By Clarissa-van-Dell

In a dark room, filled with the hum of turbines, two women walked, carrying flashlights.  They were nothing alike, the one wearing a large top hat jumping at every slight sound; the one in black gripped the other’s shoulder.  “She’ll be here any second, Hatter,” she said, her full lips forming a frown.  “We’re on a mission, remember that.”

The woman with the hat smiled.  “We’re going to take them down, aren’t we?”

“You don’t even know who we’re after yet.  That’s why we’re here, remember?”  A large noise came from behind them; the girl with the hat gave a loud shriek.  Her partner shut her up with a clap of her hand.  “Quiet!  Idiot…” They stopped at the largest turbine; the thundering machine turned as rushing water passed under it, spinning its blades into a dizzying circle of motion.  The woman in black pursed her lips.  “Here.  She should be here any moment.”  The woman let go of her companion’s shoulder.

“And then we’re gonna go get them, right?” The one with the hat was wearing a grin so wide, her partner was surprised it didn’t damage her face.

“Hold on to your hat, Willy Wonka.  We’re doing whatever the Conductor wants us to do.”  The one in black paused.  “There’s a spider on your hat.”

“Ee!” the other woman screamed, her grin momentarily broken.

“Can you shut her up?  I’m getting a headache.”  The one in black clapped her hand over the screaming woman’s mouth.  “Thank you, Mora.  This shape’s ears are delicate.”

Mora leaned in, getting a closer look at the brown spider, perched on the brim of the felt top hat.  “It is you, right?”

“Yes.  And this city will be perfect, as I thought.  There’s enough electricity to play with, anyway.  Do you think the Mad Hatter will be quiet now?”

“Not as quiet as I’d like,” Mora muttered, though she released her partner.  “What have you got for us?” she asked, glancing at the Hatter.  She turned back to the spider then, and mouthed the word, “Change,” quiet enough to avoid the Hatter’s ears.

The spider swelled in and out, the edges of her body deforming and reforming until where a spider sat; there was a black butterfly.  “Better?”

“Much.”

The butterfly took off, its delicate wings giving a few flaps until landing on Mora’s extended arm.  “Yes, I can see both of you now.  This will do.  Now, for business.”

“Who’re we gonna get?”

“Listen, Hatter.  There are quite a few people here, with similar talents to ours.  They call themselves the Heroes’ Co-op.  We’ll have to dominate them.  They are a motley group, but we’ll have to be certain there are no surprises.  I will be in hiding temporarily, for one of the locals I have employed here… well, she might be tricky to handle.  And whatever anyone might say, I am not careless.  I give you one task, and that is to learn about the vigilantes who stand in our way.”

“Knowledge is power,” Mora quoted, while the Hatter nodded violently.

The butterfly’s wings gave one flap.  “Good.  I have one of them now.  He’ll be yours for the time being.”

Mora’s face twitched into a smile.  “Torture?”

“No.  He was one of the group, but I’ve convinced him that we would better appreciate his contributions.  He is quite knowledgeable with technology, and he will work under you.”

“Fine,” Mora said.  “Is there anything else?”

The butterfly’s wings moved again, this time preparing to take off.  “No.  I will contact you later.  For now, learn.”  The butterfly rose into the air, and was gone before either of the two women could say anything else.  Mora peered into the direction it went.  “Well.  That was productive,” she said, her tone sarcastic. “Let’s go back to the complex, and see who these ‘Heroes’ are.”

Nick

“Sweetcheeks!  Throw some more boulders!”  Nick shouted, already seeing her raising rocks from the ground.  Sure enough, the girl in a pink dress raised her hands, rocks bursting from the ground in showers of dirt.  They hovered for a few seconds, and then seemed to throw themselves.  All as Nick had seen seconds before.

The girl they were surrounding had tried to rob a bank.  They police could have handled it themselves, before she shifted into a rhinoceros.  For these special cases, the criminals with certain talents, they called Nick, leader of the Heroes’ Co-op.  Now, the girl was a giant grizzly, sharp teeth and claws aiming for the tall dark girl throwing rocks.

Nick saw what happened next.  “Anemone!  Get her from the side!” he called, circling around the hectic scene.  Ever since Yuechen had left the group, he had taken on the duty of watching the fighting, giving his team the coaching they needed.

