“You know,” I said, twisting a thug's arm behind him until he cried out in pain. “This isn't much of a 'show' patrol.” I pressed my foot to the back of his knee and pushed until the six-foot, brick shithouse of a man collapsed.

“It's been known to happen,” Battery grunted as she planted her knee between the shoulder blades of another fallen mook, cuffing him quickly before doing the same to another nearby. “Besides, this was a show, unless you're telling me you really struggled with that guy.” We shared a grin as I held the man's arms in place and cuffed him.

“Okay,” I huffed as I rose, prodding the fallen, attempted looter with my toe. “So...now what?”

“A break,” Battery replied, leaning against a nearby wall. “You doing okay?” I shrugged as I leaned against it next to her.

“I'm fine,” I said, tugging the fabric of my mask away from my skin, wincing at how it peeled. “A little warm.”

“Only a few more hours,” Kid Win's tired voice popped into my ear. He'd replaced Shadow Stalker a while back. “You guys are doing great though, first time and two arrests? You're gonna put us to shame.” I couldn't help but smile.

“Thanks Win,” I replied. “ETA on a pickup?”

“Ten,” he replied quickly, then hummed. “Hey, stepping away for a minute, Weld's calling. Still gonna be on ears if you have an emergency.”

“Understood Kid Win, out.” Battery replied. “Well, ten minutes, let's go over the fight.” I sighed and slumped. “What?”

“I took too long,” I said. “It took me two minutes for one guy, you were done in thirty seconds.”

“I've been a hero for half a decade,” she countered dryly. “You did good, but you're still not blocking.” I winced. Yeah of course she'd been talking to Assault...

“It was easier to not,” I explained, waving my hand around. “It meant he got too close because he thought that knife would go into my kidney.” If I hadn't stood still, it would have.

“He also got too close for you to grab him,” Battery noted. “At least, to get him in a place you could take him down.”

“I guess.” It had been a bitch to get his arm in the right place to start manipulating him with it. “If I blocked though, he might have stepped back and not given me the chance to get close.”

“Maybe,” she admitted, cocking her head. “But this isn't a solo patrol, is it?” I blushed.

“Sorry.”

“You're not used to working on a team,” she said, putting a hand on my shoulder and squeezing gently. “Like you said though, I was done in thirty seconds. Could have asked for help.”

“You could have given it,” I muttered, regretting it almost as soon as I spoke.

“You weren't in immediate danger,” Battery said, shaking her head. “If there was an issue, I was close enough to step in. Besides, you missed that guy.” She pointed and I glanced behind me, seeing a fourth, cuffed goon.

“Ah.” I frowned. “Shit.”

“This is why we work in teams,” She explained. “Trust me, you'll get used to it. Just try and listen to the guys that have a little time in, huh?” I nodded bashfully and the conversation trailed off.

“Hey,” I said after a couple minutes of quiet. “Why did they schedule a show patrol from six to six? Seems kinda weird to do it like, overnight.” It wasn't too bad, though I could feel the tiredness dragging my eyelids down.

“Who do you think the show is for?” She asked, gesturing to the fallen criminals. “The public was informed this morning. They're informed tonight.” I nodded, but swallowed my reply as she sighed and continued. “Normally, this would have been easier. I'm sorry you joined us...now.”

“When else?” I said dryly. “I guess, on the bright side, I'll be a hell of a lot more experienced than the next rookie that joins.” That got a huff of laughter.

“Don't bet on it,” Battery said with a hint of irony. “Did Assault ever tell you what he did before joining the Protectorate?” I thought back, frowning. He hadn't, but...

“Raiding Birdcage transports?” I asked and got a nod and tense grin.

“Crazy kid,” she muttered, shaking her head. “Anyway, I just mean the Wards and Protectorate take all comers, you'd be surprised.” Battery gestured pointedly at me. "Then again, it's not like everyone fights an Endbringer on day one. Who knows, maybe you really will have better stories.”

“Right,” I sighed. “Sorry, I just...it doesn't feel that special.” Maybe an insane statement, judging by the flinch that hit her. “No just...” I groaned and rubbed the bridge of my nose. “I didn't really--”

“Break, break, break!” I heard a frantic shout over the radio in my ear. I shut up and listened, as did Battery. “Villain team has broken into the PRT headquarters. All teams within response range are recalled!”

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“Come on,” Battery snapped, taking off at a run.

I charged after her, swearing under my breath. Fuck fuck fuck, I'd known this would happen eventually, since the Undersiders hadn't turned into local warlords yet, and who else could it be? Listening in, I heard the response from Dragon that she was on her way, that Shadow Stalker was being engaged by Weld and Grue was frozen, while the rest of the Undersiders got kettled up.

I kept my head up and on a swivel as we ran, sticking as close to Battery as I could. Fortunately we weren't too far, they had wanted me relatively close to base for my first time out, even if it was slightly more than the show they had suggested it would be. I could feel my heart pounding as we got closer. This was a hell of a show...

Much as I was looking forward to the opportunity to slap Tattletale once or twice or ten times, I knew there were bigger problems on the team to deal with. Grue would be a bitch, making me unable to see or hear, but it wasn't like he could really do anything beyond blinding me. Same with Skitter, in a way. Tattletale obviously couldn't break my bones, but her words would hurt if I or someone else didn't shut her up, but otherwise no problem.

