The next day at school, the morning bustle hadn't quite settled when Marie waved Robert over in the hallway. With her was Eve, dressed in casual clothes but instantly recognizable once you knew who she was.
"Rob! Over here!" Marie called out, her eyes sparkling.
Robert approached with a warm smile. "Hey. What's up?"
"Guess what?" Marie said excitedly. "Turns out Eve goes to our school!"
"Small world," Robert said, raising an eyebrow. "Want to talk somewhere private?"
"I've got a spot," Eve offered, gesturing toward the stairwell. "Come on."
They made their way to the rooftop, where the wind was light and the city stretched out below them. It was quiet up here, removed from the noise of students and teachers below.
Marie leaned against the railing and looked at Eve. "I seriously never connected the dots. You being Atom Eve? Totally didn't see it."
Eve laughed. "Psychology. You're not supposed to. That's how secret identities work."
"I even follow the Teen Team on Insta," Marie said, grinning. "You guys are like, everyone's fourth favorite superhero team."
"Fourth?" Eve raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, I like you guys better than Fight Force," Marie added quickly.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Marie's tone grew a little more serious. "So… you're new to this?"
"Kind of. I got my powers a while back but really got into the field work recently. And you?" Eve looked at Marie with curiosity.
"Yeah… just started," Marie said sheepishly. "I froze up during the Flaxan thing. People got hurt."
"But you helped people escape," Eve replied gently. "When I first started, I used to throw up before every fight. You did fine."
"It just wasn't what I expected. It's not like how it is on TV," Marie muttered.
"It never is," Eve agreed.
"But you showed up. That already makes you a hero."
She then turned to Robert with a thoughtful look. "Honestly, I'm even more surprised at you. Sentry, right? Your debut wasn't even a week ago and you fought like you've been doing this for years."
Robert rubbed the back of his head. "I've… had a lot on my shoulders. Can't afford to hesitate, I guess."
Eve nodded. "I've seen your interviews—those motivational things you say about hope and heroism. I'm not gonna lie, I'm one of your followers now."
Robert blinked, a bit embarrassed. "Wait—you follow me?"
"Hey, don't act so surprised. You've got a rising fanbase for a reason. You don't just punch hard, you inspire people. That matters."
Marie smiled, watching the two of them. "Told you he was cool."
Eve grinned. "Well, then you're both invited. Meet Teen Team after school. We've got a patrol later and could use your help."
Marie's eyes lit up. "Seriously?"
Robert nodded with a smile. "We're in."
Sentry, Invincible, and Atom Eve soared through the city skies, sunlight glinting off their suits as they raced toward the designated rendezvous point. The trio weaved past buildings, dipped under a bridge, and touched down gracefully on top—only for the ground beneath them to rumble and slide open, revealing a concealed underground entrance.
Marie blinked in surprise. "Whoa. Secret lair?"
"Pretty much," Eve replied with a smirk as they descended.
As they dropped into the hidden base, the rest of the Teen Team came into view. But before anyone could speak, Rex Splode immediately pulled Eve into an overly long kiss.
Marie scrunched her nose slightly. Robert looked away politely.
Rex finally pulled back and gave Robert a half-cocky grin. "Hey, gold boy. We handled those alien freaks without you."
Before Robert could respond, Dupli-Kate stepped in, arms crossed. "Actually, they died on their own when their time loops broke down. We didn't exactly beat them."
Robert gave Rex a small, unimpressed nod. "Still… good job holding the line."
Rex shrugged. "A win's a win."
Robot approached, offering a small but polite nod to both newcomers.
"Invincible. Sentry. You both performed well under pressure. I'd like to know if we can count on you again in future missions."
Marie blinked and looked to Robert before answering. "Are you sure? I mean… I'm still new to all this."
"You showed bravery in the field," Robot stated. "That matters more than experience. You have potential."
Marie hesitated, then smiled softly. "Alright… I'll help."
"Same here," Robert said calmly. "I may not be a permanent member, but I'll step in when needed. Just let me know where and when."
Rex slid up beside Marie, giving her a wink. "Hey, you sure you're not secretly a goddess or something? Because you definitely don't belong on the rookie bench."
Marie raised an eyebrow. "Do you flirt with every new recruit?"
"Only the pretty ones," Rex said smugly.
Robert, ever composed, stepped subtly between them. "Rex, maybe try focusing on teamwork instead of pick-up lines."
Rex scoffed but backed off with a shrug. "Hey, can't blame a guy for trying."
Eve rolled her eyes. "Please ignore him. He's always like this."
