A mother is in pain, giving birth.

Isabella: AHHHHHHHHH!

The doctor delivers the screaming baby into the world.

Doctor: It’s a girl!

As Isabella recovers from her immense pain, her husband approaches the bed and takes her hand.

Oliver: You did great, honey. I’m so proud of you.

Isabella: C- Can I see her?

Oliver: You will soon. The doctor needs to prepare the public notice.

Isabella: Does that mean you have to leave soon?

Oliver: Yes, you know how these traditions go.

The doctor signs a note listing the baby’s height, gender, and weight and hands it to a British Palace Official.

Doctor: Here you go, Mr. and Mrs. Glass.

The doctor hands the baby to Isabella.

Isabella: She’s… beautiful.

Oliver: Do you want to name her now? We don’t have to, but the public will love to hear her name during my speech.

Isabella: I’ve always loved the name… Lara.

Oliver: We agreed you could choose the name if she was a girl. So, I love it.

Isabella smiles.

Isabella: Welcome to the world, Princess Lara of London.

Isetri is taken away via a stretcher. Daisuke’s gauntlet blasts off into the sky.

Eve: Wow…

Daisuke: Sorry if that was too much. I didn’t mean to take the spotlight from you two.

Eve: Oh, don’t worry about it, Daisuke. Any day I see Demetri and Isaiah get their shit kicked in is a good one.

Lilith: Yeah, and a good grade is excellent compensation.

Daisuke smiles.

Yul: Okay, let’s move on to the next group.

Yul pulls out another pin: B.

Yul: Saige and Blair v.s. Gus, Alexis, and Lara.

Blair stands up.

Blair: *sighs* Let’s get this over with… Saige?

Saige and Lara are staring at each other through the corners of their eyes.

Blair: Saige?

Saige: Hm? Oh yeah, let’s go!

All five students meet at the center of the facility.

Alexis: Gus, follow our lead.

Gus: You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m surrounded by scary women, and I don’t know how to feel.

Alexis: Ignoring that. Lara, are you ready?

Lara glances at Alexis.

Lara: Yes.

Alexis: I know you’re quiet, and that’s fine, but I need to know you’re a team player.

Lara: If you’re asking if I’ll listen to your orders, I can.

Alexis: “Can?”

Lara: What? I’m not allowed to act independently if it’s for the team's betterment?

Alexis: *sighs* I’m just gonna trust you and hope that’s not a mistake.

Lara: That’s fine.

Yul approaches Blair and Saige.

Yul: Ready?

Blair: As I can be…

Saige: Oh, come on, Blair! This will be fun!

Yul places his hand on each of their shoulders.

Yul: Fuse!

Saige and Blair merge into a single person. She has Saige’s hair with a mixed color, Blair’s eyes and nose, Saige’s head shape and breasts, and a blend of their clothes. When she speaks, her voice is an overlap of Saige’s and Blair’s.

Hayze: (I wonder if Blair will suppress Saige’s perverted side, or…)

The fused fighter lets out a mischievous giggle.

Hayze: (Exacerbate it…)

Slair: Hello, everyone! My name is Slair! [Pronounced: Slayer.]

Gus: Hi, Sl-

Slair: DID I SAY YOU COULD SPEAK?!

Gus sobs.

Alexis: I guess that answers the question of where Blair’s anger went.

Slair: Teehee, just kidding, Gus!

Alexis: And Saige’s playfulness…

Yul: Ready, everyone? Begin!

Yul leaps back, but nothing happens.

Alexis: We don’t know her quirk, so we must be careful.

Lara fires a taser at Slair, but it gets blocked by a wall of Obsidian glass that emerges from the ground.

Alexis: Nevermind…

Slair: That wasn’t very nice!

Lara: Sorry.

Slair: (She’s annoying…) It looks like I just found my first victim!

Slair surrounds her forearm and fist in obsidian armor with a sharp tip.

Slair: This razor-sharp stone is about to cut you down a peg!

Lara: I wouldn’t attempt that if I were you.

Slair: Why? Because of a little taser?

Slair fires a group of obsidian shards at Lara’s taser, piercing and destroying it.

Lara: That’s unfortunate.

Slair: Let’s see what else you can do!

Slair charges Lara.

Alexis: I’ve got you!

Alexis sends a swarm of origami birds flying at Slair.

