It was once again the weekend. Almost Halloween, this is where most kids would be excited about the candy, the costumes and other spooky stuff. I’ll admit I’m not a big fan of the holiday, I prefer something quiet and lowkey like Thanksgiving. Halloween is too loud and, honestly, kind of scary for me.

  I may be a guy with superpowers, but I was also an 11-year-old boy who hates getting jumpscared. That’s why I thank god that I have Mind’s Eye, so I don’t get jumpscared by my mom or Athena playing a prank on me. That’s not really important, though. It's Saturday, and as usual, I left home early and started patrolling the streets of Toronto. Which led me to a lost child.

  I smiled at him as I dropped down and lifted him, as my SEE Goggles directed me to where his parents possibly are, using security cameras. Inside, though, I was a little frustrated or torn up. In a big city like Toronto, it's a given that people will get lost, but after being Red Justice, the number of kids and people I helped because they got lost is honestly too many to count. It didn’t take long to find them. The father and mother rushed forward, scooping him up, holding him tight as he might vanish again.

  “Thank you, Red Justice, I knew those government pigs were wrong about you!” The father said, shaking my hand.

  I laughed, “Thanks, but the police are just doing their jobs trying to catch me, though they are doing a terrible job doing it.”

  I flew away, trying to find more people to help, until I noticed a little girl waving at me frantically. Worried that something may be wrong, I quickly flew to her side.

  “Hey, is something okay? Are you lost?”

  The little girl giggled. “Not anymore, thanks to you!”

  Huh? Who is this girl? She seems familiar. I swear I could have sworn that I saw her before. Until my SEE Goggles’ HUD showed me her name.

  [Name: Clary Jensen.]

  My eyes widen behind my visor. It's her, Clary Jensen. I helped her find her mom when she got separated from her. She’s the first person I ever saved as Red Justice.

  “What do you know? A reunion for the ages.” Said Gavin.

  I crouched down slightly. “Hey! I remember you! Your name is….fart face, right?”

  She giggles. “You’re silly, I’m Clary!”

  “Oh, right, how are you? Are you separated from your mom again?”

  She shook her head and pointed behind her, where her parents stood, giving me a wave. I turned back to her, and she gave me an excited smile before grabbing something from her pocket, which was a blank piece of paper. She asked if I could sign it, you know, like an autograph. She gave me her marker, allowing me to sign the empty paper, drawing my emblem at super speed to impress her. I smiled and waved her goodbye, but before I took off, she stopped me.

  “Wait!”

  Then she shoved something into my hands before I could react. It was a folded paper. I unravelled it…it was a drawing that looked terrible, objectively speaking. Stick-figure proportions. My head was way too big. The cape looked like a red rectangle. My emblem was just a red circle with squiggly letters inside.

  Next to me was a smaller figure with yellow scribbles for hair. Both of us are drawn to smile. Above it, in uneven crayon letters:

  ME AND RED JUSTIS

  I stared at it longer than I meant to. It looked like crap, and yet at the same time, my heart quickened, and I tried to look composed, look like a proper superhero. But I couldn’t stop the stupid grin I have.

  “Thank you,” I say, rubbing her head. “I’ll put it in my super secret superhero base.”

  Before I could react, she hugged me, and it didn’t take long for me to return the favour. After three seconds, we broke out of the hug, and we started to laugh, but then my SEE Goggles alerted me. It says there is an alert and a problem in a forest. Fire problem.

  “Sorry, Clary, I have to go. Some people need my help.”

  Clary’s eyes practically sparkled. “Make sure you kick any bad guys' butts!”

  I chuckle. “Will do.”

  I gave her a finger salute before I flew high to the clouds. My smile dropped as I stopped and remained stationary in the air. My SEE Goggles showed the direction of the forest emergency, but I made no move. Instead, I waited for Gavin’s input.

  “I tracked the signal. It's them.”

  “Figuires. That’s the third time they used the forest to lead me away.” Well, it's better than attacking me in a populated city.

  I clench my fist as I swallow hard. My eyes drift to my CE amount.

  [CE : 92%]

  Okay, so I have plenty. Right now, I have about five snack candy bars in my utility belt, so worrying about fuel like last time won’t be a problem. At least for the time being. While physically I haven't grown any stronger, I'm a way better fighter than last time, a league above that version of me. My suit is also much tougher and well-suited for drawn-out fights.

