It wasn't long after the encounter with Roxxon that the heroes returned back to base as Miles was patched up.
"Okay…we've just shared the details of what could possibly happen. Harlem is being evacuated even as we speak." Jeremie said.
"There's still Phin's plan of using the Nuform to worry about." Al said.
"There's probably still time before she goes to Roxxon plaza. There might be a place where she's getting the canister she stole ready." Kendo said.
"Hmm, I did hear of a new Oscorp Science Center being constructed. Maybe that's where she took it." Mari said.
"Oscor…Ugh…Our energy converter. She must be using that to finish destabilizing the Nuform." Miles said.
"Wow…it's like she picked that specifically just to spite you." Mineta said.
"As far as the Underground knows, I'm still in their ranks. I'll go on ahead, try to get as close to the Nuform as I can." Connor said.
"You sure that's a good idea? What if your cover's blown?" MIles asked.
"Well, I'll just have to fight my way out, won't I?" Connor replied as he headed out with his disguise.
"Hmm…girls…" Izuku said.
"You don't even need to ask." Maria said as she and Chris followed after Connor.
"Man, I still can't believe I screwed up big time." Miles said. "But, what kind of hero would I be if I let a mistake like this get me down?"
"Good on you…but now we…" Aelita said as an alarm started going off.
"What's going on?" Ginseng asked.
"It's the alarm system. Someone's breaking in." Double D said.
"And look who it is." Bakugo said seeing on camera that the Prowler was entering the building.
"Oh, boy… This has bad news written all over it." David said.
"He must be here for Miles. To take him out of the action." Izuku said.
"We'd better set him straight. After all, we owe him for selling us out to Krieger." Kaibara said.
Miles and the Heights Alliance heroes headed outside to face Prowler, but no sooner were they outside the agency when suddenly a green barrier blocked their way.
"Can't let you kids go out there." Prowler said as he appeared.
"Okay, seriously?" Kaminari said as he hit the generator with his electricity as it shattered. "Dude, get some new tricks."
"Damn it, I will not lose another of my family again." Prowler said.
"Sorry, but you aren't taking Miles anywhere." Izuku said.
"Dammit, no..!" Prowler said as Miles tackled him away from the agency as the heroes fought him. "Don't fight me on this!"
"I don't want to! But Deku's right, I can't go wherever you wanna take me!" Miles said.
"Then I'll do what I have to. Keep you and your friends safe." Prowler said.
The group fought Prowler as he used his advanced tech to try and restrain them.
"You kids don't get it. It's better to let Krieger and Tinkerer kill each other. You can go back to being heroes when the heat dies down." Prowler said.
"And what, just hide somewhere? We don't get to pick and choose when were heroes!" Miles said.
"No, you all gotta survive. I've been trying to teach you that, and that girl's been trying to tell your friends the same, but none of you listen." Prowler said.
"That girl is with the Universal Villains. All they wanna do is take over the universes. She's just trying to use you for some grand scheme they have going." Pit said.
"I don't know… I think there's something else going on that she's not telling anyone." David said.
"David's right. This isn't about us at all. It's about them. My uncle, that girl? They're afraid." Miles said.
"Don't you turn this on us!" Prowler said as he fired at them.
"David, you're a good guy, but can we save the speculation after we take out the thief with the invisibility armor?" Eijiro asked.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's save the big-brain talk for later." David said.
"Thanks for the reminder." Prowler said as he cloaked himself.
"We gotta short out that suit or it's just gonna make things much harder for us." Hope said.
"My Venom could work, but I have to physically connect on him. Kaminari, maybe you could try to use your Pointers to lock on him?" Miles asked.
"What if I could…" Mari said, pulling out her EMF visualizer as it projected a field and revealed where Prowler was.
"Nice one, Mari!" Kaibara said as he hit Prowler with his spiraling offense.
Prowler skidded back. "You don't realize, we're the only ones trying to save you."
"And we're trying to save everyone else." Miles replied.
Prowler lunged at Miles with his claws, but Miles dodged out of the way. Prowler then activated his wrist device as he proceeded to fire more powerful energy blasts.
"Dude…knock it off!" Setsuna said as she blindsided him with her segmented arms.
"You should first! You all think you can beat the Tinkerer, Roxxon. You can't." Prowler said throwing Setsuna's arms aside.
"We have to try." Miles said, Venom punching him. Prowler then threw his nephew to a wall and pinned him there.
"You and your friends throw yourselves at enemies you can't beat! Know who else did that?" Prowler asked.
"Don't say his name–!" Miles insisted, charged up with venom as Prowler tossed him back to the group. Prowler then tossed out a few disks as they became holograms of himself.
"Holograms, seriously? More tech from Roxxon?" Catra said.
"I adapt. You all can't keep up!" Prowler said.
"Just watch us!" Kaibara said as they pushed through the holograms as Miles clashed with his uncle.
