Season One Episode 8: Ever Vigilant

## Synopsis for "Ever Vigilant"

### Project S.A.D.'s War

In several parts of the South States of North America, all in one night, Project S.A.D. puts his name in motion and chases down two criminals before killing them. In another location of the Northeast, Project S.A.D. kills 5 others with a single round from a sniper rifle. At the airport, Project S.A.D. tracks down another and strangles him. Later, on a rooftop, Project S.A.D. quickly assemble his weapons, and as a convoy arrives, Project S.A.D. cocks his gun and fires a bullet from atop a tall building, perfectly striking the and killing the criminal. With his job complete, he flees the scene by rappelling down the building.

### Liam's Awakening

When Liam awakens in a hospital room during the next evening, his face is bandaged and the metal parts of his face have been removed. He removes the bandages and his skin appears less burnt and less scarred, demonstrating his hibernation healing.

### Drakaina's Knowledge

Days later, January, Drakaina openly shares her knowledge to Nick to warn them about how hard it will now be to give them new and more information, while Joey is being examined by Nick because being outside in the cold has messed with his powers, and they discuss what they're going to do to remedy that.

At the computer desk, Kaliyah examines the shipping label of the company caches of supplies White Shadow and Tenebris found at the warehouses the Octet used. She searches through files on the company and associated businesses, saving every document; gradually, however, she becomes distraught on what the businesses did and sought assistance from Nick. Their information leads them to C-Town City, where the CEO, a South African named Jonas Harlow, usually hangs out at.

### Jonas Harlow

On comms, Nick informs White Shadow and Tenebris that the accountant and Jonas Harlow should be nearby. From there, they should be able to locate him for information, have it recorded and expose the target. Further in the background of the base, Joey inquires Drakaina "How come you haven't done this with them one by one? They'd be gone by now." Drakaina gives him a glance, and, feeling sorry, he responds with "No offense." Tenebris argues that he is correct and asks the same question, to which Drakaina responds that it is dangerous to face seven other assassins who may not also be undercover. She also claims that she reported the locations to the police, but they chose to ignore it after the workers pretended to work for the company whose shipping containers they had by displaying them although the FBI have been looking into it as well.

Retaliating towards Joey's question, Drakaina calls him out for his "faults", criticizing him as she believes he isn't using his powers and abilities to help benefit the people of the world, stating that there is much good he could do and much help the rest of the team could use, but Joey dismisses this, stating "that's like asking a human without powers to become a cop or join the military" and claiming that just because he possesses powers does not obligate him to use them to aid others. Kaliyah then suggests that Joey should go on missions to discover additional weaknesses for upgrades, rather than just for the sake of others' safety, to which Joey responds that he is unwilling to put himself in danger to discover what hurts him.

White Shadow and Tenebris identify Jonas and intend to pursue him when he is alone. During the tail, one of the Octet's personal assassins, Wildbrig, interrupts them, questioning if they're a part of the meeting. Once Wildbrig finds out that they're not, Wildbrig taunts them while standing at a distance. Then, he fires a pinkish-red blast at them, separating them. Tenebris continues to pursue Jonas, whereas White Shadow pursues Wildbrig.

Wildbrig knocks White Shadow to the ground and attacks, but White Shadow rolls over and Wildbrig misses and instead punches the ground. Wildbrig quickly recovers to continue attacking and keeping White Shadow manages to push Wildbrig back with a kick. Then, White Shadow is knocked back with a kick as well, and from a distance, the two stare at one another. White Shadow initiates combat with a sword, but Wildbrig blocks many of his attempts and even grabs the sword by the blade and breaks it. White Shadow continues to attack Wildbrig with the broken half of the sword as though it were a knife. White Shadow is then flung far away. White Shadow pulls out a second sword, and Wildbrig fires a shot at him, missing because White Shadow has already moved, but the blast manages to break that sword too. White Shadow uses the sword anyways and manages to slash Wildbrig in the face, enraging him even more. Wildbrig rushes through the subsequent attacks, attempting to ignore them with his resilience and indomitable will, and grabs White Shadow by the throat and slams him to the ground. White Shadow kicks him off. With Wildbrig distracted by his cut and surprised that it's not healing, White Shadow manages to escape.

When White Shadow catches up to Tenebris, who has Jonas captured, he allows her to ask the questions so he can regain his stamina. Jonas demonstrates arrogance by claiming that living in a world full of superhumans, they don't scare him. White Shadow uses his mythical intimidation to scare him, staring him down, while Tenebris seems to show far greater strength than a normal superhuman should have, being part alien. Jonas reluctantly begins to answer their questions about what the Octet wants: Sirius and Peregrine want to rule over everyone, while the others want power; not political power, but superpowers, armies and long lives. When asked about their location or their next destination, he claims to not know. That it's always different or mobile; typically a phone call, text message, or meeting in a limo, as their primary objective is to operate businesses. White Shadow takes his phone, looks through its contacts for a list of names, returns it, and as they leave, Jonas, laughing, warns them that "they", the Octet, are not to be messed with.

