Kintsugi Plays Fallen Hero: Retribution (ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ …(^_^)…)

okay but that just makes me want the life coach AU more.

Also, first post has been updated with new characters and explanations of our stats! Ch12 recap to come.​

> I try to plan for his impatience.

You try to plan for his impatience. He's a good henchman in other regards, so it's worth adjusting your plans. You've got to work with the tools at hand.

But never mind that, this is your call to action.

Without hesitation, you jump off your perch, cape fluttering in the wind, a smile hidden underneath your helmet.

The landing is hard but controlled. The crashed van is acting as a traffic break, so the terrified driver has a perfect view as you march toward them. The guard keeps trading shots with ZaZa, but you can see the driver trying to get her attention.

　‣ I keep walking calmly; it's not like they can hurt me.
　‣ I sprint toward the van; best get this over with fast.

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53%
█████████▒██████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 37% (+6)
███████▒████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 18% / Anonymity: 82%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 50% / Caution: 50%
████████████████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Given we were just talking about impatience, I can't decide if I prefer
- the dramatic villain approach (that others can film and upload for us) that is the opposite of the impatience, or,
- rushing to get it over with in a Tiny bit of impatience of our own.

 

drama!!! what do we have a cape For if not billowing dramatically behind a Stalk Of Doom?

 

As a wise man once said, the difference between a villain and a super villain is presentation!​

> I keep walking calmly; it's not like they can hurt me.

You keep walking calmly toward the van, smiling under your helmet as the guard finally notices the bigger threat and starts firing through the broken windshield.

You keep walking calmly, cape billowing around you in the wind, the bullets passing through you as if you aren't even there.

Technically you aren't because you keep twisting the guard's aim, constantly aiming just a little to your right. It's things like this that do wonders for your reputation—just a touch of style.

There's a crackle over the comms as Pelayo calls in.

"Ward got the briefcase, boss, time to—" the transmission is interrupted by screamed curses.

Fuck. Something must have gone wrong; no time to waste.

You break into a run, not slowing down even as you lob a gas grenade through the windshield, reducing both driver and gunner to a coughing mess. You don't have to worry about them; ready for anything, you round the van only to see Ward with the briefcase that was your target, all tangled up in a…net?

Who?

Fuck.

Is someone trying to steal your loot? Was someone else targeting the same shipment? A net is too weird to belong to an armed guard; this is something else.

Someone else.

　‣ I tear apart the net around Ward with my bare hands.
　‣ I let the nanovores devour the net.
　‣ I try to pinpoint the shooter first.

First priority: help Ward, or go straight to searching for the shooter? (We lack the brute strength to be sure we could tear the net apart, but the nanovores can presumably handle it.)​

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53%
█████████▒██████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 37%
███████▒████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 18% / Anonymity: 82%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 55% (+5) / Caution: 45%
████████████████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Briefcase? Color me intrigued. Take care of our people, tho, Eat That Net.

 

Obviously our crew comes first.​

> I let the nanovores devour the net.

A net? Does whoever fired this really think a simple net can work?

"Don't move," you growl at Ward as you lean down to examine the net.

"Not much risk of that." The joke is half choked, the net wrapped tightly enough to make it hard to breathe.

You gently grab hold of the net with your left hand, letting the nanovores pour out to devour the strands entangling Ward. The net falls apart like smoke in a stiff wind. Pelayo, who has rushed forward in worry, pulls up his weapon to cover the both of you.

Now to see who dared to fire this contraption at your crew….

　‣ I use telepathy and scan for whoever did this; I'm good at picking out threats from a crowd.
　‣ I should be able to calculate the trajectory of the projectile.
　‣ Tactically speaking, there's only one place they could be.

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53%
█████████▒██████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 40% (+3)
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 18% / Anonymity: 82%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 55% / Caution: 45%
████████████████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

(Updated recap and added a brief timeline of the games' events here, for anyone else who can't keep track of all these one-month-laters.)

 

My sense of narrative keeps suspiciously going "we just decided on current rival, won't that be who shows up now?" and wanting to not rely on telepathy as a result.

And I like the idea that we've been honing up on tactics, but that's only a small preference, would want other votes in first.

