Kaleb took another large bite of his sandwich as he sat in his car. Ideas for more gadgets flitted across his mind as he chewed. Working the streets for the past few hours had given him some ideas and shown where he was lacking. The smell of acrid smoke was still in his nostrils, and he could feel his shoes falling apart from where they were burnt. He sighed as he swallowed his food and sat back in the driver’s seat of his car.

“Yeah, I need some leg armor and more versatile weapons.” Kaleb thought as the passenger side door opened and Claire sat down.

The car jostled harshly, and Claire had to shove the seat back. Kaleb watched the woman struggle with his car as he idly sipped his soda. When she was done, she turned a glare on him and Kaleb could see she was just as tired as he was. Her glare softened at his own weariness, but it was quickly replaced with a look of disgust.

“What is that smell?!”

Kaleb chuckled as Claire opened her window and took large gulps of air. He lowered his own window as well and finished his drink before responding.

“Burning building a few blocks over. Pyrokinesis Mutant with a chip on his shoulder. Took him down fairly easily, but the building still had occupants when he set it on fire. So I had to run in and grab them.”

Claire raised a sculpted eyebrow and nodded her head. “So that’s why you smell like a campfire?”

Kaleb nodded and started his car. Claire got her seat-belt and buckled in as Kaleb stuck his head out the window.

“Hey! Viola? Claire’s here and I’m done with my break. What do you have for us?”

One of Farrah’s drones swooped low and stopped in front of his window. A youthful voice spoke into his ear as the drone seemed to take them both in.

“Alright, the two swaps are done, so Abby and Two Gun can enjoy their break now. I’ve got a gang of thugs moving through Woodland Hills Park. They are holed up in the woods back there and counting their money.”

Kaleb nodded as he pulled his car away from the curb and started driving. Claire finally got herself comfortable and asked their handler her own questions.

“How many are we dealing with and is Jar-lock done with his damn spell yet? Cracking the skulls of these weaklings is fun and all, but we when are we going to smack down some demons?”

There was a pause before Viola answered, and Kaleb was sure the kid was checking on their friendly mage.

“Jar-lock has completed his conversation with the Leyline but…”

There was an awkward pause as Viola seemed to be at a loss for words. Thankfully, Farrah came over the comms and quickly calmed things down.

“Jar-lock is fine. But he’s a little woozy. Apparently diving headfirst into a stream of untamed magic knocked him for a loop. We’ll keep you updated. But for now there is a group of five thugs that need arresting. They’ve stopped at a cabin just north of the residential area.”

Claire cracked her knuckles. “Hmph! Only five? Come on, love. That’s hardly a challenge.”

“Their leader is reported to be a Super-Strong Mutant with bull horns.”

“Ohhh, I believe that will do nicely for a momentary distraction.”

Kaleb ignored Claire’s giggling as she imagined the absolute slug-fest she was about to go into. Instead, he focused on the road as he asked another question.

“What about the cops? Do they know we are going to be handling some other business for a while?”

Farrah snorted over the comms. “Pfft! They were surprised we were still out here. I think they suspected us to give up hours ago.”

“Why?”

“Cause they did. We’ve had to call in cops from Hornsby to pick up our crooks. The chief of police in that district wasn’t too happy with it at first. But when it became clear that he would get partial credit for the arrests, he has been more than helpful.”

Claire and Kaleb shared a disgruntled look. All day the damn police department had been a pain in their asses. They weren’t doing anything overt, but their rude glares and slow response times were grating on everyone. Thankfully, the citizens seemed to pick up on the tension between their two groups and seemed to be on their side. At least for now. Kaleb’s thoughts were interrupted by Farrah answering his question.

“As for us going off the grid to deal with the Demons, our district should be fine. Calls have slowed down and we even have other heroes moving in to help. I don’t know how long it’s going to take to deal with the Demons, but you should be covered.”

“Well then, let us handle this current crop of ne’er-do-wells and we can hurry on to the main course.”

Kaleb snorted as he turned his car southward and pulled his Sun Gun from its spot on the dashboard. “That’s easy for you to say. I am completely out of non-lethal options. My Sun Gun is damn near tapped. I’m out of taser eggs, and that damn burning building sapped me dry of Mana. It’s coming back, but I’m a gadget hero with no gadgets.”

Seeing that his Sun Gun was only half-charged, Kaleb winced and set it back down. Claire watched him with a critical eye before she asked.

