The metal barricade extended a short distance into the ground, contracting into a cylinder around me. It shuddered and rocketed upward, flattening me with the force.

I bounced off the ceiling as the cylinder swung to a stop. Then the ceiling receded and dropped away with the walls. A glimpse from the edge of the platform proved I now hovered some hundred feet off the ground. Hot wind gusted over my face.

“Are you alright?” Dia Mater asked, drifting down to me. She had ditched her flying platform in favor of a cuirass equipped with short, airplane-styled wings.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“That’s good to hear.”

On the ground, metal containers formed around our wounded colleagues. Dia Mater levitated each one, never taking her eyes off the fight. She rained cone after cone on No Light, keeping him on the run. The Villain shrieked in outrage.

“I'm moving you out of range now, Volley,” Dia Mater said. “This could get ugly. Especially considering the sparks.”

“Got it,” I said.

Rails sprung around the circumference of the sheet. The platform zoomed off, joining the other containers.

“Unfair,” No Light yelled. “Wicked and unfair. Come down and fight me yourself.”

Two metal discs floated up to Dia Mater. They split into perfect duplicates. Four became eight. Eight became sixteen.

“Answer me,” the Villain screamed, throwing an entire veranda.

It smashed into a solid shield wall.

No Light moved. Electricity forked upward, brilliant against the smoky backdrop. It sparked against a metal sheet. The latter trembled and crashed to the ground. No Light ducked behind a collapsed house, freeing another piece of debris. He flung it one second and shot blue murder the next.

Dia Mater's shield walls intercepted the boulder, barely vibrating from the impact. They remained sturdy in air as if reinforced by an invisible prop. Then the electric bolts hit them, and they fell out of the sky, losing whatever force that sustained them.

An interplay between their powers?

No Light realized it too, because he honed his strategy. He circled Dia Mater, pelting her alternatively with sparks and with stones. Dia Mater climbed even higher, creating more discs than No Light could disable. But there had to be a limit. Both combatants expended energy at an alarming rate, and one was bound to give out first.

One boulder sailed close to Dia Mater, brushing her wings. The platform that kept me aloft tipped. I scrambled for balance, grasping the rails, but Dia Mater recovered, and the sheets righted themselves again.

No Light reached an ambulance and hefted it over his shoulder. A metal spear careered out of the sky, ramming his chest. He hollered something, drowned out by the roaring wind. Sparks danced between his fingers. He never got the chance.

A hail of spears peppered him with such velocity, the electricity discharged. He made a run for it, yowling all the way.

Dia Mater hovered in place. Over a hundred metal sheets circled her now, and they curled into weapons: spears, pikes, razors, and swords. Some distance above her, another group of sheets rotated, fusing into what looked like a gigantic lance.

The weapons rained pell-mell on No Light, unable to puncture his thickened skin. His defiance waned as they fell however—in large enough numbers that they shattered the streets. He toppled through the remains of a building, stood, and foundered again.

The metal armaments duplicated as they approached him. Many that had fallen rose and struck him again. The unending barrage resulted in a tempest of violence, growing in number each minute. No Light’s screams rose above the din, the emotion raw in his voice.

Electricity surged up from within the storm, roiling like a disco ball. Half the weapons fell out of the sky.

No Light ran for cover, but Dia Mater didn't let up. A giant claw thudded to the ground. He escaped before it clasped. Pillories snapped around his neck. He disabled them with sparks.

He leaped for the top of a building, gathering a surge within his chest.

Dia Mater raised an arm. The gigantic lance she’d been reserving tore downward with a boom. It obliterated a chunk of No Light’s torso and struck the ground behind him. A deafening roar filled the street.

No Light crumbled. His bulk had receded during the fight, and mass sloughed off him in places where it remained. The real No Light emerged from the withered husk. The entirety of Dia Mater's weapons rose into the air, poised for one final strike—

“No more,” No Light cried. “Please!”

The weapons froze. Bit by bit, they fell out of the sky, landing harmlessly by his side. A few of the armaments unfurled into wire and bound the Villain.

Dia Mater swooned. The metal creations plummeted alongside her, weapons and cylinders both.

I held on to the railing for dear life. “Dia Mater,” I screamed, even as the ground rapidly approached.

We slowed to a stop. Sweat dropped from my brows, inches from smearing the ground. Landfall followed smoothly, and the containers unraveled, spilling their contents.

I shook my head and ran my fingers over my face. An uncontrollable tremor seized my hands.

That. Was. Amazing.

It was the first real superpowered fight I had witnessed, and my gosh . . . Was that what how it went for the Heroes at the top?

Dia Mater wavered, unsteady on her feet. I reached out to help her.

Rabidor grabbed my arm. He favored one leg and burns marred the spot No Light's attack had connected. Other than that, he seemed better than he should be. “Your teammates,” he snarled. “Check on them.”

