The Next Day – Saturday
It's Saturday, and I'm down in the base, working on something in the lab in my Gray Matter form. If you're wondering what I'm working on—well, it's a Super Soldier Serum. I figured it'd be useful for me and everyone else. Especially Ava, Ted, and Hector.
Honestly, it's not even that hard to make in this form. Especially after I, uh… borrowed some data from Oscorp.
Yeah, I know what you're thinking—but I'm not trying to make some jacked-up, musclebound version of the Hulk. I want this serum to be better than the original. No drastic body changes. I want everyone to look the same physically, so they don't draw unwanted attention.
This version? It's going to beat Cap's serum. Why? Because I combined what I took from the Lizard formula to boost regeneration, and a bit of the Goblin serum to enhance strength and reflexes.
Don't worry—I'm fixing all the bad side effects. I'm not trying to turn my friends into giant sociopathic reptiles.
Then I heard a voice behind me.
"How did I know you'd be here?"
I turned around and saw Ava walking in.
I climbed out of the robot I was piloting in Gray Matter form and hit the Omnitrix to return to my normal body.
"Hey, Ava. I wasn't gonna stay cooped up in here all day. I planned to hang out with you and Yolanda later. Just wanted to get a head start on this little project," I said.
She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "What is it this time?"
"Super Soldier Serum," I said casually, leaning on the workbench.
Ava's eyes widened. "Like Captain America's Super Soldier Serum?"
"Kinda. I'm making this one way better, though," I replied with a grin.
"I thought nothing could surprise me anymore—but you keep finding ways to do it," Ava said, shaking her head as she sat down.
"Hey, don't blame me. You keep underestimating my smart aliens."
She smiled. "So… how was last night?"
"Pretty good," I said, leaning back against the desk. "I stopped a fire, saved a bunch of people, took down some muggers—y'know, just your average Friday night."
"Yeah, I saw some of that on the news. You looked good out there," Ava said, leaning forward.
"So, what's the plan for today?" she asked.
"Hector told me I could rest today. So, I figured I'd work on this project a bit, then hang out with you and Yolanda for the rest of the day."
"You done now?" Ava asked, already rising from the chair.
"Yeah. I can finish the rest later," I said.
"Good. Let's go. Yolanda's waiting for us at my place."
Before I could even respond, she grabbed my hand and started dragging me out of the base.
Guess the rest of the day just officially started.
Captain America POV
I'm standing in the Avengers Tower, in the main meeting room. The team's all here—Tony, Bruce, Natasha, Clint, Thor—and we're discussing the same thing that's been on everyone's mind for the past week:
Omni.
The new hero who shows up, disappears, reappears, and leaves more questions than answers. Tony's obsessed with figuring out who he is, and Bruce is nearly just as curious. Even I have to admit—I want to know more.
"Tell me you've found something," Tony said, looking at the central console.
"I'm sorry, sir. I still cannot track the hero known as Omni," Jarvis replied.
"Keep trying, Jarvis."
"Yes, sir."
"You really want to find this guy, huh?" I asked, arms crossed.
Tony turned toward me. "Oh, come on, Steve. Don't act like you're not at least interested."
"I am," I said. "But if he's staying hidden, that means he values his privacy. That should be respected."
"Yeah, yeah," Tony muttered, tapping at the console. A hologram of Omni appeared in the middle of the table, cycling through a few recorded transformations.
"I can't tell if it's the armor doing this, or if the armor's just helping him control it," Tony said. "Either way, the guy turns into monsters."
"Or aliens," Natasha corrected.
"Good point. Aliens, monsters—same difference. Either way, I want to know how he does it."
"Why don't we just wait until we run into him?" Clint said, leaning back in his chair. "Then you can ask him all your boring science questions."
"Instead of digging into his identity and risking his family's safety?" I added.
Tony groaned. "Look, I'm not trying to put him in danger. If I figure out his identity, I'm not going to tell anyone."
"We still work with S.H.I.E.L.D., even if it's off the books," Natasha said. "You really think Fury won't come knocking if he knows you're sitting on a secret like that?"
