It Looks Better on Me! [IC]

[Ari]

Rolling his eyes at the almost perfunctory execution of the classic "Me or the civilians, hero!! Bwa-hahaha!" move, El Heraldo slid the Bandera into the holding ring on the back of his costume and soared elegantly through the air towards the first girl Looking Glass had sent tumbling to certain injury on the hard floor below.

He had to admit, his first ever battle against a supervillain was going much less smoothly than he had hoped. His allies seemed competent, the henchmen the mastermind had brought along were easily defeated, why was she so difficult to attack?

The answer eluded him throughout his rapid race towards the falling girl and his catching her neatly in midair to arrest her descent.

[Airon]

It took Heraldo only a fraction of a second to get down to the falling girl, but his enhanced hearing told him something was amiss. The girl's mouth was open, but no scream was coming out, and so close to her, it surely couldn't be entirely dominated by the loud noises in the store.

The realization of being tricked definitely sank in when, as he extended his arms to catch the girls, she fell right through them as if she was a ghost, continuing her eeire silent fall untile she fell through the floor of the atrium and disappeared. The other girls where still very much falling, but now Heraldo knew he had been tricked. He looked up, and saw Looking Glass flying above him, her thrusters propelling her through the air weren't emitting any sound either.

[Ari]

Stopping mid-flight, Subito stared at the illusion as it fell through the floor, fury burning in his brain as the woman's plan was suddenly revealed: use their expectations against them. He and the other two had been playing into her hand the entire time by expecting her to follow the vaguely-adhered to script of hero-villain conventions. Now, due to that, they stood a good chance of failing to capture her!

Spinning into the direction the jewelry store lay, he saw Looking Glass retrieving the bag of stolen valuables, right where it had been dropped by the thugs the other guy and Net Fly had beaten.

Calling at the other two he shoted "Guys! The woman is NOT flying, those girls are NOT real! It's an illusion, she's really inside here, at the jewelry store!" he said it as loudly and emphatically as he could, pointing the flag in the direction he beheld her to be so that there wouldn't be much chance of mistaking where he was gesturing.

[Vahnyu]

At the sight of the girls falling, Net Fly breathed "No.... no..." Immediately sprinting towards the ledge, he shouted "NO!"

"Guys! The woman is NOT flying, those girls are NOT real! It's an illusion, she's really inside here, at the jewelry store!"

An Illusion? They were... No. "Don't be fooled, El Heraldo! She is playing with your mind!" Net Fly shouted, as he dived in order to pick up the slack for his colleague. As soon as he reached the first girl, Net Fly said "Don't be afraid ma'am, I'll-huh?" The moment Net Fly reached out to her, the girl vanished, as if she was never there. El Heraldo warned me. I was such a fool. The other girls must also be... No, don't lose focus, it's all in your mind. This may have been an illusion, but the other two must be real. I can't chance it. he thought. Working fast, Net Fly reached for the second girl, only to once again be met with nothing but air. Crap, the second one was also an illusion... as if a veil had been lifted from his mind's eye, Net Fly realised that he had been played for a fool. The only thing that surpassed his rage, right now, was the immense feeling of shame. What?! They... they all were fake... All of them... How could I not see it?... Damn it... Damn...

[Airon]

G-Stunt stood in terror as the three girls fell to their death, but was relieved when he saw Net Fly and Heraldo dive down the atrium to catch them. They both seemed to do a good job, but then Heraldo screamed something about an illusion. Stuart gazed at Looking Glass: she seemed very much real to him, that nonsense about illusions could mena that Heraldo had been hit with the make-people-crazy ray that created all that choas in the first place.

"Ok, lady, you were an annoying disturbance before, but it seems you want to graduate to full-fledged criminal threat!" re-locking his batons together into a staff, he shifted his gravity axis a bit towards his enemy, boosting his speed as he charged towards her. “I’m guessing there aren’t a lot of mirrors in Blackstone… so you are going to be even more bored when you spend the next ten years in there!†he swung the three-section staff in a rotating movement, quick and centered on her chin. The reinforced wood passed through her face without losing momentum and impacted on the metal handrail of the hallway with a loud CLANG!

