After speaking with RepliKtion, Ashton was determined to speak to Amber Gale about the situation. No matter how much his old colleague pestered, he didn’t have the authority to invite someone from a hero agency to join his team. Even if it turned out that he did, he wanted to make sure that he passed all the necessary checks and would not become a risk later on.

  Unfortunately this conversation was derailed by a far more pressing matter. Phobia had disappeared. When Ms. Gale had sent someone to round up the guests to resume testing, no one could find them. Ashton knew he wouldn’t be much help as the profile she had provided him had only detailed the power with nothing about the person themselves. Age, gender, and anything about appearance were left out. Just removing that baggy hoodie would make the guest from Superview impossible to recognize.

  “If only Summer were here,” he heard Ms. Gale muttered, “She would be perfect for a situation like this.”

  Ashton did not miss her knowing glance or the fact that she was absolutely right. With Jared out on a mission, and the necessity for a level of confidentiality it was difficult to find someone who was as good at being unthreatening as Summer was. Kayla might have been able to pull it off, but she was suspended too.

  The main issue with the whole situation was that Phobia manifested their fears. If their guest became scared, everyone else would have to face that same fear the moment their powers became active. As Ashton thought it through he was reminded of one other person who had recently become the most unthreatening man alive, according to the media.

  “Don’t give me that look,” RepliKtion grumbled with a grimace, “I know what you are thinking, but I left that cursed outfit and puppet behind when I came here.”

  “You should know better than to use that excuse with me,” Ashton pointed out, “Items you deal with on a daily basis like that would be easy for you to recreate. I won’t ask you to do something like that, though. Phobia might be afraid of TV characters coming to life or something.”

  “I’m glad you know how to think things through,” RepliKtion said, clearly thoroughly relieved, “What do we do, then? We can neither leave nor continue testing while the kid is missing.”

  “The kid?” Ashton asked, “Have you seen what Phobia looks like?”

  “Yeah. We met outside before he bundled up,” he explained, “He isn’t just a small guy. He is a kid for sure. That was why I was surprised to hear he was a hero. It is against the law for minors to do this kind of work.”

  So the person they were looking for was young, male, and likely terrified of being caught doing illegal work as a hero for Superview. If he hadn’t found some way to run for it while everyone was busy, he was probably hiding like his life depended on it.

  “If you were a kid terrified of being turned in by a big scary company full of powerful people, where would you hide?” Ashton asked.

  “You think he is scared? If he was, wouldn’t we have felt his ability by now?” RepliKtion asked.

  “Not necessarily,” Ashton replied, “I think he has been scared this whole time, which means he has incredibly good control over his ability. It is possible that Superview sent him here after blackmailing him thinking that his ability would go haywire once he arrived. That would let them bring down Gale Research a peg and get rid of the kid who was a little too powerful for their liking.”

  RepliKtion stared at Ashton with a mixture of shock and concern. “Just what kinds of… It is possible, I guess, but why is that your first thought in this situation?”

  That was a wonderful question. Ashton would like to think that it was a sound deduction made based on the evidence he had been given beforehand. However, he couldn’t help but wonder if his recent experiences with MysteriousMaskz had rubbed off on him somehow. His old colleague likely had no idea what he would be getting into if Ashton really did invite him onto the team.

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  “Let’s just say I have reason to believe Superview would use those methods,” Ashton answered, “It is best to assume the worst and prepare to prevent and protect against it. Phobia might be holding on now, but if he is in the situation I imagined he could easily fall apart. We need to find him before that happens.”

  “And then what? Be the first victims of his panicked rampage?” RepliKtion demanded.

  Ashton sighed and pulled out the mini syringe he always had on his person. “I have the authority to carry a dose of the power suppression serum on my person at all times. If worst comes to worst, he will be getting a temporary reprieve from his ability.”

  “Remind me never to get on your bad side,” RepliKtion muttered with a shiver, “Do you have any idea what your expression looks like right now? I would believe you if you told me that syringe holds deadly poison.”

  Had his expression been that grave? Maybe he was still stressed out from everything that had happened. Ashton moved to put the syringe back away when a pair of smaller hands grabbed his. He found himself face to face with an oversized hoodie, trembling hands desperate to grab hold of the serum.

  “P=please save me,” the boy hiding inside the hoodie hissed in a panicked whisper, “My power doesn’t work the way they think it does. I can’t do it. You have to save me.” As he spoke his words became more panicked and desperate, practically blending together in his haste.

  Ashton did some quick math. The serum he had on his person would only last one hour. It was clear that they would not be able to calm Phobia in his current state and get any answers, so it would certainly make things easier. However, if he misused the serum he might have his authority to carry it taken away and end up on suspension right along Summer. Was Phobia currently a threat to others and himself?

  The panicked tone, the trembling hands, and even the strong grip filled with desperation definitely were outside the bounds of what could be caused by a safe ability. Ashton determined that this was more than enough evidence to use the temporary serum and investigate further.

  “You will have to release me if you want me to inject it safely,” Ashton told him, “Do you know what this is?”

  “Power suppression?” Phobia whispered, slowly releasing the tight grip he had on Ashton’s hand, “Are you really going to save me?” His voice sounded calmer already, almost hopeful.

  There was only one way Ashton could respond to such hopes. “Yes.”

  As the ensuing chaos took place, Ashton could not help but be a bit jealous of Insomnia who was peacefully sleeping through everything. The issue had only extended her naptime, while everyone else ended up being wrapped up in the incident. Due to the seriousness of the situation, Ashton found himself reporting directly to Amber Gale to explain his actions. RepliKtion was eager to defend him, and refused to be removed after already being this involved.

  “Phobia claimed his power worked differently than reported, and that he couldn’t bear it any longer,” Ashton explained with a surprising calm, “I deemed it necessary to temporarily relieve those powers in order to get a proper explanation.”

  “Is this true?” Ms. Gale demanded of Phobia.

  “Y-yes,” Phobia practically squeaked, “I c-can explain if you want me t-to.”

  “I have a theory. You just need to let me know if I am correct,” Ms. Gale told him, “The paperwork explains that your ability is to manifest fears. It doesn’t explain exactly how. Based on what I saw on the security cameras at the time of your disappearance, those fears manifest directly to you. In other words you become or experience your fears when your powers take hold.”

  The hoodie jerked up sharply. “That’s right,” Phobia responded in surprise, “How did you know?”

  “You disappeared,” Amber replied, “Or it would be more accurate to say you became a ghost. I can only assume that your fear at the time had something to do with no one seeing or paying attention to you. Once you realized everyone was trying to find you and you feared being found, you returned, and almost immediately bumped into Ashton and RepliKtion. Does this sound accurate.”

  Phobia’s hood bobbed in affirmation. “That’s why I can’t help you with the test, even once my ability comes back.”

  “The test isn’t important right now,” Ms. Gale dismissed, “I would like to make you an offer instead. Would you like to take Untouchable? If you are willing to test one tiny thing for me, I will free you from your power forever.”

  “You want to turn a minor into a test subject?!” RepliKtion balked, reminding everyone that he was still in the room.

  “I’ll do it!” Phobia shouted in a panic before Amber could change her mind, then hesitated, “What do I need to do?”

  “After you take Untouchable, I would like you to enter the power suppression chamber,” she explained, “I have a suspicion that the serum might be more powerful in repelling other abilities for a short time after it is administered. It might even make you immune to Insomnia’s ability permanently.”