Danny was not having a good time getting these little guys back into their pen. The glass dividing the observation area and the pen itself had been shattered, probably when the elephant had hit the building, and a thin layer of water covered the floor. He'd scoop up a penguin and dumb it back into the water only for two or three to just back out into the observation area. It was obvious that this was like pushing a boulder up a hill, so he went back to the broken door.

He grabbed the two busted doors and bent the ends of one, wedging them into the doorframe to keep the little guys from just wandering out. They actual looked really cute when they wandered up to the makeshift barricade, like babies in a playpen. They seemed very interested in everything that was going on outside, quaking and jockeying for the best view.

Satisfied, he turned around and was face to face with an elephant. Not the one that had charged him earlier, that one was still asleep. The other elephants had decided to wander over, standing near the fallen one. "Uhhhhh..." Danny said, staring into those big grey eyes. "I'm sorry. Is that your hunband?" He said, pointing to the one he'd choked out.

It only batted its ears and kept staring.

"He'll get up. Just hang out here till he does." He said. "I'll get out of you wa-"

"AAAAAH!"

Danny's head snapped over to the yell that had interrupted him. One of those Xeo-boys had just lost his gun, and nearly his arms, to the snapping jaws of a hippo. The thing was bearing down on his when Danny ran in, clapping his arms around the hippos mouth to keep its jaws closed. The thing shook it's head, moving back and forth in an attempt to dislodge him. He dug in his heels to keep the beast from running wild, but it wasn't the only one. Three more hungry hungry hippos were out and about. "Get away. You can't scare these things. Yo dragon! Hey!" He called over to the dragon. "Get over here and use those muscles. These guys are bad news, we've got to manhandle them back into a pin before or they'll kill everything in their way."

Drake was still in a state of regret at killing Mama Bear, but his attention drawn to Danny when the big blue man gave him an order. He shook his head to get focused again and looked at the hippos running about.

"Right, got it" he replied, but it more directed at himself trying to get out of his remorse. He quickly went into action and made sure not use his claws to hurt the animals even though his dragon side was tempted by the idea of eating fresh meat. He also made sure to keep his body from igniting and burning the hippos. He pushed into several to keep them away from killing people and tried to herd them back into their pens.

----

Downtown Cleveland

The streets were busy as people went to and from work or going to spend time with their families. Two unshaven guys dressed in smart business were hauling a large wooden towards the bank. Some people stopped to look at them as they walked and they noticed that the two men had rotted and missing teeth. One wore an eye patch and a bandana while the other had a peg leg.

"Arrgh I told captain that these suits would make us stand out, I can't stand this bloody thing" the one eyed man said to his colleague.

"I agree matey, but it's captain's orders and we must obey them or we will find out the meaning of Dead men tell no tales" the other man replied.

"I suppose you be right Mr. Skidds, come on let's get this done and be rid of these horrid clothes" the man said and they soon came to the national bank and carried the large over the steps and into the bank. The security inside immediately stopped them and looked at them suspiciously.

"What is this? and what's your business here?" a guard asked.

"Why we come baring gifts matey. Have gander" Mr. Skidds said as he opened up the large box, revealing a large stone statue of an octopus. The guard was taken aback, and was slightly confused.

"This is a back, not a Christmas party, I'm going to have to ask you to leave and take this with you" the guard said.

"Alright matey, but see as how far we have walked with this here gift, might we leave here for a moment to get proper transportation for it?" he asked. The man looked at his follow security and after a moment.

"Thank you matey, will be back quicker than death himself" Mr. Skidds said and left with his companion. Just outside of the bank, a man was checking his smartphone for messages when he noticed a red liquid begin to flow down the streets. Upon closer inspection he saw that it was blood! At the moment the octopus statue exploded and blow upon the inside of the bank, causing a massive plum of smoke. Mr. Skidds and his accomplice ripped off their suits to reveal pirate clothing underneath. A few seconds later, the Blood Dane appeared and was sailing on the streets.

Sea Bastard was at the helm with his pet crow Bill on his shoulder and his crew all howling with their weapons drawn.

"TAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN GET BOYS! KILL ALL WHO STAND IN YOUR WAY!!!!!" he shouted and he took out his pistol and shot a passing cab driver. His crew cheered and they got off of the ship and began to raid the area around them. There was a small group of pirates that went into the ruined bank to steal the riches within. The part of his crew that stayed on the ship manned the cannons and began firing wildly at the surrounding buildings, blast apart the walls.

Sea Bastard picked up a bottle of rum and guzzled it before charging it with explosive power and tossing it into the busy street. The bottle exploded upon contact with a taxi and blew apart the vehicle and started a chain reaction causing other cars' fuel tanks to explode. Jack laughed wickedly at the mayhem he was causing.

"Yo-ho-ho-ho a pirate's life for me!" he sang as he blew a random hipster's brains out with his blunderbuss and then shot a few street activists with pro-anarchy signs. They were pillaging and plundering downtown.

Tess set her jaw. Phoenix was telling her to be more careful with her powers and her life. It was a tired cliché, she didn't need anyone's guidance or training to survive. She had lived on the cruel streets with no one to help her besides occasionally the streetwise hobo offering her some toiletries and a fire's warmth come nighttime, but even that was only temporary. Tess was as self-sufficient as anyone.

"I understand," she told Phoenix. "But I don't think what you're saying necessarily applies to me. Crime doesn't wait, so why should I?" the statement sounded like a broken record from corny action movies, but it was still true. Her green eyes bore into Phoenix's mask. The glare wasn't menacing or hostile, it was signifying her evolution from being a little fan girl to fully realizing the responsibility that came along with her powers. The two were by no means equals — Phoenix was far more accomplished and elegant than her in most if not all categories. But she was no longer that little girl asking for an autograph, but seriously discussing her abilities with another hero.

"I appreciate your concern for my well-being, and I'm glad that you brought me here. Really, this place is..." she admired the quiet and beautiful surroundings another time before continuing, "...amazing. But I need to get back to Gwen, she's probably worried about me. Can I have a ride?" she asked Phoenix. It was selfish to throw all this at her so quickly, especially because of the generous hospitality Rose had offered her, but she needed to get back to her best friend.

"Okay, I got this one. C'mon you, ya!" He said, dragging his hippo near the others despite its unwillingness. "I think there's a pen with water over there. Let move along the wall here. I'm going to go in the front with this guy, you shepherd from the back because you're real big. If they try and break off to this side just cut them off and be fire at them." He said, indicating the side that didn't have the wall blocking them in. "Sure do wish that rock lady had hung around. Did you see how she handled those tigers? That was cool." He said, starting the progression toward the pen.

The Phoenix nodded, silently. She understood the girl's point of view- that such a sense of obligation was clearly forced on her by societal standards. Adjusting the feathers on her speculum, she took Tess outside, leading her by her hand. Once outside, she expanded her wings fully, and gestured for Tess to get on her back. Once Tess was firmly positioned on her back, she smiled, and readjusted her helmet.

"Flying's a lot faster than the bike."

With Tess properly situated, Phoenix took off into the air. It took a mere five minutes to reach the mall again, as they were able to travel in a straight line, rather than ducking and edging around through the backroads, avoiding freeways and dodging buildings. Once there, they touched down at a side entrance near the food court. Kneeling so that Tess could dismount with ease, Phoenix looked up at the girl, and addressed her quietly.

"Keep yourself safe. If you ever need my help, here's my card. Destroy it with whatever method available- fire, ripping it in two, et cetera- when you need my aid."

With that, she took off into the air again. Photographers, alongside the journalists below, caught glimpses of her in the air, getting a few candids as she disappeared into the clouds. Several minutes later, she arrived at her hideout once more, this time, the rooftop. There, she disrobed, carefully setting down her armor and sword, cleaning bits of dirt and blood from both. She covered both, and hid them in the box that used to be an air conditioning unit, protecting them from the weather. Once done with that, she grabbed her shopping bag, which lay haphazardly on a corner, and flew down to the ground.