“Do you still want to do the Demon Raid without any weapons? We all give you shit for those eggs, but they are useful.”

“I’m going to remember you said that. Once we are done here, I’m going to head back to the hangar for a resupply. I asked Daivor and Roy to work on replacements when my Sun Gun crapped out. It’ll be a quick stop and then we’ll all regroup at where ever Jar-lock says.”

Claire nodded and then nervously cracked her knuckles again. Kaleb took in the green woman for the first time since she climb into his car. Her armor was scuffed and bits of her clothes were cut, burned, and ripped away. She looked fine, but Kaleb could see the same weariness he felt reflected in her gaze. She was putting on a brave front, though.

“How’s Two Gun doing?”

Claire started at the question, but she answered. “He’s tired, like the rest of us. But he’s pulling through it. I just hope this isn’t a daily thing. But if it is, then maybe Abby’s plan will work.”

“Abby’s plan?”

“She posted a few videos on the forums about what was going on out here. Players have been ducking in and out of our district all day. Like they are afraid we’ll snap at them for poaching on our turf.”

“Vigilantes?”

“Mostly. A few other contract heroes have reached out on the forums to see if we are interested in combining contracts. Apparently, they are having the same issues we are.”

“Yeah, that’s what a Villain player I caught told me. Apparently, the HLO and the Cops are warned off any district run by contract heroes. We got his confession on tape and we will forward it to the proper channels.”

“You think that’s going to do anything?”

Kaleb shrugged and shook his head. “Probably not. Which is why I had Farrah make copies.”

“You’re going to leak it.”

“Whoa! It’s not just me here. I was going to put the question to a vote with the SG. But if we send up that particular flag, the HLO is going to get violent. I just know it.”

“Ha! What? Like they’d send Heroes after us?”

“I don’t think so. But I imagine operating in Austin will get harder. We’ll see more pressure from City Hall as well. The footage implicates them, too.”

“That’s a big beast to be swinging at.”

“Yeah.”

Kaleb pulled his car to the curb and shut the engine off. The sun was setting and the forested hills to the north of them were drowned in dark shadows. He checked the weapons he had and sighed as Claire got out of the car. She set about stretching as their drone shot off into the woods. Viola spoke up in his ear as Kaleb locked his car and walked toward the woods.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“We had them at an old abandoned cabin in the middle of the woods. Verifying location and then you are free to engage.”

Kaleb and Claire responded that they understood and continued up the hill. The trees were tall but spaced well enough for them not to have to squeeze through trees. But the uphill walk combined with branches, bushes, and roots made the climb annoying. Kaleb could see that Claire was having an easier time of it. She would use her strength and shove or snap anything in her way. Although the further they went, the more Kaleb wished she would quiet down. But that wasn’t the woman’s style.

“Tell ya what. I’m going to swing around and come at them from the side. You can charge at them from the front.”

Claire knocked a slim tree down and turned to look at him. Kaleb turned his own gaze to the wake of destruction following Claire, and she nodded.

“Fine. But hurry. I want to get this band of hooligans dealt with so we can move on to the big show.”

Kaleb nodded and rushed off. As he did, he explained the plan to Viola over the radio. She confirmed the plan and reported back that she hadn’t found the cabin yet. Kaleb pushed his way through the bushes and detritus on the forest floor as he climbed the hill.

His stamina was slowly falling as he climbed and he took a few breaks to let it recharge. Kaleb was cresting the top of his hill when Viola spoke up again.

“Claire, you're on a direct path to the cabin. But they know you’re coming and are getting ready. Professor, you need to turn to your seven o’clock and walk back down the hill. I don’t think they know you’re here, too. So be stealthy.”

Both Kaleb and Claire confirmed the orders. Kaleb turned down the hill and eased down. He had been walking for five minutes when sounds of combat reached his ears. Gunshots and minor explosions went off, and Kaleb hurried.

“Claire is engaged with two enhanced mages and two mundanes. No sign of the Bull leader, though.”

Kaleb nodded as he ran through the forest. “How’s Claire?”

“I’m fine! The guns aren’t a problem, but that damn wizard is keeping me back with wind spells.”

“I’m coming!”