Regent...fuck. Well normally he'd actually be a major issue. My flinching was bad enough to get me killed multiple times, and he could force that out of me. If he did it at just the right, or wrong, time then I was toast. Not to mention the whole body snatching shit. Yeah, a problem to say the least of it, but he was occupied puppeteering a certain Ward.

Rachel worried me. Her dogs weren't as big as Leviathan, and it wasn't like they could really hurt me, but they could throw me around. That had proven to be as dangerous as flinching in the past, and even after Leviathan I was pretty sure demon-lizard-dogs would still make me flinch. At the same time, there wasn't anyone else I was really equipped to fight. She had monsters that beat people up, and I was someone that couldn't be beat up, mostly. A match made in heaven, or maybe hell considering where I was.

A sonic boom echoed overhead, and I saw a mech-suit with four massive engines descending rapidly towards our destination. We were just two blocks away, but even here I could hear the battle raging. I pushed myself hard, even knowing a fight was just around the corner. Despite my lack of fitness, I felt ready to fight...or to run.

We rounded the final turn just in time for me to see one hero or another lay out one of Rachel's dogs with a tremendous shout. Battery paused and I saw the tell-tale flashes of her charging up. Seconds later, she launched forward, past the dogs towards Grue, Shadow Stalker and the cloud of darkness surrounding them. I wasted no time, there was only one opponent made for me after all.

I started by grabbing the tail of one of Bitch's dogs, squeezing down hard. I knew it wasn't part of the real dog, so didn't feel too much remorse when the thing yelped loudly as the bones inside its tail were crushed. It whirled on my with a guttural snarl, tugging it's tail back. I didn't let it though, gripping even tighter and drawing another cry of pain. Rather than continue, the creature charged me with its maw open, full of far too many teeth for a dog's.

I let its tail go and raised my arms, blocking the bite that would have clamped around my entire upper body. Instead its jaw was propped open, scraping and trying to get a grip on my projection. I slowly moved my arm further into its mouth, ignoring the hot, rancid breath coming out as it panted on me. I gripped a fleshy growth that looked something like a uvula, then crushed it until it popped.

I was showered with foul-smelling gore as the dog tried to rear back, howling in pain. I grabbed hold of one, large tooth, holding it tightly and quickly clamping my other hand around another. The thing snarled and yelped as a thunderclap of noise left my ears ringing for a few seconds. I gripped too hard and the teeth splintered in my hands. The dog wrenched itself away and fled down the street, far too fast for me to follow. The others followed suit soon after.

Triumph gestured and I followed towards Grue's cloud of darkness. No way I could actually do anything in there, besides stand still and hope to not get flung around. Neither could Triumph, it seemed, since he halted at the edge of the cloud. I stood a short distance away, scanning for anyone, or anything to come out of the cloud.

Bugs suddenly swarmed us. Triumph shouted and blasted them off himself, deafening me to the incessant buzz for a few seconds. I lost sight of anything and was suddenly very warm as hundreds of bugs crawled all over me, trying to find a way through my projection. I couldn't help the shudder of revulsion at the sensation of bugs on my skin. The downside of feeling what could touch it...

Another shout deafened me, but suddenly I could see again. I cracked my head to the side and saw Triumph shouting something, but I couldn't hear him because he'd fucking deafened me. I walked over to him, brushing a few of the bugs that tried to return off as I did. I cocked my head and pointed to my ears as the ringing began to subside.

“They escaped,” he bellowed, sounding like he was underwater. “Come on, we need to regroup!” I followed as he took off at a jog.

We came across Miss Militia and Weld, joining them as they fanned out to defend the PRT headquarters. More than a dozen PRT troopers joined us, their medics recovering injured Wards and heroes alike and taking them inside the building. We were waiting for a counter attack, in case someone wanted to take advantage of the assault and lack of forces we had. At least, I guessed since I knew the Undersiders weren't coming back.

I tapped my foot impatiently as I kept watch. Knowing there was nothing coming...well, it gave me an enforced minute to think. The Undersiders used Shadow Stalker, under Regent's control, to get inside the PRT building. I hadn't remembered it being at four in the fucking morning, but here we were. They were going to meet Coil now, and Regent was releasing Shadow--

Fuck.

“Miss Militia!” I shouted, sprinting over to her. She seemed taken aback, eyes wide as she turned to me.

“Get back in position, Amaranth,” she snapped, the grenade launcher in her hands shifting into a rifle, then a pistol. “We need to be ready in case--”

“We need to get to Shadow Stalker's place ASAP!” I interrupted. It had taken long enough to remember as it was.

“What do you--”

“She'd under Regent's control, right?” I asked, getting a nod. I already knew but it paid to play dumb, I figured. “Then her family is vulnerable.”

“They wouldn't dare,” Weld said, a dark look on his misshapen metal face. “Going after a cape's family is--”

“Corporal Franklin!” Miss Militia shouted, drawing the attention of a nearby trooper. “Take a squad, Assault, and Battery. You're to secure the residence that they'll provide.” The masked trooper nodded and took off sprinting into the building. “Amaranth?”

“I need to go,” I said, practically pleading. “Please. I don't...I don't like her, but I want to help.” She hesitated, but gave me a quick nod.

I took off after the corporal, I had a body-jacked Ward to save.