“So, none of the other Sentinels saw Grizzly’s message?” Gabriel asked as he finished downloading the tracking beacon’s signatures. He began fastening one of Dr. Atomic’s teleportation crystals between his antigrav generator and armor at the small of his back.

“Those communications are designed to reach only the Spire, like the tracking locations. Otherwise, we could have enemies interfering with our transmissions. She chose to use the secure line because she was certain someone would intercept it through usual channels. Even so, there was more distortion in that call than should have been possible.”

Dr. Atomic was frantically adjusting the settings on his teleporter. For long-distance jumps, it had to be calibrated precisely to the dimensions of the teleportee. The plan was to get Gabriel onto the Orbital transport once it landed to warn the Shield. He had been the guinea pig enough times in his life to relax and start loosening up, watching the disheveled man move faster and faster.

He felt ready, but something nagged at him. “Why couldn’t I call my team, though? They could take another Drop Transport.”

The doctor stopped fiddling with the console. “Because I need the Spear here in case I have to respond to multiple incidents while the Shield is away. You wouldn’t want them along anyway.”

“But we trained for this. Just be frank with me, please.”

“Roz, the fine-tuning will take a bit longer than expected. If you would be so kind, please brief Gabriel on plan F.”

The AI popped into existence between the two men. Instead of her usual flowing dress, the hologram wore a set of ancient armor more fitting for the situation. “Grizzly was in trouble, and Miss Liberty is dead - even with Lady Justice and Rescue there. For that to happen this early in the mission, someone incredibly powerful must be present. As you heard before, a potential Reality Bender isn’t out of the question.”

“But why send me? This plan is yours, right Roz? What is so special about me?”

Roz smiled sadly. “I wish I could say it was because you are the best Hero for the job, but that’s not it at all. After carefully monitoring your progress the last week, we have seen a shift in your combat style indicative of someone developing a new skill - teamwork. We’ve looked into the exact nature of your training from the reports we managed to retrieve from Iodine’s secret databanks before they were wiped.”

Gabriel had a good idea of what she was about to say next.

“Even at three years old - officially speaking - you’ve logged more hours training than most Academy students. You should have performed better than you did in simulations. What we found on Iodine’s servers was eye-opening. You never trained to be a Hero, did you?

You’re a trained assassin.”

Clenching his jaw, Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “So what if I am?”

Roz made a calming gesture with her hand, but Dr. Atomic cut in to answer. “At first, I was against continuing your mentorship with the Shield, but Zero vouched for you, and before we met, I spoke with your old guardian - James. I couldn’t fault you only based on your upbringing. We hold no judgment against your background.”

When Gabriel’s brow unfurrowed, Roz continued. “To be blunt, this plan doesn’t require a Hero. What we need now is a killer, someone who won’t hesitate to take the shot - at any cost.”

The words sank in slowly while a rush of past pains and moral doubts flooded Gabriel’s mind. They were right. As much as he hated to admit it, every simulation with the Sentinels had been a learning exercise. He had never trained to work in a team, he had tried his best to follow instructions, but they’d still noticed something was off.

It just so happened that Sentinel missions always included teamwork. Watching his comrade’s backs had been a new and fulfilling experience. Still, in the back of his mind, he’d known he could have finished the missions quicker - worrying about collateral damage was nothing but a hindrance to his original training. He would have acted a lot more like Libra during the warehouse mission if the feeling of belonging to a team hadn’t been so enticing.

After Zero made him captain, his conviction to lock away his old instincts had strengthened. Now he was being asked to break his vow; all he felt was the sadness of obligation - of being “the necessary evil,” as Professor Holmes had always put it. Of course, during training at Iodine, exercises had always been framed as special covert missions, but Gabriel admitted to himself that, deep down, he’d always known. He’d hoped to hunt down rogue Supers before Jimmy revealed the mercenary-for-hire role Gabriel was designed to play.

Maybe he’d always know that, too. There was a time early in his life when all he’d cared about was consuming as much knowledge as he could, regardless of ethics - or consequences.

It made sense that Dr. Atomic assumed he wouldn’t want his team present. This mission would go against all the rules of engagement they honored.

A slow breath in and a hard breath out was all it took to get those brutal parts of him working again. He locked eyes with Dr. Atomic, who gave the tiniest start. What must he think of Gabriel’s cold, calculating eyes after only knowing his wide, curious eyes? Would he ever see the inquisitive, helpful boy again? Or would he just see the ruthless beast of a man that now stood before him?

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No matter, with the Human Republic’s last line of defense on the line, he knew what must be done. “How do I kill a Reality Bender?”

Dr. Atomic cringed. “Antimatter. That’s why you’re perfect for this plan.”

