Only two days left.
That was all the time I had to complete my team—two more members. Not just anyone, but people who had what it takes. Strength. Skill. A reason to fight. People I could trust when everything went dark.
I sat on the edge of my bed in a nice apartment I'd rented for the week. My thoughts were loud. Too loud. That was when my phone started buzzing.
Dad.
I answered it without much thought. "What do you need?" I asked, already knowing this wasn't going to be a casual check-in.
"Sam, I need you to head to the Hero Association in the Capital City. Something's come up," he said.
I paused. "Now's not a good time, Dad. I've got to find three more team members. The deadline is—"
"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important," he interrupted. "It's about someone I used to know."
That caught my attention.
"Who?"
"A student of mine. He's at the Academy now. I haven't seen him since he was five. I just… need to know if he's okay."
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. It wasn't ideal, but then a thought came to me.
The Capital. Angeles.
That city was crawling with potential. It was where the Top 1 and Top 6 heroes were born. The place practically raised legends. If I was going to find anyone who could help complete my team, that was the best shot I had.
"Alright," I said. "I'll go."
Driving into Angeles felt like stepping into a different world.
The city pulsed with energy. People flew above the streets, danced flames across their fingertips, or moved objects with just a flick of their eyes. Here, powers weren't hidden—they were celebrated.
This place lived up to its name: The City of Heroes.
The people looked happy, safe… hopeful. It almost made me forget how unstable the rest of the country had become.
I made a quick stop at the apartment my dad arranged for me, changed clothes, turning me into Sam Sato, the son of Takeshi Sato.
At the Hero Association's headquarters, I was welcomed by none other than the President himself—the Top 1 Hero in the entire country.
He greeted me with a calm smile and a handshake that felt like gripping stone. The man radiated raw power, even though his demeanor was polite and steady.
As we walked through the hallways of the high-tech facility, he began to speak.
"Our systems are secure… mostly," he said. "But yesterday, someone hacked our central firewall. They stole classified data."
I stopped mid-step.
"I built that firewall," I said sharply. "Whoever did this is no ordinary hacker."
"I figured as much. That's why I called you in."
He led me to the main control room. The lights were dim, and the air buzzed with tension. I scanned the data feeds, encryption trails, and traces left behind.
Whoever did this… was good.
Too good.
But not perfect.
"There," I said, pointing at a blinking location tracker. "That's where they are."
He looked at the screen. "We'll send heroes to arrest them immediately."
"No," I said quickly. "Send a team to negotiate."
He raised a brow. "Negotiate? With a criminal?"
"This isn't just some punk with a laptop. They broke into a system I designed. That takes more than guts. That takes talent—and talent like that could be valuable. We can't afford to burn bridges with someone who might be on our side."
He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'll trust your judgment."
As the orders were sent, he led me to his office for a break. He poured coffee, and I took a seat near the massive glass window overlooking the Academy's training field.
That's when I saw him.
A blur of motion—fast, precise. Too fast for a normal eye to follow.
"Who's that?" I asked, pointing.
The President followed my gaze and smiled. "That's Zack Lennox. He's sixteen, just like you. Highest test scores this year. Already rescued citizens during training exercises. Future hero, no doubt."
"I want him," I said without hesitation.
"You do?" His tone shifted slightly. He was testing me.
"Yes," I said. "Let me take him under my wing."
He stood, nodding with pride. "It would be an honor. Follow me."
On the training field, Zack was finishing up a sprint course. His classmates watched him with admiration and awe.
When the President called for everyone's attention, the crowd stilled.
"Everyone, meet Sam Sato. He's here on special assignment. And Zack—he's chosen you."
Gasps. Then cheers. Zack's eyes widened, but his face quickly returned to calm.
"I accept," he said.
As I stepped forward, he looked me dead in the eye and asked, "Where is Takeshi Sato?"
I paused.
"He's well," I replied gently. "He wanted to make sure you're okay."
Zack's face softened. A single tear slipped down his cheek before turning into a quiet, radiant smile.
I felt something stir in me. A memory I didn't want to dig into.
Before I could dwell on it, I pulled a card from my jacket and handed it to him.
"Don't be late."
He nodded with a determined look.
As I turned to leave, the students parted, still whispering, still watching. My team was one step closer to being whole.
And the world? One step closer to change.