“I will,” I said, shaking off his grasp.

Harvest was first. She writhed on a sheet of dust and metal; eyes wide but unseeing. I pulled the respirator from her face. Her mouth flopped beneath it, babbling without noise. She didn’t respond to my calls, and spittle dribbled down her chin. This was bad.

“Odim!” I said, at a loss.

“Here,” the woman answered.

I ambled toward her. “Something’s wrong with Harvest. You need to help her!”

“I know,” Odim said, rising to a sitting position.

“Are you alright?”

“Broken arm,” she hissed. “I'll survive.” She looked at me. “Help me up.”

In the distance, Rabidor pulled the Habakkuk free of its prison.

I loped Odim's good hand around my shoulders and supported her around the waist. Together, we limped for Harvest.

Harvest had stopped writhing, but the absent look remained on her face.

“What's wrong with her?” I asked. “What did you do?”

Odim sighed. “My beams cancel out the five senses. No sight. No hearing. No touch. Nothing.”

“It shuts down the nervous system?”

“It doesn’t. It’s a conceptual ability. I've heard victims liken it to being trapped in a black void, unable to process a thing.”

Sheesh. That was probably the nastiest ability I’d heard of. Were Odim a better shot, the fight would have been over in seconds.

Odim raised her good fist. The multicolored beams appeared again, striking Harvest in the chest.

Cognition blossomed on Harvest's face. She blinked at us, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She screamed.

“Oh no,” Odim said. “Don’t do that. It's alright. You’re alright.”

But Harvest didn't look alright. She scampered away from us, patting her face and arms.

“Let me down here, Volley,” Odim said. “I'll talk to her.”

“What's going on?” Activity said, hobbling over a ridge.

I made myself scarce.

The civilians and emergency workers moved back in now that the conflict was dealt with. Combat suits rolled a docile No Light into an ambulance. The old man had survived Dia Mater’s final attack, but he’d ended up more emaciated than he’d been at the start.

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“Well, that was something,” Neviecha said, marching up to me. He sounded subdued, even through the speakers. “Are Emergents supposed to be that tough?”

I turned my gaze skyward. “Beats me. Only thing I did during mine was break a chair.”

“At least you broke something. I remember getting better at fixing motors. When I added unrequired augmentations to a client's car, the lead mechanic beat me with a cane.” He paused, measuring his next words. “I didn't do much again today.”

“What are you talking about? Everyone got beat up, even the adults.”

“None of them teared up and retched their guts out though.”

I frowned, shoving the images of dead bodies into the recesses of my mind. “It was a gruesome sight. No one can fault you.”

“You kept going.”

I had no answer to that.

“No suppression collars,” Rabidor told the suits guarding No Light. “He feeds on electricity. Cuffing his arms and legs should suffice.”

“We are done for today, Rabidor,” Dia Mater said, massaging her temples. “We are vulnerable out here like this.”

A Combat suit ran up to her. “I’m sorry to report this, but we have a complication, ma.”

“Go on.”

The man grimaced. “During the fighting, we lost sight of Bazaar. We believe she's escaped.”

“Eh? Bazaar?” Neviecha sputtered. “Why?”

Dia Mater groaned.

“We'll track her using the collar,” Rabidor said, waving the Combat suit away.

“That would be difficult,” Dia Mater replied. “I took them off.”

Rabidor swiveled on her. “You did what?”

“We needed her crowd control.”

The dog Hero cursed. “I will go after her then. She couldn't have gotten far.”

Dia Mater shook her head. “That’s a bad idea. You are the most susceptible to her abilities.”

“I am also the only choice we have,” Rabidor growled. “I need to move quickly. Too many smells here. Too easy to lose her scent. We waste any more time and that could be the end of that.” He didn't wait for a reply, stalking away from our group.

Well, that was just peachy. I hadn't gotten the slightest hint from Bazaar of her intent to desert. But I didn't know her that well either. Something else bothered me. Something Dia Mater had said.

“There are still people trapped beneath the rubble,” I piped up.

“Doubtful,” Rabidor said as he climbed onto a power bike. “Anyone left is already dead.”

I glared at him. “Okay, but there are still ways we can help. Things we can do.”

“Volley,” Dia Mater said sharply, and she looked worn out. “Remember when you asked me if I’d lost anyone? Well, this is the kind of situation where losses tend to happen. Two of our teammates are out of it. Rabidor needs to find Bazaar, and I can't provide any more assistance today, whether with the rescue or in a fight.”

“But—”

“We need to leave. For our sake. And the sake of those we protect. It is incredible enough that we are walking away from this with zero fatalities. We must not push our chances.”

