“It is a bad idea.” 

“Is it really? I mean, as opposed to the alternatives. It’s not like I can pretend a group of super-crooks assaulted a research facility, no?”

“No, the absence of good ideas does not imply that the least stupid idea automatically becomes good. If anything, this simply shows how dire the current situation is. In fact, aren’t you too lax for what possibly is a hostage situation?”

“In my defense, sis, this banter is the only thing between me and a bout of hysteria. Not all of us are emotionless machines like you. And besides, this is my solo-debut, you know. I am going to do the best I can on this one.”

“I have emotions a plenty. If you want an example, irritation at my immature younger sister that not only stole one of my vehicles, but also decided to drive her way directly into danger.”

“I love you, too. Warbird out.”

"Fine. Do what you consider necessary. Nucleus out."
 
And with a simple ping, the call ended. I was never a fan of long chit-chats on the phone, anyway. Now, you might ask what I, a splendid hero-in-training, was doing in an allegedly borrowed car. It’s quite simple, actually: to find and beat some bad guys - or girls, I’m not sexist - into submission.

/one vent passage later/

“It’s me again. Infiltration complete. Wish me luck.” Oh, what I really liked about modern office buildings’ architecture were their ventilation systems since nowadays, those things were usually created with people in mind. As in, people being literally able to cross them, should the need arise. If you wanted to be all stealthy, those babies were perfect, a real piece of art. 

And so, here was I, contorting my lithe body and slowly moving across the facility like a silent ghost in the night, only the time was about afternoon. If the first reports were correct, there were five robbers - all with either some kind of advanced gear or innate powers. In other words, rock for my scissors. 

It's easy to beat a common criminal, not so easy to take down someone with the direct advantage of being able to bench press a car, and pretty hard to do so five times in a row. Meh, I can do this, probably. I hope. 

I heard a male voice, accompanied by someone more feminine, which was quite strange: all assaulters were reported to be female. I took a small peak and saw a pair of capes right under me. Nice. And then, the guy threw up in a trashcan. Less nice. 

Amateurs, the smug part of my brain supplanted. Company, the nervous part of my brain added. I would still tap that, finished my less than stellar part. Now then, time for the show to start. If only there was a vent nearby…

/about a minute after/

In a moment, somebody gracefully fell from the ceiling, regrouping her compact body in the air and falling into low crouch the moment her feet touched the ground. She was trained for this. She was trained nearly for all of this. 

“Oh, good to have you around. I’m Warbird. Guardian Code: Beta-Zero-Nine.”

And she knew that was totally badass.