Quinn stared fearfully at the man looming over him with a lit cigar hanging from the er of his mouth. He had no idea who this person was, but judging by the atmosphere alone, he could tell he wasn't in a good situation.

  "Who..." he gulped nervously, "who are you?"

  The man took a drag of his cigar and exhaled a cloud of smoke, further filling the air with a hazy fog. He studied Quinn for a moment before answering, "Call me Virgil. And you're Quinn, correct? Fii's friend."

  How does he know that? And why is he talking about Fii? Is she in trouble?

  "I don't know who that is," Quinn lied.

  "e now, boy, we both know that's not true," Virgil chuckled, his face hidden within the shadows cast by the flickering light above. "Just tell me what I want to hear, and I might let you go without breaking too many bones." He pced his hand oable, drumming his fingers impatiently. "And if you'd rather be stubborn, I could always beat the information out of you."

  Quinn fli the threat, instinctively shrinking away, his back pressing against his chair. "Why do you want to know about Fii? What are you pnning to do with her? She hasn't done anything wrong."

  "Iing...and noble, if foolish," Virgil observed coolly. "Proteg a friend, despite the risks involved." He paused, taking another draw of his cigar, letting the smoke billow around his face before exhaling. "But I wonder...how loyal is that friendship, eh, boy? Would you betray her if your life depended on it? Or are you truly willing to risk your own well-being for someone else?"

  Is this guy crazy? Of course, he'd protect Fii.

  Sure, they'd only met retly, but despite the short time they'd known each other, Quinn sidered her a friend. She saved his life. There was no way he'd turn against her. And besides, the slums only reward those who survive. Betrayal only bes yourself. And those that do don't often live long anyway.

  "Look, buddy, I don't know what your problem is with Fii, but I ain't saying squat." Quinn crossed his arms defensively and leaned back, crossing his legs, ag as nont as possible despite the situation. "So, either start expining why you're after her or fuck off."

  Virgil let out another chuckle, clearly amused by Quinn's brazen response.

  Suddenly, Virgil pulled out his gun and aimed it at him, cog the hammer.

  "Tsk, tsk, you wanna run that by me again? Last ce. Talk now or else." Virgil narrowed his eyes, fixing Quinn with a deathly stare.

  Shit! This guy's serious!

  Quinn grunted as he smmed his foot against the table, flipping it up and over. He lunged for Virgil, grabbing his wrist and squeezing tightly to stop him from pulling the trigger.

  However, the older man's strength proved to be superior, and he flung Quinn to the ground like a ragdoll, pinning him to the crete with a boot firmly pnted on his chest. He grinned as he squeezed the trigger, aiming the gun right at Quinn's forehead.

  Damn...well, at least I tried. Guess this is it.

  Quinn closed his eyes, waiting for the iable sound of a gunshot t out. However, nothing came. He slowly opened his eyes to find Virgil studying him ily, his fiill h over the trigger.

  "You got balls, I'll give you that." He removed his foot, allowing Quinn to sit up. "Maybe I uimated you."

  "What's going on?" Quinn asked, bewildered by Virgil's ge in attitude. "You gonna tell me why you were asking me about Fii now, or you gonna threaten me again?"

  Virgil put his gun bato the holster and flipped the table upright again before sitting down opposite Quinn. He crossed his legs and took another puff of his cigar, seemingly tent to rex now after the brief frontation.

  "Alright, alright. Maybe you're not the one I should be threatening. Besides, I think you've proved yourself more than enough. I'm a friend of hers, you could say. A guardian. Sort of, anyway." Virgil leaned forward a Quinn's gaze. "My main priority is her safety. So, I just wanna make sure she's in good hands. Do you uand?"

  Quinn blinked in surprise. This guy was trying to protect Fii? Thehe hell was he when those Gully Rats attacked them earlier? They both could've been killed.

  "How do I know you're telling the truth?" Quinn demanded. "How I trust you if you threateo shoot me a minute ago? Who are you?"

  "Does the name 'Backfire' ring a bell?"

  Backfire? Who doesn't know that name? He was an infamous gunslinger who tried establishing a police for the slums a decade ago. Got most of the majangs under trol for a while but eventually wound up disappearing. A lot of rumors spread about his death.