Alexis: Detonate!

The birds explode in front of Slair, but she covers the front of her body in obsidian, protecting herself. However, the blast repels her backward.

Slair: ALEXIS! WHAT THE FUCK?!

Alexis: With Saige and Blair together, I can’t tell if that’s genuine or playful anger.

Lara reaches into her utility belt and removes three small circular devices.

Alexis: Gus, smoke her!

Gus: Do you mean take her out or-

Alexis: It’s not an idiom, bud.

Gus: Oh, okay.

Gus breathes out a cloud of G2: Tear Gas.

Gus: Try using your obsidian to block that!

Slair: With pleasure!

Slair covers her mouth and nose with obsidian, then charges through the smokescreen.

Gus: No, wait! I didn’t mean-

Slair reaches Gus and uses her sharp obsidian gauntlet to slice at him several times.

Gus: AHHHH!

Slair leaps away from Gus and removes her nose and mouth plugs.

Alexis: Gus! Why are you screaming? You don’t have a scratch on you!

Gus stops screaming and examines his body.

Gus: Hey… yeah… I’m fine!

Slair: No, you’re not!

Gus’ clothes fall apart, leaving him nude.

Gus: AHHHHHHH!

Slair: Happy birthday!

Gus scurries into an alleyway.

Alexis: Gus! Where are you going?

Yul: Hm… It’s an unorthodox but effective strategy. She even destroyed his gas canisters, drastically weakening him.

Alexis: Yul, I understand you’re smart, but that doesn’t mean she is.

Slair giggles.

Slair: I don’t know why he’s so embarrassed; he’s packing HEAT!

Gus: *from afar* Thank you!

Slair: But I don’t think you girls can say the same.

Alexis: You mean we don’t have penises? Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s true.

Slair stares at Alexis.

Slair: I’m about to put your titties on display.

Aaron: *from afar* WOOHOO!

Alexis: Aaron, shut up.

Wes laughs at Aaron.

Aaron: Wes, you’ve never even seen tits.

Wes: I have!

Aaron: Through a screen?

Wes goes quiet.

Aaron: That’s what I thought.

Slair approaches Alexis.

Slair: Once I slice apart your paper costume you’re wearing, you’ll be essentially out of this match! So, it’s a double win!

Alexis: *grunts*

Slair hears a footstep behind her.

Slair: Hm?!

Slair quickly pivots and sees nothing.

Slair: Wh- huh? I could have sworn-

Slair is bombarded by a pack of origami birds in the back.

Slair: AHHHH!

Alexis: Thanks for the distraction, Lara!

Slair smacks against the ground and notices a circular device.

Slair: (So… she threw this and played the sound of a footstep to throw me off?)

Slair turns her attention to Lara, who hasn’t moved an inch.

Slair: You think you’re clever, huh? Well, I’m the baddest bitch around, so don’t think you’ll catch me off guard again!

Lara: “Baddest bitch?” You’re the fusion of a pervert and a closet pervert… Your ability is strong, but you have the maturity of a thirteen-year-old boy.

Slair: Well, at least I know how to have fun.

Lara: Fun? You’re despicable.

Alexis: (Woah… is this girl showing emotion?)

Hayze watches intently.

Hayze: (Looks like the girls hit a nerve.)

Slair’s eyes narrow.

Slair: The Saige part of me knows something about you that I’m sure you’d rather keep private. So, let’s cut the chit-chat and enjoy the fight.

Lara: Oh, you mean how I’ve been hacking your invasive surveillance cameras to take them offline?

Slair: I think we both know that’s a lie.

Lilith turns to Eve.

Lilith: What are they talking about?

Eve: *sighs* I don’t want to know.

Lara removes her hood and stares at Slair for a moment.

Lara: The truth is I trust issues.

A flashback begins. 13-year-old Lara is being fitted for a dress by her nanny.

Nanny: You’re growing quite a lot, Luv. Hold still while I take some more measurements.

Lara: Okay…

The nanny notices Lara’s expression.

Nanny: Is something wrong, Princess?

Lara: I… I don’t want a new dress.

Nanny: Well, you need one. You must look your best for the public during the Queen’s speech. We don’t want you to seem gangly now, do we?

Lara: But why?

Nanny: Hm? I don’t follow, my dear.

