Maybe Eden's late-night prayers actually worked. For the first time since his system awakened, he got a full week of peace.
No disasters.
No close calls with his powers.
Not even Atom Eve showing up to bug him in her downtime.
Apparently, she was too busy giving Rex the cold shoulder to keep sniffing around Eden's business. Fine by him.
Amber had tried a couple of times to hang out, but Eden shut her down politely every time. He couldn't exactly say, Sorry, I'm not into Cabinet members.
Even the system stayed quiet. For a blissful stretch, Eden almost forgot he was tethered to a goddamn "villain system."
But peace never lasts.
That morning, Eden walked downstairs and froze. His parents stood in the living room, dressed to kill—his dad in a tailored suit, his mom in a flowing gown. Both fussing with their hair like they were heading to prom.
"What the hell? It's not Valentine's, not your anniversary… what's the deal?" Eden asked.
Clark adjusted his tie, grinning. "Forget already? Two weeks ago your mother and the Guardians of the Globe saved the President at the White House from the Mauler Twins. Today's the ceremony. A recognition banquet for their years of service." He smoothed his lapels. "As her husband and one of the world's strongest heroes, of course I'm going too. So? How do I look?"
"You've always been one of the best-looking guys on this planet," Eden deadpanned.
"Thank you," Clark said, winking.
"And me?" Omni-Mom asked, one hand on her hip, spinning her dress.
"You're basically Venus walking the Earth," Eden said instantly.
"Sweet boy." She pressed five crisp hundreds into his hand. "The banquet lasts three days. You're on your own for food until then."
"Oh my God." Eden stared at the bills like they were holy scripture. "Forget Venus—you're more generous than Lady Luck herself."
His mom laughed. His dad checked the clock. "We've gotta go. Be safe, Eden. New York's never calm—doesn't matter what universe we're in." Then they flew off into the sky.
Eden waved them off with a rare grin. "Finally. Things are looking up."
On his way to Reginald VelJohnson High, Eden spotted William jogging over.
"Hey, Eden. You look… weirdly happy. What's up?"
"My parents are gone for three days. House to myself," Eden replied.
"Dude. That's freedom." William sighed, jealous.
"Only for three days." Eden shrugged.
They were still laughing as they neared the school gates—until they saw him.
Rex Splode. Standing there in his beat-up orange jacket, scowling like he wanted to pick a fight.
"Holy crap, that's Rex Splode!" William gasped. "I totally forgot to get a selfie with him last time. Bet it'd sell online for, like, fifty bucks."
Eden groaned. Ignore him. He's here for Eve. He's not here for me. He ducked his head and sped up.
"Not so fast, kid." A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. Rex's gravelly voice followed. "Finally caught you. No running this time."
Eden sighed. Of course. The second life felt normal, this crap landed on his lap again. He brushed Rex's hand off. "Do I know you?"
"Cut the act. I see right through it." Sparks flickered in Rex's palm.
Eden's eyes narrowed, but he forced the anger down. Too many people around. If he swung, his cover was blown.
Luckily—or unluckily—Atom Eve dropped from the sky in a flash of pink light, fury written all over her face.
"Rex, I told you—I don't have anything going on with Eden. And you promised you wouldn't harass him at school."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Atom Eve and Rex Splode, at their school gates? Every student whipped out a phone.
Eden muttered, "Perfect. Just perfect," and tried to slip through the doors.
"Not so fast." A pink bubble snapped around him, lifting him off the ground.
"Really?" Eden glared at Eve.
"You're coming too. We're ending this here." She gave him a weary look.
"Fine." Eden spotted phones already aimed their way. "But make it quick. I've got class."
Eve's powers jammed the electronics before anything leaked online. She swept them both up into the sky, Rex still sputtering in her telekinetic grip.
On the ground, William's jaw dropped.
"…When the hell did Eden get so close with Atom Eve and Rex Splode?"
He turned to the gawking crowd, puffing out his chest. "You guys saw that, right? That was my bro."
...
"Why the hell do you people keep showing up while I'm at school?!"
Eden glared across the rooftop at Eve and Rex. His voice was sharp, every word edged with irritation.
"Do you even realize how much you're screwing with my life? You're responsible for this mess."