To be honest, even though he had brief flashes of the immediate future, Yuechen did a better job.

Anemone, a pale girl who seemed almost too tall, rammed into the bear’s side, narrowly avoiding the rock that nailed it in the snout.  Just as Nick had seen.  The bear let out a huge howl.

“Great!” Nick said, smiling.  “Let her have it now!”

Anemone paused.  “What?” she asked, struggling to keep the bear in her grip.

“Use your cleaver!”

“But I can hold her!”

“We want to incarcerate her!” Nick called, the smile gone now.  This was what he didn’t like about the group now.  Without Yuechen, they were always questioning him.  Always, they were ready to defy him.  “Sweetcheeks!  Bring up some vines!”

“Coming up,” Sweetcheeks said, bringing her hands up again.

The bear writhed in Anemone’s arms, slowly changing, her form lengthening, thinning out, until a snapping crocodile was snapping its teeth in Anemone’s face.  “Hurry!” she said, struggling to pin the reptile’s jaw shut.

“On it.” A streak of black came down on the wresting hero and crocodile, landing on the beast’s tail.  It burst into an inhuman cry, and a girl all in black ninja garb took it from Anemone.  Her approach differed; instead of trying to keep its mouth closed, she stretched its jaws apart, the jaws on the verge of snapping.  The crocodile began howling.

Anemone’s eyes widened.  “What are you doing?” she asked, hands clenched together.  She was holding that doll of hers now, the little dude with black hair she talked to, and always took with her.

“I’m keeping it busy,” the ninja said, just audible over the crocodile.

“But it’s a human being!” Anemone was saying, hugging the doll tightly.

Nick groaned.  He should have taken the Pondermatic on this call rather than the Silencer.  Well, no help for it now.  He was already seeing the Silencer relinquish it to Sweetcheek’s vines… and a second later it happened, thorned vines wrapping around the animal.  It struggled, but the vines were strong to hold it in place.  The reptile started shrinking, its howls diminishing.  Soon a girl was trapped in the vines, screaming in a mix of pain and fury.  ”Who do we have here?” Nick asked, striding over to the girl who could be an animal.

She was plain enough.  Her brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, though her blue eyes stood out behind the goggles she was wearing.  Round goggles and a costume of red and blue with a multitude of buckles marked the girl for who she was, a superhero, or villain, wannabe.  Nick wasn’t for the costume scene himself, settling only for the small hourglass on a chain that had become his symbol.

“My name is Riot!” she roared.  “And you don’t have the right to… ow!”   The Silencer yanked at the girl’s ponytail.  “Don’t touch me!”

“She doesn’t have an affiliation,” The Silencer said, stoic despite Riot’s desperate attempt to claw her eyes out.  “She could join the Co-op, if you think she’s up for it.”

Nick closed his eyes in thought.  The Heroes’ Co-op had done this for years.  Someone with a talent showed up, made a first offense, and the police would gladly let them join the Heroes’ Co-op instead of a jail sentence.  And this girl would make an excellent addition.  Yet…

“I’m not going anywhere with her!” Riot yelled, glaring at the ninja.

This was not the best time for new recruits.  The Co-op… it had its own problems.  “Fine.  She gets her way,” Nick said, keeping his thoughts secret.  His hand wrapped itself in the long gold chain around his neck.  “The police can take care of her.  Let’s head back to headquarters, and we’ll… record this.  And there are things we need to discuss,” he added quietly, looking at Anemone and the Silencer.  The ninja chose that time to sneeze.  “Bless you.”

“No problem.  Hay fever.”

Yes; Nick should have taken the Pondermatic instead.

A flash of color to the left startled Nick.  “Ah… you head back without me.  I have some… things to take care of,” he said, looking at the alleyway it disappeared into.  The others looked dumb, waiting for something.  “Go!  What, you want a gold sticker?  Head on back, get it recorded!  I have to do something!”  They all scattered; Sweetcheeks and Anemone going one way, the Silencer disappearing in the shadows another.  Nick sighed, then went into the alleyway to the left.

