Why the hell are Aubrey and Phoenix here? She was just in the hospital and should be resting and recuperating. I guess she ignored Jean-Luc’s pleas, and Phoenix recruited her. After our run-in at the hospital, I used the database to look up Phoenix and learned a lot about them. They can create and manipulate a potent energy that resembles white flames. It is actually a form of radiation that is extremely destructive. The white flames use Phoenix’s body as fuel and are so strong that using the power gradually disintegrates Phoenix’s body to the point of complete and utter destruction. The secondary ability is where I believe their namesake comes from. Phoenix is able to possess a deceased body once they’ve used up the current body they are inhabiting. Knowing how their power actually works changes them from an honorable Cape to a corpse-robbing Cowl. They are the first person I have ever run into whose power is probably impossible to take.

Rorschach said there are six Capes in total. Aubrey and Phoenix cannot fly, which means there are four unidentified Capes to deal with. Lincoln Locke is out of commission, but that still leaves the drunk, the swordswoman, the lilac-skinned woman, Ciggs, Tuesday, and Isaiah. I am not worth much in a fight, and I would sooner take my helmet off and pretend to be a regular customer. Six versus six in terms of Nuevohumans, plus whatever forces the O’Rourkes can bring, the odds aren’t as stacked as I would like, but Rorschach may be able to help turn the tide. I relay the information I have on Phoenix, as well as what Aubrey should be capable of, to Rorschach and Isaiah. I am going to have to trust Isaiah completely; that’s the only way that I can see us escaping. The issue is I cannot look weak or out of options. I need to present this in a way that makes it seem like I am testing him.

“Do you believe you can get us out of here?” I asked.

“It depends on a few things,” Isaiah said.

“Like?” I motion for him to continue.

“Like acceptable losses on all sides. Getting out of here without anybody dying is next to impossible. Also, do you want to take everyone’s powers? Both of them greatly affect our chances of success. I selfishly don’t wanna leave without Ciggs' ability, but I also understand the risks involved,” Isaiah answered.

“Everyone is expendable. I’d like the option of taking abilities, but it would be idiotic to let greed cloud my decision-making. I agree with you about trying to take Ciggs’ power at least, and the amount of money we’ve just made is a bonus. Remember, we’re only here for Nick’s debt. It looks like that’s already been settled,” I said, referencing the three dead bodies.

“Understood. It won’t be pretty, and it’s going to cause a mess, but I can get us out of here. Gonna need you to stay in here, though. You’ve proven to be a bit of a bullet magnet. I don’t like leaving you here alone, but it’s the only way to guarantee the Capes don’t see you,” Isaiah said.

“Isaiah, you have not yet given me a reason to believe you will fail. I can stay here and go over our recent acquisitions,” I said, waving the man off.

(Isaiah)

Nobody takes the cash from the duffel bag to give me more space for weapons. I close the door behind me, gun drawn and expecting opposition. The hallway is empty and devoid of any guards. Pulling this off is going to be difficult. The bag has the smoke grenades and flashbangs I brought in, James O’Rourke’s large revolver, and one of the guards' pump shotguns. I slowly open the door a crack, looking around at the situation. I see all the Cowls talking, along with the eight remaining O’Rourke guards and Mickey. Slowly, I open the door and quietly enter into the room. Oh shit, I might have pieces of his dad still on my face. Quickly, I use a hoodie sleeve to wipe my entire head. As I approach the group, I hear a voice I don’t recognize speaking into my ear as if they were right next to me.

“Surrender peacefully, and no harm will come to you. We have the building surrounded and enclosed. There is no chance of escape. You have five minutes until we enter. Put down your weapons, and everybody can leave in cop cars instead of ambulances,” said the female voice.

“Who the fuck was that? There aren’t any Capes in Quinstin who can broadcast their voice like that,” the drunk said.

“Oh yeah, 'cause if the Slabman doesn’t know who it is, they must be new,” the swordswoman said, mocking him.

