The next day arrived with the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains.
Dexter stirred awake, blinking away the remnants of sleep. He sat up, stretched briefly, then headed straight to the bathroom. After brushing his teeth and splashing cold water on his face, he felt the last traces of drowsiness wash away.
Back in his room, he changed into comfortable sportswear, a black compression shirt and gray joggers. This had become his daily routine for the past month. Physical fitness was no longer optional. With the threats he knew were coming, a sharp mind alone wouldn't be enough. He needed a stronger body to match.
He dropped to the floor and went through his usual set: push-ups, sit-ups, planks, and a series of bodyweight exercises until his muscles burned. Satisfied, Dexter grabbed a towel, wiped the sweat from his brow, and stepped outside.
The morning air was crisp as he started jogging toward the nearby park. His pace was steady, controlled, and improving with every passing week.
As he ran, Dexter observed the city around him. It had changed noticeably in the past month. Ultron sentries now stood stationed at key points two of them hovering silently near the park entrance, their red optics scanning the area. New construction sites had also sprung up, with signs announcing future "Hero Agency" buildings. The Superhero Registration Act was already reshaping the urban landscape.
Dexter shook his head and kept running, focusing on his breathing.
Suddenly, a tall, muscular figure appeared beside him, matching his pace effortlessly. Dexter glanced over and immediately recognized the man.
The stranger had a towering, overly sculpted build, a tall blonde pompadour hairstyle that defied gravity, a square jaw, and dark sunglasses perched on his nose even in the early morning light. He wore a tight black tank top that strained against his exaggerated muscles.
"Hello kiddo, running again huh?" the man said, voice smooth and cocky.
"I do am, Johnny" Dexter replied, not breaking stride.
"That's good 'cause it will give you the muscles you need!" The man flexed one arm while still jogging, his bicep popping dramatically. "Check the pecks! Ho ha!"
Dexter rolled his eyes and shook his head.
Without another word, he picked up his pace, leaving the flamboyant man slightly behind. Johnny's laughter echoed behind him as Dexter continued his route.
Forty minutes later, Dexter returned home, ate a hearty breakfast of eggs, toast, and fruit, then took a quick shower. Today was Saturday, which meant only one thing, band practice at Phineas's house.
He grabbed his guitar case, slung it over his shoulder, and headed down to his private lab. From there, he entered the Internal Rail Network, an underground transit system he and the others had built together over the past years. The network connected various safe locations they owned, functioning like an intricate ant colony of tunnels beneath the city.
This particular line led straight to Phineas and Ferb's underground lab, which they had named the Secret Hideout for Emergency Defense, or S.H.E.D. for short. Dexter scanned his SHED ID at the terminal and the system granted him access without issue. Since it was a scheduled practice day, the security protocols recognized him immediately.
The rail car hummed smoothly along the tracks. After a little over five minutes, it slowed to a stop. The doors opened, revealing the familiar interior of the SHED.
Ferb was already there, sitting on a workbench and calmly watching something on his phone. He looked up and gave Dexter a small nod of greeting.
"Morning, Ferb," Dexter said. "Where are the others?"
Ferb pointed upward with his thumb. "Surface. They're waiting for you."
Dexter nodded. The two of them stepped into the elevator and rode it up. As it ascended, Dexter noticed Ferb was still focused on his phone.
"What are you watching?" he asked.
Ferb turned the screen slightly so Dexter could see. "News from yesterday. Mayor Jerry's political rally in Beaverton had an accident. Fire spread into the forest. Luckily, the beavers' dam broke and the water put it out."
Dexter nodded thoughtfully but said nothing more.
When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out into the bright sunlight of Phineas's backyard. The makeshift stage they had built for practice was already set up. Phineas stood tuning his instrument, chatting with two familiar faces.
One was a boy with fair skin, bright blue eyes, and an iconic large brown cowlick that rose from his forehead like an ice cream cone. The other was a girl with short, spiky blue-purple hair, sharp bright green eyes, and a small green hair clip. She wore a green varsity jacket over a dark top, tight black pants, black boots with green accents, and fingerless gloves. A long wooden staff rested casually on her shoulder, giving her a cool, confident vibe.
"You're late," the girl said, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not like I can fly across the city like you, Buttercup," Dexter replied dryly as he set down his guitar case.
The boy with the cowlick stepped forward with a grin and offered a fist bump. "Good to see you, Dex."
"Me too, Jimmy," Dexter said, bumping fists.
These two had become regular parts of their group over the past month. Even though they had all attended the same school last year, they had been in different sections.
Only recently had their circles properly overlapped, and the band practices had helped strengthen those new friendships.
Phineas clapped his hands together enthusiastically. "Alright! Everyone's here. Let's get this practice started. The new song is almost perfect, thanks to Dexter's help with the bridge."
Dexter allowed himself a small smile as he pulled his guitar from the case.