It's not often that heroes actively hunt villains. They usually resort to this because of a personal vendetta, like a deceased loved one or a fallen friend. Older established heroes look down on those hotheaded punks, for a hero's job is to protect the innocent, not punish evildoers. That just comes as a bonus, not the main reason to be a hero in the first place.

Tonight, on one of the rooftops in New Arden, a hero patrols the town. He sits on the roof's edge, gazing upon the city's night lights. Next to him is a small paper bag filled with discarded plastic wrappers. His white mask rests on his neck as he drinks from a soda cup. Suddenly, his comms ring, revealing another hero contacting him.

"Where are you," the voice asked irritatedly.

"Uptown, why?"

"Someone's taken your father's car for a joyride."

The hero gulps. He puts down the cup and stands up, scanning the city streets. He knows what the car looks like, black, spiky, and loud. Yet its appearance blends in well with the asphalt. If he can't see it, he'll hear it.

VROOOOOM!!!

"That engine..." He looks at one of the roads. Racing through the streets of New Arden, the Cavalry roars throughout the night. Its engine hasn't been heard in this city for some time, but tonight, a couple of heroes have seized its reigns. The driver at least knows what they're doing, narrowly avoiding other cars.

"You know who took it?" the hero questions.

"First years."

"Does Winter know?"

"No."

"Then let's keep it to ourselves Focal Point. I'll deal with this."

"Sure. You'll be blamed for it anyways, Streetwise."

On one corner of the road, the Calavry comes to a screeching halt. White Mask puts the car into park as the three students exit the vehicle.

"This is where Nocturne was last seen, the marketplace."

During the evening, the town square of New Arden transforms into a bustling night market. Local vendors sell their harvests and merchandise to townsfolk still awake. It started as an aftermarket special, where instead of letting unsold products be thrown away, they are sold at heavily discounted prices. This became the normal shopping norm in the town, making the city one that never sleeps.

Hundreds of people roam the market, with several hundred tents scattered amongst the square. Loud music and crowd chatter can be heard throughout the square, with the shops presenting a great deal of variety. From food, clothes, toys, merchandise, electronics, and many more. It's good to assume if one needs something, they can find it in the market's square.

"So uh, how do we do this, Sir?" Sure-Shot wonder, "with hundreds of people here, he could easily blend in. Just ditch the disguise or something."

"Glimpse," White Mask instructs, "Go to one of the rooftops and start scanning. We're looking for someone with a demon mask, so keep an eye out."

"H-how do I get up?" she timidly asks.

"What?"

"T-to the rooftop, h-how do I climb up?"

"Don't you have a gadget for that?"

"N-no. It's my first time doing fieldwork."

White Mask rubs his newly exposed temples.

"Fine, you can stay here with us, and let's just ask around."

The three start rummaging through the crowds, asking random civilians if they have seen "A man with a demon mask." None of them seem to know what they're talking about, and only comment about the state of the market. Switching strategies, they ask local shopkeepers. While the ones who sell toys, and the ones who sell food bear no fruit, an interesting answer erupts from one who sells electronics...

"A man with a demon mask ey?" the elderly man with dark brown skin repeats, "well I did see him but he wasn't wearing his mask. It was resting on his belt with a couple of doohickeys."

White Mask raises an eyebrow, "Did he buy anything odd?"

"Oh, nothing odd at all, just a used mobile phone, an Avalon sim card, and a broken nullifier."

"A what?" Sure-Shot wonders,

"Not now," White Mask draws his attention elsewhere, "what did this man look like?"

"He was a tall fella with short black hair. Like a military cut. Built like a military man too."

"And did you see where he went after?"

"I think he went that way," he points west.

"Thanks," White Mask smiles. He gives the old man five dollars for his time.

"Now can you tell me what a nullifier is?" Sure-Shot annoyingly asks.

"It's-"

A man with light brown skin taps White Mask's shoulder. He turns his attention to him.

"Yeah?"

"Is that your car?" the man asks. Pointing to the direction of the Cavalry.

"Uhuh. Why?"

"I think someone just stole your tires."

White Mask's eyes widen in shock, as he rushes through the crowds. The other two hurriedly follow him. Lo and behold, the Cavalry, Noir-Knight's prized car, has just had all four of its tires stolen. The dark horse has lost its legs.

"FUCK!!!" White Mask screams in fury. The on-lookers pay no mind to it. For they know never to leave an expensive car all alone. Now they just whisper about the driver's negligence.

