The Headquarters, Alpha Earth
The training room reverted to its default terrain as the sparring session concluded. Walls and pillars retracted into the floor, transforming the area into an empty space. Glitch stood triumphantly. "Good game, Reyna," he called out. Across the room, a woman with a striking and exotic appearance, boasting long black and purple hair, closed the distance between them. The other agents referred to her as Reyna, a fitting name for someone of her presence.
As they walked towards the exit, Reyna commented, "You have interesting abilities." Glitch acknowledged her words, "Thank you. But I feel like you were holding back." He sensed that Reyna hadn't fought at her full potential.
Upon reaching the prep area, furnished with lockers and couches, Phoenix greeted them with clapping hands. "Now that's what I call a show!" he exclaimed. "You won me free credits, Glitch. Do that again next time," Yoru said, displaying the credits he won from a bet with Jett. "You're so damn funny, Yoru," Jett pouted. "No offense, but I didn't think you were going to win against Reyna, Glitch. Damn," she continued. Glitch chuckled in response to the remark.
Reyna approached him closely, standing right behind him. "How exactly does your power work, Glitch? Is it you? or is it the suit?" she inquired. "It's both, actually. But mostly me. And aren't you being a little too close?" Glitch replied, feeling slightly uncomfortable with her proximity.
Reyna smiled and brushed a hand on his back, "I wasn't sure if you were a Radiant. You don't smell like one," she remarked. Glitch was taken aback, not knowing that you could apparently distinguish between humans and Radiants by their scent. Reyna then brushed her fingers against his shoulder before walking away towards her locker.
Jett, her curiosity also piqued, expressed her intrigue, "Yeah, Glitch. I kinda understand what your powers do, but I don't know how it works," she said. Phoenix joined in, "The big man said you're not a Radiant, so what's the story?" he asked. Glitch placed his gun into his locker, closed it. "I'm a manmade Radiant," he said. The two seemed puzzled by his statement. "You a what now?" Phoenix asked for confirmation. "A manmade Radiant. You heard right. I was the product of an experiment," Glitch explained as he walked over to the two.
Yoru, relaxing with his legs stretched out on a couch, interjected, "Let me guess. They tried to create a Radiant,"
"Yup," Glitch confirmed. "Whoa... so, that's why Reyna couldn't tell?" Phoenix wondered. "Back then, the idea was to inject Radianite into a person's body. It was a disaster. The result of the experiment was Omen," Glitch revealed. "Omen?! Holy shit!" Jett exclaimed in surprise. Yoru even sat properly to listen this time. Reyna took a seat next to the other agents and gestured to a chair, suggesting that Glitch should sit before continuing.
Glitch dragged a chair and sat down in front of them, continuing the story. "You guys probably know that not every person's body has an affinity for Radianite. During the First Light incident, the ones that were compatible turned into Radiants, and the ones that weren't remained human. Omen wasn't one of the people who were compatible," Glitch explained. "And because you forced Radianite into his body, he became like that?" Jett asked. "Yes," Glitch answered, feeling a tinge of sadness in his recollection.
"And was your body compatible?" Reyna asked. "Not exactly. Instead of using raw Radianite, we used Radianite itself to create another source of energy. Then, we carefully adjusted the dose of that energy before injecting it into my body," Glitch explained. "So.. you don't have Radianite in your body like the rest of us?" Phoenix asked. "Not entirely true. We injected the Radianite after my body adapted to the energy we injected beforehand. It was a long and complicated process, but we succeeded," Glitch clarified.
"Then what's with the suit?" Yoru asked, playfully tossing the credits he won from Jett into the air and catching them repeatedly. Glitch then continued his explanation, "No matter how far my body could adapt, my DNA remains half human even after the surgery was successful. As long as the human DNA stays in me, I can't fully unlock my powers. The suit was designed to suppress my human side, making me a true Radiant when it's active," he finished.
Yoru, still playing with the credits, commented, "So, you're a half-Radiant, half-human with a fancy suit. Nice."
"Interesting," Reyna said, leaning in with curiosity. "But what do you consider yourself to be? Do you enjoy being a Radiant? Or have you always intended to stay human?" Her questions were direct and probing, but Glitch took them in stride, regardless of her intentions.