Stuart was dazed for a second… then he looked behind him. What looked like a mirror image of the villain was in fact the woman herself, smiling sarcastically while watching the three heroes chase her tricks.

[Airon]

The villainess laughed a bit less gracefully than her usual as she saw the so-called heroes jump through hoops to fight off her illusions. She secured the bags filled by her henchmen to her belt and was ready to leave, when even the last of her three opponents shook off the illusions and turned to face her real self.

“Oh good, boys, you found the real one! And it took the three of you sooo little time! You must have been the true kings of the Carnival’s House of Mirrors, with such a powerful perception…†she quickly moved near the jewel-shop owner, who had been combing her own hair looking into the mirror for the duration of the whole robbery. “Easy now, boy-scouts! That was just a joke, now I’m serious. Let me go before this nice old lady gets hurt.†She waved her crystal gun at the heroes, and through the transparent case it was clearly seeable the red laser accumulating energy. She pointed the gun at the old lady’s back. “I’m going to get away now, you’ll stay put, and nobody would get hurt… except you guys, of course. How is the burnt tummy, flag-boy?†she mocked Heraldo.

[Ari]

El Heraldo shrugged and floated a few inches into the air, backing away from the jewelry shop, carefully aligning himself with the narrow space between the hostage and Looking Glass. When he was several feet from his initial position he called over to G-Stunt and Net Fly, his face unreadable behind his cloth mask "Guys, we should let her go. If she gets away, all that will be lost will be the jewelry, which can be easily recovered. If she kills that old lady we'll have failed in our mission" speaking a little louder he added "So, of course, will she" here he waved dismissively at the black-and-silver clad villainess "but let's leave aside the obvious things like the harsher sentence she'll get, the tighter security she'll be held in, the more attentive other heroes will be to her proximity, and the fact that any allies she'll get will be that much more unwilling to help her due to her having killed a powerless bystander because she couldn't fight off three rookie vigilantes, or even hurt them without a gang of bullet-spewing thugs" he looked coolly at the subject of the short diatribe "Oh, and it's 'El Heraldo', but I doubt you could pronounce that, and I'm far tougher than that little laser of yours can deal with"

[Vahnyu]

“Easy now, boy-scouts! That was just a joke, now I’m serious. Let me go before this nice old lady gets hurt.â€

Flames begun erupting from Net Fly's eyes, as he heard the villainess' taunting threat. First, the illusion, and now an actual threat? Net Fly couldn't remember the last time he had pushed himself so hard. He could feel the exhaustion starting to creep up on him. However, he was not ready to give up yet, and to his great delight, neither was his new friend.

"but let's leave aside the obvious things like the harsher sentence she'll get, the tighter security she'll be held in, the more attentive other heroes will be to her proximity, and the fact that any allies she'll get will be that much more unwilling to help her due to her having killed a powerless bystander because she couldn't fight off three rookie vigilantes, or even hurt them without a gang of bullet-spewing thugs. Oh, and it's 'El Heraldo', but I doubt you could pronounce that, and I'm far tougher than that little laser of yours can deal with"

Hearing the last part, light dawned on Net Fly, as he realised the hidden meaning behind El Heraldo's words. I'm far tougher than that little laser of yours can deal with? He is gonna try that? Net Fly thought as he felt his strength coming back to him. Heh. That's right. A hostage is not an advantage... It's a crutch, at best. Pushing beyond his tiredness, Net Fly accelerated, closing the distance between him and the villainess, and made a grab for her. There are no re-do's here. We either succeed, or we fail. El Heraldo, it's all up to you. he thought, as he drived in, focusing his concentration completely at the task ahead. However, he quickly realised that his efforts were all for naught...

[Ari]

As Net Fly soared towards Looking Glass, Subito saw precisely where his friend had mistaken his attack. He wouldn't have been able to correct it, he couldn't have explained it to anyone else, and he wouldn't be able to stop it, but he realized that something had gone very wrong. As the mistress of mirrors aimed her gun at the gray and blue-clad youth Heraldo's feet left the floor, and he became a gold and blue blur of motion as a brilliant flag of smoke unfurled behind him, releasing him from the exhaustion that his previous efforts had burdened him with. As he sped onwards, he realized almost too late that he couldn't get in front fast enough, that he would be too late to get between Serge and the ray, that-

His right hand lashed out, by stunning chance at exactly the height to intercept the oncoming beam from the laser gun, and he pushed against it with all his might.

