Two weeks passed swiftly as Noah finalized his preparations. Everything was nearly in place, the robots built to buy time or execute tactical maneuvers, the controllable Kaijus serving as another contingency.
The only thing he truly lacked now was personal strength. In that short span of two weeks, Noah had made remarkable progress. His telekinesis was no longer something that could be measured by ordinary standards. Now at level five and nearing six, he could safely manipulate several thousand tons with ease.
At this level, if he were to face a Viltrumite, no holding back, he could undoubtedly hold his own, but his shortcomings in strength and endurance would eventually put him at a great disadvantage.
But this weakness would soon be dealt with. The serum was on the cusp of completion. Once integrated, his strength would soar to new heights and would most likely be registered as a new ability by the system. Using the auto-train function, his progress would soar. He had more plans, but for now, they were not feasible.
"Even when you're watching TV, your attention always seems somewhere else," a soft voice interrupted.
Noah blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"
Debbie sat down beside him, folding her arms. "You know exactly what I mean," she said gently. "The way you stare into nothing, always thinking. It's like you're carrying an invisible weight on your shoulders."
"Well… you could say it's a habit of mine." He gave a sheepish smile.
"True," she said, her gaze distant for a moment. "Ever since we took you in, you've always had that look."
"Yeah," Noah chuckled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. Despite his intelligence, casual conversations always seemed to short-circuit his brain.
However, Debbie, curiosity lacing her tone, couldn't help but ask, "Something's got you so worked up, I couldn't help but notice."
But Debbie wasn't finished. "Something's bothering you," she said, her tone laced with concern. "You've always been tense, but lately… it's worse. You're not yourself. It feels like you're preparing for something."
Her words hung in the air, making Noah pause. Debbie had always been observant, too observant in fact. It wasn't surprising she'd noticed the subtle shifts, his longer hours, his changing routines, the exhaustion he thought he hid well.
"I guess I've just been… thinking about the future," he said finally, forcing a small smile.
Debbie sighed, rolling her eyes at his response. "You're doing that thing again, where you try not to lie by avoiding details."
Noah froze for a moment, caught off guard. She wasn't wrong, but what could he possibly say? He couldn't exactly tell her that her husband was a murderer in waiting. With the reputation Nolan had built over the past two decades, who would she believe, her husband of twenty years or the nephew she'd raised for twelve?
Sensing his hesitation, Debbie softened. She knew when to stop pressing. Noah had always been responsible, smarter than most adults. He probably knew what he was doing.
"You don't have to tell me," she said finally, her tone gentler. "I just want you to enjoy being young. You only get eighteen years of it."
Noah let out a quiet chuckle and nodded. "Yeah."
Then Debbie smiled, leaning back slightly. "So, who's this girl Mark keeps talking about?"
Noah groaned and ran a hand down his face. "Her name's Eve."
"Oh?" Debbie's lips curved into a knowing grin. "And are you two dating?"
"No, nothing like that," Noah replied quickly.
Debbie hummed, clearly amused. "Does she like you?" she asked suddenly, her tone light but curious.
Noah blinked, caught off guard again. He thought for a moment before answering. "I think so."
"And do you like her?" she asked, eyes narrowing playfully as she studied his reaction.
He hesitated, weighing his words carefully before settling on, "Maybe."
"Maybe?" Debbie repeated with a small laugh, shaking her head in mock disappointment.
"Why haven't you taken her out?" Debbie asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Let me guess, it's this 'future' you're always preparing for?"
When Noah didn't respond, she knew she'd hit the mark. She sighed softly and moved closer, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Noah, I don't know what you're preparing for, and I don't know how important it is," Debbie began, her voice calm but firm. "But at the end of the day, you need to ask yourself what makes you happy, what keeps you going. If you like her, make your move. If you don't, be honest and end it. There's no in-between."
Noah exhaled slowly at her words. It wasn't as though he hadn't thought the same thing himself. But preparation came first. Failure to prepare was preparing to fail, and failure, for him, wasn't an option. This was a matter of life and death.
"I just don't want to get distracted," he murmured at last.
Debbie let out a soft laugh, though there was little humor in it. "You sound just like Nolan when we first met."
That made Noah flinch, a faint tightening in his shoulders, but he masked it quickly.
"You're smart, Noah," Debbie said, resting a hand on his shoulder before turning toward the kitchen. "Figure out what it is you really want. I'll leave you with that."
She gave his shoulder a gentle pat and walked off, the soft clatter of pans soon filling the silence she left behind.
|O| [Ongoing Police Pursuit, Chicago, Illinois]
Location: Near Lower Wacker Drive, Downtown Chicago, 11:47 PM
"Unit 6, suspect is heading eastbound on Wacker! Repeat, eastbound on Wacker toward Michigan!"
