The street is dark. Silent.
Streetlights stretch long shadows across the asphalt.
Diego stands at the back of the truck.
His hand trembles on the handle.
Cold sweat slides down his forehead.
Inside—
Suyo sits there.
His wrists were cuffed… now the broken restraints hang loose.
His chest rises and falls with pain.
His sharp eyes lock straight onto Diego.
Diego swallows hard.
His heart pounds.
He's bracing for anything.
Anything.
But Suyo answers… cold.
"Where are we?!"
Relief flickers across Diego's face.
"W-we're in Noralyn City… w-we escaped the capital," he stammers.
"…And can they find us here?" Suyo asks, expression empty.
"N-no… we're in a quiet area… I—I just rented a small apartment… will you… come?" Diego says.
Suyo stands.
His right hand presses against his left ribs.
Pain is written all over his face—
but he says nothing.
He steps forward.
Jumps out of the truck.
Diego freezes.
They stare at each other for a few seconds.
"So… where to?" Suyo asks.
"Oh—yeah…" Diego stutters, shutting the back door. His hands still shaking.
He starts walking toward an apartment complex.
"This way."
Suyo follows behind him.
His eyes drift to the apartment lights cutting through the darkness…
Crickets fill the silence.
They move.
—
They arrive.
Diego fumbles with the keys.
Suyo stands behind him, alert—watching everything.
For the first time…
freedom feels strange.
After everything Victor put him through.
Click.
The door opens.
Darkness.
Diego reaches for the light switch.
Click.
A small apartment.
Bedroom. Kitchen. Bathroom. One extra room.
They step inside.
Diego heads to the bathroom.
Suyo moves toward the small room, exploring.
Still holding his ribs.
Still in pain.
The sound of the shower starts.
Suyo notices a remote on the couch.
He picks it up.
Turns on the TV.
Cartoons.
He flips channels.
Movies… series…
Then—
News.
A reporter appears:
"Breaking news: A terrorist attack has struck the streets of Novaris' capital."
"It was a sudden and random assault carried out by several mutants at a basketball arena. However, police reports suggest it may have been an organized operation by a mutant group."
"The attack targeted a crowded stadium during a live game."
"Authorities arrived late, accompanied by two robots, allowing some hostile mutants to escape. However, two mutants were successfully taken down."
"We now go live to our correspondent on the scene."
Suyo sits on the couch.
Silent. Cold.
One hand gripping his side.
On screen—
Firefighters battle flames caused by Kaz.
Federal agents in white suits carry out burned bodies.
Sirens scream.
Yellow tape seals off the arena.
Chaos everywhere.
The field reporter speaks, voice tense:
"Today was catastrophic. One of the worst crimes attributed to mutants."
"According to authorities, this was a planned attack—coming just days after the Malira Prison breach, where numerous dangerous inmates and mutants escaped."
"The government is now on high alert… preparing for what may come next."
"Experts warn this could mark the beginning of a new kind of war… an organized conflict against stable, intelligent mutants."
"This is no longer random chaos. The threat has evolved."
—
In the bathroom—
Diego dries his hair.
Then he hears it.
Malira Prison.
His eyes widen.
He rushes out.
Straight to the TV.
Suyo looks at him.
Confused.
"What?"
"Damn it… those bastards!" Diego snaps.
He turns to Suyo.
"The government… they're involved in what Victor was doing."
"…How do you know?" Suyo asks.
"Malira Prison… it was Victor's facility. He kept the most dangerous criminals and mutants there… then used them for his games."
"I was locked up there. I hacked the system… caused a breach. Everyone escaped."
"You—and the others being prepared for the next match—you were held somewhere else," Diego explains.
"…Then you came back and destroyed his final game… with other mutants," Suyo says.
"The news is talking about you."
He adds quietly:
"Looks like the hunter became the hunted."
"…We weren't together," Diego replies.
"What do you mean?" Suyo glances sideways.
"I showed up with one mutant—Kaz. He escaped with me. My plan was to expose Victor… show the world his lies about mutants."
"But then… a group of mutants stormed the place."
"Everything turned into chaos. Bodies. Fire. Kaz went berserk… he wanted Victor dead. No matter what," Diego says.
"…Where is your friend now?" Suyo asks.
"I don't know… maybe he's one of the captured ones… or maybe he got away."
Silence.
"…Victor has a lot of fans, huh," Suyo mutters.
Then he looks at Diego.
"Is he dead?"
"I don't think so," Diego says.
"He had heavy security. But… I don't know if those mutants got to him before he escaped."
Silence again.
Suyo stares at the TV.
Thinking.
Diego watches him.
Curious.
"You must be thinking about revenge."
No response.
A few seconds pass.
Tension builds.
Diego keeps glancing at him while organizing his things.
"You're not like the others," Diego says.
