Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• At a live event with Maeve, Lin Mo thanks the audience and viewers, then announces that Vought will hold a nationwide public selection for a new member of The Seven. Application details will be released through Vought’s official channels.
• The announcement sparks excitement among Metahumans hoping for a chance to join the team, as well as ordinary viewers eager to see a new hero.
• The event organizers watch the growing audience numbers with satisfaction and instruct staff to prevent any mishaps.
• At home, Annie is watching the event to see Maeve. When Lin Mo appears, she excitedly calls her mother, Donna, to watch too.

Character developments

• Lin Mo presents the recruitment announcement confidently and warmly, encouraging aspiring heroes to apply.
• Annie is shown as an enthusiastic admirer of Maeve and especially Lin Mo. His rescue record has made him her favorite hero and strengthened her own desire to help people.
• Donna recognizes Annie’s admiration and joins her in watching the event.

Significant themes

• Opportunity and recognition: The open selection gives lesser-known Metahumans a chance to pursue fame, status, and service as members of The Seven.
• Heroism as inspiration: Lin Mo’s rescues influence Annie’s idealistic belief that heroes should step forward to help those in danger.
• Public image and spectacle: The announcement draws attention and excitement, while the event organizers are keenly aware of the publicity and commercial value of the moment.

Character interactions

• Lin Mo addresses the live audience directly, prompting immediate enthusiasm and questions about applying.
• Annie shares her excitement with Donna, who understands her daughter’s changing favorites and joins her at the laptop.

Key plot points and events

• Donna critiques the way Lin Mo presents himself during a livestream, continuing her long-standing habit of coaching Annie on how to perform well in public.
• Lin Mo announces that Vought will hold an open nationwide selection for a new member of the Seven. People with abilities are invited to apply.
• Annie is stunned and excited by the opportunity. Donna immediately begins planning how to prepare Annie’s application, and Annie says she genuinely wants to apply.
• Lin Mo’s encouragement prompts enthusiastic discussion online, with people beginning to prepare or speculate about the selection. The announcement also causes concern among some unnamed people.
• After the event, Lin Mo, Maeve, Joanna, and Ashley return to Vought Tower to work on selection preparations. There, Lin Mo finds A-Train and the Deep talking amicably; the Deep hurries over to greet him and acknowledges Joanna and Maeve.

Character developments

• Annie moves from admiring heroes to actively wanting to join them. Unlike earlier competitions, she feels eager rather than pressured.
• Donna remains ambitious and highly involved in Annie’s preparation, but her excitement reflects how much she believes this is the opportunity they have trained for.
• Lin Mo uses his public influence to promote the selection and encourage people with abilities to help others.
• A-Train and the Deep appear to have developed a more cooperative relationship, at least when the Deep behaves normally.

Significant themes

• Ambition and opportunity: Annie sees the selection as a possible path to her dream of becoming a superhero.
• Pressure versus personal choice: Donna’s years of coaching have often exhausted Annie, but this time Annie’s desire to compete is her own.
• Publicity and genuine inspiration: Lin Mo’s familiar promotional message still resonates with viewers, especially because of his personal appeal.
• Competition’s wider effects: The announcement inspires hope and preparation, but also anxiety among people who may feel threatened by it.

Character interactions

• Donna advises Annie on presentation and quickly turns the announcement into a preparation plan; Annie confirms she wants to apply.
• Lin Mo addresses viewers and invites them to step forward, then poses for photos with Maeve.
• At Vought Tower, A-Train and the Deep chat casually. The Deep eagerly approaches Lin Mo, then politely greets Joanna and Maeve as well.

Plot points and events

• After Lin Mo’s successful live broadcast announcing a selection, The Deep and A-Train visit him and Maeve. The Deep says the broadcast drew many people eager to sign up and repeatedly praises Lin Mo’s speech, appearance, and costume.
• A-Train teases The Deep for pretending he watched other parts of the broadcast, pointing out that he only tuned in once Lin Mo appeared. Maeve joins in lightly, and the group shares a laugh.
• The Deep offers to help with the recruitment effort, though Lin Mo privately doubts he would be useful. Joanna, who has been listening, appreciates The Deep’s compliments about Lin Mo.
• Lin Mo notices that A-Train’s heart is in worse condition than before and suspects he is using Compound V to maintain his speed. He says nothing, but A-Train becomes uneasy under his scrutiny.
• Lin Mo reflects that he and A-Train once interacted comfortably as classmates at Godolkin, but working at Vought has made A-Train increasingly conscious of Lin Mo’s strength.