The dispatcher's voice cut through the static, sharp and strained beneath the sirens echoing through the underpass.
A black SUV tore down the tunnel, weaving between late-night traffic, its tires screeching as it clipped the corner of a taxi, sparks flying off the guardrail.
"Suspect just hit a civilian vehicle near State and Wacker! Minor collision, continuing pursuit!"
"Copy, maintain visual and proceed with caution. Suspect might be a super."
High above the city, Noah hovered silently, listening in on the police radio with a faint look of disappointment. He had hoped that coming out tonight would trigger a mission, something to push him forward. But once again, nothing.
By now, he wasn't even surprised. This wasn't the first time it had happened. Missions were never guaranteed, and maybe, just maybe, he still hadn't figured out what truly made them appear.
"It's time to step in," Noah thought, preparing to dive in and handle the situation. He could've easily stopped the car with telekinesis, but he chose not to. His temporary persona couldn't afford to reveal too much.
He was only a few seconds away when a flash of pink caught his eye. A figure descended swiftly from above, a short cape fluttering behind her.
"Atom Eve," he muttered under his breath.
Noah halted midair, Debbie's advice from the day before echoing in his mind. He hesitated, deciding not to interfere. This wasn't the first time another supe had shown up before him. So, as always, he held back, silently watching to make sure she could handle the situation on her own.
Atom Eve handled the situation with ease. With a simple motion of her hand, a massive pink construct materialized, an enormous arm that lifted the SUV effortlessly into the air. The tires spun wildly, screeching against nothing, the vehicle suspended helplessly above the street.
"Fuck, it's Atom Eve," the driver hissed, frustration etched across his face.
"We're not getting anywhere in this thing," the passenger snapped, energy crackling in his palms. "Let's deal with her before more supes show up."
The car's engine gave one last roar before dying completely. Then, in a flash of motion, the two men burst from the vehicle, landing hard on the pavement. One unleashed a volley of energy projectiles, streaks of power cutting through the air toward Eve, while the other charged forward, his muscles swelling with strength.
Atom Eve, however, wasn't fazed. She responded with a flurry of pink constructs, curved walls of energy shielding her from the barrage before countering with a pulse that sent the brute flying backward into a parked sedan. Metal crumpled like foil beneath the impact.
"Stay down!" she shouted, her tone sharp and commanding.
But the second man wasn't listening. He grabbed the SUV, his veins glowing faint blue as his strength spiked unnaturally. With a roar, he hurled the vehicle directly at her.
Eve reacted purely on instinct. The pink shimmer of her barrier flared as she darted sideways, just barely avoiding the massive projectile. The SUV spun midair before slamming down behind her, where the line of police cruisers had been moving in to surround the scene.
"Shit!" one of the officers shouted as the SUV crashed down, glass and steel erupting into the street.
Eve's eyes widened in horror. She turned, hands already glowing to erect a barrier around the officers, but before her construct could fully form, the SUV that had been crashing toward the cops was directly cut in two.
Noah landed hard, the impact cracking the floor beneath him in a spiderweb of fractures. Between his palms, a sword hummed with heat, its crimson edges glowing like molten metal. With a flick of his mind, he guided the two halves of the SUV aside, ensuring not a single shard struck a bystander.
"I… had that," Eve muttered, her brows knitting together. Dark knight, she thought dryly.
"Focus." Noah's voice cut through her thoughts, low, steady, and edged with command.
Behind her, the second man was already gathering energy in his palms, a blinding charge building by the second. Noah moved before Eve could react, a blur of motion followed by a shockwave that split the air.
One moment he stood in front of the cops; the next, the space between them cracked with the sound of displaced wind.
The man never even saw him coming. A single light punch sent the attacker hurtling across the street, his body carving a dent into the side of a parked truck. He didn't get up for round two.
Noah glanced over his shoulder at Eve for a brief second but chose not to engage. Even with the voice modulator, he didn't want to risk her recognizing him, no matter how small the chance. Without a word, he shot into the sky, disappearing at blinding speed.
The next morning, after preparing for school, Noah sat in the living room scrolling through his phone while Mark switched from channel to channel. A sudden breaking news report caught his attention.
BREAKING NEWS: White House Under Attack, Mauler Twins Strike Again!
The headline flashed across the screen in bold red letters, followed by shaky live footage of thick smoke billowing over Washington, D.C. Sirens wailed in the background as reporters shouted over the chaos.
Noah's expression remained composed, though his eyes hardened. He wasn't surprised, only resolute.
"It's almost time."