"Maybe one of us should've stayed with the car," Sure-Shot mentions.

"You think?!?! SHIT!!!"

"Can you tell me what the nullifier is now?"

White Mask fakes a punch towards Sure-Shot. The latter cowers in fear.

"M-maybe we should call J.U.L.I.A.? She would know what to do," Glimpse brings up.

"Honk Shoo. Honk Shoo. Honk Shoo."

J.U.L.I.A. is currently sleeping. Her limbs spread everywhere across her queen-sized bed. The only thing White Mask hears through the call is her loud snoring.

"ASS!!!" he screams even more frustrated. He sits on one of the benches as he lowers his head.

"Without those tires, we can't go back to the island..." he starts whispering to himself.

"And the longer we stay here, the more likely those stupid teachers will find out what we did..." he whimpers.

A loud high-pitched sound starts ringing in White Mask's ears.

"It's over... It's so over... It's never been more over..."

"I-is he going to be okay?" Glimpse worriedly asks.

"I think he's having a breakdown," Sure-Shot comments.

Glimpse sits next to White Mask and starts massaging his back.

"I-it's going to be fine," she says reassuringly, "we just need to find the tires and then find Nocturne r-right?"

"Right..."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Then let's start small, with the tires. They m-might have left some crumbs we could follow."

White Mask nods, "Yeah. Night's still young. Could you check to see?"

"Of course," Glimpse smiles. She takes a look around the car to see if the thieves left something behind. Unfortunately, there were no traces of theft left behind.

"It wasn't their first time pulling this off," White Mask notes, "we're looking for experienced tire jackers. Fast and skilled ones."

"Over there!" Sure-Shot notices a group of people with ski masks and tire irons. They don't seem to be carrying tires on them, but being this close to the scene of the crime...

"Aerondight, after them!" White Mask screams, sprinting at the masked menaces. Glimpse and Sure-Shot trail behind as the three novice heroes chase after these supposed thieves.

These thieves are good, ducking through alleyways and busy roads to try and lose their pursuers. They even pass oncoming traffic trying to get away. But this is light work for these student heroes. Thanks in part to their training. They not only make it past any obstacle in their way, but they're slowly gaining on these fiends. After minutes of running, these hooded hoodlums have unfortunately found themselves at an alleyway's end, with nowhere left to run.

"Nowhere left to run, punks," White Mask shouts while catching his breath.

"Damn boss, these guys are fast," Punk 1 says, "what do we do?"

"Beat 'em black and blue!" the supposed leader shouts.

Punk 72 charges at White Mask, hitting him dead center with a tire iron. He gets slammed to the wall and becomes dazed.

"Here's the thing kid, once I start moving, I can't stop!!!" Punk 3 shouts.

"You'd be fun at an orgy," White Mask laughs. He gets grabbed by the leg and kisses the road goodnight.

"Get them!" Punk 4x+1 screams. Their hand becomes a large green sword and starts slashing at Glimpse. She narrowly dodges the strikes, but Punk 4X+1 catches her off guard and nicks her arm. Her legs start shaking out of nowhere.

"Anxiety blade, pretty nifty huh?" Punk 4x+1 smiles.

Punk 9x^3 + 18x^2 + 56x + 184 starts spinning, really, REALLY fast. Like a human tornado. He makes his way to Sure-Shot, blitzing at full speed, but he just smiles and prepares his father's classic pistol.

"Eat lead Bastard!"

The gun jams.

Punk 9x^3 + 18x^2 + 56x + 184 hits Sure-Shot hard, sending him flying to a garbage can. He lands inside and the lid closes, locking him inside.

"Why were we so worried?" Boss Punk laughs, "these guys aren't even real heroes!"

"I bet we can sell the cute one's kidneys!" Punk Obb says.

"The girl?"

"No, the blonde!" Punk Obb points to White Mask, who is knocked out cold.

"Great idea Punk Obb!" Boss punk smiles, "And I think I know just the guy..."

A couple of the goons tie White Mask up and stuff him inside their White Van.

Undisclosed Warehouse. New Arden. In the Middle of the Night.

There was a cold, dark open room where a single light bulb dangled from the ceiling. In the middle was a boy, no older than a young adult. His skin was white, and his body was toned. His arms and legs were bound to a chair. His gear was stripped from him, only leaving his base suit and his mask.

Two goons monitored his condition. The boy was barely conscious the whole time; his eyes filled with dread, his mouth had been shut, and now, he could only listen. One of the goons began to speak.

