Mutant Teenagers

A New Threat on the horizon

Months passed after the battle for Athens, and life began to settle into an uneasy rhythm. The group, now considered local heroes by the hidden mutant community, trained under Leonidas while balancing their regular lives. The city itself buzzed with whispers of change—mutants were no longer just myths; they were becoming a known, if feared, reality.

However, their victory over The Shadows was just the beginning.

One day, during a routine patrol of Athens’s quieter neighborhoods, Kwstas and Nikolas encountered a strange sight: an unmarked black van parked in an alley, its rear doors ajar. They approached cautiously, Kwstas summoning a soft orb of light to illuminate the scene. Inside the van were stacks of strange devices—metallic collars, cuffs, and other restraints glowing faintly with red energy.

Nikolas reached out to pick up one of the collars, but Kwstas grabbed his arm. “Don’t touch it,” he warned. “It might be dangerous.”

Before they could investigate further, a group of armed men appeared, dressed in tactical gear. One of them raised a hand, and a pulse of energy knocked both boys back.

“Looks like we’ve found our targets,” the leader said, smirking. “Tag them.”

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Captured

The men, who introduced themselves as agents of an organization called Aegis, were no ordinary humans. They wielded advanced technology designed specifically to neutralize mutants. Nikolas’s strength and seismic energy were useless against their reinforced suits, and Kwstas’s light attacks barely scratched their defenses.

Despite their best efforts, the boys were subdued and restrained with the glowing collars. The agents loaded them into the van and drove off, leaving no trace of their presence.

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Aegis’s Secret

Kwstas and Nikolas awoke in a sterile, windowless room. The collars around their necks buzzed faintly, suppressing their powers. Across from them stood a woman in a lab coat, her icy blue eyes studying them like specimens under a microscope.

“Welcome,” she said, her tone clinical. “I’m Dr. Helena Vassos, head of Aegis’s Mutant Containment Division.”

Nikolas scowled. “Containment? Is that what you call kidnapping?”

Dr. Vassos ignored him, turning to Kwstas. “You and your friend have caused quite a stir. The Shadows, Leonidas, the battle in Athens—you’ve attracted the attention of more powerful players than you realize.”

Kwstas clenched his fists. “What do you want from us?”

“I want to understand you,” Dr. Vassos said simply. “Mutants are dangerous. Unpredictable. But with proper control, your kind could be an asset to humanity.”

Nikolas laughed bitterly. “You mean you want to use us.”

Dr. Vassos tilted her head. “Call it what you like. But if you cooperate, I can ensure your safety—and the safety of your friends.”

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The Escape Plan

Meanwhile, back in Athens, Melina and Spuros realized something was wrong when Kwstas and Nikolas didn’t return from their patrol. They searched the city, eventually finding the abandoned alley and the faint scorch marks left from the fight.

Using a tracking device Melina had secretly slipped into Kwstas’s jacket weeks earlier, they pinpointed his location to a sprawling facility hidden beneath an industrial complex on the outskirts of the city.