A/N: Rank 55!
Thanks for pushing all the way here, guys!
I’m motivated!
***
“That’s great,” Jack smiled.
‘As long as it isn’t the Deep.’
“Hehehe,” Sasha chuckled, puffing her chest in pride at his praise.
“Oh yes, you have to come,” Sasha said.
“Huh? Do I really ne—”
“Yes,” Sasha cut him off, staring at him sternly.
“Your sister is about to go through the biggest achievement in her life and you don’t want to come? What kind of brother are you?”
“Ok, ok. I’ll go,” Jack said with raised hands.
“So when is the date of the annual event?”
“July 1st,” Sasha replied.
“Eh? I thought it always happened in the month of August?”
Sasha agreed.
“Yeah. But Vought had to bring it closer.”
‘It must be because of Homelander,’ Jack thought, and he felt his sister also knew the reason.
Vought wasn’t the only hero organization in America; there were also others eyeing the position they held, like hyenas always waiting for the right time to pounce.
Unfortunately for them, Vought had The Seven, a team which was almost the direct replica of the Guardians of the Globe, which always destroyed others.
But now, with Homelander leaving Vought and a new Guardian of the Globe emerging, Vought’s image in the eyes of the citizens was no longer as high as before, which would naturally make them panic.
They might introduce a new hero…
Jack thought.
“Ok. I’ll come then.”
“That’s good,” Sasha smiled, then waved at him while pinching her nose.
“Now that I’ve gotten your promise, go bathe. You reek.”
“I don’t think I smell that bad,” Jack said, but he still went upstairs to the shower.
***
Vought Meeting Room.
The five—Queen Maeve, Starlight, A-Train, The Deep, and Black Noir—of The Seven currently sat around the round table, looking at the stern-faced Madelyn, who wore a white blouse and a pencil skirt with a tablet placed before her.
“Unfortunately not,” Ashley replied, her head lowered.
Madelyn frowned, then turned to the five.
“I am well aware of what you’ve heard. Yes, Homelander made a profoundly short-sighted career choice. He and our competitors will respond to our legal team. In the meantime, The Seven won’t remain vacant forever more. Earth needs us. That’s why I’ll be introducing two new members to the group. You’ll cooperate, and you’ll all smile for the cameras. Am I making myself clear?”
The five turned and stared at each other before they agreed.
“Good. Now I’ll be introducing you to your teammates.” Madelyn pressed a button on the table, and the two heavy doors slid open, a male and a female stepping in.
“Please welcome the future of Earth’s defense. Godolkin University’s finest, Luke Riordan—Golden Boy. And from Seattle, our newest vanguard, Stormfront.”
Golden Boy, a blonde-haired, handsome boy, smiled nervously at the supes.
Stormfront, beside him, a beautiful black-haired woman, walked in confidently with her hands in her pockets.
“H…hey,” Golden Boy raised his hand awkwardly.
“It’s an honor, truly… I’ve watched you all since I was a kid—”
Stormfront cut him off.
Raising her phone, she aimed the selfie camera at the five.
“What’s up, guys! Live from the tower! Look at this, we got the whole crew. A-Train—”
“Recording inside a secure briefing is a corporate violation,” Queen Maeve said sharply.
“Put the phone down.”
“Whoa! It seems the Queen herself can’t handle a joke!” Stormfront said, then she turned to the camera, waving.
“Alright, chat, I’ll see you guys later. Can’t have myself fired on the first day of my job! Bye!”
She carelessly placed her phone on the table and looked at Maeve with a provocative smile.
Madelyn, who had been quiet, finally spoke up.
“That’s enough. The annual meeting is coming soon. Corporations and organizations from all over the world will be attending. They will be looking for weakness. Do not disgrace Vought.”
The seven nodded.
***
In a secret lab in New York, the CEO of OCP (Omni-Consumer Products), wearing a black suit, stood calmly behind a transparent glass, watching as Homelander rampaged through the arena below.
Zooooom!
Searing hot lasers swept through drones in the air.
The ground opened, and robots emerged, each sleek and holding a weapon.
Boom!
Homelander exploded forward like a fast, unstoppable train, blitzing through the arena, killing all robots that stepped in his way.
Those far away were incinerated by his lasers.
Five minutes later, Homelander hovered slightly above the ground, his cape swaying gently. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Around him were the destroyed robots.
“Look at you. You aren’t just stronger, son—you are the unstoppable future of global peace. Exceptional work,” the old man said with a proud smile, his voice transmitting from the comm.
Homelander didn’t reply, still hovering silently.
The old man didn’t mind the lack of response, already immersing himself in the future.
He could see OCP standing above all: the GDA and the Seven Guardians of the Globe.
Heroes would no longer be the ones to dominate the market, but robots—robots created by him.
The old man’s smile grew wider.
And the first step is to eliminate Vought.
***
The Next Day.
Jack stretched and left his bed.
After freshening up, he went downstairs, where his breakfast was already ready, together with a note.
[I’ll be back by 10. Cook dinner for yourself, I’ll be eating out. Love, Sasha]
Jack crumpled the paper and accurately threw it into the trash bin before digging into his food, going over what he was going to do for the day.
‘Wait for criminals to appear on the news or for Robot to contact me…
‘Jack thought as he chewed on the cereal.
‘But I should go out too.
Can’t be staying at home until college starts.
Just as Jack kept planning not only his day but his entire break period, his phone range with a chime.
Picking it up, he saw a message from the group created by Eve for him, Eve, and Gwen.
[Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that I’ve moved out of the city. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing; I need some space. I’ll contact you guys later.]
Immediately after I finished reading the text, I heard a buzz, and with a whoosh!
he vanished and appeared again in a second, this time holding the earpiece given to him by Robot.
“Hey… Superboy?”
The voice that came out of the comm wasn’t Robot’s, but Gwen’s.
“We need your help.”
***
A/N: 600 Power Stones…
I didn’t expect this.
Owing you guys two more chapters.