"Keyword: work with, not work for. Besides, I've upgraded Jarvis. No one's hacking into him again. Not even Fury."
Clint snorted. "That's what you said last time."
Tony ignored him. "Look, all I'm saying is—Omni could be a real asset. That power? Those transformations? He could be one of the strongest heroes we've seen. If he's the real deal, he belongs on the team."
"And what—your plan is to knock on his door and say, 'Congrats, kid, you're an Avenger now'?" I asked.
"Not exactly like that," Tony said. "I'd add some flair. But yeah, basically."
"Tony… he's hiding his identity for a reason. He's protecting someone. Maybe a lot of someones. The second you show up at his door, that wall of safety disappears."
Everyone went quiet for a moment. Except Thor—he looked confused. Not unusual.
"We all went public during a global crisis," I continued. "A lot of us don't even have family left. But if Omni does? Then putting a spotlight on him, before we earn his trust, is reckless."
"So what do you suggest?" Natasha asked.
"We watch," I said. "We let him do his thing. If he keeps doing good, if he proves himself, then we make contact. Slowly. Carefully. We build trust."
"I get that," Natasha said. "But what about his potential threat level? That kind of power in one person—it's dangerous. We should at least know what we're dealing with."
"You said the same thing about Superman," I said. "And look what happened. He used his power to protect people, not hurt them. Same thing with Omni. If we hunt him down like he's a threat, we'll lose his trust before we even have a chance to earn it."
Tony looked like he wanted to argue, but he stayed quiet.
"When someone joins a team like ours," I said, "they're not just risking themselves. They're risking everyone they care about. The least we can do is give them a chance to choose that risk on their terms."
There was a long silence after that.
Then Tony sighed. "Fine. We'll play it your way. For now."
Good, I'm glad you all agree, now can we move on to the other thing, the inhumans" I said
Ted Grant POV
"I gotta say, Hector… that kid's a natural," I said, taking a sip of my beer. "Way better than either of us when we started."
Hector nodded, nursing his drink. "Yeah, I agree. Honestly, even without our help, I think he would've figured it out on his own eventually."
We were sitting in a quiet old bar, tucked away in a booth far from the handful of other patrons. Dim lighting, scratched tables, stale popcorn smell—just like the old days.
"So…" I started, setting my drink down. "When are you planning to give up the amulet?"
Hector looked caught off guard, but he didn't shy away.
"Soon," he said. "I'm getting way too old for this."
I chuckled. "Yeah, I hear that. You and me—we've been in this game too damn long. It's time for the next generation to step up."
Hector gave a slight nod. "Speaking of the next generation… Yolanda."
I nearly choked on my beer. "What about her?"
"Come on, Ted. You know what I'm talking about. Are you ever going to pass the mantle to her? Let her be the next Wildcat, like you planned from the beginning?"
I let out a heavy sigh. "I wanted to. God, I really did. I saw so much of myself in her. Same fire, same fists, same heart. But this world? It's changed. It's more dangerous now than it's ever been. These villains aren't just robbing banks anymore—they've got powers, weapons, alien tech. And Yolanda? She doesn't have powers. Giving her the suit, no matter how advanced it is, it's not enough. One wrong move and… she doesn't come home."
Hector looked down, nodding slowly.
"I can't put my goddaughter in that kind of danger," I continued. "If something happened to her out there, I'd never forgive myself. So… I made the decision. Wildcat dies with me."
"I see," Hector said quietly. "Didn't realize how much that decision weighed on you."
"It does," I admitted. "She would've made a hell of a Wildcat."
There was a long pause. Hector raised his glass.
"Well then… here's to Wildcat. He had a damn good run."
"You're damn right," I said with a grin, clinking his glass. "Trained some of the best heroes out there. Beat down some of the worst villains. Not a bad legacy, huh?"
We laughed together—gruff, tired, but proud. Yeah, Wildcat had one hell of a run.
