Nancy had been given her answer. The thugs were looking to expand the Delgato network to further their criminal schemes. Unfortunately for them, they had been given incorrect information by whoever had scoped the site out. Of course, however, Nancy was more than annoyed by this response. The construction site had been her makeshift home; her secret lair. Now that the Delgatos were aware, they were bound to show up again. She'd have to move again and find a place more secluded.

"Sounds like your buddy needs glasses. How could you miss a tall, red robot?" Nancy replied nonchalantly. "Or maybe he just dislikes you and wanted to see get your ass kicked. You Delgatos are always stabbing each other in the back, after all."

Nancy refused to let go of the criminal she held in Zero-Zero's grip despite his pleas.

"Unfortunately for you and your friends, however, I'm not one to cross."

Mechanical clicks vibrated within the suit as she aimed a pulse blaster towards the other two Delgato thugs still on the ground. Nancy had no current intent to fire it at the criminals. She wanted to avoid collateral damage. Everything Nancy owned was in the building; blowing it to pieces didn't seem ideal. But the thug hadn't known that. Nancy was willing to let him think she was outright deranged and willing to vaporize his buddies just to get any workable information out of criminal trio.

"Keep spilling the beans unless you'd rather be known as the one who got his buddies killed."

The seconds dragged by, with Sarah casting looks up and down the alley. Her eyes briefly locked onto an alleycat picking a meal from a nearby trash can. Concern following the prior incident with the shadow person prompted her to hyperfocus on the cat; as far as she could feel, it was just a cat. It returned her stare, their eyes aligning as Kenzo exited into the alley behind her. The cat hissed, and ran off with a piece of table scraps dangling from its mouth. She watched it with mild interest until it turned a corner and ran out of sight. “It’s this.” She turned to face Kenzo, motioning for him to close the door behind him. From her pocket, she revealed the amulet, still giving off its soft glow, and still pointing due East. “That shadow guy dropped it.” She held it close between herself and Kenzo, endeavoring to keep it out of sight from prying eyes.

“If you can’t see it,” she explained, “It’s pointing that way.” She extended her arm out, her finger indicating the direction of the arrow-like sigil upon the amulet. “The other side of the city, maybe. It might lead to where Maddie is… or to whoever took her.” Sarah turned in the way the amulet was oriented, and held it firmly in front of her like a compass. “I’m going to find her. Your choice if you’d rather stay here or come along. If you stay, just tell the detective you don’t know where I went off to; keeps you out of trouble if you don’t know.” With a large stride, Sarah moved toward an adjacent alleyway, then stopped, turned back, and added: “If you follow me, I won’t slow down if you fall behind, so keep up.”

She spun back, and continued at a brisk pace, taking a path through the other alleyway; she’d keep to the network of backalleys, avoiding the main roads [as best she could]. That much would get her as far as Millennia Park. If the amulet took her so far, she’d have to make a beeline across the park. If she had to cross through Riverside, she’d have to follow main roads; she could handle a few 70th Street scrubs and whatever else Mapleview could throw in her way, but crossing the Delgatos on their home turf was practically a death sentence, even for someone like her, or Kenzo.

As she proceeded from the Lucky Noodle, her Sixth Sense remained on high alert. Her following of the amulet’s guidance became almost automatic behind her vigilance for the danger around the next corner.

A silence fell over the room after Shimazu had last spoken. Steven seemed lost in thought, and Ken hesitated to disturb him. He directed his attention to the paramedic tending to Julia; he was just about finished cleaning and dressing her wounds. When the quiet was finally broken, it was by the medic departing and wishing everyone farewell. Ken’s eyes tracked him until he passed by, and then shifted back towards the kitchen; he sensed Sarah’s energy fading out of his range as she departed from the shop, and rolled his eyes. So much for progress.

Julia spoke next, but stopped short of the exit to inquire about finding work. “I could use an extra set of hands around the restaurant," he said. “One of my servers is starting college, so the weekdays will have an opening. If it suits you.” He looked around nervously at the mess of chairs and tables left by the afternoon’s excitement. “I can assure that it isn’t normally quite this active here.”

