The city skyline glowed under the late afternoon sun. Mark Palmer was patrolling rooftops, his suit glinting like a shard of the sky. His earpiece buzzed with a sudden alert from Nova.
"Mark… urgent. An aircraft has lost power over downtown. Civilian evacuation in progress, but impact is imminent."
Mark's heart skipped. He had trained for hero work—but a plane crash?
"I… I can't let them die," he muttered. His fists clenched. "Nova… let's move!"
The suit boosted him skyward, wings extending from the back modules as he closed in on the descending aircraft. People on the streets below scattered in panic.
"Hold on… everyone hold—" Mark yelled, gliding under the plane, trying to use his boosters to nudge it off course. But the plane was heavy, spinning unpredictably. Every push felt like nothing.
Nova's calm voice filled his helmet. "Mark… your body can't handle the G-forces if we continue manually. You're pushing beyond human limits."
"I… I have to try!" Mark gasped, sweat sliding down his brow inside the suit. "I can't… let them die!"
The plane shuddered violently, and Mark was thrown back, vision blurring. Pain shot through his body—he had overexerted himself. His fingers slipped from the control modules. The ground rushed closer.
And then… darkness.
Nova's voice, firm and decisive, broke through. "Mark… hold on. I'm taking over."
The suit's HUD blinked. Systems switched to Nova Autonomous Mode. The boosters flared with precision, stabilizing the suit mid-air. Nova's voice was calm, almost tender.
"I've got you," she said. "Rest. You've done enough."
Mark's body hung limp inside the suit as Nova guided him under the crashing plane. With perfect control, the aircraft's descent was adjusted. She calculated trajectory, using energy thrusters to absorb impact and redirect it over the river outside the city.
Water erupted in a massive splash as the plane skidded safely, the fuselage cracked but everyone inside survived. Mark's suit hovered, gently landing him on a nearby rooftop.
Slowly, Mark's eyes fluttered open. "Nova…?" His voice was weak, but awe-filled.
"I saved them… and you," she replied softly. "You pushed too far, Mark. Even heroes need help."
Mark struggled upright, looking at the plane now sinking into the river. The people around were cheering, relief flooding their faces. He could hear sirens in the distance, but for a moment, the world felt silent.
A single tear slipped down his cheek—not from pain, but from the weight of responsibility. "I… I really wanted to do it all myself."
Nova's voice softened, almost affectionate. "Sometimes, the strongest heroes are the ones who let others carry them… even if that 'other' is me."
Mark flexed his arms, a wry grin breaking through the exhaustion. "Well… if I'm going to faint, at least I faint in style."
Nova chuckled lightly. "Always dramatic, aren't you?"
Mark looked over the city, breathing deeply. He realized—hero work wasn't just about power. It was about responsibility, choices, and trust. And from now on, he and Nova weren't just partners—they were a team that could face anything.
Cliffhanger: From the shadows above the city, a sleek black drone hovered silently, scanning the suit's energy signature. Its operator whispered, eyes narrowing.
"Interesting… the hero survived. But now we know their limits. Prepare Phase Two."