(A/N): Hey everyone, this is a reboot of my original and first story on this site. Enjoy and please review. I appreciate it.
Prologue
Hiro, also known as Iron X, was in his team's old HQ sitting in his technology lab looking at hologram screens of his best friends and former teammates. Hiro was doing a data collection on their success percentage.
"It is morning time and the guys are out and about." Hiro took a sip of his coffee. "And I'm just getting started on my first cup of joe."
Hiro looked at each screen and decided to check Merida. He opened the screen to see the bow and arrow Irish expert pro, who had her hair loose while wearing a light green full attire sleeveless bulletproof spandex with women hockey shoulder pads, along with wearing light blue shades. Hiro watched his Irish buddy running on rooftops chasing bank robbers in Chicago.
"Looks like Merida's got her hands full," Hiro murmured to himself. He leaned back in his chair, watching as she deftly shot an arrow at the fleeing van, the grappling hook attached to it latching onto the back door.
The van screeched to a halt as the rope tightened, sending a cloud of dust into the air. She swung gracefully through the dust cloud, landing on the roof of the van with a thud that echoed through the alleyway.
Merida's heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She could feel the metal beneath her boots vibrate as the engine roared back to life. The driver had not given up yet. She yanked the door open and slid inside, her eyes immediately meeting the panicked stares of the robbers.
"Good morning, lads," she said with a smirk, her Irish accent thick. They had a brief moment of shock before they realized who she was and what she meant to do. One of them reached for a gun, but she was quicker, her arrow flying true and embedding itself in the dashboard right beside his hand.
"Now, now, let's not be hasty." She held up her free hand, the other still gripping the bow. "I'd hate to see anyone get hurt. Not really."
The robbers exchanged nervous glances, their hands slowly rising in surrender. Merida grinned, the thrill of the chase still fresh on her face. She leapfrogged over the seats, her bow now pointing at the driver's head. "Take us to the nearest police station, and maybe I'll spare your tires."
The driver, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead, nodded frantically. He stepped on the gas, the van lurching forward as it sped through the narrow streets. The other robbers cowered in the back, muttering curses under their breath. Merida kept her cool, her eyes never leaving the driver as she pulled out a pair of handcuffs from her utility belt. Hiro zoomed out from the spy camera that he sent out to keep an eye on his teammates.
Hiro looked at the screen as he showed Merida's success percentage. "Huh, she scored seventy-five percent. Let's see how our favorite couple duo are doing in Metropolis."
Hiro pulled the other screen to see Wilbur and Violet. Wilbur Robinson aka Captain Lightning Bolt, wearing his blue and yellow suit with the lightning bolt symbol that is on his chest, was using his powers to fly while carrying his girlfriend Violet Parr by her hand. Violet Parr aka Invisible Girl, wearing her light purple suit with a combined I and G logo on her chest, was having her eyes on a military plane carrying untested weaponry that is hijacked by the evil organization known as the Hornets. Hiro watches to see what they are going to do in full audio.
"Violet, can you see if they have any hostages on board?." Wilbur spoke loud enough to go over the sound of the plane engine. He threw Violet onto the roof of the plane while staying back.
Violet activated the magnets in her heel boots to stay in place and not fall off.
"Hold on tight," she called out to Wilbur in the comms before turning invisible and slipping into the cabin. The plane's interior was stark, all steel and cold efficiency. She could feel the vibrations from the engines beneath her as she crept forward, her heart racing as she searched for any signs of life.
"I've got two in the cockpit," she whispered into her earpiece. "Looks like the pilot and co-pilot are still there, but they're tied up."
"Roger that," Wilbur responded, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of backup. "I'll take out the engines. Get ready to grab them when I give the signal."
With a nod, Violet turned her attention back to the cockpit. She could see the tension in the Hornet soldiers as they worked the controls, their eyes flicking to the monitors that showed their stolen cargo. The pilot and co-pilot were gagged and bound, but they nodded frantically when they caught sight of her.
"Three...two...one," Wilbur counted down.
