Alex groggily opened his eyes. He remembered the last time where he was and went right into attack mode. His hands felt resistance as he could only move them a few inches away from his body. He looked down to find his hands handcuffed and a power collar around his neck. His eyes followed the chains to the opposite corners of the white padded room. He pulled, but they wouldn't budge from the latches.


He's wearing the same clothes as before, minus the socks and shoes they took from him. He kept looking for any way out of here. There were no windows, but there was a camera blinking in the corner. He tried to keep calm, but multiple thoughts rush through his head.

Why did they take me? Why am I still alive? Was Brooke really there? What the hell is going on?!

The door to his room opened with Lagarto, Madame Heavy, and Shriek entering. The gravity villainess had a pad on her jaw from the heavy punch he gave her.

"You're up, amigo", the lizard hybrid got close to him. 

Alex backed away to give him a turn kick to the face. Lagarto bared his sharp teeth, but he stopped himself from attacking him. The power collar gave him a mild shock that brought him down to a knee.  Alex grunted but couldn't find the strength to get up. He wondered who had control over the collar.

"Be lucky that you are still alive", Lagarto growled.

"Screw you! If you're looking for a ransom, just kill me already! I won't tell you anything!"

"Merde! How I wish I can pay you back", Madame Heavy replied while rubbing the pain away from her cheek.

"But the old man won't let us. You won't be tortured, Alex Perez", Shriek informed him.

He couldn't hide the surprise on his face. How did they know his real name?

"And neither will we do a ransom. Switch quiere hablar contigo", the lizard surprised him.

"I will kill him for what he did. I may be powerless, but I will find a way!", he vowed with gritted teeth.

The trio was silent as they left Alex to stew in his anger. What would that monster have to talk with me about?

He stood up to measure the distance that the chains would let him go and it's halfway. He tried to keep his mind sharp. They say they won't torture me, but how could I trust them?

The door opened again. The banshee villain walked in and tossed an opened protein bar. Shriek sat on the floor. Alex looked over the bar for any suspicious matter.

"We aren't going to poison you, ya know? Look, we all got off on the wrong foot. Let-"

"We are not friends", Alex sternly told him.

"I just wanted to talk to you, but okay."

Alex decided to eat the protein bar to keep his strength up when he talks with Switch. He sniffed it and nothing was unusual. He took his time eating while observing the villain dressed in a wild blue color.

"We could have just left you up there, but Switch insisted on taking you with us."

"Why?", his eyes narrowed.

"There's a reason, but I will let him explain."

Alex finished his protein bar. The villain motioned him to back away to pick up the wrapper.

"How long will you keep me?"

"Not long. Might be out of here soon."

"You're going to let me go?", he asked with doubt in his eyes.

"It's your choice, but we kept you restrained for reasons. You are quite difficult."

Shriek went to leave, but.....


"Is there someone named Brooke Alvarez among your group?"

"She will come by later to talk with you."

He closed the door behind him. Shriek walked on a railway to enter another room where Lagarto was reading a book. M Heavy applied more medicine to her jaw.

"Is he in a better mood?", the lizard asked while keeping his eyes on the book.

"He has no reason to trust any of us. We attacked him and his partners after all."

"C'est vrai", M Heavy confirmed.

"I don't think he will ever be ready to listen to him because of that. We can't get rid of him because of Switch and Brooke."

"They are our famille after all."

"Where is she?"

"I saw her in the garden. Would he open up to her after what he saw?"

"I don't know. But it might work."

Shriek walked past a cafeteria filled with the remaining villains who were seeking refuge from Prime. He took a close by elevator and pushed the button for the garden. The elevator descended and opened up to a patio floor that lead to a big wide garden of flowers, fruits, and vegetables absorbing artificial sunlight.


He waved at the host of the garden and went to Brooke, who's watering tiger lilies with a pitcher. She was wearing a green garden apron over her white t-shirt and blue jeans. Her hair was tied up into a bun.

