[indent][b]11:15 PM
Rooftops, Bazaar Quarter, Poseidonis[/b][/indent]

[color=orangered][i]’The more things change the more they stay the same…’[/i][/color] Mal couldn’t help but muse in the confines of his own head, even while rolling to make his landing on yet another industrialized-coral rooftop.

Different city, different continent, hell, even different barometric pressure and here he was jumping from rooftop in some swanky-ass armour like a [i]complete jackass.[/i]

If nothing else, Mal’s life was consistent.

A quick glance below through the building found Mal skidding slightly and taking a hard left, vaulting off another ledge and landing with practiced quiet on top of one of Poseidonis’ many public hover-trams. Lingering there for a moment or two as it rounded a turn and firing off his grapple towards another rooftop to keep up with his quarry, both of whom were currently sharing oxygen with the three Spanish gentlemen he’d observed in the club in the confines of a hovercar he couldn’t miss, even if he wanted to- What with the pulsing music from within forming a sort of rippling effect across his vision and what registered to even his eyes as a [i]particularly gaudy[/i] bioluminescent paintjob.

Another grunt escaped him as he made landfall on what he could only assume would be his final destination if everything went according to plan.

...Mostly because this armour, paradoxically ancient in design but so far ahead of anything on the surface that it flew straight into the territory of science fiction… [i]was really riding up on him in uncomfortable places.[/i]

Apparently he’d grown up a bit over the past year.

Puberty truly was a cruel and fickle mistress.

Pushing that thought to the [i]far[/i] rear of his mind, the armour-clad teen allowed himself to relax and take an (admittedly, slightly awkward) crouch as the object of his pursuit parked itself at the foot of a towering, chrome-coloured skyscraper across the street. Taking advantage of his eyesight to stay out of theirs, camping out on the far side of the roof to observe them all directly through the building itself.

A finger rose to the side of his helmet, a quiet chirp echoed within as he did so.

[color=orangered]”Alright, Karen. In position.”[/color] 


The air behind Malcolm shimmered and warped as a figure phased into view. Malcolm, of course, would have most likely seen the figure coming, as invisibility and cloaking technology could only go so far when dealing with someone who could see into the fabric of the universe.

The man, clad in black-plated, form-fitting armor strode up beside the crouching teen and crossed his arms.

[color=LightSeaGreen]”So, doing some late-night hunting?”[/color] The distorted voice asked from behind the demonic octopus [url=https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1lbFIJVXXXXb9XFXXq6xXFXXXw/octopus-mask-halloween-devil-mask-halloween-mask-scary-devil-mask-halloween-supplies-devil-cosplay.jpg]mask[/url]. He crouched down and activated the cloaking field again, his armor plates fading to the color of the rooftop and taking on a pockmarked coral appearance as he did so.

[color=LightSeaGreen]”It’s good to have the watch-shark back in the city, Mako.”[/color] Cuttlefish quipped, reaching over and clasping the younger man on the shoulder. [color=LightSeaGreen]”But I am curious about the visit. I’d have thought you would be busy with your studies? What are we doing out here?”[/color]

[color=orangered]”Ori?”[/color] Mal asked aloud through his voice-modulator as his head turned slightly to face the much taller man at his side… and the claws along his armoured fists quietly sheathed themselves before he raised a hand and gave his surrogate uncle’s a little pat and squeeze on his shoulder, posture relaxing slightly for the first time in [i]hours[/i]. [color=orangered]”Yeah, sorry about that. Would’ve called, but it’s been a helluva day.”[/color]

Releasing the Ocean-King’s hand, Mal’s head slowly turned forward again as he kept talking. A slight note of humour making it’s way through the distortion of his voice-modulator.

[color=orangered]”Long story short; Karen thinks she might’ve stumbled upon some kinda drug ring. Or her roommate did at a party last night, anyway.”[/color] ‘Mako’ stated plainly, shifting a little to at least find [i]some[/i] comfort where he was sitting. [color=orangered]”So we’re giving it a look... and trying to be quiet about it.”[/color]

The teen’s head turned slightly again towards the Octo-Masked King, though his eyes stayed rooted forward.

[color=orangered]”-Rather not spook them and drive them further underground thinking there’s a mob of capes and tights after them.”[/color] 

The eyes of the disguised King of Atlantis narrowed behind his mask as he looked down at the moving hovercar that presumably contained Karen and her roommate.

[color=LightSeaGreen]”A drug ring… This would be Ophelia, not Hannah, I assume?”[/color] Orin asked, hazarding a guess. [color=LightSeaGreen]”I made it my business to familiarize myself with the applications of our surface students, it seemed prudent. Just like your plan, a daring nighttime sting operation into the suspected heart of a drug-running ring. You do have a flair for the dramatic, Mako.”[/color] He said, a grin creeping into his voice.

[color=LightSeaGreen]”Fortunately, I am a sucker for a good cop show.”[/color] Orin admitted, standing up. The suit’s reflexive camo shifted to hide his silhouette against the domed sky, and Orin scanned his eyes along the street. [color=LightSeaGreen]”Would you mind another partner to watch your back? I’ve been cooped up for awhile now and I’d like to stretch my legs a bit.”[/color]

Beneath his mask, Malcolm couldn’t help but grin a little himself.

[color=orangered]”Hey it’s your city, Uncle Ori.”[/color]

[color=LightSeaGreen]”Hey now, I’m undercover. Call me Cuttlefish.”[/color]

[color=orangered][b]”...Wait, [i]what?”[/i][/b][/color]

[hr]

With their eyes fixed to the ground below, it would almost be hard to see the small purple blur that made its war across the night sky. Static Shock was making his own rounds around the city, doing things like he used to do before even Gear was apart of the team. 

The shock box had been put away for now. He’d come back to Richie is he came across anything, but right now he was just looking for some trouble. Cars, people, everything blurred around him, but was made easier with the new glasses he wore. Easier on his eyes and better for when he was casting lightning out of his fingertips.

[color=a187be]“Come on, come on. I know you’re out there somewhere…”[/color] Static muttered to himself, his eyes keen on finding danger. A hand dug into his pocket to fish out his shock box once more. Opening it up, he flipped through a few settings and pulled out a long antenna.

His hope was to find any possible roaming signals and catch them. Maybe it would be the criminals he was having a feeling for, maybe it would be something else. Whatever it was Mal was being so tight lipped about had to be happening somewhere in the streets, and Virgil was going to be damned if he didn’t have a piece of it.

But then it happened.

On one of the rooftops was an armored figure. Virgil slowed to a halt hockey-style and put the Shock Box away once more. In its place was a set of binoculars. They weren’t glamorous, but they got the job done. 

Virgil slowly backed away. Not only did they look like serious business, but they were simply watching the city. They were looking for something too. This was the trail that Virgil was looking for. 

He mulled the possibility of swooping in now and taking them on, but if he followed them to wherever they were going, he’d progress a lot easier than if he fought them.  He’d simply have to follow them and see where they were going.