I took a deep breath and listened to the hum of machinery.

I felt like the walls were closing in around me. The dinner with Lucy's father was happening this week and Sam had yet to come up with a game plan because she was so busy trying to deal with Seraphim, and figuring out how to capture a Walker. There was too much piling up on her shoulders – on all of our shoulders.

Okay, what now?

I looked across the room to the hovering blob of liquid above the table. My supercomputer was being upgraded in the background, and in time it would be ready. I contemplated dumping more charges into it since I was still sitting on thirty unspent charges. If I didn't figure out what to do with them, before the day's end, they'd be wasted.

Unacceptable.

I hadn't wasted a charge since I got into this mess, but now I had thirty. It gave me a little more wiggle room but I couldn't get the potential Gaea had shown me out of my head. All I needed to do was bend the rules just a little bit and I could be working away with seventy or maybe even more. My productivity would skyrocket.

I turned to my production equipment, 3D printers that I improved so that precise fabrication could be done in a heartbeat. They could churn out pretty much anything generic – Hell, the gun Francis had given Lucy was made with those printers. It was even better made than most mundane manufactured weapons. In time, I would continue to improve on them, but for now, I figured they were fine where they were.

The Combat Analysis Reconstruction Machine saw some use. Sam and I occasionally sparred inside of it to gather data for me to use. I didn't put too much effort into it since I was best suited to fighting at range. Still, I was a decent brawler now, though I doubted it would go much further than that. Who knows, maybe it will come in handy someday.

The suits I started making for the rest of Madhouse were pretty much finished. They weren't as advanced as mine but they were designed to be comfortable and discreet. I was able to create an extendable micro-mesh that could be worn under clothes deployed behind the head and around the hair follicles. It wouldn't stop a sniper rifle completely, but it would give it a good go, and anything smaller would bounce off.

Though I hadn't tested it, Sam's suit formed a domino mask around her eyes, while Liam's was a full face mask. When I approached Mia about what she wanted, she handed me a drawing of a face with hundreds of tiny eyes. Her explanation had been fairly straightforward.

"I don't mind the name Vigil. Really, I've never really understood the whole 'picking your name' thing that so many Supers get hung up on. But… after Liam insisted, I gave it some thought and decided I would go with something Argus themed."

My classics were a bit rusty but it was common for people to name themselves after mythological figures.

Sam had applauded the creativity before openly poking fun at my chosen name when I dared to see if Mia was certain about the design. I hadn't created my suit with any theme in mind. The only thing I cared about was practicality and my Super persona only came about because I needed a name to go by.

'Upgrade' seemed like a no-brainer at the time.

Stupid in hindsight sure, but I had no idea how things worked back then.

Regardless, the fruits of my labor were lying on tables before me. They weren't perfect and as much as I would've liked to keep making alterations, there was only so much I could do. Gold said that some of her powers would interact strangely with my tech and asked to hold back on more of the esoteric functions – such as giving each suit a Jericho core.

I kept Liam and Mia's suits more basic as they were only really made to keep them alive long enough to activate their powers.

Sam's was the important one. She would always be in the thick of the action, and it bothered me how stubborn she had been about altering her costume. Regardless of sentimentality, a lucky stray bullet could end her life in an instant. Sam constantly argued that Pink was too fast to be shot, Red could apparently survive a tank shot, and that her default personality Blue would be able to sense any life-threatening danger coming so she would have time to switch.

It was excuse after excuse with her, but it seemed like I'd finally worn her down. The skinsuit underneath her costume was the compromise.

I thought I had all my bases covered until I got Lucy involved. Her involvement with Pandora forced my hand. I needed to make sure she was on our side and the only way to do that was to bring her into the fold.

Now that she was here, I wondered about creating a suit for her as well. Out of all of us, she'd need one more than anyone else. With Francis acting as her mentor, she'd be put into danger eventually, and with my tech, she'd be a lot safer.