Mora

“Oh, look!” the Mad Hatter said, tapping her fingers together.  “Kind of like a game.  Only we’re spectators.”

Mora shrugged, trying to hide her annoyance.  “Well, we learned from it.  They are a motley bunch.  A ninja?  An earth thrower?  And whoever that one girl was.  And who was that boy, skirting around the outside?  It doesn’t make sense.”  She looked down.  From on top of the bank, they had a good view of the surrounding area.  The best seat in the house, one might say.

“I don’t like it!” Hatter said, folding her arms.

“What?”

“It’s boring.  I want to fight them!”

“You’ll get your chance,” Mora promised.  “But we have to learn about their weaknesses first, so we can exploit them.  Exploiting is fun, remember?”

The grin came back to Hatter’s face.

Mora frowned.  “We need to talk with the ‘hero’.  Yuechen.  He should be at the complex.  He’ll give us more information we need, most likely.  And… oh ho!  I spy something with my little eye!” Mora said, leaning down, captivated by a sight in a neighboring alleyway.  “Something… juicy!”

Nick

“Emit!” Nick said, his running slowing as he approached the girl.  “Emit, what are you doing here?”  Despite his worries, his face was light at the sight of his friend, a girl with wavy red hair that touched her shoulders aside from the lone blue streak in front; her eyes were a warm brown, and her clothes were colorful as always, like some bird of paradise.

“I… I wanted to be close,” Emit said.  “You said the Co-op was having problems.  And I’ll be around to help.”

“Then why don’t you join?” Nick asked, his hands in the air.  “You say you’re happy to help, but… I need someone to help me keep this thing together!  You’re a people person!” he said, still smiling.

The girl sat down on the ground.  “You know why I can’t.”

“No!  I don’t!”

“I don’t do this… long-term commitment thing!”  Her eyes widened as she saw Nick’s face, now down-turned.  “That’s not what I meant!  Dear Lord, Nick, you used to be fun!  What happened to you?”  She came over to him, gripping his shoulders tightly.  “We’ll always be friends!”

“I know.”

Emit inhaled.  “You need something to lighten you up.  This leadership thing isn’t cut out for you; you’ll kill yourself at this rate.  Come on.  Let’s see a movie or something.”

Nick grimaced.  “I really should be at headquarters.”

“You always have to be…”

“Look, Emit, I’m sorry.  But it is a responsibility of mine.  You want me picking fights again, like three years ago?” he asked, some kind of anger in his words.  “I’m doing my best.  I have five people to lead, and none of them want to follow!  It’s a Co-op!  That means cooperation!”  Nick paused, seeing the concerned look on Emit’s face.  “I’m sorry.”  He turned around and left, all the while slapping himself in his mind.

Anemone

Anemone refused to speak with the Silencer when they got back to headquarters.  Instead, she stayed in her room, the walls painted red several months ago when she first signed up for the Co-op.  Now, she lay on her bed, holding her doll above her head.  “It’s cruel, and inhumane!” the girl said, looking up into the large eyes of the doll.  “You heard the noise she made!”

But you should talk about it.  There’s no point in keeping this to yourself until the next time she does something.

“But she won’t listen to me!” Anemone protested.  It had always been like this; whenever she needed advice, or comforting, she went to Ryuzaki, her doll.

Then go above her.  Talk to Nick.

Anemone sat up, eyes wide.  “Nick?  You really think he’ll listen?”

At least he would consider it.  Why wouldn’t he listen?

“He thinks I’m crazy.”

Well, you are.

“You aren’t helping!” Anemone said, a smile on her face nonetheless.  It disappeared as a sharp pain penetrated her temples.  She groaned, “This is confusing, Ryuzaki.  I have a headache.”

That’s your problem.

Anemone sat up on the bed, Ryuzaki still in her hands.

You over-think everything. You complicate every last little thing, twisting all the details into knots that keep getting bigger and bigger until you can’t even remember where it was you started. Calm down and take the easy option once in a while.

“Um,” she said as she lifted her eyes to the ceiling in deep thought. Finally she faced him again and said “What the hell? It can’t hurt.”

It shouldn’t, in any case. Not unless you manage to royally screw it up again.

“Whose side are you on anyway?”

Yours, of course.

