Raphael lay tangled in his sheets, his room a mess of half-unpacked boxes. His alarm clock was screaming a relentless, piercing ring that he had already slept through for nearly an hour. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open in a panic. He lunged for the clock, his silver eyes wide with horror as he read the glowing numbers.
"No! I'm already thirty minutes late!"
He rolled out of bed, his feet hitting the floor with a heavy thud. Habit took over; he ignited his natural super speed, moving in a blur to dress himself in a fraction of a second. In his haste, he accidentally kicked the door as he burst through it, the wood splintering slightly under the sheer force of his momentum.
As he cleared the doorway, he scanned the hallway. Nobody's around, he thought. I can actually make it.
The vibrant red force of his Quantum Red began to ignite around him, humming with power. But just as he was about to move using his super speed combined with his Tactile Telekinesis, he heard the faint sound of footsteps and voices around the corner.
In a heartbeat, he reacted. Using his Tactile Telekinesis, he focused inward, rearranging his atoms and quirks to snap back into his human form. The red glow vanished instantly.
A professor was strolling down the hall with a stack of papers, and several students were lingering by the vending machines. Raphael forced his muscles to relax, shifting into a stiff, awkward walk like a normal human.
I can't use my powers here, he hissed to himself, his heart hammering against his ribs. But my class is on the complete opposite side of the campus. I'm going to miss the whole lecture.
As he moved through the courtyard, he saw the true scale of Rocket University. Students of a thousand different species filled the walkways. He saw a group of students with iridescent wings gliding toward the science labs, while others squid-like aliens with floating, water-filled helmets and massive, stony ogres lumbered through the crowds. Smaller magical creatures like goblins and pixies hovered a few inches off the ground to avoid being stepped on, navigating around the taller students. Regular humans walked among them, looking small by comparison.
There are so many people using abilities to get around, no one's even paying attention to anyone else, Raphael thought, eyeing a nearby thicket of decorative bushes. I don't think anyone would notice me if I'm fast enough.
He ducked behind a row of tall hedges and activated his Tactile Telekinesis, his cells briefly shifting back into his true, powerful form as he anchored himself to the air to reduce friction. In a silent, red-tinted blur, he vanished. He moved with such precision that the wind didn't even rustle the leaves. A second later, he skidded into the bushes outside the lecture hall, shifting back to his human form before stepping out and smoothing his shirt.
"Hopefully nobody noticed that," he muttered, catching his breath.
He pushed open the heavy oak doors and stepped into the classroom. At the front of the room stood Professor Reed, a man who looked like he'd been struck by lightning. He had wild, chaotic black-and-white hair, a thick mustache, and sharp glasses that magnified his piercing gaze.
"First day of class and you're already late," Reed barked, his voice echoing. "You're already on my bad side, Mr...?" He reached out and snatched the ID from Raphael's hand. "I do not tolerate tardiness."
Reed looked at the ID, then looked back at Raphael. His expression softened into something almost apologetic. "Oh, I see. You're just like me. You're a human." He handed the card back with a sigh. "Please, take your seat."
Raphael felt a twinge of guilt as he walked up the stairs. He spotted Jax waving frantically from the middle row. "Sit right next to me, bud!" Jax whispered loudly.
A few rows ahead, Raphael's heart skipped. He saw the back of a familiar head long, ink-black hair. It was Topanga.
He slid into the seat next to Jax, trying to disappear into his hoodie. Jax immediately leaned over. "I'm surprised you even showed up to class after the 'saving' you did last night. How was your first night being a hero?"
Raphael's head snapped toward his friend. "How do you know I did that last night?"
"Man, it's all over campus!" Jax whispered, grinning. "You saved a ton of students. A lot of them caught 'One' on camera. And that girl behind us Topanga? At the start of class, she was showing everyone her footage. She works for some news station."
Raphael looked at the back of Topanga's head, then whispered back, "Yeah, I saved her. She... she gave me a kiss."
"She gave you a kiss?!" Jax shouted, his voice cracking. "You are so in there!"
The entire lecture hall went silent. Several students turned around to stare. Topanga herself glanced back, her orange eyes scanning the row.
"Quiet!" Professor Reed roared from the front.