"How are you holding up?", he asked her.

"I understand why you are restraining him, but please don't hurt him. I will attack you if you do."

"We won't. If I find out they did, I will punish them. You're not a fighter. It's been a long time since you used your powers."

"Is he okay?", she gripped the handle of the pitcher.

"The healing gel you gave him is working. He will be fine."

"That's good", she sighed.

"I'm sorry, but there may not be a future between you and him."

"I know", her eyes looked down. She slightly grinned at how good he made her feel during their first date, but it disappeared as she had ghosted him to leave him in his sadness.

"You are free to talk with him at any time. We have a camera to watch him in case you need help", before he walked away to give her space.

Time passed by and Alex thought about why Brooke had lied to him. He started piecing things together as her reaction to him being a hero made sense.

But she wanted to go on another date with me? She seems too kind to be a villain. But she stopped me from killing Switch. Was she telling me lies the entire time? Then what about the bouquet? None of this makes sense. 

The door opened up again which made him look up. His eyes turned from surprise to confused anger as Brooke entered the room. She sat down on the other side and broke the silence.

"I know I got a lot to explain, Alex."

"Don't say my name. Is your name really Brooke Alvarez or is that an alias?", he questioned.

"My last name is actually Rodriguez."

"Then what else did you lie about? Was our date just a way for you to get information about me?"

"I did lie about those two weird dates, but I was honest about the rest of it. I really wanted a relationship with you despite you being a hero."

Alex's heart didn't know how to feel. His mind was the same way.

"I am a villain, not by choice, but because of how I was labeled. I thought over time you would get to know me better and I would have told you everything in a proper way. I'm so sorry you lost everyone. I'm sorry that I abandoned you", tears streamed down her face.

Alex didn't know what to say. He looked at her with a mix of sadness and anger in his eyes.

"I was so worried about you when you stepped away. I thought something bad happened to you that you couldn't be with me. I saw that vase of flowers and I was so relieved that you were safe. Now I wish that was the last time I ever dealt with you."

Brooke's heart sank to her stomach, yet part of her admitted that she had hurt him.

"And how can you say you're sorry when you're with the man that killed them?!"

"It's not true!"

"Liar! They were all I had!

He paused before adding on...


I never want to see you again."

A shaky exhale escaped her mouth. The pain of what he said made her left the room. Alex partially regretted that last sentence. Brooke ran back to the other room to be quickly embraced by Shriek. He rubbed her back gently as she cried.

"I'm sorry, petit fille", M Heavy patted her back.

"I'm going to talk to him", Lagarto growled as he got up from his chair.

"Don't hurt him!"

Lagarto stared at her in confusion.

"I hurt him badly and I deserve some of the words he said to me. I made him feel all alone and I betrayed him", Brooke explained.

"You hid that secret because of your status. He will never understand. He would put you in prison because of your association with us", he argued.

"I don't think he would have."

"Why did you go out with him that day?"

"Leave her alone!", Shriek snapped.

"I just wanted to be happy, but I only caused him pain. He could have saved them if I didn't...

"You couldn't have known what would happen that day", the banshee villain reassured her.

"You weren't happy being here?"

Madame Heavy shot Lagarto an angry look that silenced him.

"I wanted to be happy while having both", Brooke admitted with a broken voice.

The lizard villain sat down for probing her to that point.


Some more time passed as Alex sat on the floor.....

I had every right to be mad at her. But if everything else she said when we met was true, then.... Damn it. I don't know how to feel towards her. If she's genuine-

The door opened and Brooke came back to him with lowered eyebrows, narrowed eyes, and crossed arms as she leaned against the wall facing him.

"You're going to listen to what I say and don't say a single word until I'm done", she demanded with a fiery tone.

"Can I start by saying I'm sorry for what I said?"

Her crossed arms dropped in surprise.

"I didn't mean that I never want to see you again. I'm just confused on how to feel about you. I hate that you're a villain, but if you were genuine with me on our date, I still like you", Alex continued.

