One Step Forward

Tson moved his shoulders and felt his suit's smooth, familiar whirr adapt to his movements. Around him, the facility was dark, with backup generators supplying the overhead lights, which flickered with an unpredictable, icy brightness. The hum of machines filled the air, making it stale. Grayson landed beside him with a controlled exhale, his hand going to his temples as the strain of teleportation hit him. Kevin, on the other hand, barely seemed to notice, his gaze scanning the room with an air of indifference.

Without speaking a word, Tson thought Sentinel. In an instant, the suit began to retract, its weight lifting off his body as the systems powered down. He stretched his arms overhead, exhaling deeply as the tension melted away from his muscles. It was over for the day. The work was finished. He was ready to leave this place behind and head back to the Academy. Most of his project was done, and he could feel the calm before the storm. Just a few more days, and things would be different.

⸻

Four Months Later

Tson had found his rhythm. School had become a balancing act—endless classes and grueling training. It wasn't always easy, but he was learning to focus. Kevin, still adjusting to his new abilities, often found himself frustrated, constantly pushing to perfect his technique through sparring. It was a never-ending cycle.

But Tson's focus had sharpened. He split his time between studying and training, challenging himself more each day. Every night, after school, he and Kevin would meet to push each other further. The training sessions left them exhausted, but it was always worth it. They had to be ready for whatever came next.

By now, most students had a sense of where they were headed. Tson wasn't any different. The Academy had already set him on a clear path. With most of his project completed, he had made a choice. Rather than sticking to the typical route of becoming an Exemplar—a life spent behind a desk—he had chosen something different. He wanted to push his body, to test his limits, and the bionic path seemed the most fitting.

And he wasn't the only one making bold choices. Grayson had gone on to build his own agency, breaking free from the conventional expectations. Kevin, despite his potential to be one of the world's top mixed martial artists, had decided to stay by Tson's side. He'd joined him at the Academy, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

⸻

Mr. Parker's Class

Tson stepped into the classroom just as the chatter about the Hero Academy reached its peak. The room was full of eager students, each one boasting about their plans to become superheroes. Their voices mixed together, creating a buzz of youthful excitement.

Among them stood Kael Nocturne. There was something about him that made the air feel thicker, heavier. His shadow didn't just fall normally—it stretched unnaturally, curling into a shape that seemed to move of its own accord. Deep, hollow eyes gleamed from his shadow, and a grin twisted across jagged teeth. Mist-like tendrils coiled from his form, blending into the surrounding darkness, and black wings unfurled from his back, rippling like smoke.

Next to him stood another student, his body gleaming with steel modifications—an obvious contrast to the darkness that Kael exuded. The contrast was jarring, the metallic sheen of his enhancements too bright compared to the ominous energy Kael radiated.

When the conversation shifted to Tson, a student asked if he planned to become a superhero.

Tson smirked. "Me? Well, if you must know, I already am. Had a visit from the mayor—told me I needed to stop."

The room fell silent for a heartbeat before laughter broke out. The class found it amusing, another joke to pass the time. But Tson didn't laugh.

"What else would you expect? Superheroes never reveal their identities," Mr. Parker chimed in, cutting through the laughter.

For a moment, Tson's mind flickered with the thought of slipping into his Sentinel suit, of proving his point by showing them all—revealing his powers and identity. The temptation to earn some praise was there, the validation from classmates he barely knew. But then, just as quickly, the thought passed.

In hindsight, he realized he had almost been ready to expose it all—for recognition that wouldn't even last past the end of the class. He was glad Mr. Parker had stepped in, preventing him from making a decision he might have regretted later.

The hollowgram flickered to life, its robotic voice announcing that class was over. As the students filed out, Tson stood, stretching before heading to the dojo—the familiar place where he and Kevin had trained countless times before.

Tson met Kevin there once the room was empty. They exchanged a brief, wordless nod, then got to work. Compared to when he had first started, Tson was far more comfortable with his abilities now. He had developed his own fighting style, one that seamlessly integrated his enhanced skills. Training had become more than just a necessity—it was a chance to test his limits, to refine every technique and push himself harder.

He dropped his book bag on the mat, shifting into a boxing stance, his hands raised protectively in front of his face, elbows tucked to shield his body. His movements were slow at first, feeling out the space between them.

Kevin mirrored his stance, his eyes never leaving Tson's. Without a word, Tson began to shift from side to side, testing the distance between them, before striking with precision. Tson, anticipating the move, fell back just in time to dodge the hit, but Kevin reacted immediately, ducking and phasing his head through the punch with inhuman fluidity with the same action, trying to land a counterstrike.

The two exchanged blows in rapid succession, each movement deliberate, each strike calculated. They moved together, a fluid dance of skill and intuition, pushing each other harder with every passing second.