The alarm blared throughout the facility:
"Alert: Intruder."
Every door slammed shut as steel plates locked into place. Defense turrets unfolded from the walls, their barrels glowing as they targeted the lone figure entering the reactor chamber. The scanners whirred anxiously as they processed him.
Rex grinned at the machinery, revealing sharp fangs as the cloak around his shoulders rippled with static energy.
"Buggers. Humans never fail to impress. They guard their artifacts more fiercely than they guard their own lives. I wonder what would happen if I destroyed the reactor. The entire city would implode, and then I would do the same to another city and another until all humans experience a fraction of the pain I have endured."
He lifted his head toward the nearest camera, smile widening.
"My passion is reignited."
The security system responded instantly:
"Intruder unrecognizable. Non human presence detected. Activating protocol according to Code Four Five Fire at will."
Bullets, plasma bursts and laser beams erupted from every direction.
Rex laughed softly.
"Heh."
He threw his cloak upward and released a violent pulse of electricity. The entire system flickered. Screens dimmed. Turrets rebooted in confusion. Rex slipped between every shot like smoke, and in a flash of distorted air, he teleported to the central core of the room.
He placed his palm on the reactor:
"From this day onward, from this very time, the era of pain begins."
A surge of cosmic energy ripped through the chamber. The core's power flowed into Rex, merging with his atoms and burning through every cell in his body. He threw back his head and laughed wildly, consumed by power and rage.
"Hahaha. Hahaha. Hahaha."
Outside, Archex and Weaver sprinted toward the facility. Smoke and frightened civilians filled the streets.
"We need to hurry. Rex is planning something catastrophic," Weaver said, swinging forward on shimmering threads as Archex flew beside him using the propulsion units on his armor.
Archex scanned the air nervously.
"I am getting high radioactive energy pulses from inside that building. Something is seriously wrong."
People flooded the streets in panic.
Rio dropped beside a collapsing woman. She fell with her child, both unconscious on the pavement.
"Damn it," he muttered, placing his hand over her chest.
"Weaving Technique: Stasis."
Green silk flowed from his fingertips like soft light. It enveloped the woman and her child, forming a glowing cocoon that stabilized their breath and heartbeats.
Archex landed behind him in a shimmer of light. His armor hummed quietly, its cloaking tech blurring his outline.
"Magic. Typical for a peasant creature like you," he said, though a faint chuckle broke through his tone. "Still, not bad. Put her somewhere safe. Maybe the underground shelter."
He paused.
"The lightning is there. Maybe he can help the sick people."
Rio froze.
"Did you say Quicklightning is there?"
"Yes. He has been handling crowd control for the past hour. He is taking civilians to the underground shelter."
"But that is slow even for him. Why is he holding back? He is faster than everyone in the Elite Gold combined," Rio asked.
Archex tapped a glowing pad on his wrist.
"He is carrying people. I do not know what powers him, but moving another person at his normal speed would kill them instantly. Even beta humans cannot survive hyperspeed movement."
Rio smiled.
"You sound nicer now. Seems we will get along."
He raised his thumb in greeting.
A plasma shot exploded beside him.
Archex hovered above.
"Do not get the wrong idea, Dryaid. I am helping because you saved me. I do not like non humans, and you are no exception."
"Relax. I mean no harm," Rio said, laughing lightly.
"You joke about everything," Archex muttered. "At this rate, we need backup from the other elite members. Maybe Joyce or..."
"I will call Quicklightning. He is the strongest. He will handle Rex easily."
"Good. Be quick about it," Archex replied as he shot into the sky.
Rio lifted the cocooned mother and child onto his back, reinforcing them with silk. Then he launched himself forward, swinging across the city. His movements were fluid, precise and elegant. Threads latched onto rooftops and towers, dissolving after fifteen minutes without leaving residue. Below him the streets cracked, sirens screamed and frightened families ran for shelter as radiation pulsed from the reactor.
He spotted the cathedral-like building ahead:
The Church of Light's Sanctuary.
Its titanium gates opened slowly as he landed before it.
The underground shelter stretched beneath the city like a hidden world. Rows of makeshift beds, medical stations and supply crates filled the massive hall. Families huddled close, their eyes tired and hopeful.
"You should be safe here," Rio said as he gently set the woman and her child down.
A young woman approached. Her jacket was green, her jeans sleek and fitted, one side of her green hair tucked back behind tinted glasses.
"Thank you for bringing them. Let me check their vitals," she said calmly.
"Who are you?" Rio asked. Her presence felt familiar.
"My name is Helenra. I am a random beta human that can heal."
"Nobody calls themselves a random beta human," Rio said, narrowing his eyes. "Helenra is not a human name. Who are you really?"
"Is she not sick?" Angela asked, pointing at the unconscious woman.
"Yea. But why does that concern you. Are you her friend. How can you help her."
"I can help her. I can heal her."
Rio stepped in front of her cautiously.
"I cannot allow an unqualified stranger to touch a civilian. What if she gets worse."
He felt a soft hand touch his forehead.
"You never saw her," a calm voice said.
It was Rose.
"You are only here to call Quicklightning. You dropped the woman and her child in a safe place."
Rio blinked as the suggestion wrapped through his mind.
"Oh yea. I forgot. I am here to see Quicklightning. Who are you."
"I am Flame Heart. Quicklightning is on his way. You can wait for him there," Rose answered.
Rio walked away obediently.
Angela glared at her.
"Why did you do that. He is a hero. I clearly had the situation under control."
"Relax. You two will have plenty of time to talk later," Rose replied. She studied Angela thoughtfully.
"So that is her brother."
Angela sighed with worry.
"Do you think Johnson will be angry. He told Aunt Mary to keep us safe."
"I do not know," Rose admitted. "He hardly gets angry. But he will be worried. That is why I placed the perfect disguise on us."
Mary's voice echoed across the hall.
"More supplies for everyone."
Rose looked at Angela with a soft smile.
"Quicklightning is childish. He saves everything with a big smile even though he is sad inside."
Angela nodded.
"He saves everything. While he fights for us, we must support him."
She knelt beside the cocoon as it dissolved.
"What is your name, ma," Angela asked.
"My name is Agatha. This is my son Tim. Can you help us."
"Yes. I can help you. Give me your hand."
Angela's palm glowed softly. She restored the woman's body at the atomic level. She placed a hand on the child as well, healing him completely.
"Thank you so much. God bless you," Agatha whispered.
"You can find food at the provision stand," Angela said.
The woman hesitated.
"What if they do not allow me. My son and I are human."
"They will not mistreat you. I give you my word," Angela replied gently.
A small hand touched hers.
"Kind lady. What is your name," the boy asked shyly.
"My name is Helenra," she whispered playfully.
He smiled and placed something into her hand.
"Take this gift. I promise to buy a toy of the hero Helenra one day."
"Tim. Come here. Do not disturb the kind lady," Agatha called.
The boy ran off. Angela watched him leave with a soft smile.