With a crackle of electricity, Captain Lightning Bolt streaked towards the plane, his body a blur of blue and yellow as he struck the engines. Sparks flew as the metal sizzled and the engines cut out, sending the plane into a nosedive. The Hornets inside screamed in terror, their grip on the controls loosening.
Violet's eyes widened, her grip on the cockpit door handle tightening. "Now!" she yelled into the comms, adrenaline surging through her invisible form. She dashed into the cabin, her magnetic boots clanking against the metal floor.
The pilot and co-pilot looked at her with hopeful eyes as the plane's descent grew steeper. She swiftly cut through their bonds with the laser blade concealed in her wrist gauntlet, the sound of the slicing fabric piercing through the chaos. She took on armed Hornet troopers with swift kicks and punches upon going invisible.
"Violet, hurry!" Wilbur's voice crackled in her ear. "I can't hold this thing up much longer!."
Her heart racing, Violet shoved the co-pilot into his seat and strapped him in, the pilot already taking over the controls. She grabbed the unconscious pilot and dragged him out of the cockpit, the weight of his body feeling almost non-existent as her adrenaline took over.
"Strap in!" she shouted, tossing the pilot into a nearby chair and securing him. She barely had time to do the same before the plane lurched violently, throwing her against the side. The Hornets had realized their peril and were desperately trying to regain control. Violet throws her visible balls at them as it knocks them back hard.
Wilbur, who flew underneath the plane and used his superhuman strength to push it back up, was trying to keep it steady until the pillars started back up. "The engines should come back on in just a few seconds, after I temporarily turn it off."
Violet nodded, bracing herself as the aircraft leveled out. She turned back to the cockpit, her eyes locking with the pilot's. "You guys okay?."
The pilot nodded, his eyes wide with relief. "Thanks to you, Invisible Girl," he said, his voice shaking. "We're taking it to the nearby Air Force base to have these men locked up."
Violet nodded as she slipped out and jumped out of the plane with Wilbur catching her and flew away from the plane.
"Nice work, Vi." Wilbur looked at his girlfriend with a smirk.
Violet rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Captain Obvious."
The two leaned for a sweet kiss to Hiro's dismay. He sees the screen showing their seventy-seven percentage before moving the hologram screen.
"Geez, get a room, you two." Hiro commented before drinking more of his coffee.
He went to look at a scene that is somewhere in Mexico. Miguel Rivera, who is in his Skull Rider alter ego, was surrounded by armed cartel members after he was doing a drug bust.
"Ah, Skull Rider," the leader of the cartel said with a sneer. "We've been expecting you."
Miguel, aka Skull Rider, stood tall and unyielding in his black and silver sleeveless suit showing his intense biceps, his legit fiery eyes gleaming in the harsh sunlight. He looked around at the sea of weapons pointed at him, his mind racing as he calculated his odds. He pulls out his chain and ignites it with just a tug.
The cartel members took a step back, their bravado wavering in the face of the flaming weapon. "You're outnumbered, Skull Rider," the leader said, his voice a mix of amusement and annoyance. "Why don't you just drop that toy and come with us peacefully?."
Miguel's eyes narrowed. "I don't think so," he said, his voice cool and collected. He swung the chain in a wide arc, the flames dancing and crackling as they sliced through the air. The cartel members took a collective step back, their eyes wide with fear.
The leader's smile faded as he watched his men falter. "Shoot him!" he bellowed, his hand reaching for his gun.
But Miguel was faster. He swung the chain in a fiery arc, the flames cutting through the first few lines of cartel members like a hot knife through butter. The rest of the group scattered, guns blazing wildly as they attempted to avoid the deadly whip. Miguel wrapped his chain in his left arm and began charging at them.
The leader, caught off guard, tried to retreat but was not fast enough. With a swift motion, Skull Rider lassoed him, pulling him close. The man screamed in terror as the flaming chain tightened around his waist, the heat searing through his clothes. The rest continued shooting and firing a few missile launchers. Rider shields himself with his free arm before putting it down. His flaming eyes burn brighter to show his anger since he is the supernatural Spirit of Justice. He went on a frenzy and destroyed Hiro's spy camera bot in the process.