A handful of civilian helpers poured into the wreckage. Dia Mater was right. Yet, I couldn't help but sour at her as she collected all the generated metal into five small discs.

She’d pontificated about the nobility of superheroism just this morning, but what part of our retreat here deserved to be called noble? How was her suggestion any different from placing my family above all else?

Sirens blared as more police vehicles arrived at the scene. Mourners wailed. Emergency workers panted. And the light-fingered carted anything valuable they could get away with. A line of body bags sweltered beneath the sun.

What other reason did I have for being a superhero?

I didn't like my answer.

Ava showed up at the base at eight. A new, slimmer collar ringed her neck, and Rabidor walked in step behind her. Dia Mater followed after them, livid in a manner that seemed out of character.

“Hey, guys,” Ava said, grinning.

“Hey, girl,” I replied.

AV had notified us of her arrival, but only Alewo and I had bothered waiting by the elevator. Obong wasn't speaking to anyone, and Toye was dour as a result.

Rabidor glowered at me. “Do not encourage her.”

“I don't take orders from you,” I replied.

“Chetachi, please,” Dia Mater said, placing her fingers on her brow. “Be respectful.”

I frowned, pocketing my hands.

“Where did you go?” Alewo asked Ava, raising an eyebrow.

“Out,” she replied. “I just wanted to breathe.”

“You can’t breathe here?”

“No, dumbass,” Ava said in a sweet tone. “Unlike you guys, I was placed on a severe probation. Which means, I don’t have a phone. I don’t get paid. And all my requests to visit the city are automatically denied. If I wish to visit the cinemas or go out on a date, I need to be cunning.”

“So . . . you went on a date?” Alewo pressed.

Ava groaned.

“This isn't working,” Rabidor said. “I’ll have a word with Pro-now. Dominic needs to be in a cell until we are certain she isn't a liability.”

Ava glanced up at him. “Aww. You're just mad you didn't get to enjoy hounding me all over Newtown. Didn't expect to find me waiting in a nearby restaurant, did you?”

A lock of Rabidor’s hair fell across his face. It enhanced the brief spark of rage in his gaze. He pulled the lock back into its ponytail, fingers quivering. “She's up to something, Mater,” he said. “Don't say I didn't warn.”

Dia Mater pursed her lips. “You broke my trust, Ava. The new collar isn't coming off soon, no matter what.”

Ava's eyes widened. “Wait, you can't do that to me.”

“Thank you for the assist, Rabidor,” Dia Mater said. “I'd like to stay and talk to the team.”

Rabidor nodded. He took the elevator back up without another word.

“I'm tired of these meetings,” Ava whined. “I just want to sleep.”

Dia Mater shot her a black look. “One more word from you, Dominic, and I might do something I’d end up regretting.” She touched her earpiece. “AV, can you summon Toye and Obong?”

We filed into the living room. I flicked the light switches, hitting the air purifiers for good measure. Dia Mater took the couch and we plonked down on seats around her.

“Chetachi, what time is it?” she asked.

I glanced at my phone. “Five minutes past eight.”

“Good. Tune into any of the local news stations.”

I did as she asked. Straight away, we appeared onscreen. The channel showed footage from earlier in the day. Toye shoved a pillar off the front door of a house, while the Habakkuk and I navigated around debris in the background. A short distance away, Obong conferred with a levitating Dia Mater.

When had these been taken?

“We made national news?” Toye grunted, entering the living room.

Obong trudged behind him. On the TV, a reporter described the scene to the audience.

“You made national news,” Dia Mater said, smiling in that convivial manner of hers. “Pacesetters, consider this a formal congratulation from the brass. This was your first real mission, and you proved yourself with flying colors.”

I hid a smile.

“You have also earned informal congratulations from me,” Dia Mater added. “I am so proud of you guys. All your actions, from the rescue effort to the courage you displayed during the fight, were exceptional. We will be praising this one for a while yet.”

The fight . . .

“Did they catch that?” I asked. “The No Light thing, that is.”

As if to answer my question, the broadcast switched to a grainy video of our scuffle with the humongous Emergent. The video was of poor quality, lasting no more than two minutes, yet it managed to freeze the warmth bubbling in my chest. No Light looked even more terrifying from a distant perspective. He moved like a cat, and his trunk-like arms shattered stone with ease.

The reporter ran commentary. “. . . The joint operation was almost foiled by the appearance of an unknown Villain in the late hours of the day. The Villain’s purpose remains unclear, but he is seen here battling the Council Heroes and hampering the rescue efforts . . .”

“Has the city released an official statement?” I asked, turning to Dia Mater.

She leaned into her seat. “They are hedging. Their official stance is that there is evidence supporting the vandalization of a gas pipeline.”

“What do you think?”