  Wait...gunslinger? Cowboy? This guy fits the description. Holy shit. Does that mean...?

  Virgil smirked knowingly. "Smart kid."

  "Oh, wow...I, um...oh." Quinn sat there, fbbergasted.

  Fii was friends with the legendary Backfire?!

  "Now that we've established who I am and why I'm here, let's tinue our discussion, shall we?" Virgil rested his elbows on top of the table and folded his hands together.

  Quinn tried to speak, but Virgil held up a finger, sileng him. "I'm going to ask you a few questions, and I want ho answers. Uand?" His tone brooked nument.

  "Yes, sir, I uand," Quinn mumbled obediently.

  "Good. First, tell me about your retionship with Fii. How long have you known her?"

  "Um, I've only met her a couple of times. The first time was a while ago. I happeo e across her at the water towers. We had a brief talk. Then today was the sed time, when we delivered a package together."

  Virgil houghtfully. "So, you only met her retly. What did you think of her? Did she strike you as anything out of the ordinary? Different from the usual girl?"

  "Different how?"

  "Don't py dumb with me, Quinn. I know you've seen Fii's power. And the way you acted after that brawl with the Gully Rats, you clearly have questions. Spit them out."

  The memory of Fii fighting off those thugs repyed in Quinn's mind, repying again and again. "It's...it's hard to expin," he stammered, struggling to piece his thoughts together. "When I first met Fii, there was something different about her, but I couldn't put my finger oly what it was. Today, when she saved me, that firmed it for me. She's a Meta, is she?"

  Virgil took a long, thoughtful drag of his cigar before exhaling the smoke through his nostrils. "And how do you feel about that fact?"

  "About what fact? That Fii is a Meta?" Quinn shrugged nontly. "I'm cool with it. So what if she's a Meta? Who cares? It doesn't make any differeo me." He scratched his head absentmindedly. "If anything, it makes her special. Someone worth knowing. There aren't aas in the slums except—"

  Hold on.

  There was another Meta in the slums. Axion. He heard that she er who came from the slums, and from the oime he spoke with her, he got the sehat she might've been a local, too.

  Is Fii—? No, that 't be. Could she be...?

  "Aaaand you figured it out. Well done," Virgil plimented mogly, appuding sarcastically. "So, what are you going to do with this information, hm?"

  Wait...so Fii really is Axion?!

  Quinn gaped in disbelief. "Oh...oh crap. I was right?"

  "Yup, good job, bub. Now, if you'd be so kind as to answer my question. What do you pn to do with what you've learned?"

  "Nothing," Quinn decred resolutely, straightening himself. "I promised her that I'd keep this a secret. And I io keep that promise." He met Virgil's icy gre. "Besides, as far as I'm ed, we're all in the same boat. All of us who live in the slums are victims of circumstance. Just trying to make ends meet and survive another day."

  A faint smirk fshed across Virgil's face, disappearing so quickly Quinn could've imagi.

  "Very good." Virgil leaned bad rested his boots on top of the table. "Gd we're on the same page."

  Quinhed a sigh of relief, gd he seemed to have earhe man's approval. However, one question remaihat his mind.

  " I ask you something, too, mister?" Quinn inquired carefully. "What is your e to Fii? What's your stake in all of this?"

  Virgil scoffed. "Hmph, straightforward and ho, yet ing enough to seek leverage. Impressive." He stubbed his cigar butt out oable and tossed it aside. "Simply put, I'm her mentor, trainer, and overseer. The one responsible for makihe hero you see today."

  Quinn raised an eyebrow skeptically. "The one behind Axion? Really?"

  "Yep. But unlike her, I prefer to work in the background. Stay out of the spotlight. I handle logistics, training, tactical support, and surveilnce." Virgil expined as if he'd rehearsed the spiel a huimes over. "You could say I'm an enabler in her journey. And now we've e to the sed reason why I came here to speak with you."

  "Huh? Sed reason? What do you mean?"

