Gavin's smile dropped as soon as Ben left the shop. He releases a shaky sigh as he starts rubbing his temples. Truly, Ben Armstrong and Noah Ashwin were like-minded individuals, both of them never failing to give him a headache. He sighed again, which he seems to be doing a lot nowadays, after Ben became Red Justice. He reached to grab a soda can, opening it and started chugging.

  Jason was still on call, watching his comrade silently. Gavin pulled the soda away from his lips.

  "I really wish that Ben were just a normal kid. I swear that portal incident screwed up his brain, but then again, he might always be like this." Another sip. "Someone who puts everyone's needs above himself."

  Gavin scratches his hair in frustration. "So are you going forward with his sorry excuse of a plan?"

  This made Jason chuckle. Swirling his glass of wine. He seemed to think before releasing a bitter smile.

  "I don't want Red to get a tantrum."

  Gavin snorts, finding his words amusing. Imagine a kid with godlike superpowers absolutely going crazy because they didn't do what he wanted. He can't imagine Ben doing the same thing; he's mature for someone who is incredibly reckless and very hot-blooded. His smile dropped thinking about Aya and Marvin Armstrong. He had failed them, no, he failed them for quite some time.

  He takes Ben under his wing to become a better superhero despite knowing the Monarchs and, soon, probably the Esper Society and the Moonlight world would be after him one day. Truly, as a godfather, he would get an F grade or even below that. That kid is walking a painful path; it's a path Noah Ashwin walked and returned into a hollow, bitter man. And he was older than Ben when he took the first step. He wondered if Ben's character was enough to persevere.

  Because god help the world, if Red Justice were to take the same path as Arc.

  "Jason...I..."

  "You wanna be there for him, I know."

  "Not just that, I want to be out there in the field with him."

  Gavin wanted to shield Ben. To protect his innocent, naive godson from the horrors of the world. But despite being one of the most skilled, powerful Super Soldiers in the world, he's far past his prime. His fight with Noah showed that. He failed to beat Noah, and if it wasn't for the fact that he was being merciful.

  Gavin, along with Ben, would have died that day. Gavin gripped his soda can, crushing it accidentally. Soda juices splashed on his hand, but he didn't care. He was frustrated and angry at himself. He knows that the kid was capable, how strong he is. But at the end of the day, he's still an 11-year-old boy and no amount of maturity and people saved will change that.

  He felt an embrace of himself. Gavin just wanted to help Ben, to achieve his dreams and desires much more easily.

  "Heh, it's a good thing we started the project. I knew you wouldn't just stand by and let Red take all the action."

  Gavin raised a brow. Jason smirked, snapping his fingers. Almost instantly, his other monitor lit up as it opened a file automatically. Gavin walked forward, leaned close to the screen, squinting his eyes. After reading it, as well as the blueprints, his eyes widened.

  "Whoa." Gavin looked at Jason with an amazed expression. "That's for me?"

  "Yup. Still needs some tweaks and smoothing, but it should be ready for use next week. It will allow you to keep up with new gen-Super Soldiers and their fancy power armour." Jason grins ear to ear. "You're no Red Justice, but this will put you back to your prime level."

  Gavin's mouth twitched before a devious smile formed on his lips. "Sweet."

  "Yes, it is." Jason's grin drops.

  Gavin knew that look; he's going to deliver some bad news. Great, as if he doesn't have enough on his plate. Jason leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in front of him.

  "We have a situation." He said in a grim tone.

  Gavin rolled his eyes, but crossed his arms, looking sharply at his friend. "Of course it is, what's going on?"

  Jason sighs, slicking back his hair. A common habit he had even back then, it signifies he's stressed about something.

  "Droid."

  Gavin's jaw tightened instantly. He instantly knew what Jason was trying to say. He didn't need to add any details. Droid, one of the generals of The New World Order, the one who put Red Justice through the ringer and it took him and Emily to finally bring the cyborg down. He had escaped from Jason's hold.

  When Droid had been captured, there had been heavy debate over where he would be held. The Americans had initially demanded that he be transferred back to one of their black-site high-security facilities. Instead, he'd been moved under Jason's jurisdiction. After all, before the cybernetic treatment, serum, and the mind wipe, Droid had once been a Canadian citizen. Though it wasn't the true reason why Jason put him in his care...

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  "When?" Gavin asked quietly.

  "Six hours ago," Jason replied. "Internal breach. Coordinated extraction."

  Gavin's brow furrowed. "Extraction? No escape?"

  "Please, don't underestimate my security and prison; it's highly secure."

  "Not secure enough to hold a Droid, apparently."

  Jason ignored Gavin's clapback and continued on about how it wasn't a solo breakout. There were others involved. It's an Internal infiltration, remnants of the New World Order spies.

  "New Word Order..." Gavin utters with gritted teeth.

  Noah Ashwin or Arc may have died along with his second in command, the Silver Marksman, but their organization lives on. Smaller, weaker, less influential, but alive nonetheless. Gavin wanted to scoff, to think that even at this fractured state, they somehow extracted Droid under Jason's watch. Truly, they're really the strongest terrorist group the world has ever seen.