  Overall, I’m not the same Red Justice they fought before. But at the same time, I bet they didn’t suck on their thumbs and do nothing. No, with their new data about me, they would have either set up some counters and plans to overwhelm me. Both sides aren’t the same as before. Honestly, I’m scared, despite everything I faced, my heart quickens.

  And I felt out of breath. But I thought of my dream, to change the world to a better place. I needed that money, and I’ve already accepted their challenge. I steadied myself.

  Whatever their plan, whatever they have in store for me. I can take it on.

  “Are you ready?”

  “Yeah.”

  With that, I moved, pushing through the air as I flew at high speed following my GPS. Still, I slowed down, made sure to pace myself, so it took me quite a bit longer than usual when I arrived at the scene. As expected, there was no fire, at least not yet. I dropped down, walking into the seemingly empty open area of grass.

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  I inhaled, flexing my Mind’s Eye. It seems there aren't any animals nearby. At least they make them evacuate, or they instinctively leave knowing it's about to turn into a brawl. Welp, let’s get this over with. I exhale before straightening my arm and extending my fingers all the way before spinning around.

  “Cleave Breaker!”

  I shouted as I moved my hands that reached faster than sound, which created sharp shockwaves cutting apart the invisible robots and drones all around me. There were lots of them, probably nearing the thousands altogether. Even with my initial attack, there were still a lot more. The robots gave up on stealth as they dropped their invisible tech cloak and started firing.

  They seemed a bit different; the robots looked more bulky and tank-like. Must be upgraded versions. I rushed forward and started tearing them apart. Making sure I one-shot them to preserve energy. Their high-calibre bullets did nothing but bounce off my skin.

  Some had melee weapons, possessing electric batons and shields. But they weren’t hard to beat either. I was too fast and too strong for them to be any real threat. Then out came the red robots who charged at me. I destroyed one with a flying knee.

  Big mistake.

  Almost instantly, the robot exploded. Not enough to hurt me, but able to push me back in surprise.

  “Robot bombers, huh? Keep your distance, or you could use them to your advantage…”

  What? What does that mean-oh…I see. Several robot bombers were charging at me, but I grabbed two by the head, making sure I didn't destroy them yet. Instead, I started flinging them at robots and drones that are shooting at me. This move allowed me to destroy a large number of them with minimal effort.

  In about a minute, the field is scattered with robots and metal parts. Smoke littered the area.

  [CE : 82%]

  Not bad, but it wasn’t over yet. On cue, I hear the sound of several choppers flying around and using a turret to shoot at me. Of course, I dodge very easily. Though it wasn’t what I’m concerned with, multiple heavily armoured soldiers started dropping out of the chopper casually as if it's no big deal, even though it's like a fifty-foot drop.

  I moved in to try to save the dummies who should have hired a therapist, but Gavin urged me to stop.

  “Their armour…looks like they're upping the stakes all right, those guys dropping down?”

  The soldiers who fell, landed on their feet or rolled, either way, a normal human shouldn’t be capable of such a feat. At least not with some injuries.

  “Super Soldiers, weaker than me and any others you have faced so far, but they’re still very dangerous and stronger than those combat bots. Keep you in the game, Red.”

  The choppers stop firing as a large group of super soldiers, maybe about a hundred or perhaps even more, run up at me. Some had batons as I expected, some had unique katanas, some had shields, and some had sharp nails. I cracked my neck and rushed in. I body checked the one in front of me, which made him crash into several of his comrades. The ones who didn’t get knocked down from a bowling pin started to swing their weapons desperately.

  I caught a katana and kneed the person behind it and the gut before shoving him away. One tried to hit me with a stick, only to rip it away and use it against him. I used my new metal staff to beat on his friends. But I wasn’t paying attention as one smacked me with a medieval high-tech longsword. It causes me to let go of the staff and rub my head. Only to get quickly swarmed by the Super Soldiers who are whacking or slicing me.

  I roared as red lightning shot out of my body, knocking anyone close to the floor. I immediately grabbed the leg of the closest Super Soldier next to me, and I started to use him as a weapon. I hit everyone who got too close before throwing the poor soldier away. Some were getting up despite their injuries. Gavin wasn’t kidding; these guys are pretty hardcore.

  “Come on, guys!” I say elbowing a soldier in the jaw. “How much are they paying you to fight me?”

  I followed up with another elbow strike to another soldier, knocking him out. “I hope you guys have hospital insurance!” I say as I unleashed a roundhouse, which launched the soldier into others trying to get up.

  Another soldier loudly yelled, swinging high, but I punched him in the gut.

