I stared at Milo, jaw practically on the floor. We already knew who was running, and there was an Episode going! “Don’t we have other things to do? He’s getting away!”
“No, he’s really not,” Sara said. The ballroom looked terrible. We’d trashed it, breaking windows and denting the walls. Defeated villains lay strewn all over the place. She cleared her throat. “We need to talk for a minute. Milo?”
“Yep, I got it. Last year’s Orientation had pretty low stakes, all in all. Just the usual ‘stop the SSS, collect the baby supers, and stay out of the professors’ way’ junk. But with Ikenga and Monologue gone, both organizations need new leadership, directions, and presidents. Springlock should have been a lock for president. We were all part of the leadership group together, and she’d be carrying on a lot of Ikenga’s ideas.” Milo’s fingers moved as he talked.
“But TUSSA’s been outmaneuvered for two years,” Sara-N-Dipity said. She signed too, though Milo copied her every motion, and Springlock watched him, not her. “We’ve lucked into a couple of wins in the last year, but mostly, they’ve been because of junior members or pure chance. And yes, I know I said luck.
“It’s been frustrating watching a superhero who can literally predict the future fail to stop a bunch of villains because his ex is president. But now, I’ve got a chance to change the Tokyexico University Student Superhero Association and get us back on the right path. I don’t have any ridiculous ties to the villains, and I’ve got power that’s pretty similar to Ikenga’s but much more flexible.”
Milo interrupted before she could get going on a campaign speech. “Now’s not the time for full-on speeches. The fast version is that this is sort of a job try-out for Sara, Springlock, Tearjerker, and Iron Fist.”
“Then why were Tearjerker and Iron Fist working together in the bookstore?” I asked. Fursona nodded.
“The SSS has a consistent problem with large-scale cooperation—there are actually more villains on campus than heroes most years, but you wouldn’t know it,” Sara said. “I’d guess—not with my power, just a guess—that they’re trying to prove they can work with their rivals to reach their goals. If the whole SSS united, that’d be real bad for us.”
“So, who’s got who?” Fursona shifted her head like she was trying to crack the kangaroo’s neck.
“Iron Fist,” Springlock signed. “We can take him easy.”
“Fine. I’ll track down Tearjerker with the boys.” Sara turned on a heel, her coat-tails flaring behind her dramatically. “I’ll see you all after the Episode.”
As she left, I turned toward Milo and Springlock. “Plan?”
“She really should have picked Iron Fist,” Fursona said. “Tearjerker’s terrible solo, and she’s out of the fighting at this point unless she can rally some villains somewhere or find a few henches. We’ve got more to gain here.”
“Yep. So, here’s the plan. Break into twos. Milo and me, Fursona and Understudy, Hephaestus, you and Forger,” Springlock signed. “If you see Iron Fist, call it in and keep him pinned down. He’s got a hostage, so don’t let him escape.”
I nodded, and Fursona and I took off.
----------------------------------------
[The Annual Orientation Episode: Act Three in Progress]
“I can’t believe they’re not taking the Orientation Episode seriously,” Fursona whined as we threaded our way past parents, freshmen, and tour guides. With the fighting mostly calmed down, the Extras were wasting no time getting back to TU’s orientation process.
I nodded, staring as a dozen wide-eyed students passed by the Mister Felsic statue. The tour guide rattled off facts about TU’s Superpower Studies program; most sounded like he’d made them up on the spot, but the kids looked impressed. I rolled my eyes and kept searching. Then I looked at Fursona. “What was Pataki working on for you?”
“New Costume,” she said.
I rolled my eyes. “You steal my heart, you steal my apartment key, fine, whatever! But now you’re coming for my gimmick! Unbelievable! What’s the costume?”
“Eagle.”
“Ah.” Fursona wasn’t big on flying, so I could see why a bird Costume might throw her for a loop. Still…”It’d be handy right now. We could do aerial observation over the whole campus and catch villains out all over the place. Come to think of it, there aren’t many supers with flight as a power, are there?”
“No. Not compared to how many you’d expect. The eagle Costume sacrifices a lot of the roo’s firepower, too, and it takes a long time to change between them.”
“Like a minute?”
“No.” I couldn’t see her, but I knew she was rolling her eyes inside the kangaroo fursuit. “Like manually taking the suit on and off. I’m not a Magical Girl. I can’t just wave a wand and become something else.”
“Fair. So, want a lift?”
“Nope.”
We didn’t have to search for long—or very hard. The Hemlock Building, where the chemistry and biology majors and a few other sciencey types hung out, was missing a window in a very Iron Fist-sized pattern. The glass had been pushed in, too. “Think he’s still in there?” I asked, pulling out my phone.
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“Maybe,” Fursona said.
With the message sent, I pointed at the building. “This is your space, right? You know it?”
“Yeah, I’ve got point. Really glad I’m not a bird, though.”
She stepped through the glass. A moment later, Iron Fist’s massive fist slammed into her, and she flew across the classroom, shattering a desk with the force of her impact.
I pulled out my want, sending a [Starlance] at the big bruiser, but though it hit, he shrugged it off—and that’s when I realized he wasn’t the biggest problem.
[Dramatic Damage! +1 Drama Point]
A Magical Girl in fishnets, a red skirt and black top, and glowing red mascara disappeared further into the building, dragging a terrified-looking Extra behind her. I groaned, then dropped to the floor to avoid an Iron Fist punch. “Dark Girl Anima’s got the hostage!” I shouted.
“I’m on her!” Fursona said, but Iron Fist closed the gap and slammed my sidekick into a cinderblock wall. Dust filled the room as the ceiling’s panels bounced in their frames.