The two friends ducked their heads, returning to frantic whispering. "Does she know your secret identity?" Jax asked. "You are so lucky. First day of being a hero and you already have a girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," Raphael hissed, his face heating up. "I don't even know her. She was just grateful. And no, she doesn't know who I am. I'm not telling anyone."
Jax shook his head. "If I were you, I'd tell her. She's been talking about 'One' all morning. No offense, Raphael, but your 'human' form isn't exactly impressive. And I've seen about five guys try to hit on her since breakfast not just humans, either. Some of these guys have wings and scales."
Raphael looked at Topanga. She was focused on her tablet, looking serious and professional even in a classroom setting. He remembered the feeling of her kiss on his cheek and the way she had looked at him in his armor.
"I don't think I have to tell her yet," Raphael said quietly.
He turned toward the front, opening his notebook as Professor Reed began to scrawl complex equations on the board.
Professor Reed slapped the digital chalkboard, clearing the previous equations. "Before we get into the meat and potatoes of today's studies," he began, his voice dropping into a serious tone, "can anyone tell me the basic geography of our world? How many continents are on this massive planet?"
A student in the front row raised their hand. "Seven, sir."
"Correct. Seven cosmic continents, each one the size of a galaxy. Our planet is unique it is the hub of the multiverse. We have every species from across our universe and a dozen others. Ever since the Coalition made the decision to make this world the center of the Project, we have been a melting pot of DNA and culture. This planet was built for peace and harmony, and because of that diversity, our science has grown at an impossible rate."
Reed paced the front of the room, his eyes sharp behind his spectacles. "Especially when it comes to Quantum Splicing. By studying the essence of the soul and the genetic code of thousands of species, we've cured diseases that once wiped out entire star systems. But today, I have to teach you the basics the ethics and the laws of this dangerous practice."
He pressed a button on his desk. A massive, solid hologram shimmered into existence in the center of the room. It projected two separate creatures: a three-eyed alien bullfrog with jagged horns and a tiny, glowing phoenix. Between them sat a digital model of a DNA Splicer.
"Quantum splicing two separate DNAs from two separate species is incredibly risky," Reed warned. He moved his hands through the hologram, dragging the two creatures into the machine. "If the particles don't align..."
He punched a final command. The machine whirred, and the creature that emerged was a twisted, deformed mass of scales and feathers that let out a digital shriek. The students gasped, some leaning back in horror.
"This is the result of a mismatch," Reed said grimly. He tapped the reset button, and the creatures returned to their original forms. "This technology is so dangerous that only the highest-level scientists are even allowed to touch the physical machines. But hopefully, one day, you will graduate and be among them."
He snapped his fingers. Smaller holograms flickered to life on every student's desk. "Team up! Begin splicing these digital samples to understand the particle flow. Get to work!"
The room erupted into the low hum of student chatter. Raphael worked quietly, his hands steady as he navigated the complex UI, though his mind was still on the monsters he'd fought creatures that looked exactly like the "mismatches" Reed had just shown.
When the bell finally rang, the lecture hall became a chaotic scramble. Raphael watched as a crowd of students immediately rushed toward Topanga's desk, surrounding her like a swarm.
"Let me see the video again!" one student shouted. "I've never seen a superhero in person. I wish I was there to meet him!"
Another chimed in, "Is he part of the Superhero Organization? What's his hero rank?"
"Just tune in live on my social media tonight," Topanga announced to the crowd, her voice carrying that sharp, news-anchor clarity. "He said he's going to give me an exclusive interview. You'll see it all then."
As she marched out of the classroom, the swarm of students followed her like she was the most important person on the seven continents. Raphael and Jax trailed a few paces behind.
"You're staring again," Jax whispered, nudging him. "Go talk to her."
"I'm nervous! What would I even say?" Raphael hissed back. "She's... she's really pretty. And you should have seen her last night, Jax. Before I even got there, she was fighting that monster, punching it. She even punched me! She doesn't take anything from anybody."
"Then just tell her who you are," Jax urged. "I doubt she'd tell anyone. Do you know how many girls you could get being a superhero?"
"I can't just tell strangers my secret identity," Raphael muttered. "I know nothing about her."