“Oxxii, darling, don’t start a fight while Capes are knocking at the door,” the lilac-skinned woman said.

“Listen, it’s been a pleasure servin’ you fine folks, but we don’t want trouble with the Heroes’ Union, so you all gotta leave,” Mickey said.

The guards shift, all of their guns pointed at the floor but in the direction of the Cowls. I can use this to accomplish two tasks: establishing precedence and tying up loose ends. None of the O’Rourkes are needed for his goals. A champagne bottle left on one of the tables rips through the air, cracking into the back of Mickey’s skull. He crumples like a puppet with its strings cut, and the chick with the sword cuts two of the guards in half. I use the surprise of that to shoot three of the Irishmen in center mass. To their credit, the remaining O’Rourkes don’t back down and pull their guns up, ready to fire. Two of them fall to the floor, their throats slit open and gushing blood. Who did that? A quick look at Oxxii and her expression tells me she didn’t do it either. Before the last gangster can react, I leap forward, punching him as hard as I can in the chest. I know that I’m stronger, faster, and more resilient, but it still surprises me when his chest caves in on itself. His snapped ribs clutch my wrist like a Chinese finger trap until I yank it free with a loud squelch. While wiping my hand clean, I notice everyone is staring at me.

“Who are you, and why the fuck would you do that?” The Slabman asked me.

I could use a codename or an alias to keep my identity a secret. “Isaiah Jules,” I smiled.

“All I was guilty of was illegal gambling, and now you’ve made me an accessory to fucking murder. I’ve been to The Island, and repeat offenders go straight back for life. God, you’ve fucked us all,” Slabman said.

“It wasn’t just me. She helped, and whichever one of you fine folks slit their throats,” I said cheerily, pointing at Oxxii.

Rorschach starts to speak in my ear, but I fake a cough to silence her. It's best if I keep our eye in the sky a secret.

“Are you not the one responsible?” Asked the purple woman.

“Nope. I’m a highly capable man, but I’m not capable of telekinetically slitting people’s throats. I assumed it was you, Miss Lilac,” I said.

“My name is Amethyst, not Miss Lilac,” Amethyst said.

“Which is still purple,” I replied.

“Are you making jokes? We’re surrounded by Capes, and when James O’Rourke finds out you killed his son, he’s going to freak the fuck out,” Ciggs said.

“Then it’s a good thing I already killed him, too,” I said, flashing finger guns at the other Cowls.

“You’re fucking tapped,” Oxxii laughed.

“You are a beast, a rabid animal. Give me one reason I should not put you down,” Amethyst said.

“I’ll give you two; I have info about our guests upstairs, and you couldn’t kill me if you tried,” I answered.

Before I can even relax my smile, she’s in my face, swinging. Her arm is covered in the dense purple energy that her outfit is made of. As the swing goes wide, I don’t feel any heat from it, so the energy isn’t hot. Plasma and fire are off the table. She puts her hands together, palms forward, focusing the purple energy until it blasts forward like a laser. I dodge the swing, but the laser slams me in the chest, propelling me backward into the bar. Glasses and bottles explode as I go barreling through everything. It hurts, but no more than when Vivienne hit me. The energy is purely concussive.

I pat my clothes and chest to check for any lingering effects, but besides being soaked in booze, I’m no worse for wear. At least it’s only a cheap hoodie and jeans. Rolling over the bar counter in a lazy cartwheel, I throw a metal drink coaster like a shuriken at Amethyst. It whizzes through the air, flying at her head. Oxxii appears in front of Amethyst and blocks the coaster with her sword, exploding the coaster into pieces. So Amethyst isn’t a Traveler or a Mentalist. Good to know. As I walk back, I can see Amethyst is looking at me differently. She thought that would put me down.

“Now that you’ve gotten that out of your system, we can move on to the more pressing matters,” I said calmly.

“Who are you? I’ve never seen or heard of you, and someone with your skills would’ve been mentioned,” Slabman said.