“Head back to the hideout,” Taiwu instructed. “Pick up Xiao Feng first if we need to. I can wait until we get back to eat.” When the driver inquired of his trust in Amara and The Void, Taiwu simply shrugged. “We have no standing conflicts with them. So long as no one does anything to agitate our truce, I trust that they’ll hold their end.”

Weaving and winding, Sarah progressed out of Little Asia and through the short stretch across Mapleview. It was a dull walk, which she made swiftly and with minimal care for anyone that might have tried to steal her attention. The uneventfulness of it was preferable to getting delayed by obstacles, natural or otherwise. This allowed her to focus on where she was going, and where the amulet was pointing her to. The sigil would only shift a little as she veered with the off-kilter grid of the city’s layout. She adjusted accordingly. Whether or not Kenzo had fallen in step behind her, she neither knew, nor particularly cared; she had made it clear enough that she would slow down if he lagged behind. So much as the extra set of hands would help, especially if they had to fight their way through anyone, that help was useless if they were deadweight. She would rather fight alone than alongside someone whose head and heart weren’t in it.

Emerging from the block outside of Mapleview, she surveyed the expanse of Millenia Park. Sarah checked the amulet to find it pointed across the park towards Riverside. Ahead of her to the East were City Hall and the History Museum. On her right, were the pond on the South side and a large, open field. To her left, the walking trails and the Department of Superhuman Affairs headquarters were the features of the North end. Being early afternoon on a Monday, the Park was relatively empty, save for students from Paragon Academy in Riverside, vendors along the trails, and a few suits from City Hall on their barely deserved afternoon recess. The way forward appeared clear of any immediate danger.

However she couldn’t shake the feeling of something from the North end, a subtle tickle brought on by something radiating from the DSHA that had her hairs on end. It was discomforting, but not concerning; it wasn’t the first time she had picked up on strange vibrations from that building. She had long assumed that they had Supers both on their staff and locked up as prisoners, and that the collective energy let off by so many in such a tight space was enough to trigger her higher senses.

Ignoring the feeling, she stood still and deliberated: whether to keep to the North end of the park, along the walking trails, or to head South and circle the pond.

The first option would mean moving through more of a crowd. In turn that meant more chances to be intercepted or distracted, but probably less chance of actual conflict; 70th Street liked to roam the Northwest corner of the park, but they likely wouldn’t act out in a crowd so close to City Hall and DSHA. Police and Affairs agents would be out in droves if they did. If she circled the pond to the South, it would be a longer walk, but fewer people to navigate through. If the feeling she was getting from the DSHA building was a threat, she’d be able to keep well enough away. Even so, if she were being trailed, the open field a sparse crowd would leave her open to getting jumped, or picked off from afar.

The thought of her home a short walk up the block from her, crossed her mind as she debated her choices. Stopping by the apartment complex and rallying three or four bodies from her Parkside West crew was an option. Most would help her on principle, at most to the edge of Riverside if she asked. Some, however, would ask too many questions: what she was up to, who she was going to see, where she was going so far outside of Mapleview… questions she either couldn’t answer or simply didn’t care to explain to anyone that didn’t already know. She declined the idea immediately. Getting a crew to cross the park would take more time from her.

She decided then to take her chances on the North end. If anything did come up, she’d be able to work through the foot traffic to Riverside without too much issue.

She gave the amulet one last look. Confirming she was still on track, she tucked it away, this time in the front pocket of her pants. It was a tighter fit, but more secure than the loose pouches of her hoodie, where it would more easily fall from in a fight, or end up lost if she had to ditch the outer layer. Patting it snuggly behind her thin wallet, she proceeded toward the nearest path.

