I stared at the baleful eye, barely able to breathe. It didn't blink, and its hideous red glow cast an eerie light on the few objects I could see. My head rocked to the side and my ears rang as a heavy slap cracked across my cheek.

“Talking to you dipshit,” the monster growled. “Who the fuck are you?”

“T- T- T-” I tried and failed to reply.

“T- t- t-” it mocked me. “Answer the fucking question.” I shut my eyes and forced myself to take a breath, even though it was agony.

“M- M- Mercurial.” I managed to stutter out the name I came up with an hour before I went out.

“Huhhh...” it mused, still staring with its unblinking eye. “Where's your other half, wannabe?” I felt a little pissed off at being dismissed so quickly and channelled that feeling.

“Just me,” I said. I was slowly catching my breath. My chest was killing me though. “ 'm a Solo.”

“Well shit,” it swore, sounding amused, or maybe annoyed. It was hard to tell with the deep growl of its voice. “And you wanted to team up with that broken bitch? You've gotta be the stupidest Solo I ever met.” It laughed cruelly, then paused. “You're new?” I gulped and nodded, despite myself. “Some friendly advice then: keep away from the Ritters, and keep away from me.”

“Wait!” I exclaimed, coughing at the pain it caused me. “Who-- what are you? Why are you doing this?” It stared back, momentarily impassive.

“Why?” it asked, then cackled. “Fuck you, that's why. Fuck you, fuck the Ritters, fuck cops. Now fuck off !” It loomed close, too close, then froze for half a second before vanishing into the cloud.

Holy shit that was close! Wait, I hadn't managed to even swing a blow. Dammit. I was probably the only person who'd seen Blackout's monster half and survived. Normally it would be cool seeing something no one else had, but I just felt terrified.

I pushed myself up on shaky legs and took a pained step forward. Then another. I knew I was trembling, but forced myself to ignore it. I couldn't catch my breath, but had no time to worry. Even with the monster lurking, I had to find Mephisto so Fusillade could take him down.

The cloud flashed around me as I slowly walked forward. I wasn't sure that I was going the right way, but didn't have much choice besides going in straight lines. At least, not if I wanted to avoid getting lost. The cloud lightened again, and again, each time brighter than the last. I ignored it and forced myself on.

A wall of black loomed in and I nearly fell as I stumbled back. I hesitated, but with a deep breath I shuffled forward until it appeared again. The cloud brightened, revealing the wall was just the back of a cloak and--

“Fuckin' busted dumbass,” the monster's voice muttered. “Take a hint and go home with your throat intact.” I shivered. It sounded like it was planning a murder. I took a step back and almost slipped as a tile broke underfoot.

A sudden blow struck my stomach and instantly doubled me over. I retched and fell to my knees, power slipping away. The monster loomed large again, human in shape but that was all. I gasped for breath as its face drew nearer, the eyes filling my field of view.

“Stupid move, kid,” it growled. “Real stupid. Now you die.” My eyes widened as it drew back an arm into the storm of light and colour.

Oh fuck I was going to die.

Ignoring the way my diaphragm cramped and seized, I took the deepest breath I could and forced my power on. My chest throbbed, but I didn't let that stop me. Just as the monster began to pull back, I gripped my taser, nearly tore it from my belt, and jammed the tip home in the monster's side. My power dropped as I gasped for air and hammered the button.

It fell to the ground with a shriek of pain, convulsing as I jabbed it again in the chest and held the device in place. The rapid 'tick-tick-tick' of the taser barely cut through the monster's cries. I'd show it a fucking kid . I gave the button a final squeeze, making the monster twitch once more, then pulled it away.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I rose, panting heavily, and fumbled to clip the taser to my belt. Holt shit, I had done it! A childish giggle escaped my lips, but I couldn't help it. My first night in and I'd taken down a villain no one had even seen! Sure I was hurting all over, but what a debut! Once Fusillade took down Mephisto we could--

“Holy shit.” My head whipped towards the noise and I saw Fusillade on the other side of the counter, hands on her hips. Wait, why could I-- “You managed to take out Mephisto alone?!” I glanced down at the body, Mephisto's apparently, and sighed.

“Sorry,” I said with a shrug. “I thought he was the monster. I guess I missed him?”