Lara: Why do you want me to look my best? Those people don’t care about me or who I am; they just care about my title. If I wasn’t a princess, I’d-

Nanny: But you are, Luv.

Lara bites her tongue.

Lara: But, I-

Isabella enters the room.

Nanny: Hello, Mrs. Glass. Sorry we’re taking a little longer. The Princess has-

Isabella: She’s hit puberty, I’m aware.

Isabella inspects her daughter.

Isabella: What dress do we have for her?

Nanny: This one, madame.

Isabella scoffs.

Isabella: This won’t do. We need her beauty to be radiant. God knows everyone will notice her newfound cleavage, so we must go all out.

Nanny: Are you sure that’s what’s best for her, mad-

Isabella stares down the nanny.

Nanny: We have a rack of dresses over here.

Isabella: Good, let me see them.

Lara stands quietly, not moving a muscle, as her mother picks a dress for her.

Isabella: This one will do.

Isabella has selected a strapless dress for Lara, which makes the girl uncomfortable.

Isabella: Here, try this on.

Lara: I…

Isabella: What? You don’t like it?

Nanny: I think she doesn’t feel comfortable exposing that much skin.

Isabella: Lara, is that true?

Lara doesn’t answer.

Isabella: Do you think you’re special?

Lara: Wh- huh?

Isabella: I know you’re a princess, but so am I. I dealt with these same events and photoshoots you are now, and I didn’t complain to my mother once. Lara, you are a member of the royal family and have a duty to present your elegance and beauty to the people of our wonderful country. And you will not disregard that duty.

Lara hangs her head.

Isabella: This is for the best, Lara, trust me.

Lara looks her mother in the eye.

Isabella: When you’re an adult someday, you won’t have to deal with this anymore, and you can choose your own life. But to get to that point, you must listen to your mother.

Lara: Okay…

A few years later, Lara is playing a beautiful song on the piano. Her fingers press on the keys with magnificent dexterity. Her mother and father are watching her from afar.

Oliver: Her piano instructor has taught her well.

Isabella: Yes, but she could be much better if she wasn’t distracted.

Oliver: Distracted with what?

Isabella: Her instructor told me Lara said she didn’t want to compete in the upcoming competition.

Oliver: What? Why? She’s brilliant! She would win with ease! I can already see our names on the news and in the newspaper!

Isabella: I don’t know, but I must set her straight.

Lara finishes the song, and her mother approaches the piano, clapping.

Isabella: That was beautiful, my dear.

Lara: Thank you, mother. It’s almost time for my tennis lesson, so I must-

Isabella: I’ve been told you’re having second thoughts about next week's competition.

Lara is stunned.

Isabella: What? Did you think Ms. Henry wouldn’t tell me? I’m afraid she’s your instructor, not your friend, Lara.

Lara is quiet.

Isabella: Tell me why, right now. I don’t want indecision to distract you any further.

Lara hesitates.

Lara: Can’t I have a hobby that I just enjoy? Everything I do is a competition… so can’t I-

Isabella: Everything is a competition because you’re the best at it, Lara. You need more confidence, my dear. Otherwise, you’ll never reach your full potential. Winning shows your talent to the world and proves you’re the perfect royal. You want to be married someday, right? Well, your future husband will love seeing your trophies.

Lara doesn’t look her mother in the eye.

Isabella: Lara, trust me, you’ll regret not competing. So, will you?

Lara: I… okay…

Isabella: Good, now run along. I don’t want you to be late for your tennis lesson, and be sure to thank your diving instructor later for coming in on his day off.

Lara: Yes, mother.

That night, Lara is crying into her pillow.

Lara: *sniffles* (I don’t want to do anything mother and father request of me, but… they say it’s for my betterment. They wouldn’t lie to me, right?)

Lara takes a deep breath.

Lara: (It’s okay…)

Lara lifts up her pillow, revealing a brochure underneath.

Lara: (Soon, I’ll be applying to University, and I won’t have to worry about disappointing them anymore. I’ll be living on my own.)

Lara opens the brochure. It’s to the London Academy of Heroes.

Lara: (My whole life… People have looked at and treated me differently because of my title. But I was born a princess. What did I do to deserve their praise and admiration? Nothing… but if I become a hero. I can finally earn their love. I can use my title and popularity to make a change, perhaps even influence parliament. I can finally be something other than eye candy for the public.)