She cleared her throat. "I'm going to clarify a few things. So pay attention."

Alex sat up straight with his light brown eyes fixed on her.

"I told you that I left an abusive ex after we had a physical fight. I did leave....right after I killed him."

His eyes widened.

"After he hit me, I was done with him. I packed up my bags and I was leaving that night. He was about to hit me again until my power activated in defense. I killed him with this at a high intensity."

Her hand emitted sparks like exploding fireworks. To Alex, this explained what she used against him. She stopped and hid her hands.

"It got out of control to the point I burned our place down. I was so scared that I went back home. I told my parents what I did and they didn't turn me in. The police would think it's just an electrical issue because they couldn't tie it to me. They allowed me to stay with them and start a new life. I was going to go and get myself tested through that program, but I never got the chance until I left jail. My powers got out of control again and I killed them", her heavy tears fell to the floor.

Alex's heart sank for her circumstances. He gave her time to recollect herself. After what felt like an hour, she stopped crying. Her eyes were bloodshot red as she continued with a scratchy voice.

"I turned myself in and explained what I have done. I was sent to a holding cell to await my trial, but that's when Switch came into my life. He talked with me and bailed me out. He made sure to hire a good lawyer and I only had to serve community service. In the meantime, Switch helped me learn how to control my powers so it wouldn't happen again. He also gave me his number just in case when I was done.

After I was done, I went to the program and showed my ability, but I had to admit what I've done with my powers and who helped me. Because I was honest, I was thrown out in a power collar and labeled a villain. I couldn't find any work because of that so I called Switch and I lived with him and other people. I then met the other villains you have already seen. Despite what they did, they made me feel welcome, all thanks to him."

He was puzzled as he never imagined Switch helping anyone. What made his heart thud with anger was Brooke labeled as a villain because she needed help. 

That's why the qualification form asked if I had associated with a villain, he understood in his mind.

"After some years, I met you. I wanted to find love while keeping my family at the same time, but it's over between us. I shouldn't have left you, Alex. You were in so much pain. I came to the funeral service, but I couldn't talk with you."

"You were there?", his eyebrows shot up.

"I was watching from far away."

"Wait. Why didn't you talk to me?"

"Because Prime was there."

"Prime? You were scared he was going to hurt you? He's a good man. He wouldn't hav-"

Switch then entered the padded room. Alex stood up and tried to break off the chains to kill him. The former number one villain was holding a device along with Alex's phone.

"I know why you are mad", the old man spoke with empathy.

"Don't you dare speak to me."

Switch placed Alex's phone down next to the device and pushed a button. The lid popped open with a screen that projected an image of what happened that fateful day. Alex was furious, thinking that he wanted to gloat. The chains rattled as he tried to get close to the retired villain.

"Let's set the record straight. You were lied to. I never killed your family nor any of the people there."

"Bullshit! You threw a bomb and took their lives! You killed my little sister who just defeated cancer. You fucking monster!", he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"I have the truth of what happened that day. Whether you like it or not, you will have to accept the facts. Before I play it, it all stems from the "riot" that happened at the super prison. My crew believed that Prime was the one behind it."

"That makes no sense. Prime would never kill them!"

"Remember that the power collars were all turned off? They had a suspicion it was him because why would the prisoners all turn against each other like that?"

"Gangs who wanted control."

"Is that what Prime told you?"

Alex admitted to himself that Prime had mentioned that exact option, but for him to kill all the inmates?

"It was just a suspicion since all the cameras were off, but I found through my resources that the same prison is owned by your organization. They turned off the cameras and for what reason would they do that? Because they like to cover up the nastiest parts."

He opened a file and showed it to him with backup information to corroborate it. This was hard for Alex to admit, but they could be capable based on his situation with the little boy. He averted his eyes.

"Madame Heavy, Lagarto, and Shriek were seeking refuge and normal lives just in case Prime came after them. That's why I was there. I came prepared just in case he showed up and he did."

