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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf5U30PBw4
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But with power came chaos.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqSYSMDV5Z
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVKiNUMMtr
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The West Corp Directive105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m2393nMvz
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxJvM1Nm0t
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMbv34gCHV
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmiSrF7niL
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwRsPAl1NW
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The Hunt at the Docks105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBrHtqSHWm
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnDhFWy71Z
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡca1EjYrdMP
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2859j4UTJN
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99VTpSPipF
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hHluSL1eC
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobDQ2CGgDQ
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xPJR5nF5F
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCsp52TcTp
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL0t49R6Ai
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The Betrayal of Trust105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2sd19AmlZ
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvi340K8G7
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMnrFu73Z3
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ557Ot2HXa
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lEIgLwTCi
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The Detention Center: Level 9105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAItDGMZLI2
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaceJEc6tpN
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwIpA6hOeo
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoMgCDg44M
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdz6N4WfPz
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The Line in the Sand105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryjjkT1pVK
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzQg63JlmT
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQWEy5oMKY
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"A school?" Leon asked.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz3JsSgaFM
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVSIitlX4g
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlILbhC7nx1
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jTrL3p077
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYWu6tkvXe
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