Chapter 18
===== Support =====
Can't get enough? Why not read ahead?
Visit my P@tr3on or K0‑f1 "AlphaBoss169'' page and unlock +20 extra chapters and daily updates!
I wanted to keep the story free for everyone, but because of my financial condition, I have to ask for support. If you can help, it truly means a lot. If you can't, no worries at all. Your reading, comments, and time already support me more than you know.
Thank you for staying with the story.
=============================
Adam sat across from Starlight with a smile on his face.
He kept looking down at his phone while she spoke. Starlight noticed it and continued talking about what troubled her.
"I feel like I'm stuck," she said. "I don't understand what I should do."
Adam looked up from his phone.
"I trust that you'll find a way," he said. "If you want my advice, stand by what you believe."
"Don't let this place decide what kind of person you should become. You already know why you wanted to be a hero, so hold on to that reason."
Starlight listened without interrupting him.
"You inspire people," Adam continued. "I don't know how many people are like me, but a lot of us look at you and want to believe in you."
"When those people see you refusing to abandon your values, they will also believe that they can stand up for what they believe."
Starlight remained quiet for a few seconds. Then she glanced away from the table.
"I'll be right back."
She stood and walked away.
This was the chance Adam had been waiting for.
He immediately picked up Starlight's phone. He opened the software Butcher had prepared and started installing it. The program would give the Boys access to the phone after Adam left.
The phone was still unlocked. Adam kept the screen low while the files moved into the system. He watched the progress bar because he did not know how long Starlight would remain away.
Adam worked quickly. A short time later, the installation finished. He closed the program and placed the phone back where Starlight had left it.
Before setting it down, he checked that the hidden connection was active. The signal appeared on his own phone, confirming that the hack had worked.
Starlight returned moments later.
Adam was looking at his own phone when she sat down. Starlight noticed his expression and looked at him with concern.
"Is there a problem?"
Adam raised his eyes toward her.
"I'm sorry. I have urgent work and need to leave."
Starlight nodded with understanding. "No, it's fine. You don't have to worry."
Adam stood and paused before leaving.
"Please forgive me," he said. "Can we meet again? I had a good time with you today."
Starlight smiled.
"Of course. I had a good time too."
They moved closer and hugged each other. After the hug ended, Adam said goodbye and left Starlight behind.
On Trans-Oceanic Flight 37, Homelander had already killed two of the three hijackers in the passenger cabin. Queen Maeve followed him as he moved toward the cockpit.
Homelander opened the cockpit door.
One pilot was already dead. The last hijacker had his gun aimed at the second pilot.
Homelander attacked with his heat vision.
The hijacker pulled the trigger before the red beams reached him. The second pilot was shot, and Homelander's heat vision killed the hijacker a moment later.
His heat vision struck the flight controls and destroyed the system in front of the pilots.
Several parts of the panel stopped working. The plane shifted to one side as the remaining controls failed to answer.
The plane began to lose stability.
Queen Maeve entered the cockpit and looked at the dead pilots. She saw the damaged controls and understood what had happened.
Homelander turned away and started walking out.
"What are you doing?" Maeve asked.
Homelander closed the cockpit door behind them. "Nothing can be done for this plane now. We can't save these people."
"There has to be a way," Maeve said. "We can't let them die."
She checked the damaged controls again. Nothing responded.
Homelander's voice became angry.
"Understand this, Maeve. We cannot save anyone here."
He opened the cockpit door again and stepped into the passenger cabin. A wide smile appeared on his face.
"Everything is under control," Homelander announced. "We neutralized the hijackers."
The passengers cheered. Many of them relaxed after hearing his words.
Homelander slowly started moving toward the rear of the plane. Maeve followed behind him.
One passenger opened the cockpit door and looked inside. He saw both pilots lying dead beside the ruined controls.
"The pilots are dead!" he shouted. "The plane is going down!"
Panic spread through the cabin.
People left their seats and called for Homelander. The calm he had created disappeared when the plane tilted again.
The passengers moved toward Homelander and begged him to take them out of the plane. Homelander reached the rear with Maeve beside him.
As the passengers came closer, red light appeared in Homelander's eyes.
"Stay back," he warned. "Anyone who tries to come closer will die."
The passengers stopped and moved away from him.
Maeve looked at a young girl standing with her mother. She picked the child up and turned toward Homelander.
"At least take her," Maeve said.
Homelander walked closer to Maeve and spoke in a calm voice.
"If even one person survives, they will tell everyone what happened here."
Maeve stared at him.
Maeve slowly put the child down. The girl's mother began crying and begged them for help.
The child reached toward Maeve as her feet touched the floor. Maeve looked away.
"Please," the mother said. "Please take my daughter and save her."
Homelander ignored her.
He kicked the emergency door and broke it away from the plane. Air rushed through the opening as the passengers screamed.
Homelander grabbed Maeve and flew outside with her.
They remained in the air and watched Flight 37 begin falling toward the ocean. The nose of the plane dropped farther as it continued losing height.
Then someone tore across the sky toward the plane.
The figure reached Flight 37 within seconds and stopped in front of its nose. He placed both hands against the front of the plane and caught it.
The falling nose pushed against his arms, but the figure held his position.
Homelander's eyes widened.
The man's face was hidden under a zinc covering. The covering also hid his hands and feet.
Homelander recognized him.
The masked man he had been searching for was now holding the plane in front of him.
"Fucking you."
===== Upcoming Teasers =====
1. Chapter 19: Adam holds Flight 37 while forcing Homelander to retreat.
2. Chapter 20: Adam lands Flight 37 in front of live cameras.
3. Chapter 21: Vought begins hunting the masked hero.
Read ahead on P@tr3on or K0‑fi "AlphaBoss169'' page and unlock +20 extra chapters.
============================