As they walked down the bustling corridor, the male students were relentless. Guys from a dozen different species kept intercepting Topanga, asking her about the party tonight. She shut them all down with cold, efficient 'no's.'
Suddenly, a student with shimmering, golden skin stepped into her path and grabbed her wrist. "Topanga, look, I'm sorry for cheating," he pleaded, his voice loud enough for the hallway to hear. "Please, just take me back. Come to the party with me tonight. I'll make it up to you."
"I told you it's over, Midas," she snapped, trying to jerk her arm away.
He pulled her back, his grip tightening. "You're not going anywhere until we talk this out."
"You're hurting my wrist!" Topanga warned. She swung a punch at his face, but he caught it easily, his golden skin barely registering the hit. As he reached to grab her again, a shadow fell over them.
Raphael stepped between them, his expression calm but firm. "Hey. Just leave her alone. It's getting a little creepy."
The golden student looked down at Raphael's lanyard. When he saw the word HUMAN printed next to 'Species,' he burst into a mocking laugh. "Get out of here, you human. Before I squish you like a bug."
Topanga suddenly grabbed Raphael's hand, her fingers interlacing with his. She looked the golden student dead in the eye. "Actually, he's the one taking me to the party tonight. So how about you just walk away?"
Raphael's heart nearly stopped. He looked at her, shocked, but she leaned in and whispered, "Just play along. Maybe he'll leave us both alone."
The golden student's face twisted in rage. His skin began to harden, turning into a polished, gold. "She's my girl! I don't care if I get expelled I'll kill you!"
He lunged forward, and Topanga stepped back to give them space. As the golden fist swung toward his face, Raphael's mind went into overdrive. I have to stay in my human form. No Quantum Red, no kinetic bursts. But I can tell... his power is only changing his skin texture. His speed is average. If I time this right, I can pull this off.
Raphael leaned back, the golden fist whistling past his nose by a fraction of an inch. He moved with the fluid grace of a practiced martial artist, dodging a flurry of heavy, metallic punches. On the fourth strike, Raphael stepped inside the golden student's guard, grabbed his lead arm, and used a perfect Judo throw.
The heavy, golden student was sent airborne, slamming into the tiled floor with a loud, metallic clang.
"You little brat!" the student snarled, scrambling up. His hands began to elongate into jagged golden spikes. "You think you can mock me?"
"What do you think you're doing?" a sharp voice cut through the air.
A teacher appeared out of the crowd, grabbing the golden student firmly by the ear. "You are not allowed to use superpowers on campus! If you wanted to throw energy and spikes around, you should have gone to a superhero academy. This is a university for everyone!"
She yanked his ear harder. "And you are especially not allowed to use them on humans a protected class of citizens! You're coming with me to the office. Right now!"
The hallway erupted in laughter as Midas was dragged away by his ear. Topanga walked up to Raphael, looking him up and down with a new sense of curiosity.
"Wow," she said, a small smile playing on her lips as she moved closer to him, stepping into his personal space. "That was actually pretty impressive. I'm sorry for getting you into my mess, but I appreciate you helping me out."
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took a deep breath. "Do I know you? You... you smell familiar. You smell just like One that new superhero." She leaned in even closer, her orange eyes locking onto his. "And you guys have the exact same silver eyes."
Raphael felt a bead of sweat roll down his neck. "There's a lot of people with silver eyes," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "And this cologne is quite popular."
Topanga laughed suddenly, the tension breaking as her friend Merlin appeared. Merlin had long black hair, light purple skin, and sharp demon horns that curved from her forehead. She was dressed in the school uniform but wore it with a rebellious edge.
"I saw what happened," Merlin said, crossing her arms. "I told you that you should never have dated him in the first place, Topanga. He's a jerk. But," she grinned, "we are still going to the party tonight, right?"
"Yeah," Topanga replied. "But I have to leave early. I have an interview to conduct tonight for my report."
Her face flushed as Merlin squealed, "Are you talking about that superhero you showed me? He's so handsome! So, it's basically a date?"
"You could say that," Topanga replied, smiling.
"Tell me everything!" Merlin pressed. "I know you texted me about it, but I want to hear it all."
"I will," Topanga promised. She started walking away, then turned back to call out, She looked back at Raphael. "Are you going?"