“Ah. Speaking of whom…” Shimazu had turned around to the sound of the door opening and seen Ashley arriving with a set of aprons and tee shirts bearing the Lucky Noodle’s logo. They weren’t anything fancy, but constituted the restaurant’s ‘uniform.’ Consistent with the young server’s attention to detail, they had been washed, dried, and pressed for their return (though he had insisted that she didn’t need to turn them back). The neatly folded stack of garments still felt warm to the touch. “Thank you, Ashley. You’re welcome here any time you can make it, even if only to visit. Do have a good semester at college.” He offered a short bow of the head.

“Ah yes. The state of things.” Ken looked to either side of himself, acknowledging the disrepair. He endeavored to maintain an undaunted disposition over it to assuage any concern on Ashley’s part. “There was a small altercation this morning. No one was severely injured, and Detective Donahue here is assisting us in bringing the culprits to justi--”

Shimazu pivoted toward a far corner of the room. Standing amid a dark patch amid the fluorescent glow was the man that had taken Madeline. Ken set the pile of shirts and aprons down upon a nearby table and placed himself between the man and Ashley. “Get yourself home, Ashley,” he said calmly, hiding the undertow of fear he felt. His stance was neutral, arms relaxed at his side, but feet spread with intent to move if things escalated again; he hoped that Julia and the Detective would emulate him and not jump to any sudden action.

He looked at the man sternly, eying him over to catch the details he might have missed before; he looked different than he did earlier… less like a beast and more human. When Ken finally spoke, he stayed calm and collected. “Can you start by telling us who you are?”

Silence abounded for the duration of the ride between Nighthaven and the site of Xiao Feng’s business. Taiwu retreated inward to mull over the reliability of Amara and The Void. He had no reason to doubt her commitment to her word; her sect being relatively new, The Blue Dragons had had few, if any, dealings with them. Until such a moment that she betrayed their trust, they would honor the truce with vigilance. The divide between their respective territories left Taiwu with some reassurance; what good was it to seek conflict with a faction on the other side of the city? Surely The Void would sooner come to blows with the Delgato Family. In the long term, an alliance with Amara would certainly benefit Xiao Feng’s pursuits in keeping Anthony well enough out of the way of their turf war with 70th Street; the old mob boss had preferred to undercut Little Asia over squashing the rats in Mapleview. Birds of a feather, I suppose.

Taiwu grinned as if he had just made a breakthrough..

He stayed grinning as Xiao Feng entered the car next to him. “I’ve been enlightened. But I have been tasked with an errand if I wish for Amara to provide me with a concrete answer.” Taiwu rang his hands together in deep thought on his next words. “Should we proceed with the plan to attack the Lucky Noodle, I will need our mercenaries to procure a blood sample from Shimazu’s pupil. Of course, if they end up killing her, then they need not bring a sample back. With respect to this, I advise a truce between us and The Void in Nighthaven. It shouldn’t be difficult to maintain, given our opposite corners. Though I do believe a longer term alliance with them may be of benefit.” He observed his boss’ bloodied handkerchief, and offered his own inquiry: “What of your business here?”

An indescribable sensation overtook Greg’s body as he was teleported by Artemis. When the group appeared in the conference room, he needed a moment to find his balance and reorient himself. “That was weird.”

“Yeah. I feel that,” KT validated. Don’t worry, she projected to Diana. I’m seeing we can trust him.

“You get used to it… eventually.” Wolfe, who hadn’t missed a step in the instantaneous movement, rushed to the doors. After checking the hallway, he set the digital signs to mark the room as in use, and shut and locked the doors. “I will echo Artemis’ question,” he said, turning his attention back to Vaughn. “What business do you have with us?”

“To talk about this little arrangement.” Vaughn pointed his pinky and thumb forward, the former directed at Wolfe, and the latter toward Artemis. “And what it means for the situation moving forward.”

Diana crossed her arms over her chest for a moment looking towards Wolfe for a moment and then over towards Vaughn as he addressed the two of them. “We don’t really have any formal arrangement. I just happened to be in the neighborhood and heard the commotion and stepped in.” She said, trying to keep her work with Veridian Tech a secret.