“I already gave my name out of courtesy since I’m not from around here, but don’t mistake politeness for weakness. I said I have information, and I do. So maybe a little less questioning, a little more planning,” I said.

“Everybody just needs to chill the fuck out. Speak, Isaiah; tell us what you know,” Oxxii said.

She is decisive, attractive, and knows her way around a sword; it's a shame she’s not interested in men.

“There are six Capes outside, and I have intel on two. One is a female Tinkerer wearing a bee-themed helmet that can breathe out paralytic smoke and fire off electrical shocks over a good distance. She may have added new additions to the helmet, but as of several weeks ago, that is all she had. The other Cape is known as Phoenix,” I said.

“PHOENIX IS HERE?” Slabman shouted.

“So you’re aware of them?” I asked.

“Any Cowl who operates in Quinstin is aware of them. They’re terrible to fight and impossible to put down. The only saving grace is that they’ve switched over to ‘teaching the next generation of heroes,’” Oxxii mocked, making air quotes.

“He’s also the one who sent me to that goddamned Island. Congrats, new guy; now I have a personal reason to get involved,” Slabman said.

“I’m sorry. Am I tripping, or does it sound like you guys are really considering fighting five-on-six against a Heroes’ Union squad?” Ciggs exclaimed.

“It isn’t a real Heroes’ Union squad, Ciggs. It’s one member and five probationary,” Amethyst said.

“I don’t care. I am not a criminal like the rest of you. I’m not cool with murder and fighting Capes. I was only here to make some extra cash on the side,” Ciggs complained.

“Tell that to the old man you suffocated like thirty minutes ago,” Oxxii said snarkily.

“He shouldn’t be dead. I only did enough to make him pass out,” Ciggs argued.

“He’s well over fifty-five. You think prolonged smoke inhalation and oxygen deprivation is something he’ll just walk off? You’re just as culpable as the rest of us now. Believe me when I tell you the jury doesn’t give a fuck that you didn’t mean to,” Slabman said.

“He’s right, you’re the reason we don’t have equal numbers to the Capes,” Oxxii said.

“Why does everyone keep saying five on six?” Rorschach said into my ear. “There’s six of you.”

What? I rapidly scan my surroundings, ignoring the back and forth between the other Cowls. I don’t notice anything; there aren’t any odd shadows, and the blood on the ground doesn’t seem to be pooling weirdly. It must be the woman Nobody warned me about. She must have slit those two guys’ throats. He wasn’t kidding about her being dangerous.

“It’s rude to spy on people. Why don’t you join the conversation, Miss Tuesday?” I said.

“What? Who is Tuesday?” Amethyst asked.

To my right, a girl matching Nobody’s description appears. She’s got a gnarly scar up her face and a bedazzled bunny mask. Her outfit is a statement and not a good one. People who claim they’re above fashion just don’t understand it. I look over, and none of the others seem to recognize her, but that could be due to her power.

“So what’s up, emo Easter Bunny? Do you feel like contributing to the strategy session?” I asked sarcastically.

“How long have you been here?” Amethyst demanded.

“And why were you hiding? Were you planning on slitting our throats as well?” Slabman asked.

Her ugly long sleeves cover her hands, so I have to assume she’s hiding her weapon in there. I get why Nobody was wary of her. Oxxii is quiet and watching Tuesday like a hawk. She doesn’t trust the new girl. It is unlikely that anyone would respond positively to being spied on. As my eyes sweep over the group, I realize that Ciggs is the only one whose power I’ve really seen in action. There’s not a chance in hell they tell me shit.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Whatever happened to girl power? We should be tearing down the patriarchy, not each other,” Tuesday deadpanned.

“Great, another fucking clown. Can we all please focus on the immediate concerns, such as the group of Capes above us,” Slabman replied.

“Slabman is correct. While I’m a huge fan of group banter and verbal warfare, we have now wasted four of our five minutes and are no closer to a plan. We cannot stay down here like fish in a barrel, waiting for them to come to us. There is next to no cover, and they can bury us all in a prolonged fight. Besides Ciggs, I have no idea what the rest of you can do, but I can figure out a plan to get us all out of here. Decide now whether you are willing to listen to me,” I said.

