Days in May were typically warm on the West Coast, but the nights were still chilly. Fortunately my costume shielded me from the worst of it. It was a simple affair, compared to what Ritters usually wore. A baggy, black jumpsuit covered my body and did a good job hiding my build. Knee and elbow pads protected my joints, and the plate carrier helped flatten out my overly curvy chest. Finally a smooth, grey mask covered my entire face, with just eyeholes cut out. My short, wavy hair was left exposed, but it was a good place to start.
Still didn't have armour for the carrier, but my taser was stored there and ready to go. My next big buy was definitely a baton, or at least something to give me more reach. I had a few zipties on my belt, alongside a variety of first-aid supplies in little pouches. I wasn't formally trained, but an online course gave me the basics. I could at least stop bystanders, and myself, from bleeding out.
“Car 26 to dispatch,” the police radio squawked in my ear. “3-18 on the corner of 104th Street and Digby. Request backup from Social.” I sighed. Another dud call.
Having 'acquired' my taser for free, I spent the cash I had on a handheld police scanner instead. It was now hooked to my belt with a wired earbud running up through my jumpsuit. Wireless would be better, but I didn't want to chance the emissions being picked up on.
Despite only sitting and listening to cops talk for the last hour, I felt energized and hopeful. Something was going to happen tonight. There was a feeling like electricity in the air that had all my hair standing on end. I was sure it would be tonight.
“10-10 in progress, 4th Street and Main.” A break and enter with no abhuman involvement. Not for me.
I rose and began pacing the width of the little alleyway crossroads I waited at. It was well out of sight of the main road, and away from residential buildings. That way I didn't get the cops called on me by mistake. That was part of why I was waiting for a call about other Empowered. They were the only fair game, til I was a Ritter anyway.
A loud 'bang' that sounded close interrupted my thoughts. I stiffened and waited for the call to come in over the scanner. As I did, I began walking to the mouth of the alley, the closest one to where the noise had come from.
“10-13 on South and 52nd Street, Ritters requested!” a call came frantically. “It's Blackout!” I grinned and took off running that way.
The streets of Samaris were never empty, but this early in the morning it was pretty close. One guy gasped as I sprinted past him, but I didn't hear him calling the cops on me so it was probably fine. A block away and I could hear the sounds of battle ahead. The piercing whine of lasers tore through the quiet night. A shuddering crash echoed up the road, and finally I rounded the corner to the fight.
I ducked back quickly as a scintillating white beam blasted past my head. My heart pounded like a jackhammer in my chest. Holy shit that was close! This time I activated my power before poking my head carefully out from behind the wall.
A dozen meters in front of me, there was a shifting cloud I couldn't really see through. I knew from my research that would be Mephisto. The windows of the building next to him were smashed, with flecks of still-glowing glass littering the street. A bank, a sign hanging off its brackets proclaimed.
Farther, though not much, I saw Bulwark's shield glowing in the dim streetlights. It shimmered, like oil on water, then flashed white as another beam flew out and struck the bricks of the bank. I ducked as shards blasted out from the impact. This was no joke, a real live Empowered fight. I had to keep my head down or--
No, I couldn't be a coward. I had powers of my own now. I could make a real difference! Tonight I'd prove to the Ritters that even though I was a Solo, I could and would work with them. That Solos could be real heroes too!
I had to get over to the heroes without being hit or seen. Both were easy with my power, in theory, but I'd nearly taken two shots already. I peeked out as another blast hit the road just inside the cloud and activated my power.
Then I ran.
I charged across the road and thanked any god listening when I wasn't hit by a stray laser. I kept running, heading towards the shield covering the heroes. As I did though, Bulwark began advancing towards Mephisto's cloud.
I paused. If they already had a plan, I didn't want to screw it up. It sucked but...well, I could always impress them in the future. I retreated into a gloomy alley and let my power fall away. I was a little disappointed I got here too late, but it was fine. I could get a first-hand example of how real heroes fought villains.
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Mephisto's cloud retreated into the bank as Bulwark pushed forward. I heard a sharp exchange between him and Fusillade, though I couldn't quite make it out. Something about a kettle... They were still hidden by the shield though, so I couldn't see either of them. Not that I really could have seen them well anyway from where I was hidden.
A loud clatter behind me made me jump and whirl about. A homeless guy stared at me a moment, then shrugged and kept rummaging through the dumpster he had climbed into. I let out a long sigh. I had to settle down. I wasn't even in the fight but my heart was racing like never before. God, I hoped--
“Bulwark!” I heard a frantic shout. My head snapped towards the cry and the sight made my heart sink.