Hiro sighed as he saw the screen showing ninety percent. "Only an idiot will anger Rider. Miguel had a lot of balls to steal from the dead that day on his people's holiday and got punished the day after by La Murete herself. Crazy. Now, the last member. My girlfriend."
Hiro enlarged the hologram screen showing Penny in the outskirts of Todayland fighting Dr. Calico's goons who were setting some kind of large cannon. Penny Forrester, better known to the world as Mighty Girl aka the Universe's Mightiest Champion, was easily taking out heavy duty armored droids in punches and then turned to shoot her eye lasers at one behind her as the droid exploded. She flew around as jet powered goons were shooting at her. The attire she is wearing is a dark gray with golden outlines and having her combined letters M and G on her chest in deep red color. Custom made by the alien ship that came from another galaxy from a deceased planet called Mrypton, while getting her powers from that medium sized inner glow crystal that came from the exact same homeworld.
Penny's red hair flew wildly in the wind as she zipped through the air, dodging the barrage with ease. Her main target was to destroy four generators in each corner of the area that is powering the weapon. Out of all the members of Team Future, Penny is the girl scout of the team. A true ideal American country girl who believes in true justice and everything that the American flag stands for.
"You can't stop us, Mighty Girl!" Dr. Calico's cackling voice echoed over the loudspeaker. "Our cannon will bring the end to your precious city!."
Penny gritted her teeth, her eyes focused on the cannon. She knew she had to act fast before it could be fully powered. With a surge of strength, she flew towards the nearest generator, her fists clenched and ready to strike. The metallic behemoth trembled as she landed a powerful blow, sending sparks flying.
The droids took notice of her and redirected their fire, the bullets ricocheting off her invincible skin. She didn't flinch, instead using the cover of the explosion to charge at the next generator. Her punches were like thunderclaps, each one taking out another droid as she approached her target.
The cannon hummed ominously, powering up as she reached the second generator. She could feel the energy in the air, a palpable sense of danger that made her heart race. The droids had stopped firing, regrouping around the generators in a desperate attempt to protect them. Hiro looks at the success percentage and sees it hit two-hundred percent tops without letting Penny finish her work.
"As usual. Penny outperforms all of us. She is the Universe's Mightiest Champion for nothing." Hiro set his empty mug down. "She got unbelievable beyond super strength, ability to super run, have laser eyes, super hearing, unpenetrated skin. The list goes on and on."
Suddenly Hiro's female Ai appeared on the screen, a girl child with a spunky attitude who he names Vanellope. Vanellope von Schweetz. Very childish indeed.
"Hiro, you're missing out on the action!" she exclaimed, her digital eyes gleaming with excitement. "Penny's about to take out the third generator!."
Hiro lifted his feet up on the table looking at the Ai that he calls his baby sister. "Penny doesn't need me. None of them needs me. They are doing a pretty good job. Which is why I disbanded the team. Us being together causes so much damage to what is around us and kills the government tax dollars to repair or replace things. Us separated or in Violet and Wilbur's case, a duo, can cause less damages and less tax money spending."
Vanellope raised her brow. "Uh, Hiro, you made clean and repair bots to handle these things. What's your point?."
Hiro nodded. "True, but even with those bots, we still leave a path of destruction. It's better to minimize it. Plus, they're learning to work without me. I need to start trusting them more."
Vanellope pouted. "But Team Future is nothing without its leader, Iron X!."
Hiro chuckled. "I know, but I've got my own projects to handle, and they need to handle theirs. Plus, it's not like we're not in contact. We're all just...taking a break from each other."
"A break that no one asked for but you." Vanellope tilted her head. "Hiro, you are lonely. This place is empty. It has been two years since you disbanded TF. Plus, the members may be strong individually but even they have their weaknesses, and the only way to strengthen it is by having them together both benefiting each other and knowing that they got each other's backs. You should reconsider disbanding TF."
Hiro leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving the screens. "I know you miss them, Vanellope, but it's for the best." He paused, watching as Penny took out the third generator with a swift kick, sending it toppling over with a deafening boom. "Besides it will take serious convincing for me to even think about getting the band back together again."
