The cafeteria is chaos.
Students screaming.
Tables flipped.
Smoke still hanging in the air.
And in the center of it—
The villain.
Standing calmly.
Watching.
Christina steps forward.
Henry grabs her arm.
"Wait."
She glances back.
"You just said we're a team."
Henry swallows.
"…Yeah."
Christina nods once.
"Then trust me."
The villain claps slowly.
"Touching."
Their voice echoes through the emptying cafeteria.
"Captain Man's daughter… and his little sidekick."
Henry's jaw tightens.
"You talk a lot."
The villain tilts their head.
"You talk too little."
Suddenly—
They attack.
Fast.
Too fast.
Henry barely blocks the first strike.
Christina ducks under the second.
Ray's training flashes through her mind.
Balance.
Control.
She spins.
Kicks.
The villain stumbles back.
Henry blinks.
"…Okay that was cool."
Christina smirks.
"Told you."
Behind them—
Piper peeks over a table.
Eyes wide.
"…WHAT IS HAPPENING."
The villain notices her.
And smiles.
"Ah."
Henry's blood runs cold.
"No."
The villain flicks a small device.
A blade shoots out—
Straight toward Piper.
Christina reacts instantly.
She jumps in front.
The blade slices across her side.
Everything stops.
Christina gasps.
Henry's heart drops into his stomach.
"…Christina?"
She staggers.
Blood spreading across her shirt.
Piper screams.
Henry catches Christina before she hits the floor.
"HEY!"
The villain laughs.
"Now Captain Man will care."
Henry's voice shakes with rage.
"You're dead."
The villain tilts their head.
"I already am."
Sirens approach outside.
The villain disappears into the smoke.
Gone.
Henry barely notices.
His hands press against Christina's side.
Blood everywhere.
"Stay with me."
Christina tries to laugh.
"…Relax."
Henry's voice cracks.
"Not funny."
She looks at him.
Eyes soft.
"…You're freaking out."
Henry shakes his head.
"You're bleeding!"
Piper kneels beside them.
"…Henry."
Her voice is small.
"…What the hell is going on?"
Henry can't answer.
All he sees is the blood.
Man Cave — Minutes Later
The elevator bursts open.
Henry carrying Christina.
Piper followed Henry.
Ray turns instantly.
His face drains of color.
"…Christina?"
Henry's voice is shaking.
"She got cut."
Ray moves faster than anyone has ever seen.
"Schwoz!"
Schwoz sprints over.
"Oh no oh no oh no—"
Ray lifts Christina onto the table.
His hands trembling.
"Hold still."
Christina whispers—
"…You're panicking."
Ray snaps—
"Because you're hurt!"
The room goes silent.
Christina blinks.
Ray presses gauze against the wound.
His voice rough.
"…You scared me."
Henry watches.
Something shifts in his chest.
Ray's not Captain Man right now.
He's just…
A dad.
Schwoz finishes bandaging her.
"…She'll be okay."
Ray exhales like he's been underwater.
Christina looks up at him.
"…See?"
Ray's voice cracks.
"Don't do that again."
She smiles faintly.
"No promises."
Ray closes his eyes.
"…Christina."
She reaches out slowly.
Touches his arm.
"…I'm still here."
Ray swallows hard.
Across the Room
Piper stands frozen.
Charlotte beside her.
Piper whispers—
"…Captain Man."
Charlotte sighs.
"Yeah."
Piper's eyes widen.
"…And Christina…"
Charlotte nods slowly.
"…Yeah."
Piper's brain explodes.
"…MY BROTHER WORKS WITH CAPTAIN MAN?!"
Jasper raises his hand.
"Technically."
Piper spins.
"YOU ALL KEPT THIS FROM ME?!"
Henry groans.
"…Crap."
Ray pinches the bridge of his nose.
"…Hart."
Henry flinches.
"Yes?"
Ray gestures to Piper.
"…Handle that."
Henry looks at Piper.
Piper looks at him.
"…Start talking."
Henry sighs.
"…Okay but you can't tell anyone."
Piper leans closer.
"Try me."
Henry whispers—
"I'm Kid Danger."
Piper screams.
"WHAT?!"
Jasper covers his ears.
"Yup."
Later — Man Cave
Christina sits on the couch.
Bandaged.
Ray stands nearby.
Arms crossed.
Watching her like she might disappear.
Christina notices.
"You're staring."
Ray doesn't deny it.
"…You almost died."
Christina shrugs.
"I didn't."
Ray's voice hardens.
"They targeted you."
Christina nods.
"I noticed."
Ray exhales slowly.
"…They know who you are."
Christina meets his eyes.
"So do you."
Ray hesitates.
Then says it clearly.
"…My daughter."
Christina smiles faintly.
"…Yeah."
Henry walks back in.
Piper following.
Still stunned.
"…Okay so apparently my life is a superhero movie now."
Jasper fist pumps.
"Welcome to the team."
Piper glares.
"I'm not joining anything."
Christina smirks.
"Give it a week."
Everyone laughs slightly.
The tension finally easing.
Then—
The monitors flicker.
The villain appears again.
Live.
Mask gone.
A familiar face.
Ray's stomach drops.
"…No."
Christina frowns.
"You know them?"
Ray whispers—
"…He used to be my partner."
The villain smiles coldly.
"Hello, Ray."
Christina's blood runs cold.
The villain continues—
"You took everything from me."
Ray's voice turns deadly quiet.
"I tried to save you."
The villain laughs.
"And now I'll take your daughter."
Christina stands slowly.
Henry steps beside her.
Ray's fists clench.
This just became war.