The Embryo of a New Order

The spatial rift closed.

Starlight stood in the underground base, surrounded by concrete walls and metal pipes.

More than twenty monitors on the walls displayed surveillance footage: Vought Tower, the White House, and places she did not recognize.

Chu Hang's clone operated a holographic display at the control console. Benjamin stood three steps behind him, completely still.

"Where is this?"

"A safehouse equipped with a shielding system." Chu Hang's clone did not look up. "Satellites can't detect it."

Starlight walked over to the monitors. One of them showed footage of The Boys. Butcher was cleaning his gun, Hughie was typing on a keyboard, and the others were organizing their gear.

"You're monitoring them?"

"Just protecting them. I can't sense what they're doing at all times, after all. Sometimes technology is quite useful."

Starlight stared at the screen, swallowing the words that had reached her lips. She knew that without this man, Butcher and the others might already be dead.

Chu Hang's clone shut down the projection and turned around.

"Sit. We need to discuss what comes next."

Starlight did not move.

"You want to establish a new Order Law, make every Supe obey your commands like Benjamin does."

"Not exactly." Chu Hang's clone brought up a document. "I want to establish a system. Register every Supe, assess their danger level, assign them roles. The strong protect the weak, and the weak perform their respective duties. Those who violate the rules will be eliminated."

Starlight took a step back.

"How is that any different from Vought?"

"Vought treats Supes as products. I treat them as tools." Chu Hang's clone looked at her. "Tools belong where they should be, not running wild all over the world."

"You're talking about people!" Starlight raised her voice. "What gives you the right to decide other