Before Raphael could speak, Jax shoved his way into the conversation. "Yeah, we're both going!"
Topanga extended her hand toward him. "What was your name again?"
"It's Raphael," he said, shaking her hand. His skin felt like it was buzzing where they touched.
"See you later, Raphael," Topanga said with a wink. She and Merlin turned and began walking away, disappearing into the sea of students.
Raphael turned on Jax immediately. "Are you crazy? You know how much homework we have? Not to mention I have to go out rescuing and finding those monsters again. I have to figure out who attacked me and why! I don't have time for a party."
"Come on, man," Jax said, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "She obviously wants us to be there. This is college! We can't make this like high school where we did nothing but play video games. I've never even been to a party this big. Come on, let's just hang out for a little bit, then you can slip away and go out as a superhero. You'll probably even meet up with her again later. Think about it she gets to know both versions of you."
Raphael sighed, looking toward the exit where Topanga had vanished. "Alright, fine. Let's go. But only if you do my homework tonight."
"You've got yourself a deal!" Jax cheered.
As they started walking toward their next destination, a door creaked open. Professor Reed was standing in his office doorway, watching them with an unreadable expression.
"I saw what happened out there," Reed said, his voice low and gravelly. He stepped out into the hall. "I'm just like you guys a human. All of these aliens, magical creatures, and other species... they believe they can bully us. We have to stick together and show them that we are the superior species. I hope you two understand that."
He adjusted his glasses, his eyes turning cold. "Superheroes these 'species' with special abilities can never be trusted. Ever."
Both Raphael and Jax nodded uncomfortably, the Professor's words hanging heavy in the air as they hurried off to their next class.
Later that night, the sky above the cosmic continent was a deep violet, filled with the breathtaking sight of neighboring planets and swirling star clusters that felt close enough to touch. Because of the unique magic of this world, the atmosphere acted like a living prism, allowing a gentle cycle of day and night even in the middle of a deep-space sector.
Luminous ley lines pulsed faintly in the air above, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the university grounds. Maya, Jax, and Raphael walked together toward the source of the thumping bass, passing groups of students heading in the opposite direction.
"It's already 8:00," one student muttered. "I've got to get up early for class."
"I'm getting out of here," another added, looking nervously at the darkening sky. "This is the time of night when those monsters start coming out. The party was fun, but I'm not risking it."
Maya glanced at the boys, a nervous energy flickering in her eyes. "I can't believe you two talked me into this."
Raphael offered a reassuring smile, trying to keep his own nerves in check. "I don't think it'll be that bad."
As they drew closer to the massive estate, the thumping bass vibrating in the ground beneath their feet, Raphael's silver eyes caught something amidst the celestial display above. A blur of movement flickering like yellow jet-trails zipped across the sky.
What was that? he wondered. He looked up at a nearby roof and saw a dark shadow perched on the edge, watching them. He blinked, doing a double-take, but the shadow was gone. I must be imagining things, he told himself, though his pulse quickened.
They entered the party, a sea of music and flashing lights. Almost immediately, the group split up. Raphael found himself in the kitchen, and to his surprise, he found Topanga and Merlin there. They spent the next hour talking.
The moment was shattered when Midas stumbled into the room, smelling heavily of alcohol. He growled, pointing a metallic finger at Raphael. "You're actually dating this nerd? This human nerd? I know you're half-human, Topanga is that why you're picking him over me?"
Maya rushed over, trying to intervene. "You're really embarrassing yourself right now. You're a little too drunk."
"Shut up! I'm not drunk!" he yelled, turning his rage back to Raphael. "And you? You got me in trouble today. You owe me a rematch!"
Topanga stepped in front of Raphael. "Leave him alone!"
Midas shoved her out of the way and threw a heavy punch at Raphael's face. Raphael ducked, and the fist whistled over his head, shattering the kitchen wall behind him with a sickening crunch. The fight spilled out into the backyard as Raphael dodged a flurry of clumsy, powerful attacks in front of a cheering crowd.
They ended up near the edge of the patio. Midas lunged one last time, but Raphael slipped to the side perfectly. The student's momentum carried him forward, and he went flying into the deep end of the pool with a massive splash.