My train of thought was interrupted when my phone started ringing.

Digging through my pockets, I pulled out my phone and saw Alex's name on the screen.

Immediately, I felt a sickly sensation in my gut. We hadn't spoken in a while, and now that I was involved with Cyberspace, we talked a lot less.

I accepted the call.

"Hey, long time no talk."

"Yo," Alex's nonchalant voice was like a breath of fresh air, and I felt a smile creep up on my face. Sadly, it felt almost foreign. "Figured I would check in to make sure you haven't blown up any cities yet. Getting involved with the big bad Cyber-terrorist is scary business."

"I take it you heard from Mom?" I asked.

"Nah, their goons knocked on my door. We had a bit of a sit down and a chat. Don't worry, I'm all good. No broken bones, bruises, or torture went down – unless you count my shit instant coffee as torture," Alex giggled.

"Those poor, poor, mercenaries," I drawled, rolling my eyes. "I bet they've lodged their complaints with the head honcho and you'll be on the chopping block any day now."

"I wish! School is the bane of my existence, anything is less painful than this shit. Look at what my instructors are asking me to paint," she switched on the face cam and hauled a bunch of paintings into frame. They were eccentric, alien, so abstract I couldn't fathom the thought process that went into them. "Is this really what passes for art nowadays? When I started my degree, I wanted to paint real stuff, y'know like Da Vinci, or Van Gogh. People who understood artistic beauty and appreciated the process."

I chuckled, amused by her passionate rant. I knew she was just trying to lighten the mood because she was worried about me and we hadn't talked in a while.

"I guess with all the shit Supers can get up to, art that's grounded isn't really appealing anymore." I said sadly. "I wish that wasn't the case. I sometimes wonder what the world would be like if people like me weren't around causing so many problems. The world would be so different," I felt my thoughts trail off before I could catch and rein them in. "Or maybe nothing would be."

"Aw, bro. Don't think like that. I know you and I know you aren't trying to be a dumbass," Alex said. "The only thing that matters is that your heart is in the right place. Don't dwell on the big stuff, Max. You're only sixteen. If anyone is giving you a talking to, it's probably because they care."

I snorted.

"How do you know?"

"Oh, please," Alex rolled her eyes. "I could tell from one conversation that Sam is the type to get on your ass. Plus, I know you better than anyone. You're a troublemaker, like it or not."

"C'mon…"

"Totes the sauce! No cap. Absolutely. For. Real." Alex waved at me. "Yeah, yeah. Shut up, I'm old."

I found a seat and collapsed into it, trying hard not to look at the camera because I knew she was grinning on the other end. One slip and I knew I would spend the next thirty minutes to an hour hearing about how it sucks to be a thirty-something starving artist. Alex liked to rant about anything really, and she always did it in a way that distracted me from the real world. Even in my earlier years of school, she did her best to help where I needed it most.

"Sorry I haven't called," I said, my smile returning to a somber frown. "Things have been really busy and I haven't had any real downtime. Liam plays games and Sam's been busy with… well, everything. She's the head that keeps us all together. The glue… I suppose. Mia's just doing her college stuff as well. I've been building," I moved the camera on my phone to show the workshop. "All this is me– mostly me. Cyberspace provided a bit of it– half of it."

Alex's lips thinned, a sympathetic smile forming.

"Sounds like you've become the classic tech man. Mom's worried about you, y'know. You guys don't talk much anymore. From what I hear, you're practically living in that workshop," Alex said. "Make sure to call her every once in a while. She's concerned you're way in over your head, but she doesn't really want to say anything because of you-know-who."

Cyberspace.

Mom could protest all she liked but it wouldn't change anything. This wasn't a situation where my mother could file a complaint to some authority because her little boy was being taken advantage of.

