The guardian

6:05 PM – Mysterious Room

Theo and the girl stepped through a swirling portal that stayed open behind them.

Kira: Welcome to the Guardian’s chamber. (She gestured to a dimly lit room bathed in dark blue recessed lighting. A man sat calmly in the center, holding a glowing staff.)

Man: I see you've returned, Kira.

Theo: That voice...

Man: Yes, Theo. I was the voice in your head. I am the Guardian. I have telepathic powers and use them to guide new holders—like yourself.

Theo: I have a ques—

Guardian (interrupting): I know. But let me finish first. You can summon the heroes you created before the crystal object activated. However, how long they remain depends on how much energy they have. You can recharge them by playing—using your imagination as you normally do.

Theo: So, I’m like a superhero now? I get to kick butt and say cool one-liners?

Kira: Don’t move faster than your shadow, kid. And don’t you dare interrupt the Guardian again.

Guardian: It’s alright, Kira. I’ve seen more enthusiasm than this. Now, your question—why the crystal object didn’t activate earlier. It was in its terminal form, meaning it hadn't bonded with anyone for a long time. To activate, it needed contact with another crystal object.

Theo: Oh... Okay. No more questions.

Guardian: Good. Get to know each other, because from now on, you’ll be working together to take down the Villain Society.

Theo: Weren’t the crystal objects scattered around the world? Why are they all in one city?

Guardian: The Villain Society found and collected them. Their leader, who resides in their main headquarters—right here in Singapore—distributed them to his top warriors. That’s why they’re concentrated here. If that’s all, you may be dismissed.

Kira: Insightful as always. (As they were about to leave...)

Guardian: Wait, Theo. Take this—Galaxom. (He tossed a sleek gadget toward Theo.)

Guardian: It’ll allow you to teleport here. It serves as a holographic communicator, activates your anti-gravity hover disc, and powers your NSP super suit—or “super suit” for short. Keep it with you. And one last thing—do not lose your crystal object.

Theo: Got it. (They stepped back through the portal into Theo’s room.)

6:47 PM – Theo’s Room

Kira: I guess I should deactivate my suit. (She pressed a button on her Galaxom. Her armor vanished.)

Theo: I know you! You're just one class ahead of me, and you kept calling me a kid like you were far older than me.

Kira: And I’m still gonna call you “kid.” Nothing you can do about it.

Theo: Shouldn’t I be training or something?

Kira (sighing): I wish. But according to the Guardian, we need to get to know each other first. I don’t—

GRR-GRR-GRR (The sound of the gate opening interrupted her.)

Theo: Oh no—my mom’s back!

Kira: Well, that wraps it up. (She jumped out the window, activated her hover disc, and zipped away.)

Mrs. Krizma (panting): Theo, are you okay?

Theo (nervously hiding his crystal object): Mom? Why are you back early?

Mrs. Krizma: I forgot something important. But never mind that—why does it look like a wildfire just swept through the front yard?

Theo: Umm… s-some villains came, and… they were looking for something, I think. But they couldn’t find it, so they left.

Mrs. Krizma (sighing in relief): We’re calling the police. You’re telling them everything.

Theo: O-Okay...

Meanwhile – Kira hovering toward home

Guardian (telepathically): Kira. I have a new mission for you. Sector 5, Block 3, Street 2—there’s a warehouse. We believe it’s Radiax’s hideout. Go investigate. If you can’t defeat him, retrieve his crystal object.

Kira: The kid isn’t ready! He’s had zero training. He could get hurt—or worse!

Guardian (firmly): That wasn’t a suggestion. (Pauses)

Guardian: The best way to teach someone like him is through hands-on experience. Now go. (Transmission ends.)

Kira: If the kid gets hurt, he better not blame me... (She called Theo using her Galaxom.)

Meanwhile – Theo with the Police

Theo: Each one used a different element—fire, air, and earth. (He subtly hid the glow of his Galaxom.)

Mrs. Krizma: Now that’s sorted, I’m going back to work. Be home by 10.

Theo: Okay, bye! (As soon as she left, he raced to his room.)

Theo: Kira? Are you there? (He tapped the Galaxom. A hologram of Kira appeared.)

Kira: What took you so long?

Theo: I was ex—

Kira (cutting in): Don’t care anymore. Meet me at Sector 5, Block 3, Street 2.

Theo: Uh… where is that?

Kira: Ugh... No. 12 Irikaja Road.

Theo: I’m on my way! (He ended the call.)

Theo: Okay... how do I activate the super suit?

Galaxom: Searching...Activation phrase found: “Activate super suit.”

Theo: Alright—Activate super suit! (A yellow light enveloped him. Sleek black armor with glowing yellow lines formed around his body. A matching helmet materialized.)

Theo: This is EPIC. Villains beware of—Captain Hero! …Wait, that’s lame. I need a better super name.

Galaxom: Would you like to activate voice recognition?

Theo: Sure.

Galaxom: Voice recognition set. Would you like to set—

Theo: Stop distracting me, you hunk of junk. Now… which hero can fly? Or teleport? Wait—I remember! Sensei Baa! (A beam of yellow light shot out of the crystal hanger. A wise warrior in a brown robe with ancient markings appeared, out of a cloud of yellow smoke.)

Sensei Baa: Let’s go. (He grabbed Theo, placed him on his back, and soared into the sky.)

7:02 PM – No. 12 Irikaja Road

Kira stood on a rooftop overlooking the warehouse.

Kira: Where is that kid? He has a whole arsenal of superheroes, and none of them can teleport? Ugh, I’m not waiting. (She jumped down. The warehouse was locked with chains and a padlock.)

Kira: They think this will stop me? (Her molecular kinesis glowed. The chains snapped open, she opened the door a little and saw nothing but boxes. She entered and began looking around.)

While Sensei Baa was flying with Theo.

Sensei Baa: We’re almost there.

Theo: Hey, what are those masked men caring?

Sensei Baa (Looking down): They look like nuclear generators; they must be broken or burnt because it looks like they're taking them to a junkyard.

Theo: That must be the warehouse. (As he pointed to a building a couple of blocks away.)

Meanwhile.

Kira: This is just a regular warehouse… I should contact the Guardian—

Radiax: I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

Kira: R-Radiax...

Radiax: Surprised?

Kira: Not really. You’re the reason I’m here. I could’ve been chilling at home, but nooo—had to deal with you.

Radiax: Let me put you out of your misery. (He launched a green energy orb. She hurled two boxes at it. They collided, but a second orb came through the smoke and struck her directly.)

Kira: Ugh! You’ll pay for that! (She threw more boxes; he dodged and destroyed them.)

Radiax: Pathetic. I expected a challenge. But you're not even worth my time. (He gestured. His subordinate cracked a plasma whip, wrapping it around Kira.)

Subordinate: She ain't going anywhere, boss.

Radiax: Good. Step aside, Nuclei. (He began charging a giant energy orb with smaller orbs rotating around it.)

Radiax: Now feel the core of my fury! (He hurled it—but suddenly, a laser blast exploded the orb mid-air. Theo and Sensei Baa landed in front of him.)

Theo: Better late than never, right? (Nuclei lunged, but Sensei Baa hurled Theo skyward, dodged, slammed Nuclei into Radiax, then caught Theo on his way down.)

Radiax: Nuclei—check on Plan Nuke. I’ll deal with these two myself.

Nuclei: On it, boss.

Radiax: Prepare for the beating of a lifetime.