The midday sun bore down on the chaotic scene, casting sharp shadows over the broken pavement and scattered debris. Cal stood in the middle of it all, his clothes torn and singed, the weight of recent events pressing down on him like a physical force. The crowd watched in tense silence, their eyes shifting between him and the lead SRA agent, who stood with a look of cold determination.
"This is a one-time offer," the agent said again, his voice firm and unyielding. "You come with us now, and we work out the terms of your cooperation. If you refuse, you're in violation of several laws, and we will take you in."
Ryan glanced at Cal, then at the agent, his eyes narrowing. "So, what's the plan, huh? You slap some cuffs on us, take us to your secret base, and then what? Do we get a super-powered probation officer, or do we just get to sit in a cell and think about what we've done?"
The agent's gaze flicked to Ryan, his expression unamused. "This isn't a joke. You comply, or we use force."
Ryan sighed, throwing his hands up. "Man, you guys really need to work on your customer service."
Cal's lips twitched at the corner, but his expression quickly turned serious again as he stepped forward, addressing the crowd instead of the agent. "You've all heard the stories, the conspiracies. Governments with too much power using it to control people, to hurt people. And now they want us to hand over our identities, our abilities, so they can do what? Control us? Use us?"
He shook his head, his voice rising slightly. "I can't trust them. I can't trust them with my life, with my friends' lives, with your lives. Today, nobody got hurt because we acted. No waiting for paperwork, no getting caught up in bureaucracy. If we'd followed the rules, this could have been a massacre."
The crowd murmured, shifting uneasily. Cal could see some nodding, others looking uncertain. He took a breath, his eyes hardening. "This is where law meets reality. They want us to follow rules that will tie our hands when it matters most."
The agent stepped forward, cutting him off. "Enough. You're under arrest. For assault, breaking and entering, and—" He paused, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "—manslaughter."
The word echoed through the crowd, and Cal felt his stomach drop. He thought back to Henry's grotesque form, the way he had ended it with a sickening crunch, splattering his head against the pavement. But Henry wasn't human—he was something else, a twisted puppet of flesh and bone. The agent was twisting the truth, trying to turn the public against him, and Cal knew he couldn't say anything without revealing more than he wanted to.
He swallowed hard, his face betraying nothing as he stared the agent down. The crowd's whispers grew louder, uncertainty and fear rippling through them. The agent took a step closer, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "You're dangerous, and you're out of control. You think you're above the law?"
Before Cal could respond, the air around them shimmered with heat. A sudden, searing wave of flame erupted from the ground, and the crowd screamed, scattering in every direction. The flame villain, whom they had subdued earlier, stood up amidst the chaos, his body radiating heat as the melted cuffs fell from his wrists.
"I'm gonna roast you, you fucking Wolverine wannabe, then I'm gonna melt your whore girlfriend into a puddle" he roared, his voice echoing through the street. His eyes blazed with fury as he looked around, taking in the scene. "I'm not done yet!"
Cal's eyes lit up with fury at the mention of harming Amber. His fist clenched and shaking.
The agent shouted for his team to move, but the villain was already moving, flames erupting around him as he took to the sky, using the fire to propel himself upward. Cal's eyes widened as he watched the maniac shoot higher, the heat distorting the air around him.
Ryan, Amber, get out of here! Cal sent through their telepathic link, his mind racing. Use this chance to get away from the SRA, even if it's just for a moment.
Ryan didn't hesitate. He grabbed Amber, and with a powerful leap, began scaling the side of a nearby building. His fingers dug into the brick as he climbed with incredible speed, Amber holding on tightly.
Cal, don't be an idiot! Ryan's voice echoed through the link, frustration clear. We need to stick together!
Cal glanced back at them, his expression pained but resolute. I'll meet you later. Just go!
Amber's voice cut through, sharp with worry. You're not being much of a teammate right now, Cal!
"I know," he muttered under his breath, his eyes locking on the trail of fire in the sky. He knew he was making a dangerous choice, but he couldn't let this villain run loose, not after everything that had happened.
The agent barked more orders, and a man with large, feathered wings took to the sky, picking up another agent with him, aiming to intercept the flame villain. But Cal was already moving. He locked his legs, muscles coiling like springs, and launched himself into the air. The ground cracked beneath him as he soared upward, the wind roaring past him as he chased the trail of fire.
The villain glanced back, his face contorting with rage as he saw Cal gaining on him. "Still coming after me? You really want to die as soon as possible, don't you?"
"You're endangering everyone!" Cal shouted, his voice strained with the effort of keeping up. "I can't let you get away!"
The villain laughed, a wild, unhinged sound. "Come and get me!" He thrust his hands down, and a massive plume of fire erupted beneath him, propelling him higher into the sky. The heat was unbearable, the flames singing Cal's skin as he twisted in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the inferno.
His mind raced, searching for a way to end this without more destruction. He had to stop this maniac before he could cause any more harm. The city stretched out beneath them, a sprawling sea of buildings and lives that he had sworn to protect.
He pushed harder, his muscles burning as he propelled himself forward, determined to stop the villain before it was too late. This was his responsibility. He wouldn't let anyone else get hurt. Not today.