Beth Chapel POV
I'm in Chicago, finally done packing up the last of my things.It's almost time for me to move. But not just anywhere… I'm going to live with my cousin. Franklin. Someone I haven't seen since we were babies. Truthfully, I don't remember him at all, but Grandpa Max says we were close, even if we couldn't say each other's names yet.
From what I've heard, Franklin's excited to see me. And honestly? That makes this a little less scary.
I can't wait to have some kind of normal. No more moving every couple of months. No more saying goodbye to people before I even learn their names. I can finally stay in one place, finish the school year, maybe make real friends… maybe even try dating, though I have zero experience in that department. It'd be nice though—to feel like a regular teenage girl for once.
But… there's one thing I am worried about.
Franklin doesn't know I'm a mutant.
It was easy hiding it from my parents—they were always so busy, always moving. But now I'll be living with Franklin. Sharing space. Sharing days. It'll be a lot harder to hide things from someone who's always around.
My powers aren't anything dramatic or dangerous. I can see perfectly in the dark, sharpen my nails like claws, and my hearing's sharper than most. That's it. Nothing world-ending. Nothing scary.
Still… I have no idea how he'll react if he finds out. Some people hear the word "mutant" and immediately get scared, or worse. I don't think Franklin's like that, not from what I've heard, but... you never really know.
So for now, I'll do everything I can to keep that part of me hidden. At least until I know I can trust him.
Franklin POV
"This is a stupid movie," I said.
"Oh, come on, it's a really good movie!" Ava shot back.
"I kinda like it too," Yolanda added.
"Okay, but seriously—she had a whole life after Jack died. A husband. Kids. And then she throws away a very valuable necklace like it's nothing. And after she dies, the first person she wants to see is Jack? Not the man she actually spent decades with?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
"Franklin, stop ruining our favorite movie just because we wouldn't let you put on Friday the 13th. You were outvoted," Ava said, rolling her eyes.
"Okay, first of all, I'm always outvoted between you two. Second, Friday the 13th would've been a way better pick than this."
We were at Ava's house, all of us piled onto the couch watching Titanic. It's not a bad movie—if you don't think too hard about it—but horror beats romance any day, in my opinion. Still, I couldn't complain too much. Ava was cuddled up on one side of me, Yolanda on the other. We'd been doing a movie marathon all day, not really in the mood to go out.
Honestly? I could do this forever.
The Next Day
I was in the lab working on the super soldier serum—almost done now, just a couple more weeks and it'll be ready. I was deep into my calculations when I started hearing fighting sounds behind me.
I turned my head just a bit. Ava was sparring with Courtney and Cindy. And yeah, she was winning. Not even close. Ava's been training with Hector for a long time—she moves like she owns the fight. Ted and Hector were nearby, overseeing it all like a couple of old masters at a dojo. I wasn't really paying attention to them though—I was so close to a breakthrough.
Then the base alarm blared.
"Uh-oh," I said immediately.
I jumped out of my gray matter robot and turned back into my normal form. I ran to the computer and shut the alarm off.
"What 'uh-oh'?" Ted called from across the room.
I winced and glanced over at Hector. "Okay… I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to be mad."
"I already want to yell at you. Now tell us what's going on," Hector said, crossing his arms.
I cleared my throat. "So… I may or may not have hijacked almost every satellite on Earth and connected them to my computer."
"You what?!" Ted said.
"It's just an early warning system," I said quickly, holding up my hands. "In case of an alien invasion or some giant threat. You know—precautionary measures."
Hector looked like he was deciding whether to lecture me or high-five me. I didn't wait.
"And good thing I did, because something just landed. Some kind of alien structure. It's not doing anything right now—dormant—but the government's already on edge."
"Where is it exactly?" Courtney asked, stepping forward.
"Out in the middle of the Nevada desert," I replied, pointing at the screen. "Nowhere near New York, thankfully."
"What do we do?" she asked.
Everyone turned to Hector and Ted.
"For now? Nothing," Ted said. "Franklin, you keep monitoring the site. If that thing starts doing anything, let us know. Then the three of us will head out there."
