The Next Day
Vanya sat down, and before she could touch her violin, Zero went to her and said:
—I need to tell you something.
She looked at him, still skipping a stone.
—Yes, you always do.
Zero took a deep breath.
—You have powers.
Vanya frowned.
—No. I don't.
—You do, #7/vanya. The old man knows. I saw it. I've seen what you can do. What you did when you got angry in the music room. It was only a second, but I... saw the wall. I saw the instruments floating.
—Are you spying on me? You're crazy!
—Listen to me. It's not a bad thing! It's just that nobody told you. And... you don't control it. But you could. You could be incredible.
She stood up abruptly.
—I don't want to be incredible. I want to be normal.
Zero fell silent. Then, he smiled.
—Then... let's be the opposite! If the old man wants heroes, let him have them. We can be something else.
—Villains? —she said, not quite believing it.
Zero nodded.
—Villains.
Hours Later — Dallas City
The suits were black, minimalist, and sharp. Designed by their robot mother, Grace. It wasn't a betrayal. It was a decision.
Zero had put on a ring so that when he ran, a dark red light would streak across his back and glow like embers as he moved, instead of his usual blue. Beside him, Vanya wore a fitted suit with silver and dark details. Her hair was pulled back, her gaze firm. Now she was Aria.
The buildings creaked from the sound wave she generated. Car alarms went off all over the block. Zero—now known as Savitar—appeared and disappeared like a swift specter, disarming traffic lights, stealing generators, and causing the entire city to panic.
It was all a message.
In Canada
The Umbrella Academy was facing a delicate operation: international sabotage, orchestrated by Reginald's old enemies. As they were about to resolve the chaos, an urgent transmission came through.
—Dallas. City under attack. Two subjects with strange abilities.
The siblings looked at each other. There was no time for questions. Five activated the immediate return protocol.
Downtown Dallas — Afternoon
The ship descended amidst smoke, fire, and tense silence. Luther advanced first. Beside him, Diego sharpened a dagger, and Allison watched her watch as if she could pause time with her will.
A red lightning bolt flashed in front of them. Klaus barely had time to blink before falling unconscious to the ground. Luther fell after receiving an impossible-to-dodge blow. Diego spun, threw two knives, and was slammed against a wall by a sound wave.
Vanya—now Aria—descended, floating, as the wind swirled with a finely tuned, almost beautiful note.
One by one, the Academy fell. Five was the last to resist, teleporting again and again, until the lightning bolt also reached him.
Savitar stopped in the middle of the field. He looked back to where Aria was elegantly descending. The unconscious bodies of their siblings lay scattered on the ground.
—Time to go, Aria —he said.
She nodded, with a small, knowing smile.
And they left.
Minutes Later — Improvised Ambulance
The Academy members were being transported, covered in bandages, sore, and confused.
Klaus murmured:
—Did anyone else see the red lightning speedster?
Diego nodded slowly.
—Guys... I think we have our supervillains.
Distant Rooftop — Night
Savitar and Aria watched the news from one of those street screens.
—"The first supervillains of the modern era" —she read.
Savitar smiled.
—There's always a first time for everything.