“I’ll pin him down. Go!!” I said, whirling in place and using [Hog the Limelight]. Spotlights flared all around me, and the rest of the room darkened until the only hero Iron Fist could see was my pink-and-purple shape shimmering in the light.
[Eye-Catcher! +1 Flamboyance Point]
“Come at me!” I said, beckoning him to attack, and he did. The taunt worked perfectly, his power focusing on me, and I used [Power-Weaving] and [I-Frame Transform], aiming for Rainy Day to control the fighting and land a big combo.
[Flashy Fitting-Room! +1 Flamboyance Point]
[Steel Yourself! +1 Grit Point]
[Floating Points: 1 Flamboyance]
The combo built as Iron Fist phased through me, my immunity and the taunt working perfectly. Then, as he caromed toward the window, off balance, I shifted into Rainy Day and used [Wind Front]. The sudden gust burst out the rest of the window and shoved Iron Fist the rest of the way through it.
[Badass Move! +1 Badass Point]
[Floating Points: 3 Flamboyance, 1 Grit]
I followed up with a [Ride the Lightning], filling the air with tendrils of electricity that lashed out at him even as he tried to find his feet, but though the thunder cracked and lightning rushed into him, he pushed through it and started running around the building.
[Electric Lightshow! +1 Flamboyance Point]
[Power-Weaving! +6 Flamboyance, 3 Grit, and 1 Badass Point]
A part of me wanted to chase the villain. He’d already been low on superhero damage from the fight at the ballroom, but I still wanted to be the one to bring him down. But the rest of me knew that he'd be long gone by the time I transformed into something that could catch him.
Besides, my phone had buzzed. Springlock, Milo, and maybe Hephaestus and his mechanical assistant Forger were on the way. He wouldn’t get far, and I wanted to save the hostage more than I wanted to fight Iron Fist.
Unfortunately, that meant handling Dark Girl Anima, and her power was outstanding on defense—as I knew from experience. Plus, I already had a reputation for trashing science buildings. I couldn’t afford to reinforce that—not this early in my minor league career!
“Let’s take it slow,” I whispered, switching back to Understudy. “Anima’s our target now.”
[Rejuvenation Activated! HP 11/11]
“Got it,” Fursona said. “Think she’s got more of those catling-gun bots?”
“I don’t know. I’d be shocked if we dealt with them all, and who knows what else she can animate? Actually…” I paused and looked at my biology-based girlfriend. “You’d know. Anything in here that’d be a problem for us if it somehow came to life?”
“Yeah, half the building’s experiments from last year shouldn’t be alive,” Fursona laughed. “Let’s go.”
We crept through the halls while red exit lights flickered overhead and security cameras blinked above us. I knew, for sure, that Dark Girl Anima’s powers were at work all across the building, but even so, I couldn’t help but pretend to be sneaky. Posters with chemistry formulas that looked like math covered the walls, along with a few animal biome art pieces.
We rounded a corner, and a hulking presence vanished around a different one. “Was that?”
“Iron Fist?” I nodded, already running to try to get a shot off. I readied a [Starlance], but before I could fire it at the villain, a gold-chrome robot surged toward me, glowing red and rippling off a wave of tasers in my direction!
[HP 10/11]
The tasers hit me, dropping me to the ground as electricity surged through the wires. The cat-shaped robot bounded toward me and extended a wicked-looking knife, which crashed down on my stunned form. The blade punched through my superhero damage, but the shielding slowed and directed it so that instead of slamming into my shoulder, it sliced a narrow cut right above my sleeves.
[HP 7/11]
All the same, I couldn’t stay in melee combat with the machine. As I regained control of my body, Fursona hopped into battle, slamming her feet into the war robot and forcing it to stagger. It stabilized and turned to continue attacking me.
I’d seen these before during the ‘Grant Building Dogpile’ Episode. Back then, I’d been a little league heroine, but now, Fursona and I were both minor leaguers. We had more firepower, more experience, and a battle plan. “Try Bait and Switch!” I called and used [Hog the Limelight] again, burning my last use.
I braced myself as the room darkened and the spotlights centered on me. The vibrating knife sliced through the air with a wicked hum echoed by the cat-bot’s Gatling taser spinning. I knew the knife was coming, so I ducked instead of using [Quick-Time Change]. It sailed over my head, and a moment later, Fursona’s fists slammed into the bot, glowing as chunks of armor flew everywhere. It turned, shaking her off but exposing the spot she’d attacked.
I fired a [Bit-Part Barrage], spun in the air, and launched a half-dozen rays.
[Dramatic Damage! +4 Drama Points]
The first shot hit, and the robot stopped moving as ray after ray found their marks. It wobbled, started to turn, and received a vicious [Double-Kick] from Fursona that knocked it off its feet. Then, before it could recover, I shouted, “[Starlance]!”
[Dramatic Damage! +1 Drama Point]
The robot started moving, then stopped. Smoke poured from the hole in its side, and a moment later, the reddish glow vanished, disappearing down the hall and rounding a corner. “Bet Anima’s that way,” I said, following the light. Victory was as good as ours.
But my heart dropped as I rounded the corner and looked at the wall of reddish light on the hall’s far side. The Dark Girl stood behind an army of constructs—a few cats, but mostly just different experiments. “Good luck, Understudy. I don’t think you can beat this,’ Anima said as Iron Fist stomped up next to her, hostage in hand.
“No,” a voice said from behind me. “But we’re not here to beat them. We’re here to beat your ass.”
I turned, half-expecting to see Springlock and Milo. Instead, I narrowed my eyes. “Sara-N-Dipity…”