Later that evening, after their patrol officially wrapped and Dio Under was handed off to the ISC without incident, the trio finally filtered out of the locker rooms. Gear was stowed and clothes hung loose. Everyone looked tired in the specific way that came from a long shift. They headed for the exit, already half checked out and thinking about food, showers, and not moving for the rest of the night. The halls were quiet, lights dimmed to their evening setting. That calm didn't last.
Captain Fantastica stepped into their path just short of the doors. He looked relaxed, but there was intent behind it.
"Evermend wants to see you three," he said. "Now."
Justin sighed. Braxton groaned. Liza just raised an eyebrow. None of them argued. They turned around and headed back deeper into the building, the mood shifting from post-mission ease to quiet curiosity. An unscheduled meeting rarely meant nothing.
Evermend's office door slid open, and the first thing Justin clocked was that she wasn't alone. Lady Void was sitting far too comfortably beside the desk, legs crossed, hands folded, smiling like she owned the place. Justin barely had time to register that before she vanished in a flicker of dark energy.
She reappeared directly behind him.
"Oh, there's my precious baby boy," she sang, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and planting rapid kisses across his face.
Justin froze. Then he recoiled, shoving her back, face burning red. "Mom. I told you not to do this at my workplace. Ever."
Braxton lost it immediately, laughing loud and unapologetically. Liza turned away, hand over her mouth, shoulders shaking.
Lady Void pressed a hand to her chest. "Honestly. Is it a crime for a mother to visit her child once in a while?" She glanced at Braxton and Liza, clearly enjoying herself. "You see how ungrateful he is."
Justin adjusted his jacket and glared at her. "Why are you here?"
Her smile softened. The playful edge faded as she straightened, posture shifting into something sharper.
"I'm here on business," she said. "Important business."
The room went still.
Braxton's laughter cut off. Liza turned back, expression flat and focused. Justin's irritation drained away, replaced with guarded attention.
Evermend folded her arms. "Now that you've made your entrance," she said, dry as ever, "we can get started."
Whatever this was, it wasn't social. And it very clearly involved all three of them.
"What kind of business," Justin asked, glancing between his mom and Evermend, "are we talking about?"
Lady Void leaned back against the desk, fingers laced, expression turning thoughtful for once. "An old friend of mine reached out a few weeks ago. We hadn't spoken in years. She told me her son had developed powers and enrolled in one of the few academies in the world equipped to nurture that kind of growth. Paragon Academy."
Justin's posture stiffened slightly. Liza crossed her arms. Braxton stayed quiet.
"She said everything seemed normal at first," Lady Void continued. "Then contact stopped. Messages unanswered. Calls ignored. When she went there herself, she found out her son had been missing for weeks." Her jaw tightened. "No incident reports. No alerts. Nothing."
"That's awful," Liza said.
"It gets worse," Lady Void said. "She dug deeper. Turns out her son wasn't the only one. Nearly a dozen students. Gone. Same story every time. Quiet removals. No explanations."
Justin frowned. "And nobody did anything?"
"The school didn't," Lady Void said. "And the authorities couldn't."
Braxton shifted. "Why not?"
Lady Void exhaled. "Because Paragon Academy is run by Ares."
Justin blinked. "Ares. As in the Ares."
Evermend nodded once. "Greek war god. Former S-class hero. Same tier as Braveshine."
Justin let out a low whistle. "So if the authorities push—"
"They're effectively declaring war," Lady Void finished. "An S-class isn't just a hero or a villain. They're a geopolitical problem. Nobody wants that kind of fight."
The room went quiet.
"That's why she came to me," Lady Void said. "And that's why I came here."
Evermend straightened, tone brisk. "We need eyes inside that school. We need to know what's actually happening to those kids." She glanced at the trio. "And it just so happens the three youngest members of this agency are standing in front of me."
Braxton's face lit up. "Wait. Are we going undercover?"
"Yes," Evermend said. "Already handled. Fake IDs. Transfer records. Backstories." She smirked faintly. "You're students now."
Justin groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."
Lady Void gave him a sympathetic look. "From what we've gathered, just being there is dangerous. Ares runs Paragon like a battlefield. Constant competition. Real injuries. Real consequences. Only about two percent of students ever graduate."
Braxton's grin widened. "Sounds intense."
Liza shot him a look. "Sounds like a mess."
Evermend nodded. "Your objective is simple. Blend in. Survive. Find out what's happening to the missing students and get proof."
Justin dragged a hand down his face. "I just got out of high school a few months ago. Now I'm going back undercover to the most dangerous one on the planet. Just peachy."
Liza tilted her head. "Could be interesting."
He shot her a look. "I seriously doubt that."
Then his expression sobered. "But if this helps figure out what happened to those kids, then yeah. It's worth it." He looked at his mom. "We'll find out what's going on there. And we'll stop it."
Lady Void's smile was small but proud. "I know you will."
Evermend folded her arms. "Good. You leave in a week. Rest up."
Evermend handed each of them a thin packet as they headed for the door. New names. IDs. Carefully built backstories. Everything they'd need. The trio filed out, the weight of it settling in as the door slid shut behind them.
Lady Void let out a breath. "Thank you. I know this isn't a small ask."
Evermend studied her. "Are you sure you're fine with this? Sending your son into something this dangerous. We don't know what's happening to those kids."
Void didn't hesitate. "I have faith in him. His drive. His strength. That competitive streak didn't come from nowhere." She smiled faintly. "He'll handle it."