With a sharp gasp of pain, he stared at his hand, the laser having burned off the thick gloves and slightly seared the skin of his palm. With a broken chuckle, he dropped to the ground, muttering "Heh, I was right: too tough for your gun" he glared defiance at Looking Glass, hoping earnestly the slow throb of pain pulsing through his hand wouldn't get in the way of punching.

[Airon]

Everything was moving very fast now. For a very scary instant, the heroes saw Looking Glass (the real one, this time) shooting at the old lady, but then a Heraldo-shaped blur dove in the path of the laser, between the villainess and the old lady. When he stopped, the flag-carrying hero had smoke rising from his arm, but still the energy to quip back to the villainess. Net Fly jumped towards her: the mistress of mirrors gracefully pivoted on her right foot to avoid Net Fly’s grab.

“Mpf! So not only you have a slow mind, you also have slow legs… at least Flag-boy here has some guts to make up for the brain, but you two?" she added pointing at Net Fly and G-Stunt "What can you do? Besides falling for illusions, of course. You’re quite the specialists there.â€

[Airon]

Stuart decided it was time to put an end to this. The illusions, the threats to innocents, the robbery… and most of all the continuous trash talking. “Okay lady. You’ve had your fun.†He tried to channel his best Bruce Willis “But now we’re getting tired of your tricks. Having a nice smile won’t save you from some bruises and a long, long time in prison!†he rotated his staff, faked a quick charge towards Looking Glass, then at the last moment zig-zagged on the left and threw a baton, aiming for her stomach.

He immediately saw it was a good shot: Looking Glass coughed when the weapon impacted below her solar plexus and forced the air out of her lungs. “You-COFF! You ‘re just a pathetic-COFF! COFF!†her mocking chocked her as she tried to recover breath.

Stuart was on a roll: “Yes, I’m pathetic. And yet you are the one coughing her lungs out.†Once again he moved towards her, but it was just another trick: G-Stunt faked an attack and when she moved to defend against him, leaving her left side wide open, Stuart shouted “Now, Heraldo! She’s yours! FINISH HER!â€.

[Ari]

Ugh, I need to learn to fight better, I need to practice, I need to-

“Now, Heraldo! She’s yours! FINISH HER!â€

At G-Stunt's yell, Subtio's mind whipped back to what was going on, and in the sterile glare of the jewelry store, he took a single step towards Looking Glass and whipped back his left arm. He had never been very good at actually fighting, relying as he did on sheer strength to win most of his battles. His experiences at Claremont so far were to him a clear sign that he needed to fix this.

That would, however, have to wait until later. Right now he needed brute force in this situation, and for that he would need an undamaged hand to do the punching.

Whipping it suddenly in an arc under Looking Glass's chin, he put all the force he could into the blow, hoping that this would be the last time he would have to hear her cruel, icy voice or need to feel the burns of her laser.

[Vahnyu]

While Looking Glass was getting wailed on by both El Heraldo and G-Stunt, Net Fly wanted to make another grab for her, but he remembered that last time he did, he was met with utter failure. No. I have to calm down. I can't rush it. I have to look carefully for a weak spot, a time of distraction, something!..., he thought, and as soon as El Heraldo uppercuted her, Net Fly's eyes flashed. Now!

Trying to grab Looking Glass's hands, from behind her, Net Fly noticed that, through all her confusion and distress, she still noticed him, and tried to avoid his hold once more. Unfortunately, for her, it was too little, too late, as Net Fly managed to get ahold of her. Using his superhuman strength, that was further augmented from his suit, Net Fly, easily brought both of Looking Glass's hands behind her back and bound them with one hand, while he used the other hand to safely lock her body in place, with a little help from using his feet as a leverage.

"Well, then, you-grn-you *old crone*!" Net Fly taunted her, as he maintained his hold. "Show me how you're planning of getting out of this! What's the matter? No witty reparte, this time? No 'how fair of you to gang up on little *old* me'? While conveniently forgeting the armed help you had hired? Fear not, you bloody hag. After this is over, you are facing charges of theft, unlawfully faking mass murder, and an attempted murder. It's at least 30 years jailtime, if not the life sentence, for you. Ha! And you thought I was the slow one."