Not knowing he just said it too soon, he sees one of Dr. Calico's suited up goons having a large blast gun. Hiro watched him with a feeling that something was going to happen. The guy aimed at Penny who had no idea what was going to happen to her and fired her right in her back. The energy beam hit Penny as she started screaming in pain as it made Hiro stand up in fear for his girlfriend.
"Penny!." Hiro called in worry.
Once the guy stopped shooting the beam, Penny hit the ground and held herself up with her right hand and left arm. She isn't getting up and back on her feet at all. Hiro can see what is going. The gun is a special gun that has a special chemical or crystal form that can drain Penny's powers. The only thing that can stop Penny is with a secret man made chemical substance called Negative X and only two people can figure out how to make them. Hiro himself and Dr. Calico.
"She is a temporary normal girl right now. She needs backup, ASAP." Hiro said with determination as he ran over to the platform and had his arms out. "Vanellope, armor me up."
Vanellope nodded as she ordered the robotic arms to begin to get the separate armor pieces and put them on him, constructing the Iron X suit around his body in a matter of seconds. The purple and red armor shimmered to life, enveloping him in a cocoon of protection. His heart hammered in his chest as he felt the weight of the suit settle on his shoulders. Once being held, Hiro mentally opened the roof hatch and blasted right out and flew at top speed to where Penny is before things got worse.
Penny's vision swam as she struggled to stand. The power draining weapon had taken its toll, leaving her weakened and vulnerable. She could hear the cackling of Dr. Calico over the speakers, taunting her. "Looks like the mighty hero has fallen!."
Penny slowly managed to get back on her feet despite her legs a little bit wobbly. She had the look of a never give up face expression. "As long as there is still breath in my body, Calico, I haven't fallen yet."
Hiro, now fully suited as Iron X, zoomed through the sky, his eyes locked on the battlefield below. He could see the smoke billowing from the damaged generators, the droids retreating in disarray, and in the center of it all, Penny, his love, struggling to stand. His heart pounded in his chest, and he pushed himself to go even faster.
As he descended, the droids took notice, turning their weapons towards him. But Hiro was prepared. He extended his arm, and a whirring sound filled the air as a blaster unfolded from his gauntlet. He fired in rapid succession, the bolts of energy tearing through the robotic assailants like paper. They fell like dominoes, leaving a clear path to Penny.
When he reached her side, she was barely standing, her eyes glassy with fatigue. He caught her gently, his armor's systems scanning her for injuries. "Hold on, Penny," he said, his voice filled with urgency. "I've got you."
Her hand tightened around his, and she gave him a weak smile. "Thanks, Hiro," she murmured. "I guess I could use a hand."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the chaos around them seemed to fade away. It was just the two of them, standing firm against the forces of evil. Then, reality crashed back in as the cannon's power core began to glow a dangerous shade of red.
"Gotta destroy the last generator." Hiro looked at Penny. "Be back in a flash."
Penny nodded, her strength fading. "Go."
Without wasting another second, Iron X took off towards the final generator. The droids had regrouped, now fully aware of the danger he posed. They fired everything they had at him, but his armor deflected the bullets with ease. He could feel the heat from the explosions at his back, but his focus remained on the prize ahead.
As he approached the generator, a barrage of laser fire shot out from its side, forcing him to dodge and weave. He retaliated with his own blasts, dismantling the protective droids one by one. His mind raced, calculating the best approach to disarm the device without triggering an explosion.
"Vanellope, run a diagnostic on the generator's power core," Hiro instructed through the comms. "I need to know what I'm dealing with."
"On it, boss," she replied, her digital voice calm and collected.
The data streamed into Hiro's HUD, giving him a complex schematic of the generator's inner workings. He studied it for a split second before making his move. Darting forward, he dodged the final volley of lasers and slammed into the generator with all his might. The metal frame groaned and buckled under the impact, but it didn't explode. Hiro ripped the dented frame off and threw it to the side, before looking at the wires. His visor shows him the wire to turn off the generator as he pulls and rips it out. The cannon died down to their relief.
Hiro flew back down to Penny. "You good, P?."