Thirty minutes later, she arrived back at the mansion Victor was temporarily renting, on her motorbike. Parking it in the garage, alongside his much fancier vehicles, she went inside quietly. Making her way over to the bedroom as quickly as she could, she hid the lingerie she had bought earlier underneath the bed. She then slipped out of her outfit, and disconnected the carbon fiber arm from her shoulder, setting it on the countertop. Grimacing at her reflection in the mirror, Rose ran a hand over the stump at her shoulder, before turning away. She stepped into the shower- a mid-day shower was just what she needed to calm her nerves, to help with the abundance of adrenaline rushing through her system. She wondered where Victor was, not having memorized his schedule for the day.

Mythica stood and watched as the mob of bikers roared around him, creating an almost circle. The stench of stale beer and gunpowder was strong. Mythica looked around. Sawn off shotguns. How...very dull. Mythica had expected more from The Chairman. The briefcase swapped hands and a few of them laughed at the masked man in the suit that stood. A gaze from the featureless black mask and small tug on the feeling of fear they had of ones like him with the help of The Mermaid did wonders to silence the obnoxious sounds. The rest of the cavalcade of obvious black SUVs filed in and out stepped a man flanked by goons. Mythica simply continued smoking. Long fingers clasping the cigarette to his lips as The Chairman spoke. Such pomposity was in how this man conducted himself. He wasn't Mythica's first choice...but he was certainly the best with his money. Mythica nodded after the small speech and shook the briefcase he held in his hand "Indeed" he flicked the cigarette and crushed it out underfoot "but the money...."

A loud, obnoxious voice interrupted the deal. A man, masked in dark blue and yellow armor lept out. Mythica sighed and placed the briefcase down "Blitz Rider huh?..." Mythica looked at The Chairman "let's make this a demonstration" Mythica rotated his wrist and clenched his fist. The Dragon ring ignited in a bright red glow. Mythica's fists engulfed in flames, he started to walk towards the masked rider "I've met more of those like you...Kamen Rider no?" He laughed a little before bringing his flaming fists together, a gout of bright red flame leaping from his hands and flying towards the hero.

Eagle went to her nest for the night she was growing tired and needed to get rest so she could hunt in the morning.

The former Francine wanted out but the beast was pushing her back into a corner of her own mind. She wanted out and the ability to do things again.

Then she realized that her problem was no one would work with her or hire her due to her condition. Francine once again let the beast take over and let her mind fade into the corner.

WYOMING STREET

Smaller and nimbler than his bulky brother, Teucer was easily able to avoid the huge swings of the acidic hammer. While still enraged, the hero was able to think clearly and logically- he had been in enough dangerous, stressful situations to maintain that core trait.

Teucer was beginning to realize he was not at all prepared to fight this particular opponent. A different set of arrows and a different operational outlook would be necessary before he took on Acid Striker. Without those, he had little chance against the Caught thief. The nearby sirens convinced him.

He gracefully pirouetted out of Acid Striker's reach, then looked at the criminal with hate-filled eyes. “When next we meet, nothing in Heaven or Hell will be able to save you,” he spat, before throwing down several small pellets from a pouch on his belt. There was a series of small bangs, and the street suddenly began to fill with choking, acrid smoke.

The sirens grew nearer.

THE PARKING GARAGE

“I'm sorry, are you real?” the Chairman asked, his broad forehead wrinkling in confusion as he heard Blitz Ranger's monologue. Lynch had been involved in organized crime for forty-five years, it took a lot to throw a normally unflappable man like the Chairman off his stride.

He quickly recovered himself, though, as Mythica offered to fight the interloper as a demonstration. The gang boss nodded, producing a small but lethal Smith and Wesson Model 60 from his jacket pocket. “If you want help, say the word,” he offered to Mythica. The dozens of other gangsters present also trained their weapons on Blitz Ranger.

DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND

Chaos reigned in Public Square. Civilians ran for cover as Sea Bastard and his motley band of cutthroats fired indiscriminately into the crowd and explosions bloomed.

