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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VGCIXnQWr
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But with power came chaos.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHlH2cbu4g
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSwoy0osoa
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The West Corp Directive108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW3zinUHuw
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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.'"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQaQSCwCG3
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRT2YavAGP
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX2oFOJqBV
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3eJWprMfb
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The Hunt at the Docks108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u7WQgSE64
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys4KaTDhg3
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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!"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6YlYp5MyA
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N1AE7TvEp
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZB4av56NG
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE4pp6d0zB
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5o7kfuJ6D
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG5QGaDDzh
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcjLrH2fbd
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gAZgVR0xt
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The Betrayal of Trust108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7zolJvoZU
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R77YtmRGy
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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?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKXDC8llIw
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI6xtTGA2q
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxjW5hSILX
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The Detention Center: Level 9108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX48w6b8Efx
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6q0dhR0r8
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW15Py18FOS
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmsC57NjhD
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeR0jVNSx9
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The Line in the Sand108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZe9zTW7Kb
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsqVbfjMjt
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfxAb79V1X
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"A school?" Leon asked.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5swGNJYnpr
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvMTTQi4iG
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgsHOYOAc0
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLUtXLu4Pu
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vp2mEBAQe
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