Zane soared above New York City, the SYNEX-01's flight mode humming through his veins like a second heartbeat. The suit's sleek black plates shifted, streamlining for speed, while the NeuroVisor painted the skyline in glowing data—wind speed, altitude, a 3D map of Brooklyn below. LYNX's calm voice chimed in his mind: Flight systems optimal. Maintain focus, Zane. He grinned, the thrill cutting through his doubts, but Clara's words—Keep doing good—kept him grounded. This wasn't just a joyride, it was a test to prove he could be the hero she believed in.
The Vault's lab was behind him, its new shields gleaming after yesterday's rebuild. Mr. Corin's quick work with the EMP gun had silenced the red beacon, making their safe haven secure, no more fights inside, just a place to grow. Zane's hands tightened, the suit's nanofiber musculature amplifying his strength. He'd struggled with the neural link, its data flood nearly breaking him, but he was getting the hang of it. Tonight, he'd push the suit further—flight, weaponry, maybe even help someone, to balance the superhero life with the normal one he craved.
"Looking good, rookie!" Jaxon's voice crackled through the suit's comms, patched in from The Vault. "Don't crash into a skyscraper, yeah?"
Zane chuckled, banking left over the East River. "No promises." The city glittered below, alive with honking cabs and neon signs. He thought of Clara, knitting in their apartment, and Sophia, probably texting him to check in. He'd lied to them again last night, and the guilt stung, but he'd make it right by keeping them safe.
Kael had stayed behind, his Virellion wisdom guiding Zane's training earlier. "The suit's an extension of you," he'd said, his blue eyes heavy with memory. "Use it to help, not to hide." His story about losing his daughter, Elara, had hit Zane hard, a reminder of what was at stake. Zane wasn't ready to lose anyone, not Clara, not Sophia.
LYNX interrupted: Detecting civilian distress signal, 0.8 kilometers north. Non-hostile. Investigate? A marker blinked on the NeuroVisor, highlighting a park in Brooklyn. Zane's heart raced. This was it, a chance to do good, no villains, no fights.
"Take me there," he said, and the suit adjusted, diving smoothly. He landed in a quiet park, the quantum cloaking kicking in to hide him from prying eyes. A kid, maybe ten, stood by a tree, crying, clutching a phone. His backpack was stuck high in the branches, out of reach.
Zane hesitated. No Harvesters, no Mara, just a kid needing help. He decloaked, the suit's blue lines dimming to look less threatening. "Hey," he said, voice soft through the suit's modulator. "Need a hand?"
The kid's eyes widened. "Whoa, are you a superhero?"
Zane grinned, the suit's HUD showing the kid's heart rate calming. "Something like that, But more of a work in progress," He thought flight, and the suit lifted him gently, snagging the backpack with a quick grab. He handed it over, landing softly. "Stay safe, okay?"
The kid nodded, beaming. "Thanks, mister!" He ran off, and Zane's chest warmed. This—helping, no strings attached felt right. Clara would be proud.
Back in the air, Zane tested the suit's hard-light weaponry, a feature he'd barely touched. "LYNX, give me a sword," he said. A blue plasma blade materialized in his hand, solid and weightless, shaped by his intent. He swung it, slicing a holographic target LYNX projected mid-air. The NeuroVisor tracked his moves, offering real-time tips: Adjust grip. Increase swing speed. It was like a video game, but real, and Zane felt the Synthorium's hum sync with his focus.
"Nice moves," Liora's voice cut in, patched from The Vault. "But don't get cocky, glowstick. The suit's only as good as you are."
Zane laughed, dismissing the sword. "Working on it." Liora's tough love was growing on him, like Jaxon's jokes and Kael's guidance. They were a team, and The Vault was their home, a safe space he'd help build stronger.
He landed on a rooftop, the suit's plates shifting to stealth mode, blending with the night. The city buzzed below, and Zane's thoughts drifted to Sophia. Last night, she'd almost caught him when the cloak glitched. Her frown, her worry, it ate at him. He wanted to tell her everything, but the Synthorium was a target. Keeping her and Clara in the dark was the only way to keep them safe.
LYNX's voice broke his thoughts: Training session complete. Synthorium efficiency at 78%. Recommend neural link recalibration. Zane sighed. The suit was better, but the neural link still pushed too much data, making his head ache. He'd tweak it tomorrow, with Kael's help.
Kael had trained him earlier, showing him how to focus past the noise. "You're not just a host," Kael had said, his voice raw. "You're a choice. Every day, you choose who you'll be." His words stuck, echoing Clara's advice. Zane was choosing—to help, to grow, to protect.
He slipped back to The Vault, the suit dematerializing into the shard in his chest. The lab was quiet, Jaxon snoring on a cot, Liora at her console, tweaking sensors. Kael sat alone, staring at a holo-image—a young girl, Elara, smiling. Zane's heart ached. Kael's loss was a warning, a push to be better.
"Any trouble out there?" Kael asked, closing the image.
Zane shook his head. "Just a kid and a backpack. Small stuff." He paused, then added, "Felt good, though. Like I'm getting it."
Kael's rare smile appeared. "That's the start, Zane. Small steps build heroes."
Zane nodded, sitting at the workbench. He pulled up the SYNEX-01's specs, adjusting the neural link with LYNX's help. The Synthorium hummed, steady and warm, like it knew he was on the right path. He thought of Clara's meatloaf, Sophia's laugh. He'd keep them safe, no matter what.
As he worked, LYNX's voice cut through: Anomaly detected. Faint Synthorium signal, 3.2 kilometers west. Source unknown. The NeuroVisor flashed a map, marking a warehouse district. No threat, no urgency—just a blip, but it sent a chill down Zane's spine. Mara's fragment? Something else?
He glanced at Kael, who hadn't heard LYNX. "Everything okay?" Kael asked, sensing his tension.
"Yeah," Zane said, unsure. "Just… a feeling." He didn't mention the signal. It was probably nothing, and The Vault was secure. But the unease lingered, a shadow he couldn't shake.