A week had passed. The heroes were still learning to get along. But when duty called, they answered.
For the first time—not as individuals—but as a squad.
---
HERO SQUAD BASE – MISSION BRIEFING ROOM – DAY
The holographic table glowed, projecting the image of a devastated coastal district. A monstrous sea creature writhed on-screen, its tentacles tearing through buildings like paper. Its screeching howl grated against their ears.
Vilex (calm, focused):
"We've got our first mission. Lexington Avenue is under attack—by a beast. Codename: Tide Maw. Massive. Hostile. Extremely dangerous. No one knows how it got here, but it's flooded parts of the city. Are we ready to move?"
Hi-Tech (already tapping commands):
"Transport's ready. Fastest route locked in. I can carry four."
(Glances at Tyler and Derick)
"I've made arrangements for your hero suits."
He tossed two sleek nano-wristwatches their way.
Tyler tapped his, and a dynamic combat suit unfolded over his body—storm gray and navy blue, pulsing with electric-blue energy veins. Metallic gauntlets and boots crackled with latent voltage. He grinned, his body flickering with thunder.
Thunderstorm:
"Time to bring the storm to the beast."
Derick fumbled with his watch, but Hi-Tech assisted. His awe showed as the black matte-finished suit wrapped around him—subtle armor plates layered across his limbs. Retractable claws clicked into place from his gloves.
Mega Panther:
"Let's see what these claws can really do."
Blaze (chuckling):
"Fancy."
Frost (firm):
"What are we waiting for? People need our help."
---
ABOARD HI-TECH'S AIRCRAFT – LATER
The aircraft sliced through the clouds like a blade.
Inside sat Vilex, Frost, Sage, and Mega Panther. Silence buzzed—heavier than the engine's hum.
Sage (eyes narrowed, softly):
"What I feel from that thing… it's more than just muscle. Something dark is pulsing around it."
Smoke painted the skyline. Screams echoed below.
Blaze and Dark Flame soared through the haze, flames curling from their limbs. Super Bolt zipped past, his whitish-silver suit streaking yellow lightning. A glowing electric bolt pulsed across his chest.
Super Bolt (breathless):
"This is way worse than the briefing made it sound."
Dark Flame (grim):
"Our attacks must be precise."
Blaze (focused):
"Target the limbs. Make it stumble."
---
LEXINGTON AVENUE – GROUND ZERO
The squad landed in perfect sync.
Civilians screamed and scattered. The earth quaked beneath their boots.
Vilex (issuing commands):
"Frost, Sage, Thunderstorm—get civilians out.
Bolt, Blaze, Dark Flame, Panther—contain the beast.
Hi-Tech—I need full aerial visuals."
Hi-Tech (via comms):
"Deploying scan sweep. Targeting data in ten."
---
ABOVE TIDE MAW – MOMENTS LATER
The monster shrieked. Tentacles slammed into buildings. Fire barely scorched it. Lightning slowed it slightly.
Sage (yelling):
"It's not natural! Something's controlling it!"
Vilex:
"Hi-Tech! Visuals?"
Hi-Tech (in earpiece):
"Confirmed. There's unusual tech embedded above the brow ridge. That's your target!"
---
CITY ROOFTOPS – CONTINUOUS
Frost raised a wall of ice, shielding fleeing citizens. Thunderstorm summoned twin bolts, disorienting the creature. Sage chanted in an ancient tongue, a glowing teleportation sigil forming beneath Vilex.
Sage (to Vilex):
"Ready?"
Vilex (drawing an arrow):
"Always."
A flash of light.
Vilex appeared above the monster's skull.
TWANG—CRACK!
The arrow struck the embedded device. Sparks exploded. The tech shattered.
---
EXT. CITY – AFTERMATH
Tide Maw groaned, reeling like a wave too heavy to crash. Then, it turned—slithering back into the sea.
Cheers rose from the crowd.
"We've got heroes to protect us!"
Blaze (panting):
"First mission? That was fun."
Thunderstorm (laughing):
"Still not as fun as the Wukong brothers."
Frost (serious):
"This was just the start."
Vilex (quietly, watching the ocean):
"This… was just the first."
---
UNKNOWN LOCATION – NIGHT
A shadowed figure leaned forward, watching footage of Tide Maw's defeat. Silent. Calculating.
---
ABYSS 9 – HERO SQUAD BASE – NIGHT
The squad returned—some limping, some quiet. All changed.
Timothy walked beside Sage, his mind replaying the events.
Timothy:
"Back there… you said it wasn't instinct. What did you sense?"
Sage (hesitant):
"It was rage… but not its own. Like a puppet forced to dance. Something ancient. Something dreadful."
Timothy nodded, eyes narrowing.
---
TIMOTHY'S ROOM – NIGHT
A holo-call lit the room. Commander Layla appeared, Jonathan Flicker standing beside her.
Commander Layla (stoic):
"Good work. Your team proved their worth today. Give me your report."
Vilex:
"Tide Maw. Physically overwhelming. Controlled by foreign tech.
Once destroyed, it retreated."
Jonathan (grim):
"Something powerful enough to control that? This wasn't random. It felt like… a test."
Vilex (tense):
"A test?"
Jonathan:
"Someone's watching. Studying us. Seeing how far they can push before we break."
Commander Layla (cold):
"Let them keep pushing. We'll be ready."
The screen faded.
Timothy stared at the blank monitor.
His fist clenched.