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(A choice needs to be made here, but I will include it in future updates! For now, here's the default story.)
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Glitch had never been asked such a question before, and it took him a moment to gather his thoughts. As he considered the options, he realized that he couldn't neatly fit himself into either category. "Neither. I'm neither," he replied honestly, a touch of uncertainty in his voice. "I'm just me, and I've learned to accept that I'm different."
After a short moment of silence, Phoenix lightened up. "You know what? Radiant or human, it doesn't matter in the Protocol, does it?" he said with a reassuring grin.
"Yeah, it's nice to have you around! Still waiting for that drink, Glitch!" Jett said enthusiastically.
"Drink?" Glitch asked, slightly puzzled.
Yoru stood up from the couch, stretching his arms. "You promised one drink for each agent," he reminded.
"Right. Still waiting for that bar to be made," Glitch responded, realizing the friendly challenge.
As the four agents continued to converse happily, Reyna remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to think about Glitch and his unique background. But moments later, she finally cracked a smile, her previous curiosity replaced with acceptance.
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The next morning
Vincent sat calmly in the interrogation room, his hands cuffed to the table, but his demeanor relaxed. With his legs crossed and a laid-back posture, he appeared unruffled, patiently waiting for Brimstone's return. Meanwhile, Brimstone observed him from the adjacent room, where a one-way glass panel allowed others to witness the interrogation. Cypher, holding a tablet, glanced at Vincent through the glass panel and began to share his findings.
"His history is as he claims. French military, then made a name for himself as a PMC Marksman. Moved to Kingdom weapons design after. Killjoy validated the portal blueprints he provided, so his source is sound," Cypher reported, speaking in a calm tone.
Brimstone's brow furrowed with suspicion upon hearing the information. "We know for a fact that he's been supplying weapons to Radiant criminals. What about his criminal records?" he questioned, wanting to uncover any hidden skeletons.
Cypher swiped across the tablet in his hand before continuing, "Apart from the weapons supply, he has no criminal record. No incident reports. Either his reputation is perfect, or he's very good at hiding the truth," he stated, lowering the tablet. "You know where I stand," Cypher added, affirming his stance on the matter.
Viper, with her arms crossed behind them, expressed her opinion firmly. "He should be a useful addition to the team. I suggest we recruit him and closely monitor his activities," she recommended. Brimstone let out a weary sigh before responding with hesitation. "I hope you're right, Viper. I truly do..." he replied. With that, Brimstone returned to the interrogation room, where Vincent greeted him with a smile. "Welcome back. You surely took your time," Vincent remarked. "I've given your offer some serious thought," Brimstone replied as he took a seat across from Vincent. "And what is your decision?" Vincent inquired, awaiting Brimstone's response.
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In the living room, Sova winced in pain as Sage gently placed her hands on his wounds. His body bore the marks of a fierce battle from the previous night. Although he skillfully evaded the attacks of the two Radiant criminals, he couldn't escape the impact of the crumbling building, leaving him battered and bruised. "Your shoulder's dislocated," Sage informed him. "It's impressive that you managed to climb up with so many injuries," she added. As she applied a small amount of force to his shoulder, Sova couldn't help but embrace the pain. "That Radiant dropped the building on me. I couldn't avoid that," he explained.
"It was your fault for rejecting my offer to come with you," Sage scolded. "I was confident I could handle it alone. But I was careless," Sova admitted. Sensing his stubbornness, Sage sighed and placed both her hands on his forehead, healing the scars on his face. "You're always too reckless. Rely on others for once. You could have died. You've lost an eye for the team already," she reprimanded. "I'm not afraid to die, especially when we have you," Sova replied calmly, the gaze of his blue eye expressing his trust in her abilities.
Moments later, Jett walked into the room, her eyes widening at the sight of Sova's injuries. "Damn, Sova! What happened to you?" she exclaimed in concern. "Good morning, Jett. A building fell on me, if you can believe it," he replied nonchalantly, as if surviving such an event was an everyday occurrence.
"Oh wow, and you survived that?" Jett asked in disbelief, impressed by his resilience. "It's my turn to make breakfast, Jett. You can rest," Sage offered, her healing hands still on Sova's injuries. "You seem occupied, I'll do it instead, no worries. The others are gonna be here soon anyways," Jett said, heading towards the kitchen to take over the task.