 

we will actually be having an all-out millennial battle royale. every millennial in the main cast* enters, only one emerges. place your bets now

* herald will be competing to decide if he counts as a millennial. as mortum has no interest in competing, her age will remain a mystery.

</probably not actual spoilers>

 

> Tactically speaking, there's only one place they could be.

It's not the first time you've been ambushed, and there are not that many places the shooter could be. First, the shot was not angled from above, which rules out the shooter hiding on the bridge's superstructure. Second, they must be in a vehicle since being on foot would mean they would have had to be insanely lucky to catch you. This also rules out three, a car, since that would mean they'd be locked in traffic with the rest of the herd.

So, a bike it is. You had been pondering getting one yourself, but it felt like you would be copying Ortega. Besides, a bike is easy to track and doesn't hide its driver.

There!

Once you know what to look for, you spot it easily. It's moving significantly slower than the surrounding traffic, the rider trying his best to keep a low profile.

You recognize this man. He's called the Handyman, one of the low-key vigilantes of Los Diablos that's neither modded nor boosted. He's got some interesting toys, but nowhere near as interesting as yours. You have no idea where he got the idea that he could even try to take you down; it's like bringing a gun to a tank battle. You are entirely out of his league.

Not that you can let him get away with this.

　‣ I reach out with my mind and force him to head toward me.
　‣ I point the Handyman out to ZaZa, letting him take a few shots.
　‣ I head toward him, challenging him to a fight.

…That is not our rival.

We should probably deal with him, though.​

Spoiler: Show Stats (no change)

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53%
█████████▒██████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 40%
████████████████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 18% / Anonymity: 82%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 55% / Caution: 45%
████████████████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Not sure if we can trust impulsive Zaza to just shoot out his tires and otherwise aim to incapacitate, here......

It would be very funny to somehow wrap the Handyman up in the net.

 

I mean, do we want to aim to incapacitate? I say Let ZaZa say fuck Have Fun and also take revenge for interfering in our plans. Although somehow netting him back would be hilarious.

 

ftr: my agree is 'I want to let ZaZa have fun'
ZaZa can shoot this guy just a little
just a few times
as a treat

 

It's important to provide your henchmen with proper enrichment.​

> I point the Handyman out to ZaZa, letting him take a few shots.

"There!" You point at where the Handyman is sitting on his bike, nudging ZaZa's mind at the same instant to make sure he spots him.

"Got it, Boss!" His rifle is at his shoulder, and the shot rings out as the Handyman prepares to rev his bike away. The bullet hits cleanly, and the hero is thrown off the bike, rolling limply across the road. It's only luck that keeps him from getting run over.

"Good," you say, cracking your knuckles. Some payback is in order.

"Got him in the shoulder," ZaZa says, keeping the sight on the fallen form. "Left him alive for you."

Looks like he can shoot to incapacitate!​

"Then let's see what he's made of."

"What do you want us to do?" Pelayo's voice rings out from behind you.

"Make sure you get out of here with our prize," you order, not looking back at your crew. They can handle themselves. You have your target now, and you smile to yourself as you stride across the road toward him.

You want to have some fun before you end this.

　‣ I'll attack, I'll end this fight as soon as possible.
　‣ I have a nice audience, time to monologue.

How much fun do we want to have here?​

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 47% / Obscurity: 53%
█████████▒██████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 46% (+6)
█████████▒██████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 18% / Anonymity: 82%
███▒████████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 55% / Caution: 45%
████████████████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

Enrichment for hench persons and a monologue for a villain, as a treat >:3

 

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, and villains…​

> I have a nice audience, time to monologue.

Around you, traffic has ground to a halt, the vehicles filled with onlookers. Good, the media might not be here yet, but there will be enough witnesses for your purpose. As long as your opponent is willing to play ball….

Luckily, you're not disappointed. The Handyman pulls off his motorcycle helmet, revealing a mask underneath. It is just a simple diamanté one, masking his identity less than the average blandness of his face and coveralls. He takes a moment to pull a cap from his pocket, adjusting it to the right angle over his black hair. There's a pained grimace as he readies himself; he's already bruised and battered despite the cocky attitude. You're surprised he's on his feet at all, but you suppose that's heroes for you. They rarely know when to quit.