"Okay Fuck, Marry, and Kill. Streetwise, Glance, and Calcite, " His voice was deep yet soft and smooth.

"Oooooo, that's tough," another goon answered. His voice was low and gravelly, "I gotta say kill Calcite, fuck Glance, and marry Streetwise."

"Seriously?" The first goon questioned, "I would've killed Streetwise right off the bat."

"But he's kinda cute tho? Like my favorite look of him is the one with his hair exposed. Besides he's like super funny, and I don't know man Glance is a giant dick, both ways."

"Glance is the son of a Superhero dynasty! His whole family has generational wealth going back to the Boston Tea Party! You'd be stupid not to marry him!"

The boy struggled, he can't bear to hear anymore of this conversation. He realizes they've used duct tape for his mouth, and he knows a secret technique to remove it. He starts salivating like there's no tomorrow. Licking his way through the tape as if it were a lollipop. He pressed his tongue right on it, swaying left and right until the adhesive would come...

...off.

"Bleh!" White Mask coughed, spitting the tape off his mouth.

"I told you we should've used more tape!" Goon 1 shouts.

"And I told you it wouldn't help since it's only covering the tape!" Goon -1 retorts.

"SHUT UP!!! BOTH OF YOU!!!" White Mask said calmly. The two Gooners stopped arguing and looked at the impatient hero.

"Where the hell am I?"

"Undisclosed Warehouse, New Arden. Didn't you read the scene transition?" Goon -1 mentions.

"HUH?!?!" White Mask exclaims, "nevermind. What happened to the others?"

"Your friends?" Goon 1 mentions, "They were left there. The soldier-looking one was left in the can and probably was pissed on by Punk x+3. And the girl just stumbled around."

"Heard she was stabbed by Punk 4x+1, so she's probably dead."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to be stabbed by that guy," Goon 1 blushes, "by any of his swords."

"She's... dead?" White Mask brokenly asks.

"Most likely, but don't worry, she probably died in pain." Goon -1 comments.

"So much pain," Goon 1 acknowledges.

"You... bastards. I won't let you get away with this..." White Mask says through gritted teeth.

"Chin up kid," Goon -1 leans closer, "the buyer's here. Hope your blood type is A+ or O."

White Mask uses all the anger in his body and headbutts Goon -1, breaking his nose.

"You Goddamn Wanker!"

"Sorry, what did you say?" White Mask smiles, "Hope my what?"

Goon -1 stands up and grabs White Mask by the collar, "YOU BETTER HOPE YOUR ASSHOLE IS TIGHT MOTHERFU-"

White Mask uses the sharper end of his new mask and stabs Goon -1 in the eye.

"AHHHH PISS!!!!"

"Holy shit!" Goon 1 inspects closer, I think he stabbed you in the eye!"

"You think?!?!" Goon-1 shouts.

"Hey Cumheads," Punk 4454 opens the warehouse door, "Ass up, the buyer's here. We need everyone outside."

"Stay put!" Goon -1 remarks, "when I come back, I'm gonna rip your fingers before I steal your kidneys."

"Sorry, what?" White Mask smirks.

"I said-"

"No Goon-1, it's not worth it man. It's not worth it."

The two goons go outside.

White Mask starts struggling. Using all his strength to break free from his bonds. But doubt starts creeping into his head.

"Maybe those goons were right, could Glimpse really be?"

"No of course not, this isn't that type of story."

"The hero always saves the day... right?"

"They always come and save the day. A hero..."

He slumps down.

"Maybe... I was never meant to be..."

"A hero..."

The big door of the warehouse opens up, and a lone figure starts running towards White Mask. All he can see is the silhouette... of the demon. He tries to struggle, he tries to break free... but his strength fails him. And it's too late, for the figure is right in front of him...

... and hugs him.

His vision finally clears. He wasn't seeing a demon, it was an angel.

"G-glimpse?"

Right in front of White Mask, was Glimpse. She looked to be fine, yet now had a bandage wrapped around her arm.

"White Mask, you're okay," she says through tears.

"Yeah," he smiles, "of course I am."

From the door emerges Sure-Shot, who looks to be mildly annoyed.

"This is bullshit," he whispers. He whips out a flask and takes a large chug.

Glimpse unties White Mask as he recovers all his gear. He and Glimpse walk toward Sure-Shot, who wipes his mouth.

"What's wrong?" White Mask asked.