Kaleb sped up a little, still careful not to trip on any roots. The sounds of fighting were growing louder, and soon he found himself standing on a short outcropping. He was overlooking a small wooden cabin and a large clearing. Claire was on the other side of the cabin, trying to push forward. But an almost visible wall of wind was keeping her back. Meanwhile, two thugs to the left of the cabin were standing in the open, firing their rifles at her.

“I don’t have eyes on the mages.” Kaleb reported as he tried to find them.

“They’re on the right side of the cabin, hugging the wall. One is holding his spell while the other is the one lobbing fireballs.” Viola said.

Kaleb nodded and walked along the outcropping toward the other side of the cabin. But it ended before he could look down on the right side of the house. Gritting his teeth in annoyance, Kaleb made a quick decision and backed up. With a burst of speed, Kaleb threw himself off the outcropping and onto the wooden roof. He landed with a hard thud and he was sure whoever was inside would’ve heard him.

So as quick as he could Kaleb crouch-walked to the right edge of the roof and peered over. He spotted the backs of two robe figures and drew his Cybar. Aiming low, Kaleb grinned as his shots caught both people in the back of the knees. They went screaming to the ground and the loud sounds of rushing winds quickly abated.

“Your clear, Claire.”

“Thank you, professor.”

Claire’s screams came from the front of the house as she charged the cabin. Kaleb hurried across the roof to the other side. But when he reached the center, there was a loud crack, a blue and black horn sprouted in front of him. Kaleb swore and threw himself backwards. He tumbled across the roof until he caught himself. But the bull super inside the cabin pierced the roof with his horn again. This time, right next to Kaleb.

“Shit!”

Kaleb got to his feet and ran to the center of the roof. Below him, he heard Claire punching someone and assumed the two mundane thugs had tried to slow the green woman down. He winced as the sounds of bodies hitting the forest floor reached him. But he had to move again as another horn cracked through the roof.

“How many times can he do that before…”

Kaleb's thoughts were cut off as the roof started creaking ominously. He threw himself backward again, this time off the front of the roof completely. As he did, he quickly reported to Claire and then released all the breath in his lungs.

“Roofs going down!” He shouted.

Then he landed roughly in the dirt clearing surrounding the cabin. He slid a bit, which helped soften his landing. But his back was still screaming at him. He didn’t know if Claire got out of the way of the collapsing house. But he could hear it creaking and cracking as its roof caved in. Kaleb held onto a brief hope that the stupid Bull mutant had crushed himself. But a bestial roar and snort dashed those hopes immediately.

With a grunt, Kaleb pulled himself to his feet and looked toward the cabin. Thankfully, Claire and the big bull-man were currently fighting. The bull was slightly shorter, if you didn’t count the horns. But his arms and chest were downright massive. Kaleb caught himself wondering how the mutants two human legs could hold up that stocky frame. But he shook it off quickly and rushed around the fight. Coming to the right side of the collapsed cabin, Kaleb found the two mages still writhing in pain. Part of the cabin had collapsed onto them. But they both seemed alive.

Kaleb quickly cuffed them and then moved them to the outer edge of the clearing. He was about to search for the two mundanes when the bull mutant roared angrily. The roar was followed by two loud meaty thwacks, and Kaleb turned to see Claire go flying off into the woods. Her slim green form disappeared between the trees, and Kaleb gulped loudly.

The bull-man spun on him and Kaleb wanted to curse his damn luck. Why was he always dealing with super-strong idiots? He did a quick mental checklist of his arsenal and hated what his brain came back with. One Cybar pistol, one Shocky with a taser function, his magic gun, and a few spikes in his spike launcher. He grimaced.

“You puny cops can’t stop The Bull!” the bull-man shouted as he pounded his chest.

His right leg pawed at the ground a few times before he ran straight at Kaleb. Swearing repeatedly, Kaleb rolled to the side and came up on a knee. He sent two bursts from his Cybar into the bull’s back before he got to his feet and started backing away. The Bull roared again and stalked forward. Kaleb unloaded his entire Cybar into the mutant’s chest, watching as the energy burned away The Bull’s chest hair.

His Cybar beeped, informing him he needed to vent it. But the Bull was already on top of him. Kaleb danced to the side as The Bull’s meaty arm swung at his face.

“Thank the Gaming Gods he’s not as fast as Man-Rat… I mean Rat-Man, damn it!”