Suyo exhales.
"…What do you mean?"
"They all hate Victor. Deeply. Kaz… he was boiling with rage. He lost control."
"And it makes sense. After everything Victor did…"
"But you…" Diego pauses.
Suyo looks at him.
"Go on."
"You're… cold. No anger. No thirst for revenge."
"That's… strange."
Silence.
"Emotion isn't the best way to take revenge," Suyo says.
Then—
"What are your powers, anyway?"
"I'm not a mutant," Diego says—
Then notices something.
Suyo is leaning to one side.
Still holding his ribs.
"…Are you hurt?!"
"…Yeah. Thanks to your driving," Suyo says dryly.
"Ah—damn—I'm really sorry!" Diego rushes to the door.
"I'll get you painkillers and something for the bruising."
"Wait—where are you going?!" Suyo calls out.
Diego opens the door.
"There's a pharmacy at the end of the street."
He leaves.
The door shuts.
—
Suyo stares at it.
Then back at the TV.
The government is broadcasting footage—
Claiming captured mutants.
Shaky robot footage—
Boris… down.
Connor… paralyzed on the ground.
Then—
More images.
Khaled. Simon. Hina. Aitha.
Their faces flash across the screen under the title:
"Dangerous Mutant Fugitives."
Silence.
Suyo stares.
No expression.
But in his eyes—
The images reflect.
A faint white glow begins to build.
—
Inside a mutant village operations center—
Almi's eyes glow white.
A massive screen displays the same news.
Daisy stands, trembling with fear.
In front of her—Mosta, arms crossed, massive.
Stan beside him, heavy with worry.
Outside—
Voices gather.
Villagers.
The massive gate opens.
Maru stands with guards.
A team bus drives in.
Khaled at the wheel.
Aitha beside him.
Maru smiles.
"Welcome back."
"Hey, Maru," Khaled says.
"Hey," Aitha adds.
Maru notices something off.
"…Is everything okay?"
"…Yeah. We're fine," Khaled says.
"You don't look fine."
"…We failed to capture Victor," Aitha says.
"…Is everyone safe?"
"…Yeah."
"Thank God. Failure happens. Don't be hard on yourself," Maru says.
"…Yeah. But there's a problem in the team," Khaled replies.
"What do you mean?"
"We'll talk inside. Come on."
Villagers gather in the distance.
"…What's with them?" Khaled asks.
"They were worried. You lost contact with Almi," Maru says.
Aitha smiles slightly.
"They missed us."
The bus rolls forward slowly…
through dirt roads…
past wooden houses…
into the garage.
Villagers cheer.
"Welcome back!"
"Thank God you're safe!"
Children run alongside, laughing.
Inside the bus—
Boris. Connor.
Across from them—Simon and Hina.
The bus stops.
"We're here," Boris says.
"Looks like it," Simon replies.
Engine off.
Keys out.
Khaled and Aitha step out first.
Simon opens the back door.
The rest follow.
Tension hangs heavy—between Khaled and Connor.
Khaled walks toward the door.
"We'll talk about what happened in the operations room."
Connor smirks.
"Oh wow… now it's my fault? You're really good at taking responsibility, leader."
Boris grabs him.
"Calm down… we'll talk this out."
Khaled pulls the garage door open—loud metal screech.
"I said—we'll discuss it inside," he says firmly.
Silence.
They move.
—
Inside the hallway—
Mosta and Stan approach.
"Khaled! You're back—we were worried!" Mosta shouts.
"Connor! Boris! You're okay—thank God!" Stan says.
Khaled doesn't react.
"Yeah… it's just us," he says, walking past them.
Mosta and Stan exchange looks.
"…What happened?"
"No idea."
The rest pass by in silence.
Simon lingers.
"…Hey, guys."
"What's going on?" Mosta asks.
"…Tension. Between Khaled and Connor," Simon says.
—
They enter the operations room.
Inside—
Almi and Daisy.
"Welcome back," Almi says.
"Hey," Daisy adds.
"Hey, everyone," Khaled replies.
He steps to the round table.
"Everyone… sit."
Boris. Aitha. Hina sit.
Connor stays standing.
Arms crossed. Defiant.
Almi and Daisy sit too—confused.
Stan, Mosta, Simon join.
Curious.
Silent.
Khaled leans on the table.
Raises his head slowly.
"…You gonna sit?"
Connor smirks.
"Why should we sit while you stand? You're not a king."
Silence.
"…Fine." Khaled pulls a chair. Sits.
"Now you can sit."
Connor sits. Smiling.
Tension fills the room.
Khaled speaks:
"You're right. I'm not a king."
"I'm a council member. These rules? They're not mine. They're voted on."
"Almi. Stan. Mosta. Daisy. Me."
"Team rules. Village rules."
He pauses.
"Now—focus."