Anemone couldn’t help smiling at this, when a strong voice called out to the Co-op. She and Ryuzaki stared at each other and said the same words in unison:

“Nick’s home.”  Anemone clutched the doll to her chest, and walked out the door to the main room.  It had been greatly updated since the group had first been established here, she remembered hearing.  What used to be a small room in an abandoned warehouse was now a masterpiece room, large windows exposing the cityscape, and letting in pale light from the evening.  A massive computer terminal sat in the corner.  Yuechen had once manned it, though now a tall man sat in the chair, his pale skin and blond hair nearly white in the glow of the screen.

“Pondermatic?” Anemone crept closer, making out various strings of text she couldn’t comprehend.  “Isn’t Nick back?”

The man turned around.  “Yeah.  He’s in his room.”

“Thanks,” Anemone said, walking over to the door at the end of the hall.  She stood poised to knock for a few seconds, and then let her closed fist fall against the door.  “Nick?  It’s Anemone.  Can I talk to you?”

There was a muffled sound of discontent, and the door opened.  Nick stood, slightly slouched, his black hair ruffled.  “Yes?” he asked, his voice groggy.  “I was almost asleep.”

Anemone winced.  “I’m so sorry, I’ll let you go back to your nap…”

Nick shook his head.  “I’m trying to be a good leader.  Come on in, I’m awake anyhow…” Anemone walked into his room, trying not to be discouraged by the black gun on the end table by the modest, if unmade, bed.  Nick saw her eyes glance at it as he sat down on the covers.  “I was playing with it,” he said, taking it and hiding it under his pillow.  “I’ve been stressed lately.”

“I really don’t want to…”

“What is it?” Nick asked, the tired voice gone, replaced with something sharp.  “I’m here to listen.”

Anemone summoned her courage.  “It’s Silencer.  I don’t think she… you saw what she did today.  It wasn’t right.”

“She did what had to be done.  You were losing your grip on the perpetrator.”

“She didn’t have to hurt it like that!  It was a human!  A crocodile shaped one, but it was a person!  She isn’t at all like the ninjas where I come from, they would never…” Anemone fell silent at the look on Nick’s face.

“What do you want me to do?” Nick asked.  “Throw her out of the group?  Ever since Yuechen left, I’ve been trying to keep the group together.  You and Silencer are always at each other, the Pondermatic doesn’t do what I tell him half the time, Torrent and Sweetcheeks are caught up in all your…” he stopped, and gave a sigh.  “I wish Yuechen hadn’t left.”

Anemone burned.   “You know, if you didn’t try to be such a great leader all the time, maybe it wouldn’t be as hard.”

“And we’d fall apart!  Yuechen…”

“I’m starting to think he had the right idea,” Anemone said, turning around to leave.

Nick’s eyes widened.  “Anemone, I…”

“I only came to this city because I thought I would find Mariko here,” she said.  “I said that joining the Heroes’ Co-op would be the perfect way to find her, looking all over the city.  It’s been months and I haven’t found any traces of my best friends!” Nick said nothing.  She turned around.  “I need to pack,” Anemone said, and let the door swing shut behind her.

Yuechen

Yuechen was face to face with two of the strangest women he had ever met.  They were both wearing black domino masks, but that was were the similarities ended.  The one introducing herself as Mora was beautiful, a tall woman clothed in a black top and pants.  Long black hair curled around her pale face, and from her mask sprouted dark horns.

The other woman was short, her mask simple, especially under the giant green top hat that stood out almost as much as the white grin on her face.  Green was the theme of her wardrobe; her blazer and pleated skirt claimed the color, while her boots and fishnets accented with black.  That was the girl Mora called the Mad Hatter.  The name fit, Yuechen had to say.

“What do you think?” Mora was asking, the hint of a mocking smile on her face.  Mora often had a mocking smile on her face, Yuechen surmised; it never completely left.

He looked around at the room.  It was dark, but then again it wasn’t as bad as the place the Heroes’ Co-op had once lived in.  It was a plain apartment, a beige couch against the wall, white walls, and an apparent lack of lamps.  “It’s nice,” he said.  “It’s clean.”

“Turn around,” Mora said, still smiling.