He played the video footage, but it started off differently. The footage was from Switch's perspective through a nano-sized camera on his shirt. There was some audio.

***

"Prime! Let them go! Take me instead! They are giving up their villainous ways!"

"Liar!"

It showed Pride attacking first, not the other way around. Alex shook his head.

The villains were seen defending themselves from Prime's assault. Switch was seen using his ability and his bombs, but they weren't as powerful as the original video which confused Alex. Prime did throw a man out of the way, but the bomb didn't shake the streets. Prime almost stood there and it seems like he pushed himself backwards causing damage and deaths?!

Switch was escaping from Prime, but he never threw the car of people at him. The whole time he was using objects or empty cars. Prime was the one who threw the car of people at the retired villain. Switch jumped onto it with his jetpack and switched both him and the people inside out of there. He motioned with his hand to run away from here, but Prime chopped through their bodies which made Alex sick.

Switch ran from Prime and did the jetpack trick, but it was higher in the air to avoid hurting anyone. Prime used his speed and super breath and blew the fiery explosion at the street! Alex couldn't believe it when the retired villain paused it.

"I will never forget those screams. I hear them every single night because of that bastard."

"I don't believe you! Prime is a hero. He wouldn't hurt anyone!"

Switch pressed play and the video resumed.


He was trying to lead Prime away from everyone else, but the hero wouldn't let him as he cuts him off and forced him to back away. It all leads to where they arrived at Las Colinas. Alex' heart pounded loudly like a drum.

"Just kill me, Prime! They have nothing to do with this!", Switch pleaded.

Prime lightly smacked him towards Alex's house. His heart almost couldn't take it.

"I suppose I had my fun playing with you", the mighty hero admitted.

To Alex, that line was out of character for him.

"My team! I need your help to defeat Switch who is responsible for all of these innocent deaths!"

Prime's body started glowing. Kayla's voice is heard calling for her brother. "Big brother, come quickly! Something is wrong-

Switch used his ability before the beam hit him and he took the people inside out of there to a nearby house. The friendship beam disrupted his ability to jump long distances and Alex's loved ones are confused as Switch was trying to protect them. Prime's body continued to glow to the confused horror of Alex's loved ones.

"P-Prime?", Kayla shakily questioned.

"Let them go!", Switch demanded. Prime charged for another beam attack.

Switch tried to jump again with them, and he started feeling bad that he can't. He could only jump one person with him. "I'm sorry!", he took Kayla by the arm.

Prime fired off his friendship beam and Switch tried to jump with Kayla. The beam disrupted his ability again as Prime killed Alex's loved ones and then turned the beam at Kayla. Switch "jumped" to replace a dish antenna on a rooftop but a horrified gasp escaped his mouth.


Kayla wasn't with him. The dish antenna is right there with her, and she got burned to death. It was so quick that she didn't have a chance to scream.

Prime then waited for backup and allowed Switch to get some distance away, but Barria and Aqua arrived on the scene as they tried to stop him. It lead up to where Alex shows up and Switch stops the video.

***

Alex clutched his head as he took the new information swirled in his mind. Prime was the one who killed his loved ones? Switch was trying to save people?! It all seemed too real as his heart broke again.

"How do I know if it's not a lie?!"

"Turn off his collar", Switch tapped on his earpiece. Brooke stood between them afraid that Alex would lash out at Switch. There was a small delay.

"I know what I said", the villain responded.

Alex's collar turned off and he doesn't attack Switch nor Brooke. He wanted to find out the truth, no matter how hard it will hurt. He "unlocked" himself out of the metal cuffs.

Alex went through the original footage on his phone and applied his technopathy powers to both screens and played them side by side. He then sensed something was wrong in the original. There were delays in between the clips and how things didn't add up. In the footage provided by Switch, there was nothing hidden. It was the raw and unedited truth. It took time for it to sink in as he looked at the retired villain.

