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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF2h88Tf3P
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But with power came chaos.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nsq0ISSi4
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm1UPzEi81
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The West Corp Directive107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqMUIkuLqU
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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.'"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VZXQsXpO2
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNwp8JKgkf
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"Stabilization?" I asked, my gauntlets humming. "Or imprisonment?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJArrtxFrlq
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35y3SDsifU
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The Hunt at the Docks107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6SsXumgIM
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqStPglIPt3
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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!"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK9VbkH9pe
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSySzVjoSp
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"Help me how? By putting me in a box?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9X9s87i0L
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WVNZTVKvU
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6th6f5NYdM
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"He's just a kid, Liz!" I shouted.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2Lny9axnw
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"He's a weapon out of control!" she snapped back.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJQs533wIX
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCUSAshfFH
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The Betrayal of Trust107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpeWzo8RU6
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabBnHzXLEU
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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?"107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAx0Q1yvgh
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"We’re different," Elizabeth said, though her voice lacked its usual conviction. "We’re trained. We have a purpose."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBo9f9aoXN
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"No," I said, looking at the departing van. "We’re just the ones holding the keys to our own cage."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5337rc5sh
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The Detention Center: Level 9107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvzi5SYwg0
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSLodYf586
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JZZf7cw4u
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtz9eqkPpBs
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKJf2gqdy1
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The Line in the Sand107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRzoLYLT1q
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I stood in the dark corridor of the prison, my armor glowing a soft, rebellious green.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8QNDGrObX
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkYcQPjJo2
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"A school?" Leon asked.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67s2ShG2F7
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCy875RT5y
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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.107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ490QeV3LtX
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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."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagYFp9oGK1
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"Too late, West," I said, the violet thrusters in my boots igniting. "I've always been an Anomaly."107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxCRxYwZtQ
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