Flashback(V):

Matt was alone in the abandoned, shambled HBD hanging down like a bat. His 'caretakers' had gone out take a little break while Jekyll had left teasing something ominous to happen. He did not have time to waste. Matt started exerting pressure and pulled the chains as much as his remaining strength allowed him to. He kept going on at it.

After a few rigorous attempts, the chains barring his hands gave way. Now for his legs. He raised himself up and pulled onto them, breaking them off as well. While he was busy freeing himself off the chains, his opponents realized their mistakes and barged into the room. Using his chains to his advantage, Matt engaged in vicious combat with them. The way the chains were used to fight seemed to straightaway come out of the Shaolin handbook. He had taken out 4 of them. Unfortunately the last one proved to be sturdier. He got punched in his gut and the face by the huge cannon sized arms. Matt was about to get knocked out, when a sword just pierced through his opponent cutting him down.

"Missed me?" The savior asked

Present:

There was pin drop silence, heartbeats reverberating through the entire room. Dilemma ravaged on in the minds of the people.

"So….you guys actually going to face off against Paradox again?" Kellum broke the silence.

"We don't have a choice, do we?" Parker felt uneasy. The last time he faced off against the monster, he got completely broken by the sheer speed. But he could not brush away the fact that someday they would cross fists again. This time around, he was getting anxiety attacks.

"You are not in it alone, Parker. Like I said before, we have to look for each other's backs. You handle the short range, while I handle the long range." Matt place a comforting hand on Parker's shoulder.

"I can't stop the 2 of you right now. He may endanger the lives of many, if you two back out now. But still, I cannot hold this terrible ache in my heart. Probably a premonition of something bad." She loved both of them too much to lose them.

"We have to try. We cannot lose hope! I am scared too! But…..but we have to take the chance. The chance to protect this city and end this nightmare plaguing it!" Matt kept reinstating. He was probably even more freaked out than Parker, yet he held himself strong. "Kellum, I need to talk to you regarding an upgrade." Saying this Matt borrowed Kellum.

Raventail was sweating profusely. He was having an attack. He reached for the pills in his desk and took them with great difficulty. "I have made a huge mistake. This should not have happened!...But what could I have done? I had no choice, no way out. But now Matt has become the pawn for my sake. I have to inform him. This cannot continue for long." His head was crooning, splitting apart from all the wrong decisions he made till this point.

The next day seemed pretty melancholic. The wind blew as normal. Civilians carried out their activities as normal. The day was normal as any other however fighting Paradox seemed to be on the heads of both Matt and Parker. They both needed a breather from the recent turn of events.

While Matt assigned his one of the most trusted employees as the acting CEO for a day, to catch up on the part of his life that was still a normal civilian. While Parker on the other hand went on to catch up with someone.

Hans Wilmer, the ex Deputy of the police Department and also the foster father of Parker opened to door, pleasantly surprised to find him outside the apartment.

"Hi Hans…I wanted someone to talk to." Parker shared an awkward hug with him. It had been over a year since he had met the detective.

Flashback(Parker):

After his parents' death, Parker's life treaded down. He had become more cold, a recluse and it had become difficult for Hans, his legal guardian to take care of him. He was grateful for him to take of him and pay for his education, however Parker just could not stay in that neighborhood as it reminded him of his parents' murder every moment.

"So you decided…" Hans looked on

"I am going to start anew in the city, Hans. You have inspired me to join the police department and that's what my aim is now. However, I won't be able to focus as long as I am over here. You had told me once, that time would heal…..well it's going to take time." Parker had done packing his bags.

"No matter where you, Parker, I will always treat you as my own son." That line just got tears in their eyes and they hugged it out as both of them had no idea when they would meet next.

Present:

"I am really happy for you, Parker. You make me feel like a proud father…but I also know you did not come all the way here to just meet me." The detective was sharp as usual.

"I wanted your advice. Last year's been a wrecking ball. At times I feel, I don't have what it takes to protect those dear to me." Parker tried not to disclose his secret identity.

"Kid, if you are still thinking about your parents, its time you graduate from that zone. It was not your fault. Even if you had the power to save them, life would have taken something more from you. That's how the cycle is. It is upto you now to decide whether to gain the inspiration to become stronger to protect the people you love from now on or still ponder over the past. What you have is humanity, which nobody can take away from you. Your strength is the humanity you possess, the power to forgive, the power to become strong only for other's sake." Hans probably did not know about Parker being a superhero, however he had now inspired Parker in a way no one ever could.

"Thanks, Hans. It means a lot. I was glad I could catch up with you." Parker's heavy heart had now started feeling a lot lighter.

"Care to have a drink with this old man, before you leave?"

"Sure….dad."

Nightfall:

Bolt and Shadow were waiting at the rooftops, ready to fight awaiting Paradox's appearance.

"This is going to be fun." Paradox took a stance.

"You cannot handle both of us!" Matt prepared his bow.

"Lets end this!" Sparks enveloped Parker's body as he and Paradox zoomed into each other.