HEROES

First Mission: Fire at the White House

The technical wing of HEROES Academy was unusually quiet that afternoon.

Rows of glowing monitors lit the room in blue and silver, while students typed rapidly, analyzing incoming global surveillance reports. Holographic maps rotated above the central table. T.L sat beside Clarence, both focused on a giant screen, trying to trace coded movement patterns from recent criminal activity.

Clarence tapped quickly on her keyboard. “There… I found a pattern in the eastern surveillance feed.”

T.L leaned closer, impressed. “How are you doing that so fast?”

Clarence grinned. “I told you — computer genius.”

T.L laughed softly. “Show-off.”

Before Clarence could reply—

The doors slid open with a hiss.

Merson walked in.

Behind him were his two children.

Both wore gold HEROES uniforms with the shining H emblem on their chests.

Louise, tall and sharp-faced, had flames dancing around her fingertips as if she enjoyed showing off. Derek, restless and arrogant, moved so fast he blurred for a second before stopping beside his father.

The entire technical room went silent.

Mrs. Tulip Hawkins straightened. “Director Merson.”

Merson nodded curtly, then his cold eyes landed on T.L.

Louise noticed too.

She tilted her head, staring at T.L like she was looking at some strange exhibit.

Then she asked loudly, not caring who heard.

“So… that’s the girl?”

She pointed directly at T.L.

“The one with no powers… and no parents?”

The room froze.

T.L’s fingers stopped on the keyboard.

Her chest tightened.

Merson folded his arms and answered without hesitation.

“Yes.”

His voice was flat.

“She shouldn’t have been admitted here in the first place. But she’ll be out of HEROES Academy soon enough.”

T.L lowered her eyes.

The words struck harder than she expected.

Beside her, Clarence immediately nudged her shoulder.

Quiet support.

T.L swallowed, pretending to focus on the monitor.

Clarence muttered under her breath, “Ignore them. Some people just enjoy being terrible.”

T.L gave a faint nod.

Before anything else could happen—

A loud, piercing alarm suddenly exploded across the entire academy.

WEEEOOOO— WEEEOOOO— WEEEOOOO—

Red emergency lights flashed across every wall.

Students gasped.

The massive main screen flickered.

Then a live broadcast appeared.

The White House.

Smoke poured from one side of the building.

Windows shattered.

Armed superpowered thieves were attacking the compound, throwing blasts of energy at military defenses while agents scrambled for cover.

The news reporter’s voice trembled:

> “We are receiving live footage of an active superhuman assault on the White House. The attackers appear to possess enhanced abilities. Federal defense teams are overwhelmed—”

Merson’s expression changed instantly.

Professional.

Focused.

He turned sharply.

“Everyone to assigned emergency positions!”

The technical director raised his voice.

“This is a Level One Threat. Dispatch protocols now!”

The entire room burst into motion.

Monitors shifted to tactical maps.

Students ran from station to station.

Officers barked military commands through communication devices.

“Control to Alpha Wing, confirm deployment.” “Alpha Wing confirmed. Preparing transport.” “Target locked — White House perimeter breach detected.” “Satellite feed online.”

Merson turned to the technical director.

“Send the alert to all HEROES divisions. Norms, hybrids, tribrids, quadrips, hexadriples. Immediate response team only.”

The director nodded.

“Copy that. Broadcasting priority signal.”

Across the academy, giant screens in every department lit up with the same warning.

---

Hybrid Wing

James was in theoretical training with Lena, Kennedy, and the others when the sirens began.

The entire room paused.

Then the screen turned on.

The White House attack.

Gasps filled the hall.

Kennedy stood up instantly.

“Whoa… this is real.”

Lena’s face turned serious.

“This isn’t training.”

One director entered quickly.

“All selected students prepare for live field deployment.”

James blinked.

“Live… what?”

Kennedy slapped his shoulder.

“Your first mission, genius.”

James looked at the screen again, heart racing.

Then the director began reading names.

“Lena.” “Kennedy.” “James Dickson.” “Stacey.” “Musa.”

James froze.

He looked at Lena.

She smiled, though nervous.

“Well… looks like we’re partners in the real world too.”

James swallowed hard.

“Great. No pressure.”

Kennedy smirked.

“Try not to die before the party this weekend.”

James glared.

“This is not the time.”

Kennedy shrugged.

“I’m coping.”

---

Tribrid Wing

Ava was in combat drills with Mia, Shine, and Lacy when the alarm sounded.

All training stopped.

The directors stepped forward as the emergency footage appeared.

Ava’s eyes widened.

“That’s the White House.”

Shine whispered, “This can’t be happening.”

Mia, however, looked excited.

“Finally. A real mission.”

Ava turned to her. “You’re excited?”

Mia shrugged.

“This is what we trained for.”

Director Chloe raised her voice.

“Only students who passed first-phase field evaluation will deploy.”

Then she read the names.

“Mia.” “Ava.” “Shine.” “Lacy.” “Enoch.” “Tehila.”

Ava’s heart skipped.

She looked at Shine.

Shine squealed softly. “We’re actually going!”

Lacy smirked. “Let’s hope the White House still exists when we get there.”

Ava forced a nervous smile.

Inside, she was terrified.

She thought of T.L.

She wished her friend was there to calm her down.

---

Technical Wing

Back in the tech center, T.L and Clarence had been assigned to surveillance tracking.

The technical director approached them.

“You two — locate every intruder inside the White House. Track their movements. Feed coordinates to field teams.”

Clarence saluted playfully.

“Yes sir.”

T.L hesitated.

“Wait… us?”

Mrs. Tulip placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“You’re good at this, T.L. Trust yourself.”

T.L nodded.

She took a breath.

Then her fingers flew across the keyboard.

Satellite maps opened.

Heat signatures appeared.

Security camera feeds merged into one giant interface.

Clarence stared.

“Wow… you’re fast.”

T.L kept typing.

“I think… I found them.”

She zoomed in.

Three thieves inside the main east corridor.

Two more near the presidential chamber.

One on the roof.

The technical director’s eyes widened.

“She’s right.”

He grabbed the comm device.

“Command to field team — target positions uploaded now.”

Merson turned, surprised.

For the first time that day, he looked at T.L without disgust.

Just brief surprise.

Then he said nothing.

Louise crossed her arms.

“Lucky guess.”

Clarence muttered loudly enough for only T.L to hear:

“Or she’s just smarter than your whole family.”

T.L almost laughed despite the tension.

---

HEROES Launch Bay

The selected students from all divisions gathered at the transport deck.

Massive black aircraft marked with golden H symbols were already powering up.

Engines roared.

Military officers loaded equipment.

Students stood in nervous clusters.

James spotted Ava from across the bay.

“Ava!”

She turned.

Her face lit up.

“James!”

They hurried toward each other.

Ava looked around. “Where’s T.L?”

James shook his head. “Technical wing.”

Ava frowned but nodded.

Then Lena approached James.

Kennedy immediately whispered to Ava:

“So that’s the girl.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”

Lena smiled politely at Ava.

“You must be the famous Ava.”

Ava blinked.

“Famous?”

James panicked.

“She means because I talk about you guys— not like all the time — I mean sometimes — not weirdly—”

Ava burst out laughing.

Lena laughed too.

Kennedy whispered to James:

“You’re sinking, bro.”

Before James could answer—

Merson’s voice boomed across the launch bay.

“All recruits board now!”

The aircraft doors opened.

The first mission had begun.

And none of them knew…

This attack on the White House was not random.

Someone far more dangerous was testing HEROES.

And watching them.

From the shadows.