Penny nodded, trying to push herself to stand up. "I'll be okay. Just need to...rest."
She took a glance at the cannon and saw it is not off as the tip is starting to glow, as her mind clicked that there was a fifth generator that was in the back of the gun. Seeing it ready to fire, Penny being the person that she is, is taking a hit for anyone or her best friends. Finding the strength, Penny quickly pushed Hiro out of the way just in time as the beam made contact with her whole body.
"Ahhhh!." Penny screamed.
Hiro, who was pushed to the ground and saw what was being done to his girlfriend, and had a horrified look. "Penny!. No!."
In a blink of an eye, Penny is nowhere to be seen as Hiro felt a pang in his heart as felt the same moment when he lost his big brother, Tadashi. He got back to his feet as he can only see Penny's boot prints. She is dead. She has been incinerated.
"Penny...I'm sorry." Hiro let tears shed. "So, So, sorry."
The battlefield was eerily silent except for the faint hissing of the cooled metal. The cannon stood tall, a twisted monument to the horror that had just unfolded. Hiro looked around, his eyes searching for any sign of her, but there was nothing. No trace of his love, no evidence of the woman who had fought so valiantly beside him. Only a charred patch of earth remained where she had been standing. This motivated him for two things. He is going to go after and arrest Calico for what he did and this.
"Vanellope?." Hiro got his Ai's attention.
"Yeah, Hiro?." Vanellope looked at Hiro. Waiting to hear what he is going to order her.
Hiro lifted his head up and had a determined face expression. He looked at Vanellope. "Activate the Unite protocol."
Vanellope looked at him with surprise. "You want to call the team back together?. Now?."
Hiro nodded firmly. "Yes. Now more than ever. We need them. I need them."
Vanellope's digital features softened. "Alright, Hiro. I'll send out the signal."
Vanellope sent the signal she did. Merida, who was just leaving the police station after turning the robbers in, took a bite of her donut that the cops have rewarded her for. She was about to go somewhere and relax until her card started beeping a tune and vibrating hard. She stopped walking and pulled out her membership card which is a light blue card with the front electronic. Merida looked at the combined letters of her team name TF glowing and remembered what that meant.
"Team Future. Unite protocol. Now." she murmured to herself. She threw the donut away, not caring if it was her favorite chocolate glazed with sprinkles. She knew it's serious.
Back with Wilbur and Violet, who were walking casually down the street of the city, felt their cards going off. They pull out and see before looking at each other with a look of concern and know what it means. They got an official confirmation when hearing and looking up to see the massive TF jet hovering above them and ready to pick them up.
"Looks like the party isn't over yet," Wilbur quipped, wrapping his arm around Violet's waist.
Violet nodded solemnly, her eyes on the jet. "Guess not."
Merida arrived at the rendezvous point, her bow slung over her shoulder, the tension in her body palpable. She watched as the jet descended, its doors opening to reveal the sleek interior. As soon as she was inside, the jet took off, its engines roaring to life. Merida looked at her two best friends and grinned.
"It's been a while, guys." said Merida, her Scottish accent thick with emotion. "Come here!."
Merida pulled Violet and Wilbur under her arms and hugged them tight. "Damn, it is good to be hugged by true loyal friends."
Violet and Wilbur hugged her back, feeling the warmth of their friendship rekindling.
"What's going on?" Violet asked, breaking the embrace. "What's the emergency?."
Hiro spoke through the jet's intercom. "I'll tell you once you all arrive back to our old base."
The jet soared through the sky, each member feeling a mix of excitement and dread. They had all moved on with their lives, but the bond of Team Future was unbreakable. They knew that when the call came one day, they had to answer it. In Mexico, after taking down the cartel, Rider deformed back to Miguel who was about to go catch a bus back home until his card beeped and vibrated.
Miguel's heart skipped a beat when he saw the TF insignia light up. He knew it was Hiro's call to action. Without hesitation, he sprinted to the nearest safe spot and transformed into Skull Rider. The jet descended and he hopped in, the doors closing immediately. The group looked at each other, the weight of their past and the gravity of the situation etched on their faces.