Alec was physically okay, but emotionally down. Failing a mission, not just any mission, but an important one that came up in the most surprising way. He had treated it as a mission from the start even before he met Shadowborne face to face, and the System had also had it as a mission to handle, a task to complete successfully. But he failed. And that did something sour to his mood. It just didn't sit well with him...at all. He kept thinking back to how he stood in that building, staring hard at Shadowborne with the determination to take him down, he still ended up failing. Alec looked around the living room and didn't meet his dad there as he'd expected. He glanced at the direction of his dad's bedroom. "Guess he slept early today." He muttered.Alec headed straight to his room and collapsed onto the bed with a sigh."Xander" He called slowly with a low voice. "Yes, Alec. How may I help you?" Xander answered instantly. Alec sighed again. "I did everything I could to take Shado

Prof Smith and Alec returned to the H.E.P not looking a bit happy. Prof Smith looked serious and worried, Alec looked sharp and calm. "We visited her ex-husband, Greg, but he wasn't the one causing trouble" Prof Smith informed, staring into space."Yeah" Alec's jaw clenched. "Prof Smith was right all along. There's really someone dangerous out there," He said, turning his eyes to the tiny image of the superhuman on the screen. "He killed Greg."Heavy silence fell in the room as Jeremy and Heidi slowly processed Alec's last sentence. "Okay, so let me get this straight, alright?" Jeremy broke the quietness, his hands moving for demonstrations " This guy went after Greg and killed him after flying over the top of the hospital building where your girlfriend is," Jeremy said, staring at Prof Smith."Jeremy," Prof Smith called out slowly, "My friend, not girlfriend," Prof Smith corrected with a dull tone. "And yeah, this superhuman... he..." Prof Smith paused, a thoughtful expression on h

"He is what now?" Jeremy asked no one in particular. "Insect" Heidi answered, sighing.Alec was quiet. The way the superhuman reminded him of his name played in Alec's head more than once. There was a tone to the way he called his name out. Alec had never heard any of the villains he'd fought in the past use that tone. Then there was the mark on Greg's neck. The image flashed to Alec's mind, and then the image of Insect's claws shooting out also appeared quickly in his brain box."Insect," Jeremy was frowning as he uttered the name. "Insect, seriously?" He tapped on the iPad in his hands. "I just keep hearing weirder shits everyday, like, how the hell do these guys even come up with their crazy names?""Movement is one crazy name, now it's Insect" Heidi added."Guys?" Prof Smith called through the earbud, his phone in his hand. He was still in the hospital but he made sure he was following with every activities going on inside and outside the H. E. P. He was watching a video sent t

Heidi watched Jeremy as his quick fingers ran across the screen with a furious energy. His eyes were serious, his muscles hard and clenched, his expression wasn't showing a single smile.Heidi chewed her lips. She could see how it was written all Jeremy that he was upset. She moved closer to his side and placed a hand on his hard back.Jeremy paused for a second when he felt the physical contact. "What?" He barked. "Geez..." Heidi frowned "Don't bark at me." Jeremy raised his head a little to face Heidi. She rolled her eyes. Jeremy focused back on the keyboard and Heidi took her hand off his back."You know...." Heidi stared at her friend whose jaw was clenched way too hard. "You can just talk to him and settle your differences instead of just fighting with the keyboard" Jeremy's frown deepened, and the rapid movement of his fingers on the keyboard also increased. "I am not fighting with the keyboard.""Oh my God" Heidi chuckled. "It's not funny! Okay?!" Jeremy yelled in frustrat

Alec waited anxiously for Xander's response, his eyes fixed on Insect who was still waiting for the next move. Without thinking, Alec made the first move. He sprinted towards the building where Insect was, leaping with his extraordinary speed."So can I just get the flying powers already?" Alec breathed sharply.Beep."You have to put in the work to unlock your powers" Xander replied with its flat cold voice."I am trying" Alec growled under his breath."You have to try harder," Xander said plainly. "You have to tap into your inner strength, determination, and consistent training—both physically and mentally."Alec released a loud exhale. "Tapping into my strength, determination and consistent training..." He shook his head. "That is what I have been doing and I still can't get the power I need. Xander, you need to do something.""At this moment, you are the one who needs to do something" Xander said back. "Only you, can unlock your powers, Alec."Alec stared at Insect, angry at the