"You and your friends are naive, nephew. Still kids looking up to your heroes." Prowler said.
"No, we're the kids who know people are looking up to us." Miles said, landing a kick to the real Prowler.
"When people are down and out…they need heroes to look up to and inspire hope. We're not just going to run away with our tails between our legs!" Izuku said.
Prowler continued to take a beating left and right till he collapsed against a wall. As he prepared to fire his weapon once more, his arm was quickly webbed to the wall.
"...I know I messed up. I let you down, especially you Miles. But we're family." Prowler said.
"Family? That didn't stop you from lying to me, manipulating me, fighting me and my friends. Being "family" isn't enough anymore." Miles said.
"Doesn't have to be like this. You, me, hating each other. It's exactly what happened between me and your dad. I don't wanna repeat that." Aaron said as he removed his mask..
"We know how much you really care for Miles." Sachiko said. "But forcing good intentions on others is no different from an evil act. Think about Miles' dad, Mr. Davis. Do you think he would have wanted this? This whole thing going on between you and Miles right now?"
"...Damn, he wouldn't." Aaron said.
"We all know you mean well, Aaron. But we can't turn our backs on people who need us." Kendo said.
"We're done here." Izuku said as they took off.
Just as they were headed off to help with evac, Connor and his two cohorts headed off towards the science center.
"Hmm…" Connor said as he saw someone ahead. "Wait…is that…Denji?"
"Crap." Denji muttered. "Hey, Connor…uh…fancy seeing you here."
"Never mind that, what happened to you?" Connor asked, noting how beat up Denji was. "You get in a fight with the Underground or something?"
"Uh…something like that." Denji said. "But don't worry. I showed those kids a thing or two." he chuckled.
"Awfully weird of you to be here in the city when I haven't even told you or the rest of the team where I was." Connor skeptically remarked.
"This is unrelated. I was just handling some personal business. Nothing to do with Team Revival or cleaning up after them." Denji said.
"Look, Denj. I said I wouldn't care what you do in your spare time. But if you come back to the office lookin' like this right now? That makes me and the others worry." Connor said. "If you're gonna work with us, you gotta be honest. You can tell me what's going on at least, and I'll keep it a secret from the others."
"Haa…truth is…I have a side gig as a…devil hunter." Denji said.
"Devil…you were going after Dark Hell!" Connor said.
"Yeah…had a run in with some…really strong grunts. But I took care of them." Denji said.
"Yeah, right. Something tells me you wouldn't be able to take on devils unless you had something big up your sleeve." Chris said.
"It's how I always did it. Just like when I still was with…Pochita." Denji said.
"Pochita?" Connor said.
"He was a devil…and the closest thing I had to a friend." Denji said. "But then some things went down and he…had to go away. Before then…he told me I should be living my biggest dream. But…with my world gone, having trouble finding out what that even is anymore."
"...Maybe we can help you find out." Connor said, offering a hand. "I dunno a lot about where you come from, Denji. But I do know one thing. I'm not gonna stand here and let you throw yourself at something without knowing what you want deep down. So don't be distant with me and the crew. We can be friends. And we can help you find that big dream. Sound good?"
"Uh…sure." Denji said. "Right now…I'm working against Dark Hell…and trying to kill the Antichrist."
"Isn't that supposed to be…the antithesis of Christ?" Connor asked.
"He also happens to be Dark Hell's leader." Denji said.
"And you figured going through their chain of command in your spare time was the best way to get to them to tell you where or even how to beat him?" Connor asked.
"Well I tried taking out their smaller businesses, but they hardly gave me squat." Denji said.
"Look…I don't know why you wanna kill the guy, but you gotta lay off or else you'll paint a target on all our backs." Connor said. "Least until we can find a better and…hopefully less chaotic solution. Or else you won't get any pay this month."
"Damn it…playing hardball like that…so unfair." Denji said as they shook on it. "Huh…by the way…anyone ever tell you that you kinda look like a girl without your mask?"
"Main reason why I rarely take off that thing…" Connor said. "Well, not the main reason, but…. One of the major ones."
"So, where are you headed lookin' like a western version of James Bond?" Denji asked.
"I'm headed off to stop a really crazy plan that'll get Harlem blown up." Connor said. "Then if I'm lucky and win some sweepstakes, I'm headed to a big concert to see a big star live. I was planning to invite you and the others."
"Oh are you talking about that Uta show? Oh yeah. We were planning to watch from the building but live I guess would be another thing entirely." Denji said.
"All kinda depends if im a big winner." Connor said. "Anyway, i gotta go. If you say youre good, think you can help out with the Harlem Evac?"
"Sure. No problem." Denji said as Connor continued on his way. "Damn, almost gave away my bigger secret. Well…what I told him wasn't a complete lie…" he said looking down at the pull cord in his chest. "Just glad I didn't have to go spilling the biggest one."