Second invasion

After the date with Natasha, I was forced to go back to school the next day by Mom. Usually, I skip some days but she won't let me suddenly.

Frowning Mark and I walk to school, my car out of use for now. I look at my brother who seems unusually upbeat.

"What's got you so happy today bro?" I question. Genuinely curious. He's a pretty happy dude but not this happy.

"Huh? Uh- nothing I'm just happy today." He says as I shrug.

*****

The school day was relatively normal. I found out that I and Natasha have the same AP classes so that's a plus.

Who knew this whole time I would be sharing a class with a superheroine? Crazy small world out there.

Before I got my powers I'd be none the wiser. Smiling as the final bell rings I head to my locker, ready to resume my hero work.

A familiar blonde greets me at my locker as I smirk she looks bored before noticing me.

"There you are flyboy." Natasha greets me as I wave dramatically.

"Natasha, my favorite foreign friend how are you?" I ask with a sarcastic undertone as she pinches my arm.

I feign being in pain as she chuckles. We share a laugh in the halls before cutting to the chase.

"Wanna go patrolling with me today?" She asks curiously as I shrug.

"Sure, but I thought u worked with the teen team? Don't you guys usually stick together?" I question as Natasha scoffs.

"No, that's what Cecil and the GDA want. Before I was coaxed by my uncle into joining the teen team I patrolled about half the country by myself

With superspeed it's barely a challenge. But I usually don't have a partner since other heroes usually can't keep up but you?" Natasha looks at me with a smirk as I rub the back of my head.

"Yeah, I don't think it will be long before I catch up to the current you in speed. Viltrumites get stronger with age according to Dad." I explain as Natasha's eyes widen.

"Wait, so like. When you're a senior citizen. You'll be stronger than you are now?" At that, I shrug. I'm not some viltrumite expert like my father. I just know what he told me.

"I guess. But I'm pretty sure I won't look like a senior citizen for a very, very long time." I say smoothly as Natasha raises an eyebrow.

"We age slower. Dad told us stories. Me and Mark, viltrumites don't look middle-aged until they are at least 500 years old." I explain, Natasha nodding.

"So like my 5x great grandfather." She says as I raise an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" I question. How is her 5x great-grandfather even alive?

"Yeah, the guy has been around since like the 1500s but he barely looks a day over 60, something to do with our speed," Natasha explains as we exit the school building.

Heading to a nearby shipping container a bit from the school we take turns switching clothes as she continues the conversation.

"Our speed is a recessive trait. Me, my uncle, and my 5x great grandfather. Are the only ones to get the gene since our ancestors." Natasha says through the container as she comes out immediately.

Nodding I enter after, changing into my clothes.

"Do you guys like, don't age? Or age similar to my dad's people, very slow." I theorized as I heard Natasha's hum

"If my uncle didn't die he wouldn't have physically aged for another 100 years maybe," Natasha says as I exit the container in my sentinel clothes.

"How old was Red Rush before he-"

"Died? Like 80. He's my great uncle but I call him uncle 'cause he doesn't exactly look like a 'great' uncle does he?" Natasha says as I nod.

"Sorry," I apologize for no reason as Natasha smiles and hugs me.

"Hey, you don't need to apologize. I've already gotten over things and my family is recovering." Natasha says as I return the hug slowly.

"Right."

*****

Me and Natasha spent about an hour or two scaring the shit out of small-time crooks. And putting them behind bars.

"Pfft he dropped his gun!" Natasha laughs as she recalls a particularly bold mob boss who shot me in the head.

Of course, the bullet flattened against my skin. The guy ended up pissing himself and dropping the gun.

"Yeah, it was funny I guess," I mutter, but I'm disgusted. He pissed himself as I was flying him to the local police station, I got piss on my hand.

"I need to wash this hand," I say looking at my left hand as Natasha laughs harder,

*Xlr8 come in!* a voice says from Natasha's earpiece. Robot.

"Yeah, robot? What's wrong?" She questions as robot's voice is transmitted again.

*More thraxans invading! Somehow resisting our world's acceleration. They're overwhelming us* Robot says with urgency as me and Natasha nod to each other.

