Alpha squad

The Alpha Squad regrouped at James's house after their narrow victory at the substation. The evening carried a sense of exhaustion mixed with accomplishment. Eric Maxwell had gone out for the night, leaving the group the run of the house.

"Nice place, James," Alex said, plopping onto the plush couch. "It's like your dad's a secret billionaire."

James smirked. "Not quite, but he's good at what he does." He didn't elaborate, and no one pressed. The details of Eric's life before moving to Ivory City were a mystery even to James.

Samantha looked around the spacious living room, noticing the well-worn bookshelves and family photos. "It feels...homey. Not what I expected from the fearless leader."

"Fearless leader?" James raised an eyebrow.

"You did take charge back there," Peter said, setting down his laptop on the coffee table. "If it weren't for you, we might not have made it out in one piece."

James felt a flush of pride but quickly deflected. "It was a team effort. Speaking of which, we need to debrief. We learned a lot tonight."

Alex groaned. "Can't we take, like, five minutes to enjoy not being attacked by ice shards or nanobots?"

Samantha threw a pillow at him. "He's right, though. We need to figure out what's going on and how to prepare for next time."

As they settled in, Peter projected his laptop screen onto the television. A map of Ivory City appeared, with various points marked in red.

"So here's what I've pieced together," Peter began. "Jeremy Brooks—Image—was just the tip of the iceberg. Gears and Frost are working together, and they're systematically attacking the city's infrastructure. If we hadn't stopped them tonight, the blackout would've taken out half the city."

"But why?" Samantha asked. "What's the endgame?"

"It's a distraction," James said, his brow furrowed. "Adam mentioned it back at the warehouse. They're trying to destabilize the city. But for what?"

"Dr. Xavier Grey," Peter said, pulling up a photo of the wealthy businessman. "He's been quietly acquiring properties all over the industrial district. If the city's infrastructure collapses, he'll be in a prime position to rebuild… and profit."

"So, he's funding these attacks?" Alex asked.

Peter nodded. "That's the theory. But proving it won't be easy. Grey's got resources we can't even imagine."

"Then we need to get creative," Samantha said, her tone firm. "If we can expose him, we might be able to cut off the villains' support."

After hours of planning, the group decided to call it a night. Samantha and Peter claimed the guest rooms, while Alex stretched out on the couch. James lingered in the kitchen, staring out the window at the quiet street below.

Jessica Wilson's face flashed in his mind. He hadn't seen her since the day at the ruins, and he couldn't help but wonder if she was safe. If she'd gotten tangled up in any of this.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Samantha's voice broke the silence. She stepped into the kitchen, her expression soft.

James shrugged. "Just thinking about everything. About how much has changed in such a short time."

"It's a lot," she agreed, leaning against the counter. "But you're handling it well. We all are."

James smiled faintly. "Thanks. It helps having you guys around. I don't think I could do this alone."

Samantha reached out, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You're not alone, James. We've got your back."

The next morning, the group reconvened in the living room, ready to tackle the day. Adam arrived with a box of gadgets, grinning from ear to ear.

"I've been up all night working on this," he announced, setting the box on the table. "Let's get to work."

Inside the box were prototypes: gloves for Alex to focus his flames, a light amplifier for Samantha, and an electrified baton for Peter. For James, Adam had crafted a small, portable alchemy kit, complete with reagents and tools for quick transmutations.

"This is amazing," James said, examining the kit.

Adam beamed. "Wait till you see what's next. I've got ideas for armor, drones, and maybe even a vehicle. The Alpha Squad is just getting started."

James couldn't help but smile. For the first time in days, he felt like they had a fighting chance. Together, they were stronger. And together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.