“I can’t trust a stranger, no matter how capable you appear. Oxxii and I will clear a path for everyone. You will have a moment to escape. Do not get in our way,” Amethyst said.

“Leave it to the ladies. We got this,” Oxxii said.

The two of them walk away from the rest of us and head for the stairs. How did she get that sword down here? Slabman seems content to let them go, so there must be more to them than meets the eye. Tuesday is smiling, and Ciggs looks torn between following them and staying with us. How the hell am I going to get Nobody out of here if these people won’t listen to me?

“You’re out of time. One of them is coming down,” Rorshach said.

A woman floats down to the bottom of the stairs, hovering in place. Her costume is entirely white with gold accents. The tight suit is a sleeveless one-piece that goes into gold knee-high boots and shows off a modest amount of cleavage. She has a hooded cape and a creepy white mask with tiny slits for eyes and a collection of holes near the mouth and nose. There is a giant gold V emblazoned on the mask, starting from around her temples and meeting down by the chin. Her short brown pixie cut shows off a pair of diamond studded earrings. Real diamonds. Fingerless gloves are colored the same gold as her boots and show off nails that are painted a light metallic turquoise. Who gets their nails done before going out to fight Cowls? She’s toned and in shape in a way that shows she is rigid in training. She touches something on her mask and finally speaks.

“Nine bodies; it looks like it’s the O’Rourkes. Five people; I thought you said there were seven. It doesn’t matter. Slabman, Oxxii, Amethyst, and two unknowns.” She turns to face us, still floating a few feet off the ground. “I am Virtue, and you are all obviously under arrest, but now it’s for murder. Please lay down any weapons you have and come with me. Or don’t; I’ve had a bad day, and I’d love to work off some stress,” Virtue said, cracking her knuckles.

Tuesday is nowhere to be found, and Ciggs takes this as his queue to dip. He transforms into a smokey spiral, blowing past Virtue.

“Smoke Alter coming up to you guys. All yours, Zephyr,” Virtue said, touching her mask again.

A hurricane of violent wind comes rushing into the room, blowing all the furniture back and knocking everyone off their feet. Ciggs’ smokey form comes blasting into the room again. The wind is so strong it’s spreading the smoke cloud out, keeping him from being able to move. So Zephyr has wind powers of some kind. That’s four of the six accounted for. Virtue floats closer to Oxxii and Amethyst, looking down on them.

Oxxii and Amethyst look at each other, sending some kind of unspoken message. Oxxii appears to the left of Virtue, swinging her giant sword at the woman. How is she doing that? Simultaneously, Amethyst begins to glow as a thin film of her unique energy covers her body. She lifts off the ground and flies straight at Virtue just as Oxxii’s attack connects with Virtue. Flying in from the right, she does a roundhouse kick at the Cape. Virtue blocks Oxxii’s blade with her pinky and takes the kick from Amethyst to her ribs. She doesn’t move despite floating in the air, and both Cowls retreat back immediately.

“Sorry, is that all you got? I know you two are C-listers. But I thought there’d be; I don’t know more?” Virtue said, rotating her wrist.

Oh, that’s not good. My instincts are screaming at me that she is extremely dangerous. Virtue is like Vivienne, a truly powerful monster—tier four, at least. There is basically no chance that the six of us can take her down. I grab a flashbang from my bag and pull both pins on it, underhand tossing it toward the Cape. Oxxii spots my projectile and smiles. The flashbang seems to appear right in front of Virtue's mask—the blindingly bright flash lights up the room. Virtue grunts in surprise, and Amethyst flies straight into her, spear-tackling her to the ground. The whole room shakes as the two Neuvohumans collide with the floor, cracking it and sending dust everywhere. Amethyst flies up to the ceiling, energy coalescing around her right foot. She drops, slamming her empowered foot into Virtue's stomach. Oxxii seems to teleport toward the two of them as Virtue gets up, brushing dirt and debris off herself. Oxxii touches Amethyst, and the two of them shift fifteen feet back, avoiding Virtue’s punch.