“I think they are lying,” Dia Mater snapped. “Our own experts have fingered lapses in proper planning and maintenance. The Right of Way wasn’t adhered to, and the installation company had scrimped on detection equipment. Shortly before the blast, residents confirmed sightings of a plume of smoke billowing into the air. That leakage ignited.”

We fell silent at that.

Dia Mater rose from her seat. “Turn in early tonight. You've all earned a couple of days off. This means no lessons and no guard duty for our erring boys. Take the opportunity to refresh and recover. If any of you—excluding Ava—wishes to visit the city, I’ve signed passes in advance.”

Alewo cheered. Ava muttered a colorful word beneath her breath.

Dia Mater’s expression turned grim. “That said, I'm not going to skirt around the issue. The sights you witnessed out there today were horrible. Full stop. A therapist will be joining us for the rest of your training. You will attend individual sessions with them on a weekly basis. This is mandatory.”

She turned to me. “Chetachi, Catherine has requested that you free up your schedule. She has something to communicate with you tomorrow.”

I nodded. “What about the No Light guy? What's going to happen to him.”

Obong’s eyes widened. She spoke, her first words since returning to the base, “We’re not going to recruit him, are we?”

Dia Mater’s eyes softened. “We won’t. He's currently in one of our holding cells, receiving treatment. He will be handed over to the SIRC once he recovers.”

“It wasn't his fault.”

Everyone turned to me.

It took me a minute to realize I’d spoken aloud. I waved my arms. “I mean, sure, he tried to kill us . . . but he seemed pretty devastated himself. The city let him down. He wasn’t at fault.”

“I think so too,” Dia Mater said. “Pro-now is looking into alternative ways we can help him. However, No Light’s unique condition means he isn’t suited to life at the Council. Forcing him to adapt will only end in disaster.” She glanced at the rest of the team. “I'm leaving now. Good job, once again, Pacesetters. Have a great night.”

Alewo exhaled as Dia Mater exited. “So, a collective day off,” he said. “Anybody got plans?”

“I’m not allowed to leave,” Ava replied with a shrug. “Feel free to plan your babies’ day out without me.” She rose to her feet. “I'm off to bed, yo. And I intend to sleep in for the next twenty-four hours. If you care for your girl, grab me a parfait or something when returning from the out-world.”

“That's one down,” Alewo said, not even blinking as Ava vacated the room. “What about you, Chetachi, err, Obong?”

Toye sneered. “Obong’s not going anywhere with you guys. She needs lots of bed rest.”

“She also needs you to stop speaking for her,” Alewo sniped. “A minute by your side is enough for three bed rests.”

“You fucking bastard.”

“Let her speak!”

Oh wow. Now, this was a nice change of pace. I crossed my legs, smirking at the scene. Toye had gotten the verbal advantage over Alewo in their last encounter, but it seemed the latter wasn't down for the count. He had more spunk than I gave him credit for.

Obong touched Toye's shoulder. “Stop it.” She glared at Alewo. “You guys keep doing this. You keep trying to divide us.”

“Oi,” I said. “Why am I included? I don't care about you two any way you look at it.”

Obong cast a furtive glance at me. She ducked her head and mumbled. “I don't mean that kind of division. I meant the team. We fought as one today. If we could just keep working together . . .” She inhaled, receding into her cardigan. “Never mind.”

“Don't waste your breath on them,” Toye said.

“Anyway, I have stuff lined up for tomorrow,” Obong continued. “I’m sorry.”

“Come on,” Toye said, urging her out of her seat. “Let's get you something to eat. How do ribs and homemade juice sound?”

Or sausage. Probably sausage. That was all he really had to offer.

“I guess it's just you and me left,” Alewo said.

“You heard Dia Mater. I need to make time for Ms. Catherine.”

“So just me then,” Alewo said. His shoulders deflated. “Darn. I didn't want to be alone. Guess I'll be at the workshop all day tomorrow. Might as well. The Habakkuk’s power board has been giving me some problems.”

“I’ll let you know if something changes, man.”

“Yeah, sure.” He slunk out of the room.

I grabbed the remote, settling in.

The explosion at Sagidi made the rounds on many news stations. One channel had an on-field reporter interviewing one of the residents.

“They came out of nowhere,” the resident—a woman in a blouse and head-tie—said. “Superheroes! It makes me feel safe, you know. Knowing that we have our own defenders here in Newtown.”

I paused the DVR and rewound the shot.

“. . . makes me feel safe, you know. Knowing that we have our own defenders here in New—”

I hit the rewind button and played it again.

“. . . makes me feel safe—”

I paused right as something streaked past a building in the background. The image was blurry, but I’d bet money to toothpicks that my eyes weren’t deceiving me.

A rat had been caught on camera. A rat as big as a dog. It had probably stayed hidden meters away from the location we worked.

My days as a superhero were one incessant circus.