As Joshua, Bran, and Mika made their way toward the Squad Zero headquarters, tension hung in the air like a heavy fog. They had pieced together enough clues to know where Asher and Elara might be, but none of them felt fully prepared for what lay ahead. Joshua's mind raced with worry for Asher and Elara, while Bran and Mika quietly followed, their resolve hardening with each step.
Meanwhile, inside the headquarters' basement, Asher and Captain Keal sat in a strange, tense silence. Keal, who would normally have no hesitation in eliminating any perceived threat, especially if it was a rogue or dangerous creature, was now faced with a conundrum. Asher wasn't a typical monster or criminal; in fact, he had no criminal record at all. Despite the violent rampage earlier, Asher was still human—and young. Keal saw something in him that felt familiar, a potential that was hard to ignore. It reminded him a little of his own past.
Asher, equally confused, tried to make sense of the situation. His memory was a haze, and the reality of his own power was still sinking in. Sitting in front of a man who could've easily ended his life, he couldn't help but wonder why he was still breathing.
Just as the heavy silence threatened to drag on, the door to the basement was suddenly kicked open, snapping both of them from their thoughts. Vice Captain Liora strode in, her usual confident presence filling the room as she glanced between Keal and Asher with a raised eyebrow.
"What's the problem here?" she asked, her tone sharp but casual, clearly annoyed by the drawn-out standoff.
Keal, looking a bit flustered, didn't answer immediately, prompting Liora to roll her eyes and give him a swift knock on the head. "Spit it out," she demanded.
Rubbing his head, Keal sighed and briefly explained everything—how Asher had gone berserk, the strange power, and how they were now in a bind over what to do next. Liora listened, her expression growing more serious as the details unfolded.
"The mother was asking about him," Liora said quietly, glancing at Asher, who had been staring at her the entire time.
Noticing his gaze, she locked eyes with him and quirked an eyebrow. "Take a picture, it'll last longer," she said dryly, causing Asher to quickly look away, his face flushing red with embarrassment.
Liora smirked before pulling out a sheet of paper, holding it in front of Asher. "Asher Starline, am I right?" she asked.
Asher nodded, his mind still reeling from the strange situation he was in.
"You're from the academy, and you live on Yale Street, Delta region?"
Again, Asher nodded, unsure of where this was leading. His mind briefly flashed to his mother—was she alright?
Liora turned back to Keal and grabbed him by the arm, pulling him into the corner of the room for a private conversation. Asher, once again left in awkward silence, couldn't help but sneak glances at her.
Liora kept her voice low as she spoke to Keal. "This kid—he's different. You can feel it, can't you? His power is off the charts, and without proper training, we're looking at a potential disaster waiting to happen. If we let him take the exam, and he learns to control whatever is inside him, he could be an asset."
Keal folded his arms, his expression thoughtful. "And what about the Chief? We can't just bring someone like him into the fold without clearance."
Liora shook her head. "We're not killing the boy, Keal. We talk to the Chief about him, explain the situation. If this kid is who I think he is… well, let's just say the world isn't as safe as we thought."
Keal considered her words for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But we have to be careful. This could go either way."
Back in the main area of the basement, Asher was still processing everything when Liora and Keal returned. Liora gave him a knowing look before she spoke again.
"Listen up, kid. I see You're already planning to take the Squad Zero entrance exam. If you pass, we'll talk about what comes next. In the meantime, rest up. Your mother is fine, and you'll see her soon."
Asher blinked, surprised. "Exam? Yes But… what about—"
Liora cut him off, her tone firm but not unkind. "You've got potential, Asher. But you've also got something inside you that's dangerous. This is your chance to figure out what that is and learn to control it. Or would you rather we lock you up again?"
Asher, still bewildered, could only nod. He didn't fully understand what was happening, but one thing was clear: his life was about to change in ways he couldn't have imagined.