Yuechen did as she said, and then saw the computer.  It was a Macintosh, with a silver frame, delicate and light as any computer he had seen.  “It’s a Mac,” he said, blinking a few times.

“A Mac?  What’s wrong with a Mac?” the Hatter said, flouncing on to the couch.  “I knew a Mac once, but then I squashed him like a bug…”

“Shut up,” Mora said, her voice seething even while her smile remained.  Yuechen didn’t like her at all; there was something cruel in her that made him pause.  Mora’s eyes still on him, she asked, “What would you rather?”

“No, it’s… it’s the greatest thing I’ve seen,” Yuechen said, his eyes glued to the computer.  “How much did it cost?  I mean, this is like, the top of the line…”

“We want to give you whatever you’d like.  We need your help, and whatever you give us, is valuable.”  Mora seemed to circle around him, like a carrion-eating bird.  “Whatever you want, you deserve.  You understand?”

“Yes,” the word hissed from him.  That… beautiful monster on the desk captivated his attention, the machine that didn’t fit in with the room.  It called to him, beckoning him to put his fingers to the keys, and watch the screen.  How had they gotten it?  The thought struck strangely.  “What is it, exactly, that you need my help with?” Yuechen asked, dread sitting in his throat.

“The Heroes’ Co-op.”

Yuechen froze.  “I can’t help you.”

“And why not?” Mora asked, her head tilting to the side.  “You left.  Remember?”

“They’re my friends!  I can’t betray them!” Yuechen said, facing Mora.  The computer was forgotten.  “I don’t know who you are, but if you’re planning to hurt any of them…”

“I think you’d better rethink it,” Mora said, still smiling.  “Why don’t you think on it for one night, and then we’ll talk.  The Conductor says…”

“I don’t care what she says!  I’m not hurting my friends!” Yuechen said, the words bursting from him.  He could see the way Mora raised her eyebrow, and then it all faded.  He blinked a few times, though his vision didn’t change.  “What the…”  He turned around again, and was suddenly face to face with a boy his own age, with black hair even more disheveled than normal, white t-shirt and faded jeans spattered with blood.  Yuechen wouldn’t have recognized him if it weren’t for the hourglass the boy wore on a gold chain.  “Nick?” he asked, backing away.

“Yuechen…  Why?  We counted on you.”  Nick looked up at Yuechen, his blue eyes dilated.  “You couldn’t help us…”

“No, I didn’t…  I didn’t know!”  Yuechen replied.  A step from behind, and he whirled around again, this time facing Anemone.  Her crimson eyes were pale in comparison to the blood dripping off her face and hair.  “I didn’t! This isn’t my fault!”  He turned, and began to run, but stopped when he saw Sweetcheeks in front of him, the skin nearly scraped off her face.

“You let us down, Yuechen.”

“Failed us…” Anemone said.

“Why?  You failed, when we counted on you,” Nick’s voice said.

“I didn’t!”

Fail.  You failed.  You’re nothing but a failure.

“I didn’t fail!  I can’t!”  Yuechen closed his eyes, and opened them again.  Mora stood in front of him, smiling that cruel smile.  “You.”

“What is your opinion now?  Shall we work together?  Or did you prefer being lost in your own fears?”  Yuechen shook his head.  “If you try and rebel again, I might put you in a mind loop, just for a few years, understand.”

Yuechen paused.  He had no idea who these strange women were, but they were dangerous.  If they put him in there again, he wouldn’t be able to help his friends at all.  He shivered.  “Yes.  I will help you.”

Mora’s smile curved even more.  “Good.  First… oh, but I have class,” she said, turning to the Mad Hatter.  “Hatter, I want you to watch…”  She stopped, and turned back to Yuechen.  “Excuse me.  Yuechen, watch the idiot while I’m gone.”  As she walked out the door, Yuechen looked at the Mad Hatter, stunned by the grin plastered on her face. He tried to assure himself that it would be easier than the hell Mora had created from his own fears.

Emit

 

Emit tried her hardest to take down notes, but the drone of her teacher’s voice called to her like a sweet lullaby. Mythology was supposed to be fun, like past stories about gods and magic, she thought to herself.  However, the mandatory lectures were an exercise in willpower.  She sighed as she wrote down the last bit of information, and then stretched out her hand, trying to minimize the effect of carpal tunnel.