[Airon]

G-Stunt was ready to finish the battle. Heraldo had taken full advantage of his set-up and the devastating uppercut clearly left a mark on the woman. On the other hand, the young hero named Net Fly was doing an excellent job at subduing her, but he was also getting a bit too intense while fighting – Looking Glass’ trash talk was annoying but the young hero’s reaction didn’t seem too controlled – Stuart was worried he would snap and seriously maim the woman right on the spot.

“Ok, guys, time to put an end to this mayhem.†he run towards the grapplers, and while the villainess was struggling to get out of the boy’s hold, he swung his staff at her wrist. “Aahirg!†she yelled, as her crystal gun fell on the floor.

“Pardon me, madam†added Stuart trying to sound sarcastic “But we wouldn’t want you to miss all those nice years in Blackgate that are waiting. You’ll see a lot of old friends, I’m sureâ€. He unbuckled her flying harness and it fell on the floor. G-Stunt kicked it away, out of her reach. "You should also be worried about breaking an arm..." he added, glancing at Net Fly "so why don't you just surrender?"

[Airon]

After losing her precious gun and flying device, the villainess jerked her arms a couple of times trying to get out of Net Fly’s superhumanly strong hold. As her efforts proved fruitless once more, she stopped struggling, re-composed herself and tried to give a smile. “Ok-ok!†she said, squinting for the pain and discomfort of her blocked wrists. “There’s no need to break my arms, I surrender! You boys did well, congratulations.†She bit her lip, realizing it wasn’t time for being condescending anymore “Ok, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have actually hurt anybody, much less that poor old lady. I – I was bluffing, that’s all. Could you please†she turned the head over her shoulder, trying to look at Net Fly “stop twisting my arm? I surrendered, you won…â€

[Vahnyu]

"You should also be worried about breaking an arm... so why don't you just surrender?"

Net Fly was completely focused on restraining the villainess, almost to the point of obsession. G-Stunt's words, however, clearly aimed at him more than at Looking Glass, snapped him out of it, as he realised that he might have been a bit too forceful. Net Fly relaxed a bit, and even though he hadn't let go of Looking Glass, it was clear that he wasn't exerting half the pressure he previously was. He was still upset, but now he was more under control, not letting his anger flow.

“Ok-ok! There’s no need to break my arms, I surrender! You boys did well, congratulations. Ok, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have actually hurt anybody, much less that poor old lady. I – I was bluffing, that’s all. Could you pleasestop twisting my arm? I surrendered, you won…â€

"Yeah!" Net Fly almost snapped at her. "You didn't *mean* hurting the old lady. Hah! That's why El Heraldo is now sporting a..." he trailed off a bit, before recomposing himself from that sudden outburst, by taking a deep breath. "Very well. If you promise to behave, I *might* not break your arm after all." It was an empty threat, and it was obvious that Net Fly used it more out of a need for effect, since he had relaxed his grip a bit, but it was also certain that it would only remain true so long as he remained as calm as he was now. "But from now on, I would suggest that you keep quiet, and refrain from trying any funny busyness until the cops arrest you, or else, I'll have to seriously rethink my generosity towards you. What I'm saying is: 'Don't test me.' Is that understood?" he asked her.

Turning to his allies, Net Fly asked "Are you guys alright?"

[Ari]

Subito shrugged, the throbbing of the burn on his palm slowly receding. "I'll be alright Net-Fly, don't worry about me. Focus on keeping your grip strong and make sure she can't kick you, that can be a pain"

With that said he floated to the open gap overlooking the sort of 'main square' the mall emulated, declaring to the people below "Citizens of Freedom City and visitors from far-off lands! I am called El Heraldo, emissary of Puerto Rico! The mirror-manipulator known as Looking Glass has been captured, and her accomplices have been rendered..temporarily insensible. Unless you would prefer us to escort them to the police, I, Net-Fly and our valiant ally in gray will transfer this matter to mall security while I take our ally to get medical care for a leg injury he sustained in battle"

Maneuvering until he was directly under the skylight, he continued calmly and with a measured voice "Several of you might have seen three young women appear to fall to their deaths from the third floor; rest easy, they were illusions concocted by Looking Glass to distract us"

He remained on the air, keeping a close ear on what was going on in the jewelry store.