He latched onto Switch as tears dripped to the floor. He almost killed the "villain" who tried to save his family. He was so hellbent on vengeance and he was lied to by the hero he trusted. The one who helped him when he needed it the most.

"I'm sorry!"

"No, I'm sorry for not saving them. I had no idea who they were, and I understand why you attacked me", as he embraced with a hand on the back of his head.

Alex began to calm down and rage started to fill his heart. He wanted to make Prime admit to what he did and kill him for it. The metal chains rattled in the air from his anger, but the power collar remotely reactivated to stop him.

"Let me go, Switch! I need to-

"Not without a plan! I know you're in a lot of pain, but you can't go after him like this!"

"I have nothing left because of him!"

"And that's why you shouldn't go! You will die out there. You threw cars at him and it didn't work! You would die for nothing! You do have one thing left. Your hero reputation."

"Why does that matter?"

"If you go after him and you fail, he will ruin your reputation for life. You are a good person, Alex. I heard what you did as Techno in helping your neighbors without charging the less fortunate. They need you as a hero and I won't let you throw that away because of him.

I know what you're thinking. We do nothing and hide? I tried several times with a Level 5 Technopath to expose the truth, but your organization would kill it every single time. I leaked it online to independent journalists, but the government would silence them, and they are afraid to talk about it. We will keep trying for your family and those that have died that day."

There was a pregnant pause of silence in the room.

"What if I expose him by bypassing the org's software on the inside? Your technopath may not be allowed inside, but I am", Alex thought out loud.

Switch and Brooke were surprised by his idea.

"That could work, but what if Prime is there when you leak it?"

Alex's silence made Brooke uneasy as she figured it out. "Don't you dare plan to die after that!"

"That's suicidal, Alex."

"I'm not going to die until I bring him down. I just need to be ready to fight him."

"Don't. It's over between us, but I still care about you. Don't fight him. Please", she cupped his face with her hands and gazed into his eyes.

"I won't do it without a plan. If I can get the strongest villains to help me, I can-

"They won't help you. Shriek, Lagarto, and Madame H are the only ones left that are powerful enough to take him on as a team. Even with their teamwork, that Power of Friendship attack is too powerful", Switch bluntly put it.

"Do you have an energy absorber that we can train to help us?"

Brooke instantly wrapped her arms around her torso. Her shoulders hunched over and the rest of her body trembled. Switch placed a gentle hand on her shoulder to comfort her. He then gave Alex some flip flops to wear.

"Follow me", Switch spoke with stoicism.

Alex followed him with Brooke trailing behind. Alex saw Lagarto, Madame Heavy, and Shriek waiting for them in the corridor. They surrounded Alex in a protective circle as they saw Switch trusted him.

"We are going to medical room 1-P", Switch informed them.

Alex saw each of the villains tremble from hearing that bit of information. Lagarto gulped while Shriek pretended not to hear what Switch said. Brooke was also scared of hearing that room and Alex offered his hand. She grasped onto it.

Switch walked them down and the cafeteria of villains is abuzz upon seeing Alex walking behind their leader. They took the elevator which opened to the medical wing. They go to Room 1-P and Brooke hid her face behind Alex as Switch opened the door.

"Stay right here. I will be back", he assured her.

She let him go. 

He followed Switch in and closed the door. A few medical staff members were there, but his eyes widened from what's on the enclosed bed. An almost skeleton body with dried up skin. There was a picture of what he used to look like. He had a long bushy beard and muscles on every part of his body. His information was included.

"

---Codename: Enthrall
---Age: 40
---Level 5 Energy Manipulator
---Crime History: Robberies, Assault, Mass Murder.

"

"He tried to absorb the Power of Friendship and use it against Prime." The husk of Enthrall twitched upon hearing that name. Alex was horrified. This villain is at the same level as Prime and still couldn't beat him with his ability.

"The energy was too much for him to handle before he could properly use it. He is still breathing despite what happened, but he has never said a word. Saying that name makes his body twitch as a response."