Sure-Shot points outside, and shows White Mask the bodies of many punks and goons. All of them were knocked out and tied together. Next to them is something White Mask never thought he'd see again.

"The Cavalry?" He says smiling, "you guys got all the tires back! Hell yeah!"

Glimpse and Sure-Shot look away from White Mask. Actively avoiding his gaze. Suddenly, White Mask feels a presence. A person radiating with overwhelming power. And that presence now stands behind him. He can feel the glare without even looking. He turns and sees, Streetwise. Even if his mask covers his entire face, White Mask can feel him actively glaring at him.

"Streetwise!" White Mask takes a step back, "thank God you got here in time! We were just in the area and-"

"Save it," Streetwise says seriously, "I don't wanna hear your excuses."

White Mask backs down. He's never seen Streetwise this pissed off.

"What were you thinking? Going against curfew? Breaking into the Castle? Stealing the Cavalry? What do you have to say for yourselves?!"

Glimpse steps forward, "W-we did all this to save lives. We heard Nocturne was back and-"

"AND YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD STOP HIM?" Streetwise shouts, causing Glimpse to step back, "EVEN IF IT WAS A FAKE NOCTURNE, YOU ALL WENT IN RECKLESS AND BLIND!!!"

"You're no better than Firefighters rushing into a fire naked! Hopelessly unprepared!"

Streetwise turns to White Mask, "I expected better from you. The one ACBHI of the class, and you fucked up. You know something like this could get you kicked out right? The legacy of the powerless rests in your hands, and you go ahead and do something like this?"

He then turns to Sure-Shot, "And what would Daddy Devil-Dog think of your little crusade? Sure he has no problem killing villains, that demented old fuck, but do you think he'd like to hear about how his one and only son got kicked out? "

Sure-Shot just rolls his eyes.

"And you, Ms. Little Perfect Angel Glimpse. I heard you've been rejected by both Lionheart and Olympus. Did it ever occur to you that this is your last chance to graduate as a hero? Your grades have been steadily declining, and instead of studying, you go out and do this? What would Glance think?"

Glimpse runs up and hugs Streetwise tightly,

"P-please don't tell him Sr. Streetwise!" she cries in his arms, "I-I-I don't wanna be expelled! I just thought we could help these people!"

"It's all my fault," White Mask steps forward, "blame me for everything, I was the one who told them about the report. If anyone is getting kicked out, it's me."

"Just kick me out too," Sure-Shot says defeated, "I don't care anymore."

Streetwise sighs, patting Glimpse on the back, "Geez, when did I get so old?"

He hands Glimpse a handkerchief so she can wipe her tears.

"Look, drama queens. I would report this to Ms. Winter if you came up empty-handed, but you all managed to do me a really big favor."

From the corner, Streetwise pulls out one of the punks from earlier. Specifically Boss Punk.

"This is Francis Julius Margaretti, aka Datamine, leader of the steam punks. One of the four capos who works under the Baron. Thanks to your little distraction, I was able to round up this big guy and most members of his gang."

"S-so we're not expelled?" Glimpse wipes away her tears.

"No. In fact, maybe the opposite."

"Meaning?" White Mask smiles.

"Meaning, this might not be the last night you three go out on patrol."

"Yes!" White Mask screams, as he goes over and hugs Glimpse tightly. She laughs, hugging him back. Sure-Shot just nods approvingly.

"Come on, sun's almost up, we have to head back to the Island."

Streetwise grabs something from his belt, a pair of keys, and with one push of the button, the Cavalry drives towards them.

"How did you get the tires back?" White Mask asks.

"Easy, I stole them," Streetwise smiles, lifting his mask to reveal his medium-long black hair, light brown skin, and space-black eyes.

"You're the guy who tapped me!" White Mask scoffs, "how could I be so dumb?"

"I got a question too Streetwise," Sure-Shot raises his hand.

"Yes, Sure-Shot?"

"What's a nullifier?"

Streetwise just laughs, as the rest of them hop into the Cavalry. Sure-Shot calls shotgun yet again, leaving Glimpse and White Mask to sit in the back. Glimpse leans her head on White Mask, yawning and rubbing her eyes.

"What a night," he says.

"T-tell me about it," she laughs.

"Did you at least have fun?" he looks at her.

"Yes." Glimpse smiles, "I did."

As the sun sets on a new day, three student heroes, nay, three superheroes return home, with a newfound mentor, and one hell of a Friday night.