"What about us?" Courtney asked, motioning between herself and Cindy.
"You're not ready yet," Hector said firmly. "You've got powers, yeah—but you don't have the experience. You could get yourselves hurt or worse."
I could see the disappointment in their faces. But honestly? I was kinda relieved they weren't coming.
Because I know what this is.
The Dark Heart.
I don't remember every detail, but I do remember it creates an endless army of robot spiders and robotic dogs. Last time it took the entire Justice League to hold it back.
If that thing wakes up?
I'm gonna have to bring out the big guns.
One Hour Later
I was back in my Gray Matter form, piloting my custom mech and working on upgrades for Hector's and Ted's suits. Just minor improvements — more durability, stronger insulation, better impact absorption. Nothing too crazy, just prepping in case things went sideways.
Then…Ping.
A soft alert popped up on my computer.
I rushed over and read it.The Dark Heart just went active.
Government's already panicking. Backup's been requested. From what I can see, both the Justice League and the Avengers are already there, boots on the ground. That's how serious this is.
I hopped out of the robot, transformed back into my normal form, and immediately activated my armor. Ted and Hector saw the look on my face. They didn't even ask. They just started suiting up.
It was already 10 PM. Everyone else from the team had gone home for the night.
When we were all ready, I opened the teleporter.
"Alright, kid," Ted said, cracking his knuckles inside his suit. "This is going to be intense, but I know you can handle it. Just don't get carried away. And don't let your guard down."
"Got it," I said, nodding.
We stepped through the portal——and landed in the middle of a war zone.
Flames. Explosions. Laser blasts and spider-bots everywhere. Soldiers yelling. Civilians being evacuated. Every Avenger was there. Every Justice Leaguer too. Not just the big names either—I saw Shining Knight, Vigilante, Fire, Booster Gold—everyone.
And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little shaken.
"Take a breath," Hector said.
"Huh?"
"I can tell you're nervous. Just breathe. Get your head right. These things mean business—so do we. Use any and every powerful alien you've got. Don't hesitate."
I nodded and sucked in a deep breath, clenching my fists."Okay… Let's go."
Ted clapped a hand on my shoulder. "That's the spirit. Let's go introduce ourselves."
Before jumping in, I hacked into the League and Avengers comms.Might as well stay in the loop.
Then I looked down at the Omnitrix. Time to go big.
Slam.
Third Person POV
The battlefield was pure chaos. Iron Man was blasting repulsors and unloading mini-missiles like candy. Superman flew overhead, tearing spider bots apart with his heat vision. Thor and Shazam lit the sky with bolts of lightning. Wonder Woman was slicing through enemies with her sword while Captain Marvel threw explosive energy punches left and right.
"They just keep coming!" Tony shouted over comms. "We need a new plan—can't do this forever!"
"If you have a plan, Stark, I'm listening," Batman responded, firing missiles from the Batjet. "If not, stop talking and fight."
Suddenly, a massive roar echoed through the battlefield.
"HUMUNGOUSAUR!"
All heads turned.
Charging through a wall of spider-bots came a giant alien dinosaur, smashing through their ranks like a wrecking ball.
Clint raised his bow, eyes narrowing. "The hell is that?! Another enemy?!"
"Stand down," Batman said. "Take a closer look. That's Omni."
They all saw it. The familiar green hourglass symbol glowing on his chest.
The young hero tore through the swarm with raw brute force—slamming bots into each other, tossing them into the air, crushing metal beneath his feet.
"How many forms does this guy have?" asked Captain Atom, panting mid-battle.
"Doesn't matter," Cap said. "He's fighting on our side. And we need him. Keep pushing, soldiers!"
Then Wonder Woman pointed toward the distance. "He's not alone. I see two more—White Tiger, and another fighter."
"That's Wildcat," Batman said without even looking. "Master of martial arts. A legend."
Iron Man snorted. "Why am I not surprised you know that?"
"Focus, Tony," Cap said sharply.