LEVEL UP!] [CURRENT LEVEL: 5] [NEW ABILITIES UNLOCKED]
The notification flashed across Huey's HUD as he tried to process what was happening. His sister, his sister the vice captain of a high ranking Toppler agency was running straight toward him with tears welling u0 in her eyes.
Huey instinctively dropped into a defensive stance, electricity crackling around his fingers. But instead of attacking, Hailee crashed into him with a bone-crushing embrace that buried his face in her chest."Can't... breathe..." he mumbled into her tactical vest."Thank God you're alive," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "When I saw that titan charging up its second blast, I thought—""Wait." Huey managed to extract himself, staring at her through his mask. "You
know it's me?""
A few people know about your vigilante persona," Jazz chimed in helpfully. "Family and friends tends to notice when you start sneaking out at night and come back covered in burns."Hailee stepped back, wiping her eyes with the back of her glove. "Of course I know, you idiot. You told me?"
"Yh right" Huey replied Patting the back of his Head.
Her expression shifted from relief to fury in the space of a heartbeat.The punch came without warning, catching Huey square in the jaw and sending him sprawling across the rubble-strewn ground."Ow! What the hell, Hailee?""That's for not staying hidden like you promised!" She loomed over him, silver braids whipping in the wind generated by her agitated crest. "That's for taking on a titan when you knew you couldn't win And for nearly giving me a heart attack!"Huey rubbed his jaw, tasting blood through his mask. "I said I was sorry—""Sorry doesn't fix dead, Huey, besides why were you messing around, I've seen you in action before and at the time you looked like you could give even me some trouble, but never mind that!" Her voice cracked slightly. "Do you have any idea what it would do to this family if we lost you too?"She crouched beside him, her tone softening to something almost maternal. "I know you're trying to help Dad. We all are. But pushing yourself this hard won't bring him back to us any faster."
The mention of their father hit Huey like a physical blow. He still had no idea what had happened to Atticus Cross, and Jazz's earlier refusal to elaborate left him with nothing but assumptions and guilt he couldn't fully understand."I just want to do something that matters," he said quietly.Hailee smiled, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "You do matter. But if anyone here looks like they're pushing themselves too hard—" Huey grinned, seeing an opening, "—it's definitely you, sis. Have you looked in a mirror lately? You look like you haven't slept in a week. And honestly? Kind of ugly with all that stress."
The temperature around them dropped ten degrees."What did you just say?""I said you look—OW!" Hailee's fist connected with his already tender ribs, and Huey curled up on the ground, wheezing."I take it back! You're beautiful! Radiant! Please stop hitting me!""That's what I thought." She stood, brushing dust off her coat. "But seriously, those readings are never wrong. A Level 2 rift becoming Level 3 mid-operation... something's not right."Her expression grew distant, professional. "The mistake cost lives tonight. those soldiers had families waiting for them." She clenched her fists. "I promise you, I won't let something like this happen again."
Huey started to push himself up. "Well, this has been fun, but I should probably—"Hailee's hand clamped down on his shoulder like a vice."Oh no, little brother. We're not done here." Her smile was predatory. "See, there's something I need you to do for me. And after that stunt you just pulled, you don't really get to say no."
The next day found Huey sprawled across his dorm bed after a long day of class, an ice pack pressed to his swollen eye and his gold cross chain catching the afternoon light filtering through the blinds. Every muscle in his body felt like it had been used as a punching bag.
"Dude," Calvin said from his side of the room, "did you fall off a mountain or something?""Worse," Huey groaned. "I fell out with my sister."Calvin perked up immediately. "Wait, your sister? As in Hailee Cross? Vice-Captain of Luce Nera?" His eyes lit up with interest. "Bro, you know I like em older and feisty just makes em better. Think you could introduce us?""I'd rather eat glass."
Calvin laughed, his dark skin gleaming as he stretched in his tank top and grey sweatpants. The green crest mark on his shoulder pulsed faintly as he activated his magnetic abilities, pulling a soda can from across the room without moving from his bed."Want one?" he offered."Nah, last one you tossed with your bad aim had me tyrna wash stains of my bed sheet for a week."
Calvin was about to respond when something caught his eye near the mini-fridge. He frowned, his crest flaring brighter as he extended his senses."Yo, Huey. You seeing this?""If it involves me moving, no.""Comon bro, I'm serious." Calvin stood, walking toward the fridge area. "There's something—"A streak of blue energy zipped past his head and out the open window."What the hell?" Calvin's eyes went wide. "Was that a—?"The cat-like creature made of pure plasma paused on the window for just long enough for them both to get a good look before darting away across the courtyard."Echo!" Calvin shouted, his training kicking in.
