The Underground

The hallways were very futuristic, and soon opened up via windows into massive chambers. As Angel led him through, Justin could see other people, all showing various superpowers, training with either their abilities or their physical capabilities. In one of the rooms, which looked like a gym of some kind, a small group of people were all lined up, doing different exercises while being overseen by a large man in steel armor that was colored like military camouflage; Justin recognized him as the hero, Sergeant Napalm.

Angel began to explain, "The Underground in a hidden group of heroes that all share one goal; rooting out corruption and crime in our city as well as separation from the government."

"I've never seen any of these people" Justin said, "Are they licensed?"

"No" Angel replied, "None of them are. It actually helps achieve our goal."

Justin was far too confused right now. "I don't get it. Why are you doing this? What corruption? What are we really fighting?"

Angel placed a hand on Justin's mouth. "It's probably better if we explain this with more knowledgeable individuals."

She then lead him into a spacious room that resembled a sort of penthouse. A circular couch was in the center with a wide TV in front of it, a firepit to the right, and what looked like a large swimming pool to the left. Sitting on the couch was an older man with a white beard and coated in random gadgets like he was some kind of mad scientist. He appeared to be inspecting a turkey leg.

"That's Engineer" Angel explained, "He's the brains of the team."

Justin looked at him quizzically. "He's looking at a turkey leg."

"One cannot be too careful" Engineer said, "He likes it a certain way."

"He?"

Engineer threw the meat at the pool just as Steeljaw erupted form the water, catching the leg in his mouth and devouring it in one bite.

"Meta-Beast!" Justin shouted. Angel chuckled. "No, but an easy mistake to make. Steeljaw is an actual hero. His power was just a little more…extreme."

Steeljaw surfaced, picking his teeth with his claws while giving Engineer a thumbs up.

"How can you tell the difference?" Justin asked.

"Meta-Beasts are near mindless" Engineer responded, "Steeljaw still has his humanity. It's his power you see here; he's basically gained the strength and durability of a Saltwater Crocodile."

"And his jaw?"

Steeljaw heard this and grunted, tapping his lower, steel-plated jaw as he climbed out of the pool. "It was another Meta-Beast. Creepy spider person slashed my jaw as I was crunching it. This helps protect it in case something like that happens again."

Angel could see Justin had more than a few questions and motioned to the couch. "Sit down. We'll wait for the other leaders to get here before we start explaining."

Justin saw no other real option and sat down, making sure to stay as far away from Steeljaw as possible; he still didn't quite trust him yet.

Just then, the door opened again as Razor and Aqua entered.

"Aqua" Angel said with a wave, "Good to see you're awake."

"I'm more surprised HE'S up before me" Aqua replied, gesturing to Justin, "considering he's a Powerless."

Justin didn't know whether or not to take that as a complement or an insult. "Um…thank you?"

Suddenly, a bright orange shape descended into the room from an opening in the room, filling it with a sudden burst of heat. As it cleared Justin could see another winged figure, this one armored with metallic wings, both of which were colored a fiery orange. The armor had an angular design with the helmet having a small crest like a pterosaur.

The newcomer folded his wings with a metallic screech behind him as he looked around. "Am I late?"

"No" Engineer said, "but you were darn close."

"Leave him be" Angel said, walking up to him and hugging him, "I'm just glad you're here."

The figure hugged back, "Always better when you're around."

"Hold on" Justin interrupted. "Who are you?"

The armored hero made a small salute, "Call me Phoenix."

Angel explained. "Phoenix was one of the first unlicensed heroes here and is one of our strongest. Just don't get on his bad side."

Steeljaw looked around, "Well, looks like we're all here."

"Indeed" Angel agreed, "Now we can explain. Razor, you start."

Razor nodded and took out a TV remote, switching the channels on the screen. "Justin, this city is corrupted. It has been from the inside, yet no one knows it."

"What do you mean?" Justin demanded.

"While there are many who love seeing the superheroes streak across the sky and protect them, there are others who feel otherwise. The crime lords of this city have been weaseling their way into the political system for years, paying off senators and judges just so they can get away with their dirty business: smuggling, trafficking, even murder."

"How do you know this?"

"Because we were the first targets."

Razor then changed the channel, showing one of the city congressmen at a press conference.

"It has come to my opinion" the congressman said, "That these superheroes do a lot for us, and that they fail to look out for their own personal health and well-being; I feel like we should return the favor. Which is why, in my opinion, we should let our police force handle some of the work. In my proposed bill, heroes will patrol our streets by day, and the police can…take the night shift, so to speak."

The audience applauded, but Razor interrupted the television here. "It started out as a suggestion, but after a few months, us heroes came under a mandatory curfew. We couldn't even show our faces at night without threat of being arrested."

Angel added. "And of course when the crime lords heard of it…well, I'm sure you get the idea."

Justin was at near loss for words; he had seen that news footage when it aired live almost two years ago. He hadn't thought anything of it before, but now as Razor and Angel explained what it entailed; he began to see the corruption hidden within the politics.

"They started doing their work in secret and at night, where the police couldn't catch them and heroes couldn't touch them." He concluded.

"Bingo" Aqua said, "The Underground is meant to begin a resistance against this corruption. Razor was the first to realize something was up, so he told Angel, who told Engineer, and it just kept growing."

"And your sister was a part of this too?" Justin asked.

Aqua nodded, "She was one of the more loyal followers, always walking out at night when she wanted to. Obviously, you can see where that got her."

"She made her choice" Angel said, "We can't blame her for her death."

"What matters" Engineer said, "is what we plan to do to bring this corrupt political agenda down along with the crime lords in this city."

"I'll do it" Justin said. The superheroes all looked at him quizzically.

"Uh, I hate to break it to you" Steeljaw said, "but you're Powerless."

"So?" Justin shot back, standing up with an angry expression, "I've been working for a corrupt group of politicians paid off by criminals for years and I never even knew it. I'll gladly take them down, even if it means going out and hunting them one at a time."

Angel smirked and looked to Razor, "I told you he had the heart."

Razor nodded, "You certainly weren't kidding."

Engineer stood up, "Well, if it's hunting you want to do, kiddo, than I might have a few gadgets you could find handy."

Justin nodded, "I'll certainly give them a look. But I'll also need training to fight. We obviously learned some at the police academy, but it wasn't much. I was hoping to learn some real skills from someone like Razor."

Razor nodded in understanding and approval. "I might know a few skills you can use."

"So, I take it you're in?" Angel asked.

Justin looked back at Angel with a determined expression. "You better believe I'm in . Powerless or no, I'm not going to let these criminals get away with it anymore."

"Well, I guess that settles it, then." Angel said with a smirk before standing up and walking over to Justin. She extended her hand, which he promptly shook.

"Justin Woods" she said, "Welcome to the Underground."

Engineer chuckled, "Now to see about some fun new gadgets. Plus, you're going to need a new name and suit if you're going to be one of us."

Justin nodded, "Whatever is necessary."

Steeljaw burst out into a laugh. "Oh, I can't wait to see where this goes."

Aqua merely stood there and looked at Justin with curiosity; was this Powerless going to be a laughingstock, or would he truly turn the tables in this hidden war?