"On our way!" She says as we shoot off faster than the speed of sound.

*****

When we arrived things looked bad. Mark glued up, Eve with something stuck on her face. Robot convulsing on the ground. And Rex and Kate are overwhelmed.

We move with no hesitation. I shoot through their ranks at full speed. My fist slams into the laser-shooting tanks that all lock onto me.

One of the flaxans with a scar on his eye notices me and yells something in their language. My eyes widen as the portal widens.

A massive tank, as big as a 3-story building slowly exits the portal. Robot's voice cuts through the air as I come face to face with a massive Gun.

"They have spent centuries planning in their dimension on how to beat us sentinel. I recommend you don't hold back." His voice was monotone despite being on the ground.

I go to move. But then I hear yells behind me. Looking behind I see a group of people. Terrified looks on their faces as I freeze.

"Shit..."

-BOOM-

The red beam connects with the force of one of Dad's punches. I hold my ground. If I go flying I'll kill those people behind me.

As I resist the constant force of the laser beam I question myself.

'What if I move? Can I live with myself knowing I let innocents die?'

"What if I move and say I couldn't hold it anymore? Leave it to the GDA'

As my thoughts get more and more cold. I look behind me at the people. Their faces clouded in fear. My brown eyes meet blue as I stare into a kid's eyes.

It's a boy. No older than 8. Tears slowly spill as he trembles. Holding onto an even younger girl tight as others begin to scramble out of the way.

Despite being so young. Despite being powerless. He holds his ground. If this kid can protect people why the hell can't I?

"NO!" I yell in force. My body jolts as I slowly move forward. The heat of the laser seems to get less and less as I yell.

My hands begin to sear. My clothes remain unaffected art is truly a matter of his craft.

I feel my body burn. But I keep pushing.

'Come on sentinel!' I yell internally as my slow walk turns into a jog. The beam seems to triple its intensity

'Come on sentinel!'

'Come on sentinel'

My jog turns into a slow sprint my body yells in protest as I resist the laser. Pushing it back to the source.

The tank begins to shake. And the beam seems to redouble its energy and wash over me in waves. But I push through with a Yell.

"COME ON SENTINEL!" I yell to myself as my feet leave the ground.

"Hraghhhhhhhhh!" I yell with all my might as I overpower the beam shooting right into the gun of the tank.

-BOOOM-

The entire thing explodes as I'm sent flying. I groan in pure agony as I notice my hands and arms are burned up.

My body crashes into a car and it explodes. I groan

But I don't stop, slowly rising to my feet I notice Natasha relocating the nearby civilians. My arms burnt. Blood spilling from my lip I grin.

With no civilians around I don't have to be careful.

"I need some stress relief." That is all I say before I move.

The sound barrier shatters as I grab the supposed leader of the flaxans. The one with a scar on its eye

Holding it by the throat I grin before squeezing hard. Its whole head pops off.

I don't stop there. I blast through tanks. Rip through their ranks

Mark seems to have broken free as he joined me in the fray.

As we demolish the flaxans robot sends out a frequency that makes them all age rapidly.

I notice the bracelets they wear seem to have protected them from our reality's rapid aging process.

They retreat into the portal as they all age rapidly.

When I know things are over I fall to my knees as Mark helps Eve up.

I look at my hands, noticeable 1st degree burns littering them as I frown

Wiping the blood from my lip. Mark walks over to me.

"Woah, dude. You're bleeding?" He questions. Disbelief laced in his tone.

"Dude we are durable. Not invicible." I say. No pun intended

"It appears they planned specifically for you sentinel. Good thing they don't know how strong you really were or that could've gone bad." Robots voice says as I struggle to understand.

"It's been 3 days..."

"For us. For them It's been centuries." Robot explains as I nod in understanding.

"Flyboy!" I hear a Yell and then a blur slams into me. Wincing as my burns get irritated I smile as I notice Natasha hugging me.

"Are you okay?" She says in concern. Breaking the hug and looking at my arms in worry.

"Of course. That was nothing." I reply honestly. Despite the burns, with all the adrenaline pumping in my veins and my viltrumite stamina I feel like I could go for a round two if anything.