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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVxkqDz9zI
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But with power came chaos.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZUZ6MfQYp
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRUsIzw1RJ
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The West Corp Directive108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdScYxdIr7
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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.'"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HFnhx5QeF
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Qq9OLKbkq
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwPqGWMFI5
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBh1g4GNDd
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The Hunt at the Docks108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB2UQqPi3J
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLSP8h9afg
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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!"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1eAwUze7o
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDD66UHiuG7
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5fnV9VKH3
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsPkwIdDNm
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvenxkbMvz
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoekH96Akp
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiAKcCFber
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1BsHXIu23
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The Betrayal of Trust108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqdjpRHGzp
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMQFffZ7Bu
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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?"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj81mMH7KI
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBo4U1RoJz
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7trr9HjcA5
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The Detention Center: Level 9108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCOJvsIXU5
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcFANlIKSN
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCcCSg9toY
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9iY6Rdc6L
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI3s100O8Z
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The Line in the Sand108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UXeLOWPAL
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVQ10yxW1T
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cyw4Js2TE
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"A school?" Leon asked.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEhawVeznw
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhch3NyvZZ
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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.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGEFOHtjwB
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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."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcHMbtfSAx
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9yHsEnXJs
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