rogue, meet hero

[peterxy]

Most of the time, patrolling is a dull, uneventful affair, somewhat akin to the Ankh-Morpork City Guard ringing their bells and calling "All's well!" at night.

Sometimes, it's not.

Dauntless was not expecting to run into two unpowered Asian gangs (Japanese and Korean? that's what it looks like at a distance) duking it out in the middle of the street. Granted, it's the evening, and it's not quite the most well-frequented of streets, but still.

He decides to call for backup, not because he wouldn't be able to take them on, but because he's supposed to do that whenever confronting another parahuman or a large number of non-capes, at least until he graduates. He turns the comm on and describes the situation - a bit over a dozen people on each side, arguing and brandishing blunt weapons and in some cases guns - then waits and watches.

Comments

[thinkering]

"...Sounds good. You want to handle the light on your own too or should I fix a streetlight?"

[mxglam]

They don't heave a sigh of relief that she believed them because that'd be telling. "I think it's better if you fix it. Hero, can you hold the smoke thingy?" they ask that of Dauntless.

"Uh, sure."

"Great, don't squeeze it too hard, though." They leave the smoke thingy with the Ward and start setting up a strange device out of pieces that appear out of thin air - or were they there all the time? The effect's confusing.

[thinkering]

Sort of Miss-Militia-and-then-some. Lorica watches the proceedings with interest. A robot is poised to repair a light. "Say when."

[mxglam]

Assembling, assembling, looking very convincing and believable, "When."

[thinkering]

Bzzt, goes the robot. The light flickers on.

[peterxy]

No teleporter.

[thinkering]

"Damn. Worth a shot. I'm going to fix the other lights unless that seems like a bad idea."

[mxglam]

"Well, he could be waiting for you to do that to appear and go all stabby-stabby again, if he expected this was in fact a trap."

[thinkering]

"Can you set up sprayers under all the lights?"

[mxglam]

"Yeah."

They start doing that.

Dauntless fidgets.

[alicornucopia]

"When I'm reporting in," Velocity says, "what should we call you, new cape?"

[mxglam]

"Glam."

There, all done.

[thinkering]

Lights: up.

[peterxy]

Still no teleporter.

[mxglam]

"Guess he's gone."

[thinkering]

"Looks like it. Well, good work, Wards, no casualties, neatly apprehended gang members, and new intel," says Velocity. "Glam, you did good too. You ever think about joining up?"

No one can see Lorica roll her eyes as her robots resume their normal flocking behavior.

[mxglam]

"Yes, the thought has crossed my mind."

The smoke device as well as the trap thingies start disappearing. Dauntless goes check on the unconscious gang members.

[thinkering]

They are unconscious. Finest Protectorate issue tranquilizer, small puncture wounds.

"I highly recommend it," says Velocity. "Gets you training and backup and support you can't get operating solo."

[mxglam]

"That it does."

[alicornucopia]

"You could come back to HQ with us, sign on tonight if you like," Velocity says encouragingly.

[mxglam]

Glam makes a show of considering it, but shakes their head. "I think I'm fine for now."

[alicornucopia]

"Well, offer doesn't expire," says Velocity, "keep it in mind, we'd be glad to have you."

A PRT truck rolls up to collect the gang members while being slightly more prepared than average police for the possible return of the Mover villain. "Right kids, that's our cue to head back in and debrief," Velocity says.

[mxglam]

"I'll think about it," they say. "Good luck with debriefing!"

[thinkering]

Lorica waves over her shoulder. "Thanks for the assist!" she calls as she lopes after Velocity.

[mxglam]

"You're welcome! It was fun!"

Ah, yes, good old fun, a teleporter-copier trying to stab you and blow you up while two gangs fight below you. Yes, indeed.