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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfpg7Iussc
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But with power came chaos.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnAvVoufd7
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKyKOaWAch
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The West Corp Directive105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq9qqkqupT
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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.'"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolyMkoeZKe
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsH3q9q838
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCoP5q83Uj
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kkWI9Rzml
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The Hunt at the Docks105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7wdVV0Gpz
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ991Txoo9CL
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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!"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35FsWBACE9
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ouwqchaoT
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhyHoojNuo
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLEF1nQ2Ew
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzxfQsWhf6
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ot4eLELgX
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWHh8xXm1Q
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ9IQW33T4
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The Betrayal of Trust105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCItfiIzzen
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHXHDOgEcU
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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?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdDWPGfgYJ
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jx2MNTYzh
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXTHcyjEYj
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The Detention Center: Level 9105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrHhSrHTNu
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQec67W9lUb
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg0sEQavui
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdhIMfE9sQ
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrA4PHxMLC
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The Line in the Sand105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRnPXP6zXG
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u39hcxM0G
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRbwq74pee
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"A school?" Leon asked.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHg6tFoO8F
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4TM7ZgbEg
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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.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnWFQX009C
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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."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFqhuEXKCz
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2IPQGCRnn
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