The next day, Lara is painting a beautiful still life of a fruit basket when her mother and father burst into the room.

Lara: Mother? Father?

Oliver presents Lara with the crinkled brochure of LAH, stunning her.

Oliver: What is this?

Lara: H- how-

Isabella: Your nanny gave it to us!

Lara: Wh- what?

Oliver: Don’t get mad at her! She did the right thing!

Lara: I- I…

Isabella: You what? Want to be a hero?

Lara: Yes! I do!

Oliver: You are forbidden! No daughter of mine will put her life in danger like that!

Lara: But… but you said-

Isabella: I told you that you could choose your own life when you’re an adult, but you’re not yet!

Lara: But I will be when I graduate!

Oliver: That doesn’t matter! You are too talented to waste your time becoming a hero! We raised you to be a magnificent member of the royal family! Not a social working hero! It’s preposterous!

Oliver rips the brochure in half.

Lara: I- I…

Isabella: We’re taking away your screen time.

Oliver: 1 hour is clearly too much! That has to be when you got this terrible idea in your head!

Lara: But it’s my dream to be-

Isabella: This is what’s best for you, Lara!

Oliver and Isabella storm out of the room, leaving Lara stunned.

Lara: I… I don’t believe you…

The flashback ends. Lara activates one of the circular devices she threw. This one is placed in the alleyway Gus ran through.

Gus: G2 Shroud!

Slair: I’m not falling for that like I did last time!

Slair creates a dome of glass obsidian to protect herself, but no gas fills the air.

Slair: How did you even get Gus’ saying that on a recording?

Lara: I used the footage from the Sports Festival.

Slair: So you have one on standby for everyone?

Lara: Yes.

Lara holds up the third device in her hand and activates it.

Blair: *recording* Honestly, I’m a fan of Berserk 2016’s animation.

Slair: HALF OF ME WOULD NEVER SAY THAT!

Aaron turns to Hayze.

Aaron: Dump her.

Hayze: What, it’s just an opinion-

Wes: Hayze, you have to. Even if that’s forged, it’s not worth the risk.

Slair grinds her teeth.

Hayze: (It looks like she inherited too much of Blair’s temper and not enough of Saige’s shamelessness. This could get ugly!)

Slair: So what, you invade people’s privacy to blackmail and humiliate them? What kind of hero are you?

Lara scoffs.

Lara: Privacy? Anything you’re willing to type into an unprotecting web browser, you’re willing to say out loud.

Slair: Wh- that’s not true!

Lara: Yes, it is. Do you really think incognito mode helps?

Lara pulls out a small notebook.

Alden: Oh no…

Wes: I don’t like the look of that book…

Lara: I researched all of you before even arriving in this country. Some of you search for some vile things in your free time.

Wes, Alden, and Eve are sweating profusely.

Wes: (Oh god, oh god!)

Aaron: What’s Wes’ top search item?

Wes: NO! NO! PLEASE!

Lara puts the book away.

Wes: Phew…

Lara: It’s too disgusting to utter.

Wes: NOOOOO!

Everyone: Ugh…

Aaron stares at Wes with a shit-eating grin.

Wes: Fuck you!

Slair points her obsidian gauntlet at Lara.

Slair: So, you think you know everything about everyone? That’s why you ran off from the welcome feast Daisuke prepared? What kind of person looks at everyone’s personal information before meeting them and then uses that as an excuse to not even speak to them?!

Lara: Information is power, and I’d rather not be on the losing side of that battle.

Slair: How do you expect any of us to like you?

Lara: I don’t. I grew up without friends, so I don’t need any, especially those I can’t trust.

Hayze looks at Lara with concern in his eyes.

Slair: You don’t have any friends? That’s obvious, but why wouldn’t you say you can’t trust us before even interacting with us?

Lara: Because…

A flashback begins. Oliver enters his home at midnight, partially drunk.

Oliver: Ugh… What a night! I can’t wait to-

Lara is seated, waiting for him.

Oliver: Lara? What are you doing up this late? You have a swim meet tomorrow-

Lara: Father, we need to talk.

Oliver: Oh, sweety, don’t tell me you’re back on this hero nonsense. I’ll never allow you to-

Lara: Even if it means losing your spot in line for the throne?

