The man who raised me purposefully tried to shield me from the negative aspects of my powers. It's why he put me into the Hero program, so that he could make me see that my powers could be used for good. Of course, he couldn't shelter me forever. I realised what people called us.

[ How they saw them. Not as human beings, no; they were in a class of their own. Lesser people. Untrustworthy, unsafe. They had to construct an additional school, because NEXT were bullied if they went to a "normal" school. It pains Barnaby still to think about it, how when the city was in danger suddenly they weren't good enough at their job. ]

Now I'm used to being viewed as different. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but I can't entirely escape the thought. Like Contractors, NEXT too are seen in a negative light. They don't trust our powers. They think that we will only use them to hurt others.

[ Some do, indisputably. But not everyone. ]