Soup and Conversation

“Three places to never eat, if you’re a superhero. One, the fancy new restaurant that just opened that everyone is raving about. It will be robbed. Two, any restaurant with a lovely view of the city, something will explode in your line of sight. Three, your significant other's favorite restaurant on an anniversary or birthday. I mean, you can try but you’re never going to get there.”

Truism of Cape Life

"So, there I was, in a Japanese airport with destroyed luggage, and pink pants, and a reporter asked me if I was making a statement about gender politics!" The Empire Statesman, Gabriel Wright, laughed. "What else could I say, but 'of course a real man is comfortable in pink!"

“Well, if it’s good enough for Roosevelt, it should be manly enough.” Solaris said. Waiving a server over with more wine. “Though from what I’ve seen airports are a new circle of hell.”

“She flew first class commercial once and you think they had served her kool aid and animal crackers.” Penny teased.

That would have been better than that “pasta” they served. It was a sin against Italians.”

"I'd offer to get you a nice flight on Japan Airlines, but even our first class doesn't beat out private jets." Michiru Hakimari, aka Kitsune, chuckled. She'd enjoyed her own securities report on the fool whom Marcus and the robotic tanuki had apparently taken down. Almost as much as she’d enjoyed listening to the prank meant to spoil Empire Statesman’s attempt to represent GM automobiles positively in Japan.

She'd defied expectations and arrived in her real identity, just to go against type, and it turned out to be a fantastic idea.

"So, Lady Summers, I was curious about the rumor in the community that you're putting together your own Cape team. They've even been running about a bit, the Griffins, or something to that effect?" Ariel Wright, the semi-retired Empire Girl, asked in honest curiosity.

“Nothing so official,” Solaris said, her smile going softer. “They are choosing to do some light hero work, and I am mentoring them. They are all professionals I hired from the ESAS system. I can show you some of the work my mechanics have done, and Killian can attest to their skills.”

“Oh, I have been thinking about getting some upgrades to my car.” She admitted. “I am kind of in the same boat, and would love to meet them. “

“I can introduce you. Grayson and Talia are both working part time in the garage, and helped with restoring the tank out front.” She said proudly

"I saw that. Kind of an unusual lawn ornament." Tate Aktison, the Silver Paladin, commented.

"Not really, not for her. She always collected tanks." Kreigsmarine laughed.

"I am just glad she's not only collecting European theater toys." Kitsune chuckled.

Meanwhile…

A man with bad facial tattoos was making his way through the backyard of the neighbors house with a knife in one hand, pipe bomb in the other. That bitch would pay for sending Anarchist Knight back to prison!

"I've got a live one." Anzy said over her com, from on the upper deck. "Knife and something that makes me nervous."

"I got him, Neighbors yard." Focus commented.

"I can intercept from stealth." Z reported.

"Get behind him, I'm going to trank him." Erica waited, counting down, giving it ten seconds before she fired anyway, debating switching to the 308 next to her. Then the dark portal Z formed appeared directly behind the man. She fired twice, in quick succession, two red darts hitting the man in his exposed bicep as Z kicked him in the back of the knees.

He twisted and stumbled forward, “Bitch!” He slurred as the drugs kicked in, swiping his knife at Zoya. She smacked the knife free then her eyes focused on the pipe realizing what it was. “Shit! Focus he’s got a bomb! The teen froze, not sure which was more dangerous, grabbing it or letting it fall with the tattooed goon.

One of Mystic's flying tigers pounced on the man, grabbing the bomb and jumping over the fence, diving into the water. A few moments later the cat crawled out of the water, seconds before a big bubble burst at the top of the water.

Meanwhile…

"What was that?"

"Not sure, someone probably backed their boat into their dock." Helen suggested, with a shrug.

“The neighborhood tends to drink and boat, he almost hit the Serenity a couple weeks ago” Penny said. “Ms. Ruan went and had words with them.” The old lady nodded with a smirk.

Killian suppressed a chuckle, "Good to know."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"By the way, I hadn't had a chance to thank you for inviting me." Sphynx said. "Considering the way your meeting with Pinnacle went, I didn't know if you'd want to deal with the modern Guardians."

“I was wondering why Pinnacle wasn’t here, this is the kind of dinner I expect to see him at, " Empire's new much younger wife said.

“He…didn’t make the best impression.” Solaris said diplomatically, turning back to Sphynx. “Paladin spoke so well of you, and face it she smiled at Empire Girl, Kitsune and Sphinx, We super gals got to stick together.”

"Oh lord, isn't that the truth." The younger New York hero saluted with a wine glass. "I mean, It's not that I want to change my ID to Empire Lady or anything. I just would kill for something other than Girl. I was Fourteen for crying out loud! All I did was rescue animals and help motorists. Empire Girl sounded cute back then!"

"At least we don't have the same level of harassment issues, like hollywood. Thank you, Elder Women of the Capes, for making it clear we would punt for distance if the men pulled that crap."Helen said joining the toast.

“Oh this sounds like a story I need to hear! Punting reminds me, though. Killian, do you suppose we can arrange somewhere to spar? I’d like to see where you are these days, and there are not a lot of people I can go all out with while sparring.”