"There's a serious flaw in this team."
"And it's not just about failing to capture Victor."
Everyone listens.
"Connor… you're a danger. To civilians. To the team."
Connor snaps:
"Oh really?! I'm the danger?! Who almost got us killed in the mine?! Me?!"
"And who let Victor escape?! Me?!"
"Let me finish," Khaled says.
"Go ahead. Say your nonsense," Connor fires back.
Almi cuts in:
"I warned you about him! Look at him—no respect!"
Connor shoots her a sharp look.
"Stay out of it."
Khaled slams the table.
"Enough."
"This isn't a bar."
Then—
"Connor. We don't kill. No matter what. That's our rule."
"We're not monsters."
"That's how we prove it—to the world."
"But you broke that."
"You slaughtered Victor's men. Brutally."
"You fed the media exactly what they wanted."
Connor fires back:
"Your rules don't help us—they hold us back!"
"Open your eyes! Mutants are being hunted!"
"They already see us as monsters!"
"They're building armies against us!"
Khaled:
"So you want us to become what they think we are?!"
Connor:
"Killing someone trying to kill you isn't evil—it's survival!"
Khaled shouts:
"You don't follow team protocol!"
"You act alone!"
"You nearly caused disaster in the mine!"
"You chased without warning—almost fought our ally Chris—and triggered a vampire attack!"
Connor laughs angrily:
"You hid a spy and called him an ally!"
"You almost buried us alive because of your 'morals!'"
Khaled, furious:
"And in the last mission—you were going to butcher Victor!"
Connor:
"He deserved it! A corrupt man killing mutants for sport!"
Khaled:
"And Boris got captured because you rushed in!"
Connor:
"You're blind."
Silence.
Khaled looks around.
"…What do you all think?"
Silence.
Almi jumps in:
"You're right, Khaled."
Then points at Connor:
"He's dangerous. He should be punished."
Connor laughs.
"Oh wow… are we a police station now?"
Almi snaps:
"He's a criminal!"
"Enough, Almi," Khaled says.
Connor, cold:
"You just hate seeing me here."
Khaled looks at the rest.
"…You?"
Hesitation.
Stan speaks:
"I'm with Khaled… but Connor has some points."
Almi explodes:
"Points?!"
"Almi—stop."
Mosta:
"We might need to adjust the rules… but Connor went too far."
Daisy:
"…I don't know. Both of you are right… but I'm against killing without reason."
Almi glares at her.
Khaled turns—
"…You guys?"
Aitha:
"Connor's right."
Connor smiles.
Aitha continues:
"We're facing an enemy that won't negotiate. We have to defend ourselves—even if it means killing."
Simon:
"I agree."
Boris:
"Same."
Hina:
"…Connor."
Silence.
The team is split.
Khaled didn't expect this.
Connor leans back. Confident.
After a long pause—
Khaled speaks:
"…We'll vote again on the rules."
"And Connor… we'll reconsider your place on the team."
Connor cuts him off:
"No need. I quit."
He stands.
Walks out.
Slams the door.
Silence.
Khaled exhales.
"…Meeting's over."
The team leaves.
Only the council remains.
Almi. Daisy. Stan. Mosta. Khaled.
Khaled:
"…So. Killing?"
Stan:
"Only if necessary."
Hands go up.
Three votes.
Two against.
"It passes," Khaled says.
Stan:
"We need a replacement. Maru?"
Mosta:
"Then who leads the guards?"
Stan:
"Connor—"
"No," Khaled cuts in.
"He's unstable."
Daisy:
"I have an idea…"
She explains.
Khaled nods.
"…That works."
—
Moments later—
Maru enters.
"…Did I miss something?"
"Yeah. A lot," Mosta laughs.
Khaled:
"You're now a flexible team member."
Maru blinks.
"…Meaning?"
"You join missions when needed."
"…Got it."
He leaves.
Khaled turns back.
"…That's settled."
Stan:
"The news said Connor and Boris were captured."
Mosta:
"Why lie?"
Almi steps forward.
"Simple."
She raises her hand.
Her eyes glow—
The screen lights up.
Crowds celebrating.
Cheering.
A man speaks:
"We thank the government for protecting us!"
A child smiles:
"I can go to school without fear!"
Footage—
Robot Unit 103.
Boris. Connor. Down at its feet.
The council watches.
Khaled exhales.
"…They're protecting their image."
Daisy:
"What about Victor?"
Almi:
"He knows your faces now. You've been labeled a terrorist mutant group."
Khaled freezes.
"…What?!"
"That means… Victor knows us."
—
Elsewhere—
Inside a skyscraper in Novari's capital—
Victor sits in his office.
Pale.
Silent.
Thinking.
Losses weighing on him.
His secretary enters.
"Sir… you have a call."
"…From DARKVIL."
Victor's expression changes.