Vaughn paced silently and thoughtfully. Artemis’ response was as he expected; he’d heard ‘just in the area’ or some variation of that thousands of times, a few times from his own mouth. He halted near a window, and then turned back to the table where Artemis, Wolfe, and KT had all taken their seats. “The Department of Super Human Affairs is many things,” he said calmly. “Inept and Ignorant aren’t close to the top of that list. The recent Veridian warehouse break-in: Intelligence indicates that one vigilante, Artemis, was also in the neighborhood to foil that. Among a list of other, we’ll say, conveniences, placing you perfectly to keep Veridian Technologies, its employees, and its assets safe from harm. And with your recent dealings against the Delgato Family intersecting with it all, including today’s attack… if Ms. Tran’s power is more than a parlor trick. Taking a fight to the most powerful company in the city without a strong personal motive is a bold move, even for Anthony.”

“I can’t say I disagree,” Wolfe contributed. “Under the circumstances, deducing that the Delgatos would target Verdian to draw Artemis into some kind of trap would seem sound--”

“Given that she has been uniquely inclined to protect the company--”

“Hardly a breach of any laws or codes,” Wolfe stated conclusively.

“All of that is besides the point, though.”

“Then what is the point?” KT chimed in. “And if you won’t say it, I will.”

Diana remained standing as she stared at Vaughn but didn’t try to make any indication either and remained pretty calm. “I do stop other criminal activity, last week I did foil some Seventieth Street and Delgato illegal weapons trade.” She said with a slight shrug. “But what is it that you really need?” Diana asked.

“What I, and I think you, need, is a wider net. The point: Whether it’s a formal arrangement, or mere coincidence bringing Artemis into close proximity to Veridian, there’s been an uncanny level of coordination between the two parties. I believe there’s potential there. And I think now is the time…”

“Time for what, exactly?” Wolfe leaned in.

“To get a team together.” Vaughn’s tone went low.

Diana looked at Vaughn for a moment like he had grown a second head as she stared at him down, she always did work alone and preferred it that way. “I rather work alone, and I don’t necessarily play by the rules either, i’m sure you have a pretty big record on me by now anyway.” Diana said.

“I’m aware of your record, Artemis.” Vaughn turned away, and took a long look from the window; the Financial District to the west dominated the view beyond Nighthaven, with parts of Riverside, Mapleview, and Halcyon Heights visible in the few spaces between the highrises.

While Vaughn’s back was turned, Wolfe glanced towards Artemis with an expression of mild reproach; for her insistence on working alone, Diana had shown herself capable of working with others, himself most of all. “Let’s hear the Deputy Director out.”

Vaughn turned around. A hopeful gleam in his eyes contrasted against his otherwise stoic face.

Diana sighed slightly as she looked towards Wolfe for a moment before turning her attention back to Vaughn. “What did you have in mind?” She asked.

Vaughn drew a breath, and held it in for a moment. He knew he'd only have one shot at pitching his idea, one chance to bring the right people into the fold. What had played out as a simple speech in his head was looking more like a hard sell; if he messed up, he'd be back to working the situation on his own... doable, with time, but easier with others working with him, and the reality was that time might not be on any of their sides. "The city is in a rough place," he said. He paced back-and-forth a few strides, and returned to looking out through the window overlooking the city.

"I've seen a lot out on the streets. We thought, after the battles ten years ago, that we'd be able to clean up and recover... that things would get better. But that hasn't happened." He turned back to face the group assembled in the conference room. "The vacuum left behind has been filled in. The Delgato Family owns nearly half the city, and Anthony is gunning for the mayor's office; the 70th Street Gang has consolidated power in Mapleview, and the Blue Dragons in Little Asia; both of them are eying expansion; talk around Nighthaven of increasing occult activity... that's all not to mention the layers of... issues within law enforcement, or the zealots up in Halcyon Heights."

Vaughn ushered in his restlessness enough to plant himself firmly in place. He stood tall and strong as he continued. "All of these groups are represented by regimented, disciplined, well trained, and powerful people. With the exception of the Puritan movement, they all have teams of Supers either loyal to the cause or paid to do their work."