Marie chuckled and looked to Robert. "Thanks."
"Always," Robert replied with a small smile.
"We've got each other's backs. That's what heroes do."
After joining the Teen Team's patrol route, Robert and Marie soared across the city skyline, side by side. The evening breeze brushed past them as the streets glittered below, slowly calming after the earlier chaos.
"So," Marie began, glancing at Robert, "does Rex always act like a walking cringe compilation? I seriously don't get why Eve puts up with him."
Robert chuckled. "That's just Rex. Cocky. Loud. A little useful in a fight—when he's not busy trying to flirt with everything that moves."
Marie rolled her eyes. "If he cheats on Eve, I swear I'll punch him into next week."
"Careful," Robert teased, smirking. "You might accidentally kill him."
She snorted. "No promises. I really like Eve… She's cool. Feels like the sister I never had, y'know?"
Robert nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. She's solid."
There was a beat of silence between them before Marie glanced over again, this time more hesitantly. "…So. Anyone you're interested in?"
Robert looked forward, eyebrows raised slightly as he thought. He didn't shy away from the question—he was always honest with her.
"…I think Eve's attractive. And… so are you," he added.
Marie immediately turned bright red. "Wha—! Are you planning to two-time us or something, idiot?!"
Robert laughed freely at her reaction. "No, no. I just said I find you both attractive. Doesn't mean I'm dating either of you. And besides," he shrugged, "Eve's already with someone."
Marie grumbled under her breath, trying to cool her cheeks as she looked away. "Dummy…"
Still, as she peeked sideways at Robert—flying steady beside her, cape flowing in the wind, ever-dedicated to his role as a hero—she couldn't help but feel proud. Inspired. Maybe even… a little smitten.
He's always so serious, so kind. Always doing his best for everyone.
A smile tugged at her lips.
'I bet Eve will see it too. She'll break up with Rex sooner or later. And if that happens…'
Marie glanced ahead again, eyes soft.
'Maybe Eve and I can support him together.'
As they hovered above the city, watching the emergency crews wrap up and civilians begin to return to some semblance of normalcy, Robert's expression turned serious. His eyes were fixed on the distant horizon, as if looking far beyond it.
"They'll be back," he said quietly.
Marie turned to him, puzzled. "The Alien?"
Robert nodded slowly. "Yeah. This invasion... it's just the beginning. They're not done with Earth."
Marie frowned, but then straightened with determination. "Then we'll be ready next time. I won't freeze up again. I promise."
A soft smile tugged at Robert's lips as he looked at her. "I know you will. And when they do come back… I'll handle it."
There was something in his tone—calm, confident, but… final. Marie noticed it immediately, the subtle weight behind his words.
"Handle it?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes. "You're hiding something. What do you mean by that?"
Before he could answer, Robert's expression shifted—playful now, masking whatever burden he carried. "Race you home."
"Huh?" Marie blinked.
"Loser washes the dishes for a week," he added with a smirk, already taking off.
"Hey, that's not fair—!" she shouted, launching after him with a grin despite herself.
Their laughter echoed through the sky as they streaked across the fading twilight, two young heroes pushing through the pain of what's to come with hope, heart… and a little sibling rivalry.
=========
The next day during school, Robert, Marie, and Eve lifted off into the sky, flying in formation toward the Teen Team's base. The city blurred beneath them, the morning sun glinting off their capes. Landing atop the base's high-rise rooftop, they entered through the concealed entrance as Rex greeted them with his usual sarcasm.
"Well, well, if it isn't the golden boy, the pink queen, and the new kid," Rex smirked. "What's with the dramatic rooftop entrance? Trying to make a statement?"
Eve rolled her eyes. "We go to the same school, Rex. It's more convenient to arrive together."
Rex raised an eyebrow. "Weird. Never went to high school. Guess I missed out on the joys of awkward locker rooms and lunch lines."
Before anyone could fire back, Robot's voice echoed from the monitor. "Focus, everyone. The Flaxans have returned."
The team's attention snapped to the screen, showing flashes of activity from the Flaxan dimension. "Preliminary scans suggest they've adapted," Robot continued. "They've found a way to negate the temporal displacement between their world and ours. Time dilation no longer weakens them."
Marie clenched her fists. "So this time… they won't just age out?"
"Correct," Robot confirmed. "We need to respond with full force."
Eve looked toward Marie and asked, "You ready?"
Marie inhaled, then exhaled deeply. "Yeah. I am." She glanced briefly at Robert, who gave her a calm, reassuring nod. His expression, however, remained distant… focused.
