Give You a Shot

"Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Dodge News Live Stream."

"I'm Dodger Wilson. I'm currently on 57th Avenue. Guess who I just saw."

"Homelander!"

"Yes, as you can see, Homelander has just stopped an ambulance."

"As for why he did that, we have no idea."

"Oh, my god."

"Homelander tore open the ambulance. Why would he do such a thing? Doesn't he know that this could delay treatment and prevent the patient from receiving emergency care?"

"Let's interview the doctor."

In a livestream, the footage shook, showing the scene on a city street.

A blond white man in a blue combat suit ripped open the ambulance's body, making the nurse inside scream.

Comments flooded across the screen.

'Things are really lively today. Didn't Homelander just show up at Walmart? Why is he on 57th Avenue now?'

'Does anyone know what Homelander is doing? I bet there's a wanted criminal in that ambulance. Five bucks!'

At that moment, a doctor appeared in the shot, looking utterly helpless.

The livestream's host, self-media reporter and freelance writer Dodger Wilson, shoved the camera right into the doctor's face.

"Hello, Doctor. Could you tell our viewers what Homelander is doing?"

"How would I know?"

"All I know is that there's an injured person in the ambulance, and she's in critical condition."

"She suffered severe injuries and organ damage. She's still losing blood."

"If she isn't taken to the hospital as soon as possible, the consequences will be unpredictable."

"Oh, my god, it's that serious?"

"Oh, what did he do? Homelander lifted the stretcher!"

Onscreen, Homelander climbed into the ambulance and effortlessly lifted the stretcher secured inside.

The camera zoomed in for a close-up of Homelander.

Then Dodger's voice rang out. "Homelander, what are you doing?"

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"Don't you think you're interfering with a rescue operation? You could very well cause a serious medical accident!"

"Could you explain yourself to the viewers in front of our cameras?"

The blond man glanced back, his gaze icy. Then, carrying the stretcher, he flew into the sky.

By the time the camera tilted upward, Homelander was nowhere to be seen.

"He gave no explanation!"

"Yes, did everyone see that?"

"Homelander offered no explanation whatsoever for this incident!"

"What arrogance!"

"Can someone like that really protect us?"

"I, Dodger Wilson, will continue following this story!"

"If you want to know what happens next, follow me!"

"I'm heading to Seven Tower to interview them now!"

CIA.

Deputy Director Susan Lena arrived at her office. The moment she opened the door, she saw a figure sitting on her desk.

He was holding a phone and seemed to be watching a livestream.

Hearing the door open, the man turned around with a roguish grin. "Hey, darling. Long time no see."

The deputy director's expression immediately darkened. "You can't just walk in here, Butcher."

The bearded man put down his phone and winked. "No, I can."

Lena closed the door and walked to her desk. "What are you here for?"

Butcher held his phone up before her. "Look what our Homelander just did. He intercepted an ambulance and casually took away the injured patient."

"So how long are we supposed to put up with these bastards? What right do they have to disrupt public order? And the damned thing is, from the police to our esteemed Ms. Lena, everyone turns a blind eye to them!"

Lena glanced at him. "Since when did you become a champion of justice?"

Butcher gave a humorless laugh. "Probably when that son of a bitch used dirty tricks to take Becca."

Lena looked seriously at the man before her. "It's been eight years. It's time to end this."

"I'm serious, Butcher."

"As a friend, I'm seriously advising you to stop obsessing over this. You'll get yourself killed."

The bearded man's lips curled up slightly. "You know what? I don't care. I just want to kill those pieces of trash."

"Enough of that. I want to ask you something."

"Do you know Olga Weapon Research Company?"

The deputy director froze for a moment before replying, "Your sources are pretty well-informed."

"Why are you asking about them?"

Butcher shrugged. "I'm the one asking questions right now."

"Unless you want to provide me with services in bed, I won't answer anything."

Lena sneered. "Then please leave."

"I have no obligation to answer your questions either."

Butcher smiled shamelessly. "No, you'll answer."

"Don't you want me to do something for you?"

"For example, get you some negative news and evidence about Supers?"

Lena smiled, then said, "Olga Weapon Research Company has recently become very close with the Department of Defense."

"It's highly likely that next quarter's weapons procurement contract will go to them."

Butcher nodded. "Well, that's quite a surprise."

The deputy director gestured at the bearded man with her chin. "My turn to ask questions, Butcher. What can you do for me?"

Butcher leaned forward slightly.

"A lot, Madam Deputy Director."

"For example, I can monitor those superpowered bastards. I can gather intelligence for you, or handle other dirty work."

"In return, I need some things. Things like immunity clauses, funding, and resources."

"What do you think of my proposal?"

Lena took out a cigarette. Halfway through smoking it, she glared viciously at the bearded man. "Deal!"

"But you'd better do a good job."

"If I find out you're only using the help I provide, trust me, I'll shove a gun up your ass and let the bullets greet every organ in your body!"

Butcher shook his head. "You've gotten crude, dear Ms. Lena."

"But I like it."

*

*

*

Outskirts.

Inside a warehouse on an abandoned farm, where dust-covered tractors sat, the roof suddenly shattered. Then a blue figure slowly descended.

Azu placed the stretcher on the ground and scanned Angelina's condition, discovering that the girl was in terrible shape.

Unhurriedly, he took out a silver syringe with a distinctly high-tech look, tore open Angelina's collar, and plunged the needle into her pale, slender neck.

Azu slowly injected the Gene-Modifying Agent into the girl's body. Only after not a single drop remained in the syringe did he pull out the needle.

Then he observed the girl's condition.

Angelina's body suddenly convulsed. Her temperature rapidly rose, and she uncontrollably sprang upright.

Azu caught her hand in time and dragged her back down, then held her tightly.

Angelina twisted desperately in his arms. Suddenly, she opened her mouth.

At some point, her mouth had grown a row of sharp fangs, and she viciously bit down at Azu's neck!