You shift your stance a little, making sure your cape is obscuring your form, hood up, a smile hidden underneath your mirrored helmet. It's important to remain unreadable, making sure that nobody knows quite what to expect from you. Mysteries are only effective as long as they remain mysterious.

"For once, I wish that something would go smoothly," you say, your vocal distorters turning your words into Anathema's.

"Sorry for getting in your way." The Handyman shrugs and smiles, but you can see that he's trying to crack jokes to steady himself.

"You're hardly more than a bump in the road." You walk toward him, letting the Rat King keep an eye on your surroundings.

"We'll see about that." He adjusts his cap once more, getting ready. "I've been investigating your organization for a while now."

"Oh, that was you? I thought the mosquitoes had grown unusually bold."

"So confident," he says, tense and on his guard. "But I'm not about to be fooled by your lies and illusions."

"Really?" You don't bother to hide the smirk in your voice. "That is true; you do like to think of yourself as a detective, don't you? Out to solve this mystery?"

"Of course."

"Looks like I will have to take you out then." You take a step forward, releasing smoke that billows out over the bridge.

"Easier said than done." The Handyman takes a step backward as you stalk toward him, and you can see him reaching into his coveralls for what you think might be a weapon.

Time to make a decision.

　‣ I try to close the distance before he draws his weapon.
　‣ I keep my distance, letting him take the initiative.

Shall we see what he has there, or just go in for the (figurative) kill?​

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
████████████████████
Subtle Manipulations: 74%
██████████████▒█████

Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 52% (+5) / Obscurity: 48%
██████████▒█████████

Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 0% / Fine: 100%
████████████████████

Leadership: 46%
█████████▒██████████

Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 26% (+8) / Anonymity: 74%
█████▒██████████████
Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
██████▒█████████████
Daring: 55% / Caution: 45%
████████████████████

Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 83%
████████████████▒███
Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
███████████▒████████

Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
████████████▒███████

Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
▒███████████████████
Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
████▒███████████████
Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
████████████████████
Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters

 

(There is also, of course, always our old tactical fallback of leaving the choice up to fate.)

 

well, if no one else has an opinion, >Let's see what he's got. Learn your enemy and all that.

 

> I keep my distance, letting him take the initiative.

You've never won a fight by acting rashly. Even back before you had your armor, taking a moment to see what your opponent would do usually paid off. Like now. You're as sensitive to the eddies of his mind as you are to the buffeting winds on the bridge.

Fast. You can feel his hand moving almost before his mind does, but that was what you were ready for. Feinting left but going right, the first shot misses, and your smile grows. He'll be ready for a feint now, so you roll forward, the next shot passing harmlessly through the air.

The slugs are big. Slow. You don't want to risk getting hit.

The third shot almost grazes your helmet, but you twist aside just in time, slapping the gun from his hand.

"You won't be needing that."

"Crap." The Handyman cradles his hand to his chest as he backs away.

"Did you really think you had a shot?" you ask, making sure to position yourself between him and the gun. "Against me?" Above, the familiar sound of a helicopter fills the air. You don't doubt that the cameras are focused on your fight.

"I'm not done yet." He reaches for his pocket with his unharmed hand, throwing out a handful of pellets that explode in an impressive burst of smoke and chaff. Your helmet is filled with static, but you don't need to rely on your vision to feel his attack. Brave man.

Stupid man.

You parry his blow, conscious of the fact that he's holding something in his hand that he thinks might be able to hurt you. If it hits. Which it won't. Evading the next attack, you drop low and knock him off his feet. The wind tears apart the smoke and chaff a moment later.

"You'll regret getting in my way," you say, cape flapping in the wind, throwing your arms out in a bombastic gesture. "I've heard of you; your little tricks won't save you."

"Really?" He coughs. There's blood on the pavement. "We'll see about that." There's something in his hand he's clutching like a talisman. A grenade? A magnetic mine? Was he trying to place it on you?

"Bring it." You take a step toward him, trying to provoke an attack.