“Hey, we gotta do something. The two of them can’t handle her alone,” I said to the two other Cowls.

“Let the females fight. You are worried for nothing,” Slabman laughed.

“No, I'm not. I can sense power levels in people. And my ability is telling me the Cape is holding back a ton,” I lied.

“Wait, really?” Ciggs asked nervously.

“Yes, and I have a feeling if we don’t get involved, things are going to go tits up quickly.”

“What makes you say that?” Slabman asked.

“Tuesday dipped, so we’re now five versus six. The way I see it, there are two possible options: either they sent their strongest in first to soften us up for the rest, or she’s the weakest. Either way, we have to take down Virtue without any casualties or injuries if we’re going to have any chance of beating the rest of them,” I explained.

“Fuck!” Ciggs exclaimed.

“Fuck is right. Tell me you at least have a plan,” Slabman said.

“I’m betting her insides aren’t as strong as her outside. Distract her long enough for Ciggs to fly into her lungs and make her pass out,” I answered.

“That’s barely a plan, man, especially since she was able to blow me apart,” Ciggs argued.

“That wasn't her. She called in backup,” Slabman said calmly. “I noticed she has a communication device inside her mask. If we can get rid of the mask, we can cut her off from her team.”

“This is getting to be too much. I’m not sure if I can handle this,” Ciggs said.

“Ciggs, I’m not asking you for an opinion. I’m telling you what you have to do,” I said, pointing my shotgun at him.

His face remains neutral, but his eyes betray the anger beneath the surface.

“We need to attack her all at once. Ciggs and I can provide support, but Slabman, I don’t know where to put you without knowing what you can do,” I said.

“Well, let me show ya,” he said.

Slabman brushes himself off and runs over to where Oxxii and Amethyst are barely holding on against Virtue. His body shudders, skin rippling like a building in an earthquake. Slabman’s form grows, his costume struggling to contain the bulging mess within it. Four arms burst out of his shoulder blades, and each of the hands’ four fingers fuse into two. His skin becomes a stone-like substance similar to granite with spikey, deep blue crystals located at the joints. His lower body reminds me of a satyr but hairless and with the same crystal joints as his torso and arms. Nothing remains of his costume except for the portion covering his head and the ripped strands of fabric hanging off of it. His face is blank and featureless, reminding me of a mannequin. The strangest part of him isn’t his anatomy; it’s the eight weapons sticking out of his back made of the same material as his body. Swords, spears, axes, a mace, and even a spiked hammer are plunged into his skin, with red blood leaking from each of their handles. He’s a giant humanoid but very clearly not a human. He’s a Shifter like Vivienne, but he bleeds human blood. Nobody would love this power.

Despite his size and stature, he’s silent compared to the three women fighting. Each of his six arms reaches behind and rips a weapon out of his back. Virtue notices the giant's running charge, but Amethyst and Oxxii prevent her from focusing on him. Oxxii baits a swing out of Virtue, and Amethyst wraps both arms around Virtue’s arm, locking her in place. The Cape’s face turns just in time for the spiked hammer to puncture her mask, sending her spinning through the air and crashing straight through tables, bottles, and chairs, scraping the floor down to the dirt.

“Now!” I shouted.

Ciggs transforms, zooming through the air to where Virtue lies. Her mask is heavily damaged and missing a huge part of the center of it, exposing her nose, cheek, and one of her eyes. I run after him, double checking the shotgun is full, and start shooting at her prone body. The smoke cloud surrounding her twists down like a tornado forming, flowing into her nostrils and mouth. My bullets can’t hurt Ciggs, but they might distract the Cape enough for him to finish the job.

“HOLD HER DOWN!” I screamed at the other Cowls.