### Jonas Harlow's Phone

Kimbrianna runs an analysis on names from Jonas' phone contacts, using his email and phone number, examines text messages and backtracks the locations of his phone calls, all of which are either innocent or private. As a result, very little is discovered, though they come to the idea to check his work email, which is only on his work computer in his office or his work laptop at home. With a feeling that it'll be easier to get into Jonas' house, it's the option they choose, but when they ponder the question of how they'll get inside, they reluctantly choose to go to the company Jonas is CEO of.

### Jonas Harlow meeting with Lonnie Cortez

The next day, Lonnie Cortez has a meeting with Jonas to discuss the interrogation and what they are messing with: The White Blur, who they know nothing about, and a woman who is stronger than anyone else. Lonnie is relieved that no information was revealed despite the fact that his phone was taken. Lonnie decides to increase security at the company and has Revnnon there to monitor for technological breaches. He also sends his bodyguard Adrian, the Octet's Bruiser, to monitor the company, but also calls Cleaver to make a request to have Wildbrig there as well.

### Liam is let out the hospital

Liam is no longer in the hospital and is in a board meeting at G.I.L.T., where they are discussing the company's issues, starting with the repair costs for the damages of the company building. They also discuss G.I.L.T.'s issues, starting with the "intense public scrutiny in the wake of the recent "bombing"". G.I.L.T.'s costs are up, revenues are down, their stock has never been worse. To restore investor confidence, G.I.L.T. may need to reorganize to another business or location by acquiring another company to assist with the costs, revenues, and stock. Liam dislikes the plan and is disappointed; however, before the meeting concludes, he requests every file on the list they have.

### Joey and Scarlette's One Disagreement

As the team is waiting for time to pass by in the living room, Scarlette shows Joey a drawing of what she wants her outfit to look like, since she doesn't have one yet. Joey doesn't seem too enthusiastic about it because "it's not something that would be worn in the battlefield". Scarlette claims that it would increase her mobility during combat. She feels that when she is acting as a vigilante and does not wish to be recognized, she would wear this. She claims that it at least makes sense to her because she cannot adequately describe clothing. Joey asserts that her clothing may tear because she is fighting powerful opponents armed with firearms, swords, etc., and that if her clothing does rip, she may never find it in stores again. He also says fishnets make no sense and would just look weird. Scarlette claims that it's mesh and that if Nick could make it, it wouldn't tear, but Joey believes that Nick would agree with him and that it's more efficient for her to use her matter manipulation, especially if what they're doing continues, because there will be enemies willing to tear her down with the harshest things they can find because of her incredible durability, so Joey doesn't believe that Earthly material would work for her either even if it wasn't similar to her drawing. He has an idea in mind and, because he can't draw, he tries to think of similar outfits from already made up characters. Looking around, he finds DC's Donna Troy, for her costume, and what they come up with is satisfactory.

### Izo's talk with Lonnie

Izo meets with Lonnie Cortez that evening. Izo warns Lonnie to take care of his business or the Octet will handle things without him. Lonnie claims to have the situation under control, and after Izo leaves, he becomes enraged. Adrian asks Lonnie why he doesn't simply have Jonas killed. Lonnie states that it would be bad for business, as they would need to find a replacement for Jonas, and that they cannot start over.

### Hacking In

At "Jonas' company" (Not necessarily his), Butterfly is inside and, using her eye's technopathy, turns off security, which is on the first floor as well. She then sees an entrance to a secure floor at the building while inside, though it is being guarded. Practically performing a raid, White Shadow quickly incapacitates them (Not kill). Using the clearance, Butterfly makes her way to the secure floor, along with White Shadow. Revnnon, who is monitoring the place, becomes suspicious with the security being off and decides to look for her.

Once Butterfly finds a server room, she begins collecting data and sending it to Kimbrianna to decrypt while White Shadow stands by. Revnnon detects an intruder in the system, which happens to be Butterfly, but Revnnon doesn't know that. Either way, she sends calls for backup and goes to check it out.

Wadeson and Adrian receive the alert.

Kimbrianna warns Butterfly that someone else is in the system, which happens to be Revnnon, though Kimbrianna and the team don't know who it is they're detecting either. During Butterfly's hack, Revnnon is able to trace where Butterfly is sending the information, despite the fact that neither she or Butterfly and the team is aware of the other's identity. White Shadow senses someone is on the way and goes to check it out, hiding in another room.