Oliver stares at Lara.

Oliver: Lara, what are you speaking about?

Lara: If something were to happen to the Queen, my grandmother, you would lose your spot as her heir apparent, would you not?

Oliver is dead silent.

Lara: It would depend on your actions leading up to the divorce, correct?

Oliver: Lara, what are you after?

Lara: I know what you’ve been doing. You aren’t “partying with friends,” you’re meeting your mistress.

Oliver gulps.

Oliver: That’s a rather severe accusation. Where is your proof?

Lara plays a recording on her phone.

Oliver: “Catherine, I’ve found time to “slip away” from Isabella. I can’t wait to see you. Be sure to fast tonight, so we can-”

Lara stops the message.

Lara: I think we’d both rather not hear the rest.

Oliver: How did you get that?!

Lara: Simple, I hacked your phone and recorded all of your calls. There are plenty more if you’d like to hear all of them.

Oliver: You hacked my phone? How dare you! Who helped you?

Lara: No one.

Oliver: Wh- what? How?! You don’t know how to hack machinery.

Lara: Of course I do. You and Mother never let me enjoy my talents as hobbies, so I found one I could. I can see it in your eyes. You’re going to try and take this phone from me. That’s alright; I’ve already backed up all of the information and then some.

Oliver: What does that last part mean?

Lara: I designed a tracker and placed it on your car. You’ve visited Catherine quite a lot. Like yesterday, you stopped by her apartment after work and stayed there for approximately-

Oliver: What do you want?

Lara stares down her father.

Lara: No soul will ever learn of this under one condition.

Oliver: Name it.

Lara: You will allow me to enroll as a hero student and NEVER impede my progress.

Oliver hesitates.

Oliver: Done.

Lara: Thank you.

Lara starts to leave.

Lara: Good night, Father.

As Lara departs, she hears glass shatter behind her and smiles. The flashback ends.

Lara: (That was when I learned the power of hacking someone. My father could never again betray my trust or our deal because I knew everything about him. I finally got to be the person I wanted to be… Lara. Not “Princess Lara.” If anyone ever discovered who I am… They’d treat me the way my parents did. I need dirt on everyone, so if they ever discover my secret… I can trust they’ll keep it to themselves.)

Slair gets impatient, waiting for Lara’s answer.

Slair: You won’t tell me? FINE!

Slair lowers her dome of obsidian and charges toward Lara.

Slair: You’re going down!

Alexis: Not on my watch!

Alexis creates a fiery phoenix in the sky.

Alexis: Ceremonious Dance: Phoenix Formation!

Alexis launches her attack on Slair.

Slair: Full Obsidian Jacket!

Slair coats her entire body in obsidian and withstands the heated blast.

Alexis: Huh… that’s… practical.

Slair: Now, to take care of you!

Alexis: Ah crap…

Aaron: *from afar* WOOHOO!

Alexis: I hate him.

Slair charges at Alexis in her red-hot suit of obsidian armor and gives her a massive bear hug.

Alexis: AHHHHHH!

The heat of Slair’s armor burns all of Alexis’ paper clothes. However, the sunlight perfectly censors her.

Aaron: NOOOOOO! FUCK YOU, SUN! I’LL GET YOU FOR THIS!

Zach: How?

Aaron transforms his arms into Javelin missiles.

Aaron: I’ll find a way…

Slair throws Alexis through a building, but rocks fall to censor her again.

Aaron: BULLSHIT!

Slair turns her attention to Lara.

Slair: Ready to join your teammates?

Lara: No.

Slair: And don’t think you can blackmail me into surrendering! I’m not afraid of you.

Lara: You should be.

18-year-old Lara enters a London Coffee Shop and sits wearing her typical attire with a laptop bag. A waitress approaches her.

Waitress: Hi, may I take your order?

Lara: Just a regular coffee, please; that’s all.

Waitress: Okay, Luv, I’ll be right back with that.

Lara: Also, could you ask that man over there if he’d like to join me?

The waitress looks at the man Lara is directing her to. He’s twice Lara’s age, wearing business casual clothing and texting on his phone.

Waitress: Okay, miss.

The waitress approaches the man, and he gets up and walks over to Lara.

Dante: You wanted to see me, little girl?

Lara: Please, take a seat. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.

