Josh finally arrived home, and the first thing he saw was Sasha. She rushed towards him, her face a mixture of relief and lingering fear, and they embraced tightly.

  "Josh! You're alright," Sasha exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly.

  Josh held her close for a moment, savoring the feeling of safety and familiarity. "I'm okay, Sasha," he reassured her, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes. "Thanks to the Hero League."

  Sasha then looked over at him, noticed something, and then said, “What did you and the League talk about?”

  A few hours ago...

  Josh was taken to the meeting room by Blue Lock at the Hero League headquarters, where he met Ebony Blade and Kaiju-Man at a round table, all with stern expressions.

  “Josh Miller…” Ebony Blade said. “Normally we wouldn’t discuss this with civilians… but it seems that you've become more than just a target from just any criminal organization… but a syndicate that we thought was purged decades ago.”

  Blue Lock then folded his arms. “Black Hold…” he said, the name of which made Josh winded, his eyes widened, and his heart clenched in dread.

  “Wait… hold up. You mean Black Hold as in… the super-villain army that nearly took over the world on the eve of 1999? And laid waste to whole cities and counties worldwide in that same year… they are the ones after me!?” Josh nearly shouted out in dismay.

  Kaiju-Man then let out a sigh. “The technology of the base that held you had schematics that, while much more advanced, are in the same style and structure,” he confirmed.

  Josh then looked down. “So that means…”

  Ebony then let out a sad breath. “It means that you and your family will have to stay in the League or be kept at home for your own protection until Black Hold is permanently neutralized. Meaning no school, no college, no travel, etc, I am sorry.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  His expression soured. “So… there is no other way out of this?”

  Mike then spoke up. “You and your family can always go into the witness protection program. Change your name, your identity, move to another state… and keep any of the abilities you gained in Alleran a secret, while the League keeps watch over you.”

  Josh grimaced. “Which basically means my parents and I have to live another life… permanently.”

  Ebony Blade then looked at his troubled expression and said, “We will give you three days for you to decide… however, this is for your own safety. For if Black Hold is willing to go this far to learn your abilities, even if they may think it is a hoax at first… it will only be a matter of time before they find out the truth if you keep using them like this, Miller. So please… give it some thought on what you want to do.”

  Back at the present, Sasha's expression fell, a mixture of shock and understanding clouding her features. "That's… that's awful, Josh," she said softly. She looked helpless, wishing there was more she could do.

  Josh offered a wry smile. "It's not your fault, Sasha. Yet it is what it is.”

  Sasha then knitted her brow. “But… surely you are strong enough to face off against any villain, right? Even… Black Hold?”

  Josh then looked at Sasha, let out a deep breath, and said, “Maybe… I mean, the Steel Titan gave me a beating, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t shrug off… but the Hero League doesn’t want to take chances, Sasha… and I can’t blame them."

  Sasha then bit her lip. “So the only way you can live a normal life is by moving out, changing your name, and… living another life?”

  The blond-haired teen then stood silent for a moment and said, “Pretty much…”

  Sasha then remained quiet for a moment, not knowing what to say. She had only reunited with her best friend for less than a week, and now he had to leave her again, this time for good, out for his own protection… and after he protected others, including her? It just didn’t seem fair.

  But then Josh’s father called them from the kitchen.

  “Josh! Sasha! You won't believe who's here to see you!" he shouted.

  Josh and Sasha exchanged a curious glance before heading towards the kitchen. Sitting at the table, casually sipping a cup of tea, was a figure Josh recognized instantly. A longtime idol, a hero he had admired since childhood.

  Captain Radiant.

  The hero stood as Josh entered, his armored spandex form gleaming in the warm kitchen light, and then offered the teen a reassuring smile and a steady gaze.

  "Josh," he said, his voice a warm baritone, "I'd like to ask you something. How would you feel about joining the League of Heroes as a superhero?"