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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1QxPTI79t
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But with power came chaos.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN2TKBT23y
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVedtxL7Z5y
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The West Corp Directive167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfkZxcn27W
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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.'"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVDlRI0EOg
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsJZCAotSV
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdz3Fv4mAU
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPPWMgMFhe
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The Hunt at the Docks167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYV2KkZThe
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQi6CBzSgd
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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!"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1sMgYngqs
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhXjX53dd5
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMZJLDY2FG
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19MUvYWUe2
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4egpnmDFUJ
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjdCrGcOGE
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD8XhBbSeG
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbJpsFo6Fr
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The Betrayal of Trust167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWz487hdlF
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBgNeyrEw9
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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?"167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq0t9KsGyg
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1iOVQvQU3
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZSpLgN4Hf
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The Detention Center: Level 9167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL5QGedgt3
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIFf6jDtTW
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmAe0Hmigx
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOv3v4Uw4a
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYBA1qCzP7
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The Line in the Sand167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JOp57Nh93
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXbpi9Yosx
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUhCatpWqS
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"A school?" Leon asked.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5IS0DF95H
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyQCa3jUfv
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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.167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ95G3wyGxk
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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."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIAg5hz9zi
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."167Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutVCtBHTRD
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