Dante stares at Lara.

Dante: I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.

Lara: I don’t think you should be asking questions, Luv.

Dante: Who the hell are you to say that to me?!

Lara: Sit down.

Dante hesitates and sits across from Lara, placing his phone on the table.

Lara: My name is Danielle Jones.

Dante: I’m-

Lara: Dante Graham, a hero agent here in London.

Dante: … Are you some kind of stalker?

Lara: No, I’m someone who hates it when a man forces himself onto a woman against her will.

Dante: What?

Lara: Don’t play dumb. You’re stupid enough already.

Dante starts to stand up.

Dante: Ms. Jones, was it? Stay the hell away from me!

Lara: I’d guess you’re less than three centimeters.

Dante: Huh?

Lara pulls out her phone and shows Dante a picture of his own penis.

Dante: H- how did you get that?!

Lara: Sit down.

Dante reluctantly takes his seat.

Lara: Your phone’s password is 6-5-4-3-2-1. You’d think with such incriminating pictures, you’d have just a tad bit more security.

Dante: When did you get your hands on my phone?

Lara: Right now, take a look.

Dante picks up his phone to see it’s unlocked and texted every photo he has to Lara’s number.

Dante: Wh- what the hell?!

Lara: You know, for it being so pathetic, I’m surprised you have so many pictures of your-

Dante: *whispers* Be quiet!

Lara: Oh, I see. Privacy is a right only you’re entitled to.

Dante: Whatever it is you’re accusing me of. You’re mistaken, and I can call the police on your ass for hacking my phone!

Lara: I don’t think you want the police to be involved with this.

Dante: You’re that convinced, huh? Show me your evidence.

Lara: Okay.

Lara takes her laptop out and shows Dante a backlog of his emails.

Lara: You’ve solicited 14 to 16-year-old aspiring heroes into having sex with you, promising you’ll get them into top schools and eventually high-profile jobs. That alone makes you a despicable human being, but filming everything without their consent? No, you’re not even human.

Dante: H- how did you get those? That’s illegal!

Lara: Not if you gave me the password.

Dante: Wh- I didn’t do that!

Lara: You haven’t even noticed we met a week ago, have you?

Dante: Huh?

Lara: I called you for a “survey” and asked about your birthday, favorite number, and hobby. It didn’t take long to figure out your password was danteisgreat05068269.

Dante: That’s not giving you the password!

Lara: Close enough, but you’re the rapist, so who cares about the details?

Dante: They consented to everything we did! I’d never-

Lara: Consent under duress is not consent.

Lara stands up.

Dante: Where are you going?

Lara: I got his confession.

Cops burst into the cafe and surround Dante, holding him at gunpoint.

Dante: You fucking bitch!

Lara approaches a hero wearing a detective outfit.

Lara: How did I do, sir?

Shershocke: You did well, Exposé, although…

Lara: Hm?

Shershocke: Your methods are… harsh.

Lara: Are you empathizing with him?

Shershocke: No, Ms. Glass, I am not. As part of your work-study, I allowed you to track and take down a villain under my guidance. This was your case. You handled it well from start to finish. But I can’t help but wonder if this step was unnecessary.

Lara: I needed the evidence on his phone.

Shershocke: You and I both know we had enough evidence to take him down. You brought him here to humiliate and destroy him; why?

Lara: He’s a terrible human… he deserved what he got.

Shershocke stares at Lara.

Shershocke: May I ask you something personal, Ms. Glass?

Lara: Depends on the question.

Shershocke: Why do you feel that way? Is it because you wanted to carry out justice? Or because you wanted to see him in anguish?

Lara doesn’t answer.

Shershocke: There is no “right” answer, but ask yourself if these theatrics were needed or wanted. Then, decide if you’re happy with that answer. Our job description doesn’t say you have to do things traditionally, so I don’t care about the answer to the first question. All that matters to me is the second.

Lara: I…

Shershocke: You don’t have to tell me directly. Just think about it, but always remember I’m here to help if you need it.

Shershocke walks off to speak to the police.

Lara: (He exploited those girls… They trusted him… and he lied for his own greed. I don’t know if I’m happy… all I can say is I believe he got what he deserved, and to me… that’s all that matters.)

The flashback ends. Slair’s obsidian armor corrodes.