"I am, honestly," I said, shrugging dispassionately. "Every choice I make feels like a shit one in hindsight. I get criticized for taking any sort of risk when I don't see any other way forward. I'm getting to the point where I feel like the only thing I should do is sit here and never leave," I gestured around the workshop. "My gilded cage where anything's possible. I feel like it's a miracle that Cyberspace hasn't just locked me in here."

There was every possibility they were listening to this conversation. My whole workshop was filled with devices that they seemed to be able to hack into for the sole purpose of observing me, and I was on my phone. In fact, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that they were listening in now.

I was their little pet project after all.

"Maybe they don't want to," Alex suggested. "I don't know, when I talked to them they seemed pretty reasonable."

My curiosity was piqued.

"They talked to you?"

"Yeah, probably not long after you signed up. They've talked to Mom as well. Mine wasn't anything more than an introduction. Typical terrorist stuff, y'know? Oooh, stay quiet or your family will die. Oooooh, sooooo scary! Nothing big."

"Nothing big? That's a fucking threat, Alex," the anger surged through me. My partnership with Cyberspace had been pretty amicable until today. I pushed some boundaries sure, but if they threatened my Mom and my sister then all bets were off the fucking table. "Why didn't you say anything, why didn't Mom?"

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"Duuuude, relax. It's really not a big deal. Trust me, most big corpo lawyers are scarier than Cyberspace and I've dealt with a few in my time. Ugh, don't even get me started on Nintendo. I wouldn't tango with them even if I had powers. They are psychos."

"You're trying to change the subject."

"Yeah because it's literally just standard shit, Max. The world thinks Cyberspace is dead or something close to it. You really think they want some loud mouth blowing their cover? No, they'll say their routine threats to scare you a little. It's just a little bit of finger wagging," Alex waved me off again. "It's more like a strongly worded NDA to be honest."

"Thats—!"

"Max," Alex cut me off. "Promise you won't make a big deal about this. Mistah Scawy-Internet-Terrorist won't like an angry teenage robot-making boy throwing mean words at them over something that was already implied. Trust me, it ain't going to end well for you. Just carry on how you are and everything will be good."

"I…" I stopped myself, biting my lip to prevent me from saying anything stupid. "…don't make robots."

"Really!?" Alex's eyes bulged. "Seriously?! Go buy a toy car and give it an AI or something. Hell, go the extra mile and turn it into a monster truck. Have it scream 'death to all meatbags' as it plows through traffic and–and takes up three disabled parking spots. I dunno, do something man!"

"I am doing things. It's just that those things don't involve making robots."

"They should!" Alex said in exasperation. "What is Cyberspace thinking? Robots are the best, see?" She went out of frame again and pulled another art piece into frame. It was a picture of a disembodied mechanical face hovering over a war-torn city. The mechanical face was framed in holy light while the city below it was shrouded in darkness and fire. It was a bit on the nose with the religious symbolism but it was pretty cool. "All must bow to your robot overlord, muahaha!"

"That's a nice one. You show mom?"

"She's a stinker. Didn't like it as much as my other ones. I call this one: Prime Solution."

"Mmhm. Okay, maybe not the best name? Too many allusions to some bad stuff there."

"Ugh, mom said the same thing."

"Just give it a different name."

"But it fits!"

"Seriously, Alex. Change the name," I chuckled. "It's a little much. Call it… I dunno, Mechanical Blessings or something."

"Alright, alright. Spoil sport," Alex relented, collapsing into the seat in front of the webcam. "So, outside of all the crazy stuff you've got going on, is everything still going okay? How's school— that is if you're still going."

"I am—"

"That's good!"

"—unfortunately."

"Aw! don't knock school, it's still important," Alex wagged her finger at the screen. "I know you might think you're all high and mighty now, but getting a proper education will serve you well in the long run. Who knows, you might even pick up something useful. Don't knock it bro, even if it feels like a waste of time."

I chuckled.

"You don't really get it."

