Chapter Nine: Allies, Secrets, and Signals
A few hours later, long after Nima had left, Kael sat alone in his temporary quarters in the HQ—small, sterile, dimly lit.
The hum of the surveillance drones outside was faint but ever-present, like a reminder that even here, he wasn't truly alone. But for now, at least, no one was watching him inside.
He sat on the edge of the narrow bed, staring at the floor.
The mask lay in his hands.
Cold. Heavy.
Without it, his face looked hollow. Dark circles clung under his eyes; his skin pale from stress and lack of sleep. His fingers tightened around the edge of the mask until his knuckles went white.
For a moment, his breath caught in his throat, tight and uneven.
He had held it together for so long—for the public, for the Agency, for the people who still believed, even if their numbers were shrinking by the hour.
But now, the weight pressed down with nothing to hold it back.
The first tear slipped before he even realized it.
And then another.
His shoulders trembled, breaths turning sharp and broken as quiet sobs escaped him. He pressed his palm against his face, as if trying to force the emotion back inside where no one could see it.
"I'm trying," he whispered, voice cracking. "I'm still trying…"
The mask sat in his lap, reflecting his fractured image back at him—half-light, half-shadow.
And outside, the Fear Index ticked higher.
**********
In the Tech Operations and Support Department, a lone figure sat hunched over multiple screens, eyes scanning lines of code and surveillance feeds.
His light brown hair was messy, and his eyes gleamed with intensity as he worked.
This was Ray Kim, a skilled but solitary member of the team, known for his exceptional skills in digging up hidden information.
And Ray Kim didn't like secrets. Especially not when they involved people he cared about.
He stood in the dim light of the surveillance bay, his half-loose, half-tied light brown hair falling slightly over one eye as he reviewed the patrol logs. Again. Third night this week, Nima Shen had left HQ at midnight, no record of assignment, no filed investigation tags.
And now, she was meeting a hero off-record. Ray's eyes narrowed as he pored over the footage, determined to uncover the truth.
"Interesting," Ray muttered, adjusting the headset draped around his neck. He tapped a few keys on his holopad and leaned back in his chair, smirking. "What are you up to, Officer Shen?"
He knew she was too professional to be reckless. But he also knew she wasn't telling anyone where she went at night. And that bothered him.
Well… maybe it bothered him a little more because of the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was focused. Or how she always looked serious, but her sarcasm was razor sharp when it slipped out.
Not that she'd ever noticed him.
"Whatever," he muttered, grabbing his coat. "Time to play spy."
*********
Four years ago – Hero Assistance Agency Training Grounds, Sector 4
The sun was brutal, the metal of the shooting range hot enough to burn through gloves. Ray Kim adjusted his visor and tried to stay focused on the distant paper target.
Center mass, deep breath, squeeze…
His pulse shot through his arms. Bang. Bang.
Three hits. Clean. He smirked. Better than average.
"Not bad," a voice said behind him—cool, amused, and unfamiliar.
He turned—and nearly forgot how to breathe.
She stood with a sleek black training pistol in one hand, her uniform sleeves rolled up. No badge yet, like him, but the way she carried herself said she didn't need one. Calm, confident. Sharp eyes under dark brown bangs.
"You're new right?" she asked, walking up to the next stall.
"Yeah," he said, trying not to sound winded. "Ray Kim. You?"
"Nima Shen. Just transferred in from the Emergency Response Bureau. I was tired of cleaning up after other people's mistakes," she told Ray. "Figured it was time I got closer to the cause, not just the consequences."
"Oh. Cool. Welcome." He realized he was still holding his gun and awkwardly set it down.
Nima loaded her pistol with a smooth click. "Mind if I take a shot?"
Ray stepped back. "Be my guest."
She raised the pistol, feet planted, arms steady—textbook perfect. No hesitation.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Four shots, rapid and precise. Dead center. One even split Ray's earlier hit in half.
He blinked. "Okay. That's just showing off."
She shrugged. "Just warmed up."
Ray laughed despite himself. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."
Nima turned slightly, her expression unreadable but her tone softening just a bit. "Only fair if you don't miss."
He watched her walk to reset her target sheet, trying to recover from the odd flutter in his chest. It wasn't just the shooting. It was her presence—like she already knew who she was, and the rest of them were still figuring it out.
Ray stood frozen for a second too long, heart thumping like he'd been hit himself.
He barely registered himself reloading. A grin tugged at his lips as he shook his head.
He thought to himself, loading another clip.
Damn. I'm definitely in trouble.
************
Meanwhile, in a training dome downtown, Kael watched as chunks of earth launched into the air—and promptly collapsed back down in a chaotic heap.
"Sorry! Sorry!" a voice shouted.
Han Lee scrambled over the rubble, waving sheepishly. His short, energetic curls of orange hair sticking out in every direction. His hero suit, adorned with a long green cape, was way too clean considering how messy his powers were. As a hero-in-training and top student at the Hero Academy, Han Lee was eager to prove himself. He waved sheepishly, his bright blue eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Despite the chaos around him, Han Lee's suit remained remarkably clean, proving his quick reflexes and agility. His mentor, Kael, watched with a mixture of amusement and scrutiny, offering guidance and feedback to Han.