"I've said it a hundred times, Rex," Eve muttered, pressing a hand to her temple. She looked exhausted. "There's nothing going on between me and Eden."
"What are you even talking about?" Eden snorted. "Seriously, dude, I don't even know you."
He put on his best confused act, pretending Eve's powers had messed with his head so he couldn't tell that "Atom Eve" and his classmate Eve were one and the same.
"See?" Eve threw her hands up at Rex, like I told you so.
"That's not why I'm here."
"What?" Eve blinked.
"I'm not here about you," Rex said firmly. He waved her off and locked eyes on Eden. "This is between me and him."
"Wait—what?" Eden frowned. "You're looking for me? Why?"
"Yeah, why him?" Eve echoed, both of them caught off guard.
"Robot sent me." Rex shrugged. "Don't ask me for details, I don't know. Just make sure when the bell rings this afternoon, Eve—you drag this pain in the ass with you to the base. That's all."
"Robot…?" Eden muttered, frowning.
If there was one person in the Teen Team who could actually be a problem for him, it was Robot.
The guy's IQ was off the charts, which made him dangerous enough. Add in his ties to the Global Defense Agency—and Cecil's trust in him on top of that—and Eden had zero interest in getting tangled with him.
"Great. Just what I needed." Eden's scowl deepened.
Half an hour later – Reginald VelJohnson High School
"Yo, Eden!" William jogged up as soon as Eden slid back into the classroom. "So… what's the Teen Team want with you?"
"Nothing big," Eden said casually. "Just checking if I needed a shrink, after… you know, last week."
William paled. "Oh. Right. The alien invasion. Still giving me nightmares, man." Beads of sweat dotted his forehead.
"So that's it? Nothing else?" he asked, studying Eden carefully.
"Yeah, that's it." Eden tilted his head, giving William a long look. "Why? You think I am hiding something?"
William gave a sheepish grin. "Honestly, I thought maybe you awakened superpowers and joined the Teen Team or something."
"Not even close," Eden deadpanned. Then his eyes narrowed. "So what did you do while I was gone?"
"…Okay, don't be mad. A couple of Teen Team fangirls at the gate wanted merch, and I, uh, told them I had connections. Took a twenty-dollar deposit from each of them."
He winced. "I'll give it back."
"Good." Eden rolled his eyes. Of course William would pull that stunt.
Later, after school
Eden ditched William and headed with Eve toward the Teen Team base.
"Good to finally meet you, Eden."
The one who greeted him was a humanoid machine, body linked by glowing magnetic joints, skin a burnt orange metal. "I'm Robot. Leader of the Teen Team."
"Cut to it. What do you want?" Eden asked bluntly.
"Walk with me."
Robot led him into a sealed room, private and quiet.
"Fine," Eden said. Privacy suited him just fine.
"My research shows the laser that destroyed the café wall that day didn't come from outside—it fired from inside." Robot pulled up holo-footage of the Flaxan invasion, pointing at the café Eden and William had hidden in, the scorched wall evidence glowing on screen.
"…What, you think William awakened superpowers?" Eden let out a sharp laugh. "My best friend's secretly a superhero? Then you're talking to the wrong guy. Go bother him."
Robot went silent for a beat, processors almost short-circuiting. He hadn't expected anyone to brush him off with such blatant bull.
"…I need to make something clear. I'm not your enemy. I'm grateful for your help during the invasion. If you ever change your mind about… anything, the Teen Team will always welcome you."
Robot didn't say it outright, but his meaning was obvious—he knew. Or at least strongly suspected.
"I don't understand a word you're saying." Eden turned on his heel and walked out.
Inwardly, though, he cursed. If I ever admit I've got powers, then the Teen Team might as well write its own obituary.
His crappy system loved throwing villains into his path like random encounter spawns. It was only a matter of time before his mom, Nolanne, caught on. For now, all he could do was stall. Stall as long as possible.
Back in the base, Rex frowned. "So what was that about? You drag me into this just to play secretive with that jerk?"
Robot said nothing.
Eve, though, looked like gears were turning in her head.
...
At home, Eden showered and collapsed into bed, still annoyed.
"What a pain…" He let out a long sigh.
Ding.
System update complete.
Gladiator Arena Mode unlocked.
Just as Eden was trying to figure out how to handle Robot, the familiar synthetic voice chimed in his head.