Oxxii responds first, appearing next to Virtue and pressing her sword against her throat. Slabman and Amethyst are slower but react accordingly, sprinting and flying over. Slabman stabs all of his weapons into the ground to create a makeshift prison to hold her down. All six of his arms hold her arms, shoulders, and torso, while Amethyst encases her arms in so much of her energy I can’t see them and then grabs her legs. I am waiting back; there’s nothing I can do to help at the moment. Ciggs’ speed leaves a lot to be desired, and the Cape is hacking up a lung trying to get him out of her.

The plan is working. Everyone is using leverage to keep Virtue down, and she can’t shake off Amethyst and Slabman. As long as we take her out, we should be able to get out of here. The hammer destroyed her communicator, and her team should be wary of charging down here recklessly. Things are going well.

“Fuck this,” Virtue choked out.

Tears are streaming down the Cape’s face as her eyes glow blue. Cobalt lasers blast forward, burning the room as she sweeps her head around. Slabman takes the brunt of it, and his granite body glows red and smokes from the heat. In the chaos, Amethyst lets go. Virtue flings a leg out, sending the purple woman into the ceiling. Virtue continues lasering Slabman, forcing him to back off. As soon as both of them are off of her, she springs up, breaking the weapons and sweeping her blue heat vision across the room. Something is different from before. Virtue’s face is beginning to change color from inhaling so much smoke, and it’s causing her to be more ruthless. I need to grab Nobody and get out of here. Amethyst hits Virtue with an energy blast, causing her to stop attacking Slabman for a moment to deal with her. Amethyst creates an energy shield around herself, but Virtue blitzes through it, shattering it like glass. Amethyst cries out, falling to the ground, and Oxxii teleports to help her friend. Virtue squints her eyes, firing a thin beam into Oxxii’s knee, causing her limb to fail as she attempts to lift her friend away. All the while, Ciggs’ smoke cloud is trailing behind the incredibly fast Cape.

I throw my second-to-last flashbang and then a smoke grenade. Turning around, I sprint away in the direction where Nobody is. It’s a shame to lose Ciggs’ power, but none of them matter. All that matters is getting him out. I push my body to the limit, traversing the room and hallway in less than thirty seconds. Whipping open the door, I find Nobody calmly counting the money.

“We gotta go. Shit is way more fucked than we thought. I failed, and I’ll be honest, I don’t see a way out,” I said, dropping the duffel bag.

“I can see that,” he said, pointing past me.

“What do we have here? You Cowls are like rats hiding in the dark,” Virtue said, floating behind me.

Sheer dread flows down my back. I led her right to Nobody. The others couldn’t keep her busy, and I don’t see even a trace of smoke on her. They failed. Moving on instinct alone, I pivot in place and slam an uppercut into the Cape’s jaw. She isn’t expecting my enhanced strength and takes the punch instead of dodging. She hits the ceiling, and her mask is knocked loose, falling onto the ground. Virtue rubs her face, rotating her jaw a few times as she rises from the floor.

“So you are a Cowl, I figured as much. Your durability must be something else if your hand is fine after punching me. Good,” Virtue said.

She hits me, and I don’t even see which limb it was. One moment, I’m staring her down, and then I’m lodged in the wall with a throbbing ache in my ribs. Broken, not fucking good. Nobody hasn’t moved from behind the desk, and I can only guess what he’s thinking. I have to handle this woman somehow despite being so much weaker than her. She is still floating in the doorway,

staring at me angrily. I try to climb out of the wall and she blasts me. My hoodie combusts, leaving me topless and smoking. My pecs are changing color, and my skin is slightly bubbling. So bullets are no problem, but heat vision is too much for my body to handle.

“Is there no possibility for diplomacy?” Nobody asked.

Virtue stops, turning to look at the boss as if she hadn't noticed him before.

