Tekeon! I am Tekeon! I've gone toe-to-toe with armed criminals... a giant radioactive snake can't scare me.

All the momentum I was building came crashing down when the snake barred its fangs and spat gooey venom at me. Those massive droplets hit the tracks and melted them like concentrated acid.

The kids squealed behind me.

It had me flinching, alright. But I regained composure. Someone had to protect them. Someone had to stand up to the bullies, to the attackers of the innocent.

"Venom composed of radioactive waste," Blitz relayed. "Stay sharp."

A skyblue T-shaped jetpack emerged from my armor's back, each part vaguely resembling a technologically advanced windmill blade. The micro thrusters in them fired and propelled me into the darkness above.

I clenched a fist as I dove in my opponent's direction, pumping my fist at the last second in an attempt to punch the beast.

Suddenly, it slithered out of harm's way and coiled around me head-to-toe, delivering a crushing squeeze.

"Tech mom!" The children squeaked in the background.

Wish I could say I was breathing steadily with the grace of a Greek god.

"Blitz! Blitz, help me! I'm being crushed alive. Oh God, what was I thinking?"

"I've got your vitals." Blitz announced, simultaneously slowing my heart rate back to normal and steading my breathing.

"I can feel a bit of pain from this grip." My voice came out in a calm, slow drag. Dammit, Blitz made me too calm.

The mutated reptile hissed while tightening its scaly grip.

Blitz gave me an analysis. "It's weight is approximately five times that of an average python. The armor's absorbing over 1240 newtons, leaving your inner skin to take the remainder 155 newtons."

"I swear you turn everything into a science class. This snake should just melt my head off with acid already."

My opponent barred its fangs once more, a hideous sight upclose. Pink forked tongue with luminous green tips and silver fangs. I knew it was about to make my wish come true. But how do I explain to a radioactive giant snake that I was being sarcastic?

This whole situation scared me. Protecting people could go as far as taking a bullet in their stead. Granted, my armor could take the impact of such an action, but my mind was still terrified in near-death scenarios. All my being relented at the thought of being the victim of radioactive waste venom.

And then the unthinkable happened.

A blueish glow lit on my shoulder pads and cables of electric tasers lashed out, digging into the scales of my coiled opponent. Electricity zipped
out to meet the snake. Its follow-up shriek was a testament of the high voltage that coursed through its being. In an instant, its grip loosened as it collapsed on the old subway tracks.

With heavy breaths, I loomed over it, victorious.

"Did I..." My voice trailed in bewilderment. "Did I just unlock a weapon?"

"Not bad," Blitz remarked. "A moment of tension increases the chances of evolution. You know what that means, right?"

I grinned. "More adventures, more tension, more powers. Let's do this!"

"Actually, I was about to suggest you handle this power responsibly. Also, these children may need to be escorted home."

"Go, Tech mom!" Cheering reached my ears.

"For the last time -" Kyle sighed. "Oh, forget it."

I scrutinized my fallen opponent. "An experiment gone wrong, huh? I think we might have to keep a close eye on S.P.E.R.E Scite."