  Gavin ran a hand down his face. Thankfully, even with Droid at their side, they will never rise to their prime again. Droid is powerful, but not a thinker or ambitious person. Not like Noah. He just wants revenge against the government and the Monarchs.

  Still, he's smart enough not to attack them, especially in their condition. The problem is that they are a threat to Red Justice. With Ben already having enough on his plate, going to face a better-prepared Squad Nova or some other powerful Super Soldier team. Droid would just put way too much pressure on the kid. Maybe that's why Jason didn't say anything to Ben.

  Droid was a big threat normally, but this time it's not because of his stats and raw power; it's because of his knowledge. That Gavin Clark is in cahoots with Red Justice. Which makes him a target, which isn't too much of a big deal; he can take care of himself. However, it's Ben he needs to worry about. He's smart enough or has the resources to follow the thread.

  Droid probably knew Gavin's shop. Knew that he was the one supporting Red Justice's operations. If he had spies or surveillance at his very public shop, they would notice the boy who hung around a lot. Ben Armstrong.

  "If he connects those dots—"

  "He will," Jason said bluntly. "Eventually."

  Gavin bit lip enough to draw blood. Ben may be superpowered, but what if, in retaliation, they broadcast to everyone in the world that Ben Armstrong is Red Justice or use his family as hostages? The two men got quiet, both stressed out from the situation. Jason watched him carefully, asking if he was going to tell Ben.

  Jason already knew the answer, though.

  "No," Gavin said finally. "He's carrying a large weight with his plan, and we just got done dealing with the Thomas Bullard incident a couple of hours ago. I'm not adding this to his plate."

  Jason swirled the wine in his glass, studying it. "He would argue that he deserves to know."

  "And he wouldn't be wrong."

  "But...?"

  "...I'm his godfather, mentor, friend. I can't always help him, but I'll certainly get rid of some of his problems."

  "Are you saying you'll find Droid and the remaining members of the New World Order on your own? And then what?"

  Gavin didn't hesitate. "I kill him."

  "No capture or containment?"

  "No. He, along with the rest of the New World Order are a threat to Ben. I'll eliminate all of them."

  RED

  The Squad Nova Training Field...

  JUSTICE

  Ricardo swung his arms, trying to hit Arti and Gabe. Their wounds have healed enough for them to train and spar. Within reason, of course, after all the damage they sustained in their fight with Red Justice about a week ago. Arti moved easily, using her flexibility and gymnastics to backflip away. Gabe, on the other hand, yelped as barley dodged a hook from Ricardo.

  Michael, meanwhile, wiped his face full of sweat. Taking a break after sparring with Ricardo for about an hour. He sat on the grass, watching over his teammates. But his mind was clouded with the memory of Red Justice flying high to intercept the nuke, making it explode high into the atmosphere to prevent radiation or explosion to kill them.

  He could have easily just flown away and left them to be ashes. Instead, he protected them, even when they had tried so hard to beat and capture him. Michael already knew that trying to capture him wasn't a saintly thing to do, but now, he felt like a scumbag for moving forward with the plan. They've received more data about Red Justice's powers, upgraded armour and equipment. Overall, they're more deadly than back in the forest.

  He gripped his fist as sweat dripped down his face. A good soldier always follows orders, but they're supposed to serve the government, and the government is supposed to have the people's best interests. Michael's nails dug into his hands, letting a small trickle of blood drop to the grass. As a soldier, he knew his orders. As a person, he had no idea what to do.

  RED

  A Certain Apartment...

  JUSTICE

  In an apartment room in Newmarket. Emily Shinichi played with her little sister, Megumi. Her littles sparkled as her toys floated in the air, manipulated by Emily, who was wagging her finger lazily. Megumi laughed, clapping her hands, which earned a smile from Emily. Truly, she's blessed by having such a cute sister.

  It's almost heartbreaking how she was nearly given up by her parents a couple of months ago. When they were still struggling to meet payments. Her blue eyes wandered around; they were in a new apartment. Still small, but not as messy and hazardous as the mouldy one they lived in for nearly five years. With her dad's new high-paying job and the fact that her mom is also working as an assistant to a big company. Life is good for the Shinichis.

  They no longer needed to struggle or turn to crime. They could just be a regular old family. Truly, Emily is thankful to Ben and Gavin. Her eyes caught the TV screen.

  "Speak of the devil, or is it angel in this case..." She murmurs, watching as the news chopper zooms its camera to Ben, who is wearing a different suit than before.

  His logo is slightly different. He easily stopped a raging drunk driver by putting a hand on the bumper, stopping it even as the wheels spun. It didn't take long for the police to get there and arrest the drunk driver. They also tried to bring Ben in. But of course, he just gave them a salute and flew away.

  Emily smiled, but then it transformed into a frown. She heard from him that he had been attacked by a group of Super Soldiers, like Gavin, about a week ago in some kind of forest. They even dared to drop a nuke on him. Her eyebrows twitch, feeling both anger and guilt for not helping him out. Emily owes Ben everything.

  If they try anything again, she'll help him out, even knowing Ben will refuse to keep her safe. It doesn't matter. She owes him everything; if she had to give up a normal life to protect Ben. Then whoever hurts him better be prepared to face Kinetic.