"I'm sorry Deputy Director, but would you cut to the chase properly?" Wolfe had cut into Vaughn's rambling.

"The criminal world is organized; their plans are already in motion. The city needs heroes. And not just the isolated acts and disjointed pockets of resistance. We need something concrete. A coordinated front--"

"You're not suggesting what I think you are?" Wolfe interjected.

"I am," Vaughn stated plainly. "The reconstitution of The Defenders." He looked around the room, but held his gaze at Artemis. "I won't pressure you to be part of a team if it's not what you want. What I will do is ask your help in bringing the right people together."

"Why not just call up the old team though?" KT asked.

“Unfortunately,” Vaughn said sourly, “that’s not an option.”

Diana thought for a moment as she looked over towards Wolfe, working alone was what she did prefer, but there were a lot of gangs throughout the entire city as well, and having the backing of a Government Entity would be pretty useful. “I’ll consider thinking about it.” Diana said looking over at Vaughn.

“Of course,” Vaughn said conclusively. “I know it’s a lot to ask out of the blue. Take some time to consider it.” He reached into.a pocket on his jacket, producing a business card. His full name, office location, email address, and phone numbers were all listed on the card. He set it down on the table between his audience of three. “If you decide to take me up on this, give me a call.”

He turned to make his exit. Wolfe stood up after him. “I’ll escort you out, Deputy Director.”

They opened the nearest door to the hallway, and were met by a younger DSHA agent carrying a brown paper bag that looked like it had been sitting in a cluttered car. “Uh… Mr. Vaughn… uh… your fish taco.” The agent awkwardly handed the bag off to Vaughn, who accepted as though it were water in an oasis.

“Thank you.” He unbagged and unwrapped the footstand delicacy and took a bite. “Mhmmm… still warm.” He, the agent, and Wolfe rounded the corner, out of sight and out of earshot.

“So,” KT broke a short silence. She had been staring at the business card on the table. She had her thoughts about Vaughn’s proposal, but decided it best wait until they had more privacy before opening up. “Probably best for you to get changed and back to regular business? Should I wait up here?” She stood up and walked toward the window as Wolfe re-entered the room to another momentary silence.

Steve reacted a half-second slower than Shimazu, momentarily startled by the figure’s sudden appearance. It wasn’t the result of slow reflexes or a lack of focus, but rather his inability to detect the new arrival. His powers had failed him in this instance, and it baffled him as to why.

Was it the being’s affinity for controlling the shadows? Or something far more complicated?

Whatever the case, he couldn’t dwell on it now.

Steve thrust the thought from his mind and immediately adjusted once Shimazu stepped forward. It was important that he not challenge his positioning; he trusted the man and would fall in line to allow him to intervene. Afterall, he had already dealt with this mysterious being. His knowledge would be far more valuable in this case. And so, he shifted to his right to cover the old man’s flank, his hand resting near his holster as a precaution.

“Easy,” Steve uttered, his voice firm to project his authority. He kept Ashley and Julia in his peripheral vision to ensure that they remained safe. “Nobody move… nobody rush him. We’re not making any sudden movements.”

The detective’s eyes locked with the man in the shadows, noting that he appeared more human in nature, a departure from the monster he had initially envisioned. It was a gentle reminder not to judge or form preconceived notions about his suspects. He needed to remain impartial and follow the facts.

“You picked one hell of a time to ask for a conversation,” Steve continued in a low tone. “So, here’s how this goes.” He nodded toward Shimazu without taking his eyes from the shadow being. “He asked you a simple question. You stay exactly where you are, hands up and palms out… no tricks or disappearing acts, and you answer him.”

The detective paused and canted his head, scrutinizing the man.

“Go on… who are you?”

The name Stefan had peaked her interest. She had sworn vengeance against Anthony Delgato. Taking his son out of the equation would unleash change untold. The loss of a son would devastate his empire, but most of all, it'd be an eye for an eye. Her father—her own fate, destined to be more machine than human—for Stefan. They had struck the first blow. Now all it mattered was for her to strike back.