“Em?”

Emit’s real name was Emmett, due to her father’s odd sense of humor.  She had been Emmett to everyone until her power came into her life, and she found herself freezing time.  Then she had secretly changed the spelling.  E-m-i-t, or the opposite of T-i-m-e.  She turned to the girl who had spoken to her.  “Yes?”

She was surprised to see it was Juniper Mannson speaking.  Juniper was the girl of the class who didn’t seem to care if she was popular or not.  A lot of the guys Emit knew wanted to ask her out, and she had a way of making most girls envy her.  Whether it was the gorgeous hair or the lofty attitude, Emit didn’t know.  “You’re a history major, right?”

Emit nodded.  Juniper Mannson was talking to her?  That was weird.  “Yes,” she said, nodding carefully.

“I’m a psychology major, but history’s my minor.  I really could use some help studying, and you’re pretty good at this, so, I was thinking…”

“I could help.  Sure,” Emit said.  She wondered at Juniper’s sudden easy tone.  Usually her voice was one of superiority… but Emit shoved the thought from her mind.  “What do you need help with?”

“Oh, I just felt… like I needed someone to study with.  My life is… crazy.”  Her usual smile came at that point, a mocking half grin that Emit never quite understood.  She wondered if Juniper even knew it was on her face.

Mora

Mora smiled, then returned to her note taking.  She had known the girl from the alley, Emmett Glass.  Luckily, as Juniper Mannson, she had found it easy to get close to her during class.  After all, who would suspect the ordinary girl sitting one row back in their myth history class?

Slavic mythology was the topic today.  The teacher was droning about the gods and creatures like he was discussing the phonebook.  Mora felt herself slipping into a rather undignified doze, when her name floated from the man’s mouth.  Mora.

Her back straightened, eyes wide, until she realized her was speaking of her namesake.  “ ‘Mora’ was the source of the English word ‘nightmare’,” he was saying, his bleary eyes blinking a few times.  “According to the Slavish, however, the Mora was a dark, female spirit, that visited souls in their sleep.”

He paused.  “The Mora would then torture these souls and drag the life from them.  Mora, of course, comes from the Greek word moros, meaning death.  Other similar creatures are the mara, the mare, the mere, and other various spellings.  For example, in the French culture…”

Mora glanced at Emmett, the only one in the room scribbling this down.  It was a shame that the professor had to take such a fascinating concept, Mora thought, and turn it into yet another bullet point on a tedious presentation.  It was a good thing that Emmett was taking notes.

Otherwise she would have no clue as to what was coming for her.

Pondermatic

 

The Pondermatic was a nice guy, even before he had joined the Heroes’ Co-op.  He had joined the group without much prompting, believing the adage, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’  His outfit was a bit on the costume side, he would be first to admit, but it was also practical; a tight black shirt of elastine and matching leggings cut off mid-calf, underneath a white buckle vest and white shorts, black athletic shoes for easy movement.  His power was valuable to the group; he could reconstruct matter, changing air to liquid, or liquid to solid, or whatever change was most useful at the time.

For the time being, however, he was on computer duty.  He typed in Yuechen’s password, ••••••, and smiled at the joke before pressing enter.  The Heroes’ Co-op records came up.  He selected his entry, and started editing the information, fingers going 75 words per minute, when…

“The Pondermatic is the most awesome superhero ever?” a voice behind him asked.  “That’s what you’re putting in the records?”

Pondermatic swirled around in his chair.  “Sweetcheeks!  I didn’t hear you behind me!” he said with a grin.  Sweetcheeks stood, arms akimbo, her eyebrows raised.  “It was only a joke.  I was going to fix it after Nick saw it.  He needs to lighten up a bit, don’t you think?”

“Maybe.  It’s been hard.  Yuechen left, and Nick thinks we’re all going to fall apart without him.  I don’t know why he’s so worried, but…” she trailed off, noticing Anemone in the hallway.  She held a suitcase in one hand, her doll in the other.  “Anemone?”