“What? How do you know that if Quantum was the only reality bender….” Gabriel trailed off, answering his own question. “Antimatter killed quantum.”

“Something like that. Not everything in the history books is true. Even catastrophes get retold through rose-tinted glasses. Regardless, antimatter is one thing Reality Bender’s can’t control too well.”

Interesting. Too interesting; what had really happened at the end of the first invasion? Damn it, now wasn’t the time for unnecessary questions.

“How much Antimatter will it take?” Depending on the answer, the Spartan Suit might not give him more than one shot.

“As much as you can generate, to be safe.”

Gabriel gave a curt nod, repeating a mantra he thought he’d left far behind him. “Infiltrate, locate, separate, annihilate, evacuate.”

Gabriel, your brain patterns are worrying. Alfred whispered in his mind. You’re scaring me.

If Alfred couldn’t accept him after tonight, Gabriel was okay with that. In the meantime, he erected a mental block between his emotions and Alfred’s processing.

“Do you have something to make me invisible, Dr. Atomic?”

Roz floated over to a haphazard pile of messy-looking tech and pointed to a black metal orb. “That will redirect all the light within a 2-meter radius max. A poor man’s invisibility, but it’s all we have. It won’t help against telepathic senses, but it will block any noise made within that area from escaping.”

Gabriel stashed the device in a hidden compartment on his generator. “That’ll work; I can deal with telepaths. All I need is an instant. In and out before they know I’m there.

Before I go, Dr. Atomic, would you agree to let me test something on you? It may give me the edge I need if I get cornered.”

“Considering the situation, go ahead.”

Alfred, can you reactivate the fear chip?

Horror filled Gabriel’s mind, but now that he knew the source, it wasn’t as debilitating as before. Alfred said nothing. Had he gotten offended at being walled off?

Turn it higher.

All of his muscles tensed. Adrenaline started flowing as his nervous system desperately begged him to hunt for signs of impending doom around him. He ignored it.

Now, relay the fear pulse through my NeuraLink.

Whatever Alfred’s qualms about the situation, he performed his tasks dutifully. With the signal relayed, Gabriel could force his NeuraLink to mimic and broadcast the pulse. He might not be able to control his antigrav generator when he did so, but that was a trade-off he could live with. Or die with - he supposed.

No. No, too dark. He’d gone too far into the rabbit hole; the role of the killer came back far too quickly.

It’s only for a night, he told himself.

He sent that message to Alfred, hoping the sensitive AI would understand. The generator hummed silently, and the next few moments passed without incident.

All of a sudden, Dr. Atomic twitched. “What? What is- aagh!” His knees gave way, and he had to cling to the console to keep from falling.

“Othelius!” Roz yelled.

Maximize the output.

Gabriel took a slow step closer to the Hero, who threw himself away from the console and landed in a pile of scraps, scrambling for something while hyperventilating. When Gabriel raised an arm in his direction - as if readying an antimatter blast - Dr. Atomic managed to grab some sort of gun. He raised it and fired, but his arm shook so hard the shot went wide; Gabriel’s shot wouldn’t have missed.

Excellent.

Shut it off now, please.

Dr. Atomic’s chest heaved with ragged breaths. “I - I could have killed you.”

“But you missed.”

Roz hovered protectively between the two Supers. “What was that, Gabriel?”

“That was the fear chip in my head.”

Dr. Atomic shook off the fright and stood up, dusting himself off. “That chip should only create fear in you…. How did you manage to reverse the effect?”

“I didn’t. I broadcasted it.”

The green-haired man’s jaw dropped. “So you felt that too - and withstood it? A-all of it?”

“All of it.”

Newfound understanding shone through Dr. Atomic’s eyes. “I’m sorry that monster put you through that, Gabe.”

Gabriel shrugged. “He wanted to create more monsters. I’d say he did. I’m ashamed I pretended to be a Hero.”

“Never say that again! You are NOT a monster.” Alfred yelling through the Spartan Suit’s speakers caught Gabriel by surprise. “I can feel how painful it is for you to consider this plan. You’re far more Hero than you give yourself credit for. We have to focus now, partner.”

Partner.

Blinking away tears had never been harder, so Gabriel just let them fall, careful not to smudge his visor.

Dr. Atomic nodded along sagely. “The world balance could hinge on this. All I see in front of me is a man who can put his scars aside to do what’s right.”

A ping came from Dr. Atomic’s WristPad. “It’s time; they’ve landed. I’m sorry we can’t give you any more information on the target. Just warn our team and start the hunt. You know what to do once you identify the enemy.”

“I’m ready.”

All at once, Gabriel’s molecules vaporized and traveled halfway across the world.