Chapter 2

The next day, my body felt lighter, and my bruises and wounds were healing much faster than before. I could move my legs more easily, swinging them over the side of the bed without pain.

A soft knock came at the door. The handle turned, and an old man in a neat suit stepped in. His hair was silver, neatly combed. He carried himself with a quiet authority that made me sit up a little straighter.

“Hello,” he said, his voice low and measured. “I am Director Anders. I oversee operations and training here at the Force base. You’ve been in my medical bay for days. How are you finding it, Jake?”

I blinked. “It’s a pretty good facility, sir, but I hope I don’t have to stay here too often.”

He smiled faintly. “That’s a great attitude. Well, care to see my other facilities?”

He gestured toward the corridor. I swung my legs off the bed and followed.

The Force base was enormous, a combination of sleek technology and practical design. Metal hallways stretched into the distance, glowing panels lighting the way. As we walked, I noticed a team of human security personnel monitoring screens and patrolling the hallways. I chuckled under my breath.

“I guess even a superhero base needs human security guards,” I teased.

Our first stop was the war room. Anders pushed open the large doors, revealing a cavernous space filled with maps, digital screens, and a giant holographic table in the center. The room was empty, quiet except for the hum of machines. He gestured to the table. “This is where we coordinate missions, track threats, and plan operations. Most of the time, it’s buzzing with activity.”

We continued down the hall and soon arrived at the canteen. The space was lively, full of people eating, talking, and moving around. Anders waved toward the bustling crowd. Almost fifty people work in this base. Some are working as agents, such as your mother. The rest support training, logistics, and research.”

I glanced around, taking in the sheer scale of the base and the number of people moving with purpose. It was overwhelming, but I felt a spark of excitement as I realized how big the world I had stepped into truly was.

Next, Anders led me to the dormitories where the trainee heroes lived. The hallway was lined with doors, each one marked with a name. “These are where the young superheroes sleep and rest when not on missions or training. Living here helps them focus entirely on developing their abilities and teamwork.”

After showing me the dorms, Director Anders led me further down the corridors. We passed the workshop room on our way to the training chamber. As I caught a glimpse inside, a girl with bright ginger hair stood at the center of the room, her eyes focused with concentration. With a flick of her hand, metal and wood pieces levitated around her, clicking together with mechanical precision as she used her telekinetic abilities to build a small house.

It was Crimson Witch, my superhero crush. She was dressed in regular clothes, not her superhero costume, but I could immediately recognize her from two things: her power and her cute butt. However, she looked even more familiar to me.

Director Anders noticed my gaze and spoke up. “The workshop room is designed for both practical applications and personal projects. Some heroes prefer crafting things, whether it’s a robot, a drone, an iron suit, or other cool equipment.”

I raised an eyebrow, watching the girl work. “So, they can craft stuff like that?”

Anders nodded. “Exactly. Raw power isn’t always the answer. Some heroes are geniuses in their own right. This room is for those whose minds can go beyond their physical limits.”