"I swear I had it under control!" he said. "The formation was solid, I just misjudged the shift angle."
Kael tried not to laugh. "You're trying too hard. Don't force it. You said you have Terrakinesis right, then let the ground guide you."
Han blinked. "You listen to the ground?"
Kael tilted his head. "In a way. It's about syncing your rhythm. Not pushing too much."
Han's eyes sparkled. "That's so cool. You're even wiser in person! I've watched all your fights like twenty times—your move during the Annual Hero Parade Riot? Legendary!"
Kael chuckled. "Let's just focus on stopping fake Wraiths for now."
Han nodded fiercely. "I won't let you down, sir!"
*******
Back at Hero Archives, Nima stood inside the dim archive vault, data scrolling on a private tablet. Most records were routine hero files. But behind encrypted layers, she found something else.
"Trust Overload Protocols – Class Black Access Only."
"Berserk Hero Incident: Memory Lock Authorized. Investigation suspended. Lead reassigned to Public Confidence Control."
"What the hell is this?" she whispered.
She tapped deeper but hit firewalled layers labeled "System-Level Integrity Risk. Viewing restricted."
Her brow furrowed. "Why would HQ bury this?"
She didn't hear the soft footsteps until a voice spoke behind her.
"You're a hard one to track, you know that?"
She spun—her stun-trap gun half-drawn—only to find Ray Kim leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"You've been following me?" she demanded.
He shrugged. "Only a little. Midnight walks, backdoor terminal use, private server access. Suspicious stuff, Officer Shen."
She narrowed her eyes. "This isn't your department."
"And yet here I am," he replied with a grin. "Don't worry. I'm not ratting you out. In fact, I'm here to make a deal."
Nima sighed. "I don't have time for games, Ray."
"No games. Just leverage." He stepped closer. "HQ doesn't want heroes working off-grid with Hero Assistance. If they find out, they'll shut it down. You need someone who can keep eyes off you. That's me."
"And in return?"
Ray's smile was subtle, but his eyes gleamed with intensity. "Just a favor. For later. Something small, maybe. But I need to know I can count on you."
Nima's gaze narrowed, her mind racing with possibilities. "What kind of favor?"
Ray shrugged, his smile growing wider. "Nothing too complicated, I promise.
Just... let's say I might need your help someday. And you'll owe me one."
Nima hesitated, weighing her options. She needed Ray's help, and this seemed like a small price to pay. "Fine," she said finally.
"One favor. But don't expect me to break the law for you."
Ray chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I wouldn't dream of it, Nima. Yet."
"I'll make myself useful," assured Ray. "Promise."
And maybe, just maybe, she'd finally notice him.
**********
Later that evening, Kael stood on a rooftop, mask resting in his hand. He stared down at a city still gripped by panic, where villains now wore Wraith's shadow like armor.
Han Lee ran up behind him, breathless. "There's another incident in Sector 7—might be fake again. Want backup?"
Kael turned. "You're not ready."
Han pouted. "But I—"
"I'll take care of it," Kael said gently. "Stay sharp. I'll send you if it's real. For now go and rest."
As Han Lee flew off into the dark, Nima stepped out of the shadows.
"He likes you," she said.
Kael smiled. "Most people don't when I wear the mask."
They stood quietly, the skyline glowing under the growing pressure.
"There's something buried in the archive," Nima said. "They locked many files. Classified it under system-level risk. That's beyond even crisis protocols. I can't access them."
Kael's heart sank. "So they knew something?"
"And covered it up," Nima said, her voice firm but calm.
Kael exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Then we need to find out what."
Nima nodded, reaching into her pocket. "Here."
She handed him a small charm—just a simple metal token, worn but sturdy. A tiny engraved symbol of the Emergency Bureau and a small quote - Courage in Crisis.
Kael looked at it, puzzled. "What's this?"
"Old habit from my early response days," Nima said. "Our squad used to carry these. Not much use, but… a reminder. Keep your head clear. Stay strong."
He turned it over in his hand, feeling the weight of it. "Thanks."
She gave him a small, crooked smile. "I don't like seeing my friends burn themselves out. You're carrying enough. Just... don't forget to breathe, Kael."
Her tone wasn't soft or emotional — it was steady. Practical. Like everything else she did.
"Yeah," he said with a faint nod. "I'll try."
Nima zipped up her jacket, giving him a light nudge on the arm. "Good. For now, you go off to Sector 7. Don't get into trouble."
"No promises."
As she disappeared into the quiet streets, Kael lingered for a moment, thumb brushing over the charm.
From a few buildings away...
Ray Kim watched the whole thing unfold through his tiny drone, chin resting on his hand.
He muttered to himself, half-amused, half-sulking.
"Seriously? She gives him the charm? I've been here two years and I don't even get so much as a keychain."
He sighed, sipping his iced coffee. "Not bad, Kael... but she definitely doesn't smile like that when I'm around."
Ray leaned back, staring at the screen.
"And yet, I still show up."
The drone whirred softly as it hovered, recording everything in quiet loyalty.