[Airon]

"Alright? Yes, yes I am, now that this lovely pain in the neck stopped playing with other people's lives." the adrenaline was starting to fade and the wounded leg was throbbing, making him limp in very non-superheroic way. A large bloodstain had covered his costume near the wound Excellent. That will be easy to clean.

"No need to go to the hospital" he added then, trying not to be heard by anybody but Subito and Serge "Heraldo, is it? You know, secret identity and such... besides, it's hardly the worst injury I've ever dealt with."

The mall was starting to regain a semblance of order. Security guards were containing the few people that still didn’t snap back from the forced confusion, and except from the jewelry store, it seemed that the damage had been contained to a minimum. A group of five cops were coming, running up from the escalators.

Stuart gave quick glance to the giant clock towering in the atrium 7:26. I hope Karl won’t give me a hard time for clocking out 4 minutes in advance…

[Vahnyu]

"Good to know guys." Net Fly breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't say anything but even though he didn't get hurt, he had overexerted himself and was feeling very tired.

"Heraldo, is it? You know, secret identity and such... besides, it's hardly the worst injury I've ever dealt with."

"Which reminds me, umm..." Net Fly said uncertainly, "I don't think we've properly introduced ourselves... I am Net Fly, and my friend over there," he said, motioning to the now hovering superhero "is El Heraldo, as you might have already gathered. And you are...?" Soon, the police officers had arrived, ready to put handcuffs on the villainess. "You wouldn't happen to know what's the deal with *her*, would you?" Net Fly said to the hero with the military costume, motioning for the villainess known as 'Looking Glass'.

[Ari]

"No need to go to the hospital" he added then, trying not to be heard by anybody but Subito and Serge "Heraldo, is it? You know, secret identity and such... besides, it's hardly the worst injury I've ever dealt with."

El Heraldo nodded to him, announcing "Citizens! It seems that our comrade is enduring, and will not require medical attention so urgently as I anticipated! Be assured, we will be close by to step in should your tormentor attempt an escape from police custody!"

With that, he floated neatly back to the jewelry store, saying to Net Fly "Alright, let's get this sorted out. The cops will probably want to ask us a few questions, you want to stick around or should we just hand her over" he he nodded to the immobilized Looking Glass "and leave?"

[Airon]

Stuart waved at the cops closing in, though they were probably so used to superheroes by now that a trio of newbyes stopping a robbery was hardly worth mentioning at the station.

At Subito's question, Stuart shrugged. "Nope, sorry, I'm not sticking around. I've read about her, but I figured she was locked up in Blackgate... usually it's Johnny Rocket that stops these guys. Hey, I guess we now have something in common with a Leaguer, uh?" he smiled and elbowed the teenage hero. "Anyway, just as I want to avoid hospitals, so I'd like to avoid cops. It's just... I'm doing my own thing here, you know? You guys feel free talk to them, though, if you want... I'm just out of here."

He put his feet on the wall, taking horizontal position, ready to jump out "Oh, and my name's G-Stunt!" he added in a lower voice "Most nights I patrol around here, or in the Center. If you happen to need assistance in these areas, leave a note on top this building: there's a busted-up air vent grid, facing East, where I tied a red towel. I'll look there. Until then, good job!" and without another word, he directed his gravity pull towards the skylight, jumping up, opening it and exiting in few quick motions.

[Vahnyu]

"Nope, sorry, I'm not sticking around. I've read about her, but I figured she was locked up in Blackgate... usually it's Johnny Rocket that stops these guys. Hey, I guess we now have something in common with a Leaguer, uh?"

"We understand" Net Fly replied.

"Oh, and my name's G-Stunt! Most nights I patrol around here, or in the Center. If you happen to need assistance in these areas, leave a note on top this building: there's a busted-up air vent grid where I tied a red towel. I'll look there. Until then, good job!"