As Revnnon finds Butterfly next to a computer server, she inquires as to what she is doing there, but Butterfly, using another exit, then goes to the 2nd level and surveys the place for a way out and spots Revnnon. Revnnon pursues the Butterfly, but Butterfly escapes, sneaking away.

As White Shadow tries to catch up, he is stopped by Wildbrig and Adrian. Behind them is Tenebris, who attacks Adrian from behind, knocks him out and goes to help Butterfly.

Meanwhile, Wildbrig pulls White Shadow into a nearby room. There, Wildbrig throws a punch at White Shadow, only for White Shadow to catch it with both of his hands, move the attack out the way and knock Wildbrig back. Angered, Wildbrig grabs White Shadow by the throat, slams him against the wall, and tosses him around. White Shadow gets behind Wildbrig, grabs him by the head, slams him to the ground, gets over him and throws multiple blows before Wildbrig knocks White Shadow off. Wildbrig and White Shadow get up, and White Shadow then takes his swords and hurls numerous slashes at Wildbrig, which are only blocked by the gauntlets worn by Wildbrig. White Shadow continues to throw slashes that are avoided, while Wildbrig counterattacks with punches that are also avoided. White Shadow, gaining distance, leaps at Wildbrig with his sword, which is blocked again, but Wildbrig manages to kick White Shadow away. Wildbrig rushes White Shadow, evades and blocks a number of sword slashes, and then pushes White Shadow back to gain distance from the sword again. Wildbrig is able to block White Shadow's next attack, and the two hold the sword in place with their strength until Wildbrig pushes White Shadow back. Wildbrig continues to avoid White Shadow's attacks and blocks a kick before delivering a rear elbow strike. Wildbrig attempts to knock White Shadow to the ground with a kick, but White Shadow avoids the blow and counterattacks. The sequence is repeated before Wildbrig kicks White Shadow again. White Shadow again attacks, and Wildbrig blocks the next attack and strikes White Shadow with an uppercut, an elbow while snatching the sword and tossing it away, he then kicks White Shadow to the wall. The two exchange glares before White Shadow quickly moves. Wildbrig, slow to react, fires a shot and misses. White Shadow has disappeared, managing to escape, joining Butterfly and Tenebris, having what they need with no need to continue the fight.

### Going through the information

While Ayo isn't present, being at home before 9pm, Nick, Kaliyah and Kimbrianna are going through the data received from Kaliyah. They learn a room full of weapons, just like before. Instinctively, Nick asks Kimbrianna for the addresses of every building purchased by Lonnie Cortez's business. He suspects that each of them houses a hideout for the Octet. After looking through records of each building, Kimbrianna finds that there are a set of buildings the company had purchased from a broker with no record of who to. The most recently built of these was five years ago, though the building was purchased three months beforehand, and there also appears to be a penthouse for one of the members.

During this, the power to the house cuts out suddenly. Joey, alone in the living room, is irritated by the power outage, though he doesnt know someone turned it off. Wildbrig, Adrian and Revnnon enter through the back of the house, as Revnnon traced the signal of Kaliyah's hack here. Joey hears the door and when he is seen, he is left alone, being thought of as innocent, and when asked if anyone else is in the house, Joey lies, saying no and claiming that his parents are out. As the three assassins continue looking, they find nothing and leave.

### Aftermath of the Break In

Nick calls the police after the incident to prevent the Octet from thinking, "If regular citizens live there, why haven't they called the police?" Due to their exposure to the enemy, Nick and the others plan to stay in a couple motel rooms away from the house: Nick and Kimbrianna have a 2 bedroom; Kaliyah and Joey have a 2 bedroom. Ayo is already with his family, and Scarlette returns to hers for the time being. The motel's exits to a street that is bidirectional. On the opposite side of the road is a hill covered with trees.

Hours later, the Octet have seen the news and are meeting for their new purposes. When the Mayor gets concerned, Cleaver replies that Wildbrig will go find out what's going on with the White Blur and the unidentified woman in black, as he was able to go toe-to-toe with the White Blur and has demonstrated the ability to rival him. In order to get to them, they will wait for them at one of the locations listed on the data Kaliyah stole. Ethan will supervise the operation, since he's the Octet's greatest tactician; Cleaver will supply the operation and have his men there; and Revnnon will be present just in case the tech specialist is there.

At the same time, Liam is at Nick's residence, which is marked as a crime scene and is covered in crime scene tape. He is carrying a shotgun while donning a hockey mask, a brown jacket with fur, a baby blue t-shirt with a special vest over it that has gear on the chest and ribs, and black wrist bracers with black gloves.

    Liam searches for information on Joey, Nick, and Nick's daughter, none of whom are present, as he is initially there for Joey. Upon discovering that there are more than just them and that others may also be Altered, he concludes that he will need a team and additional equipment.

**Next Episode**