The response was quick, thankfully. Well-armed units of the Cleveland Police Division, Ohio Highway Patrol, and National Guard had been dispersed throughout the business district just in case of something like this happening. Crown Victorias and Humvees began to arrive, rifles and machine guns were turned on the undead pirates. Radios all over the city crackled to life, summoning reinforcements. It took mere seconds to seal off the area, minutes to clear out the civilians. Public Square was turning into a battleground.

Not all the responders were conventional law enforcement, either. Grand Slam, late of Louisville, rushed into the fray swinging his enchanted baseball bat, which burned with magical fire and struck with the force of a pile driver. Dervish, Detroit's favorite superhero, rushed into the crowd of pirates at 200 MPH, cutting and slashing with twin scimitars. And Damselfly swooped over the corsairs on her rapidly beating wings, firing into their midst with a submachine gun.

Downtown was so flashy, so noticeable of a target that virtually everyone on the side of law was rushing there. However, other areas in the city were left critically unguarded as more and more reinforcements were called to the massive battle.

SOCIAL MEDIA

#Pokerface #GavinHardesty

“Cleveland vigilante Pokerface, confirmed dead last night, is strongly suspected to have been attorney Gavin Hardesty, junior partner at the prestigious firm Mueller and Young. Hardesty's family and friends have refused to comment.”

“Other vigilantes have stated that Pokerface expressed advance knowledge of last night's events. . .”

Conduit had been monitoring all major events in the city, looking for the opportune time to reveal himself and make some trouble. Now, it seemed...a pirate...was attacking downtown Cleveland. It was the perfect opportunity. Hmmmm...what shall I do? As cliché as it was, he decided to rob a bank. Not for the money, but simply because he could.

He began to make his way to the nearest bank.

Dark tires barreled down the hot pavement, the roaring motors and wailing of sirens giving signal that trouble was afoot. But what did you expect, the worst souls in Cleveland were free to do as they please, treating the city like a child playing with an anthill. When Dean checked his rearview, he was only able to count three cars on his tail. The group slithered and skidded around street corners, Dean doing everything in his power to lose his followers, but that just didn’t seem possible giving the tenacity of the police force. If he was going to lose these guys, he’d need a little something extra…

Acid Stiker chokes on the smoke, outraged that the hero had escaped with his life. "Damn, why do I have a feeling that guy’s gonna be a problem later on?" He mumbles to himself, but quickly notices the sirens now blaring on him.

"Great now I got to deal with these jokers." He says to himself as he runs to the milddle of the street and then puts both hands on the hot pavement. His acid then slowly crawls towards the sirens which were now almost on him and hopefully this would burn the rubber of the tires making whoever in those cars easy targets.

“What the?!" Dean grimaced at the man that so suddenly walked in the middle of the street. The way he knelt down and placed his hands on the road almost made it seem like he was trying to get himself killed, but the sudden spread of some sort of substance on the pavement said otherwise. As he vehicles crossed over the acid they skittered to a halt, tires and even parts of the metal wheels melting. The whole situation was strange and confusing, but there was no time to try and reason here. The cops were already mobilizing behind their accidental barricade of cars, guns at the ready.

Dean squirmed out the passenger door, knowing full well that this would end in a shootout. It wasn’t worth waiting for the police to give their usual spiel, as there was no way that Sūn Rising was going to turn himself in now. Kneeling by the hood, his machine gun blasted round after round at the frame of the squad cars, hitting a majority of metal over flesh. Bullets whizzed in Dean’s direction, breaking the glass windows of the car he used for cover. Uprising would still be in the back, in full danger of hitting hit. And then there was this guy, the one who halted the chase. It was difficult to figure out if his inclusion helped or hindered this scenario, but it was obvious by his actions that he wasn’t on the side of the police. “Hey, you wanna help me with this?!”

"What have I just walked into?" He said as all of the sudden gun shots started bursting through the air all around him. Acid Striker wasn't the smartest man but he could deduct that the police really didn't want these guys to go anywhere.

