The United States news raged about the attack on their soil. The interceptors speculated that the farm was attacked due to the family’s name being leaked. Blue was an obstacle in the way of immunity testing. The theory was strong enough to get the interceptors what they wanted.

Dr. Heissman’s centers were shut down, and all of her facilities were confiscated. No one entertained the idea of the humanoids being "the good guys" anymore. Jake’s family went into the protective custody of I.T., and Tabitha recovered from the attack with full strength and gravity powers due to the natural robustness of her cells.

The humanoids were slandered. They started being called Agents of destruction. Agents of the Reds that the mainstream media titled the alien enemy revealed at the farm attack. Their following confrontations with interceptors fed the accusations.

“Watch out for the hands!” Daybreak shouted at Queen. Golden light of solar energy burst out of Mason Black’s hands, barely missing Queen who performed a one-handed backspring at her boss’ warning. Twisting mid flip, she slid to the side, just escaping another blast by the black-haired humanoid - Agent. She was about to launch at him, when a blue and red blur crashed into her. 

“Two on one ain’t fair!” NovaStar said and a boom from her sonic blasters sent the unguarded Agent flying. His body hit a tree, almost falling off of the New York Highline rail.

His blue face scrunched into a frown and his yellow eyes glinted in irritation.

Once the Agents had abandoned their facade after the battle at the farm, they no longer tried hiding their true forms. The lithe and fast flyer had been revealed to be a blue-skinned, human-like creature with a flat space for a nose and yellow eyes without any obvious irises or pupils.

His suit, along with the other Agent, was red with metal armor. The slim red bodysuit alongside the archaic metal shards that guarded essential joints were medieval and futuristic at the same time.

“Bring it, blue blood!” NovaStar taunted. 

The Agent responded by moving so fast he disappeared. He reappeared right over her, performing a downward kick that sent her through the ground.

As he followed her through, Daybreak had to make a decision. Queen was just rising from the impact, and the solar wielder was approaching her fallen friend and gaining speed- fast. She could intervene or head after NovaStar. 

“Queen, I’ll take on Chariot! Go help NovaStar.” Daybreak stood between Queen and their foe, using a metal plank to deflect the oncoming shot. Like a bat swing, it ricocheted right back where it came. 

Chariot’s cry was satisfying to Kiera’s ears.

“I have the heat-resistant factor. Why are we switching dance partners?” Queen asked while she dashed after NovaStar and the blue-skinned Agent. No matter the hostility between her and Daybreak, she wouldn’t let drama interfere with the mission.

“NovaStar is a zoner, in video game terms. You’re a skirmisher. Figure it out.” Daybreak had learned pop culture terms were best with Layla. 

And then Daybreak was off, ramming Chariot so they both flew into the sky.

Daybreak’s explanation gave her an idea, and she transmitted it to the trapped NovaStar.

Under the rail, Queen landed quietly on plain asphalt. The rusted legs of the old freight rail kept her shrouded from plain view. NovaStar was struggling against the fast Agent, and Queen stepped out to distract him. She telegraphed a punch, and told NovaStar to get in position for their plan to work. After a few successful dodges, the Agent said inquisitively, 

“You’re just as slow as your friend, why did you think you could save her?”

“What makes you think I’m trying to save her - and not trap you?”

By the time she uttered the sentence, NovaStar had already created a sound bubble that was ten meters in diameter. They didn’t know the limits of the speedster, but they understood enough to know that phasing through an ever changing compound - like chaotic soundwaves - was a chance few were willing to take. 

His frustrated look made Queen grin, despite being trapped in there with him. Fighting up-close and personal was the only way for her to position him for NovaStar.

He came at her, frustration making him faster, hit harder. Queen couldn’t keep up. Her visor broke, and she almost regretted her plan when her face started taking hits. 

Thank God today’s stitches don’t leave scars.

When he came at her with his next swing, he was shocked by the left hook to the jaw. 

How did she match my speed?

Queen smirked inwardly. Her eyes were closed, and she had turned on the sonar emitters. The interceptor used them in Antarctica to ward off sea animals, since Jawal could infect any organic creature.

Her sonar emitters allowed her to pinpoint her foe’s location, down to the smallest movement. She went on the offence, shooting energy beams and pulling out her naginata for the first time.

The barrage of attacks, and NovaStar shrinking the bubble restricted the lithe fighter’s movements.

After using her naginata with her left hand to sweep him into the energy beam from her right, he collapsed into a heap of smoke, unmoving.

NovaStar high fived Queen.

“First time working together and we’re already kicking butt!” The pop star interceptor said with  cheer. Their celebration was cut short when they got alarms of Jawal pouring out of Holes nearby. They quickly made their way over there, informing Daybreak of their movements. 

The priority was always helping civilians, and the fight against the Agents ended with Chariot performing a distracting move that blinded Daybreak, allowing him to pick up his unconscious ally and escape through a Hole a squad of Jawal had entered with. 

The Agents were most likely supposed to clear the way for them, but underestimated the interceptors’ efficiency.

So people can travel through them. Kiera noted, thinking of her dead mother.

After the battle, the cleanup crew made quick work of the carcasses, as efficient as ever.

“Nice work today.” Kiera dutifully complimented. NovaStar posed heroically and Queen just shrugged.

The Antarctic interceptor replied without emotion.

“Just doing our jobs.” 

Kiera still wasn’t forgiven.

Fights between Red Agents, Jawal, and interceptors continued. A confrontation between Fortress and her new Immune interceptor, Tetris made them face off with the ethereal pink-haired girl that had captured many hearts until then.

Her once human skin and eyes were now as pink as her hair, and she was dressed in the same suit as her male counterparts. The match between Ophelia’s Fortress with energy weapons and Tetris’ unbreakable body and skateboard against the transforming pink-haired girl made headlines larger than the Times Square attack.

Kiera didn’t pay attention to that, busy with another crucial dilemma. 

Another emergency meeting at the East Coast Coalition commenced, and this time, every representative was there in person. The problem was this: the Army was trying to confiscate Dr. Heissman’s property and keep the interceptors out of the loop. 

Since the interceptors had spearheaded the investigation into the testing centers, they felt entitled to whatever else the mad scientist kept in her labs.
Sometimes Kiera felt like her father looked right through her, because he showed no remorse for the Army’s actions. 

The interceptors do the heavy lifting and the Army takes all the credit. No wonder Mom got out. 

“No wonder your parents got divorced.” 

Jamie spoke without thinking and was reprimanded accordingly once they logged off. Jason would have normally attended, but was deemed too compromised to attend any of the meetings, distracted by worry for his sister.

For everyone’s sake-

She had to figure out another way to get information on the enemy.