  “Come on, dude, you’re not even trying!” I said as I shoved him back.

  I panted a little bit. Even for me, they’re relentless. “You know…you guys aren't getting paid enough for you to warrant getting up. Will you guys just-”

  More groans are getting up, though their numbers have dwindled a lot. Still, they readied themselves, and it wasn’t just that more drones pulled up.

  “I see what they’re doing. They are trying to exhaust you with low-level enemies before you get to the boss.”

  Yeah, I can tell. I released a deep exhale.

  “Fine, have it your way. I need the cardio anyway.”

  I say finally, moving forward, as I did my best to knock everyone out. I sidestepped, grabbed the back of his collar, and redirected him face-first into another soldier trying to get up. Another soldier tried to grab me from behind in a chokehold. His arms snaked around my neck and squeezed, but it wasn’t really doing anything. Instead, I flew back, letting his body collide with another soldier, which forced him to let go.

  “You guys really need better recruiters,” I said, shaking my head disappointedly.

  Then more choppers pulled up, with more Super Soldiers dropping down. Oh come, dude!

  [CE : 69%]

  I clicked my tongue. I wanted to save this for later, but fine. I flew into the air and started to spin around.

  “Cyclone Breaker!” I screeched as my fast-moving body formed a mini tornado that made everyone get sucked in.

  Even the choppers who couldn’t pull back away in time from my cyclone. Super Soldiers, even the ones I knocked out earlier, tumbled through the air, spinning helplessly. Okay, that should be enough, and so I stopped spinning. Everyone started falling, though I moved in to catch them, laying them gently into the ground. I managed to grab everyone who got flung into the air, even the pilots, though their helicopters are definitely beyond repair.

  [CE : 55%]

  I grabbed a snack bar and ate it. Before dusting my hands before looking at the knocked-out soldiers. Some were unconscious, though a lot of them are still awake and just too hurt to get up. They’re tough, I’ll give them that.

  “Next time, why don’t you guys stick to normal jobs? Clearly, this isn’t working for you.” I say playfully as I watch my CE being restored to seventy-five percent.

  Then a large military plane pulled up to the sky, about the size of your normal airline airplane, and four heavy objects dropped to the sky. Crashing hard to the ground dramatically, they slowly looked up and seemingly glared at me despite my being unable to see through their helmet. Squad Nova is here for round two, it seems. I whistled.

  “What, did you guys practice that? Four out of ten, I could do better.”

  They didn’t respond to my taunt as they just stared at me without doing anything. What are we having a staring contest or are we going to fight? They didn’t look too different from last time; their armour seems slightly sleeker, but overall the same. Looks like I’m not the only one who got an upgrade to their suit. We just stared at each other for a long time for some reason until Fighter turned his head. I followed his gaze, and I grimaced.

  The Super Soldiers I saved are in the ground, groaning in pain. It would be hard for me to fight if they are around, maybe I could lead them away or-

  “Come.” The fighter said.

  The fact that he said something made me blink in surprise.

  “Its not a trap, but fighting here will put the others in danger. Let’s go somewhere more secure.” Without a moment to spare after the last word escaped his lips, he dashed in a direction with the others running after him.

  Except for Ranger, who looked confused for a moment before pursuing his allies, holding his sniper like a body pillow. I let out a sigh of relief. At least they’re not heartless. Still, I know the robots and Super Soldiers were just the warm-up. The appetizers, but now the real battle is about to begin. I ran after them.

  RED

  Gavin’s Mancave…

  JUSTICE

  Gavin gripped his desk as he watched the monitor. Ben did a good job handling the first wave, though he did use his Cyclone Breaker a bit too late. It doesn't matter too much, though; he still has plenty of energy and snacks. Still, he wanted to go out there and support his godson. He didn’t have any proper equipment, though.

  Even with his superior martial arts skills and the fact that he’s stronger than the average Super Soldier, even at this age, he’s still pretty weak in the grand scheme of things. Then, in his other monitor, Jason’s face appeared.

  “Gavin.”

  “Yeah, I know, Red is dealing with them right now.”

  “It's done.”

  Gavin’s eyes widened. “You mean, already?”

  “We got ahead of schedule, but it's still untested and could be dangerous. I already have one of my guys set up in your hangar-”

  “Okay, thanks. I owe you!” Gavin cuts Jason off, quickly getting up and rushing out of his man cave and out of his shop. He dashed as he could to get to his hangar, ignoring the surprised faces of people as he zoomed past cars.

  “Wait for me, kid. I’ll be there!”