"Hey, don't be like that. What, are you gonna be building stuff 'till you're just an old bag of bones? There's gotta be something else you're interested in, right? What about cooking? You cooked for Mom all the time and you were going to get that part-time job at a restaurant."

"Yeah, well, I got my powers and stopped showing up. I wouldn't have been cooking anyway, they stuck me on dish duty," I frowned and narrowed my eyes. "I can't even remember the last time I actually cooked something."

It would have been weeks ago, maybe even months.

"Mom misses it."

I looked up at the screen and couldn't hide the guilt.

"I kinda do too."

"She mentioned it the other day. She knows not to ask now, but it's something she got used to. I guess when you got your powers things just changed— not that you wanted them to," Alex was quick to clarify. "I saw a couple of my friends go through the same. They act out and things change. Hiding an Awakening from the people that know you best is borderline impossible."

I laughed bitterly.

"So that's how you figured me out."

"Yeah," Alex shrugged. "I've seen it all before."

"Mom knew too, didn't she?" I asked, nervously fiddling with my hands. "There was no way she didn't suspect something. I wasn't as subtle as I thought I was being."

"She knew something was up. Denial played into it a bit," Alex revealed. "She didn't want you to have powers but since Dad had them, it was kind of something we were prepared for. It could've happened with me, but I guess you drew the uh… Short straw? Long straw? You pulled a straw."

"I've been meaning to ask about him, mom's been tight lipped but did you know him well?"

"Dad? Yeah, he was alright. Kind of a weirdo, it's where we got it from."

I snorted and shook my head with a smile.

"You more so than me."

"Keep dreaming bud. Dad wasn't really sociable and he…" Alex paused for a moment as she tried to think of the words. "He didn't really know how to interact with me and it made things awkward. Then you came along and it got worse. He didn't feel comfortable, so Mom set him loose. Gave him an out after talking about it with me. We both figured it would've been better that way."

I wasn't sure if I was satisfied with that answer.

"I wish I got the chance to meet him. I always thought he… I don't know, just wasn't there for us? You and Mom were very vague about that," my lips thinned into a deeper frown. "I don't really appreciate it. I feel like it would have been better if you were up front with me about him."

"You were so young, you wouldn't have understood."

"Sixteen isn't that young. I could've handled younger as well. I know I'm being a bit of a hypocrite, but that's something I should've known."

"You're still a baby in our eyes," Alex giggled. "Doesn't matter anyway. Mom told you when you came clean about your powers, didn't she? Honesty begets honesty. With the life you're living now, that's information you needed. It wouldn't do you any good to be kept in the dark any longer. I…" she stopped as a sense of melancholy passed over her. "Max, are you happy?"

"I— What?"

The question caught me off-guard.

"Are you happy?"

I considered the question. My gut compelled me to say yes but I resisted the urge, it didn't feel right. My real feelings behind that question were loaded. This was all thrilling, sure, but it was stressful and I was constantly anxious. There was satisfaction in what I achieved, in the things I had done for the city. I genuinely felt like I was making a difference without being shackled to regulations Abby endlessly complained about.

We dismantled The Cains and took down Grim. Soon, we would do the same to Pandora. We were outperforming The ECU and making them look like clowns. Bayside was healing and I took pride in being part of the reason why. Cyberspace and Gaea's ambitions aside, I felt like we were heading in the right direction.

I felt accomplished, and there was so much more to do.

But am I happy?

Life was much simpler before all this.

I went to school and had a routine. I occasionally studied, hung out with my friends, played games, and took care of Mom. It was mundane, sure, but it was safe and straightforward. Uncomplicated. What I faced now were problems I was content with ignoring before because I wasn't capable of doing anything about them. I never wanted to be a hero because I saw what Abby went through. It was a grueling lifestyle, one that Abby would routinely 'joke' about dying young in.

I admired how honest she was, there was none of the bullshit.

Heroism wasn't something to dream about.

It was a responsibility, and despite my opposition to The ECU, deep down inside I felt that responsibility too.