He dodged another large swing from the Bull and danced around the big idiot. With a thought, Kaleb summoned Shocky and placed the shield along the Bull’s back and activated it. A wave of yellow electricity sparked along the Bull’s spine and he went momentarily rigid. But with a sudden roar, the Bull shook off the shock and backhanded Kaleb in the chest.

Kaleb spun like a pinwheel across the entire clearing. An ominous crack filled his ears, and Kaleb felt the armor on his chest break away as he came to a stop at the edge of the clearing. But he didn’t have enough time to get his bearings because the Bull was suddenly on top of him roaring in his face. The mutant’s human foot was on top of Kaleb, pinning him to the ground. He punched and clawed at the leg, but it remained firm as the Bull glared down at him.

“Puny Cops all fall to the might of the Bull!”

Kaleb ignored the rhetoric and steadied his robotic hand against the Bull’s shin. With a loud thunk, a large metal spike shot out of his wrist and slammed into the Bull’s human shin bone. It pierced all the way through and the Bull recoiled in anger and pain. Kaleb rolled away as the Bull raised his foot and tried to get to his feet. But a large furry hand gripped his throat and lifted him off the ground. Kaleb suddenly missed his spiked boots as he feebly kicked at the Bull’s body and hips. The Bull pulled him close, ready to issue another loud proclamation. But a green fist smacked the Bull in the face and sent him cartwheeling toward the cabin.

“Took you long enough.” Kaleb choked out.

Claire cracked her knuckles and chuckled. “Hehehe, sorry dear. A few trees fell on me.”

Kaleb blinked in surprise, and then just shook it off. Venting his Cybar, he prepared to square up with Claire against the Bull. But the kindly older woman waved him down.

“Take a break, Professor. I owe this arrogant cow a beating.”

Kaleb wanted to argue, but then he checked his HP and sat down. He was down in the double digits and without his armor. Plus, in a fistfight, he’d be pretty useless. Sighing, Kaleb watched as Claire advanced on the Bull and quickly took him apart. The Bull was tired, burnt, and operating with a bum leg. Kaleb’s spike was still protruding from the Bull’s left leg even as Claire pummeled the poor mutant into the dirt.

When she finished with The Bull, Claire pulled some heavy duty cuffs from her pocket and hog-tied the guy. Kaleb chuckled as she lifted the criminal like luggage and looked around for their drone. Viola’s voice spoke in their ear as the drone took in the devastation.

“The cops have been alerted, and they are on their way to the street. They request you move the criminals back down to the road.”

“Of course they do. Any idea where the two mundanes are?” Kaleb asked.

“Mrs. Claire tossed them to the south-side of the clearing. The two mages are still where you left them, Professor.”

Kaleb nodded and looked up at Claire. “You grab the Mundanes and I’ll take the mages.”

“Can you handle them both?”

“Yeah, I got it.”

Claire looked him over as she adjusted her grip on her bull prisoner. She said nothing else and shrugged her shoulders before walking off. Kaleb collected himself and moved toward the two bodies. Checking they were both still fine, Kaleb placed one on his shoulder and gripped the other’s leg with his metal hand. He dragged and carried the pair behind Claire as she carved another path all the way back down the forested hill.

Thankfully, the cops were waiting for them and they didn’t have to stick around. Kaleb crawled into the driver's seat of his car and grabbed his water bottle. He drained it and threw it back into its cup holder before Claire could even get in the car. Once she did, Claire eyed him carefully. Kaleb met her gaze with a curious one of his own.

“You alright, dear?”

Kaleb nodded. “Just exhausted. We’ve been at this all day and I am out of tricks.”

“And armor.” Claire said with a pointed look downward.

Kaleb nodded. “Yeah, I’ll have to make some for tonight. Which means we’re done. Sorry.”

“No. No, that’s fine. We need to all regroup, anyway.”

“Yes, you do.” Farrah said over the comms. “Jar-lock is out of his stupor and he has a location for us. Abby has called in some Super friends to watch the neighborhood for us. So I’m calling all teams back to the Hangar. The cops have already been informed.”

Kaleb sighed and started his car. The Super-Group’s long day was going to turn into a long night. He just knew it. A soft hand on his shoulder brought Kaleb’s eyes around to see Claire smiling at him softly. Her smiled widened as Kaleb sat up a bit and shook off his exhaustion. Claire snapped in her seat-belt and sat back with a sigh. They sat in comfortable silence as the Kaleb drove them on to their next adventure for the night.