Sirens blared in front of a New York City bank; a platoon of police officers surrounded and blockaded the building to prevent the bank robbers from escaping. Though they don’t believe their methods or weapons would be able to prevent a group of people with powers from escaping. Yet they all bravely held their ground, terrified at the threat inside, but hopeful for the help that would soon arrive.

  It would be the first major bank robbery in history with a group of superpowered humans. The 8th of January 2019 was a remarkable date to look back on. As it would be the day, the DOE would come down to combat an organised superpowered group.

  Though that was not the only thing that made that day special. Ever since, a group of superpowered individuals joined to form an organisation that claimed to defend people from people like them. Who was to say they were on humanity’s side, better yet, who was to say their leader had good intentions? Though the world knew they were good, the world wanted to know more about them. For they are putting their fate and lives in the hands of strangers.

  The first one to arrive pulled up in a police car. Stepping out of the car was a woman with short black hair and dark skin. As she walked towards the police officers with a deck of cards in hand, she spoke with a heavy rural Mexican accent. ‘Alright, I’m here. I am Valentine Tepas, member of the Defenders of Earth.’ Valentine recited before leaning against a car to fiddle with her deck of cards. ‘What is the problem?’

  Most of the officers looked at each other, wondering how one person could handle the situation. Though seeing how casual the woman was about the whole thing, they had their doubts. Eventually, one of them bravely spoke up. ‘Sorry, miss. But we were expecting some backup. What can you do to help us?’

  Valentine glared up at the person who asked that question with a raised brow. She didn’t need to say anything to force the officers to adjust their attitudes. ‘I won’t be alone on this mission. My associate will be here shortly. I just need to know what the situation is so I can brief my partner on what to do next.’

  They told her everything about the heist and what had happened. The robbery happened 30 minutes ago, exactly 12:30pm. A small group of five or six men walked into the bank and used their powers to gather up hostages and prepare to blast open the vault to steal everything they could grab. It would’ve been a quick heist as well. However, things didn’t go as planned, as one of them tripped the security alarm, which caused the entire building to go into lockdown and every nearby police officer to swarm in and keep them from escaping. The robbers’ powers weren’t entirely known. All they could confirm was that one of them had super strength, while the other might be capable of energy projection. The exits were blocked off with no sign that the robbers wanted to take the risk and break out. Negotiations happened, but they were incapable of getting them to initiate a dialogue. Nor could they confirm whether any of the hostages were alive.

  ‘So there is nothing else you can get on them? Not even their identities?’ Valentine asked.

  ‘None that we could identify, ma’am.’

  Before she could scold them for not doing the bare minimum, a loud boom echoed through the sky. Her partner had arrived, and she wasn’t excited to look forward to working with someone wearing a costume. Flying towards the police crew in a silver costume, a four-pointed star on his chest, and a white cape. Benjamin smiled, trying his best to reassure everyone that all was under control. Even though Valentine found him to look ridiculous in that thing. A person dressed up as a hero, going by the name of Iron Star.

  Despite the strangeness of someone dressing as a superhero from a comic book. Everyone knew what it meant for Iron Star to appear. A man with immense power, with the capability to project kinetic energy, whose presence would often mark the end of any situation. To everyone on the ground, the crisis might as well be a foregone conclusion and go home early. How could anyone beat him? When it was believed at the time that a clap from him could level a city block, that his energy beams could destroy anything they came in contact with, or the fact that nothing could harm or move him.

  Though he wasn’t the only powerful being on the planet, it was the fact that he wore a costume whenever he answered a call made him approachable. Even with the power to destroy the world, he was willing to make himself look like a fool and a little bit more human.

  ‘I am already briefed on the situation.’ Benjamin said before landing. ‘However, even though my partner and I came here to deal with the situation. We still have to work together.’

  ‘So what do you propose they do?’ Valentine interjected. ‘For what we know, we could be walking into a death trap. They are no longer interested in talking, and they might be willing to kill the hostages.’

  ‘Then, we do the unexpected. Throw them off so we can get everyone out of there safely while I try to encourage them to turn themselves in.’ Ben gestured towards the alleyway that led to the bank’s back entrance. ‘Valentine, you and some officers should hold off and cover their escape. I will cover the front. I am fast enough to react in case they do something drastic. Hopefully, they are willing to listen.’

  Realising how his plan hinges on the robbers knowing Ben’s reputation and power, and not following any kind of logic. Valentine tried to protest, but fell on deaf ears as Ben started walking toward the bank entrance. Without delay, she barked her orders and got some officers to follow her to the back. All the while mumbling how Ben was a complete idiot, banking on the lives of the hostages.

  In truth, Ben knew it was insane to use his reputation like that. However, there was something he understood ever since The Cascade happened. The dynamics of power and how it was enforced were forever changed as they naturally skewed to the one with the most power. Before, every human was on the same level, capable of being brought down with a simple bullet or knocked down with a whack of a bat. However, how could someone arrest or bring down a god with simple firearms? How could the law or the concept of order be enforced when there were no violent means to keep those people in line?