"Relax," Nancy replied. Her sensors began to pick up movement as Madalyne moved Zero-Zero's side and rested a hand on the scarlet metal. "I'm not going to kill you. Same can't be said for your boss, though. They can beg. Scream. Cry. It won't help. Maybe his death will teach you all to not pick fights with the wrong people."

The cybernetic helm of Zero-Zero turned to Madalyne, who offered to call the police to take in the now captured Delgato criminals.

"I'm done with them." Nancy continued, still holding the Delgato in her grasp. Her tone was calm and steady; seemingly unafflicted by the rage and anger that had ushered the prior threat. "Go ahead and call the police."

Sarah had only proceeded about one hundred feet onto the paved pathway when something brought her to a stop. If not a scuffling of feet in the stillness behind her, the new, yet known voice of Kenzo made her stop without first slowing her pace. She made a half turn, her hips to her neck rounding towards her new ally. She was still figuring out what to make of the guy; his heart seemed in the right place, and he presumably knew how to fight, or at least had enough bravado to get by; he’d at least hold against the scrubs from 70th and the common Delgato thugs. When her twisted body became stretched as far around as it could manage, her legs followed. In long strides, she walked towards Kenzo, stopping about a yard in front of him. She stared at him, part steely, part annoyedly, and part empathetically.

“I get it,” she expressed earnestly. “Keeping the walls up isn’t lost on me, and neither is dealing with the gang bullshit.” She let out a groaning sigh, less at Kenzo than at the situation, and aligned her eyes with his. “If you’re going to come with me, then stick close; none of this… twenty-feet back, around the corner stalker shit. Now let’s go.” She turned back around on the balls of her feet. “I’d prefer to find Maddie before it gets dark,” she said over her shoulder. She took a healthy stride forward and resumed her pace along the path. This time she moved with a less bullish momentum; in part, for the fact that she was entering a more populated area, and in part to not blatantly abandon Kenzo now that he was committed to following her.

As Sarah expected, the paths across the park were populated, but not crowded beyond a normal weekday. Not far into their walk, she noticed a huddle of 70th Streeters indulging in a smoke; the scent of marijuana lofted into the air around them; Sarah caught the smell and a slight contact experience as she neared them. She eyed them cautiously as one of them also noticed her with a look that suggested he recognized her. But Sarah paid him and his group little more than a passing glance; as much as she’d have loved to lay out more bodies from the 7-0, Maddie was her priority unless the gang moved on her and Kenzo first. She looked to Kenzo and gestured for him to keep moving, in case he was getting a similar urge to pick a fight.

Sarah pressed on, undaunted until she came to a small car lot a short distance into the park. As a black sedan rolled into one of the parking spots, a sensation crept its way under her skin. It was familiar: searing and heavy, like someone hating her purely for being as she was… the same feeling she had caught from Taiwu from the Blue Dragons. She came to an abrupt halt, letting the feeling wash over her, muscles contracting and falling loose in rhythm with her heartbeat. She side-eyed the black car… if they were tailing her, she couldn’t let them know that she knew. She looked around the park away from the black car. Other than what was emanating from the sedan, she felt nothing concerning. She turned to speak to Kenzo, but was pulled away by a voice from behind her…

Taiwu huffed softly, but indignantly. Xiao Feng didn’t seem to be grasping the full picture. The pyromancer shook his head and recomposed himself. “Any move we make on the Lucky Noodle will have to go through the girl… and maybe those other kids. Best we figure them all out, and how best to deal with them.” He rested his head back in his seat. “But as you wish, we stick to the plan. I’ll let our recruits know of my request when we hire them… If you don’t mind, I’d like to run point on that job.” He rubbed his finger and thumb together, producing a small, lighter-sized flame. “And you know me. I clean my tracks well enough.”

He allowed Xiao Feng the moment to consider the proposition.

