Sherwood City had become the epicenter of a new kind of war. It wasn't an invasion from the stars anymore; it was an invasion from within. Every day, the news reported a new "Awakening." A baker in France who could turn to stone; a student in Tokyo who could hear thoughts.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HwQ8Gim8K
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But with power came chaos.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtNTkXZemR
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In the heart of the city, a UMA with the ability to generate kinetic shockwaves had leveled a city block while trying to "help" stop a bank robbery. The public’s gratitude for the V-Team was curdling into fear of the unknown.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp1QjkdZlW
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The West Corp Directive104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IBf3yjR51
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"We aren't just a tech company anymore, Victoria," Garder West said, his silhouette framed by a massive holographic map of "Containment Sites." "We are the global wardens. The government has authorized the UMA Detention Initiative (UDI). Any anomaly that cannot control their output is to be brought here for 'stabilization.'"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXdFXlnztJ
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He pointed to a deep-subterranean level of West Corp—Level 9. It was a high-tech fortress designed to dampen Meta-energies.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJlPG5MGcy
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadX6u2TCXp
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"If a child has a live grenade in their hand, you take the grenade away," West replied coldly. "Elizabeth is already in the field. Avan and Leon are at the harbor. There’s a Class-3 Pyro-UMA at the docks. Go."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkgHLuW3cQ
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The Hunt at the Docks104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LtIpoOL4m
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The "Pyro" was a nineteen-year-old named Marcus. He wasn't a villain; he was terrified. His skin was glowing like a charcoal ember, and every time he breathed, the shipping containers around him melted.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkzBDAUFgB
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"Stay back!" Marcus screamed as I landed in my purple-and-green armor. "I don't want to hurt anyone! It just... it won't stop burning!"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp6SDxXAw7
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"Marcus, listen to me," I said, my visor retracting to show him my face. "I'm Victoria. I've been where you are. We can help you."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXCYTcpQcU
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPycA8Q2P4
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Suddenly, a streak of green light whistled through the air. An arrow made of solid shadow-matter struck the ground at Marcus’s feet, erupting into a localized "Cold-Zone."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r48W0XSDR
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Elizabeth (Nightshadow) dropped from the crane above. "He’s a Class-3, Vega. Protocol says we contain him immediately. Don't let him talk his way into burning the city down."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHd8sKcfAM
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDicJVNZPJj
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pB9gBK8rY
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Leon rose from the water, his face grim. He used his powers to create a cooling mist, but his eyes weren't on the boy—they were on the West Corp "Recovery Team" that had just arrived in armored vans. They carried Dampener Collars—heavy metal rings that suppressed the nervous system.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz27Gp0079W
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The Betrayal of Trust104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44XRRfl0Uz
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We watched as the Recovery Team forced the collar onto Marcus. The glow in his eyes died instantly, replaced by a look of hollow agony. They loaded him into the back of the van like cargo.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqhSTcjwqg
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"Is this what we are now?" Avan asked, his blue sparks dimming. "The Meta-Police? We’re UMAs too, you know. What happens when West decides we are too dangerous to be outside?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ703vmKGXOn
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hAaMLu4mM
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAppAKZNssP
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The Detention Center: Level 9104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRqXC8rY00
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Later that night, I used the Watch to bypass the security sensors and snuck into Level 9. The hallway was lined with cells. I saw Marcus sitting on a cot, staring at his hands. He looked small. He looked human.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5MFh9ePXR
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I saw others. A girl who could phase through walls, now trapped in a room vibrating at a frequency she couldn't match. A man who could see the future, crying because he knew he would never leave this room.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqn0FAU5AL
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"West Corp isn't helping them," I whispered into my comms to the rest of the V-Team. "They’re studying them. They’re trying to find a way to replicate the UMA gene for their own 'Secret Service' soldiers."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4CslADJvd
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"I found the files, Victoria," Avan’s voice came through, shaking. "I hacked the main server. West is calling it Project: Chimera. He wants to combine our DNA with the DNA of the captured UMAs to create a 'Perfect Guardian' for Dementra's return."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEcJuoCptu
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The Line in the Sand104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLqZdxU7Ts
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSUBRtAKtT
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"V-Team," I said. "We have a choice. We can keep following West's orders and wait until it’s our turn for the collars... or we can turn this 'Detention Center' into a school."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8gesGadg8
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"A school?" Leon asked.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MwboUcSOH
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"If they learn to control their powers, they aren't 'dangerous' anymore. If we teach them to be heroes, West can't justify the cages. We start tonight. We don't break them out—we break the system."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr9R3kkHhX
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As I spoke, the shadow of Garder West appeared at the end of the hall. He wasn't alone. He was flanked by a new squad of soldiers wearing Anti-Meta Power Suits based on the technology they had salvaged from the Invasion.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FniClh4Hj
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"I hoped you wouldn't come down here, Victoria," West said, his voice echoing in the sterile hallway. "You’re a hero. Don't make me treat you like an Anomaly."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDaqFQbxjZ
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bLbUwAxUC
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