"I can't swim! I can't swim!" he screamed, his golden skin making him heavy as an anchor.
Without hesitation, Raphael reached out. "Take my hand!" He hauled the shivering, golden student out of the water.
"This doesn't make us friends," the boy sputtered, before turning away to throw up on the grass. "You're lucky I'm drunk."
Topanga walked up, a look of genuine admiration on her face. "That was impressive. It's official you're basically my bodyguard now," she laughed. "Too bad I can't pay you. Come on, come with me. I want to go downtown and get some pictures for the news. I feel like I'm getting closer to solving who is doing all of this."
"Let me come with you guys," Maya chirped. She was walking with a boy from school, both of them visibly tipsy. "I'm pretty bored."
The four of them started walking toward the downtown district. As they walked, Raphael felt that familiar prickle on the back of his neck. More blurs. More sounds in the shadows.
Is somebody following us? He activated his Tactile Telekinesis internally. With every step he took, he let his "Presence" spread out like a sonar through the ground. I can hear it. Someone is definitely following us. But who? Is it the guy from last night? How am I going to change into my hero costume without anyone noticing?
Topanga noticed his distraction. "So, why did you decide to come to Rocket University?"
"It seemed like a good school," Raphael responded, trying to focus. "Good Quantum program. That's what my mom wants me to do."
"That's what your mom wants," Topanga noted, her eyes sharp. "What do you want to do?"
"I don't really know yet," he admitted. "Why did you pick this school?"
"This is my district. My town," she said firmly. "And this school has the perfect program for journalists. I want to make a difference. Ever since I saw the reporter who helped solve the murder of my father... I knew what I wanted to be."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Raphael said softly.
"It's alright," she said, raising her camera to take pictures of the quiet streets. "Wow, I haven't seen a single monster tonight."
Maya and her date, barely standing, leaned against a wall. "Let's take a break," Maya slurred. "Let's try to break into one of the bars. I have fake IDs!"
They stopped walking suddenly. The air grew heavy, thick with a pressurized static charge that made the hair on Raphael's arms stand up. From the dark sky above, a figure descended with unnerving grace. As the wind caught his heavy hoodie, it shifted, revealing a glowing Infinity symbol emblazoned on his chest armor.
Topanga gasped, her camera already in hand. "It's him! It's One!" She started snapping pictures, a wide, triumphant smile on her face. "You still owe me an interview!"
Raphael's heart skipped a beat as he stood frozen. Who is this? Why does he have the Infinity symbol? He focused on the figure's presence, probing the stranger's aura. His breath hitched. The energy felt raw, ancient, and unmistakably familiar. It feels like mine. He's one of my people.
"Who are you?" Raphael demanded, his voice tight with tension.
"Zion," The figure reached up, gripped the edge of his hood, and pulled it down. He possessed the same piercing silver eyes as Raphael, framed by short, cropped black hair. He wore sleek yellow and black armor with imposing shoulder pads, encased in a violent, crackling yellow energy that flared around his body like a trapped sun.
He ignored Raphael's question entirely, instead tapping a high-tech radio device on his wrist. "I found her," he stated coldly into the comms.
Suddenly, the shadows atop the downtown buildings came alive. Dozens of demons began hopping down from the roofs. They had deep, dark purple skin and wore the bleached skeletons of fallen creatures as macabre armor. Their sharp, barbed tails whipped through the air, and while some sprouted leathery wings, others drew jagged black swords.
Topanga took a jagged step back, her camera shaking. "You're... you're not One."
Raphael stepped in front of her, his fists clenched. "What do you want?"
"I'm here to complete my bounty," Zion said, pulling out a digital tablet. "The sensor says she's right here. The portal. The key to the Demon Dimension." He looked between Topanga and Maya, his eyes cold. "I don't know which one it is. Take both of them. We don't have time the portal needs to be opened soon."
Maya's face went pale with terror. "Oh, no... it's my father," she whispered. "He and his minions are trying to break him out of the demon realm again. How did they find me?"
The drunk boy standing next to Maya stepped forward, trying to be brave. "Hey! Get away from her! You ain't taking her anywhere!"