Bulwark lay on the ground, face down, and Fusillade stood over him. He wasn't moving, and a spike of fear drove its way into my chest. Without thinking I ran across the road towards Bulwark and--
Fell flat on my ass as a laser beam struck my chest. I gasped for air, staring up at the ad-filled night sky. Fuck that hurt. I pushed myself up on my elbows and saw Fusillade. She stood over Bulwark, hand stretching towards me. Her face was locked in a grim scowl, behind her broad domino mask.
“Who the fuck are you?” she demanded, hand glowing as she charged another blast. I put my hands up as best I could, laying on the ground.
“Whoa, hang on!” I said, panicking a little. “I'm on your side, a hero like you!”
“Where's your partner?” Fusillade barked.
“No partners,” I replied quickly. “I'm a Solo.”
“And you want to help?” It sounded like she didn't believe me, but I nodded eagerly. Fusillade glanced back at Bulwark and let out a long sigh. “Fine. Bulwark's dead and I can't take out Mephisto on my own. Ten seconds, what can you do?”
“Bulwark's dead?” I hated how my voice trembled, like a kid's.
“Powers, now!”
“I can turn invisible,” I blurted, then winced. “Um, kinda. Like people can't see or touch me, I guess.”
“You guess?” I nodded and got a sigh in return. “Fine, whatever. Follow my lead.” Fusillade turned and fired a laser into the bank.
“Um.” I blinked away the afterimage it left. “I don't-- I mean, I can't really...help with that?”
“Then get in there and distract him,” she snapped and I nodded, running into the dark window.
I turned on my power and got out of the way as Fusillade fired a shot past my shoulder. Of course she couldn't see me now, so I had to be extra careful. I retreated to one side and simply observed the room for a while. The best part of my powers was I didn't have to rush if it wasn't vital.
I took my time surveying the lobby I had jumped into. It took a bit for my eyes to adjust, and the occasional shot from Fusillade didn't make it easier. I could see it was a mess though, with broken glass and tiles littering the floor. I didn't expect vandalism to be one of Mephisto's crimes but, well...
There, at the back of the room, my eye barely caught the edge of his shifting cloud as it was lit for a split second by a passing laser. I ducked behind a pillar and let my power go, breathing deeply. I was a nervous wreck, jittery and scared, but I knew I had to overcome that. I took another deep breath and stepped around the pillar.
I crept across the debris-covered floor. My power stopped people from noticing me, but they'd notice what happened around me. It took a while, and I nearly took another laser to the head, but I reached the edge of the shifting cloud at last.
I hesitated, remembering that going in there would make me see things. I didn't know what and-- no, there was no time to wait! Fusillade was counting on my dammit! I slapped the mask covering my face. Come on Tess, stop being a little bitch and just--
With another deep breath I plunged into the cloud. I slammed my eyes shut as I was blinded by an intense light. Squinting, I realized it was only as bright as a sunny day. Colours and shapes boiled around me in a chaotic, fractal whirlwind. Everything brightened for a second before returning to normal, or what counted for normal here.
I opened my eyes and slowly looked around as they adjusted. All I could see was a dizzying array of colours and shapes whirling around. I was practically blind, but that wasn't going to stop me being a hero. I slowly moved deeper, carefully placing one foot right in front of the other. I took another step, then jolted back as a teller counter loomed in front of me. As I jumped back, it vanished again. Curious, I took another step forward. Like before, the counter appeared from nowhere, inches in front of me.
That was...odd. Only part of it was visible., the ends hidden by the storm of light and colour. So I could see things in here, but only this close? I stepped to one side, and sure enough more of the counter appeared as the portion behind me vanished. I grinned and kept walking slowly, using the counter as a makeshift guide rail.
I felt a straining in my chest, like I needed to breathe, even though I was doing so just fine. Fuck, how long had I been invisible? I mentally added a watch to my buy list and kept walking along. I came to a gap in the counter and went through. Even with the landmark, I was now totally lost. I didn't know where Mephisto was, but now I knew I could find him.
I scanned the chaos of the cloud. There was nothing, no hint at where I could find the villains within. With no time to waste, I walked away from the counter and deeper into the cloud. It flashed again as I continued walking, stinging my eyes.
Holding my power was growing harder. Like an overworked muscle, or airless lungs, I could feel the burning desire to stop. I forced myself to ignore it, though not easily. I started walking quicker, trying to cover as much hidden ground as I could, letting out a huff. Fusillade needed me to find Mephisto or she--
My feet left the ground as a tremendous impact struck my chest. I crashed against the counter, wheezing as I tried to get my breath back. My power wasn't responding, and I could feel panic growing in my chest. The monster had found me and I didn't even realize it had been looking. I tried to catch my breath as a smooth, black surface with a red, cyclopean eye at its center loomed in front of me.
“Who the fuck are you?”