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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdr3wGfp0M
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But with power came chaos.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduKhITrGmZ
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGjl71mknJ
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The West Corp Directive105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACdGc9YZls
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriHkAjGtp7
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQVUqwqLlW
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzwz62up8x
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJ5zTmI0V3
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The Hunt at the Docks105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1nYIELWqS
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVTglxaS17
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGGbOXPOu5
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZh9gtfeeP
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4ncS1LZyr
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLGiLJYZUk
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3buw8esKi
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGQGWOWNYu
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MlJ1THYE4
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZmDmQDRGe
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The Betrayal of Trust105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQxWYdP7Q7
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D0Ie4HHYc
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQP80fanum
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3U7bV5GlM
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aZLec5gv4
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The Detention Center: Level 9105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHBr7jwRdU
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZrsw5oCMS
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibWpsQzh4V
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C6gcZjBUZ
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JW5SedLnv
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The Line in the Sand105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF3z2W9UP4
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPUuq0XwPl
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaVoyiRBXC
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"A school?" Leon asked.105Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss3s1olhon
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJAae4vFFE
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCioDfqPgpA
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxMWyM0ara
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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.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvguhocyiRk
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