Slair: You’re next!

Lara: No, I’m not.

Slair: We’ll see about that!

Slair charges at Lara again.

Lara: (Nobody sees the world through my eyes… They don’t understand why I act like I do because they don’t know what I know. Whenever I meet a person, I learn everything I can about them. From their interests to their dislikes, fetishes, turnoffs, backstory, and history. Everything. I don’t need to speak to someone to know who they are. That way, I know nobody can betray me. Those who will, I don’t interact with. Those who might, I can force into being trustworthy, and those who won’t… Well, I’m always ready for them to hurt me, so they can’t.)

Suddenly, every car alarm in the street goes off simultaneously.

Slair: AHHH! What the hell?!

Lara puts her headphones on to avoid the sound as it drives Slair to stop.

Slair: *grunts* Nice try, but this will never work!

Slair covers her ears with obsidian armor.

Slair: See? I’m not a pushover-

A smokescreen fills the air around Slair.

Slair: Huh? What the?

Hayze: (She couldn’t hear Gus’ attack with her obsidian earplugs!)

Gus is standing atop a building wearing a Hefty trash bag as pants.

Gus: Thanks for stalling, guys! Now I’m back, so we can win!

Slair keels over and passes out.

Slair: No…

Yul: The winner is Group B!

Slair is wheeled away to Recovery Girl’s office while Alexis and Gus are given spare gym clothes to wear.

Alexis: Nice work, Lara. How did you know Gus would come back at that moment?

Lara points at the surveillance cameras in the streets of the holographic city.

Alexis: I see… so you know exactly when he would return the whole time and simply waited for your moment. Nice work.

Gus: I’m glad we won, but that was embarrassing…

Alexis: Gus, to be utterly vulgar for the purpose of cheering you up, your hog makes every guy up there feel inadequate.

Gus: R- really?!

Alexis: Yeah, but if you tell anyone I said that, I’ll kill you.

Gus sobs in the corner.

Yul: Next, we’ll move on to Group A.

Hayze stands up and turns to Fang and Wes.

Hayze: Ready, guys?

Fang: Of course!

Wes: As ready as I can be…

Lara watches as Hayze leaves the stands. A flashback begins; Lara is walking through the rainy streets of London with her hood up.

Voice: Hello, Princess.

Lara: Huh?

Lara looks up to see Silas standing before her, holding an umbrella.

Lara: Are you here to kidnap me? My parents won’t pay a ransom.

Silas: No, I’m here to see if you want a job.

Lara: A job? … Who are you?

Silas: I'm Silas Yeager, a hero publicist slash agent in America.

Lara: America?

Silas: I represent the country’s current number-one hero, Silencer. I’ve been a fan of yours for a long time, and so has Silencer. We love your style; it really fits our vision of what a hero can do.

Lara: You know I’m in school still, right?

Silas: Yes, but would you be willing to transfer Ms. Glass?

Lara: To where?

Silas reaches into his satchel and pulls out two folders, handing them to Lara. She opens the first one.

Silas: United Academy, the top hero institute in the country, is opening up four international slots for students in their third-year class next year. If you apply, you’ll surely be accepted.

Lara reads through the papers.

Silas: You’ll work alongside Silencer, who is willing to pay any expenses you may incur.

Lara: I won’t say I’m uninterested, but what’s this second folder for?

Silas: I understand you’re good at… taking people down.

Lara’s eyes narrow.

Lara: You could say that.

Silas: Well, as a side mission, Silencer would like you to ruin the reputation of a particular U.A. student who is growing troublesome for us to deal with.

Lara opens the second folder and sees Hayze’s picture.

Lara: “Adam Hayze?” I’ve heard that name before.

Silas: He was the one who defeated Vanguard, an international threat to mankind.

Lara: I think I see Silencer’s problem.

Silas: Your goal is to destroy his reputation and public image by any means necessary. Of course, that assumes you’re willing to take on the mission.

Lara hesitates.

Lara: Why do you think I’m a good fit alongside Silencer?

Silas: Because you’re not a traditional hero, Ms. Glass. You’re Lara, Princess of London, and you are a hacker. You scrape the line of ethical heroism in a way that Silencer adores. We want to change how heroes operate in America and believe you can greatly aid that.

Lara stares at Silas.

Lara: Okay… I’ll do it.