“Monster?” she scoffed. “Nah, this shitbag is a Solo. Word came in a couple weeks back, it's why we were after him.”

“Oh,” I replied numbly. “Okay. Um. Sorry.” She hopped over the counter and strode towards me. I could barely make out the small frown on her face as she approached.

Fusillade paused over Mephisto, and I thought I saw her eyes narrow. Boot met mask with the visceral crunch of tempered glass. I stared as she rolled him over and pressed her fingers to his neck. He was wearing armour, I could see, or at least the melted remains of some. And he had a gun. That sent a shiver down my spine.

She rolled him onto his face and pressed her knee down between his shoulders. Fusillade took a chunky looking pair of handcuffs from her belt and twisted Mephisto's arms into place. They slid around his wrists with a loud click and she rose, brushing her hands together. Finally, she turned to me.

“Well,” Fusillade said flatly. “Uh, good work I guess. Not many people take down a villain their first night out, let alone somebody like him. You got a name?”

“M- Mercurial,” I replied, cringing a little at the stutter.

“Ehh, too many syllables.”

“What about Fusillade?”

“I didn't pick it.”

“Oh.” I blinked. “So...now what?”

“Now...” Fusillade paused, staring at the shattered tiles of the floor. My eyes flicked over her as she thought. Her costume was way better than mine, with actual armour and stuff. Although, I wasn't sure that red was her colour. “We have a couple options,” she said, pulling my attention back to the conversation. “One: you come with me down to the Ritter HQ where we fill out a ton of paperwork for a few hours and then get yelled at, probably.”

“Uh, and option B?”

“Leave the bullshit to me,” she shrugged. “And you were never here tonight, officially at least.”

“Wait hold on!” I winced as I took a step forward. “I took Mephisto down myself!”

“You did,” Fusillade agreed, then cocked her head. “After me and Bulwark whittled him down, a fight in which Bulwark died .” I shrank back and she sighed. “Look, I'm sorry. It hasn't been a good night. Just...okay, fuck, hold on.”

She turned around and fumbled with her pouches. I looked down at Mephisto again. He was smaller than I expected, though that didn't mean much coming from me. The eye flickered and glitched, apparently just a screen behind now cracked glass. He wasn't moving, beyond the slightest hint that he was actually breathing. He looked bad though, and I could see something shimmering on his costume. Blood?

“Okay here,” Fusillade interrupted my staring and held a scrap of paper out to me. I took it and looked at it, but couldn't see what it said in the dark. “My number. I'll handle the bullshit and I'll owe you one. Maybe show you how to fight or something, I dunno. That's up to you. Cool?”

“Uh.” A superhero just gave me her number. “Yeah. Cool. Rad even.”

“Great, now screw off before the rest of the Ritters get here.”

I nodded and slowly limped away, heading out the front door. I glanced back and briefly wondered why I didn't use the window, but shook my head. Had to get away. It was pretty slow going, between trying to stay out of sight and the agony that even just walking caused. It took an awful ten minutes to get to the alley I'd hidden my stuff in.

I changed as quickly as I could in the dark alley. I didn't want to spend a minute more around here at this time of night. A girl like me was exactly what creeps went after, though I at least had a bit of a bite to me. If any of those sickos wanted to try something, well, I was happy to learn the duty cycle of a taser the hard way.

I shook my head and looked up, smiling at the moon just peeking past a NGLM drone swarm. I began walking after I packed my things, breathing a bit easier. Tonight had been good, all things considered. Yeah, I got hit really hard, but I got back up! I fought a real villain, with real powers, and I beat him . I skipped and stumbled as a sharp pain lanced through my side. Okay, none of that.

It wasn't too far to my house at least, relatively at least. Twelve blocks and a couple wrong turns later, I turned on my power and crept up the steps to my house. I pressed my thumb to the lock, that somehow still recognized me, and the door slid open quietly.

I tiptoed upstairs through the dark halls of my home. It was rare that Mom and Dad were up this late, but it wasn't impossible. Fortunately it seemed they weren't this time, and I relaxed my power. I pushed open the door to my room, then locked it behind me. I dropped my bag and practically fell into bed, yawning. I was exhausted, in pain, and entirely overwhelmed. My eyelids began drooping, and I knew I'd be waking up in my clothes, feeling like shit. That was okay.

It was worth it for the best night of my life.