The next day...

Dawn: "(sighing) How do you hide an entire hospital's worth of sick and injured people?"

The three chosen for battle have arrived at the hospital.

Jeremy: "Skill and precision according to Connor."

They walk up to the front door, only to find that the lobby is empty, but the floors above are active.

Ashley: "More like hiding in the basement."

They step inside to find a lone door opened and producing light.

Jeremy: "I'm just surprised that we didn't have to go into a basement sooner."

They equip their Relay Gear.

Dawn: "We've been in a storage house."

They head down the stairs.

Ashley: "Not the same thing."

They're able to see dozens of enemies patrols through a maze of shelves filled with medicines and chemicals.

Jeremy: "I really hope this stuff doesn't explode."

The enemies take notice when they arrive at the bottom.

Dawn: "Let's head to wherever this guy is so we don't find out. Venom Wave!"

Dawn summons her Echo and sends poisonous needles straight at three enemies.

Ashley: "I like that plan. Lure Wave!"

The enemies take aim at Ashley.

Jeremy: "Yeah, good idea!"

They push forward.

Fifteen minutes later...

Nicole stands outside of the hospital.

Nicole: "Strange, grandpa didn't say anything about issues in the lobby."

Nicole walks up to the front door, only to find it unlocked.

Nicole: "I guess there's a-"

As she steps inside, a burning sensation pierces her chest.

Nicole: "(in pain) What the hell?!"

She stumbles towards the basement door before falling down the stairs in a tumbling fashion.

Nicole: "(in pain) Ouch!"

Nicole arrives at the bottom, covered in bruises and in enemy sight.

Enemy: "A girl?"

???: "So that's what I heard."

Xeio casually walks down the stairs to see Nicole struggling to her knees.

Xeio: "A girl on the verge of a Stream Echo awakening."

He pulls her up by her wrist.

Nicole: "(in pain) Wh-Who are you?"

Xeio drags her by her arm.

Xeio: "One with a gift like you."

Meanwhile...

Ashley: "(exhausted) Never knew Dominic was key to keeping our bodies from collapsing."

The heroes have taken refuge behind some crates, but are running low on steam.

Jeremy: "(exhausted) No kidding."

???: "I'd come out from wherever you are."

Dawn peeks through the crates to see Nicole being dragged along by Xeio.

Dawn: "(sweating) Well shit."

Ashley: "(exhausted) What?"

Dawn: "Looks like the new girl at my school has Stream Echo powers."

Jeremy: "(exhausted) Great he has a hostage."

Xeio: "Her clock is running short..."

Nicole: "(in pain) Let... me go."

They soon exit from sight.

Ashley: "(exhausted) Anyone have a plan B?"

Awkward moment of silence...

Dawn: "Sounds about right."

Jeremy hops out from behind the boxes.

Jeremy: "Then let's hurry up and kick some ass!"

The girls join him.

Dawn: "Fine."

They head towards the enemy.

Half hour later...

Xeio: "Discovery Wave."

Xeio examines Nicole with a blue beam of light inside of a storage room in the back.

Xeio: "(chuckling) The lord of civil rights himself I see."

Nicole has a yellow Relay Gear forced onto her left wrist.

Nicole: "(in pain) Who the hell are you?"

Xeio: "None of your concern."

???: "We'll handle the questions."

The heroes force their way into the room.

Ashley: "Look, we're going to kick your asses one way or another."

Xeio drops Nicole.

Xeio: "Correct."

Dawn: "That's what they all- Wait, what?"

Nicole recognizes Dawn.

Nicole: "(in pain) What are you doing-"

A voice echoes in her mind.

Voice: "It's about time we take off the kid gloves, correct?"

The pain moves to her brain as memories of her standing before thousands of people giving speeches flashes through her mind.

Xeio: "I was wondering when that'd kick in."

Jeremy: "What's your game here?"

Xeio: "Discovery Wave."

The beam analyzes the three.

Nicole: "(in pain) S-Stop it!"

Nicole accidentally pushes the button on her Relay Gear, equipping herself in a matching color version of a Relay Gear.

Jeremy: "What're you trying to do?"

Xeio: "Preparation."

A mix of yellow and beige light swirls beneath Nicole.

Nicole: "Now you're going to give me my answer."

Her Echo forms behind her.

Xeio: "I'd rather leave it to the supposed experts here."

Three men guard Xeio as Nicole gets to her feet.

Nicole: "Ready to rumble MLK?"

Dawn: "Whoa..."

Nicole: "Dawn, right?"

Dawn: "What questions do you have? Lay them on us."

Nicole: "Which side are you on?"

Jeremy: "The side where we don't become science experiments."

Nicole: "Glad to hear it. Dream Wave!"

Stamina flows into the heroes' bodies.

Ashley: "W-What did you do?"

Nicole: "I'll support you while you kick some ass."

Xeio holds his hands forward.

Xeio: "By all means, go ahead."

Ashley: "Lure Wave!"

The guards are drawn to Ashley.

Jeremy: "Focus Wave!"

Dawn: "Venom Wave!"

Jeremy and Dawn knock out the guards while they gear up to attack Ashley.

Dawn: "So what, you already give up?"

Ashley gets the police.

Xeio: "I'm a support Stream Echo. There's nothing I can do alone..."

Xeio flicks his fingers at Jeremy, allowing something microscopic to enter his bloodstream.

Nicole: "(deep breath) Looks like grandpa will have to wait a bit."

The heroes take off their Relay Gear.

Nicole: "So this is what I overheard."

Dawn: "(awkwardly) You were eavesdropping on me."

A yellow light surrounds the four.

Nicole: "Teleportation Wave!"

Jeremy: "What did you-"

The four teleport away...