The Man Cave is tense.
Henry sits on the couch with an ice pack on his shoulder.
Christina sits beside him, arms folded, watching him like he might disappear.
Ray stands across the room, pacing again.
Charlotte works the computer.
Jasper snacks.
Schwoz mutters to himself while running scans.
Henry sighs.
"…I'm fine."
Christina doesn't look convinced.
"You got kidnapped."
Henry shrugs.
"Almost kidnapped."
Ray spins around instantly.
"You got targeted."
Henry raises his hands.
"Okay yes, that too."
Ray points at him.
"Which is why you're staying in the cave today."
Henry groans.
"Oh come on."
Christina smirks.
"You're grounded."
Henry looks betrayed.
"You're siding with him?"
Christina shrugs.
"I almost watched you get dragged away."
Henry's expression softens.
"…You were worried."
Christina immediately looks away.
"…Shut up."
Ray watches the exchange quietly.
Schwoz suddenly speaks up.
"I traced the Hunter's signal."
Everyone looks up.
Charlotte leans forward.
"Where did it originate?"
Schwoz taps the keyboard.
"…Someone inside Swellview."
Ray's jaw tightens.
"…Who."
Schwoz shakes his head.
"Encrypted. But the contract payment was massive."
Christina mutters—
"Someone really hates Henry."
Henry sighs.
"Story of my life."
Ray's voice drops.
"…No."
Everyone looks at him.
"They don't hate Henry."
Ray gestures toward Christina.
"…They want leverage."
The room goes quiet.
Christina exhales slowly.
"…So I'm still the problem."
Henry shakes his head immediately.
"No."
Ray nods firmly.
"No."
But the worry in his eyes says everything.
Meanwhile — Swellview High
Piper Hart sits at a library computer.
Surrounded by papers.
Her investigation board now reads:
THE CHRISTINA MYSTERY
She types aggressively.
Search results appear.
Old news articles.
A small headline from years ago:
"Local Child Missing During Hero Incident"
Piper frowns.
"…What."
She clicks.
The article loads.
A photo appears.
Ray.
Younger.
Standing beside a woman.
Holding a small child.
Big eyes.
The child's name underneath:
Christina Manchester.
Piper leans back slowly.
"…Oh my god."
She scrolls.
Another article.
"Child presumed relocated after family separation."
Piper whispers—
"…She really is his daughter."
Her brain starts connecting everything.
Ray's panic.
Christina's anger.
The villain calling her a weakness.
Piper sits back in her chair.
"…This is way bigger than I thought."
Later — Junk N Stuff
Piper walks in quietly.
Ray is alone behind the counter.
Cleaning a wrench.
He notices her immediately.
"…You again."
Piper crosses her arms.
"…You lied to me."
Ray freezes slightly.
"…About what."
Piper steps closer.
"…Christina."
Ray's expression hardens.
"…What about her."
Piper pulls out her phone.
Shows the article.
Ray sees the picture.
His face drains of color.
"…Where did you find that."
Piper raises an eyebrow.
"The internet exists."
Ray sighs heavily.
"…You shouldn't be digging into this."
Piper looks serious now.
"…You let her grow up without you."
Ray flinches.
"That's not what happened."
Piper studies him.
"…Then what did."
Ray looks toward the elevator.
Toward the Man Cave.
Toward Christina.
"…A lot of things went wrong."
Piper's voice softens slightly.
"…She's really your daughter."
Ray nods once.
"…Yeah."
Piper exhales.
"…Wow."
Then she looks up at him again.
"…She's angry."
Ray lets out a quiet laugh.
"…Yeah."
Piper mutters—
"I would be too."
Ray doesn't argue.
Back in the Man Cave
Christina is throwing knives at a target.
Hard.
Aggressive.
Henry watches nervously.
"…You're gonna dent the wall."
Christina throws another knife.
"Good."
Henry steps closer.
"…You're doing the angry thing again."
She sighs.
"…Everything keeps getting worse."
Henry shrugs.
"Welcome to being a superhero."
She glances at him.
"…You chose this."
Henry nods.
"Yeah."
Then adds quietly—
"…But I'd choose it again."
Christina studies him.
"…Even if it gets you hurt."
Henry smirks.
"Especially then."
Christina shakes her head.
"…You're impossible."
Henry grins.
"You like it."
She doesn't answer.
But she doesn't deny it either.
Upstairs — Junk N Stuff
Piper watches Ray quietly.
"…You're scared."
Ray scoffs.
"I fight supervillains."
Piper shrugs.
"…Not the same thing."
Ray sighs.
"…No."
Piper thinks for a moment.
"…You should tell her everything."
Ray looks at the floor.
"…I know."
Piper turns toward the elevator.
"…Before someone else does."
Ray's stomach tightens.
Because deep down—
He knows she's right.
Across Town
The Hunter sits in a dark room.
Bruised.
Angry.
A new voice speaks through a speaker.
"…You failed."
The Hunter scowls.
"Captain Man interfered."
The voice replies calmly.
"…That was expected."
The Hunter frowns.
"…Then what's the next move."
The voice answers coldly.
"…We take something he can't protect."
A screen lights up.
Showing Christina.
Henry.
Ray.
The voice continues—
"…Family."