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Benjamin understood that he had to play by those rules; all the power to maintain the status quo was in his hands. As he approached the bank door and pushed it open. All he could do was try to speak to them and appeal to their humanity. It would be easier to just kill the robbers, fire an energy blast, or move at super speed into them and turn them into pink mist. Yet that would be a message Ben wouldn’t want to send to the world. There are a million reasons people could resort to crime, not all of them were because the person was born evil or wanted to do something horrible. At times, they were just desperate and in need of help.

  Six robbers turned to face Ben, four of whom had guns and aimed them at him. None of whom were wearing any masks. Seeing the symbol on his chest, they understood they were talking to one of the most powerful people in the entire room. Though to their surprise, Ben raised his hands above his head and surrendered.

  ‘I mean no harm.’ He says to them, glancing at the hostages to give them a warm smile. Happy to know that they were all okay, while reassuring them that they would be okay. ‘I am here to talk. I don’t want any trouble.’

  They all shook, stumbling over their words while Ben did nothing but stand there and wait. ‘We… we came here for the money!’ The shortest one spoke up, which Ben assumed was the leader. Even though they were shaking like the rest of them. ‘If you do anything, we will…’

  ‘That’s okay,’ Ben calmly replied. ‘I will just stand here. But you have to know that there is no point to this. Continuing this robbery will only make things worse for you. Please, let’s just talk things out and let’s see if there is any way I can help you.’

  ‘Help us with what?’ One of them hissed back. ‘There is nothing for us out there. Not when the world is still ignorant about what is true.’

  Ben raised a brow, confused as to what they meant. ‘Ignorant of what?’

  The robber stuttered as if they realised they had made some sort of mistake. Though Ben couldn’t tell what it was. Upon further inspection, he started to realise something didn’t make sense about the heist. All of them were in the main area, and not one of them bothered to go into the vault. The hostages were on one side of the room, yet there were no explosives or anything to make a rescue operation difficult. They didn’t even have any tools or specialised equipment. All they had were guns and empty bags where they stored their firearms.

  ‘Get out of here!’ One of them said before racking their shotgun. ‘Or one of them dies.’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’m sorry, but I will not leave this building until you all turn yourselves in,’ Ben said as he lowered his arms. The lack of equipment, the disjointed manner of the robbery, and the disregard for concealing their identities. It wasn’t a heist, or at least, a proper one. ‘I can now see that talks are impossible. So, I will skip all of that and get to the warning. Please lay down your weapons and surrender. Refusing will mean I have to step in.’

  Staring each other down, the robbers’ hands shook. Their hands gripping tightly to their weapons, forming a fist, or having ice form around one of their hands. Many would interpret their actions as simple acts of intimidation, but Ben could tell it was all bravado. A distraction and a delay tactic to what was actually happening, and Ben knew he needed to figure it out quickly and put a stop to whatever was going on.

  As he levitated off the ground, one robber aimed their weapon at a group of hostages to shoot them. But Ben blitzed his way in front of them with his hand covering the barrel. With a gush of wind knocking the shooter back a few steps, Ben covered the shotgun blast with his left hand before pinching the barrel shut. Once the threat was removed, Ben lightly pushed them to the other end of the room with a single finger. One more and he would’ve shattered every bone in the shooter’s body.

  Another charged in, their feet causing the ground to crack and shake with every step. But with a single punch, their entire hand shattered and distorted upon impact. Ben turned to them, unfazed and unhurt. Besides retaliating with a strike of his own, Ben grabbed the hulking giant by the shirt and gently laid them on their backs.

  With how quickly and effortlessly Ben was able to defeat two people, the rest of the robbers dropped their weapons and gave up. Raising their hands to show they were done retaliating. There was no point fighting when he could just swat them like flies.

  ‘Alright, people,’ Ben addressed the hostages. ‘Please exit the building in an orderly fashion. Head to the nearest officer to make your statement and tell them it is safe to come in. We are done here.’

  Taking their chances, the hostages got up and made their way to the nearest exit. Meanwhile, the robbers sat down. While the one with the broken hand writhed in pain and clenched their teeth, and the one who was shoved to the other side was winded and disliked the prospect of sitting up. The rest were silent, their expressions almost apathetic.

  ‘What was the plan?’ Ben called out to them. ‘This isn’t a robbery; I can see that. So, what were you all trying to achieve?’

  None of them responded, all keeping their silence, which only made Ben even more suspicious. Unfortunately for him, walking into the bank with a frustrated look. ‘This is it, our robbers?’ Valentine put her deck of cards in her pocket.

  Before Ben could reply, he flinched as a loud explosion was heard from outside the building. Without wasting time, he rushed out of the building and took flight. The sudden force of him flying from the ground caused a loud boom, causing nearby cars to sound their alarms, while some windows shattered. As he was in the air, he looked around to find the ProTech facility on fire.

  Rushing there to investigate, he realised that the real heist was there. But as he arrived, they were already gone. Leaving behind smoking rubble. Ben descended, being careful to be off the ground by a few inches while he searched the ground for clues.

  With a glint, he noticed a piece of scrap metal on the ground with a locust etched onto it. It was warm to the touch when he picked it up, and he knew it belonged to those who blew a hole in the building.