"She's always full of energy, isn't she?" Sova commented with a faint smile.
"It makes me happy to see such liveliness in the morning," Sage replied, returning the smile. "All done. I hope you feel better now," she said, gently letting go of Sova.
"Thank you, Sage," Sova expressed his gratitude. "What would we ever do without you?" he continued, genuinely appreciating her healing abilities.
Sage smiled warmly, accepting the compliment. "I'll go and help Jett in the kitchen," she offered.
"And I'll get Brimstone and the others," Sova said, preparing to gather some members of the team.
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New York City, Omega Earth
A knock on the door echoed through the room, and it slowly swung open, revealing a young secretary. "Lord Faust, The Legion's heroes are here," she reported dutifully. Faust, the mysterious owner of Kingdom Industries, stood tall and composed, facing the window behind his desk and replied, "Let them in."
Faust was an enigmatic figure, shrouded in mystery, and his appearance only added to his aura of intrigue. His commanding presence demanded respect and authority. With a strong, well-built physique and confident posture, he exuded power, making him an imposing figure in any setting.
The secretary stepped aside as Omega Sage, Phoenix, Jett, and Omen entered the room. The door closed softly behind them, granting Faust the privacy to speak with them.
"Lord Faust, you wish to speak with us?" Sage inquired. Faust, still facing the window, replied, "I have heard of your heroic deeds in Lisbon." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle before continuing. "Was it just the four of you?" he asked.
"Yes, it was the four of us," Sage replied confidently.
"Then the four of you should be rewarded for your bravery," Faust said, finally turning to face the four heroes. He walked to the front of his desk, stepping closer to them. His dark, piercing eyes captivated their attention, giving off an all-knowing gaze that seemed to see through every facade and deception. Despite his sharp features hinting at a lifetime of secrets and intrigue, his true age remained a mystery, making him all the more enigmatic.
"I believe that rewards are not necessary, Lord Faust. We did what we needed to do because it was our responsibility," Sage responded firmly.
Faust stepped even closer to Sage, his cold gaze sending a chill through the heroes. However, Omen remained seemingly unfazed by his presence. "Do reconsider. I don't give such chances often. You can ask for anything. Name anything you ever wanted, and it will be yours," Faust said, his words carrying an air of temptation.
Phoenix glanced at Jett, noticing her shivering. Despite the offer of reward, they couldn't help but feel intimidated by Faust's commanding presence.
Before he noticed, Faust was standing in front of Phoenix, continuing his words. "Riches, women, power. What is it that you wanted?" he asked. Phoenix gulped, his mind racing with possibilities. "Anything, Faust?" he said, finally mustering the courage to express his deepest desire.
Faust nodded, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Anything, my child," he said. "You saved the lives of millions. That is worth more than you could imagine. I had tasked my men in Portugal to build memorial statues for your heroic deeds. But I allow you to ask for more."
"I... I've always dreamt of being an actor," Phoenix said honestly, his expression tinged with pain as he remembered his past. Jett, standing next to him, noticed his distress and reached out to hold his hand, showing her support and understanding. Phoenix held her hand tightly, finding comfort in her presence.
Faust smiled at his honesty and said, "Then an actor, you will be. The world will know your name. Not only as a hero, but an actor as well. I will make the arrangements. My secretary will reach out to you." Phoenix's face lit up with gratitude and relief. "Thank you, Faust," he said sincerely.
"Oh, you are most welcome," Faust replied warmly. He then turned his attention to Jett. "And you, child? Name what you want," he said, his gaze focused on her.
Jett took a deep breath, mustering the courage to speak her desire. "A restaurant. Just a small one is enough," she said softly.
Faust smiled and placed a gentle hand on her head, running his fingers through her hair. "Then name a city, and you will own the grandest restaurant there," he said, making her eyes widen in astonishment.
"If I may, Faust. I have something I desire," Omen said, stepping forward. Faust approached him, intrigued. "What is it? Speak to me, hero," he urged.
Omen raised his head, revealing his claw-shaped eyes, and said, "I wish to be human again."
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To be continued
(Note: I added Faust, an OC to this story. Do you guys hate it that he's there? Should I remove him from the story? Let me know what you think.)