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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqyDGS0wZR
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But with power came chaos.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe2KthR9v0
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkln9Hr3dP
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The West Corp Directive133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMN721paHmR
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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.'"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzprZyhm9C
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmgPcXOIXw
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAdHx9PEZd
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaBqvPAPpy
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The Hunt at the Docks133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdfbzJjb9E
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMNVgR8S8O
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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!"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qeKOJpgoM
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0RV2NCDIH
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx47AqqILo
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbdZkt38JO
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktp0cp4N65
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UTcG5eMkc
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rEZO6k5xX
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuA1lDZrnN
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The Betrayal of Trust133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ9gFVYtzo
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvyKEaZRgF
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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?"133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q7HGCF8Nw
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0ZMuw6F8Y
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTUzy1ImzT
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The Detention Center: Level 9133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnqHZ8zyfi
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDJfbapU38
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rUBPXLF8p
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHGzDVE2C7
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi049PqZFB
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The Line in the Sand133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL4HonKuW9
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcQJ39om8V
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEVPnfZspA
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"A school?" Leon asked.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXM1Qpwis8
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxpIXHXdml
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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.133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZioWKV3oP
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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."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxgJrKxcyS
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."133Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMh9iPRVSH
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