Acid Striker however hated the cops and maybe helping these guys would get him more allies in the city. So without another thought he transformed his right hand into a crude acidic spike and with some concentration was able to fire it into one if the police cruisers windshield burning the glass. Striker hit another cruiser with his weapon this time killing one if the officers inside with a direct hit in the chest. Soon some of the cops started firing on him and even if the bullets weren't exactly hurting him they were still quite annoying.

"I could need a distraction!" He said to the group hoping for a response.

Oh, the monstrous powers of the Caught were fantastic indeed. Dean marveled at how easy this man could sunder his enemies. Acid Striker was truly a weapon that he could use on his side. It didn’t take long for Dean to gun down what forces remained with this extra help. He was lucky, as in the current state of the city the police were scattered and unorganized. A smile crept across his face; even though things seemed like they were going initially bad, he truly felt that good fortunes lied ahead. Retiring his gun to his back, Dean turns to Acid Striker. “Domo arigato acid man. You truly came in handy. Your powers are just what I have use for. I am Sūn Rising, and I wish to take this city. If you would like to help me, I could grant you wealth and power. But now I must head to Detroit and call my men to arms. If you think this is a good idea for you, call this number…” Dean produces a small scrap of paper with a phone number written on it, and hands it to Acid Striker. “Think about it… Sayonara!”

Without another word, Dean grabs his unconscious conscript from the back of the police cruiser, and begins his long trek. Thankfully, he looked rather unharmed by the fight that ensued. Before long, the two had arrived a dingy motel, where Dean would leave Uprising safe in one of the rooms. When the kid would wake, he’d find a note on the bedside table.

Hello!

I am sorry to say that your plan at the mall has failed. Do not worry, I have saved you from the police. I think you owe me for this. You want the world to change, and I can help with that. Right now, I am leaving the city to get my men and guns. DO NOT DO ANYTHING HASTY. You are sure to be a wanted man. Come back to this motel in 24 hours if you wish to join me.

- Sūn Rising

With that taken care of, Dean walked back to the mall, retrieving his car and starting the drive to Detroit. It’s been almost a year since he’s laid eyes on the city. He hoped that TAG hadn’t changed much since then…

Sea Bastard smiled when the superheroes and the authorities arrived on the scene with their modern weaponry. They had managed to down several of his men, but they weren't going to lose that easily.

"Arrogant fools, they think that we're only limited to the guns of my time. They clearly don't know what pirates do, plunder!" he chuckled to himself and then gave the order for group of his crew to bring out the modern guns that they had stolen from gun stores and military ships they had looted. Three members of his crew brought out machine guns and fired wildly at the speedster, hoping the supersonic bullets would kill him. Four men brought out shotguns and sniper rifles and took aim at the superheroine Damselfly. They began to fire at her trying to shoot her out of the sky.

Sea Bastard and a several other crew members then picked up sticks of dynamite and began chucking it at the police baracade and causing large explosions. Jack lit a pack of six sticks of dynamite and using his great strnegth he tossed it near the back of the armed authority and massive explosion blew apart a good portion of the officers and guardsmen who were not protected by armored vehicles. The shock wave knocked a few officers and some members of his crew off their feet, but it gave the crew who assaulted the bank enough time to bring over a million dollars of stolen money back to the Bloody Dane.

It was time to get a move on and make their exit of this carnage. He picked up an RPG Launcher after charging the ammo with a large amount of explosive energy to add on to its already dangerous destructive force. Sea Bastard fired off a shot and it went straight towards its target which was the police barricade. The ammunition blasted apart the barricade and left an opening for Jack's ship leave.

"ABOARD MATEYS AND LET'S BE RID OF THIS ROTTEN TOWN!" he shouted and his crew got back on the ship and still fired off their weapons at any police, guardsmen and superheroes they could see. They were shooting to kill as many as possible. The Bloody Dane sailed through the hole in the barricade created by the explosions and smashed aside the police vehicles in its way. They had successful plundered downtown, but at the cost of at least thirteen members of his crew. But he would find more replacements, he chuckled to himself.

---

Drake listened to Danny's orders and did as he was told. He started to Shepard the animal from behind.

"Yes it was interesting, so many people with very different powers. The world really is a strange place" Drake replied to Danny's comment on the earth manipulator.