"T-There has to be a way. He can't be 100% invincible."

"We have been trying to find anything we can on his weaknesses, but he doesn't seem to have any. Very few villains could make him bleed and Enthrall was one of them. He had absorbed nuclear energy and punched him with it before. It actually worked against his skin one time. Before he went against him again, I was working with the director of the CIA, Bruce Tyman, to expose him because this wasn't the first time he abused his powers."

"There's a history?!", Alex spun his body towards him.

"He also killed the director when we were that close to exposing him. He didn't kill me after that. He made me promise to keep it under wraps and he would let me live if I took the fall. I negotiated it where he would have to stay clean or else it would all get leaked from a separate device not handled by me. He accepted the deal and I took the fall."

"What were you trying to expose him for?"

"There was a training exercise with a military grown science experiment. The experiment went haywire and began fighting Prime (Enthrall's body twitched again). He could have finished it off, but he allowed countless people to die so he can pull off a victory."

"Did it take place over several days? 100,000 deaths over several states?", he asked as he remembered something.

"How do you know that?"

"That fucking scumbag!", his fists trembled. Switch understood that Prime had lied to him about that as well.

"Do you still have that information? I will expose that as well."

"I will give it to you when you are ready."

"Okay. Where's the Level 5 Technopath?"

"You will meet him soon though."

"Okay. Where do we eat?"

"I will lead the way."

He and the retired villain came out of that room. Brooke was still trembling, so Alex embraced her.

"I will just expose him, Brooke. I promise you."

Brooke believed him as her body stopped shaking and she hugged him back. The hug lingered on for a bit so Switch waved the other villains away to let them be. Brooke held onto him to comfort him for his loss.

"I won't leave you again, Alex. If you need me, I will be right by your side. Ask me anything and I will tell you the whole truth."

"Thank you", he whispered.

"I wasn't lying when I said this hug feels nice. Oh, this is too much. I'm sorry."

She went to push herself off, but he pulled her back in. "I'm sorry for what I said to you, and you shouldn't hate yourself for your past. Your powers don't define who you are. You do."

Brooke teared up from his gentle words. Alex held onto her as she cries onto his sweater.

"I'm sorry. I'm ruining your sweater."

"Let it out, Brooke Rodriguez. I will be by your side as well."

She was now crying tears of joy and hoped that everything will work out between them. He used his thumbs to wipe Brooke's tears off her face. She appreciated his kind nature as she then gave him a bear hug him. He returned one back and he felt blood rushing down his body. He let go and gently pushed Brooke off of him as he wasn't ready yet. She understood and calmed herself down.

"L-Let's go and eat", Alex stuttered out.

They walked away from the medical room and the other villains wait for them.

"Ah, les amoureux", Madame Heavy lightly joked.

Brooke turned her face to hide her softened eyes, but Alex didn't understand because of her thick accent.

"What did you say?"

"It's nothing. So just to make sure....Whose side are you on? Hero or Villain?"

"I'm still a hero because I want to bring Prime to justice."

"And what about us?"

"I read all your files and although I don't like what you did, you are not my enemy. I'm not going to put any of you in prison."

"That doesn't sound like what a hero would do."

"Justice is important, but so is mercy. You are not irredeemable compared to Prime."

The trio gave him a smile.

"So are we friends now?", Lagarto naively asked.

"It's been a long day and you three hurt Barria and Quick."

"For that, I am sorry. I will help you in any way I can."

"That goes for us two as well", the gravity villainess added on.

"Do the others already know who I am?"

"Yep. They might not take kindly to you, but at least you have us for protection", Switch reassured him.

The cafeteria was dead silent upon seeing Alex with the whole group. A hero had never stepped into this place before because it was so well hidden.

"Just let them be", Switch strongly advised.

"Let's just cut to the chase. I'm not here to arrest any of you. My only target is Prime, himself. I will expose him", Alex ignored Switch's advice to proclaim that message. They all showed terror on their faces and some of them begin to nervously laugh.

