"What the actual fuck?" I couldn't help but curse out loud as I watched the news, not an activity I normally did but was practically forced to by the three panicking members of my peerage.

I was expecting a story about something happening nearby or a major event from the way they were acting. Even potentially something about my last run in with the Protectorate.

I was not expecting to see footage of Wonder Woman getting in a free-for-all fight between her, Kratos of all people, and the Three Blasphemies in Barcelona. And that was only the current story being covered. From what my three pawns ended up telling me, similar events were happening all over the world, such as a blonde haired man that could stretch his entire body like rubber or a woman in South Africa that could control the weather. Powerful beings were popping up everywhere and all at once.

I guess the other contestants were starting to go out and get noticed. Especially because the news had labeled the increased amount of activity and new faces as a Parahuman wave.

"Yeah, that's what we said." Clover huffed as she threw herself onto one of my couches. "Tons of crazy powerful capes coming out of nowhere."

"You don't think they're, you know, like us do you?" Alex asked and it took me a second to realize what she meant.

She was asking if there were more capes like me, people capable of handing out powers. And she was technically right, if you considered the role the 'gods' hosting the game played. Not that I could tell her that.

"I don't think they are like you three, or that there's someone like me handing out powers." I said instead. "The capes showing up are too powerful and too different for that. No, you probably just have something that caused a bunch of new people to get powers all at once. Maybe something in the water." I was skirting real close to what the geas was allowing me to say.

"They already checked. Nothing that even some of the PRT's best tinkers or thinkers could spot." Sam mentioned from her own seat.

I had to admit, it was a little weird realizing that there were four devils sitting in my living room casually discussing professional news channels and people with superpowers at the same time. It was even weirder that I had to remind myself this was my new normal.

It wasn't bad though.

"Well, while this is fun and all, we've got better things to do than watch this stuff." Clover said after a highlight of yet another cape ended. I think that one was a biotic with Mass Effect tech?

"We do?" I asked because as far as I knew, this might as well have been the rest of my day.

"Yeah we do. You for one need more clothes. I think I've only ever seen you wear, like, the same five outfits unless you try making something with your power." the blonde said, and pointed a finger at me before I could say anything back. "And no, you can't just keep making things with your power. They are hella basic. You need something with style, girl!"

"She really does, doesn't she…" Alex said in realization.

"Alright so, mall trip then?" Sam added her two cents.

"As long as you don't try getting me to buy the entire store. I'm not exactly raking in money." I agreed while setting some limits. I had finally gotten around to checking the ATM card I found in my wallet when I was first dumped here and was pleasantly surprised to find a couple thousand dollars in the account. Not enough to live off of for long, but it would have covered a few months of rent and utilities if I needed to actually get an apartment and job or something.

"""We'll be good.""" three voices echoed back at me.

I didn't believe any one of them for a second.

-o-

"I said I didn't want to buy the entire store!" I complained as one of the girls shoved another outfit for me to try on into my arms where it joined the small mountain of things to try on.

"But this is perfect for you!" Clover, at least I think it was Clover, said while a few more shirts were added to the pile. Taking advantage of a small break between clothes being added I snagged the first shirt I could and snorted at their choice. A black T-shirt that had a cartoonish angel with devil horns on the front.

"You don't think that's a little too on the nose?"

"Oh come on, it's cute! We're all getting one." And sure enough, each of the girls held up a shirt or jacket with some combination of cartoon devil iconography.

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

"If you say so." And I thought I was playing fast and loose with letting people know about my secret identity. These three hadn't even made an appearance and they were letting their allegiances show. Though I couldn't say the implied show of support wasn't touching. "If you guys want to wave the flag, I'm not gonna stop you."

"Speaking of showing flags, check out over there." Alex said, pointing out of the shop's windows.

Outside, surrounded by a fairly large group of fans, were Miss Militia and Triumph of the Protectorate along with Clockblocker, Aegis, and Shadow Stalker from the Wards. I guess the PRT was doing public appearances to offset the 'Parahuman Wave' the news was talking about.

I had to give their PR department credit. Whoever chose the lineup certainly did a good job. The five heroes did a good job of looking colorful and professional without looking stiff, though Shadow Stalker gave off a vibe that she resented being here at all.

"They're not the only ones, or at least they weren't until now." Sam added, pointing at another group. Victoria Dallon was handling her own small swarm of fans while a pair of boys and another girl fidgeted awkwardly off to the side. Though from the look of it the group was starting to shift to the second girl who was definitely not enjoying the attention. Was that Panacea? Small mousy brunette with freckles?

"Looks like a double date that got interrupted. The trials of being famous." I commented.

"Should we go help them out? They look like they're getting pushy."

I thought about it for a bit. After the last time with Dauntless I was practically waiting for the PRT to retaliate in some way, even just a 'we're watching you' kinda way. But when nothing happened I figured they were waiting to make whatever statement they were going to pull more impactful. I didn't think that they were going to have five heroes get on my case in the middle of the mall for helping redirect attention away from the incredibly stressed, increasingly unstable, secret biokinetic.

"Sure, we can help out."

We paid for our things, I discreetly ditched the tube top Clover had tried convincing me to buy, and the four of us made our way through the crowd until we pressed ourselves between the increasingly aggressive fans and the four teenagers.