In her homely, lonely apartment, Zarqa Nadir was sipping tea. She wore a long black dress, covering her crossed legs, and her long arms, draping over her hands, even the one gripping the mug of tea. Her hijab was discarded on the table beside her, folded loosely in a neat pile. Her eyes shut, a frown rested on her face; the hair which framed it was curly and unkempt, in a massive mess around her head. Having spent the last few hours surveilling the city, she saw as unfamiliar heroes took down villains, using methods with which she was unfamiliar. None seemed too used to the Cleveland area, though- none were appropriate as a teammate. Opening her eyes, she stood, and walked over to her kitchen.

#Pokerface #GavinHardesty

Nearly dropping her mug, she bit her lip, shaking her head. Of course there was corruption in the law offices, why not? With a scoff, she washed the mug, scanning social media sites for any news. Coming up with nothing new, and nothing relevant, she turned her attention back to the security cameras around the city. On a hunch, she looked around at the major banks, as those were often targets during outbreaks like this. Spending a few seconds on each one, she rotated between each branch quickly, trying to determine if any threats were present.

Returning to her bedroom, she adorned a light blue dress. From her dresser, she withdrew a matching hijab, white with blue flowers embroidered over the fabric. Wrapping it over her head, she averted her eyes away from the reflection in the mirror, hustling over to her door. Any more time spent in her apartment, cooped up in her own head, would drive her mad.

Drake listened to Danny's orders and did as he was told. He started to Shepard the animal from behind.

"Yes it was interesting, so many people with very different powers. The world really is a strange place" Drake replied to Danny's comment on the earth manipulator.

"Yeah, the world's pretty badass!" Danny replied as the hippos were herded back into a pen. He slammed it shut and relocked it on Africa's most vicious, bloodthirsty critter. Dusting his hands off he looked around for the next animal. "But I also mean, like, she could have helped with the animals. By the way, I'm Danny. So are you a Dragon dragon or did you get caught out in the rain and turn into a dragon? Either is cool, but one might be cooler than the other."

The entire situation was rather low-key. The standard shady dealing done out and away from the public eye, but for what, Abigail could not tell. To make this go over smoothly, she would have to apprehend the goons first before moving to the head honchos. Just like in Power Ra- hang the hell on, who was that? In the corner of her eye, Star Ruby saw the streak of blue and gold spin from behind a pillar into plain sight, declaring its presence to the entirety of those present. Oh no, she wasn't going to let herself be upstaged by some Sentai-looking Beetleborg, no siree! She felt the corona around her head flare into life as she arched her back to curve into the parking garage. Her boots met the paved floor with a skid, hands at her sides and one foot forward like a determined cowboy. One finger pointed through the rabble of motorcyclists and bodyguards, she addressed The Chairman directly.

"Not so fast, Suit and Tie. Didn't your daddy ever teach you that playing with guns and ESCAPING FROM JAIL were only things that crim scum do?"

Yeah that is it! Get all Dredd on them, that would give her a good start to build her image. She could afford some quips and small talk, after seeing that the other upstart, Blitz whatever, seemed to have the ring-wearing, fire-flinging criminal's attention pretty solidly. Maybe, if she played this right, she could escort this man back to the custody of the proper authorities and get a little bit of notice for it as well on the way. She stood stoic, hands at the ready as she clenched her fist at the older man. Around the fist, the air seemed to warp for a moment before settling.

"Now then, SIR. Are you going to put the gun down, tell your cronies to go home and come along quiet-like? I very much doubt it. You look like a loud man."
@Nohbody
@Musoka
@Polyphemus

Drake was a little taken off guard by the question, most people didn't take anytime to ask if he was full dragon and not a turned one. He remained silent for a moment, he didn't feel comfortable talking about his past with others even if they had worked together to stop a villainous threat to innocent lives. So he decided to make up a story.

"I'm an actual dragon, I don't remember where I came from, I just woke up one day in the mountains of the Midwest and found my way here. I don't know if I'm the last dragon or who my parents are" he lied to Danny. Lying didn't feel right to him and he hoped that it wouldn't ruin any trust between them keeping his past a secret.