"You are insane. You are quite the comedian!"

"I've seen what happened to Enthrall (it got silent again) and I will find a way to defeat the most powerful hero. Nobody stays invincible forever. That's all I have to say."

The villains muttered as they didn't know what to think of this stranger. Alex grabbed a sandwich and some fresh fruit and ate lunch with the group. Lagarto sat with a woman and he changed into a humanesque form as they held hands. His snout was smaller and he's smaller in size too.


Alex saw a wedding band on her finger. He was surprised to think that a villain like him would have someone to care for. He's a different person than who he was at the bar.

Switch later gave him a tour and he found that this was the original hideout for the Organization of Villains. This renovated lair was now hiding near the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean that is undetectable by radar. He saw all manner of sea life swimming by above them.

"Prime can never find us. He can't see through a steel and tungsten alloy", the villain explained.

"I had no idea about that. That is good to know."

"We also have a type of sonar to drive any giant squids or other sea life away from the ship. This is the safest place you can be."

"Switch, why did you help Brooke out?"

"Because no one should hate themselves for what they were given. I also didn't want her to be all alone. Some people become villains because they like hurting people, but she isn't like that. She just needed guidance and support."

Alex liked how he acted towards her, but he had another question. "Did you become a villain due to lack of support?"

Switch chuckled from his question. "I liked the attention and the power that came with it, but that all changed when I felt like doing the right thing. I'm old enough to be her grandfather but be careful with Brooke. If you hurt her in any way-

"I won't."

"Good. There is one thing you would have to do for us."

"What is it?"

-----

Prime and the other heroes were waiting for any information from the villains who took Alex from them. Quickness was still receiving medical attention from what M Heavy did to him. Barria is held by Aqua to comfort her guilt. Marks gave Barria a cup of coffee and stayed in silence to comfort her. One of the staff members then received a message and his eyes widened.

"We got a live message from them!"

Prime, Barria, Marks, and Aqua got up and the staff member put it on the big screen. Barria dropped her cup of coffee as she saw Alex with a bag over his head with a power collar on. The room they are in is solid white so there was no way to determine where he might be. Switch and Lagarto came into view and they were all furious. Lagarto wrapped his tail around Alex's waist tightly and he groaned from the pain.

"Stop it!", Barria pleaded. The lizard released his hold.

"Techno, are you okay?", Prime asked.

Alex hid his anger from under the bag.

"We already know his name is Alex Perez", Switch interjected.

The heroes were stunned. All of them had been careful with their identities, but how did they know?

"A-Alex, say something", Aqua's worried voice made him sad for her.

"I'm okay."

The heroes were relieved to hear his voice, especially Barria. "Alex, I'm so sorry for what happened. I should have kept an eye on you."

"It's not your fault."

"Switch, what are you going to do with him? A ransom? An exchange? What do you want?", Marks asked.

"Oh, I don't want anything. I just wanted to capture the person that tried to kill me."

Aqua's hands turned into fists. Homicidal urges from her past start to awaken, but she remembered that it needed to stay in the past. She took a silent deep breath.

"I will let him go, alive, when I am ready. So far, he hasn't told me anything about you. He is devoted to his oath as a hero, but we will see what we can get out of him. Bye."

The live video cut out and the staff were trying to determine their location.

"Please tell me you got something", Barria hoped for the best.

The staff showed confusion from what they were getting. Multiple spots appear on a screen, and they are pinging from one location to the next and all over the world. They couldn't determine the exact place to look.

"What does this mean?", Aqua asked.

"There might be a Lvl 5 technopath on their team who is hiding their location", Marks hypothesized.

"Do we know anyone who is capable of that?", Prime asked the staff.

They checked the hero database for level 5 technopaths, but no results pull up. They then checked the criminal database. They filtered the criteria and 1 profile pulled up. The heroes paid attention to the information and were surprised by what they're reading.