His crest flared to full power as he grabbed the metal cafeteria tray from their desk. "Calvin, wait—"But Calvin was already diving through the window, the metal tray extending beneath his feet as magnetic fields turned it into an impromptu hoverboard. He shot across the gap between buildings, weaving between startled students who poured out of their rooms to watch.
The echoe was fast, but Calvin was too. He surfed the air currents, jumping from his tray to building ledges and back again, his magnetic manipulation allowing for impossible aerial maneuvers. The chase wound through Galileo Hall's courtyard, over the fountain, and past the training facilities.Students cheered and pointed as Calvin closed in on his target. At the last second, as the echo approached the main gates and the open ground beyond, he leaped off his tray and hurled it like a discus.The metal disk struck the plasma creature dead center, dispersing it into harmless energy particles. Unfortunately, the tray continued its trajectory straight through the warden's office window.
"CALVIN ESPOSITO!" Mr. Luigi's voice resonated across the courtyard.The gathered students erupted in applause as Calvin landed gracefully, grinning and taking theatrical bows."You're not him," Huey yelled, but he was smiling.
"Calvin Esposito," Jazz observed. "Combat Department, Level 3 symbiont-type. Magnetic field manipulation with extraordinary precision control. Good heart, erratic but with a strong moral compass. He's actually quite impressive.""Yeah?" "He reminds me of something an old philosopher once said, you can travel the world as a shepherd, but you must still tend carefully to your sheep. Calvin enjoys life, but never loses sight of what's important.
"Huey watched his roommate charming his way out of trouble with Mr. Luigi through sheer charisma and probably some form of bribery. "I could learn from that" . Just then Huey's phone alarm goes off and a message displaying session with Josephine.
Later that evening, Huey found himself in the Rodriguez family's backyard dojo, circling Josephine on the practice mats. She moved with fluid grace, her light-based crest manifesting as a staff of solid photons. Getting slow in your old age, Cross," she teased, lunging forward with a thrust that Huey barely deflected.She was beautiful in that effortless way that made breathing difficult. curvy hips, long brown hair pulled into two playful buns, and eyes that sparkled with mischief. The fact that their families had been rivals for generations only made their friendship more intriguing.
Huey slipped inside her guard, going for a takedown, but Josephine was ready. She spun away, her staff extending as she brought it around in a wide arc. Huey ducked, then surprised her by raising his hand.Three small plasma constructs materialized, tiny cats made of blue energy that chittered and pounced at Josephine from different angles. She laughed, dispelling them with quick jabs of light, but the distraction was enough for Huey to sweep her legs and pin her to the mat."New technique?" she asked breathlessly, staring up at him."Tested it out on Calvin first. Poor guy nearly jumped out of his skin when one ran across our room."
Josephine pulled him down closer, their faces inches apart. "You taken it easy on me or have you gotten Slower cross."
Heat rushed to his cheeks as he quickly rolled away. "Personal space, Jo. Your grandpa's right there.""Abuelo's seen worse," she laughed, but there was something wistful in her expression. "Besides, you're cute when you're flustered.""I'm not flustered. "Right. And I don't like empanadas." She gathered her training gear, then hesitated. "How's your father?"The question hit harder than expected. "Same as always. No change." He touched the cross chain at his throat unconsciously. "I should visit him again soon.""Want company?""No. It's... it's something I need to do alone."
Across the city, in a sterile office that smelled of disinfectant and ambition, Dr. Andreas Keller reviewed surveillance footage on multiple screens. His pristine white suit remained immaculate despite the long day, and his innocent face showed only mild interest as he watched the hooded vigilante battle the titan."Interesting," he murmured to the nervous technician beside him. "Plasma-based abilities, fast attacks. exceptional combat awareness for someone so young.""Sir, we've identified him as the same individual who disrupted the hospital operation. Should we—?""No, no. Let him play hero for now."
Keller's smile was warm, paternal. "But I am curious about something. That woman who killed the titan, run her identification again."The screen shifted, showing Hailee Cross in her Luce Nera uniform, silver star gleaming on her chest."Vice-Captain Hailee Cross, ranked 72nd globally. Wind-symbiont crest, atmospheric manipulation specialty."Keller leaned forward, his pale eyes bright with interest. "And our mysterious vigilante seemed quite... familiar with her.
Almost like they knew each other personally."He tapped his fingers against the desk, thinking. How delightfully convenient. It's always easier to hurt someone when you know exactly which pressure points to apply."
His smile widened, and for just a moment, something predatory was evident behind his innocent facade."Keep monitoring both of them. In due time our vigilante friend will get what's coming to him."