''That's so coooool!'' Danny shouted, eye electric. ''I'm an actual real life frankenstein. That's what I go by when heroing, 'cause before my dad sent me off he said to me 'Danny boy, in this world you can become god or the devil and I wouldn't care. But if I ever wake up to find a reporter on my lawn your ass is cut off.'''

"I'll bet I can catch more animals than you!" He said suddenly, before sprinting off after the nearest elk."

A vault, and a backwards cartwheel pulled Blitz Ranger away from the searing flames, scorch marks dulling his armor as he tried to avoid the worst of the fire. By the storm, this was hot. Whoever this dastardly fiend was, he was certainly better armed than he would appear.

But no matter-for justice always prevails!

Blitz ran a wide circle around Mythica, burst of flame hot on his heels as he quickly assessed the situation. Alright, so this gangster in particular had powers, this much was obvious. Something told Blitz that fire was just one of them-this villain probably had a dozen tricks up his sleeve to escape justice-after all, the purpose of this meeting was to showcase them for potential buyers, yes? So, simply jumping in probably wasn't the most logical move, who knows what nasty surprise the bejeweled man had on him?

Too bad he was never one for logic, eh?

Blitz Ranger stopped in his tracks, holding up an angry fist towards Mythica. "You've got one thing right, fiend! Today will be a demonstration-a demonstration of how evil always falters in the face of good!" He brought his arms in close, slowly bending his knees as if he was squatting down. As he did, there was a crackle of electricity about him as the energy of the very storm charged up, small sparks leaping off of his armor. With a loud crack, it released, and he made a single massive leap as a gust of wind kicked up in the garage and carried him ten, twenty, thirty feet through the air straight towards Mythica!

As Grace walked she scanned social media for anything useful. This celeb lost weight, the president yells at Congress... it was all starting to look like the normal stuff that rolled across her screen. Boring and mundane. She was tempted to go see what was happening downtown but at the same time she didn't feel like she wanted to get involved either. It had been a long, bad day already. She had let someone die under her watch. She just told herself that there wasn't much she could have done to prevent it from happening. It was a dragon and some kind of ifrit that had fried Mama Bear. What could she have done? Throw more pebbles?

Grace sighed as she opened Twitter. The hashtags that were trending caught her eye. Pokerface was Gavin Hardesty? Grace looked at it again. No way could that be possible... and yet here it was. Rather than bother with the brawl downtown, Quake set off to investigate the Hardesty home for clues or even just a hint. Maybe she'd even pay her respects. Pokerface was the main reason she had become a hero really, he'd become the reason she bothered going to the police to solve Celveland's every simpering problem.Grace expected that sooner or later she'd have to go to a press event or something but looking at the news... all she wanted was to say her sorrows about his untimely end and see what he knew. Her walk regained its purposeful stride and she made good time and made it there quickly. As expected, the press had swarmed all over the area and were chomping at the bit for pictures.

BEACHWOOD PLACE MALL

More and more uniformed officials were arriving on scene, tending to the injured and restoring order. Several received news of Uprising's escape, and were busy posting guards in case the anarchist made a return to the mall. After getting their statements, the reporters seemed content to turn the cameras back to their anchors, the police asked their questions.

The situation was clearly resolved there, and there was no one to keep anyone from leaving.

METROPARKS ZOO

“One freak down, a dozen or so to go,” a National Guardsman observed sourly as he helped others chisel Mama Bear's corpse out of the asphalt. Other troops helped corral animals, tranquilizing a few with help from Animal Control. “Death Incarnate, Freakshow- bunch of crazies still running around.”

Their officer shushed his men, listening carefully over his earphone to orders being radioed in. His brow furrowed in confusion as he looked up. He shook his head sadly, and resignedly walked over to the knot of superheroes.

“Listen carefully,” the National Guard lieutenant said quietly. “I just got orders directly from Police Chief McCullough. I'm supposed to take you all into custody. God knows why, you guys are doing great work.”