"Well met, G-Stunt, we will keep it in mind. Fare well." Net Fly waved at the now retreating vigilante, the one called G-Stunt. Turning to his friend, Subito, Net Fly responded. "Let's just hand her over. I don't much care sticking around more than I have to." As soon as the officers arrived, Net Fly delivered them Looking Glass, and told them, as he motioned towards the downed goons "They're all yours, officers. One Looking Glass and four nondescript, two-bit thugs. Just make sure she stays away from her gadgets." Handing her over to the police officers, Net Fly took flight motioning for El Heraldo, after he made sure they put handcuffs on Looking Glass and her helpers. "Let's go."

[Ari]

Subito nodded and flew off, thundering "Until next time, citizens, El Heraldo away!" zipping behind a kiosk selling watches, the owner and salespeople of which had gone off to see what the commotion was about deeper into the mall, he thought It's done, thank you. I no longer have need of your power, and at the answer of It is taken, the strange costume evaporated from his body into the flag, which then absorbed the flagstaff and returned to its place between his shirt.

It didn't take long to sneak back to the arcade, where he waited eagerly for Serge, his heart thudding with the excitement of the past few minutes that had so explosively unfolded. When his friend got back he whispered eagerly "Man, that was awesome!"

[Vahnyu]

While Subito could change his attire in an instant, Serge had to do it manually. Thankfully, the comotion was still going strong, and combined with Net Fly's superhuman speed, he was able to sneak by towards the toilets, where he had stashed his bag, with nary a soul realizing it. At the bathroom, Serge was able to find his bag, opened it, and carefully, he started changing his clothes in the stall, making sure that he was alone. All the while, his heart was pounding harder and harder, while his mind was racing. After he was done, he packed up, and exited the bathroom, and headed towards Subito, who was waiting for him.

"Man, that was awesome!"

"..." Serge was taking deep breaths, and his look was almost vacant, as he half-heartedly replied "Interesting choice of words, Subito...", all the while his gaze was fixed slightly downwards, towards the floor. "We needed the help of another hero, and we still had to fight for our lives to take down one measly, third-rate villain, not to mention 'person'..." he continued, now raising his eyes towards his wounded compatriot "Suffering wounds all the while, both physical..." before turning his gaze to the floor again "...and mental."

Leaving out a chuckle, as he continued whispering to his friend "And you know what the worst part is?... It's quite possible that we had it easy. If she wasn't alone-and no, those stupid goons don't count-and if she didn't play nice, then..." he trailed a bit, as he let that thought hang in the air. "If that was... 'awesome', as you say, then why?..." he once again leveled his look at his comrade, revealing the tears that formed in Serge's eyes "... why does this feel to me like a complete failure?"

[Ari]

Subito looked at him quietly, his friend's sobering words having all the effect Serge might have expected. He frowned and lookes glumly at his shoes, until Serge said "complete failure", whereupon his aggressively curly head whipped up and he fixed the blond boy with a firey brown eye "Serge, what happened was not a failure on any level. We haven't ever fought a single supervillain between us before, nobody died because of somthing we did wrong, that G-Stunt guy is okay and doesn't seem to think we failed, and Johnny Rocket didn't zip out of nowhere and beat her in a second. More to the point, none of that would have mattered if it had happened for one simple reason: this isn't a "who's more powerful?" contest. Headmaster Summers will probably flip out, but do you think he'd have been happier if we had kept our heads down and let G-Stunt get shot a whole bunch of times? My hand hurts like you wouldn't believe, but I'd feel way worse if I hadn't even tried to fight. Our training will get more complex, we'll get more powerful and become better fighters, and a time will come when people like Looking Glass surrender just because we showed up. I said 'awesome' because we fought against a real supervillain and won, saving people from being hurt by them"

"But I know what you mean" he added a bit more softly, his voice having become almost above a whisper during his speech "I've been in fights like that before, where it seems like nothing you can do matters to whoever you're fighting, and when you win it's like ash in your mouth because you didn't deserve it. You were lucky you say, or you had help, but what matters is that we didn't fail anyone, and now that we know we can do this we can do it again as many times as we have too!" it would have been patently obvious to anyone even casually looking at the two that Subito was almost transported with enthusiasm, gripping as he was Serge's shoulders with his hands, his face about a foot away from the other boy's(though he had to tilt it a little upwards due to the height difference).