"Not on this trip, but perhaps in the future. Perhaps during the next UN general assembly meeting, if we can find someplace safe. The desert or over the ocean perhaps?"

“I know we can’t right now, there are far too many things going on. Besides that, I think I want to go with these ladies somewhere for some girl time. Maybe Monaco, or somewhere else with beaches and excellent mixed drinks.”

"See, I think we need to be friends." Sphinx, or Natalie Smith outside of her work clothes, chuckled. "Though Pinnacle already accuses me of lacking dedication to the team."

"Pinnacle is an idiot, and a boar." Killian said bluntly. "And I have known my share of boorish idiots."

Solaris nodded. "Time off is essential to a healthy hero. If one never takes time to enjoy life, how will you care enough about it to protect it? Burnout is as much an enemy to heroes and any superpowered Maniac."

"Yes, well, he's pushing me to take my hiatus 'a little early'. Translation, I'm annoying him."

"I admit, St. Nicks has been in conflict with him on several occasions. He keeps requesting access to things we do not grant access to, or things we don’t actually have but are rumored to keep. I think he's convinced we're 'holding out' resources." Xander said, shaking his head.

Gabriel the Statesman leaned back, nodding. "To be fair to the man, and trust me I know working with difficult people, he came in after a series of bad leaders. Not tragically bad, but those who had let their resources lag in favor of other projects." He took a sip of wine. "It doesn't justify some of his behavior, no, but keep in mind, they were down to one barely cleared business jet for transport, the training hall was out of date, and for some reason they owned a T-Shirt making company. This on top of going from a peak of 25 active members to only six active when he took over. The fact they’re up to ten, and two functional field teams is really actually a dramatic improvement."

"People usually get promoted to one paygrade above their competence.” Solaris said. “From what I understand, he is an excellent second in command, and is best when acting as a combat leader. However, a team leader cannot just be a combat leader, combat is not not their most important job. A team leader, a good team leader should first be a diplomat, it's our job to maintain team cohesion and good relationships with the public. Heavens know I bumped heads with the governments enough back in my day, And getting Nereid to play nice with anyone was nearly a full time job,”

Killian snorted. “Speaking as her closest physical and military ally, I can attest to that!”

“I’m sure you can.” Solaris nodded. “Then Breakneck was blowing things up. Toth was new to his powers and still figuring things out on top of reeling from the Nazi’s taking France, and dealing with the politicians that wanted a man to be the team leader.” She shook her head.

“TankMan was my number two. He was my combat leader, and he was good at it, and happy to leave me the paperwork and public. He knew he'd be a terrible diplomat, and paperwork was against his religion.” Solaris chuckled, a sad fond laugh. “Hell, Kitsune wanted to bring him up on charges for war crimes against the Japanese language.”

"You didn't speak Japanese at the time, and he dared speak it near me. It was an affront to civilized ears." The clan leader said. “I admitted to speaking English just to not suffer his accent further.”

"To be fair, delegation is another skill that can see a leader through, and he's bad at that as well." Gabriel said. "I've had several meetings with the man, and I can acknowledge I see some of my flaws in him. I'm much better at politics, but not as good with training as he is. However, I had good sense, when I led a team, to appoint someone else to train, and someone to deal with administrative tasks. He tries to handle it all himself."

Meanwhile…

Azure Rong dropped down into what used to be a storm sewer, then looked over at Focus who was staring at a weird tunneling machine. The mechanic and part time superheroine reached out and pulled loose a hose, causing the loud engine to die.

"Seriously? Someone was Mole Manning their way into the party?" The azure adventurer said wryly.

“Apparently! I should have sent someone else over, but I was just curious what the weird sound over here was." Focus said looking over the weird digging machine.

The hatch on the rear of the machine irised opened, and steam rose from inside. The lighting from inside the machine outlined a crouched form, who suddenly jumped forward, landing a few feet away from them.

They tossed a leather coat away, to reveal a pretty girl in a frilly maid costume, her hair done up in two little balls on top of either side of her head, thick goggles on her forehead, and two shovel shaped weapons, like someone crossed them with swords, clutched in her hands. "You dare stop me in my noble quest to destroy the Original Villain!” She shouted, swinging her swords at Erica.

Erica rolled out of the way, and Marcus ducked a swing aimed at his head.

“The fuck?” The boy eloquently asked.

“I am Mole Maid, and I shall defend the holy land of Atlantea from the unclean invader from Germany! Killian Bloomberg Von Volkard shall fall to my hand!”

“You’re shorter than me, and you want to take on the fucking Dreadnaught? Is the blue dye you use for your hair rotting your brain?”

The girl began shaking, visibly, with rage. “You would accuse me of dying my hair! My hair is the sacred blue of a traditional servant of Atlantean’s royalty and gods! I am NOT a fake bluette! Die!”

The Maid moved with grace as she swung her weapons. Erica ducking both strikes, only for Azure Rong to take a spin kick he didn’t see coming, throwing him over fifteen feet down the tunnel, gasping for breath in spite of his shield flaring to life.

"Oh crap, she's really Atlantean." Erica cursed, just in time to barely dodge a kick that shattered a boulder in the wall.

"I'm okay!" Azure Rong called out a moment later, with a groan. “Thud, Weld, we’re going to need backup.”