“Diplomacy? Do you not see the headless corpse next to you? Or the two other bodies in the room? There are nine other dead people outside, granted they're criminals, but still. Worse than that, I have been sneak attacked, shot at, and assaulted. I attempted diplomacy and got jumped like a gang initiation. So no, you weirdo, there is no ‘possibility for diplomacy,’ just ass-kicking. Sit there and wait your turn,” she said dismissively.

I manage to push myself out of the wall, rolling onto the floor. My chest hurts like a motherfucker, but I push through it. I jump across the room next to Nobody and pick up James O’Rourke’s body. Virtue shoots another laser at me, and I block it with the dead Irishman’s corpse. It isn’t pretty, but it’s what I got. Her face looks horrified at what I’m doing, and I charge at her, using the body as a shield. I’m desensitized to the smell of burning bodies, but Virtue can’t say the same. I shoulder slam into her, squishing the corpse between us and covering us both in blood and viscera. Virtue screams, ceasing her flight and frantically wiping the gore off herself.

“Whatthefuck whatthefuck whatthefuck?” Virtue cried.

Virtue crawls backward, freaking out. She tries to wipe away James’ remains, but it only spreads it out. She isn’t even looking in my direction anymore. I capitalize on her distraction, kicking her in the chest. She doesn’t take any damage, and my kick only manages to knock her into the wall. My attack shakes her from her panic, and she retaliates immediately. She catches my foot, and it’s like I got it caught in a beartrap. Slowly, she twists my leg in an attempt to subdue me. I jump up and follow along with the direction she’s twisting to slam my boot into her face. My kick makes her drop me, and I dodge backward to avoid a punch. I crouch down and then spring forward to grab her wrist. I can’t hold back anything. Her wrist is locked between my bicep and chest as I punch her in the face again and again. Flesh impacts flesh, but it’s my hand that’s being destroyed. I pull one of my pistols out and shoot her point-blank in the eye. The bullet crumples on impact, falling harmlessly to the floor.

Virtue laughs in my face before ripping her arm free and slapping me in the head so hard my brain rattles. She’s been holding back even more than I thought. An overhead chop strikes my blocking forearm, and it audibly snaps. She dashes closer into my space, attacking the shoulder of my broken arm. Punches that would knock a regular person’s head clean off collide with my shoulder. The skin bruises as bones break until it hangs loosely. I could really use a hand. A gut punch hits me like a cannon, lifting me off my feet and slamming me into the ceiling. As I fall, she delivers a flying roundhouse kick with the force of a car crash. Before I can hit the wall, she speeds over to catch me by the throat. I can’t even muster the strength to fight back.

“Do you know how hard it is to fight someone when you have to hold back constantly? It’s so annoying when everyone around you is made out of wet paper. Even you can only be considered reinforced steel. Congratulations, you're the first person besides my parents or Adversary to be able to take a punch. But the funs gotta end now; the Teach doesn’t like us to dilly dally,” Virtue said.

I cough, grasping at her hand around my neck.

“Oh, what’s that? Sorry, are you having trouble breathing? I wonder what the fuck that’s like,” Virtue said.

My thoughts are growing cloudy, and my head is throbbing. I try to look at Nobody, but I can’t even turn my head. My entire body aches, and my arm hangs limply at my side. Is this where my story ends? I always thought that if I were going to die by choking, it’d be related to erotic asphyxiation.

“You need to get her closer to the ground. It’s the only way I can save you,” said a voice I don’t recognize.

He came through for me. Nobody had a plan. I wrap my legs around Virtue, pulling her even closer to me, and I spit bloody saliva into her face. Her inexperience shows, and she recoils away. I feel my throat open up as air rushes into my lungs, and I grab one of her legs, pulling her to the ground with the last of my strength.

“Did you just spit in my face, you filthy creep?” Virtue asked incredulously.

Before I can answer, Tuesday appears behind the Cape. One of her sleeves is rolled up, revealing a cache of knives attached to her arm. Called it. Tuesday’s exposed hand is bleeding, and she hooks two fingers into Virtue’s mouth from behind her. Virtue’s surprised face contorts into one of disgust as her cheeks bulge. Suddenly, she’s vomiting up her entire stomach contents onto the ground. The Cape retches as tears form and flow down her face. Virtue continues until all that’s coming up is spittle and bile. What the hell did she do?