Character developments and interactions

• The Deep remains eager, ingratiating, and oblivious to how transparent his flattery is. He wants to support Lin Mo, while Maeve and A-Train gently expose his fixation on Lin Mo.
• A-Train is relaxed enough to joke with The Deep, but Lin Mo’s attention makes him tense, hinting at anxiety about his deteriorating health and Compound V use.
• Lin Mo tolerates The Deep’s praise with discomfort and humor, but quietly observes A-Train’s condition and recognizes the widening gap between them.
• Maeve and Joanna respond warmly to the banter; Joanna is especially pleased by The Deep’s praise of Lin Mo.

Significant themes

• Flattery and social performance: The Deep’s praise is sincere-sounding but excessive, making it comic and uncomfortable.
• Power changing relationships: Lin Mo’s growing stature at Vought alters how former classmates relate to him.
• Hidden costs of ambition: A-Train’s worsening heart suggests that sustaining his abilities may come at a serious physical price.

Key events

• A-Train feels increasingly uneasy around Lin Mo, whose power and freedom within Vought make him seem far beyond the usual rules. A-Train privately worries that his speed—and, with it, his place in the Seven, endorsements, and career—will disappear if someone surpasses him.
• A-Train keeps using Compound V to protect his record, despite the danger. Lin Mo notices his tension and recognizes the risk to A-Train’s health, as well as the possibility that he could cause a bystander’s death, as he did to Robin in the original timeline.
• Lin Mo decides not to take control of A-Train’s life, but plans to warn him privately about Compound V. He hopes to prevent harm without overstepping.
• Conversation with A-Train and the Deep becomes more relaxed, mostly through school-day reminiscing and the Deep’s self-serving claims about having predicted Lin Mo’s success. A-Train needles him.
• Lin Mo leaves with Joanna and tells Ashley to bring him the results of the nationwide selection. Three weeks later, the final two candidates are presented: Annie January, or Starlight, and an unexpectedly familiar-looking redheaded woman.

Character developments and interactions

• A-Train is revealed as insecure beneath his confidence, anxious about losing his status and reluctant to admit his dependence on Compound V. He gradually relaxes around Lin Mo, though he mostly joins the conversation to mock the Deep.
• Lin Mo shows concern for A-Train and potential victims, but respects A-Train’s autonomy. He also recognizes that his changes may have altered A-Train’s original fate.
• The Deep is talkative and boastful, prompting A-Train’s teasing.
• Joanna remains close to Lin Mo and largely disengaged from the others.
• Ashley promptly handles the selection process and reports the final candidates.

Significant themes

• Status and insecurity: A-Train’s fear of becoming replaceable reflects Vought’s conditional support for its heroes.
• Power and unequal treatment: Lin Mo’s influence gives him freedoms that A-Train lacks.
• Responsibility without control: Lin Mo wants to prevent foreseeable harm while avoiding taking over another person’s choices.
• Changed futures: Lin Mo’s interventions may reshape events from the original timeline.

Lin Mo, Ashley, and Maeve reviewed the final candidates for The Seven and agreed to attend their last callback. The next day, Starlight and Firecracker waited at Vought’s testing venue, with Annie nervous as the final selection began.

• Lin Mo and Ashley compared Starlight and Firecracker, and Ashley said Starlight’s powers made her the stronger choice for combat and publicity.
• Ashley told Lin Mo that the two candidates would face a live demonstration and interview the next day, and Lin Mo agreed to attend with Joanna.
• Maeve messaged Lin Mo about the final selection, joined them at Vought, and reviewed both candidates’ files before agreeing to assess them in person.
• At Vought’s testing venue the next day, Annie waited nervously for the final callback while Misty Tucker Gray appeared composed.

Annie and Misty prepared for the final selection, where they would demonstrate their abilities before Lin Mo and the Seven. When Lin Mo arrived, Annie eagerly greeted him and revealed how long she had admired him.