"I don't know."

Alex said nothing, offering only a sympathetic smile.

I sighed and rubbed my face.

"I'm stressed a lot. I'm worried about my team, Mom, Lucy, Abby, Chris, Jackson… everyone. I feel like I have to look over my shoulder all the time, especially with Mirage skulking about. The guy… he's got this obsession with me and I feel like the only way to solve it is to kill him. Then there's Cyberspace and our partnership. I don't know what to think anymore. Things were simpler before. There's so much more — so much more going on."

Alex just listened silently.

Pouring my heart out like this felt weird, but I felt like she was the only person who I could confide in right now. Sam would sympathize but she'd jump right back to how we had no choice. I wasn't close enough to Liam or Mia, and Lucy was struggling with her own demons right now.

"This is it, isn't it?" I chuckled bitterly. "This is what the rest of my life is going to be. Building tech, racing to beat the next threat that comes knocking. I'll be doing this till the day I die, just like Sam. Just like Liam and Mia. There's no out for us, for anyone really. We're all in the same boat."

Sam wanted territory, a place to call home.

Liam wanted as little accountability as possible.

Mia wanted safety for her family and friends.

Lucy wanted her agency, and freedom to pursue whatever she wanted.

I wanted…

I just wanted to keep what I already had. I wanted to hold it tight and never let go.

"It doesn't have to be that way, Max." Alex said. "You have extraordinary power. It has the potential to change everything. If you think you're all in the same boat, then you have the power to make that boat better," she chuckled lightly. "I know it's cheesy, but you get what I mean. Think bigger. It's a crushing responsibility, but hey, that's life. Powers or no powers, you can't stay a kid forever. It just sucks you couldn't have been one for a while longer."

They were wise words, ignoring the fact that they were coming from a thirty-something-year-old art student.

"Yeah, I know." My phone buzzed in my hand. I was getting another call, and the ID had my stomach churning. "Sorry, Abby's calling."

"All good! I'll hold. It's not like I have anything else to do."

"Thanks."

I switched calls and Abby's relieved voice came through.

"Wow, I really didn't think you would pick up."

"I was just talking to Alex," I paused for a second to consider whether or not saying that we were catching up would tip Abby off. From her perspective, I was still going about my regular routine. "Nothing really to note, she was just showing me some art she'd made."

"Cool. So, hey, remember how we talked about the therapy thing?"

"Yeah, we were supposed to have that on Thursday or Friday? No one said anything so I just assumed things were still getting set up."

"Yup, it's been busy with General Jessamine restructuring things around here, but we got a date locked in. Is Monday good for you?"

"Tomorrow?" I went through my mental calendar to see if I would be missing anything important. Splicer's tech would probably arrive tomorrow night, or sometime on Tuesday. It wasn't like the therapy sessions would be hours long, so I didn't have any conflicts. "Sure. Nothing is happening on my end."

"Sweet, I'll tell Mom. Oh, and… thanks again," Abby said. "This means a lot to me."

"It's fine. Like you said, I probably need it."

"Hopefully– well, not hopefully. It's not like I want you to be mentally damaged," Abby laughed. "But yeah. I was just calling to confirm. I gotta go though. Got more meetings I have to sleep through. See you tomorrow!"

My chest suddenly seized up.

"Hey, wait."

"Yeah?"

There was so much I wanted to say. I was faced with the urge to spill everything just to get the guilt off my chest. I wrestled with the sensation violently until I got it under control. Alex's words about honesty echoed in my mind, and I felt like I owed Abby an explanation after everything that happened. However, I knew how that conversation would go.

Dominos would fall and everything would come crashing down.

"Thanks for pushing for this. I know I've been weird about it, but I'm glad that you included me."

"Anytime, Max. Friends are supposed to look out for each other. What kind of Hero would I be if I couldn't even do that?"

I laughed weakly.

"Yeah."

Friends.

I didn't feel like one anymore.

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