"Hi, Vicky! Sorry we're late, the lines took way longer than we were expecting." As the most naturally extroverted of us, our own resident blonde had no issue throwing an arm over Vicky's shoulder and turning her so she was between Vicky and the crowd. The rest of us filtered in so we formed an almost natural wall. It was surprisingly effective since most of the crowd seemed suddenly reluctant to push past people that at least seemed to know the hero personally.

"Clover, hi! No worries, we were just about to grab something to eat. Did you guys want to join us? Also hi Rias, I don't think you've met my boyfriend Dean yet and this is my sister Amy and Josh, he's a friend." Vicky motormouthed in a manner that told me this wasn't the first time my girls had run interference like this, though the mild glare told me she'd rather I wasn't here.

"Hi Vicky." I replied much more calmly. "Nice to meet you three. You mind if we join?" I asked the rest of the group.

"...no, not at all." Dean, aka Gallant, said eventually. Obviously not comfortable with the idea of spending time with the 'villain' he fought against a little bit ago but had no way of refusing without subjecting them all back to the mercies of Glory Girl and Panacea's fans.

Amy grunted non-committedly, but Josh took the opportunity to separate himself from the group.

"Y-yeah, uh, sorry guys. I think I'm just gonna head out." The poor kid was sweating. "Thanks for the date, Amy, uh…I'll see you in school?"

Amy sighed. "Sure. See you…and he's gone."

"Sorry for interrupting." Alex apologized quietly as Josh vanished into the crowds. "If we knew we'd ruin your date we'd have just let you slip away."

"It's fine."

While that was playing out Sam and Clover had started shepherding us away from the public and soon we were all following Vicky into a restaurant where we were quickly whisked away into a booth.

"Well that was fun." Vicky sighed as she laid her head down on the table. "If I knew the PRT was doing an event I'd have suggested the movies instead. Hey, where's Josh?"

"Skipped out once we weren't getting mobbed." Amy replied bluntly, getting a wince from her sister.

"Ah, sorry Ames. I thought someone more quiet would be more your speed, but I guess the crowds scared him off."

I was tempted to say any guy wasn't Amy's speed for that kind of thing but held my tongue. No need to open that can of worms right now.

"So, Alex already said it, but sorry for inviting ourselves along." I changed the topic instead. "We can head out once the last of the stalkers clears out if you want."

"No, no. It's cool. Besides Amy and I wanted to check up on Sam anyway. See how she was doing after…well, you know."

"What happened to Sam?" Dean asked, looking between my first pawn and his girlfriend. I was surprised. Had she really not told him about our run in with Dr. Wily? Or maybe she had but had left out the end or just kept the names hidden.

"Sam got caught in the crossfire between some villains," She glanced briefly in my direction, not that anyone else caught it. "I kept meaning to ask Ames to check in on her even if she seemed okay. Gotta look out for Crissy's friends too, ya'know? But something always came up and I'd forget about it." The teen heroine turned to her sister. "So what do you think, Ames? Mind giving her a checkup?"

"Fine. But you're paying for lunch then." Amy held out an expectant hand. Sam hesitated and shot a look at Dean but only for a second and placed her own hand on Amy's waiting one.

"Huh, that's…" I tensed a bit as Amy's eyes unfocused, but barely a second later she was pulling her hand back. "Nothing wrong that I can tell. In fact you almost seem like a perfectly normal human. Weird…" So she couldn't tell Sam was a devil with her powers? I'm sure Vicky would have told her sister. In fact I was sure all of New Wave knew about Sam's reincarnation even if I wasn't so sure about Alex and Clover's.

"But I'm all good?"

"Yeah, you're fine. Can't do anything about the soulless ginger part though."

That got a chuckle out of the four devils at the table, a scowl from Vicky, and a disapproving look from Dean.

"Are you ready to order?" A waiter interrupted before anything else could be said. We put in what we wanted and thankfully the conversation moved towards more innocent topics. At least until Dean started trying to subtly interrogate me.

"So, I know those three through Vicky." He indicated my three pawns. "But I never heard much about you until recently. How did you all meet up?"

I raised an eyebrow at him as I finished another bite of my disappointingly mediocre cheeseburger. "Well, officially they wanted to know if my hair color was natural and we got to talking after that. They didn't want me to take the bus home with all the shopping I had done so they kidnapped me and invaded my house. Then it turns out they liked my food and I haven't been able to get rid of them since."

I got various styles of 'liar!' out of my pawns and while Dean chuckled it sounded forced. "And the unofficial version?"

"I inducted them into my satanic cult and am preparing them to help me take over the city." I said in a perfect deadpan causing the heroes to choke, and took another bite out of my burger.

"Oh please, you didn't induct us into anything. You would hardly leave your house for anything except food if we didn't drag you along." Sam interjected. "If anything you joined us."

Before I could reply to that egregious lie there was an explosion outside and the mall's intercom screeched with feedback. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologize for interrupting your afternoon, but it has been decided there are many components located here crucial for the further development of the Wily Empire. Cooperation is not demanded but is preferred. Those who do not wish to stand in the way of our glorious task should quickly move to the south entrance of the mall where you will be free to leave at any time." A clearly robotic voice twanged over the system. "And for the misguided idiots that prefer to stand against us…well, try not to disappoint me."

The intercom shut off with another hiss of feedback.

Everyone at the table shared a look, unsure of what exactly to do, until someone else in the restaurant knocked a cup over. The shattering glass triggered a mass panic as everyone tried rushing for the doors. And the rest of us were suddenly left wondering what to do.