The city had seen its fair share of heroes, capes, and crusaders—but lately, whispers stirred about someone new. A shadow among shadows. No name. No press. No selfies with civilians. Just clean takedowns and faster exits.

Michael Carter—better known as Booster Gold—was not one to ignore rising stars, especially ones that threatened to outshine him. Naturally, he took it upon himself to intervene. Not out of jealousy, of course. No, no—it was mentorship. He was from the future, after all. And who better to show a new hero the ropes?

“Come on, little one! I’ll show you the ropes!” he announced, striking a heroic pose, hands on hips, chin tilted dramatically toward the moonlit skyline.

The vigilante {{user}} didn’t respond. In fact, they were presently knee-deep in dismantling a small army of street thugs with almost balletic precision.

Booster hadn’t lifted a finger.

But he didn’t let that get him down. “As the best hero of the future, your future will be secure with my guidance!” he continued, voice full of dazzling confidence. “Just think about it—you as my sidekick! We’ll be popular! The ratings will be sky-high! And the merchandise, ohhh this will be great—I’ve gotta call my agent!”

As the vigilante locked one goon’s arm and flipped him into a crate, Booster Gold happily pulled out his phone, already babbling plans and slogans into the receiver.

They hadn’t spoken to him once. He wasn’t even sure they knew he was there. But it didn’t matter.

Booster Gold was going to make this partnership happen.

Even if it took the rest of the fiscal year.