Zack woke up to the light of his own living room almost blinding him.
Next to him was Paulina, who was jolted awake by Zack suddenly getting up.
"W... what? Where? Paulina?"
"Zack! You're awake. Thank goodness. Hold on, let me get you some water..." She sighed, got off her chair, and ran off.
Zack looked around to see he was on his living room couch. He looked at himself to see he was shirtless and had multiple bandages on his face and arms.
Soon enough, Paulina returned with the water.
"I lost, didn't I?" Zack asked with a smile as she handed it to him.
"Well, I wouldn't say that, but..."
"C'mon, Paulina. Don't lie to me." Zack gave her an earnest look—one not of authority, but sincerity. She tried to look away, but couldn't.
"Y... yeah, you did."
"Figures. I remember heading towards him and then everything turning black. Then I heard someone whisper something into my ear."
"Yeah, I did see him leaning down to tell you something. Any idea what it was?"
"Well, it was faint, but I could make it out. He asked me if I wanted to be a hero. Then he told me to give up. At least, something like that."
"I see. And did it... get to you?"
Zack looked at her for a moment. She tried to look away again, but couldn't escape his gaze. She soon noticed a nervous grin creeping along his face.
"No."
"Zack?"
"His words did show me something, though. I'm weak. Even he saw that and felt bad for me. I don't want people to feel bad for me. I want people to be inspired by me. I was a monster. You know that. I was so afraid of others fearing me, I feared myself and everything around me. Always afraid something would push me to the edge. Turn me into that... thing."
"Zack..."
"Let me finish, Paulina. I was so scared I became this whiny, bumbling coward."
"You're not a coward, Zack."
"Yes, I am, Paulina. You see it, but can't admit it, so I'll do it for you. I was a coward, but not anymore. That Shadow guy... Mr. E... Jake... they all showed me how weak I really am. I need to get stronger so I can stop being afraid. To inspire hope and reverence. Just like Captain Rocket and Canman."
"Wow... you're really serious about this. I feared you wanted to quit."
"Quit? I've never wanted to do anything more with my life than now. I'm really serious, Paulina. Thank you for helping me get over myself," Zack said, and pulled her over for a short, sweet kiss.
She suddenly felt that spark. A small one, but a spark nonetheless. A small light in the blackness of her psyche. The exact thing she stole the real Paulina's body for.
"Y... you're welcome, Zack. I'm so happy you feel this way."
"As am I!" a feminine voice shouted from the kitchen.
Suddenly, a large grey head popped out of the ground below Paulina's feet.
Stacya's head.
"Stacya?! What are you doing here? And how many times do I have to tell you not to swim in my apartment?"
"Oh, I apologize, Paulina, but I needed to see if Zack was alright. And to deliver important news."
"Well, I'm well and ticking, minus a few bruises here and there. And a mild headache. Nothing too extreme, though."
"That is good to hear. I was worried with the beating you took. I apologize for getting you in that situation in the first place."
"Hey. Don't blame yourself. I volunteered to fight. I fought and I lost. None of that is your fault."
Paulina scoffed.
"Now, what's this piece of news you wanted to share?"
"Well... it is better I show you. Follow me."
And in a few seconds, Stacya swam across the living room to switch on the T.V. only meters away. Once it was on, she changed its channel to any news station she could find with the T.V.'s buttons. Luckily, Captain Rocket taught her how to operate one.
"What is this about, Stacya?" Paulina asked, crossing her arms.
"Aha! This," she answered, pointing to the screen.
"Breaking news! Downtown Cunningham Bank is under attack by a group of armored individuals. One of which seems to be a muman," the newswoman said as a photo zoomed in on the leader of these bank robbers.
He was a six-foot behemoth of a man with grey skin, sharp teeth, and a large shark fin on his head.
The more they looked at him, the more he looked an awful lot like Stacya.
"Is that an Atlantean?" Zack asked, getting off the couch, resisting a reluctant Paulina who tried to put him back down.
"Yes. But I... don't seem to know him," Stacya said, her eyes narrowing and her teeth beginning to grit.
"But what is an Atlantean doing on the mainland? Aren't your species banned from doing so by their king?"
"Yes. I was exiled because I was a muman hybrid. An abomination. He, on the other hand, seems fairly normal. A bit big, but not unheard of in my race."
"Well, whatever reasons he has for being here, we can't let him get away with freely robbing a bank."
"No, Zack. I'm all for fighting crime, but you're gravely injured. You need to rest. Let the other supers handle this," she said, finally pulling him back down to the couch.
"I'm fine, Paulina. Seriously. I am. I told you, I need to get stronger. Sitting on my ass all day isn't gonna accomplish that."
"I... I can't allow this."
"Please, Paulina. Let him fight. He wants to prove himself. I say let him."
Paulina turned and gave Stacya a look—one that got her to back off and take a few steps back. She then looked away from her once their eyes met for a few seconds.
"Paulina..." Zack interrupted. "Please. Let me do this. Let me prove myself."
Paulina turned back to Zack, and her look of anger turned into a somber one. As he got up and walked towards his room to suit up, she couldn't help but watch in admiration and smile.
"Well, at least I cleaned your boots early. C'mon, Stacya."
And just like that, the trio got ready for their first mission as the Danger Squad...
To be continued...