce intensity. “They use stories to push lies, grand tales of salvation, of heroes and villains. But the truth? The truth is twisted and buried, repackaged for profit. I was once their symbol, but now I am their enemy.”
She looked down, her fingers tightening around the bowl of broth, her voice softer but laced with defiance. “Empowering others, that’s not what the system wants from heroes, especially those that are trademarked, branded as their property, like slaves.”
Her words hung in the air, the weight of her decision palpable. It wasn’t just rebellion; it was a complete transformation of what she stood for. The enormity of what she was risking was clear, Ororo was not just standing against an enemy; she was unraveling herself from the brand they had placed upon her identity.
I spoke, my voice deliberate, knowing the risk of each word, “And yet, here we are, finding ways to share this truth. Even if I can shield us, even if this sanctuary keeps us safe, we both know it won’t last forever. They can sense it when the stories start to shift in ways they cannot control. They’ll come.”
Ororo nodded, her expression hardening. “Yes, there is only a short window, Brother. I am here to whisper to those who can hear, those who still have the power to change their own narrative. But my time in their circles is running out. They see me as a threat now.”
Her gaze turned softer for a moment, a hint of gratitude shining through. “I knew you could create this space for us. A place to share, even if just for a little while longer. Your gift to shield others from the negative influences, it’s why I knew I could come to you. But I also know we are working against something so vast, even you have your limits.”
I could feel the pressure bearing down on us, the fleeting nature of this meeting. It wasn’t just a conversation; it was an act of defiance, a rebellion against something that sought to keep the world in the dark. Ororo wasn’t just here to talk…she was lighting a fuse, even if it meant risking everything.
She looked back at me, her voice steady, a sense of calm washing over her determination. “The world doesn’t need more protectors, it needs more empowered souls. Protecting people keeps them weak. Helping them see their own strength, that’s the path to true evolution.”
I leaned forward, meeting her gaze with a smile, an unspoken understanding between us. This was Ororo’s fight, but it was also mine. It always had been.
SHARED GROWTH AND REFLECTIONS
“Brother World Bridger,” Ororo said, her voice carrying a mix of affection and sorrow, “I knew you saw this long before I did. I think that’s why I’m here now, to say that you were right. You saw the truth of these structures, their hollowness, before I ever could.”
I shook my head, a wry smile touching my lips. “You gave me my freedom, Ororo. Without you, I would have burned out before I ever got the chance to cultivate anything. I think I just saw it because I was angry enough to notice the cracks.”
Ororo laughed softly, her eyes meeting mine with gratitude. “And that’s exactly what I lacked then. I had my power, but I lacked the fire to burn away the illusions. I thought I could use their game to make a difference, but I see now that the game was never designed to be won. Only played.”
She paused, her expression hardening. “You warned me, but I couldn’t see it then. I thought my influence within the system was enough to protect our people. I thought I could change things from the inside. But now, I see it was all about control. I was never the exception…I was just a different kind of pawn.”
“And yet, here we are, stronger for it,” I said, the energy between us charged with the weight of our shared past. “You always had the strength to fight, Sister, but you needed to understand the enemy in a different way. You had to see it from within, and that’s why your voice carries so much weight now.”
I gestured around the sanctuary, the incense smoke curling slowly through the air, the warmth of the bone broth still lingering between us. “This space, this moment…it’s here because of you. When you helped me leave, it wasn’t just about avoiding unnecessary conflict. You gave me time to develop real strength. Not power given by any group or symbol, but the kind of power that no one can touch.”
Ororo smiled, and for a moment, the hardness in her eyes softened. “And I see it now. Cultivating our own power, disconnected from those systems, that’s the only way to truly be free. And it’s what I want for others. But my time in those circles is running out, and I need to pass this on while I still can.”
THE PLEDGE
Her voice grew firm, more resolute than I had ever heard. “I want us to make a pledge today. To inspire and empower, not just lead people into another type of worship. We have both seen what happens when power is used for anything but its true purpose, growth and freedom. We have to teach others to see their own strength, to live their truth without becoming enslaved to new dogmas.”
I nodded, a sense of pride swelling in me. To be here with her, as she made this declaration, felt like the culmination of everything I had fought for, everything I had endured. This wasn’t just about rebellion anymore. To be a rebel now was about reinvention. To inspire others to grow, to embrace their own journey, and to step into their true power.
Ororo reached across the table, her hand resting briefly on mine. “We must find others who are ready, others who are capable of whispering the truth where it is needed. The kind of whispers that cannot be accounted for, as the ancient wisdom says. Direct connection, under the radar. This is where our power lies. Our mission must be to cultivate the whispers, to inspire transformation that cannot be tracked or controlled.”
We shared a moment of silence, the intensity of what we were undertaking settling between us. The quiet weight of our mission, and the gratitude we both felt for this moment. It wasn’t lost on either of us—this was dangerous, yes, but it was also necessary. A chance to create something real, something lasting.
Epilogue - A Shared Mission
As Ororo stood to leave, I felt a shift in the air. This was no longer about just the past. It was about the present, and what came next. She had made her decision, and I had made mine long ago. But now, our missions were intertwined once more, if only for a fleeting moment.
“Good journey, Sister,” I said as she moved toward the door, her silhouette framed by the dim light.
“Good journey, Brother,” she replied, her eyes glinting with the fire of someone who had just begun to fight her real battle. “We are no longer playing their game.”
She left the sanctuary, and I found myself alone with the lingering energy of our conversation. This was more than an interview, more than a catch-up, it was a call to arms. The sanctuary felt different, charged with something new, a shared understanding that we were no longer just players in someone else’s story. We were writing our own.
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what lay ahead. This wasn’t just about her journey, it was mine too. To be part of something greater, to hold a space for those ready to step into their own strength, was an honor. She had never turned her back on me when I needed her, and now, it was my turn to stand with her in her reinvention.
We were not protectors, we would empower others. Not heroes, but cultivators of change.
As the last of the incense smoke curled and dissipated, I felt a new sense of clarity. It was no longer about shielding people from the darkness, but about helping them find the light within themselves.
The journey continues.
STORM GROWING @2014 SNAKEBITE CORTEZ
SAMEE TATU IS STORM GROWING
Storm Growing — A Myth Recovered
This piece came out of a hard fall. Life had flipped me upside down. Broke, healing, losing everything, trying to find a center again. Somewhere in that wreckage, I found her. And we started our journey facing storms together. The romance stage was surviving together.
We’re both artists. Both geeky enough to see the obvious … Samee totally looked like, STORM. And Storm just happened to be one of my favorite characters. Bro, total coincidence. Blessed one, but total coincidence. Don’t make it weird.
So neither one of us never did fan art. Not like that. Not our thing. But this? This was different.
“Storm Growing” became another way to stay focused. To speak something bigger into the field. To remind ourselves (and anyone watching) that we were still here, alive, building, creating.
AND! Every time we’ve made something like this — a concept piece, a visual signal, a myth in motion — it shifted reality. Pulled us forward. Put us in the collective consciousness without asking permission. That’s the point.
Don’t wait for perfect. Don’t wait to be chosen. Action is the alchemy.
This is part of my archive, a time capsule of how I was relating to self and the world at that time. But it’s also a living thread in what’s now The Alchemy of Development. It started as geek appreciation. It turned into personal myth.
— Snakebite Cortez