The lieutenant leaned in conspiratorially. “But the thing about this radio equipment is that sometimes there's a time delay on transmissions. Say, five minutes or so. It'd be nobody's fault if you guys left in those five minutes before I received my orders, right?” he said with a wink to the superheroes.

PUBLIC SQUARE

While Dervish and Damselfly had plenty of experience evading gunfire, the sheer outpouring of concentrated firepower was enough to force them under cover. Grand Slam, without his air support or another super to watch his back, was also forced to move under cover. With the Caught heroes pinned down, the police and National Guard were more or less evenly matched against the pirates. Their numbers and training were a match for the mystical abilities of the Sea Bastard and his men, or at least enough for them to give as good as they got.

The Bloody Dane smashed through the hastily erected blockade without too much trouble. However, even in Cleveland, a pirate ship rolling on torrents of blood is hard to miss. Troops and cops started to pile into vehicles and give chase, when suddenly an unexpected order came out over the radio net.

“This is Command. Chief McCullough speaking. All units, stand down. Let the pirate ship go, too many people are dead already.”

The order was bizarre enough as it was, but the next left more than one cop scratching his head in confusion. “Any so-called superheroes currently in the downtown area are to be arrested on sight.”

THE PARKING GARAGE

Most of the lesser gangsters had dived for covered when the fight had started. Others had noticed the appearance of Star Ruby, but were uncertain if it was their job to handle her or if that fell to Mythica.

The Chairman, however, did not care for being lectured. He did not care for being referred to as scum, and he certainly didn't like the reference to his father. The only thing Dennis Lynch's father had taught him was how to get smacked around.

His buttons had been pushed. Without betraying a hint of emotion on his face, The Chairman lifted his revolver and fired on Star Ruby. Several of his thugs followed suit.

THE HARDESTY RESIDENCE, SHAKER HEIGHTS

It was a spacious, tastefully expensive house in an upscale neighborhood, as befitted a well-to-do attorney. It was clear that Gavin Hardesty's widow and children had left in a hurry- the front door had been left ajar, the garage was empty.

The reporters on scene were B-list, at best- the real news was happening elsewhere. They mostly milled about, writing copy or rehearsing commentary, waiting for something, anything at all to happen.

Quake's arrival caused a stir, if only because it was a change in the monotony. The press swarmed her, shouting questions over one another.

“Did you know Pokerface's secret identity?”

“Quake, over here-”

“Do you have a comment on the deaths of superheroes last night?”

“Did Pokerface this was going to happen?”

“Over here, Quake!”

While the last comment might easily be mistaken for having come from one of the reporters, Quake could see that behind the clump of journalists was an oddly dressed man, a muscular fellow in a yellow smiley face mask, crouched behind a low wall beside the house.

He was just recognizable as the Toledo-based superhero Mr. Nice Guy, a frequent collaborator with Pokerface when he was still alive. Mr. Nice Guy, unnoticed by the reporters, beckoned to Quake. By his body language, he clearly had something urgent to tell her.

Danny looked up from the struggling, squealing boar in his arm when heard what the liutenant said, quickly setting the animal down in a pen with a worried expression on him face. "Oh man, this is because I broke into the zoo. I can't go to jail, my dad will kill me if he has to come out here to bail me out." When he heard what the man said about shoddy radios, however, he brightend up immediately. He smiled wide and pulled the man in for a hug. "You are the coolest, man! Thank you so much!" Then he remembered something important and set the man back on his feet before pointing to the top of the penguin house. "There's a lady up there, she was giving me a tour but passed out before the animal lady showed up. Make sure she's okay, okay? Sorry, I've got to go. Thank you again, thank you so much!"

With that Danny bounded over to the wall, leaping up and catching the edge, before pulling himself up one handed like some great ape. From here he surveyed the scene before. Army dudes, superheros, and animals both real and mythical all milled about. Just about the only black spot on this scene was the burned remains of the animal lady. He bowed his head to them, and said quietly "Sorry lady. I don't think you were bad, just... stupid." Then he looked over the heros and called out, "Anybody need a ride? I'm don't got plans." With the offer extended he leapt off the wall, disappearing from view.