“I’m leaving.  I… I can’t live here anymore, not with people who…”  Her eyes blinked a few times, a few tears rolling down her cheeks.  “I just wanted to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?  But… you’ll still be in the group, won’t you?   After Yuechen, if you left, then…” Pondermatic didn’t know what else to say.  Anemone had been with the group for a while now, and while she had disagreed with a few of Nick’s plans, she was good.  “You’ll still join us with watching Blitz City, right?”

Anemone shook her head.  “I have a mission.  I need to leave, right now, find my friend.  She’s… somewhere…” She went over to the other two heroes, giving them careful hugs.  “I know that I said the Co-op was certain to find a trace of where she went, but I can’t stay with people who are so inhumane, and people who won’t do anything about it.  I’ll miss you guys, though.”

“Well… we’ll see you again, right?” the Pondermatic asked, concern in his voice.

“I don’t know.  But… Tell the others I said goodbye, alright?” Anemone said.  She left the main room, Sweetcheeks and the Pondermatic silent until they heard the elevator door shut.  Anemone…. Gone?  Pondermatic thought that thing were strained in the Co-op, certainly, but to have Anemone leave?  She had been there for months, looking for her friend Mariko while protecting the city.  Without her, the demise of the heroes’ group seemed to creep closer.

“I’ll change it back,” he said quietly, referring to his previous joke.  Sweetcheeks only nodded.

Chameleon

Chameleon had been watching this building for the past few days now, searching for a possible weakness.  A penthouse of an apartment complex gifted by the city to seven, presently six, heroes.  She had initially thought it easy, but the group was better guarded than she thought.  The front door allowed no view of the main room, and their security system was flawless.  The weather had been rather blustery today as well.  Yet, she had kept watching, waiting for an opportunity.

That opportunity approached her now.  The tall, pale girl they called Anemone was leaving the apartment, suitcase in hand.  Chameleon smiled.  This was just too perfect.  She shifted her current form, a short girl with medium brown hair, wearing a hoodie and jeans, seemingly harmless and nice, into the form of a tall, blonde man, with the attractive looks and clothing of a model.  She wasn’t sure if Anemone would be attracted, but if she wasn’t, there were other ways of getting what she needed.

The girl dropped her suitcase.  Articles of clothing spilled out, the wind throwing the shirts and pants in separate directions.  “God frack it!” she screamed out loud.  Chameleon took her chance, diving after the shirts she could find.  She got to her feet, and thrust the recovered clothing at Anemone.  “Uh… thank you?”

“No problem,” Chameleon said, liking the sound of her male, deep voice.  “I’m Derek.”

“I’m Anemone,” the pale girl said, taking her clothes from Chameleon.

“Wait.  The hero Anemone?  Wow, I should have… wow,” ‘Derek’ said.  Chameleon looked around as if in shock, and then took on the persona of a fan.  “You were there for the one girl at the bank… the one that could turn into animals, right?”  Anemone nodded, the sad look back on her face.  ‘Derek’ didn’t notice, but the Chameleon did.  “And you were holding her still, and then the Silencer came, and…”

“Yeah, I helped with that,” Anemone said, her voice weak.

“I can’t believe you do that every day!”

She shrugged.  “It’s nothing, really… I live in the city, and I have a responsibility to keep it safe… even if the people who work with me are…”

“Jerks?” ‘Derek’ suggested.

“They aren’t…”

“You have a suitcase in your hand.  And everyone knows about Yuechen leaving.”

“Well, yeah, but I was just mad!  The Silencer didn’t really hurt her.  And Nick… he was just trying to prevent an argument… because the group… well, it’s a bit fragile right now.”  ‘Derek’ nodded, eyes wide.  “Actually… I need to go back,” Anemone said, realization in her voice.

“Go back?”

“Yes!  I can’t leave, not now!  They’re my…  They need me!”  She smiled, the sadness gone.  “Thank you so much for your help, Derek, I’ll see you around!”  She turned around, looking up at the Heroes’ Co-op apartment.

The Chameleon pulled a soaked rag from her back pocket, and brought her arm around to the hero’s mouth, simultaneously pinning Anemone’s arms against her body.  “Oh yes, you will,” she said, watching Anemone struggle, then pass out from the chloroform.  “Real soon.”

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