In the meantime, the car had rolled into Millenia Park, coming to a stop in a small lot a short way off of the road. Taiwu thought to question why they had stopped, but his attention was quickly overcome by the sight of someone he hadn’t expected to see… “Her.” His eye looked as much like a dragon’s as they could as they narrowed at the sight of Shimazu’s pupil walking past them across the Park; close by her was the other fighter, the one who had openly proposed jumping him back in the old man’s shop. What they were doing in the Park was neither to Taiwu’s knowledge nor his interest. But seeing them was curious regardless. Perhaps he could seize his moment to get what he needed; jump the girl, wet a knife with her blood, and then get it back to Amara. Taiwu’s hand twitched over the handle in the car door.

But then the girl stopped, and Taiwu stayed his hand. Her stance was known to him; it was the same position the old man used to take when he was trying to ground himself and feel his environment. Had he taught her his tricks? If she had any measure of Shimazu’s ability, she’d have already caught on to his presence. And then there was the other one. Taiwu knew nothing of what he could do; only that he had made light work of the other Blue Dragons earlier that morning. As much of a fool as he might have seemed, he at least knew how to fight with competence. “No. Not yet.” He knew Xiao Feng wouldn’t be inclined to join in on his personal fights. A two-on-one against opponents he had little knowledge of wouldn’t be pragmatic. That wasn’t to mention that the 70th Street gangbangers nearby wouldn’t take too kindly to him starting something so close to their territory; they’d turn against him before the other two out of principle.

Finding himself a middle ground, he rolled down his window. “Bold of you to leave the Old Man alone,” he called.

Sarah turned to face him down, but didn’t budge from her spot. “Bold of you to assume I left him alone,” she retorted.

Taiwu’s lips curled upward. But he could hear the honesty in the girl’s tone; she wasn’t lying. “You best watch your back, Kid. The Old Man won’t have it forever.”

Sarah’s fists tightened and turned white as a ghost. She took a single step toward the car. “Was that a threat?” A rush of energy was gathering into her balled up fists. The sensation driving her to throw a hand forward pressed against her like a hot iron. But the self-reminder of the 7-0 not too far away, and the task at hand combined to hold her back. “I’d love to stay and finish this,” she said. “But I have more important things going on right now.”

Taiwu laughed mockingly. “So be it. We’ll take a rain check. I trust you won’t disappoint when the time comes.” Taiwu’s window rolled up.

Left staring into the dark-tinted window of the Blue Dragon’s car, Sarah turned away, and looked back to Kenzo. “We should keep moving,” she told him. She began to walk away slowly. “That asshole’s not worth our time right now.”

Shimazu stood with bated breath as they waited for the man to explain himself. He shifted slightly to better shield Ashley, just in case. “There is no need to call the police,” he urged. “Detective Donahue will call in back up if he feels it’s necessary. Please, go home Ashley; you need not be here.” He spoke without breaking his eyes off of the man emerging from the shadows. While still vigilant, he relaxed slightly when The Weeping, as he sat himself down, introduced himself, and began to explain himself.

It was quite the story… a being produced by La’moi Swamp, just outside of the city. Shimazu was aware of the urban legends that had abounded about the place; it was a favored dumping ground for gangs such as the Delgatos for disposing of those that they had taken out. Ken nodded with a hint of triumph as he learned his assessment of The Weeping’s nature was true: a single body with a multitude of souls attached to it. What was more was that, as Shimazu had been weary of, The Weeping’s actions hadn’t been entirely voluntary. Between the spirit that had been pressuring him to act, and the one called Amara of the Void (a name and group or place that Shimazu had no knowledge of), The Weeping had barely been afforded agency.

His own gaps in knowledge aside, the situation was seeming clear enough; the pieces of the story made enough sense together.

But there was no preparing him for what came from The Weeping next. A striking glance was sent in Shimazu’s direction; he returned it, not simply out of obligation to courtesy, but for a sudden draw towards the man. And then…

"You need to let it go, Chef."