“Tada,” Tuesday said, twirling in place.

“Very well. You will have your compensation once we are out of here,” Nobody said.

What the fuck are they talking about? I stumble in place; the beating I received is catching up with me quickly.

“I don’t want the money anymore. After seeing how hard this lug was willing to go for you, my curiosity meter is off the charts. I want to amend our deal. I’m going to secure our way out of here, and then I’m going with you,” Tuesday said happily.

“Your terms are acceptable. Now, prove your claim, Tuesday,” he said.

“Sir, yes, sir,” Tuesday said, saluting.

We both watch as she skips over to the messy, miserable Cape. Grabbing the other woman’s face until her bunny mask is touching her, she stares into the other woman’s eyes. Tuesday’s lips are moving, but I can’t hear anything. After a minute or two of prolonged eye contact, Virtue stops being sick and flies out of the room. Dust fills the air from the gust of her takeoff, but we’re alone now.

“Don’t pass out on us just yet, Isaiah. We’re not free yet. Rorschach, have the car ready to go,” Nobody said to the inky butterfly perched on his finger.

He starts to place everything back into the duffel bag. He tosses the O’Rourke guns onto the ground and takes all the cash and gold bricks. Focus on staying awake; the mission ain’t over. Tuesday leads us out of the office, and Nobody carries the bag himself. I doubt I could carry it at this point. Oxxii, Amethyst, and Slabman’s Shifted form are all lying unconscious in the club. Each of them is battered and bloody. I probably look about the same or worse.

“What are you doing?” Tuesday asked.

Nobody is crouched over a pile of rubble and moving it. The room is annihilated and doesn’t even remotely resemble the club we entered. He ignores the woman and continues to pick through the pile until I see skin. Nobody removes his glove and places his hand against the man known as Ciggs. He’s feigning checking for a pulse, but I know the boss’ true motive. Tuesday looks on, confused, as Nobody brushes wood, dirt, and stone off the Cowl. All the while, he’s maintaining skin contact and stealing the man’s power. I don’t know if we have time for this, but I’m not going to tell him to stop.

“We can go,” Nobody said, shooting Ciggs in the head.

“Okeydokey,” Tuesday responded.

The ceiling shakes as we climb the staircase back to the surface. Each step is agony, but I push on. I hear voices overlapping ahead. Screams, shouts, and explosions ring out. Are we walking into an urban warzone? Tuesday abruptly stops when we’re a few feet from the exit.

“I should warn you both that what I did to Virtue will not protect us once we’re out there. She sees everyone as an enemy currently. So it’ll be a teensy bit difficult to get to wherever we’re going,” she said.

“That won’t be an issue. I will lead the way from here,” Nobody said.

He reaches into the duffel and removes the final two smoke grenades. Another one of Rorschach’s butterflies comes down toward us, hovering in front of him. My communicator broke during the fight. He pulls the pin on the first grenade and tosses it near the entrance to cover our exit. He immediately moves after it goes off, and Tuesday and I follow him. I can’t see anything due to the thick cloud of smoke, but I hear fighting and pleas for Virtue to stop. Tuesday did a real number on her. Virtue screams, and I hear thuds accompanied by metal being crushed. Nobody pulls the pin on the second grenade and throws it away from us toward the sounds of fighting. A distraction or misdirection? We trudge on, sneaking away as we round the corner of the bar. We’re out of the smoke now, and I see my car parked with Rorschach in the driver’s seat. Thank fuck, my car is okay.

“Shotgun,” Tuesday said.

Nobody puts my good arm around his shoulder and carries me along the alley. He helps me into the backseat and joins me back there. Tuesday is in the front seat, fiddling with the window. As soon as we’re all inside the car, Rorschach peels out, speeding away. I finally give in to the exhaustion and pass out.