"Overconfidence…," he mutters and releases the thing in his hand. The fact that he doesn't pull back his arm for a throw takes you by surprise. The orb flies toward you of its own volition, skimming across the ground. As if it had a mind of its own.

Homing? Let's see how fast it can redirect.

Firing up your jump-jets, you leap into the air, trusting that the heat from your boosters will confuse its sensors. It does, and the orb passes harmlessly below you, slamming into the side of the bridge. There's a brief electric discharge, and you smile as you set down next to him.

"Not overconfidence," you say with a cold smile under your helmet. "Just confidence."

Your kick is hard enough to make him double over into a limp and moaning pile. Still conscious.

> Nothing Is Ever Easy

"Help…" The words are hardly more than a moan, the Handyman doing his best to crawl away from you. You're about to follow, readying yourself to end this fight, when—

Fuck!

You catch the threatening thoughts before you see her, quickly pulling back to get some distance between you and the man writhing on the ground.

He's not alone anymore; the silvery shape of Lady Argent appears as if by magic. Was she hiding somewhere nearby? The entire bridge is gridlocked; you can hear the distant honking of drivers who don't know the reason for the holdup.

"Can you move?" She doesn't quite look down at the Handyman where he's curled up on the ground. She keeps looking at you, light on her feet, fingers curled but clawless.

"Yeah." The word is gasped, and you think it's half a lie. But then again, he doesn't have to move far to get out of the way. He's not important. Not anymore. "What took you so long?"

"Car got stuck in traffic. Had to run the rest of the way." Frustration. Annoyance.

　‣ "Just like at the museum, always turning up late," I taunt.
　‣ "Traffic here is hell," I agree magnanimously.
　‣ "Get used to being let down. Heroes don't care," I say bitterly.

Also not our rival.

But she is a millennial, so that's something.​

Spoiler: Show Stats

CLASSIFIED

Subject: Anathema

Secret Identity: Josie Jacobs
Gender: Non-binary.
Description: A tall mixed person in their thirties with brown eyes and short and styled curly dark brown hair.

They have a short, scruffy beard and mustache.

Standard of Living: Josie is well-off.
Josie is living in a comfortable apartment.

Josie Jacobs is a seasoned, tech-savvy tactician.

Physical Status
Stamina: You are rested.
Willpower: You feel calm.
Injuries: You are fine.

Telepathy
Strength of Mind: 50%
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Subtle Manipulations: 74%
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Anathema
Anathema runs a criminal syndicate.

Infamy: 56% (+4) / Obscurity: 44%
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Armored Suit
Anathema's suit is a shadow with a mirror for a face, revealing nothing. The cape conceals and obfuscates what's underneath.
In its left hand, the suit has a neutered colony of nanovores, functionally similar to having disintegration touch. The suit is also equipped with telepathic boosters and enhanced speed as well as jump-jets.

Armor Status
Need Repair: 0% / Fine: 100%
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Leadership: 46%
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Psychological Profile
Arrogance: 26% / Anonymity: 74%
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Ruthlessness: 33% / Empathy: 67%
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Daring: 50% / Caution: 50% (+5)
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Back in the day, Sidestep was known as a vigilante working with the Rangers.

Main Puppet
Name: Barbara
Puppet Status: She is fine, and has no serious wounds.
Description: A tall white woman in her twenties with blue eyes and long straight blond hair.

Allies and Enemies

Charge
Josie's Relationship with Ortega: Friend and ally.
Ortega's Connection with Josie: 83%
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Ortega thinks Anathema has made some good points.

Barbara's Relationship with Ortega: Flirting.
Ortega's Connection with Barbara: 59%
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Dr. Mortum
Barbara's Relationship with Dr. Mortum: friend.
Mortum's Connection with Barbara: 63%
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Lady Argent
Josie's Relationship with Lady Argent: Distant.
Lady Argent's Impression of Josie: 1%
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Lady Argent thinks Anathema is a cheater.

Marshal Steel
Josie's Relationship with Steel: Former ally.
Steel's Connection with Josie: 24%
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Marshal Steel thinks Anathema needs to be brought in.

Herald
Josie's Relationship with Herald: Distant.
Herald's Connection with Josie: 20%
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Herald thinks Anathema is a villain.

Other Characters