Ken Shimazu’s face was relieved of any color, leaving a haunted paleness and bewildered eyes in its wake. He stood like a station for several seconds. The voice that had spoken sounded different from The Weeping’s normal voice, but still familiar to the Ramen cook. Yet he couldn’t put his finger on exactly whose voice it might have been. Chef… Indeed, the title fit his occupation of the past decade, but even his employees simply referred to him as Mr. Shimazu, or Shimazu San… And the tone with which it was spoken… The only ones who had ever called him ‘Chef’ as a proper name had been those that knew him at the Police Department.

You need to let it go. Apt guidance for many matters in his life prior.

He pulled out a chair for himself and took a seat, leveling himself with The Weeping. “Do you know where Ms. Crane… err Maddie is right now? Or what this Amara person wanted with her?”

Theresa entered the office. Rundown and cluttered as it was, it was still like home for her. She made her way to one of the armchairs and sat herself down. “It was just a quick errand,” she said. “Had to stop by Angel’s.” Theresa swallowed nervously, and then looked away from Val and to the broadcast on the TV. “Shaking the tree,” she continued, “seeing if we can’t get a certain thorn out of our side.”

Valentina reached over to grab the remote and hit the mute button, but kept the subtitles on to keep an eye out on what the news reporter continued to say about their little heist. Her attention turned towards Theresa once more. “Which thorn are you talking about, we have a lot, mind you.” Val said as she leaned back in her seat.

“That bitch from last night.” Theresa leaned forward to match Val’s lean back. “From the underground. The fight… the one that made me look like an amateur.”

Val looked at Theresa, she wasn’t at the fight last night but she heard that she had lost to someone in the ring. “As long as it doesn’t get the PCPD down around our heads, do whatever you want to get even; we just did a heist afterall so just don’t do anything reckless or stupid.” Valentina told her.

“I doubt the pigs will care,” Theresa shrugged off the concern. “She’s just some punk from Mapleview. The one our crew in Parkside West has been having trouble with. None of them can say who she is or where exactly to find her. She’s been in our way for too long though.”

“We still have to keep an eye out, and if you want to settle a grudge go and do it, but like I said don’t do anything dumb or reckless. If you do then you are on your own.” Val said looking at Theresa, she had the rest of the crew to look out for afterall.

“Don’t worry,” Theresa said, standing out of her chair. “I’m keeping this one on the downlow.” She began her way out the door, and turned back halfway across the threshold. “No big street fights, and minimal collateral. Just me stomping out a spark before it becomes a fire we can’t control.” She exited the office, closing the door behind her.

All there was left to do was wait for Angel to get back to her.

“I really don’t know,” KT said, looking at her friend. She moved closer to where Diana was standing. “I just went from looking for a job, to helping thwart a security breach, to being recruited to start a Superhero team; so it’s moving a bit fast. At least you’ve already been in the game of saving the city.” She looked to Wolfe, who seemed to be in an even deeper state of thought than she was. She looked back at Diana, and said with a small laugh, “but I guess I’ve got my foot in the door now; probably harder to get out than it is to get in. I want to do my part. And if I’m gonna help you, then I’ll be in on whatever you decide.”

“Vaughn made a valid point.” Wolfe had finally spoken up. He too moved in closer, so that he could lower his voice. “If criminals are emboldened enough to attack Veridian Headquarters in broad daylight, then the situation has already escalated beyond what even the three of us can manage on our own. There’s nothing wrong with coordinating our efforts with others who share our broader goals; if nothing else, it keeps the problems of other parts of the city from spilling out into our area.” Wolfe paused to think before resuming. “We’d have to work on how best to avoid any conflicts of interest. It’s one thing to operate on the small scale that we have been. But getting a team like the Defenders going would carry massive implications. At the very least, we can assist the Deputy Director in finding candidates to recruit for his initiative. We already have security systems in place around the city, and there is legal precedent for private entities relaying… anomalies and parties of interest to the DSHA. If it means being better prepared to manage, if not head off, any future problems, I say we move forward with it.”

“Like I said, I would like to do my part, use my powers for something… helpful, productive,” KT agreed.