  "You know her identity, and based on what I've just seen, you're not just a typical street rat. You've been w to try and make the slums a better pce, haven't you?" Virgil gestured at the various projects lying oables. "Repairing broken tech, creatihings, and trying to improve the ditions here. You could say you have a bit of an altruistic streak in you."

  Quinn rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Y-yeah, but not like it's been easy. Not with the gangs running wild, doing whatever they want. Trying to make things better around here, helping out whoever I , is something I do in my spare time. It's tough, but I try."

  "Of course, I get it, and I appreciate that. You've got talent, kid. Too bad there are so few people like you in these parts. So, I want you to join us." Virgil cpped his hands together loudly, startling Quinn with the suddeure. "You're a good fighter, and you've got smarts, too. We could use someone like you."

  Join them? As in, bee a hero like Fii? But he wasn't a Meta. He couldn't fight or do anything incredible like her. All he could do was fix and repair stuff. There was no point in recruiting him.

  "Me? Bee a Super?" Quinn scoffed and shook his head. "That's ridiculous. I 't do what you guys do. I'm not a Meta. And I barely hold my own in a fight."

  "Being a Meta isn't everything, Quinn. Not by a long shot," Virgil stated bluntly. "Having powers isn't necessary to be a hero. The same goes for being strong, fast, smart, or talented. It takes heart, dedication, and willio stand up for those in need, no matter how small or insignifit they may be. Anyone be a hero. All you need is the will to help others, no matter what."

  Quinn stayed silent, digesting those words.

  "The world's full of assholes, and most people only care about themselves. The slums are full of those kinds of folks. The same goes for the metropolis. You probably know that already. The problem with humanity is that we tend to care too much about the little things, ing the important things right in front of us."

  Virgil tapped his finger against his temple as he pondered for a moment before tinuing. "So, if nobody else bothers to take a, that responsibility falls on the shoulders of those with a sd moral character. People like you and me. If nobody helps the slums, and nobody saves the city, then there's nothi. Uand? Everyone has a part to py. Even if they think they 't tribute much."

  "I guess, but..." Quinn trailed off.

  "Believe me, you'd make an excellent partner. Especially since you've already formed a bond with Fii. Your presence will help keep her grounded." He crossed his arms and gave Quinn an appraising gnce. "Holy, I'm impressed by your capabilities and skills. Even with only one eye, you mao do things most kids in the slums never learn. You operate heavy maery, repair utilities, and even do basibat, apparently."

  "Mmm, I suppose, yeah." Quinn admitted sheepishly. "But what makes you so sure that I'll be useful? Sure, I help fix a few broken geors or pipes, but that won't stop the gang wars or the streets. Isn't that what Supers do?"

  "We 't do everything ourselves. Even Supers need assistants." Virgil gave him a sly grin. "Making the slums a better pce ain't just about ing out the garbage. It's about inspiring others to do their part too. I re with a bit of coag and training, you could be a det hero someday. Nothing big and fancy, but helpful in your ht."

  "Hero, huh...you really think so?" Quinn wondered, weighing the notion. "Never really sidered it before. Never had a reason to. Most days, I spend trying to figure out how to stay alive, you know?"

  "I get that. It's difficult for everyone," Virgil iserated, "but the time has e for the slums to ge. If you 't get the help you need from the metropolis, then you've gotta step up and take matters into your own hands. The time for passivity is over. All that remains is a. Take a stand." He extended his hand towards Quinn. "Will you join us?"

  It wasn't often he'd had a profound versation about philosophy, society, and morality in general. But he couldn't help but agree with Virgil's stance. If this was an attempt to recruit him, he'd fallen for it hook, line, and sinker. If this guy had been a gang leader instead of a viginte, he'd likely be leading a criminal empire right now.

  "Well, I've always wao do more," Quinn admitted, accepting Virgil's offer. "Make a difference, in any way I . I don't care about fame lory, I just wanna do what's right."

  Virgil smiled proudly. "Then wele aboard."

  They shook hands firmly. The older man's grip almost crushed Quinn's hand, but he ehe pain with a grimad kept shaking. When they separated, he flexed his fio ease the lingering soreness.

  "Alright, now that we've gotten that settled," Virgil remarked, rubbing his hands together, "let's discuss how we're going to get you ready for this gig, shall we?"