Umbrella Mansion — The Following Morning
The atmosphere was heavy. Everyone was gathered in the dining room—bandaged, sore, and humiliated. Reginald Hargreeves paced slowly in front of them, hands behind his back.
—"Would someone care to explain... how all six of you were defeated by a red-streak speedster and a floating girl who plays notes like blades?" —he asked coldly, his voice slicing through the air like a scalpel.
No one answered.
Luther lowered his head, bruises marking the toughened skin on his arms. Five crossed his arms, frustrated with himself for not foreseeing it. Allison stared at the table, still hearing the echo of that destructive symphony in her mind. Klaus winced quietly, and Diego, frowning, twirled a knife without looking up.
—"Savitar. That's what he called her... and her, Aria," —Diego said. —"It happened so fast. We couldn't react."
All eyes turned to Zero.
—"You're the only speedster we know," —Luther said bluntly, his voice laced with accusation.
Zero raised an eyebrow, calm.
—"My streak is blue. It always has been. When I run, the trail is blue. Savitar's was deep red. I can show you, if you want."
Diego stared at him suspiciously, arms crossed. Luther stepped closer, fists clenched.
—"If it was you... if you were the one who attacked us..." —Luther growled.
Zero stepped forward. His hand began to vibrate, emitting a soft but sharp hum.
—"Luther, if I were the villain... you'd already be dead."
The room fell silent.
The hum was faint, but everyone heard it. The threat wasn't in his words, but in the sheer control he demonstrated with that one gesture.
Diego stood abruptly, ready to intervene, but just then, alarms blared. Pogo appeared with an urgent transmission in hand.
—"Dallas. Again. Outside the city. Same energy signature. Savitar and Aria are attacking again!" —Pogo shouted.
Everyone turned toward the screen. Explosions. Wind. Sound. A red blur rushing across the chaos.
Zero smiled subtly to himself. The doubts vanished—no further effort needed.
Hours Earlier — Inside Umbrella Mansion
While everyone focused on interrogating Zero, no one paid attention to Vanya. Quiet. Invisible. As always.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Zero created a micro-portal in a hallway corner and slid toward her unnoticed. In a whisper, he extended his hand.
—"Come with me. Trust me."
She didn't hesitate. In an instant, they vanished in blue sparks.
They had time-traveled to earlier that same day, hours before the dining room gathering. Zero knew every step, every moment. He knew exactly when to act without triggering the Temps Commission.
Outside the City — Dawn
They stood in an open field, far from the city. The sun was just beginning to rise when he started running in circles, generating a massive tornado. The ground shook, the air turned into pure electricity. Aria stood at the center, played a note, and a sonic-visual wave rose into the sky—a call to war.
—"Perfect. Now they'll believe we're still here," —Zero said with satisfaction.
He ran and opened another portal. This time, not to the past or future—but to another plane.
The Speed Force.
Upon crossing it, they arrived in a different dimension. Crimson skies. Endless lightning crossing the clouds. A crushing silence covered everything. In the center of the landscape stood a Victorian-style mansion—otherworldly, untouched by time and space.
—"Welcome to our base of operations," —Zero said. —"Inside the Speed Force."
Aria looked around in awe. Everything vibrated with living energy. She could hear the symphony of chaos in every corner.
—"No one lives here?"
Zero shook his head.
—"No... which means I can claim it. This will be our sanctuary. And more than that—I plan to use the energy here to create others like us. Humans with abilities. We'll be the first... but not the last."
—"And what do we call ourselves?" —she asked, smiling.
Zero turned to her, his gaze reflecting the red lightning flashing across the infinite sky.
—"The Brotherhood of Chaos."
Umbrella Mansion — Night
Later, Luther went to speak with Zero in private. He found him outside in the courtyard, staring at the sky as if there were no storm on his shoulders.
—"About earlier... I'm sorry. That wasn't fair," —Luther said, voice low.
Zero looked at him and gave a slight smile.
—"It's okay, Luther. I get it now."
Luther nodded and walked away, unaware that, as soon as he disappeared from view, Zero looked toward the ground, then up to the sky.
—"Time to fulfill what I already did."
He activated his speed. In an instant, the air cracked with a blue vibration, and Zero traveled back to the exact moment he had taken Vanya with him that same morning.
A closed loop. A flawless alibi. Nothing out of place. Everything... perfectly aligned.