Alex and Sarah exchanged a look of disbelief as Dr. Vortex stepped out of the shadows, his eyes glowing with malice.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered. "The city's two biggest rivals, working together? How sweet."
Alex and Sarah didn't respond, but they both knew that they had no choice but to team up if they wanted to take down Dr. Vortex. He was a formidable foe, with powers that rivaled their own.
Without a word, they both sprang into action, using their respective abilities to try and subdue him. Alex shot blasts of energy from his hands, while Sarah used her shadow manipulation to try and trap him.
But Dr. Vortex was too powerful. He easily dodged their attacks and retaliated with a burst of energy that sent them both flying across the room.
As they landed in a heap on the floor, Alex and Sarah locked eyes, realizing that they needed to work together if they wanted to win. They both knew that this was a risky move. If they were seen fighting alongside each other, it could reveal their secret identities.
But they didn't have time to worry about that. They had a common enemy to defeat.
As Dr. Vortex approached them, Alex and Sarah stood up, side by side. They exchanged a nod, and then charged towards him with all their might.
For the next few minutes, the vault was filled with the sounds of battle as the three of them fought tooth and nail. Alex and Sarah worked together seamlessly, each covering the other's weaknesses and taking turns distracting Dr. Vortex.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they managed to land a decisive blow. Dr. Vortex fell to the ground, defeated.
As they stood there, catching their breath, Alex and Sarah exchanged a look of mutual respect. They both knew that they had just done something extraordinary - working together to defeat a common enemy.
But as they turned to leave the vault, Alex hesitated for a moment, a question burning in his mind.
"Sarah," he said tentatively. "Why do we keep doing this? Fighting each other, I mean. Why can't we just be...friends?"
Sarah looked at him, surprised. She didn't know what to say. For a moment, she considered telling him the truth - that they were actually roommates, living together in secret.
But then she remembered the risk of revealing their true identities. She shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Maybe one day," she said, before slipping out of the vault and disappearing into the night.