One of the demons rushed forward. With a single, brutal slice of its blade, the boy was cut down instantly. They grabbed Maya, who screamed, "Let me go!" as they began to fly off into the night sky.
"Get away!" Raphael shouted, shielding Topanga as the remaining demons surrounded them.
Suddenly, five shadows streaked down from the sky, slamming into the demon pack with bone-shattering force.
Team Teen Cosmic had arrived.
Leading the group was their leader, Rocket Boy. He wore a sleek, high-tech suit that hugged his frame, twin blasters strapped to his waist and a tactical shield folded against his back. He didn't waste a second, his visor scanning the threat.
Beside him stood Dash, clad in a vibrant red, blue, and black suit, with arcs of raw lightning crackling constantly around his limbs. To his left was Aquarius, standing with fluid grace. He was shirtless, his golden hair wild, with gills visible along his ribs and a constant, swirling aura of water orbiting his body. In his hand, he gripped a massive, shimmering trident that pulsed with the rhythm of the tides.
The heavy hitter of the group was Forearms, a massive, eight-foot-tall behemoth with deep red skin, clad in heavy, ancient armor that seemed to vibrate with stored power.
Finally, Mystic Woman hovered slightly off the ground. Her long, curly hair moved like flowing crimson flames, and a burning, red aura surrounded her, causing the air around her battle skirt to shimmer with heat.
They stood as a wall of power between Raphael, Topanga, and the encroaching darkness.
"You aren't summoning the Demon King," the leader growled, his hand resting on his blaster. "You're not opening a portal to the Demon Realm. Ever since we sealed him away, we've been watching his daughter to ensure this day never comes. You aren't one of their regular minions... the Black Dominion Syndicate hired you to free the Demon King, didn't they?"
He narrowed his eyes, pointing toward the symbol on Zion's chest. "And why are you wearing the Infinity symbol? That is the mark of one of our greatest legends. Take it off!"
Zion smirked, utterly unimpressed. "The Black Dominion Syndicate did hire me, and they know my people never fail a mission. The bounty to restore the Demon King was far too lucrative to resist."
He gestured toward the glowing emblem on his chest, his gaze icy. "This is the symbol of my people. The symbol of ultimate power in Dominion. It is nothing to wear as a costume; it is only for warriors."
He looked the team up and down with open disdain. "As for you... you call yourselves heroes? I see nothing to fear here. I see no true battle spirit. None of you are real warriors."
Zion raised his hand. His outer telekinesis a jagged yellow force erupted from his palm, wrapping around all five heroes like constricting snakes.
"I... I can't move!" Rocket Boy gasped. The others struggled against the binding hold, but Zion's power was absolute.
The force then lashed out toward Topanga, wrapping around her waist. She began floating helplessly toward Zion. Raphael lunged forward, grabbing her legs. "Let her go! Stop!"
"Raphael, just run!" Topanga cried out.
Zion flicked his wrist, his telekinetic force slamming into Raphael and tossing him and all five heroes away like ragdolls. He grabbed Topanga by the throat, a jagged yellow aura enveloping her and Merlin. With a single, explosive burst of telekinetic force, he shot upward to pierce the clouds, the pack of demons surging into the air to follow him. He vanished into the night sky, both captives held firmly in his grasp.
Raphael crashed through a brick wall, buried under a mountain of broken building materials. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, and warm blood began to soak his shirt.
The mystic hero with the flowing, flame-like hair rushed over, heaving a massive slab of concrete off him. "Are you okay?"
Raphael coughed, spitting blood onto the pavement. "Yeah... I'm okay."
"I'm surprised you're still alive, kid," Mystic Woman said, glancing at the shattered debris. "Stay here. The ambulance and the rescue teams are on their way." She didn't wait for an answer, turning sharply and rocketing into the sky to join the pursuit.
Raphael waited until the sound of her departure faded, then dragged himself into the shadows of the alley. The pain was intense, but the rage was stronger. No more hiding.
He focused his Tactile Telekinesis, using the force to shift his molecular structure. Particles realigned instantly, hardening his form as he shed the human disguise. His silver eyes ignited with a fierce, crimson light, and his suit materialized over him. With a powerful burst of kinetic energy, he launched into the night, leaving a brilliant trail of red light in his wake. "I'm coming."