Robot turned to Robert. "Sentry, your telekinetic restraint during the last incursion prevented countless civilian casualties. I want you on front-line control again."
Robert nodded. "Understood."
But inside, Robert's mind was elsewhere.
He had spent the night reviewing data—schematics of Flaxan tech, notes he discreetly downloaded from Cecil's archive, and his fragmented visions of what was coming. He knew the Flaxans weren't invading randomly. They were probing Earth, testing its defenses. They would keep coming—stronger, smarter, more ruthless.
If Earth was to stand a chance, he needed more than brute strength.
He needed to hit them where they lived.
He needed to go to the Flaxan dimension.
He hadn't told anyone—not Marie, not Eve, not even Cecil. The plan was dangerous. Reckless. But if he could sneak in during the chaos, learn from within, sabotage their invasion from the source…
He would put a stop on their action and perhaps overthrow whoever was ruling the place. It might sound like how Viltrumite is doing but he simply has to stop the Flaxan from continuing wreaking havoc.
As the team prepared to depart, Marie stepped beside him.
"You okay?" she asked, catching the flicker of something darker in his eyes.
He blinked, then smiled warmly. "Yeah. Just focused."
Marie smiled back, but something about his tone made her uneasy. She filed it away in her thoughts as the portal opened, and the team readied themselves for battle.
What they didn't know—what only Robert carried—was that today's fight might be just the beginning… and he was already planning to cross into enemy territory.
Alone.
The space cracked open with light as the Flaxan portal ripped into the city, unleashing a swarm of armored invaders and heavily armed tanks rumbling through the streets. Civilians screamed and scattered as explosions rocked buildings, glass shattering from nearby towers.
"Move in!" Robot commanded over comms. "Engage and protect the civilians!"
Sentry, Invincible, and Atom Eve flew in formation, a blur of speed and power as they descended into chaos. Robert spotted a crumbling apartment tower. A family was trapped on a collapsing balcony.
"I've got them!" he shouted, diving toward the structure.
With a burst of focused telekinesis, Robert caught the collapsing debris mid-air. His eyes glowed faintly gold with strain as he gently pulled the family to safety, shielding them with a psychic barrier from a blast behind him.
Eve soared by overhead, launching pink energy constructs to disarm Flaxan tanks. One of the tanks targeted her while she was mid-cast, firing a high-energy bolt.
"Eve, duck!"
Robert tackled her out of the way, the bolt grazing his back, tearing part of his costume. They hit the ground hard and rolled behind cover.
Eve looked at him, eyes wide. "You saved my life…"
"No time for thanks," Robert said with a grin, standing and blasting a Flaxan soldier backward with a telekinetic shockwave.
Above them, Marie—Invincible—punched through one of the tanks, her fist glowing red from exertion. "Rex! Dupli-Kate! Cover my left!"
"You got it!" Rex barked, tossing a barrage of explosive disks while Dupli-Kate flanked the enemies from behind.
Suddenly, Robot's voice cut in through their earpieces: "I found the source. Their wristbands—they're keeping them from aging!"
Sentry nodded. "Copy. Target wristbands!"
One by one, the team focused their strikes, disabling the tech on the Flaxans' arms. The moment the bands were destroyed, the soldiers rapidly aged, turning to dust within seconds.
With precision and teamwork, the heroes drove the invaders back toward their portal. As the final tank exploded and the Flaxans began retreating through the breach, Sentry hovered mid-air and turned to Robot.
"Are there any more civilians left?"
Robot replied, "Negative. You've helped evacuate them all. Your actions saved hundreds."
Robert exhaled, the weight of the moment settling in. Then he turned toward Marie.
She landed beside him, panting. "We did it…"
Robert looked at her with a soft smile, then his expression turned somber. "Invincible… promise me you'll take care of Mom."
Her brow furrowed. "What are you—?"
"I promise I'll come back." He glanced at the retreating Flaxans and the flickering portal. "But I have to do this. We can't wait for them to attack again."
"No—wait!" Marie grabbed his arm, eyes wide with realization. "Sentry, don't! We can tell Cecil, make a plan—!"
But he was already gone.
With a flash of gold light, Sentry soared forward at blinding speed, slipping into the portal just before it began to close.
"ROBERT!!" Marie screamed, flying after him—but the portal vanished with a pulse of alien energy, leaving her staring at empty space.
Her breath caught in her throat, heart pounding, the city quiet around her now except for the distant sirens and wind.
Eve landed beside her, stunned. "He just… went in."
Marie clenched her fists, eyes shimmering with fury and fear. "Then we have to get him back."