• Ashley explained that Annie and Misty would demonstrate their prepared abilities, answer questions, and learn the final decision after the round.
• Ashley told Annie and Misty that Lin Mo and other members of the Seven would attend and help make the selection.
• Lin Mo arrived with Joanna and Maeve, and Annie excitedly introduced herself and told him she had followed his work for years.
• Misty greeted the group more calmly, while Annie told Maeve she had admired her too.
• Lin Mo reassured Annie that she could speak naturally, and Annie relaxed as their conversation continued.

Annie excitedly praised Lin Mo before realizing she had made Joanna uncomfortable, while Misty redirected her efforts to impress Maeve. The candidates prepared to focus on the selection, with Misty hoping to perform well and earn Maeve’s favor.

• Annie told Lin Mo she hoped to help people like he did, then noticed Joanna watching her and stepped back apologetically.
• Annie worried she had offended Joanna, who stood beside Lin Mo with her arm linked through his.
• Ashley and Maeve quietly watched Annie become subdued, while Misty decided not to risk ingratiating herself with Lin Mo in front of Joanna.
• Misty complimented Maeve and asked to learn from her, and Maeve encouraged her to focus on doing well in the selection.

Maeve, Ashley, Joanna, and Lin Mo watched Annie and Misty audition for a place on The Super Seven. They chose Annie, leaving Misty waiting off to the side while the decision was made.

• Misty praised Maeve and tried to make a good impression, but Maeve redirected her attention to the audition.
• Annie introduced herself and demonstrated her glowing powers before the judges.
• Misty gave a confident introduction and displayed sparks, though her ability seemed less impressive beside Annie's.
• Maeve, Ashley, and Joanna each favored Annie, and Lin Mo was surprised that Joanna did not hold Annie's earlier remarks against her.

Ashley announced that Annie January had been chosen to join The Super Seven, while Misty left disappointed and resentful. Annie celebrated becoming Lin Mo and the others’ colleague, though Joanna remained cool toward her.

• Ashley announced that Annie January had won the selection and congratulated her.
• Misty accepted the decision without making a scene, then left while resolving not to give up on the position.
• Maeve wondered whether Annie could handle assignments, while Lin Mo showed no concern about their choice.
• Annie thanked the group and promised to do her best, and Lin Mo welcomed her as a colleague.
• Joanna congratulated Annie without warmth, and Annie sensed her reserve and held back from approaching Lin Mo.

Annie prepared to face the media after being selected as The Seven’s new member, with Ashley guiding her through the announcement and interview. As Annie began her first press appearance, Lin Mo heard a familiar voice at a street disturbance elsewhere in New York: A-Train sounded shaken by what had just happened.

• Ashley told Annie the media were waiting and explained how the announcement and interview would proceed.
• Lin Mo encouraged Annie, and she drew on her childhood training to steady herself before facing reporters.
• Ashley fixed Annie’s appearance, explained that her official debut would happen at the annual shareholders’ meeting, and led her outside.
• Annie followed Ashley to meet the media while Lin Mo stayed behind with Joanna.
• Lin Mo heard screams, screeching brakes, and A-Train’s unsteady voice at a commotion elsewhere in the city.

Lin Mo discovered that Robin had survived A-Train’s collision, though she was gravely injured. As he watched the scene from afar, Joanna noticed his concern and offered to go with him to check on her.

• Lin Mo heard Hughie say Robin’s name and realized A-Train had hit her.
• Lin Mo detected Robin’s faint heartbeat and confirmed that she was still breathing despite her severe injuries.
• Lin Mo saw that A-Train had slowed and tried to dodge, but Robin was still badly hurt.
• Joanna used her enhanced hearing to understand what had happened and asked Lin Mo if he wanted to go take a look.

Lin Mo, Joanna, and Maeve went to a nearby street where A-Train had struck Robin. Hughie waited beside the gravely injured Robin as A-Train apologized, while the ambulance was still on its way.

• Lin Mo and Joanna left the venue to investigate A-Train's trouble, and Maeve joined them after learning what had happened.
• Lin Mo, Joanna, and Maeve flew to the chaotic street, where bystanders had called an ambulance and were making room.
• Hughie knelt beside the unconscious Robin, called her name, and asked when the ambulance would arrive.
• A-Train stayed near Hughie and apologized, saying he had tried to slow down and avoid Robin but had failed.